Day 67 - Christmas Preparations (Take 4) - GG (15) - HH (21) - CS (33)

Today's plan:

- Christmas Preparations
--- discuss Christmas card list with Hubby
--- type up at least ten addresses

- Grooming Goal
--- cut and file Sunny's toenails
--- keep from biting my fingernails
--- read "TDWYCP" (The 'Do What You Can' Plan) chapter four
--- share my goal(s) with Sis#1, my mustard seed goals are...
--- to grow my fingernails and file them (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) so as to have fingernails that protect my fingers by completely covering the quick (the sensitive nailbed skin) and being smoothly edged to remove the temptation to bite them. I will consider my goal achieved when I have stopped having to think about it and have ceased even thinking about nibbling (though I recognise that this is probably going to take considerably longer than twenty-one days)
--- to have toenails that protect my toes and ward off infections (in-grown toenail infections especially) by letting go of my pathological need for short toenails and keeping them "grown-out" with the added need to trim them more regularly (perhaps weekly on Sundays) and file them to keep the edges smooth and negate my neuroses (scratching or catching my nails on myself/Hubs in bed, tights and socks). I will consider this goal achieved when I no longer worry about a return to ingrown toenail infections (after twenty-one LONG months of constant toe pain, ingrown toenail infections, several anti-biotics and FIVE unsuccessful nail surgeries).

- Half-hour Hope (continuing to glue the birds/owls together perhaps, keeping this as a current challenge until its 28th day)

- Cleaning Schedule - Monday (continuing this as a current challenge because clearly I'm not very good at it)
--- brush out en-suite
--- brush out master bedroom
--- brush out nursery
--- clean en-suite
--- dust master bedroom
--- dust nursery

- Tutor M from 4-5 (so long as Sunny is in good form after having his catheter removed)

- Repack baby bag for my toe appt. tomorrow

- Consistency Challenges
--- Beautifying (edit sidebar to reflect this move)
--- Frumps to Pumps (get dressed by 9am)
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres - record and meet!)
--- Say Grace before dinner (set alarm)
--- Smaller Portions/Sugar Fast (no chocolate) - RECOMMIT TO THESE!
--- Tidying Time (addresses on computer)
--- Walk with Sunny - car to hospital and back should suffice ;)

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime & HH prep
--- Bleach toilets regularly (M/W/Sa)
--- Catechism practice (25-26)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer *FIRST THING*
--- Food prep - lift out pancakes from freezer
--- Laundry (take downstairs, sort, prep load for tomorrow, fold and put away dry laundry)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathroom
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- *****QUIET TIME***** (first task for naptime)
--- Record tutoring income/expenditures
--- Scripture memory work (edit sidebar)
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Weigh-in and record weight (M/W/Sa)
--- What's for dinner? Bacon, pancakes, beans and eggs.
--- Worship song time
--- Write review post
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 66 - Review + CP (Take 3)

Today I:

- Christmas Preparations
--- didn't go through the Christmas card list with Hubby
--- wrote up the first draft of our Christmas letter insert with Hubs, it just needs some information added and permission sought to include a couple of tidbits
--- didn't type up any addresses but have the computer sitting ready for me to do so tomorrow, instead I sat with Hubby to enjoy Downton Abbey and "It's a Blas" uninterrupted as Sunny slept peacefully in the next room

- needed to focus on the following Daily Do List items and I:
--- did commit the day to God in prayer though not quite first thing
--- did lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- didn't even think about Moodscope until I sat down to type this review
--- didn't think of my Quiet Time either! Not good and the only thing I really need to focus on tomorrow

- repacked the baby bag for Sunny's hospital appointment in the morning

- showered and shaved and quickly dried my hair, as a result we were a little late to church BUT I'm ready to face the week ahead and I didn't look like I'd been dragged through a bush backwards

- finished going through the book people magazines but will need to cull the virtual shopping basket contents (Mum too) before we're ready to place out order (either tomorrow or Tuesday)

- Grooming Goal
--- kept from biting my nails, though still suffering from the nibbling of earlier in the week
--- cleaned toe in the shower and then applied iodine before redressing it (looking forward?! to my Tuesday appt. as it's SO painful)

- Half-hour Hope (quick house tidy up, laid out my clothes, repacked baby bag, made myself some supper)

- Beautifying (showered and shaved)

- Cleaning Schedule - Sunday - rest - need to work on the work part!

- prayed about (and attended) church

- have yet to plan posts for the week ahead, I'll only type up for tomorrow before I turn in

- enjoyed a lie-in (thank you Hubs), much needed as I battle allergies/a bad headcold thing

- enjoyed an afternoon nap too en famille, a lovely thing indeed

- Consistency Challenges
--- Frumps to Pumps - done
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres) - not recorded or even close to met
--- Say Grace before dinner - nope, whoops
--- Smaller Portions/Sugar Fast (no chocolate) - neither were even on my radar as I gorged on chocolate before reboarding the wagon tomorrow
--- Tidying Time - general only
--- Walk with Sunny - nope

- Daily Do List - all done except for the following:
--- Catechism practice (25)
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-cleans
--- Quiet Time

Day 49 - Review

Today I:

- sewed another three items (laundry hamper liner, pillowcase and cloth nappy), put away stragglers and printed out an anniversary present voucher and the journey guide (for 42D2F) for my Half-hour (really full hour) Hope

- Beautified one small corner of the nursery by clearing the stragglers (items set down and left for months instead of put away), dusting (Cleaning!) for tidying (Tidying Time)

- had no trouble following my Cleaning Schedule for LLL Thursday, namely none set, see above

- ate Smaller Portions

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks though I struggled to settle my spirit enough to complete the meditative/reflective tasks

- Texted Vicky re books and happily returned home with both of them and my Breastfeeding Matters LLL members magazine

- Read a little more of the "42 days to fit" (42D2F) e-book (up to the end of Week One) and thought more about how to approach this challenge (slowly, surely and bathed in prayer)

- Attended LLL (and heard anout the LLL conference in March which we're considering attending en famille) and listened to the catechism CD en route, reviewing all Q&A's already memorised and finally getting a handle on Q&A 22

- Ordered Mayim Bialik's book along with next year's family wall calendar and one for my BIL for Christmas

- Also gave myself a little treat of ten extra stickers on my star chart for getting over a hundred followers (only three of which I know IRL) on Pinterest, silliness but I care not

- Ordered amazon voucher through Swagbucks

- The wonderful Hubster ordered a GI loaf and three crepes to collect tomorrow after Tots' group

- parked a teensy bit further away from the LLL class and enjoyed the leisurely pace of my excited but short-legged toddler, failed badly at my Hydration goal, remembered to say Grace (yay - thank you phone alarm), almost but didn't Sugar Fast, Tidied (see above) and Worshipped. So three out of five for my Consistency Challenges today

- did my Daily Do List

Day 49 - Half-hour Hope (Take 4) - Be (11) - CS (16) - SP (21) - FtP (27)

Today's plan:

- Text Vicky (LLL) re return of borrowed books

- Half-hour Hope (sewing)

- Beautifying (nursery corner)

- Cleaning Schedule - third Thursday of the month (LLL) - none

- Smaller Portions

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge reminder
--- get dressed by 9am
--- wear earrings
--- read e-book chapter nineteen
--- read day nineteen blog post
--- take some time to figure out which styles and colours I prefer?
--- read Revelation 3:12 and meditate on the fact that I'll have a new name one day
--- who am I? Do I know? What makes me come alive? What do I love? What gifts has God given me to use for His glory? --- read Romans 12:6a. Who inspires me? Ask God to reveal who I am to Him
--- turn hangers around so the hook part is facing away until the item is worn, to aid decluttering
--- tackle three items from the sewing basket
--- text Sis#1 the challenge details

- Attend LLL and take catechism CD, snacks, bibs and water (follow up re membership and borrowed books)

- Order Mayim Bialik's book along with family wall calendar

- Order amazon voucher through Swagbucks

- Order GI loaf/loaves and three large crepe pancakes from the bakery for collection tomorrow

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner (set reminder on phone for half past five)
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Tidying Time (nursery corner)
--- Walk with Sunny (weather-permitting, park a little further from the LLL class)
--- Worship Song Time (gospel fakebook)

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep (set out three items to be mended and appropriate needles/thread/buttons etc.)
--- Catechism practice in the car on way to and from LLL (20-23)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (slice and box up flapjacks for LLL snack - actually done last night along with packing the baby bag)
--- Laundry (fold dried laundry and put away)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes (Tots' group)
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope (at start of naptime)
--- Prayer Sticks (breakfast/dinner)
--- Quick-clean bathrooms (preferably first thing)
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink (during food prep)
--- Quiet Time (see FtP tasks and continue through Isaiah)
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks (order new amazon voucher)
--- Wake up the house routine
--- What's for dinner? Spaghetti on toast with a side of frozen peas.
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post (October)
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 48 - Review

Today I:

- fulfilled my Half-hour Hope by sewing three items for the Hubs after the general tidy as I go approach

- Beautified myself by trying to smile more

- cleaned my way through some of my Cleaning Schedule for Wednesdays,
--- brushed nursery
--- brush en-suite
--- cleaned guest bathroom/en-suite

- ate Smaller Portions

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks and earned my treat of Mayim Bialik's book (I'll order it tomorrow - yay, and it'll be paid for with Swagbucks - double yay). I moved one jumper from regular wardrobe to maternity as it's a little big and cut in such a way as to emphasise your tummy but didn't go through any more of my wardrobe as I feel I've purged it pretty well over the last few weeks. I think decluttering it again in another few weeks/months would be more productive.
- I've decided tonight that I'll use the "turning hangers around" trick; you turn your hangers around so the hook part is facing away from you and then when you've worn the item you hang it regularly. After a while you can see exactly what you are and aren't wearing of your clothes to aid decluttering. I've added this to tomorrow's tasks
- I also chose not to plan a week's worth of outfits as I'm in a good habit of planning the next day or two's outfits and that's far enough in advance for me, unless for a special occasion (wedding, party, fancy dinner)
- As for looking at how outfits would come together from the rest of my clothing, this is what I have been unconsciously working on for the past few weeks during the purging and I'll be working more concretely on this as I create a "look book" in the coming weeks
--- text Sis#1 the challenge details

- packed away the last of the decorations and rehomed the sewing and knitting baskets

- visited Sis#1 and sorted out the cables for her TV

- edited Scripture Memory Work on the sidebar

- Tutored Cl

- resisted the temptation of chocolate at my sister's, but chose (and was given permission by my Hubby too) to have five-and-a-half chocolates from Hubs' chocolate box - wish I hadn't as they weren't as nice as say Galaxy chocolate, couldn't have a post-nap walk as it poured with rain and I forgot to say Grace AGAIN. I'm glad I did manage two of my Consistency Challenges

- did my Daily Do List

Day 48 - Half-hour Hope (Take 3) - Be (10) - CS (15) - SP (20) - FtP (26)

Today's plan:

- Half-hour Hope (sewing)

- Beautifying (myself with a smile and more eye contact/less screen time)

- Cleaning Schedule - Wednesdays*Plus
--- brush bedroom/nursery
--- brush guest bathroom/en-suite
--- clean dining room table
--- clean guest bathroom/en-suite
--- dust hallway
--- dust wee room
--- straighten hallway

- Smaller Portions (cut out unnecessary snacks)

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge reminder
--- get dressed by 9am
--- dress myself with a smile
--- wear earrings
--- read e-book chapter eighteen
--- read day eighteen blog post
--- what are my reasons for wanting to or choosing not to dress modestly?
--- make an honest evaluation of my wardrobe. How does each article of clothing make me feel? Frumpy? Silly? Uncomfortable? Make decluttering decisions based on my assessments
--- plan my outfits for the week ahead
--- look at how outfits would come together from the rest of my clothing (add to the "wardobe supplement" shopping list)
--- text Sis#1 the challenge details

- pack away stragglers of the spring/Easter decorations and rehome sewing and knitting baskets

- if possible visit Sis#1 to deliver a spare dustpan and brush and tidy up her television cables (take twist ties)

- Tutor Cl

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Tidying Time (nursery corner)
--- Walk with Sunny (weather-permitting head to the end of the road and back, a mile being better than the nothing I've been doing)
--- Worship Song Time (gospel fakebook)

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep (HH - prep thread, needles)
--- Bleach toilets regularly (M/W/Sa)
--- Catechism practice (20-22)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (reheat soup for lunch; heat oven and bring up food from freezer for dinner)
--- Laundry (two loads, hang up and run dryer)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes (LLL)
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope (beginning of naptime)
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time (continue to work through beauty references)
--- Record tutoring income/expenditures
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Weigh-in and record weight (M/W/Sa)
--- What's for dinner? Fish, waffles, green beans and sweetcorn
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post (October)
--- Write tomorrow's post
--- Write Weekly Weigh-in post and send link to Sis#1

Day 47 - Review

Today's plan:

- enjoyed a very productive evening after a dismally unproductive (sleepy) day; Half-hour Hope included Beautifying the nursery with the rest of the decals and some cartoons/prints, sorting through my sewing and knitting baskets, though it all took considerably longer than half-an-hour (nigh on two hours)

- failed entirely at my Cleaning Schedule, though bless my Beloved as he brushed quite a few rooms out for me

- ate Smaller Portions

- worked through most of my Frumps to Pumps tasks, setting aside the being truly present aim once again as I was so zoned out today (I blame insomnia though in part it is also me not making the commitment to lay down for sleep at a sensible hour allowing me to get past myself). I also didn't sew any items this evening but did sort through my sewing basket ready for mending

- Began reading "42 days to fit" and "100lb loser" e-books in the early hours (insomnia joy once again), in preparation for taking the 42 days challenge (my next-but-one new challenge I think). The 42 days challenge aims to help you lose 15-20 pounds which would be an amazing weight-loss to add to my nine pounds so far (especially as I have another 49 pounds to lose to reach what would be considered a healthy weight)

- Visited C and newborn Tilly with Hubby and Sunny and thoroughly enjoyed lots of sweet baby cuddles, awwwwwww

- Edited sidebar (Tidying Time from Current to Consistency Challenges, Bleaching Toilets from Consistency Challenges to Daily Do List and adding on Half-hour Hope - oopsie)

- Tutored M

- managed only two of my Consistency Challenges, failing to walk or worship at all and only managing just over two of my two-and-half-litre goal

- did my Daily Do List though I struggled to do many of them, food prep went really well though as I dashed through some vegetable chopping and threw together a filling autumn soup using my faithful chicken stock/vegetable juices box in the freezer, didn't complete moodscope or my quiet time until just before/after coming to bed and mostly that was 'cause I was zoned out. Getting in at least a litre of water really helps with my Hydration goal and completing moodscope and my quiet time during naptime also really helps my focus on and ability to complete them both.

Day 47 - Half-hour Hope (Take 2) - Be (9) - CS (14) - SP (19) - FtP (25)

Today's plan:

- Half-hour Hope (knitting scarf for Piotr)

- Beautifying (nursery decals?)

- Cleaning Schedule - Tuesdays (kitchen)
--- brush floor
--- quick-clean appliance fronts
--- fully clean counters
--- quick-clean cupboard doors
--- scrub and shine sink and draining area
*ALSO*
--- brush out en-suite, bedroom and nursery
--- thoroughly clean en-suite

- Smaller Portions

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge reminder
--- get dressed immediately after lie-in
--- wear earrings
--- read e-book chapter seventeen
--- read day seventeen blog post
--- tweeze eyebrows
--- read 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 9:13, 1 Peter 3:3-4
--- what's the difference between the woman of folly and the woman I'm called to be?
--- clothe myself with the spirit of love, instead of a critical spirit
--- pray for a spirit of love and kindness
--- evaluate my friendships, am I easily critical of the little things my friends do?
--- are my actions always in line with what my family does?
--- be truly present in my home today. Not just with my physical presence but with my heart. Allow myself to truly enjoy the work I do around the house, and the great blessing of the children I have.
--- tackle a few items from the sewing basket
--- text Sis#1 the challenge details

- Visit C, Isa and newborn Tilly with baby gift

- Move Tidying Time to Consistency Challenges (on sidebar)

- Tutor M over dinner time

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Tidying Time (nursery)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice (22)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (drain mozzarella and allow to "dry", chop celery, carrots, courgettes, make vegetable soup)
--- Laundry (take downstairs, sort, fold and put away dry laundry, prep load for going on in the morning)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope (beginning of naptime)
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean guest bathroom
--- Quiet Time (see FtP tasks)
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- What's for dinner? Lunch - vegetable soup/Dinner - pizza with added mozzarella, garlic bread, chips and sweetcorn
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post (October)
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 46 - Review

Today I:

- Forgot I had introduced the new challenge of Half-hour Hope and hadn't prepared for it, or remembered until I sat down to begin this review at which point I dragged my sorry bottom back off the sofa and got to getting...

- so having gone through the gift cupboard I'll choose between two baby gifts for Tilly in the morning, her card is written and I've set out the upcoming birthday gifts and had a little look at what I have and need to craft/get

- wasn't home long enough to go near my Cleaning Schedule for Monday, so I'll brush out and clean the en-suite and brush out the bedroom and nursery tomorrow

- ate Smaller Portions but alas I fear, far too many of them!

- had a Tidying Time of putting away my purchases and clearing away their packaging

- worked through most of my Frumps to Pumps tasks and enjoyed a very productive early morning including getting the toilets bleached, laundry sorted and food prep done before arriving at my sister's (in good time amazingly) for our shopping trip. I didn't feel I could really be truly present in my home since I didn't really feel I was at home today, but I did set to the work I did today and will seek to be fully present here tomorrow, you know, after our visit out ;) I also haven't approached the sewing basket today, except to add to it, as my eyes are too tired for sewing this evening

- Thoroughly enjoyed an Ikea shopping trip with Mum and Sis#1 and despite no receipt I was able to return all the unopened and unwanted goods from my last trip and put them towards today's items, so this visit only cost just over a fiver - yay! Got two gorgeous stag's head print cushions for our lounge and am counting them as my Beautifying for the day too

- Texted baby Tilly's Mama and arranged a visit for tomorrow morning (alas removing Hubby and Sunny's chance of a morning cycle and mine of a lovely long lie-in BUT we left it open for them to choose and Tilly's only sister Isa is the same age as Sunny so hopefully they'll enjoy a nice wee playdate while we Mamas and a Papa chat and coo over the new babe)

- Tutored E

- forgot to say Grace AGAIN but did manage the rest of my Consistency Challenges, since I'm totally counting walking round Ikea as a 'walk' and even resisted delicious M&M peanut-ty sweeties (hard) and just about managed Hydration goal

- did my Daily Do List except for Half-hour Hope prep, still haven't worked through all the beauty references for my Quiet Time so I'll continue with them in a couple of days

Day 46 - Half-hour Hope (Take 1) - Be (8) - CS (13) - SP (18) - TT (21) - FtP (24)

Today's plan:

- Introduce my new challenge of Half-hour Hope
--- as soon as Sunny is settled for the night I'll take fifteen minutes to set things to rights through the house, folding laundry, putting away dry dishes, wiping the worktop/sink, giving floors a quick brush etc. before taking fifteen minutes to craft for Christmas, order gifts, wrap, write cards, or craft in general
--- this will be a super-productive half-hour before I slouch into the sofa for the evening
--- any set-up required for this half-hour's activity will be included in bedtime prep and any clean-up for the crafting should be included in the half-hour or be completed before my bedtime
--- today my second fifteen minutes should be spent going through the gift cupboard; wrapping up and writing the card for a baby gift for Tilly; setting out a b/day gift for my Aunt-in-law B; generally figuring out what/who I have bought for their autumn/winter b/days and Christmas and who/what I still need to get

- Beautifying

- Cleaning Schedule - Mondays
--- brush out en-suite
--- brush out master bedroom
--- brush out nursery
--- clean en-suite
--- dust master bedroom
--- dust nursery

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time (putting away any purchases into their new homes and clearing away any packaging etc.)

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge reminder
--- get dressed by 9am, with a cheerful attitude
--- wear earrings
--- read e-book chapter sixteen
--- read day sixteen blog post
--- be truly present in my home today. Not just with my physical presence but with my heart. Allow myself to truly enjoy the work I do around the house, and the great blessing of the children I have.
--- tackle a few items from the sewing basket
--- text Sis#1 the challenge details

- Ikea shopping trip with my Mum and Sis#1 (baby bag, list and returns at the ready, alas no receipt - we know we put it in a safe place but where?)

- Text baby Tilly's Mama re possibly visting Tues/Weds with baby gift

- Tutor E

- Consistency Challenges
--- Bleach toilets regularly (M/W/Sa)
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep (leave out wrapping supplies for Tilly's baby gift and a new baby card for writing)
--- Catechism practice (22)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (Lift out bacon, make pancake batter and pancakes, including some for freezing)
--- Laundry (take downstairs, sort, put away folded laundry)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time (finish up study into beauty references)
--- Record tutoring income/expenditures
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Weigh-in and record weight (M/W/Sa)
--- What's for dinner? Pancakes, bacon, syrup, beans and dry fried egg.
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post (October)
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 45 - Review

Today I:

- Hope I treated Hubby like a King, I did let him lie in and made him coffee and an omelette

- Continued reading through "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book as a supplement to and continuation of my FtP challenge

- Didn't focus on my to-do lists at all as we enjoyed the Hubby's birthday, our visitors etc.

- Beautified myself by showering - that counts, doesn't it?

- Followed my Cleaning Schedule for Sunday and rested

- ate Smaller Portions

- Tidied as I went but certainly didn't set aside a specific time

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks (the reading and 'Pinning' before I even went to bed this morning)

- Prayed about and attended church

- Enjoyed a visit from my SIL, BIL, niece Lola and in-laws and some birthday cake

- Enjoyed time and dinner with my parents, Sis#1 and her four boys

- Planned out this coming week's blog posts

- Prepared for our trip to Ikea tomorrow morning (with Sis#1 and my Mama)

- failed to be terribly consistent on my Consistency Day and didn't fulfil my Hydration goal, planned to break my Sugar Fast with chocolate birthday cake and didn't walk so only two out of five for my Consistency Challenges

- didn't complete my Daily Do List, failing to: complete moodscope, do prayer sticks or Scripture memory work

Day 45 - No-brainer Wardrobe (Take 2) - Consistency Day (3rd) - Be (7) - CS (12) - SP (17) - TT (20) - FtP (23)

Today's plan:

- Treat Hubby like a King as he celebrates his thirty-seventh

- Continue reading through "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book as a supplement to and continuation of my FtP challenge

- Focus on being consistent as I take a third Consistency Day

- Beautifying - decals?

- Cleaning Schedule - Sundays - rest

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time (nursery)

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin the day with God
--- text Sis#1 her reminder
--- get up with Sunny (allowing Hubby a more relaxing start to the day then get dressed immediately after a quick shower)
--- wear earrings
--- re-read "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book "discerning your style" pages 16-18 (read but don't do second action point)
--- add to my "Fabulousness" - fashion I like/my style board on Pinterest
--- text Sis#1 her challenge details for tomorrow

- Pray about and attend church

- Enjoy a visit from my SIL, BIL, niece Lola and in-laws and some birthday cake

- Enjoy time and possibly dinner with my parents, Sis#1 and her four boys

- Plan out this coming week's blog posts

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice (20-21)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 44 - Review

Today I:

- Laughed heartily, okay hysterically, at my overly optimistic plans, when did I think I turned into my mother? As if I'd ever have managed everything I listed, in three days, let alone one! So I prioritised, better than usual since I thought we'd have visitors this evening as well as tomorrow and I wanted the place to be sitting nicely for Hubby coming home.

- Beautified, by tidying primarily

- failed to follow my Cleaning Schedule for Saturday as tidying took priority

- ate Smaller Portions

- Tidied in the nursery and master bedroom and alas had to put some things back under the bed, there are a lot of clothes! Also put away all the decoration boxes.

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks, though I forgot to sort through the sewing basket and began my reading of "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book

- Made a quick trip to the shop to grab a birthday cake and got the takeaway on the way home

- Packed baby bag for church

- did my Consistency Challenges including a walk, if walking round tesco counts?

- did my Daily Do List though quiet time was done last thing at night (napping took priority today after another night of insomnia)

Day 44 - No-brainer Wardrobe (Take 1) - Consistency Day (2nd) - Be (6) - CS (11) - SP (16) - TT (19) - FtP (22)

Today's plan:

- begin reading through "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book as a supplement to and continuation of my FtP challenge (one will meld into the other, before continuing on into other books etc.)

- a second (and tomorrow will be a third) Consistency Day as I seek to complete all challenges and tasks without the burden of any new ones. I thought consistency would be a good idea for this, my Hubby's birthday, weekend and as there are now so many little bits on which I'm falling behind and need to get back into the habit of finishing (especially Hydration and FtP).

- Beautifying (being brave and maybe putting up the final wall decals/stickers in the nursery?)

- Cleaning Schedule - Saturdays
--- brush (and vacuum) lounge
--- spot check lounge floor
--- clean (clear and damp mop) floors in the bedroom and nursery

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time (nursery and master bedroom - rehoming the things that were formerly underbeds especially the clothes and putting decoration boxes back into the wardrobes)

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin the day with God
--- get dressed by 9am
--- cleanse and tone before applying moisturiser
--- wear earrings
--- re-read "No-brainer Wardrobe" e-book from introduction up to page 16 (first action point)
--- think about how I feel when I get dressed - how long does it take me to choose an outfit? Do I buy a lot of clothes but always feel like I've nothing to wear?
--- do a quick sort through the sewing basket and set aside anything that needs professionally tailored/mended
--- ring Sis#1 and try to arrange a charity-shop shopping trip and discuss whether or not she actualy wants to continue to participate in/be reminded of the challenges
--- quick purge through 'underbed' clothes as I fold them and store them away
--- apply nightcream before bed

- Quick tesco shopping trip for some beauty essentials (moisturiser, disposable razors etc. as well as the more urgent matter of a chocolate birthday cake for the beloved Husband), perhaps collecting takeaway for Sunny and myself on the way home

- More than likely enjoy a visit from my MIL and FIL in the evening so be prepared for bedtime and tomorrow before dinner in anticipation, also prepare for a shower in the morning

- Pack baby bag for church (bibs, snack, water cup and bottle, quiet toys and books)

- Consistency Challenges
--- Bleach toilets regularly (M/W/Sa)
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice (20-21)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (little to none)
--- Laundry (two loads and fold/put away all dry laundry)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time (continuing to meditate on the MANY biblical references to purple and beauty)
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Weigh-in and record weight (M/W/Sa)
--- What's for dinner? Takeaway
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 43 - Review

Today I:

- Beautified by finishing the autumn decorating

- failed to touch my Cleaning Schedule for Friday (the vacuuming or my add on of the floors) but then I did spend the morning in bed (again)

- ate Smaller Portions

- Tidied in the bedroom (a little), in the nursery (a little) and in the lounge (a lot)

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks though I chose not to send Sis#1 the details or reminder as I don't think she's even reading my texts anymore :( and I failed to try out a new hairstyle or arrange a shopping trip

- Tutored Cr and am really enjoying the positive habit of clearing away the tutoring and noting down finances immediately as I don't have a constant visual reminder of my (stupidly stresses me out) job sat around all the time for all to see as they pass the (glass-panelled) dining room door. The filing cabinet Hubby bought has been a wonderful asset to our home (if not decoratively, at least organisationally). I look forward to fully clearing the dining room in the coming days so it is sitting as it should be, with cleared and/or decorated surfaces - allowing the decorations and furniture to be appreciatively viewed without the distraction of the clutter.

- didn't walk with Sunny or hydrate enough (again because I was up late today) but managed the other three Consistency Challenges

- did my Daily Do List

Day 43 - Beautifying (Take 5) - CS (10) - SP (15) - TT (18) - FtP (21)

Today's plan:

- Beautifying (continuing with and finishing the autumn decorating)

- Cleaning Schedule - Fridays
--- vacuum area rug in the lounge
--- vacuum carpet in the wee room
--- finish cleaning under the beds/floors in the bedroom/nursery

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time (attacking the lounge, bedroom and nursery chaos)

- Frumps to Pumps (usually when I reach day 21 of a challenge it moves from current to consistency but this challenge will continue to have very specific tasks as I proceed through the e-books "No-brainer Wardrobe," "Embracing Beauty," the beauty essay in another e-book and the beauty section tips of the "That Works for Me" e-book).
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge details and reminder
--- get dressed immediately after lie-in
--- wear earrings
--- read e-book chapter fifteen
--- read day fifteen blog post
--- attempt (and try to perfect) a new hairstyle (Thrift at Home - summer braid style maybe) to liven things up and add sparkle
--- Look through my wardrobe for something fun to wear just for Hubby!
--- Try to arrange a charity shop shopping trip with Sis#1

- Tutor Cr

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice (20-21)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (very little as it's mostly already done - yay)
--- Laundry (carry laundry downstairs and sort, fold any dry laundry and put it away)
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time (focusing on purple and beauty references as part of my belated FtP tasks)
--- Record tutoring income/expenditures
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- What's for dinner? Leftover plated dinner and yummy gouda toasted rolls
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 42 - Review

Today I:

- Beautified, setting out all the autumn decorations just so, at least most of them, I'm still undecided about certain shelf displays etc. I also created a disaster of a house in the process and only got to packing away some of my spring decorations after Sunny was in bed. More on this to be done tomorrow including the dusting!

- tried to follow my Cleaning Schedule for the day and emptied out underneath the nursery bed (creating yet more household chaos), roughly damp mopped under our bed and the nursery bed and (fortunately) survived the worst effects of the dust, again more needs to be done on this tomorrow

- ate Smaller Portions including porridge for breakfast with Sunny, cup-a-soup and seeded bread for lunch and bangers and mash with onion gravy and mushy peas for tea - a pretty yummy day all told

- Tidied in the lounge (decorating aftermath) and nursery (clearing underbed area) and will need to do more of the same tomorrow. *Bonus* motivation being that Sunday is Hubby's birthday so we can except visitors (all my in-laws) at some point on Sat/Sun

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks and am definitely feeling an improvement in my get up and go as I head through this challenge. I am needing to put a lot more mental energy into this as I think through matching accessories etcl but I have seen a benefit and Hubby has noticed the difference in a very positive way. I have found it a little harder to settle myself down to meditate on the mental portions of the challenge and the Scriptures (and my Quiet Time) the last couple of days which only makes me think I need to concentrate on them all the more. The task of finishing going through all the underbed clothes and being ruthless, along with the meditation on what the Bible has to say about purple and beauty have been pushed to tomorrow amid the household chaos.

- Attended podiatric appt for Sunny (very reassuring) and then headed to lidl to get in some food shopping

- completed my Consistency Challenges - yay! Getting in a litre or more of water first thing really helped!

- did my Daily Do List

Day 42 - Beautifying (Take 4) - CS (9) - SP (14) - TT (17) - FtP (20)

Today's plan:

- Beautifying (finish autumn decorating and pack away spring, since summer decorating never happened)

- Cleaning Schedule - Thursdays (a bigger/often-put-off cleaning task)
--- cleaning under the beds, the task I began this the other day by emptying out under the master bedroom, causing myself an allergy attack and a miserable day and night. Today I'll empty out underneath the nursery bed and use the dampened swiffer-y mop to collect up the dust (thus reducing allergy problems) and also clean under the cot and our bed too. This cleaning task will naturally lead into the tidying task...

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time
--- continuing from the cleaning tasks I will tidy up/away the former underbed contents from the master bedroom and nursery

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge details and reminder
--- get dressed by 9am/immediately after lie-in
--- wear earrings
--- tweeze eyebrows
--- read e-book chapter fourteen
--- read day fourteen blog post
--- read and meditate on Proverbs 9:13, 6:25 and 31:31
--- take a moment to reflect on my attitude, do I obsess about my physical appearance? Make sure my attitude is balanced and not swinging toward vanity
--- go through an underbed storage bag (add to "supplement wardrobe" shopping list)
--- complete yesterday's tasks
--- finish going through all the underbed clothes, be ruthless (except for my wonderful hippy chic trousers)

- Attend podiatric appt for Sunny then head to do asda/lidl/tesco shopping, (buy fruit and veg, mushy peas - tinned and dried, peach loops for my ironic weight-loss reward, gouda rolls for Fri lunches as well as everything already on my list)

- Consistency Challenges
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres, drink a litre of water first thing to get started on my daily goal)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny (to and around shops)
--- Worship Song Time (music to go to sleep by)

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice (20-21)
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep (lift out sausages first thing, peel spuds, chop onions for frying)
--- Laundry
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope (do this at naptime)
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time (I'll combine this with my FtP tasks)
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Wake up the house routine
--- What's for dinner? (bangers and mash with fried onion gravy and mushy peas)
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post
--- Write tomorrow's post

Day 41 - Review

Today I:

- enjoyed a very relaxed beginning to my day, a lie-in, resting in bed, a delicious (and nutritious) breakfast of a two-egg omelette with courgette, peppers and cheese and a time of quiet and still and relaxation as I ate and then planned out the continuation of my FtP challenge through the e-book "No-brainer Wardrobe" and on through the e-book "Embracing Beauty"

- gave God control over my day and prayed for wisdom regarding Sunny's operation and how I move through my day and listened to the still small voice of the Spirit

- got washed and dressed and woke up the house

- chatted to my Hubby, gathered up laundry, played with Sunny, read Sunny a story, gave him milkies, took him to the toilet, we both kissed Daddy goodbye and I put Sunny down for a nap

- bleached the toilets, sorted the laundry then started the first load of the day and passed the time of day with my Daddy

- gathered up my tutoring and set it out, ate lunch and read and blogged

- read my FtP chapter and blog post and prepped for tutoring

- forgot to keep up with my bit by bit blogging and can't be bothered remembering so . . .

- Beautified a little as I began to put out our autumn decorations

- pretty much ignored my Cleaning Schedule for Wednesdays, except for putting out a new tablecloth in the dining room

- ate Smaller Portions

- Tidied mostly internally, as I rested up and renewed my mind this morning

- worked through my Frumps to Pumps tasks though I've still to go through the Scriptures as my quiet time, also completed yesterday's tasks

- Tutored Cl and E and confirmed Sunny's appointment date (30th October) with the hospital (final decision over whether or not to go through with it to come but best to book the slot in the interim, I'll speak to a Mum who went through the op with all three of her boys in the next few days hopefully but I am feeling decidedly calmer about the whole thing and Hubby has a peace about it all having already spoken to the other Mama). On a side note my FIL has his cancer treatment under general anasthaesia exactly a week before on the 23rd, October is definitely going to be a prayer-filled month.

- failed to say Grace AGAIN, didn't quite meet my Hydration goal, ate some dark chocolate as I prepared chocolate covered pretzels (yum yum, salty sweet) for Hubby for his supper, also failed to take Sunny for a walk as it was blowing a gale today so only two out of six for my Consistency Challenges

- did my Daily Do List with Quiet Time being more incorporated into other meditations on Scripture and Moodscope barely being fitted in before midnight

Day 41 - Beautifying (Take 3) - CS (8) - SP(13) - TT (16) - FtP (19)

Today's plan:

- Beautifying (autumn decorations?)

- Cleaning Schedule - Wednesdays
--- brush dining room
--- brush guest bathroom
--- brush hallway
--- clean dining room table/change tablecloth
--- clean guest bathroom
--- dust dining room
--- dust hallway
--- dust wee room
--- straighten dining room
--- straighten hallway
--- straighten wee room

- Smaller Portions

- Tidying Time (bedroom)

- Frumps to Pumps
--- begin day with God
--- text Sis#1 challenge details and reminder
--- get dressed immediately after lie-in
--- wear earrings
--- shape eyebrows
--- read e-book chapter thirteen
--- read day thirteen blog post
--- search the Bible for all mentions of the word purple, what have I discovered?
--- look up beauty in the Bible, read more about the women God called beautiful
--- go through and purge the middle shelf boxes in double wardrobe (add to "supplement wardrobe" shopping list)
--- also see yesterday

- Tutor Cl and E

- Consistency Challenges
--- Bleach toilets regularly (M/W/Sa)
--- Hydration (two-and-a-half litres)
--- Say Grace before dinner
--- Sugar Fast (no chocolate)
--- Walk with Sunny
--- Worship Song Time

- Daily Do List
--- Bedtime prep.
--- Catechism practice
--- Commit the day to God in prayer
--- Food prep
--- Laundry
--- Lay out tomorrow's clothes
--- Load/unload dishwasher
--- Moodscope
--- Prayer Sticks
--- Quick-clean bathrooms
--- Quick-clean kitchen/sink
--- Quiet Time
--- Record tutoring income/expenditures
--- Scripture memory work
--- Swagbucks
--- Tutoring prep/set-up/clear-up
--- Wake up the house routine
--- Weigh-in and record weight (M/W/Sa)
--- What's for dinner?
--- Write review post
--- Write 31 days' post
--- Write tomorrow's post
--- Write weekly weigh-in post