Moving over - Come visit

The time has come to re-organize and start a-new. I am moving over to a new blog - aptly named Ticklemom.

Sometimes getting your act together and organizing yourself requires moving into a home that has your own personal touch.

I look forward to seeing you on the other side (and thanks for the ride)!

Organize the kids and the rest shall follow

The way I figure it, if the kids are organized and getting their morning and evening stuff done without me yelling, we'll all be happier.

I got this idea from Amy at New Nostalgia - and made a couple of modifications. (The picture quality sucks, but, oh well...) Amy has some great suggestions for helping the family get organized and I'm going to be working on a version of this next. I already started brainstorming the design...

I took a simple document frame (glass front) from the dollar store. Set up the chore lists in Word (click here to download a copy), and attached a dollar store dry erase marker with Velcro dots.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

Thanks!

Peaches

Day 1: One day at a time

So yesterday was the first day of "No-Nutella" (and baked yumminess). I did well. I didn't have any Nutella. That's a good start.

I also stuck to the no baked goods thing even though some pretty delicious things were staring me in the face.

Truth be told, I wasn't really worried about day 1. I'm on the bandwagon. It's the days ahead that worry me. As I get progressively more bored with missing out on my comfort foods I don't expect that I will be that much fun to be around. I give in to my cravings pretty easily so I have to try and maintain the momentum of excitement (hopefully see some results) and that should keep me going a bit longer.

Reality and getting started

The kids started school this week which means that life and routines are going to return to some semblance of normal.

Along with routines comes the reality that summer relaxation also reflected in less-than-perfect food choices. I have a friend who has a great ability to get me out of the house and go walking, so we started that, and I am going to try and eat better. I'm posting this so that I have more people that I feel I am accountable to. I have not been so good at sticking to any healthy eating or exercise plans in the past, so I'm taking it one step at a time.

Step 1: Remove all traces of nutella from my diet, as well as baked goods. Breads are ok, but good bread choices need to be made. And menu choices will be posted to help with food shopping and meal prep.

Let's try this for a week and see how it goes.

Wish me luck!

The Power of Women

I've never really "gotten" tehillim. I mean, I know what they are. I
can say them, but I've watched with envy the way some people can lose
themselves in the saying of tehillim (Psalms).

Until this past year.

There is a belief that saying the entire book of tehillim twice can do
miraculous things. I don't pretend to understand the way G-d's mind
works, but I believe it. This past year we have had several friends go
through difficult surgeries. The word went out and the response was
astounding. At one gathering, there were so many women that it took
under 20 minutes to complete the entire Tehillim twice. I think
reading Tehillim takes practice and patience. I often read in English
- if I understand it, it will help me move towards the Hebrew.

What I found miraculous, despite the good news received each time, was
the bringing together of so many people from different backgrounds and
groups. Everyone focused on a single goal. All with love in their
heart focused on helping a friend to pull through a difficult time and
heal.

Miracles surround us every day. We just have to open our eyes to see them.

Growing up

Big N's birthday is coming up. She'll be hitting double digits.

On my 10th birthday my mom was super-emotional. I thought she was
nuts! I didn't get it.

I get it now.

When dropping N off at camp this morning, she saw a girl that she's
become friends with and asked me if she could just go in with her.
They met up and stood talking and being all girly for a a few minutes
before venturing inside. I'm sitting in my car almost in tears.
Definitely emotional.

She's growing up. I'm so happy. But the baby that made me a mommy is a
decade old.

Holy ...!