it’s my birthday!
November 24, 2010 by Stephanie · 7 Comments
328
so I’m taking the day off.
HAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!
Today:
keep a thankful heart
remember that every little bit you do IS important and IS appreciated
if you have to go to the store, go early and be cheerful. If you have to go late in the day, still be cheerful.
Monday: prepare for the madness
November 22, 2010 by Stephanie · 3 Comments
326
I hope you had a great weekend and are feeling well-rested. Today we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get a bunch of work done.
During today’s weekend recovery, look around and put extra things away. Do you need all the birthday cards out on the mantle? What about the half-burnt candle on the sofa table? How long are you going to move the pile of catalogs from table to table?
just do it. get it done.
then give yourself a pat on the back!
What can you do in the kitchen to lighten the load? I made cranberry sauce and cornbread yesterday (for stuffing). Today I’m going to peel potatoes and onions and store them in zippered bags. Look over your menu—if you can get things done now, do so.
Today:
keep up with the Daily 7
Thanksgiving countdown
Friday! woo hoo!
November 19, 2010 by Stephanie · 9 Comments
323
I’m still having dental pain, even after taking a course of antibiotics. I’ve got a refill for the abx, and am going to fill it tomorrow. The pain subsided after taking the last dose, then has come back with full vengence in the past 2 days (my last pill was Saturday). Does that sound right? Is it still possible it’s still the sinus infection (I am congested, and now have a chest cough) and another round of abx will kill it? I’d hate to have him go digging around in my teeth for no reason.
grr.
In other news, I finally tried the sponge mop refill of the Mr Clean Magic Eraser yesterday on the kitchen floor. Thank you so much to Dominique for telling me about them!
I know I’ve mentioned it before but that floor is the bane of my existence. You know? I was impressed. It was $6.99 at Orchard Supply Hardware (is that a national store chain?) and I’ve heard that it’s supposed to last about 3 months. I can’t see how that’s possible, and we have a dinky kitchen, but whatever. It did get the layer of grime out of the linoleum grooves and it was satisfactory to see the sink water run gray while I wrung it out. The floor isn’t quite as glisteny as if I scrubbed Cinderella-style with a Magic Eraser, but it’s so close I think I’ll stick to this method for a while.
It was a bit tricky to figure out how to disengage the mop head I had, but once I did, attaching the refill was really easy. The directions were clear, and in the package were some pieces to attach to your mop if needed (I needed one of the blue plastic screws).
While at OSH, I picked up what I think is the blinds cleaner Jennibell told me about. It’s a white plastic thing with a green microfiber cover and three slots for blinds. You squeeze the handle while running it between the slats to get them clean. I haven’t used it yet—but I’m kind of excited.
yes. I’m excited to clean blinds. I know. I’m terribly dorky.
Today:
run any last minute errands for non-perishable supplies for next Thursday
Steph: GO TO THE PHARMACY. stop putting it off!
day 321 Wednesday
November 17, 2010 by Stephanie · Leave a Comment
321
It’s the middle of the week—time to dust, vacuum, and mop. Do a bit better than normal this week, because next week you’re going to feel a bit frazzled. Take the cushions off the couch, and suck up the crumbs, and use the hose attachment under the furniture. Look up. Are there cobwebs anywhere?
Today:
A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all. ~Rita Mae Brown
Tuesday–run errands, make sure your meal plan is set
November 16, 2010 by Stephanie · 4 Comments
320
Happy Tuesday!
I am officially done Christmas shopping (minus stocking stuff, because I get that at the Dollar Store).
~~~~~~ducking while you throw stones~~~~~~~~~
I had a stack of tagged catalogs and cranked through them during the baby’s morning nap yesterday. I’ve already gotten shipping notifications for 3 out of the 6 retailers. I did a lot on Amazon, and then a BUNCH at UncommonGoods—a new-to-me site and catalog.
I bought a bunch of their recycled glass products for the Aunts and Uncles on both my side and Adam’s. I hope they’ll be pleased!
Today:
order/print holiday cards
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~William James
Friday fun day!
316
yay for Friday!
what kind of fun do you have planned for today? We’ve got a dinner out with friends and then game night. I go back and forth with competitiveness. I usually am pretty hardcore against Adam and my parents and brother, but with friends or people I don’t know really well I hold back and let everybody take over. I’m very hesitant to hog the board, questions, or beat others in mixed company. I wonder what Dr. Phil would say about that?
Did you remember to thank the Veteran’s in your life yesterday?
Today:
plan a game night
catch up with a family meeting
daily 7
Wednesday, clobber the clutter and cobwebs
314
Good morning! I’ve got stuff to read over on the crockpot site if you haven’t already seen it, and a giveaway at Totally Together Reviews.
just in case you think I’m slacking off over here…
HA!
Today:
remember on Ally McBeal she always had a theme song for the day running through her head? Pick out a good, upbeat song with a positive message to keep in your head today. I seem to go back and forth between We Are the Champions and the Chumbawamba song that goes “I get knocked down, but I get up again…”
Thursday, prepare for meltdowns
November 4, 2010 by Stephanie · 6 Comments
308
Happy Thursday! It’s our meltdown day—what’s it like in your house? Anything you can do to prepare?
I received some great emails yesterday about daily schedules and routines. Here’s my morning— It’s not perfect, but it seems to work well right now for our weekdays:
somewhere between 4 and 5, I’m up with the baby. I always always always have a mental battle about getting up for the day or climbing back into bed. 96% of the time I climb back in bed.
6am alarm goes off for Adam; I usually get up about 6:15 and make the bed quickly so I don’t get back in. I do a quick master bathroom wipedown and gather laundry to start.
6:25 baby usually up by now, so I change and feed her. Big kids usually get up around now, too
6:30 Adam starts coffee and empties dishwasher. Big kids get breakfast—usually yogurt and fruit, rice cake with PB or cream cheese, or cereal
6:45 big kids get dressed, make beds, tidy rooms. I help if need-be, or stick to baby-wrangling
7:00 I put baby in highchair, feed her something and usually have a ricecake with peanut butter or something similar with my coffee
7:15 sometimes I get dressed now, or I start on big kid lunches
7:30 my grandma arrives to help with the baby. I use this time to finish getting dressed, clean the kitchen dishes, finish kid lunches. I’ll flip the laundry if it’s done with the wash cycle
the halfhour between 7:30 and 8 are a blur—the kids let the guinea pigs out (they have an outdoor run) and feed them, the baby poops around now and needs changing, I feed her again. If I’m waiting for an important email I’ll quickly scan the subject lines, otherwise I try hard to not succumb to the temptation to get online. Grandma listens to the kids read outloud, play instruments, or something along those lines. I’m not really “in charge” right now, Grandma is.
8:00 leave to take big kids to school; Grandma stays with the baby
8:25 I’m back, feed baby, change her and get her ready for a nap. I have coffee with Grandma
9:00 Baby goes down for AM nap, and Grandma leaves. I start work.
okay! so that’s my morning. What’s yours like?
Today:
plan fun for the weekend
PROM the Halloween decorations. Throw away anything you *know* you’re not going to use next year. Take down everything else and store properly.
Friday, October 29th
302
Chances are you’re as bogged down as I am with last minute Halloween details—school parties, church parties, scout parties, and community parties.
Be nice. Remember to have fun. Don’t freak out about the small things. It’s okay if the pumpkin cupcakes are storebought. It’s okay if the vampire blood is actually Strawberry Shortcake lipstick.
Enjoy the day.
Today:
last minute Halloween prep and stuff
I’ll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. ~Author Unknown
monday, the 297th day of the year
October 25, 2010 by Stephanie · 3 Comments
297
Good morning! I hope you got a good night’s sleep and are ready to start a brand new week. What’s the weather been like where you live? Are you finished opening windows for the season, except for a little fresh air here and there?
If so, it’s time to clean the windows (from the inside) and the blinds. I do blinds with a damp cloth (old cloth diapers or t-shirts work well, unless you’ve got some microfiber dusting cloths). You can use water, but I prefer to spritz lightly with a bit of windex or the like to cut through any grease left by sticky fingers. and? I really like the smell of windex. 
Today:
clean the windows/blinds in the main living area of your house—family room, living/dining room, etc.
