Week #4 of 52 Bites

So much to say, so much puked-on laundry to wash and fold. My update post will have to wait, but this week's challenge, led by Lea, was too good to pass up. Wait a second, that sounds like I haven't done the challenges on other weeks. I have, it's just that the other weeks didn't pinch me like today's challenge. So I thought I should get this in writing before my determination falls by the wayside.

This week's bite: Week 4 is to establish an evening routine. pick 5 things to do before you go to bed. little things that you will be glad you did in the morning.

Oh, how I need this. I have been dissatisfied with my lack of an evening routine for a while forever, but I always have a good excuse. Others have excuses...I have my reasons why. Yes, I like folk country. So here are my five things to do- not TRY to do- but really DO, before bed. I promise I'm not just copying Lea's list, although they do favor each other. It would be an honor to favor Lea.

1. Put away the laundry and leave the dryer empty. I am not good at this.
2.  Make a to-do list for the next day. I usually start this about 8:30am, and it would be more motivating to know what I needed to do ahead of time.
3. Look over Scripture memory. Work on verses while I do my physical therapy exercises in bed. I don't always fall asleep quickly, and this would be a nice multi-tasking and Biblical use of my time in bed. The Scripture, not the exercises. See how I worked two into one? Over-achiever that I am.
4. Get in bed by 9:30pm- light's out by 10pm. There are a lot of people who just have to go to bed early to be happy, and I'm realizing that if I want to have any hope of a nice morning routine, this is key. I can not be both a morning person, and a night person. So I'm ditching the night me (who is not very productive anyway).
5. Clean up my room/clear off the desk (also in our room).

Obviously not in that order. Are you in need of an evening routine or do you already have that down? What's on your Top 5 List?

Back to the regularly scheduled laundry.

An idea

Not mine. Head over to Lea's Blog if you need motivation to start some of the small steps and habits (i.e. 52 Bites) in Tsh Oxenreider's new e-book. I downloaded the book for $5, and while not all of the "Bites" will apply, that just means I may have a few extra weeks to work on other things I haven't quite mastered...I can think of a few. Exercise is a big one. Lea is taking one Bite a week, following the book, and is making a cute printable poster to go along with it each week for our printing pleasure. I could do a whole post on decorating with printables. So could she. She's a genius, that Lea. Anyway, care to join us? You don't necessarily have to buy the e-book to participate, but I think it's worth the $5.

And in other news, I've been playing around with a new lens. Still so much to learn! We keep harvesting plenty from the garden. My ebay selling is not going so well, which I think means my IKEA trip will not be quite as much fun. But oh well...I can't blame them for not wanting my junk. I'm off to throw together a taco salad.

A favorite summertime drink

Now that summer is almost over (did I mention it's pretty cool here at night, especially with the attic fan running?), I have a family-friendly summer drink to share. It's not really a recipe, and I stumbled upon this combination unintentionally.  During my first trimester I have a tough time getting much water down, so my sister-in-law suggested carbonated water. Just plain water with CO2. Nothing fancy. I'm sure there could be issues with it being in an aluminum can, but it has no sugar in it. The Santa Cruz organic lemonade has no preservatives and is usually on sale for $1.25 at our local grocery store. Fill a glass with ice, add about 1 T. of juice or lemonade per tall glass (less for these kid-sized glasses) and then fill all the way up with sparkling water. The kids think they are getting some sort of soda, and I don't mind them having 1 T. of lemonade every so often. It's become our Sunday night treat (and my 6 times a day treat). It's a lemonade tonic of sorts. I like to use a reusable straw, but the kids like the bendy straws. And you know what happened to the glass straws.

P.S. I'm joining The 10 Day Produce and Protein Challenge over at The Nourishing Gourmet- care to join us?