Chore Chart Rewards

So, what happens when I earn my little Smiley Stars? I get rewards.
Whoo-hoo!

I've set up the reward increments in sets of 8, since there's only 8 lines on the chart. The Smiley Stars accumulate. I get rewarded for 8, 16, 24 and 32. Theoretically, I could earn a reward a week. The rewards also aggregate.

After a month, I've only earned 18 stars, but then again, this isn't a competition.

Y'all, I LOVE to read. I was the kid who would check out a library book in the morning and bring it back by the end of the day in elementary school. I'd read after bedtime with a flashlight under my covers in middle school. I knocked my teeth out in high school in an unfortunate bicycle accident involving a new book I'd just gotten at the public library but stashed in a purse, not a backpack. (The bicycle needed to be unbent, the purse needed to be thrown away, I needed crowns on my front teeth. The book, yea!, was fine.) I'm able to read a Harry Potter book in one weekend-- yes, even the last one. Seriously, a one-pound bag of M&Ms would last longer around me. Unfortunately, being a book-hound means that important things fall by the wayside like laundry, human contact & sleeping. I have to stay away from books unless I plan for reading time. I've tried telling myself, "Just one chapter a day." Doesn't work. I don't like avoiding books, and this makes a perfect reward. I could get a book a week, and if I'm able to accomplish my daily goals each week while having a book around means that my new good habits are getting more comfortable to do.

This is another "luxury" I don't indulge in like I should, mainly because it would also involve giving the tub a good, good scrub. I have a small collection of lovely bath salts that I'd like to use for more than foot soaks. How about a me-soak, with NO ONE calling my name unless there is large quantities of blood. If I ask sweetly, I might even get my husband to clean the tub (tee-hee!)

I don't treat myself well when it comes to clothes. I make sure everyone else has nice things to wear, and I don't get much of anything for myself. I have a long list of "reasons" for this: I'm not happy with my shape/size, so I'm not sure what would look good on me; I cannot clothes shop with my entourage, since I'd be chasing them instead of selecting clothes to try on; I ran up a small, but scary enough, unsecured debt in college with nothing to show for it except memories of dinners out and clothes that I no longer own; I don't have any room in my closet, since I'm using that for storing things we needed to move to give our kids some space; I don't have anyone to go shopping with. Yet I need some more basic pieces so I don't look like I'm the charwoman. My mother-in-law tries to help by taking me out to get new clothes on my birthday,  when I let her ( I don't want to take advantage of her generosity, and sometimes I tell myself paying on bills or clothing the kids would be better.) I hope that if I frame this as a reward, I'll feel more confident about shopping, and less bummed out about how I look.

It's written with black marker on a dark blue background, so I did a "reverse colors" trick to get it to show up. Gigi's Cupcakes are wonderful! Only one-third of it is cupcake.... the rest is luscious frosting! It seems counterproductive to the "Avoid Empty Calories," but since I'm not medically forbidden from sugar, why not have a planned treat? I've also got a gift card for my birthday and it's burning a hole in my pocket. Yes, of course the kids will get a cupcake, too. One for me and one for them; just two cupcakes. (If they whine about sharing a cupcake, I'll divide them in thirds, knowing that I'll likely end up with extra cake, at least, after they eat off all their frosting.)

So there you have it, myself improvement plan, since
"we could all use a little change."

Chore Chart, Line 8

So maybe I do want to lose some weight. I need to. I am 200 pounds but only 5'4" (barely.) Luckily for me, I've put on my weight everywhere (including my back where I can't see it) and I have big, dense bones, so I don't feel that I look as huge as I think I should be. If that even made sense.

Over the years I've "self-medicated" with food. Chocolate is fave, but I'm not picky: cold mac-n-cheese, french fries, uncooked pie crust, whatever I was in the mood for, or at least was handy & could be eaten without my family knowing it. Sounds like I have a food addiction, huh? I could give up alcohol, if I was consuming drinks like I've done with food, but I can't just give up food.

I can give up unhealthy patterns.

I'm trying not to count calories/carbs/fat, etc, but instead to look at my portions. Hence, "right-size meals." That would also include well-balanced meals, and not pasta every night while using canned veggies. I still snack a bit, too, but I'm choosing a dozen of the almonds my husband roasted without oil or salt, a spoon of hummus, some grapes or a glass of milk. This past month when I had my pre-menstrual chocolate cravings, I got one of these vitamin & protein enriched energy-type bars-- as many calories as a candy bar (and sometimes more fat,) but more filling with bonus nutrition. Trying to change.

I would like to be a good example to my kids; the boy doesn't eat enough and the girl sometimes eats more than her fair share. I'd like to stop envying other woman and how nice they look in their clothes, even the "plus size" ones. I'd like to think that I look good in my clothes.

Mostly, I want to get enough weight off so I can wear my wedding ring & engagement ring again. Those are the one thing I can wear and always feel beautiful.

Chore Chart, Line 7

Everybody is creative. I truly believe that when the Bible says that we were created in God's image, that our imagination/creativity was one of His biggest gifts to us. Even people who say they aren't creative, are creative. They might not be eloquent in speech or pen, they might not produce attention-getting graphic arts, but everyone can create. I like to encourage others in this; I don't give false praise.

I have fallen off my "art" wagon, so to speak. I've gone months without blogging. Haven't knit or crocheted anything for a year. My son's scrapbook is stuck at two years old, and my daughter, at two years old, doesn't even have page one. My schedule/family needs don't allow for much time for acting.

I haven't even been cooking the way I used to cook. My kids get randomly picky and my husband has sworn off sweets and heavy carbs. I get very creative, sometimes, with leftovers, but then again, re-runs barely get much notice the third time around.

I miss being creative. I miss making something out of nothing and being pleased with my work, and having others compliment and enjoy my work, too. I really miss amazing myself. I'll look back at something I've written or made or scrap-booked, and think, "Wow. I did this?" Really, I forget how good it is.

I've now blogged everyday for over a week. I don't think I can keep up the pace, but I thought this would be a good start, especially since all of these posts are a series. For the first 3 weeks I've had my chore chart up, this line was a big ol' line of Xs. I made myself do this, and I'm feeling good about blogging again. Next is to get over my fear of the book drive so I can start sorting, culling & labeling all the photos we've taken. Then I'll get back to scrap-booking. Maybe. I've got a slight problem there...... I got the great room rearranged & set up to facilitate scrap-booking, and then started using my table to store boxes of food for the various food pantry drives that happen every month.... AND my alternate storage areas contain all the things I'm slowly culling from the house for the church rummage sale in February.

Gonna' have to get creative with my space again. Hmm.... I think I have an idea......