The 21 Day Husband Project (Trial Run) Day 2

Hey Blogville... I am hoping that some of you out there are joining me with taking the 21 Day (actually 5) Husband Project challenge. If you missed Day 1's project, look down a post or 2 and read about Day 1's project. I completed Day 1's project today and it was well received.

Basically, Day 1 said to offer your husband a 30 minute down time for himself. 30 Minutes when he could just relax and do whatever he wanted to do. I didn't get to creative with Day 1's project as I just asked my husband if he wanted some down time (time for himself) when he got home home. Real original I know, but it was to the point. I have to interject a little back story here so you will appreciate his response.

In our early years of marriage my hubby would beg me for what he called some "DT" (down time, decompressing time) when he got home from work. You would think that would not be too much to ask, as he only really needed 15 to 30 minutes of time to compose himself after his long day at work. Well, actually it was difficult, as I was a stay at home mom and the first thing I wanted to do when my hubby got home was either pass a child into his hands, or share with him how stressful my day was...Needless to say, we had a rocky road for a long time until we both learned to be giving to each other.

OK, fast forward to today...when I asked him if he would like some "DT" today, he simply told me that he already gets some "DT" with the way our schedule is currently when he gets home...YEAH!!!! He then told me that he appreciated the thought though...another YEAH moment...(I hope I am using the Yeah word right...I mean that I am cheering... I always get that word messed up with the yes word).

Day 1 complete for me...I hope you all have had a chance to complete Day 1 with your husband...if not, go ahead and try to in the next couple of days, but for those of you who are ready for the next project, here it goes...

Project #2
Back in the Day

Do Something He Enjoyed Before You Got Married

“Lust is easy. Love is hard. Like is most important.” ~ Carl Reiner

Your Project:
Initiate an activity that your husband used to love. Whether it’s his favorite hobby, sport, or pastime, it’s time for you to get involved – be his buddy today.

Getting Creative
Many a man’s hobby has gone by the wayside due to matrimony. Is it possible that it’s time you learned to golf or fly fish? Don’t try to beat him, just join him.

Possibly the only thing your husband would enjoy more than playing chess with you is teaching you how to play chess. Ask for a lesson so he can teach you something that he is an expert at (or really loves). Just your willingness to learn will be a huge boost to your guy.

Pick up a magazine about your guy’s now dormant hobby. Ask him questions about why he loves it so much. Learn a couple of technical terms so that you are better able to discuss it.

Do a little research. Find out what the definitive website is on your husband’s favorite subject. Maybe there’s an event in town, a lecture to attend, or a game to watch.

OK Wives... have fun with this one, and make sure to leave me a comment that you completed this task :)

Mayce (regarding your comment)

Just wanted you to know that I got your comment and I will be praying for your family... Your comment is one reason I share very personally here on my blog...if what I share can be encouraging to another than I feel so extremely blessed...

PS...Wendy, I got your comment too... come back often to visit :)

The 21 Day Husband Project (Sample) Day 1

Ok Wives... Kathi Lipp assistant sent me a preview of her full book, The 21 Day Husband Project. She is allowing us to complete 5 of the 21 days to see if we want to go for the full challenge. Of course the book will go into much more detail about what the "Project" is and the "why" we should take such a challenge like this. If you want to go ahead and purchase Kathi's book, or try out the mini project here to get an idea of what the book is about.

The original idea of the book is that you would complete the project in 21 consecutive days, but for the mini project I will post a new project every other day, as I know not everyone may be on their computer everyday... Remember to leave a comment and let me know you completed Day 1. Anyone can sign on at anytime...


30 Minutes is All it Takes


Create Some Free Time When He Gets Home
“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”
~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes


Your Project:
Focus on your husbands transitional 30 minutes today. Would he like to be left alone to rest and rejuvenate, or does he want some undivided attention from you? The point is to let your husband know you value what he does out in the world, and that he has a safe loving place to come home and get refreshed at the end of the day.


Getting Creative
There are plenty of reasons why it might not be easy for you to give your husband some transition time at the end of the day. You need to look at what can work for your relationship. Be creative, like the stories listed below. Brainstorm with your friends until you find a situation that will work for you and your guy.


My friend, Joann, purposely scheduled her daughter’s dance classes twice a week at the same hour that her husband gets home from work. That way, her hubby comes home to an empty house. He gets some quiet, and she gets a more peaceful man.


One husband has his workshop out in the garage. His wife encourages him to go
and hang out there for a while before dinner. (Since starting this arrangement, her
husband has started helping out with the after-dinner clean up. Nice side benefit.)


Crockpots are The Husband Project’s best friend. Set your crockpot to be finished
thirty minutes after your husband gets home from work. Let him know that you
don’t need anything until dinner is ready. Don’t know a crockpot from a flower
pot? Check out the recipes in The Ultimate Guide to Man Food at
www.kathilipp.com


Does your husband already have a great transition routine after getting home?
Find some other little thing to bless that time. Maybe it’s making sure the TV is
available, his favorite sweats are clean and ready to be changed into, or there’s a
cold soda waiting for him in the fridge. It may be so small that he doesn’t even
notice. That’s okay – you’ll know what you did.


What if your husband works from home? Maybe the best way to help him relax is
to ask what he would like the schedule to be. Does he want dinner before or after
he gets some time to recharge? Ask him what would make his night better.

Remember to leave me a comment and let me know that you completed your Day 1 Project (you have 2 days before I post the next challenge)

"Made to Crave" Online Group (RESTART :)

Hey Ladies...

So I fell off the "Made to Crave" Wagon... Although I have not gone back to my old eating habits, I surely am not progressing. A standstill with maybe a few steps back. Anyhow, I am back. I just signed up at my Gym to take an 8 week challenge in which I will pushed to my limits and held accountable for my choices. The thing is... I know that no 8 Week challenge is going to conquer my addiction to food. As I see it, I could go through this challenge 3 ways...


1. I can go through and grit my teeth and take the 8 week challenge and be successful...maybe some toning up and weight loss will happen. Then 2 weeks later gain all my weight back :(


2. I go through the challenge and totally blow it...become the "loser" of the team.


Or 3. I get back on track with God and draw on His strength to help me use this challenge as one "tool" to get healthy. I pick back up my "Made to Crave" book and follow the Biblical principles of Lysa's book.


I like the third option, so that is what I am going to do. I don't know where you all are with your food choices and healthy living. The lack of comments can make me think that you maybe struggling like I have been...on the other hand you may be doing well, but just have been quiet here at the Group site. Wherever you are I am encouraging you to jump back in and let's do this thing together!!! (The last comment was for my Facebook friends, but as always anyone online can join in with us at anytime)

I will post another set of questions in a couple of days.. I may start over in the "Made to Crave" book...start reading it from the beginning again... A new start!!!

Blessings

The 21 Day Husband Project (A Trial Run)

Hey Blogville!!! I have a challenge for you all to take if you are interested. A couple days ago I heard Kathi Lipp on Focus on the Family. She was talking about her book "The 21 Day Husband Project". After listening to her speak I was challenged to take her challenge. Here is a snippet of what her book is about... Go to Kathilipp.com for more details...


The Husband Project



Do you feel like your marriage has gone from "I do" to "What did I do?" Recapture the romance that made you and your husband fall in love in the first place. The Husband Project provides 21 days of fun activities to show love and honor to your husband. Kathi Lipp will help you discover:
•Proven ways to return fun and flirting to your marriage.
•Inner assurance to meet your husband's unspoken emotional needs.
•Increased confidence when it comes to meeting your husbands sexual needs.
•New levels of warmth and tenderness in your relationship.
•A deeper sense of security with your husband.
•A greater ability to boost your husband's belief in himself.

Kathi Lipp's assistant sent me a 5 day mini challenge to complete with an online community... If we like the 5 day challenge, then we can go out and buy the book, and then complete the 21 day challenge together and have a celebration at the end of the 21 days.

I am doing this mini challenge with an online Facebook group, but thought to open it up to blogville too. If you are interested, leave a comment and let me know you are on board for the mini challenge (project)... While completing this challenge you can share as much or as little as you want too...just knowing that other women are in this challenge with you will help to keep you going when the "challenges" get tough :)


I am taking this challenge because my husband is in need of some extra encouragement at this stage in his life. Plus when I love my husband well, I am serving God.

I will post the first challenge in a couple of days...let me know if you want to join in :)
Blessings!!!

The Doggy Diaries

The "Pooper Scooper" Crew loving their job :)

Einstein...

Dear Diary,

I got a puppy on Saturday... My family and I have been looking for the right doggy to join our family for over two years now. Well, we finally found him. He is a little tiny puppy and he is a mix of 4 different dogs...doxie, chihuahua, beagle, spaniel mix. Talk about multiple personalities :) His name is Einstein (Einey for short) and he is adorable. Here are some things I have learned in my 3 days as a doggy owner.

-Having a puppy is HARD WORK...what was I thinking?
-Puppies are cute, but they don't look as cute when they "go" on your floor.
-Puppies can get pretty stinky... I can't wait to get that doggy perfume stuff :)
-Puppies don't always follow all the rules...especially those in listed in the all those "puppy" books.
-Puppies are CUTE and can make you smile real easily.
-There is nothing cuter than watching my boys play with their new puppy.
-Having a puppy is going to help develop responsibility for my boys...for me.
-It is super hard to get up in the wee morning hours to let your puppy out to potty.
-Routine and consistency pay off big time when raising and training a puppy.
-I can take my puppy into the Pet Supermarket store with me and shop...that is so cute :)

I will check back in soon and let you know how Einstein is adjusting to his new life. Or to let you know how I am holding up :)

What I Have Already Learned about "Extreme Couponing"

Today I am going to share some tips that I have already learned about the world of "couponing". I don't think what I am doing can be considered "extreme" yet, so I will save the adjective for a later post :)

Tips from a Novice

1.Clip coupons. Get your Sunday paper (or two or three) and start clipping.

2. This kind of goes with tip 1. Save the "sale" adds from the stores you frequent so you are aware of the sales going on during the coming week.

3. Print Coupons from the Internet. There are a zillion sites where you can print coupons, but there really are only a few sites that have valid coupons that you can actually use at a store (In another post I will post some of these coupon sites)

4. Find 1 to 3 reputable, established "coupon" websites or blogs that you can utilize to help you with your couponing. Many of these sites do all the hard work for you (matching sales with coupons). I couldn't coupon if I had to do all the work myself...not enough time :)

5. Find a coupon clipping service. They do all the coupon clipping work and you get all the coupons that you would want. The people that run these services cannot charge you for the coupons, but for their time and handling. I used one so and the fees were not bad at all.

6. Take your last 3 or 4 grocery receipts and write down all the items that you purchase on a regular basis. Write down what you pay for that item (or write the average if the price changes from week to week). This is a crucial step...

I normally shop at Walmart, but was challenged when I went to the "Extreme Coupon Class" to try shopping at the grocery store that sponsored the class. They explained that with coupons and sales there would be times I could get the item cheaper at their Grocery store. They were right, but there are some items that I will get a better deal at Walmart. Having written my list I was able to see what items I could get cheaper at Walmart (especially if I use a coupon at Walmart).

What I realized is that I will probably shop at two stores (My local Grocery Store and Walmart), and that is ok for me. I am going for maximum savings when it comes to my groceries.

7. Don't overlook stores like Walgreens and CVS. They have reward programs that can save you money on certain items. I know Walgreens has their own coupons too.

8. Don't buy what you won't use...even if you have a coupon for it. Resist the temptation and only buy what you will use.

9. Don't be afraid to buy ahead, especially when it comes to toiletries and non perishable items. If there is a phenomenal sale, stock up on those items.

10. Get a friend to join you on your journey with couponing.

(I have learned a few more things, but I will stop with my list of 10 today). Please share any tips you have learned about couponing. Or if you are a novice like myself, feel free to ask a question. I might not know the answer, but I am sure I can find an answer :) Next time, I will give you some websites that have helped me on my journey...

Blessings and Saving... :)

My Summer Experiment with "Extreme Couponing"

Hey Bloggy World...

I am hoping that this summer I will pay more attention to my blog. I think I have noticed a pattern with blogging...many people start out writing all the time, but then after a couple of years they don't write as often. Case in point..ME. Actually for me I have to be careful because I could spend hours and hours on the computer and that would be a waste of precious time for me.

Ok, this post is not about blogging, but about my summer trial run with couponing. It all started after I watched a few episodes of "Extreme Couponing". That show is amazing and always leaves me with my mouth wide opened. The people on the show are very extreme with their couponing and they are able to dedicate way more time to couponing than I will ever be able to do, or would actually want to do. However, the show awakened me to the fact that I could probably do some kind of saving when it comes to my grocery bills, and thus began my journey with couponing.

The thing that really kicked it off for me was an "Extreme Coupon" class that was offered by my local Grocery Store. I was amazed by what I heard, and the speaker that day broke the idea of couponing down so I could get a grasp on it. After the class, I began to think that I could actually do this thing. Not getting $1000 dollars worth of groceries for 47 cents, but maybe, just maybe I could save 25 to 50 percent on my grocery bill.

So I have committed to give this couponing thing my best try for the summer, and when the summer is done I will evaluate and see if "couponing" is something I can sustain without it taking over my life. I have already learned some very cool things and had one trial run to the grocery store in which I saved 50% on my bill. That was exciting...

I don't want to make this post too long, but I will come back here often during the summer to update you on how my journey is going, and to share tips (even though I am a novice). If you coupon, or are interested in beginning your own journey please leave a comment here. It is always more fun to try new things with a "community"...especially an online one :)

Blessings and Savings to you...

Too Much Time Can Be My Enemy...

Hey Bloggy Friends...

A very weighty title for what is going to be such a short post... Actually all the title means is that summer is here and I have a lot of extra time on my hands since I am not working. I teach and so I have my summers off with my children.

I can tell you that I have plenty to do this summer...Clean, organize, purge my household of things I don't need. Then there is the matter of my children... They of course are the most important priority I have during the summer. I don't want them to waste a whole summer playing video games and just waste away mentally at the same time. This summer I want to invest in them more than I have in the past.

I have plenty of ideas of things I can do with my kids. Things that are not just fun for them, but things that will draw us closer together as a family. This summer I not only want us to draw closer as a family, but I want my kids to draw closer to Jesus. I have fallen short when it comes to investing in my kids spiritually, and as time passes by I see that I have no time to waste.

I am very aware that I can make all these wonderful plans to have the best summer ever and everything could go south. Actually, I realize I need to focus in on one thing this summer and I truly believe all else will fall into place. The Bible says to "seek first the Kingdom of God" and that right there is my answer. I personally must seek God first in everything I do this summer. Seeking Him will help me to focus in on the things that truly need to get accomplished this summer and beyond.

So I am going to leave you with a little list of things I am going to do this summer...sort of like an online accountability, and I will check back in this summer to let you know how I am doing.

-Get up early (before kids) several times a week to spend time with God in prayer and in His Word (my bed doesn't count... I have tried this already)
-Turn off the TV, and seek to fill that time with things that will help me in my walk with Christ
-Limit my time on the computer...like the TV I can get lost in the world wide web...both the TV and computer can be big stumbling blocks for me spiritually


Ok, I know this is a short list, but I don't want to get overwhelmed with a never ending list... I truly believe that if I do these things listed above change will happen.

So what about you??? What are your plans for summer? How will you draw close to Jesus this summer? (If you have never commented before, feel free to leave a comment today :)