2011 Resolution: It's Not What You Might Expect

The New Year starts on Saturday and that means for the next couple of months, the gym is going to be pretty crowded. Most gyms, including ours, run membership specials at the beginning of the year, hoping to entice people who overate and overdrank and pretty much overindulged in all areas over the holidays, and then made "lose weight" a resolution for the coming year.

Which is great, I like to see people take charge of their health, but it also makes it pretty darn hard to grab a machine when I've only got a limited amount of time before I need to get back home for school pick up.

Anyway, I'm a fan of resolutions, particularly small, reasonable attainable goals, but I'm not making a big list of things to do this year. Believe me, there are things I have planned, like easing back into running now that I'm 8 weeks out from knee surgery, and actually going to bed when I'm tired instead of staying up way too late on some not-that-important project or chore. But I'm really only making one actual resolution and it has nothing to do with being healthy or fit or environmentally friendly.

My resolution is...wait for it...to take better care of my vacuum cleaner.

I read in some magazine recently that vacuum cleaners are one of the most neglected appliances. (Also on the list, dishwashers.) And I believe it. I bought my new vacuum recently, when the one we got as a wedding present died. In the past, I could really care less what sort of shape my vacuum was in, as long as it worked. But this new one was expensive. When I went to use it the other day, it wasn't sucking well, and I realized I really needed to empty the receptacle. Doing that helped, but the fact remains that my vacuum is gross. Gross. Ga-Ross.

So for 2011, I resolve to pay more attention to the state of my vacuum cleaner. Not just emptying the dirt cup when it gets full, but washing it out from time to time. Attempting to remove all that hair (my hair) that's wound around the brush. Actually changing the filters when they get dirty instead of banging them off on the deck railing. Maybe it'll last longer, maybe it will work better. I'm pretty sure that's a nice and easy and attainable resolution.

How about you? Do you take care of your vacuum? And are you making resolutions this year?

Merry Christmas!!

First Snow

Giveaway Week: Fashion To Figure

Perhaps you have a fancy New Year's Eve party to attend, or perhaps you just haven't had anything new to wear in awhile. The kind folks at Fashion To Figure have offered me a giveaway, just in time to start the new year. Fashion To Figure is a store catering to plus size ladies, featuring fashionable and trendy items in sizes 12 to 26. Not being plus size, I have not been able to sample the clothing, but I do know how hard it can be to find fashionable clothing to fit a post baby body, so I hope you'll enter!

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win an item from Fashion To Figure. To enter, take a look at the links below, then leave me a comment letting me know which item you would like. This contest will be open until December 27th and you'll have 24 hours to get back to me if you win. I'm sorry, but this contest is open only to US residents. I must have a valid email address to contact you. Good luck!

Cheetah Ponte Dress

Striped Cardigan with Cami

Animal Scoop Top

Ponte Military Bolero

Fold Stretch Pencil Skirt

Lightwash Bootcut Jeans with Silver Studs

Zebra Square Pendant Ring

Knot Weave Ring

Silver Charm Necklace with Animal Beads

disclaimer: I received no compensation or product in exchange for this giveaway. Rest assured that all opinions are my own.

Giveaway Week: Anything Card from Noodles & Company

As Christmas quickly approaches, you may have someone on your gift list that you haven't been able to cross off yet. Every family has them, those people that are hard to shop for. The person who has everything. The person with no hobbies. Or the person who hates everything. What on earth do you get them?

I tend to give food, because everyone likes to eat. Gifting a picky eater? Give a gift card and let them choose something on their own.

This week, I'm planning several giveaways for items either for you to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. If you choose the latter, I won't tell!

Up first, I have a 10$ Anything Card from Noodles & Company.

To enter, leave a comment telling me who is hardest for you to shop for, and why. I must have a valid email address, so please make sure you include it. This contest will end on 12/21/2010 and if you win, you'll have 24 hours to get back to me with your address. I'm sorry, but this contest is only open to US Residents. Good luck!

disclaimer: As part of my giveaway, I received a gift card from Noodles and Company. Rest assured all opinions are my own.

The Fourth Annual Christmas Tree Cutting

It's that time of year again, and that means my family set off today on our annual trek through the woods in search of the perfect Christmas tree. And by perfect, I mean one that isn't too heavy or too tall, that gets chopped down without anyone losing fingers or getting crushed by the falling tree. What it actually looks like is secondary. I'm not too hard to please.

For the past three years, our tree cutting weekend has fallen on the coldest weekend of the winter. This winter was different, but as it rained, I think I prefer the cold. Although, even in years when it's dry, the farms are still muddy, and I haven't quite figured that one out yet.

The day started out actually fairly warm, in the mid-50's, so my husband left his jacket at home. And it was only misting. By the time we got to the tree farm, the temp had dropped ten degrees and it was pouring down rain. The advantage of this is that the parking lot was mostly empty. The disadvantage is copious quantities of the aforementioned mud. But we found a suitable tree fairly quickly, cut it down, and hauled it down the slippery, muddy hill. We tried for a family picture, but the employee taking it couldn't figure out how to not breathe for the three seconds it took to flash, hence the smoky look. Unfortunate, because otherwise it's a great photo. I got a great one of the kids too, but you'll have to wait to see that one.

Despite the rain (and the mud) it is starting to feel like Christmas around here, but I'm wondering how long the tree will take to dry out before we can bring it inside!

Related Posts:
Year Three
Year Two
Year One

Settled

A coworker of mine recently got engaged and I was reflecting on how different my life is now compared to when John and I were engaged and then newly married.

Specifically, you know you've been married for awhile when you complain about the weather and being cold at night and your husband buys you the most unsexy set of long underwear. They are warm and cozy and I love them. He loves me too, or maybe he just got tired of the moaning and complaining.

And you know you're a parent when you get out of bed at 830AM and that counts as sleeping in.

Can you add any?

Product Review: Lisbon Wall Cabinet from CSNStores.com

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was getting a new bathroom cabinet to replace one that had fallen apart. CSNStores.com was nice enough to provide me with an opportunity to review one.

I chose the Elite Home Fashions Lisbon Wall Cabinet. My order was quickly processed and shipped. One of the things about it that appealed to me were the doors; I'm a fan of having things hidden away. There's no need for my houseguests to know exactly what toothpaste or hair products I use. In addition, I wanted something decorative, and that glass doors, trim work and curtains make it look nicer than a piece with flat surfaces and no details.

The assembly and mounting job fell to my husband, and he said both were fairly easy.

The cabinet is sturdy, with a quality finish. It is small, but it's perfect for the small space we intended it for. I wish the curtain material were a tad thicker, because any objects with dark coloring do show through. But otherwise, I'm thrilled with my new cabinet and very glad to have my bathroom back in order.

Don't forget to check out CSNStores.com, where you can buy anything from baby cribs to bar stools to bedding and furniture!

Thanks to CSNStores.com for this opportunity!

**CSNStores.com provided me with a 75 dollar promotional code to use towards this item. Rest assured that all opinions are my own and I am not being paid for a positive review.

Help, Please

Last March, a family skiing trip went horribly wrong when I fell down the mountain and hurt my knee. The second I hit the ground, I knew I had torn something, either cartilage or my ACL, but chose to treat the injury with rest and a healthy dose of denial. I spent the summer training for a half marathon, but in September the old injury flared and this time it was bad. I ended up having surgery in early November to remove the torn cartilage. Having had the other knee done in 1998 following a basketball injury, I thought I knew what to expect. But as it turned out, my recovery was a great deal more difficult than I had foreseen.

For starters, this was my right knee and I was completely unable to drive for a full week. For several days, I was in quite a bit of pain and getting around with crutches was difficult. I'm not a take it easy kind of girl, so it was really hard for me to let the house slide. I did not attempt to get the vacuum cleaner down the steps, but I did vacuum the upstairs while hopping along behind it on one leg.

I'm also not an ask for help kind of girl, so even though my husband and family and friends were more than willing to pitch in, it was hard for me to swallow anyway. Us perfectionists are like that. My husband and some family members were able to bring Johnny home from school for that first week, but on one morning, I decided I was perfectly capable of walking Maureen the 5 blocks to her preschool on crutches. Halfway there, I was exhausted, when a friendly busdriver took me pity on me, pulled over and let us hop aboard so we could ride the remaining blocks. Another mom took me home, and she brought Maureen home when school let out too.

I had to get creative. I temporarily suspended my rule on throwing, at least for me, because it was impossible to get down the steps on crutches while also carrying my shoes and jacket. So I tossed them down. I started carrying a tote bag everywhere with me in the house, because it's impossible to use crutches while also carrying small bottles of pain pills or my cell phone or whatever else. I put the kids to work and had them help me with dishes and such, because it's pretty much impossible to carry a dirty plate or a half full glass of water in any manner at all while on crutches. I learned that it IS possible to clean the bathroom while balancing on one leg. And for the first time since recovering from childbirth, I asked for carryout assistance at the grocery store.

One month post surgery, things are going okay, I can clean my house and do the shopping and pick the kids up from school just fine. No running yet, but hopefully soon. But this experience has taught me something about myself and it also makes me wonder why women have such a hard time asking for help. It's not just post surgery. How many of us insist we can do it all, when we're actually exhausted or stressed out or overscheduled or overburdened? Pride? The expectations of others? That pesky perfectionism again? Even if you don't care about how the house looks, or don't mind eating pizza night after night, so many of us are unable to say, "Yes, I'm having a hard time. I need some help."

How about you? Can you ask for help?