3in30: January 9

Its that time again! Time for a weekly update!

Last Friday I explained about what the 3in30 is and why its a great way to get some needed tasks accomplished. A great winter motivator, and we are able to make each other accountable! Read all about the 3in30: Vs. 2015 here...

The goals I set before myself for January were:

1) Organize my computer desk area; its become a catch all and totally not user friendly currently.
2) Organize my sewing area. Over November and December it got a bit out of hand. It needs to be tidied up a but, well OK, a lot!
3) Go through clothes and get ready to donate or toss all those unneeded.

I decided to tackle number 1 first.  I needed to because I work from home a lot with my Usborne Book business (oh you can see my web  site here if you are curious about Usborne Books & More!).

Without further ado....  here is a before picture....  I am embarrassed to even admit my desk, which is located in my bedroom no less, looked like this. Horrible and embarrassing! How can I encourage and lead other woman when my own home is littered and full of chaos. I do believe when you home is messy, I mean cluttered and messy, depression creeps in and with depression comes so many of the other things. Things like grouchy moms, biting comments from a wife toward her spouse, anger at people, pettiness, and just generally a shrewish woman. 

This is why the 3in3o is so important. This is my journey and thus begins my journey back from that messy abyss. 

Oh yeah....  BEFORE photo

 Can you see anyone being able to get ANY work done at this desk?  I can't! I had taken to working at the dinning room table, a tray in the living room, or frankly, not working. 

 Now I have to admit, I still need to sort receipts and paperwork in my box, but at least they are all in one place.  That will be a task later in the month I think.  This was actually a two day task.   Four trash bags later and I am happy with the end result.  I was actually able to help a Literacy Army member last night with a order at my desk. Right this minute I created a to do list for the weekend, and tomorrow or so I will be purchasing a calendar for quick glances as I am working. I am ready!  So if you chat with me on the phone, I am likely sitting here, with a view out the front, looking at pictures of my family while I help you with strategy as you fight illiteracy in your own way.

I would love to have you do the 3in30: vs. 2015 with me!  Link up here!

Introducing 3in30: Version 2015

The 3 in 30.....

What is it? 

Sometimes the easiest way to accomplish needed tasks and goals are to take them in small bits and work to accomplish them, one bit by one bit at a time.

The 3 in 30 is simply picking three goals and working on completing them in thirty days.  For example, de-cluttering a counter top, going through and organizing a computer file system, dusting the cobwebs away from every room might be the three goals you set before yourself.  They don't need to be earth shattering goals.  Just three things you want to accomplish during a given month.

**I use to do this with another blog--as you may recall-- but they don't seem to be doing it any longer....  I need the accountability!  *grin*

Why do it?

Well, simply it breaks down tasks into bite size chunks.  Maybe your goal is to organize your home.  Well that sounds great until you roll up your sleeves and attempt to do it.   When you break it up into smaller manageable slots of time its easier to reach the end because you don't get overwhelmed.  You can pick organizing your cabinets, pantry, bookshelves, or whatever you goal is.  Try it, see if it doesn't help you.

Care to join me?

It costs nothing, and no harm will come to just give it an honest try.  Each Friday post on your blog, twitter feed, Facebook wall, or whatever giving us an update.  If you blog, post your update and link up right here including posting a link to the link up post on your blog!  Accountability is a large part of the battle!

So here is my 3in30 for January 2015

1) Organize my computer desk area; its become a catch all and totally not user friendly currently.
2) Organize my sewing area.  Over November and December it got a bit out of hand.  It needs to be tidied up a but, well ok, a lot!
3) Go through clothes and get ready to donate or toss all those unneeded.

Stuff on my mind....

November and December have proven to be full of stuff and adding on some "goals" that I felt I need to do was just .... well frankly, was too much.  Some days it was all I could do to get my own 5 must do things done.  Does anyone else every just feel, well, OVERWHELMED?  Have you ever felt like you have a cup that someone just refuses to stop pouring "stuff" into??? 

That has been what the last two or more months has felt like to me.  Total overwhelm city.  Much to my despair it leaked over into the lives of those I love most.  Despite my best efforts, despite me explaining the best I could, people kept pouring it into my cup.  Like they expected it should magically grow.......  I explained to one person and she even expressed understanding, only to later become angry when I reminded her that I said I could not do XYZ.  She felt (and feels???) I was shirking my duties toward her.....  anyhows......It became where even small things could send my day into a tail spin.  Today, is the last big commitment I have made for the next month.  I am not making any "real goals" by most people standards.  I can only get done what I can and those 3 added "goals" have been too much for my life lately.

Yes, despite my best efforts, despite me saying no, no more, nada....  some people just pour away.  Even when you jerk your cup away, they chase you and pour every chance they get....  I can only do what I can do.  I think this is an epidemic.  Everyone I see lacks joy, or so it seems, during a  joyous time of year.  Have we become such a stressed out society that even this season has lost its joy?  We are in a sad state indeed.  Why is this?  Why do we have a need to fill up every waking moment, and if we don't others feel a compulsion to try to fill it for us?  Thoughts????  I have been on a quest of simplification, I am trying but it seems I hit road blocks.  I have made progress, but am no where near as simple as I want to be.

On to better news....  I got my Year End Christmas letter written this week.  I have made 4 dozen jars of jam, washed umpteen loads of laundry, written a 38 page paper, only have a a sink and one counter top full of dishes, the living room was fairly clean until yesterday, and I am done with school until January.  When I announced this to Bear, sadly she exclaimed with excitement, "so now you can play with me again?"  Oh dear, has our time together melted down to non-fun time only?  I guess our craft projects have not been fun to her little eyes.  Our learning time has been lacking in the fun department --to this I agree.  She wants a mommy that plays barbies with her and lots of board games, and colors pages with her.....  I have been lacking in that department lately.  In my heart I know its true.

I will be finishing up my many sewing projects next week as well as a few other Christmas presents we have planned. 

Otherwise, tending my sweet garden, playing barbie dolls, and having tea parties are my goals.  How are those for goals?  *smile*

NEXT WEEK, don't forget our week of give aways!  It should be fun for everyone!

Linking up with Our Good Life today.

Week 2 update

November 3 in 30 update.... week 2

My goals for November and the progress I have made.....

Pictures in Photo Albums. I have boxes of pictures and I would like to get a start on sorting them into albums.
I have sadly, made no new progress in this area.  I am hoping to spend an hour or two more tomorrow.  I see this as extending into December and possibly even January.  See photos of loved ones that are already gone is hard and not something I wish to rush.  So slow and steady win the course.

Begin sewing some Christmas presents. I want to make some doll clothes for Bear, as well as few other things.
I have some things cut out and will begin sewing, possibly this evening!  Depending on getting my homework done!  *grin*  I will rush to do that shortly.  They are just little things so far.  I am also helping Bear make Christmas presents for Bible class teachers and possibly each of the ladies at church.
 
Make Jam..... since my extra freezer went kaputs my Aunt has been holding onto my fruit for me. I need to get it from her freezer and make jam. Strawberry, blackberry, peach..... JAM.
Nope, not yet.....  I MUST this week though with Christmas coming.

We have luckily been able to keep to local shops thus far.  I did buy gas at Fred Meyer the other day.  Sadly, I am in need of a new stylus for Bear's DS and I have looked at a few local places and will likely end up at Target or Fred Meyer as well.  Fred Meyer is a "regional" store but is a part of a larger organization as well, Kroger.  We got our Milk delivered this week and will be getting our fresh things from our Bountiful Basket tomorrow, Saturday.  I will try to remember to post a picture of what we get in our basket this week.

Have you found any local sources for things you buy?

I also want to take the time to remind my gentle friends about those in need.  Bear and I just got all the toys for little boys and girls gathered together. I wish we could do more. I have been picking things up for weeks, but hopefully a few little boys and girls will be able to rip open some paper on Christmas morning this year. If you are local to me, look at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and as always, the Salvation Army.   Even small dollar store items can bring big huge smiles on faces of little ones. Message me or call.

AND when you look at things to donate to food banks, don't forget the staples like soap, feminine pads, toilet paper, pet food... a lot of times those things get forgotten but they are expensive. I have been poor enough to wonder if we would have enough toilet paper for the month, so don’t forget about those needs as well. THANK YOU EVERYONE! God has blessed us all so much.  So many more organizations are asking for needs this year.  Our church, my college is doing a food and toy drive, the hubs work, as well as the general organizations that we all know about like Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Mary Bridge...  I know in years past the Tacoma Police Department has even accepted donations of cash and then took local kids to Target or Walmart (not that I want ya all shopping there all the time--*grin*), so these are all worthy organizations to donate your time, goods, or money too.  If you aren't local, look at your area and call you local hospital or police department.  They maybe doing something or can direct you where to go. 

Linking up with Our Good Life and the 3 in 30 challenge

Good luck to all you with your November goals.

Goals and updates

November 3 in 30 update....  week 1

My goals for November and the progress I have made.....

Pictures in Photo Albums. I have boxes of pictures and I would like to get a start on sorting them into albums.
I have gathered my pictures into one place and got a bunch of albums.... now for the FUN.  *grin*  hopefully it can be undertaken this weekend.

Begin sewing some Christmas presents. I want to make some doll clothes for Bear, as well as few other things.
Hmmm, looking at patterns has to count, right?  *smile*
 
Make Jam..... since my extra freezer went kaputs my Aunt has been holding onto my fruit for me. I need to get it from her freezer and make jam. Strawberry, blackberry, peach..... JAM.
I am hoping to do this toward the end of the week.....  at least some of it.
As far as buying local.....

We buy most things local but one fun thing we did Thursday was went on a local coffee roasters tour.  Dillanos Coffee.  Check them out!  They are in Sumner, Washington.  They are a family owned business.  I think we will be buying all our coffee from them.  I'll make the drive occasionally.  They buy whenever possible direct from the growers, helping the families working on the coffee plantations as well.  It all becomes a win win situation as they encourage them o use more sustainable methods and we buy a locally roasted (and good) coffee.  Tacoma does have a local roaster but we have not been happy with the blend. 

Have you found any local sources for things you buy?

Linking up with Our Good Life and the 3 in 30 challenge

Good luck to all you with your November goals.

Buy Local.....

Our challenge for November is to buy local , buy made in the USA and to help show that yes we can find our needs without buying from China--nothing against China.

1. We will read labels, and look for the "Made in the USA" label;
2. We will buy from local or regional businesses;
3. We will spend our money trying to help local businesses, owned by local people. 

If we must buy a non-local or made in the USA item, we promises that we will have exhausted all avenues searching for a local source.

Sustainable economies are not created buy shopping at large super stores with masses of concrete parking areas and thousands of square feet worth of selling space. 

If you don't make your bread, buy your bread from a local bakery.  I am convinced that most health problems, including allergies, are created not from the food itself but the amount of processing involved.  Are you buying overly processed Kraft Mac and Cheese or are you making it at home from scratch?  If you take a slice of bread and ball it up and have it stay in a ball, its over processed.  Stop buying it!

If every family was to do just one purchase a week from a local shop and a made in the USA product think what kind of change we could bring about. 

Good luck and let me know if you are taking the challenge. 

Linking up with Our Good Life and the 3 in 30 challenge

And some of you may notice that my accomplishments for October are missing......  I gave up.  Seriously.  I made the goals in a weak moment, one full of depression; even despair, and anger.  I am still owning my No's, as I have written about recently, but I decided to scratch October and start fresh.  Life just happens sometimes.


In November, along with our buy local challenge, I m going to work hard on the following 3 things. 

• Pictures in Photo Albums.  I have boxes of pictures and I would like to get a start on sorting them into albums.
• Begin sewing some Christmas presents.  I want to make some doll clothes for Bear, as well as  few other things. 
• Make Jam.....  since my extra freezer went kaputs my Aunt has been holding onto my fruit for me.  I need to get it from her freezer and make jam.  Strawberry, blackberry, peach.....  JAM.

There you have it.........  Hopefully I will be able to keep on top of it this next month.  The first week of the month is uber busy, but hopefully after that we can hunker down.

Good luck to all you starting new challenges and completing the October ones.

Grips and Goals

How am I doing on my October 3 in 30 goals.  Its been a tough month.  Its been a really tough month and God is sustaining me.  It hasn't been the worst time in my life, but it hasn't been good either. 

Linking up with Our Good Life and the 3 in 30 challenge.....



So on to my goals.....

• To own my No's and Yes's.

Trying. It can be really hard doing this...... But my No's are holding more weight with Bear. *smile* I'm not saying no all the time... which is nice. 

• To spend at least one Saturday doing nothing but crafting, maybe two!

           I hope to try that next weekend!

• To make my flannel board.

         I hope to do it next weekend!


How are your goals going? How has your week been? Ok, HOW IS YOUR GARDEN? *smile*

Life is kinda hectic though.......

Coming to grips with emotional blackmail and the abuse that surrounds that (still not prepared to discuss it and when and if  I do I will have the hubs helping me.  I am so thankful for him and his strong arms) was hard.  Sadly, I need prayer that I can come to grips with the fact that few in my family will "take my side" and they all prefer to pretend nothing happened.....  Someone even questioned my mom to ascertain that it did indeed happen, like I couldn't be trusted, what my husband witnessed couldn't be trusted......  Why is this?  Why would people prefer to pretend that someone they know could never do it, or that they are "just misunderstood" giving abusers excuses for their actions?  The abuse I put up with has tainted my life........  On one hand it might make me more unsure on if I could be really loved as a person, and on another it makes me angry and injustice pains my very soul..... 

Then on our anniversary I discovered our chest freezer went out.  It was an old one and expected, but not expected, you know???  No, we wont replace it.  All about downsizing and simplifying.  *smile*  I keep telling myself that..... 

Amongst all this a woman we know locally took over $100 worth of Bear's clothes promising to pay on payday (I didn't charge her that much, I gave them to her for roughly $75, but I was hoping to make almost double that at JBF).  When I told her she could pay on payday I assumed I would get a check that I would hold until her payday, and when I asked for the check and when I should cash it, I was informed that she doesn't do checks. (WARNING KIM.   WARNING!!!) I should have went with my gut and said she couldn't take the items home, but I kicked that to the curb and she preyed upon my giving nature.  On payday I asked here when I could expect payment and she then said payday was late (OK, strike one) and then she asked if Friday would be fine instead.  I was sick with a cold so said yes that was fine (strike two) and when Friday came around I couldn't get a hold of her..... (strike three).

I tried every means I could to contact her and finally Saturday afternoon I got a hold of her.  She said she didn't have the money and asked if we could trade (strike four and five).  Nope.  I don't do trades of clothing generally, and would not take her older children babysitting Bear as trade--she didn't ask because I said no right away (I don't get an easy feeling in that area).....  and Hubs nixed that idea with her anyway.  I explained as nicely as I could that we couldn't trade;  I explained that I needed to sell the clothes (it is going toward a Christmas gift for Bear) and told her Sunday I could be out to pick the clothes up.  Sunday came along and she was very angry....  she wanted to buy one thing, and Hubs said he just wanted our stuff back, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me type of thing.  She has blocked me on facebook and I can only suspect its because items are missing and she doesn't want to deal with me sending a message that way....  I wouldn't, I am just happy to be through and she must answer to God.  I also would never try to make others that we all know dislike her, that isn't me, but I would like it if she is telling anyone anything that they check out my side.  People just aren't like that though.  They would rather believe a tale. 

 I feel like I was preyed upon, by someone we knew and called themselves a Christian.  God gave me another wake up call.....  Just because they call themselves one doesn't make it so.....  What are the fruits.....

And .....  today I bumped the car exterior mirror on our recycle bin and it came loose and I am hoping the Hubs can reattach it! Bear said, "MOM! We shouldn't have parked so close!" *Laugh* Of course she had to observe it and try to get her tools out to replace it. Is the week over yet?????

ANYWAY....  that's DONE!  *grin*  Lets pray for a better and brighter week ahead!

A smile to end the week with.

3 in 30 Wrap-Up

Let's begin by reviewing my original goals. 

My September 2012 goals.

1. I want to try work boxes , I think. This is a goal. Get things off the shelf and into a few plastic see through boxes. Make it easier for each things to be pulled off the shelf and done. I also want to add that I have a couple DVD's from Susan Evans I still want to watch, and then I will include a honest review... I bought the DVD's myself at the WHO convention--ok the hubs did the buying-- so you will get an HONEST review. *smile*
   
2. Develop a rhythm for our day. Yeah, we will see how this goes.
   
3. Make menu plans for 4 weeks of meals. Yes I will post the finished product when I am done.

Wow, those seemed easy enough when I planned them, but one has been giving me fits.  Can you guess which one has been particularly difficult for me?  Let me give you a minute....  waiting....  have you thought about it?  What goal do you think has been the hardest for me to accomplish this month?

If you guessed #2 you are 100% correct.  This development of a daily rhythm continues to elude me.  I think I just have too much on my plate trying to get stuff  done and I think I set myself up to fail.  So this is leading me on to my goals for October.  The goals I am picking for October really are much more personal.  Working on me kind of thing.

Linking up today with Our Good Life.

  But  first, let's wrap up September. 

• I want to try work boxes.

Yeah, those are going OK, but still a work in progress.  We took this week off official learning, though we did still learn, in an effort to help me get through the first week of a very busy and full term at college. 

• Develop a rhythm for our day.

I have addressed this already.  I think the problem is I put too much on my plate and then get overwhelmed.  Do you ever do that?  How do you find a balance? 
 

•  Make menu plans for 4 weeks of meals.

I actually did this!  Last week I posted the finished product and am starting to follow, or try to follow it.  I guess I need to get out of my rut of bad habits! 

If you created goals for September I hope you did amazing.  Will YOU join me in my 3 in 30 challenge and pick three goals you want to accomplish in October? Make them goals you can keep and in the end you have three things to mark off your list! Making goals a reality, three at a time.

So on to October and my 3 in 30 goals.  As I said I am making October goals more personal.  Me goals I guess.  yes, that sounds very selfish and self centered but in reality they aren't.

• To own my No's and Yes's. 

To really think about what I am doing and not do it because I feel obligated.  Accountability I guess.  To say the word "NO" less to Bear so that when I do say it, it carries weight. 

To be accepting and learn I can only do so much.   People will fail and falter. People will take advantage, people will hate, people will gossip (lets face it gossip is also hateful speech) and there is NOTHING I can do to stop it.  

• To spend at least one Saturday doing nothing but crafting, maybe two! 

This will be hard, but I want to do this.  I want to create things.  Hubs and Bear can do a Saturday once or twice a month without me DICTATING their movements. 

AND ONE thing that's very practical, if I don't put it on a list soon, it will never get done....

• To make my flannel board.

Yep, I bought the supplies almost two years ago and just haven't had time to complete it.  I need to; before Bear is old enough to do it herself. 
 

So there you have it.  My October goals.  Have you made your goals yet?  Check out Our Good Life for more information on the 3 in 30 challenge. 

9/21 3 in 30 update

This has been a week with some tension in it from outside sources, but I did manage to accomplish a few things.

I want to try work boxes.This has to be revamped. I stuffed my boxes with too many things to do and Monday we spent more than 3 hours and still didn't get to all that I put in! I think my eyes got big and excited. When I put in just a few things later in the week it went better. But we have been struggling with handwriting so we have been spending a lot of extra time on that area.

One day was so nice we just spent an hour working on lessons and then spent several more hours outside playing in the mud, sand and nibbling on raspberries. It was a nice lazy afternoon outside.

Develop a rhythm for our day. Yeah, we will see how this goes.

Classes started up at the Y this week and any rhythm we were trying to develop has went BYE BYE... right out the window.

Make menu plans for 4 weeks of meals.
I think they are where I want them. I will start using them next week. I did 4 weekly menus and will change them up every 6 weeks or so. I tried to make them interesting enough.




Sample of one of my weeks....

Sorry this is so short but I am sleepy! I meant to write this earlier. *smile*

How are you doing with your goals? Next week I will be finalizing my October goals. Wow, OCTOBER already!

Linked up today with Our Good Life and the 3 in 30 Link up!

Update for 3 in 30

September is FLYING by so fast.  Just a reminder of what my 3 in 30 goals were:

I want to try work boxes.

This has been a work in progress still, I have the boxes and am going though our supplies and getting them all ready.   My plan is to fill them for the week each Sunday evening. 

Develop a rhythm for our day. Yeah, we will see how this goes.

Slow, with all that has been going on doing this has been hard.  The kitchen has taken more of my time than we planned.  I am happy to be almost done.  I keep finding little things that I need to do. 

Make menu plans for 4 weeks of meals.

Done but no happy with how its organized.  So going to refine it!  Plus I have changed my mind about a couple of the meals....  does this happen to others?

I will hopefully post some pictures later tonight or tomorrow afternoon.  I hate to admit it I can't find my camera disk! *sigh*

Thank you to Aurie over at Our Good Life for providing the link up and inspiration to keep moving forward! 

One thing we did get done:  We are going to Great Wolf Lodge in the fall and a trip to Long Beach in December.  I am trying to decide if I want to talk to the Hubs about a night away at a local B&B for our 8th Anniversary....  October 9th!

But I did work on planing out our month of Spetember and October a bit....

I am working on getting organized....  I am trying!  *smile*

Friday August 31, 3 in 30 update

and September goals!  Yes, its that time again!  I can't believe it!

Linking up with Our Good Life and Aurie Good for her 3 in 30 Link Up! 

My August goals were:

• I want to tackle my pantry area. Get it ready for the fall harvest and stock up I will be doing.
 
This was completed mid August, I can't remeber the exact day, but I exclaimed my delight and rejoiced on Facebook!  It was good to complete the big task, though I didn't create the space I thought I would....  oh well.....
 
• Paint the front porch and trim.
 
DONE!  Yes its done and you can see the post on it from this week, wedensday night in fact.  Great Paint Pails Batman!
 
• Get lessons IDEAS (notice I said ideas--child led means we are a bit on the fluid side, but I want to get supplies out, and things to put before Bear --mommy is a facilitator of her education, I can and will guide it or else all we would do is learn about strawberry shortcake!) figured out for September through December (but leave lots of leeway room). We will slowly start with lessons in Mid August.  
 
You can read my goals here:  our 2012-13 goals.

So with no further ado, here are my September 2012 goals.

1. I want to try work boxes , I think.  This is a goal.  Get things off the shelf and into a few plastic see through boxes.  Make it easier for each things to be pulled off the shelf and done.  I also want to add that I have a couple DVD's from Susan Evans I still want to watch, and then I will include a honest review...  I bought the DVD's myself at the WHO convention--ok the hubs did the buying-- so you will get an HONEST review.  *smile*
2. Develop a rhythm for our day.  Yeah, we will see how this goes.
3. Make menu plans for 4 weeks of meals.  Yes I will post the finished product when I am done.

Will YOU join me in my 3 in 30 challenge and pick three goals you want to accomplish in September? Make them goals you can keep and in the end you have three things to mark off your list!  Making goals a reality, three at a time.

And what ya think??????

Or

 

 

Have a blessed weekend my gentle friends!

 

August 8/17 3 in 30 update

We are experiencing some very hot weather here in Western Washington.  The garden is hopefully enjoying it.  I am done with summer classes now.  Oh glorious time!

So here is my 3 in 30 update for the week (click link for Our good life blog)..   Not much done, because of the heat.

My Goals for August 2012 3 in 30 are:

• I want to tackle my Pantry area. Get it ready for the fall harvest and stock up I will be doing.

I worked several hours and I am almost done!  This is a project that is another one of the dreaded HAVE to projects.

• Paint the front porch and trim.

The weather is still not being agreeable.....

• Get lessons IDEAS (notice I said ideas--child led means we are a bit on the fluid side, but I want to get supplies out, and things to put before Bear --mommy is a facilitator of her education, I can and will guide it or else all we would do is learn about strawberry shortcake!) figured out for September through December (but leave lots of leeway room). We will slowly start with lessons in Mid August.

I have some goals!  But now that I have them written down I am second guessing myself...  does anyone else do that, have a plan and then wonder if its what they should be doing?

On a side note....  I think I will be canning this next week, if I can hold things off that long.  Green beans and relish.  Fun times, getting food put up.

Thank you gentle friends,

3 in 30 for 8/10

I have been busy getting ready for Bear's birthday party on Sunday and working on final projects for school myself.  Here is my August 3 in 30 update though.  To keep me honest.  *smile*

A big THANK YOU to Aurie Good at Our Good Life for hosting.

My Goals for August 2012 3 in 30 are:

• I want to tackle my Pantry area. Get it ready for the fall harvest and stock up I will be doing.

I began to start on this project.  It will be slow but I need to get it done before fall.

• Paint the front porch and trim.

Too hot this weekend!  They even told us on the news to not paint when it really hot, so this may be waiting until after classes get over.

• Get lessons IDEAS (notice I said ideas--child led means we are a bit on the fluid side, but I want to get supplies out, and things to put before Bear --mommy is a facilitator of her education, I can and will guide it or else all we would do is learn about strawberry shortcake!) figured out for September through December (but leave lots of leeway room). We will slowly start with lessons in Mid August.

Going through books has been the task this week.

The next few days will be full of getting stuff together for Bear's Butterfly Tea Party Birthday Party on Sunday afternoon.  *grin*  Each little girl will get her own wings too, but more about this later. 

3 in 30 for August

Well the long awaited wrap up is here.  OK, so you haven't been on pins and needles.  I bet you didn't lose sleep wondering how I was doing on my goals for July.  Touche'! Humor me though.  *grin*

Linking up with 3 in 30 and Our Good Life today.

My goals in July were:

• To weed my garden and flower bed every Saturday morning.
  
• To walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week to start (per doctor orders--so lets make it happen).
  
• To organize the basement and finally get it DONE. This has been ongoing since last summer and weighing heavily on me.

OK I wasn't perfect but even some accomplishments were good, right?  We walked most of the time sometimes our walks for the day were with our friends.  Sometimes we were alone... Sometimes it  was in nature, sometimes inside a building, but we had fun exploring.  Did I miss times, yes. But, we did average what we wanted.

I weeded my garden but not my flower bed every week.  I missed a Saturday in the garden as well.Of course looking out there today I see more weeds. Ugh..... and Kelp knee high....  That's another story.....

AND the big daunting, overwhelming task of the basement; sorting and organizing it.  I have some small stuff to do but I want to share some before and after photos.  YOU MUST promise to not judge me harshly by these photos gentle friends......  Pinkie Promise!

AFTER:  I even sorted my gift cabinet
 (where I buy gifts and store them.... 
yeah I store ahead even in that department)

    

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER:  It was cleaned off and then as
I did some more sorting it
filled up with more sewing area stuff.
 So I have a small afternoon project still.
That box is all pictures I need to
sort and put in albums.

BEFORE

AFTER:  This was the first thing Bear
noticed being straightened up
This contains my magazines, stained glass stuff
and oil paints as well as water colors, canned items,
party stuff and a mixer.

BEFORE: 
I really look like a hoarder here...

AFTER:  Yes my little helper happily drawing away
in what I hope to make a "learning" area.
A place we can escape to where we can work independently
on various projects and focus more when learning.  When this
is complete with her books and units for a few months
I will post more pictures. 

My Goals for August 2012 3 in 30 are:

• I want to tackle my Pantry area.   Get it ready for the fall harvest and stock up I will be doing.
• Paint the front porch and trim.
• Get lessons IDEAS (notice I said ideas--child led means we are a bit on the fluid side, but I want to get supplies out, and things to put before Bear --mommy is a facilitator of her education, I can and will guide it or else all we would do is learn about strawberry shortcake!) figured out for September  through December (but leave lots of leeway room). We will slowly start with lessons in Mid August. 

Will join me in my 3 in 30 challenge and pick three goals you want to accomplish in August?  Make them goals you can keep and in the end you have three things to mark off your list!

Thank you gentle friends.

July 27's 3 in 30 Update

Oh my gosh the 30 days will be up soon....

Linking up with 3 in 30 and Our Good Life today.

All in all this week has been very uneventful. We did our walks several times and I did get some stuff done in the basement but the garden did not get weeded on Saturday because we spent 4 days having fun camping! You can see that post here.

I promise I will post some pictures soon of a few of our walks.  I have to admit something though....  I broke the nice compact lens to my Nikon (ugh!) and need to just get the gumption up to replace it and then my little point and shoot is on its last legs, another thing to replace I guess.  When it rains....  But this is a blessing too.  I know it is!  Positive is that it appears all we needed was a new $30 key board to replace the one on my laptop.  So we are working again!  :-)  It came quick as well.

So my update is really short, and I will be planing a whole wrap up next week along with my goals for August! 

On other fronts, I have my first ever guest post today at Growing Your Homeschool and it would be totally awesome if you would check them out.  My post is about the crazy quilt of life. 

Also I am asking for prayers from my gentle friends for a sweet little girl cousin of my hubs.  She is just 8 years old and she was just diagnosed with a Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic tumor which was positive for cancer.  She had a lump on the back of her leg that they thought was just a cyst, it was after the surgery to remove it that they were told this news.  Yesterday the results from a CT scan took a few days ago showed spots on her lungs.  The hope and prayer is that it did not spread.  I guess the specific cancer likes to go for the lymph nodes. 

This isn't one of those things where you hear of someone and you wonder if its true, or think how sad is this; this is real to us.  We know and love this family, we know this little girl (although its been years since we seen her).  Please reach out a prayer to the family of Little Alexis.  She lives in Kentucky.

I guess this has been an oddball 3 in 30 update...  *smile*  thank you gentle friends.