Kitchen Organizing

I tried to send this post with my cell phone, but it didn't work.  I will try to upload a photo later. 


The kids had Act 80 days Thursday and Friday, so I had to take off half days which was really nice.  Friday I actually stayed home as we got a blast of snow in the morning and I didn't want to take the chance of driving into work only to turn around 2 hours later and drive back home in snow.  I was able to get some things done around the house which was really nice.  Of course not as much as I wanted.  Like reading my Bible.  SO behind on that!!

But what I did do was to create a nice command station in my kitchen.  I had a nice little system with cute wire baskets to hold pens and scratch paper, but the baskets were small and didn't hold much. I hung my calendar and menu plan on the refrigerator since the baskets were too small to hold anything but a little mini noteboo.  While at Target last Sunday, I found a nice desk organizer on clearance for $3.98.  Once I post the picture you will see how perfect it is.  It has a spot to hold pens/pencils, a small tablet or items I need regularly, and a big compartment for file folders.  It doesn't take up much more space than what I had, but it is so much neater and I can put the kids papers in a folder instead of hanging on the side of the fridge.  Hopefully, this works and I don't forget to look in their folders.  I am still hanging the calendar and menu on the front of the fridge. It's just better for the whole family to be able to see it.  As long as I jot any important information on the calendar first, I should be ok!!

My Target Find!

I also created a coupon binder.  (Pics to follow).  I found an unused binder, some old diskette sheet holders, regular sheet protectors, and Post it tabs.  Previous to this binder, I just put the coupon inserts in a pile near my bed and leafed through them to see if I had any coupons before I went to the store.  Not exactly efficient.  I do have a nice coupon holder that I purchased online years ago from PricePlanner.  It's really nice, but it was kind of small and cumbersome. 

One of the kids old binders from school

So yesterday, I sat on the bed and cut up all the coupons.  Then I took that pile and sorted them according to categories.  Then I filed them away.  Many people use baseball card protectors, but I used what I found.  Plus I don't have that many as I do most of my shopping at Aldi's and Save A Lot.  I probably won't take this with me shopping so there is no need to find a coupon quickly.  I plan out my shopping before I leave and would rather gather my coupons before I head out.  It's not the most attractive binder, but it will work for me. 

Disk sheet protectors

I also added a front page for my grocery list.  I am keeping some copies in a folder on the counter top so that my family can grab one quickly to fill out if we decide to run to the store at the last minute.



Front page grocery list and current ads

After I completed my binder, I ran to the gas station and bought my papers.  How nice and easy it was to clip the coupons and file them away!  **Edit- I also added Money Saving Mom's list of household prices to my binder to help me compare deals in my area**

Small little things really do help make life a little easier!

Blogging from cell phone

I found (probably been there forever but I just noticed) a link in Blogger that let's you post from your cell phone. Hence, the test post yesterday.  I really like this function because it may be an easier way to post pictures than waiting for my computer to upload pictures.  At this time it's a long process and that's why so often I don't include photos till long after I publish a post.  I would like to get an ipad.  I saw an advertisement on tv for the new ipad and hinted to Jeff.  We are getting a refund this year from the kgb irs (sorry Damn Ramsey- Jeff just can't follow all your ideas!) and I would love to get one.  But too many other things come first.  But I am taking some money to buy some totes from 31.  And I saw a nice purse organizer that I may try out too.  Big splurges I know, but right now we are trying to work on getting our finances in order - for the second time!  This time I'm making Jeffrey do this regardless!

Test

School Delay!!

Traffic was backed up over a mile

I left work early due to the snow- thank goodness because it was horrible and I had the Sunfire.  Luckily there were no cars in front of me on the ride home.  I like that.  I was able to click a couple photos on my phone of the line of cars that were stopped due to the wicked hill.  As I was going up the hill, a tractor trailor lost control and stopped blocking both lanes.  The police were trying to direct traffic around him until a tow truck to get to him.  It was a miserable ride home and the school has already called a 2 hour delay.  The kids are thrilled and so am I.

If you haven't had a chance, please go check on the status of Joanne Heim.  She had a stroke in January and it's been amazing to see how far she's progressed!  Her husband has been updating her site http://www.thesimplewife.typepad.com/.  She still needs all the prayers and support to fight back. 

Tonight is the Bible in 90 days twitter party.  I was caught up in my reading until Tuesday, and then I've slacked.  I'm behind, but I think I will still join the party to see what everyone has to say.

Snow-Oh no!

What a change of weather from Friday! Even if it was rather windy, the 63 degrees is much better than what I'm looking at now- HUGE SNOWFLAKES!  Not that I thought that spring was here, it's just amazing at how quickly the weather has changed!

This weekend I worked on some project around the house.  The first was pulling out my refrigerator and cleaning the floor and walls behind it.  No pictures here.  Seriously, it was so disgusting and gross and embarrassing.  In fact, Kool-aid must have spilled at one time and became cement because it was so difficult to move the refrigerator in the first place.  My son was horrified and disgusted of course.  My Mrs Meyers Lavender scent all purpose cleaner did a great job.  You just have to believe me!  Hehe!

I am also in the process of cleaning and reorganizing my Manual Binder.  I did take before photos, but had to put the project on hold to tend to some family issues.  I started putting one together when we purchased our first house November 1995 after finding a binder that the previous owner had put together.  I am hoping to get back to this project on Wednesday and will post pictures. 

Here's to a blustery snowy Monday.  Happy President's Day!!  Jeff and the kids are off school today and I know they are praying for a school delay for tomorrow!  I am too!!

Its a good day to run!

The weather was unbelievably warm yesterday, although very windy.  Jeff and the kids were off from school but I couldn't take a vacation day.  Boo!  I did cut out an hour early and met my girlfriend to go walking.  By then the temps had dropped and the wind made it even worse.  Still, it wasn't too bad.  We even jogged part of the time and I really got my heart rate up. 

We decided with my girlfriend's family to head over to the Japanese restaurant where Jeff and I had gone a few weeks ago.  My son had never been to one and I think he really enjoyed it.  Then a quick stop at Mcdonalds for ice cream (I passed on that) and home to bed.

I'm still lying in bed at 11 am.  I know, it's terrible, but I am just feeling worn out.  The house is a wreck and I am going to work out this afternoon.  Eventually I am gonna get out of bed, but it's so cozy with Peanut!  Plus the temp dropped down to the 30's again and the wind is howling.  Just a nice lazy day to snuggle with the chihuahua.  I love these days!

Flexibility

It amazes me everytime I find him sleeping like this!

Plastic vs Glass

Lately I've been trying to decide whether I should get rid of all my plastic food containers.  I worry about chemicals leaching into our food from the plastic containers we use.  While I would like to use glass containers, I'm not sure how practical it would be with my kids.  I have some vintage glass containers that were my grandmothers and I would never use them for fear of them breaking.  They were from her first refrigerator.  Back then- probably round the late 40's early 50's- these glass food containers came with the refrigerators.  (Picture to be added once I get my lazy butt up to take a picture!)

I'm guessing there are some containers out there that are bpa free.  But in my house, leftovers get sent home with family members and I am always having to buy new.  I'm guessing bpa free are probably more expensive and to have to keep replacing would eventually get expensive.  Though, I wouldn't be sending home glass containers either.  Hmmmm..... something to think about in my effort to be more green.

Murphys Law

1. Spent morning running around getting out door
2. Car doesn't start at lunch
3. Missed phone meeting
4. Had to be home early so husband could get to Mock Trial Debate
5. Didn't get paycheck

Whole day felt wasted. Now I'm getting ready to start the evening rush!

Liars!

The weathermen are cruel and mean.  The forecast on Friday was calling for warm temps starting today.  But- they lied!  It was cold, windy, rainy and now we are suppose to get flurries.  And it is suppose to rain for most of the rest of the week.  I should be glad they are calling for snow, but boy was I excited to enjoy a few days of warm weather.  Guess it's better this way.  Why tease me with Spring like weather only to have a late winter storm in March.  I'm so ready for Spring!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hoping everyone has a great Valentine's Day with loved ones!  We don't have anything planned and I actually had to stop this morning on my way to work to grab cards and some little items for the kids.  After this weekend, I wasn't sure if my kids were going to make it to Monday.  Either it was me just being irritable or them being overly goofy, but I literally had to remove myself from them several times to prevent any bodily harm to them!!

I did get some little things done around the house.  I organized the bookshelf from my office, I put some things on eBay and listed some old textbooks on half.com.  I also wasted a lot of time watching Flylady videos.  I used to follow her when my son was little, but then got away from her.  It was cool to see all the videos she's put on YouTube.

I also worked out Saturday.  I did more than I had on Tues and Wed.  I lifted some weights and really did some good cardio on the bike.  I think I will be working out on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.  The sad part was that Paige did weights before me and I had to use less than her!!  But it's better than nothing.

Bitter Cold....

The past two days have been so bitter cold.  School's even called school delays- which you know I LOVE!  It makes the day so much easier when the kids get a few more winks of sleep.  Plus I can get a few more things done before I head out the door.

Well, as everyone knows, the Steelers lost.  Oh well.  The good thing is that they had a chance to go.  Plus we had a great time with friends.  Of course everyone cleared out rather quickly after the game was over so I was left to clean up.  It wasn't too bad as I had been cleaning a little as the night went on.  Just had to get some last minute food put away (give away!) and washed some straggling dishes.  Headed up to bed and off to work Monday morning. 

One great outcome of the party was that my girlfriend and I committed to joining a nearby gym.  It's a little place that I had seen on my way home from work in November near my house.  The kid's old gym teacher from their Christian school owns it.  He mainly does personal training, which is good because it is very tiny.  It has a lot of good equipment, but not meant to hold a lot of people.  Paige is coming with me and my girlfriend and her daughter.  I have to start slow as my body was giving me warning pains when I tried to do too much.  Plus it is really inexpensive.  I feel a little self conscious around the trainer, but I think it will get better.  I went again last night but I am gonna skip today.  Jeff said I should start out 3 days a week and to space them out or else I won't want to go after not working out for 4 days.  Makes sense.  Right now, we are trying to work out a schedule that fits everyone and then the trainer is going to put together an exercise plan.  My goal is to do aerobics and work on my stomach and arms.  On the cruise, I was so shocked at how flabby the back of my arms are!  And I definitely realize that I need to change my diet if I have any hopes at getting a nice flat sexy stomach.  (Threw that in for you Jeffrey!!)

I also spent a few moments trying to think of the changes I want to accomplish in other areas of my life.  I had planned on using February as the month to simplify, but I have since changed it.  This month is working on increasing my heart rate with exercise and with my hubby!   I would really like to focus on getting 3 workouts in each week.  It may not sound like a lot, but if I can increase the intensity slowly each time I go, then I will be happy.  Hey it's better than my current workout plan- you know the one where I lay in bed watching my husband on the treadmill.  I had to admit that to my trainer when he asked my what my current level of exercise was.  He got a good chuckle at least!

Next month I am going to revisit my goal of simplifying.  February is a short month and I figured making it my exercise month would be better.  The clutter isn't going anywhere!!

Super Bowl Sunday

Change of plans at the last minute and now we're hosting friends for the Super Bowl game tonight.  No biggie- just wish I had time to get decorations!   Here's hoping for a fun night with friends and a Super Bowl win for the Steelers!!!


                    

                                        

2011 Resolutions

As much as I love to read other people's resolutions, I rarely make them for myself.  Last year I had attempted to put together resolutions, but then my mother passed away on Jan 1st and well, you can understand.

This year I would like to try do accomplish something along the lines of resolutions. I think I am going to break it down to each month just to make it a little easier and fun.  January I pretty much used as my get back into the swing of things after my surgery.  I almost didn't go back to this job.  I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do as far as work.  I had thought really seriously about going back to get my certification, but it would require me going back to school for about a year and right now it's just not feasible financially.  I won't rule it out for the future, but for now it's not fair to my family.  I don't need to make much money, but if I would rather work and pay off bills now so that if I went back to school work wouldn't be mandatory.

My current job is nice, but there is no room for advancement unless I become my own agent.  It's possible and doable, but not what I want to do for a living.  I get no satisfaction out of this job.  It's just a job.  A paycheck.  I am keeping my eyes and ears open for something closer to home and maybe part-time.

Now that I've gotten myself and my family back on track with our routine, I would like to use February to simplify.  I had imagined that I was going to be able to do that on my medical leave, but physically I could only do a little at a time.  Even with what I had accomplished, there is still a lot -like that miserable office!  This weekend I did work on my paperwork and filing cabinet.  I went through most of my files and cleaned them out.  I also went through a pile of papers that need to be filed and got most of those put away.  I would like to chip away a little at a time this week on the office. Things need to go on ebay, paper needs shredded and recycled, and the bin of toys needs to be gone through and donated. 

Once the office is done, I need to get up in the attic to the storage room.  Then there are all of my photos in a bag. And then Paige's closet needs overhauled. Plus the basement storage closets.  Looks like I am going to have a long list for a short month!!

I think tonight I am going to put a list together of all the things that I want to accomplish each month.  Maybe if I see it on paper, I can do it!

Happy Groundhog's Day!

According to Phil, spring will be early.  I kept thinking this as I cleaned off the snow and ice from my car this morning!!