Something I forget about myself

I don't like schedules so much. Now this is not news, not really. I can hear my mom and my friend Sarah saying, "Duh!" But I am always taken aback when I encounter that tug against the flow in different areas of my life. When I worked outside the home, I loathed people expecting to see me at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. or whenever I was supposed to be there. You know I was thinking, "Don't be looking for me trying to box me in!" And when my kids were babies I never had a strict feeding schedule or even a strict nap schedule. It's always been eat when you're hungry, though I have gotten stricter across the years with naps and bedtime schedules. Though I think a lot of that has to do with the kids' behavior. If they are playing well together and not driving me nuts, then I am much more likely to forget the time and get off our already loose schedule. Anyway as I was thinking over summer homeschool and summer reading, I was kinda beating myself up that I haven't done a very good job of sticking to a plan and getting the kids to do their work. And then I realized it's just another manifestation of me being schedule averse. I guess the non-conformist in me has to show herself somehow.

Sick to death

There have been plenty of days where I have just not posted rather than be a Negative Nelly. But today I just have to say that I'm sick to death of myself. UGH! I'm sick to death of my house. Double UGH!And I'm sick to death of laundry and cooking.

That is all.

April is all about literacy it seems

It's School Library Month. Did you know? It's a great time to thank your librarian, if your school is lucky enough to still have one.

There are also a number of other special literacy-related dates this month. For example, National Library Week is April 8-14. It’s a time to "celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support," according to the American Library Association. "All types of libraries -- school, public, academic and special -- participate. This year’s theme: You belong @ your library®."

Other dates this month: National Library Workers Day - April 10; National Bookmobile Day - April 11; Support Teen Literature Day - April 12; and Children’s Day/Book Day - April 30.

Though I'm naturally all about Children's Day/Book Day given my business, I think my favorite literacy-related day this month is National Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day - April 12, 2012. Again from the American Library Association, "It is a special reading celebration to remind and encourage families to make reading together on a daily basis a family priority. The official event date, April 12, is the birthday of author Beverly Cleary."

How fun!

Now, of course, when I find out stuff like this, my mind starts turning to figure out how I can incorporate this into my book business.

I'm thinking hostesses hosting home parties and donating their free books to their schools' libraries.

I'm thinking preschool or scout troop read-a-thons on D.E.A.R. Day with pledges going for books to the kids and books to be donated.

I'm thinking Cards for a Cause fundraisers benefiting local libraries and literacy groups.

Lack of ideas is never my downfall. Follow through on the other hand...

If you'd like to help me celebrate literacy this month, hollar at a sistah. Or perhaps I'll run into you at the library. 

Ode to 8 hours of sleep

What a difference 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep makes. (Let's not count the phone ringing at 5 a.m.)
I don't remember the last time I got a full 8 hours. But I need to do it more often because wow just wow.
I woke up actually rested. I can make myself a cup of coffee just because I like the taste and ritual and not because I can't open my left eye until I've had it. And I'm sure my kids appreciate it because I've made them breakfast and played a game of Snakes & Ladders, and I haven't even made that cuppa joe yet.

Sleep--the best kept non-secret!

A momma rant

I am sick to death of the "I didn't have time" excuse constantly coming from my son. I just picked him up from his after-school activity and as we're walking down the hall I'm looking at some of the things posted outside his classroom. So I ask where his is, and you guessed it. He didn't have time...

Now I know he's slow. I call him turtle for a reason. But I also know that after fall teacher conferences where I heard about a lot of unfinished work, I expressly asked that my turtle be kept in from recess if he didn't finish his work. That worked for about a month evidently.

So what do I have to do, show up every morning at recess time to check that his work is complete before he's allowed out? Or can we at least have his unfinished work sent home so I can have him finish it. I guess I'll have to send an e-mail to the teacher.

In the meantime, turtle's gaming systems are gone for a week while his guitar lessons are put on indefinite hold because frankly he just doesn't have enough time, especially with all the extra work he's going to have to do now.

*sucking my teeth and rolling my eyes*

Positive energy

Do you ever look around your house and get discouraged? Do you ever get sick and tired of being sick and tired? Do you ever just get sick of yourself and your negative inner monologue?

Yeah I’m there today. So I’m trying to find and focus on some positive energy. Sometimes being grateful for the big things isn’t enough. I mean, of course, I’m thankful that my hubby has a job and my kids are healthy. But that’s not enough to make me want to get off my booty. I need some little victories. Lots of little victories!

Some morning victories: I worked out. That’s a positive. I unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher. So that’s another positive. I remembered to eat breakfast at a reasonable time, so there you go three positive things.

Is it sad that I have to pump myself up about these little things? (I’m sure you’re thinking yes though you’ll post no. lol) I think I’m going to need some more small victories to get me through today.

Stream of consciousness

In normal housework avoiding fashion, I'm sitting at the kitchen table taking turns staring out the window at my middle child playing outside in the cold and staring at my loud laptop trying to come up with something to write.

I kinda gave up on coming up with something good to write, as you can tell, and decided to go with more of a stream of consciousness post. There is just nothing exciting going on and I, fortunately, don't have any major concerns or issues on my mind -- mostly thanks to my mom listening sympathetically to my rant during last night's phone call.

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good about where I am in time and space at this very moment. The kids are happy and healthy. I'm feeling pretty good about where I am on my *current* weight loss journey (fit and fabulous at 40 is in full effect). I had a good February in my book business. And am looking forward to a busy March. I am a little nervous about March through May, as I need $1000 in sales each month to stay on track to win an iPad. But if I do it, I'll not only win an iPad, but I'll also be on track to finance my 40th birthday celebration in Vegas.

So yeah, overall, I'm in a good mental space.