Sunday Stealing: How are ya?

How Are Ya Today Meme

 

 

Stolen from: Love me some surveys

 

Okay, here we go. How are ya today? Great!! :O)

Have you ever been so happy you felt invincible? I've felt awesome many times, invincible, not so much.

Would you ever refer to something as ‘bitter sweet’? ALL.THE.TIME.

Is there a person in this world you don’t think you could ever figure out? there are several!

When was the last time you were freaked out? when Mom showed me this video!

Do you learn from ‘every’ mistake you make? I've learned from many, but not every mistake.

Do you sometimes think that you’re too nice? Can anyone be too nice?

Is there something you’re dying to tell someone? I have a few things I want to share...gotta wait a little longer though. :O)

Do you think you have a unique name? not at all.

Do you usually try to find the good in people? definitely!

Do you look back on embarrassing moments and laugh about them? most of them I just want to forget about!

Have you ever laughed just to save yourself from humiliation? sure have!! :O)

What are you doing in 2 hours? packing....packing....packing!

What is the last thing you ate? a menu sampler from Lorraines..YUM!

Do you love your job? not as much as I used to.

When is the last time you showered? I'm more of a bubble bath girl! I take one every night. Last shower was Friday morning.

Who is the last person you texted? Wanda

When is the last time you were in a hospital? almost 21 years ago -having baby #2!

The last time you went out to eat, what did you order?
 at Texas Roadhouse...I got steak & shrimp.

Do you tend to have a lot of those moments where you forget something that you wanted to say?
 all the time!!

How long have you known the last person you text messaged? about 28 years! :O)

Will this week be a good one? It should be....we are going on vacation at WDW on Thursday!!

Anything happen to you within the past month that made you really happy? many things, but the biggest thing was finding out we are having a granddaughter in July!! :O)

Do you prefer to take showers at night or in the morning? I prefer taking a bath at night/ showers in the morning.

Have you been to New York City? I went on an all-girls bus trip a few years ago. Definitely want to go back!

Saturday 9: The Times of Your Life

 

Saturday 9: The Times of Your Life (1976)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is all about memories. How far back can you remember? What's your earliest memory? One of my first memories is the day they bought my little sister, Julie, home from the hospital. I was a few days shy of turning 4. I remember not being too happy about her arrival.

2) The first line is "Good morning, yesterday." What do you remember about yesterday morning? I had my usual smoothie while watching Jane Eyre. How have I never seen Jane Eyre?? What a great movie!

3) This song was originally a 60-second jingle, featured in a commercial for Kodak film. Do you ever use film? Or are all your pictures digital? I take all digital photos now.

4) Who took the most recent photo of you? I think Dad took this one at the Gender Reveal Party.

5) This week's featured artist, Paul Anka, was born in Canada and enjoyed appearing in a made-for-TV Perry Mason movie with fellow Canadian, Raymond Burr. Do you enjoy courtroom dramas? I do. I'm currently tuning in to the new OJ Simpson mini-series.

6) At 15, Anka won a supermarket contest by collecting the most Campbell soup can wrappers. The prize was a trip to New York. Do you enter contests and sweepstakes? Play the lottery? I enter contests and sweepstakes, Peter bought lottery tickets a few weeks ago.

7) This year Paul Anka performed throughout Florida (Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Clearwater and Fort Myers). The Sunshine State is a popular vacation destination. Do you have a favorite spot in Florida? Um..YES!! We are 4 days away from our next WDW vacation!!!!!!

8) In 1976, the year this song was on the charts, an earthquake hit China. Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Actually, living in VA, I never worried about earthquakes until THIS happened a few years ago! Weird!!

9) Random question: Do you know CPR? No, but really should learn this!

#tbt - disney memories

Throw Back Thursday to 1987 .... my first Disney trip!

#wdw #disneyfan #skinnymickey #so80s #nevertoooldfordisney

#wevebothfattenedupsincethen #cantwaittogoback
#disneyvacation #magickingdom #sunnydays
#florida #1weektogo

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Master Bedroom

 

14 Week Organization Challenge:

The Master Bedroom

 

 

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Weeks 6 & 7 - The Master Bedroom + Closet

 

 

I skipped Week 5: The Living Room for now. I want to start spring cleaning when we get back from vacation, and really, this room has little organizing / more cleaning to be done. So, on to the master bedroom.....

I'm combining weeks 6 and 7 since they are in the same room and I am working on organizing clothes anyway. This came just in time since (a) I just cleaned out the attic, (b) I'm packing for vacation, (c) it's almost time to change out seasonal clothing, and (d) I still have scaling down my wardrobe on my mind!

 

 

I started with the closet: It's recommended to take everything out....oh.my.goodness.

 

 

 

Trust me, this picture does not do this "mess" justice!!

 

 

Next, make piles and before putting an item back in, ask a few questions...

 

 

 

Have I worn this in the past 6-12 months - if not....out.

 

Does it fit - if not....out.

(I struggled with this, because I always think I'll lose those pounds and wear it next season..NOT).

 

Do I love it? - if not....out.

 

Is it dated? - if so....out

 

Is it stained or does it need mending? - if so...pull and clean/mend.

 

Do I have more than one of this item? - if so....out

 

So, I actually did purge the closet this time. I have a large and small tote to donate, I threw away a small bag of stuff, I gave a few things to sister, and I listed a few things on EBay (if they don't sell- I'm donating them as well). I actually had 4 large totes full of "stuff" in the attic that I've been meaning to list on EBay, so after Mom and I organized it last week, I was determined to get it out of there! Again, if it doesn't sell, it's finding a new home. I still have lots more to sell, and hope to get everything listed once we get back from vacation.

 

 

Back to closet purging....I keep all of my clothes in the closet. I do not have (or want) a dresser. Peter has one for all of his clothes (except a few dress shirts/pants that hang in my closet). I use bins/baskets for underware/socks/pjs/etc. I stack folded t-shirts and jeans on the shelves.

 

I hang purses on binder rings, keep hoodies rolled up in a basket, and hang scarves on scarf hangers. Here are a few after pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I keep all of my coats/jackets in this closet, Peter's go in the den closet. I keep most of my shoes/boots in the bottom of this closet, but keep my most used shoes on a shoe rack in the den closet for easier access.

 

I actually had a little left-over space once I put everything I was keeping back in. A few things are missing, since I already started packing, but the closet still won't be overflowing with the extra items.:O)

I have several different bins/baskets in my closet but I want to replace them with matching bins asap.

 

I had really wanted to keep my year-round warbdrobe in the closet and not store any clothes in the attic, but I had too many bulky sweaters that I couldn't stand to look at all summer. I managed to scale down to ONE bin of seasonal clothes that needs to be stored. I'll do the same when I rotate summer clothing.

 

While I made things look much better and less cluttered, there is still room for improvement. My goal is to scale down to a capsule wardrobe that overlaps each season.

 

Here are a few inspirations:

 

link

 

 

link

 

 

link

 

link

 

link

 

 

 

 I still need to organize Peter's dresser and the corner armoire', but I plan to finish up the bedroom by the weekend.

Sunday Stealing: Puzzler

Puzzler Meme

Stolen from: Love me some surveys

1. What time is it? 7:45 p.m.
2. Quick. What’s the first green thing you see? Green post-its
3. Do you like those Sudoku puzzles? Yes
4. Do you own a plaid shirt? No, but I want one.
5. What’s your favorite kind of pie? Pie is my favorite dessert...I love pecan, pineapple cream, coconut custard.....
6. Have you read a book today? The Bible
7. Do you like going to museums? Yes/No
8. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? Yes
9. Have you ever been to the state of Washington? No
10. Do you like apple juice? Yes, I had it for breakfast this morning.
11. How cold is it outside? 48 degrees
12. Have you ever taken a course in Chemistry? In High School
13. Do you like to draw? I do, and wish I were better at it.
14. What do you put on your french fries? Salt, sometimes malt vinegar. I like my ketchup on the side though.
15. Do you like everything to match? Somewhat.
16. Do you like mustard? Yes
17. Would you ever work at a movie theater? I don't think so.
18. Do you have a phone charger in your car? Yes
19. Have you ever slept through an alarm? Yes...it sucks!
20. Do you like pineapple on pizza? Yes
21. Do you like to hold hands? Yes
22. Do you want a tattoo? Nope
23. When is the last time you ordered from a catalog? hmmm...don't remember
24. Do you know anyone who has a collection of old records? No
25. What’s the name of the gas station you last stopped at? Sunoco
26. What was the first song you heard today? Besides the songs I heard at church this morning, I think it was Blurred Lines.
27. Have you ever gotten a magazine subscription as a gift? I don't think so, but we give Dad a subscription to THE WEEK every Christmas.
28. What was the last video you watched on YouTube? Gender Reveal Videos
29. Have you ever sacrificed something for someone you love? I'm sure I have, just can't think of anything specific right now.
30. Have you ever had your picture in the newspaper? Wedding announcement in local paper.

Saturday 9: Sixteen Tons

 

Saturday 9: Sixteen Tons (1955)


Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) 16 tons = 32,000 pounds, because there are 2,000 lbs. to a ton. Without looking it up, do you know how many ounces are in a pound?

Sure do! :O)

2) The singer describes himself as having "a mind that's weak and a back that's strong." Think about yourself. Which feels more powerful today, your body or your brain?

My brain.

3) The poor chap in this song has money troubles. Are you good at sticking to your budget?

I'm pretty good with sticking to the budget.

4) Tennessee Ernie Ford snapped his fingers as he recorded this song. It's been said that while it's possible to snap your fingers of both hands, the noise is louder with your "dominant hand." (So if you're a rightie, the finger snap will be louder with your right hand.) Try it yourself. Did you find this to be true?

True!

5) Mr. Ford appeared as "Cousin Ernie" in three episodes of I Love Lucy. What's your all-time favorite sitcom?

We've been on a Friends kick lately, but I stumbled upon Big Bang Theory the other night, and I'm now hooked! :O)

6) Tennessee Ernie took the money he made from his performing career and invested in a California cattle ranch. Think back to the last beef your ate. How was it prepared?

We had grilled steaks on Valentine's Day! <3

7) Mr. Ford passed away at age 72 in 1991. That year, Dr. Seuss also died. What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

I love Dr. Seuss and have many favorites....The Cat in the Hat and Oh! The Places You'll Go!...

8) Gene Roddenberry also died that year. Mr. Roddenberry is best known as the creator of Star Trek. Who is your favorite Star Trek character?

Don't have one.

9) Random question:We're having smoothies. What's your favorite?

Funny you should ask! There are LOTS of them!

Cake Batter Smoothie

 

 

Chunky Monkey Smoothie

 

5 on friday: just me

(1) cooking for one

It is very hard for me to cook for one, since I am so used to cooking for my family. I find myself not going to the trouble and just eating a baked potato or something quick (a.k.a. junk). I don't really love Lean Cuisine dinners, so I'm trying to put the effort out and cook something. Today, I roasted a few brussel sprouts and baked a pork chop. It was very tasty. :O) I tried the garlic-lemon chicken dish a few days ago and that was delish too!

Here's the recipe: I made it for one!

Garlic & Lemon Chicken w/ Green Beans, Mushrooms, & Potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon, 1/2 thinly sliced, 1/2 juiced
1 garlic cloves, minced
salt & fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
1/2 lb fresh green beans
2-4 small red potatoes, quartered ( used can whole potatoes I had on hand)
6 large mushrooms (cut in half)
2 boneless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 400°F Coat a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of the dish. In a bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper; add the green beans and toss to coat. Using tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on top of the lemon slices. Add the potatoes and mushrooms to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Aarrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken in the dish. Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.Roast for 40 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Serve warm.




(2) Blue Apron

Have you heard about or tried The Blue Apron? I had seen a few posts about it on Pinterest, and while I was curious, never really checked it out. I was talking with a friend yesterday, and she said she had tried it recently, and loved it. It's a meal delivery service (free shipping by mail) where you choose 3 meals, and the fresh ingredients and recipes are sent to you. You can choose to get shipments weekly or you can skip/cancel anytime. The price averages about $8-$10 per person per meal and you can choose the 2-person plan or family plan. There are several recipe choices each week and they are posted a month at a time, so you can look ahead. The food looks so fresh and tasty, and I thought it might be a good change, now that I cook for one so often now. This would make 6 meals if just using it for me but would also be nice for those days when I'm just cooking for Peter and I. I am going to do a little more research, but just may give it a try! Here are a few dishes on the menu:





(3) more smoothie love <3

I tried a few more new smoothie recipes this week and they were YUMMY!! I'm still shying away from the green smoothies, but feel like I'm starting my day much healthier these days!! :O)

Cinnamon Roll {recipe LINK}



Cherry Vanilla Almond {recipe LINK}




(4) vacation

The trip planning is really coming together. I finally made tip envelopes, updated travel journal & folder, pulled the suitcases out of the attic, as well as a few summer items. This week, the organization challenge is the bedroom closet, so I'll work on outfits to pack. :O)

Other than waiting on luggage tags for the flight to arrive in the mail, I'm pretty much just counting down the days! Just 12 more days!!!!!! :O)





(5) amazing race (season 28)

After week #2, my thoughts....

Don't really have a favorite team yet, although I like:


:O) Dana & Matt (even though they bickered quite a bit)



and these teams....


Erin & Joslyn



Zach & Rachel




Brittany & Jessica



Tyler & Corey (came in 1st place!)



Marty & Hagan (although, sadly, they were the first team to be eliminated)



Burnie & Ashley





My least faves (after this week, but may change)

Darius & Cameron



Sheri & Cole



Brodie & Kurt



Scott & Blair

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Launch Pad

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Week #4 - The Launch Pad

LINK: A Bowl Full Of Lemons

Right now, my launch pad (or command center) is the kitchen island. I try to keep it clear (except for my to-do list and maybe a candle), but on most days it looks like this....

but I try to keep it looking like this.......

I keep frequently used office supplies, check book/cash, etc., in the top kitchen drawer nearby, and the bottom drawer holds my binder/planner, envelopes, savings jars, keys, etc. I try not keep too much "stuff" on the launch pad, since I need it for work space (and it looks very messy!!).

On the wish-list: hopefully, in the near future, we will do a little kitchen update (paint cabinets + add new countertops), as well as have a new breakfast bar built.

Something like this....

I can then do away with my small island, and use the breakfast bar for an extra work/eating space. I'd like to make this my new launch pad area, with a basket for daily stuff.

Something like this:

 

or this....

 

 

 

 

 

This week's challenge was an easy one, but next week....Master Bedroom Organizing!!

 

14 Week Organization Challenge

 

Week #1 - Kitchen

Week #2 - Pantry

Week #3 - Dining Room

Week #4 - Launch Pad