Goodbye 2011!

It's amazes me at how fast a year goes by the older I get!

We do nothing fancy to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new year. First, my sister, Alesia, comes for an overnight visit with her dog, Ginger. Then for dinner, I make about 6-7 mini appetizers on dinner plates and we have a picnic on the coffee table in the living room. After that we watch a movie and I pray that I stay awake until midnight to kiss my honey.

While my family is out getting a movie, I thought I would share 11 random things I did on this last day of 2011.

1. I took a picture of Allison in her new fleece p.j.'s that she made herself! Grandma took her to pick out a pattern of something she wanted to make, let her pick out the fabric, taught her how to layout the pattern and then oversaw her sewing it. She did it all by herself and I am so proud! Aren't they cute?


2. Cleaned out my purse . . . and found 8 AA batteries! They are back-up for my camera. The problem is that it only takes 4. So, I must have not remembered there were 4 in there when I threw the second set of 4 in there! No wonder why my purse was so heavy! Well, that and the Canadian coins that were still in there from our trip at the end of August!
3. Put Allison's Kindergarten - 5th Grade school pictures in a school frame. Love it!
4. Put a new check register in both checkbooks to start the new year out fresh.
5. Finalized January's budget and wrote out some checks.
6. Cut coupons. I want to be diligent about using them this year.
7. Took a picture of Allison giving Aunt Alesia a manicure. I need to schedule an appointment with her!


8. Ordered Pizza Hut Pizza for lunch.
9. Made homemade foam soap for my soap dispenser in the kitchen. Got the instructions from Pinterest. So easy and so economical!

10. I scrubbed the bathroom for the last time . . . in 2011.
11. Renewed Allison's magazine subscription online.

Well that is my random list for the last day of 2011. Whatever your plans and goals are for the New Year, I wish you success in all you wish to accomplish!

Cheers!

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Step #1 to a Clutter Free Path!

One of my goals for the new year is to have less clutter in this house. I know I have talked about it before but it really is a never-ending-battle for me!

So. Here I am again.

There are probably many reasons why we have clutter. I personally think the main reason is that we (as in Curtis, Allison and myself) have trouble getting rid of things. My Mother said it once years ago that I was her sentimental Cindi. I would definitely have to agree. The problem is that if you take my sentimentality and times it by 3, it's a big problem.

If you are thinking we could be featured on an episode of hoarders, I'm painting the wrong picture. It's not disgustingly bad as it is on that show. It's just that we have a lot of things that we do not need but have been unable to get rid of.

I keep saying we need a bigger house but the truth is that we just need less stuff. I refuse to get a bigger house just to store our "stuff."

The truth is that we have kept more things because of sentimental reasons than any other reason.

Let me give you a few examples:
~ We kept a car for 12 years because it was the car we brought Allison home in from the hospital. We sold it last year but it sat there for over a year before we could let go. Wait. Let me clarify that . . . before "he" could let go. Seriously?
~ We have a supply of those bubble things that prizes come in when you buy something from a bubble gum machine. Allison thinks she'll find a use for them. Seriously?
~ We have storage totes and boxes filled with every school paper that Allison has brought home. I just couldn't get rid of something in my baby's penmanship or something she made with her own hands. She's in 5th grade so you can imagine how many totes and boxes we have. Seriously?

Okay. Now that I have established that my house does not look like the picture below, it's time for me to attack my clutter problem.

Once more before I go on . . . the below picture is NOT MY HOUSE.

I found the picture on Google images and I am using it for effect and to make myself feel better about my own clutter.
So my first step in attacking clutter is my third example from above. Allison's school papers. It's time for me to address them. At first it was hard to throw any of them away but after 5 1/2 years of school and the growing mounds of paper, the time is now! Well, the time was the last 2 days. Yes, it is done and I feel so liberated!

I decided to use one of these portable plastic filing storage tote thingies. I used it because I had one on hand in the basement and I didn't want to do my hair and make-up to go to Staples. I never go anywhere without my hair and make-up done. Wow, that sounded vain! It's not because I'm vain or some beauty queen. I'm just old and getting wrinkly and need all the help I can get!

So, truth be told. I started with this project on my way to a Clutter Free Path because I need to start on Allison's School Scrapbook. Yes, I know. She's in 5th Grade!

Anyway, I filled the tote with hanging file folders that I had on hand and made labels for each grade along with church, Girl Scouts and a file for "other" stuff that she has done and or collected.

I filled each file with her school pictures, report card, certificates and awards, pictures, samples of her handwriting, artwork, samples of her papers and anything else that pertained to her grade.

I am actually kind of excited that this project is done. First, because 4 bags of trash went out of this house. And second, because I had bought a Becky Higgins School Album kit several years ago and with this tote, I'll be ready to go!


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I'm Alive!

Yes, that's right!

I am alive!

If any of you don't believe me and think this blog has been blog-jacked, here is a picture of me and Allison on Christmas of this year to prove it!

I have no excuses or apologies for being missing in action since last May.

It wasn't my intention to be gone for that long.

Really, it wasn't.

Life just happens and I've been trying to keep ahead of it without it running me down.

There's good news though . . .

I am here now!

I have lots of ideas running through my head, lots of goals to accomplish and lots of things to share!

I really do miss blogging so I plan on making a blogging comeback!

If there are any of you still out there, I would love for you to stop by from time to time.

Comments are open so please say "Hi!"

I hope to see you soon!

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30 Day BSC!

Jillian Michaels may have the 30 day Shred for your body, but I'm going with the 30 Day Big Spring Clean for my house!

This house is stuffed to the ceiling with stuff! Okay, well not really to the ceiling but there is so much stuff in here that we do not need or do not use that it is going out the door!

Seriously. I am saying buh-bye to a ton of stuff! I want to simplify this house and make a craft/scrapbook room in the basement. I can't do that if we are storing stuff that is no longer of use to us down there!

I've planned a yard/garage/rummage sale for Saturday, June 4th so there is a deadline for me to get through this house! That is only 1 month away! The pressure is on!


My plan is to fill 30 boxes with stuff to sell. I know it sounds like a lot but I am thinking if I dedicate the Month of May to it, I can do it. It averages out to only about 1 box a day. I figure I could probably handle one box a day with my work and Mom schedule.

Hmm, think I can do it?

I hope so because there is no going back! I've rented out the Grange back home to hold this sale so we can hold it rain or shine! My Mom, sister and BFF, Susan, are all participating so it should be a fun time too.

Allison wants to sell lemonade and sweets and donate all the profits the Humane Society. She is such a giving child!

One question for you all . . . what do I call this thing?
It's not in a yard or a garage . . . it's inside a building.
Do I call it a Rummage Sale or a Flea Market or do you have a better idea?
So, what do you think?

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Kitchen Randomness!

Wow! I can't believe I have only written 2 blog posts since last June! I am such a blog-slacker! I guess that is what happens when I went back to work. If anyone is still out there, stop by and say "Hi!" I would love to know that I am not just writing to myself!

So. Anyway. You are probably thinking why is she blogging today? You see, Allison is sick and stayed home from school today and since she's only 9 and I would get arrested if I left her here alone, I had to call off work today. It was weird being home during the day on a weekday. I felt like I was letting my company down. BUT. . . if I went to work, then I would feel like I was letting my daughter down . . . so, of course, the daughter wins.

Moving right along . . . We have a few traditions in our family when a kid comes down sick. First, Mom makes homemade chicken noodle soup. Second, you are permitted to have soda . . . well, Ginger Ale actually. Third, Mom buys sherbet which, of course, can make any sick kid smile. And lastly, you get your own box of Puff Plus (with lotion) tissues.

After running to Walmart before Curtis left for work so I could pick up supplies, I put away the groceries and decided that if I was going to stay home, I would work in the kitchen a little while making the soup.

As I was putting things away and cleaning up a bit, I noticed a few things and thought I would share them here. I'm calling it "Kitchen Randomness." I hope you enjoy!

A pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream in the freezer is never a bad thing. Unless, your daughter sees you bring it home and wants "to share." Dang! Why did I teach her manners?

This utensil drawer needs some serious attention! Please tell me I am not the only one that has a drawer like this. Half of the stuff in there I am sure I don't even use! I think I'll be cleaning that out soon!

I love the Target "up & up" brand! I use everything from the plastic zipper bags, aluminum foil, paper towels, paper plates, trash bags, dryer sheets, ibuprofen, etc.

Filling one of the canisters on the counter with candy bars (which I normally don't buy) was a total unexpected surprise to my family! Also, love the little surprise Allison left for me in the note holder about a year ago. I can't bring myself to move it.

The beginnings of homemade chicken noodle soup makes the whole house smell comforting.

Girl Scout Cookies can seriously fill up the snack shelf this time of year!

Juicy seedless red grapes draining in the kitchen sink are so refreshing. I bring them home, wash them and put them in a paper towel lined Tupperware bowl in the fridge. It makes healthy snacking easy . . . and we need that with all those Girl Scout cookies in the house!

The last thing Allison does before she leaves for school is brush her teeth after she eats breakfast. Sending her upstairs out of my view to do it herself usually ends up in her getting distracted by one of the cats that she wants to cuddle. To keep her on task, I keep a second set of supplies above the kitchen sink so she can brush them in the kitchen. And to put all of you germaphobes in check, I scour my kitchen sink every time I cook or do dishes so it's perfectly sanitary. If I do say so myself, this was a bright idea and I can't believe I haven't thought of it before!

Simply Orange Pulp Free Orange Juice is . . . simply the best!

I pulled a roast from the freezer to thaw in the fridge for a couple days. I plan on making it in the Crock pot with potatoes, carrots, green beans. Thanks Dad for your wonderful farm raised natural beef!

That's all for now! I hope to be back soon!

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A New Year!

Happy New Year!

There is something refreshing about a new calendar at the beginning of a new year.

It's a clean slate.

A new beginning.

A fresh start.

It offers the chance to contemplate and plan your goals for the twelve months ahead.

Have you planned your year out?

I'm working on mine.

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