Things to accomplish in 2019

I started out this post with talk about resolutions, but I am not a resolutions person so I deleted all of that and decided that I am more a goal person.  I do keep goals in my planner.  My planner is not one of those beautiful things. It is simply a planner with an elastic band. I write in my appointments, cool things, house cleaning checklists, glue in ticket stubs and write down the greatest thing of each day.  That is all.

Goals for 2019:
Mail more cards (letters) ---will this be hampered by the .05 increase in the cost of stamps
Learn to make a hardcover book
Go to Halifax
Stop eating candy (haven't had any yet in 2019)
Finish organizing my photos on my external hard drive
Read 100 books and review them

I am trying to stay on target to finish them, but looking for ways to hold myself accountable.  Habit trackers are NOT for me.

I am curious if you do goals/resolutions and how you stay on target to finish them.

Review: Sugar and Scandals

Sugar and Scandals by Harper Lin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is no secret that I am a HUGE Harper Lin fan. I have read all of her books and love each and every one for different reasons.

This one is full of old classmates, cougars (the women kind), strange acting ex-husbands, sweet boyfriends, 2 teenage kids and of course cupcake recipes (have you tried the recipes? Well, you should).

This book could easily have been read in 1 or 2 nights but I was reading another book while reading this one so and with the New Year holiday, I got a tad distracted with life.

Things I love:
Lila and Amelia's friendship
Amelia and Dan together
recipes

Things I love to hate:
The ex-John
The new Mrs. -Jennifer

I think you could read this as a standalone and still have a good time, but why would you not want to read all the others in this series?


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Review: The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding

The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not even sure how to start this review. I am still a little bit of in the "oh I can't believe that is over phase."

From the first chapter, I was sucked into the story that takes you through a period in time of the lives of three woman. Ann and Miriam are in a post-war England. Struggling to make peace with who they are and how to survive in this new world. Heather is in modern-day and she too struggles with her job and a secret in the past.

They all meet men who will change the course of their lives in some unexpected ways.

This is a beautiful novel. England is not very pretty during much of the time we are visiting. It suffers from The Blitz and England is still suffering the effects of the war, but we don't dwell on hardships, we see a beautiful friendship and a country very excited about a royal wedding. I loved that Jennifer spun a story where we could imagine what the workroom looked like, I could even envision the embroidery as she was describing it in every detail. I could see war-torn London and I could feel the pain the girls experienced as they try to rebuild for the future.

Warning: I could not put this book down once I started...so you may need to plan accordingly.



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Winning in 2018

There have been a few life events in 2018 that made me sad or think that this year sucked.  I looked at the year in a whole and realized that NO, it didn't suck.  While it in no way went down the way I planned (when did life promise me it was as I planned?), it was good.  I did some pretty awesome things, accomplished some goals and had some fun.  See my 2018 below.


January we broke ground on our garage. We had wanted a garage for a long time and we finally decided to just do it.  It was to be 24x30 with a few customizations.  I made homemade cinnamon rolls from scratch for the first (and probably last time).  John had gotten a snow blower for Christmas and got to use it for the first time.  

February  DiAnna and I did a wreath class at the McCracken County Public Library.  Before the end of February, the garage was built, we were just waiting on the concrete driveway.  

March DiAnna and I head to StL and saw Chicago at the Fabulous Fox.  This was an item on our bucket list and remains one of my favorite shows EVER.  By the end of March, the concrete was poured but we could not drive on it yet.  At the end of March, my work let me go to a conference in Orlando.  The first day of training was a long 12 hour day, but the next day they only let us meet for a bit and then have the rest of the day free.  Since our plane didn't leave until 5 am the next day, we (Valerie and I) went to Disney World and closed the place down!!  By the time I got home from Florida, we could drive on the new driveway.  Fabulous!  On the last day of March, DiAnna and I went to TPAC and saw Wicked.  

April DiAnna and I went back to the Fox to see Hamilton (it was our second time seeing the show).  I had to have a tumor removed from my forehead.  We were very lucky that it was a chewed gum like looking substance (a pretty pink color) and not a bad thing.  My head still aches sometimes were he cut my muscle and scrapped my skull, but I no longer have a bump on my head.  Hannah turned 21 on the last day of April.  I took her to Tribeca for her big day.  Trevor turned 16.  











May Trevor got his permit.  We had all the landscaping at our place ripped up and new stuff put in.  New stuff that requires no work!!  Prince Harry got married.  It was a big day for me.  I had a birthday and my friend Cassie made the cupcakes for me.  
 

June Pepper joined the family.  Olive was so happy.  John and I knew we couldn't go to Hawaii for our 25th (because of what would happen in August) so we went to the Jefferson Davis monument instead....it was free and we had never been to the park except to take photos.  I wanted to go to the top because it was opened that day so we did. It was very cool, not quite like the Washington Monument views, all farmland.  We had a good guide that filled us in on lots of details about the park.  Pepper got very sick at the end of June with a virus and I was scared she would die.  She cried in pain all night and puked all over the place and after she got some antibiotics she got better. 



July  DiAnna and I went to see Rick Springfield at the Nashville Symphony. I finished our travel wall (for now) in the living room.  My head was healing nicely by July but still ached to the touch.  At the end of July we decided to take a trip that was originally going to be a week long and all over Canada.  Instead, we altered it to be a weekend in Canada.  Fastest trip to Canada we had seen.  Not quite a quick as our 9 hour trip to Baton Rouge, see a game and come right back, but close.  This trip was a dream come true for me. I had always wanted to go to Niagara Falls and do the Maid of the Mist tour.  We didn't do much else there except sleep.  We came home through Pittsburgh, saw a game and came home. 

Bonus July entry----Instant Pot winning story---we were in the car somewhere between Dayton and Windsor Canada.  I was watching In the Kitchen with David (as I often do) and QVC was having a Black Friday anniversary event.  You had to enter the facebook live contest by putting up a hashtag @QVC27  It was crazy how many folks were typing it in wrong. I entered and asked John, "should I enter again, these people are getting it wrong?"  He told me to go ahead. I did and told people they were entering wrong.  People still were not getting it, so I kept entering.  Soon my favorite host said "we have a winner" and said MY NAME (about 30:23)!!!!  The whole car erupted in screams for mom!!!!

 That was a great moment for me because I am a HUGE fan of David's.  I was so excited to win and all of it happened in the car somewhere between Ohio and Canada

August I found a friendship rock near my parking place at work.  Someone knew I needed a pick me up.  August 3, John no longer worked at WPSD.  18 years, but I don't want to talk about it.   At the end of August I was stressed, overworked and had no money, but I went to a painting class. My first one ever. I had so much fun.  I didn't realize how much I needed that class or how much I would learn. 
 John McCain died. He was my favorite American. I have all but his last book autographed by him.  I called Mitch McConnell and he had a flag flown over the capital for me.  It is hanging next to my Ronald Reagan flag (McConnell helped me get that one too).  

September  Senator McCain was buried.  We went to a game in StL because tickets were super cheap.  Hannah flew to Las Vegas and went to the Titanic museum, she brought me home a cup (which has faded) and she touched a piece of the wreckage..  My friend, Denise gave me 2 Presidental plates for my collection.  I won a bike helmet from Banks Market (local grocery).   DiAnna gave me curtains she had hanging in her old office and they look amazing in my bedroom.  

October Fall break I went to a training in Bowling Green.  The Wall that Heals came to Paducah and we went to see it.  It was cool but not as cool as the real one in DC.  










November My old dishwasher died, so I bought a new one with a silverware tray.  

December George Herbert Walker Bush died.  Bob Dole (who after McCain's death because my favorite American alive) and no longer stands, stood up at the casket of GHWB.   I went to Louisville for work and ate well.  Mary Poppins Returns came out.  I made macarons for the first time.  I traded in my Kindle Voyage for a Kindle Oasis.  I paid for it with insurance points and the trade in value on my old Kindle.  John got to fulfill a dream by calling  a Mayfield game.  

I really needed to look bad on all the good because I have struggles. I am grateful to God for showing me the good and not letting me dwell on the bad.  Here is to a wonderful 2019.  I know I will see Hamilton again and also Come from Away and read a lot of books on my waterproof Oasis.

Happy New Year friends






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Review: The Dying of the Light

The Dying of the Light by Robert Goolrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book started out beautifully for me and then some of the characters had switched up personality traits. I felt like I was doing flip-flops with characters from then on. Maybe that is what the author wanted me to do, but I was needing something more in my life at this time. I did like how the book ended and because of the beginning and the ending I would consider giving this a 3.5 stars, I just had so much issue with the middle.

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How I have a cleanish home

My attention span is short. I cannot help that I am wired this way.  I try hard all the time to stay on task.  I give myself assignments, memorization techniques and goals.  I write them down or type into my phone to hold me accountable.  A schedule is the best thing for me.  I've discovered as I age that deviating from the schedule does not make me freak out as it used to, but I much prefer my routine.

The first thing I created was rules.  I like rules. There is a clear expectation of what is expected and I know once the required is finished all the time that is left is MY time.  That is it!  The reward.  Get the work done first and then all the time you have left is YOUR time.  I have found not only do I feel better knowing my work is done, but I have longer to "play" and enjoy that extra time.

Rules
1.  Today's work gets done before you play
2. Daily jobs are split up over the week so that one whole day is not spent cleaning or doing laundry
3. I keep a checklist in my calendar or on a notepad so I know what I have done.  As I mark off daily tasks I have a sense of accomplishment
4.  Today's tasks can be bumped until tomorrow due to an event that is unavoidable, but not more than one day (unless you are sick).
5.  Don't look at it as a chore. Look at this as maintaining your home and family, and having time for your sanity.

The following information is how I get it all done. It is not perfect, but I feel like I am doing a good job.  Not a GREAT job, a good job. I am not striving for perfection just for functionality and time with the family and craft time.  Craft time is very important to my mental happiness. 

About our house:
1.  We have a 3 bedroom, 2 baths, 3 car garage 2000 square foot house.  We chose small so we could vacation, so if you have a larger home (and you probably do,) you may need to tweak my ideas if you are going to use them.
2, I do 95% of the inside work in our home and only about 5% outside (yard).
3.  I am the home repairman so I have to allow time for repairs.
4.  I am not a great housekeeper.  What we have is a functional mess.  I figure I can have a showplace once all the kids are gone and I retire...for now I am content to have things done and LIVE.
5.  I am not a great duster (worst duster ever). I may swipe at it every once in a while but I have limited knick knacks down to just a little so I don't have to worry about that.  I dust the tvs when I think of it. I do not dust the kid's rooms, they are old enough to do their own.  On that line, I don't even clean their rooms...they are more than old enough to clean their own rooms if it is important to them.

I have developed a routine for my home in regards to housework.  I know I have shared bits and pieces before today I plan in sharing the whole shebang.  THE SCHEDULE!!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box	Clean out litter box
Clean kitchen	Clean kitchen	Clean kitchen	Clean kitchen	Clean kitchen Deep clean kitchen day, clean thoroughly today	Clean kitchen	Clean kitchen
Laundry (wash and fold)			Laundry (wash and fold)  Sort into baskets		Laundry (wash and fold)
			Clean hall
			Drop off any dry cleaning (If applicable)			Pick up dry cleaning (if applicable)
						Prepare supper calendar for next week
Make a couple of meals for the week and menu planner for the week
	Declutter living room (make kids put away video games and toys)		Declutter around house
		Sweep floors (I have hard wood floors they are mopped as needed swept every Tuesday)
					Clean day---hall bath-everything Master bath-everything Kitchen, utility, bath floors mopped
Vacuum Living room (if needed)			Vacuum Living room (if needed)			Vacuum Living room (if needed)
Ironing (I do not have much, this may need to be bumped to another day if you have loads)
		Jumpstart any Wednesday cleaning you have time for		Jumpstart on any Friday cleaning you have time for		Jumpstart on an Sunday afternoon cleaning that you have time for

I know my system won't work for everyone and maybe even no one else but me.  I just hope my system encourages you to be all you can be.  Have an order in the world of chaos and time for yourself and family (and crafts).


One more time with my motto....get what you have to do done and then you can play the rest of the time.

Review: The Paris Seamstress

The Paris Seamstress by Natasha Lester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book made it onto the list of best books that I read in 2018. The story takes place in two time periods, WWII and modern day. The modern day character is a relative of the past character. The past character is a famous fashion designer, but here you get her beginnings. How she got started and what she risked to get there. The modern day character is dealing with her own issues, but she also uncovers a past she knew nothing about. It is simply marvelous the way the two time periods weave together to form a wonderful ending.

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