Organizing/Life Balance

We all have crazy hectic lives... and mine is no different.

Therefore, the rest of this post will be later on tonight

My apologies!

Don't forget to vote!

See the poll, vote for the topic for tomorrow's post. Or post a comment for a topic not listed.

Ciao!

Help Me!

I was just trying to be comfortable, I picked a comfortable (but pretty) skirt to wear. A matching soft brushed cotton shirt to wear. And a soft 3/4 sleeve sweater since it was kinda chilly this morning. Instead of being soft and pretty.

I look like some heinous candidate for the tv show Big Love. Like I could be the 4th wife.

Tips for the Future:

LOOK IN THE MIRROR BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE.

I have spent half of my day trying to make this outfit work. NOT SO MUCH!

Somedays it doesn't matter how much you want to have a good day, the universe has other plans.

Other than looking like a mormon multiple wife. I'm having a great day so oh well!

Hope you are too!

Cool Idea for back to school

Here's a great idea I had.

I did up some cards that look like little chalk boards. I made one for my son to put in his lunch the first day of school. AND I made one for him to give to his teacher.

Too cute!

I would post a photo but I'm having issues with my computer. New laptop is on its way! Can hardly wait!

Sorry for the short postie today. But I did post a poll for the Friday Topic.

Yahoo.

iPod Shuffle - My new friend

My brother is so cool. awhile ago I sent him an email that if anyone was looking for an idea for my birthday I would really appreciate an iPod shuffle, since it looks like I am sticking with the running this so far.

So yesterday I got a cute little pink package with a purple bow on it with a fully loaded iPod shuffle.

Thanks Bro!

Now my little brother has a sense of humour! I have a few wonderful surprise on there so far. Like Elvis (which was a good surprise) Leonard Cohen (ok surprise) Feist singing 1,2,3,4 which I could do without!

Ha ha.

Anyone have any gotta have's for my playlist?

Where's the Olympic Spirit?

I have viewed these olympics with mixed feelings. No one can deny Michael Phelps, he has worked hard and trained well and deserved all the praise and medals he has won at these olympics. I am impressed by Dana Torres coming back for what her 4th-5th olympics?

Our totally underfunded Canadians have exceeded our medal total from Athens so rock on to them. Imagine what we could do with actually funding and training facilities that are not shared or donated.

But I am disturbed by a few things I have seen and heard. People judging Usain Bolt the Jamician runner who has been accused of "showboating" and "gloating" over his fellow competitors. Anyone who can run 100m in less than 9.7 seconds can be as happy and "showboatiey" as he likes. The entire Chinese Gymastic team is being investigated again after they have already provided idetification and verification of the gymnasts ages, because there are rumors that many team members are under age. there were two DQs in the mens 200m sprint for steping out on the line. COME ON PEOPLE DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT SHAVED AND EXTRA .25 OFF THEIR TIME.! I think not.

Last but not least I read today that a Marial Arts competitor Kicked a referee in the FACE (are you kidding me?) Because he was upset with the refereeing.

All I have to say is WOW!

Faaaccckkkk! A Friday Post

I think I blew the whole life balance thing this week. First things first I forgot to post a poll for a Friday post topic. So therefore, no Fucking Friday Post! Doink!

It's been a whirl wind week around here not made any better by my fourteen yearold neice who is babysitting. I swear to GOD that girl! She is super with the kids however she a SMALL (read HUGE FUCKING) problem cleaning up after.

SUPER FANTASTIC Bugaloo you re-created Mr. maker's house FABULOUS. Why is there a big fucking orange puddle of paint on my Goddamn carpet! ( I hate the green carpet but that is beside the point. ) OH LOVELY you recreated Mr.Makers couch out of homemade playdough..SUPER! Yes I can see that ground into the chairs in the dining room SWEET. I'm so glad you used food coloring because that won't stain their clothes at all. Now where is the leftover pladough and the containers you made it in. GREAT didn't find those until the next day all hardened in to the containers and I will have to pry out with a chisel. SUPER FUN. You used a TONNE of sitckers to decorate Mr. Maker's Doodle Drawers? I can tell the paper backing of the stickers are ALL OVER the floor. AWESOME!

I can also tell that you had juice boxes, yogurt, granola bars, raisins, gum, and something else that turned in to a BIG ASS pile of crumbs. GOOD GOD!

Whew! Now I have to admit we only pay her 20 bucks for the day so it's alittle over 2bucks an hour But HOLY SHIT! I don't want to hire a restoration crew everyday she babysits.

I don't know how a 14yr can get through life being such a disaster honestly. I don't want to crush her self esteem, I just don't know how to make it clear to her that this is a job she is supposed to be helping me. Not turning my hosue into a disaster zone. I offered her the opportunity to babysit because she was applying to Tim Horton's this would impead her family from travelling to their cottage if she had to work the weekend. So this solved two problems, gave her some spending money and allowed her family to travel on the weekend. How did being nice backfire so badly?

So I am thankful that next week is the last week she is babysitting. Only 2 more days to go. Then I get my cleaning helper back (the neat cousin,too bad she can't babysit).

oohhmmmm!

Simon Whitfield - ROCKS

Did anyone see the coverage of the Olymipic men's triathlon. I did and it was AWESOME. Simon struggled with the heat and pacing. In the last two kms he fell behind and I thought the day was done.

He threw off his hat and poured on the inspiration to close a 15 metre gap and pushed through to come in 2nd for the silver medal. I have goose bumps just typing this.

He is so funny. Afterwards I saw an interview with him where he was talking about the differences between seasoned athletes and first timers. He said he was in the staging area listening to his IPOD and playing some games with some of the guys while other "first time" athletes were warming up doing big stretches and little sprints.

He said he just sat back and chuckled to himself." That's it boys, its really HOT out there, go ahead and warm up some more"

I just find him so inspiring, he is such a straightforward, no nonsense, say what's on his mind kinda guy.

I tell you that is what I was thinking as I was funning by myself yesterday for 16 mins without stopping 2 times in a row. Yeah for me! It felt good! Finally!

I might also have a "little" crush on simon whitfield - can you tell?

Life Strategies - a simple story

A father passing by his son's bedroom, was astonished to see the bed was nicely made, and everything was picked up. Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, 'Dad.' With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter, with trembling hands.

'Dear, Dad.
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend, because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mum and you. I've been finding real passion with Stacy, and she is so nice, but I knew you would not approve of her, because of all her piercing's, tattoos, her tight motorcycle clothes, and because she is so much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion, Dad. She's pregnant. Stacy said that we will be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods, and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Stacy has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't, really hurt anyone We'll be growing it for ourselves, and trading it with the other people in the commune, for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want.

In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS, so Stacy can get better. She sure deserves it!! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15, and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit, so you can get to know your many grandchildren.

Love, your son, Joshua.



P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Jason's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the school report that's on my desk.
I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

Holy Hell Batman

I am tired. DH and I just finished a quick tidy up of our outdoor dinner party for my birthday and our anniversary. I would like to say it was for our friends BUT it was for our family. Not that I don't like my family because I do. We just have this annoying unspoken unwritten rule that says who ever is hosting has to do ALL the work and those attending don't have to do ANYTHING.

Now I still can't complain because DH and I live BESIDE my MIL which meant we split the prep and cooking for todays event and she did most of the clean up because I looked after all the kids (2 of which were mine so again can't be complaining).

I made my world famous RIBS which were AWESOME if I do say so myself and since there are... Oh... NONE left out of 15 POUNDS of ribs I would say everyone got their fill.

It was not just my birthday but also my SIL birthday (she is a few days before me, it was not just our anniversary it was also my BIL and same SIL (who shares the birthday month) anniversary (whose is a few weeks before us, 3 I think). there were married 12 years ago and DH and I jsut celebrated 5 years (2nd marriage for both of us, if you are new here)

My other SIL who usually hosts this particular event moved this weekend (ugg, she won't recover for weeks)so I feel for her I really do. But FUCK that was alot of work.

So it works like this in DH's family.

Nonno and Nonna - rule both emigrated from Italy very progressive but still are steeped in old world tradition. Really you couldn't ask for a better mix. And she only rides me about going to church 5-7 times a year. They live beside us and really they look after us. I have it good. Nonna probably cooks for our family atleast once a week and at most 4 nights a week. Nonno sometimes he tells the same stories over and over and over again. Sometimes they really get on my nerves, but in retrospect I know he is passing on he knowledge and my childrens history, so I try to listen. Sometimes though, I just give up and go do dishes.

Son #1 and SIL 2nd marriage. 2nd marriage for both. Son one child, SIL 2 kids, no kids together. SIL 1 can be jealous now and then of realtionship I have carefully cultivated with MIL. I say she needs to step out side herself and not take herself so goddamned seriously. Nonna loves all of us. You get what you give, Know what I mean?

Son #2 and SIL - these two have been married for (oh I don't know FOREVER) kidding about 17 years I think maybe 18. She converted to catholisicm so she is IN with a capital I. SIL can do no wrong not that I have seen. She has earned it though. She is very thoughtful, very fun and always willign to help out anyway she can.

SON # 3 and ME - I love my DH and he is a spoiled Italian man - what can I say. Lots of training and electro-shock therapy have helped.

Son#4 - S.O. have been dating for jsut under a year I think (he's private and lives in TO)LOVE this guy, he is interesting and calm (opposite of my DH)He is just a little less than a year younger than me and went to school with some people I know. He jsut returned from Thailand so we did a little catching up. Never enough time to talk with this guy. His S.O. could not make it today but she has graduated law school and is a great gal I really like her so far.

Son#1 daughter and her boyfriend - really make an effort to stay connected to the family and often stop by. My DH was in trade school the same time boyfriend started so they rode back and forth for a few months and we have become close with them.

Son # 1 step daughter and boyfriend - glad to seen D2 with this guy he seems so nice and better yet nice to her. Last boyfriend was a WHACK JOB as in had to get a restraining order whack job!

Other kids include 16 year old boy with NO job lazy as hell and like to hear about it from the rest of us (as near as I can tell)

14 yr old Girl who lets boobs hang out and thinks it's great fun to make fun and degrade her sister to make herself feel good. I sese issues in our future!

12 yr old Girl whose sister is a teenager (see above) who is manipulative in her own right but atleast has the presence of mind to negotiate a WIn WIn to get what she wants. She will be one to keep an eye on.

7 year old boy whose heart is in the right place he is just... a 7 year old boy and accidents happen. He is often the victim of circumstance. It may not be entirely his fault but if he would have thought for a second,,, Crisis would have been averted.

My two the Bugaloo (a little spoiled and a Type A first born used to getting his own way, who is entirely too logical somtimes) and the Peanut (just a crazy two year ol, with a great scowl)

We had a great day until the bugs started eating us to death and then it was a pretty quick clear out. I think NOnna is still putting leftovers away and finally the rest of my family is fast asleep. I think I may crack a cold one and thank the almighty that I made it - ALIVE.

Happy Birth-aversary to me!

Things that make me go Mmmmmm.

Why George Bush even went to China? - Dink

Why Stephan Dion keeps threatening to challenge the current government and then does NOTHING! - Dink

Why would a government cut funding to senior citizens and disabled children?

Why the NEW Coke - still troubles me after all these years

Why underwear on the outside of your clothing is more or less acceptable???? Male or Female.

Why do dishes multiply in the sink - even if no one is home??

Why is there NO organic way to get black magic marker out of my couch fabric!

Why is there NO industrial cancer causeing chemical way to get black magic marker out of my couch fabric?

Where did they get the fucking black magic marker?

I'm at home today with my kids so short post today especially if I want to avert another black magic marker incident and keep the dishes and laundry at bay.

See you at
Minivan Mom's Dinner Party

Pour me another margarita!

Thanks

What a great birthday! Lots of well wishes from friends and family. Cake and then more Cake (can't go wrong there)I ran just over 4 km yesterday a first for me.

A massage, the babysitter cleaned my house and made the kids beds, homemade cards from my kids, flowers, plants. A massage, a little scrapbook shopping, and BEST of all A BIG hug from my husband who told me I looked beautiful and he loved me!

OOOHH! I know that is so sappy but that is just how my day went yesterday and I could not be happier.

I have to tell you, it was not the easiest life to get to this point but yesterday I just revelled in all the great things I had going on and I was truly thankful.

I did not want to go to bed last night. Well that and Ladies Gymnastics was on!

I feel so fortunate...my life is good. Just the way I made it!

Thanks

Yes It's my birthday!

I was trying to be reflective this morning. I was trying to look back at my life.

But I am just plain happy.

Gotta go more later

A long short week!

Hope everyone enjoyed their civic holiday. Somehow the August long weekend always kicks my butt. The short week that follows always seems soooooo long.

Can't believe that we are through the first week of August already! We are off to t-ball today and then we'll see where the wind takes us. The kids are tired from spending friday at the farm and could probably use a break today. I know I could use a break today. I am tired.

I ran at lunch all 4 days this week I probably should have taken one day off atleast but if you have been reading this blog for any amount of time you will know that I am really struggling with the concept of muscle weighs more than fat.

That number on the scale keeps climbing I am almost back to where I started which after 3.5 months on running 3 times a week. Is just...well...goddamned depressing.

I know... I know... I fucking know it's not the number on the scale it's how you feel and how your clothes fit. For this I am greatful because A) my jeans look fabulous on my sorry tired ass and B) I think I came within a smidgen of the fabled "runner's high" today. All I know is I didn't feel like a dirty rotten sticky stinky gym sock with a hole in it when I came in from running today.

So life is good.

The Bugaloo is showing signs of his hamstings tightening up again and I can't seem to get a hold of the docs office to get our next round of botox booked. I have been trying to get him in before school starts so he doesn't have to miss a day of school. He's back to toe walking and complaining about it hurting when we ask him to stand flat footed. He has burned through ANOTHER pair of shoes so I will have to break in the spares and go shopping for new spares. Anyone know where I can buy shares in Nike?

The Peanut is progressing nicely through the terrible twos by being...well..what else TERRIBLE! we are on to pouting and generally being disagreeable ALOT. But when she's good she is really good and really CUTE. So we will keep her.

Friday Post - Life Balance

This post is a perfect example of Life Balance. I realized that my blog was lacking some intellectual content. I mean I'm sure my family and a few of my friends appreciated the updates but I kept getting emails asking if I was okay because the tone, and wit of my usual communication was not coming through. I do not have time to come up with a witty intelligent post everyday. I also can't rely on photos to entertain you as previously posted I have computer issues. So I sat down to decide what I could manage, and now I am trying to make that work for me. Hence the polls that have started and the topical Friday posts. Yeah for me!

That in a nutshell is Life Balance. Decide what you want to do and then figure what part of that is manageable. ACCEPT that under perfect circumstances you would do it all and do it perfectly, but because the circumstances are less then perfect you will do what you can manage and KNOW in your heart that you have contributed in a way that makes you happy. Do I sound like Pollyanna?

Life Balance is about managing your expectations. Not lowering them! Hear me very clearly! Managing them. We all want to make contributions. Many of us have been raised with the notion that we can have it all! What "they" forgot to tell us is that we will require lots of help, have to make LOTS of sacrifices and generally question ourselves on a daily basis. Great! Where does that leave us?

For me personally what does this look like I will give you a glimpse.
-I HAVE to work (I have the heath and dental benefits)
-I stay up late on Tuesdays because that is the only creative time I have
-I run almost everyday at lunch because I only have 3-4 hours with my kids after work and that is more important than my waist line.
-I run because I need to be healthy to take care of my family
-I communicate with my friends via email because its the only way for me to maintain some type of communication on a regular basis right now (this hurts me and I'm working on it)
-Local friends I try to see once every 6 weeks (this is what I can manage right now)
-Out of town friends not.so.much! (I even missed my god daughters birthdays this year and that really really SUCKS)

-My husband and I don't have date nights but we do have dinner together almost ever night and we spend a 1/2 hour together almost everynight after we get the kids to bed. This is what we do for us and yes there are some nights that I give up my creative time or Grey's Anatomy so that I can make love with my husband, because hey he's HOT and after all this time he still makes me tingly.

-I volunteer with KIDSABILITY (where the bug has therapy)
-We give one donation a year to Kidsability and turn everyone else away although I have supported other organizations who are selling something I would have purchased otherwise (ie christmas cards)

I have found that life balance for me has been about focusing on what I wanted when I started out in my twenties, (which was being a mom and having a happy marriage and being a successful person) and what that means to me each year. Trying to make that work and not get too lost in all the other images and expectations that I am bombarded with on a daily basis. There are so many things that I get interested in and want to do or participate in, but I have to ask myself if it will help our hurt my original goals of "happy family". Somethings I can make room for, somethings will only cause a temporary imbalance and will be beneficial in the long run. Somethings I just have to pass on and say no. I would have to say that these are the hardest decisions.

I don't claim to have all the answers this is what helps me. I was planning on linking a bunch of information but I am running out of time. Ahh the delicate balance. Maybe I will put this on the poll for next week.

Right now I have to go because if I don't get to work we are going to have an "IMBALANCE" if I get fired.

Have a great day! Let me know what you think?

Shannon :)

Don't forget to vote!

Don't forget to vote for a post topic for tomorrow!

Running and Buggies

Well first of all I have to apologize to everyone in the free world who is looking for the Bugaloo Baby Buggy Stroller. The word search activity on that phrase connecting people to my blog has been extreme. I wish I knew more about the stroller all I do know is that it was out of my price range and therefore I stopped looking for it.

AND THEN.... I hope instead of finding your stroller you found a little humour with a tip here and there to make your life easier.

AND THEN... for those of you who travelled here due to a search on Cerebral palsy. I will do my best to provide a few more posts on this subject in hopes of helping you out, treatment, behaviour, parenting, school, my personal feelings, fundraising,etc. You tell me what you would like to know>>>.

AND THEN.....

Running, it is going well as far as running goes... we are upto 7 mins of continuous running before we take a 1 minute break so all in all not bad. Am I losing any inches YES Ma'am. Am I losing any weight Hell NO and I am PISSED off (with a capital P) How can so much work not reap any rewards in the weight loss category. Boo Hiss. And the first person who tells me it's because I am gaining muscle mass can take a long hard suck on my lily white A$$! I want to see those numbers drop damn it!

AND THEN.... No more and then For now!

Cloudy Day

Well, it's cloudy here today, and not the big puffy clouds either, just gray and gloomy. Good thing we had such and awesome weekend to keep me going through the week.

I am hoping that I will be able to buy my new computer this week. I have been scrimping and saving. This old boat anchor has seen better days. I keep getting error messages for simple tasks. It is over 4 years old, practically an antique. I have been way too afraid to upload anymore photos incase the whole thing just goes POOF and I lose everything. So I have only been using it to check my email and blog a little bit.

I have lots of photos to upload and save and I have my new Storybook Creator PLUS software that I cannot wait to start using.

So exciting. I will probably have to wait until Friday or Saturday and then hopefully next week I can show you what I have been working on lately.

Have a great Monday!
Shann

LONG WEEKEND

Gotta love the long weekend. We took the kids out to my parents farm for our first "camping trip" We camped way in the back field so the kids would get the feeling of being out there by ourselves. We spent the evening at the barn doing chores and then had a BBQ dinner with Neena and Papa. Then time to retire to the tent so we took our long walk out to the field and dug out our fire pit and got everything ready for a fire. Then we got the kids in the pjs and blankets and sat them in the chairs to watch the fire. they were totally into it, getting the glazed look in their eyes as they watched the flames dance in the twilight.

I cracked out the s'mores because the bug was so excited about it. Only to discover that he really just preferred the raw marshmellows because the cooked ones were tooo STICKY. The peanut however that that cooked marshmellows was a treat sent to her by God himself. She really enjoyed them. So then happy and sticky we took them back to the tent and read our stories and laid with them in the tent for about 40 mins listening to the crickets and the sound of the water in the creek. The horses thundering back and forth along the fence line because they were so curious about this fire and rather large tent that had invaded their peaceful landscape.

Finally the kids fell asleep and hubby and I sat around the fire and had a couple of beers and watched the stars, which are so much brighter out there away from the lights of the city. I think my hubby got just a peak into how I grew up and why I can't stand the city so much.

I really hope someday soon we will be able to move out of the city.

The next day Bugaloo was up BEFORE the rooster for crying out loud. By atleast 15 - 20 minutes. He announced MOM MOM the sun is coming up! So he and Dad got up and watched the Sun come up and Me and Peanut we slept until 7 or so. We had breakfast in the tent screen room and then we headed up to see Neena and Papa again (because they had COFFEE). Then we spent the morning doing chores and helping out on the farm and packing up the tent. We got home and convinced the kids to have a nap (2 hours later) I thought I had better get some groceries for our house.

We had a great time with the kids for our first trip. Now we can't wait to do it again. I think this will be a great way to spend our summer weekends.

Clutter and Organizing

The votes are in and it looks like this will be a post about clutter and organizing.

What the Key? - Throw some SHIT away! kidding....

What is clutter? Everything that doesn't have a home. All the crap that you have no where to put. Ity Bity treasures that your kids find outside, gifts your kids get from the doctor or the dentist for being good patient. Magazines, flyers (ugh), the shoes, the bag of hand-me-downs that you haven't gone through yet or given away yet.

It all just piles up. After reading Peter Walsh's book It's all too much I realized that it really is a mind set. You need to deal with clutter as it happens, get rid of the flyers that you are never going to look at, for example for us right now in our lives we never look at the Nevada Bob's Golf store flyer, neither one of us are going golfing anytime soon, even if we had to play tomorrow we have all the equipment we need to get us through 1 or 2 tournaments there is no need to read that flyer. Same goes for grocery stores that I just won't go to. For me the Price Chopper is just not convenient- EVER. So I turf that flyer too even if they have cheese on sale for 50 cents I know I will never go there so forget it.

Another tip I have read from Marilu Henner is "Never leave a room empty handed" I think that has proved very useful. You would be amazed what gets picked up one handful at a time.

In our household we have found that the family calendar with a to do list and grocery list attached or posted in close proximity is a life saver. All activities nights out, etc get put on the calendar as they are booked. Items used up or requested get put on the grocery list. Anything I notice around the house that needs to get done goes on the to do list ie sweep the floor,vaccumming, laundry, dishwasher, oil change on the car. Then when me or hubby has a few minutes we review that list and prioritize those little things that keep the house running.

We try to chat once or twice a week to check in and see if we have any scheduling conflicts or if one or the other is feeling too rushed or worn out and then we may have to make some choices to cancel some engagements, this also happens if we notice the kids are getting a little out of sorts and need some down time.

When I put away laundry which is about once every 10 days I go through each child's clothes to see what fits what they haven't worn and I keep a bag going on the back of the bedroom or closet door, when this bag is full it goes to the donation holding area in our garage to be picked up with the next donation day.

A great resource for tips is Peter Walsh's website which has a Tip of the Day.

I find the best way to deal with clutter and organizing is little steps at a time. Start with the daily stuff, picking up after yourselves and organizing your family activities and time when you have that under control you will be able to carve out an hour here or there to deal with one pile at a time.

With just a little bit at a time you will begin to feel the weight lifting and the air starting to move again which will motivate you to keep going one hour one pile at a time.

Have a great long weekend! Till next time! don't forget to vote for next week's topic.