Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

What I’m Reading – Summer 2021

September 16, 2021

OH CRAP! Almost forgot about this post and here it is September already.

Zen in the Art of Writing by Ray Bradbury – This was really, really good! Ray Bradbury talking about how he wrote some of his great works, his writing process, and tips for writers on how to write and not worry about your writing. He mostly wrote short stories and most were written in 2 hours – he had his writing all down to a science. A small but powerful book and highly recommended even if you only love Ray Bradbury’s writing and aren’t interested in doing any of your own. :D

Rooted in Love by Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle – I thought this was going to be more a combination book of Pope John Paul’s “On the Dignity and Vocation of Women” but it was the usual advice for women – take care of yourself, pray, blah, blah, blah. If you are a young woman or a young wife you might like this. However, I am old and seasoned and I wanted more. So, I’m going to get the encyclical and read it which is what I wanted in the first place.

Heartburn by Nora Ephron – This was not as funny as I was thinking it would be even though the movie was very good. That said, Nora’s take on marriage and divorce was really thoughtful and sometimes spot on. I like her writing so I really wanted to read this one. Her books about aging – “I’m Sorry About My Neck” and “I Remember Nothing” are better. Part memoir and lots of story telling about a woman growing older. Pure gold.

Spiritual Reading – I decided a couple of months ago to finish out Year 4 of “How to Read Your Way to Heaven” by Vicki Burbach. So I finished the Catechism Part 4, but didn’t finish the scripture reading because I finished the catechism first and wanted to just jump ahead to Year 5. Here’s what I ended up doing. I read “A Simple Plan” by Mother Teresa and started the New Testament again. But then, I realized that I wasn’t getting as much out of all this reading. So I ordered a set of devotionals by Candace Cameron Bure – Jesus Every Day – for more of a read, pray, and do type thing. So far it is working out great. I am reading “An Authentic Life” and am journaling and answering the questions. It’s not your typical fill-in-the-blank Bible Study, but something that makes you think about what you’ve read and how you can live those verses out. Much more what I need.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff – Somehow I remembered about this movie but since the library does not have the the movie I decided to read the book. I was shocked by how thin a volume it is, but delighted at what a beautiful testament to friendship it is. Apparently it is also a true story. The story is told through the letters between a bookseller in England and a writer in America. Real letters people – that were written on typewriters or handwritten. I really miss letter writing and think it might be high time to start up again during my golden years. But I digress – be sure to have a hanky handy for this one.

How To Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer – This is a book about self-help books and specifically the lessons you can glean or leave behind depending on the book. The authors also have a podcast called “By The Book” which expands on the books written about here. I really enjoyed reading this and I found a few books that sound good and a few I knew to be trash. The tagline is a bit misleading though. While they indeed read 50 self-help books they do not go through each book in this volume. If you want more information you might want to listen to the podcast. The book is just a distillation of what they read, what they liked, what they didn’t like, and what they wish self-help books talked more about.

Make My Life Simple by Rachel Balducci – I read this again because I am in the throes of something and I can’t figure it out but it sure as hell looks and acts like depression. This helped get me out of my funk and start getting back to self care and other things. It is pretty basic in it’s advice and it’s written from a Catholic perspective so know that if you want to check it out. All in all it’s a good and easy read with tips about getting yourself and your surroundings back in order after a small burnout.

Okay. Phew! That is my reading caught up for you. In another two weeks it will be October and I’ll be telling you what I read in September. I’ll also be talking about a reading journal that’s new and notable so stay tuned.

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Schedules, Routines, and Lists

September 15, 2021

These 3 things are how I keep my life running on the smoother side. If I didn’t, I’d get sidetracked and nothing would be completed. As if housework ever gets completed, but your days can run smoother and you can get the important things accomplished.

I am the Girl of 100 Lists and I’ve been listing things out since I was a teen. I have lists of things I have to do each day, week, etc. I list the books I’ve read. I have a master list of everything that’s on my mind or needs to get done. I finally have a bucket list too – something to dream on. And yes, I write on paper in a small notebook or planner – that way I know where those lists are and I can re-write them as well when they get messy or stuff actually gets done.

Routines keep my life running in the right direction. I have a morning routine – breakast, get ready for the day, make the bed, prayer time – so that my basic needs get met. I have a morning work routine – dishes, laundry, quick bathroom clean up, what’s for dinner – so that the basics get done each day. And each night – close the kitchen, get ready for bed, lights out at a decent hour – so that I can start tomorrow fresh. These are the things that keep my day in order. Do other things hijack them? Yes, mostly the morning work routine, but if I’m really busy then I rework that list and throw extra on for tomorrow or down the line. But for the most part these routines stay in place. I feel the difference when they move and catching up takes more time away from other things. Oh and it took me a long time to get to this place – when your life is a wreck it will take time to put it back in order. Give yourself grace.

To me the schedule is fitting in the other stuff – appointments, errands, day trips – that sort of thing. Monday is clean up after the weekend. Tuesday is Plan and Play – a day for me to fit in some quiet after Monday’s clean up. Wednesday is Errand Day – I run all my trips on that day if I can. One day out makes everything much easier than several trips out each day/week. Lately I’m a little off my game and have been running to the store more than I want to so I need to get that reined back in. Thursday is Desk Day – I pay the bills, balance my checking account, open mail, file papers. Friday is a Flylady hold over – Clean the car, put gas in if needed. And I clean my purse every night – yes I actually do that. I pull receipts out, toss my shopping lists, etc. It just keeps it from getting overwhelmingly messy.

This is more of a ritual than a schedule thing but it is important. Two Saturdays a month my two youngest daughters and I go the library and then come home and have a tea party. We’ve been doing this for years and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The tea party is tea and cookies and looking over our books from the library. Sometimes we read parts out loud and sometimes it’s just quiet or we chat about other things. I make sure if it doesn’t happen on that day we get it in on another day.

In the Sidetracked Home Executives book. Peggy talked about how she was meticulous about keeping her work desk clean because she knew if she didn’t it would be as messy as her house was. For me it’s similar – if I didn’t stick to routines and schedules and lists I’d be running around wondering what I should do when everything is screaming for my attention. So I have routines, and schedules, and lists. Is my house perfect? No! Does it run smoother – absolutely.

Anyway, if you are like me and get sidetracked and haven’t put these strategies in place give it a go. My last post about a life reset is to take care of ME but I still have been keeping these lists, routines, and schedules going even through the bumps. For the most part anyway. Last week my oldest daughter and I went on a mini road trip – much needed – but I still tossed dinner on the table (sandwiches) and cleaned up the kitchen and ran the dishwasher to stay on track.

I am flirting with the idea of minimalism – not the tossing all your stuff type – but getting the clutter out and paring down things so that the stuff in my life isn’t taking over my life. But that’s to be discussed another day.

I hope you are well wherever you are and make the most of the day because life is short and while I talk about housework a bit the most important things aren’t things – they are people. Cliche I know but it’s true.

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Time For A Reset

September 6, 2021

For full disclosure I wrote this at the end of last month.

I can’t remember if I’ve done this before, but I think I have. Or tried. Or failed. One of those anyway. Well, it’s time to try it again. Yesterday I don’t know what it was but I ended up in a blubbering heap by the end of the day. It could have been the overwhelm of a house that keeps falling apart and needing help. It could be because the sale of my mother’s house will be next week. It’s possible that my terrible eating habits are messing with my moods. Whatever it was/is I realized I need to start over – press the reset button. THIS time I mean to make progress. I’m tired of feeling crappy and tired and I’ve pinpointed some issues that I need to deal with or get help with:
1. Overwhelm
2. Burned out
3. Don’t get any regular time out
4. Procrastination that paralyzes
5. Decision fatigue – from small to large problems
6. Negativity in so many areas of my life
I found some books that may help but I started by reading one about simplifying your life when you are burned out – getting back to basics and priorities. So I’m starting there. I’m going to try to get books from the library or thrift stores instead of buying new if I can too – save some money. That’s also on the list somewhere – getting back on a budget and spending intentionally. But that’s a little further down the list – right now I need to get ME healthy and well in mind and body.

There’s another book I really need – “When Making Others Happy is Making You Miserable” by Karen Ehman. It’s about people pleasing and I am the poster child for this one. I have got to take back my life and stop feeling guilty for every damn decision I make. I think it’s what contributes to the decision fatigue as well.

Here’s where I put all my grandiose plans in but I’ll refrain. I think the one thing I’ll start with is less coffee and tea and more water, milk, or juices. Hydration, or lack thereof, is my biggest problem right now so I’ve got to get that on track first. I know it will make a huge difference in how I feel and probably look too. I always complain about my complexion issues, but seriously, what I put into my body is as important (if not more) than what I put on it.

Okay, so go me – reset your life girl! See how much better you can feel which means you can handle things just a little bit better and turn your life around.

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» 2021 » September » Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

What I’m Reading – Summer 2021

September 16, 2021

Schedules, Routines, and Lists

September 15, 2021

Time For A Reset

September 6, 2021

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