operation recovery.

Well i dont know about you, but i had a pretty enjoyable christmas. it was my first christmas not with my family. luckily the people i was with made me feel right at home. but now that i've eaten about 15 pounds of tasty foods and completely wrecked my house, its time to put some order back into things. here's the dilemma: i work. A LOT. and i'm tired. A LOT. this means absolutely no motivation to clean. and with new years right around the corner, i've gotta get my shit together. i thought a lot of us might be having the same issue, so i might as well throw out a few suggestions of how i motivate myself.

1) i always clean when i'm home alone. (why you may ask? so i can crank up the music my room mate hates, dance like an idiot, and clean in my underwear)

2) make a goal. but a reasonable small one. i.e. today im going to clean the bathroom. instead of, today i have to clean my whole house. this is usually helpful because then the task isn't so daunting, and once i start cleaning i get into the cleaning mode and usually end up doing the whole house anyways.

3) make daily to do lists. don't put more than seven things on them. that way the list still looks long, but you can find time to do most of the stuff between jobs and sleep. plus there is a nice satisfaction to crossing something off a list. and it helps to you to organize and prioritize.

4) holidays dont mean dieting to me. or overstuffing my face. (even though i would love nothing better) This year i did a pretty good job. I ate just about everything. but instead of my normal mammoth sized portions i just to a small sample of everything. No belly ache, and room for dessert. plus i didnt have to wear my thanksgiving pants. So for the holidays remember: indulge , but dont OVERindulge.

see you in the new year!

tis the season to spend all your money

i love christmas. i love getting people presents. finding the perfect gift for someone is a gift in and of itself. But i'm sure everyone has a tight budget this christmas season with the economy being so low and jobs being so sparse.

here are some helpful hints:

• compare prices before you buy. even if you are planning on going to an actual store, go online and check out prices. gather some knowledge about the product before you buy. then if you find a lower price online, but dont want to pay shipping. Tell someone you found it cheaper, see if they will match the price. worst case scenario they say no. best case: you save some money and feel like a champion bargainer.
• Make gifts. this sometimes comes out to about the same price, but it usually means a lot more to the recipient. besides, what says love like home made? You can get a box of cheap ornaments and some paint and make personalized ornaments. or cookies. everyone loves cookies. check out some helpful dyi sites.
• re-use old christmas bags. no need to keep buying new ones. recycle that! plus its more eco-friendly.
• coupons! home made coupons. good for family. Like ie: good for one home made dinner. or good for one clean house. something simple that makes it easier on your family is always appreciated.
• Secret santa with your friends. if all of you are on a tight budget, dont worry about getting everyone something. trade names and set a price limit. its just as much fun. plus it gives you guys and extra excuse to get together for a party.
• Dollar general and thrift store it up for your decorating needs. Sometimes they surprise you with what they have.
• donate any thing you dont use anymore to salvation army or goodwill, spread the good cheer.

Those are just a few ideas. Hope your holidays are filled with warm houses, warm wishes, and warm people.