I'm horrible at doing chores. I do the bare necessity to get by. With 3 kids, working part time, volunteering many hours and constantly training for a race I just don't have the time. Enter chore chart. I've read many blogs about simplifying your cleaning, do a little every day etc. Yeah, yeah, that doesn't always work for me. Especially when one day a week I work all day, come home leave the kids with hubby and go to my spin class that I teach. I'm exhausted by the end of the day. I made a chart on excel with 5-6 items. 2-3 of them I have to do every day anyways. For example:
Monday:
1) 1 load laundry
2) Fold and put away laundry.
3) Dishes
4) Wipe counters/table/stove
5) Sweep kitchen and dining room
6) Swiffer kitchen and dining room
I put an empty box so I can check off it was done. I put it up on the fridge so husband can see it and check off chores too when he feels inclined. This is especially helpful when I work nights so I don't have to explain what needs to be done. I'm on week one, hopefully this will bring some organization to my house.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Half Ironman, 70.3
I stare at the title of my post and wonder do I dare post this?
Last year a friend of mine completed her first half ironman. She texted me immediately after and said "You HAVE to do this!" I also ran into a woman at my son's preschool who was training for her first half ironman and after she completed it she told me "You HAVE to do one!". Fall last year was filled with several injuries as well as work so I knew 2014 wouldn't be the year for me to do one. Did I even want to do one? 1.2 mile swim (not bad, not worried about that) 56-mile bike, totally doable, 13.1 mile run (I do a few a year so I can do that.). Put them altogether and do it in one day? I don't know. I can swim and bike those distances in one day, but adding a half marathon after that?! Seems very daunting to me.
So I've decided to make 2014 about doing more Olympic distance tri's. See if doing more triathlons inspire me to do the next jump. So 2014, 3 triathlons. First one in my sights. May 18th.
Last year a friend of mine completed her first half ironman. She texted me immediately after and said "You HAVE to do this!" I also ran into a woman at my son's preschool who was training for her first half ironman and after she completed it she told me "You HAVE to do one!". Fall last year was filled with several injuries as well as work so I knew 2014 wouldn't be the year for me to do one. Did I even want to do one? 1.2 mile swim (not bad, not worried about that) 56-mile bike, totally doable, 13.1 mile run (I do a few a year so I can do that.). Put them altogether and do it in one day? I don't know. I can swim and bike those distances in one day, but adding a half marathon after that?! Seems very daunting to me.
So I've decided to make 2014 about doing more Olympic distance tri's. See if doing more triathlons inspire me to do the next jump. So 2014, 3 triathlons. First one in my sights. May 18th.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Love 4 JLK
This is a subject near and dear to my heart. Libby is a close friend of mine. We are part of a group that started out when we were engaged/newly married and has evolved to a mom's group. We have been pregnant together for 2 of our pregnancies. Last October I was devastated to hear that her oldest Jennifer was diagnosed with DIPG, a terminal brain cancer. I had hopes that JLK could get on a clinical trial, that there would be a miracle and she would beat the odds. But unfortunately after three and a half very short months Jennifer passed in February 2014.
Libby is a very strong woman and while she is working through her grief she is already thinking ahead of what she can do to make a difference in pediatric cancer. It turns out only 4% of government funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer. DIPG has had no new treatments/drugs in over 30 years. Libby is working on creating a non-profit to fundraise for pediatric cancer research. You can follow her journey at www.love4jlk.org.
Libby is a very strong woman and while she is working through her grief she is already thinking ahead of what she can do to make a difference in pediatric cancer. It turns out only 4% of government funding for cancer research goes to pediatric cancer. DIPG has had no new treatments/drugs in over 30 years. Libby is working on creating a non-profit to fundraise for pediatric cancer research. You can follow her journey at www.love4jlk.org.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Resolutions: I keep on making them.
I know, it's 2014 but I want to recap on my 2013 resolutions.
Here they are:
1) Run 700 miles in 2013.
2) Complete 3 family photo albums on Blurb.
3) De-clutter a few times during the year. Thoroughly purge rooms/garage.
4) Host several dinners for friends. Especially BBQ's in the summer. (I got a bunch of hosting things for Christmas because after last year I realized I didn't have platters etc to host meals.)
5) Read 50 books. It's been a couple of years since I've reached this goal so I'm going to make an effort this year.
6) Try a new recipe a month. I think this is a good one, gives us variety in our diet. Plus I really need to learn how to make a good appetizer or side dish. Whenever there is a potluck I fail on this dish.
What I actually did:
1) Ran 565.18 miles. Not the 700 I intended. I was on track until end of October when I sprained my back and basically couldn't run/work out for November and December. :(
2) Completed no books on Blurb.
3) Was pretty good with decluttering, still have some more work but I have purged a ton of baby stuff.
4) Not so many BBQ's but I did have several dinners where I was able to use my hosting dishes.
5) Only 26, wow that was pretty dismal. I didn't read very many good books last year so I tend to drag when I'm not interested.
6) This one was just alright. I wasn't consistent each month but I do have a few new recipes under my belt.
No appetizer though. :(
Now for my 2014 Resolutions:
I make my resolutions like goals. Things I'd like to accomplish over the next year. If I don't accomplish them it's not like I beat myself up over it.
1) 700 miles run
2) Do 3 Olympic Distance Triathlons
3) Read 30 books (Down from 50 since having kid #3 I haven't reached that number.)
4) Get kitchen remodel done!
5) Read at least 1 book a month off my bookshelf. I'm notorious for checking books out from the library or on my kindle.
What I've done so far:
1) Ran 158 miles
2) Need to work on this, should actually sign up for my races. I've scoped them out for May/June/August
3) I've read 4 books so far.
4) Need to start calling contractors!
Here they are:
1) Run 700 miles in 2013.
2) Complete 3 family photo albums on Blurb.
3) De-clutter a few times during the year. Thoroughly purge rooms/garage.
4) Host several dinners for friends. Especially BBQ's in the summer. (I got a bunch of hosting things for Christmas because after last year I realized I didn't have platters etc to host meals.)
5) Read 50 books. It's been a couple of years since I've reached this goal so I'm going to make an effort this year.
6) Try a new recipe a month. I think this is a good one, gives us variety in our diet. Plus I really need to learn how to make a good appetizer or side dish. Whenever there is a potluck I fail on this dish.
What I actually did:
1) Ran 565.18 miles. Not the 700 I intended. I was on track until end of October when I sprained my back and basically couldn't run/work out for November and December. :(
2) Completed no books on Blurb.
3) Was pretty good with decluttering, still have some more work but I have purged a ton of baby stuff.
4) Not so many BBQ's but I did have several dinners where I was able to use my hosting dishes.
5) Only 26, wow that was pretty dismal. I didn't read very many good books last year so I tend to drag when I'm not interested.
6) This one was just alright. I wasn't consistent each month but I do have a few new recipes under my belt.
No appetizer though. :(
Now for my 2014 Resolutions:
I make my resolutions like goals. Things I'd like to accomplish over the next year. If I don't accomplish them it's not like I beat myself up over it.
1) 700 miles run
2) Do 3 Olympic Distance Triathlons
3) Read 30 books (Down from 50 since having kid #3 I haven't reached that number.)
4) Get kitchen remodel done!
5) Read at least 1 book a month off my bookshelf. I'm notorious for checking books out from the library or on my kindle.
What I've done so far:
1) Ran 158 miles
2) Need to work on this, should actually sign up for my races. I've scoped them out for May/June/August
3) I've read 4 books so far.
4) Need to start calling contractors!
Friday, March 21, 2014
Long time...but I'm back
Wow, it's been an insanely long time since I've blogged. I looked at the last entry date and ran through my mind all of the reasons why I haven't blogged since August last year.
Well, to summarize, I started back to work part time last June. I love this work-life balance. I work two days a week while the kids are in school. If for some reason I have to miss a work day I can make it up on an evening night. I'm back to work at a start up pharmaceutical. I was lucky in that I was a stay at home mom for almost 2 years. When my youngest was 15 months old I ran into an old coworker at Costco who told me they started up a company and would I be interested in coming to work for them. (We had worked in big pharma together and during an merger their group was laid off because they no longer wanted that drug.) I told them I'd think about it but keep me in mind. That was November 2012. December I sent them my resume. January I had an "interview" and told them I loved staying at home but wanted to help them out so lets make an arrangement that works for both of us. Didn't hear anything until May 2013, they wanted me to come in to meet with some other people and see the labs. Lo and behold I started in June. I'm almost a year in and I still find the work enjoyable and challenging. I work with very smart people and our cancer drug I feel will make a difference. So 14-17 hours a week go to my job.
What else has been taking up my time?
My other job. I'm teaching 2 spin classes and 1 BOSU/weight training class. There goes another 3 hours a week.
Youngest is in a co-op preschool on the days I'm not working so there goes another 4 hours a week.
I watch a little boy from my eldest's class 2 times a week after school (I swap afternoons for when I work 2 days a week.)
I'm the PTO board president for my middle/youngest's preschool.
Cancer hit my family/friends this winter which rocked our world pretty terribly.
And I'm still continuing to work out and train for numerous races throughout the year.
So if there are long gaps between posts, know that life got a little hectic for a stretch.
But hopefully I can get into the rhythm of things and check in every now and then.
Well, to summarize, I started back to work part time last June. I love this work-life balance. I work two days a week while the kids are in school. If for some reason I have to miss a work day I can make it up on an evening night. I'm back to work at a start up pharmaceutical. I was lucky in that I was a stay at home mom for almost 2 years. When my youngest was 15 months old I ran into an old coworker at Costco who told me they started up a company and would I be interested in coming to work for them. (We had worked in big pharma together and during an merger their group was laid off because they no longer wanted that drug.) I told them I'd think about it but keep me in mind. That was November 2012. December I sent them my resume. January I had an "interview" and told them I loved staying at home but wanted to help them out so lets make an arrangement that works for both of us. Didn't hear anything until May 2013, they wanted me to come in to meet with some other people and see the labs. Lo and behold I started in June. I'm almost a year in and I still find the work enjoyable and challenging. I work with very smart people and our cancer drug I feel will make a difference. So 14-17 hours a week go to my job.
What else has been taking up my time?
My other job. I'm teaching 2 spin classes and 1 BOSU/weight training class. There goes another 3 hours a week.
Youngest is in a co-op preschool on the days I'm not working so there goes another 4 hours a week.
I watch a little boy from my eldest's class 2 times a week after school (I swap afternoons for when I work 2 days a week.)
I'm the PTO board president for my middle/youngest's preschool.
Cancer hit my family/friends this winter which rocked our world pretty terribly.
And I'm still continuing to work out and train for numerous races throughout the year.
So if there are long gaps between posts, know that life got a little hectic for a stretch.
But hopefully I can get into the rhythm of things and check in every now and then.
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