Still not feeling 100%, today. In fact, I went back to bed, in the morning, after I had a cup of tea and took two Tylenols. I didn't do anything that was on my to do list, either. Instead of sewing a new silver lining to daughter's black shawl, I just ironed the shawl - it's for her to wear as a wrap with her dress, tomorrow evening.
Daughter toasted a bagel for me for brunch and she ran to the store to get me some orange juice. I've taken two more Tylenols and am feeling a little better, but, will rest in the evening. Daughter will be attending the wedding rehearsal dinner; her friend will give her a ride to it and back.
I am expecting M to come to tend to the garden, later in the evening. I will ask him to take down the window air conditioner unit, too. I only used it twice, this whole summer - it was almost not worth putting it up! LOL.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Daughter being home
- Daughter going to the store for orange juice for me
- Tylenol
- Being able to rest
- M coming to attend to the garden for me
Tomorrow, daughter will attend her friend's wedding. It will be an all day thing, apparently, with photographs being taken in the morning and the ceremony taking place in the afternoon and going on till night! I am hoping I'll feel well enough to catch up with all the stuff I didn't do, today!
How was your Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?
Friday, October 4, 2019
Fun with Daughter on Thursday
I woke up feeling a bit under the weather, this morning, like I was coming down with a cold or a sinus infection and a bit achy. I took two Tylenols and that helped.
Daughter and I had a relaxed morning. Then, in the afternoon, we went to the mall to get her eye brows threaded and do a little shopping. She bought two pairs of leggings, since she couldn't find any on her last visit home. Then, we went to the dollar store and I stayed in the car while she went in and picked up a greeting card.
I rested a bit after we came home; daughter was saying she was fine with not going to attend the taping of the TV show if I wasn't feeling well enough to attend it. But, I didn't want her to miss it and I felt well enough to go with her. So, we went to the taping of the TV show, "A Little Late with Lilly Singh". It was being taped at a studio in Hollywood. Daughter had got us priority tickets, but, we still had to wait in line for about one hour, before we were allowed inside. It was fine, though; all part of the experience. The show taping, itself, was fun. There was a stand up comic entertaining the audience before the taping began and during breaks. Daughter and I both enjoyed the whole experience and it was frugal, too, as the tickets were free and I found free parking on a street a few blocks from the studio (there was no parking available at the studio).
After it was over, we came home and I cooked the shrimp curry for dinner while daughter cooked the broccoli. I'm feeling better, but I took two more Tylenols, as well.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A fun day with daughter
- Being able to attend the taping of the show
- Shared experiences
- Tylenol!
- Cooking with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was attending the TV show taping with my daughter.
Thursday's To Do List:
- Cook the shrimp curry - DONE
- Go shopping with daughter - DONE
- Maybe go to TV talk show taping with her - DONE
Friday's To Do List:
- Sew daughter's shawl
- Water the garden
- Do the dishes
- Do a load of laundry
Tomorrow, daughter will attend her friend's wedding rehearsal and dinner. Her friend A will give her a ride to the event and back.
How was your Thursday? What are your plans for Friday?
Daughter and I had a relaxed morning. Then, in the afternoon, we went to the mall to get her eye brows threaded and do a little shopping. She bought two pairs of leggings, since she couldn't find any on her last visit home. Then, we went to the dollar store and I stayed in the car while she went in and picked up a greeting card.
I rested a bit after we came home; daughter was saying she was fine with not going to attend the taping of the TV show if I wasn't feeling well enough to attend it. But, I didn't want her to miss it and I felt well enough to go with her. So, we went to the taping of the TV show, "A Little Late with Lilly Singh". It was being taped at a studio in Hollywood. Daughter had got us priority tickets, but, we still had to wait in line for about one hour, before we were allowed inside. It was fine, though; all part of the experience. The show taping, itself, was fun. There was a stand up comic entertaining the audience before the taping began and during breaks. Daughter and I both enjoyed the whole experience and it was frugal, too, as the tickets were free and I found free parking on a street a few blocks from the studio (there was no parking available at the studio).
After it was over, we came home and I cooked the shrimp curry for dinner while daughter cooked the broccoli. I'm feeling better, but I took two more Tylenols, as well.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A fun day with daughter
- Being able to attend the taping of the show
- Shared experiences
- Tylenol!
- Cooking with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was attending the TV show taping with my daughter.
Thursday's To Do List:
- Cook the shrimp curry - DONE
- Go shopping with daughter - DONE
- Maybe go to TV talk show taping with her - DONE
Friday's To Do List:
- Sew daughter's shawl
- Water the garden
- Do the dishes
- Do a load of laundry
Tomorrow, daughter will attend her friend's wedding rehearsal and dinner. Her friend A will give her a ride to the event and back.
How was your Thursday? What are your plans for Friday?
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Wednesday's Accomplishments
Today, I woke up at 9:30 a.m. Not too bad, considering I didn't fall asleep until after 4:30 a.m. It was quite cool in the morning. It warmed up to 80F, later in the afternoon, but, it was around 60F inside the house when I woke up. I felt cold and wrapped up in a knitted shawl while I had my tea, replied to blog comments, and read other blogs. If I had thought I'd get a head start on the day's work by waking up a little earlier than I have been waking up, I was mistaken! LOL.
But, in the afternoon, I wrote out the checks to pay my bills, did a bit of filing, went to the post office to mail the bill payments, went to one of the dollar stores to buy some gift wrap and tissues, and went to the grocery stores. I went to both the Armenian grocery store and Ralphs, which is a Kroger-affiliated supermarket. I didn't take any photos of what I bought, today, because, by the time I came home, I was hungry, even though I had eaten spaghetti and some melon for lunch. So, I put the groceries away and ate an almond croissant I had bought, and had a cup of tea.
My daughter had said she missed my shrimp curry, as I haven't made it in some time, so, today, I bought some shrimp ($3.69/lb.) at the Armenian store, as well as a can of coconut water @$.79 including the recycling deposit, vegetables (broccoli @$1.29/lb, carrots @ $.39, and a cucumber @$.50) and fruits (a pomegranate @$.99/lb, white peaches @$.79/lb, nectarines @$.79/lb, bananas @$.49/lb, and grapes @$.99/lb). My total came to $12.58.
At the regular supermarket, I bought a container of half and half ($2.99), a loaf of bread ($1.99), a package of bagels ($1.99), a package of cream cheese ($1.69), a jar of Nutella ($3.99), two containers of ice cream ($1.99@), and a package of 4 almond croissants ($4.99)! My total came to $21.62. This month's grocery budget will be augmented with what I've budgeted for the prayer gathering, although I haven't bought anything for it, yet.
I felt tired after the shopping, so, I rested and watched some TV (mostly news). After that, I put new bed sheets on daughter's bed, finished the vacuuming, and did the dishes. Then, it was time to pick up daughter from the airport.
On the way home from the airport, we picked up some Chinese food for dinner, as I hadn't cooked the shrimp, yet.
My daughter bought this foot cream as a gift for me. It apparently sells online for up to $12. She found it at the dollar store! She's a bargain hunter, just like her mother! LOL.
Today, I am grateful for:
- My daughter is home for the weekend
- She had a safe flight
- Warm sunshine in the afternoon
- Getting my To Do list done
- My new foot cream
Today's joyful activity was seeing daughter again!
Wednesday's To Do List:
- Pay the other bills (utilities and gas) - DONE
- Dust and vacuum the bedrooms - DONE
- Put new sheets on daughter's bed - DONE
- Do some grocery shopping - DONE
- Pick up daughter from the airport - DONE
Thursday's To Do List:
- Cook the shrimp curry
- Go shopping with daughter
- Maybe go to TV talk show taping with her
Daughter got two free tickets to a taping of a TV talk show and has asked me if I'd like to go with her. So, we might do that, tomorrow evening.
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
But, in the afternoon, I wrote out the checks to pay my bills, did a bit of filing, went to the post office to mail the bill payments, went to one of the dollar stores to buy some gift wrap and tissues, and went to the grocery stores. I went to both the Armenian grocery store and Ralphs, which is a Kroger-affiliated supermarket. I didn't take any photos of what I bought, today, because, by the time I came home, I was hungry, even though I had eaten spaghetti and some melon for lunch. So, I put the groceries away and ate an almond croissant I had bought, and had a cup of tea.
My daughter had said she missed my shrimp curry, as I haven't made it in some time, so, today, I bought some shrimp ($3.69/lb.) at the Armenian store, as well as a can of coconut water @$.79 including the recycling deposit, vegetables (broccoli @$1.29/lb, carrots @ $.39, and a cucumber @$.50) and fruits (a pomegranate @$.99/lb, white peaches @$.79/lb, nectarines @$.79/lb, bananas @$.49/lb, and grapes @$.99/lb). My total came to $12.58.
At the regular supermarket, I bought a container of half and half ($2.99), a loaf of bread ($1.99), a package of bagels ($1.99), a package of cream cheese ($1.69), a jar of Nutella ($3.99), two containers of ice cream ($1.99@), and a package of 4 almond croissants ($4.99)! My total came to $21.62. This month's grocery budget will be augmented with what I've budgeted for the prayer gathering, although I haven't bought anything for it, yet.
I felt tired after the shopping, so, I rested and watched some TV (mostly news). After that, I put new bed sheets on daughter's bed, finished the vacuuming, and did the dishes. Then, it was time to pick up daughter from the airport.
On the way home from the airport, we picked up some Chinese food for dinner, as I hadn't cooked the shrimp, yet.
 |
| Gift from Daughter: Foot Cream |
Today, I am grateful for:
- My daughter is home for the weekend
- She had a safe flight
- Warm sunshine in the afternoon
- Getting my To Do list done
- My new foot cream
Today's joyful activity was seeing daughter again!
Wednesday's To Do List:
- Pay the other bills (utilities and gas) - DONE
- Dust and vacuum the bedrooms - DONE
- Put new sheets on daughter's bed - DONE
- Do some grocery shopping - DONE
- Pick up daughter from the airport - DONE
Thursday's To Do List:
- Cook the shrimp curry
- Go shopping with daughter
- Maybe go to TV talk show taping with her
Daughter got two free tickets to a taping of a TV talk show and has asked me if I'd like to go with her. So, we might do that, tomorrow evening.
How was your Wednesday? What are your plans for Thursday?
Starting a New Month
On the first day of October, I reviewed how I did on my September goals and wrote out my October goals. I am determined to do better, this month.
I was expecting a visit from one of my aunts and a cousin, on Wednesday morning. They were coming to breakfast and I wanted the house to look a little more presentable.
The living room was not bad - I had recently dusted the coffee table and bookcase, so, all I had to do was dust the piano and vacuum. The dining table was full of my sewing-related items - sewing machine, cutting mat, the basket of sewing supplies, fabric, etc. I put it all away, dusted the table, spread the lace table cover, and put away the ironing board and iron.
The family room and the kitchen were the rooms in need of most attention. I changed the sofa dust covers and did a load of laundry. Then, I started tidying and putting away stuff. I had at least a dozen empty jars sitting on the kitchen counter - don't ask me why! I wash out empty jars and keep them to reuse for storing various things, but, there isn't a set place to store them, so they end up sitting on the counter. I separated the glass ones from the plastic ones, put the glass ones in a box and stored them in the spare bedroom for the time being (no, I don't want it to become The Dump, again!). The plastic jars are in a bag - I am trying to convince myself to recycle them! Just how many jars does one person need? Then, I wiped down the kitchen counters and stove top, did the dishes, and cleaned the inside of the microwave.
Finally, I vacuumed the family room, dining area, kitchen, and the hallway. The house is looking much better!
I had to take short breaks in between, during which I had lunch (spaghetti), tea and muffins, brought the trash cans in, went through the mail, watched news, and played one or two computer games.
Aunt C called me around 9:30 p.m. to let me know that she and my cousin are unable to come to breakfast, tomorrow, after all! They are having some plumbing problems and have to wait for the plumber. Well, I'm disappointed that they are unable to visit, but, I am glad that their promised visit motivated me to start cleaning! Not to mention, I don't have to try and wake up early to make breakfast! They will let me know when they can visit, next, and they are always welcome, any time. I do hope it will be before Halloween, so I can give my cousin the gifts I made for her.
I am hoping I'll be able to keep the momentum going and finish cleaning the house, tomorrow (bedrooms need to be vacuumed). At least, the house will be nice and tidy for when my daughter comes to visit, tomorrow night!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Another sunny day
- What I was able to accomplish in terms of housework
- Working appliances
- Fresh fruits
- Being able to video chat with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was restoring some order to my home!
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the empty trash cans in- DONE
- Pay the other bills
- Tidy the house - STARTED
- Vacuum - STARTED
- Change the sofa dust sheets - DONE
- Do a load of laundry - DONE
- Do some grocery shopping
Wednesday's To Do List:
- Pay the other bills (utilities and gas)
- Dust and vacuum the bedrooms
- Put new sheets on daughter's bed
- Do some grocery shopping
- Pick up daughter from the airport
How was your Tuesday? What motivates you to clean?
I was expecting a visit from one of my aunts and a cousin, on Wednesday morning. They were coming to breakfast and I wanted the house to look a little more presentable.
The living room was not bad - I had recently dusted the coffee table and bookcase, so, all I had to do was dust the piano and vacuum. The dining table was full of my sewing-related items - sewing machine, cutting mat, the basket of sewing supplies, fabric, etc. I put it all away, dusted the table, spread the lace table cover, and put away the ironing board and iron.
The family room and the kitchen were the rooms in need of most attention. I changed the sofa dust covers and did a load of laundry. Then, I started tidying and putting away stuff. I had at least a dozen empty jars sitting on the kitchen counter - don't ask me why! I wash out empty jars and keep them to reuse for storing various things, but, there isn't a set place to store them, so they end up sitting on the counter. I separated the glass ones from the plastic ones, put the glass ones in a box and stored them in the spare bedroom for the time being (no, I don't want it to become The Dump, again!). The plastic jars are in a bag - I am trying to convince myself to recycle them! Just how many jars does one person need? Then, I wiped down the kitchen counters and stove top, did the dishes, and cleaned the inside of the microwave.
Finally, I vacuumed the family room, dining area, kitchen, and the hallway. The house is looking much better!
I had to take short breaks in between, during which I had lunch (spaghetti), tea and muffins, brought the trash cans in, went through the mail, watched news, and played one or two computer games.
Aunt C called me around 9:30 p.m. to let me know that she and my cousin are unable to come to breakfast, tomorrow, after all! They are having some plumbing problems and have to wait for the plumber. Well, I'm disappointed that they are unable to visit, but, I am glad that their promised visit motivated me to start cleaning! Not to mention, I don't have to try and wake up early to make breakfast! They will let me know when they can visit, next, and they are always welcome, any time. I do hope it will be before Halloween, so I can give my cousin the gifts I made for her.
I am hoping I'll be able to keep the momentum going and finish cleaning the house, tomorrow (bedrooms need to be vacuumed). At least, the house will be nice and tidy for when my daughter comes to visit, tomorrow night!
Today, I am grateful for:
- Another sunny day
- What I was able to accomplish in terms of housework
- Working appliances
- Fresh fruits
- Being able to video chat with my daughter
Today's joyful activity was restoring some order to my home!
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the empty trash cans in- DONE
- Pay the other bills
- Tidy the house - STARTED
- Vacuum - STARTED
- Change the sofa dust sheets - DONE
- Do a load of laundry - DONE
- Do some grocery shopping
Wednesday's To Do List:
- Pay the other bills (utilities and gas)
- Dust and vacuum the bedrooms
- Put new sheets on daughter's bed
- Do some grocery shopping
- Pick up daughter from the airport
How was your Tuesday? What motivates you to clean?
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
October Balanced Life Monthly Goals
It's the start of a new month! I have reviewed my September goals and it is time to post my October goals.
As I've explained before, my monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied. Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly. If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly. My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black.
As I've explained before, my monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied. Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly. If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly. My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black.
Spiritual: (9.5): The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life:
- Continue with daily prayers and gratitude; focus on being more positive and joyful
- Continue to practice meditation at home and at the temple
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment to material things by donating/decluttering more
- Participate in the Kathina prayer ceremony and almsgiving at the temple (10/26-27)
- Host the October rosary prayer gathering (10/19)
House (8.5): The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming:
- Clean - get the house ready for the October prayer gathering
- Organize - continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place
- Well maintained - continue to implement the cleaning schedule
- Decluttered - find 50 items to declutter
Garden (8): The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant:
- Maintain (water 1- 2 times per week, depending on the temperature; weed)- Get ready for fall planting
Daughter (10): The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her:
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc.
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc.
- Enjoy her planned visit in October (for her friend's wedding)
Family & Friends (10): The goal is to have a connection with family members and friends:
Family & Friends (10): The goal is to have a connection with family members and friends:
- Regular phone calls and emails
- Have Aunt C and cousin N over to breakfast (10/2)
- Attend cousin V's grandson's christening (10/13)
- Will be seeing several members of the family and friends at this month's prayer gathering
- Have Aunt C and cousin N over to breakfast (10/2)
- Attend cousin V's grandson's christening (10/13)
- Will be seeing several members of the family and friends at this month's prayer gathering
Community (10): The goal is to be involved in my community:
- Continue to participate in the blogging community
- Weekly phone calls with neighbor T; check on her while her daughter is out of town
- Continue to participate in the online group of which I am a member
- Participate in temple events
Finances (10): The goal is financial security:
- Weekly phone calls with neighbor T; check on her while her daughter is out of town
- Continue to participate in the online group of which I am a member
- Participate in temple events
Finances (10): The goal is financial security:
- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose.
Health & Well Being (8.5): The goal is good health:
- Attend the medical appointments scheduled for this month (2 doctor's appointments and, maybe, 1 lab test)
- Continue to work on the following life style changes:
Health & Well Being (8.5): The goal is good health:
- Attend the medical appointments scheduled for this month (2 doctor's appointments and, maybe, 1 lab test)
- Continue to work on the following life style changes:
- better diet - eat more vegetables, less carbs
- better hydration - drink 8 x 8oz glasses of water, daily
- better sleep habits - try to adjust the sleep schedule (earlier bed time)
- more exercise - get back on a walking schedule
- better hydration - drink 8 x 8oz glasses of water, daily
- better sleep habits - try to adjust the sleep schedule (earlier bed time)
- more exercise - get back on a walking schedule
- Get back down to a healthier weight through diet and exercise
Time Management (8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner:
- Keep to a more regular schedule
- Procrastinate less
Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10): The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
Time Management (8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner:
- Keep to a more regular schedule
- Procrastinate less
Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10): The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
- Engage in daily joyful activities
- Make one baby quilt
- Go on at least a couple of fun outings - one scheduled for 10/3
Those are my goals for a more balanced life in October. Yes, they are more or less the same as the ones I had for September, but, that's fine with me. Are you making any goals for October?
- Make one baby quilt
- Go on at least a couple of fun outings - one scheduled for 10/3
Those are my goals for a more balanced life in October. Yes, they are more or less the same as the ones I had for September, but, that's fine with me. Are you making any goals for October?
Balanced Life Monthly Goals: September Review
September ended before I was ready for it to end! LOL. It is time to review my September monthly goals, before posting my new ones for October.
As I've explained before, my monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied. Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly. If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly. My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black and the end of the month ratings in blue.
As I've explained before, my monthly balanced life goals are similar to the spokes of a wheel, with the length of each spoke representing my satisfaction in that area of my life, from 1 to 10, with 1 being most dissatisfied and 10 being most satisfied. Ideally, all the spokes are of equal length and the wheel will roll along smoothly. If the spokes are of unequal lengths, then, the resulting wheel will be lop-sided and wobbly. My ratings for each segment are shown within the parentheses, with the beginning of the month ratings in black and the end of the month ratings in blue.
Spiritual: (10)(9.5): The goal is to live a spiritually meaningful life:
- Continue with daily prayers and gratitude; focus on being positive and joyful - On-going. Daily prayers and gratitudes are an established part of my life and there is much joy. Sometimes, however, I've struggled with being positive and that will be something I will focus on in October.
- Continue to practice meditation at home and at the temple - On-going; I have been practicing meditation at home and at temple.
- Continue to cultivate non-attachment to material things by donating/decluttering more - I had a goal of decluttering 30 items, this month, but I didn't accomplish that. Will have to double up on my efforts in October, I think.
- Participate in prayer ceremonies at the temple - Accomplished; attended one of the prayer ceremonies at the temple.
- Attend the monthly rosary prayer gathering - Accomplished; gave cousin P and friend F a ride to it, as well. I will be hosting the October prayer gathering.
I reduced the satisfaction rating to 9.5 because I didn't accomplish the amount of decluttering I had meant to accomplish.
House (9)(8.5): The goal is a home that is pleasant, comfortable, and welcoming:
- Clean - do one deep cleaning task per week - focus on the kitchen - On-going. I was over-ambitious, apparently, because I didn't get as much done as I would have liked to. But, I am giving myself credit for what I did manage to do and am moving on!
- Organize - continue to find a place for everything and keep everything in its place - Work in progress! I tend to struggle with keeping everything in its place! Need to focus on putting stuff away!
- Well maintained - continue to implement the cleaning schedule - On-going. As I mentioned, earlier, I've been tweaking the cleaning schedule, a bit, but, the house is being maintained, for the most part, although not quite to my satisfaction!
- Decluttered - find 30 items to declutter - Didn't quite manage to accomplish this goal! I found half of the amount to declutter, but, then, again, I didn't try very hard! Need to do more to make up for it in October!
I reduced the satisfaction rating to 8.5 because I really feel like I didn't accomplish my goal in this area, this month.
Garden (8)(8): The goal is a garden that is productive, yet drought tolerant:
- Maintain (water 2-3 times per week, depending on the temperature; weed) - The garden is being maintained. As I mentioned earlier, summer is not a very good time for my garden; it just gets too hot. All I can do is water and wait for the cooler weather.- Get ready for fall planting - Not too much of that got done; however, I scattered some seeds and M took some cuttings to propagate, so we'll see how that works out.
Going to keep the rating at 8.
Daughter (10)(10): The goal is to continue to have a close relationship with her:
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc. - On-going. Chatting with her is one of the highlights of my day!
- Daily texts, phone calls, and video chatting, etc. - On-going. Chatting with her is one of the highlights of my day!
- Enjoy her planned visit in September (for her friend's bachelorette party) - Enjoyed having her home for a few days.
This area continues to be a 10!
Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to have a connection with family members and friends:
This area continues to be a 10!
Family & Friends (10)(10): The goal is to have a connection with family members and friends:
- Regular phone calls and emails - On-going; in addition to the regular phone calls and emails, etc., had a long conversation with one of my cousins in Australia.
- Will be seeing several members of the family and friends at this month's prayer gathering - Accomplished; saw several members of the family and friends; as I've mentioned before, it is one of the reasons why I attend these prayer gatherings. Also, gave cousin P and friend F a ride to the prayer gathering and back.
Friend R and I were to get together for a meal, one day, but, she was not able to keep the date.
In addition, I was able to alter a dress for my daughter's friend.
Going to keep the rating at 10.
Community (10)(10): The goal is to be involved in my community:
- Continue to participate in the blogging community - On-going. I enjoy being part of the blogging community and another blogger and I found that we had friends in common, which was fun!
- Participate in the Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt - Accomplished! I had a lot of fun!
- Weekly phone calls with neighbor T - Accomplished. Spoke with her several times, in addition to the Sunday phone calls.
- Continue to participate in the online group of which I am a member - On-going.
I am going to keep this rating at 10.
Finances (10)(10): The goal is financial security:
- Participate in the Summer Photo Scavenger Hunt - Accomplished! I had a lot of fun!
- Weekly phone calls with neighbor T - Accomplished. Spoke with her several times, in addition to the Sunday phone calls.
- Continue to participate in the online group of which I am a member - On-going.
I am going to keep this rating at 10.
Finances (10)(10): The goal is financial security:
- Continue budgeting and spending mindfully, with purpose - On-going; spoke with my financial planner a couple of times, as well.
I am going to keep this rating at 10.
Health & Well Being (9)(8.5): The goal is good health:
- Attend the medical appointments scheduled for this month (2 doctor's appointments and 1 lab test, so far) - Accomplished; the doctors' appointments went well and the lab results were all good!
- Continue to work on the following life style changes:
I am going to keep this rating at 10.
Health & Well Being (9)(8.5): The goal is good health:
- Attend the medical appointments scheduled for this month (2 doctor's appointments and 1 lab test, so far) - Accomplished; the doctors' appointments went well and the lab results were all good!
- Continue to work on the following life style changes:
- better diet - eat more vegetables, less carbs; keep a food diary - Didn't quite accomplish what I wanted to do in this area. Not too happy with myself about it.
- better hydration - drink 8 x 8oz glasses of water, daily - Accomplished for the most part. There are still days when I struggle to drink sufficient water.
- better sleep habits - get 6-7 hours of sleep; actively try to go to bed before midnight! - Work in progress! I do get 6-7 hours of sleep, but I don't fall asleep till the early morning hours (even when I try to go to bed, earlier) and only get the needed amount of sleep by sleeping in.
- more exercise - get back on a walking schedule - Well, I started out the month right, walking every day for about 3 or 4 days and then, I got bitten by my neighbor's dogs and got distracted by my daughter's visit, shortly thereafter, and since then, walks have been hit or miss! More miss than hits!
- better hydration - drink 8 x 8oz glasses of water, daily - Accomplished for the most part. There are still days when I struggle to drink sufficient water.
- better sleep habits - get 6-7 hours of sleep; actively try to go to bed before midnight! - Work in progress! I do get 6-7 hours of sleep, but I don't fall asleep till the early morning hours (even when I try to go to bed, earlier) and only get the needed amount of sleep by sleeping in.
- more exercise - get back on a walking schedule - Well, I started out the month right, walking every day for about 3 or 4 days and then, I got bitten by my neighbor's dogs and got distracted by my daughter's visit, shortly thereafter, and since then, walks have been hit or miss! More miss than hits!
- Get back down to a healthier weight through diet and exercise - Nope! Didn't accomplish this, either! But, at least, I didn't gain any more!
I am reducing the rating to 8.5 due to the lack of progress in the healthy life style changes. It might have been even lower, except for the fact that the lab test results were all good!
Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner:
- Keep to a more regular schedule - I don't know if "Work in Progress" is a good way to describe this! I do have a somewhat regular schedule, but, it is not the schedule I should have! I stay up too late, I wake up late, I have no set meal times, exercise routines, etc., etc., etc. It works for me because I am retired and I live alone. I make my appointments for the late mornings or early afternoons, and things get done as needed, but, I don't think it is a very good schedule.
- Procrastinate less - Ha!
I am keeping the rating at 8, because things are getting done and I am trying to stay positive!
Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10)(10): The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
I am reducing the rating to 8.5 due to the lack of progress in the healthy life style changes. It might have been even lower, except for the fact that the lab test results were all good!
Time Management (8)(8): The goal is to spend my time in a mindful manner:
- Keep to a more regular schedule - I don't know if "Work in Progress" is a good way to describe this! I do have a somewhat regular schedule, but, it is not the schedule I should have! I stay up too late, I wake up late, I have no set meal times, exercise routines, etc., etc., etc. It works for me because I am retired and I live alone. I make my appointments for the late mornings or early afternoons, and things get done as needed, but, I don't think it is a very good schedule.
- Procrastinate less - Ha!
I am keeping the rating at 8, because things are getting done and I am trying to stay positive!
Leisure/Crafts/Hobbies/Me-Time (10)(10): The goal is to relax doing something I enjoy doing for the pleasure of it.
- Engage in daily joyful activities - Accomplished. My joyful activities have revolved around sewing, reading, knitting, taking photos for the summer photo scavenger hunt, watching some interesting TV programs, and gardening. Altering the bridesmaids dresses were a bit challenging at times, but, I was happy to be sewing (it was a good excuse for not spending much time in cleaning the house!) I also sewed a baby quilt and a table runner and two cushion covers.
- Go on at least a couple of outings - This month's outings were to the library and the fabric store, the temple, and an aunt's house for the prayer gathering. Not quite the leisure type outings I had intended, but, they are places I enjoy going to, so, I am happy.
I am keeping the rating at a 10.
That is my review of my goals for a more balanced life in September. I slipped down on the satisfaction ratings in some areas, while I kept the others at what they were. I see a lot of room for improvement in several areas, but, nothing dipped down to below 8 and I am pleased with what I was able to accomplish, overall.
- Go on at least a couple of outings - This month's outings were to the library and the fabric store, the temple, and an aunt's house for the prayer gathering. Not quite the leisure type outings I had intended, but, they are places I enjoy going to, so, I am happy.
I am keeping the rating at a 10.
That is my review of my goals for a more balanced life in September. I slipped down on the satisfaction ratings in some areas, while I kept the others at what they were. I see a lot of room for improvement in several areas, but, nothing dipped down to below 8 and I am pleased with what I was able to accomplish, overall.
Did you make any goals for a more balanced life in September? If so, how did you do?
Monday in Review
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| California Oak Tree |
First, to the Auto Club to pay my car insurance payment. That is done and I don't have to think about it until next year.
Then, I went to the library in the adjoining city to return the library books that were due and I borrowed three more. The library car park has California oak trees and I took a few photos because a friend of mine had been talking about oak trees in her city. I think we all have an idea what an oak tree looks like, but, the California oak trees look a little different than most oak trees.
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| California Oak Leaves |
But, they are definitely oak trees:
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| Do you see the acorns? |
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| Acorns and the Male Flowers - Close Up |
I picked up four of the acorns and brought them home; maybe I'll plant them to see if they grow:
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| Acorns of the California Oak |
The California Native Americans used to gather the acorns and grind them up to obtain acorn flour.
After that, I drove to my neighborhood branch library to return a book I had borrowed from the Los Angeles Central Library and I borrowed another book and two magazines from them.
By that time, around 3:00 p.m., I was getting very hungry, so I bought a chicken sandwich from the burger place next to the library, and came home to have my lunch. Then, I watched some TV and knitted.
Later in the evening, I cleaned the fridge, took the trash cans to the curb, washed the dishes, gave Dancer his flea medications, cleaned his litter box, and watered the houseplants. I had a little green plastic watering can with a long thin spout that I used for watering the houseplants, but, I dropped it and it cracked, so I put it in the recycling bin. I need to find another watering can.
On Monday, I was grateful for:
- A sunny and warm day
- Being able to pay the car insurance for the year
- Libraries
- Safe driving
- Time to relax and knit
Monday's To Do List:
- Go to Auto Club/Pay car insurance (I like to go and pay in person, because I pay the entire amount and, this way, I can get the receipt, at once) - DONE
- Return the library books that are due - DONE
- Give Dancer his flea meds - DONE
- Pay the other bills
- Clean out the fridge - DONE
- Take the trash cans to the curb - DONE
- Water the indoor plants - DONE
Tuesday's To Do List:
- Bring the empty trash cans in
- Pay the other bills
- Tidy the house
- Vacuum
- Change the sofa dust sheets
- Do a load of laundry
- Do some grocery shopping
How was your Monday? What are your plans for Tuesday?
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