its the weekend

wow we have a lot of clothes in this house. especially when you add the handful of end of year fall/winter clothes that still fit from last year. There are 5 of us in the house and lordy do the clothes add up.

I had child free time tonight and as much as I wanted to go play! I knew that I would be more sane during single parent week if I had a handle on some of the chaos in the house. I got a LOT done. I'm still doing laundry but I can keep up with a couple loads at a time now.

I'm so conscious of spending money and yet it feels like I still spend foolishly when I'm shopping. It will be great to see from the new finance software I downloaded, if I'm making any improvements with my spending. I'm trying extra hard not to eat out and grab coffees left and right. Its really hard if we;re out and the kids start whining. I am getting better at bringing snacks and drinks. Not perfect but better.

I realize that I'm trying to revolutionize my life. I may set myself up for disappoint but I'm not very good at doing things slowly or methodically. I'm trying to eat local and/or from scratch. This is the toughest thing to get the kids to do. Their palates are already so screwed by food industry. They are making progress. Sophie in particular is making good choices of her own accord.

We've also brought a dog into the household which is a big thing. She's great with Uly and Soph was begging for a dog. I knew it would mostly be my job and I also knew it would force me to move around more. I can reason my way out of exercise no problem. I can't weasel my way out of walking the dog.

I am still making incremental steps towards a tidy organized house...you know according to my standards.

Making plans to expand what I do with PIB.

I'm also on an outward appearance polishing stint since the haircut. Multiple reasons for undertaking it but I think it will help me in the long run. Not to mention the fact its another from of self expression...I used to be a much more dramatic dresser. Want to bring makeup back into my life too.

Coaxing myself to take my writing seriously and take little steps every day that help me feel like a "real" writer.

I'm allowing myself to feel good about the things I accomplish. Instead of chastising myself for all the things I don't get done. I'm using this blog to help with that goal. Record keeping will give my perception some balance. I hope its not too boring for everyone else.

I'm also going to take myself more seriously by treating PIB like a business and taking all the steps that entails. It may take a little while but it will be good for me on multiple levels.

I was pleased with myself today eventually. I woke up kinda crappy and Uly was on my nerves early but instead of staying in the funk and being bitchy all day, I reminded myself that I only set myself back and hurt my day by choosing that mood. I didn't think it would make a difference but it did. I decided even if I didn't get my mammoth to do list done at least I could get little things done to prepare for another day to attack the mammoth list. I motivated and ran some little errands and felt better for it.

Getting out of the house also gave me the impetus not just ot buy kitty litter and a new dog collar but to clean out all the trash in the car and take all the car travel buildup in to the house.

Not sure what to do about mega dog hair in the car. maintenance vacuuming probably.

Working with myself not to stress about the farm. I need it to remain a pleasurable place and not just drudgery. Its hard not to routinely do the pros and cons list of living there when I think about havin chickens and other critters. But I also know I have to take it on gradually or I will just lose what sanity i have left.