This Old House

Once upon a time my family room looked like this.

And my kitchen (and my baby) looked like this.

But this spring we embarked on some long-anticipated projects. The major issue was two-toned cabinets in the kitchen and family room (seen above) from the combination wood fronts and laminate sides. Maybe they matched when they were installed 20 years ago.

You can't really stain laminate, so we decided to paint.
It was finally time to stain the banisters a more classic dark color and put a fresh coat of white on the spindles. And then we decided to paint the cabinet in the laundry room -- the last bastion of honey oak -- because, why not?

I did my due diligence and hired someone who'd done a friend's kitchen. Because I didn't feel up to the challenge of sanding, priming, painting cabinets inside and out. And I was not up for weeks of disaster house. Hahahahahaha.

Everything came out of the kitchen cabinets, including the desk area not seen in the pictures. Everything came out of the family room built-ins and book shelves. Everything came out of the laundry room. Everything went into the front room and dining room. It looked like a junk shop.



Then the painters came in and started putting down plastic and taping things off. Awesome. Then the sanding, painting, staining, and discussing began. There could have been more discussing at the beginning. There definitely should have been more primer. The banister looked awful. I cried. They redid it. I asked for more touch ups. And then I asked again.
I was really popular.

Finally, they'd had enough and I was worn down enough to let them go. So could I do touch ups myself. After my post-painter painting, I waited weeks for the paint to cure so I could put everything back. Because I was afraid. I cut and lined every cabinet shelf and drawer (non adhesive liner) because I was afraid. I'm still a little afraid. I carefully replaced most of what came out, reorganizing as I went. The lining and replacing took days. In the midst of the projects I visited my parents, took a trip to California, and continued subbing.  We had various stages of functional kitchen throughout, but were done by the end of the school year.

The kitchen's fully functional now and it looks lovely.

Health Me II

So, I did really great with my food journaling and made better choices in food and portion size and water intake. I lost about 10 lbs. Then I had a little surgery the first week of April and was on drugs and down for two weeks and sort of forgot about journaling and making better choices. In the past month working through crutches, boot walking, cane, brace, and walking on my own I have ignored my food journal and undone most of the good I had accomplished.
I'm about ready to start again. Really. My physical therapist says I am doing great and he is ready to pass me off. There are three more days of Seminary and then I can sleep a bit more, even with gym visits (I think I can handle the bike and arm work) before school drop offs.
I'll report back later.

Health Me Health You

I got orthotic inserts for my shoes a few weeks ago. I have heard that they are money makers for podiatrists, that some people are better off without, that some people are worse off with them. In fact, Dr. Suh scared me with predictions of terrible arthritis problems in a few decades that would curtail my mobility and said if I waited too long it would be too late. Because of my history (I had to wear a shoe bar as a child to attempt to keep my feet from turning in) and recent years' experiences, I believed the doctor and got the orthotics.

Almost immediately I noticed a difference -- my knees didn't hurt! I didn't have a problem getting used to the orthotics, although the shoe options are pretty bleak. But the tailor's bunion on my left foot hardly ever hurts and then only if my shoes with orthotics are too tight. I have figured out that taking the shoe liner out before inserting orthotics takes care of the problem. This does require I wear socks, which is a big bummer.

My feet don't hurt, so I went for a 30 minute walk. The next day (looked like rain) I went to the gym (!) and did the recumbant bicycle for 30 minutes. Because I have been so sedentary (feet hurt!) and because I tend to overdo it,  I am trying to go very slow. They are doing a 90 day challenge at the gym but I declined -- even though the last time I did a team challenge there we won. I'm pretty sure with my starting point and motivation I could win. But I just don't want to do anything publicly right now.

Also, this week I started keeping a food journal online (myfitnesspal.com). I love it! I have to keep track of portions and identify what I am eating (brands help) but it counts calories and nutrional information to let me know how I am doing. I have already lost a few pounds, even though I ate out a few times last week (including fajitas at Chuy's) and have not felt deprived. I have thought more about what I am eating, and have tried to eat consistently rather than skip meals. I think that alone is a big help -- I have been the queen of skipping meals, mostly breakfast. The food journaling helps me keep track of what I am really eating. It is easy to see if my fat intake is too high, or how many fruits or vegetables I am actually getting.

Although I want to lose weight for health and appearance, I am trying to become healthier all around. I feel good about this week's progress toward healthy habits, with one glaring exception. I really need to drink more water. It is my drink of choice, but I don't drink nearly enough.

I want to be in better shape to play this summer with my kids. I am giving myself my own personal challenge. I'll report back in about 90 days.

Here's a common sense article about weight loss that I saw this morning.

Missionary Calls

Seminary Teacher

Seminary is one hour a day, five days a week. But that hour each morning has a disproportionate affect on my life. Teaching seminary is one of the hardest things I have ever done. It is also somewhat removed from the mainstream consciousness (unless you are dragging your child there every 6 am why would you think about seminary?) and the experience is almost impossible to describe.

But here is a link to someone else who nails it. Number 8 made me laugh in recognition.

Love My Girls!

Karen called this morning wondering if I had read the Christmas thank you notes my girls wrote. Of course not! She shared the two that they wrote to her. (You should know that Sparkle is the name of our Elf on The Shelf). Classic Katie and Anna:


Dear Aunt Karen,
 Thank you very much for the pretty rose ring and "flash cash." I look forward to wearing the ring and saving the $5. I love visiting you in Utah, and hope we can visit again soon! 
                                                      Sincerely,
                                                        Katie Cliff


Dear Aunt Karen,
Sparkle* has left the Cliff house hold. : (  But the good news is that I loved the 5 dollar bill and the cute pink flower ring you gave me and Kate. 
                                                          (heart)
                                                                  Anna
                                                                       Cliff
                                                      PS keep teasing : )
                                                                   : P

Acts of Kindness

Friday afternoon I was on my way to pick up Kate when I heard the news about Newtown, CT. I pulled into Starbucks to get a hot chocolate to bring to my girl. At the drive-thru window I was handed a gift card and some candy along with a note explaining that this "random act of Christmas kindness" had been done in honor of a loved one. Included was a second note for me to use when I "paid it forward" with a random act of kindness of my own. I cried at the goodness still in the world, and am thankful again today for the inspiration to perform a couple of random acts of kindness of my own. What a gift.


That is what I posted on facebook. I didn't explain how I contemplated what would be the best thing to do with my little note or how much I wanted it to make a difference to someone, like it had to me. I couldn't figure out how to describe the strong emotions I felt as I made my decision, prepared the gift and dropped it off with the note and walked away. I am not sure why this giving felt different. But it did.

Rather than leave a gift card at a store or restaurant, I had decided to get a Walmart gift card and bring it with some candy to the emergency room at the hospital. I figured it could be used there for any number of things, including pharmacy needs. While I was purchasing the gift card I spotted someone who looked like he might be homeless; on the way out of the store I handed him a Subway card and wished him a Merry Christmas. 

At the hospital I told the nurses what I was doing, and why. I asked them to give the gift to someone who was maybe there already, who might need something to brighten their day - or - to save it for someone later who they thought could really use it. They smiled and commented, and I noticed how this activity blessed everyone involved.

As I shared these experiences with my sisters they each spontaneously gave me examples of the acts of kindness they had seen, memories of acts done for them, and some "random acts of kindness" they had performed for others. It felt good. 

Tomorrow is our last class day alone for Seminary. I am still working on it, but someone is going to get a gift card. The main message will be what Jesus said during the Last Supper, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."  

I'm going to invite my students to spend the "12 days of Christmas" (and then some) of our break performing random acts of kindness. I hope they will come back and share some of their experiences. 

How about you?