fizzling out

All that momentum I had from the cleaning spree this weekend - gone.

Because of the plays (7 in two days!) I've been exhausted and running around like a mad woman. I'll definitely do it again, but the kids aren't the only ones who've learned from this experience. There are a lot of things I can do to make my life easier when we get to plays and I plan on employing those tactics next tri (which starts Monday).

So since I've been spending my spare time sewing, painting and buying wigs, I haven't done much in the way of picking up or cooking. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who's very understanding and has picked up the slack. Well, he doesn't cook, but at least we live near lots of take out places!

Tomorrow is a work day at school, where I'll be cleaning the room and getting all the props and costumes put away in preparation for a new group of students on Monday. Afterward I have a Christmas party to go to for the softball team, so no time to pick up tomorrow. I might do some tonight (after I nap) but I'll definitely be getting to it on Saturday. I'll start cooking again Sat too - Ricky's closing tonight and it seems like too much effort to cook just for me. I'll have a bowl of cereal or something.

So far so good

Resolution update: 1 day down. House is still picked up, clothes are picked out through the end of the week, clothes from laundry were put away last night. It's a holiday miracle!

Meal Plan for 12/2-12/8

Sunday - Santa Fe Chipotle soup made by Bear Creek
Monday - Gnocchi with fresh marinara, salad
Tuesday - Pad Thai with chicken
Wednesday - some sort of shrimp dish, I'll get back to you on that one
Thursday - breakfast
Friday - DIY
Saturday - Turkey roast with veggies

Resolutions

I know, it's only the beginning of December. But I've already set my resolutions, and I figure as long as I've set them I might as well get started, right? There's no rule that i have to wait for January.

So my resolution is to be m0re organized. And that looks like this:

1) picking out clothes the night before
2) washing, drying, folding AND putting away the laundry
3) take the 15 minutes or so each night to declutter before going to bed
4) meal plan
5) exercise more and eat less

Ok, so that last one isn't necessarily about organization, but it will make me happier, and a happier person has more energy, and energy is what it takes to stay organized, right?

So I started yesterday - so far so good. Dishes were in the dishwasher, shoes picked up, table cleared before I went to bed. I cooked soup for dinner - something I decided to do at 2 pm, rather than the 5-oclock-mad-dash-to-the-store-because-I'm-starving dinner. Picked out my clothes last night (though I changed my mind this morning) and put away about 4 loads of laundry.

Product Rec: The Body Shop Oil Burner

After Mom came over yesterday and helped clean out our pig sty of a house, I realized our house has no smell. It doesn't smell bad (I don't think...it doesn't, does it?) but it never really has any kind of a good smell to it, either. I always love it when you walk into someone's home and there's a scent - cookies, warm from the oven; bread baking; pine sol; something simmering on the stove.

So I went out yesterday in a hunt for something that would be subtle, that we could change on a whim, that wouldn't break the bank and that would fill the house with a yummy scent. I ended up with The Body Shop's oil burner and Home Fragrance Oil in Orange Clove.

Within 5 minutes the scent was filling the kitchen. Within 15 minutes, I could smell it in the back bedroom, with the door closed even! It wasn't overpowering or headache-inducing, but it was nice and cozy. Ricky and I really like it. I think I'll get another scent or two. The wonderful thing is that most of their scents are fruity or spicy rather than floral, so we have a lot to choose from. I can't stand floral scents!

I'm starting a new blog

Kasmira has inspired me. She is the author of the blog "What I Wore Today." I love to see the fun outfits she puts together. So, in addition to my ramblings here, I'm going to start doing a photo blog of what I wear. This is for a few reasons. 1) I can always use feedback. Ricky's never up when I get dressed, so he can't tell me if it looks ok or not. 2) Maybe by doing this I'll be forced to keep up on laundry and whatnot. 3) I've gotten lazy about putting together cute outfits. Knowing that the world is watching might help. 4) I need to start picking out things to wear the night before. Maybe this will help.

I'll start Monday. Look for it!

Down with Shutterfly

A friend of mine is very involved with an online Moms with Small Businesses community. One of the ladies in her community owns this business, www.skutterfly.com, a sort of boutique for "alternative" kids' clothing. In the past couple of days, she received this message from Shutterfly.com, the online photo center:

It has come to our attention that you have registered the following domain name(s):skutterfly.comShutterfly name and designs are well known in the online photo service community. Shutterfly has expended considerable resources and time in developing consumer and industry recognition and goodwill in its SHUTTERFLY brand and design trademark, for online photographic services. It is clear that you are trying to capitalize on our very strong trademark rights in the Shutterfly Mark by using a confusingly similar domain name to divert traffic to your site. Your registration and use of this domain name infringes our client's trademark rights because it creates the likelihood of confusion, mistake or deception in that the public will be confused as to the source or sponsorship of the goods and/or services provided by you or affiliation with Shutterfly. This type of misrepresentation is specifically banned by existing federal statutes covered in the AntiCyberSquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), which also provides for statutory damages specifically directed toward domain names which infringe or dilute existing trademarks of up to $100,000.00 per infringing domain.

We hereby demand that you immediately discontinue use of this domain name and that you assign the domain name registration to Shutterfly, Inc...by December 12, 2007.

Now, how ridiculous is that? Skutterfly could not be anymore different from Shutterfly. They sell kids' clothing, for goodness sakes, not photos. If anyone mistyped and got to Skutterfly on accident, they certainly wouldn't be tricked into buying from the wrong website, nor is there anyway that Skutterfly would be stealing business - if you're looking for photos, I doubt a onesie will satisfy your need.

I feel awful for this poor woman. She's worked so hard to build her business, and now Shutterfly wants to take it from her. And really, steal it from her - they aren't willing to compensate her for the money she's paid for the domain name or hosting. She is expected to just hand it over to them.

So I'm done with Shutterfly. I never used them much anyway, but this just seals the deal. I invite you to join me in my ban on their services.