choosing cheerful :-)

Today is a great day! It started with a lovely shower (to wake me up since last night was late.) My shampoo promised that I will have 2X the shine in my hair and my conditioner will make my hair smooth and sleek. My bodywash assured me of silky skin, and my smooth blast deoderant will keep me smelling good all day; with products like this, how could I go wrong?

The euphoria ended as I left the bathroom to wade through my laundry room. My new laundry schedule isn't quite off the ground - and neither is my laundry. :-( But on the bright side, there's so much room for improvement!

oops - I wrote this 2 1/2 months ago and never finished...

So to follow up these thoughts, I'm still learning to choose to be pleasant, the laundry is less of a mess than before (but still never done,) and I hate the 2x shine shampoo because my hair looks greasy (now I'm trying Dove for real beauty ;-)

back to organizing

Second day on the schedule. :-) We did great until this afternoon. After 2 pm, we got a little distracted with running to Costco for a few groceries and then painting our paper mache creation. I also spent some time moving the paper monster from my room into the schoolroom. (When I moved my desk some time ago, I emptied it's entire contents into the corner of my room - bad idea - the seemingly innocent contents have been multiplying quietly and this insidious paper monster is threatening to devour my domain!)

My new plan is to declutter the schoolroom a little every day, while living in the beautifully uncluttered rest of my house. At least my room is a restful place again. :-)

In an attempt to gain inspiration, I remembered a book I started before I got sick this summer. I'm not sure what the title was, but it was something about 40 days to perfect organization. If only I could find it...

time and treats

Today is the first day on our schedule which I finally created last week. So far, so good. I even planned computer time for me! So here I am. :-)

My daughters have cameras now, so I actually have pictures!! Here the kids are enjoying Saudi Arabian coffee with Rakan. His family sent the gorgeous coffee pot and small cups you see in the picture as well as all the supplies to make coffee. The beans are light colored, and they add saffron and cardamom to the coffee as well. Delicious!

Rakan treated us to Saudi food twice. The rice is beautiful and flavorful - there are raisins and cloves in it, and some spices to add flavor and color, making a rainbow of light orange, pink and white - add a little of the fiery hot sauce and wow!! We also had several lamb, chicken and vegetable dishes.

The pastries you see (for dessert) are SO tasty! It's a very flaky crust with pistachios and honey (I think!)