I mentioned in my last newsletter that David and I had decided I was going to focus more on my health, home, and homeschooling and less on business. We both realized I needed to take a break because I have been going too hard for too long. So that is what I’ve done the past few weeks since the start of the year. I started writing up a post about my goals for this year and elaborating on this, but it became way too long. It is really multiple posts in one so I’ll break it up and make it several posts that I might eventually get around to posting.

Or not. I’m trying not to put pressure on myself right now.

Anyway.

So last week I watched Big Ten basketball games for at least a little while every evening. I tried new foods to see if they would work with my EoE. I’ve done all kinds of little things around the house that make me happy such as cleaning out drawers and closets and cupboards.

I spent a bunch of time enjoying Pinterest for myself instead of only using it for business. I really do enjoy going on there and searching and pinning all kinds of things. I can spend hours just looking at this and that. I started some new boards, left some group boards, etc. I find it relaxing.

I read new-to-me blogs including reading one from the beginning. Challenging Myself was very interesting, especially the first challenge she did if you go all the way back to the beginning of her blog last October. As someone who really needs to bring down her food budget this year, I found it inspiring. I don’t think I could go as all-in as she did, but it did make me realize afresh how much we could change. The pictures of her pasties and gravy. Oh yum. I have a recipe for a safe version for myself and I really need to try to make some because I miss pastry and I miss gravy. LOL!

Victoria started up again on PBS which I was looking forward to. I can’t quite make out what’s going on with her half-sister. They seem to be implying things that don’t line up with any quick research I’ve done.

I’ve started going through all of my old Bible studies and notes. I’m skimming through them to decide what is worth recording and then taking notes about it in my new journaling Bible before I destroy the studies and notes. I realized when I republished the 40 Things I’ve Learned By Age 40 series a few weeks ago that it would be good to refresh myself on some of the many things God has done for me and taught me. When I was cleaning out files and shelves, I realized that I could use my new Bible as a book of remembrance for this year. So I’m revisiting and reminding myself of what God has done for me while also seeing what new things He will do in the coming months. At the same time, I’m moving more things out of the house. I’m not doing an official getting rid of 1000 things like I did last year, but it’s happening anyways.

Part of my motivation is removing more dust from our home. Dust mites are my nemesis (give me terrible stomach aches) and so I’m getting rid of as much paper as I can. I suppose if I were really serious about dust I would get rid of all our books, but that’s never going to happen. I may have done the KonMari thing on our homeschool room a few years ago, but the idea of reducing my books to under a total of thirty is so laughable that I don’t even have to consider it.

I had the opportunity to do a review of the Stanford Achievement Test for Homeschoolers so I’m “preparing” Caroline for that. She’s never taken a standardized test before and I wanted her to have that experience so she understands what it is. We know from her gifted/2e testing that she will need multiple accommodations if/when she tests for real so this is a good first trial run. The Stanford test is nice in that it is not timed which is very important for kids with processing challenges. I found a site that has some practice tests and I’ve been having her do a few sections while we waited for the real thing to come. So if you are interested in this kind of testing, I’ll have a post coming up about that. (Updated: Stanford Achievement Test for Homeschoolers and Standardized Testing with a Homeschooled Gifted/2e Child)

I also have a review coming up about an ACT Prep class offered by Mr. D. You might remember I did a review of Mr. D’s Online Math classes last year. We’re a number of years away from thinking about the ACT, but I still like to have a big picture understanding in the back of my head. I also know that I have quite a few readers with kids who are older than Caroline so hopefully my review will be helpful. Obviously Caroline won’t be taking the class, but I will be able to take a look at it and write up a review. (Updated: ACT Test Prep Classes Online)

In my efforts to get my ferritin up (which I wrote about at the end of this post), I’ve started using Spatone Iron Plus – Apple taste with vitamin C 28 sachets.

This is the first iron supplement I’ve ever found that doesn’t make me sick. If they are chilled and dumped in some more apple juice, they really aren’t too bad. I also ordered Thorne Research – Children’s Basic Nutrients – Easy-Dosing Multi-Vitamin-Mineral Supplement for Children but haven’t taken any yet.

I ordered those because they are small, controllable doses and there were people in the comments and reviews who said they were highly sensitive adults and were able to take them. I’m going to try the vitamins this weekend, I think. I can only switch one thing at a time so I know if I’m getting a reaction to anything. Reactions can take a day or two or can build up over a few days so it’s a slow process. But I’m thankful for some possibilities, especially the iron.