In a couple more months when my hair has grown out even farther and I've kept up with kick boxing, that might be the case but, so far, it's still just me. Well, to be fair, it's me plus... something. I still haven't figured out where my newly acquired super powers are originating from but I am enjoying them nonetheless. Is it better organization? A better head space from being more open & honest? More exercise? More intellectual stimulation? Some crazy amalgamation involving all of the above is my guess and I'll be doing my damnedest to keep it up because, ladies & gentlemen, I feel full of energy and just plain fierce about 90% of the time now. My mysterious gastrointestinal woes have almost completely disappeared. I'm experiencing less frustration with the kids and being a stay at home mom in general and I'm accomplishing things on par with the rate that I did when it was just me and Ada all day. Does this boggle your mind? It certainly does mine. Here's a short recap of what I've been up to this month (and it's terrible that it has almost been a month since I've finished something for posting):
*Took and passed two DANTES tests, which earned me six college credits. I have two more tests on February 9th that I need to pass and I'll be set to start the last two years of my degree on February 16th. I've been shooting for between an hour or more (preferably more) of study time each day and, based on the practice tests I have access to, the information is sticking. I'm starting to get really tense about these upcoming tests because there's even more riding on passing them than there was the first two.
*I've managed to keep up with all household chores including the weekly scrubbing of tubs, toilets, kitchen sinks, and floors for almost the whole year. This is due in large part to having downloaded this printable chore list from Motivated Moms. I had a $1 off coupon for it and, let me tell you, that's the best $7 I've spent all year. Mike had been asking for me to make him a chore list and I straight up refused to do it, for various reasons, but it turns out I'm loving this. If you're looking to become better organized and use what little time you have to get the most done, GO GET IT. Seriously. (Also, for the record, I don't think having a weekly chore chart posted is helping him get any more done around the house either. Not that he isn't helpful at ALL, it's just that having this chart wasn't the miracle cure he seemed to think it would be. JUST SAYIN'.)
*One of my goals for this year is to pay off at least one of our large debts and it seems I've discovered a way to manage to pay them BOTH off in 2012 if I stick to the budget I've created. That's barring something crazy coming up that throws it all off of course. I've been paying cash for purchases too which has really made me think a little bit longer before buying. Having to trade actual cash money tends to make me a bit more stingy.
*I've been kick boxing every other day for at least 30 minutes and make an effort to find something else to do for a half hour on the days that I'm not boxing. I attempted to do some yoga with the kids and that was partially successful. They thought it was hilarious fun for about ten minutes and then decided it would be even more fun if they were to try and use me as a jungle gym while I was doing poses. I probably won't try that again. My entertainment center contains some long neglected exercise DVDs that might hold the kids interest longer. Ada is stoked for belly dancing and I'm curious about Zumba as I've heard nothing but rave reviews.
*I'm meal planning with ease (and hardly any whining!) and have been doing a lot of cooking and baking from scratch again. I don't think there's a single person in this house that isn't thrilled with that change. I plan to try out this copy cat recipe for Hardee's biscuits Saturday morning on the twins' THIRD BIRTHDAY because they do love them some fresh biscuits. Mike's birthday is the next day so he's stoked to have biscuits and gravy for himself too.
*I have managed to do a better job keeping in touch with people both in writing, over the phone, and in person. I am REALLY excited about this and want to step it up even more because, as it turns out, interacting with other people really does make me live. Don't get me wrong. There are still times where I want nothing more than to hermit the hell up in this house and sit quietly for hours on end. But, mostly, people feed me. Don't worry though. I have no intention of eating your brains! (Yet.)
I'm probably forgetting at least one or two things that I'd been planning to mention but, if that's the case, it's just fodder for another post that I'll have to be gently nagged into getting finished and posted. (Thanks Kat!)
Anna, you amaze me. Not only are you finding the energy to DO all of this stuff, you are even making time to REFLECT on it! That's fantastic. If you figure out the source of all this energy, please clue me in... :)
ReplyDeleteLove, Angela
(time for some hypocritical discussion)
ReplyDeleteIf you want to look like Wonder Woman, you should probably do some basic weight lifting. :p
No, but seriously, the misconception that some women have to lifting is that it will make them huge, hairy and gangly monsters, but it's not true. Women bodybuilders get that way because they inject chemicals into their bodies and absorb protein like my kid absorbs waffles.
(hypocrisy ends)
Anyway, good on keeping things up!