Make A Change Monday | A Day in Mollywood

Make a Change Monday – Week 4

April 4, 2011 By Molly

I’m excited. Like, really excited to tell you guys about the change I made this past weekend.

I challenged myself to use enough coupons to save $20. Guess what? I DID IT!!!

I clipped some coupons of things I knew I needed to buy. Then off I went to the grocery store with two kids in tow. Can I just say that the grocery store is no longer an easy trip. Gone are the days where I could peruse the aisles looking for the best deal. Landon is at the age where his patience for sitting in a shopping cart wears thin after approximately five minutes. I find myself doing the mom dance of trying to keep him entertained while gathering only what I need to make a couple dinners. It works but it’s stressful.

And poor Brigham was fighting a nasty ear infection this weekend. He screamed pretty much the entire time we were in the store. Good times. Few things make me sweat more than my baby crying with strangers staring at me like I’m the worst mom ever for “letting” my baby cry.

Even better was the check-out lady who gave me the side-eye when I politely told her to be patient with me because this was my first time using coupons. I expected a little chatter back and forth. She was not amused.

I don’t blame her. I only promised to USE coupons. I didn’t say I would be organized about using them. You see, I got ready to check out and out came my plastic baggy of coupons. While trying to take out the ones I was actually using the line was getting longer, Brigham was screaming louder, Landon had kicked his shoes off and thrown them across the store and some of my coupons were falling on the floor.

Organization FAIL.

So if there are any readers out there who use coupons successfully please inform me of the correct way to organize your coupons so it’s not one big mess when you get ready to check out. I need help in that department. Obviously.

Oh well, now for the good part. Saving money!

Price Chopper:

Total before savings – $65.92
Total savings – $14.14
Total after savings – $51.78

Target:

Total before savings – $152.63
Total savings – $15.85
Total after savings – $135.78

Please note that I have the Target debit card which gives me an extra 5% off every time I shop. I also have the Price Chopper rewards card, which provides extra savings. So those are included in my total savings. But still, it’s pretty darn good for a coupon newbie, yes?

I’m excited to challenge myself and save even more this week! Especially now that I know it can work. I need to do some more couponing research!

It’s time to Make a Change once again.

Here are the very easy rules . . .

*Decide one thing you will do/try to change up during the coming week.

*Blog about this change on Monday

*Come back the following Monday and blog about your successes or um, non-successes

*Also put your new challenge for change in the same post

*Link up at A Day in Mollywood and support everyone as they Make a Change!

This week I am going to change how I take care of my skin at night. A reader of mine used Make a Change Monday to promise that she would clean her face every night. I am so bad about doing this as well. Most nights I’m so tired that I brush my teeth and crawl into bed. But I bought some new face wash (with coupons, yay!) and I’m ready to wash my face like a good girl. Hopefully my skin will look better by the end of the week!

What will you change this week? Link up and tell me!

Filed Under: Brigham, Landon, Make a Change Monday, Mommy Moments, Sickies, Your Three Words 11 Comments

Make a Change Monday – Week 3

March 28, 2011 By Molly

Well, lookie here! I’ve kept this going for three weeks. I know not many folks are linking up for this (thank you to Cindy at The Martha Complex for linking up last week!) but I’m still going to continue to do this. I’ll post the link up each Monday. I’ll make a button soon too, promise. Please don’t feel like this has to be a long post either. My posts are always long because I’m reaaaalllly long winded. Just ask my husband. Moving on . . .

My challenge for last week was to cook dinner at home each night. Let me share a little something with you. I loathe going to the grocery store. It is one of my most unfavorite-ist places. I usually go in without a list and wind up throwing random things in my cart. And with two kids in tow? Yeah, it’s not pleasant. I went last Sunday to get everything on my e-mealz grocery list and Landon screamed “Mommy GO GO GO!” every time I stopped the cart. At one point he was finally quiet but that’s only because he was eating the block of cheese I had purchased for one of my meals. Yep, he ate through the plastic to get to the cheese. I was mortified. I hid the half-eaten block of cheese somewhere in the toilet paper aisle.

Anyhoo, I didn’t make it home with all the ingredients for my meal plan. I cooked that night but it didn’t taste that great. The next night my meal didn’t taste that great either. So, I guess you could say I lost my mojo. Naaman cooked a couple nights since I worked late. Everything tastes better when he cooks.

I don’t like cooking. It stresses me out. Half the time I don’t have the right ingredients for the recipe or I can’t find the correct utensils. I burn stuff. A lot. I wish I were better at cooking and I know there has to be an easier way.

I think that’s why these little weekly challenges are so important. I feel bad that I didn’t cook every single night like I wanted to but I bet that even people who love to cook have off-nights too. For some reason, it is important for me to become better at cooking and provide healthier meals for my family. Doing this challenge, although not fully completed, only reaffirmed that desire for me. For that reason I am going to keep at it!

It’s time to Make a Change once again.

Here are the very easy rules . . .

*Decide one thing you will do/try to change up during the coming week.

*Blog about this change on Monday

*Come back the following Monday and blog about your successes or um, non-successes

*Also put your new challenge for change in the same post

*Link up at A Day in Mollywood and support everyone as they Make a Change!

Here’s my new challenge for this week -

Go grocery shopping and use enough coupons to save at least $20 off the bill. I follow like 1,000 coupon blogs. And I never use them! That makes no sense, right? I have wanted to figure out how to use coupons to save money for I don’t know how long. This is my week!

Please link up so I can read about the changes you are making in your lives. I want to hear from you!

Filed Under: Make a Change Monday 3 Comments

Make a Change Monday – Week 2

March 21, 2011 By Molly

::pokes head out from under the covers::

Oh, hi there. I wasn’t sure anyone would show up today. But there you are! So I guess I better get my butt up because remember? I’m done making excuses. Except apparently I’m not done. Who knew making one little change would be so difficult? Let me back up a bit.

Last Week’s change was to meditate each day for 5-10 minutes. I swear my intentions were good. One part of my brain wanted to punch this challenge in the face. Unfortunately the other wanted to stress out about every tiny detail of life, per usual. Maybe I was crazy to pick last week to start this challenge. After all, we just sold our house, they performed inspections and we had no idea whether we would pass or the buyer would walk. As I was saying . . . S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L.

But it doesn’t matter. I should have stuck to my plan. I am embarrassed that I did not follow through with my challenge. But I am here to tell you that I am over those feelings. Because yesterday, I had a fabulous day.

First, we made an offer on an amazing new home for our family! Secondly, both boys napped at the same time so I got some time to myself. I was going to waste time and watch another episode of True Blood (hello, new time-waster!). But I realized my NetFlix DVD was due to be sent back. Instead I started looking through the new releases to instant stream.

Suddenly, there it was. The Secret. I had always wanted to read the book as I’m a big Oprah fan and I have loved every book that she has ever plugged. But it always seemed kind of cheesy. I mean, really? What’s the big “secret” anyway. Even though I was skeptical I went ahead and watched it. At first I was not impressed with the message. But when they explained exactly what The Secret is, I was hooked.

I am not here to tell you to read and/or watch The Secret. I am just here to tell you that after I watched it I was moved to action. Love it or hate it . . . it worked for me yesterday and that’s all that really matters right now. I need to be inspired to make even one little change. One minute after the movie ended I meditated for the very first time!

I opened all the windows on a glorious first day of spring. Slivers of sunlight shone bright onto the wood floor. At first I sat on the rug but then I felt the sudden urge to sit directly in the sun, with those yellow slivers dancing all over body. The curtains blew with each gentle breeze. I closed my eyes and worked to find the messages that I would send in and out of my body.

Each time I inhaled I thought – Good will come to you

Each time I exhaled I thought – Bad will leave you

I could hear noises beyond my neighborhood. A car whizzing by our street. A police siren down the road. Instead I worked to clue myself into only one noise – a cheery chirping bird singing outside my window.

It was so difficult to keep my mind on only those two thoughts. With each breath, short but stressful messages would pop up in the midst of my peace-finding mission.

Brigham is going to start crying any moment. I just know it.

How are we going to pack. I don’t even have any boxes. 30 days. 30 days. 30 days.

The negative thoughts flooded my brain. This is completely normal for me. But I was steadfast in trying to keep them out. And from everything I have read it gets easier each time you practice meditation. It is not a natural skill. It is one that must be developed over time. I am not going to quit. I am going to keep trying to make a change!

Now it’s time to Make a Change once again.

Here are the very easy rules . . .

*Decide one thing you will do/try to change up during the coming week.

*Blog about this change on Monday

*Come back the following Monday and blog about your successes or um, non-successes

*Also put your new challenge for change in the same post

*Link up at A Day in Mollywood and support everyone as they Make a Change!

Here’s my new challenge for this week -

Cook dinner at home each night this week. You might think this would be easy. But you’re talking to the take-out and fast food queen here. I’m one step ahead though as I already have our menu and went grocery shopping!

Please link up so I can read about the changes you are making in your lives. I want to hear from you!

Filed Under: Make a Change Monday, Mommy Moments, Stuff I Love 8 Comments

Kicking Off – Make a Change Monday!

March 14, 2011 By Molly

Remember my sad little post from last Monday? The one where I wrote that I don’t know how to change. Well, I took some time and figured out that it was all bullshit. Yep, I said it. I totally know how to change. The real issue? I’m scared. I don’t care how cheesy that sounds. It’s the truth. I’m scared to change.

I know some people hate the ground Dr. Phil walks on. But what he says rings true. He always asks his guests, what do you get out of being miserable? And the guests always say, tearfully, nothing. Then his eyeballs bulge out and he points his finger in their face and says, “It’s time to get real, people!” Okay, Dr. Phil. I’m listening.

Here is what I get out of being unhealthy and miserable —- it’s safe. it’s home. it’s what I do best. I’ve perfected the art of it for 32 years. I don’t know what healthy and happy truly feels like. It’s like those people who keep an old, God awful looking recliner for 20 years. What if the new chair isn’t as comfy? My depression has a sweet spot that I have grown to love. I sink my butt right down in it and it feels just right.

But now this Goldilocks wants a brand new Lazy Boy. Er, I mean, I want to know what happy and healthy and positive truly feels like. So I’m taking a chance and making a change.

Heretofor, Mondays will be reserved for “Make a Change” Monday!

I want to make a change but

I need to make a change but

I could, should, would make a change but

WHATEVER! The excuses stop today.

Mondays will be my time to discuss one little change I have decided to make in my life (or a big change if I’m feeling especially sassy). There are all kinds of little things I’ve always wanted to change or try but there is ALWAYS an excuse. I figured putting it all out there on the old blog might hold me accountable.

So here are the very easy rules . . .

*Decide one thing you will do/try to change up during the coming week.
*Blog about this change on Monday
*Come back the following Monday and blog about your successes or um, non-successes
*Also put your new challenge for change in the same post

Will anyone join me in making a change? Are you with me, people? Did I lose you when I mentioned Dr. Phil?

Here’s my new challenge for this week -

Read a book about meditation and mindfulness and find 5-10 minutes each day to meditate.

It sounds easy but if you only knew how difficult it is to make my racing thoughts stop! I am bound and determined to begin this journey though. I might keep a small journal with a few notes of my changes. That way when I blog about it on Sunday night I won’t be stuck trying to remember what I did. A lot happens in one week and my short term memory went bye-bye when I got pregnant with Landon.

What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? Want to make some changes? If you do, next week I am going to make this feature a link up! So think about a change you have been wanting to make. Write it up for next Monday and come back and link up with me!

I’ll leave you with one more Dr. Phil quote for good measure:

“Are you doing what you’re doing today because you want to do it or because it’s what you were doing yesterday?”

Filed Under: Make a Change Monday 11 Comments