Calgon take me away!

I have always wondered about the moms who have time to take a luxurious Calgon bath.
I want it, I crave it,
but truly, it doesn't need to be Calgon....a huge vat of this chocolate would be just fine.
I don't care about the calories, the repercussions, or the people that wonder if I have lost my mind, but in lieu of it being Monday...take me AWAY!!
In the background, I have a middle schooler screaming, "No" and moaning at the top of his lungs. It sounds like he is dying, and my only thought it that he is being tortured by an elder brother.

Yep, it's been confirmed...he is now screaming for me, "Mom, I am being tortured!"

I am now handling this in the most mature, God fearing, character building way I know how....matching him tone for tone, not getting off my bootie like I know I should, but instead yelling from the computer, "Knock it off - now."

Alas, such an amazing home school mom I am.
Mother of the Year, I do think I have been crowned,
and just think....it's only Monday!

Don't you just love real time when I can type a post in five minutes to share bedlam with my friends. Yep, I was supposed to finish my creative meal planning post...well, tomorrow.

(And if my sweet hubby reads this anytime soon, don't worry...I'm dealing with it - can't wait for you to get home...hee hee xoxo)

A Sunday Moment

When a family begins home schooling, the state requires you to register a "name" for your school.
Twelve years ago, we chose "Crown of Life Academy" based on our family's life verse and the circumstances that were so prevalent at the time.
We desire that this truth be ingrained in our children's hearts and minds, so there is never any doubt of His sovereignty.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has prepared to those who love him.

What a blessing to know that He has it all under control. I can take myself off that "throne" now because He has it covered. :)

Pondering from a woman who truly knows what perseverance means....
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. "

-Helen Keller

Seriously, do I have to?

I interrupt this meal planning post to tell you I can barely lift my arms to type because I have been exposed to this kind of torture for two weeks now. I am seriously trying to figure out how blogging with my new lifestyle change can mesh.

As I alluded to in an earlier post, differences are being made in this household.
One of the main changes in my life?
Becoming a complete gym rat again.
In most areas, I need to take baby steps in order to form a new habit, but with this....I have gone head first with no return.
The crazy reason?
Have you ever tried to take baby steps with exercise?
It just doesn't work for me. I have tried it...for five years. I thought Taebo was going to my new best friend, but I turned on him also.
I MUST. HAVE. ACCOUNTABILITY!
And that accountability is coming in the form of my sis in love - at 6 am in the morning.
The Lord has been nudging me, for a long time, to rise earlier.
I REALLY struggle with this area.
I love my late night hours, all by myself...LOVE. THEM, but it's not the best for my family.
So I am compromising by leaving for aerobics at 5:30 am on Wed and Friday mornings, and then alternating evening classes the other two days.
This was one of those evenings, and it ended with another recruited detaining looking at me during class and mouthing, "I hate you." (She did it love, of course, but still...)

A recap of our first 6am day - invigorating.
We felt great, had the best home school day ever and we confirmed that this would revolutionize our lives.
Our 1 pm phone call went something like this, "Don't you just feel amazing? I feel like I've had a pot of coffee...."
So we did it again - the next day.
The class was step aerobics, and I literally laughed til I cried because it was SOOOO comical. We looked like complete idiots, and were probably annoying to all the serious ladies trying to exercise. They really do need to loosen up and we're just the ones to do it.

The teacher took compassion on us after class and assured us that every one else in the class were hard core exercisers and had been coming for five years.
Our 1 pm conversation that afternoon went something like this, "Well, I sure don't think you're as perky today, are you? What....your hubby sent you back to bed? You were pale....yep, I went back to bed too. I am sick as a dog....can't walk up the stairs, can you?"
But that was last week, and now, I don't feel like I am going to vomit anymore, but I did an hour and a half boot camp class tonight.....yes, it's really called BOOT CAMP!

Now, don't worry. I am not deserting my one true love.

Remember, it's all about balance, and health... not complete insanity.

I want to eat french fries, chocolate and salad. I cook fairly healthy, so that I can indulge a bit.
But I indulged too much last year, and I gained nearly 15 pounds. Now, for those 5 people that I know IRL life, they're probably rolling their eyes at me.
Yes, because I am a bit taller - 5'8", I can gain, AND lose, without it being extremely noticeable. But it is in my clothes.

Most people don't know that I was huge competitive athlete/swimmer up until my 20's. When I made the choice to focus on the arts, instead of athletics, I gained weight....alot of it! I was 30-40 pounds heavier than I am now. I know what it's like to struggle with weight, and I don't want to go back.
I am hitting a milestone bday in 6 weeks, and everyone keeps warning me that it's so hard to lose weight after that magic year.
I want to be healthy, not skinny. I feel fine about my weight now, but I want to be able to do an aerobics class without my heart exploding, much less needing to go back to bed.
I want to assure that I stay a "young mom," and have the energy to keep up with the busy lifestyle that comes with five blessings.
For me, it's about health. But, if fitting back into my skinny jeans are one of the side benefits, I'll take it.
And no, you will never ever catch me showing my belly - even if my abs ever look like that. I had to post them because they look just like my skinny jeans (minus the $160 price tag. :)
that hopefully I will be sporting soon...if I can ever get out of bed again. Right now, I just need to concentrating on getting up the stairs...
I think I can, I think I can...
It's 11:15, and I have to leave at 5:30am

Creative Meal Planning

Does the phrase 'meal planning' drive shivers down your spine?
Do you have the best of intentions to save money by eating at home, but never follow through?

I recommit to doing a better job of this myself, and since this is such a huge part of my life,
I want to share some creative ways that you can plan ahead, save money and eat healthier without it feeling like work.
Sound impossible?
Let's just give it a try!
For those of you newer to my blog, and/or meal planning, I have several previous posts on this topic.
A great place to start would be with this post below.
It incorporates some basic suggestions for meal planning, and helps think outside the "cooking box."
C.O.S.T cooking: Cook once, serve twice

Now on to some creative cooking alternatives.

Imagine yourself back in the early 1900's.
You're rocking on the covered porch, busying your hands with a beautiful quilt patch, while catching up with all your neighborhood girlfriends. :)
I always longed to be in the days of the Quilting Bee where friends came together regularly to share community.
You shared life. You had a purpose. You had fun. ....you got it done!

Introducing the Kitchen Sisters' Club
On and off for the last ten years, I have organized evening gatherings where friends come together to make meals.
Who doesn't want to be part of a cool club...so we named it.

Yes, I know, I've been told many times that I should have been the one to start the "Let's Dish/Super Supper" type of places...it's kind of a bummer.

Over the year, I have done our get together multiple ways, with many different ladies, and groups ranging from 6-20, but it's always such a great time together.

In the next post, I'll share in detail how you can organize a night like this with your girlfriends.
Does the idea of having a ladies night out, sharing some appetizers and going home with 4-8 meals to stick in your freezer sound like a dream come true?
Well, start thinking of some friends to invite and do it together.
Yes, the organizer does get the brunt of the work to begin with, but it's so worth it.

(edited to add: I love how you are sharing your experiences. Please comment if you've done something similar and I will compile the ideas in the next post..yipee).

Typically, it's just the ladies, but some of the kiddos came along to help.
Remember, start them cooking early - it makes all the difference. :)

I don't know about you, but I HATE mixing meatloaf, so what better task for the girls than to GO FOR IT!
They loved it, and mixed up 5 lbs of Italian Mozzarella Meatloaf for me.

Since I did this cooking jubilee at church, with a large freezer at our disposal, I had the girlies do the meatballs first. We froze the meatballs on the baking sheet and then transferred them to a zip lock bag right before we left.

I gave a choice of 7-8 main dishes, with most of the ladies leaving with 6 meals ready for their freezer.
We had Italian Mozzarella Meatloaf, Asian Pork Tenderloin, Mexican Lasagna, Chicken Pot Pie, Lemon Margarita Chicken, Grandmother's Sunday Roast, and Enchilada Chicken.
It's such a blessing to come home and have these waiting for you after a crazy day.

OUR EVENING OUT TAKES!

Cooking in bulk, makes me hungry!
Crazy, I know...only when I'm really, really tired...and I was. :)

"If I have to make one more meat ball...."

Yes, it's obviously been a long day, and Jen looks whooped!

Waiting for the women to finish cooking...isn't that their job? HA!

Come back next time...from a kitchen near you....the "How To's" of the Kitchen Sister Club or whatever in the world you want to call it.

I just found the blog Passionate Homemaking..check here for great freezer tips.

The Baby Steps of Organization

As you twirl around blog land this week, a myriad of ladies are introducing us
to their resolutions and goals.
Our family will be carving out time this week to reflect on 2008, and looking ahead to the intentional steps we need to take in 2009.
Steps that allow us to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

In order for that to happen, it starts with my hubby and me.
And, you all, I have some major remodeling that needs to take place.
No, not the house kind of remodel (well, that too), but the heart kind.
I spent the last two months doggy paddling this stream of life, in hopes that I wouldn't go under.
And since I was a competitive swimmer for 14 years....that is NOT a good thing, and it sure wasn't the lazy river I had hoped it to be..

I need to share all that I am learning, but I want to start off with one of my basics.
Reclaiming my organizational life!
Every blog is talking about getting rid of the clutter for the New Year, but for some of us, that is going to take longer than others.
Ladies, it's all about BABY STEPS!

We're in this for the LONG HAUL,
and one week of an extreme home makeover isn't going to cut it.
I need to realign my priorities in this area,
and we can do it together.
15 minutes of every day consistency will change our organizational life.
Sometimes when the house gets overwhelming, it's impossible to find a starting point.
I love the Flylady's idea of beginning with Shining the Kitchen Sink.

Commit to having a shining, empty kitchen sink each and every evening.
It sounds so basic and elementary, but the contagious atmosphere that permeates my morning when I wake up to this is ...sheer joy!
I am not just talking about an empty sink. I mean a shining sink.
Come on...let's do it.....right now!
1. Empty the sink
2. Fill it with hot water and bleach it
3. Soak it, Rinse it
4. Scrub it...hard - every little corner and rim with Comet or some cleaner.
5. Then, get the Windex out and shine away.
Lookie here...you can even see my reflection! Yipee!
Then dry it out. Seriously, it makes the difference.
Now, if you're really Type A, you can even polish it, but I will never be Type A, so I stopped, and was so happy.
If your sink already looks this way every day, then just pick one other area in your kitchen with which you will commit. The junk draw or counter? Your island?
Don't laugh at us if you're blessed with the gift of "everything has its place."
We want to learn from you.

Remember, it's just baby steps for you non-organized friends of mine.

And of course, there has to be some bedlam in this beauty of mine.

I want you to note the blue rubber band.
It's a continuous reminder to to savor the little things,
and know that the days may be long, but the years are short!

You see, that rubber band was situated one early, cold morning, like this.

And when I had not even partaken of my coffee yet, it did THIS!!
All over me!

Yes, my boys got me good.
The first time I laughed and acknowledged the humor.
The second time, I got ticked. I was not in a good mood to begin with.
And after wards I had to apologize.
Because this mom wants to be remembered for living LIFE to its fullest, and not letting the little things get me down.
(Hello - Jen, it was just water, for goodness sake.)
But...I don't think they'll be doing that again anytime soon. :) hee hee

So go shine the sink right now, my friends, and share with me your baby step for the day.
I will be updating mine as I go.

(And yes, I have already started getting up earlier, exercising...ha - serious comedy routine, and have taken 6 bags of clothes to Goodwill).

Edited: Find more cleaning ideas at Biblical Womanhood
I'm linking to this here 3 weeks later, and I have fallen off the wagon on the shiny sink. Still trying to have it emptied every night and wiped down...sure does make a difference.