Home of Slightly Cracked Dreams

Yes, I’m just a little bit happy about that.

This semester was awful. What with the whole moving thing, M&M starting two new schools, ballet, soccer, swimming, etc etc etc.

The exams were awful. Just awful. After the Tuesday exam-that-nearly-wasn’t-because-I-arrived-and-noone-was-told-I-was-coming-and-thus-my-exam-wasn’t-there that eventually was faxed and so I started late but wasn’t allowed to leave beause I could be cheating (I’m not sure how though, but whatever) and it was AWFUL.

Then Thursday’s exam I though I’d done quite well, until I was talking to the only other person doing the same exam as me afterwards and it seemed I’d only got 1 out of 3 issues in the first question. Woops.

Anyway, I have since recieved my assignment results and while not brilliant, they are certainly encouraging considering the disrupted semester. Both putting me on target to maintain my credit average, although possibly not after the exams, but we’ll see.

Now all that remains is to wait for the results, and whether I’m accepted back into the education so I can get that finished.

Another Monday, another Menu Plan. Another day of hoping I actually stick to it.

I have been very busy this weekend cooking some foods so this week things might run a little smoother. I can try right?

Monday: Lamb chops with mashed potato & vegetables

Tuesday: Spaghetti Bolognaise

Wednesday: Pot roast with roast vegetables

Thursday: Curried Sausages

Friday: Chicken casserole with rice and vegetables

Saturday: Roast chicken rolls

Sunday: Spaghetti & sauce

Last week of term here so the last week of running around like headless chooks every day of the week.

What’s on your menu plan this week? Do you have a menu plan? If not, check out my How to Menu Plan post and then head over to Orgnaizing Junkie and post your menu and see what everyone else is eating this week.

I don’t know if you’ve seen it, it’s probably taken me a while since we hardly ever watch channel 9, but am I the only person who is annoyed by the new show “Random Acts fo Kindness”?

What’s random about it? The acts of kindness are only ever to those channel 9 think deserve it. Should we only show random acts of kindness to people we think deserve it? When going through a toll booth with a bit of extra change, do we check the person behind us is worthy before we pay their toll as well? Do we grill people before we bestow on them a gift?

I suppose the show wouldn’t have the same ring to it if it was called “Acts of Kindess to Those We Think Deserve It”. Or “See, Karma is Real!”.

So, is it just me?

I’m still studying for my exams.

Well, occasionally.

A lot has happened, but then, not a lot has happened.

One thing that has happened is that I have decided the time is right to finish my Dip Ed that I started in 2002. I applied for readmission last night, with 3 subjects left to complete, and pending successful completion of those at the end of this year I will be a fully qualified Business studies and Legal studies teacher.

This does of course mean the law degree will be put on hold for at least six months. Possibly 12 depending on the work I get next year (if any).

I also have one exam down and one more to go.

I’m hanging out for it to be over to be honest - Only 26 hours to go. Not that I’m counting. Much.

Honest.

Although I’m a little scared now. The subject I was most afraid of has turned out to be the easiest, and the one I thought was going to be a breeze, well, not so much.

On the plus side I managed to change my location of exams and I’m now sitting them at the university that’s about 2 minutes drive, rather than some building in the busiest part of the city with no carparking and limited public transport starting at 8:30am which would mean leaving home at 5am just to get there, not to mention carting my 6!! textbooks plus notes etc from the car into the exam (yeah, it’s open book).

So I think that’s a bonus. Hubby still needs to take time off - and he gets to take Miss Moo to her swimming lesson. But it’s one less thing to stress about.

Still, I wish there were more hours in the day.

While I won’t say my habits are “bad” I can tell you they’re not as good as I would like.

I’ve been sporadic at best with exercise since, well, leaving school. I enjoy playing sports, I’m LOVING coaching my girls soccer team (even if it is for only half an hour a week), but for some reason, making it a habit hasn’t been as successful as I’d like. Actually, not a lot of my habits stick, at least not for long.

Lately I’ve been doing something that HAS been working.

You know how some things stick with you? I will never forget my step-mother telling me how she would practice pool on the pool table while waiting for the washing machine to finish.

What with 5 people in the house, there’s always washing to be done., and since that’s part of my morning routine I thought I would try riding my bike while that first load of washing is on in the morning.

So now at 6am instead of hitting the snooze button and going back to sleep, I’ve been staggering to the laundry and putting the first load of washing on for the 30 minute wash, and then jumping on my bike until the load is finished.

I didn’t do this all in one hit. For a week (or two) I committed to getting up and just chucking that load of washing in the machine. That was it. Surely that wasn’t too hard and even if only that became something of a habit, things would be better off .

The first few times I tried it I had a few false starts. Kids waking up earlier than normal and needing food/clothes/etc, batteries dying on the bike etc etc etc.

But it seems to be working. I’ve already lost a couple of kilo’s, but more importantly, feeling a lot better for it.

A wonderful side effect is that at least one load of washing is getting done each day. And now I’m finding it even easier to deal with that washing when I get off my bike (the bike being in the room next to the laundry) and put another one in - means 2 loads are getting washed without me having to think about it much.

And with exams just over 2 weeks away, listening to lectures as I ride is certainly reinforcing the study I’m pretending to do doing.

What tricks do you have for changing habits? How do you go about it?

Well after the shock of last week, I think we’re doing ok with the food. Kiki is trying lots of new food, unfortunately not liking a lot of them, but we’ll keep trying. Hopefully we’ll find some things soon she likes.

So for this week:

Monday - Haystacks

Tuesday - Grilled Chicken & vegetables

Wednesday - Crumbed steak & vegetables

Thursday - Pasta and pasta sauce

Friday - Fish & Chips

Saturday - Roast Chicken and roast vegetables

Sunday - Breakfast for dinner - Pancakes.

What’s on your menu plan this week? Do you have a menu plan? If not, check out my How to Menu Plan post and then head over to Orgnaizing Junkie and post your menu and see what everyone else is eating this week.