Brd, berd, bird is a word!

(c) 2010 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

I wanted to share this project with you all. Penguin and Pumpkin had gotten, respectively, a pom-pom bug making kit and a pom-pom bird making kit from the neighbors for Christmas. We finally put them together today. Good fun, but definitely required adult help! Pumpkin was so taken with her birds that she drew them a branch with nests, labeled with their names. Check it out.


(In case you're having trouble with the image, that's OeOL, GODFicH, BiUBrD, and crDLNL.)

Here's some more clues... the birds themselves.



(Kittenpie just posted recently about how her daughter is interested in spelling, too, and how English is NOT an easy language to learn (or teach) correct spellings! That's one of the reasons I posted this.)

WW - Not a baby anymore

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Before...

...and after

2010 Resolutions

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

I've been reflecting on my 2009 goals for a while now. I knew which ones went well... and which one didn't. And of course I've been trying to figure out what I'd like to make for 2010's resolutions. While there are a ton of areas where I could improve, I need to keep my focus more narrow... or I won't actually get anything done! :)

Last year I focused on two area: weight and organization/tidiness/cleanliness/decluttering. Ok, well, in my head that long slash-y one counts as one. :) I'm choosing the same two areas this year, but I'm going to hit the health/weight one a little harder!

In order to get in better shape (and get down to my goal weight & BMI of 24), I'm going to:

• Exercise most nights of the week - right now that means practicing belly dance or doing the 30 Day Shred or one of the other exercise DVDs we've got. Since we bought a new tv, we now have the old one in the basement, in what will be the exercise room. Now, all we need is an elliptical (and/or treadmill) and that'll be another option. And it's nights because, based on previous experience, I will NEVER get up early enough to do it in the mornings. (But if I do, it would totally count.)
  
• Do the Couch-to-5K Program...and run in a 5K race - totally stealing this one from All-Knowing Jen. I was impressed when she did it before, and inspired enough to give it a go this year. I'm going to wait until it's a bit nicer out before starting this, but there's a local 5K in July... can't sign up yet, but I will as soon as I can, so that I HAVE to keep it up. Also, if I get better about exercising regularly now, I'll be in better shape to start that, and exercising will hopefully be more routine/habit than it is now.
  
• Reduce/avoid empty calories - we eat pretty healthy meals, well-balanced, not too fatty, rarely very pre-processed, and nearly never fast food. But oh, do the empty calories sneak up on me! So, once again, I'm going to try to reduce my munching after supper, avoid buying things like chips that I cannot leave alone once they're in the house, and keep an eye on soda/beer/wine empty calories (which means drink fewer good beers, 'cuz I'm not switching to something tasteless!).

In the organization/house-keeping/cleanliness/tidiness arena, which is more secondary for me this year, I'm going to:

• Keep following the Flylady - Oh, how much easier my life has become since I've started her (free) program. I know I've gushed about her before here, numerous times, but I'm one who sometimes needs a little kick in the pants to get going... and her emails and routines really, really do help me. So, since I'm already enjoying a cleaner/tidier/(slightly) less cluttered house with her help, I'm keeping it up!
• Spend 30 minutes per weekend on the attic room - I'd love to get this space more organized and actually usable. I see it as becoming an away space for me, where I can have a craft project (like, oh, maybe an unfinished mosaic...) set up so I can work on it without having to allow for all the set-up/take-down time. Plus, it's a really cool space with a great view out the front. I've done this the past two weekends, and a half hour is the perfect amount of time for me to work on it - long enough to actually get something done, but I'm about ready to be done with the mess/dust/temperature by the time the timer beeps. Also, thanks to Mr. Kluges for making this one in particular possible since it's definitely NOT something I can do with the kids underfoot!
  
• Paint the small area behind the radiator in our room (in the summer) - not a big deal by any means, but it catches my eye more often than I'd like since right now it's white behind there. Not going to happen until the radiators aren't hot anymore and I can open the windows to let it air out. It'll probably take me less than a half hour in all, but hey, if I put it on this list, it should actually get done... and I could use a bit of a "gimme" here!

So, there we go. Here's hoping for progress with all 6 of 'em! And if you're doing any resolutions/goals, too, best of luck to you.

2009 Resolutions in Review

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Ok, yes, I AM going to be doing resolutions again this year. I just find it helpful to reflect & review on last year's first.

So, here are the old ones... I had three big ones:

• To finish getting down to my goal weight and BMI of 24.

• To get better at tidying up and cleaning.

• To get rid of 365 things this year.
  

I totally rocked the second two. Thanks to a few recommendations, I started trying out the Flylady system and it made a WORLD of difference. I love her routines, & permission for "good enough" instead of (unreachable) perfection, and 5 (or 10 or 15) minutes can really make a difference. Following her routines, missions, and challenges has helped me tremendously with the tidying up, the cleaning, and the decluttering. If you are making something like this a goal, by all means, check out her website. It's all free, even though I find the website a bit difficult to navigate, and even if you only pick up a few habits, they can really make a difference. I'm totally sticking with her this next year for sure!

And as for getting rid fo 365 things, I did that by the end of September! Hip, hip, hooray! I kind of stopped keeping track after that in my sidebar chart, but I'm still gradually setting things aside for charity and/or my nephew and/or tossing things. I think doing this has really helped me realize the world will not end if I don't keep something, and that mental adjustment will really help me keep (gradually) going.


...and let's just not talk about that first one. Not only did I not meet it, well, I gave myself more to work with in terms of my 2010 resolutions, you might say. :P

Now, time to finalize my goals for 2010!

WW - Actual Sunday School Craft

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

2009 in Review Meme

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

Borrowed this from both Syl at Watching Paint Dry and Kashka_Z at Aunt Templeton's Theme Song. Looks like I did it at the end of last year, too.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Belly danced IN PUBLIC twice a month during the summer and into the fall at the Wednesday Green Bay Farmer's Market.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Some of them, and yes. Whole separate post there.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My youngest brother & SIL had the cutest little boy last March - my first nephew & the first grandson for my parents .

4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully, no.

5. What countries/states did you visit? Just MN, and that only from WI.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Exercise equipment. Oh, and motivation and willpower

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why? Girls' Adventure Weekend was very memorable, especially for poor Syl.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting rid of (more than) 365 things, and getting on board the Flylady wagon.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not losing weight. In fact, gaining a few pounds.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Only minor colds, stubbed toes, etc.

11.What was the best thing you bought? Time will tell, but Mr. Kluges and I purchased a new TV & DVD player for ourselves/each other to be our birthday/xmas present, plus with gift money from relatives. Now we can move our only other tv, received nearly 10 years ago as a wedding present, down to basement where we should get our exercise room set up this next year.

12. Where did most of your money go? Um, have you met our house? Probably there.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Having a bike so I could get places faster than walking (esp. with the girls) in nice weather without having to get out the car for short distances. Also, you know, Girls' Adventure Weekend - the first night(s) I was ever away from Penguin (2) and (other than when in hospital to have Penguin) Pumpkin (5).

14. What song will always remind you of 2009? This one.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? a) about the same, b) mumblemumble, c) I think a bit richer.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of? In hindsight? Exercising/practicing belly dance.

17.What do you wish you’d done less of? Procrastinating. But I'm working on that. Really.

18. What was your favorite TV program? Castle

19. What was the best book you read this year? Gosh, the best nonfiction was definitely Stiff, but I can't name a particular one of the many (usually light & relaxing) fictions that stands out at the moment.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery? Guitar Hero I & II! Ok, not a great new discovery to you all, but thanks to Jaysan & TSB, I've now got it and can play whenever I want to! Thanks again, guys! (Or maybe Pomplamoose. See #14.)

21. What did you want and get? Tons of stuff from our generous families and friends.

22. What did you want and not get? Thinner. And I don't mean the book.

23. What was your favorite film this year? I think the question might more accurately be, did I actually see ANY movies in the theater this year?

24. What did you do on your birthday this year and how old were you? I turned 37, and Mr. Kluges built me a birthday igloo. :)

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A magic wand that would clean. Not declutter, 'cuz I need to make the choices on what to keep, donate, toss, etc., but one that would dust, vacuum, mop, etc.

26. What kept you sane? Reading your blogs, blogging (what I did of it anyway), and seeing progress on the tidiness of the house.

27. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I just saw the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, so Mr. Depp is on my mind at the moment.

28. What political issue stirred you the most? I try not to discuss politics here. Polite company and all. I did dream this week that Mr. Obama came to see the House of 42 Doors, but it was completely different, built as a stack of rooms on top of each other, on the waterfront, possibly in San Francisco, and the brick exterior was covered in rows of lace valances.

29. Who was the best new person you met? I really loved getting to meet M and R at Girls' Adventure Weekend. They're a couple of real peaches! And more recently, I think I'm going to make a mom friend. Her son and Pumpkin really get along well at school, are two of the 3 readers, she's also got a daughter (4) and another son (2), she's traveled overseas & has an Etsy shop.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Thanks to the Flylady, I learned the power of 15 minutes. Setting a timer, focusing on a single task/area, and getting started can make a much bigger impact than you'd suppose. Then start doing it a few times a week and you'll definitely see progress!

31. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. Kids' song, but "Step by step at an easy pace. An easy pace like a turtle in a race." because it reminds me of the Flylady's baby steps.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

WW - More Holiday Fun

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

WW - Oh, no! The igloo's got a sag!

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com

(Mr. Kluges's original post about his igloo over at House of 42 Doors)

WW - Got my camera back 16 hrs before we met Santa! Hooray!

(c) 2009 Ms. Huis Herself at musenmutter.blogspot.com