How this planner is changing my life. (Erin Condren Life Planner)

There were many times, since I have started this new life of mine, where a child would waltz into a room and nonchalantly exclaim that their concert, practice, parent teacher conference was....tonight.

It drove me completely insane.

We tried a dry erase calendar on the wall in the kitchen which only works when someone updates it and that someone is often...me.

But the problem with the wall of the kitchen is that I can't bring that with me.

Back when I was in High School there was a moment where my parents had to have a conversation with me about my grades. The story goes that I flew into hysterics. The fact that "I don't have a desk!!!" was the entire problem.

My father got me a desk that weekend.  That shut me up...until I thought of a better excuse. ;)

I have ALWAYS been this way.  I tend to go a tad overboard when I have a problem to solve. If I want to organize my room I need all new bins and baskets and hangers. If I need to organize my time I need a crazy expensive customized and personalized planner.

It was more than I really needed to spend but the truth is the money this thing cost is really buying my sanity. I've tried to use iCalendar or pushing entries from my Outlook at work to my phone. Those serve as great reminders but I can't see my whole life in a glance.

Now I can.

I saw someone on Facebook post about having to wait forever to get their Erin Condren planner. I took a look at the link and that was it. I was going to have a planner and it was going to be one of these.



This planner runs from October 2014 until the end of 2015.    The cover is sturdy and laminated and you can choose from a ton of different styles.   You can see each day at a glance with sections for morning, day, and night.   I can put work stuff in the day section and practices and such at night.

Or I can look at a month at a glance and see everything in one place.   October is going to be busy.

There are stickers!   And you can buy customized ones as well.    I had a set made with each kid's names so I can keep track.    They have not arrived yet but I can't wait!

There's a pocket and a little plastic ziploc case in the back.   The planner comes with a bunch of gift stickers that you can put on a package or wine bottle when giving a gift.

And I love the quotes sprinkled throughout.

Granted - a planner is only as good as how you use it.   Garbage in, garbage out.    I'll fully admit in the past I've kept a desk diary which languished as soon as things got busy.    But my sanity is worth the few minutes a day it takes me to keep track.    I can remind Mora of her cheer practice and Dave that Financial Aid Night is on a Tuesday at the high school.

To be completely fair - Staples has planners that are colorful and half the price.   You don't have to spend a lot to get organized.    But if you fall in love with the Erin Condren planners like I have you can use this link to get $10 off.  (Full disclosure - it is a referral link and I'll get $ off my next order too.  Win/win!)

My mother always told me the time it takes to organize saves you a headache later.     Keeping track of all of us has taken it's toll.   In the last month I've worked hard to get things in order and it immediately has made me much less stressed. 

It's a lesson I hope I've learned for good.*

(* this does not mean I am giving up my Massage Envy membership)

Everything old is new again.....



Moose and me, riding in style.

I can't even be sure that anyone is checking in here at all.     It's funny how sometimes the things that annoy you become the exact things you do yourself.   I know that when I follow a blog I get impatient (and disappointed) when the blogger stops...well, blogging.

Guilty as charged here.

My personal hiatus was about a bunch of things. 

When I started this blog I was a single girl living in NYC.    Once I finally was honest with myself I realized my excuses were just those.    I DID have time.   I COULD eat better if I just chose to.   Once I did - I was able to lose weight.

And meet someone.

Which had the opposite effect!

My life has taken a roller coaster ride in the past four years.  I've lost a parent, gained a husband, child, and 3 teenage stepchildren.   I've moved from a 350 sq ft room in the best city in the world to a 6 bedroom house in the suburbs.    I've lost a job I had for almost a decade and moved on to another.   I have a whole new set of challenges and responsibilities and it's hard to simply function sometimes.  But what I am learning is that as much work as taking on all of this is if I make some time to get organized and more importantly take care of ME and do the things I enjoy the hard days don't seem quite so hard.

“Life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful.”
― Annette Funicello

Wise words from a woman who shared my love for peanut butter.

Hope some of you are still around for the next phase.     This may include a change of venue so stay tuned!!


   

TBA

I'm trying to revive this blog - just exactly how is the question.  Look for more (including a new name possibly) in the weeks to come but in the meantime here's what my life looks like lately.

Status Report

I think Ryan is going to end up working for Apple – if his affinity for iPhones and iPads are any indication.
So it’s been 2 weeks since I joined WW – one week since I actually weighed in.   I’m currently on Week 2  Day 2 of the “Warm Up to 10k” training. 

I feel better – but I’m not sure I look any better.   The scale seems to be moving pretty slowly this time around.

I think the best thing about being “on program” so to speak is that I feel more in control.   Which is important for me – given the fact that I often feel like I live in chaos. 

All of my possessions were once housed in under 400 sq ft of space.   Now I am blessed to live in a rather large home.   But in that home are also 5 other human beings.

Subsequently – I can’t always find what I’m looking for.   There’s a black hole somewhere in this house and there are multiple things living there. 

Most notably the brand new Cooking Light cookbook I got from my mom for Christmas.   I may have had a bit of a meltdown about this over the weekend.   It really does ruin my day though – when I can’t find what I need when I need it.

Speaking of Christmas gifts – another thing that is helping my weight loss cause is my new Nike+fuel band.    You can ask Dave how important making my goal each day has become.  I have been known to move my arms back and forth repeatedly while in bed just to make goal.   Silly as that seems – that’s the point.   To set a goal to be active each day.   Only once since I’ve worn this band have I been woefully under goal.  

Yesterday I went to the gym and ran for 5 solid minutes.   (This is in addition to the intervals I ran on Week 2 Day 1 of the 10k thingy).   I wanted to quit but really only the first 3 min were tough.     It reminded me that I used to run all the time.

I used to really like running by the East River.   I would run to the South Street Seaport and then walk back up Broadway.   By the time the weather gets warmer I should be in shape enough to find a place to run around here.   

I’m happy that we’re going on vacation in a few weeks.  I’m not happy to have to get in a bathing suit but it will be nice to get away.    Cross your fingers that my baby Moose is feeling better by then.    He’s on his third round of antibiotics since October. :(

Anyway – that’s about it.  Nothing much new and exciting. 

Last night I made what had been my father’s favorite dinner – roasted turkey breast.   Thanksgiving in January.    It was pretty spectacular if I do say so myself.   I’m hoping to do a recipe/cooking post sometime this week.   I’ve got a few different meals planned.   

To any of you still checking in - stay tuned!    And thanks for reading!

New Year, New Me

 

 

This time last year I was about 100 months pregnant and suffering from a horrible bout of sciatica.    Honestly, going through labor and giving birth was cake compared to all that.

2012 was a challenge in so many ways.    There was much to adjust to and quite honestly I’m not quite sure I’ve gotten there yet.   But I’m trying. 

We’ve had fun holidays and such but something is just constantly *off*.  I guess  it comes down to the fact that nothing will be the same now that my father is no longer here.    On New Year’s Eve Jen and I recreated a recipe that was brought to us by my mother but last executed by my Dad.    The fact that we could not just call out to him for guidance made me mad. 

Then again – if he were here he’d be making it himself.

Still I am grateful for all I do have.   Great friends, a loving family, wonderful stepkids, an amazing husband, and the happiest little boy ever created.

 

For the four thousandth time I’m heading back to Weigh Watchers.   I’m renewing our gym membership.  I’m armed with a Cooking Light cookbook, a Nike fuel band and new workout clothes.   

Even the guy at the bagel store today is in on it.    I ordered a blueberry bagel with cream cheese for Mora and an onion bagel with butter for myself.

He made me a mini bagel.

Stay tuned and wish me luck as I try to make six people eat the food I used to make for myself when I started this blog.  

A happy and healthy New Year to you all.