New Record

Dinner = my archnemesis.

I don't know what it is, but I hate making dinner. It stresses me out almost every single day, and there have been too many days to count when we just went out to eat because neither of us had the motivation to make dinner.

It was different when I was single and in college because I didn't really worry about making a real dinner. I would usually eat a sandwich with a can of sliced peaches. I also remember making a lot of pasta, ramen, burritos, and pancakes. Not the healthiest, but it got me through.

Fast forward a couple of years and it's mine and Jayze's first dinner together in our first apartment as newlyweds. I had excitedly concocted an enchilada casserole in, what I thought, was a huge portion. I carefully set it down on the blue tablecloth we had received from our wedding (that was placed on the floor since we didn't have a table or couches) and stood back, proud of my efforts. This was a rarity when I was single, so I was eager to dig in.

I sat back, satisfied, after my plateful and then, shocked, watched Jayze eat the rest.

"I was planning for us to eat that all week!" I said, dumbfounded.

Jayze looked at me, looked at the empty casserole dish, then sheepishly said, "Oh, sorry..."

That woke me up to the realization of:

1. How much my new husband could eat (haha)
2. I was going to have to do this every single night. (!) 

However, my vehemence towards making dinner isn't just derived from that one experience (not ALL your fault, hon). :) It also stems from a busy schedule of going to college full-time and working part-time with a very limited budget. 

Let's just say it wasn't super motivating coming home with the expectation I would have to make more than the routine pb&j sandwiches and canned peaches. 

Thus began a roller coaster of me (or Jayze - he has specifically said many times I don't have to make dinner every night) making delicious delicacies on some days and us going out for burgers and fries other days (or eating mounds of Marshmallow Mateys when I was pregnant). Oh, and Taco Bell - I can't say enough about their excellent bean burritos.

I had my good spurts. Right before we had Aidan, I found an extensive freezer meal blog. I fixed up a batch of meals, stored them in the freezer, and we were good to go. That, along with people bringing us dinner for the first week after he was born, saved our budget and our sanity. I did the same thing right before Kimball was born, too. 

However, for the past 4.5 years we've been married it's been a struggle. It's weird because I do like cooking and baking, but I hate making dinner. 

Well, since we moved to Wichita, it's been the same roller coaster. I'll meal plan, get all the ingredients, and make dinners. But it's inevitable that when 4:00 rolls around, I lose motivation and we end up going out to eat. 

Ouch to our wallet, ouch to our waistlines, and ouch to my confidence as a homemaker.

Aidan even asks for Taco Bell every time we pass it now. I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing...

Anyway, the point of this whole post is we're on a NEW RECORD. It has been exactly two weeks and four days since we have eaten out. That's right...almost three whole weeks! 

Guys, this is a big, B-I-G deal. 

My secret has been...dun, dun, dun...my handy-dandy slow cooker. And one cheat meal (think boxed mac 'n cheese or beef hot dogs).

Mornings are when I'm most productive and when the kids are the happiest, so I'll just make a quick dinner in the morning and it's done. The cheat meal is for when I either missed the deadline for putting the slow cooker meal in or we've run out of dinner ideas and/or creative juices or energy with our leftover ingredients.

We've tried to eat super healthy, but sometimes we just have to give somewhere, right? I am a perfectionist at heart and it's either feel guilty for eating an unhealthy meal (cheat meal - the slow cooker ones are actually healthy) or feel guilty for eating out for the second or third time in a row.

Needless to say, this is saving me us so much stress and money. I also found I'm much more motivated to make a more time-consuming dinner some nights because I'm not burned out anymore. *High five*

I am killing this dinner thing, and it feels gooooood. 

Now if I can just apply this to getting up early...:)

Yesterday

After a series of not-so-good days, yesterday was a perfect day (according to the life of Sarah Flake).

I got to lay in bed for a few precious minutes before taking on the day in my mommy-wife-personal responsibilities. It was glorious.

After not taking a shower for way too many days, I fit in two, separate showers.

Kimball went four hours in-between feedings and took long, regular naps. 

It was the first time bathing Kimball in the kitchen sink without the little bathtub, and it was a success!

The kids and I got in some good playing time, especially Aidan and me. "Mom, play?"

I rocked my exercise, even though I was not feeling it. Some days are just like that. 

I studied my scriptures and even had time to read a regular book, too.

Both kids went down for a nap at the same time, albeit in separate rooms.  

I took both of the kids outside. We took out the trash, paid rent, checked the mail, then had a fun few minutes playing on the grass.  

I had the energy to whip up two beautiful, homemade pizzas. Having an oven has really made baking fun again. 

Aidan scarfed down the beautiful, veggie-loaded pizza. Winner dinner.

Even though Jayze had a spontaneous work dinner, the evening was still fun and relaxing with just me and the kids. 

Aidan let me sing two verses of our bedtime song while rocking him. Afterwards, we laughed at Kimball eating his toes and kicking his legs in the bouncer.  

Both of the kids went to bed in the same room at the same time. (YES!)

I got some veg time in before Jayze came home. Then he helped me with the dishes while we talked about our day. Then we snuggled in bed while still talking about our day. 

It was the most wonderful evening. 

Good days like yesterday make the not-so-good days worth it. I'm grateful for both so I can notice the difference. 

Happy November!

On Laundry

Over the Christmas break, I was talking to my sister-in-law about household duties and habits. During the course of the conversation, we got on the subject of laundry, and she mentioned she only did laundry once a week. And she has two kids.

That blew my mind because after Aidan was born, he was wetting and blowing out through his clothes so often that I began doing laundry multiple times throughout the week, and it became a habit.

A habit of never-ending laundry. 

There was always a clean load in the dryer needing to be folded and put away, clothes scattered in both bathrooms, clothes on our bedroom floor (whether clean or not), and dirty clothes in the hampers by our bed. I didn't mind it too much because even though there was a never-ending supply of dirty clothes everywhere, there was also a never-ending supply of clean clothes, towels, cloths, bibs, and blankets ready to be used at a moment's notice. The constant clutter was frustrating, but I thought it was how it was going to be for the rest of our lives because that's just what happens when you have kids, right?

So I shrugged off the idea of doing laundry only once a week. After all, homemaking advice isn't created equal, and I thought I had MY system down.

Buuuuuuuut....I couldn't get the idea out of my mind. I also couldn't get out of my mind that I wasn't in love with the mess, and I kept getting little nudges that MY system needed to change. A humility check, if you will.

When Christmas break was over the motivation that comes with every new year to establish to new habits came, I decided to try the new system. Why not, I thought. See if it works out better, and I actually end up being less stressed with the daily, demanding grind of never-ending laundry.

I let Jayze in on my new goal. I told him, "I decided I'm only going to do laundry once a week, unless something extreme comes up. Don't feel too stressed if you need something washed not on 'laundry day,' but plan on this new normal."

He shrugged, said okay, and that was that.

Okay, I'm telling you right here and now, it's awesome. Doing laundry once a week really, truly is awesome. I do a few loads in one day, get everything folded and put away, and it's done for the rest of the week. No more scattered clothes, no more living out of the dryer, and no more never-ending process. My life is so much easier, and I have more time to do other things around the house.

Seeing how amazing changing a little habit in my household was caused me to think of Alma from The Book of Mormon. He really was right when he said:

"by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6).

Changing a small habit has made a huge difference. Being a good homemaker and looking for ways to improve is something I have been praying for, and I feel like the conversation with my sister-in-law was an answer to my prayer.

This homemaking advice might not be for everyone (or might be obvious to more people than not), but I know that when we ask "What Lack I Yet?" there really is specific advice the Lord is willing to give.

Plus, I think this cutest little helper ever is liking this whole laundry-once-a-week thing, too.

Small and simple working its course. 

I'm definitely not perfect at this new habit. My house is not always spit-spot clean. Sometimes there's still laundry strewn across the floor. BUT, it's better. And that's what I'm striving for - better.