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I feel like I've been a slacker -as far as my blogging goes- lately...  I just don't know where I want all of this to go.  Not that it has to go anywhere, really, but I feel like it's turned into a place to plan my menus and that's not all that I want it to be.

So, for that reason, I'm taking a break from posting my menu planning on here (for now, at least).  I feel like I've done it enough to give you a good example of how to go about it, and I really don't think that anyone cares about what I'm cooking for my family anyway.  Really, the only feedback I've ever gotten have been negative comments from a guy that I hardly knew in high school that I repeat certain meals too often.  So I'm done with the sharing of my menus for the time being.

On a different note, I've been doing well with my #100daysofyogachallenge...  today was day 41!  Yay!  I'm feeling better and my general mood has improved.

Also, I started a challenge that I saw on Facebook this morning...  the "40 Bags in 40 Days 2014 Decluttering Challenge" (want to know more about it?  Click the link)...  I'm sure I'll share more about it in the future.

I've also created a printable cleaning chart and I hope to do a post about it soon.

Anyway, just putting all that out there for whoever might be reading my blog..............

.............is there anyone who reads this?  ...or am I doing this for myself?

(I think every blogger has this question at some point)

If you're reading this, please leave me a comment and let me know.

Halloween prep... is what I'd like to post about, but alas...

What's today?  ...the 7th?  This blogging everyday idea might prove to be more difficult than anticipated.  Wish me luck.

Tonight, my mom came over to help with Halloween decorating and to do a craft with the kids (I'll post more about that another day).  I've also been feeling inspired...

...at which point I would like to add a picture that I took today (check out my Instagram, it's on there), but my computer isn't cooperating.  Lamesauce.

I'm irritated and should probably stop writing at this point 'cause it's probably not going to be filled with puppies and sunshine.

I'll be back tomorrow.

...hopefully less crabby and with working technology.

What pisses you off?

...I'm struggling to keep my eyes open...

Long day.  Lots of running around.  Lots of housework.  Good progress overall...  But now I'm too pooped to write anything.

See you in the morning.

"I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"...

...and I *mean* it this time!  I'm sick and tired of being overwhelmed by housework.  Not that I'm whining, but I'm fed up with being the only one that does any work around the house...  that is, unless we battle it out, in which case the kids will eventually come around after a lot of head-butting.

Well, I've had it.  I'm.  Done.

A couple of days ago, I had it up to the figurative "here" and set to work on a household chore chart.  This one is definitely not just for the kids, as I could use some help in the area of being motivated to get off my crafty butt and clean stuff up, too.

First I sat down and wrote out *every* household chore that I could think of.  Then,  I split it up based on where the work is (kitchen, bathrooms, home or laundry.  Finally, I broke it up into what has to be done when (daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly).  I put boxes next to each item, in some cases as many as five (this was in the case of laundry, which gets split up according to each child, Mom and Dad's and household) and color-coded them so the kids know exactly what their responsibilities are.  This was easy for them to grasp, given their colored laundry baskets they each chose a few months ago...

Moo is green, Rye is pink and O is blue.

This has made for easy organization

over the past few months and I can only 

assume that it will continue to help over the years.

This is what I came up with...

Keep in mind, this is only the first page -daily and weekly- my plan is to print up both pages, plus my recipes for cleaners, laminate and hang them from rings.  So I'll have a flip chart with everything right there.  Here's one that you can print for yourself if your chores are anything like my family's (I only put one box next to each task here, but feel free to copy, paste and edit to your heart's content).

On a lighter note...  my last two manicures were fun, so I wanted to share... 

This one was inspired by the vital juice purple kale manicure

that one of my friends linked to on Facebook.

...and this one was inspired by 

Mr. Kate's "on beyond neon" mani.

And, last-but-most-definitely-not-least, I made my very first apron this week!!!  It consists of four coordinating fat quarters, it took about an hour in total (well, it would have if I hadn't been running around the house mothering my children), and it's *reversible*!!!  I used this tutorial.

I like this side the best...

this fabric was the whole reason 

that I bought this particular fat quarter bundle.

...but I really am happy with both sides.

I finally have a cute apron to bake in...

Now to go make some cookies!

Yikes, I go a few days without posting and I end up having *so much* to catch up on!  Thanks for reading and please let me know if my chore chart was helpful for you/your family!  

(And, in case you didn't catch the reference in this post's title...  it's from this movie.  Check out this famous clip)

My crafting motivation is beginning to dwindle.....

...and I still have TONS to do before Christmas.  I was doing really well for a few weeks there, too.  I *am* making progress, just not as much as I'd like to be making.

-I finished the slippers for Rye, but when I did Moo's, they came out waaaay too small.  Which is fine, I suppose, since my cousin's daughter's birthday is coming up and it looks like they'll fit her perfectly.  But now I have one more pair to do.

-I finished sewing O's beanbag chair, but I can't find ANY filling for it.  All of the craft stores in my area appear to be out of both styrofoam "beans" and shredded foam.  

-I finally found a robe pattern that I'm happy with and picked up fleece for each of the kids.

-I started a crocheted rag rug for the girls' room using a re-purposed bed sheet and a doily pattern, but it's coming out too small- I think I'm going to try to find an actual rag rug pattern and just deal with the fact that it's not a flower like I want it to be.

-I have 5 of (at least) 8 of the projects I'm doing for family members, and I'm beginning to realize that I'm putting too much time and detail into some of them.  But that's just who I am, and it's so hard to leave it out!

So, I think to help ease my crafting exhaustion I'm going to put on another pot of coffee, put on a movie and just push on through.  I'll get over it and force myself to finish.....................  even if that means staying up until 5 a.m. Christmas morning putting on the final details.

How do you motivate yourself to get moving?  Please comment!