My goal for this week is to instill some new habits and discipline into my life. Big ones & little ones. Dulcie will be starting kindergarten in about a month. Life feels like it is changing in a big way. Hopefully I’ll be starting a new job soon. And I’m already living in another state with a whole new life and routine. It’s time to get things right before they get really wrong.

Big one: wake up earlier & rework morning routine. Which includes the little goals of: setting the alarm for 8am (I’ll make it earlier as time goes on), getting the kid dressed and brushed (teeth and hair) before going downstairs, and feeding the kid her breakfast at the table instead of the bad habit of setting her breakfast before her as she watches morning cartoons.

Big One: Make self write an hour a day.

Little one: make the bed every day.

Big One: Get out walking 3 times a week.

Little one: stretch in the morning. Just stretch. That’s easy.

Hey, it’s all pretty easy it’s just a matter of habit and discipline. Perhaps I need to write myself a big note and stick it on the fridge. GO WALK. STRETCH. WRITE. DO IT.

Tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities for better habits.

I can’t believe how many times I have been to my hometown, Dixon, IL, since moving to Iowa. Again, it’s always nice to be there. And it gives me the opportunity to take numerous photos of my mother’s garden flowers. When the seasons change I’ll be able to get more nature variety. But flowers aren’t a bad subject. Right? Right.

Summer in the midwest feels so different than Summer in Texas. Like 20 degrees different! It is a wonderful change. One can really enjoy the summertime here. Even when it is humid it is okay with me. 85 and humid is a dream compared to 102 and humid. Boy, I don’t miss that. I might miss breakfast tacos galore and better movie theaters and better movie choices and good Tex Mex (Queso!!!) but not the summer heat. Of course once it gets to January and I’ve had a few months of cold then I’ll miss Austin a lot more. I’ll miss 60 degrees in January, yes. I do look forward to snow and mittens and scarves but I know that novelty will wear off after the snow melts and the roads are slushy dirty and that it-is-so-cold-my-insides-hurt feeling happens. But for now, I’m enjoying a nice midwestern summer. An after the floods nice midwestern summer.

There is a lovely little boutique in town called Dulcinea which if I was richer and thinner would buy out. They have some neato beneato dresses. I have bought three things from them ever: a 50 dollar purse back in 1996 (I still have it), my 150 dollar wedding dress from April Cornell, and my latest purse which cost 35 dollars. I buy about one purse a year and mostly from Target. This was a splurge for me.

I’m also very happy that I put that tote from Garnet Hill on my Christmas wishlist a couple of years ago. My sister bought it for me and I have been able to use the crap out of it lately, especially for trips to the farmer’s market and the library.

And finally, my favorite chocolate chip cookies which I made recently for a neighborhood party.

I found the recipe at recipezaar, #38041. Lots of butter and sugar and vegetable shortening always do the trick, right?

This girl is always my favorite. She’s loving her new goggles, replacing her old goggles lost at a pool party. No more chlorine red eyes at swimming lessons!

I went and opened an etsy shop for my photos. please browse at your convenience. Fun!

My sister was kind enough to give me a substantial gift certificate amount to Kmart back in May for my birthday. Kmart is no Target, but I love to go there for the Martha Stewart Everyday stuff. Martha has good stuff. We scored some new towels, some bakeware, pots and pans. I would have gone for some tablecloths and napkins and other accessories, but I needed the cookware and bakeware more. It is nice to finally have a set of things instead of odds and ends. I don’t need the three hundred dollar stuff. I’ll take Martha. I’m no gourmet cook or anything. And I’m trying to live within in my means here. It does help to have gift certificates, of course.

I’m happy to shout my love for Martha Stewart from the rooftops. The world is a more tasteful place because of her.

gah, it’s been too long since I made a trip to the Farmer’s Market. And it is really hard to miss a farmer’s market here.

I’ve gone twice so far since we moved. Just last week I tried to go to the Wednesday evening one–i had basket in hand and was walking towards the parking lot where it is held–and then I saw all the cars and remembered it was Tuesday, not Wednesday. I was a day early. I didn’t buy much when I did go. I bought lilacs and bread and asparagus and tomatoes and pastries and coffee as breakfast while I perused. I was trying to get only what I knew I would use. This in my new life of trying to be frugal. But I’d really love to come home with a basket full of fresh food. That’s my goal for the summer. Get a load at the farmer’s market and use it up. Nothing to waste. I’m hoping they’ll have strawberries next time I go. Strawberries in my cheerios, strawberry short cake, strawberries dipped in sugar, smoothies!

Man, I gotta get a blender so I can make some summer fruit smoothies. Dulcie and I love our smoothies. Our old, bad blender didn’t travel to Iowa with us. I will save up for a good, new one, I will.

We are back in Iowa City after a week and two days in Dixon. It was nice to come back to our new home and yet it was also nice being in Dixon. It’s just so easy being in Dixon. It is so nice to wake up to already made coffee. To spend hours on the screened in porch, swinging on the hammock. Playing badminton or frisbee in the yard. Walks with my mother around the cemetery. Dulcie seems so happy and comfortable there, as well.

But Iowa City–despite all the flooding and hence, annoying detours to get places–is a wonderful place to be, too. There is a farmer’s market to attend at least four days a week. Summertime features free concerts downtown and Saturday night movies in the park. I go to the amazing library at least 3 times a week. There is a lot to do here, and yet, it feels small too. I’m just so comfortable here. Iowa City is easy too.

You have probably heard about all the flooding in the midwest, particularly Iowa. Well, we were evacuated from our rental because the road that leads to our development (and only one road does) has been flooded. We were able to get out in time to, well, get out. And we drove through major storms to get to Illinois where it was bright and sunny. Now I’m camped at my parent’s house again till who knows when. Hopefully they won’t get too sick of us.

And speaking of sick, I feel sick about all the people who didn’t have family to turn to. I wonder where all the people go. All the people in Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls and Iowa City and Coralville–all the people whose homes are now under water. And all the people whose place of work is now under water. I hope there is help for all these people. Global Warming? I wonder….

I am judgmental about certain things. Things most of us are, really. Like when I see kids being yelled at in public or spanked. I feel extremely critical of the parents.

And another thing I hate is people buying dogs from breeders. I don’t get it. And it can be super wonderful, kind, amazing, I wish they were my friend kind of people. I know they don’t mean anything by it–they just love a certain breed. But all I can think of is the thousands of dogs euthanized every day in shelters because no one wanted them. It just feels so wrong. Wonderful, loving, friendly dogs. Perfectly great pets. It breaks my heart.

It has been good living in Iowa City so far. Except for all the bugs. Lots of bugs. But otherwise good. I like that it only takes 10 minutes tops to drive somewhere. And there aren’t big lines for everything. And lots of the women my age are as sloppy looking as me.

Dulcie just started at daycare and I’m continuing to job hunt while also making numerous trips to the public library and one of the local coffeehouses. We are settling in.

I’m not in the mood to write much lately, which is why posting has been slow. Hopefully I’ll get more motivated soon. In the meantime, happy summer!