5 REASONS TO LOVE THESE DAILY/WEEKLY JOBS

I posted a similar post over 1 year ago but, I thought it deserved another mention.  These are good reasons to love the jobs we have to do.   Here's how:

1:   Vaccuming burns about 100 calories in about 25 minutes

2:   Walking burns 100 calories in about 15 minutes

3:   Dancing will burn 100 calories in just 20 minutes, so turn on your favorite tunes and go for it.

4:   Ironing clothes will burn 100 calories in just 25 minutes, you have to do it so you might as well know how it benefits you.

5:   Housework you have to do so make it count, 20 minutes of vigorous housework will burn just over 100 calories.   So this means, when you clean the bathroom you lost some weight.

That's pretty cool right?   I think so.....

Enjoy!

JAX

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HALLOWEEN DECOS 101

I love the Holidays, I get to decorate and have friends and family over and Halloween is no exception.

So this year I decided to make Halloween decos and this is the first one I will share, my 2x3 foot paper mache spider!   The kids have a great time with the paper mache and they get to do it together.   So, let's get started.

This is what you will need:

1.   Lot's of strips and sheets of newspaper or any other kind of scratch paper you have ( avoid colored ones)
2.   A balloon or something that resembles the shape you want the spider's body
3.   Masking tape
4.   Paper mache paste: I use 1 part flour to 1 1/2 part water respectively ( make it just a little thicker than elmers glue) it will thicken as it sits so don't go to thick.
5.   Paint in colors of your choice to finish the spider.

Step 1:
Make the body by blowing up the balloon the size you want, make the head by using a square sheet of newspaper and stuffing it with wadded up paper, wrap it up the shape you want and tape it together.   Now tape the head and body together.   Next, I took a full sheet of newspaper and cut it lengthwise.   I folded it up 1 inch wide to make some nice long legs. Tape these to the top side of the spiders body slightly overlapping them. Now you are ready to get dirty!

Step 2:

Now, start dipping the strips of paper in the paper mache paste, be sure that they are wet but not dripping.
Wrap you spider in at least 3 layers (I recommend 4) all the way around.  I made the legs by twisting them up and layering with 4 layers of mache strips.   Here is the big guy after his wrapping, notice I had to prop him up so he wouldn't stick to the paper on the table, as well as to hold him in place.  Also, position the legs the way you want them and use various household items to hold them in place while drying as you can
see I did here.   Allow to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
 
Once dry, paint and decorate as you wish.




HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!

Jacqui Allen

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REALITY CHECK!

Some of you may have notice that I haven't posted lately, some may not have and some of you probably don't care (that's ok, I know you're busy).   But, I do want to share what's been going on (there is an important lesson to learn here!)  

In the last few months I have taken a part time job (needed some extra cash), in 3 weeks time I have had a total of 7 house guests and I have come to the realization that I have been managing my life a little too well (maybe even too too well?).   At first, I thought "it wouldn't be that much of a strain after all it is only 4 hours a day 5 days/week and I would be working right out my office at home (Sweet!)".   Well, I couldn't have been more wrong (I wouldn't admit this normally, but in the name of "full disclosure" I will make an exception).

THE FALL OUT:

First and foremost, I am ashamed and embarrased to admit that I have not been feeding my family very well.   My house is a mess (not so feng shui right now) and everybody is so tense, uptight and short tempered that it has turned into a nightmare!!!!!   At first, I told myself "everyone will get used to it" (at this point the likehood of that happening is a snowballs chance in YOU KNOW WHERE.....)   So, I ask myself "WHY?"   Like I mentioned above, I have been managing my life too well.   Which as become a great disservice to my family, because apparently I have not done them or myself any favors by not delagating more responsibility to them. (Family, I say this with love and I take full responsibility).   That, I find to be a very BAD decision on my part to allow this to happen (again, I wouldn't normally admit to this).   Oh, yeah the answer to my question "WHY?"   Listen carefully because I will never admit to this again!   I am not a very good delagator (it's so much easier to just do it myself, I know I sound like a control freak).   AND I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG!  

THE PLAN:

1:   I WILL learn to delagate more responsibility to the members of our household.
2:   I WILL teach my family to be independant members of our household and not just follow me like baby ducks.
3:   I WILL take time out for me.
4:   I WILL learn to say "NO".

Well, that is it in a nutshell.....It's been quite a rollercoaster ride these last few months.   I will keep you updated on the progress.

ENJOY!

Jacqui Allen

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