Organization=Sanity!!!

So mommies out there. If you haven't been on pinterest lately, just let me warn you, its more addicting than facebook! I love it!!! I've been finding tons of great ideas on there including home decorating, crafts, hairstyles, recipes, and tons of other stuff. I have to say I think the one I am addicted to the most are the fabulous ORGANIZATION IDEAS!!! Maybe its because my house is small so I have to use every nook and cranny functionally or maybe its because I have 4 children and a husband who I am constantly picking up after?
I found a great post on organization I thought I would share. I do some of these things and it makes a world of difference, so here's the link. Maybe it'll help you too :)

http://organizing.yourway.net/10-things-to-do-everyday-to-stay-organized/#sf

Getting back into it

Summer is officially over. I was a horrible/the best mom ever by having my kids miss their first 2 days of school in order to complete the family vacation we had planned before the school let us know what the start date would be. Now that I'm done pouting over the whole situation of summer being over, I am trying to remember/relearn this whole routine mom thing.
The first day of school was simply a nutty day. Trying to figure out where, how, and when to pick up and drop off the kids from school and Hudson starting tiny tots for his first time. Now carpools are running smoothly, and I am working on having a healthy snack ready for when the kids get home (today was zucchini bread, about 1/2 healthy 1/2 yummy!). I also try to have at least 1/2 of dinner prepared so I can sit and focus on homework with the kids.
It is absolutely strange to me that for 3 hours on Tues and Thursday I only have one child with me. Funny how when I had my first child I felt so tied down with a toddler, but now with ONLY 1 toddler to deal with I feel like I can conquer anything. My hardest thing is deciding what wonderful thing I want to do with those 3 magical hours. Should I workout, shop, clean the house, prepare meals, craft, visit teach, work on church stuff, just relax, or ....... the list can go on forever!
I have a lot of figuring out to do still. Funny how each new year brings on so many changes. How long is a routine really a routine? With children always growing, life is always changing and priorities change too.

So, my job this next couple weeks is to figure out what my best routine is, so my family's days can flow calmly and smoothly. Have you picked up any new routines with this new school year? Anything working great for you?

I made it!

So, I made it through my vacations with no excess weight gain! Its pretty amazing what you can accomplish when you have your mind set. I still have 1/2 of the summer to go, but I'm proud so far of how I am doing. It wasn't so hard to hit the gym when I got home since I had continued it when I was away from home.

How are you spending your summer days? Enjoying time with the kids and family?

How are you finding a way to fit in exercise and healthy eating with all the vacations and time with the children?

If you are struggling: try setting a goal to improve a little at a time. It can be something simple, like only eating dessert 2 times a week instead of 5 ;) Or fitting in at least 2 days of exercise a week. Make a small goal and set your mind to it. Good luck! Please share.

Exercising while on vacations

We just got back from a week vacation away with the family. I have been so concerned that I would falter this summer on my exercising, but it has been quite the contrary. Being with other people that love to exercise and make it a priority has made all the difference.

During my week vacation I made it to 1 kickboxing class at the local 24 hour fitness, Ran/did elliptical twice for about 40 minutes and combined that with a few weights, and did a P90X video with my hubby and bro in law. So, on a week vacation I fit in 4 workouts! Its really amazing how when you make something a priority you really can fit it in. Instead of feeling horrible when I came back from vacation, I felt great!

So....Survival tips for vacations,

#1 Make exercise a priority
#2 Surround yourself with people who enjoy exercise or be the motivator! (Everyone will thank you later)
#3 Enjoy the relaxation but do not over indulge in the food.

Good Luck with your summer vacationing!!!

Saving money

I love learning and trying new things. I think its so fun to educate myself and see how far I can take myself in new explorations. I think exploring is a healthy thing to do :) My newest little "hobby" is couponing and saving my family money. Most hobbies take a few extra dollars, so its pretty fun that this hobby is actually saving us tons on our grocery bill!

I would not call myself an extreme couponer~as I only purchase one paper per week and shop only maybe twice a week, but still its been fun and exciting to see those savings.

For example: Last week one of my best transactions(its often best to do multiple transactions at one store), I scored 2 gallons of milk, 2 dino gogurts, a danimals drink 6 pack, and yogurt 6 pack for.....

$2.19!!!!

This week I took a picture of my loot, so here it is

8 boxes of fiber one bars, 4 bottles Sweet baby BBQ sauce, 2 Kraft dressings, 9 lawry's marinades, 1 frenches mustard, 1 Kraft Mayo, 1 gallon milk, 1 knudsen sour cream, bag of twizzlers, and 7 boxes of brownie mix

All for $16.80!!!!

I stuck to stuff that we buy on a normal basis so I feel like I'm only buying things I normally would. The fiberone bars alone would have cost me more than that amount had I bought them at Walmart where I usually shop, so I figure everything else on the counter is just bonus and free. My pantry is starting to burst out the seams and I've spent less in the last month in grocery shopping than I do on a normal month. Its amazing!!!!

Balancing the changes

Sorry, I didn't realize its been so long since my last post! I've been staying busy working out, playing volleyball again, couponing, crafting, and doing lots of other fun stuff with the kids.

My latest concerns with staying healthy both have to do with Balancing the Changes...

FIRST~
How do I fit in exercise with all 4 kids home from school and so many fun vacations planned? There is no way I am paying $12 each time I go to the gym so my kids can be babysat there or paying the $80 monthy fee it would cost to have them all enrolled in the unlimited babysitting! I've gotta figure out a way to fit it in, so I may be trying to do a few laps at the pool or do some extra squats while I fix meals. Should be interesting :)

SECOND~
My bad knee is starting to bother me a bit. If you don't know, I tore my ACL completely my senior year of high school. I walked on it for a year instead of having the surgery right away (this was the only way I was going to be able to go to the college of choice). So, I ruined a lot of cartlidge along the way. The doctor told me I would never be able to run again. I feel blessed that I can do as much as I can exercise wise. Recently I wanted to slim down, so I've been taking lots of kickboxing and other cardio type classes (which totally work)~ I think this is starting to irritate my knee a bit. So, that is my other dilema, how to I choose between staying fit and putting too much strain on my knee.

So, those are my thoughts for the day. I know I need to take care of my body, and I want to, but as a mom of 4 it isn't always easy. I'm going to work on finding a new balance for the next 2 months and figure this out.

Thoughts on Venting

Some days are good and some are bad. I try my best to find the good in everyday, but it is really hard sometimes!

SOMETIMES I JUST WANNA.....

*kick and scream like a kid
*splat, I AM GOING CRRRRAAAAZZZZZZZZZY and I'm so frustrated all over facebook
*call up the subpoena clerk and explain to them that my husband would appreciate more than 2 1/2 hours of sleep a night and scream to them about how I would love to see my husband at least every other day!!!

WHAT I TRY TO DO INSTEAD...

There are a few ways I deal with hard days. Most hard days I just grab my journal and write and sometimes I cry (a girl needs a cry every once in a while right?). As I write I try to find the positive in what is going on. I think of how this trial of loneliness and exhaustion is strengthening me. I think of who I may be able to relate to in the future because of this hard time I am going through. A few times I have called up a listening ear such as my mother, sister, or good friend. Other times I think of others who I can do service for to get my mind off of myself (some of those who live close by are often recipients of baked goods on my really hard days). For some reason baking with my kids and delivering cookies, or bread to a friend make me feel so much better (then eating a cookie afterward helps too :)

HERE'S WHERE YOU COME IN!

HOW DO YOU VENT? DO YOU THINK ITS A HEALTHY THING TO VENT? DON'T WE ALL GET ANGRY SOMETIMES? IF YOU'VE BEEN ON FACEBOOK LATELY YOU PROBABLY KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO GO AHEAD AND PUT ALL THEIR COMPLAINTS OUT THERE EVERYDAY FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL HEARING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S ISSUES CONSTANTLY. DO YOU THINK VENTING SHOULD BE PERSONAL OR IS IT FINE TO VENT PUBLICLY? (I'm not sure how everyone feels on this issue, so please do share).