We're back and flea markets

*Hey ladies! Sorry we had to go on a little hiatus but life got a little crazy, but in a good way. We are hoping now with school being out, and summer coming that we can get back to sharing some of our ideas with you again, and maybe you can share some with us too. :)


Every year over Memorial day weekend there is a flea market in the next state over. Lot's of fun. Lot's of vendors. Lot's of people, and...KETTLE KORN! We always start off with a tour of the flea market. Get a feel for what is out there. I've had in my mind for awhile that I wanted a old metal washtub. The kids had a fundraiser at school and I had bought some strawberries. Wouldn't they look so cute planted in one? Almost off the bat I saw the washtubs. I gave them a looky and then wandered to the next vender. A little while later we wandered by again and I decided now was the time to give them a real good look. They had a lot of square ones between $6 -$20. Then I spied this beauty. $18 dollars. I tried for $10 but she'd only take $15. Of course sometimes if theres love you just have to go for it. I planted the strawberries today. They do look pretty cute don't they? I love how it's different and round.

I had also spied this little wooden step ladder on the way in and I knew it would look perfect somewhere in my house. After we were all done and heading out we passed by it again. I glanced over but I didn't see it and figured someone else must have snapped up that treasure. Wait a minute...did I just see....YES! It was still there. I got this little cutie for $5 bucks. For now it's on top of my kitchen cupboards.

Now that we are back in the groove again, we hope to have some more activity on our blog. If you ever have any fun ideas, or want to share, don't be shy, leave us a comment. We'd love to have you be a guest poster.

Getting back into the groove...

I have had this picture just laying around and I love it and I adore it but I've never known quite what to do with it. I wanted to frame it but I also wanted to scrapbook it too. So...this is the end result! I got the frame at Michael's probably a year ago and used my 50% off coupon so it was only a couple of dollars! I have 2 other frames that are the same and I'm going to scrapbook them with some pictures as well. We bought new bedding the other day and our room is now black and white. I love it! I'm going to finish the other 2 frames and put them up behind our bed.

At first I wasn't sure how I wanted to scrapbook this so I just spend some time going through all of my paper. I found a bunch that had a little bit of a rustic feel to it and loved it! I love scrapbooking and putting them in frames. Its also a great gift to give someone!! Its pretty inexpensive but the time and thought you put into makes it a perfect gift!

House Rules

I just have to say how much I am loving my new little toy. I've been thinking up all sorts of fun little projects. I've kept my promise to not decorate the entire house in vinyl sayings but this is one project that I just had to do. I've seen it floating around on several different blogs and just love the idea. I thought of putting it directly on the wall but we have a bit of texture and it just didn't seem to look right so I looked around the house hoping for an idea. AH HA! My stash of old windows came to mind. PERFECT!


I tweaked it a bit and added a few of my own and this is what I came up with. I know that it is not on perfectly straight but it looks way more wavy on here than it does in person. Must be the window or something. I don't know why but I just love these rules because it's not just the usual be nice, brush your teeth, obey your parents kind of rules, it's real life rules. It's what our family is. We are loud. We do make mistakes. We do hugs and we are family.

Happy Monday!

Babysitting...

For the past year I've done babysitting off and on. For the most part I really enjoy it...but there are those days when I'm glad its the end of the day and Ella's in bed for the night. Staying home makes me appreciate the time I get to spend with my daughter and babysitting makes me think and plan for the future. At the moment I am watching 3 kids, Ella not included. I have to plan my errands around the kids, plan nap times, meal times, etc.

For the most part the kids bring their own food. Snack times can be particularly rough because everyone wants what the other one has. But then again we all know some adults that are like that too :)

Kids say the darndest things....isn't that so true? I find out some of the funniest things about the kids' parents. I love watching their little personalities and even some of their attitudes...mine own included on the attitude!

Hubby teases me saying our next car will be a minivan and I don't want one yet...although it really would come in handy on the days I have all 4 kids. But we won't mention that.

I'm not sure how many kids we'll have but with babysitting it gives me insight of how life will be with more kids. Crazy, hectic, wonderful and maybe a little hair pulling.

Does anyone else do babysitting or have a bunch of kids to juggle? How do your days go??

The Best intentions

...have a way of not working out sometimes. I really did have the best intentions of making my family room more family like, and usable again. The plan was and what I announced to my blog friends was that I would have my family room all cleaned up and looking spiffy. Here it is MARCH 1st, and I have not come through for you. I did make an attempt to clean it. I picked up dirty socks (someone who shall remain nameless threw SEVERAL pairs behind the couch!) I found new homes for roller blades and Polly pockets and folded blankets. I threw all the snow catting things in a huge pile and said "here take it! If you don't, I'm selling it on eBay."

Still though remains the messy scrapbook corner and the dreaded rarely used color copier machine. I plead forgiveness. Pretty please?

I do have a somewhat good excuse. Kinda. Hubby and I have been working on the mud room this past few weeks. Can I tell you how excited I am to have a mud room? No more pleading, crying, stomping my feet when the kids bring in their muddy shoes, and back packs get piled by the front door. Now they'll have a real place for all their things!

So of course while I was helping the hubby hang sheet rock, I was dreaming of HOW I would make this new mud room look fabulous.

(pics courtesy of BGH)

Aren't these some great mud room ideas? I've seen so many fun ideas it's hard to pick just one. My hubby just rolls his eyes and his selective hearing sets in. Forget the mud and taping part and all those million of other little things, lets get on to the decorating part!

Mmmm I can smell that all the way down the road...

Cooking...its one of those things that we do just about every night. I tend to get in a rut and do the same sort of things every week so my husbands new goal for me...I mean my new goal is to do a new recipe once a week. I really am planning on sticking with it but for today I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes that I make regularly and one that I grew up with at home. Lasagna and an easy recipe too!

1/2 lb ground beef
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 pkg lasagna noodles
15 oz ricotta cheese
12 oz mozzarella cheese

Brown beef and drain. Add sauce, water and the salt and bring to a boil.

Layer
hot sauce
uncooked noodles
ricotta cheese
mozzarella cheese
Repeat and end with sauce.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 for one hour. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, sprinkle on the parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Makes great for left over lunches as well and my hubby is always glad for something easy and yummy he can heat up quick while at work!

Growing up my mom always made with cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese so if you'd like to try something different and go with cottage cheese just substitute for 1 cup of cottage cheese. :)

So what are some of your favorite recipes??

Hope everyone has a great weekend and check back Monday for something new from Val!

I got a new toy!

I know I'm probably 5 year too late but I finally got on the bandwagon and picked up one of those fancy die cutting machines. I'm hoping that it will get me back into scrap booking again which has fallen to the wayside this past year. I also love the idea that I can cut vinyl with it. I have seen so many cute projects with the vinyl being used. I did have to promise hubby on a stack of scriptures that I promise not to decorate the entire house with vinyl sayings and crafts. I promised him only half. :) After much research I came up with this one. The Silhouette SD.

The great thing about it is, no cartridges to buy. I can hook it up to my computer and print anything to it! Love that idea!

I also have been chompin at the bit for the garage sale season to start. Since it is still February I've had to do with the thrift stores. I found this huge round plate at a thrift store the other day in a very ugly shade of yellow gold. (sorry no before pictures. I really do need to get better at that!)

I got my trusty spray paint out in an glossy ivory color and gave it several coats. It came with it's own easel but it seemed flimsy so I shopped the house until I found another one.

Then I got to play with my new toy and came up with this.

I love it! . I have been having a hard time trying to fill the space above them since Christmas is over, and this is perfect for above my cabinets!

I gotta go play with my new toy now but check back on Friday for another great post from Alycia!

The Olympics

I am a huge fan of the Olympics! I love when its that time again and we get to enjoy them! Its something that we enjoy doing as a family too and its always a good conversation topic with others. I'm always so intrigued by these athletes and the talents that they have. Its amazing to me how the snowboarders can catch so much air and land it, the downhill skiers can ski so fast and how the skaters can can be that coordinated while on skates! With that said I may envy their talent but not all of the pressure they have on themselves to perform well. Not to mention this only comes around every 4 years!

One of my favorite events to watch is the Men's Speed Skating. I may have a little crush on Apollo Anton Ohno...just don't tell my hubby that. :)

I want to know. Have you been watching the Olympics? What are your favorite events to watch??

What's for Dinner?

One of my New Years Resolutions was to try a new recipe once a week. It's actually been a lot of fun and has shown my family that that there is more than just meat and potatoes. Some of them have been disasters, but some have actually become family favorites. Last night I tried a recipe from Sandra Lee's semi-homemade cookbook, which honestly, is how I cook a lot of the time. I'd love to prepare some of those yummy but complicated meals but I just don't have the patience or time to do it most days, so this works for me.

Last night I made Italian Baked Pork Chops. They actually turned out pretty good if I do say so myself and most of my family gave them the thumbs up as well. (Tyler's Pork Chop remained naked and free of any weird toppings) Here is the recipe. It's pretty easy to make and doesn't take long to cook either. Sorry, I didn't take any pics. Next time I adventure into the kitchen I will try and remember. Enjoy!

Italian Baked Pork Chops -Sandra Lee cookbook

1 TBSP Dijon Mustard
1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
4 pork center loin chops
salt and pepper
1/2 cup shredded parmesean cheese

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with kitchen parchment. (I only had foil) set aside.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together mustard, oil,and italian seasoning. Season pork chops with salt and pepper, then brush both sides of the chops with mustard mixture. Press parmesean cheese into both sides of chops.

3. Place chops on prepared baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until just cooked through.

The family actually liked these so it went into the thumbs up pile. Yay! We have a winner.

Put that on the list

A few years back while on a girls trip in Seattle I bought these books. At that time I wasn't a huge reader and if the first page hadn't gripped me then I would usually put it back on the book shelf. I know what your thinking...uh hello....at least give it a chapter or two! I love to read but always had a hard time knowing what books to either buy or check out at the library. Also I never really gave the books a chance. I would read a few pages, space out and then think of something else I'd rather be doing. Fast forward a few years and I am now a huge reading addict! I also love reading in the bathtub until I'm a prune and my husband is wondering if I've drowned! Sophie Kinsella books are hilarious. Depending on the book it may take a few chapters for you to really get into it but then you'll be hooked! At the moment I'm reading The Undomestic Goddess. I am always on the search for a good book nowadays and I want to know what your reading! And NO magazines don't count! :)

A few of my other favorites I've read or reread lately (yes I enjoy rereading but depends on the book).

Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks
Can You Keep A Secret by Sophie Kinsella
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
The Twilight Saga (reread all of the books for the 4th time...yes I realize I am obsessed!)

I have my list of books I've read and also want to read but at the moment it grew legs and has escaped from me!

So what's on your list?

Do over

Hello my bloggy friends. Due to the lovely and kind flu that has visited my family this past week, I confess that I have nothing prepared for you today. Don't worry I have a do over post from my family blog that I'd liked to share with you. Just don't mind the dates because it's from post I did last year! So enjoy and I promise to have something fun for next week. Alycia has friday's post so don't forget to check out what she has on her mind. :)

I know, I know! You just can't believe it can you? I finally finished Tyler's blanket. It only took 6 weeks, but I did get it done before his bday last week. I figured by the time I finish it he'll be on to some other favorite but luckily he still likes Star Wars. I don't know why but for some reason I've been all crafty lately. For my moms bday I sanded and repainted and then sanded again to look shabby, an old window. I'm bummed though because I forgot to take a picture of that before I gave it to her. Here's a pic of Tyler's blanket.
Then I've been wanting to do this for a long time in Mackenzie's room and I've had this material forever so this weekend while hubby was gone I finally recovered her stool in this polka dot material. Her room is pink and brown. I also have a pillow that I"m going to recover in the same material.

Also in my to try book (I'm a nerd, I know. I actually have notebooks that I keep ideas in, like crafty ideas, and one for recipes to try, and of course since we are remoldeling our kitchen soon, one for that too) anyway in my craft book I saw an idea where they took a magnetic board and covered it in a cute fabric and then used as a message board in their kitchen. TOO CUTE! So anyway while I was at Wally world I picked up a three dollar 8x10 dry/erase board and tried it out with the left over material. See how cute it turned out if I do say so myself. lol I added some ribbon to the back and a little bow to the front and added some buttons to the magnets and now Kenzie has a cute little message board in her room for under 5 bucks.

So there ya go! My little projects for the month. March is coming up soon, what are YOU going to be working on?

TOYS GALORE?

I watch 2 little girls everyday on top of my two and let me tell you... my living room is a disaster! It wouldn't be so bad but we live in a 1200 sq ft home and the walls were starting to close in on us.

Does your toy situation need to improve?  Ask yourself the following questions.  Do you dislike the amount of toys that your children have?
Have you stepped on GI JOE'S or Barbie dolls?
Spend A lot of time coaxing your kids to pick up toys?
Have you ever wanted to take all of the toys and Goodwill them?
Do your kids have so many books that they haven't read all of them?
Do you want to change "the toy situation" but have no idea where to start?
Well.... If you answered yes to any of these then please read on.......
I FINALLY found a system that WORKS....( for me at least). I have tried the toy rotation before and I don't have the time to sort through toys. Here is what you do: Go out and buy 3 to 6 totes (Wal-Mart, target, Kmart etc.) I bought 3 of them for $15.00. Also a must is wipes containers or small shoe containers( I bought mine at Costco) I also used 3. I took an hour one evening and separated all of the kids toys. I separated all of the hot wheels and train sets and divided them between the 3 shoe boxes. I took 5-10 books in each tote, as well as… baseballs, games, activities for my 1 year old and activities for my 2 year old.
I keep 2 totes in my master bedroom and switch them out everyday. The other tote stays in my living room. I don't keep toys in my kids bedroom because I need to help them with sharing.

This system helps in sooo many ways now.

• I don't have as much toys to pick up each night with the kids and they love this part too!
• Toys that the kids don't play with stay in the tote so it's easy for me to evaluate what I can send to Goodwill. (if something goes untouched for a couple weeks, I know they don't need it)
• When I first started to do this I was surprised at how much they play with their toys now. The less toys you keep in your totes the better.  More options are overwhelming for them.
• If you have WAY too many toys to fit in 5 or 6 totes this system still makes it easier to rotate some out and evaluate what your child hasn't asked to play with.
• your kids will only play with the toys in each tote every couple of days so they love to see the toys they have been missing. (you don’t realize what ya got till it’s gone.. right?)

EXTRA TIPS:

• keep the toys that aren't in totes in a locked cabinet or put away so your child can come and ask you for them. (this also helps toddlers to learn to communicate) you can tailor this system for older kids too. Keep a draw pile of toys on a certain shelf and ask them to put toys that they have used on a different shelf.... this way you can see what toys are left behind and not used.
• remember to put a game in each tote so your more likely to play a game as a family.
• you don't have to do it all at once
• remember that toys are just "things" and less is more
• have your children help you donate things when it is time to start weeding through the toys.

BEFORE:  TOYS TOYS TOYS

 

AFTER:  SOOOO MUCH BETTER!

 

below:  this is all I have in that corner now

Hula hoopin' myself slim

A few years ago my mom was working out at Curves. While working out there she was introduced to a 3 pound or so hula hoop! She bought me one and I loved it! I used it but when I got pregnant it made its way to the storage shed. I am happy to report that it is out of storage and being used once again! I love this thing. You can order them here and its a great little work out for your waist. 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night and there you have it! I suggest cutting it by half the first week or so and building up to the 10 minutes. Yes 10 minutes doesn't seem like much but it does give your waist a work out and you will be a little sore in that area (believe me) :) This morning I measured myself and I'm just going to put it out there...33 inches is my starting weight and periodically I'll be sharing what it is when my waist is going down. No I don't believe I'm fat, I think I am average but I would like to firm up a bit!! Who wouldn't, right? Has anyone ever heard of this before???

Fabric obsession

I know that what I really have probably doesn't compare to many people's idea of lot's of fabric but for me, who doesn't sew very often it's enough. For someone who doesn't sew, I LOVE fabric. I love the colors, the styles, the feel. I have been slowly delving into being a domestic diva of sewing and have tried a few, small and simple projects. The problem is, I keep buying more fabric! This is just some of the fabric that I had tucked away. Some I have actually used and some I've just admired.

Aren't these fabrics cute? Mackenzie picked these ones out for a rag quilt. Um...I'm still working on that one! Grandma did make a cute pillowcase out of this same material for her though.

I just found these ones this past weekend. Aren't they super cute? I just loved the two prints together and the colors totally match. I loved it so much I bought two yards of each! Too bad I don't have any plans for it yet. I think it would make a cute apron.

This one is my absolute favorite of the bunch though. Isn't it just too freaking to die for? I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this one! I bought two yards of this one too. I think I might just frame it.

I just remembered I had a whole other stack of material in the other room I didn't get a chance to grab a picture of and that's not counting the material my mil shared with me.

Well call my loony I guess. I just LOVE fabric.

Pill Overload

So this morning I was going through our cupboards and I decided it was time to organize our little pill box. Looks like this should belong to an elderly couple who take a million pills each but its not, its ours. Honestly most of them are either expired or ones that we don't even take. Most of the time we can't even find what we are looking for let alone if we even have something as simple as some Tylenol! This project took about 20 minutes and its a great feeling to have it all organized! Not only will we now find what we are looking for but its all in the same place and won't give us headache searching. :)

So what does your pill box look like?

And by the way I couldn't help taking a photo of Ella. It was early this morning and she was still all cute in her pajamas!

Apron in an hour

While I was stalking the blogs one day I found the cutest idea for making an apron. http://jonag.typepad.com/stop_staring_and_start_se/2008/12/your-christmas-gift-from-mean-apron-in-an-hour.html I thought that it would be pretty easy and non complicated to make, so today when some unexpected time came up, I decided to go for it. I had already picked out some material from the fabric store a few weeks ago. I wanted something sort of vintagy. I've been on a vintage kick lately. Anyway I thought that these would be really cute to make with the YW too and maybe we'd make them for Mother's Day or something. However, if we were going to make them, I figured I'd have to be able to make one first. If I can do it, anyone can make one! lol Ok it did take me more than an hour ( I cut wrong the first time-oops) and I actually dug out Brent's old iron from his mission (15 years ago!) and even ironed the dang thing like it said ( I avoid ironing at all costs!). I think it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas this year?

The Food Situation

My daughter is in that stage where she has to feed herself. Sometimes I trick her and I'll sneak something in but then she'll pull it out, show me and then put it back in herself! I also love that she can now have regular food all the time, I hated the baby food in the end! Peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, cheese and crackers...the possibilities are endless, or so I thought. I am constantly trying to rack my brain for new things to give her so she doesn't get sick of the same ol' thing! So I've been searching the internet for idea's to help out and its almost overwhelming! A lot of these I've tried only once but I think I need to keep switching it up!
Crackers, turkey and cheese
Grilled Cheese
Fruits and veggies
Mini corn dogs
Eggs
Leftovers are great too! Are your kids messy eaters during eating time because mine is! So what do you guys feed your kids?

Shopping your house

I've mentioned before that a great way to save a little money is to shop your own house (or your moms! ) for something that you have stuck away in a dark attic or basement and don't know what to do with, and re purpose it into something usable again. Meet my frame. (sorry about the blurry pic and the tape you can still see at the top).

This frame came to me by way of a Christmas present from my in laws several years ago. Love it! It's black (my favorite color!) so it goes well with my decor. At first it had pictures of the kids in it and then I changed them out to some really cute scrapbooking paper at Christmas time one year. Then it became part of the attic for some reason ( I think we were remodeling again.) and it never made it back out.

We inherited this nice TV armour from my parents awhile back and have been wondering how to decorate the top of it. Hubby wanted to put his speakers up there. For shame! Speakers on top when there is an opportunity to decorate? I think not! So then I started to shop the house. I found a few odds and ends to put up there but something was still off. I saw the picture frame but I wasn't sure I wanted to just put pictures in there. Then comes the aha moment. FABRIC! Fabric would look fabulous and it comes it so many different designs and colors that the possibility's are endless. I found a piece of left over fabric from some long ago project in chocolate brown and cream. I took off the back of the frame and wrapped my fabric tight around it and then slipped it back into the slots of the frame. I didn't even hot glue it or anything (which would totally work too if you didn't have a fitted frame) and then I just taped down the little tufts of fabric to the back so it would lay flat. It took longer to put the frame up then it did to put the fabric on. This could work for some many things, the ideas are endless!

So that is my little 15 minute project that anyone can do to spice up an area that needs spicing.

Simplify

I have been in the 'Spring Cleaning' type of mood lately or maybe is it that my husband keeps mentioning that our spare bedroom still needs to get put back together...Hmmm I'll go with the first one! We are transforming our third bedroom into a guest bedroom but there's so many little things that are standing in my way before I can do that. All the random items in your house you just don't know what to do with. So I'm taking my SIL Natalie's advice and if it doesn't have a place then I'm getting rid of it! That is my new philosophy and I think its just a great one and you know what? Its been working! In the past anytime I have cleaned I always have this little guilt angel on my shoulder. It says things like, oh you'll fix that up one day, you'll lose the weight to fit back into that outfit, oh that's new, I can't get rid of that. Too bad so sad for that darn angel because I'm not going to listen to it anymore! My new thinking is that I haven't done that project because I just don't want to and I shouldn't have to feel guilty about not fitting into an outfit that I used to wear pre-baby, my body has changed and I should be fine with that! So Idaho Youth Ranch and Goodwill...here I come bearing gifts that maybe someone will actually use! I'm also an extremely sentimental person and that is never good because I have a hard time getting rid of things. If you could just see my Grandma's house, well that would give anyone enough motivation to NOT be a pack rat! I am trying to simplify my house. I have too many hair products, too much make up and just too many random things that I need to get rid of. So here's to simplifying my house and getting rid of those items that I just don't need and who knows maybe someone else is looking for that exact thing that you just don't use anymore!

So...what about you??

Let's talk laundry

With a family of five I expect there to be laundry, and there is. Lot's of it! Never ending it seems. Just when I think I'm all caught up, a child cleans it's room and brings in the mountain of laundry they have had stashed in the corner, under the bed, behind a bookshelf and dumps it on the floor. Great. Lucky me.

Each child has a basket that their clean clothes go into and that they take to their rooms. The idea is that hopefully they put their clothes away into their drawers. Most of the time they just paw through them all week long but hey, I'm just happy they got them to their rooms most days. Honestly, they are pretty good about putting away the clean clothes.

One thing though that I really hate about doing laundry is matching socks. I do not like it. No I don't. When I'm folding clothes and there is a match close by then I'll match the socks together but most of the time, I just gather them up and put them in the sock basket. Yes, I confess I really do have a basket just for socks. If you need a sock? Look in the sock basket!

I do wish that I had a more organized laundry room though. There are several things that I don't dry in the dryer so they get hung over everything. Chairs, tables, the exercise bike ( I knew it was good for something!). I wished I had a spot in the laundry room just for this. Ahhh another project!

So how do you do keep up on your laundry and keep everything organized?

Kickin' into gear

Does anyone else feel like a cow after the holidays? That may be a little extreme but that's how I've been feeling the past week or so and I can't seem to put down that darn chocolate chip cookie! What's the deal with that? I love the holidays especially the food that comes around with that special time of year but man oh man once January comes I'm glad that December is over. Usually my eating habits change by the first part of the year, I'm motivated and ready to get on with the new year but it seems to be that I'm still stuck in December. I have a treadmill and I always feel great after wards but the bedroom that is in is a whole other blog. Its worse than Val's last post about her family room! Sorry but for now I'm not sharing any of those photos! So here is my goal and I know that everyone else is probably way better at working out than I am and having better eating habits but my goal is to make a path and get that treadmill rolling and with me on it! I'm going to start with walking Monday through Friday for 20 minutes and up it from there. I think that is realistic and a good way to start! I'll never give up chocolate, its my vice but I am going to start limiting myself along with cutting out as much soda as I can! So who's with me? I'll also need some buddies out there to help keep me as motivated as possible! Any takers?

So...what are your healthy habits?? Please share!!

Project of the month

This past summer we added onto our house and remodeled our kitchen. It really turned out great, if I do say so myself. The living room and kitchen look great, the bathrooms have a fresh coat of paint, the kids room are for the most part clean (ok, ok, we're not sure what's growing in the corner of Tyler's room but we're working on it!) and then we have our family room.

I can't believe I am showing you these pictures! What the heck happened to this room you say? I'm not really sure. One day before Christmas all was well and cozy in this room. Cuddle up on the couch with a book and some cocoa. Break out a board game to play. Now it looks like winter and a few other things threw up in it! There are hats and gloves and helmets and snow mobile clothing. Everywhere. A clothes basket and a cupboard from the laundry room. I didn't even show you the corner where we have a color copier and some free lamps I got this summer. (yes, I really am going to do something with them!). It's become the dumping ground for "I don't really know what to do with this, I'll just put it in the family room." ACK!

So this is my plan. I'm really hoping I can stick with this, as I know that we still have to finish the mud room and put up trim (and that's a whole other post!) and keep up with the rest of the house too. I want to turn this back into the cozy place it once was and maybe even turn those lamps into working ones too. Then at the end of the month I'll come back and show you guys what it really does look like when it's clean and actually has a purpose again. I'm also going to try and re purpose what I already have so I won't have to spend any money on this project.

Ok everyone, get out there and start your own project of the month!

Happy New Year!

Out with old and in with the new. That's what I've been feeling lately. I always feel a little let down I think after I have all my pretty Christmas things put away and not to be seen till next year. The house seems so naked without them but it also helps me get in the mood to declutter the place and shovel out some of those corners that you kind of pretend aren't really piling up as you walk by and trip on the shoes, books, and those lamps that you got for free this summer and still haven't done anything with. I want to rearrange furniture and freshen up the place. With the Christmas season done and a family vacation to Disneyland, the budget is pretty much kaput. Time to put the thinking cap on and get those creative juices flowing again. I guess it's also time to finish some of those projects that I put off and never got around to. I guess you could call that my New Years resolution. To finish what I start!

Speaking of resolutions, I had an idea to work on a Christmas craft or project once a month to beat the craziness that usually happens at Christmas time because I've procrastinated till the last minute and then I'm running around trying to finish it all. So hopefully I can find some fun gift ideas and hopefully that can help get my projects done in a more timely manner. I'm still working on that blanket from last summer!


As with a new look to the house, I hope that we can have a fresh start on our blog and ring in the new year with lot's of great tips and fun ideas along with our readers sharing their ideas as well. Happy New Year!

The Envelope System

Envelopes are a wonder for many things in my eyes! I love the internet but I still love sending letters and notes the old fashion way! So personal. BUT one of my favorite uses for envelopes are using them to save money! I'm in the process of setting my envelope system up for this coming year. I'll label them and start stashing money in them a few times a month. A few that I'll be doing this year are for birthdays, vacations and Christmas! Those are what I'll be starting with but I have a few idea's for a couple others. Put them somewhere you won't see and won't be tempted to sneak back from! Its a great way to save for those bigger expenses and not have to worry about money when they arrive!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Can't believe we are already in 2010! Where has the time gone??? We are back in blogging action and hope you are too! We also LOVE having guest posters so let us know if you are interested! We'd love to hear your idea's too!!