I don’t stress Christmas anymore

Yup, I’m gonna go there. I am going to write about all of the things that I would normally shy away from saying out loud for fear that my opinions may be unpopular. The reason I am putting myself out there is because I LOVE Christmas. It used to stress me out. I would actually really truly cry every year because Christmas stressed me out. Not anymore my friends, not anymore. If I can help just one stressed out person enjoy the holidays, I am willing to take the heat.  I feel this time of year is about love, joy, peace and hope. Not, money, stuff or politics.


GIFTS! 
Yes, I love gifts. The giving, the getting, all of it. What I don’t love is feeling obligated to buy something for someone because I think that they will buy me something and the something I buy must be of equal or greater value or else I come off looking cheap and un-thoughtful. So, I walk the malls in a sweat trying to find something that they will love, do not already own and will not be tempted to re-gift, bury in a cupboard or toss in the trash. How do I know they feel this way? Because I feel that way. I love that you thought of me but please…, I have 10 pairs of fuzzy socks, and enough specialized single purpose kitchen gadgets that take up more space than I have. I am sooooo sorry!!! I am sweating and feeling anxiety in my chest and gut as I write this. I fear your scorn! If you want to show you care, tell me Merry Christmas, smile and give me a hug. That means more to me than anything that you could find at the store. I am not just saying that to be polite. The accumulation of ‘stuff’ stresses me.  In cases where gift giving is required, I vote for consumables. Home made preserves, a bottle of wine to share.  A trip to the movies or a dinner out together to enjoy the company of the people I love. Requirement is now limited to family members.


My solution: This has been gently worked out over the years. I feel good about it because everyone is on board.  My friends have children, we used to exchange gifts but have now agreed that Christmas is for the kids; their aunts, uncles and grandparents provide plenty of stuff. 
One side of the family, we draw names when we are together at Thanksgiving. You buy one gift, spending a max of $35. We are all adults and don’t need or want a bunch of stuff that someone acquired by means of sweating through the mall. This way we get more time to put real thought into it. The price limit also makes us think about what we are buying. Not just a pile of fuzzy socks and a foot soaker/massager. Sorry if you like the foot soaker. I hear people use it a few times, really enjoy it, and then store it away in the back of the closet.  
The other side of the family, we have a limit of $10. Yup, a lousy ten bucks. This is hilarious!!!! The creativity and thought required to show your love for ten bucks should not be underestimated. I can’t share what I have put together this year but I promise you, it’s awesome!


POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!
If someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings I feel good. I say thank you. I will return the sentiment. Of course you can say Merry Christmas! I say Merry Christmas. It is my holiday greeting of choice. I will not feel bad about saying it nor should those who say Happy Holidays feel bad.  Seriously! 

Wow. I sure hope my house doesn’t get egged now. 


THE MONEY!
There is too much focus on the money and the stuff. I will be blunt here. I am not going to spend hundreds of dollars on people who already have everything they could possibly need and much of what they want. I will donate money and gifts to the Food Cupboard and Toy Mountain. That makes me feel better. I say better, not great because I do actually cry every year because I am in a warm house surrounded by food, family and laughter while I know darn well that somewhere close by, someone is cold, hungry and alone. 


~Christmas can be hard. Please, make it about love, peace, hope and joy. Not money, stuff and politics. Find a heartfelt way to show you care and do it in a big merry way. It feels good and does not include sweating, anxiety or stress. 

Merry Christmas! 
Please don’t throw a snowball in my face!

This post is NOT about nipples.

On a whim, I changed my status to “I have a blog post brewing in my mind. I will include the word 'nipple' once for every like this status gets. ;)” 
It turns out that I have eleven friends on Facebook who are interested in nipples. Some of you I expected to “like”, some were a surprise.


My idea came late at night while feeding the baby. My lips were a little dry so naturally I reached over for the nipple cream. Lanolin. Its good stuff and I have found many uses for it. Obviously it has saved many ladies nipples from the destructive forces of their hungry infants. It says right on the tube, relieves and heals dry, cracked and sore nipples. Why not my dry cracked lips? It gives a nice subtle shine too. A nurse once told me to rub Vaseline inside my nostrils to prevent winter nosebleeds… nipple cream works wonders and lasts longer. It saved my poor raw nose during a cold last week. My cuticles are looking beautiful thanks to nipple cream. I also applied it to dry rough heels before bed and saw nice results. (I still have not gone for my pedicure).  Nipple cream can also be used to spot-treat your dry winter-cracked hands. 
There you go. I have seven uses for nipple cream and used the word nipple eleven times. 


Update on my December goals
There were three goals that I was working towards this month. So far things are looking good. 


Dinner - It has been planned in advance and delivered to the table on time seven nights in a row. All meals have included vegetables. I am very proud of myself. The Sandi Richard cook books are a great resource. I feel a need to make small changes to her recipes. That may just be my rebellious side not wanting to conform. She has made meal planning very easy. I cut seven book marks out of the kids’ craft paper and gave them to Mr. (my husband). His job was to place all seven in the book and I took care of the rest. It worked out great. 


Excersise - I have earned myself a sticker every second day. I am starting slow. A few pushups, leg lifts, squats and crunches while watching tv. Kids are used in place of free weights. The girl for my arms, the boys for the legs. 


The organizational board - Great so far. There is room for to-do lists, dinner menu, calendar and much more. The location is central. Whiteboard markers and magnets are in good supply. The board gets used every day, throughout the day. The only challenge so far has been the 2.5 year old middle child. He thinks it’s a neat art station. He rubbed out my menu last night and practiced writing his name. This morning he started getting the right idea. He still took off some of my magnets but it was just to show Mr. that they are “mommy’s magnets”.  Yes, thank you. Now, put them back and stop touching my stuff!

Back On The Horse

The number one lesson I have learned so far with trying to get organized, or really getting anything done at all, is to make a list. Here in a nice, impossible to ignore list are my goals for December. That is 3 experiments in one month. Lesson number two that I have learned is to set reasonable and small goals.

• Learn to make a well balanced dinner by planning in advance.

• Exercise at least three times a week.

• Test run my NEW AND IMPROVED organizational board because maybe this one will work better than the first version. Really, if it works at all, it’s better than the first version.

The method…

Dinner. I am investigating some books by Sandi Richard. She has this great system in her cook books where recipes are sorted into one week sections and colour coded by the time it takes to prepare them. Love it! Right up my alley with the colour coding.

(break while baby screams) Step into my life by inserting about 10 minutes of WAHHHHHHHWAHHHHHHWAHHHHHH befor you read any further. If you want to be authentic, humm and sway/bounce.

Ok, back at the keyboard, baby in arm… one handed typing. Where was I?

I do find that she uses some ingredients that I am not a fan of or, that could be a little healthier but, I am a fan of the format.

Exercise. Three times a week. I will put a sticker on my mini calendar each day that I do some exercise. The plan here is based on shame and encouragement. I will be shamed by a lack of stickers or encouraged to see lots of them. Pretty simple. I’m not expecting to shed all kinds of poundage right away. I just want to tighten up the jiggly bits that shouldn’t be so jiggly.

My new board includes spaces for my big calendar, mini excersise calendar, 

Insert 5 minutes of WAHHHHHHHWAHHHHHHWAHHHHHH before you read any further.

the week’s dinner menu (once I figure it out), list of big jobs to get done and a list of things to get done today.

Wish me luck! 

So, I went and had another baby.... but I'm back now.

Hello everyone! It’s nice to be back after a teensy tiny break from writing. A month ago, I had my third baby, an adorable little girl. Her parents and two brothers are totally in love with her.

Reading my past experiments I can see that there are some failures, some epic failures and thankfully for my ego, some successes. Here is a quick look at how I did over the last ten months sans-blog.

FAILURES:

Planning the day, planning meals, planning a schedule of any sort… EPIC FAIL!

1. I am still wondering at 5:30 pm what we are going to eat and then having to resort to a ‘Plan B’ once I see that everything is frozen.  

2. I do not have any productive activities planned for the boys once they get home from school.

3. Fitness??? BAWHAWHAWHAW!!! I had a baby a month ago. There are no muscles or toned parts anywhere on this body. I have looked for them, they do not exist. The only thing that does not jiggle is my toes. They do, however, really need a pedicure.

4. Healthy eating. See failure #1 and #3. Ya, nuff said.

SUCCESSES:

Learning to prioritize. I had made a list a while back of things that are important to me. Being pregnant (meaning large, uncomfortable and exhausted) forced me to slow down and give energy to only what REALLY needed to get done.

1. My family and I came up with some fun and creative activities to make the summer special.

2. I have been volunteering with both boys’ schools. Being involved shows them that they are important to me and I like being a part of a group working towards something important. Double points for this achievement.

3. I make time for fun. There is not a lot of free time when you have two kids, there is less when there are three. I have learned to be selfish and to let my husband take the reigns at home so that I can bugger off and have a good time with friends. I feel good because I can recharge and let loose. He feels good because he gets to be valuable and highly appreciated. The kids and man then get a happy and more energetic version of me. Win-win-win.

I just got so distracted remembering the fun weekend away I had this summer that I missed my mouth and poured my hot chocolate down the front of my sweater. Zero points for coordination, ten points for being able to laugh at myself.

I have a couple of experiments starting to form in my head. The magnetic board of magical organization is going to get a more realistic facelift, I will learn how to make a good dinner at least five nights a week and I will most certainly fix this jiggley body by spring so that I can play soccer again. Who am I kidding? I really just want to look like a hot mom….and play soccer. I loved playing soccer.

Beauty AND Brains!!! Artful multitasking.

While there is still clutter to tackle and that fancy day planning board to finish constructing, I am pleased to say that my multitasking abilities are still in fine shape. Two of my current objectives involve earning a BA in HR and looking pretty. Don’t judge, I am just being honest.

Here’s how this afternoon went. Kid one; successfully dropped off at nursery school, kid two; napping, Me; studying for a final exam AND pulling of the home spa experience at the same time, thank you very much. Here is how I did it all in 75 minutes…

1)     Run hot bath with invigorating lime aromatherapy bubbles and tea tree oil skin softening treatment.

2)     Make a giant hot chocolate and gather study notes.

3)     Take notes and yummy beverage to the tub.

4)     Gain energy through aromatherapy, ease sore muscles and treat dry skin by sitting still in the bath while reading notes.

5)     Achieve effective studying because there are no distractions in my soapy sanctuary.

6)     Personal reward each unit of study reviewed with a few sips of hot chocolate. Very motivating.

7)     Allow steam from tub and heat from beverage to invoke the opening of facial pores while water softens skin on neglected feet.

8)     Upon completion of study session, use fancy peppermint scrub and pumice stone on neglected feet.

9)   Use 'one minute manicure' hand scrub then get out of the tub.

10)  Towel/air-dry while applying purifying mud mask to facial-ready face. Note to self: Do not drink hot chocolate from an oversized mug in public. Chocolate all over the corners of my mouth.

11)  While mask dries, apply body lotion to avoid re-drying out of skin.

12)  Use special peppermint foot lotion on my smooth little piggys and wrap them up in cozy socks to lock in moisture.

13)  Wash off mask, apply facial toner.

14)  While toner dries, notice condition of eyebrows and do a quick wax job.

15)  Apply “refining lotion” to face followed by special daily moisturiser that does not get used daily.

TAH DAH!!!  Pretty AND smart in 15 easy steps. That my friends, is balance.

(now what am I supposed to make for dinner?)

How's your junk?

I read an article about reducing the amount of ‘stuff’ from your home. I am now inspired!  A little bit of inspiration can be a dangerous thing for me.  How much junk is there in my home that I have no need of, use for, or just think is too ugly to acknowledge? A LOT!  A few months ago I did the big closet clean out. The bags of clothes are still waiting to be taken to the big bin near the church. The rule was that if it didn’t fit or hasn’t been worn in a year, it’s gone. No keeping things for sentimental reasons. Just because I looked sooooo cool in the shiny skimpy top when I was 23 does not mean it belongs in my 32-year old closet.  What else can I clear out? The next experiment is this: March that junk right out the door! Get the play on words? It’s March. Yes, I’m lame. It’s ok. I like me anyways.

Things I can remove from my space are:

• Books I will not be reading again.
• Shoes that don’t get worn.
• Jackets that have not been worn over a year.
• Knick-knacks, what their purpose anyways?
• The mystery pile in the back hall closet.
• Papers that were oh so important during the college years. Seriously, why do I still have that stuff?
• The pile of stuff to be ‘sorted through later’ on my dresser.
• Mystery box that is in my closet. Nothing exciting in there. I think there are candles, cassette tapes, a batting glove… Just stuff I didn’t know how to separate from.

Where will it all go? Goodwill, library donations, recycle. There are places for things like that. It doesn’t have to go in the trash. I have a real problem with waste. That is the reason I have trouble throwing stuff out. I can do this. I can remove the junk. I can reclaim my space. My home can be a clutter-free zone!!!

I got this!  (still loving the new motto)

Thank you to www.wisebread.com for the inspiration.

The list that will fix everything! (kind of)

Well, after some serious time spent assessing what I really truly need to be satisfied, balanced and genuinely happy it has become obvious that I am an ‘overstuffer’.  Not in the sense that I collect too much stuff but, I feel a need to do everything. I want to experience everything and be good at everything.  Personally, I think that’s a great way to live. What’s that saying about sliding into the grave sideways all worn out screaming “WOOHOOOOOOO what a ride!!!” The problem is that I am having trouble fitting it all in, making it happen and feeling good about it all at the end of the day.  

Here is what I need from life (in no particular order):

• To know that my family can count on me for anything
• Meaningful, supporting relationships with like-minded people AKA- friends
• Good times and cutting lose every now and again
• To commune with nature on a regular basis
• A happy blend of control and spontaneity
• Structure - I crave it like a child
• To do work that means something to people and makes lives better
• A body that is healthy enough to keep up with me
• Financial security

Well, when it’s all out there in a structured list format, it seems pretty simple. I have most of those things. What I have been struggling with is fitting in the parts that are missing. Is making this little list happen really the answer to my quest for personal fulfillment, health and happiness? Hmmm. I just had an idea. I am going to post the list on the fridge. Maybe I’ll make a piece of artwork out of it and hang in on the wall. I don’t know. I’m getting excited now. This little list seems achievable. Structure will be the key. Without structure, it all just floats around like a pretty utopian fantasy. Is there anyone out there who can help me with structure?

The goal for today: Stop procrastinating, bundle the kids up (it’s -20C today) and go buy that big magnetic board and finish my invention. I have a great idea for something to plan each day Monday to Friday. It will include daily schedules, meal plans, fitness reward chart and chore distribution centre.