Yet Another Sick Day

Still not mine.

J is sick this time, but it seems like only a low grade fever (can't find the stupid thermometer) and cough.  So while she lays on the couch relaxing, here's what I plan to accomplish:

• Laundry, laundry, and more laundry
• 5 minutes in the LR, DR, and Kitchen
• Rearrange the kitchen cabinets - plates and cups
• Chop up veggies for soup
• Cut up the chicken
• Create world peace
• Work on our budget (hmmm...maybe I should just stop at world peace)

My Goals

I have twenty-five minutes until the kids get home.  As I finish things I will add them to this post in italics.

Here's my To Do list, which I hope will soon become my TaDa list:

1. 5 minutes in the living room - TA DA!
2. 5 minutes clearing off the table in the dining room - TA DA!  (though I had to keep adding minutes on to get it all done)
3. Put away all the stuff gathered while cleaning up the above two rooms - TA DA!

And this is when the kids came home.  Now I'm sitting with them at the newly cleaned off dining room table having already "encouraged" them to bring me all their papers, put their lunch boxes in the kitchen (which I haven't tackled yet), attempting to do some of my "homework" while they do their homework.  When they finish I will tackle the rest of this list.  After I help both boys make their raingutter regata for their first Cub Scout meeting tomorrow night.  Whatever that is.

4.  Put away the veggies I just got from the CSA (and don't let them just stay out and rot like I did the last two weeks)

5. Chop up celery, onions, and carrots to put in with the chicken carcass and begin making chicken stock

Okay, I'm going to try to keep the list short so I might actually finish it.  I have LOTS more I need to do, but for the next 25 minutes, this is plenty!

Take No Prisoners Cleaning Day

Teaching at a Jewish School rocks!  My kids have school today, I have off because of Sukkot.  Yes, that's right, I have the house to myself ALL day!  This is unheard of in my life, so I have to take full advantage of it.

Here's my plan, which I am writing to keep myself accountable and focused:

1. Dishes (The garbage disposal is not working right now, and since apparently the dishwasher is hooked up to the disposal in some way, I have to hand wash all the dishes.  Never really noticed how many dishes a family of five made until now!) Woohoo - all done!  After gathering up all the dishes from around the house, it took me a total of 12 minutes to wash them all.  It sure SEEMED like it would take a lot longer.
2. Laundry - Fourth load folded and put away, another load in the dryer and the washer, all laundry in the house sorted.
3. Boys' clothes - Taking a garbage bag up to their room and pulling out everything that is not their size anymore, then trying to reorganize the rest of their clothes.  Filled up second garbage bag and sorted through three large rubbermaid containers of hand-me-down clothes!
4. Updated to add: Scrubbed a bunch of sweet potatoes I received from my CSA and put them in the oven to bake.  Yes, I actually added this item just so I could cross it out.  Deal with it!
5. Updated to add: Discovered the dishwasher that we haven't been able to use all week had dishes and standing, disgusting water in it.  YUCK!  Cleaned out all the water.
6. J's clothes - Same thing as with the boys' clothes.
7. Pantry/Food cabinets - reorganize!

I have plenty more that I want to do, but I'm going to try to simply (?) focus on the above five items and see how it goes.

Weight Watchers

As much as I liked the simple structure of the basic diet plan I had outlined, I had no drive to follow it.  So... I signed up for Weight Watchers Online (three months for $50) with the thought that maybe paying for it will provide more incentive to actually follow it.  The basic structure does remind me of a free site that I had used for awhile (Spark People) though that tracked calories and WW tracks points.  I have a certain number of points to use each day (each food is given a point value based on calories and nutrition) but I also have a weekly allowance of 35 points that I can either dip into each day or save up for a special outing or two.  That way I never feel like I'm cheating as long as I stay within my weekly allowance. 

The other thing I like is you can earn points by doing activities.  The best part of that is all of the activities on my Wii Fit Plus that I love, like Skateboard Arena and Yoga, are all assigned a point value!  If I do fifteen minutes of Skateboard Arena (which I know is a good workout since I end up dripping from sweat) I earn one activity point.  If I choose to I can exchange the activity point for one food point.  I'm not planning to do that, but it's nice to know that option is there.

The rational, logical part of me (yes, I DO have a rational, logical side, stop laughing!) knows that this is all just a gimmick, just a trick to keep me interested and hopefully willing to stick with it longer.  But then I just say, "So what?"  I know that out of all the options out there, WW is ultimately the healthiest, teaching how to focus on appropriate portion sizes and making good choices, without designating any foods as "bad" or, even worse, "forbidden."

I am writing this at a local Starbucks, as I drink my tall soy Chai Tea Latte, no water, no foam (three points).  It's not a splurge.  I'm not cheating.  Three points out of twenty-three is manageable.  Soon I'm going to order a Chicken on Flatbread with Hummus snack plate (five points) for dinner.  And after the kids are in bed I'll probably have a bowl of cereal.  All that and I'm still okay within the confines of the WW plans. 

Now let's see if the scale starts going in the right direction. 

Money!

I'm trying to figure out how to get our finances in order.  It's a sorry sight.  DH is a public school teacher.  He makes an okay amount of money, thought not enough for our whole family to live on.  I used to be a public school teacher, but now I teach preschool.  I almost love everything about teaching preschool, but the one big downside with it is my pay, which is just a fraction of what I would be getting as a public school teacher.  And here comes the summer.  So many people say, "I wish I was a teacher - don't have to work all summer!"  What they don't realize is that we don't get PAID all summer, either!!!  DH's paychecks are spread out over 12 months instead of just 10, but mine are finished soon and won't start up again until September.

DH's dad used to be career military, so we have access to USAA, a financial site for military families.  I just received a refund from our oil company (paid a budget amount all winter and was left with almost $800 that they were going to put towards next year - umm...think I could use the money now!) which will be used to pay off the credit card from USAA - woohooooo!!!  We still owe on our Discover Card AND have a line of credit from when we changed our garage into a playroom AND our mortgage.  Now I'm trying to determine if maybe we should transfer everything to USAA.  I guess I need to determine if they have the best rates around.  I THINK they do, being geared for our military, but guess I should check first.

I know, this is not an exciting post, but it's what I'm thinking about right now!

Menu Planning

While I haven't stepped on a scale to see if this new eating plan (I can't think of it as a diet) is working yet, I'm proud that I'm sticking to it.  Just keeping in mind that I only get two carbs a day allows me to plan my meals around that, making sure I still can have my end of the day bowl of cereal.  Hey, I'm a cereal addict, what can I say?  So here's my menu plan:

Lunches for me this week Endame Salad, Vegetarian Chili with Avocado Salsa

Monday Grilled Sesame Salmon

Tuesday - Thai Basil Chicken

Wednesday - Very Veggie Omlet
I think if I promise them toast for eating a few bites, the kids might try it and discover they like it!

Thursday - A serving of whichever of the other three meals I liked the best
Mac and Cheese for the kids with frozen fish sticks

Friday - Potluck Shabbat dinner at my synagogue
My contribution will be Sauted Green Beans.

Saturday - Mish Mash (A.K.A. Finish all the leftovers)

Sunday - Dinner at my in-laws'

Be sure to check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu plans.

Menu Planning

Okay, it's not Monday, but I'm still trying to do:

Let's review last week first, okay?

Last week, I made a big batch of Quinoa Vegetable Salad for lunches, which I'm still eating a little of this week.  It was pretty good, but not great.

Tuesday I made Peanut Butter Vegetable Chicken Soup, which also was pretty good, but not great.  The kids tried it (though A spit it out), but no one really loved it.
Wednesday was Tuna Casserole - everyone but A liked it.
Thursday should have been Sour Cream Chicken Quiche, but that didn't happen.
The rest of the weekend involved no cooking on my part - woo hoo!

Now let's get back to this week.  Again I am going to try to use what I have here at home as much as possible - money's tight!
Tuesday:  Spaghetti and meatballs
Wednesday:  Sour Cream Chicken Quiche
Thursday:  Frozen Raviolis
Friday: Shabbat dinner at my parents'
Saturday: BBQ at my sister's (and boy do they know how to BBQ!)
Sunday: Dinner at my IL's

And I have everything necessary for those recipes here already. 

Diet Plan

Here's the new plan:

• 2 protein
• 2 dairy
• 2 carbs
• 2 fruits
• 3 or more vegetables

So what's that going to mean for me?

• Breakfast - Bowl of cereal with milk (carb and dairy)
• Mid-Morning Snack - Piece of fruit (fruit)
• Lunch - Large salad (2 vegetables) with some kind of protein like tuna or chicken (protein)
• Mid-Afternoon Snack - Some other kind of fruit (fruit)
• Dinner - Hot vegetable or two (vegetable) with whatever protein I make for the family (protein)
• Evening snack - Bowl of cereal with milk (carb and dairy)

I'm addicted to my carbs, especially cereal, so maybe planning things out this way will help, knowing I would still get my bowl of cereal, will help me avoid all other carbs.  I think I'm still going to allow myself my one can of Coke a day as a splurge.

Tomorrow I'm going to a BBQ.  As far as I can tell, everything would still stay the same except for dinner.  I could cut up a hamburger as my protein and bring some kind of veggie side dish/appetizer to make sure I stay on track.

Alright, sounds like I've got a plan!

The Perfect Storm

My goal yesterday was to get everyone's lunches finished way before bed, cook and clean up from dinner, cook and clean up a healthy lunch that I could take to school the rest of the week, make a grocery list, go grocery shopping, and put said groceries away.  In between trying to do all that, I would make sure the girls stay alive, get the boys to do their jobs and finish their homework, drive J to dance class, and then feed the kids their dinner and put them to bed.  I also was able to keep calling DuPont (a children's hospital in Delaware) until I finally got through to a live person in order to schedule appointment for both boys to be evaluated by the developmental pediatrician.  We're on the books for an appointment in NOVEMBER, but are also on the cancellation list, so I'm hopeful we can be seen before then.  I'm not complaining; that's just the kind of day it was.  And I managed to do everything on my list.

DH's responses? 
When I returned from the grocery store: "Did you remember my O'Doull's?"
When he was leaving to return to school for an awards ceremony (after I returned from J's dance class but before I fed the kids dinner):  "When I get back I'm going to head upstairs because I'm really tired, so I won't be able to help clean up anything.  Do you think you can get it all?"
Separate conversation, also before he left for school:  "Could you please try to pick up a little before I get home from work tomorrow?  Maybe vacuum the rug, too?"

In case DH pops on over to this blog and has just read my take on his responses, please understand that he is an incredible husband and father.  He pitches in all the time.  In fact, when he got home from the awards ceremony, he did clean up some of the stuff I hadn't gotten to yet.  He is a great guy!

However, after having rushed around all afternoon to accomplish all that I did, it pissed me off to no end to not hear, "Wow, this place looks great!" or "Thanks for making us dinner!" or "I know how tough it was to get appointments for the boys; thanks!" or even just to see a smile when he walks in the door before he sighs and starts picking stuff up.

I try really hard to straighten things up before he gets home.  I totally understand how stressful it is to walk in the door and see crap everywhere.  I am working on getting things more organized so that it won't be like that when he comes home.  But sometimes, in my effort to do some other important stuff, it doesn't happen.  And those are the days that he just happens to be extra tired, or he had a bad day, or whatever, so it creates this perfect storm of sighs and passive aggressive behaviors that are really hard to take, especially when I have not just been sitting on the couch eating Bon Bons (or on Facebook playing Tetris)!

Ahhhh, that felt good to get off my chest.  And when he gets home in an hour, since he was out last night and will not be home late Thursday night, I will be taking my computer and going out to focus on end of the year school stuff and other important tasks (again, Facebook, Tetris, you know).  So in reality, it's all good.  But every once in a while, I have to blow off steam!
**************************************************
My goals for the rest of the afternoon, which is rapidly slipping away:

1. Put in a load of laundry and fold and put away the load that is currently in the dryer.
2. Fill small, snack-sized containers with snacks for the kids. 
3. Make lunches for tomorrow.
4. Begin dinner.
5. Clear off DR table and put out a snack for the boys for them to eat while they do their homework.
6. Do a quick sweep through the LR, DR, and kitchen to straighten up.

Six Secrets of Organized Moms

This is what I'm talking about!

Menu Planning

Menu planning is key to making sure I don't go crazy. Tonight I didn't plan ahead, but at least last time I was at the store I stocked up on some last minute meals the kids like, so we had frozen ravioli with sauce. I have the chance to run to the grocery store alone while J (my daughter) is at her dance class and A and B (my sons) are home with my DH. I am going to try to make my menu plan based on what we already have at home, as much as possible. Here's the plan for the rest of the week:



For my lunches this week: Quinoa Vegetable Salad

* I bought all the ingredients for this last week, so do not have to buy anything new.

Tuesday: Peanut Butter Vegetable Chicken Soup

I never made this before, but it got lots of stars on Allrecipe and it sounds REALLY good. For my children who are not as adventurous as I am, I will serve them some of the already cooked chicken and some of the cooked veggies and potatoes that will also be in the soup. Our rule for new food is they have to at least try it. I refuse to make an alternative meal for them, but have no problem separating the basic parts of any soup/casserole for them as long as they try it in its original form.

* Already have every ingredient!

Wednesday: Tuna Casserole

I have tuna, I have mac and cheese, I have peas, put it together: Yum!

Thursday: Sour Cream Chicken Quiche

Can you tell I have some cooked chicken to use up? This is another one I have never tried before, but not only does it sound so good, I have all the ingredients for this, too!

Friday: Shabbat dinner at my parents

Every Friday night we get together at my parents' house (they live about ten minutes away): my family (5), my sister and her family (4 + any of the many extended family members from my BIL's family that might be staying at her house at any given time), and my parents (2 + up to three foreign college students that they host) - just a nice, quiet, cozy dinner.

Saturday: Mish Mash

Otherwise known as "Eat all the leftovers in the fridge."

Sunday: I've going out to dinner with my mom and sister; DH and the kids can fend for themselves.

I'm Sick and Tired and I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore!

<------- This is me. Almost every day. My hair is brown, and you won't catch me in a skirt most of the time, but you get the picture. I may not be pulling out my hair on the outside, but it's the way I feel so often on the inside.

This is FLYlady. ---->

FLYlady is the reason I did not become stark, raving mad when I made the choice to stop teaching elementary school and stay home to raise my twin boys. And a year later started also watching my new-born nephew full-time. And a year after that give birth to and began raising my daughter. And two years after that started also watching my new-born niece full-time. It's a good thing I had my twins first before I knew any better!

And then my boys went off to school, followed by my nephew, leaving me with just the two girls all day. And my synagogue's preschool had a teaching opening. The pay was hardly worth mentioning, but it was at my synagogue, which I consider to be my second home having been a member there since birth, and it would be my own classroom again. And the school's teaching philosophy was fabulous, completely based on the current research in child development. PLUS it was only from 9-12. Sold!

Of course, since both girls were also at the preschool, they came home with me for the afternoon. So now I was working all morning, in charge of the girls all afternoon, and once my boys came home at 3:30, responsible for getting both boys to complete their afterschool chores (hang up their coat, put away their lunch box, take out their papers for me) and then focus on their homework. Did I mention that both boys have special needs making this very challenging for all three of us? No? Well, let's just throw that into the mix.

My darling husband (to be known as DH forevermore) is incredible, but he is a secondary school teacher, which requires a ton of planning and grading on his part. Plus, until this year, he also was co-directing the shows at the high school which required him to be at school for lots of additional hours, leaving me at home with all the kids, attempting to keep my sanity.

Which brings us to the here and now. I'm tired of feeling like I'm constantly playing catch up around the house and with the kids. I'm tired of being overweight and not getting enough any exercise. I'm tired of feeling like we have this black hole of debt, never enough money to do what we want. I'm tired.

This blog is my attempt to get to the other side, to find the light at the end of the tunnel, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, fill in any other cliche that might fit. I'm not totally sure how to get there, but I have to try. One of the big ideas I have clung to from FLYlady is that when I am feeling overwhelmed, set my timer for fifteen minutes, pick a task, and just do it. So that's what I'm going to do.

Feel like joining me on this journey? Please leave a comment and say hello!