A Month of Confidence: House and Home

Welcome to the last week of a Month of Confidence!

Last week we focused on our jobs and hobbies.

I did great with school! I hardly had anything to bring home this week. I think the fact that my classes have been switched has been a big help! I used to teach the average-leveled 7th graders both literature and language arts. Now, I teach the average 7th graders literature and then the lower-level 7th graders (the remedial class) literature as well. Although the pacing is a challenge, and focusing them to learn and act their age (the lower level is quite immature), I feel that it has been a blessing in disguise because it is less planning as I am at the mercy of their comprehending pace.

I have been able to read a little bit from The Happiest Baby on the Block and my Queen Elizabeth I book, but not as much as I wanted. I found a bejeweled Frozen game for free on the iPhone, and I've been playing that every minute I've got! So, I have been playing "video games" and Justin has been loving to watch...I didn't play videogames with Justin, but we've been watching a lot of movies and playing board games together, so I'm ok with that. And obviously I didn't learn how to schedule posts (except for blogger, which I already knew, and facebook).

This week, we'll be focusing on house and home:

<center> <a href=" http://www.themorrelltale.com/2014/11/a-month-of-confidence-job-and-hobbies.html " target="_blank"><img alt="A Month of Confidence" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUr8TlmPsx2fhecjrrPmYv4WO7ePBEHl1OHXpByAztZs0asL6XvKr7tham8zPpB3fde2rQUqt0efRMn6lzC819l3FCcUJjWvWs6Z_cXgTjC0MgnRG1N5g3dyN1y2ClSGLP182p617VQwQ/s1600/005.jpg"/></a></center>

In our old apartment, we were terrible about keeping it clean. And it was so small, that a minuscule mess looked like a hurricane's path. But, we were both gone all day and exhausted in the evening. The first month or so living here, it was pretty easy to keep clean--I was home all day, my mom was over constantly, and I was too exhausted with a baby to make any sort of mess. When I started teaching, Justin stayed home for a month or so while he searched for jobs. He played Mr. Mom and did a good job of taking care of Rhys and some household chores. But, now that we are both working, it's getting harder. Dishes and laundry piling up, dirt tracked in on the floors, substituting fast food for a freshly cooked dinner...

But, just because you work (as well as your spouse), doesn't mean that your house needs to become a disaster zone, nor does it mean you have to use half your Saturday to clean it again. There are small things you can do to have confidence in your home. (It should be pretty easy for me, as we will be gone to relatives for half the week!)

Here is my plan for the Week of House and Home:

- Burn candles, especially specifically smelling ones (like lavender that helps relieve anxiety).

- Do dishes after every meal!

- Make sure laundry doesn't pile up. And, when I do laundry, immediately fold it!

- Do a 10 minute cleanup before bed every night to help alleviate the mess.

- Get in touch with Bonnie about hosting a Scentsy party. I love candles and want to become more interested in Scensty, as well as I want to host. By hostessing, you become determined to make your house presentable.

I suggest that you also keep a confidence journal. I am, and each day I will have 3 lists:

1) Drops of Awesome--little things I did or accomplished
2) Little Moments--I have a quote in my living room that says, "Enjoy the little things in life, for someday they will be the big things."
3) Grateful List--small blessings

Sunday, November 30: Reflection on a Month of Confidence

Check out this lovely lady!