Life in the poop-smeared lane with some practical tips & views on life.

I read the book "Fruit" by Brian Francis. When I read the subtitle "a story about a boy and his nipples" I should have stopped there. But it is on the Canada Reads 2009 short list, so it must be good - right? It was weird. Sure there were some laugh out loud moments but it was really strange. I don't recommend it.
I love to watch Gail Vaz Oxlade on "Til Debt Do Us Part". I stumbled across her blog. She has great worksheets too. I can't seem to find her relationship rescue worksheets though. I think this would be great to ensure the dialogue between partners is there and that the "right" things are being discussed.The Canadian Diabetes Association is coming next Wednesday, April 1st to collect donations. I have a pile of items to give to them. I'm excited to get it out of the house.
I'm still stuck in the kitchen. Hubby bought some nice plastic "trays" to organize the pantry. I must have been sick because he took it upon himself to put the items in it. He did a pretty good job too. I'm hoping once I lick this cold for good that it will get all under control.
I took "before" photos that I'm going to post now of the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen.
Even though I've had a chest cold, I signed up for a learn to run clinic through The Running Room.
I was sick last week so our menu didn't really happen. I'm trying to use up some of the food we have in our freezer and in the pantry as part of spring cleaning and reorganizing.

The "link" to this post got published before I had a chance to write the story. I had set it to save a week out and then I got sick. If you were confused, here was what the article was supposed to say ...
Morning Snack
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
d it was about current-day USA efforts in Afghanistan. Not to spoil the movie so I will use basic thoughts here, however, the lack of follow-through on the part of the United States for providing for an educated future for the country is telling of the current situation.
I still have openings in my home day care. I was hoping to get at least one or two school-aged kiddies for March Break (that starts on Monday). But no. I was also hoping to fill the empty spaces; out of a potential for five charges in addition to my own two, two are filled with full-time children and one of those has given their notice. I have another full-time to start at the end of May and then I have two more starting full-time in September. I really need to fill the spaces now and am getting extremely anxious. I suppose that with the lay-offs people are staying home with their children. I also hear that a lot of people who have been laid off are starting up their own home childcare programs. Dear me!
I have taken photos of all the cupboards (pre-organizing and decluttering) to motivate me to start. I found some nice containers at the $Dollar Store$ to get me enthusiastic and motivated to start. I did the top two shelves of the pantry. And then I got sick. For two weeks. And I am still sick. It was all I could do to get through the daily stuff, never mind the extra decluttering and deep cleaning. There was two weeks of laundry (which I have the last load folded and ready to put away, all else is done) and the sheets for the master bed are washed and in the dryer, ready to make up the bed. I finally unloaded the dishwasher and filled it up only to run it again. It was pretty scary but at least the house looks more reasonable. So ... do I extend the kitchen decluttering for another two weeks after the cold completely leaves my system?!
I (finally) came up with some exercises I want to do on a daily basis. They are:As I am not a personal trainer, does anyone have anything they can suggest I add to get an all-over tone?
I am jumping on the Spring Fling bandwagon. As a SITS member, I've got a *surprise* giveaway for one lucky reader. Shipping to the USA and Canada only.
On a regular basis I attend parenting sessions at the local Early Years Centre. I have found a lot of these sessions useful and so I thought I would summarize a few over the next few weeks ~ partly as future reference for me, and partly for the benefit of other parents and/or caregivers. 
My day is all about others; they are the most demanding bunch I have ever known. They expect me to provide a fun, stimulating environment for them in addition to caring for their needs and ensuring their safety. I must take them for walks, play games with them, or entertain them in other ways. They invade my personal space and I have yet to have a full-night sleep. Would I have it any other way? Nope.

The bear, with it's sharp claws, would be able to slash the shark in it's eyes and on it's snout (which I understand are the most sensitive areas). He would also be able to hold it in its teeth while ripping it to shreds.
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Before I Wake by Robert J. WiersemaMy Review
rating: 3 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this novel. It was chosen as part of a book club I am in and I doubt I would have picked it up on my own, however, I am glad that I was introduced to it.
The format of mini-chapters being from a variety of characters kept my interest. It was a very easy read.
Summary from Kitchener Public Library
They say there are three sides to every story. Yours, mine and the truth.
In Before I Wake, debut novelist Robert J. Wiersema cleverly introduces a multitude of voices to tell this astonishing story of loss, redemption and forgiveness. And the truth? Well, when miracles start happening around Sherry Barrett, a three-year-old girl in a coma, explanations of a rational kind no longer seem important. Injured by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the street, Sherry Barrett lies in a hospital where her doctors say she will never wake up. Her distraught parents, Karen and Simon, make the painful decision to take her off life support. But when they do, Sherry spontaneously begins breathing on her own, the first of many miraculous events to occur.
Henry Denton, the driver who struck Sherry, is haunted by the accident and attempts to take his own life, only to be saved by an unexplained force.
Sherry’s nurse discovers that the little girl has the power to heal. When word of her gift leaks, the sick begin lining up to be saved and a mysterious stranger sets his sights on vanquishing the believers and the Barretts.
View all my reviews.


I stumbled across Smead Organomics after a great post from I'm An Organizing Junkie.
Use Colored Interior Folders in FasTab Hanging Pockets
Last week was a bust. I did go out to dinner on Saturday night with my husband (an all you can eat Chinese buffet!) and we discussed, after acknowledging the irony of the conversation and location, that I wanted to lose weight. I was very impressed at his support of what I was needing and he even suggested that I join Weight Watchers again (I am a lifetime member) if I felt I needed to. This is saying a lot as we are pretty tight $$ wise these days with two young kiddies and me at home.
Themes of the week were easy when the oldest didn't quite "get it". I would set themes weekly and I would order books and videos from the library and pick them up when they were in. I would have a circle time while the kids ate lunch or while waiting for parents to pick up and read one or two of the books. Now that Ava is going to be 3 this March, I think it is time to ramp up the activities we do for the themes.
The Catholic season of Lent is upon us. At AmericanCatholic.org they have come up with a day-by-day through lent exercise of fasting from our clutter. I love it and so I am reflecting on the first and second weeks of their theme. Join me, will you?ASH WEDNESDAY
~ GETTING READY TO CLEAR MY CLUTTER ~
Jl 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Today’s readings give me basic instructions for the next 40 days. As a first step to clearing my heart and mind of clutter, I arrange a quiet prayer corner in which to talk to God. I find a suitable place in my home and stock it with a Bible, a notebook, pens (and this Update!). Today, and every day this Lent, I will spend time with God, reading over the Scriptures for the day, listening to what God is saying to me, and writing down what I hear.