all those pesky challenges

Just thought I'd post an update on the quadrillions of challenges I can't seem to stop myself from signing up for. Why? Because I'm so thrilled to say my first challenge--The 30 Day Organizational Challenge--is now behind me! Hooray! I did it! Can you tell I'm pleased with myself? I'll even show you the proof...click here, if you're interested in seeing the photos of my transformation. (Had to answer some questions for the challenge, but if you scroll down a tiny bit you'll get to the "before" and "after" shots.) Yep, I not only got it organized, but I painted the room and made curtains, too.

As for the 10:4 Challenge that I signed up for yesterday, I've decided that twice a month I'm going to try to adopt one new small healthy change. Nothing major...I know myself too well to expect miracles here. But I figure that lots of little changes is better than nothing at all. So my first change is to stop skipping breakfast. I'm just never hungry in the morning. But when I don't have breakfast, by lunch time I'm starving, and in the process of fixing the munchkins lunch I nibble down 3 times as many calories as I would have if I just had a small, sensible breakfast. So that's small change #1.

And as for the multiple book challenges...well, I guess only 3 of them are currently underway: Once Upon a Time Challenge--I'm one book down, 4 to go (by June 21), The Spring Reading Thing Challenge--I'm one book down, 5 to go (by June 21), and The Non-Fiction Five Challenge--0 books down, 5 to go (by Sept. 30). Hmmm...maybe I should go hole up in my new clean little craft room with a big pile of books, huh?

just a minute for regrouping

Just had to sit down and try to get my act together. For whatever reason, I didn't make myself a "to do" list for the day...and I think it's thrown me out of whack. Or maybe it's the annoying headache that kept waking me up throughout the night. Not a killer headache or anything, just annoying.

The alarm went of at 4:53. The time it's set for each day there's something worth taping on Assignment Discovery. (This week is all Language Arts programming...great stuff for school next year.) Anyway, since then I've checked e-mail and caught up on my daily blog reads. The kids have been fed, breakfast dishes cleaned up, lunch packed, pitcher of tea made. Annie's bedding is in the dryer (can't wait till Rich gets my clothesline up!) and a load of clothes is in the washer. Bed made. Kids dressed (okay, only 2 out of 3 are...Maxidoodle is sitting naked in the living room refusing to put his clothes on). Baker's been out, fed (though he's on a feeding strike...we're wondering if his medication needs adjusted), and had his morning pill. I've gathered up what we need for today's schooling.

In other words, it's taken me three hours to do what should have taken one. Just an off day, I guess. Not really a day I can afford to be having an off day (okay, that's a bit melodramatic...the world will not come to an end if I don't accomplish what I have planned). Annie and I have a big day today with school. I need to clean the bathroom and vacuum the house. I'd hoped to give the stove a baking soda rub-down. Need to gather up the books we've put in the garage to take to the library for their library sale. Need to make curtains for my craft room. Need to sweep out craft room. Need to start putting everything back into craft room. The 30 Day Organizational Challenge ends tomorrow at 11:59pm...and I've got a ways to go. Though I did finally get it painted...hooray! Tonight is McCare Night (the teacher's at Gray's school work at McDonalds this evening for charity), so we'll be heading out for that.

I don't know...my head's just not in it. Maybe I should just give up now.

busy weekend ahead...

Busy, but not particularly fun. It is my goal to get my little craft room painted (for the 30 Day Organizational Challenge). We're nearing the end of the challenge, but I fear I am no where close to nearing the end of my work! I still have an awful lot of emptying out before I can begin the painting process. But that is one of my goals for the weekend.

I also have quite a bit of prep work for the school week ahead. And I hope that Annie and I can find time this weekend to make Boston Brown Bread and to "churn" some butter. (Not really churning, just shaking the living crap out of some whipping cream in a jar.) It's really funny...Annie never used to like to cook. The boys love it, but never Annie. Until we started homeschooling, that is. For some reason, when it's somehow related to "school", she absolutely loves it!

I'd also really like to finish Inkheart. I have yet to finish a book for the Once Upon a Time Reading Challenge. I'd also like to finish Annie's scarf, though that's not likely. And I'd like to finish a page for our 2006 vacation album (which shouldn't be all that hard...I'm just following my plan throughout the album...it's just a matter of finding time to execute the plan).

On a totally unrelated note, does anyone out there belong to Paperback Swap? Probably should have asked this question before I went and joined yesterday, but I just couldn't resist signing up. I think it's just a fabulous concept! Being able to "trade" your books with thousands and thousands of other people. Just signed up yesterday, and already had 2 of the books I posted requested. Nice to know the books will be going to someone who really wants them! And we now have credits to get 5 books (3 for signing up and 2 for mailing out the requested books). Such fun...another little addiction for me!

Well, I suppose to have any hope whatsoever of accomplishing my to-dos, I'd better get off this computer. Now.