Getting it Under Control

Life is on cruise control. I suppose that's a good thing, but it's pretty much same old, same old every day. To attempt to get myself more organized, I'm starting up FlyLady next week. I also plan on getting up fifteen minutes earlier, one week at a time until I'm up an hour earlier in the morning. THAT time I plan on using for writing.

I do well with specific lists of things to do. It keeps me focused (and I really love lining through the stuff I've done). So the night before, I'm going to write up a to-do list that includes my work, house cleaning (because, despite the jokes I hear running around the internet, that's not optional here at all) and writing. Surely I can find time for it all if I scheduled it in.

I also plan on scheduling daily walks, and some fun time at least now and then (Mom -- you listening? That's a movie or lunch *G*).

I hope it helps me feel a bit more in control of things... I don't like feeling out of control.

Sunday, DD and I (along with my mom) are going to have a table set up at a local animal shelter's fundraising event. DD will be selling her jewelry, of course, but she's also making special animal themed earrings, charm bracelets and bookmarks. My mom has been killing herself making crocheted dog sweaters and cross-stitched magnets. You'll be seeing her stuff up on DistinctivelyDD as we begin to branch out into other items (and multiple crafters ... I'm planning on getting stuff up there eventually, too... in my spare time).

Yesterday, Lexie ventured as far as the top of the basement stairs on her own. DD is frustrated and wants her to be upstairs NOW. She tried carrying her up, but Lexie just freaked out and ran back downstairs. I've tried explaining that critters do things in their own time and to be patient. Patience is not one of the things she's been blessed with...

No big plans for the weekend, other than Sunday. Anyone of you have something cool you're doing?

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You Are a Detroit Pizza

You are comfortable around others. You are equally at ease with strangers and friends. You are outgoing and easy to get along with. You are very congenial. People admire your courage and determination. You are nervy and undaunted. You are a square peg, but you never try to fit in with all the round pegs. You're happy being square.

What's City's Pizza Are You?

That's about right.

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Monday Meandering

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat. ~Author Unknown

I've been reading online about how folks down south (like Tori and Brandy) got snow this weekend and just have to laugh. Here I sit, only a few hours from the Canadian border and ... nothing. Forget global warming, I think our poles are shifting...

It's been clear and quite cold. There is ice on the sides of the road and on my lawn, making it nearly impossible to give Dakota any exercise. She was bouncing off the walls this weekend, so yesterday morning, we decided to crash the Sunday agility class and get her some exercise.

It was fun -- I got to see some folks I hadn't seen in a really long time. Dakota had a hard time focusing (so did DD who was running her), but we still accomplished what we'd come for. She was at least a little tired when we left.

Today, I'm starting to really follow FlyLady. I need to focus and get done what needs getting done, and her system is really great. For Monday, she has what's called "home blessing".

From the FlyLady website:

On Mondays, The Weekly Home Blessing hour is the time FlyLady spends blessing her home. No detailed cleaning required; vacuum the middle of the floors only! The time on this can depend on the size of your home, could take less than an hour or more than an hour but on average about an hour. Set your timers and have fun - you are blessing your home and family!

FlyLady sets her timer for 10 minutes to work on each of 7 ways to bless your home:

Vacuum
Dust
Quick Mop
Polish Mirrors and Doors
Purge magazines/catalogs
Change Sheets
Empty all trash cans

Easy enough (except the quick mop ... when you have pets, you can't just mop the floor... too much hair). I'm going to do it in reverse order so I can get the garbage outside for the garbage guys to pick up, and I don't have magazines or catalogs to purge, so that's one less thing.

I'm kinda excited to clean my house. How weird is that?

Happy Monday all!

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You Are Compassion

You are not a petty person. You truly want the best for people, and you feel empathy for them in their struggles. You believe that we are all interconnected. When someone is happy, it makes you more joyful. You believe that you have gained a great deal of freedom from not judging others. You don't believe that anyone should have to suffer. It pains you to see others living a hard life.

Which of the Four Divine States Are You?

Hmmm... yeah, mostly, I guess...

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This, That and The Other

A bargain ain't a bargain unless it's something you need. ~ Sidney Carroll

For those of you on Google Reader -- this WAS posted yesterday, but I remembered Elaine was coming by, so I pulled it. Bonus: you get yesterday's post AND add-ons for today :-)

Moving on ...

I had my cranky-pants on Tuesday and had to make a concerted effort to be pleasant. It must have worked, because at one point DD said, "Did you wake up in a good mood?" -- understand, I'm not exactly an effervescent person, even on a good day, lol. So, I guess my acting skills are still working!

The dog was full of it too, so we swung by the dog park on the off chance someone was there with their dog. There were two guys there with a pointer and a German Shepherd mix -- both really active, good-natured dogs. And the three of them ran. And ran. And ran. And ran. Finally, Dakota flopped down on the ground and refused to move. I figured that was our cue to leave! LOL...

We went to the dog park again VERY briefly yesterday as well. We were a little early for a nearby appointment, so killed fifteen minutes there. This time there was a Wheaten Terrier and a little mutt terrier, both of which were utterly disinterested in playing. Dakota gave it her best try, but was ignored while they simply wandered around and sniffed. :-(

The weather has been so pleasant lately. Still warm, but less so and less humid as well. It's been nice to be able to get outside with feeling as though my innards were cooking. Today, they're calling for rain off and on all day. We already had one little cloudburst, which was very nice. We desperately need it, so bring it on!!

I'm still working on my writing. I haven't been saying much about it because it seems as though every time I mention a project by name, or in any detail, I hit a wall! Not that I'm superstitious or anything (nope, not me).

FlyLady is going okay, too, except I have to admit that I don't get up and get dressed first thing in the morning (which is one of her basic rules). I can't. I get up before the crack of dawn and DH sleeps for another few hours. Other that that, I've been keeping the sink clean, doing other cleaning in 15 minute bursts (I love my timer!!) and mostly staying on top of stuff.

The timer thing really works when I apply it.

DD has been writing reviews for the Aurora site. The first couple, I interviewed her about the books and wrote up the review based on what she said. This last one, I opened up her other reviews, reminded her of our basic "rules" (opening hook, positive closing, very little synopsis -- tell us what you did or didn't like, not what the book is about ... we post the blurb, so don't need that) and let her go. It took her three days of working a couple hours each day, but she presented me with a review yesterday that was really, really quite well done. Except for a couple grammar/punctuation issues, it's turnkey! I'm so proud.

I can't believe we'll be starting back to school in a month. I also can't believe she's in junior high. Where does the time go? We're going to hit Staples for some back-to-school office supply shopping (I have an office supply fetish, I really, really do. Just walking into the store makes me all tingly). One good thing about homeschooling -- I buy her clothes when she needs them, not at the whim of the calendar.

I remember when I was little, I used to have a budget of $100 for my back to school clothes shopping. That included undies, shoes and socks! I usually ended up with something like one pair of pants, a few shirts and a dress (plus "necessaries"). Can you imagine spending only $100 today? I went to Kohl's a couple days ago (after we purged DD's clothes, and I realized she had ONE pair of pants/capris that fit her!) to get DD some capris. Oy. Vey. She's in women's sizes now, and the prices kill me.

Ah well. Them's the breaks.

Do you like shopping for anything in particular? Anyone else have an office supply fetish? What do you remember about school shopping from when you were young?

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You Are SPF 15

You enjoy the sun as much as most people. You aren't outdoorsy, but you enjoy the outdoors from time to time. You tend to limit your sun exposure. A little goes a long way for you, and you don't like to overdo things. You are strongly prefer indoor activities, away from bugs and the elements. And if you're going to be outdoors for too long, you always seek out the shade.

What's Your SPF?

That's pretty much right.