The Rory Gilmore Pro/Con List

If you have never seen an episode of the television show, Gilmore Girls, let me first begin by saying that you have no idea what you are missing and should make every effort to catch an episode as soon as possible. The series actually ended a few years ago, but you can catch the re-runs on ABC Family and SoapNet. Okay, advertisement over. All you really need to know for right now is one of the main characters in the show is Rory Gilmore and she is known for making just about every major decision in her life by using a pro/con list. So what does that have to do with me? Brent and I have a big decision to make about our house. There is a very large window in our oldest daughter's room that has leaked for years. We have spent some major bucks in repairs to fix it, but none of them have worked. For about the last four or five months we have been working with a contractor to pinpoint exactly where the water is coming from, but have had no luck. Even so he has come up with some options that we can choose from that he thinks will solve the problem. There are three choices and they are basically expensive, really expensive, and you've got to be kidding me. You can probably guess which choice is my favorite. Yep. You are right. Its you've got to be kidding me. Whether or not I get you've got to be kidding me is yet to be determined. Enter the pro/con list. I am a terrible decision maker. But like Rory, I am pretty analytical and like to think about things from every angle so I am hoping that having the good and bad about each option on paper where I can see it will help. I will also be relying on good old fashioned prayer. I would definitely not turn down divine intervention right now. I'll let you know what we choose and if my theory on using a pro/con list is any good or not. I am hoping it is....otherwise its gonna take me forever to make up my mind.

Its the Little Things In Life

Despite the fact that today is Monday, it was a GREAT day. Here's why: 1. I left work before 6:30 p.m. 2. I came home to find a new Pottery Barn catalogue in the mail. 3. In just 10 short minutes, I will be watching a new episode of Bethenny Ever After. 4. While I watch Bethenny Ever After, Brent has promised to shampoo the carpet in our bedroom. 5. As I type this Brent is in the kitchen cleaning up the dinner that he cooked. Yes, it has been and should continue to be a great Monday.

Runner's High

I mentioned in yesterday's post that I went for a run when I got home from work. The craziest thing happened today - I DID IT AGAIN!!! And I enjoyed it immensely. Many moons ago, when Brent and I were engaged, I got up every morning at 5:30 and ran. I don't remember ever being in better shape. With warmer weather and swimsuit season rapidly approaching, I've decided that its time to start heading back in that direction. So for now the goal is to run at least three nights a week after work. I really prefer running in the morning, but right now its still very dark out as early as I'd need to go so maybe as the days get longer I can make the switch. I'm also trying to decide if I want to do another session of boot camp. I did two sessions of Bodies By Cindy's Boot Camp last summer and was able to lose pretty much all of my baby weight that hung around after Emme was born. You can read a little more about it here. I really enjoyed it, but it is a commitment. Not just a commitment to come to the classes and give it your best, but a commitment to really watch what types of food you eat and how much you eat. It's not easy, but if you do it right you can see some major results. I've actually kept all of the weight off throughout the year and to tell you the truth I think I am almost more proud of that fact than I am of the fact that I lost the weight in the first place. We'll see if I can lose some more with my new running routine which has been in place for a whopping two days. Hey, you gotta start somewhere!! Besides, even if I don't shed tons of pounds its a least a good stress reliever. And who couldn't use one of those?

What a Wonder an Hour Can Do

After another 10+ hour day at work I strategically planned my arrival home to coincide with the start of Haley's dance class. Translation = I knew I'd have the house to myself for at least an hour. And it was probably the most wonderful hour I have had in quite some time. First, I went for a run. That's right. You heard me. A run. My legs are incredibly sore right now but its that good kind of sore that you actually want to get more of. Then I watered my ferns and hibiscus trees, which is another major accomplishment since I am known for spending good $$$ on plants during the spring and then unintentionally letting them die for lack of water. Next, I came inside and started dinner. I even had a few minutes to sit down before the husband and the kids got home. By the time they came through the door I almost felt like a normal person again, not the one that is held hostage by her office and barely sees the light of day for four months. After dinner, baths, and bedtime I somehow mustered up the energy to pay bills and clean the floors in the laundry room and hallway. Sure, its not a lot, but compared to my usual nighttime routine as of late, which is basically do what I can to get the girls to bed and then crash, its at least something.

Its too bad I can't have an hour to myself like that every day. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to look forward to next Tuesday and hope for a repeat!

Longer Days Ahead

I have a love/hate relationship with Daylight Savings Time. I love longer daylight, I hate the "adjustment period". So for the next couple of days until I get used to it, I am going to feel so "off". And its not just me. I think it messes with my girls even more. We tried to put Haley to bed at 8:30 since that's her normal bedtime. She's gotten up at least three times. I am so not looking forward to getting her up in the morning. Tomorrow is her first day back to school following Mardi Gras break so its definitely going to be hectic. So far I haven't heard anything out of Emme's room and I am praying that it stays that way.

The days aren't getting longer just because the sun is out longer, but I am so, so, so busy at work. I am so busy at work and have worked so much this week, that I am really hoping I can find something clean for everyone to wear tomorrow. I can't believe I just admitted that for the world to read. Maybe that means I should be doing laundry instead of blogging, But let's face it, blogging is more fun than laundry. I despise laundry. The washing part is okay, but its the putting it all away that gets me. Especially when I am as behind as I am. But I guess that happens when you work 50+ hour weeks and then decide on a whim to paint the laundry room. Technically that last part wasn't decided on a whim. I have been talking about painting my laundry room FOREVER. It was the timing of the project that was, shall we say, spontaneous. Oh well. I guess there never really is a "good time" for these things. Sometimes if you want to do something you just gotta do it. Even if it means getting really behind on your laundry. So my hope for this week is that the extra sunlight will give me the energy I need to get the laundry done. And I mean done. Sheets, bath mats, EVERYTHING!!! I know you are all so jealous of my super exciting life. Okaym so maybe its not exciting by most definitions of the word, but I like it. And that's all that matters. :)

On that note, I hope you enjoy the extra sunshine tomorrow as much as I will and accomplish whatever goal you have made for yourself, regardless of how much excitement (or lack of excitement) it may bring you!!

Pure Frustration

Today was one of those days that made me question a lot of things in my life. Mainly, am I doing what I am supposed to be doing with it? Did I pick the right career? Or am I in the wrong line of work? If I am in the wrong line of work, what is the right line of work? If I didn't pick the wrong career, did I take the wrong job? Am I being a good wife and mother? Do my friends think I am a good friend? Do I take care of the house well enough? Or the yard? I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

If I had to choose my biggest flaw it would be my desire to achieve perfection in just about every aspect of my life. Obviously that is an impossible goal, but I shoot for it anyway. And on the days here it is especially clear that I am not perfect, I tend to be very hard on myself. I wish that wasn't the case. If it weren't I probably wouldn't be so stressed out and worried about something all the time. I am so bad about worrying that occaisionally I will realize that I am not worrying about anything and then I'll worry about the fact that I am not worrying. I know. I'm nuts.

The truth is, nothing life altering or earth shattering happened to me today. I just didn't have the greatest day. It probably didn't help that neither one of the girls slept all night last night so I was at a disadvantage before the alarm went off. I had a lot to get done at the office in a short amount of time, and that is usually a recipe for disaster. Truth be told the day could have been much, much worse. I just need to relax, get a good night's sleep (please, please, let me sleep!!), and start fresh in the morning. If nothing else, tomorrow is Friday and that's good for something, right???

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

In a previous post I confessed my current abnormal fascination with all things Bravo TV. So hopefully when I tell you that the title for this post was inspired by two different Bravo reality stars you won't think I am completely insane. In last week's episode of Bethenny Ever After, Bethenny (who I LOVE!!!) used it when discussing everything she's got going on right now and in last night's season premiere of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Gretchen (who I really know absolutely nothing about other than she's not a big fan of Tamra) used it while talking about everything on her plate.

Today, as I contemplated everything that I have to do with work, the kids, the house, etc., it occured to me that "I'll sleep when I'm dead." is going to have to become my motto as well. There's just one problem: I LOVE my sleep. I do. Sleep and I have a very close relationship. I'm not really sure how its gonna work, but I've decided that we are just going to have to see a little less of each other. At least temporarily. Don't worry. I'm gonna take it slow. Maybe try staying up 30 minutes later one week and then gradually increase to an hour. Once I get to an hour I'll reevaluate and see how things are going. My goal is not sleep deprivation. I just need to find a better balance between productivity and relaxation. Right now relaxation is winning by a landslide. And while relaxation itself is not bad, too much of it could be called laziness. I do not want to be a lazy person, nor do I want to raise my girls to be lazy people. I grew up around a lot of laziness and trust me when I say nothing good comes from it. So wish me luck as I try out my new motto....I have a feeling I am going to need it!!

I am watching one of my all time favorite movies right now, Something's Gotta Give. I love, love, love this movie. It makes me want to learn to speak French, learn to cook more, and can I just tell you how much I really, really, I mean REALLY want that house in the Hamptons? In case you can't tell, I would totally recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it.

One of the best things that I like about this movie actually doesn't have anything to do with the movie at all. Do you ever notice how things like a song, a smell, or in this case a movie can take you back to a certain point in your life? Well for me, watching this movie makes me think of May 13, 2009. This is my youngest daughter, Emme's, birthday. Not knowing what kind of television channels I would have access to while in the hospital, Brent decided to make sure that I would have plenty of viewing choices and brought his laptop and a handful of DVDs with us. I was induced at 6 a.m. and Emme was born just before 11. Later that evening Brent went home to get a shower and grab a few things, but before he left he put in Something's Gotta Give. So me and Emme spent our first night together watching this very same movie that is playing on my television right now. Its hard to believe almost two years have passed. I really don't know where the time goes. Oh well, I guess if I ever want to re-live that sweet night, all I have to do is pop in a DVD. And one day when Emme is old enough, we can watch it together and I can tell her the story about how we watched it the day she was born.