{beef & kimchi stew with kelp noodles}

click through to see the recipe and step by step instructions.

Tonight I made a new dish, Beef & Kimchi Stew with Kelp Noodles.  It was a hit!  

Well it was a hit with the husband, myself and the 3 year old, the 7 and 8 year olds passed.  The dish was very easy to put together and the flavors were smooth and spicy.  I could have eaten the entire recipe myself.

I have had a long love affair with kimchi.  Kimchi is a traditional fermented Korean dish made of vegetables with a variety of seasonings.  There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with a main vegetable ingredient such as napa cabbage, radish, scallion or cucumber.*  Kimchi has a reputation of clearing out the room when opened, with it's fermented scent.  While this may be the case in some instances my experience with King's kimchi and Grateful Harvest (a homemade kimchi I found at Market of Choice) showed that while kimchi has a distinct aroma, it is far from overwhelming.  I love the taste of it, crunchy, bright and sparkly.  Kimchi is also very good for you.  Per wikipedia*; 

                Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber, 

                while being low in calories. One serving also provides over 50% of the daily 
                recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene. Most types of kimchi contain 
                onions, garlic, and chilli peppers, all of which are salutary. The vegetables 
                being made into kimchi also contribute to the overall nutritional value. Kimchi is 
                rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B₁), riboflavin (B₂), calcium, and iron, and contains 
                a number of lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical specie Lactobacillus kimchi. 
               Health magazine named kimchi in its list of top five "World's Healthiest Foods" for 
               being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.

Long story short...eat more kimchi (but I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist so please don't take me as one)!

Before this recipe I had never heard of kelp noodles.  These noodles are becoming increasingly popular among raw foodies and paleo enthusiasts.  As the name suggests they are made from kelp and are gluten free & vegan.  They are a glassy noodle with a terrific crunch when raw and a smooth bite when simmered.  They are very low in calories and fats, while high in trace minerals.  They were perfect in this recipe and I am looking forward to eating them again!

*wikipedia

I was not compensated for my opinion.  Neither King's or Grateful Harvest know who I am...but if they want to send me Kimchi I wouldn't say no.

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{perseverance}

Since I started this journey to optimal health I have been pretty focused.  I've strayed a few times but have been able to retrain my brain to jump right back on plan.  In the past when I was on a diet (my program isn't a diet) and 'screwed up' I would do one of two things; not eat the rest of the day or I would say "oh well, I'll start again tomorrow" and then eat whatever I wanted the rest of the day.  Both of these approaches are counter productive and not physically or mentally healthy.

I don't know if it was a little bit of 'plan fatigue,' working for so long towards a goal that I wanted to have a break or what, but last weekend I made the decision to go off plan all weekend.  I ate and drank whatever I wanted all weekend, and it was mostly junk.


BOY WAS THAT A BAD IDEA!!!


Here is a list of what I noticed:
1. I no longer felt I had control over myself.  
2. I was ravenous all the time.
3. My stomach hurt.
4. I was irritable.
5. I slept poorly and was very hot during the night.
6. I woke up tired.
7. I gained 8 pounds.
8. I was very bloated, my rings and flip flops left imprints in my skin.
9. I was sad I did it.
10. It wasn't worth it.
11. I was more motivated than ever to get back on plan (and stay there).

When I started I made a commitment to myself that I would be in this for life.  This is a journey NOT a destination, and there will be peaks and valleys and hardships and triumphs, and every time I fall I will get right back up and move forward.

  

Read more about my journey here.  If you would like to learn more about my plan please visit www.bodymindwellnesscoach.com Pin It

{wiww: maxi edition}

I love maxi skirts.  L.O.V.E. them.  They are my answer to sweat pants.  I always feel so comfortable yet put together when I wear them.

Six years ago I started suffering from severe eczema all over my body, primarily on my legs and face.  I went through treatment and have now been flare up free for over a year, although I have to be careful.  Unfortunately my legs were left pretty scarred (I would scratch them to the point of blood in my sleep) and I feel more comfortable with them covered.  Maxi's are perfect.  

I have found several I love at Target, and even bought some in smaller sizes to be able to wear later in the summer as I continue to lose weight (I love my plan!).

Shaping Cami - Target

V-Neck Maxi - Target

{mirror was NOT as clean as I thought it was...keeping it real here folks!}

In other news...I HAVE A WAIST AGAIN!  <3 <3 <3

The husband says I am very noisy when I walk around in this dress...I don't care...I have a waist!

Here are some more maxis that I love...

via Anthropologie

I love this one from Anthro.  The pattern is so fun and I love the sweetheart neckline.  I'm a little to busty right now to feel comfortable in this top but on the right figure it would be cute.

via Etsy

How amazing is this one?!?!  That embroidery detail is beautiful!  This would be great for church, a baby/bridal shower, even a summer wedding.  It feels very vintage to me and makes me think of the beautiful clothes women used to wear (if you are like me and have a fascination errr obsession with historical fashion check out The Ornamented Being on Tumblr - Lyze is amazing and I have learned so much from her).  

via g*rated

I love red/white/blue and the belt over the sweater thing that g*rated did here.  This is the effortless, casual, everyday look that I love.

via Alternative Outfitters

These are not a maxi dress {duh...heehee} but I love everything about them.  I think I'm going to add them to my rewards list as I hit weight loss goals.

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{soft boiled eggs w/roasted asparagus & spinach}

A few months ago I was enjoying a particularly yummy lunch, one that I had just thrown together at the last minute because I was very hungry.  I decided to take a picture of it and text it to my sweet friend, Stephanie...yes...I take pictures of my food and send them to friends.  She invited me to share the recipe with her readers!

Today I ran across the pictures from that post.  I thought it sounded good for lunch.  It is low in calories, high in protein, and very filling - a win win WIN in my book!  The eggs were overcooked - oops - but still tasty - and I added a small quartered tomato for some color and flavor!  This is a great post workout meal and/or if you are super super hungry.

Click through to Stephanie's blog to see the step by step recipe and nutritional information.  

Don't forget to check out her other healthy recipes!

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{wwiw: what I wore wednesday}

yes...I do realize that it is Thursday...I actually JUST realized this...*sigh*

In an effort to make myself more presentable each day I thought I'd start showing you what I wear on a regular basis.  I follow a few bloggers who do this and I love seeing everyones styles. 

 Top - Old Navy (not available)

Lace Trimmed Shaping Cami - Costco 

Pants - Old Navy

As I move through my 'heavy' wardrobe you are going to see a lot of black (and probably this outfit again).  I'm running out of clothes that fit but I don't want to go buy new ones quite yet.  Yes, I am wearing sweat pants.  They are just SO comfy and I like to wear them! 

I must have taken 100,000,000 pictures and this was the only one that turned out.  My biggest problem is that I do not have a full length mirror and so was using a wall mirror that is currently waiting to be hung up...and I couldn't seem to hold still...and yada yada yada.  So I don't have a cute pose and you can't see my face but I promise I did wash it today and even put on some makeup and earrings.  My hair is down and the sides are twisted back.  I just started doing this and as my hair gets longer (it is about mid collar bone) I really like how it looks.

As I continue to move towards ultimate health I like to think of my dream wardrobe.  I love this outfit from Lilly's Style (she has the BEST clothes!).  This is how I would like to dress on those days I don't have a lot going on outside the house but want to look cute in case I have to go somewhere or someone comes to the door.

via Lilly's Style

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{taking control}

Funny how life happens...

When I got married 12 years ago I was 127lbs and had a 26 inch waist.  I never 'dieted' or watched what I ate and my exercise routine was anemic.  I ate what I wanted and stopped when I was full.  It wasn't a conscience thing...I just did it.  I would go out to eat and have 1/3 of my dinner and then eat the rest over the next couple of days.  

Over the next 12 years I went up and down with my weight.  I tried different programs with different levels of success.  This past January I found myself at my top weight ever...246lbs.  I was humiliated.  How could I let this happen?  I needed a plan, an easy to follow plan that would be safe, healthy and effective.

Last summer a friend of mine, our children were in the same classes at school, shared that she had started a program.  I followed her story with great interest and saw she was losing a lot of weight and feeling fantastic.  I was so inspired by her and asked how she was doing it.  I was familiar with her plan, I knew it was a safe, clinically proven plan that I could be successful on.  It took me another 3 months to actually commit and signup.  My friend became my health coach.  She held my hand and answered my questions and guided me along the way (she still does).  In the last year she has lost 145 lbs, so amazing!  In the last 4+ months I have lost 43 lbs and I feel great!  I am sleeping great and have tons and tons of energy.  

I believe in this plan so much that I decided to become a health coach too.  It is so rewarding to help others on this journey to ultimate health.  We are all so different and it helps so much to have someone walk with you along the path.

This is my FIRST before/after picture.  

38 lbs & 5 waist inches - GONE!

I have lost an additional 5 lbs since this picture was taken.  I've struggled to stay on the plan this past month, old habits die hard, but it is getting easier.  I am in this for the long haul.  My husband was so inspired by my own success that he started the plan today!  I would love to help other people too.  If you want to hear more about my program email me at bodymindwellnesscoach@gmail.com. Pin It

{menu: May 21-27}

This is a big week coming up.  I will be sharing some exciting things that have been happening around here, including more about how I've lost 43 lbs since January 15th!

Here is our dinner menu for the week.

Monday:
     Kids: Steaks || Salad
     B&M: Steaks || Grilled Veggies
Tuesday:
     Kids: Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken || Rice || Broccoli
     B&M: Spicy Peanut Chicken with Broccoli & Tofu Noodles
Wednesday:
     Kids:  Tacos || Salad || Chips
     B&M: Taco Salad
Thursday:
     Kids: Leftovers!
     B&M: Salmon Salad
Friday:
     Kids: Creamy White Chicken & Artichoke Lasagna || Salad || Fresh Bread
     B&M: Date Night!  (celebrate 12 years of marriage!)
Saturday:
     Kids: Leftovers!
     B&M: Sweet Chili Lime Tofu w/Spinach
Sunday:
     Kids: Homemade Pizza || Salad
     B&M: Spicy Beef Stew with Kimchi & Kelp Noodles Pin It

{Insecurity}

via nataliessentiments 

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{butterflies}

Have a beautiful Sunday!

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{Christmas Prints}

I bought these a couple months ago to frame pictures of my children for the wall in the guest room/library.  I ended up doing something different on that wall so I casually put two of them above the bookshelves in my office.  I really liked the height they added to the room.

So I decided to create a couple quick prints to fill them for Christmas.  

I made the red and gray "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" print in Illustrator.

The bird tree graphic is from The Graphics Fairy.  It's from a 1870s Christmas card - how cool is that!  I changed the color from black to dark turquoise in Illustrator.  

I hoped to have them printed on regular paper but Kinko's wanted $35/print...uh no.  So I converted them to .jpgs and sent them to Costco for $5/print.  YAY!

If you look really close the prints are a little blurry but from a distance they look great.


In the interest of full disclosure.  This is what the rest of my office looks like...*sigh*... I CANNOT keep it clean and organized.  It is a huge source of stress because it is the first room you see when you open the front door and I cannot be creative in that space!  I really need to make this room a top priority.  {{update: I spent some time in my office today and have cleared the floor (mostly - still some neat piles of stuff that has no home yet) and my desk.  Whew...that feels better!}}

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[also overwhelmed]

and the scary part is i did a lot of things ahead of time to keep myself from feeling overwhelmed.  and yet here i am still feeling like i am racing the clock.  going on a week long trip for thanksgiving and a days before xmas birthday do not help, but these are joyous things and i can't let myself get all stressed out over something good.  christmas in my family is often an emotionally charged holiday, we all have very strong personalities, and well, we are not known for yielding when we feel justifiably wronged.  oi.  so this month is sort of spring loaded jack in the box waiting to explode.  every year i assign myself the job of not turning that crank anymore than absolutely necessary, and maybe we can just keep that box from bursting open.  deep breath.


today. today is all i can control.  on the docket today:

• drop off kid 1 at school
• drop off kid 2 at school
• harass pre-school picture company about not listing ordering deadlines on the form and having a late fee of $13
• call the father-in-law and figure out schedule for tomorrow with kids
• shower
• start straightening up the house or at least put laundry away
• renew my expired driver's license
• costco for groceries and to pick up photo prints from vacation for xmas presents for grandparents and vacation scrapbook (because many have asked to see photos from the make a wish at the boy's bday party, so yes I've been stressing myself to deliver, but also because I am on a mission to start printing more) done except the part where the changed the color profile so my 300+ prints are off. . .i don't want to talk about it.
• take the boy to get his hair cut after school um yeah, the girl got her haircut too. . .i'm not super happy, i liked it long
• feed the children
• take the children to number 2's xmas program
• put the children immediately to bed as it will be past bedtime
• answer urgent emails from clients
• perhaps clean some more
• go to bed before 11 pm (ha, like that will happen)

and it's grey and cloudy and windy and wet today, and i am starting a cold. . .the odds are stacking against me.  but i will do this, find my calm.  make good choices, control my chaos, not let it control me.

i can do this

i am doing this

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{Overwhelmed...}

So much to do...

Brain filled to capacity...

Where to even start...

I need to make a list...see it all out in front of me...

1. Make meal plan for week
2. Home Blessing Hour for downstairs
3. Zone 3 work (read this to learn about my zones) - this week I am in the Master Bed/Bath
4. Grocery list
5. Bills
6. Print Christmas newsletter
7. Finish addressing/stamping Christmas cards
8. Target for more tree lights, Santa hat for the girl
9. Finish decorating Christmas tree
10. Wrap presents for mailing
11. Mail presents
12. Flowers to Mom for her birthday
13. Put together IKEA Lego storage - sort Legos
14. Purge toys for Christmas
15. Look at blog posts for the week
16. Decide on small OPAM for the rest of December --> Finish Secret Room
17. Laundry

There is much more needing to be done but I think this will take me all day!  :)


Menu
Monday:  Lentil Sheppard's Pie || Salad || Bread
Tuesday:  Baked French Toast
Wednesday:  Chicken Parmesan & Penne || Salad
Thursday:  Avocado Chicken Parmesan || Salad
Friday:  Creamy White Chicken & Artichoke Lasagna || Salad || Bread Sticks
Saturday:  Ribs || Slaw || Collard Greens || Corn Bread
Sunday:  Curried Lentil Soup with Coconut Milk || Salad || Naan Pin It

[landing pad]

with two kids in 5 day school now, the issue of coats and backpacks and organization has become a bigger issue in our house.  we used to hang their backpacks on the door handles of the mudroom and pantry, but my son throws them to the floor to use the doors.  not to mention it makes the kitchen cluttered.  and i can't stand it anymore.


unfortunately our mudroom is big enough for the doors to the garage and the house, and the washer and dryer and little else.  it is a closet and there is no room for hooks and bags in there without claustrophobia setting in daily.  so i was going to have to find another spot.  our front closet is barely big enough for 5 coats and the bar is too high for the kids to reach, not a daily help mommy and hang up your coat option.  we usually resorted to hanging the coats on the banisters to the upstairs which always looked cluttered an unmaintained.  not to mention that the coats and backpack weren't together which is an issue in the hurried mornings.  


so i wanted to hang up a set of double hooks, so they each would have a bag and coat hook.  when i was picking those up at the local everything store i also spotted this wall mounted three bin wire basket do-jobby (real name "3 Pocket Wall File" by katie brown at meijer).  that immediately went in hand as i had been wondering about some sort of baskets to herd hats and extras.  power tools and studs were involved in the following transformation.

i really wanted to keep it slim and un-busy, this is the main hallway of our house.  i managed to get the before and after at about the same angle so you can see it doesn't eat up too much of the hallway.  this is all mary's fault by the way.  i've never hung anything in a hallway, ever, until she sent me the print framed there.  

a view more straight on from in front of that octagonal window.  the only printed pictures i could find of the kids for over the hooks are from 2.5 years ago, but it got across the idea.  i want to get self adhesive removable photo frames but haven't settled on a set (they loved the old pictures by the way).  depending on the sticker frame set i may add a family picture or two above or to the right of my daughter's hook.  maybe something seasonal or a quote, akin to mary's mantel, in landing pad form.


that door is to our first floor powder room. the dry erase removable dots are by The Board Dudes and i picked them up at target for around $8 if i remember correctly.  on the spots we can leave the kids notes and reminders and my husband and i can send dorky love notes to each other on the third one.  


each kid gets a bin for extras like gloves and hats and things and then the middle bin is for them to put their school folder in when they hang up their backpack. it is now their job to put it in their backpack in the morning.  i like having both their school to home folders in one place.  in the middle we'll also store my daughter's weekly book report-like assignment that we are not allowed to return until the next friday. we complete it the friday it comes home so we don't forget and i had been keeping it in her backpack but something was said and the kids are saying they aren't supposed to do that anymore.  i had been having a terrible time finding a good place for it so we wouldn't forget it.  it can live there now.  


the husband had been a bit skeptical but is a big fan of it now that it is done.   the spots really pulled it together, so that was an awesome find.  our doorbell speaker is mounted on the wall right above this area so we can stash the pen to hide it from the kids.  they already asked to draw, i vetoed.  no markers on my walls.  there is another area i may do some chalkboard paint for them, it needs a little something.  


this was my october opam.  it's not completely perfectly done yet, but the major construction is done and that's what counts in my book.  


we will ignore what i cropped out. all the drill bits and tools still on the floor infront of the front door.   Pin It

{31 DSP/Day 26 - Thanksgiving Printable}

Today I will make a November printable to frame on the mantel.

Look at me getting stuff done for next month!  

click this button to find my other 31 Days posts

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{31 DSP/Day 25 - Losing Weight}

I had a fantastic birthday weekend, ate tons of great food and slept in until 9 (soooo late - ha!).  It was a great time to reconnect with Ben.

Now it is back to reality and the reality is....

I need to lose quite a bit of weight.  I am getting to the point where my feet hurt...a lot...like I'm almost a little afraid I have another stress fracture.  *insert big frowny face*  I'm so tired of walking around like an old woman (among other reasons I hate being fat - see here).

I wasn't always very over weight.  It is only been the past 3 or so years that I have been obese.  I checked my BMI (which, for me, is actually a very good indicator of health) and it is 37...not good.  I feel like this:

and it is SOOOO frustrating because I KNOW there is a problem and I KNOW how to fix it...I just don't.  That is my fault.  I did this to myself and nobody can lose the weight for me.

My niece has asked me to be her confirmation sponsor next May.  I'm totally ignoring the fact that she is old enough to be confirmed (she will be 16) and she was less than a year old when Ben and I met.  This means I'll have to stand in front of the congregation...there will be lots of pictures...I want to feel confident and happy in front of the camera.  I also want to be healthy, live longer, blah blah blah...I want to look good in pictures!  :D

I have roughly 32 weeks until the ceremony.  I have around 106 lbs to lose, I'm aiming to get back between 130 - 140 lbs (I am 5'7").  That is a very healthy, positive weight range for me.

Now don't get all excited...I'm not expecting to lose all of that in the next 6-7 months.  I should be well on my way though...I just HAVE TO START!

I would like to wear a dress to the ceremony.  I love this one from Ruche, with some kick ass heels.

via Ruche

It would be amazing to pull that off.  It will be a lot of work but I keep thinking about how great it will feel to walk into the church and stand up with my niece and not worry about my frump.

Today I will get back on my eating plan!

I will do a post soon on my eating/exercise plan.  It was created for me by a good friend of mine who is a personal trainer.  When I have followed it in the past I have felt amazing and seen results, so I know it works.  It takes a bit of planning but I've been repeating the following to myself...

Everything takes work...I need to work at the things that make me a better person!

click this button to find my other 31 Days posts

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[the dragon bead]

yesterday i had a free bit of time and i decided a childless trip to the craft store was in order. on tuesday we will celebrate my son's 1000th bravery bead (a local version of beads of courage).  he earns a bead for everything he has to do as part of pediatric cancer treatment, even after treatment has ended, because for many, they don't get an express back to normal land.


but this isn't a post about what a stud he is.  it is a response to what mary posted below.  


first i went in there with several ideas of what i wanted.  see on a recent roadtrip we announced the passing of every 100th mile we drove and the kids passed imaginary medals to the driver to congratulate them as the trip meter clicked over.  this came up when discussing his upcoming achievement, "will i get a medal for my 1000th bead?" he may have only meant figuratively, but my crafty brain wanted a real one.


i devised a plan to attach little metal medals to each 100th bead and a different awesome medal for the 1000th.  i wanted numbers 1-9 for the first 900 and then something medal looking for 1000.  the store had neither numbers of any material or anything that looked like a medal/prize ribbon.  this is always a deflating and overwhelming experience at the local mega-craft store.  first, they don't have what you had in mind, and second you must now devise an alternate concept from three aisles of beading supplies.  


i told myself, "it doesn't have to be perfect, he'll love it because it will be the only idea he'll ever see, just pick something."


i decided i wanted something more like charm that dangled as opposed to a fancy bead attached to another bead, that narrowed the choices significantly.  i found a double swirling design, it reminded me of a koru, which had special meaning abounding. medals, done.  came in packs of six, even better, done and done.


the 1000th bead medal took me forever.  and i mean forever.  mostly because beading stuff is so feminine, and he is a brave super tough 1000 bead earning boy.  at last i found a small 3D dragon, it was pretty tough looking.  he and my husband play a computer game called "Dragon Age Legends." dragons are super tough, this was perfect.

i also got some red coated copper wire as i had in my mind the idea to use jump rings to attach them quickly but had realized in the store that the beads are so large they don't make rings that big (not to mention some of the special ceramic beads are 2-5 times bigger than the wood ones).  so since i couldn't let my idea go, i got the wire because it would be tougher and i could fashion my own rings or such. . .right?


disaster.  i tried about eight times before i gave up and got out thread, i found this vintage metallic thread my mom bought in the 70's and it worked perfectly.  the double koru medals are perfect and full of all this meaning to me and our family, the dragon is perfect, the thread is perfect.  i even found a silver star that reads "wish" which i went ahead and attached to the bead for our upcoming make-a-wish holiday trip (look at me not procrastinating. . .she is wearing off on me).  


so the dragon medal is already attached to bead 1000 and ready to go for tuesday when we will proceed to make a big deal over the whole thing.  but this isn't about his beads and what they mean. this is about things mary and i seem to be learning in tandem.


1) it all was a much easier project when i stopped making it so hard 

• letting go of what i had envisioned for the medals and just looking for meaning in what was available and could be purchased that day finished in 24 hours
• quitting with the handmade jump ring or loops without scratchy edges idea when it wasn't working, despite trying to make it work over and over.

2) this isn't about perfect execution, it's about meaning

• josh just wanted medals he never said what they had to look like
• by opening my mind up to making the best of what was available i was able to insert more meaning into the project because i allowed my mind to just wander and pull in elements that are significant to our family.
• i had to remind myself that the value in all of this was making him feel proud, not winning some prize for first place crafting.  hearing him say "i'm as brave as a dragon!" priceless.

3) when you set the right intention, things have a way of falling into place, or at the least you don't mind the bumps and mishaps.

• when i calmed myself and just thought about needing to have this done before tuesday, i sort of released control over the details to wanting to finish it, to wanting to make over his 1000th bead, to having ready some really cool bead for him to string himself after OT on tuesday.
• as i look on the shelf at the items in the picture above i see all of what i wanted for the medals project.  it all came together perfectly because i gave up the idea of perfection.

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{31 DSP/Day 21 - Packing}

Before I go on a trip I like to have a few things done around the house.  I like to have all the laundry done, refrigerator cleaned out, house clean and an organizational project or two done.  Actually what I really want is the house to be perfect and spotless and magazine ready...sigh...it is really a sickness.  It helps me to feel calm and good about leaving (whether with the family or not).  It is one thing I always make sure I start a day or two before hand.

yeah...

right...

via appjudge

It is Friday morning and we are leaving for the weekend at 3pm and I haven't done anything and the house seems messier than usual.  Monday is my birthday (wahoo my birthday!) and Ben is taking me to the BIG city.  We are meeting my parents there and they are taking the kids to their house so we can have the weekend to ourselves *insert jumping up and down clapping*.  To be totally realistic I only need to have 5 of us packed and the house in reasonable condition.  It is funny how the closer you get to a deadline the more you strip down to the necessities.

All the laundry done?  nope - just the clothes we need for the weekend.
Refrigerator cleaned out? nope - I don't think anything is going to spoil by Sunday.
House clean? uhmmmm...I can do a 'good enough' job in about an hour to make it tidy so I won't be too embarrassed if I die and people have to come into my home (am I the only one who thinks this way?).  <---longest sentence in the history of mankind.
Organize projects?  AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH  *whew*

The fact is all I really HAVE to do is tidy up, pack and make sure the cats have a clean litter box and enough food/water for 3 days.  Totally do able in 5 hours.  If anything else gets done...it's a bonus!

click this button to find my other 31 Days posts

psssst: The Nester wrote a GREAT post on time and how the demands we have on our time...it has given me A LOT to think about today!

I'll be offline this weekend - see you on Monday! Pin It

{waiting for perfect}

I need to remind myself of this everyday...sometimes every minute.

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{31 DSP/Day 20 - Special Package}

Jobs/Chores that require me to leave the house have the HIGHEST probability of being put off.  Loading and unloading the toddler and changing out of my pajamas is very unmotivating.  Today, though, I am tackling it head on!

Today I'm finally getting the girl clothes back to Melissa.  

There might be a few extra treats inside as well!  :)  There is now a nice open space on my office floor that is no longer occupied by a giant box.  YAY!

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{The Idea of Perfection}

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

The Nester posted this video this morning.  Wow Wow Wow!  Mr. Glass is talking about Storytelling but what he is saying could be applied to any creative work.  The important thing is to GET STARTED and to do a large volume of work.  Most importantly he says that at first your work will not be very good, but don't give up, push through to greatness!

LOVE IT

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