This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.

Ned? Ned Ryerson?

Happy Groundhog's Day.

As per usual, yesterday I wore a tank top and was hot as H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks, and this morning I wore very warm clothes and was so cold I couldn't stand it. And tonight, I will have to wear pants on top of my pants to practice. 

Modern Mrs. Darcy wrote about what is saving her life right now, and focuses on what's life giving to us right now. I wrote about this two years ago, and I love going back and reading about it. Some things still ring true, and some things are so very different for my life right now. 

So here, in 2017, 

1. Grown-up GrrAnimals

I got a cute dress from Old Navy, and wore it with leggings. It was the most comfortable thing, and perfect to teach in. I've since bought four more, in different colors, and between that and some oversized tunic tops, I mix and match every day. My "capsule wardrobe" now consists of leggings and a top, so I basically wear grown up GrrAnimals. 

2. First things first.

Two days a week, I have 45 minutes at home to change clothes and get myself ready, and usually have a few minutes to play on my iPad. So, I've learned to come home and get completely ready, and then have my down time.

3. Trader Joe's trash bag

If cleanliness is next to godliness, then my car is the portal to hell. In the back seat of my car, I keep a paper Trader Joe's bag in the backseat where I can reach it. Any and all trash goes into that bag and I can use the handles to lift it out to dump out. Game changer. 

4. Half-empty water bottles that DON'T go in the Trader Joe's bag

When I'm done with practice, I haven't finished all of my water. Instead of throwing it out, I leave the water bottle in the trunk of my car with my gear. Next practice? I grab a water bottle, pour it out on the grass near the entrance, and fill it up at the water fountain. Saving my life $2.00 at a time...

5. Weekly outfits in advance

I've started picking out and separating out my outfits on Sunday when I work on my laundry, all the way down to underwear. It's a game changer, and I spend so much less time staring at my closet at 6am in the morning.

6. Political Guidelines for the Facebook

It's an easy equation... I'm conservative on what I post, and liberal on what I "unfollow." We can still be friends, but I cannot keep seeing your clickbait and fake news and Word p$rn. #eyeroll

7. That nifty Unsubscribe button

Best part of the iPhone update? The unsubscribe button. I've cleaned out more email that way than any other. It's glorious.

8. Cursing in my car

I have to deal with a bunch of little people all day and that means on the way to work and on the way home, I give myself the grace to say any and all curse words I feel like, no matter how little or big the need... It's a blood pressure changer...

9. Driving blankets

It's cold in the morning and my heat takes FOREVER to go on. And I don't have seat warmers. Blankets over my lap for the win.

10. What is one thing?

When I'm crazy and busy and slightly stressed (is there ever a time I'm not?), I ask myself what is one thing I can do now to help me feel better about what I've done today. It has a surprisingly calming effect on things.

Bonus: Clean the first thing you see.

This is not getting up and cleaning up the first thing I see right now... it's keeping clean the things I see first. I wake up and stumble to the bathroom- I keep that straightened up so I'm not met with clutter. The entryway is the first thing I see when I walk in... so I keep that table straightened up. The bar is the first thing I see en route to my kitchen, so I get that cleaned up...

What about you? What's giving you life right now?