Me:raw & un-edited...

WARNING - Long, un-editied, rambley post below.  Please no judgement.  If I re-read to edit, I know I wont actually post it, and I feel like I need to.  So I'm just going to post it and see what happens...

We (well mostly me) are in some crazy ruts right now as well as missing the mark in SOOO many areas of my life.

Eating related - I am sick of our current rotating menu, I really am wanting to do something healthier.  I am struggling to find things that are quick, cheap and healthy.  Oh ya, and also something my picky husband will eat.  His picky-ness is KILLING my meal planing these days.  Not to mention that 1-4 days per week (depending on the week) I have a 45 minute turn around time to head back to work, or we have people coming over.  This means dinner must be cooked, and consumed during this time period.  Oh yes, I also have to pump, which means that the hubby has do do the bulk of the work.  I has really hampered my meal planing and options lately.  I would seriously LOVE some killer recipes.  Things that are HEALTHY, CHEAP, and FAST/EASY to make.  Oh yes, and don't forget my husband is picky.  Anything with ANY sort of beans, or vegetables (of ANY kind) or fruity type things are completely off limits.  He is the classic "meat and potatoes" kind of guy to the extreme (think Ron Swanson from Parks and Rec, where veggies are "rabbit food".  If he actually read my blog, and knew that I was comparing him to Ron, he would be thrilled and honored *sigh* *facepalm*)  Anyways, I really need some miracle recipes.  Please don't say Deceptively Delicious (which is a GREAT book and would totally work for kids), because while I thought it was a GENIUS plan, hubby know and wont eat it.  Any suggestions?  I really am at a loss, a complete and other loss.

Homemaking related - I have been trying to fine tune my habits and my routine.  I am getting sick of the mad dash when we have people over (2x's per week at least).  I have been supper lazy (and challenged) in this area recently, and it is frustrating me.  I need to figure out a way to make the whole, house staying clean/de-cluttered easier.  It honestly is frustrating spending all of my "off time" cleaning and still feeling like it is never clean.  I have been trying to purge and get rid of stuff we don't need/use, and organize it better, but I am majorly failing at a system to keep it strait.

Mommy related - I am in this crazy cycle of desperately needed a true break, and missing my kids like crazy.  I miss them when I'm at work and I have to say good bye to them.  When I'm at home, they are both demanding my attention, while I am trying to make the mad 45 minute dinner and back to work or people coming over dash.  I feel like the quality time I desire isn't there.  I try and make it, but my baby girl loves to go to bed early (like by 6pm) and with me getting home closer to 5 and scrambling, I feel not as connected with her.  My little man and I go to AWANA once per week (so he is part of that mad dash), which is fun because while I am "working" and teaching in another class, he is my "helper" in set up and clean up so we get good time in there.  Also, he sometimes just wants me to cuddle with him.  THAT I can totally do!  We also do our bedtime story and prayers every night with both kids.  I guess I just feel like I am failing, and missing out on so much when I'm at work, and then spend my at home time dealing with toddler tantrums and teething tears.

Wife related - Hubby and I have been having mis-communications like you wouldn't believe!  I am super failing in so many areas it is killing me.  I hate arguing and being upset.  We have both just had so much pressure in so many areas of our life right now, on top of our insane schedule, we just are off.  Totally failing in this area right now.

Friend related - Honestly it is almost at the point of me saying, "I have friends?"  Thankfully one of my dear friends from college got a few of us emailing semi-regularly.  I think it is going to take some practice, but I'm really hoping that is going to help me out.  I try and get out, I try to put myself out there.  I have some "new prospects" (that seriously sounds weird, but I don't know how else to put it), it is really hard for me that I can't hang out with people.  I know life is crazy, and that the people I am closest with are spread out all over, and keeping in touch with them (which I suck at) is important, and I'm trying to get better.  I also, know that sometimes, I physically need to sit and go do something with people.  I'm working on connecting with the mom's in my ministry better, but it is hard, because they are also a part of my ministry which can slightly complicate things.

Blog related - Ya, so my dog LITERALLY chewed the power cord to my computer.  Thankfully my hubby knows a few things about electrical type things, and fixed it for the temporary.  Honestly, with all the fails/ruts everywhere else, this is something that I have used as my outlet and need.  It has been neglected lately, which is totally my fault.  I am working on a system to fix it.  Stay tuned.

Personally related - I have been emotionally off lately.  I have a heavy weight on my heart that I can't seem to get off.  I honestly have prayed and really don't know what is going on.  It is borderline depressive, but is also making me not want to do everything.  It is really frustrating, I think part of it is not having people around (see the friend issues above) and not being able to talk and recharge my batteries the way I need to.

Sorry long rambley un-editied post, but I did warn you!  I just wanted to let you know where I am.  Maybe you have been here too?  Suggestions?  Ideas?

Cheers!

Ashley

House of Sick

We have been stuck with lots of sickness in this house.  Apologies for not posting, I promise it is coming, I have several posts ready to go, almost but they need a few things.  For now here is a pick of me cuddling my sweet sick boy.  :(  Hopefully we are all on our way to mending and will be rejoining the rest of the world soon.

Cheers!

Ashley

Menu Monday

Here is what we are planing on eating this week.

Monday: Crock pot Potato Soup (from the freezer)
Tuesday: Taco Tuesday
Wednesday: Macaroni and Cheese
Thursday: Black Bean Tortilla Bake
Friday: Pizza Night

Have a great week!

Cheers!

Ashley

Org Junkies 31 Day Challenge March 2013

This year has been full of changes, moving, fast paced living and multiple challenges so far.  All of this has caused me to severely lack in the cleaning/organizing department.  I still don't have a SINGLE thing hung on our walls, (we have lived here 8 months), nor have I finished unpacking or found places for everything yet.  This is going to change.  I am once again going to be linking up with the Org Junkie to complete a challenge.  This will help kick start my spring cleaning as well as take back my Master Bedroom.

If you are coming here from linking up through this challenged welcome!  Please feel free to check out my blog, let me know you did!  I love meeting new friends!

This is going to be hard for me to complete with my littles and hubby, but I know that it is important.  I've wanted to do some spring cleaning anyways, as well as sell some stuff and this is just the kick in the pants I need to actually do it.  I don't know why, but I do better when I'm doing hard things alongside of others and have some motivation/a challenge to help force myself to get it done!

This year I seriously could do this challenged to EVERY room in my house, but obviously I wont have time for that, I will for now, just show you a few select pictures, (please don't judge too harshly) and you will have to come back to see the results!  I am really going to focus on our Master Bedroom, which has officially become the storage dumping ground.  It also has a section that I have been desperate to make into an office/crafting space.  It really needs attention.  Also, I'm hoping that clearing it out will also force me to do some other projects around the house that are currently being stored in the bedroom.  I did our master bedroom last year, in our old home and LOVED the results.  I'm really hoping I can do this again, with similar results.  You see, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and much more peace of mind going to bed in a clean/organized room each night.  I really could do with some of those feelings again right about now.

With out further delay, here is my shameful before pictures (which hopefully at the end of the month will have changed into glorious after pictures.

Cheers!

Ashley

Our 1st Big Project: Installing a Dishwasher

As I previously eluded (love that word), we recently installed a dishwasher!  We have had a dishwasher waiting to be installed since we bought our home.  I thought it would be a few short weeks, however weeks turned into months, and finally after looking at my kitchen constantly covered in dishes and having to wash them multiple times per day, I talked my hubby into doing it ourselves on a Saturday.

To start I had my hubby look up the directions and take the necessary measurements.  

We took a trip to the hardware store, it was that I realized my husband, like EVERY OTHER MALE on the planet, REALLY dislikes asking for help or directions.  To take the pressure off, I took the kids to the flowers and allowed him time to "figure it out/ask for help".  After 30 - 40 minutes (two trips to the flowers with the kids, and a potty break) I finally tracked down an employee who offered assistance to my husband.  Within 10 minutes of receiving help (as in what was an hour trip could have been all of 15minutes) we left with our purchases and ready to start the project.

There has been a spot in our kitchen that has been begging for a dishwasher, since the day we moved in.  When we unpacked our kitchen I intentionally left the space empty, in preparation for the dishwasher.

 All we had to do was knock out the space,

 and drill a few holes to run the water lines (and hook them up),

and the electrical cord.

Easy right?  Of course we encountered multiple issues along the way, requiring a total of four trips the the hardware store.  The first thing we had to change was a wrong size hose, then we found a leak and had to purchase another hose to fix it.

Then the hubby over tightened something and broke something (the plastic piece that hooks up the water return from the dishwasher to the silver thing that spits it into the sink, so technical I know)

Again I'm going to be so technical, but this is the splitter and the other hoses my hubby installed under our sink, it was a fairly easy thing to do.  My hubby is a figure it out on his own kinda guy, but it was pretty self explanatory.

 He worked really hard and save us a ton of money had we hired someone else to do it.

 By the end of the day, we had a wonderful new (to us) dishwasher, ready to handle the mass amount of dishes our family of four produces.

I am one happy lady and am greatly enjoying that it makes one of my daily habits easier as well as my counters clearer!  *Happy dance*  

A fairly successful for our first big DYI home improvement project.  I think we will try and keep the trips to the hardware store to under 4 next time.  Trust me, if we can do it, ANYONE can :)

Cheers!

Ashley

Week 9 of 52 Weeks To Become Less Homemaking Challenged

Each Saturday this year, I will be posting a weekly habit.  During my 31 day's series, I talked about a lot of theoretical and how to create purpose in your home.  It was about you figuring things out, making goals, and knowing why you are doing the work, now it is time to put them into action.  Each week I will add one new habit to help you become less homemaking challenged.  The objective of this?  By the end of the year, for us to have applied several of these habits in our daily/weekly routine and be less homemaking challenged by the end of the year!

#9 Purge

Today is the first day of March, and Spring cleaning will soon be here.  A huge way to help you out in your home is by purging and getting rid of things that you no longer use or need.  this is a huge help in keeping your home clean (less stuff = less clutter) and it also helps you find what you actually use easily.  This one is SOOOO hard for me.  I'm serious!  It is REALLY HARD.  I am a saver, and I love saving things and using them later.  It is so hard for me to get rid of things I "might need", especially when money is tight.  Here are some simple rules I use for getting rid of things.

1) When did I use it last?  (anything over a year will most likely go)
2) How much does it cost to replace? (anything that is expensive or a pain to replace I keep)
3) Do I have duplicates or something that serves the same purpose? (get rid of one)
4) Is it something I can't live without?
5) Does it hold sentimental value? (some of these items you can just take pictures of, others you may need to keep)

It can be hard to toss, but the results are so worth it!!!  It will make your home easier to maintain help you be less Homemaking Challenged!

Cheers!

Ashley


Miss a week?  Here are the past 52 Weeks to Become Less Homemaking Challenged, so far click here to see a full list.
Week #1
Week #2
Week #3
Week #4
Week #5
Week #6
Week #7
Week #8
Week #9