Last night I was laying in bed thinking about this goal.
(see post below)
I figured out that I need to have a little more structure in order to be accountable and actually accomplish something here. There's a big difference between good intentions and good results...
see, I'm getting to know myself so well :)
This is what I came up with:
When I find myself being critical of someone I will do one or all of the following:
1. try to see the situation from their perspective.
2. name three things this person does well.
3. do something kind for this person this week.

challenge #8: Critical Thinking

I think we're all too critical of one another and ourselves.
Here's what I know about myself...
The worse I feel about myself, the more I tend to criticise others.
If I feel frustrated with ME, I project my frustration on others.
It's not fair.
Poor Capt. Butler and the kids often take a tongue lashing when I'm down and out on myself.
If I can replace critical thinking with positive thoughts AND service towards those I'm being critical of, I will feel better about myself while at the same time preventing a big slip in the negative

ditch.

This week I will work to swap the critical for the positive-
both in thought and deed.

Will you do this with me?

challenge #7 completed

So, did you become greener this week?
This will be an ongoing goal for me.
One other thing I did this week was I bought another garbage can for my kitchen that I use for a make shift recycling bin. I find that I am more apt to recycle if there is a container right in front of my face. Even though my bins have always been in the garage, sometimes I would get lazy and throw recyclable items in the trash. So, it has helped a lot to have a bin in the kitchen next to my trash can.
I would really love any ideas you have on this subject,
so feel free to leave your tips.

baby stepping

So here is my slew of bags,
do I keep them in the car?
What do you do?

No more brown paper bags, everyone has their own re-usable lunch bag.
I know, I am so far behind... but at least I've started the process.I would LOVE to hear from you-
what are some ways you've become a little greener in your home?

challenge #7: greening me

This week I am GOING GREEN
Yes, I'll admit it.
I am an eh, so-so kind of environmentalist.
Like many things in my life, I have always WANTED to be better at doing my part to help the environment, but I continue to give a mediocre effort.
For example, I have wanted to switch over from using mountains of plastic bags at the grocery store to bringing my own reusable bags.
I wasted months just watching other people toting their re-usable bags in and out of stores, always thinking, "I should do that".
Now I will!
The last 2 weeks I have been collecting re-usable bags from various stores and finally, I'm on my way.
So, this week, I will find ways to go from goopy to green.

day five, six and seven of challenge #6

Ok, Halloween threw me for a loop,

but I'm back on track now.

My last 3 gifts were:

made a dinner for my neighbor who just had a baby.
cleaned up a neighbor's smashed pumpkin.
took one of my kids for a special one on one date.

What a great week of giving.
Some gifts were better than others,
but all in all, it was great just to be serving.
I hope you had fun with this one too.
Please share your favorite gift.

day four of challenge #6

Were you at school parades and parties all day yesterday?
With five kids, Halloween time can be very exhausting.
After costuming the children, baking pumpkin cookies, attending class parties, parades, and a trunk or treat (not to mention all the other daily duties that you all do as well) all I wanted to do last night was go straight to bed.
Capt. Butler suggested we go to the late show instead.
I wanted to say no.
We went and we had a really great time being together...
we saw Amelia Earhart
(not sure I would reccomend it, very slow moving BUT very inspirational).

OK, maybe that's not really a "gift" but lets face it, I was giving all day yesterday.

day three of challenge #6

Yesterday I hugged and kissed one of my girls and told her every little reason I love and adore her.

This gift giving is great. I've noticed how aware I am each day to give- whether it's big or small. And each day I'm excited to see what I can do.

How are you doing with your gifts?

day two of challenge #6

Capt. Butler and I delivered these to friends last night.
Don't forget to give today.

day one, challenge 6

In order to keep myself on task, for the 7 day gifts challenge, everyday this week I will journal what I did for someone... because at the end of this goal, I will NOT say, "eh, so so" like I did on the last challenge.

Yesterday my gift was a listening ear.

A friend who is typically kind of chatty (bless her heart) called while I was wildly hurrying to make dinner and help with homework. She wanted to talk about rescheduling something, but I knew what she really wanted to talk about was her new grandbaby. So instead of quickly congratulating her and bringing the phone conversation to a close, I asked every single question I could think of about the new baby. I let her tell it all- the birth story, the baby's stats, and the other grandchildren's reactions to the new baby. It felt good. Sometimes I get too rushed and I only allow time for conversations I think I want to have.

Don't forget to give a gift to someone today!

challenge #6: gift giving

Yesterday I saw a brief clip on the Today Show where a woman with MS was talking about how she was doing this program called "29 days of Gift Giving". She talked about how once she started doing small acts of kindness for others, her symptoms with MS started to fade and her health improved. She actually stopped using her cane to help her walk. You can read more about this here
http://givingchallenge.ning.com/
I too believe that if we can move the focus off of ourselves and onto others, in the process we can actually improve, nourish and enlighten our own soul.
I have seen this happen in my own life- and I want to see it again.
So, this week I will give SEVEN gifts.
The definition of "gift" is completely up to the giver.
It can be something made, baked, bought, spoken, written, gestured, and so forth. Nothing big, fancy or expensive starting today and ending next Tuesday.
Will you do this with me?

challenge #5: eh, so so. But I'll say completed.

I wasn't a saint by any means, and my kids will tell you that.

But I did find some humorous alternatives like:

jammit

wordy

numb skull

I was glad that I at least made an effort to use different words.

And I was conscious of my language the whole week,

whether it was good or bad.

How did you do?

Challenge #5: verbal clean up.

Damn it.

I'm late starting my weekly goal because I couldn't stop swearing-

which ironically, was my goal.

This week I will replace less than desirable vocab with cleaner, more thoughtful alternatives.

Please join me.

challenge #4: completed

The Capt. and I hugged and kissed quite a bit this week,

I made all the heavy and meaty meals he likes,
let him watch baseball when MY show was on,

and I'm planning a small and frugal date tonight.

I'd like to be a little more vigilant with my goals.

Afterall, that's the point in setting them by the week-

to have better focus, work harder, and accomplish more.

How did you do?

coming along

Well I promised I'd still work on last week's goal
and when I say I'll do something,
I usually mean it.
Get dressed: check.

Hair: check.
Makeup slathered: check.
accessories: check.

shoes not related to the flip flop: check check.
I've also been lovin' my man.
(this week's goal)
We exchanged love-emails today.
And went for our weekly Sunday drive without the kittens.

challenge #4: lovin' my man

Yes, he is a hunk.

My very real Capt. Butler and I have been married for a while now.

And I'd say it's time for me to start sparking things up again. He is really such a good guy. I need to set aside the little things that too often get me in a tizzy and just focus on all his greatness and wonderful qualities.

So, that's exactly what I will work on this week.

I will praise him, kiss him, hug him, and tell him I love him.

Want to take this challenge with me?

challenge #3: failed miserably

Glamour and I never found eachother this week.
I told you this one would be hard for me.
Can I use the excuse that I had a sick child for a couple of those days?
I will continue this challenge along with a new one this week.

uuuggghhh

I knew this challenge would prove difficult for me...
does yesterday's left over mascara on my face count?

ok, I'll keep trying.

challenge #3: get dressed everyday

This challenge may make you think ill of me.I am fortunate enough to stay home with my kids, but just unfortunate enough to find myself in my running clothes from the morning---all day--nearly everyday.
ahh, that felt good to confess.
Even though most days I bask in the luxury of being able to do so, it does affect my self esteem. I know I would feel better about myself if I took better care of me. And I'm sure Capt. Butler and the kids would like that too.
This week I will get dressed everyday complete with hair and makeup.
This is going to be a challenge.
Will you do it with me?
Oh ya, you probably already do.

Challenge #2 completed

Wow. I have to admit, I had a really nice time with this challenge. I think there were a couple days last week when I was either in a hurry or too ornery to talk, but for the most part... I really tried to connect with someone, at least once a day. I had conversations with strangers about dogs, kids, work, health issues, where they're from, boy scouts, etc. It was really refreshing.It made me think about the reasons I don't always talk with others, and I think my biggest excuse is time. I don't engage because I have it in my head that it will take too much of my time. But what I remembered is, I can really share a nice moment with people if I just take a few minutes. And the time is well worth it. I feel enriched and connected- and that was exactly what I was hoping for.
As with most my weekly goals, I will continue to work on this.
How did it go for you?