Plastic Spoon Wreath

Think I could make one that would turn out as cute at this one?  I might have to try and see.

Who wants to come clean my house?

It is not cluttered; it just feels grimy.  Let's face it, it is grimy.  Sticky handprints on the walls, scuffed baseboards, and the windows, oh the windows.  So many wet noses and tongues have been pressed against them.  Human and canine, alike.  And dustiness.  I could go on and on.  Tomorrow my mission is to clean. I will not get it all done.  The flat paint on the walls is not washable, so the handprints (yes, literally, handprints) will remain until I come up with the time to repaint them, if I am allowed by my husband - because I am a messy painter, just like I am a messy cook.  But.  The point is this: I will remember the time when I would have traded anything for some sticky handprints on my walls.  So tomorrow (and everyday) I will rejoice that I have messes to clean and lots of little clothes to fold.  Because I know someone, actually several out there that would give everything for this.

Things I Like

Just some new-to-me things from around the blog world and real world...

Scrappy Easter Eggs

Felt Easter Egg Hunt (or anytime) Bags

Everyday Paleo blog (a good source for recipes... I especially need help with non-boring chicken recipes, and there are several I'm interested in trying here, plus she has a book coming out soon... I just requested my local library order it!)

I am not a music junkie, I usually just listen to the radio, but I just love this album right now.  My daughter likes it, too.

This is interesting: Target beats Wal-Mart.  I don't shop for groceries often enough at both to compare for myself.

Everybody in my family needs new shoes at once, and could use multiple pairs at that... Sheesh, that adds up so fast.

I rearranged the furniture on my day off and switched out some accessories.  My house feels more springish now, yay.

I have to cook dinner for my Bible Study next week.  I have been debating what to make.  I think I am going to go for gluten-free, but not completely Paleo, because I want to make them a decent dessert :)

I want our Trader Joe's to open!  I think it is going to be a few more months??

You know what has been on my summer list for several years now and I have not done?  Blueberry picking.  What are the chances it will happen this year, I wonder.

My main spring cleaning chore that I want to get done around the house in the next month is washing the windows.  All of them, both sides.  I know they won't stay spotless long, but they need it badly.  I am dreading it.  Ugh.

Over spring break, I cleaned out drawers around the house.  My closet was recently purged on a major level.  I have a small pile of stuff in the basement to sell or give away.  Now, if I could just stay on top of the laundry and actual cleaning the way I do with the purging and cooking, this house would be consistently spic and span... that will happen in my dreams.

Ok, this morphed into a brain dump.  I'll stop complaining now.  My goal was to go to bed earlier this week, so I should go do that now.  Have a good night! :)

The Chore: Just Do It

A note to self:

One thing that I have learned is that a dreaded task is not going to get any better.  Trying to psyche yourself up for something does not make it any more enjoyable or easier.  In fact, the psyching yourself up part takes time and energy.  Time and energy that could be spent tackling the chore and getting it over with.

What will make you feel better: procrastinating or getting it over with?  Getting it over with wins every time.  It is not going to magically go away.

So... just do it.  That will make you feel best.

Could someone please remind me of this at least twice a week?

Winter To-Do List

Wait.  Make that my January To-Do List.  I need a deadline, people.

• Sort through the entire house and DONATE stuff (especially toys, books, and clothes).
• STILL need to sort through and print pictures from 2010.
• STILL need to finish the baby books.
• Purge old paperwork.
• Move home movie clips to online storage.

Ok, I think that is enough for now.

I can manage one a week and two on one week, right?  Then, I will have knocked them all out by the end of the month.

House Envy

Here are two different house tours that I have been obsessing over lately...

1. Inspired & Inexpensive
Love the colors here, especially the wall colors.  I'd like something like those that for my house :)

2. Pure Style Home
(this blog caught my eye since it is nearly named after one of my favorite books - Pure Style Living)
What they have done with this house is amazing.  The living room/dining room is a little fancy for my taste, but the rest of the rooms I will take!

I don't think I have the knack for the style that each of these homes portrays, but I wish I did.  I love how they look welcoming and pulled together at the same time.

Enjoy!

My Current Reading List

Ha ha.  I don't think these really count as reading - more like looking or browsing through to enjoy the inspirational pictures before I conk out to sleep for the night.

One Yard Wonders (Comes with sewing patterns, even from the library! Not that I have used any.)

 

The New Traditional

And, I have this book on hold:

The Naturally Clean Home

(PS - these are not affiliate links because I am too lazy to do that.)

One a completely different note, if I were going to scrapbook (which I am not - because I do not need another time suck or money sucking hobby), I would totally do it on the computer Sarah's way.

AND, I am trying out a friend's breadmaker this weekend.  I think I'm going to give this Light Oat Bread a shot.

But, first, I am going to give the soaked version of the healthy pumpkin muffins a try in the morning.  Not with the breadmaker.

No big grocery shopping trips this week.  Spent $6 at Whole Foods on apples and canned pumpkin.  Spent $10 at Super Target on peanut butter, bread, and Halloween candy (save for the 31st).  Spent $4 at Costco on bananas and milk (to tide us over until the next carpool to the farm).  $20 total.

The laundry is calling my name...  See you later.

Friday Update

Well, it is a massive stocking-up weekend for food.  I've done some shopping and hope to do some more tomorrow.  Then, I will hopefully give a run-down of what I got and where, with a picture.

This morning, I went to Target to get my daughter some cowgirl boots.  They weren't on sale, but they always run out of her size, so I decided to save myself the trouble and just get them, because she will be needing something to wear on her feet this winter.  I'd really like some real cowboy boots for myself, not because I am not the type of person who wears them at all times - I've acutally never worn them before, in spite of where I have lived - but because they are cute and stylish now, even if you don't live on a ranch.  (I don't live on a ranch.)  Ah, but I am saving up for something else.  The boots will have to wait.

I've decided this is what I will be adding to the menu for this weekend (since I had left it as ToBeDetermined):

Cheddar Cheese Soup with Zucchini, Broccoli, and Carrots & these No-Knead Dinner Rolls
Also making some Apple Banana Muffins for breakfast.
3 new recipes!

I was inspired by Katie last week and decided our pantry needed and minor overhaul... here's the before and after:

(Nothing very drastic, but it is better. You see multiple oats containers because I save them and store things like flour and granola and opened cereal in them.  The shelves go as follows: #1: breakfast and vitamins, #2: dry goods and sandwich stuff, #3: drinks - which is really odd to me because we usually drink water or milk, and coffee for my husband, but I guess we have a lot of leftover Kool-Aid, hot chocolate, tea, etc, because we don't drink them that much so therefore they take up a lot of room?  All I know is I don't need any hot cocoa mix for a long time!, #4 baking supplies, #5: any canned goods and other heavy stuff, like the tubs of coconut oil .)

I also reorganized my spice cabinet next to the stove.  I was on a roll and got all the kids winter clothes put in their closets, and pulled out the too-small stuff to give to friends.  Today, I am not as ambitious.

I'm trying to look ahead to Christmas.  Making mental checklist.  It seems we simplify the gift-giving a little more each year, even with the addition of our children to the family.  I think that it a good thing, because the preparing and shopping is more challenging with children, and we want to spend more time focusing on meaningful and fun things with them.  So, with a little less shoppng to think about, it all evens out.

I am not typically an overachiever in the sit-front-and-center-in-class-and-ask-questions-and-turn-your-assignment-in-early sort of way.  But, I like Christmastime.  And since it is THE busiest time at one of my jobs, I like to get a jump on shopping for gifts and get as much done ahead of time as possible.  So that is one goal for October: purchasing gifts and cards to mail later.

Ok, I hope you have a good weekend!

WFMW: Target Thermal Curtains

I really like my inexpensive thermal curtains that completely block the afternoon sun from our eating area.  At $9.99 each, they can't be beat.  When we want to use the doors or let the light in (when it is not the heat of the day), we just push them aside.  Works for me!

I realize the brown curtains next to the brown mat looks a little drab, but this is where our dark-haired dog likes to hang out.  So dark is good :)

Budget Basics

In order to get back on track and know where our money is going again, we are going old school.  Cash budget.  We have never done that.  It is for the line items of groceries, pets, medical (if possible), gift-giving, entertainment, and allowances (discretionary spending, a small amount, for my husband and I).

When starting out with a cash budget (aka envelope system) there is no wiggle room.  That means I can no longer view the grocery budget as a goal.  It is a hard and fast rule, starting September 1.

Of course I still plan to give my family real, healthy food.  But I will have to prioritize more.  I really want to continue our raw milk, yogurt, grass-fed beef, and pastured chicken and eggs.  Since these are higher up the food chain, I am going to focus on fitting these into the budget over and ahead of organic fruits and vegetables.  I have read that you should give the high-on-the-food-chain items more priority in being raised naturally since they have the most chance to have accumulated bad things along the way, if that makes sense.

I will still seek out organic fruits and vegetables, but I will only buy them when they are the same or close in price to conventional.  Since my goal price for produce is $1/lb., I think it is best to suspend our produce box for now, as much as it saddens me.  Although it might not always be organic, I can find just as much or more produce for a better price.

The bummer of suspending the produce box delivery, is it means I will have to go to the grocery store more frequently.  Which besides being a pain, also means I will have more temptation to spend money.  I will have to be good about sticking to a list.  I can do that.  And as far as the hassle, if it doesn't cost me any extra fuel, and if it puts more money in our savings account, I am willing to do it.

I am starting to learn more about grains.  I would like to give sprouted bread a try.  Hmm.  I don't know if that is going to fit into the hard and fast budget :)

More to come on all this in September.  Any tips or suggestions are welcome.  I think it is about time to catalogue the grocery shopping excursions once again.

Projects

...for my children's bedrooms...

#1 Flag Banner – Check.

Cheap, under $4, total. Clearance scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby cut and sewn to bias tape from Wal-Mart.

#2 Mirror – Help Wanted!

If you have an opinion, please weigh in on what I should do with the $3 rummage sale mirror in my daughter’s room. Here are some pictures of her room.  It is pretty small; I think 10x10 or so.

The room is somewhat cramped right now because the play kitchen and white table (not pictured) are in there. They might go back to the living room or to the basement at some point. The mirror is just hanging in that spot because there was already a nail there, but it can be moved. Should I paint it? Right now the gold does not match any other hardware in the room. And if so, what color?

#3 Chandelier - Help Wanted!

I am thinking of painting and putting the $3 chandelier up in place of the pendant light that is currently hanging from the ceiling in there. Yes or no?  Color?

#4 Painted Letters (to spell my son’s name for his bedroom wall) – My daughter's are pale pink and white, his will be red and white.  My goal is to do this by his birthday, which is coming up soon in August...

Let me know if you have any more fun, easy projects I should try!

Pink Peonies!

My husband brought some peonies home from his parents' yard.

Inspired by John and Sherry's budget blooms, I made 4 arrangements out of the original, seen below....

One for my daughter to enjoy at her level,

another for a bedside table,

plus another small one for our bathroom vanity, and the remaining ones in the kitchen on the table!

Fresh peonies are a finer thing :)

Garage Sale Bound

There is still more to add to this.  I didn't get to the linen closet, yet.  And I didn't touch my husband's stuff.  He said make a pile for him to go through.  So I did.

While purging, I try to ask myself, "If we were moving, would this be worth the effort to pack up and haul and unpack?"  (Also known as  The Beautiful/Useful Rule combined with the Have I used it in the past year? Rule)

If the answer is no, then into the garage sale pile it goes.  Doesn't mean I couldn't or wouldn't be able to use it someday...   But that is the mentality that lead me to be a packrat.  Which I used to be, before I was married.  And I don't want to be a packrat anymore.  So I am being semi-ruthless.

Proof that I Did Something Today

...Before...

Now, this closet isn't completely streamlined with new storage boxes or anything, but it has been purged of useless junk.  Some went to the garage sale stash, some went to basement storage (there was no need for it to be in our son's bedroom closet), some went to the trash.  The floor has been vaccumed and every item inside has been accounted for and is easily accessible.

...After...

  

This closet still contains items belonging to my husband and I, even though it is in our son's bedroom.  Most of out boy's clothes are in his dresser, but a few new ones that he has yet to grow into are hanging here, plus the storage on the yaffa block shelves is his (mostly extra diapers and clothes that he will be growing into in the next 6 months or so).  We are keeping my husband's musical instruments up here (bottom left) so that they are not affected by the cold in the basement.  And all the junky looking stuff on the top shelf is my stuff: wrapping, sewing, craft, and office supplies that I want to be easy to grab.  I condensed all my bits and pieces of fabric and larger crafting items into the tub on the floor (it was freed up when I sorted through all the kid's clothes last week!)  And the bonus of this purging: empty storage containers and shelves - yay!

(These shelves will go to the basement until my boy has use for them when he has a big boy room.  They were just sitting in my daughter's room to be out of the way and I snapped a photo.)

Total time: about 3 hours.

Next, I hit our master bedroom closet.  I swapped out my super wintery clothes for some warmer weather ones, and tossed several worn out or too short shirts in the process.  Results:

1 large bag of trash which included stuff form the other closet, too

1 bag of garage sale clothing

1 trunk of out of season clothes ready to go back down to the basement.

Now I'm off to make some dinner.

Kitchen, Etc.

First, a sidenote:

I had never purchased feta cheese until a few weeks ago when I bought a (large-ish) containter from Costco.  I knew that I liked it okay, but wasn't sure how I was going to use it all, but didn't want to go to another store.  Well, now I've to added it to everything - the quinoa salad it was intended for, the cheesy bow ties (it was an optional ingredient), even a box of Annie's mac & cheese and on pizza.  Yum!

Our kitchen is a five year old, standard builder's grade model, but still I catch myself dreaming about things I'd like to change: the countertops, the floors, the kitchen sink, do something about the broken microwave, rehang the askew pantry door, and repaint the cabinets with better paint, should have splurged for stainless appliances, etc.  Then, I remember that compared to the rest of the world, I pretty much live in a palace.  No more complaining allowed!  So, on a note of gratitude, here is what I do love about our kitchen: Love the cream color on the cabinets.  Love the simple hardware.  Love the working dishwasher.  Love the functional layout.  Love the just-right storage and countertop space (if there was more, I'd make more of a mess or collect more stuff).  Love the natural light that pours in.  Love our dishes and silverware as shown here:

Our dishes and silverware are complete settings of the ones we registered for when we married.  If I were doing it over again, I wouldn't change a thing.  We chose quality stuff, but very basic designs.  At the time, white was boring, but I am so glad we chose white.  And our silverware was plain, but we liked it because it felt substantial.  It still does.

I've had to replace almost all of our everyday glasses, on the left.  (You see our "company's coming" water goblets on the right.)  I've replaced them with PB Classic Barware and want to get more.  They are reasonably priced and have held up very well.

(These cabinets are the few that I didn't have to really clean out, they basically always look like this, except for when items are in use.)

Other random house thoughts:

I'm sure I am in the extreme minority here, but I don't think I am a fan of open floor plans.  I like rooms.  I like separation and quietness.  Now you know.  Anyone with me?  But to contradict myself, our house has a semi-open floorplan, and I like it okay because our house is on the small side and this layout makes it seem more airy.  I guess I was just thinking about this topic because we were at a gorgeous new home last night where the entire first floor was like one giant room with a hardwood floor, and with only our two families there it was loud.

I am no professional decorator, but here's my self-made rule: One blank wall in every room is good.  Doesn't need to be a big blank wall.  Just a spot that could have something on it, but it doesn't.  Gives you room to breathe.

Spring break is here!

Spring Break To-Do List

1. Clean out!

Purge the closets and drawers.  We don't have a lot of stuff compared to most homes I've been in, but I bet there is more junk hiding in those places than I think!  A garage sale with my sister-in-law is already scheduled for April, so everything will go to that, and if it doesn't sell, will be donated.  I don't expect to earn much, but am hoping for some money for our summer pool pass??

Spring break is not here yet, but will be in a few weeks!

(inspiration)

Only after I finish can I add to the to-do list.

Plus, maybe all this cleaning will distract me from wanting to bake something.

I will take pictures of the process for fun.

Christmas Decor

Are you the vintage type...
The glittery glam type...
The woodsy wonderland type...
A modern minimalist...
The sentimental-hodgepodge-collected-over-the-years type...

What kind of holiday decor to you have up at your home?

Do you go all out, or have just a few select items displayed?

One room, or every room and surface?

Or absolutely none at all?

I try to vary it up a little each year, while still reusing our decorations. I don't go buy new stuff each year, and I don't put it all out each year. Not that we have a ton. I think it all fits in two boxes. We don't have a bunch of knicknacks or signs, that's not our style.

I like to keep things cohesive throughout the house. I tried to make a rule for myself this Christmas that the materials I could use were white candles, glass or white ceramic, pinecones, and red berries. That's the "theme" I set for myself. So pretty much all Christmas decor arrangements, aside from the tree, incude only those items. They were things I all ready had. Pretty ordinary, and not screaming "posh" or "country" in my mind. Items that tie in with the overall decor of our home.

Nothing overwhelming is how we like it. Clutter stresses me out. I guess my husband's neat habits have rubbed off on me.

I like to spread the Christmas spirit to the bedrooms. We put our stockings in the bedrooms this year since we can't hang them from the fireplace mantle (it is too low - I'm afraid a child might pull them down and get hurt). And of course there are a few kid-friendly items around for for my daughter, like a stuffed snowman and her wooden Advent calendar.

Announcement: Emily's Christmas shopping was finished as of last weekend! Woohoo! Good thing, too, because this was a busy week!

The Plan

I will obviously be taking some time off from blogging, but will ease back into it as the schedule permits.

If you don't want to keep checking in endlessly to find out if there's a new post, just use a blog reader like Google reader (so helpful) or sign up on my sidebar to receive an email notification for whenever there is a new post. I truly enjoy being in touch with you all, and hope you stick around!

I can't believe autumn is right around the corner...

So for now - here's wishing you a happy August. Let's try to enjoy some lazy, hazy, end-of-summer days.

Easy (and Cheap) Wall Art

Here's what I did, but you could modify as needed...

Materials:

• 1 package of 12 x 12 cork boards (Mine came in a set of 4 from JoAnn's for $6.99. Bonus - I had a giftcard to spend so they cost me nothing out of pocket.)


• Fabric (I used stuff I already had in my fabric stash.)


• Duct tape (In thin strips so it is not too heavy.)


• Foam tape for hanging (Came in the package with the cork boards.)

Directions:
1. Cut the fabric slightly larger than the cork boards.*
2. Align it how you wish and wrap around neatly and secure on the backs side with strips of duct tape. (You might be able to use hot glue, but tape seemed simpler to me. I thought it would lay flatter, too.)
3. Hang using the foam tape. I helped my husband use a meter stick/level to space them and hang them evenly above the baby crib. Works for me!

*I starched and ironed the fabric first to help it appear smooth and tight.

Our Memory Foam Mattress

I am inspired to write this post because I am noticing a difference between this pregnancy and my last pregnancy. I am sleeping better this time. I think that is partly due to our mattress.

In March of this year, we got a NovaForm Pure Comfort Deluxe queen mattress from Coscto. It was $100 off at the time and was delivery was included in the cost. We were wanting a new mattress since our current one at the time was going to our guest bedroom. It also just so happened that some friends of ours said, "Do you know anyone that needs a queen sized boxspring?" (They had just gotten a platform bed and just wanted the boxspring out of their house.) So, they let us buy their nearly new boxspring for a sweet deal. This was important to me because 1) the new mattress did not come with a boxspring, 2) none of our beds are platform beds, so we needed an additional boxspring, and 3) I like high beds - we have ours on 6 inch hidden risers.

Previously, my husband and I had slept on a Tempur-Pedic mattress for a few weeks at someone else's home, and LOVED it. The first night was a little strange until my body learned to relax on it (there is not the same counter-pressure feeling as with coils; you sort of feel like you are sinking into the foam, but you aren't). However, we knew a Tempur-Pedic wasn't in our budget.

We spent an afternoon at a mattress store, trying out conventional mattresses, only to leave more confused about what we should get. But we knew we didn't like soft mattresses, or ones that get a lot softer over time. So, my husband assigned me the job of researching mattresses for us online. As much as I like organic things, I didn't really let that be my number one criteria. Price and comfort were. Firmness. We like firm beds, we finally decided. Our current bed was firm, and to be honest, we still really liked it. We just figured if we were going to be buying a new mattress anyways, it might as well be one that we like and enjoy in our bedroom, rather than only getting slept on ocassionally by our guests. Meanwhile, the comfort of the Tempur-Pedic was always in the back of our minds.

That's when, in my research, I came across the NovaForm Pure Comfort Deluxe. I think this review helped me a lot (although it is for a slightly different, lower-end model, I believe). I also enjoyed this review. Then, I also read the reviews on the product page on costco.com. (I can no longer find those reviews! Aargh!) My main concern was that it would be too soft for us. And only time will tell for that. For now, we are thoroughly pleased with it.

I think the reason that it is helping me sleep better is because it truly supports every inch of your body when you are sleeping on your side (as you are supposed to do when pregnant). I am not experiencing an unsupported sagging back because of the pull on my big belly that led to back pain in my previous pregnancy. (And let me tell you, my belly is about as big as it was at the very end of my last pregnancy, no kidding. ) I honestly look forward to laying in bed at night.

We are using this type of mattress protector to help keep our new mattress in as good of condition as possible. I also bought a similar one from Overstock.com for our daughter's new bed. They are not "cushy" mattress covers, but that's not what I was aiming for anyways.

I can't recommend the NovaForm for everyone. It is different than your conventional mattress. But at $649 (we paid $549 with the February Costco coupons) it has been a great purchase for us thus far. If you like Tempur-Pedic memory foam type mattresses, but like us, just don't see one in the budget, this knock-off is definitely worth considering.