A Fun Food Challenge

I mentioned over the weekend that it is the halfway mark for 2017 so here is a little fun for you.  

It was published on New Year's as a food challenge for 2017 from PopSugar but it is not too late.  

I just found it myself!  Here ya go.... have fun!!!

Fresh Start... a brand spanking new month

September seems to be one of those months where we all get a clean slate... a fresh start... a new beginning.  I read an article called September is Our Other January by Gretchen Rubin.  I totally agree!  I agree so much I ordered a used copy of her book entitled Happier at Home.  I decided to read her books backwards.  Ha!  I started with her book on habits and might actually wind up with her happiness book before it is all said and done.  My plan is to work through it during the school year starting with.... you guessed it... the month of SEPTEMBER!  It should arrive by the end of this week.  It was back ordered so that must mean someone else had the same plan as I do.  

This month is full of plans so here is the list I am striving to accomplish this month.

I have restarted Flylady...

yes, again!  

Stop laughing...  

I know I am ADD but it is in my Bullet Journal now so it WILL get done!  

I am home days by myself now and I can actively work through the Flylady daily tasks and weekly challenges along with the deep cleaning lists she has on her website.  It helps that I have her book also.  I picked it up a few years ago and started reading through it when I realized she was referencing another book in it.  The book is called Sidetracked Home Executives.  I rushed to the library to find that book instead and read it cover to cover in about three days.  It totally prepared my thinking for the Flylady plan and I have been ruminating on it since that time.  I don't like the cards as much as the printed list so I prefer Flylady's Control Journal instead.  I have slowly made changes but I think I want to speed the process along more this year with all this "free" time on my hands.  

Hope you caught that sarcasm there...  ;)  I seem busier with the children and hubby out of the house than with them in the house!  It is a totally baffling turn of events.  

I have set up my days a little better this week and have added a structured Bible reading/walking/cleaning routine to my mornings.  The Bible part is the easiest surprisingly, because it was already a pretty standard habit. The walking is the hardest so far... but I enjoy that thinking time very much.  I am sore and a bit more tired in the afternoons from it but the old body will adjust soon enough.  It helps with the arthritis to move first thing in the mornings in a purposeful exercise oriented way.  

The habit of each thing is the key.  As Rubin states in her book on habits, the starting of a new habit takes thought and work but once it becomes a real habit it goes to cruise control.  I am hoping for cruise control mornings so I can enjoy some fun projects and down time in the afternoons soon.  The evenings are still hectic as we try to get everyone into the habit of coming home, grabbing a snack and getting to work on homework until dinner and then back to it after dinner.  After such a sporadic summer it is taking some time to work into that again.  

For the month of September I have four review books to finish and one that is done but needs a post for later in the month.  I need to set some exercise goals and make a plan for a sewing project that does not include sewing patches on a uniform!  LOL  The patches kill me... I have two to do today.  These Boy Scouts are earning them faster than I can put them on.  I have yarn and I know how to use it... I just need to get to it!  

As for the me time.... I have found a few things I will be enjoying in the afternoons while I fold clothes and crochet soon.  I am a HUGE Inspector Morse fan.  I like the spin off of that series, too, with his partner... Inspector Lewis.  The books were written by Colin Dexter and the BBC filmed the series years ago but there is a new one.... a young Morse as a Constable and it is called Endeavour.  I AM IN LOVE WITH THAT SHOW!!!  There are two seasons (8 episodes) up on Amazon Prime and I am hoping the third will be added soon.  I also found out that 

I also have a series that got past me a few years ago but now that I have discovered them they will be coming through Netflix DVD in the mail...  Lark Rise to Candleford.  As one of my friends says, "Those shows with the long dresses and British accents...."  She is more of a kill it, scare it, blow it up kind of girl.  LOL  She keeps trying to add Zombies to my life.... no thanks!  ;)

I have rambled enough for one day...  time to work the plan I am trying to start this month.  

For all the books I will be reviewing you can find them in the right hand column as you scroll down.  As I review them I will remove them from there and add new ones as they come.  I am hoping to get caught up and do some "for fun" reading, too, this month.  I enjoy the review books but I have a huge stack of other things I want to read, too.  

I am always taking video and book suggestions so feel free to leave me comments with your suggestions or questions or anything really... anytime.

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely week!

New Habits and Looking Ahead...

The book I just finished (and reviewed) has sparked some changes.  

Here are some things I have learned about myself in the process of reading this book.... Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, The following is from my notes:

There are four basic tendencies that most people fit into.  To get a full explanation of all of what I am about to share you should totally just get the book and read, by the way.  LOL  

Four Basic Tendencies

1.  Upholder - meets outer and inner expectations (this is my husband)

2.  Questioner - resists outer expectations but meets inner expectations

3.  Obliger - meets outer expectations but resists inner expectations

4.  Rebel - resists outer and inner expectations (this is my oldest son...  LOL no, seriously, it is!)

I am clearly a Questioner with a little Rebel tendency but Questioner wins out over Rebel if there is a question in my mind between the two.  I always go with my inner expectations.  That tendency of meeting inner expectations for me includes what I feel God is leading me toward in my life.  God and His word are part of my inner expectations.  That is how it works out for me but other people don't phase me... I am great at saying no.  My husband is not so great at saying no and loads his plate to overflowing a lot.  He is drawn toward keeping everyone and everything in balance.  I am willing to let go of a rope if I need to if it is not life threatening... he hangs on with dear life because he is expected to.  It explains a lot about our relationship!  LOL

Once I realized that about myself it has made some other areas of my life make more sense.  As I worked through the next chapter on Different Solutions for Different People I began to see some clear cut lines, too.  My husband and I are often opposites in these areas but here is my list.

*   I am a Lark - I tend to lean toward morning person when allowed to follow my own patterns.  My husband is an Owl but forces himself to work in both zones to get it all done.  I am working on working with my natural tendencies more over this coming semester.  I have already implemented an "earlier to bed, early to rise" policy for me.  I am now telling him that he can stay up if he would like but I need to go to bed.  

*  I am a procrastinator who is working toward being a Marathoner instead of a Sprinter.  Now, this has nothing to do with running... because I don't do that anymore!  Ha!  It has everything to do with how we approach a task.  I tend to put things off but, for me, the most helpful would be to spread out a larger task and eat the elephant one bite at a time.  I have been moving more and more toward this approach over the last several years but I also have an explanation for the procrastination now.  That is coming shortly in this list.... hold on.  

*  I am an underbuyer... I tend to only buy something when I need it and delay spending well (except with books sometimes).  My husband is an overbuyer and hangs onto things he thinks he might need later.  If I don't need it or have not used it then I am totally willing to let it go ASAP.  My husband has been known to hold onto things for the entire duration of our marriage whether he needs it or not.  It is just the difference in our approach.

  

*  I am a simplicity lover.... the simpler the better.  I don't love an abundance of anything except maybe books but even those are getting culled in the reality of knowing that I cannot read everything so I want to read my favorites.  Less is more for me... I love bare surfaces and empty uncluttered rooms.  I have not been convinced that any of my children are like me in this regard.  It wears me out!  

Ok, are you ready for why I procrastinate? 

*  I am a finisher and not a starter.  I have the hardest time starting a project and often get overwhelmed at the thought of it but once I get started I will finish ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I HAVE STARTED!  I cannot NOT finish!!!  It is not in me! (with the exception of a book I am hating... I won't waste my time finishing those anymore but I cannot, honestly, say it does not haunt me a little at first) LOL  I love the feeling of finishing... closing a book... getting a drawer cleaned out... finishing a project or term paper... the end of a semester is totally my favorite and so on and so on!  Dan is a starter with a shelf full of started project lists and notebooks but none of them are finished.  God is so funny pairing us together like that.  LOL  There have been times he has had to push me to start and I have had to push him to finish something.  We are a funny pair.  

*  I love familiarity.... this is where Dan and I agree.  We could both watch the same movies, eat the same food, read the same books over and over and over.  New is nice but familiar is our favorite.

*  I am also prevention focused as opposed to promotion focused... I try to make life as comfortable as possible for me and for those around me.  I see the big picture and the problems before they happen.  I love a good well thought out plan where I have contemplated all the fathomable possibilities of what could go wrong along the way.  I sometimes miss things but it is not from lack of trying to catch it all before we start.  

*  I take everything in small steps... EV.ER.Y.THING!!!  Big steps freak me out!

All of this works together to help me figure out how to approach habits old and new.  Knowing that I am a finisher and not a starter helps me to see why I am procrastinating and then I am able to make a marathon plan because I like smaller steps and not one giant big step of sprinting to attack bigger projects and habits in my life.  I do my best work in the mornings so I need to put the harder stuff up front and plan for some downtime and familiarity later in the day.  Since I am a prevention focused person I rely heavily on calendar/bullet journals, list making and planning charts to work out what needs to be done.  Also, since I am an underbuyer, menu planning and list making are my best friends when it comes to getting only what we need for the week ahead for meals or for a shopping trip for a project.  I will locate things off the list I already have around the house so I will not double buy things I don't need.  See... they work together!  It makes me feel less insane for my choices knowing these things and then seeing how the rest of my family works helps us to work together better, too.  

So, today... I am making some plans for August... writing in my Bullet Journal, lists of the books I need to get read... menus that need to be made... planning some bigger cleaning and clearing projects to make my life more simple and familiar.  I am implementing some new habits for a new school year and planning for the kids to have what they need to get back to school in an organized fashion.  

What are you planning for August? Is your mind on the "back-to-school" planning?  Are you changing jobs or going back to school yourself?  What does August look like for you?

Also, do not forget the Austen in August Challenge I shared a few days ago!  I am on the list for hosting a giveaway and if you are not signed up for the challenge on the official post on their website you will not be eligible so go... NOW... and sign up so you can enter my giveaway around the middle of August!  You have to be registered to win any of the giveaways.  Even if you don't read much just enter for the fun that comes with the challenge... but I hope you read, too!  :)

The "Do Summer" Post

School ends in 3 days.... 2 days for the teens and youngest and 3 days for Dan the Band Directing Man.

That means we need a plan.

In steps Jon Acuff and his brilliant mind with a plan tailor made just for our ever learning family.

Our children don't look forward to summer so they can play video games and sleep late.  Well, the sleeping late part might be a dream but Dan is not one to let them sleep in.  He rumbles through the house every morning with phrases like... "You're burning daylight!"  or "Never know you kids were farm bred the way you sleep in!"  He says, "If you want to sleep more go to bed earlier!"  LOL  Yep... he is a taskmaster.

Our kids look forward to uninterrupted music practice and reading books.  They look forward to time to work on projects they have been putting off because of the piles of homework.  They look forward to scout camps and youth camps and mission trips and odd jobs to earn money for band fees.  They spend time at the pool or hiking, biking, running, working out, etc... They are hard working kids.

That is not to say they are in any way perfect.... there are teen discipline issues that rear their ugly head from time to time and I am still working out the parenting on that on a daily basis.  Each one is very different from the other so they all need their own approach.  It is tiring...  no doubt, but lazy and bored, they are not.

Sure, there are the odd moments when we catch them watching a Rhett and Link or Jimmy Fallon Hashtag video on youtube.com or playing a quick game of Trivia Crack with each other or a friend but they don't hang out online much.

Our youngest is the only one who ever asks to play a video game but that is because he is the only one who OWNS any... he is a Legomaniac with the video game stack to prove it.  The only problem (to him anyway) is that he plays fewer games.... almost none, really, in the summer while everyone is home to keep him company.

So, Jon Acuff.... he has a plan.... a Do Summer Plan for the whole family.

We have printed off the paperwork and now everyone has to choose something to work on specifically for 15 minute increments each day between today and September 8.  It can be anything they want to learn more about or get better at.  It can be specified music practice or reading a specific book or books.  It could be learning more about something they are interested in or working on a skill like reading or learning a language.  It could be picking up a new instrument for the summer.... in my daughter's case it could be guitar or Ukulele.  Anything they want for 15 minutes increments for 3 months until they hit 25 more more hours spent doing it or learning it or whatever...

I have decided to kick my Korean studies into high gear because I don't know if we will even have a teacher in the fall and I want to build the habit of studying on my own.  I am shooting for 30 minutes a day.  Sure, I have other goals, too, but Korean will be my timed project for the next three months.  My goal is to begin to have some light conversations with people at church to practice and to this point I am still not able to do that.  I have some vocabulary but am still bumfuzzled (yes, this is a real word) by the grammar and putting it all together.  I am about to change all of that starting today!

So, to make it official...

Specific - Learning Korean Basic Language through a variety of methods...  learning video from YouTube, Audio Language Learning on my ipod, flashcards for vocabulary, reading Korean texts, translating specific words in my Korean Bible as I learn to make those connections.

Measurable - I will be able to increase my vocabulary by at least 10 new words per week and keep track of the time spent in study.

Attainable - by using a variety of methods and practicing in 15 minute increments this should be fully attainable

Relevant - to learn to speak Korean and communicate with Korean people from our church makes this a very necessary and relevant skill to have.

Time Based - 15 minute increments for 3 full months for 25 or more hours practice should bring this skill into better use by Autumn of 2015.  At that time I will reevaluate my lessons and prepare to increase my knowledge in a new plan next semester.

Do you want to join me?

Do you have a plan for summer for you and your family?

Feel free to share with me in the comments or if you write a post about it please leave a link for me to be able to check out what you are up to, too!

Let's make this summer count!

#dosummer

A New Month... a New Plan

Tomorrow I start the Whole30 plan.  I have decided to do the Autoimmune Protocol version for those who have Autoimmune issues (Lupus is one).  It is also Lupus Awareness Month so I will be sharing some stuff on that, too.

Goals for May...

1.  Restarting the 100 Days of Change challenge and the first 30 days will be Whole30 for eating.  I am restarting an exercise program, too.  Pilates, some walking, and light weight training.

2.  Choose four areas to clean and clear... one per week, and work through clearing and purging more stuff from the house.  There will be photos.

3.  Drink 64 to 80 ounces of water per day

4.  Read at least 50 pages in a book other than the Bible every single day.

5.  Continue with BIAY Bible reading plan on YouVersion.  I have a few days to catch up but I can do that tomorrow and Saturday and then be back on track.

6.  Whole30 requires detailed meal planning and shopping and I will be reserving one day per week to cook meals ahead of time.

7.  Blog at least 3 days per week.

8.  I just joined a few book reviewer sites and will be reading and reviewing more books each month.  I am very excited about this prospect!

9.  Get herb garden and tomato and pepper garden in order for the summer.  There will be photos here, too.

10.  Photograph something every day.... no particular themes just take more pictures and share them here, Instagram or FB.

Ten is plenty!

Do you have some goals for May?

What are you working on improving in your world this coming month?

Someone had a birthday yesterday 

(Dan turned 50) 

and we celebrated with Dr. Pepper Chocolate Cake.  Thought you might like to see it.  It was so rich and yummy.  It doesn't take a very big piece to overload your sweet sensors.

Cake and frosting made with Dr. Pepper in them

This cake took me about two hours start to finish and I refrigerated it to solidify all that frosting so it would not run.

Such a yummy cake!  We will be having this one again.

Give it 100

Tomorrow starts a challenge for me with a small local group of friends.  We are committing to some personal goals for the next 100 days. We are losing weight, getting healthier, saving money, working out, eating better, etc.... We are checking in with each other and encouraging each other to keep going... moving toward our personal success.

The challenge is based on this site - https://giveit100.com/

Some tools I am using along the way include but are not limited to...

www.sparkpeople.com

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/

Off to bed to get an early start tomorrow... it will be a walking day.

More to come as I move through this challenge.