When I went to the Life in Balance conference a few weeks ago where I heard FlyLady speak, I bought a few things from her table. She didn’t bring her products with her — you ordered them and they were sent out free of shipping charges.

I told you about the ostrich feather duster that I ordered — well, that was quite the exciting tool around my house for a while. My 3-year-old was so cute helping me dust … he dusted everything. And that duster really works! The thing is — he liked it so much he carried it off somewhere, and now I can’t find it. Oh well. So much for the duster. I’m sure it will eventually show up, probably out in the sandbox.

But I’ve been very protective of my new FlyLady timer. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve already got a stainless steel timer I bought for a few dollars at Target that I keep next to my kitchen sink. I wasn’t really sure I needed another timer, but I decided I’d buy one at the conference to support FlyLady, and I thought it would be nice to have another timer next to my COMPUTER. Yes! (Don’t you need one there too?)

Well, this one is totally different than what I expected. It has a clip so you can attach it to your waist. It’s not wimpy, like those cheap pedometers I kept losing (I’m admitting that here — I somehow lost two of those things before I gave up.) This timer STAYS attached. It also has a little stand on the back, so you can sit it on a desk or windowsill.

Here’s what I do with it. I clip it to myself, then I go do something I don’t want to do for 15 minutes. It’s a digital timer, and it beeps after the time is up. So, I force myself to go put away a load of laundry, and I play a game to see if I can get it all done before the timer goes off. I know that seems LAME — but it’s working for me!

My biggest struggle lately has been my realization that I’m addicted to sugar. I crave it. I feel incomplete if I don’t eat something sweet a few times a day. Of course, this is leading to all kinds of problems, mainly pounds around my hips.

So I’ve been attaching this timer to my waistband and making myself go walk 15 minutes twice a day, even when I don’t feel like it. My motivation for now is because — in some silly way — I feel like this will make FlyLady proud of me that I’m “obeying” my timer. What happens is after I walk I’m thirsty. So I go drink water. And that fills me up. And then I’m not as interested in sweets.

I have a long way to go. And I still see the most changes taking place at Curves. But I can’t always get there — and walking is something I can do anytime, anyplace — with my children and pets all around. So this is why I like this new FlyLady timer.

Care to join me?

P.S. I FOUND my beautiful ostrich feather duster this morning — under the couch!! Not in the sandbox! Now, I must set my timer and go dust for 15 minutes … if I can get it away from my 3-year-old who is now dusting the baby’s head as I type …