12 Months of Habit Building

It’s this time of year that everyone, whether they want to or not, reflects on the year passed. Some make resolutions to start anew, others decided to remain as they are. I’ve always been a part of the ‘start anew’ group. In fact, I have multiple calendar dates to start again – NYE, the 1st day of school, the last day of school… and so on.
This year, the latest crazy hitting the blogosphere is “101 in 1001 days”. Or maybe it’s not new, but rather hitting the blogs on my google reader. Either, it’s interesting reading. I created a list of my own and was even going to post it, until I realized that it is the same list I’ve had for the past five years. Posting it online probably won’t bring them to fruition any more than they have in the past five years. Honestly, my yearly goal for school is ALWAYS to keep up with grading and yet, EVERY year I somehow end up with stacks and stacks of papers. I’ve been ‘dieting’ since I was 12… and I still get the talk every time I see the doctor. Also, never run a marathon. And so on.
Instead what I need is a life style change. As a strict creature of habit, I need a change in habits. I am such a creature of habit, that some times I find myself in a middle of a task not realizing that when I began doing it, what I was doing before and… even more scary… if I did anything between those tasks. For the next 12 months, I’ll tackle a new habit each month to see if I can make a real change in my life style. If I hate it, it’s only 28 to 31 days. If it’s something I can really do, the month should make it into an ingrained habit for me. And it’s only one thing. Or rather, one personal habit and one professional habit. Everything else I can let slide… or at least not get in a sweat about.
For January, my habit is the basic evening and morning routines from FlyLady.net (see professional goal here). Starting January 1st to January 31st I’ll attempt to faithfully do both. Obviously, I would love to have a loverly, organized and clean house. Sadly, with two toddlers and a dog, I just don’t seem to be able to do that… but I’m hoping that I can keep the chaos at bay. And possibly not do the “please let there be a clean pair of underwear in the drawer” game every morning.

Evening Routine

• Pick up living room and put away things, magazines, dishes, clothes and shoes
• Kitchen – shine sink, lay out clean dish cloths and start dishwasher
• Clear hot spots in entrance and dining room
• check calendar for tomorrow’s appointments
• pack breakfasts and lunch
• put items I don’t want to forget into bag
• lay out clothes for tomorrow
• brush teeth, wash face and take vitamin
• go to bed at a decent time

Morning Routine

• make bed
• shower and clean shower while in there
• fix hair
• swish and swipe
• reboot laundry
• check calendar
• check dinner plan – thaw if needed

My hope is that by making this one small change, I’ll be able to have a little more organization in my life and perhaps make it run a little smoother.

Year In Review

It's done.

This is how you know that Christmas is over.

I spent the day putting the tree away and cleaning up for all the hoopla. Still have not fully unpacked the car, but have to stop to get milk before picking up the kidlets. Why is it that a day spent doing chores goes by so quickly? Isn't it "fun" that is supposed to make time fly? 'cause cleaning toilets is not my idea of fun...

Speaking of fun...Is it just me or did the entire country experience a stomach virus in the week just prior to Christmas? I've seen blog posts, facebook updates, etc. all describing the worshipping of the porcelain goddess from just about everywhere. How weird is that?

Merry Christmas!

Celebrating

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
egg nog… with ice
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? 
one unwrapped under the tree with stockings
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
both. In the past I’ve been one of ‘those’ houses. This year, I just didn’t have time and had to let the idea go. There’s always next year.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
no point. and really, why leave a constant reminder as to why there is no point?
5. When do you put your decorations up?
November 1st? Ok, black friday. I really try to hold off until then.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
roasted goose. so traditional and so yummy.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
shopping with my mother and grandmother. we always had lunch at the department store restaurant (back when they had those) and it was very, very fancy.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I’m not really sure. I do remember going to sleep in my brother’s room as we were very excited about Santa coming… but I can’t remember for sure if that was the same year I had to put the presents out myself before they got up.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We open all of the gifts on Christmas Eve. It’s a family tradition. Christmas day is for visiting and playing.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
This year with lights and paper ornaments. I have boxes of ornaments that all have some special meaning – I don’t do theme trees or matchy-matchy ones. I find them a bit boring.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it! very disappointed that there currently is none.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. Not as well as I’d like to, but I can skate forwards and backwards. Stopping is sometimes an issue.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Barbie’s airplane. It had a passenger compartment and kitchenette. No cockpit. It was the early 70’s and Barbie was a stewardess.
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you?
family. even though they are crazy and make me crazy, it still wouldn’t be Christmas without them.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
cookies – all kinds
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
christmas lights
17. What tops your tree?
a lighted star, 1950’s retro
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
if they visited my wish list, receiving. Otherwise giving.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
This year it’s ‘Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella’ The old carols are always in the top 10 of favorites
20. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
yum!
21 Favorite Christmas Show?
any version of A Christmas Carol. I love the ending where Scrooge is running around making everyone happy and having the most fun doing it. Also, Fezziwig’s party sounds like da’ bomb, yo.

Too True

Illness Continues...

Or, Wherein I praise God for the writers of Finding Nemo.
Of course, the cuddler gave me his stomach virus, just in time for the annual preparations for the trip to the ol' homestead. I spent much of the weekend sanitizing myself so that Lala wouldn't be the next victim just in time for Santa's visit. Or rather, our visit to my parents house.
We're leaving tomorrow morning. That should have meant me packing, doing laundry and cleaning in preparation for the long trip. Instead I napped most of the day. As usual, I'll be rushing around in a panic tomorrow morning, leaving the house in a state of disaster and probably forgetting something important - not be realized until at least 100 miles away - like my wallet.
So far, the presents have been wrapped or packed. Snacks have been purchased. The kids have clothes to pack, although I do not. And they still need socks. We never have enough socks. No cuppies or food additives have been packed and the car hasn't been cleaned out for the trip. I also need to install the DVD player, get dog food and some how give the dog sitter the keys. And someone gave the cuddler a frosted sugar cookie, so he'll need a bath. All done before 10 am tomorrow.

101 Things in 1001 Days

1. get up early to exercise 31 days in a row
2. create a menu plan for a month and stick to it
3. do dishes every night before going to bed for 31 days in a row
4. visit NYC
5. organize front closet
6. organize desk
7. fix desktop computer
8. go on a camping trip
9. enter a 5k race
10. get rid of the baby clothes
11. throw an adoption completion party
12. paint kitchen cabinets
13. get a gas stove
14. post to blogs 3x's a week for six months
15. organize purse
16. purge kids toys
17. take more videos
18. go sledding
19. teach Lala to tie her shoes
20. potty training
21. hair cut
22. add more photos to blog posts
23. hang curtains in the cuddler's room
24. get doors for shelves in kitchen
25. go the hands on the museum 2x's a semester
26. sign Lala up for swim lessons
27. sign Lala up for dance lessons
28. get an electronic keyboard
29. take dog to dog training classes
30. do Visiting Teaching each month
31. get a nightly routine and stick to it
32. reduce the number of hours the TV is on
33. run a marathon
34. make a five year plan
35. create a family tree picture
36. learn to golf
37. learn to set tile
38. throw away bath stuff I won't use even if it is a waste done 19.12.09
39. renew my teaching certificate
40. read sense and sensibility
41. attend a renaissance festival
42. Take Lala to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
43. go on a date
44. re-read the Book of Mormon
45. no fast food for a month
46. stop drinking coffee
47. pay tithing in full
48. start every day with family prayer
49. do Family Home Evening
50. organize baby calendars and save
51. keep up with grading
52. go on a family picnic
53. organize files for medical reimbursement
54. install screen door for back porch
55. plant entire garden
56. keep up with weeding
57. create a budget
58. post one book review per month
59. create an emergency fund of $5000
60. write a short story
61. perform 20 Random of Acts of Kindness
62. loose 30 pounds
63. create a front porch “room”
64. email grandma ones a week for a year
65. take kids to fly kites
66. host a dinner party/game night
67. make a major chore schedule and stick to for 3 months
68. Re-do kitchen
69. Re-do Bathroom
70. go horseback riding
71. do a book pass
72. learn to make Challah
73. do a full Spring Cleaning
74. save $5000 for a new car
75. Learn SQL
76. Create a curriculum map for AP Classes
77. Sew a new dress
78. do a craft project with kids 2xs a month
79. Update first aid card
80. complete foster care training
81. learn to cook healthier dishes
82. pay off student loans
83. get a safety deposit box
84. get Lala a passport
85. Go to Shakespeare Festival
86. Keep up with laundry
87. use reusable bags for shopping 10xs
88. drink 8 glasses of H2O for 31 days
89. Teach Lala to snow ski
90. Visit yosemite park
91. start project 395
92. organize pantry
93. complete unfinished craft projects
94. submit an article for publication
95. save $5000 for moving expenses
96. Repaint the cuddler’s bedroom
97. Get a design plan for the living room
98. create a flower garden in front yard
99. write blog post every week
100. go on 10 hikes
101. take Lala camping

Vomitous

I'm one of those lucky moms... illnesses never show up around here until after 5 pm on Friday.

Yesterday it started with diarrhea yesterday, although not bad. Then, after a lunch of toast and applesauce, the cuddler awoke from his nap covered in vomit. Oh, yes... let the fun begin. I went to bed praying that this would just be a 24 hour bug. The cuddler was vomit free this morning until he has milk. And it started all over again. He's gone through about 5 shirts, 2 pairs of pjs and three sheets. Plus half of a jumbo sized lysol wipe container and I think I might just be on a Lysol high. Oh, and at least one melt down because Lala got to eat snack and he didn't.

Watching the first snowfall

I hate cleaning up vomit. It's so.... gelatinous. And smelly. Other than the vomit, he's acting like his normal self. Into everything, demanding that someone play with him, opening the gate, climbing the furniture.

Holiday Fun

When you are two, a gingerbread house may be a bit intimidating. Ok, when you are 40, a gingerbread house IS intimidating. All that precarious stacking and royal icing. Pastry bags! They never work like they do on TV!

A stackable tree shape on the other hand is eminently doable. Just plop down the cookie and some icing. No pastry bag required.

If you buy the kit, no cooking required. You do get tons of childhood memories and when you are two or 40, that is what’s really important.

What memories are you making this year?

Kids Play Kitchen Hack

Saturday I bit the bullet and headed up to Ikea. It’s about an hour and half drive – more if you miss your exit… twice.

I did however get some good stuff. I picked up some kids kitchen ware, new plates and bowls for the kids, silverware for the house, new curtains and a rug for the cuddler’s room, some stocking stuffers for the cuddler, some toddler safe tree decoration (at 25% off… they were so cheap that I saved a whopping $1.25!) and two new sheet sets for me. I also looked at the play kitchens. They did not have the cheaper one from the catalog and the one they did have was very short. The perfect size for the cuddler who is a normal 18 month old height. Lala, however, is about the size of your average 3 year old. She would have towered over it.

Just behind the play area I found this! The Trofast system of storage. It was the right height for Lala and with a sink placed on the and some burners, it would be a great kitchen. Plus all the food and dishes could be stored in the bins underneath.

When she grows out of it, we can return it to it’s natural storage system state for clothes or shoes or something. Kids always need more storage. It’s a twoferone buy.

This is recently played with end result. The sink was purchased online from somewhere I don’t remember. In fact, I purchased it last year… it’s one of the gifts that I was never able to give Lala and has been sitting in the closet forgotten. The burners are wooden plaques I got at JoAnns. I used a sharpie to color on the rings. Right now, they’re duct taped to the top of the cabinet. I told Lala, that they had to stay on the top. We’ll see how long it takes for the cuddler to rip them off. The cabinet was about $50, bins included. (Ikea sale item). The sink was $5, plus shipping and the ‘burners’ were $1.79 ea.

So far, it’s been a bit hit. I decided to give it to her, since A. I probably wouldn’t have time later this month to put the cabinet together and B. I’m sure as heck not driving it across the state and back while we are on our holiday pilgrimage.

We just have to find a place to put it. There will have to be some furniture shift tonight to find a new home.

Contests

Have you entered one those blog give aways? Have you ever won?

I, seriously, almost never win any raffles. In fact, my luck is so bad that I taint those around me. I did have someone tell me a trick to winning ticket raffles, but it only ever worked the days she told me… so perhaps her luck countermanded mine.

I do enter them. All the time. I’m usually commenter number 8,976 by the time I can get around to it, but I still do. It’s supposed to random right?

Today, I entered a contest win a Dyson D25. To enter, you comment why you would need this super expensive piece of household equipment. I wrote, “have two babies and a dog.” I think that pretty much explains how often I vacuum, sweep, mop and swiffer. Oh, yeah. That dog hair is insidious. I honestly believe my dog sheds an entire dog a day. I need super sucking vacuum!

I annoy myself!

Several months ago, there was a blog post by someone(?!?!?) about someone who did interior design consults using photos of your existing furniture and decor... it was way cooler than I'm describing it. The problem is that I don't remember who it was and cannot figure out where it was or even how to search for it.

I want to find it again but can't! Annoying!

Adoption Update

Lala is at a standstill. Her court date was postponed and has not been rescheduled. Will it happen before Christmas? Who knows... as the title says, "slow plodding". Some days it feels like this process will never be over. Other days I forget that there is even a process and just go on with life. The biggest lesson I've learned from this whole process is that life goes on; if you try to put it on hold waiting for something that you have no control over to happen, well... it's not a pretty picture. So we're just continuing on as if everything is done and hope that it will go that way at some point.

This weekend I'm heading to Ikea for Christmas gifts and hopefully a Lucia crown. If I can find a star boy hat I'd be really happy, but that's probably stretching it a bit. And I could probably make one pretty easy. I'm really luckyI'm still struggling as to what to purchase the cuddler for his stocking. Most of my ideas are objects that are too small for a kid who still puts everything in his mouth. Or will be eaten, like crayons. I just hope he doesn't graduate to paste eating.

Christmas Traditions

Kelly’s Korner “show us your life” request this past week was to show off your holiday traditions. Since this is my first holiday with kids that are ‘mine’, I read through dozens of the blog posts looking for ideas. And then I decided to most stick with what is familiar. A traditionalist at heart.

~ I usually put the tree up during Thanksgiving weekend. Since I have such busy little hands wanting to help this year, my brother held them off while I re-fluffed the branches. The lights are on it, but no ornaments. I’m not sure the cuddler could be held back… I might just stick with the wooden/reed ornaments.

~ This weekend I’ll tackle the outdoor display. I love outdoor displays. The more ostentatious, the better. Every year I buy something new to build the display. Last year, I bought timers and extension cords. Exciting, no? This year, a mechanical deer. I am exited about how the kids will react to seeing that.

~ The cookie making will have to start soon. I can’t wait to introduce Lala and the cuddler to exploding cookies, buckeyes and papa’s cookies. I’ve always made tons of cookies to give away (and eat!). Lala had such fun making the halloween cookies, I know she’ll love this tradition.

~ Dec. 13th is Saint Lucia Day. We will be getting up early, eating some buns and reading stories. At this point, Lala is a bit young for the lighted crown and I’m pretty sure that her CW would not approve.

~ We open presents on Christmas Eve. Plus the huge family party… it’s a smorgasbord of food, paper and people. Santa’s presents are left for Christmas morning, but that’s mostly stocking presents. Christmas day is more like a quiet family day, where we play and eat leftovers. We also track Santa’s progress via NORAD during the day. It’s possible that sleigh bells will be heard at night.

~ Stockings hold small presents like games, books, candy and an orange in the toe. No electronics.

~ The kids will be getting new Christmas jammies. I think it’s a cute tradition to start and everyone can use an extra pair of jammies!

~ A co-worker will be writing a letter to Lala from Santa. As her children have outgrown this particular tradition in her family, she sought out new recipients.

All in all, it’s going to be a fairly relaxing holiday season. The shopping is pretty much done, there’s plenty of time to bake, decorate and travel. My sister was even able to pick up a DVD player for the car ride on Black Friday.

It’s exciting, but everything is so new for the kids that anything I do is fantastic. That’s what makes the holiday the best time… seeing it through the eyes of a child.