"According to scientific researchers, after performing a challenge every day for 21 days it becomes a part of a person's life. It makes it easier to set aside time and a person accrues motivation to want to perform the task without the feeling of forcing oneself."
This is part of a Wiki entry that I found very interesting. I’d always heard that you could build a habit over the course of days, and now I’ve found that to be true. Making time every day for writing, whether it is my regular blog, my creative writing prompts, or my novel, has become a priority for me. It’s a habit for me now. Sitting down every day and writing (usually on the computer…occasionally in long hand) is a creative exercise that I have the motivation to want to perform without feeling that I’m forcing myself. I have become the very definition- wow! Sometimes my stories and blogs are concise, detailed, interesting…other times, not so much.
Gosh, if only other things in my life were so easy to become habit-forming… you know, drinking lots of water, checking the mail, vacuuming on a regular basis, not being so sarcastic. ;) But I guess I’ve never committed 21 days to one of THESE habits.
There are many areas in people’s lives that could benefit from this 21 day philosophy. The whole ‘3 weeks is all it takes!’ mindset. Gyms should use it a ‘tagline’ to sell memberships. Heck, maybe they already do, and I just haven’t been paying attention.
And even though it wasn’t a 21 day challenge, I can’t help but be reminded of that church (I think it was in Dallas?) that challenged the married couples in the congregation to have sex every day for seven days. Seriously, people, it was on CNN a couple of months ago. (Actually CNN called it a ‘mega-church’…hmmm.) Can’t you just picture how that meeting of the church elders went?
Larry: Well, you know that statistic about 21 days, right?!
Will: C’mon, now, Larry, you know Mildred will never go for that!
Bob (hopefully): What about 14?
Jimmy: I think 7 is our best bet. And THAT may be pushing it.
21 days… 3 weeks… 3/4th of a month. I’m a believer.
And today is the perfect time to start a new habit. Maybe I should work on that whole sarcasm thing. Damn, I guess today’s out. Day #1 will have to start tomorrow. ;)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Project 365 Week 2...
Here is my layout for the second week of my Project 365... I'm loving this album... loving this set-up...loving this idea.
Let's see... I know you can't read the journaling, but the pictures are as follows:
Monday: Josie getting measured for her baton for Twirling Team
Tuesday: the pizza and wine Phil picked up on his way home for dinner because it was such a crappy day (pizza for the kids, wine for me! p.s. If you haven't had Papa Murphy's, it's VERY good. Much better than Buddy and Al's!)
Wednesday: Josie's Brownie Troop had flag duty before and after school (this is a 4x6 collage of 4 different pictures)
Thursday: Libby had Pajama Day at preschool
Friday: One of my favorite sights at the end of the day... Phil walking in the door after work!
Saturday: The kids reading and putting together puzzles (Phil took this pic because I was in Temple at my mom's... good job, honey!)
Sunday: A picture of the kids playing outside because the weather was BEAUTIFUL! In fact, no one was allowed to come inside ;) They even ate lunch out there on their little picnic table.
Next week, I am going to make an effort to be in one of the pictures, too. I know all you scrapbook goddesses know how hard it is to hand off the camera to someone else. I'm even considering making this my picture of the day today... to document how I am taking pictures and blogging about the completed layouts. A picture of a picture of a ... Never mind. Now I'm confused. ;)
Let's see... I know you can't read the journaling, but the pictures are as follows:
Monday: Josie getting measured for her baton for Twirling Team
Tuesday: the pizza and wine Phil picked up on his way home for dinner because it was such a crappy day (pizza for the kids, wine for me! p.s. If you haven't had Papa Murphy's, it's VERY good. Much better than Buddy and Al's!)
Wednesday: Josie's Brownie Troop had flag duty before and after school (this is a 4x6 collage of 4 different pictures)
Thursday: Libby had Pajama Day at preschool
Friday: One of my favorite sights at the end of the day... Phil walking in the door after work!
Saturday: The kids reading and putting together puzzles (Phil took this pic because I was in Temple at my mom's... good job, honey!)
Sunday: A picture of the kids playing outside because the weather was BEAUTIFUL! In fact, no one was allowed to come inside ;) They even ate lunch out there on their little picnic table.
Next week, I am going to make an effort to be in one of the pictures, too. I know all you scrapbook goddesses know how hard it is to hand off the camera to someone else. I'm even considering making this my picture of the day today... to document how I am taking pictures and blogging about the completed layouts. A picture of a picture of a ... Never mind. Now I'm confused. ;)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Rockin' out...
I had the chance to be in the car by myself this weekend. This just doesn’t happen very often. I love being in the car by myself. I really do. Not just because I don’t have to listen to anyone arguing. Not just because it means the car stays clean for just a *little* longer. Not just because I can think without hearing someone say, ‘Mom? Mom? Mom?’ over and over again. ;)
The main reason that I love being in the car by myself is because I like to listen to loud music. I’m talking ear-splitting decibels. I’m talking head-throbbing, crazy loud music. Not many people know this about me because it’s only when I’m in the car completely alone that I crank it up and sing along at the top of my lungs. I’m sure I make quite the picture on IH-35.
So in the car this weekend, I had the music cranked up, and I was thinking about how different music marks different ‘eras’ in my life. There are just certain songs that instantly transport me to another place and time in my life. I can’t hear an Alanis Morrisette or NIN song without thinking about my mid twenties, after I had graduated from college. I had my own apartment, without a roommate for the first time in my life, and had started teaching middle school. I can remember cranking the music in my car on the drive home from this exhausting, stressful job that I loved wholeheartedly.
It is amazing to me how music has the power to elicit images and even feelings from years and experiences past. Some of the other songs that instantly give me a mental image:
Chicago’s “Hard Habit to Break”… junior high dances. Actually just about anything by Chicago or Journey takes me back to junior high and the dances in the school cafeteria. The crushes, the heartbreak, the dirty socks… ahhh… the memories! Didn’t you know that ‘you’re the meaning in my life? You’re the inspiration.”
The Eagles… “Hotel California”. I can remember being in the big, creaky bus we had chartered for our high school senior trip to Florida. We played this song over… and over… and over… Almost twenty years later, it still conjures up images, not of sunny California, but of the vast curtain of pine trees on either side of Interstate 10.
Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places”… freshman year in college, dancing at Dessau Hall. Everything about the fun and excitement of my first year in college is resurrected when I hear this song. I know it word for word, and have sung it a hundred times in bars and at parties. (along with ‘You never even called me by my name’ by David Allen Coe and ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond… 'so good! so good!')
Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’… Phil and I danced to this song on our first ‘official’ date. I can still picture the Christmas trees with the (pilfered) white lights, and the white balloons floating across the floor. We danced together, not realizing then that we’d dance to that song at our wedding, years later. (yes, I know… kind of an unorthodox song! It wasn’t our first dance at our wedding, if that makes any difference.)
‘These are Days’ by 10,000 Maniacs… this song instantly makes me think about all the planning Phil and I did in the months leading up to our wedding. I never get tired of hearing that song. :)
It makes me wonder what songs will be the ones I remember from this period in my life, when I look back on it. Will any songs have the power to bring me back to this particular time? In the future when I hear, Matt Nathanson’s ‘Come On Get Higher’ or Jack Johson’s ‘If I Had Eyes’, will I remember the crazy November I spent writing a novel, listening to them on ‘repeat’?
Which songs will I be able to trace back to the life I’m living right now? Makes me curious. Makes me grateful for technology like my iPod, where I can access any of these songs at any point. Makes me glad that I occasionally get to be in the car by myself to listen to the soundtrack of my life. With the volume on high.
The main reason that I love being in the car by myself is because I like to listen to loud music. I’m talking ear-splitting decibels. I’m talking head-throbbing, crazy loud music. Not many people know this about me because it’s only when I’m in the car completely alone that I crank it up and sing along at the top of my lungs. I’m sure I make quite the picture on IH-35.
So in the car this weekend, I had the music cranked up, and I was thinking about how different music marks different ‘eras’ in my life. There are just certain songs that instantly transport me to another place and time in my life. I can’t hear an Alanis Morrisette or NIN song without thinking about my mid twenties, after I had graduated from college. I had my own apartment, without a roommate for the first time in my life, and had started teaching middle school. I can remember cranking the music in my car on the drive home from this exhausting, stressful job that I loved wholeheartedly.
It is amazing to me how music has the power to elicit images and even feelings from years and experiences past. Some of the other songs that instantly give me a mental image:
Chicago’s “Hard Habit to Break”… junior high dances. Actually just about anything by Chicago or Journey takes me back to junior high and the dances in the school cafeteria. The crushes, the heartbreak, the dirty socks… ahhh… the memories! Didn’t you know that ‘you’re the meaning in my life? You’re the inspiration.”
The Eagles… “Hotel California”. I can remember being in the big, creaky bus we had chartered for our high school senior trip to Florida. We played this song over… and over… and over… Almost twenty years later, it still conjures up images, not of sunny California, but of the vast curtain of pine trees on either side of Interstate 10.
Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places”… freshman year in college, dancing at Dessau Hall. Everything about the fun and excitement of my first year in college is resurrected when I hear this song. I know it word for word, and have sung it a hundred times in bars and at parties. (along with ‘You never even called me by my name’ by David Allen Coe and ‘Sweet Caroline’ by Neil Diamond… 'so good! so good!')
Pink Floyd’s ‘Comfortably Numb’… Phil and I danced to this song on our first ‘official’ date. I can still picture the Christmas trees with the (pilfered) white lights, and the white balloons floating across the floor. We danced together, not realizing then that we’d dance to that song at our wedding, years later. (yes, I know… kind of an unorthodox song! It wasn’t our first dance at our wedding, if that makes any difference.)
‘These are Days’ by 10,000 Maniacs… this song instantly makes me think about all the planning Phil and I did in the months leading up to our wedding. I never get tired of hearing that song. :)
It makes me wonder what songs will be the ones I remember from this period in my life, when I look back on it. Will any songs have the power to bring me back to this particular time? In the future when I hear, Matt Nathanson’s ‘Come On Get Higher’ or Jack Johson’s ‘If I Had Eyes’, will I remember the crazy November I spent writing a novel, listening to them on ‘repeat’?
Which songs will I be able to trace back to the life I’m living right now? Makes me curious. Makes me grateful for technology like my iPod, where I can access any of these songs at any point. Makes me glad that I occasionally get to be in the car by myself to listen to the soundtrack of my life. With the volume on high.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Game on!
Okay, let me preface this by saying... My husband is an amazing guy. He is a great dad, he's fun at parties, and he knows without me having to say it when I've had just about enough time with our three beautiful progeny, and then he always has a plan for something fun to do with them to give Mommy a break. He does laundry, grocery shops with all three kids in tow, and is the official 'pool float' for the kids in the summertime. He makes me laugh on a daily basis, and after 18 years together, we definitely speak each other's language (usually ;).
But then, there are days like today, where I could just strangle him.
Why?! Why? Why, Philip Linson (using my stern voice), did you have to teach our children how to play the 'Punch Buggy' game? Do they REALLY need another reason to hit one another? Especially in the van? Even in fun? Because we ALL know how that's going to end. Not well. They just really don't need any more ammo in their sibling warfare.
And can I just mention that he did it RIGHT before we were getting back in the van after having a nice lunch together (the kids are out of school today.) I took Libby to the bathroom after lunch, and he took the older two back out to the van to get them loaded up.
When I came out, Davis socked his unsuspecting mom in the arm, and said, "Green punch buggy!" Which of course cracked them all up. I just glared at my darling husband, who by the way, gets to get back in his OWN car, and go back to his job for the rest of the afternoon.
Way to go, honey. ;)
But then, there are days like today, where I could just strangle him.
Why?! Why? Why, Philip Linson (using my stern voice), did you have to teach our children how to play the 'Punch Buggy' game? Do they REALLY need another reason to hit one another? Especially in the van? Even in fun? Because we ALL know how that's going to end. Not well. They just really don't need any more ammo in their sibling warfare.
And can I just mention that he did it RIGHT before we were getting back in the van after having a nice lunch together (the kids are out of school today.) I took Libby to the bathroom after lunch, and he took the older two back out to the van to get them loaded up.
When I came out, Davis socked his unsuspecting mom in the arm, and said, "Green punch buggy!" Which of course cracked them all up. I just glared at my darling husband, who by the way, gets to get back in his OWN car, and go back to his job for the rest of the afternoon.
Way to go, honey. ;)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
This thing should come with a warning.
I’m sorry. I should have warned you. Yes, about that monkey picture. Isn’t it just the teensiest bit frightening? Maybe even a little horrifying?!
I had to take a picture since my scanner is still not working. And I HAD to take a picture. I’m not sure you would have believed me if I had just told you about this doll. (which by the way, is ‘not a toy. It is a fine collectible to be enjoyed by adult collectors.’)
The flyer came in the mail, mixed in with a bunch of other junk mail. It was in my front seat, and when I turned a corner, it slipped out from the rest of the mail, startling me with its scary little monkey face to the point that I just about had an accident. No WONDER I hate checking the mail so much!
Is that not just the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen? I wouldn’t even want to meet the kind of person that would order ‘Baby Jingles’. (‘Baby Scare the Ever-lovin’ Crap Outta Ya’ is more like it.) Check out that tongue. Who thinks these things up?!
Not only can you order this (from the Ashton-Drake Galleries… ooh, la, la!)… guess what? She’s got a bunch of little ugly monkey friends you can order, too! For only $29.99* each! (*payable in two payments of just $14.99)
And of course each little monkey has their own pair of shoes with tiny bells on them (why, you may be asking? Um… so you can hear them sneaking up on you in the middle of the night?!) and their own special little T-shirt with a delightful saying, like “Mommy’s Little Monkey” (see exhibit A)… of course we can’t forget “Daddy’s Little Monkey” (because Daddy deserves to be freaked out, as well!)… “Go Bananas!” (self-explanatory, I guess.)
…and my personal favorite: “No more jumping on the bed!” Awwww! C’mon, you know the ditty! Sing along…‘Momma called the doctor and the doctor said…’
“Refill Momma’s prescription! She’s got the credit card out to order from the Ashton-Drake Galleries again!”
I had to take a picture since my scanner is still not working. And I HAD to take a picture. I’m not sure you would have believed me if I had just told you about this doll. (which by the way, is ‘not a toy. It is a fine collectible to be enjoyed by adult collectors.’)
The flyer came in the mail, mixed in with a bunch of other junk mail. It was in my front seat, and when I turned a corner, it slipped out from the rest of the mail, startling me with its scary little monkey face to the point that I just about had an accident. No WONDER I hate checking the mail so much!
Is that not just the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen? I wouldn’t even want to meet the kind of person that would order ‘Baby Jingles’. (‘Baby Scare the Ever-lovin’ Crap Outta Ya’ is more like it.) Check out that tongue. Who thinks these things up?!
Not only can you order this (from the Ashton-Drake Galleries… ooh, la, la!)… guess what? She’s got a bunch of little ugly monkey friends you can order, too! For only $29.99* each! (*payable in two payments of just $14.99)
And of course each little monkey has their own pair of shoes with tiny bells on them (why, you may be asking? Um… so you can hear them sneaking up on you in the middle of the night?!) and their own special little T-shirt with a delightful saying, like “Mommy’s Little Monkey” (see exhibit A)… of course we can’t forget “Daddy’s Little Monkey” (because Daddy deserves to be freaked out, as well!)… “Go Bananas!” (self-explanatory, I guess.)
…and my personal favorite: “No more jumping on the bed!” Awwww! C’mon, you know the ditty! Sing along…‘Momma called the doctor and the doctor said…’
“Refill Momma’s prescription! She’s got the credit card out to order from the Ashton-Drake Galleries again!”
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Can you feel my pain?!
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
Does my toe still hurt? Well, just a little, but that’s not what’s paining me at this point. What’s killin’ me right now? I just got back from taking Josie to the eye doctor… and OUCH!! Damn, I KNEW I should have force-fed that kid her little neon orange jars of carrots when she was a baby!
Not only did her prescription change enough to warrant new lenses, but she has just about outgrown her frames, too. And it’s only been a year. Time to whip out the checkbook.
A few years ago, a friend of mine who’d just had her second baby in as many years, told me, “You know, I’ve always heard that babies are sooo expensive. I’m just not really finding that to be true!”
I had to chuckle. I’m pretty sure that no one said BABIES are expensive. But KIDS sure are. You can cut costs with babies. Breastfeed. Make your own baby food (I highly recommend lots of mashed carrots). Borrow baby equipment. Use cloth diapers (if you’re crazy!)
Not so easy once kids get older. So far this week, we’ve bought new glasses… bought tickets to the Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet… paid for the Twirling Team… paid for this month’s piano lessons…and ordered books from the Scholastic book order.
And it’s only Tuesday. Ouch.
Update... now my van won't start. Frickin' great.
Newest update... van finally started. Thanks, Sarah, for always being there for me in a crisis! You rock, my friend.
Does my toe still hurt? Well, just a little, but that’s not what’s paining me at this point. What’s killin’ me right now? I just got back from taking Josie to the eye doctor… and OUCH!! Damn, I KNEW I should have force-fed that kid her little neon orange jars of carrots when she was a baby!
Not only did her prescription change enough to warrant new lenses, but she has just about outgrown her frames, too. And it’s only been a year. Time to whip out the checkbook.
A few years ago, a friend of mine who’d just had her second baby in as many years, told me, “You know, I’ve always heard that babies are sooo expensive. I’m just not really finding that to be true!”
I had to chuckle. I’m pretty sure that no one said BABIES are expensive. But KIDS sure are. You can cut costs with babies. Breastfeed. Make your own baby food (I highly recommend lots of mashed carrots). Borrow baby equipment. Use cloth diapers (if you’re crazy!)
Not so easy once kids get older. So far this week, we’ve bought new glasses… bought tickets to the Cub Scout Blue and Gold banquet… paid for the Twirling Team… paid for this month’s piano lessons…and ordered books from the Scholastic book order.
And it’s only Tuesday. Ouch.
Update... now my van won't start. Frickin' great.
Newest update... van finally started. Thanks, Sarah, for always being there for me in a crisis! You rock, my friend.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Project 365... Week One
Well, here it is, friends... Week one on Project 365. Not sure if you can read the journaling in the pictures, but hopefully it gives you an idea of what I'll be putting together for the next 51 weeks. ;)
There is also a small picture on the right of the 'short week', which still needs to be labeled with the dates.
As you can see, it's pretty simple, but if I'm going to keep up with it, it can't be terribly complicated or difficult to do. For each week, I'll simply have to make the 'Week of' card, and print out the journaling cards. Since its a Word document, I can change the font, size, location, etc. on the days of the week. If you would like the document, (I know several of you had asked me for it... sorry I've dropped the ball!!), send me an email, and I'll send it as an attachment. I also just purchased a date stamp at Office Depot (you know, like the old-fashioned 'library' one...), and I'm just stamping the date on each journaling card.
I'm excited about how it's turning out... and I think it is a good representation of our life right now. And it takes some of the pressure off. Seriously... now if I don't get around to scrapbooking Davis' Gecko Pride day, for example, at least I have it documented in the Project 365 album.
It's all good...
There is also a small picture on the right of the 'short week', which still needs to be labeled with the dates.
As you can see, it's pretty simple, but if I'm going to keep up with it, it can't be terribly complicated or difficult to do. For each week, I'll simply have to make the 'Week of' card, and print out the journaling cards. Since its a Word document, I can change the font, size, location, etc. on the days of the week. If you would like the document, (I know several of you had asked me for it... sorry I've dropped the ball!!), send me an email, and I'll send it as an attachment. I also just purchased a date stamp at Office Depot (you know, like the old-fashioned 'library' one...), and I'm just stamping the date on each journaling card.
I'm excited about how it's turning out... and I think it is a good representation of our life right now. And it takes some of the pressure off. Seriously... now if I don't get around to scrapbooking Davis' Gecko Pride day, for example, at least I have it documented in the Project 365 album.
It's all good...
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