Day 78 - Try To Be More Patient

I am not a patient person. I never have been, it is who I am. But, I acknowledge that I really need to do something about that. Today I had to go to Best Buy to replace my daughter's phone. Her phone was stolen yesterday. Since we don't have a land line, she has to have a cell phone for safety reasons when she is home alone. Strangely, the stolen property did not try my patience at all. It was the replacement of the phone that pushed me over the edge!

I started this errand being very patient and nice to the salesperson. We worked out a deal that would allow us to get Hannah her replacement phone for $1, so I was really happy. That was at the beginning of the transaction. Two hours later, I was no longer patient. I was pissed off and ready to strangle anybody with a Best Buy shirt on. Everything that could have gone wrong did. It was lunch, so I was starving. Hannah was with me and just wanted to text her friends to let them know she had a phone again so she was difficult. That was when I saw myself in her. She declared "I never want to come back to this store again!" That was a little embarrassing, she said what I was thinking and obviously giving off with my body language. Hannah thought it was okay to be rude because I was being so obviously rude. Clearly, I need to work on my patience.

What do I do to change this? I am not even sure. I guess I need some advice on this one. How do I force myself to be more patient when standing in line? Waiting for a phone call? Waiting for my kids to get home? The list goes on and yet I have no idea what I need to do to become a patient person. What do others have in their personality that I don't? I know so many people who have the gift of patience, I am just not one of those people and I wish I was.

Day 77 - Play Games With My Kids

As the kids are getting older, they are not home as much on the weekends. If they are, more often than not, they have a friend over. Sleepovers on Fridays and Saturdays are very common around here. I fight it with every ounce of my being, but in the end I give in. But, that is not at all the point to this blog. Tonight, my 8 year old is home and she suggested a game of Go Fish.

I really like playing games with my kids. But, they are unrealistic during the week, as they are so busy on school nights. The only nights that have ever really worked for games are weekend nights. With the recent increase in their social lives, games like Go Fish have been forgotten. Not tonight though! I had a great time playing with Maeghan. I realized that I have to make family game night a priority again. I really believe that it is that important. Playing games for my family has always meant a night of no phones, internet and a time for bonding.

I resolve to start setting aside a minimum of 30 minutes per week to play at least one game with at least one of my kids.

Day 76 - Enjoy St. Patrick's Day Without Pressure

This probably sounds like a really weird resolution, but it makes sense for my family. Every year I feel obligated to make a traditional St. Patrick's food, Corned Beef and Cabbage. I do this because yet again, I feel like I have to adhere to every tradition in my never ending quest to provide my children with an idilic childhood that is only found in a Martha Stewart Magazine. Here is the thing though, we all hate it Corned Beef and Cabbage. I mean, we really hate that dish. With a passion. Every year I make it because for some reason I feel like if we don't eat it, I am throwing all tradition out the window. Wow! I put a lot of unnecessary pressure on myself. Don't I?

This year, I decided to save the money that I would throw out, after my family declared a mutiny and made a simple meal that I knew the family would love. I made a Shepard's Pie, Irish food, that we ate up and loved. I learned a lesson, stop forcing myself to try and give my children a perfect childhood in every way because I think that I am suppose to. Even if by doing so I am torturing them. Corned Beef and Cabbage is torture.

This year's meal provided not one leftover. It was a lot cheaper and easier to make. Most importantly, it did not stink up my house!!

Day 75 - Work Out In The Morning

I need to start working out in the morning. I like to tell myself that if I don't work out in the morning, I will find a half hour in the afternoon to do so. That rarely works for me. In the end, I always find something to do that is not working out. Time for me to address this and focus on a morning workout.

This morning, after I get Maeghan on the bus, I am going to go to the gym to workout. I did that yesterday as well. The bonus to yesterday's workout was I lifted weights, which means I am off the hook today! Yippee!! I can give myself 45 minutes on the treadmill and then leave for the day. I should be done by 9:45, leaving me the rest of the day to not worry about how I am going to fit it in.

I found something that makes working out a lot easier for me. I have Netflix on my Iphone and right not I am watching the series Brothers and Sisters. Every time I work out, I watch an episode of the show, making the time fly by. I have to be honest, I have never been a fan of exercise. I do it because I know that it is good for me, but I have yet to find a daily routine that I love or look forward to. So, now I just try to find ways to occupy myself while I am doing something that I would rather not do.

Day 74 - Start Spring Cleaning, Start With The Master Bedroom

Today I started spring cleaning. I of course started with my bedroom and bathroom. First, because our room is in the back of the house, I start from the back and move forward. The second reason I started with the master bedroom was because I think I deserve to have the cleanest room first. After all, I am the one who does the majority of the housework, don't I deserve to have my sanctuary clean?

My plan for this years Spring cleaning is to do just one room a day. That is all. I will clean the walls, floors, baseboards, doors, windows, bedding, curtains and furniture. I use Mrs. Meyers Lavender All Purpose Cleaner for everything, except the windows and glass. It makes everything smell so clean. Today I even opened the bedroom window for a little while to get some fresh air in the house. It has been a long winter!

Day 73 - Throw Junk Mail Away Immediately

We get a lot of junk mail. Doesn't everyone? I have a habit of walking by the recycle bin with my pile of junk mail on a daily basis. I then put the junk mail on the desk to sit there for a week or two so that I can bring it back outside to the recycle bin I walked by the day I brought it in.

The junk mail has a tendency to multiply like bunnies! It just keeps reproducing with no end in sight. Eventually, I feel overwhelmed by a pile of paper that I will never open. So, I resolve to not bring it in the house anymore. I will dump it in the bin as I am walking to the house with my pile of legitimate mail. I will even go on those websites that are available to end it all together. My goal, no more mail. I already have our bills and bank statements as paperless, so why do I allow this junk to infiltrate my home? It must stop.

Day 72- Go To A Milwaukee Wave Soccer Game

Today we went to our city's professional indoor soccer team, the Milwaukee Wave. We had a fabulous time! In fact, it was one the best times I have had in a long time. My son, Alec, had been on our case for a long time to get tickets to a game. Our weekends are always so busy, that it was hard to find on single, Sunday that would work for all of us. Today, we finally had a free day, making it possible to go.

It was very exciting, The Wave won 15 to 6, which was so much fun to watch. Aaron Rodgers was the special guest star as well, making it even more fun for us. I am sure everyone knows that Aaron Rodgers is the Quarterback for the Superbowl Champions, The Green Bay Packers! It was obvious that a lot of the people at the game were there just to see the MVP, but that didn't matter, the more the merrier in my opinion.

After the game, we went out for sushi as a family. Yes, my children all love sushi, even the raw stuff. I love Sundays like the one we had today. I really wish that I could have more Sundays that were completely free and clear to spend with my family. But, I know that is just a wish that I can't have fulfilled every week. So, I just plan on always cherishing the ones that I am given, even though they are few and far between.