[Tomato Pie]

We’ve had a bumper crop of tomatoes lately so it was a great time to finally 

try Laura’s recipe for TOMATO PIE! It was absolutely delicious 😋 

[even though I cheated and used a frozen ready crust I had on hand.] ☺️ 

Recipe link: Tide & Thyme:Tomato Pie Recipe

Thanks Carol for the fresh basil - a key ingredient in this dish! 

[Since our tomato plants did so well, I now want to plant an herb garden!!]

{a wall a day} spring cleaning

It’s raining...but it’s FRIDAY 🌸 and my kitchen is clean, so it’s all good! 🌿 I started a new Spring Cleaning routine - cleaning ONE wall a day...that’s it! If the wall has a window - I wash it, if it has a closet or cabinets - I clean and organize them. It might take a few minutes or several hours —like the day I had the wall with cabinets, a window, and a dirty oven to clean! 🙈 

I finally found the banner I had hidden from myself 🙄 so the coffee bar is all decked out for St. Patrick’s Day 🍀 and looking pretty SPRINGY! 🌸 

Painting the cabinets white is on my to-do list and I’m dreaming of wood countertops - but for now, a clean kitchen will have to do! 💕

I featured @makingthishouseahome 
on my stories today for #fridayfaves and I’m loving her idea for decorating the top of your fridge, especially the Magnolia wire basket to hold extra Rae Dunn mugs! ☕️ 

I had blocked out a week for the kitchen, but finished in 3 days— so, I’ll move on to another room on Monday, and in the meantime I’ll enjoy the weekend. Happy Friyay everyone! 🌼

{good things thursday}

My 2017 word of the year......FUN!!

Just have FUN!! Sounds good to me!!

 A FUN way to start....splurge on a few new favorite "things". :O) :O) Okay, so I'm having FUN already!!

I'll be honest, I love getting little packages in the mail or splurging on something FUN I've been wanting from one of my favorite stores. Even a new candle to burn or something cute from the dollar spot at Target brings me joy! I know life isn't about getting stuff, but it sure does perk up my day! So, I had this brainstorm when thinking about the New Year.....along with the getting organized and all my other "resolutions" why not add a little FUN???

I guess what got me thinking about this was my monthly Stitch Fix shipment. I rarely shopped or bought anything for myself, and my closet was showing it. With SF, I am adding at least one new item a month to my wardrobe and I'm loving it!!! So FUN!

I decided to expand on this with a few more purchases. Since I'm so into getting the house organized but never seem to have the right bin or container, I'm going to purchase one organizing item each month too. And then I thought, I really want to perk up the house a bit, so I'm going to shop for the house too! Sounds like so much FUN!!

And just because I think everyone needs to add a little more joy to their lives, my fourth purchase will be something "FUN".....item like some Meyers Hand Soap or a my favorite scented candle. :O)

I'll still shop like I always have, for things we need for the house, gifts, clothes, etc., but I'll squeeze these (4) FUN purchases, something for me, something for our home, something to help organize, and something FUN, into the monthly budget as well.....actually, I have January's purchases already covered!!  ;O)

{January 2017}

something for me........

new TOMS!! 

Super excited that they were included in my Stitch Fix box this month!

source: Stitch Fix 

something for the house......

I have been wanting this sign forever and since I was rearranging/updating my kitchen, I finally ordered one from etsy!! I can't wait to get it!! :O) I love, love this saying!! >3

source: etsy

something for organizing.....

I had looked at this item numerous times, but didn't need/want a bread box, so I didn't order it. BUT, while watching IG stories this week, I saw that Laurie, from The Glam Farmhouse, used it as a cookbook holder (and her Pioneer Woman cook books fit perfectly). So, guess what? I ordered one! Since moving things around in the kitchen, my cook books lost their home and have been stacked on the floor waiting for somewhere to go.

Bread Box = Perfect Cook Book Holder!

I bought it from Decor Steals for $34.99 (+$5 s/h). I love the farmhouse style and think it will not only be functional, but pretty in my kitchen. BTW, you can sign up for daily emails from Decor Steals so you won't miss out on their awesome deals! And....shipping is always just $5.

source: decor steals

{LINK}

something fun......

{which is also something for the house}.....

I finally bought a boxwood wreath {on sale} from Target. 

source: Target

That was FUN!!! This year is off to a great start!!! :O)

What's Cooking???

{Cooking Challenge} I love to cook and I love The Pioneer Woman, so let's put these two together and do a cooking challenge!! I'll be using my copy of PW "A Year of Holidays" that Nathan gave me a few years ago. I've tried a few recipes from this already, but will divide the book up my month/holiday and try out a few more. I'm excited to try some new recipes and/or her take on an old favorite, and I think it will be fun to make it seasonal/holiday themed. Coming up: Happy New Year.......I'll be choosing recipes for my January challenge that are all about the New Year!! Stay tuned....




{Football Food} I love, love football and I really love some yummy football-watching snacks! Last week, I tried a new recipe - Crack Chicken! Here's the recipe..and btw...it was YUMMMM!!

CRACK CHICKEN

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1 packet (it called for 2 but one was perfect) dry ranch mix
• 2- 8 oz. cream cheese
• 8 oz. bacon - fried, drained, and crumbled 
• shredded cheddar
• buns

Put chicken in crock pot, sprinkle with ranch mix, put cream cheese on top. Set crock pot to 4 hours on high. When chicken is cooked, shred and mix together with cream cheese. Keep on warm until ready to serve.



Put buns in oven until toasted (I used sub rolls split open, and cut in half). Add crumbled bacon to chicken and mix together. Sprinkle cheese on top and put lid back on until melted. Scoop on bun and enjoy!! It lives up to it's name....Crack Chicken!!

{Freezer Meal Love} 

I used the last of my freezer meals last week, and this Pepper Steak meal was soooo good. I love how easy they are and how nice it is to have a no cook day every now and then. I definitely need to stock the freezer up again soon!

Just dump contents of the bag in crock pot and turn on! 

6 hours later.....

I added some rice and roasted asparagus - yummy dinner in just minutes!

I've pinned tons of freezer and make-ahead meals {HERE}.

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.

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

 

 

a fresh start.....

I love the New Year! It's like a clean slate or a fresh start, a new beginning to a brand new year. While most people think about getting fit, all I can think about is getting organized. Not to say that I don't need to get fit (and it is a big priority), but getting organized is one of my favorite things about the New Year.

Starting with my calendar and the budget. I love getting a new calendar and filling in all the important dates for the year. I usually note a few big events from the previous year at the bottom of each month (just because I like to remember when important things happened this time last year). I usually buy a cute one from the Dollar Tree, but you can also print some really nice ones from Pinterest.

 

I really like this idea [using a clipboard]

 

 

 

and an old favorite [framed paint chips/dry erase]

 

 

 

or this reusable framed burlap calendar

 

I also like to go over our budget and update my binder. I do pretty good with this, but after the holidays, there are lots of receipts to be filed and the checking account needs to be balanced. If you don't keep a notebook or binder, there are lots of free budget printables found on Pinterest.

 

 

 

 

I have marked my calendar for the 2016 Home Organization 101 Series from A Bowl Full of Lemons blog beginning next week. Check out her blog----but I'll also be posting each week's challenge---so follow along!

 

[Mark your calendars, the 2016 Home Organization 14 week challenge begins on January 9th. If your house is in disarray, join me for purging and organizing tasks where we will cover a different space each week. Your house will be transformed from chaos to clutter free!]


Most of my organizing needs to be done around the house. During the holidays, things get a little messy, especially the attic, so I'll probably start there. I have taken all the decorations down, but most of the containers still need to be put away. As I pack everything up, I'll tidy up the attic and get a head start on the Home Organization Challenge! Let's make a fresh start....let's get organized!! :O)