Alright, it’s time for September’s challenges for my 52 Weeks Challenge. Some of my challenges from last month will be carried over, but I will be adding four new ones to balance it all out. First up the carried over challenges:
→Declutter apartment room by room
→Give away TV
→Give away/sale oversized desk in living room
→Use up pre-packaged items in apartment
These are now my “on-going” challenges. Declutter the apartment speaks for itself. Remember the motto is “less is more” and I’m gonna learn this lesson if it kills me. The only thing that I’ve gotten rid of and actually gone looking for are my herbal heat wraps. In truth they are too heavy when I’m in pain, so I’m looking into finding some hot water bottles via Freecycle to help with my cramps and when I’m cold. The TV is still earmarked for my sister to come get, though I may put it up on Craig’s List if she doesn’t get it in the next two weeks. I can use my desktop as my movie playing station. The desk will go up on Craig’s List once I finish cleaning it off. And finally pre-packaged items are slowly disappearing, the end of the dish washing soap is in sight, I just keep using the dish washer less and less.
EDIT: Just as I was typing this all up my sister called me out of the blue and wanted to pick up the TV. She just happened to be in the area (which never happens) and I drove home for my lunch break and let her and her boyfriend, with five kids in toe, pick it up. Yeah! Another one down. Although I had to explain to her way I had no toilet paper as the kids where asking for it and she wanted some too. She thought it was weird, but shrugged it off as me just being her weird little sister.
Now for the new challenges. Challenge #1 this month is to turn down the AC and keep it down. I’ve been getting better about this one, but when it’s 90+ degrees in my apartment I cave after 1 day. So hopefully the cool weather is moving in, and I can keep the AC down all weekend (which is really the only time it gets turned up, unless I forget to turn it back down).
Challenge #2 this month is to get my body moving. I’ve been feeling a bit blah lately and haven’t been doing much of anything. For this I’m going to start doing the Five Tibetan Rites every morning. It will only take me a few minutes to do, and it will give me a (hopefully) burst of energy in the mornings.
Challenge #3 is DivaCup mastery, or at the very least an attempt. This will be a two-month challenge where I will use my DivaCup for at least 48-hours of my cycle.
Challenge #4 shutting down the desktop and laptop when not in use and unplugging any electric appliances not on switches or power strips when not in use.
I think these are good challenges for September. And hey, it’s already off to a good start with my sister picking up the TV right?
Aug 31, 2009
Aug 30, 2009
August update for 52 Weeks
Well August is almost up so I'd thought I'd give an update on my August challenges.
I have given up using handicap parking spaces about 90% of the time (including at work). If I can find another park I'm using that instead of the handicap park. My only concessions has been at the movies last night, only once at the grocery store, once on my Fast and Furious Road Trip when there were no other parks. At work I try not to park in the handicap spaces and I've even had someone ask me about it. They thought I might have lost the handicap privilege because I hadn't been using it, but once I explained I was trying to save the spaces for other people on days I was feeling up to it. At least people are noticing this change.
I switched to an eco-friendly laundry detergent and I'm loving it. It smells wonderful and the little bottle is still going strong. I'm definitely happy about this change.
I've made several trips to the Salvation Army, and my decluttering has slowed down tremendously because I've done the bulk of it. There is still a good bit left to do, but it's no where near as much as when I started off at the beginning of the summer. Freecycle and Craig's list seem to be a little more difficult to get results from, but I haven't completely counted them out. I give them a go and no luck they go to the Salvation Army.
The flat iron is gone, and this week was the first time that I wanted it back. But that was only because I was sick and didn't want to mess with my hair. I wanted to quick and easy solution of straightening my bangs one more when I didn't wake up in time to shower before work.
Now for the challenges I didn't complete this month:
→Declutter apartment room by room
→Give away TV
→Give away/sale oversized desk in living room
→Use up pre-packaged items in apartment
→Walk or bike to cafe to use WiFi
The decluttering is still on going. I hit a down period where I felt like I just wasn't accomplishing anything, but since I've finally (after a month of badgering) gotten my dad to come take my hutch and chest of drawers away I feel like some breathe has been breathed into my efforts.
My sister has get to come get my TV. Her car broke down, so they've been trying to get that fixed and find time when she and her boyfriend are off work. Hopefully she will be able to come pick it up soon.
I've still got to finish cleaning off my desk in the living room before I can give it away. I'm hoping that I can finish it some time in September. I've got to do some rearranging in order to get this one done. But again with the illness and stalling in the decluttering effort I don't feel too bad that it hasn't be completed because I did make a huge dent in the massive piles of junk that once lived on my desk.
I'm slowly using up the prepackaged items in the apartment. This is going to be an on going project, but progress is progress and I'm feeling happy about this one.
As for as biking or walking to the VRE station to use the WiFi didn't happen. I'm going to blame the heat on this one and then my health. I will put this one the back burner for now and make a smaller exercise commitment for September.
I have given up using handicap parking spaces about 90% of the time (including at work). If I can find another park I'm using that instead of the handicap park. My only concessions has been at the movies last night, only once at the grocery store, once on my Fast and Furious Road Trip when there were no other parks. At work I try not to park in the handicap spaces and I've even had someone ask me about it. They thought I might have lost the handicap privilege because I hadn't been using it, but once I explained I was trying to save the spaces for other people on days I was feeling up to it. At least people are noticing this change.
I switched to an eco-friendly laundry detergent and I'm loving it. It smells wonderful and the little bottle is still going strong. I'm definitely happy about this change.
I've made several trips to the Salvation Army, and my decluttering has slowed down tremendously because I've done the bulk of it. There is still a good bit left to do, but it's no where near as much as when I started off at the beginning of the summer. Freecycle and Craig's list seem to be a little more difficult to get results from, but I haven't completely counted them out. I give them a go and no luck they go to the Salvation Army.
The flat iron is gone, and this week was the first time that I wanted it back. But that was only because I was sick and didn't want to mess with my hair. I wanted to quick and easy solution of straightening my bangs one more when I didn't wake up in time to shower before work.
Now for the challenges I didn't complete this month:
→Declutter apartment room by room
→Give away TV
→Give away/sale oversized desk in living room
→Use up pre-packaged items in apartment
→Walk or bike to cafe to use WiFi
The decluttering is still on going. I hit a down period where I felt like I just wasn't accomplishing anything, but since I've finally (after a month of badgering) gotten my dad to come take my hutch and chest of drawers away I feel like some breathe has been breathed into my efforts.
My sister has get to come get my TV. Her car broke down, so they've been trying to get that fixed and find time when she and her boyfriend are off work. Hopefully she will be able to come pick it up soon.
I've still got to finish cleaning off my desk in the living room before I can give it away. I'm hoping that I can finish it some time in September. I've got to do some rearranging in order to get this one done. But again with the illness and stalling in the decluttering effort I don't feel too bad that it hasn't be completed because I did make a huge dent in the massive piles of junk that once lived on my desk.
I'm slowly using up the prepackaged items in the apartment. This is going to be an on going project, but progress is progress and I'm feeling happy about this one.
As for as biking or walking to the VRE station to use the WiFi didn't happen. I'm going to blame the heat on this one and then my health. I will put this one the back burner for now and make a smaller exercise commitment for September.
This week...
I'm alive, but haven't been feeling too grand lately. I'm still not feeling too good today, but I finally got some much needed sleep last night which will hopefully help me kick whatever has infected my body. Due to my illness I feel like I've fallen off the Buy Nothing Challenge bandwagon with my over consumption of fast food this week. I had manage to go the entire Buy Nothing Challenge without my beloved fast food breakfast, but said illness made me crumble and I bought breakfast two or three times this week, plus fast food for diner/lunch at least another three times, and then there was my pizza extravaganza on Friday night. The only non food purchase I made this week was a trip to the movie theatre last night after I gave my cat Oscar to my parents for good. I was very upset because Oscar is my first cat, but since the last time he spent a week at my parents' house he's been peeing on my furniture. So he is the first of my cats to be rehomed before I hear about a new job. I am confident that I'm going to hear something soon, it just sucks not hearing. I really would like to hear soon, but I've got around 40 applications in so something got to come up sooner or later.
Aug 25, 2009
I Declare War on Junk Mail
How many people dread going to the mailbox and finding it full of junk mail? I know junk mail has become as evil as bills. The amount of junk mail received in one week via my mailbox is ridiculous and I am declaring ware on it. Every piece of unsolicited mail will have the sender contacted to remove me from their mailing list! My first victim today was the nasty mailer that’s got all the store ads but no coupons from Valassis (I only found this after I looked where the address was and found the name in tiny print). I located their website and discovered they have an opt-in/opt-out request form located here. Lets see how this works.
Aug 24, 2009
Neti Pot
I have had some major congestion for the last week or so. My poor sinus ache and I’ve got a hacking cough thanks to that lovely post nasal drip. After a week of suffering, I finally plucked up the courage to purchase a neti pot on my grocery run yesterday. The neti pot is used to clean the nasal passages by rinsing them out with warm salt water. It’s like saline nose spays except that it runs out the other nostril instead of just wetting everything to drip down the back of your throat. My first attempt wasn’t the greatest, and I quickly had to add more water to keep it from burning. Hopefully after a few more days I’ll become a little more adept at the process and start to reap the benefits of clear nasal passages.
Five Tibetan Rites
Once a month my women’s group does guided meditations. Aside from never being able to find a completely comfortable position to sit in and occasionally shifting to find that relaxed pose, I usually have no problem following the meditation. There are usually one of two cases that happen, 1) I follow along with the group or 2) I start out following along and then hit theta state. However, last week at meditation I did something rather odd. I started out following along, then I bounced to complete consciousness, then bounced back to following along, and then bounced to a theta state. I continued to bounce between the three states for the entire hour meditation. To me it’s a sign that I need more discipline in my life. One of the ladies suggested I take up the Five Tibetan Rites to see if that might help with my concentration and give me a sense of order. The idea behind the Five Tibetans is that there are five exercises that you perform a maximum of 21 times a day. So here is a breakdown of the Five Tibetan Rites:
Rite #1 Sufi Whirling, Whirling Dervish
Stand upright, extend your arms at shoulder level away from your body and spin clockwise. Keep your eyes looking immediately in front of you, do not focus on any one point, let your vision blur as you spin.
Rite #2 Leg Raises
Lay down on your back with your arms to your side, palms up, keep your legs straight, begin your inhalation, raise your legs off the ground until as high as possible and pick your head off the ground, bending your neck with your chin falling toward your chest. Begin your exhalation and return to laying flat on the ground.
Rite #3 Camel Asana in Yoga
Kneel with your legs together, arms extended, palms of your hands on the side of your thighs, drop your chin to your chest, begin your inhalation, raise your head and lean back, move your hands to the back of your thighs and let them drop lower and support your weight, crane your head and neck backward, relax your lower spine. Begin your exhalation, start to come forward back to kneeling position with your head back up in the straight position.
Rite #4 Table Posture
Sit on the floor, legs a little less than shoulder length apart, arms to your sides with hands extended flat on the ground and fingers pointed forward, drop your head toward your chest, begin your inhalation, raise your butt off the ground while bending your knees, shift your weight to your arms/hands and legs/feet, continue to raise your butt until your back and thighs are parallel to the ground, let your head fall back. Begin your exhalation and return to sitting position with your head dropped forward.
Rite #5 Yoga Cobra to Downward Dog
Get down on the floor on your hands and knees (in push-up position) with hands and legs a little less than shoulder's width apart. Begin your inhalation, come up on your toes with weight in your arms, straighten your legs, arch your back, lean your head back, do not let any of your body touch the ground except for your toes and hands (Cobra in Yoga). Begin your exhalation, bend at the waist, bend your knees, push your butt up into the air, make an inverted V shape with your legs and arms straight, tuck your chin toward your chest (Downward Dog in Yoga), try to put your feet flat on the ground.
Rite #1 Sufi Whirling, Whirling Dervish
Stand upright, extend your arms at shoulder level away from your body and spin clockwise. Keep your eyes looking immediately in front of you, do not focus on any one point, let your vision blur as you spin.
Rite #2 Leg Raises
Lay down on your back with your arms to your side, palms up, keep your legs straight, begin your inhalation, raise your legs off the ground until as high as possible and pick your head off the ground, bending your neck with your chin falling toward your chest. Begin your exhalation and return to laying flat on the ground.
Rite #3 Camel Asana in Yoga
Kneel with your legs together, arms extended, palms of your hands on the side of your thighs, drop your chin to your chest, begin your inhalation, raise your head and lean back, move your hands to the back of your thighs and let them drop lower and support your weight, crane your head and neck backward, relax your lower spine. Begin your exhalation, start to come forward back to kneeling position with your head back up in the straight position.
Rite #4 Table Posture
Sit on the floor, legs a little less than shoulder length apart, arms to your sides with hands extended flat on the ground and fingers pointed forward, drop your head toward your chest, begin your inhalation, raise your butt off the ground while bending your knees, shift your weight to your arms/hands and legs/feet, continue to raise your butt until your back and thighs are parallel to the ground, let your head fall back. Begin your exhalation and return to sitting position with your head dropped forward.
Rite #5 Yoga Cobra to Downward Dog
Get down on the floor on your hands and knees (in push-up position) with hands and legs a little less than shoulder's width apart. Begin your inhalation, come up on your toes with weight in your arms, straighten your legs, arch your back, lean your head back, do not let any of your body touch the ground except for your toes and hands (Cobra in Yoga). Begin your exhalation, bend at the waist, bend your knees, push your butt up into the air, make an inverted V shape with your legs and arms straight, tuck your chin toward your chest (Downward Dog in Yoga), try to put your feet flat on the ground.
Aug 20, 2009
My Gluten Binge
I’ve been on a gluten binge lately and I’m paying for it. I know what happens when I eat gluten or carbonated drinks, but what did I partake in while on my Fast and Furious Road Trip? The carbonated drinks are easy to cut out, except for my favorite energy drink which I really only drink on long distance drives. Gluten I could cut out, and am usually pretty good at cutting out when I make the effort, but happens to be in most convince foods and foods within my budget. I will make a bigger effort to ovoid gluten, like today even though I was at a team function I made sure to get a gluten-free (and pepper-free) meal although it meant I had to make some substitutions.
Aug 19, 2009
Still getting over my road trip fatigue, but not regretting the trip one bit. My apartment probably wishes I’d been home to clean it. It’s not nearly as bad as it could be, and my bedroom remains remarkably clean and clutter free (which is saying a lot).
I can’t believe how fast the month is going. I’m already picking out challenges for next month. There are definitely challenges I wish I’d done better at, and a few that got thrown on the completed list without even expecting to get to them this month.
It’s storming outside my window at work. Makes me want to cuddle up and go to sleep. Hey, I’m already under a blanket since thanks to its sub-artic temperatures. The drive home’s gonna be fun.
I can’t believe how fast the month is going. I’m already picking out challenges for next month. There are definitely challenges I wish I’d done better at, and a few that got thrown on the completed list without even expecting to get to them this month.
It’s storming outside my window at work. Makes me want to cuddle up and go to sleep. Hey, I’m already under a blanket since thanks to its sub-artic temperatures. The drive home’s gonna be fun.
Aug 18, 2009
I'm Back
I’m alive and survived my marathon road trip! I’ll try and recap as quick and short as possible.
Thursday:
Finished up work and picked up Five Guys for dinner
At apartment I packed, had my dinner and took care of the cats
Left apartment and headed for Richmond to pickup my crutches
Mini-adventure in Richmond to find out who had my crutches
Located and retrieved crutches
Received at least four calls from my sister
Passed through Greensboro, NC sometime around midnight/1 am
Friday:
Passed through Greenville, SC
Had to stop for dramamine…apparently I get car sick driving long distances
Received call from my sister demanding I take a nap before driving through Atlanta
Stopped about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta at an Exxon and Huddle House to nap
Woke up 2 hrs. later
Missed Bypass so drove through Atlanta at 9 am
Finally made it out of Georgia and into Alabama
Stopped in Auburn to pick up a present for my sister
Eventually made it my grandmother’s around 2 pm EST
Of course, MaMa isn’t home when I arrive
My cousin Tori let me in and we waited for MaMa to return home
Surprised MaMa, Pops and Aunt Vickie
Saturday:
Sleep in
Lunch with MaMa, Aunt Vickie and Tori at O’Charlie’s
Hung out and spent time with everyone
Sunday:
MaMa made me breakfast and we got to talk to just the two of us
Sadly headed back home
Made it through Alabama and into Georgia with no major problems
Made the Bypass for Atlanta around 5 pm
South Carolina was a blur
Made it into “Construction Zone North Carolina” around 9
Made it into Virginia around midnight
Monday:
Finally made it home around 2 am
I would have slept all day yesterday if I didn’t have two doctor’s appointments. So five hours after dragging my butt to bed I had to drag it out again and go to the Neurologist and the Dentist. Needless to say I was still dragging and took the rest of the day off to sleep on the couch with the cats lying on top of me.
On the trip down the only thing I bought (besides gas) was dramamine somewhere north of Greenville, SC, and a razor, bandana, and the present for my sister in Auburn, AL. I had packed enough snacks and drinks so I was ok food wise.
On the trip back, I had to stop for energy drinks and snacks, and some more dramamine and Advil.
Overall not bad, other than being completely exhausted.
Thursday:
Finished up work and picked up Five Guys for dinner
At apartment I packed, had my dinner and took care of the cats
Left apartment and headed for Richmond to pickup my crutches
Mini-adventure in Richmond to find out who had my crutches
Located and retrieved crutches
Received at least four calls from my sister
Passed through Greensboro, NC sometime around midnight/1 am
Friday:
Passed through Greenville, SC
Had to stop for dramamine…apparently I get car sick driving long distances
Received call from my sister demanding I take a nap before driving through Atlanta
Stopped about 30 minutes outside of Atlanta at an Exxon and Huddle House to nap
Woke up 2 hrs. later
Missed Bypass so drove through Atlanta at 9 am
Finally made it out of Georgia and into Alabama
Stopped in Auburn to pick up a present for my sister
Eventually made it my grandmother’s around 2 pm EST
Of course, MaMa isn’t home when I arrive
My cousin Tori let me in and we waited for MaMa to return home
Surprised MaMa, Pops and Aunt Vickie
Saturday:
Sleep in
Lunch with MaMa, Aunt Vickie and Tori at O’Charlie’s
Hung out and spent time with everyone
Sunday:
MaMa made me breakfast and we got to talk to just the two of us
Sadly headed back home
Made it through Alabama and into Georgia with no major problems
Made the Bypass for Atlanta around 5 pm
South Carolina was a blur
Made it into “Construction Zone North Carolina” around 9
Made it into Virginia around midnight
Monday:
Finally made it home around 2 am
I would have slept all day yesterday if I didn’t have two doctor’s appointments. So five hours after dragging my butt to bed I had to drag it out again and go to the Neurologist and the Dentist. Needless to say I was still dragging and took the rest of the day off to sleep on the couch with the cats lying on top of me.
On the trip down the only thing I bought (besides gas) was dramamine somewhere north of Greenville, SC, and a razor, bandana, and the present for my sister in Auburn, AL. I had packed enough snacks and drinks so I was ok food wise.
On the trip back, I had to stop for energy drinks and snacks, and some more dramamine and Advil.
Overall not bad, other than being completely exhausted.
Aug 12, 2009
Road Trip: Fast and Furious Style
Well, after conferring with my sister, I've mapped out my Fast and Furious Road Trip back home to see my grandparents. After conferring with several maps, I picked my stops along the 16 hour route. And five pages of directions later I hopefully won't get lost seeing as I've never actually driven from Virginia to Florida (ever...only been a passenger). South Carolina is the farthest that I've ever driven, but I know my limitations. - I've got stops planned at least every three hours.
- Starting tonight my water consumption stops except for medication (other wise I will have to stop every hour to pee, and that's not an over exaggeration).
- I've got cheese snacks and cereal to fill my lunch box with and will stock up on RockStar energy drinks tonight.
- I've got my iPhone chalk full of audio books and my iPod filled with my entire library of music.
- Washed my hair this morning so I can snag every possible minute of extra sleep in the morning and not have to worry about it all weekend.
- I'll be throwing a change of outfits and my iPhone charge in my book bag and some blankets and a pillow in my car.
- Just grab my toothbrush and toothpaste and I'm good to go (a hairbrush and endless supply of rubber bands live in my car).
Aug 11, 2009
It's Official...
I gave away the last of my "hair appliances". My flat iron was picked up last night by a grateful Freecycler. Giving away my hair dryer was no sweat, I don't think I'd used it in the last six months, but my beloved flat iron was a totally different story.
I've been growing my hair out, well, for forever. But I had the nasty habit of cutting it on a whim to try and even out the layers that hairdressers these days just can't seem to stay way from. But despite the bad, uneven layers I decided to cut bangs back in April to give me something else to obsess over while I gave my hair a real chance to grow. But since I hadn't had bangs since I can't remember, I didn't know what to do to make them submit to my will so I turned to my trusty flat iron. It worked to some degree.
About a two months ago I gave up using any products in my hair, partly because they always seemed to gunk up my hair but mostly because I've just become too lazy in the mornings. Last month I unplugged the flat iron for good and just hoped my bangs would behave. A month on and they have, so I listed my flat iron on Freecycle and it was claimed within 20 minutes.
In the vain of my less is more mantra I've paired down my entire beauty routine to the following:
I've been growing my hair out, well, for forever. But I had the nasty habit of cutting it on a whim to try and even out the layers that hairdressers these days just can't seem to stay way from. But despite the bad, uneven layers I decided to cut bangs back in April to give me something else to obsess over while I gave my hair a real chance to grow. But since I hadn't had bangs since I can't remember, I didn't know what to do to make them submit to my will so I turned to my trusty flat iron. It worked to some degree.
About a two months ago I gave up using any products in my hair, partly because they always seemed to gunk up my hair but mostly because I've just become too lazy in the mornings. Last month I unplugged the flat iron for good and just hoped my bangs would behave. A month on and they have, so I listed my flat iron on Freecycle and it was claimed within 20 minutes.
In the vain of my less is more mantra I've paired down my entire beauty routine to the following:
- Baking Soda (BS) wash
- Vinegar and rosemary rinse
- face wash (if I remember) (soon to be honey)
- LUSH tea tree face spritz for toner (again if I remember)
- whatever LUSH soap happens to be in the shower
- brush my teeth
- honey and sugar scrub (if I want to treat myself)
- lavender water hair and body mist (if I remember)
- lavender deodorant
Aug 10, 2009
Day 10: I have a good feeling about this week...
Well today work has gone surprisingly fast. Even though I got a late start this morning, I still managed to snag a non-hollywood parking spot. However I must admit that I used the hollywood parking (aka my handicap parking hanger) when I went to see my nephews' basketball game as there were no other parks available.
I finally have a picture of my cleaned off desk in my bedroom. It's been hard not to put anything back onto the desk, but I'm managed to keep it clear for over a week! That's got to be some kind of record for me. However, my dresser is getting the brunt of the clutter, but that's because I've got my 14 pairs of socks from Sock Dreams out so I can cut the tags off as I wear them. Yes you read that right. No that was not a typo. 14 pairs of socks. Not just any socks, warm socks! Why 14...well when I do go overseas I'll need two weeks worth of everything and I definitely didn't have enough warm socks prior to this purchase at the end of last month.
Once I get finished running around this evening, chiro appointment and grocery shopping for tomorrow, I think I'll tuck in with my newly arrived Numb3rs disk from Netflix and crank out some more produce bags as Ms. Juliet say I'm not allowed to knit.
I finally have a picture of my cleaned off desk in my bedroom. It's been hard not to put anything back onto the desk, but I'm managed to keep it clear for over a week! That's got to be some kind of record for me. However, my dresser is getting the brunt of the clutter, but that's because I've got my 14 pairs of socks from Sock Dreams out so I can cut the tags off as I wear them. Yes you read that right. No that was not a typo. 14 pairs of socks. Not just any socks, warm socks! Why 14...well when I do go overseas I'll need two weeks worth of everything and I definitely didn't have enough warm socks prior to this purchase at the end of last month.Once I get finished running around this evening, chiro appointment and grocery shopping for tomorrow, I think I'll tuck in with my newly arrived Numb3rs disk from Netflix and crank out some more produce bags as Ms. Juliet say I'm not allowed to knit.
Aug 9, 2009
Day 9: finished laundry detergent
I finished up my chemical filled laundry detergent and replaced it with Ecoever Delicate Wash. That was my most expensive spend today at the grocery store, quickly followed by some sore throat tea (which I found out has black pepper in it >.< after I got home), the rest was a $0.90 sample of lavendar loose leaf tea, a peach, a necturine, two bananas, and a potato. The lavendar tea is lovely and the potato made a tasty dinner.
I completed three more boxes worth of decluttering today. I know I still have a lot to due, but it's getting harder since I've done the big obvious clutters. Hopefully getting the big furniture that's leaving out will help me find the smaller clutters.
I've got a lot of crafting planned for this week. Produce bags are number one followed by another attempt at a beret. I ripped out the oversized beret today so I can use the same yarn again.
I completed three more boxes worth of decluttering today. I know I still have a lot to due, but it's getting harder since I've done the big obvious clutters. Hopefully getting the big furniture that's leaving out will help me find the smaller clutters.
I've got a lot of crafting planned for this week. Produce bags are number one followed by another attempt at a beret. I ripped out the oversized beret today so I can use the same yarn again.
Aug 8, 2009
Day 8: I will not fizzle out
The decluttering has slowed down, but I'm not detured. I've made great progress, hopefully it will keep going in the right direction.
However, I'm makng great stides in using up my prepackaged items. The dish detergent and laundry detergent are getting low (finally). The end of my face soap is slowly gettng closer, and I can't wait to use honey as my full time face wash.
Today I made it to my two oldest nephews basketball game. The oldest is really into it and even made a basket! The other one is most likely still a little too young as he looks bored on the court. My sister is also signing the oldest three up for football this fall. The third is too young to play so he'll be in the flag football team. He's mad that he's too little to play "real" football.
My sister hasn't made it up to get my TV yet and my dad still has to get the hutch and chest of drawers. Of course this weekend is probably a bust since it's half over already and next weekend too as I have to drive down to Florida and convince my grandma (MaMa) that I have not gone crazy. It will be an experience as I've never actually driven from Virgnia to Florida. MaMa didn't sound convienced on the phone so I've decided to drive down and let her see me in person. Up this week is more bike riding. Hopefully I can start to stretch my endurance a little at a time and make it that much further on my bike. I will make it to the train station to use the wifi by the end if the month (even if I have to walk the bike up the huge hills).
However, I'm makng great stides in using up my prepackaged items. The dish detergent and laundry detergent are getting low (finally). The end of my face soap is slowly gettng closer, and I can't wait to use honey as my full time face wash.
Today I made it to my two oldest nephews basketball game. The oldest is really into it and even made a basket! The other one is most likely still a little too young as he looks bored on the court. My sister is also signing the oldest three up for football this fall. The third is too young to play so he'll be in the flag football team. He's mad that he's too little to play "real" football.
My sister hasn't made it up to get my TV yet and my dad still has to get the hutch and chest of drawers. Of course this weekend is probably a bust since it's half over already and next weekend too as I have to drive down to Florida and convince my grandma (MaMa) that I have not gone crazy. It will be an experience as I've never actually driven from Virgnia to Florida. MaMa didn't sound convienced on the phone so I've decided to drive down and let her see me in person. Up this week is more bike riding. Hopefully I can start to stretch my endurance a little at a time and make it that much further on my bike. I will make it to the train station to use the wifi by the end if the month (even if I have to walk the bike up the huge hills).
Aug 6, 2009
Day 6 and Food is Going to be the Problem
Alright, so it's day 6 and I've caved three times already for fast food. I see a pattern and I'm gonna try to tackle it. I can do this. I will do this. Yes food is important, but fast food is not. I knew this was going to be challenging, I just didn't realize how challenging. One idea for tackling this that I'm going to start implementing next week, is to go to the grocery store and buy just what I need for the next day. (I have, lets just call them, food issues.) This challenge is highlighting where I need to work a little harder than I have been.
In other news, the universe must be aligning in preparation for me to hear about a job as my mother and grandma are both in full on freak out about me possibly working overseas. I'm calm and waaay more collected than I ever thought possible about the opportunity to go and learn (and grow). I have arrangements for my car if I can't sale it before I leave, I'm desperately trying to find foster homes for my kitties, and I'm feeling good about the decluttering and lightening efforts (even though I keep finding more stuff...I think it's multiplying while I sleep).
I got compliments on my hair today, so the no 'poo must not look as bad as it feels to me. My hair is oilier than when I was using the LUSH shampoo bar. But the ends have a cute little curl/wave to them that I could get used to if the top didn't look so oily to me.
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I also finally finished my beret I have been working on for a few weeks. It of course is way to big, but that's what I get for attempting to adjust a pattern for size 10 and 12 needles for a size 13 needle. The pattern was supposed to be a super easy beginner's pattern, but it totally baffled me. I am proud that I got something that looks close to a beret, even if it doesn't really fit. I've learned a valuable lesson and got to work on my purling in the process.
I started a few cloth produce bag tonight as well from some fabric that I had been saving. I cut a bunch more out, so once I have the collection a picture will follow.
In other news, the universe must be aligning in preparation for me to hear about a job as my mother and grandma are both in full on freak out about me possibly working overseas. I'm calm and waaay more collected than I ever thought possible about the opportunity to go and learn (and grow). I have arrangements for my car if I can't sale it before I leave, I'm desperately trying to find foster homes for my kitties, and I'm feeling good about the decluttering and lightening efforts (even though I keep finding more stuff...I think it's multiplying while I sleep).
I got compliments on my hair today, so the no 'poo must not look as bad as it feels to me. My hair is oilier than when I was using the LUSH shampoo bar. But the ends have a cute little curl/wave to them that I could get used to if the top didn't look so oily to me..jpg)
I also finally finished my beret I have been working on for a few weeks. It of course is way to big, but that's what I get for attempting to adjust a pattern for size 10 and 12 needles for a size 13 needle. The pattern was supposed to be a super easy beginner's pattern, but it totally baffled me. I am proud that I got something that looks close to a beret, even if it doesn't really fit. I've learned a valuable lesson and got to work on my purling in the process.I started a few cloth produce bag tonight as well from some fabric that I had been saving. I cut a bunch more out, so once I have the collection a picture will follow.
Aug 5, 2009
I was ready to give up my Buy Nothing Challenge...
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...and go pay for a drop-in yoga class, but it seems I thwarted myself. I hopped in the car and started driving to the yoga studio that Fatty and I found on our walk around Occoquan a few weekends ago. I was half way there before I realized I didn't have my wallet! I had moved my wallet to my book bag and failed to remember this, thus not grabbing the book bag as I headed out the door completely prepaired to give myself a pass for spending on a yoga class.
So while I was completely ready to give up my challenge on day four, a simple change in my routine prevented me. Instead of doing yoga I went and did some window shopping and price comparisons. And you know what, leaving the stores empty handed felt pretty good ('cause I know if I had my wallet I would have found something that I would have wanted to buy and then I would have had to drag it out to the car and then eventually into the apartment).
Even though I came really close to failing at my challenge four days in, I found other way to entertain myself and not spend any money too. It's pretty easy to say no to buying things when you don't have your wallet, so I could look at everything and not have to drag it all around.
Aug 4, 2009
Day 3 and Going Strong
The last of my Freecycle claims where successfully picked up last night! I'll wait until next week to relist my rolling duffel that everyone seemed to forget (all my other items had multiple replies) and maybe I'll find a few more things to list along the way.
I feel really good about the decluttering process in my bedroom and the living room/kitchen. They aren't 100% decluttered, but a huge dent has been made in the clutter. My next two big decluttering challenges are my filing cabinet and my craft room.
I'm definitely using my handicap parking less, and finding it way less stressful. Now I just pick an aisle and drive down until I see an open parking space. Depending on what time I make it to work I can either find an open parking space or I'm stuck using the handicap parking space unless I want to park outside the compound. I'm talking about a 30 minute time difference, not a two hour time difference.
My dad's supposed to come up this weekend and get the hutch and chest of drawers that I managed to empty. Once he does that I can move my desktop computer from the living room to my bedroom and finish cleaning off the desk out there. And then I can sale that desk. The cats will be very sad as it's become their new lounging place (well it was always Bubbles' lounging place even when it was covered with crap).
As for as my Buy Nothing Challenge goes, I'm doing pretty good after the initial laps. The only thing bought yesterday was some much needed groceries, and I only spent $16. The loot wasn't huge: milk, two boxes of fiber filled cereal, low acid orange juice, sugared ginger from the bulk bins, a gluten free (as far as I could tell) granola from the bulk bins, and a peach and nectarine (my only impulse buy and my fruit salad lunch today). I restrained from buying tea (a weakness of mine) and borax and washing soda (I want to make my own laundry and dish detergent....but I gotta use up what I got first).
I feel really good about the decluttering process in my bedroom and the living room/kitchen. They aren't 100% decluttered, but a huge dent has been made in the clutter. My next two big decluttering challenges are my filing cabinet and my craft room.
I'm definitely using my handicap parking less, and finding it way less stressful. Now I just pick an aisle and drive down until I see an open parking space. Depending on what time I make it to work I can either find an open parking space or I'm stuck using the handicap parking space unless I want to park outside the compound. I'm talking about a 30 minute time difference, not a two hour time difference.
My dad's supposed to come up this weekend and get the hutch and chest of drawers that I managed to empty. Once he does that I can move my desktop computer from the living room to my bedroom and finish cleaning off the desk out there. And then I can sale that desk. The cats will be very sad as it's become their new lounging place (well it was always Bubbles' lounging place even when it was covered with crap).
As for as my Buy Nothing Challenge goes, I'm doing pretty good after the initial laps. The only thing bought yesterday was some much needed groceries, and I only spent $16. The loot wasn't huge: milk, two boxes of fiber filled cereal, low acid orange juice, sugared ginger from the bulk bins, a gluten free (as far as I could tell) granola from the bulk bins, and a peach and nectarine (my only impulse buy and my fruit salad lunch today). I restrained from buying tea (a weakness of mine) and borax and washing soda (I want to make my own laundry and dish detergent....but I gotta use up what I got first).
Aug 3, 2009
I finally caved and gave up on the tea rinse...
But I didn’t go running for a new conditioner bottle. Instead I took some advise from Life Less Plastic and gave vinegar a try.
For the first time in weeks I was able to comb my hair in under 5 minutes and not have the now norm fight with tangles. I still have some work to go on the no ‘poo ‘venture, but being able to comb my hair and not have tears in the process is a big step in the right direction. It’ was so easy I wanted to keep running my fingers through my hair last night. I fear I may smell of the vinegar, but that’s just me being paranoid.
More updates to come as the ‘venture continues.
For the first time in weeks I was able to comb my hair in under 5 minutes and not have the now norm fight with tangles. I still have some work to go on the no ‘poo ‘venture, but being able to comb my hair and not have tears in the process is a big step in the right direction. It’ was so easy I wanted to keep running my fingers through my hair last night. I fear I may smell of the vinegar, but that’s just me being paranoid.
More updates to come as the ‘venture continues.
I Survived Day Two
Well, I survived day two of my challenges. The Freecyling went much better. After getting swamped by responses for my stuff, everything but one item was claimed before I went to bed Saturday night. Everyone picked up this stuff with the exception of one person, who had car trouble and is coming by tonight. Yeah for no no-shows! The amount of responses I received this time helped me realize that I need to be a little more organized in keeping track of who got what (since I can’t seem to only offer one thing at a time).
I also made another Salvation Army run. It’s so interesting to debate with myself over whether or not I need an item. For example, I picked up some discount floral arrangements a while back (cause my cats like to eat real flowers). I think they are very pretty and add a great touch of color to the apartment. However, the cats like to knock them over, and once my sister takes the TV I won’t have a “safe” place to put them on. And if I go overseas, I’d much rather someone else enjoy the flowers than have them sit in storage for a year. So in the end they went to the Salvation Army to brighten up someone else’s life.
The progress on my desk is amazing. I was able to really pair down junk that was taking up so much space. All the storage containers got a good going through and I managed to fit all my supplies into a little three drawer containers (compared to the little three drawer container, the tall five drawer containers, two large drawer containers, plus everything else spread around my desk). There are still several things that I need to reduce, like the old CD’s sitting on my desk but I need to add the music to my computer first. I also have several old back ups that I’ve been hanging onto. I’m hoping that I can get those cleaned up as well in the coming weeks and create a new “master” back up since I’ve been going through all my music and files.
I also made another Salvation Army run. It’s so interesting to debate with myself over whether or not I need an item. For example, I picked up some discount floral arrangements a while back (cause my cats like to eat real flowers). I think they are very pretty and add a great touch of color to the apartment. However, the cats like to knock them over, and once my sister takes the TV I won’t have a “safe” place to put them on. And if I go overseas, I’d much rather someone else enjoy the flowers than have them sit in storage for a year. So in the end they went to the Salvation Army to brighten up someone else’s life.
The progress on my desk is amazing. I was able to really pair down junk that was taking up so much space. All the storage containers got a good going through and I managed to fit all my supplies into a little three drawer containers (compared to the little three drawer container, the tall five drawer containers, two large drawer containers, plus everything else spread around my desk). There are still several things that I need to reduce, like the old CD’s sitting on my desk but I need to add the music to my computer first. I also have several old back ups that I’ve been hanging onto. I’m hoping that I can get those cleaned up as well in the coming weeks and create a new “master” back up since I’ve been going through all my music and files.
Aug 1, 2009
Day 1 of Challenges
Well I survived day one.
Did pretty good on my 52 Weeks challenge. Today I had to go take a one hour class about my Directed Research Project (ugh. 80 page min.) and run a few other errands. I did really good and didn't park in the handicap spaces once, even when one was more readily available than a general parking space at one stop. Also made a huge dent in the clutter on my main computing stations out in the living room. Had a few pick ups scheduled through Freecycle. While none of them went without a hitch, and I had several no shows I gave it a good try and will try again and be more specific with the people who are picking up to hopefully avoid any more no shows. I even listed a bunch more things this evening. So I haven't given up hope for Freecycle.
I didn't do as well on the Buy Nothing Challenge as I had to buy lunch before my class, poor planning on my part. But I'll be more prepared next time. My only other purchase today was some B-2 for my migraines (per my nuero) and gas for my hungry car and both are within the rules.
Did pretty good on my 52 Weeks challenge. Today I had to go take a one hour class about my Directed Research Project (ugh. 80 page min.) and run a few other errands. I did really good and didn't park in the handicap spaces once, even when one was more readily available than a general parking space at one stop. Also made a huge dent in the clutter on my main computing stations out in the living room. Had a few pick ups scheduled through Freecycle. While none of them went without a hitch, and I had several no shows I gave it a good try and will try again and be more specific with the people who are picking up to hopefully avoid any more no shows. I even listed a bunch more things this evening. So I haven't given up hope for Freecycle.
I didn't do as well on the Buy Nothing Challenge as I had to buy lunch before my class, poor planning on my part. But I'll be more prepared next time. My only other purchase today was some B-2 for my migraines (per my nuero) and gas for my hungry car and both are within the rules.
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