Housewife Life: I busted my knee

 

Do you ever have so much going on that you know you need to slow down but don't and then God or Fate or whatever higher power you believe in steps in and makes you to slow your roll?

That happened Tuesday night. I was taking a bath because I needed some quiet time, but I wasn't just getting quiet time. I was checking things off my list.

Take a bath...check!

Face mask...check!

Soak feet...check!

Then, getting out of the tub, I fell in a way that should have majorly injured me, but my guardian angel was apparently doing overtime and kept me from hitting my head, breaking a bone or tearing a ligament.

I'm just bruised. However, as I was falling I heard a pop in my knee and then when I woke up at 2:42 AM and was so incredibly uncomfortable that I couldn't fall asleep, I woke Chris up to take me to the emergency room.

After a quick exam and set of X-Rays, the doctor told me it was just bruised and to rest, elevate it, ice it and take some ibuprofen to reduce swelling.

So what does that mean? I need to slow it down. I rested all day yesterday and I have rested 50% of the time so far today. And I hate it! I have so much I need to do and so much I want to do, but I have a vacation coming up and I don't want to jeopardize the vacation in any way.

Bathroom update:
They demoed the bathroom yesterday and the plumber is coming today to do some of the plumbing things that need to happen before they can move forward.

Life update:
I am heading to my hometown early tomorrow morning because my parent's neighbor passed away. Julie has been my parents neighbor since we moved into that house right after I was born. She was my "stand-in" grandma for grandparents day when I was young. She has always been a fixture in my hometown world and she will be greatly missed.

Then, Saturday, we are going to visit Chris's uncle who has been going through cancer treatments for almost a year. We are going to spend the day with them and come back to Nashville that evening.

Vacation is imminent. Which means I have a bunch of stuff to accomplish. I like a clean house and an empty hamper before we leave, but some of that will have to be compromised due to the knee injury and the bathroom renovation. I'm learning to live with that.

Have a good week everyone! Stay tuned for a weekly menu tomorrow. Share what is going on in your life below!

Kitchen Tip: Try a Power Hour

The list never ends. I know. There is always something to do in the kitchen. Unload the dishwasher. Put away the dishes. Clean the fridge. Sweep. Mop. Dust. Prep fruits and veggies. The list seems to grow every minute.

Here is something I do to keep my kitchen under control. I schedule a power hour. A power hour is an uninterrupted sixty minutes where you turn on music or podcasts or an audio book and just get the work done. You set a timer and at the end of the hour, you are done.

Why does this work? You make it like a game and challenge yourself to get your entire list done. Sometimes you can even get bonus items done. At the end of the hour, you treat yourself to your beverage of choice and a few minutes scrolling through Instagram or your social media of choice.

Thank you to Gretchen Rubin and YouTube's StyleMomXO for the idea to add the Power Hour to my routine!

Have you tried a Power Hour? Did you like it?  Comment Below!

Going to the Beach: Grocery Shopping Tips

For the first time beach vacationer, the biggest surprise might be that on Saturday and Sunday, the grocery stores resemble the kind of stores that are on the news on Black Friday. There are SO MANY PEOPLE in a grocery store that is foreign to them. Lines are long, aisles are crowded, it is rough.

Over the years we have tried several strategies that have varying levels of success that I want to share with you.

Strategy #1:
Shop immediately.
Unload car as soon as you can possibly check in and go to the grocery store with everyone and give each person a small list broken up by sections.

Pros: You only have to navigate one section of the store. It cuts the time in the store down.
Cons: You bring a lot of people into the store. The person who made the list is needed to answer questions. Impossible to do with children.

Strategy #2:
Wait until after dinner to shop.
Unload the car. Unpack. Settle in. Visit the beach. Have dinner. Then shop.

Pros: The store is much quieter. You get to have some fun before going to the store.
Cons: You probably won't get everything on your list.

Strategy #3:
Bring what you need for the first couple of days with you.
Shop at home in your own grocery store and bring it with you.

Pros: You won't have to go to the grocery store immediately. The stores are less crowded on Monday and Tuesday.
Cons: You will have to haul a lot of food with you which could take up valuable cargo space.

Strategy #4:
Use a grocery pick up or delivery service.
Order online and skip the hassle of going into a store.

Pros: Grocery shopping will take less than 30 minutes. You won't actually have to go into a store.
Cons: This may not be available everywhere. It takes some extra pre-planning.

How do you grocery shop when you go on a beach vacation? Do you cook a lot on a beach vacation? Share below!

Motivational Monday: Celebrate Every Tiny Victory

Four years ago, I accomplished something I never thought I could. I climbed to the top of a lighthouse.

There were two things I had to conquer to do that. First, I am not what you would call "fit". The climb was difficult for me physically. Second, I'm actually terrified of climbing heights. Heights don't bother me. Give me an elevator to the top of a 100 story building...I would love that. Its the actual climbing because, well, I'm kind of klutzy. Stairs freak me out.

So as I was climbing to the top of that lighthouse, there was a landing every 13 steps.

And I hugged the wall at every landing because I was safe for a minute.

But I also celebrated.

I was 13 steps closer to the top, so I looked down to see the spiral I had climbed. I looked out the window to see how far off the ground I was. Then I took a deep breath and kept going.

This year, I have come to view that climb as a metaphor for life. Every landing is a victory. Even though the ultimate goal is several landings away, you have to take the time to celebrate every victory along the way...no matter how small.

Are you working toward a big goal in your life? Are you taking the time to celebrate every victory? Share below!

Weekly Menu

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

One Sheet Pan Lemon Basil Chicken from Wholesomelicious
Sloppy Joes from Physical Kitchness
Crockpot Pork Roast from Skinnytaste
Whole30 Shrimp and Grits from 40 Aprons

Housewife Life: We're remodeling...

I thrive on order. I like to plan. I like my house to stay tidy. I like quiet. I like my alone time. I like my routine.

That being said, while I need things to be orderly, I am more laid-back than the first paragraph would suggest. For me, planning is a way to handle the little things life throws at you. I have established a routine that makes it possible for me to be ready for anything at the drop of a hat. 

For example, in February, when my grandmother became ill, I was able to pack suitcases and leave for 10 days without worrying that I had left a dirty house, a mountain of laundry and unpaid bills. To make things even more complicated, my husband remained home and had to pack a suitcase to follow me up to Cincinnati and continue on a business trip from Cincinnati.

So, while I love order, I remain flexible.

In just a few weeks, we embark on our biennial beach trip, which kicks off three weeks of traveling for me. I will have a few pit stops at home along the way, but I won't have much time between trips to do much more than laundry and making sure things are in working order here and at my mother-in-laws.

To make my life even more complicated, stressful and decision fatigued, I just signed with a contractor to remodel one of our master bathrooms.

So, to follow along with me and my craziness, follow me on Instagram at @adventureswithjennie to see my choices, the progress and check on my sanity.


Have you ever remodeled a bathroom? Do you have any tips for me? Share in the comments below.

Update: Flourish July 2018

July July July

It was a good month. I got lots done, my house is clean, and I am finally living my best life.

So here are my updates!

In Progress
1. Write Daily
2. Learn German
3. Use a Daily Gratitude Journal
4. Use a Daily One-Sentence Journal
5. Make a go of my blog
7. Daily Devotional
8. Read 60 Books (I just finished number 34)
12. Send regular updates to family and friends
15. Work out 2-3 times a week
16. Remodel Bathroom (We just agreed to a quote and are waiting on a start date!)

Updated
10. Adopt. We have decided to start by fostering and submitted an inquiry to the state.
14. Complete 2 Whole 30s. I converted to 100 Days to Destin, which is going very, very well.

Complete
6. Become a Travel Agent!
9. Buy a Shed!
11. Create my perfect planner!

Still to come...
13. Travel to a New Place (August)
17. New Bedroom Carpeting
18. New Kitchen Flooring

In Progress
3. Do Something New Every Month
5. Purge and Organize Entire House
7. Meditate Daily
14. Celebrate Small Holidays
16. Be Better at Sending Birthday Cards
17. File Monthly
18. Wash Car
22. Go to the Zoo Monthly
23. Gallery Wall in Hallway (Almost Complete)
24. Mask Thursdays
25. Go to 4 Major Concerts/Plays and 2 Community Plays
28. Text a friend everyday
29. Maintain Whole30 Lifestyle
31. Take More Baths
32. Weekly Power Hours
33. Organize Recipes
34. Digital Declutter
36. Visit Florence Three Times

Updated


Complete
1. Buy a Purse
6. Have Septic Take Serviced
8. Have Dryer Vent Cleaned
9. New Living Room Curtains
12. Take Chris to visit Owen
15. Update Dish Rags
20. New Mattresses
26. Go to a Dermatologist

Still to Come
2. Remodel Office
4. Volunteer Twice a Month
10 Girl's Weekend with E
11. Girls Weekend with T & G
13. Decorate Front Area
19. Update Bath Mats
21. Go to Frist 6 Times
27. Colonoscopy
30. Get more Involved at Women's Club
35. Plan a Weekend Getaway with Chris

And that is it...How was your July? What is your biggest goal for August?