Project Simplify

I had an "accidental" project this week that wasn't on my list.  Simplemom.net is doing an organizing project each week for the next few weeks.  I decided to join in.

Last week's project was to declutter your OWN wardrobe.  I kind of like that it was something I could do for myself.  To make my own area more peaceful.  It seems like I'm always battling toys or other people's paper clutter.  So dealing with something that's completely mine was a pleasant change of pace.

Now, that being said, I'm still carrying extra "baby" weight. 
(Can I still call it baby weight when my "baby" is 4??)
Which means I have clothes that are smaller that still don't fit.  But I like them and don't want to get rid of them.  So, yes, even after this clean-out, I have way too many clothes.  I have committed to getting rid of anything that doesn't fit by the time my "baby" is 5.  One more year.  That's the limit.

So, some before pictures...

My side of the closet

My shoes

My dresser (plus, I use two of my hubby's drawers)

After - okay, granted, it looks mostly the same, but I did get all my shoes ON the shoe shelves (got rid of 5 pairs), and the shirts section is thinned out some.

Some of my favorite "finds"...

These are the jog bras to be given away.  The six on the left

 still have tags on them!  (They were all free, so no money lost.)

My jean jacket from HIGH SCHOOL!

(Can I pretend that it's not over 20 years old??)

My flannels and Doc Martens from the mid 90s.  I loved these. 

I've kept them so long "just in case".  But, let's face it - the shoes

are a bit tight, the flannels are large and unflattering. 

I don't need to keep them!

And this is my give-away pile!  Yay!

It's very satisfying to clear out clothes I don't actually wear and have more space and a more peaceful place.  I do look forward to getting rid of even more items, as I lose weight.  Both the things that are now too large (yay!!!), as well as those that I find I don't really like so well, even once they fit again.

How do your closets look?  Could you bring yourself some peace with a bit of decluttering?

Recap and my latest area of focus

Exercise went well this week.  Five days out of seven.  Of course, some mean-spirited imp who is against me exercising (ah - I wonder if I'm actually sabotaging myself???) allowed me to bang my toe on a pile of tile this afternoon.  But I still worked out today.  Hopefully I can keep it up, as it does really hurt still (mid-foot).

This week's project is to....
Speak Nicely (especially to my husband)

I seem to be realizing that I speak negatively a lot.  I don't think it's intended to be mean-spirited, but more of a habit at this point.  Like maybe it moved from sarcasm to a vent for any negative feelings I have.  But that's not fair to him.  Especially when I speak negatively about him in front of other people.  We're a team, and if I have issues with him, I need to speak to him directly (and in love!!!).  In front of others, we should be a united front of people who love each other and want to show each other support.

So, I intend to catch myself BEFORE saying anything negative this week.  But if I don't, I need to apologize for it (if it's hurtful to others).  And really be more careful with my speaking.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."    Ephesians 4:29

Exercise - take 97

So, this week's project is, once again, exercise.  My ankle is in good-enough shape now.  Not 100%, but I can exercise just fine.  I need to get back in the habit.  Last night's workout showed me that I have become horribly out of shape.

It's funny that I consider myself an athletic person but I have become quite the couch potato.  Other than playing hockey every Monday night, I haven't done much moving over the past several months.  How did I get so far away from that??

I also switched to low-carb eating a couple of weeks ago.  I had been "eating better" for a month, and I had only lost one pound.  The only two times I have lost significant weight were when I was eating low carb.  I know my body is happier that way, but all the foods I love are high carb (pizza and potatoes in any form, especially).  So it's hard to give that up.  But I'm really tired of carrying around this extra weight.  Literally tired.  I hate when I see pictures of myself and think, "Do I really look that bad??"  So, truth is, I do.  I need to get this weight off.  And I'm committed this time.

I've also been feeling the need to start running again.  I think it's a spring thing.  (Yes, I realize it's not quite spring yet.)  I just want to get out, after being cooped up all winter.  I'm not sure if my ankle is up to that yet.  Or the rest of my body.  Maybe after a few workouts to get me on the road to being more in shape.

Hopefully this week's attempt at exercise will be more successful than my past attempts.  Knocking wood now.

MIA

I've been struggling with holding it together the past couple of weeks.  Work has been busy (good, just unexpectedly stressful).  And planning a birthday party for two kids, inviting the guests, tracking RSVPs, grumbling about the lack of RSVPs, getting supplies, etc. - it has all been a bit overwhelming.

I'm not comfortable and easy in a group of people.  I always worry about what I'm not doing right.  Or the fact that I have to meet/entertain all these people.  Large parties are just not my cup of tea.  I guess practicing is the best way to improve at it.  After all, we all had fun and survived this party, anyway.

So, I'm ready for some down time.  Some time to truly relax.  Or, at least to catch up on all the little bits that have been sliding in the past couple of weeks (house work, for one).  I just want a bit of peace...

Meal Planning

I've been trying to find the best method for me to do meal planning.  I've tried two that have free trial periods.  Both have their benefits.

The first one I tried is Living Cookbook.  I love the cookbook aspect of this software.  The recipes are well-formatted and the software calculates nutrition information based on ingredients entered.

You can organize your recipes into cookbooks, categories, chapters, etc.  It is wonderful for keeping all those internet recipes in one place.

The meal-planning aspect seems useful, but less intuitive than I'd like.  But it would work.  It also will create a shopping list from your meal plan that can be printed.  It does not have any sort of mobile phone connection (it's software, not web-based).  But printing would get the job done.

The other program that I'm trying is called Plan to Eat.  It is web-based and can be accessed via a mobile site, as well.  It also stores recipes, but the format is slightly less than optimal.

Just not quite as clean-lined.  Plus, you can't have separate cookbooks, so if you were to load hundreds of recipes, it would get a bit messy.  But there are categories based on type of food/meal, as well as cuisine.  Plus you can tag the recipe as many ways as you want.  So searching should be fairly simple.

The menu planning on this program is much simpler and more intuitive, though.  And prettier, which apparently affects my judgement.  :)

My favorite aspect of the program is that when you create the shopping list based on your meals for the week, you can check what you already have and remove it from the list.  You can add other non-grocery items to your list.  And then you can view/use it on your mobile phone while at the grocery store!  Including checking off items as you shop (no more pen and paper for me!).  It seems wonderful.

I just started my trial membership yesterday, so I haven't really had a chance to use it yet.  But I'm hoping to win a subscription from Keeper of the Home.  Check it out!

Perfectionism revisited

I know that I'm a perfectionist.  I try to keep it under control and not let it rule what I expect from other people.  Try, being the operative word.

One way my perfectionism manifests itself is in "not trying".  If I don't think I can do something well, I won't even try.  That's why meal planning has been so very difficult for me.  It's just not a skill I have practice with and I find it very difficult.

I have known for years that if I'm playing in a hockey game with people who are much better than I am, I tend to put forth less effort.  Not if the other team is good - I'll skate my hardest to win.  But if MY linemate is better/faster, then I don't try as hard.  I know they'll get to the puck before me, they're more likely to score, so I just don't do much other than try to be in the right spot.  It's frustrating to know that about myself, but it's the way things are.

Well, last week, I was doing an activity with someone else, and I kept putting myself down.  I noticed it at the time, but I didn't think about it much.  Well, later, I was wondering why I kept putting myself down so much.  It's because I was doing something I'm not really good at, and they seemed to have more skills/knowledge.  So I played down the effort I put in and made myself sound like someone who didn't really even try.  Which is NOT how I wanted to present myself. 

I think a better way to appear would be as someone who doesn't have a lot of skills but is happy to learn and finds the extra practice helpful.  Why don't I ever show that part of me?  I do love to learn.  I do love practicing new skills, especially with help (as long as there is no judgement).  So what's wrong with admitting that I don't know something????

Funny, I had a hard time bowling a few weeks ago.  I used to be better, but it had been over 10 years, so I was rusty.  I got really frustrated and probably didn't look like I was having much fun.  I mentioned to another friend that I wanted to go bowling again so I could get better at it, and she said, "You don't have to be the best at everything."  I know from the tone of her voice that she was feeling kind of hurt that I feel like I have to be better than everyone else.  Which is strange, because I had no problem with her beating me.  I was just disappointed that I didn't do as well as I thought I should do.  But that makes me think that I come off as thinking I'm better than everyone or something.  And I don't feel that way at all.

What a strange thing perfectionism is.  I feel like it's just something I'm dealing with in my own head, like I'm battling with myself all the time.  And I am.  But I guess other people see it as me competing with them.  I don't like that.  (I can think of several other instances in my life where people have reacted similarly to something - now that I'm thinking back and putting it all together.)   I wish I knew how to do my best, make myself happy, and yet not make others feel like I think it's a competition and that I'm trying to be better than them.  Really, I just want to be the best ME that I can.

Best laid plans...

So, exercising was going well.  I had moved through my "easy" days and was on to the "real" week.  Yesterday, I dressed warmly to enjoy a run in the sunshine with my dog.  Had a nice warm-up, stretched, and started running.  Only to sprain my ankle two blocks later.

(Imagine there is a photo of me here, lying on the
ground in pain while holding onto my dog's leash,
next to a busy street.  Also imagine cars driving by
and me wondering how odd it looks to see a lady
lying on the ground and wondering why not a single
car stopped to check if I was okay.)

So, after hobbling home, I now find myself on the injured list.  Which means exercise is unlikely the rest of this week.  I'm really hoping to be able to play hockey on Monday night, since we're playing the Championship Game!!!   Ugh.  Rest and ice it is...