Update for March Challenge of the Month

As I mentioned in my previous post, we had a virus on our computer, but it is now fixed. So, here is my update for Angie's Challenge of the Month for March.

15 - tossed another pair of shoes & a leftover bike wheel from the garage / also went through the boys' underwear & sock drawer

16 - gathered up a few of the munchkins' shirts to donate & tossed The Princess' old tennis shoes that had become open-toed tennis shoes

17 - I returned a LARGE stack of library books that I was never going to be able to get a chance to read.

18 - recycled some misc. papers / cleaned out my coupon box, recycling outdated ones

19 - cleared of a bunch of junk that was cluttering the front of our fridge...left lots of space for the munchkins' artwork!

20 - lots more clothes, misc. household items, & books loaded in van to donate

21 - went through The Princess' clothes & does it count if I vacuumed all the dust bunnies from under our bed? There were a LOT!

22 - cleaned out part of my desk

23 - went through the boys' drawers (I keep telling these kids to stop growing, but they just won't listen to me...LOL!)

24 - gave my mom an outdoor cushion that's been in our crawlspace for years

25 - cleared out one of the fridge shelves & tossed some items that were beginning to look like science experiments

As you can tell, some days are better than others. But like Angie said, it only has to be one thing that you get rid of for this challenge. Only six more days of the month left & I've got a ton of items/areas that still need cleared out. I think I'm going to continue through the rest of Lent once Angie's challenge is over.

Blog & Challenge of the Month Update

I'm here at HandyGramps & HelpfulGrammy's house to check my email & a couple other quick things. Once again, our computer has a virus & is in the shop for repairs! I'm thinking that God didn't like that I gave up just Facebook for Lent & felt that I should have given up more of the computer! I will say that I've spent more time in spiritual reading & w/ the family. Plus, by not popping over to the computer every so often, I've been able to get other stuff accomplished around the house. (Not to mention the kink in my neck & right shoulder from computer use has not been as bad!) Yes, Lord...I am listening & once we get the computer back, I will continue to limit my time.

I forgot to bring the list w/ me that I'm using to keep track of what I've gotten rid of in the last week for Angie's Challenge of the Month. While the past week wasn't as productive as the previous weeks, I did manage to get rid of something each day. Once we get our computer back, I will give a full update.

So, if you don't hear from me for a while, it's because the computer is still out of service.

March Challenge Second Week Update

So, we've ALREADY finished the second week of March...my, how time is flying by! Here is what I accomplished for Angie's Challenge of the Month:

8) Boys' pant shelf in their closet - took out items that are too small or too short

9) Went through my binder of scrapbook ideas & cleared out stuff I won't use if & when I ever get back to scrapbooking

10) In just one section of the basement, I filled 1/2 of one bag w/ trash & 1/2 of one bag w/ recyclables.

11) I cleaned out both my Bible case & my makeup case

12) Tossed two pairs of 11 yo shoes (not shoes for an 11 yo, but shoes I've had & worn for 11 years!)

13) Recycled a bunch of misc. paper / cleaned out the kids' candy buckets / went through my CDs & DVDs

14) Gathered up four more items of clothing to donate

March Challenge First Week Update

I am off to a great start for Angie's Challenge of the Month for March. So far, these are the things I've cleaned out each day:

1- drawers & cabinet for our downstairs bathroom

2- linen closet & drawers in our master bath

3- phone book & catalog cabinet (Can you believe I had a phone book from 2008 & catalogs from 2009?); I also cleaned out my purse.

4- gathered up a garbage bag of clothes, toys, & videos to donate

5- tossed some bubble baths (Our tub has been out of service for several years & most of the bubble baths were quite old. Don't worry...we're not carrying out several years' worth of stink! We still have a functioning shower!)

6- tossed some old medications (I usually do this several times a year anyway.)

7- two kitchen drawers

I figure that if I just do a little bit each day, it won't seem so overwhelming to me. A drawer here, a cabinet there...it will all add up to a great deal of de-cluttering!

Angie's Challenge of the Month for March

February's Challenge was to try something new. I decided to give Pilates a try. I did like it, however, as I mentioned before, my back started to bother me again. I'm not totally giving up on it, but I am going to take it a little easier. (BTW - Congratulations to Angie's winner for February.)

So, now we are on to Angie's Challenge of the Month for March...a shortened version of the 40 Bags in 40 Days that has been going around the blogosphere the past few years during Lent. I was planning on doing this for Lent again this year, so I don't think starting a little early would hurt...especially w/ all the clutter in our home!

Challenge of the Month Update

Well, I forgot to update for Angie's Challenge of the Month last week, but truthfully...there really wasn't much to update!

I did great the first week, but as the second week came around, I got behind...first due to colds/sinus infections in our family (YES, AGAIN!) Then, my back started acting up again. I always have pain in my lower back, but the more I exercise, the worse it seems to feel. I thought Pilates would help & I still haven't given up hope, I just need to back off (yes, pun is intended!) a bit.

So, I think I'm going to change my goals a bit & for the next two weeks aim for four 10 minute sessions of Pilates per week. After those two weeks, I'll re-assess.

Have a wonderful week, my dear blogging friends!

Challenge of the Month - Week One Results

Well, I made it through week one for Angie's Challenge of the Month. My goal was to do 10 minutes of Pilates for four days last week & I DID IT!!!! This week, I need to do 15 minutes each day for five days.

The only problem I've found so far is that I cannot do these exercises when the munchkins are in the same room. The older three aren't too bad...just making noise so that I can't hear the DVD as well. The Saint, on the other hand, likes to either get underneath me or sit on my back while I'm trying to exercise. Makes it a bit difficult w/ that extra 24 pounds!

Challenge of the Month

My dear college friend, Angie (whom my munchkins nicknamed GiGi when The Archangel couldn't say Angie!), is running a year-long challenge on her blog Pretty in Orange. Each month, is a new challenge. She says, "It might involve something for your brain, something for your soul or something for your body." Each month's winner will receive a $25 gift card for Amazon.com AND she will make a $25 donation to the charity of your choice. You can see the full details of her challenge HERE.

Angie's challenge for February is a physical one to try something new. The timing couldn't be more perfect for me! Someone had suggested that Pilates might be something good for my lower back pain. Just a couple days before I read February's challenge, I had picked up a couple Pilates DVDs at the library.

So, my goal for this month:
Week One - Do 10 minutes of Pilates, four times during the week.
Week Two - Increase to 15 minutes, five times during the week.
Week Three - Increase to 20 minutes, five times during the week.
Week Four - By this time I plan to do the whole DVD (34 minutes worth), five times during the week.

I think that is doable for me & I plan to update here each week to share my success (& yes, I WILL make this a success!!!!!!!) Even if I do not will her prizes, I win...because I will be doing something good for my body, something I NEED to be doing anyway.

As I was thinking about this post ahead of time, I began to wonder if this might be a better idea for us instead of making New Year's resolutions. By choosing one thing & challenging ourselves for one month at a time, it makes it easier to accomplish our goals & make them successful. After all, it takes 21 days to make something a habit, so why not focus on just one thing at a time.