Miscellany | Clementine boxes, a post I liked, and a trip for me
You all know the drill, right? I've got stuff I want to share, but none of it is big enough to demand a dedicated post. So, here are some random bits and pieces, pulled together into a blog post. : )
Clementine Box Update
My mom emailed me after seeing the post about my clementine box quandary, and let me know that my dad would be happy to use the boxes as kindling (they have a wood stove in their house and also in my dad's workshop). Sweet! I'm totally happy to have them used that way, especially since I didn't exactly have a NEED for any of the clementine re-use projects (which means the projects might have ended up just being clutter. Even storage containers are clutter if too many of them live at my house!).
A good post with good questions
You all know I'm a big fan of simplifying our lives, and so when I read this post on Clover Lane, I said a big "amen!". Go read it and be inspired to clear the schedule clutter out of your life to make room for what really IS important and essential.
I went away! By myself!
I had kind of a rotten week two weeks ago, soo, I went to a local hotel for 24 hours so that I could rest and regroup (that's how my menu plan for the past week got so mixed up!). We get a Family and Friends discount from the hotel chain where my brother works, so we can get a really nice room for only $39.
I don't know if I have ever gone away by myself before overnight, except for one time when I was in high school and went to visit a college (but even then I went with a friend) and for the time I went to be at the hospital when my sister-in-law was having her baby (and again, even then I was going to be with family).
So, yeah...this was the first time I've ever just been completely by myself, and I have to say, it was pretty delightful. I wouldn't want to be by myself allll the time, but for 24 hours, it was lovely. Just what the doctor ordered.
I did not waste my leisure.
Yes, indeedy. I followed my own advice, and used the time to do things that were refreshing to me.
I went to bed early, woke up sort of early (6:30), watched the sunrise from my window, walked on the treadmill, took a nice long shower, read my Bible and prayed, ate a leisurely breakfast (during which I figured out where I'm wasting some of my time during the day and made a new schedule/routine for our family), read some books, did some leisurely shopping for Lisey's birthday and also some shopping for me (I had a $40 Gap certificate, and I'll tell you about that in another post), and ate a late lunch at Panera bread, where I did more reading and also made up a new prayer list for me to use when I pray for my family every day.
So, I returned home rested and refreshed, but also better equipped to face life and serve my family (the new schedule is working out very fabulously).
The new, improved schedule dictates that I be done blogging by 7:15 so that I can head upstairs to do breakfast, though, so I better wrap this up, or else one of my offspring will stick their head into the office and tell me I'm a minute late. 😉
Go you!
Getting away from time to time is good for the Mommy's soul. 🙂
I cannot think of a better gift. Maybe 6 months from now, it would make a nice gift again.
Would you consider sharing your new schedule? I love a routine/schedule
This is random, but I thought of it on my walk to work this morning.
Thank you for the encouragement to try making homemade yogurt! My husband loves goat cheese, but at $4-5 a log, it's pricey. We've found that if you drain the whey from the yogurt, you end up with yogurt cheese that's pretty similar, for under $1. Woohoo!
Also, would you be willing to share your time diaries/schedule planning in more detail on a followup to the productivity series?
So glad you were able to get away and rest!
What, no cable TV?!
🙂
Katy
What a great hubby. Glad you got to recharge!
I am so jealous! I am ready to pitch a tent in the backyard one night!
I travel by myself a lot for work and I have to say it's awesome. I love having time to myself to do whatever I please. I do end up missing my husband but he doesn't like shopping, sight seeting, or going to shows. I was very surprised how comfortable I was being by myself, eating by myself, and driving in crazy unknown territory.
I nearly lost my coffee on my lap top when I read that your parents called you to salvage the boxes!! That is text book my mom also! Who today after seeing my fishing pictures on FB requested I find her some pine cones for an art project!! I think you've got a pretty spectacular Hubby! I hope you were able to recharge your Momma Batteries!!
I am proud of your parents for having you and raising you well! And well... MR.FG is amazing!!!!He is so wonderful to love you so much and realize that you needed a well deserved break!!! GREAT STORY!!!!!
That would be so cool to be alone for a bit! Good for you! BTW whenever I get an afternoon to myself I always go to Panera for lunch too.
i am also curious of what tweaks you've made to your schedule...i'm trying to figure out how to get more time out of my day...thanks!
Good for you girl!!
A little self care goes a LOOOONG way!
No matter what I take out 10min of my day and listen to soothing music and think about nothing! It really helps to connect with your essential self!
I also take 5 DEEP breaths before I walk out of the bathroom to have a few chances to center myself every day no matter what!!
😀
That's a great gift! I'm glad you were able to get some much needed R&R. Going to drop this as a hint to my hubby for when our first child comes around. Haha.
Quality time for yourself is the BEST gift in the world! I'm glad you got away for a day. I am always a much happier, productive person (which makes my family a much happier and productive family) if I "allow" myself some time off, now and then!
Good for you! Don't want to see the Frugal Girl get burn-out. And those are great jeans 🙂
Three words . . . Mom blogger getaway.
You and me, baby. You and me!
😎
Katy
I'm glad you enjoyed your alone time, Kristin! I was wondering if you might consider doing a review of Dug Down Deep in the future. I have heard some good things about it. I would love to hear your take on it.
Your getaway sounds truly delightful! If I were in the same situation I know I would be tempted to be totally unproductive the whole time, but I also know that I ultimately feel more refreshed when my days are a combination of productivity + downtime. I feel at my best when I'm at least moderately on top of chores and general household duties, but I also crave intellectual stimulation like reading, writing, etc. Good for you for using your alone time well!
Good for you! A weekend away sounds lovely.
Your 24 hours away sound great! Here's another idea..... right before we started homeschooling this year, my husband took the kids away with him to a local hotel for 24 hours (we can do this frugally b/c of hotel points). I was able to have 24 hours of quiet in our own home.....in addition to doing some fun, relaxing things, I had hours to prepare for the coming school year. I don't think I had ever slept in our house by myself before!!
I saw a letter in Birds and Blooms where a guy nailed his old Clementine boxes up in trees for birds. He said that the robins seemed to like them best of all the birds in his neighborhood. That might be an idea for you.
I would LOVE to stay by myself in a hotel. I haven't been alone overnight since 1994 or so! My husband travels for business and I'm so jealous that he gets that time alone, even though he claims he misses us. 😉 I'm totally burned out (as my special needs son is about to turn 10) and could really use the breather...I'm so happy that you had the chance to revitalize yourself.