days 58 & 59–last weekend of February!

58 & 59

Wowsers. I’m completely flabbergasted at how quickly this month passed. I hope you have some fun planned for this weekend!

over the weekend:

look over goals, reflect on accomplishments, revamp for June if needed

catch up on past challenges

bring PROMed stuff to goodwill

keep up with the daily 7

meal plan

holy cow. that was a lot!

yesterday: weekly reflection; breast self-exam

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: Now. –Denis Waitley

day 57–friday fun day, breast self-exam

57

Happy Friday! Plan some fun for this weekend.

Please take the time today to do a breast self-exam. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women ages 40 to 45. Breast cancer is most treatable and curable if detected early. One of the best methods of early detection is through monthly breast self-exams. If you need a refresher course on how to perform this important test, please refer to the Susan G. Komen website.

Today:

Weekly Reflection– how is your exercise plan going? how have your interactions been with your family this week? your friends? your coworkers? what, if anything, would you change about this week?

PROM the car. Get rid of the crumpled napkins and straw wrappers!

yesterday: PROMing the china cabinet

day 56–PROM the china cabinet

56

I loved reading your comments and emails about yesterday’s post on changing your vocabulary to change your experience. I found myself a few times yesterday struggling to keep my brain-talk in check, but thanks to your support, I quickly “changed my mind.”

thank you!

I have a confession. We had guests over on Super Bowl Sunday, and while everything else has been cleaned up, the top of my china cabinet was used as a buffet, and I still haven’t put the platters away and put the picture frames and decorative knick knacks back out.

Today is the day! What’s your china/dish/knick knack cabinet or cupboard look like? Do you have things shoved in there that you’ve rarely or never used? Clear it out. Make room for something you really love, or leave the space empty.

Today:

PROM the china cabinet or cupboard

daily 7

quick mop

yesterday: change your vocabulary

day 55–change your vocabulary

55

I once listened to an Anthony Robbins book on CD—-I know, I know. The guy is a bit much and probably sort of bonkers, but some of his ideas are smart. I think it was “awaken the giant within?“—-anyhow…

he discussed the notion of changing your vocabulary as a way to change your experience. He suggested using the word “challenge” or “struggle” or “perplexed” instead of really negative and debilitating words such as “overwhelmed” or “stressed out.”

I liked this idea at the time, and wrote about it in a journal I was keeping at the time. I was looking through this journal a few weeks ago to find a quote, and read my notes. I still think it’s a good idea.

I’ve noticed the Duggar Family uses this idea. The kids and I have been DVRing the recent shows about baby Josie, and I’ve noticed that when Michelle talks to the camera she never uses the word “hard” or “difficult” or “stressed” or “overwhelmed.” She’s trained herself to use the word “struggle” or “challenge.”

Struggles and Challenges can be overcome. They are just predicaments, not life sentences.

So! If you are finding yourself using negative words to describe your thoughts/feelings/actions throughout the day, try switching them up a bit. You might be surprised at how quickly your mood improves.

Today:

work on changing your vocabulary

daily 7

speed dust and vacuum

yesterday: when to call in reinforcement

day 54–when to call in reinforcement

54

Sometimes you need help. And sometimes you need a lot of help. And that’s okay.

Help comes in lots of different ways: gardening help, childcare help, housekeeping help, scheduling help, and help with work. It’s not possible to do all things well all of the time. Knowing what is important and what isn’t in the big scheme of things is an important skill to learn. No one can do everything for everybody all of the time. Not only is it not possible, it’s not healthy to even try.

If you feel like you aren’t able to give everything your all, call in back-up. Delegate.

Today:

finish PROMing the books (from yesterday)

daily 7

run errands

day 53–PROM the books

53

I hope you had a great weekend! This week, we’re going to PROM the books. I used to collect books and had so many that the bookcases were overflowing. I bought books that I thought I should read, and kept books that I had read years and years ago, even though I knew deep down that I’d never want to read them again. As our family grew bigger and bigger, our book collection grew and grew. When we moved we had so many books they hardly fit into the boxes I bought to contain them all.

Are you the same way?

Are there books in your home that would be better enjoyed by someone else? Books are not trophies. Reclaim the square footage in your home housed by forgotten books.

You can give your books to: your local library, local children’s hospital, local schools and child care centers, VA hospitals, military bases, get rid of them on craigslist or freecycle, or drop them off at the Salvation Army/Goodwill.

Today:

PROM the books: look through all bookcases and quickly purge unwanted, unneeded, and unloved books

weekend recovery

yesterday: days 51 & 52

days 51 & 52–the weekend

51 & 52

Happy Weekend!

We are spending Saturday morning on the softball field for two different practices which are thankfully at the same time. Thank you, thank you, softball gods! and then we’ve got birthday parties. and a girl scout event.

It’s become quite obvious that weekends are no longer for relaxing. There is no sleeping in, and no lolly-gagging. It’s non-stop go time.

For the very immediate time being, I’m okay with this, but I foresee a change coming when this school year ends. I think we’re probably going to have to take a long and hard look at how much of our valuable time is spent doing things we think we should be doing instead of the things we actually WANT to do.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to do this without hurting feelings, I’m all ears!

This Weekend:

spend time together as a family

try your hardest to keep up with the Daily 7

watch the Olympics!

meal plan for the upcoming week

yesterday: the 50th day of the year!

day 50. the year is going by fast!

50

If I wasn’t writing this site, I wouldn’t know it was the 50th day of the year. That in and of itself is reason enough to continue on with these daily posts. Where did that phrase “in and of itself” come from, anyway? I’ve never typed it and it looks odd to see it in print. huh.

How’d you do with your reality check yesterday?

Today:

it’s FRIDAY! plan some fun for tonight or the weekend. We’re going out to dinner. I’m pretty excited.

catch up on the stuff you need to catch up on so you enjoy your weekend.

yesterday: reality check

day 49–reality check

49

Hello there! I’m so happy that yesterday is over. Some days seem to last forever!

Today, let’s check in on your personal goals. Back on the first of the year, I suggested making goals for different milestones throughout the year. The first one, March 1, is fast approaching. How are you doing on your list?

I am doing okay in some regards, and not in others. I know I’ve got to step up my exercise and start running on a regular basis if I’m going to get down to my pre-pregnancy fitness and shape by summer. I’m not super terribly worried about this, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish my clothes fit a bit better. I just read this great article from MizFit’s website, which helps to put lots into perspective.

I’ve met or exceeded all of my work-related goals, so that’s good, but I had written down a random goal of “develop thicker skin”—which I’m NO WHERE near achieving. I am still pretty soft, and I go back and forth between thinking that’s okay, and not okay.

I also wrote down to live (more) in the moment. I’m doing much better than I used to, but I still find myself thinking about writing about the experiences I’m living instead of actually being in the moment and focusing my attention to the task/moment at hand. I also tend to be thinking about the next place we need to be or the next something I need to do instead of really just being fully present. I think a lot of this stems from working at home, and it’s definitely something I struggle with on a pretty much daily basis. There’s ALWAYS something else to do, but these kids are growing up so super quick, and I can’t get the time back. Email can wait. So can the laundry.

How are you doing? No one is perfect, and no should ever strive for perfection—but giving an honest look inward once in a while to see if you are truly living in line to your goals and values is not a bad idea.

Today:

reality check! go over your personal goals and see how far you’ve come, where you need to go, and tweak things as needed

daily 7

finish PROMing your clothes. I pulled stuff out of my drawers to make piles, but haven’t actually done anything with the piles. oops.

yesterday: feb 17

day 48–February 17

48

How come I’m so tired and it’s only Wednesday?

How did it go yesterday with the clothes PROMing? Did you find clothes from highschool the way I did? I found a few sweaters I’d been holding on to for no good reason, and finally threw them in the donation bag. It felt good and weird all at the same time.

Today:

when was the last time you changed the bed linen? 1 week? 3 weeks? a month? it’s okay, I won’t tell.

daily 7

finish PROMing  your clothes (from yesterday)

“Each of my children has a school-supply basket which holds all of the essentials: tape, crayons, markers, scissors, an eraser, a glue stick and pencils (I’ve found drawers aren’t convenient for my kids, who want to be wherever I am).” –S.W., mom of three school-aged children

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