Move It Mondays

It's Monday, and the sun is coming out again - just in time to set in about an hour.  The weather went from sunny and warm in the early morning hours, to sunny and breezy later in the morning, to showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon, and now in the evening the sun is back out.  Ah, spring.  Season of confusion.

I had a pretty busy day today, but I found myself even more organized than usual.  Why, you ask?  Because of Any.DO.  It's a free app on my iPhone that's basically a to-do list that I carry with me wherever I go.  When I remember something that needs to get done, I record it on Any.DO so I don't forget.  I plan out my week on Any.DO, and whatever doesn't get done gets moved over to the next day.  What I love most is that I scratch off the items on the list as they get done, and at the end of the day when I erase them, the app says, "Good job!" or "Way to go!"  I need all the encouragement I can get ;).

First off, I got my son to school nice and early.  One of the ladies in my Sunday school class made a breakfast quiche and I brought some home for my son E, so I didn't have to make breakfast for him.  I barbecued yesterday and made enough so I could pack him a burger and a hot dog for lunch, so I didn't have much to do there either.  My breakfast consisted of chocolate Fiber One cereal, cinnamon raisin toast with a little Olivio (spread made from olive oil), and coffee.  After dropping him off at school, I proceeded to do my weekly grocery shopping.  I'd made my shopping list last night and put everything on the iPhone as well.  I find that grocery shopping goes much faster on Friday than any other day of the week.

When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to see that my oldest son R was getting ready to make lunch - an offer I never refuse!  He made fried pork wontons, and they were delicious!  I put away all the groceries, and took advantage of this unforeseen blessing by using the time to mow the lawn.  I'd read that we're supposed to get rain this week, so I figured it would be best to tame the beast before the rain made it grow any taller.  Good thing too, because about a half hour after I'd finished the rain started!  It took just an hour to get the entire lawn mowed, and after my shower I was treated to lunch.

I only rested a short while before I had to pick my son E up from school and take him to the barber.  His hair grows fast, like mine, and is much harder to tame.  Good thing boys get to wear their hair short!  We got home and had dinner - fried pork wontons again, since my son made 44 of them - then I sat and helped E with his science homework.  He's doing some additional homework on the computer, then he wants me to help him with language arts homework.  We counted this morning, and there are only 28 days left of school, which his teachers apparently want to load with as much work as possible!  He's so looking forward to the summer.  I am too - I got an email from our local bowling alley stating that they're having their Summer Unplugged offer again.  Kids 15 and under get to bowl 2 games per day everyday for the whole summer.  We did it last year and really enjoyed it!  For the rest of the family we got a summer pass for $29.95 for the same amount of games, but this year the price has gone up to $34.95.  I'm still going to get it though.  It's way cheaper to pay for the summer pass than it is to pay every time we go, and bowling is a fun and healthy sport.

One other thing I'm working on:  I'm making an apron, by hand.  I found the pattern at Walmart on clearance for $8.97.  I don't have a sewing machine, but I figured an apron shouldn't be too hard to sew by hand.  So far it hasn't been, and I'm really enjoying doing something with hands.

That's the fabric after cutting it out.  I'm in the process of hemming the apron before I add on the flounce that goes around the bottom.  I'm really excited about how pretty this apron is looking!  Hopefully I'll have a picture of the finished product soon.

That's it for now.  Hope everyone is having a delightfully blessed Monday!

The New Addition to the Household

I've been wanting to post about this for the whole week - well, since Wednesday when they got delivered.  But let me give some background first.

We've been living in this house for the past 13 years.  It was brand spanking new when we moved in.  Through the years we've replaced bathroom tiles and cabinets, kitchen cabinets and appliances, floors, even the air conditioning unit.  For the past couple of years our washer and dryer have been barely working, though, and I'd told the Mister they needed replacing soon.  Since I didn't make a big huff about it (after all, we were supposed to be moving out of this house) the old washer and dryer stayed.

The past few months the machines really started quitting on me, especially the washer.  It was a top loader with the rotating mechanism in the center.  Or what was supposed to be a rotating mechanism, since it had stopped rotating years earlier.  The top half didn't rotate but the bottom did so the clothes got semi-washed. Now the bottom portion had also stopped rotating, so basically the clothes sat in soapy water, then the water got dumped, then it sat in rinse water, then the spin cycle which occasionally wouldn't work either and I'd have to repeat it.  Towels and a blouse of mine got ruined with fabric softener because of the clothing not being properly distributed.  The dryer wasn't doing a whole lot better; it was taking an hour or more to dry a basket of clothes.  Energy efficient they weren't.

Of course, the nice new energy efficient machines cost money, and I couldn't afford to get new ones or even get the old ones repaired (not that I thought it was worth it; they'd been repaired 3 times over the years already).  That is, until my income tax return arrived.  The time had come to replace the old machines.

Say, Goodbye Old Dryer.  You served me for a long time.

I said goodbye to the old washer too.  I'm so glad Home Depot not only delivers new appliances, but they take the old ones away for free.  I'd never had been able to get rid of those "antiques" any other way.

Speaking of which, Home Depot has an incredible sale going on till May 1st (no, they are not paying me to say this.  I just want to share the great deal I got).  These are the new washer and dryer now occupying the space of the old:

Aren't they gorgeous?!  But here's the deal:  Regular price for these LG washer and dryer is $999 each.  They were on sale for $886 each, but with an additional 10% off till May 1 I was able to get them for $798 each.  Still a chunk of change, but when you consider that I can wash in one load what used to take me 2 and 3 loads in my old washer, and that the clothes actually come out clean...the difference is noticeable.  Besides, my old washer and dryer's energy cost for the year ran into the $50+ each.  These beauties only cost $10 each for the year, AND the washer uses less water.  I'd say both of my new machines will pay for themselves in the long run.

And you want to know what else is great?  My kids are wanting to help with laundry now :-).  Can it get any better?!

Observing My Senses

For Today, April 27, 2013...

I am seeing...a lovely bunch of yellow flowers and my little mango tree that I planted from a seed growing taller each day.

I am feeling...blessed because we get to serve at our church today.  We are going to be making food packages to send to needy families in Haiti.

I am hearing...the quiet stillness of our home.

I am tasting...Fiber One chocolate cereal, raisin bread toast, and coffee.  Trying to eat healthy so I can lose some unneeded extra poundage.

I am smelling...sausages, my son's favorite part of breakfast.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Move It Mondays

It's a cloudy, slightly rainy Monday in South Florida.  It's been a cloudy, partly rainy weekend, too.  Our rainy season has started earlier than usual, which is fine because we had a very dry winter.  It makes the days kind of dreary, though, not what I need right now.  My kid's dad has been pretty annoying lately, and having days like these doesn't help.

I'm working on losing the extra pounds I've gained lately, and I'm doing better than I expected.  So far I've lost over 6 pounds and I'm back into the 140's, but there's plenty more that has to be lost.  I've cut out the chocolate (except for my breakfast cereal; I found chocolate Fiber One, and I couldn't pass that up!), and any other sweets I had craving.  I'm measuring my food and making sure I get plenty of water.  Already I'm feeling more energetic, which is a good sign.  I downloaded Runtastic onto my phone to help me count by steps and make sure I'm getting enough physical activity as well.  I'll admit I ate way too much pizza yesterday, but it was Sunday and we got Little Caesar's and I couldn't resist.  I paid for it later though; my stomach was not happy after several days of salads, fruits and veggies.  All the good stuff made my digestive system happy.  Cheese and pepperoni pizza?  Not so much.

I got up early and followed my usual morning routine:  get breakfast ready for my son E, pack his lunch, and have my own breakfast.  I've been eating cereal with almond milk so my breakfast is easy.  My son is 13 and growing like a weed; cereal won't cut it for him.  So I made him a scrambled egg, bacon and a hash brown patty.  I was surprised to find that he'd eaten the hash brown and a bite of his egg, but none of the bacon.  That is not like him!  He said his stomach felt a bit weird, but that has happened before when he has to get up early in the morning.  It usually settles, so I told him to get ready so we could leave.  As we were on our way to his school he mentioned again that his stomach was hurting a bit.  I thought it might be hunger, since he hadn't finished eating, or again the fact that he was up early after a weekend of sleeping in.  I told him he could call me if he felt bad enough to come home.  He saw his friend and ran to catch up with him, so I figured he was okay.

I was off to Winn-Dixie with my pedometer and shopping list on my phone.  I'm so thankful my kids got me the iPhone!  What a great gadget!  I finished at Winn-Dixie and headed out to Walmart.  Halfway through the store my phone rings; it's my son's school.  Sure enough, he felt worse.  Thankfully my daughter was able to pick him up so I didn't have to leave my groceries in Walmart to run and get him.  I then went to Costco to buy a large package of toilet paper.  The youth pastor at our church and his young family are going through some rough times financially, so the youth leaders decided to throw them a "pounding party".  I'd never heard of this, but what I understand is it's a party where you give gifts of needed items by the pound.  This package has 30 rolls of TP which is way more than a pound, but it's definitely a necessity, and one that has gotten ridiculously expensive.  I'm glad folks are willing to lend them a helping hand with diapers, wipes, (they have a toddler) and any other stuff.  I love seeing the body of Christ at work!

Once I got home and put away the groceries, I made kielbasa with onions, yellow rice with mixed veggies, fries and a salad for our lunch.  Now I'm off to clean the second bathroom which didn't get done this weekend, then hopefully I can relax awhile (yeah, right!).  One thing I need to start doing is looking for work.  Much as I enjoy being at home with my son, I realize I can't continue being dependent on someone who then thinks he has authority over me while living with his girlfriend.  It's such a complicated situation, but one that needs to be remedied.  I have faith the Lord will lead me to make the wise decisions.

Have a blessed Monday everyone!

Observing My Senses

For Today, April 20, 2013...

I am seeing...lots of dog hair on the floor.  Time to break out the vacuum cleaner.  Again.

I am feeling...ecstatic at my recent purchase - a new high efficiency washer and dryer at a super price.  Delivery is scheduled for Wednesday.  Pics to follow.

I am hearing...my boys playing with a Nerf style bow and arrow.  No matter how old they are they will always be boys.

I am tasting...Smart Start cereal with almond milk.  Doctor says I need to be eating more whole grains, fruits and veggies.  He's right - I've already dropped over 6 pounds!  Yay me!

I am smelling...things better today than yesterday.  It was a Benadryl kind of day.  I hope the pollen goes away.

It just takes a moment to observe your surroundings.  Won't you join me?

Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun

Just yesterday I said I was gonna take a break from some of my blog hops.  Well, this isn't one of them!  I really enjoy this one because it makes me think.  Join Hilary and the gang at Feeling Beachie to see if you can undertake this challenge.


This week’s statements:
1. I hate __
I hate it when my perfectly laid out plans don't play out the way I want them to.

2. I used to love playing _____ as a kid
I used to love playing with my siblings as a kid.  I don't think I appreciated them nearly as much then as I do now.

3. Common sense says ______, but I tend to ____________
Common sense says that I'll feel better if I eat healthier, but I tend to crave the things that aren't so good for me.

4. Once, I was surprised to find myself __________________.
Once, I was surprised to find myself eating fried eel at a Japanese restaurant.  I was even more surprised at the fact that I liked it!

Thoughtful Thursday

I've had so much going on and such a busy schedule lately I haven't been on the computer.  There's moments I think of all kinds of things I could blog about if I could just get a moment to sit down.

I think I'm gonna take a break from some of my favorite blog hops.  Not all, just some.  As it is I barely have time to update my Facebook status - not that it matters.  I'm getting bored with Facebook.  Too much politics, too much nonsense, not enough keeping up with people.  There are a few family members I enjoy keeping up with, but mostly there isn't anything worth spending time on.

There's construction going on in my neighborhood.  We live in a town that used to be dairy farms.  Behind our development one still exists, which we really love.  It makes it feel like we're living in the country.  Our street is a dead-end because of the dairy farm, but it won't be for much longer.  They've decided to open up the avenue, going through the dairy farm.  The mayor and town council have been trying for a long time to get the street opened, but it wasn't possible because it used to be an Indian burial ground.  Some kind of ceremony had to be performed before the construction could continue.  Now the dust and mud is taking over, our cows will have to be moved, and the quiet of our neighborhood will be no more.  See, since the road was a dead-end there was no thru traffic, which kept the noise level at a minimum.  Once the street is done, it will be a 4 lane road, and the amount of traffic will increase exponentially.  It's something I'm not looking forward to, nor are my neighbors.

My youngest son has been taking his FCAT exams this week.  FCAT is the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.  E had the math portion on Monday, and the reading portion today and tomorrow.  This is the second year in a row that he's done the reading portion on the computer.  All 6th and 7th graders get the computerized version of the exam.  Unfortunately, they have to take the test in the computer lab, and there not enough computers for the entire grade to test at once, so they are taking turns.  Testing will continue throughout the next week, during which time my son goes to one class per day.  The school cannot have students in the hallways during testing, so students can't switch classes.  He stays in the one class, does a little work, then they watch movies or play board games till it's time to leave.  School sure is different from when I was a kid.

I stepped on the Wii Fit scale this morning, and became very upset.  It's time for some re-evaluating of what I'm eating.  I'm back on MyFitnessPal trying to get a grip on my calorie intake.  I hate the fact that the older I get the harder it is to keep my weight where it should be, but it's the reality of life and I need to make sure I'm eating right if I don't want any serious health issues later.

I have to be honest here: I was multi-tasking.  I just finished watching Wreck-It Ralph while getting this post up.  I love that movie!  Disney/Pixar films are the best.  This movie is a definite winner, but my all-time favorite Pixar film is still The Incredibles.

Time to get everything ready before bed.  The saying is true, a woman's work is never done!  Good night friends.