Motivated Monday, 08/30/10

Motivated Monday for this week is to make a daily plan. 

Monday – Master Bedroom

Tuesday- Kitchen

Wednesday-Bathrooms

Thursday-Livingroom/TV room

Friday-Floors and office.

I need to have a plan for my mornings because I get up about 2 hours earlier than my daughter and granddaughter who are living with us while my son-in-law is in Afghanistan.  So far my exercise, bible study and planning take about an hour.  I also need to be quiet during her nap times too.  Our house is not that big and unfortunately today my husband called and the phone woke her up. 

So far I have:

Menu planning/matching coupons.

Working on price book.

Knitting.

Reading.

Paying bills, financial planning.

I may be able to sew, but not sure yet (if my machine is in the dining room).

Work out in the yard.

Anything else??

Okay see that cake!  Lemon poppyseed with lemon cream cheese frosting.  Semi-homemade cake.  Started with a yellow cake mix.  Anyhoo, one of my 12 Things ( http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/2010/08/12-new-things/) is to learn cake decorating.   The day I made this cake (Wednesday) was the day I signed up for the Basic Cake Decorating at Michael’s.  I also bought the kit with a 40% off coupon!  The class was half price too.  Unfortunately or unbelievably, it is on my husband’s birthday, which is Labor Day this year, September 6th. 

My youngest daughter (whose birthday was 08/24, celebrated 08/25) wanted me to use the kit to decorate her cake.  She said, “How hard can it be?” when I said I didn’t know how to use it yet.  Ha Ha.  The naivete of youth or is that the fearlessness of youth??

I also signed up finally (after 9 years) for the free classes to learn how to really use my Bernina Sewing Machine.  I should have made that one of my 12 Things!  Okay now I have 13 Things!

So I feel like I am definitely making progress!

Tuesday Garden Party

This is my first post and since my garden is so pathetic this year it may be my last!

This is my white begonia’s 2nd year, my red begonia’s 10th (?) year (divided a few years ago), the yellow begonia first year and the hanging basket begonia and the third begonia along with the red and white’s first year.

I have been extremely disappointed with Costco’s bulbs.  I will no longer buy bulbs there.  Both the white and red begonias were purchased at local nurseries.  The little white flower (unsure of name) was a cutting from my mom and it spread like wildfire!

In the hanging basket, the little petunias are volunteers from last year.  It is the only hanging basket that produced this year.  Very disappointing.

Finally, I received one of those Ace Hardware redward cards for $5.00 and thought I would go see if they had any fall vegetable starts.  Well they didn’t, but I decided to rescue these two delphineums and geranium that were all $1.99 a piece.  I paid $1.05 after my reward card.  I hope they survive.  They were a bit root bound, but otherwise seemed okay.  I repotted them in Miracle Grow soil and watered them well.  We are having very warm (for us) weather here in Humboldt County California and am hoping these survive for next year’s flower display.

I wish my husband would get home from hunting.  I am having a hard time starting any project, although I did get the new plants potted, a load of laundry done and cleaned the kitchen and refrigerator well.  Tomorrow is garbage day, so Tuesdays are clean out the frig day. 

Today is my youngest daughter’s 23rd birthday.  She had a photo chosen as a billboard for a homecoming in North Carolina.  She is a young military wife/mother and I am very proud of her.

Rats you can’t see it very well!  Finally DH is home!

Motivated Monday

Well all I had to do was think about my husband coming home from hunting tomorrow and I was motivated!  I have been sick with a summer cold for the past 4 days so not a lot has gotten done.

My daughter, SIL and granddaughter have all gone over to SIL’s dad’s house for the night so I have the afternoon and evening to clean, clean, clean.

I got up and was out of the house by 9:00 a.m. to run errands, do banking and shopping.  Tomorrow is my daughter’s 23rd birthday and she has requested a lemon poppyseed cake.  I wanted to make it from scratch, but all the recipes I found sounded more like pound cake, so I decided to go with the recipe that starts with a cake mix, hoping it will be lighter.  We will not actually celebrate until Wednesday and daughter’s MIL is coming over, so back to this mess!

Thankful Thursday.

I am so thankful for my husband and family.  I am thankful that at this point in my life I am home taking care of my husband, youngest daughter and granddaughter while my dear SIL deploys to Afghanistan.

Wonderful Wednesday

I became a grandmother 2 years ago today and it was one of the best days of my life.  Ally is visiting Disneyland today with her daddy and mommy (my youngest daughter).  My SIL is deploying to Afghanistan soon.  My daughter drove down to pick him up in San Diego and bring him home for his predeployment leave.  I am so glad they are able to spend this special birthday together before he leaves.  Here she is from last year:

 

I finished a sweater for her, my third from “Minnies”.  I also bought one of my favorite word books from my own children. 

I woke up this morning with a sore throat.  I did manage to make it to Kohl’s to spend my $20.00 in Kohl’s bucks.  I bought my youngest daughter 2 necklaces for her birthday and myself a new workout bra that was on 80% clearance (the necklaces were too!).  It came to exatly $20.00!  I am planning to rest the remainder of the day and hopefully will be feeling better tomorrow.  SIL, YD and granddaughter start home tomorrow and may try to drive the entire way from Southern California to very Northern Coastal California.  Thank goodness for portable DVD players and Ruby and Max!

12 New Things……

 

I am a new blogger experiencing a huge life change.  I have so many plans for the coming year, and I found Like  A Warm Cup of Coffee blog (while using my youngest daughter’s iPad while on a little trip)  just at the right time.  I do not have specific months for my 12 things because I just cannot plan that well!

1.  Learn to blog and make my blog attractive.

2.  Learn simple cake decorating.

3.  Learn flower arranging.

4.  Learn to garden better and undertake some flower propogation.

5.  Learn Excel.

6.  Learn to stipple or free-hand machine quilt.

7.  Learn to make curtains for my home.

8.  Learn to make pillows.

9.  Learn to prune my roses correctly.

10.  Learn to become a better cook and baker.

11.  Learn to take care of my husband.

12.  Learn to relax.

I started #12 over the weekend as we went to a family wedding in South Lake Tahoe.  For the first time ever I am not coming back to a job so I have all day to get the laundry caught back up and take care of getting the house back into shape, instead of right back to work.   That in itself is relaxing!

My life is changing in a huge way.  DH and I have talked and I am not going back to work after my 3 weeks medical leave.   My shoulders are getting better, but my hands and wrists are not.  This blog is to explore the changes that take place when a woman who has always worked (with brief maternity leave x3) transitions to home. 

I have run the numbers and we should be fine, but you know how numbers on paper look!  I may be back to work before I plan or I may not go back at all.  Life will be interesting along this new journey.

Today I am grateful for this chance to explore a lifestyle I have dreamed about.  I will dive back into my frugal roots (I have my whites hanging on the clothesline) and make every penny count.  I will be happy to cater to my husband and make his life easier, cook his dinners as much as he will let me and make sure his clothes are clean.  I will mow the lawns and do as much as I can to make his days off really days off.

I have read so many blogs of women I admire and hope I can do just a portion of what these women get done.  My new journey starts today!