Progress.... eh...

I'm certain no body reads this but me :) But although I haven't been posting, I have been working on me!

I have been very consistent with my exercise routine. It could use a shot in the arm, but consistent is better than non-existent.

My organization/cleaning quest has kind of become trying to keep the habits that I have put in place. Just last week we got new carpeting in half of the upstairs which... equals basically moving. I de-junked a TON of stuff and don't miss it a bit! I had the kids pitch in and help me scrub baseboards and wash walls. It feels so good!! I love the smell of clean carpet!!

With my quest of becoming a better person.... well... that's a long one!! I am trying so hard to pick my battles with the little people. I am trying to use kinder words and not be so quick to snap. Trying to learn what things work for which kids. They are so different and just when I figure one thing out the other child has to be completely opposite. Rude. It would be so much easier if one form of discipline and reward would work for all children... ugh. OH well... I actually feel like I am making progress in this department. Far from perfect, but better.

Something that I have also been working on is trying to be more frugal. That is not something that comes easily to me. If I see something I want, I feel like I should buy it. If I don't buy it I obsess over said item until I talk myself into buying it. I actually think I need some sort of 12 step program. Just being honest, here.... But Ross and I decided to bite the bullet and buy a truck and a camp trailer this year. It's something we've been wanting to do for a long time but never could make it work. We decided that if we really wanted to do it, it was now or never. If we didn't do it now, the kids would only be getting older and we would miss that precious time when they actually WANT to be with us and think we are cool. Those moments are rapidly running out!! So.. .we did it. But with that comes a large chunk of change each month heading out of the old bank account. We both said we would try to cut out our eating out habits to off set the payments a little :) So, I am. I am trying to take my lunches to work, planning meals better, etc. It's working. I feel good about it. This is a new feeling and I think I like it...

So there's the update on my life :)

35 ain't so bad!

The Potion That Changed My Life.... SWEAR!!!

My dearest friends. I am sure you are dying to know about this potion. It must be magical for the way it has affected my life. Yes. Yes it is and yes yes it has. It is no ordinary magical potion. It is the super awesome, cheap, homemade kind. The best kind!!!

My shower has always been a.... shameful thing. I love this shower. It is big, it is where I get clean...all the things a shower should do/be. However, I have never been able to get it all the way clean. Don't get me wrong, I clean it all the time but I don't think in 8 years of living in this house that I have ever finished cleaning it and felt like it was even remotely clean. I'm not sure if Santaquin has unusually hard water or what but that stuff is crazy! I had resigned myself to a life of nasty showerness. I can not even tell you how much money I have invested in "the next best thing" to clean this. Every product to remove soap scum, hard water build up. I own it. You name it, I have tried it, I own it. They don't work. Seriously.

So when I found this on Pinterest I figured, why not. I've tried everything else, I may as well try this one. With absolutely no expectations I gave it a shot.

It worked. It so worked!!! It worked crazy, awesome, amazingly well!! Seriously, it was pulling stuff off my floor and walls that had been there since the first shower, I swear. I am so beyond excited, I know. I really need to get a life. But in my progress to become a better housekeeper, this has like lifted my "Betty Homemaker" spirits so high I feel like I could do anything!!! Okay. Not really, but dang my shower sure is clean ;) So.....here it is.

Amazing Shower Cleaning Recipe

1 cup white warm vinegar (I just put mine in the microwave for about 1 minute)
1 cup BLUE Dawn dishsoap (apparently the color matters...)

-Pour both into a spray and mix gently. Spray to surface and let sit for 12 hours. (Honestly, mine only sat for 2 or 3 and it worked that well....)

-Wipe clean with a wet sponge and then rinse.

-Ta Da!!! Best shower ever!!!

Please try it and let me know what you think or if you have, please let me know what you think?

I think I will make a fresh batch each time, if the vinegar needs to be warm that is probably the best idea. I don't think I want to nuke dawn dish soap... you never know!!

(Yeah, I wasn't about to take a picture of my shower. I would never be able to be seen in public ever again. Oh the shame!)

Organization makes me smile!

I'm not sure if it is the invention and recent obsession with "Pinterest" or if it is just the fact that I have five people to keep organized and from drowning in "stuff" but organization makes me smile. Seriously. I have done nothing but organize for like a week. I am giddy about it. I absolutely can't help but smile in my heart when I open a drawer or open a cupboard and everything is in it's place. I know it won't last, but I have a moment of heart happiness. Love.

The tricky part to this is the fact that the older my kids get, the more responsibility they are given. Meaning, my 12 year old unloads the dishwasher and puts the dishes away. The older two are responsible for folding and putting away their own laundry. This is a double edged sword. It relieves a bit of my stress but also makes me twitch. I can organize until I drop but if no one else cares and doesn't respect the "bins" then it really doesn't matter..... any suggestions?? Seriously. Because if the beauty that is my pantry isn't beautiful tomorrow....some one's gonna die. But seriously. Seriously.

I am in the process of revamping my pantry and found some cool ideas.... of course from Pinterest but they are in the making (thanks to my handy dandy retired father in law who loves projects). I just might post a picture of my pantry on here. For me... that is huge.

p.s. who ever named it the junk drawer? That just screams disorganization and crap drawer. I am thinking or renaming it the organized and pretty drawer... think it'll work? Oh well. I will sleep well tonight knowing the my powdered sugar is pretty and my fruit snacks are separated from my granola bars....

Here Goes Everything!

Welcome to my little project. This year I will turn 35. Well... in 31 days exactly. This morning while laying in bed I realized that, in all reality, my life is half over. Scary. It made my stomach turn a little bit. I have an amazing life. I am so lucky and so blessed. What have I done to make it more awesome or to show my Heavenly Father how thankful I am for it and how his blessings have not been given in vein.

Enter my project. I have decided that my half life birthday year will be spent in bettering myself. In lots of ways. I realize that in one year, most of my life will remain exactly the same. But the things I am hoping to change/ work on / improve on I hope will have changed my life and outlook on life for the better.

I am one of those people that is always looking for the next thing that is going to make me happy. I'll be happy when..... Well...guess what? That 10 pounds will probably never go away, I will probably continually stick my foot in my mouth, my children will probably still be disobedient and I will never have the perfect body.

Today I decided that it's okay. All I need to do is try and that the outcome of things is up to God but my reaction to these things is what makes me the kind of person I am. I'm ready to change. I'm ready to be more patient, more kind, more giving, more understanding of others, less judgemental and just more Christlike.

Here goes nothing.....

Here are some of the things I am hoping to work on this year.

-Being more grateful for what I have and recognizing how blessed I am
-Being a more 'hands on' mom
-Spending more time serving others
-Making cleaning and organizing a daily habit
-Becoming more spiritually satisfied

Thanks for joining me on my journey. Any comments are welcome, just be nice :)