Solution Sunday (on Monday!) Update on my Challenges

Well, due to family issues, this is one day late.  I am planning to update my challenges tonight, and so even though it's late, here goes.

Well, I am finally getting caught up!!  I read chapters 5 and 6.  While the Valentine's Day chapter was not really applicable to me (Valentine's Day is past), I think there were some ideas to save for next year.  I really liked the chapter about being creative.  Since I have had Martha, my creativity around the house has suffered.  I used to make the Christmas presents.  I used to decorate.  I used to always cross stitch.  And now?  I'm lucky if I get to bed on before 11!  I love that she said that this is a season of life that will pass.  I will have more time to be creative when my daughter grows up.  And one day I may even have my own home again.  I appreciate the fact that the author is so easy to relate to!  She is a real person, and she gives some very practical idea.  I plan on getting the book she recommended:

Beating the Winter Blues: The Complete Survival Handbook for Moms

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Okay, I did not finish the challenge for the week.  It was too long.  I will show you next week.  I am working on the same magazine area.  When you have 50 magazines to organize (and possibly more), it does take time.  I don't want to throw them all out.  So for this week, I am continuing with the organizing challenge of the magazine and organizing the area around it as well.  I know I am keeping this short.  I am going to be glad when I am fully functional again!

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Nothing new here.

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Okay, I just finished this book today, but I am putting it off till next Sunday to count towards the challenge.

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All right!  I finally did something for this challenge!  Here's my review of this book!

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Nothing new here.

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I plan to start this book  this week!

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Nothing new here.

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Check out my current recipe post here!  It is very pantry-friendly.

Solution Sunday--Weekly Challenge Update

Goodness, I was in the car most of the day!  I should have taken this with me!  Oh well, I still have time to get caught up.  I will!!

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Right off the bat, I did not do what I said I would do.  I have put my magazine basket clean-out off until next week.  So this week, what did I do?  I did something really cool.  I cleaned out my inbox!  Okay, maybe that is not earth-shattering, but since this summer, I have had between 4000 and 8000 e-mails in my inbox--no kidding!  I couldn't keep up with all my blogs.  I was not disciplined at all when it came to putting e-mails in folders.  I did it though!  On Friday night or Saturday morning--don't remember when--my inbox said something I haven't seen in months "You have no e-mails!"  Okay, maybe without the exclamation point.  

So this week--definitely the magazines in the basket!

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No new books to add to this.

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Nothing new here.

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I finished my first book for this challenge.  

I will link the review after it posts on Wednesday.

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Reading one book for this challenge right now.

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I believe I will begin my first book for this challenge this week.

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Nothing new.

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Nothing new.

Solution Sunday--Weekly Update on My Challenges

In spite of my issues this week, I am linking up my challenges because I accomplished a lot this week!

While I am behind in this challenge, I am posting for weeks 3 and 4.  I read week 3 on time, but I forgot to post.  And I just finished week 4 today.  So here goes.

Week 3 was about taking care of ourselves physically, and I can relate to that this week.  When I was attacked by a dog, I thought of everyone but myself.  I didn't bother to consider my pain.  Even yesterday, I found myself almost overdoing it.  I have tried to do better, but it is hard.  I even  apologized in the emergency room for complaining when I was cold or it was painful.  It is true that I often have to be told in no uncertain ters that I must take care of myself.  One time when I was very young, I made it a point to not go to the doctor since I didn't have insurance.  I learned from that, but I still have a tendency not to put my health first.  At least I got myself on a diet regimen and lost 50 pounds.  In fact, my concern with the dog bite is that I will put weight back on, but I refuse to let that happen!

Week 4 was about taking time for your spiritual life.  I absolutely love that she says it is better to spend 5 or even 3 minutes with God than none at all.  I used to be absolutely fantastic at spending time in Bible study.  Then Martha came along.  Since that time, I will admit that I have struggled.  I appreciate that she says essentially that it is quality, not quantity.  And my favorite line?  If you have time to go the bathroom, you certainly have time to spend with the Lord!

I'll try to get more caught up next week on this challenge!

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Okay, I also have no pictures this week.  I often forget to do it.  But I accomplished my goal for this week.  I  purged clothes.  Mainly, it was my daughter's clothes, and she helped me.  I am so glad that I didn't have too much to do because my dog bite did slow me down.  Up next is to purge my magazines.  The magazines in my basket in my room, that is.  I have an overflowing basket, and it is high time that I go through them.  I will try to remember to take a picture. 

I think my mind set has changed too.  I have discovered that I now try to keep up with the areas I have already organized.  Where I purged magazines a couple weeks ago it beginning to fill again, and I will not let that happen.  I find that I have a goal each week, and I somehow want to do it.  I am holding myself accountable.  I may not get everything done the way I want it, but I am pretty excited to get the task done each week.  It feels so good!  I looked at my bookshelf just today, and it was with great pride that I looked at it!  I don't want to mess it up again.

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I have finished two books for this challenge,  but I have to wait till the end of the month to post them.  I'll link the reviews here.

The Book Thief

Scandal Becomes Her

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Nothing new here.

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I am currently reading the following book for this challenge.

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One of the books I read for the Historical Fiction Challenge works for this one, too.

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Nothing new here.  Maybe by next month.

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I will be updating this in a moment with links to the two books from this week.

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Nothing new this week.

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Well, that should do it for this week.  Till next week on the challenges.

Solution Sunday--Today's Update on My 2011 Challenges

Well, here is the weekly update on my challenges.  I do not have any pictures this week--sorry.  I was basically up at 4:30 most days last week and had at least an hour trip both ways to work.  So here goes.

First of all, I am behind on posting for this challenge!

I apologize for not keeping up.  I will be getting caught up tomorrow if all goes well.  I read week 3 and never posted last week.  I will get caught up by the end of this week.

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The Love it or Lose it Challenge ended last week, but it certainly changed the way I look at my clothes closet.  I am trying to wear more unique and original pieces together.  And some of the things I hadn't worn I now love!

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Week 5--I got the DVD's and videos organized!  And I can answer her question. Why do I want to get organized?  So I can see what we have!  I had no idea which movies my daughter and I had.  And I listed a good 20 of them this weekend on half.com and amazon!  I must say it looks good.  My daughter can actually get to her videos now!  

For this week, I will be purging my clothes and my daughter's.  I have to figure out what I will do next week. I am so excited to be getting things done!

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I don't feel I can count my book this week--I don't consider it historical fiction, but maybe I'll change my mind.  The review doesn't post till later this week, but The Book Thief will definitely be done!

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Nothing new here.

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I will be starting this book for this challenge this week:

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I will be adding my review next week as it doesn't post until Wednesday.

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No update.  Hopefully soon!

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No update this week.

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Updated this challenge yesterday.

Solution Sunday--An Update On All My Challenges

Well, I have so many challenges going on that I thought I would do it all together.  So here goes!

I do have pictures!  Go me!  This is week 3 of 4, but I plan to continue it the rest of the year.  This is being hosted over at Crazy Domestic.  

So this sweater I got at the Dollar Tree last year, I believe.  I haven't worn it much--it's blue and white stripe.  But it was comfortable and looked nice for teaching.  I think I may wear it more now.

A gorgeous thrift store find!  It looked great.  It is a hooded shirt, and this was my first time to wear it.  I only added the lacy cami, and I thought it looked wonderful!

I found these brown pants by chance, and when I wore this today with a beautiful sweater and stylish belt, I knew these were a keeper!

Consensus?  I am keeping all of these!  I love them!

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Okay, I am reading my first book for this challenge.  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.  I love it so far--it is a fantastic book.  So at least I am beginning this one!

I finished my first book in this challenge this week.  Outlive Your Life by Max Lucado.  

I am almost done with the second book for this challenge also.  Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices, and Priorities of a Winning Life by Tony Dungy.

I haven't started reading Proverbs yet.  

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Sorry, nothing here yet.

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Nothing to report here.

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Plotted my second point on the map.  Nothing major.  I still would like to find a better map than what I have.

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Nothing new here.  I haven't started yet.

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I'm behind on this one, so I'll skip it tonight.  Hopefully tomorrow or the next day.

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And  finally:

I am in Week 3 of this challenge over at org junkie.  I am a little bit behind, but I did finish the magazines last Monday that were in the living room.  It was so nice to get his done!  Here's what I should have already tackled, but I am a week behind.

Doesn't it look great?  I will  be organizing the book shelf you see on the left.  I'll certainly post a picture when I am done.  I have lots of books to get in order.

So there we are. All my challenges.  Some going well, some not started.  Oh well.  January is not over yet!