Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Goals For The Week

October 10, 2011

Goal #1 – Lose 5 pounds by Oct 30. I actually stepped on the scale yesterday and it wasn’t SO bad. I hadn’t gained any or lost any – just maintained. Since the number ended in a 5 I thought, “You know, my new goal could be to lose five pounds by the end of the month.” Challenge accepted! Now I need to write down what I will do each week to get there. This week – drink water, take my daily vitamin (not as much to do with weight as it has to do with energy levels and hormone crises), and get outside for 10 minutes each day. That last one is a challenge I issued to my friend in GA :-). I heard from her yesterday and her family was just out and about all day so good for her! Me – not so much. I felt like something the cat dragged in all day.

Goal #2 – Build a Control Journal. I have all kinds of lists for getting things done each day and yet none of them work because I don’t use or refer back to them. I put times by everything or put it all in a pretty binder that never gets opened and still things are crazy and not getting done. Last night, I was mucking around online and found my way back to FlyLady who I started my decluttering journey with way back in 2004 or 2005. It was an epiphany and a Godsend because I was able to get rid of a backlog of clutter, and make my house look more presentable. Fast forward to Oct 2011 and I’m looking around asking, “What in the hell happened here??” So it’s time to get back on track. Somehow the train in my brain derailed and I’m having a hard time getting those cars rollin’ again – KWIM?

So, like I said, last night, I’m mucking around, go to FlyLady and spy the Control Journal info. “I can do this!” I say to myself and immediately round up all the fixin’s. I also realized another thing – don’t make it a schedule with times, just write down what needs to be done and cross it off each day. The other thing I thought of: I work in 3 hour blocks. So, I’ll have a Morning Routine (6-9 am), Late Morning Routine (9-12 am), Afternoon Routine (12-3 pm), Late Afternoon Routine (3-6 pm), and an Evening Routine/Before Bed Routine (6-9pm). Yes, it’s okay to break your day up like that – you may have to give yourself permission first though. So, I’m putthing that together this week – a day at a time.

Those are my two goals for the week – yep, only two. Baby Steps and kaizen are really the same thing – small changes over time that add up to bigger and more lasting changes in your life. So, on Sunday I’ll let you know how I did and what my new goals for the next week are. One other thing, we’re taking a Fall Break this Thurs/Fri – I really need it!

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That’s the sound of doom you hear

October 8, 2011

Today I found a whole pile of mail from our PO Box in the glove compartment of the car, but waited until this afternoon to go through it. And what did I find? The renewal slip AND a reminder to the renewal and my PO Box fee is now overdue. Oh, but wait, Monday is the 10th and I can still get the fee in before they terminate my PO Box!! Oh, but wait, Monday is Columbus Day and the Post Office will be….closed. *sigh* Well, that sucks.

It’s a good thing I’m taking a Fall Break this Thursday and Friday and calling in a Mommy Weekend as well. And I have a free Quarter Pounder with cheese coming too. Okay, there might be a bright spot in all of this.

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Secret Stash

October 6, 2011

Yesterday I was putting away my bottles of water in the cabinet when what do I spy but the leftover mini donuts from the weekend!! Well now, that is a find indeed! So, like any smart woman, I send my husband out for coffee to go with them in the morning :-).

I also had him pick up some chocolate because I was feeling needy, and he didn’t disappoint! He bought me a Cadbury Fruit and Nut bar – one of my all time favorites! So, I happily munched some of that and saved the rest for today. This morning, I got my lip gloss from my purse and what do I see? The Hazelnut chocolate bar I picked up from Aldi yesterday because I was feeling needy. So, looks like I have extra chocolate now, but it begs the question: where have I put my brain??

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September Progress Report

October 5, 2011

I’ll be honest – I haven’t stepped on a scale in a few weeks. Too scared. I kept gaining and then I lost a pound, but I don’t think all that cake and ice cream over the weekend made it go down another pound. However, I am keeping up on more water so that’s something I guess. I don’t know how people with a lot of kids find time to even think about their weight. I don’t have any outside activities that keep me active like a lot of modern mommies either. So, I guess since the water thing is getting to be a habit, it’s time to make another small change. Maybe by the time I’m 80 I’ll lose the weight ;-).

Otherwise, that’s all the progress. I feel like the month was a total loss. I kept up the business from the last month especially since we started school the day after Labor Day. That means a busy day of going from one thing to another and maybe having 5 minutes to sip tea. I had a few curriculum glitches and have worked those out for the better. Things are now running smoother. I think most classrooms – wherever your kids go to school – are the same. It takes a little time to see how your plans are going to work and what needs to be tweaked.

On a more positive note, each day that goes by adds to another month that I feel better and better about myself. That Fashion Show was a huge step forward. I used to look in the mirror and just hate who I saw staring back. Now that I’m attending more to my needs I look in the mirror and say, “Hmm, she’s not so bad.” and that is a HUGE thing for me. Yes, I’ve even taken to tweezing the caterpillars other people call eyebrows. Overall though, I’m liking and coming to know myself more and more. One thing that people who have known me over the last 3 years say is that they can tell in my eyes that I’m feeling better and I have to say they do look a little brighter. Others say they can tell through my writing (I have a few online friends) that things have changed for the better. So, that’s a good indication of getting better I think.

So, for October I think daily vitamins are my next habit. I really am low on energy and probably could use the boost. No mega doses for me, but the Wellesee Liquid D3 worked so well that I found their liquid Multi on Drugstore.com so I think I’ll try that. While I really like the Nature Made, taking pills is not an easy thing for me. I think that’s why companies came out with gummy vitamins – for those who have trouble swallowing pills for whatever reasons. So, we’ll see how that goes. Still working on the daily routines with the housework and kids and I think that will always be a work in progress. Gotta remember kaizen – small changes over time will add up.

Oh, I almost forgot – I have already started Christmas shopping! I use Organized Christmas’ Christmas Countdown and it really helps every year. The Countdown starts on Oct. 23 so go there, print out the plan and get started.

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Music Monday

October 3, 2011

Just a little funny anecdote for today since I haven’t done a Music Monday in a while.

I like to cook and I like to have music going while I cook to complete the ambiance in the kitchen. So, today, I picked out “Electric Dreams”, but it wouldn’t play in my “boom box” :0). That meant picking out another cd, but I left it to Steve to find one for me. Suddenly what do I hear? Mannheim Steamroller CHRISTMAS!! Hehehehe – no. It is definitely too early for that. I told him to pick another one out and of course it’s, “Awww, Mom”. So he plays REO Speedwagon Hi Infidelity instead. Nice choice :-). Not Christmas, but still good. Besides, I’ll be trading in my summer music for my fall music now.

The weather is getting a little cooler though and I am starting to buy a few gifts so the next logical step will be Christmas music – but not until November. Even then, I play instrumental music and wait until closer to Christmas for the major songs of the season. It’s a building up as Advent builds up to Christmas and I think it is appropriate.

Enjoy whatever music you are listening to today!

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Let Them Eat Cake

September 29, 2011

Those are the infamous words that Marie Antoinette NEVER spoke! Nope, she did not, it was made up – probably by those who really hated her. But, that’s another post.

What I am talking about today is the vast amounts of cake now residing in my house. To start with, I was craving chocolate big time today – yes, it’s probably that time o’ the month when my cravings turn me into a chocolate monster. I search and search the cabinets until I find some…and there was none today. So, I decided to make brownies, but all the recipes took more butter than we had. Luckily I just used my never fail go-to chocolate cake recipe – otherwise known as Wacky Cake. Ah…chocolate!

Not more than 10 minutes after it came out of the oven Mike calls to say that he needs me to pick him up after work. Why? Because he is bringing leftover CAKE home! Um, wow, if I’d seen that coming I wouldn’t have made the Wacky Cake. But hey, that’s more sweet stuff for me :-).

Now, this is also Maggie’s birthday weekend (she will be 11) and guess what we’ll be having? Yep, CAKE..lemon cake with cream cheese frosting to be exact. So, there is not going to be a lack of cake in this house anytime soon. We’ll probably be sick of it come Monday, but at least there is chocolate in the house now. Just have to do something about the lack of coffee…

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An Oh Crap Marathon! How fun….NOT!

September 27, 2011

So we start with Friday morning and not only is it the last All My Children episode EVER, but the car decides to have a dead battery? Why? My husband turned the light on the day before and forgot to turn it off :-/.

Today, I get a piece of mail…from a collection agency! What happened? Apparently the first collection agency didn’t collect the full amount and we still owe $150. Gee, thanks folks – couldn’t you have figured that out 3 or 4 months ago??

That was this morning and this afternoon Chris calls from work – HIS car battery is dead now. UGH!! I’m offering it up, but getting slammed that much in a short amount of time is really hard.

Hope you are all having a better day than I am!!

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Is it Monday already??

September 26, 2011

Well, friends, it has been a wild week and it’s going to wrap up today and maybe (just maybe) it will slow down a bit for me to breathe a little. I need to write some thoughts about a couple things and so here’s what will hopefully be coming up this week:

The fashion show write up – Yeah, yeah, I know it’s going to be really late, but hey, I have a good reason. I’m going to get one of my tech kids to cut a still from the video they took so you all won’t run out of the house screaming when you see it :-).

The last days of my soap, All My Children – I watched every show last week and probably should have been watching the last month to see the wrap ups. This is a sad time for so many of us, and I want to add my tribute as the show was such a big part of my life for many years.

Today is a luncheon at a local restaurant for my husband who is celebrating 30 years with the company he works for. So I’ve been spending the last 2 days doing things like getting haircuts, buying new clothes and shoes for the kids, and generally making sure we are going to look good for this thing. The last time we did this was 10 years ago at his 20th anniversary, and I felt so frumpy and dumpy and I resolved not to let THAT happen again. The last time we went to one of these functions was also 10 years ago at Mike’s office Christmas party and it ended in disaster (a story that will be told at some point) and I swore on a stack of Bibles I would never, ever do that again. Except, now that the kids are older I’m running out of excuses I guess. I felt guilty to not go so we’re going against my better judgment. Hopefully it will all work out.

With all the going to the store to get all this stuff, and with all the kids here for this event, it feels like getting ready for a wedding or a funeral. It’s a family gathering to honor another family member so it has that “gathering” feel to it you know? I realize that really we are beginning these gatherings now that the kids are getting older and there will be weddings, and funerals, in the years to come, and it hit me that my home will be the center for these instead of someone else’s. Time is flying by and in the whirlwind of it all I hope to be able to find a moment to enjoy whatever we are celebrating.

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I’m sorry, that number is busy…

September 21, 2011

I know, a mom with 8 kids (7 still at home) should have a lot more time to write on her blog right? Good thing I’m unperfect :-).

I have been in a whirlwind of activity for months now it seems and I can’t find time to just think or be or whatever I feel I need to do for myself right now. I feel like there are so many other things needing my attention, but most of that is stuff that really does need to be done. Others, not so much. I guess I need to learn the fine art of prioritizing and delegating. Delegating I’m not good at, but for the sake of my kids and when they move out of the house, I need to start practicing that one more. So, I’m thinking and processing right now…

The Fashion Show I Was In

It was fun! It was also eye opening to see this fat body I find myself in on camera. As in a video of me strutting my stuff. I will write a whole post about this as I process it, but it’s given me much to think about in many ways. I will say that at the first store (yes, we had to do this at two stores), after doing my thing and I turned around, there were tears in my eyes. Three years ago – heck, even ONE year ago – I could never have done this and it was a big big step in my journey of healing myself. It was worth it for that one moment of “YAY – I did it!”

My Teaching

I am reading a book on helping kids write and it is wonderful – so many great ideas! I realize it is primarily for the teacher in a public or private school, but I think it can be a goldmine of help for a mom who teaches her own kids too. I also like the way this teacher really asks her students questions to help them think through what they are writing.

I feel like I’m getting ready to make the leap to be a better teacher to my kids – to help them learn and think and grow. I think overall I do a good job, but the last few years I feel like I’ve not done as good a job as I could have. I am needing to look more at what I do and how I do it and make changes where they need to be made.

My Children

My oldest has left the nest and is making his way through the world. He is growing in so many ways and it is hard to watch sometimes. I remember being on my own and not having a clue whatsoever what to do with my life. I’m happy to say that he is not that way and has really thought about all the choices he has and is making. I’m really proud of you Matt!! *blowing nose*

My oldest daughter is growing up too. She is changing from a child into a young woman with all that it entails. There is a lot of work to do together as she is going to need help navigating the waters of a changing body and changing emotions. I hope that I can do a good job of supporting her.

On the downside, I also have the pre-teen boy/girl bickering going on *sigh*…yeah, not so fun.

My Life

I’m doing some looking at who I am and where I’m going to be in 10 years when the youngest chicks leave the nest. Ten years – it may seem long to those of you who have babies or toddlers because potty training and the tantrums seem to be never ending. Take heart, but also beware, they do grow out of all that! Children grow from stage to stage and we help them through it all. Then, the day comes when all that work comes to fruition and they leave and you hope that you gave them all they need for their life. But of course we don’t! There are many things they simply have to learn on their own and we have to start mastering letting go. And then its, what do I do with myself now?? We need to think about that from time to time.

So, I’m thinking, where will I be in 10 years (if I’m still around)? WHO will I be in 10 years? Who am I now? Sometimes I feel I have no idea who I am! I feel like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride when she realizes she doesn’t even know what kind of eggs she likes because she always ordered whatever the boyfriend du jour did! I feel like I’ve gone through much of my life like that, trying to be like other people, doing what pleases others, and so on. What do *I* really like – what do *I* really want? I’m 48 years old so maybe it’s time for that “mid-life crisis” but I think this is generally the time when we do think on these things.

I am thinking it might be fun to teach for a living, I could do that, but I’ll be 58 years old by then. What would the point be? Five years of teaching? Is that a career?

It is a LOT to think about because I’ve never given it any thought. I’ve never got beyond thinking about where my kids are in their growing up to what will I do with my life when they have left the nest. My good counselor told me a couple of years ago that I needed to think about it soon because the time will be here quick enough.

My Time

Here again, how do I need to spend it and how do I want to spend it. I guess this is where I take my priority list and start filling in. I was also thinking just now of a new list – things to “keep” and things to “let go”. Scrapbooking may be one of those let go things. I was going to do Project Life and I sort of started, but choosing the pictures and what to say is just so overwhelming for me. I think that should be my sign and give up any illusion that scrapbooking is something for me.

I’m thinking of a weekend away from home next month – God knows I could really use one! What to do with that time though – another thing to decide. Life is never automatic is it? While I do agree that routine for housework and kid stuff is necessary, other things can be quite flexible. However, when you find you have too many decisions to make, maybe it’s time to simplify? I don’t know, so I’m contemplating that too.

My body

This is another one of those I need time to do it things. Right now I feel like I have no time to really put into eating more mindfully which is what I need to do. I eat and it doesn’t register even sometimes. Or I look at the food and think – bleh. I need to get right with food and that is going to take time.

Okay, this is getting long, but I needed to write some stuff out and my blog is a place to do that so that’s what I’m doing today :-).

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Nyan Cat Crafts Part 2

September 17, 2011

Well, I tell you, once one kid does something they ALL have to do it too :-). However, for the uninitiated, I am going to talk briefly about what Nyan Cat is and the simple answer is to look at this video. It’s just a 10 second computer animation video with annoying music (and sounds like a cat going “meow”) that is repeated endlessly in a loop. My older boys had seen it and talked about it long before I saw it. Heck, Jeff even has the music for a ring tone on his cell! Ah well, I’m old now I guess since I seem to be out of the loop :-).

Back to the other day when Maggie was crafting a Nyan Cat outfit for Sally. Katie and Becky decided their animals needed the same outfitting too. Katie decided to make hers into Taco Nyan Cat…

…while Becky just chose a larger version of the original for her cat:

So, there you have it – three different takes on Nyan Cat.

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