Barbara'S Scraps

Holiday Grand Plan--Dining Room Week

2011-11-21T08:20:00.001-06:00

This is Dining Room Week. Here is the actual link to the page on organizedchristmas.com.

Deadline week! Week Thirteen, Dining Room Week, sees us move into the holiday season, and it's time for a reality check.
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday for our American friends and ushers in the holiday season, so this week's cleaning and organizing focus is the dining room. Holiday prep chores center on Thanksgiving and turn to planning the celebration ahead.
Ready? Let's get organized with Dining Room Week in the Holiday Grand Plan!

Holiday Prep:

Deadline Week: If homemade gifts are not done, put them away. After Thanksgiving weekend and go buy something. This is not a contest, this is life.
Get everything out for Thanksgiving Dinner and prepare everything that can be done ahead of time. Make sure enough dishes are available.
Stock bathrooms and first aid kit.
Wednesday: Use one of the Freezer Meals, buy a salad at the store...
Friday or Saturday: Have children make/set up Advent Calendar.
Set up the Creche area and add figures each day as we read from an Advent book. Continue until Jan. 6 when the wise men come.
Let kids get out and inspect Christmas decorations; test tree and other lights, replace bulbs.

The recommendation to put away homemade gifts if they are not done, well, I'll still be making stuff till the last minute. I'm plugging away and homemade stuff will be started in earnest on Sunday when I put all the Thanksgiving stuff away.

I will definitely be getting everything out for Thanksgiving Dinner. Dishes, linens, glasses, serveware, etc.

I will also check the linens and make sure I have nice hand towels, etc.

And I will most definitely be getting all the Christmas decorations out on Sunday. No Advent Calender or Creche, but all the other stuff for sure.

Holiday Grand Plan--Twofer

2011-11-14T07:22:00.001-06:00

Yes, it's a two for one week for the Holiday Grand Plan--I totally skipped last week. Well, that's how it goes around here when I work six out of nine days. Looking back, it was probably because I had a cuckoo ending to the end of Saturday's shift--three deliveries in the last hour of the shift, two beautiful, one scary with a good ending. Emotionally, it takes me a while to get back on track, especially when I'm the charge nurse two nights in a row.

So here you go--TWO weeks of Holiday Grand Plan!

It's a good week to have a twofer as they are Garage/Storage Week and Attic/Storage Week. Last week was Garage Week. Here is the actual link to Garage/Storage Week.

"Week Eleven, Garage/Storage Week, at the Holiday Grand Plan gets us into garage and storage areas. The waning days of Autumn are a good time to rout out household storage areas, so we're ready to access extra tables, chairs and seasonal decorations.
In holiday prep, we look ahead to the Thanksgiving meal, and see to the family's holiday clothing.
Ready? Let's get organized with Garage Week in the Holiday Grand Plan!"

Deep Cleaning/Organizing Area: Garage

Holiday Prep:

Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.
Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.
Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).
Buy 1/8th of TO BUY gifts. Save all receipts, note return policy before buying. Ask for gift boxes.
Wrap and label packages. If needing to ship, get some shipping boxes now and store packages in them.
Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts.
Review and revise menus and other plans.
Plan table setting
Plan centerpiece, make as much as possible now (or order it from florist).
Reserve any items needed to be borrowed or rented.
Get everyone's holiday clothes purchased/cleaned/pressed.

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Attic Week

Cooler weather makes it easy to check and organize the attic and storage areas during Week Twelve, Attic Week. We continue to move toward Thanksgiving in holiday prep. Are you working on holiday gifts?

Ready? Let's get organized with Attic Week in the Holiday Grand Plan!

Here is the actual link to Attic Week.

Holiday Prep:

Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.
Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.
Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).
Buy 1/8th of TO BUY gifts. Save all receipts, note return policy before buying. Ask for gift boxes.
Wrap and label packages. If needing to ship, get some shipping boxes now and store packages in them.
Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts.
Make place cards.
Make 3x5 card for each serving dish, list what goes in it, garnish, how much before dinner can it go in and serving silverware used with it; tape it to edge of dish.
Be sure all dishes are clean!
Borrow or buy any additional serving dishes needed.
Buy reusable foil bakeware from party paper place.
Are linens clean and ready? Unfold and verify that all spots can be hidden by centerpiece.
Work on centerpiece.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

2011-11-02T09:42:00.000-05:00

I made a Halloween bag for Grandbuddy, using the pattern so graciously supplied by homemadebyjill.com. The pattern was easy, well-written and very quick to make.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Ten

2011-10-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

This week is the Family Room.

Here is the actual link to the page on the Holiday Grand Plan site.

Moving into the heart of the household, it's Week Ten at the Holiday Grand Plan: Family Room Week! We'll clean and organize this central area of family life as we begin to think ahead to holiday visitors in holiday prep. Keep working on those gifts!
Ready? Let's get organized with the Holiday Grand Plan!

I will definitely be deep cleaning in this room as it gets a LOT of use at our house. I will get out the step ladder to clean windows and wipe down the ceiling fan.

The list of things to do this week are to make some holiday type breads and freeze them (recipes to come). I will continue to work on the homemade gifts. I will polish the silverware this week. (Ugh, not a job I like, but Dear Hubby does like to, so I will snag him to help me and it will make it a lot easier to do for me. I will take down the Halloween decorations, and put up more Thanksgiving-y type decorations. And, lastly, I will make sure there is plenty of room in the front closet for hanging guest coats.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Nine

2011-10-23T19:48:00.004-05:00

This week is Pantry and Closets Week.

Here is the actual link to the page on the Holiday Grand Plan site.

I want to work on my front closet as the weather is getting cooler and I want to make sure we have enough hats, scarves, gloves/mittens and coats. I will also be working on the linen closet--it needs some tweaking. Sweet Husband will be reconfiguring his office closet. The rest of my closets are in pretty good shape.

I will be restocking the bar this week. I will continue to work on homemade gifts. I will buy holiday cards this week. I will resend the Thanksgiving invitation. I am not expecting any guests, so no preps needed there. I am hoping that despite all the cuts we have had in benefits and the other penny-pinching measures there have been at work that we will still be getting our free turkey.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Eight

2011-10-23T19:05:00.002-05:00

Thought I posted this last week. Ooops.

Here is the actual link to the page on the Holiday Grand Plan site.

It's Kitchen Week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

Deep cleaning is in order for the kitchen. I'll be adding to the Holiday Goodies. I'll also buy a few things for snacks such as nuts to the pantry. I will also continue to work on the homemade gifts.

This is also Checkpoint Week. I will review the progress on Christmas prep and adjust as needed.

Part of Checkpoint Week is finalizing decorations and plans for Halloween. I have decorated for Halloween and when I take pictures I will post them. Just need to buy the candy for the kids.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Seven

2011-10-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

Here is the actual link to this week.

This week I am hoping work will settle down and I can do some catchup on cleaning. It is Guest Room Week, but I will be working on my Cra(P)ft Room. I have a LOT of projects planned, and I am hoping to get each project and instructions in individual bags.

Make one batch of Holiday Goodies. Again, I am debating whether I need to bake anymore goodies at all this week. So, recipe to be posted later?

I will buy several bags of frozen rolls this week for the freezer. In lieu of buying frozen goods for the ACO pantry, I will buy flour and sugar.

I will continue to work on homemade gifts.

Part of the activities for this week are to decorate for Halloween. I have a few things to put up, but mostly decorating for Halloween is finished.

If you are crazy about Halloween and need some help getting organized, you might want to follow the Halloween Countdown. The site, magicalholidayhome.com, is one I have linked to before and is very helpful for getting organized for various holidays. I do wish they would get more holidays online, particularly Thanksgiving, but you can use the basic plan and adjust it for yourself. I like this list for organizing Thanksgiving.

Catchup for Week Six Holiday Grand Plan

2011-10-10T10:26:00.000-05:00

Because work has been so overwhelming, I did not post for Organized Christmas Week Six. So I will attempt to catch up a bit and do that in this post and then do a post for Week Seven as well this morning. Oh. I will be doing some catch up in actual activity around the house, too, as I am expecting this avalanche of babies to slow down this week.

Here is the actual link to the page for Week Six.

And here is what I am going to do this week:

This week, I will focus on the guest bedroom for deep-cleaning, decluttering and organizing.

I will make a batch of Holiday Goodies for the freezer. I think. I am still debating which "goodie" it will be or if there will be any additions.

This week I will add items for the Fast Fruit Salad to the pantry and for the ACO pantry. Here is the recipe:

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FAST FRUIT SALAD

1 large can fruit cocktail

2 small cans of mandarin oranges

2 small cans of pineapple tidbits

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen sliced strawberries

1 small pkg. of vanilla pudding

Drain all juice from canned fruit and SAVE. Add 1-1/2 cups of juice to vanilla pudding, cook over medium heat till thick. Stir often. Cool, then add fruit and thawed strawberries. Refrigerate.

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I'll continue to work on homemade gifts.

I'll get Hubby to check the smoke detectors and change the batteries.

I will replenish the guest bathroom with overnight stuff for the guests--shampoo, bath soap, deodorant, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, kleenex, etc.

Because of this----

2011-10-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Because of this

there is this at work:

Only millions more. It has been crazy busy! Crazy I tell you! Not only from the January 5th snowfall, but February 4th snowfall. We are all praying for a small breather. I know, I know, job security.

Speaking of breathers, we had about two inches of rainfall yesterday. Phew. We are particularly glad for that. It was nice to listen to the rain and veg out on the couch yesterday and recoup before I go back to work tonight.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

2011-10-05T10:17:00.006-05:00

Knitting

I am about half finished with the Green and Brown Striped Scarf, Big Version. I will have to order some green yarn so that I can finish it.
I tinked (that means un-knitted--see, tink is knit spelled backwards) the art sock, but I will keep it hidden shamefully for now. That makes me sad.
I've placed the anne hanson sweater aside for now, as I want to concentrate on Holiday Knitting!
I am knitting the Big Snowy Owl, courtesy of purl bee. Is it not adorable? Bonus--I have all the yarn, except for a light gray.
I think the girls might like this cowl, and it appears to use about 200 yards of yarn, which should knit up quickly. And I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up some odds and ends, and found a ton of yarn ON SALE. Wonderful navies and blues and creams, perfect for making cowls and scarves.
I wanted to knit some winter white cable pillows for the holidays, but instead I may use some thrifted white cable sweaters and SEW them.

Sewing

I finished the curtains I was reworking for Oldest Son. We (the curtains and I) had quite the battle, but I won. Geez. Nothing else to report this week.

Anti-Procrastination Day

Today I am making phone calls. I hate talking on the phone. But I need to make some appointments and follow-up on some issues.

Monday, October 3, 2011

2011-10-03T20:48:00.000-05:00

Grandbuddy Day:

Today we played with the ball, working on running and kicking the ball, throwing it two-handed and we even laid on our backs and kicked the ball with our feet. That was a good workout for both of us. We especially worked out our laugh muscles.
We drew, and played with Play-Doh, and watched some TV.
We ate spaghetti and meatballs, and had a chocolate milkshake.
We played with the dominoes, doing some matching.
We read books and sang songs.
I went in my office for a moment and he called me--"Grandma, where are you?" "I'm here in my office." "Oh. You're being quiet." "Yeah, I guess I am." "Grandma, are you pooping?"

Books:

I finished reading Einstein's Refrigerator. It was very entertaining!
I also read My Heart Remembers. It was very sweet and heartwarming. I may be reading more of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books.
I started reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I read her book, The House at Riverton, and enjoyed it very much. Her writing makes me feel very dreamy and creative.

Movies:

We saw Contagion and enjoyed it very much. It was an interesting story, especially in light of this past season of H1N1 virus. (Hope another one like that doesn't come around. That was a booger.) We both loved the acting/actors. Some of the storylines were a little off or annoying, but overall it was an enjoyable evening.
We watched Sorrell and Son, all six episodes over the course of two evenings. It was very, very good. If you like post WWI British dramas, this one is for you.
We've also been watching Reilly: Ace of Spies. We just finished Disc 3, and are moving through Disc 4. This is probably the third or fourth time we are watching this series. It is that good.
Tonight we are watching Frankenstein. I am also listening to Frankenstein on The Classic Tales Podcast by B.J. Harrison. If you like to listen to audiobooks, do listen to him.

Fall is coming!

2011-10-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

Fall is coming, I know it is. I actually woke up this morning and it was chilly in the house. It may have been 100 degrees one day this week, but when I came out of work Friday morning, I didn't need my sunglasses. We had a lovely thunderstorm during the night, and everything smelled all wet and warm. The sky was clear and it was definitely darker than usual. The weather lady announced on the radio that the sun would be coming up shortly. Yes, fall is coming. I do love to decorate my house for the fall and winter holidays. I pulled out many of my fall decorations and here is what they look like:The rust and blue Imari plate and cup, and the rust porcelain leaves join the blue and white porcelain pot. (The cachepot is crying out for a big rust chrysanthemum.)

I draped the dining room table with a tablecloth, and placed the large maroon urn in the center with some fall branches, and plopped the grapevine pumpkins at either end.

The mantel is sporting some ceramic pumpkins and berry branches.

My cheapo wrought iron baker's rack is full of warmer fall colored decor. I love those plates.

The little red Asian console with its crooked candleholder and the blue and white pots has tiny candle pumpkins, artfully arranged by Grandbuddy.

A little bit of fall. Soon we will decorate for Halloween. I'm hoping to get Grandbuddy to help me.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Five

2011-09-26T10:15:00.000-05:00

Week Five sees us into the master bathroom and linen closets for Master Bathroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan.We'll clean and organize personal care and linen storage areas, and continue working on seasonal clothing plans.Holiday prep continues to move forward on to-make and to-buy gifts, and includes a wardrobe check for kids.Ready? Let's get organized with Master Bathroom Week at the Holiday Grand Plan!

And here is the link to the actual page on organizedhome.com.And here is what I will actually be doing on the list of things to do:
Holiday Prep:
* Make one batch of Holiday Goodies--first of all, I need to decide what more to make. Spritz?
* Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive)--this week I'll add the pantry ingredients for stuffing.
* Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts--I received the brown yarn for the striped scarf, and will cast on today.
* Take read books to Allen Community Outreach.
* Inventory clothing and have another list of clothing items needed. My clothing situation for fall is not so good. As this week is bathroom/closet week, I will be going thru clothes and making a plan to buy/make/knit clothing for us.

Lightning Storm

2011-09-20T20:59:00.000-05:00

We had a most beautiful lightning storm on Sunday night.

I am going to link to it on YouTube, because the file is about 75 MB. Forewarned is forearmed. Link.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

2011-09-20T19:49:00.000-05:00

Knitting--

Still chugging along on the knitting. I finished the knitted scarf for Grandbuddy, no pic. I cannot find the dark brown yarn anywhere in town, so will order a skein online. Ugh.

The Art Sock has a fatal flaw. I didn't even see it until I looked at the photo. I got off-pattern while I was concentrating on the annoying increasing for the heel and decreasing for the top of the foot, as well as concentrating on the put-these-stitches-on-a-holder-and-then-continue-to-maintain-pattern. Apparently it was too much for my pea-sized brain. And the whole project seems to be just rather annoying at this time. I am contemplating just frogging the whole thing, or, tinking back and making tube socks. I still have sock #2 to do, too. It's looking bleaker and bleaker that even one sock will ever be finished.

It's not like the flaw isn't obvious.

My Highlander is going nowhere fast or slow.

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Sewing

Redwork embroidery--the pillow, a little bit at a time.

I started a new project, too--The Red Cross pillow. I saw one online and just thought it would be perfect. Not only does it feed my burlap obsession, but it also nods to my nursing career. I made a waxed paper stencil, and the durn waxed paper wouldn't stick to the burlap, so used my handy-dandy spray adhesive. The stencil and paint part took, seriously, ten minutes.

I have been spending a lot of time at the sewing machine. Daughter-in-law wanted a stripe added to her curtains to lengthen them. Each panel is taking about two hours. Two down, two to go.
Here is a picture of the curtains and the gray fabric that DIL chose. Isn't it pretty?

Baby Son's quilt. Well. It's ready for sewing machine action. Major motivation problem.

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Gardening

I planted about 15 feet of green beans and a small hill of zucchini and yellow squash. Not much to show now except dirt, weeds and a bunch of struggling tomato and pepper plants.

I did transplant six mums into some of the big empty pots. Hope to get out and buy some more to transplant before I go back to work for another nine-day grind.

Peanut Butter Balls

2011-09-20T14:11:00.001-05:00

Here is the promised recipe. It is a recipe that my mom has used for years; she got it from a neighbor, Marian Theobald. (Thanks, Marian!)

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Peanut Butter Balls

* 4 cups sugar
* 2 stick butter
* 1 cup condensed milk
* 2 cups peanut butter
* 2 tablespoon vanilla
* 6 cups oatmeal

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, slowly. Add the sugar, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. You may want to roll them into more compact balls with your hands--let the balls cool a bit first and butter your hands or you will have ten pound peanut butter ball covered hands.
This makes an enormous amount of balls, but you can easily halve the recipe.
They store GREAT in the freezer.

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Monday, September 19, 2011

2011-09-19T23:17:00.000-05:00

What I am reading:

This week I finished reading "Secret Adversary" by Agatha Christie. It is the first book in the Tommy and Tuppence series. I really enjoyed it, and will soon download the other books in the series.

I also read "Mile 81" by Stephen King. All I can say is--SCARY!

I'm currently reading "Snake Skin" by C.J. Lyons. I dunno, read the first 5% and still not convinced I am going to like it.

What I'm watching on the TV:

"As Time Goes By"--delightful. On our local PBS station.

HGTV love--what isn't to love? I was sad to see Meg win, on "Design Star". Sorry, Meg. Nobody really stood out to me this year. I think Carl is probably brilliant, but just not on TV.

Cowboys--fairly exciting game.

"Top Shot". I watch it for the same reason I listen to sports radio. I get such a kick out of guys and guy talk.

I definitely watched other stuff, but nothing stands out to me right now. Night-night.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Four

2011-09-19T22:47:00.000-05:00

This week is Master Bedroom Week. It also includes the master bedroom closets. Here is the link to the directions for this week.Week Four of the Holiday Grand Plan sees us move into the master bedroom to deep-clean and cut clutter. As the season changes, we rout out the closet and organize clothing. Our holiday prep tasks center on home-made gifts, and we'll begin budgeting "to-buy" items week-by-week.Things that I will be doing this week: * Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.I'll be making some Peanut Butter Balls. I'll post the recipe later. * Buy two canned food items from menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive).This week I will get the ingredients and extras for the stuffing. * Work at least 1 hour a day on homemade gifts.Good idea.

September 11, 2011--recollections

2011-09-11T21:57:00.002-05:00

I was driving to work listening to "The Ticket" on that beautiful morning. The sun was shining, the traffic was heavy, everybody jockeying into position to be first in line at the traffic light. I was way back in this pack, and not minding. I was being totally and thoroughly entertained as usual by the verbal sparring going on between the boys. They start talking about an airplane that had run into one of the towers in New York City. They commented on the video feed they had received, and one of them said, "That wasn't a little plane, that looked like a 747." They bantered back and forth, how could that have happened, how could a big plane have gotten so off track, it must have been a little plane as reported, not a big one. It was all very frightening even at that point. They even discussed a possibility that it had been done on purpose.
The traffic had stopped at the light, and when the light turned green, no one moved. No one. We just all sat there. Time really felt like it was standing still, a tragedy "seemed" to have just happened, and we were all stunned. A couple people started honking their horns, and we all moved on. Those of us who were listening to our radios drove a little slower, maybe even a little more distracted than usual. I drove as quickly and carefully as I could to work, about ten miles further. When I pulled up to the house where I was working that day, my patient's mom ran out onto the porch and hollered at me to hurry and come inside. We exchanged information quickly as we ran into the house. A few seconds later, another plane hit the twin towers. We were horrified. We knew this may not be the end of it, and we were right. The rest of the day we did very little besides watch television and make phone calls to make sure everyone we loved was okay. My patient's mom had several friends that were working in those buildings, some of them made it, and some of them didn't. I had friends that were working in the area that all survived. Watching the people jump out of the buildings was so horrifying. It's not something I will ever forget. Watching the smoke billow and envelop scores of people is an image that will remain etched in my memory forever. The screaming and tears and the shocked faces of the people affected by this insanity will never ever leave my mind. The bravery of the firemen and policemen and everyday people was awe-inspiring.
Later in the day, we realized that all the air travel had been suspended. Their house was in the path to Love Field here in Dallas, and I had grown accustomed to the windows rattling everytime a plane flew overhead. The silence was eerie. Suddenly I heard some fighter jets flying by, so loud and so fast and so close that I thought the windows and my eardrums would break. Heck, the whole house shuddered. I realized with a start that our President was probably moving around the country for his safety with a fleet of jets. I called out to my patient's mom and told her to call her mother, who lived in Shreveport to tell her to start looking for the planes, that I bet the planes were flying into Barksdale, the Air Force Base at Shreveport. She called back a little later, and they had.
We were all on pins and needles the rest of the day. Watching the heart-breaking fall of the Twin Towers, and seeing our beautiful Pentagon destroyed was so sad. Not knowing how many more strikes were going to happen or where they would happen made for a very nerve-wracking day. Most of downtown Dallas was evacuated, especially the courts.
I'll never forget that day. And the days of sadness and shock that followed. My husband's company was doing some business with a large company in the Twin Towers. They had sent some correspondence on September 11. Slowly, each piece of mail was returned. It was very eerie and very sad for my husband and his coworkers.I love my country.

Holiday Grand Plan Week Three

2011-09-11T17:20:00.000-05:00

It is Week Three of the Holiday Grand Plan. Link to the page on the Holiday Grand Plan Site. Here is my plan for this week:Welcome to Week Three of the Holiday Grand Plan: Entry/Foyer Week!

This week, we tackle deep-cleaning and decluttering our entryway or foyer, to create a welcoming home for holiday guests. Holiday prep chores focus on baking and kitchen as we plan our baked goodies and start stocking up for holiday meals.

I can't believe it's all ready time to start baking. This will be a good time to start looking for that small chest freezer I want to buy. As far as deep cleaning the entryway, I will get out the ladder and clean the knickknacks in the front door window, wash the window, clean the glass on the light fixtures, and wax the entryway furniture. I also want to recover the seats on the chairs and replace the pillows. I will add some seasonal decorative items as well.

Holiday Prep: * Make one batch of Holiday Goodies.

I will start with the Snickerdoodles. They freeze well.
* Buy two canned food items from Menus (get 2 of each item, one to use and one to donate to food drive). * Keep 2 boxes in a pantry area or storage place to put these in so that they are not used in everyday cooking - make sure to label them so that when food drives start your holiday supply stays intact and the food drive gets the food purchased for it.
I will buy green beans, mushroom soup and Durkee's french fried onion rings for the green bean casserole. I purchase extras for the box. I also need to set up a box in the pantry. *
Buy all supplies for homemade gifts. Package each project with directions and other information in zipper food storage bag and place in a basket or box in craft/sewing area
.Clearly, I have a lot of work to do here. I still need to decide what projects if any I am going to do.

Delicious. Make it.

2011-09-09T12:52:00.000-05:00

I made a really delicious meal last night, Coconut Shrimp with Basil Spinach. Wowsers, and oh my gosh. Delicious! No pic, we ate it too fast! Thank you to foodonthetable.com (I do not use this system, but if all the recipes are this good, I would consider it!)

Holiday Grand Plan: Question Week and Living Room Cleaning

2011-09-09T10:25:00.000-05:00

This week is supposed to be the Living Room cleaning week and "Questions" Week. My living room is all ready pretty durn clean, but could use some redecorating for the fall season. And some organizing of the storage. And I haven't even done the cleaning and projects for LAST WEEK. Ugh. Work. Travel. I. will. do. it.But for now, organizing it in my head will make it easier to actually DO when I DO get to it. Here is the link to this week's projects on the Holiday Grand Plan site.

Week Two? It's all about questions during Question Week in the Holiday Grand Plan.During this week, we'll continue making lists and planning our holiday. We'll get in touch with our values through important questions.In the cleaning component, we tackle the living room, decluttering and deep-cleaning to prepare for holiday entertaining.
Ready? Let's get organized with the Holiday Grand Plan!Deep Cleaning/Organizing Area: Living Room * Living Room * Living Room Cleaning Checklist
As I said, the living room is pretty clean. I want to redecorate for fall, organize the storage units (entertainment center and coffee table), and oh, yes, make some new pillows.
Holiday Prep: * Buy extra flour, sugar, shortening, etc. * Make one extra meal for the freezer labeled HOLIDAY MEAL. This should be large enough to feed the family plus two people. (Find recipes and ideas for freezer cooking at OrganizedHome.Com's Freezer Cooking Guide.)
I added flour, sugar, shortening, and some other stuff to the grocery list. I do plan to make some cookies/breads, etc. I like to have my everyday food cooked fresh, but have put some sale meats/veggies/fruit in the freezer.
Browse Week: * Develop ideas for gifts, decorations. * Order Christmas cards and address labels. * For your friends of other religions take the time to find out what their major holiday is and look for an appropriate card to send to them at that time. * Divide gift responsibilities with other family members.
Yes. I need to look at my pinterest ideas for Xmas gifts and stocking stuffers, and make some lists and plans. Christmas cards, hmm. Definitely will be say "Happy Holidays" kind of things, not Merry Xmas things. Dividing gift responsibilities is a given around here. Hubby is so good at helping out. And he enjoys it.
Ask these questions: * Do I see Christmas time primarily as a time for entertaining friends and renewing long lost acquaintances or as a time for family? * How much emphasis do our Christmas activities place on the spiritual side of Christmas? * How involved is my family in the Christmas preparation? * What activities are particularly important to our family at Christmas? To myself? * Why do we observe the traditions we do in our house? * How important is an elaborately decorated house, homemade gifts or food, to my feelings about Christmas? * What would my ideal Christmas be like?
This is definitely and primarily a time for family. Spiritual emphasis, not so much. Family involved. Activities? Traditions? Eating together. Decorating the Xmas tree. Talking. Opening presents. Decorating? Why, of course. More elaborate every year. Ideal? Well, it may not be ideal, but it is all good in the end.

Organized makeup drawer

2011-09-09T09:48:00.001-05:00

I love having my makeup drawer organized. It sooooo helps me when I am getting ready for work to have all my goodies easy to find and, well, there. I snagged the idea for the trays that are velcro'd to the drawer somewhere on the internet. Let me tell you, it has really helped me to keep this area organized. I had the silverplate trays all ready, a wedding gift from long, long, ago. I bought the white tray at Target on the clearance rack. I think I paid $4.00 for it. So perfect. The trays unloaded:

And the trays loaded:

All the basics. In one place. Easily accessible. Simply stored. The black bag in the back right is my makeup. It is a hanging travel bag. On the inside I have all my makeup stored. I pull it out, lay it flat on the counter and when I'm finished, I roll it back up and slide it back into the drawer. The little black bag holds all my tools such as tweezers and brushes. In the front are my everyday skin care products. I have sensitive facial skin, and the Patricia Wexler products from Bath and Body Works are the only products I have been able to use that don't break out my skin. The Skin Regenerating Serum is magic. Expensive, but magic. The Shea Cashmere hand lotion is so luxurious feeling on my skin, and the smell is soft and vanilla-y. Deodorant. Good stuff.

Crafty goodness. Friday, September 9, 2011

2011-09-09T09:26:00.002-05:00

Both of the striped hats are finished, and I am chugging along on the scarf now.

Made a teeny bit of progress on the Art Sock, an inch or so. Realized I lost my way on the heel. Reconsidering the whole project. Actually knitting two of these is looking--well, not good.

Also made some progress on the redwork pillow.

Finally for crafty goodness today, I finished two pages on Oldest Son's school scrapbook. Very simple. And, easy.

Catch-Up

2011-09-09T08:36:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of catching up to do. So much has been happening due to work and the Labor Day Weekend. Oh, and what a weekend it was. My sweet daughter-in-law and I were talking about the weekend and she commented that it was definitely a boys weekend. Both of us have pictures of all the stuff the boys did. Grandbuddy caught his first fish. Okay, well, Uncle J.C. actually caught it, but Gbuddy reeled it in and was quite proud of his catch.

We had a lovely view of the lake from our townhouse.

Grandpa, Daddy and Grandbuddy had a lovely time walking up and down a bridge we found on a back road, on the search for good fishing spots.

Grandpa made his famous chili, the first of the season, and everyone enjoyed it mightily. I would say that the other contestants in the Chili Cookoff had better beware. That was some good chili! We had a lovely four mile hike through the woods. Didn't take my camera, but the walk was oh so beautiful, and we had such good conversation along the way. The cool weather was so, so welcome, and when we got home, the temperature had cooled off some twenty degrees, also very, very welcome.

Thursday, August 31, 2011

2011-09-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

Sharing a recipe today--everyone loves Snickerdoodles, a creamy, rich cookie rolled in sugar and cinnamon. Yum.

Snickerdoodles

(from allrecipes.com)--with adjustments by me. Buy a fresh jar of cream of tartar every year. I use King Arthur brand flour. I like to let the dough rest in the refrigerator for a day or so before baking.

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar. Stir in the eggs. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. In a small bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar, and the cinnamon. Roll dough into walnut sized balls, then roll the balls in the cinnamon-sugar. Place them onto an unprepared cookie sheet, two inches apart.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be slightly brown. Remove from sheets to cool on wire racks.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Tuesday, August 30, 2011--Knitting

2011-09-01T09:29:00.001-05:00

Both of the striped hats are finished, and I am chugging along on the scarves now. No pics this week. I also worked a bit on the Art Sock, not even worth taking a picture for as I just did another inch or so. Maybe after this weekend, I'll have some picture worthy progress to show.

Monday, August 29, 2011

2011-09-01T09:24:00.000-05:00

Ooops--posts didn't get out like I planned.

Today I went through the lists for List Week Holiday Grand Plan. I pulled out the xmas gift lift from last year, and the Christmas card address list, and I will update those this weekend.

To completely change the subject, I am so enjoying my Kindle. I have recently finished reading Howard's End, then watched the movie as well.

Currently, I am reading "The House of Dr. Edwardes". It was recently highlighted on the Kindle freebies, and it was Alfred Hitchcock's basis for the movie "Spellbound". I definitely want to watch the movie again.

I am a daily visitor to the Best Sellers page. I find I am reading things I wouldn't normally pick, but it's been fun to "expand my horizons".

Last night I picked up some Agatha Christie books. I've been wanting to read her books since I watched the recent Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple shows on Masterpiece Theater.

And, lastly, I pre-ordered some Stephen King books. That will be good reading for Halloween.

Holiday Grand Plan Starts Today

2011-08-28T21:51:00.001-05:00

For many years, I have followed the Holiday Grand Plan. It not only helps me prepare for the fall and winter holidays, but it also helps me clean my house.

It takes a while to set up, but it is well worth the effort. Here is the page for this week if you want to get started. You will be given a list of things to do, pages to print in order to get that notebook functional, and an area of the house to clean.

Today Hubby and I sat down and looked at my tentative work schedule and decided which days we would celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It is our tradition to celebrate Thanksgiving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I usually work the day before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day. That way my coworkers will have those days free, and I will have a better chance of having the days off I would like to have. Also it is a lot easier for the in-law families to have T-day without having to try and compete with us.

We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. A little harder work this one out for work and family. We just do our best to get everyone together.

We talked about plans for a Christmas card, and this week I will review the address list. We will discuss other party plans and review the master gift list, deciding who we will include on the list and some general plans for gifts and budget some money for the holidays.

Holiday food is very important to us. We have a traditional menu for each of the holidays; each of the family members has a few special dishes. Sometimes they prepare the food themselves, but mostly I do the cooking. The older they get, the more they want to participate in the preparations.

This week the cleaning assignment is to clean and freshen the Front Porch. I'm hoping to squeeze in some cleaning in between work and Labor Day weekend plans. I need to paint the front door and replace the front door mat. I will review pictures from last year, and decide how this area will be decorated. I'd like to coordinate the plantings in the front porch area with the decorations, too. So I'll be reviewing and devising a planting schedule, too.

Seems like a lot to do, but spending a few minutes here and there, will make the holidays a lot less stressed.

Sunday is Weekly Review

2011-08-28T18:18:00.000-05:00

Today is weekly review day. On my weekly review day, I strive to get things organized for the coming up week.

For this task, I follow the GTD (Getting Things Done) guideline.

1) All loose papers into inbox. For me, this consists of taking any papers that I have piled up on my desk/landing pad, etc. and placing them in one of two piles on my desk. The first pile is things I have to pay attention to this week. The other pile is placed in my file folder divider. It may be ads, coupons, magazines, papers with ideas for projects, or things that need to be filed.

2) Process your notes. I go thru the two piles and make notes in my Google calendar or on my Out of Milk app, or my Gtasks list. All of these integrate with my telephone, so I have all of that available whether I am at home or away from home.

3) Review previous calendar data--correct work times and use old data for new triggers. I zip through my lists on Out of Milk, and Gtasks, eliminating old "done" items, or outdated items. I also look thru last week's calendars to see if I missed anything, and use last week's data to trigger ideas for this week.

4) Review Upcoming Calendar : I go thru my calendars and make plans as to what I am going to be able to accomplish for the coming week. This will probably trigger items to add to the shopping lists, text messages or emails.

5) Empty your head: put in writing new projects actions, waiting fors, etc. and add to "getting things done":

6) Review action lists: mark off completed actions, review for reminders of further actions, steps to take.

8) Review Project Lists: review files, lists and pinterest.

9) Review any relevant checklists:

10) Review someday/maybe list: this gets done way too infrequently. nice for daydreaming.

11) Be Creative and Courageous: sometimes this is the hardest part. Keep repeating--JUST DO IT.

12) This is my final addition: Review lists and make sure everything syncs. Then sync to telephone. I am currently trying to use the most streamlined approach by having everything listed in my google calendar.

Car Organization, Boring But Necessary

2011-08-26T12:24:00.004-05:00

Today is the day I do my Weekly Blessing of my house, which is a quick cleanup of the house for the weekend. I do a quick pick up, handle papers, dust, vacuum, mop, clean fingerprints off the mirrors and doors. I also clean my bedside table, closet, makeup drawer and purse. The car gets detrashed and wiped up once a week.

After reading about Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick's Clutter Nemesis (her car) I've been thinking about my car and how I would like to organize it a little better.
This is how it looks when it's cleaned up and ready for the work weeks. I discovered that the only thing I needed to do was add a trash bag.

Dash storage:

I put my pen, marker and id badge in here. No worries then about leaving them at home.

Glove box:

I store my extra napkins and car information here. Garage door opener velcro'd to wall of compartment.

Between the seats storage, top part:

Current CD's.

Between the seats storage, bottom part:

Here I have a box of kleenex and sanitizing gel. If we are on a trip, I put a baggie with wet wipes in there, too.

Lastly, the drinks area.

When I am traveling, I usually have a drink, my telephone, and my shuffle. If I am driving alone to work, I listen to my podcasts on my shuffle. I have yet to find a way to listen to podcasts on my phone that is reliable.

I did not take a picture of the back seat. I (now) hang a grocery sack from the passenger seat and dump the trash in there. I also have an umbrella and my huge sun visor on the backseat floor.

Next car will have automatic transmission, easily accessible space for a couple of grandkids, and some way I can hook up my music from my phone or ipod. My beloved Scion tC is six years old, and I've been getting car fever. The last time I got car fever it took me three years to decide what to buy. So that's pretty close to the ten year mark I want to attain on this car. And plenty of time to save for that car.

Boring. But that's what works for me. I remember the days when I had three little ones in tow, and getting back and forth to/from the car was a major ordeal. Trust me, it was not organized in any way, shape or form. The kids still talk about the carton of milk that got lost up under the seat and the smell that wouldn't go away. Anyone that can keep their car clean and organized when they have little kids gets an enormous amount of respect from me.

OW.

2011-08-25T20:59:00.000-05:00

Long story made short--I dropped a lamp on my foot. Ice, elevation, etc., for the next 24 hours and this is what it looked like. Couldn't get a shoe on to go to work. Have kept it elevated 3/4 of the day today and it is feeling better, still tingly, swollen and bruised. I'm gonna try a shoe tomorrow cuz I gotta go to work!

Changes to the blog; Goodbye to the website

2011-08-25T20:49:00.000-05:00

Made some changes to the blog--made the banner bigger to better fit the page as I have it configured as of now, added some gadgets, did some housecleaning and rearranging, and figured out how to make the pictures bigger.

Also peeked at my old website, which I have made NO changes to in ages. It seems silly to add to the website when no one but me visits it. I enjoyed learning code and it was fun to have a place for all the digital scrapbooking tutorials I wrote. The tutorials are so outdated, all of them written for PSE2; version 9 is out now. So I have decided to discontinue the website. A little of it will be added to the blog, little by little, not much of it bears repeating.

Revisiting the Blue Jean Quilt

2011-08-24T14:19:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this blue jean quilt for many years, more than I care to admit. I made a quilt for my two older children when they graduated from high school, but I have never finished the one for my youngest son. I know it will turn out to be a really lovely and interesting quilt, but it is just one of those projects I am having trouble motivating myself to complete. So I am writing about it, in hopes that I can motivate myself through confession.

I can do this. As Flylady says, "Fifteen minutes a day."

I hemmed a pair of pants for my daughter today. Here is a tutorial I recommend for the method I use to hem pants.

I also worked a bit on the redwork pillow.

School Scrapbooks

2011-08-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

One of the projects I have been meaning to do is to put together the kids' school papers. It is one of those things I should have done when they were IN school but unfortunately, did not. I did, however, save many of their papers with the intent of putting together scrapbooks someday.

I have begun a school scrapbook for my oldest boy, and here is a picture of his first grade page.

I used a vinyl Itoya art portfolio, purchased at Hobby Lobby for about $18. I think. It's been a while since I bought it. I'll check on that price "next
time" I'm in there.

I have his portfolio complete from kindergarten through the fourth grade, and I think I can finish up the rest of the stuff I have in another eight to ten pages. So, a couple hours of work=finished!

I can do it!

Knitting Progress--August 24, 2011

2011-08-24T14:02:00.000-05:00

I finished a hat for Grandbuddy, and am working on a matching hat for his dad.

Here is the almost finished Art Sock #1, by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

and my last project on the needles is My Highlander, by Anne Hanson. I purchased the yarn many, many years ago. I was in love with it then and I am still in love with its beautiful colors and the lovely softly twisted fibers. (Mexican Wave yarn)

Freezer Organization

2011-08-23T18:26:00.000-05:00

Saw this organized refrigerator and decided I needed to organize my freezer. I measured my freezer and took off for Container Store. I was able to buy three of these--

and placed them side by side in the bottom part of the freezer drawer. Here's what it looks like now:

and it functions so much better! It is so much easier to find things in there now.

The top shelf looks like this, no changes made there.

One of these days I may organize the refrigerator as well, but right now I like the way it functions.

I solemnly promise. . .

2011-08-21T11:44:00.000-05:00

That I will blog more. Promise.

Organized Christmas starting in a few days--the 28th. I promise I will get with it and clean along as well as get organized for the holidays. That includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's/Valentine's. This is really my favorite time of year--the hustle and bustle of the fall/winter holidays.

I promise I will continue to strive for the best fitness/health level I can.

Today I am printing out the new Holiday Planner pages from the Holiday Grand Plan, and I will add the cleaning days to my Google calendar, which syncs beautifully with my Android. Have I told you how much I love my HTC Inspire?

Today I am also going to go through my notebook that has all the craft/sewing/knitting/gardening/house projects I want to do and pick a couple of them and just DO IT!

I also aspire to just get busy! Time to get out those New Year's resolutions, tweak and re-commit.

Holy Moly!

2011-07-29T10:55:00.000-05:00

If this doesn't inspire you, nothing will.

href="

World Without End mini-series: Cast Chosen

2011-06-27T10:56:00.000-05:00

The sequel to Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" is "World Without End". I immensely enjoyed the books, and certainly got a kick out of watching "Pillars". So I am definitely looking forward to seeing this. More information here.

Mr. and Mrs. Pillows-copied

2011-06-16T05:51:00.000-05:00

Inspiration: the Mr. and Mrs. Pillows from Ballard Designs

My version:

I love Leo Reynolds

2011-06-16T05:20:00.000-05:00

Leo Reynolds is a very clever photographer who uses square photos to create interesting graphics. Here is a link to his Flikr page. Beware. If you like this kind of thing, you are gonna get lost here for hours.

Bella Inspirations

2011-06-15T20:41:00.000-05:00

Love her etsy shop! (Link from The Lettered Cottage)

Hmm, interesting--

2011-06-15T20:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.dvdlater.com/
This website allows you to add movies to your Netflix queue that are currently running in theaters. Pretty cool.

Mantel Refresh

2011-06-12T10:18:00.000-05:00

Refresh on the mantel--

2011-06-12T08:04:00.002-05:00

Go. Have fun. Pinterest.

sigh, if only. .

2011-04-08T21:47:00.000-05:00

traditional landscape design by chicago Aquascape Inc.

Our neighborhood the wilderness area

2011-02-26T08:51:00.002-06:00

Chip and I saw a female great horned owl on her nest last night. I knew I shoulda picked up the camera! Our neighborhood is quite the wilderness area--saw a bobcat in the neighbor's yard last month, a fox (I think) in my front yard, and several coyotes. Ugh, I guess I should mention the turkey vulture, too. UGH.

a husband that spending his days off making a perennial vegetable/fruit garden--priceless.

2011-02-19T07:18:00.000-06:00

Husband innocently bought a bag of asparagus crowns and announced he wanted to take off a few days to dig the perennial vegetable/fruit garden.
We had plans for planting a bed beside the driveway, but it was something that just had not happened, until yesterday, that is. We planted a fig tree a couple of years ago, and actually got some figs last year.
The garden as planned will have a fig, some fruit trees, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, asparagus and strawberries.
Yesterday Husband dug the asparagus bed. Oh, Lordy, have I told you how MUCH I HATE Bermuda grass? And our heavy clay soils? Man, oh, man! Bless my sweet Husband!
It was Friday, so Grandbuddy was with us, and he was a great help!

And then there was a break for lunch and a nap--

Pop-Pop was in heaven--

Books

2011-02-01T12:24:00.001-06:00

I finished reading "Ape House" by Sara Gruen. I semi-enjoyed it. I guess my problem with it was that the book just had little depth.

I'm currently reading "The Thirteenth Tale" by Diane Setterfield. and, so far, I'm enjoying it. I'll reserve my final recommendation for when I finish it.

I also read "The Red Queen" by Phillipa Gregory. This I did enjoy. The style was a bit different from her other books, but fit the character of the story, the terse Margaret Beaufort, grandmother of Henry the VII.

I also read "An Irish country Girl" by Patrick Taylor. And as usual, I was drawn in by the utter charm of the characters. Love, love, love it.

I'm a blessed woman. I love books and my family spoils me by buying books for me.

Conversation hearts wreath

2011-01-31T11:59:00.001-06:00

This was a lot easier than I anticipated. I wrapped a wreath in thick white satin ribbon, using a glue gun to make it easier to keep the ribbons in place. Then over about an HOUR, I glued on the individual hearts. Very fun!
Thanks to Kristi at Gift of Today for the idea!

Winter decorations

2011-01-31T11:48:00.001-06:00

The mantel:

And the breakfast room:

Hope I didn't shoot your eyes out with my new blog design

2011-01-30T12:41:00.000-06:00

Thanks to graphicsfairy for the background and the linen header shape. Everything else is my creation.
I know it's kinda bold. I'm liking it for now.

Garden--First Planting

2011-01-30T07:38:00.000-06:00

Sweet Husband composted, tilled and planted--
Radish
Swiss chard
Mesclun
Spinach
Sweet yellow onion sets

Linky love

2011-01-29T09:13:00.004-06:00

Things I have loved this week--

Food:
Beggar's Linguine
MM Sandwich. Love Pioneer Woman.
Whole Foods, I love you. Menu Plan and Shopping List.
Lasagna with Roasted Cauliflower, Ricotta and Spinach.
******
Crafts:
Heart Barrettes
Diaper Cake. Yeah, oldie but goodie.
Printing on Fabric Pillows. That's all I'm saying. Ok, maybe I'll say Tshirts, too. And kitchen linens. All right, see, that's why I needed to stop at pillows.
Sticker Charm Valentine Bracelet. Too cute! And I do need to learn how to make jewelry.
Rice Bags. Need to make some more of these!
Monthly onesie stickers. I die. One more reason to buy a Silhouette.
******
Home:
Burlap Message Board
Subway Art. I want to make the Sunshine one for GBuddy's room.
I love all the ideas in this post for a child's room. I especially love the daybed and the whimsical painted wall--what a great idea for over the crib; the baby can look but not pull stuff off the wall.
Valentine Mantel Ideas
I'm going to steal my husband's old boxes.

Drink Your Water!

2011-01-22T08:25:00.003-06:00

I hate posts that say "Lose Ten Pounds in Ten Days". It's stupid. It's not addressing the long term problem of needing to looking at the whole picture of nutrition and exercise and well-being. To think that you can lose weight just by drinking water is just dumb.
But. Anyone that knows me knows I am always harping on hydration, and how important it is to our overall health.
So read this article, and concentrate on the table of how much water to drink.
And then do it.

Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age--Chapter 3

2011-01-22T08:06:00.002-06:00

Now for an assessment of energy--you are to measure six areas--energy/comfort level, flexibility, freedom from pain, strength/muscle stamina, aerobic endurance, emotional status and spiritual health. Cooper suggests you buy a journal and do a self-assessment of your perceived level of energy for each area once a week, target areas and make a plan to target that problem, and then use the journal for targeting continued problems.

A particularly interesting study done on a group of Japanese nurses targeted why nurses complained of fatigue. Those with weak arms and poor cardiovascular fitness complained the most of fatigue. Hmm. Arms. Okay. Since I suffer from moderate shoulder pain due to significant shoulder injuries, this got my attention. I know my arm strength and mobility has decreased dramatically, and now I have a motivation to work on that. I also know I need to work on my overall strength and my cardiovascular health, but that specific study made me sit up and think about how decreased upper body strength applies to my overall performance at work.

Cooper addresses five "energy sappers"--general bad stress, depression, inadequate sleep, a pessimistic attitude and dehydration, and then goes into detail on how to address each one of these problems.

Look!

2011-01-18T08:26:00.001-06:00

At what My Dear Trash has done--I gotta do this!

Silhouette

2011-01-17T05:27:00.001-06:00

I just entered for a Silhouette giveaway--you can, too! http://bit.ly/f7pz6v

Chapter Two Recap of Regaining the Power of Youth

2011-01-12T07:41:00.004-06:00

Chapter Two: Strike, Strengthen, and Stretch

Striking--means exercise with impact. Impact builds bones. Good striking exercises include jogging, tennis, volleyball, aerobic dance, canoeing.
Women do not build bone as men do so women need to do weight lifting with high reps as well as heavy weight lifting with low reps.

Strengthening: Strength work should be combined with aerobic work. This is called the Aerobic-Strength Axis. It is vital to battle the body's inclination with age to use oxygen less efficiently. Sedentary people lose aerobic power at about 12% per decade and endurance athletes lose at about 5.5% per decade. (Over a decade, that's a loss difference of nearly 50%.)

As one ages the ratio of aerobic/strength workouts should change, more strength conditioning as one ages. For my age group--51-60 years, I should be doing 60% aerobic and 40% strength conditioning. The ratio works out timewise for me as this--for every five hours I work out, I should be doing three hours of aerobic and two hours of strength. (Tentatively, that means on SunMThFSat I should aerobically work out four of the five days for 45 minutes. And on MTFSat I should lift weights three out of the four days for for 40 minutes. Don't even ask me to explain why I chose the days that way. My night work schedule is screwy.)

Stretching: Importance of stretching is reinforced, in order to decrease injury and to aid in activities of daily living. I will use yoga for my stretching.

Snow pictures

2011-01-12T07:07:00.008-06:00

I read that there is snow on the ground in 49 of the 50 states.
Really.
I know snow is enough of a novelty here in Texas that I should post some pictures from our January snowfall--all five inches of it. But the most noteworthy thing is that it is still there, four days later. It has been cold here. Cold.
WonderHusband and I took a lovely walk the day of the snowfall. Very quiet and quite romantic as well.

View from the front door at 12:45 pm, and two hours later:

View from the back door at 12:45 pm and two and a half hours later:

We bundled up about 230 pm and went for a walk:

(not a very attractive picture of either one of us, but here goes:

and a view of the creek at the end of our street:

Have you visited Knock Off Decor?

2011-01-11T07:32:00.002-06:00

If you love to do crafty stuff, can't afford to pay a bazillion dollars for SOMETHING YOU CAN MAKE, GO HERE!

YUMMM!

2011-01-11T07:30:00.001-06:00

Fritattas.
Must try each one.

2011 Home Goals

2011-01-10T06:18:00.003-06:00

A post on The Inspired Room was timely for me--with the granddog and grandcat and daughter/SIL moving out, our house is finally our own, for a while at least. I never say that with a sense of finality, because I don't ever want to close the door to my kids. They know they are always welcome for a visit or a stay if need be.
Do you sense some sadness? Yeah. A bit. Okay. A lot.
Thank heaven I have grandbuddy twice a week, and blessed Sunday dinners.
******
Anyway.
******
The 2011 Home Goals--
Per The Inspired Room:
1. "Say goodbye to the swine".
This refers to her hate of the paint colors she has currently. For me, that translates to changing the things that you dislike most about your house. And, wow, I'm gonna have to think about that a while. Cuz I really like my house.

2. "Make changes to how we use the space we have, so we can function more efficiently."
This one definitely applies to us. Our use of the house is changing--our daughter moved out, the cat with her, and grandbuddy is here two days a week. We have all ready moved his crib into the middlelittle bedroom with a rocker, (my childhood one)and my dad's little desk. We have plans for a daybed with a trundle for guests, and later, for big boys and girls that can sleep in a regular bed. We have plans to add a wall of storage with a desk for the sitting room as well.

#3. "Love living in our home."
No problem there. We love our home. I do think we would like to share our home more, though. Dinner parties, having friends over for a movie or a visit. More of an open door.

Yeah.

Books and "Regaining Power"

2010-12-27T08:07:00.004-06:00

I just finished reading Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. I really enjoyed this book, and am anxiously awaiting the second of the series. It has also made me curious about history during this period (Word War I), and I'm sure I will be reading more about this fascinating time in world history
I started reading another of Patrick Taylor's books, "An Irish Country Girl". Taylor's booksare so easy to read, enjoyable, and are just the kind of book to warm your heart.
Finally, I am reading "Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age" by Kenneth Cooper. I've had this book on my radar for a while, and just haven't purchased it. I received it for a Christmas present (thanks Anne and Justin) and I will try to summarize each chapter as I read it.
And since I have finished the first chapter, here are the highlights as I see them--

Cooper begins by talking of all the things that can drain your vigor--stress, recurrent health problems, travel, financial problems, menopause (men and women) information overload, frustrations with family and raising children, misinformation about the aging process. He proposes a process called targeting. Targeting, he says, "is a scientifically proven strategy of self-assessment and self-treatment that features the application of specific fitness, diet, and psychological techniques to particular health concerns.
The first targeting technique he defines is "Stamina Strategies". It involves "eight to ten minute of exercises designed to produce specific kinds of endurance and staying power". They are low-intensity and high-repetition.
The next one is called the "Quick Fix". It is four or five minutes of calisthenics or stretches. They are targeted to ease stiff muscles or brainfog from prolonged concentration or work.
The third targeting technique is called a "Pick-Me-Up". It is "four or five minutes of light but continuous activity designed to provide a lift during those periods of the day when your energy begins to flag".
"Eye-Openers" are just that--done in the morning, they are static stretches followed by a stamina and strength routine.
"Stopgaps" are designed to fill a need for those times when you can't do your regular workout at the gym. It can be five to twenty minutes of strength and aerobic work.
"Energy Packs" are nutritional strategies, and Cooper encourages you to eat foods that are low on the glycemic index.
Lastly, but something I harp on all the time is "Fluid Factoring". It stresses the importance of staying hydrated. Yeah. I will definitely evaluate my fluid intake.

Next, Cooper suggests a simple plan of action. First, stretching as soon as you arise. Start with the Williams exercises, and add static achilles tendon stretches, static hamstring stretches, upper arm and shoulder stretches, groin stretches and lunge stretches. Add in some bent-leg sit ups and modified push-ups and you're finished. I will probably do a yoga workout as this encompasses the same exercises. Besides, I like watching Rodney Yee's A.M. Yoga. The scenery and Rodney are beau-ti-ful.

Actions for me:
1) Evaluate my fluid intake. Measure out a gallon of filtered water and drink it by the end of the day. Find and make available a water bottle, keep it filled throughout the day.
2) I will find a set of low handweights and set them near the TV with my 12x12 workout cheater card. (I'll scan that and load it up so you can see it too.) The goal is to do, not 12 reps of each 12 exercises, but maybe 25 or so. Not too many to start. Enough to complete the whole thing in eight to ten minutes, as prescribed.
3) I will make sure to take several "pick-me-up" or "quick-fix" breaks throughout the day, maybe just a quick walk or running in place or dancing or a yoga workout for a few minutes.
4) I will study the low glycemic index foods list this week, and see if I can't do some substitutes.

More on what I should knit 2011

2010-12-27T07:30:00.004-06:00

#1: Fairisle yoke sweater made entirely on circular needles
#2:
Circular Seamless "Brooks Sweater
#3: Aran Cap: this was done as a swatching for the Aran Cardigan, so see book
#4: Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket
#5: Headband
#6: Very Warm Hat
#7: Fast Cap
#8: V-necked Aran Cardigan
#9: Three & One Sweater
#10: Surprise Jacket
#11: 36-stitch mittens

So, now. There. All the links I could find. Next I think I'll go through the stash and see if I can't bag up some of the smaller projects. I'll take pics.

Thinking about what to knit for the New Year

2010-12-25T06:06:00.007-06:00

There has been discussion about a knit-along for the book "Opinionated Knitter" by Elizabeth Zimmerman. It is a compilation of the first twenty or so newsletters she wrote, starting in 1958.

I thought I'd put my thoughts down on paper.

First, the projects in the book. I'm sure I missed some, but here it is as I see it now.

#1: Fairisle yoke sweater made entirely on circular needles
#2: Scandinavian Ski-Sweater
#3: Circular Seamless "Brooks Sweater"
#4: Cowichan Sweater
#5: Prime Rib Sweater
#6: Aran Coat
#7: Norse Sweater
#8: Watch Cap
#9: Circular Aran Sweater
#10: Aran Cap
#11: Tomten
#12: Circular Seamless Raglan Sweater
#13: Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket
#14: Woodsman's Socks
#15: Pillbox Hat
#16: Ski-Bonnet
#17: Headband
#18: Very Warm Hat
#19: Fast Cap
#20: V-necked Aran Cardigan
#21: Three & One Sweater
#22: Icelandic Yoke Sweater
#23: Mittens
#24: Baby Leggings
#25: Lady Leggings
#26: Stockings
#27: Spiral Hat (Three or Five Spiral)
#28: Kangaroo Pouch Sweater
#29: Surprise Jacket
#30: Baby Bonnet
#31: Baby bootees
#32: Baby Bunting

I've made the Tomten, and probably won't make it again.
I've made the Watch Cap, Woodsman's Socks, Headband, Three & One Sweater, Stockings, and Kangaroo Pouch Sweater, and I will make those again at some point.
There are several others that I am not interested in making for the knit-a-long--Cowichan Sweater, Scandinavian Ski Sweater, Aran Coat, Norse sweater, Prime Rib Sweater, Watch Cap, Circular Aran Sweater, Circular Seamless Raglan Sweater, Woodsman's Socks, Pillbox hat, Ski Bonnet, Icelandic Yoke Sweater, Baby Leggings, Lady Leggings, Stockings, Icelandic Yoke Sweater, Kangaroo Pouch Sweater, Baby Bonnet, Bootees, or Bunting, or a Spiral Hat.

So that leaves the possibilities of knitting these in the upcoming year:

#1: Fairisle yoke sweater made entirely on circular needles
#2: Circular Seamless "Brooks Sweater"
#3: Aran Cap
#4: Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket
#5: Headband
#6: Very Warm Hat
#7: Fast Cap
#8: V-necked Aran Cardigan
#9: Three & One Sweater
#10: Surprise Jacket

Now, as far as knitting all of these things, well, I just don't see it happening. Especially with all the other things I would like to knit soon. I do have knitting for many new babies this year, and that means that the Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket (which has intrigued me for years and MUST be knit), the Fast Cap, and the Surprise Jacket will be knitted. I'm sure I will be knitting up headbands, and soon, as most everyone in the family has committed to increasing their running in the next year. Maybe I should add the 36 stitch mittens to that list for the runners. And any of the sweaters may be knitted in baby size instead of adult size, but I have had a hankering to knit the fairisle yoke sweater in a cardigan for me, the Brooks sweater, the V-necked Aran Cardigan for my sweet hubby, and another Three & One Sweater for quite a while now. At the rate I knit, these four sweaters would take up my entire year.

Oh, if only I had more time to knit. And sew. And craft.

I do have enough yarn in my stash to make the Surprise Jacket, and many hats, headbands and mittens.

If I made any of the sweaters, though, I would need to purchase yarn for those.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T07:00:00.003-06:00

Enjoy--

2010-12-18T05:01:00.002-06:00

Pizza--I love it, too!

2010-07-13T13:12:00.002-05:00

Anthony Falco, aka Tony Calzone--

My favorite type of pizza is free. My second favorite type is hot. After that I'll start getting particular.

Link to the article.

I need to make pizza tonight.

Splash!

2010-06-26T19:54:00.002-05:00

Papers by lisa minor
Button from child care emergency kit
"That's what summer is about" by kz's thoughts of summer kit

Eye Candy

2010-06-26T18:29:00.001-05:00

Look at these beautifully crafted opera costumes. There is some serious eye candy there.

Knitting Projects for 2010

2010-01-04T08:16:00.002-06:00

I saw a thread on Ravelry that had everyone listing all the knitting projects they completed in 2009. I was pretty disappointed at how little I had completed. Here is my list:

A Turn the Square Hat (200 yards)
A Supernatural Stripes Sweater (200 yards)
A Yellow Vest, inspired by Seigfried Farnon (1000 yards)
Socks (400 yards)
Carseat Blanket (800 yards)
Adult Tomten (3000 yards)
Summerlin Dress (100 yards)
Dishcloths—4-6 (600 yards)
Animal Cracker Hat (200 yards)
Celtic Braid Blanket (1000 yards)
Xmas Stocking (400 yards)

All in all, about 8000 yards. That's pretty wimpy. But considering all the stuff that happened this year--the wedding, babysitting Gbuddy, numerous family meals, working full-time, etc., well, I shouldn't be so hard on myself.

This year I will make the obligatory wish list of things to knit. There will be some stash busting, some knitting for Gbuddy and other family members, some holiday knitting, some new baby knitting, and hopefully, some knitting for charity (still wanting to use my knitting machine to knit up hats.)

I'm currently working on some cream snowman mittens for Joe.

I have yarn in my stash for:
Annemor #4 mittens, the dog mittens, probably in cream and tan Nature Spun fingering.
Sitcom Chic cardigan, in tan cotton.
Winter Cottage Mittens, of garnet and cream Palette.
Ice Queen, a cowl, of pale blue Lacette.
Koolhaas, a hat, of Patons Espresso. (Note to self: look and see if it's still in stash.)
Egeblad doily--have yarn, maybe will, maybe won't knit this.
Rosy Fingered Dawn shawl. Bugs got to this one. Need to look at yarn and see if it's still viable.
Logan River Wrap in some ancient purple Nature Spun worsted. I may make the Everyday Wrap instead.
Lily of the Valley Stole of some ancient pale green cotton fingering.
Celtic Knot Stole in laceweight cream merino.
Highlander, a cardigan of blue variegated dk weight.

All of this adds up to less than the amount I knitted this year. Some of the projects are questionable for various reasons.

I need to buy yarn for many more of my projects that are in my queue, oddly enough, most of it is fingering yarn in white or cream. I will keep my eyes open for it!

Focus word for the New Year

2009-12-28T09:09:00.003-06:00

Ali Edwards, one of the superstars of the scrapbooking world, picks a word to focus on for the new year. In 2007, it was peace. In 2009 it was nurture. But in 2008, it was vitality. She says:

Vitality is the state of being strong and active; energy.
Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Creatively.
Here's to moving forward. To fullness of life. To you and yours.

I looked up the word vitality at dictionary.com:

1. exuberant physical strength or mental vigor: a person of great vitality.
2. capacity for survival or for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence: the vitality of an institution.
3. power to live or grow: the vitality of a language.
4. vital force or principle

I especially like #2: "capacity. . .for the continuation of a meaningful or purposeful existence."
But I also like #1. "exuberant physical strength or mental vigor."
I like #3: power to live or grow.
I like Ali's term--"fullness of life".

Vitality. Yeah, I like it.

That blows my skirt up. Takes my breath away. Inspires me.

Vitality.

His First White Christmas--Ever!!

2009-12-25T12:28:00.004-06:00

And, this beautiful view from my bedroom window this morning!

Finish-Up Week

2009-12-07T06:21:00.003-06:00

Per the Holiday Grand Plan, it is Finish-Up Week. I'm certainly not finished up, but I'm confident I will be finished soon.

I had to reschedule at work to Wednesday, which is going to screw up my shopping/decorating/baking/sewing/sending out Xmas cards plans this week, but DearHusband is extra busy at work and probably will not be able to take off any time to shop/decorate/bake/sew/send out Xmas cards with me anyway.

Making a plan and sticking to it is going to be very important in the next two weeks.

SHOPPING
I can get started on my shopping easily. I have some gift lists from my kids to get started from, and I will start making phone calls to chat with others. YoungGirl is going to be hard, she hates gift cards and won't make a list. EasyOnTheEyes will be pretty easy; gift cards for restaurants. #1DIL is easy. I could give her anything and she will LOVE it. (God bless her mother. I LOVE my DIL.)

DECORATING
Decorating inside is nearly finished. Thanks to not working last night, I was able to get most of the decorating finished. Hopefully it will be sunny today and I can take some pictures and post them.
Decorating outside hasn't even begun. Dear Husband has a lot on his plate. I'm just not sure it's going to happen.

BAKING
I had every intention of baking cookies, etc. ahead of time but everything magically disappeared as it was baked. Even the cookies I froze somehow disappeared.
I will make some cookies for this Friday's Xmas Tree Decorating Party, and I'll throw the rest in the freezer with warning tags--DO NOT EAT--on them.
I need to plan the menu for the party this Friday (gosh, that's SOON!)

SEWING/CRAFTING
I know I said I wanted to sew some linens for the dining room, but with the change in schedule, it just may not happen.
I've been working on a stocking for Gbuddy. Go look at it here.
And, oh, as an aside, the Adult Tomten jacket is nearly finished.

XMAS CARDS
This. I'm just not confident this will happen. DearHusband insisted that he would write a newsletter this year. He hasn't started.

Edited to add: Geez, I sound bleak. I really don't feel that way.

Decorating for Xmas

2009-12-06T04:56:00.016-06:00

It's the middle of the night and I'd like to be finishing up the Xmas decorating, but can't make a lot of racket for fear of waking DH. Instead I will do some virtual decorating.

The Entry:

Last Year:

Other than being boring, the felt around the bottom of the trees looks BAD! And the trees look bad. I remember playing around with the limbs for about an hour, trying to get them to look good. That'll be a must again this year. I will cut the felt into thinner strips and put little white lights in and among the felt strips to try to wow it up a bit. I have some small figurines, carolers and a skier, etc., which I will place at the base of the tree. I think I will buy some big premade white paper snowflakes and hang them from the ceiling over the little trees.
**************************************************************************************

I will place a large poinsettia or christmas cactus or other xmas-y plant in the planter. This area will look very different, due to the new lamps I bought over the summer for my beloved red table.

The Dining Room:
**************************************************************************************

I do like the silver on the buffet, but the pinecones/dried roses in the crystal bowl are too monochromatic. I need a big bright plant or an eye-catching floral arrangement. I bought a large glass apothecary jar over the summer to use at the wedding reception, and I will fill it with red, green and gold glass balls instead of the trifle bowl I used last year.
I would like to find some shades with more bling for the buffet lamps and add shades/garland to the chandelier. I think I have some black shades with gold interiors in storage.
**************************************************************************************

The cactus will have its cactus lights as usual.
**************************************************************************************

I am hoping to make the linens for the table out of this beautiful Buchanan tartan fabric.
**************************************************************************************

I also want to make kidney pillow for each host chair of the maroonish velvet and machine embroider each one with a big black S.

And now I'm sleepy. Night, night.

This week

2009-12-03T20:12:00.003-06:00

This week the is Decor Week, according to the Holiday Grand Plan. But dear husband and I have planned to take off a few days from work and do all of our decorating and send out holiday cards (newsletter) and ready for our Christmas Tree Decorating party, which will happen next Friday.

The older I get, the faster time flies by.

2009-11-22T09:37:00.002-06:00

And how.

I "missed" posting last week, so I will only mention that last week was supposed to be attic and storage week, but I am behind a few weeks, and it is really family room week for slow ol' me. That is perfect, as I want the family room to be the cleanest room in the house. I will also do dining room week this week, so that my dining room is also clean, clean, clean. This sounds like a lot, but it's really not, as I am off work Monday through Thursday. Everyone is bringing something for dinner, and all I have to cook is the meat and dressing and cranberries. Hubby will be responsible for the meat, so my part is easy-peasy. Clean, cook a couple things and decorate.

Um, yeah. Decorate. I haven't even thought about that. I've done a few things, but not nearly "enough". I'll have to get on that. You know, like wash and iron linens and make sure I have enough dishes and silverware and serving dishes and flowers and such.

And I skipped over the Garage/Storage and Attic/Storage Areas, due to being ill, but it worked out perfect because the husband wants to hit these areas hard. We are trying to close down the storage facility and get rid of/use the stuff we have there and in the attic and garage as well. We have a plan for the cabinets we want to install in the garage, where we will be able to store the tables/chairs/other seasonal items such as tablecloths/napkins/serving dishes, etc. I'm also hoping to get the seasonal decorating items out of the attic and into cabinets in the garage where they will be much more accessible to me. (I'm terrified of carrying totes up and down those attic pull-down stairs.)

So much has happened over the last few weeks, illnesses and a death in the family, and changes at work. Which leads me to "the older I get" part I alluded to in the title of this post. Yup. Feelin' old. I ended up in the ER a couple weeks ago. Yeah, me, a first. Stomach virus ----> electrolyte imbalance ----> totally cramped up and couldn't voluntarily move my arms and legs and PAIN!! After some IV fluids and antiemetic/pain medicine, I was ready for home, but the recuperation was slow. As in old and slow. I went back to work four days later, but was sorry I did. That was one miserable shift. Two days later I felt normal about eight hours, and the next day I felt completely normal.

Subsequent to that illness, I had my annual blood work done, and got some "off" results. I was still so demoralized from the virus I didn't even do my usual arguing with the doctor about starting an antihypertensive and thyroid medication. I've had low thyroid levels for years but had not really felt like I was symptomatic, and although I always have an elevated blood pressure at the doctor's office, I'd never been able to get an elevated one at home or work. He had been encouraging me to take the meds for several years and when he said, "It's time", I just rolled over and said "ok". I was waiting to hear the thump of him falling off his chair, but he must have been bracing himself.

I've been taking the thyroid for about a week now, the only difference I've noticed so far is that I feel much less foggy when I wake up. I don't have hours and yes, days of brain fog. This week I'll start the antihypertensive when I am home as I am worried about the side effects. I don't want to miss work.

I'll post later about other going-ons--gotta go pay attention to the husband.

2009-11-03T09:23:00.002-06:00

Oh, I'm posting a little late for a preview of the activities for the week to come, work was tiring, and I spent a luxurious evening watching episodes from Season Three of "Lost", and knitting on the blanket edging for the soon-to-be-here baby. I promise I will take pictures of the knitting projects I've completed to date and post a ton SOON!

This week--OH MY! I just realized I MISSED AN ENTIRE WEEK of the Holiday Grand Plan! Not only did I do a pisspoor job of the kitchen (I told you I was dreading it), I totally missed doing the pantry and closets. Although I hate doing hours and hours of cleaning, I think I really will just buckle down and clean the kitchen AND the pantry and closets! It's okay, a little penance is good for the soul.

It doesn't really surprise me that I missed a whole week, as I babysat Gbuddy an additional day due to his babysitter being sick, DearDaughter had an eye infection (she is better now, but not 100%), which kept us on the phone a lot, I was in charge or in admit at work as well, which takes a lot out of me. There is a lot of stress going on at work as well, and I'm beginning to weigh the pros and cons of this job.

So here it is--the list--
KITCHEN:
Wipe out cabinets and drawers
Clean microwave, stove top and oven
Clean appliances (except refrigerator, which I DID do last week)
Clean decorative items
PANTRY:
Clean shelves and floor
CLOSETS:
Straighten and wipe shelves and floors
GENERAL:
Put Halloween decorations away and add some more fall/Thanksgiving type decorations
Choose Xmas newsletter graphics/pictures and have husband begin writing Xmas newsletter
Add Anne's newlywed recipe book pages to website--as much as I have and TRY to finish the rest of the pages--I think there are about ten more pages to go.
BAKING/COOKING:
Make a Xmas goodie or two--and add to recipe pages
Make a freezer dish or two with chicken--and add my favorite chicken dishes to the recipe pages

Baby Blanket Edging

2009-10-25T08:20:00.002-05:00

I am knitting a genderless baby blanket in spring green, and the color makes me very happy. Gbuddy went with me to "pick out" yarn, and when I held up different colors, he picked the green too. It is Lion Brand Jiffy, and I think it is a good choice as it is washer friendly. I started by casting on one stitch with doubled yarn and increased at the beginning of each edge by knitting in the first stitch twice. I knit till I finished those first two balls, then began decreasing at the beginning of the edge with k1, k1, k1, pass 2nd stitch over the 3rd stitch. I know, I could have slipped the second stitch, but I like the look of this decrease.

I know this is a very plain, plain body, but my plan is to acknowledge the Irish background of the father of the baby, (who is very special to our family) and make a cabled edge. I am envisioning a separate edging in a simple cable such as in the Irish Hiking Scarf, and attach it as I go. What I will do when I get to the corners remains to be seen. I anticipate many tries on that first corner until I either conquer it or it conquers me.

The blanket body is a tad over half done, and I anticipate I will need another three to four hours to finish the body. The edging, I am sure, will take at least that much time. And it has to be finished by the end of the month. And this is October 25. I am having a good laugh at myself, as I am often heard complaining at work about families who haven't picked out a name yet for their baby, what have they been doing for the last nine months? And here I am not ready with the avalanche of presents I envision for this new babylove.

Gotta get to work--

2009-10-19T08:35:00.003-05:00

Oh, good news! Daddy is still cancer-less, and can do his bloodwork every three months here in town. We will go back to Houston in one year. We are humbly counting our blessings.

This week is a busy one, trying to coordinate working out, eating well, cleaning and getting ready for the holidays in addition to that necessary evil, work, without losing my mind.

Working out: I've been looking at some new ways to work out, and just can't seem to get interested in anything new, right now the tried and true appeals to me. And so that means that I will be doing my 12 x 12 or Body For Life weights workout, with a goal of three times this week. I plan on doing those workouts on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, watching TV. And I will also do three aerobic workouts, walking/jogging, etc., for about 40 minutes each workout, three times this week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Wednesday and Friday I will take Gbuddy with me. I'm hoping to do some yoga/pilates this week, when, I don't know, right now there doesn't seem to be time to fit it in, but it could be used in lieu of an aerobic workout if the weather is bad or before I go to bed on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday morning or before Gbuddy gets here on Wednesday and Friday.
I did have a lovely walk around and through Hermann Park. I wish I had known that it was there, as I would have walked it as often as possible. I walked for an hour and a half, and what a delightful surprise the Japanese Garden and the Promenade were. Walking in the downtown area was also delightful. There were several lovely parks with water features and beautiful plantings along Holcomb. I am looking forward to exploring the area on our next visit.

Eating/Cooking/Baking: I so enjoyed eating out last week, and I am afraid to stand on the scale this morning. (edited to add: I lost a pound over the last two weeks.) We ate very well at our hotel, the Rotary House International. The breakfast buffet was marvelous, and I fulfilled my intention of eating meat and veggies and fruit quite well. I also observed how different I felt (not good) when I did not eat well. It's such a no-brainer. Eat well, feel good, think clearly.
I made my menu plan for this week, and I don't need to buy anything for a few days, and then I will just need to buy a few things such as milk.
Right now I don't have plans to do a frozen meal, but that may change. I will try to find time to bake and freeze some holiday goodies, but I may focus on some Halloween goodies.
Freezing some meals ahead came in very handy last week, and Dear Husband enjoyed the lasagna and corn cheese rice casserole. All the salad makings and veggies are gone, which hopefully means he ate them and not that he threw them away.

Knitting: I am "almost" finished with the Peter Easy vest. Just about three more rounds of ribbing! I also knitted Gbuddy a pumpkin hat, oh, boy, is it the cutest! I knit a plain hat with a row of purl every ten stitches and then decreased every other row after the purl row. I then knitted up a leaf, using this pattern.

I am ready to knit the last sleeve on the Adult Tomten, especially since the weather is getting so cool, but find that I am needing to knit a few baby items. I will be digging in the stash today.

Cleaning: This week the Holiday Grand Plan calls for Kitchen Week, the week I've been dreading. I will do the best I can, but my kitchen is BIG! Right now I don't have plans to do a frozen meal, but that may change. I will finish up with the Halloween/fall decorating.

Slow week ahead

2009-10-11T12:05:00.003-05:00

Well, maybe not a slow week--slow for cleaning house and cooking/baking/sewing maybe. This week I'll be out of town taking Daddy to Houston for his checkup. Actually, it's okay that it is a slow week for cleaning as this is "guest room" week and DD is living in the guest room, and she is doing her own cleaning for now. There is still plenty of time to do all the things I want to do before the holidays.
Today will be busy, trying to get things in order before I go, packing and cleaning and washing and making sure DH has enough to eat.
Knitting is moving along well; I have several things (Gbuddy's pumpkin hat, gaiter for a friend) almost finished.
I am about to finish the ribbing on the second armhole of the Peter Easy Vest. I will take it with me to Houston and I'm hoping to finish it this week. I am still trying to come up with a solution for the waistband. The vest is too short and I originally planned to make a straight bottom and knitted one inch, then a purl row, then straight knitting for the body. So far I can think of several options. Number one would be to pick up stitches so that it looks as if I have another row of purl bumps, knit as many stitches as I did for the turned-back hem portion and then another purl bump, etc., till it is as long as needed, then hem. The second option would be to pick up stitches and knit in ribbing to the desired length. This would match the armholes and neck ribbing, but I'm afraid the purl bump would look odd. The third option is to pick up stitches, knit around for an inch, purl a row for another purl bump, knit an inch, then knit ribbing for as long as needed. This option would potentially be too long. The fourth option would be to pick up stitches, knit a few inches of patterning, then finish with ribbing or a straight hem.
I will leave the Adult Tomten at home. It is just too heavy and bulky now, but oh, how I would love to finish it.
Instead, I will take some small projects with me such as hats and mittens.
I am reading some wonderful books. I finished reading "I Capture the Castle" by Dodie Smith and enjoyed it very much. I will watch the movie as well, and have it in my Netflix queue. I also plan on watching "Ghost", "In the Garden of Good and Evil", "Gosford Park", "I Served the King of England", and "The Stranger".
I'm looking forward to having some quiet time waiting at the hospital to complete DD's recipe book. By the way, check out this blog post about favorite and classic casseroles, courtesy of edible distractions.
I've researched some walking trails, and not knowing Houston and I'll be doing some of that as well as working out in the fitness center while we are there. I'm going to pack my yoga and pilates dvd's too.

Crafty Doin's

2009-10-06T12:29:00.002-05:00

I have a few things finished, a few things working--

Peter Easy--working on the second armhole ribbing.
Adult Tomten--working on the second sleeve.
I started a gaiter as a thank you for a friend. It is nearly finished.
I have also finished a few dishcloths. They are so handy, I just love them to death.
I made two pillows for the living room.

And if the sun ever shines again, I will take pictures and post them.

I am hoping to get some little things such as hats and mittens and socks/leggings made for Gbuddy, as the weather is getting quite cold.
I would also like to make some machine embroidered pillows for the dining room host chairs, and a seasonal table topper for the dining room table.
I am wanting to knit some seasonal dishcloths for the kitchen--pumpkin, turkey, etc.

DD's recipe book is nearly finished; I think I have just six more recipes to scrap. I plan to post them on my website as a .pdf with just the recipes, and as separate pages as I have scrapbooked them.

Kids' Rooms Week

2009-10-06T12:01:00.002-05:00

This week is Kids' Rooms. For me, that will be the workout room and the cra(p)ft room.

The other things on the list that I will do for this week are:
* Make two batches of Holiday Goodies. (Since I missed doing one last week.)
* Make one extra meal for freezer again labeled HOLIDAY MEAL.

Halloween is on my mind. I want to knit Gbuddy a pumpkin hat and decorate the house for Fall/Halloween. I will try to get DH to retrieve the appropriate box from the attic today.

DIL says that Gbuddy wants some hats. I'm looking at the Toasty Topper, this Anime Character Bonnet, a Lil' Devil Hat, a Little Monkey Baby Hat, and some plainish cable or fair isle hats.

And of course he needs mittens and socks and maybe even a sweater. I need to get a move on!

Catch-Up Post for Last Week

2009-09-29T09:39:00.006-05:00

*I made rice corn and cheese casserole and froze some lasagna.
*Last week was bathroom week--I deep cleaned the bathroom except for the floors, which I will do this week.

The Grandbaby had the flu and his mom was too sick to care for him, so I had him on Monday and took him to the doctor on Tuesday. I made sure I did all my chores before I went to work on Wednesday, and it was a good thing, because I came down with the flu on Thursday. I was sick on Friday, too, but luckily had it only two days and was able to go back to work on Saturday/Sunday. Poor Hubby has had it for almost a week now, he has had it BAAAD.

How My Day Really Turned Out

2009-09-24T16:26:00.005-05:00

9-10: dress, prepare for day--did that
10-11: daily chores, dinner prep, laundry, hit the hot spots--did that, too
11-12: errands--grocery--and that.
12-1: lunch, rest, tv and knitting, look over budget book, laundry, hot spots--umm, this is where it fell apart. I didn't knit. I did look over the budget and do some laundry. And then I napped. Till 1:30.
1-2: clean house--umm, no. From 1:30 to 3:00 I straightened the house and cleaned out my bedroom closet. I got a bunch of stuff out of there that will never fit me, and I'll let my daughter look at it before I give it up to charity.
2-3: walk dog, lift weights, core work. I actually did this from 3:00-4:30. With a little bit of emailing thrown in.
3-4: clean house--well, this didn't get done either.
4-5: sewing--play with machine embroidery; and neither did this, but I did clean house from 430-530
5-6: make corn/cheese/rice, dough for calzones, dough for cookies; chat with Chip; did no cooking, but I'll do it tomorrow.
6-7: make dinner; eat, p.m. chores; Dear Husband brought home burgers for dinner, and I did my p.m. chores.
7-8: clean bedroom closet, dust/polish in bedroom--I did this from 2:30-3:00, and from 4:30 to 5:00. From 7-8:30 I had a massage, and took an Epsom salts bath.
8-9: tv/added recipes to website (corn/cheese/rice, cookies, calzones).
9-10: worked on anne's cookbook

Restless

2009-09-24T09:21:00.002-05:00

I'm feeling so restless. I want to go in so many different directions--cooking/baking/scrapbooking/sewing/knitting/exercising/reading/tv. When what I need to do is clean my house. And that's definitely not what I want to do. So today I will be good to myself and do both. A little of this, a little of "that".

So here is what my Today's Ideal Schedule looks like:
9-10: dress, prepare for day
10-11: daily chores, dinner prep, laundry, hit the hot spots.
11-12: errands--grocery
12-1: lunch, rest, tv and knitting, look over budget book, laundry, hot spots
1-2: clean house
2-3: walk dog, lift weights, core work
3-4: clean house
4-5: sewing--play with machine embroidery
5-6: make corn/cheese/rice, dough for calzones, dough for cookies; chat with Chip
6-7: make dinner; eat, p.m. chores
7-8: clean bedroom closet, dust/polish in bedroom
8-9: tv/add recipes to website (corn/cheese/rice, cookies, calzones)
9-10: work on anne's cookbook

Week Four of the Holiday Grand Plan

2009-09-22T15:17:00.005-05:00

This week, the master bedroom and closet get a good cleaning. Last week, because the weather cooled so much, I put all the really summery clothes in the storage area of my closet, and pulled a few items from the storage area into the "currently used" area. I wasn't ready to toss stuff yet, but I know there are many things I don't wear that need to go to charity. I have plenty of shopping/business casual clothes to wear for the fall; I worked up at least six outfits. I could use a new dressy outfit, and a couple of workout/at home outfits.

Holiday Prep:

* Make one batch of Holiday Goodies. Dear Husband has asked for the sandwich cookies, so I will make that this week.
* Make one extra meal for freezer. I will make a large batch of one of our favorites, Corn-Cheese-Rice, eat some this week, and freeze the rest.
* Make list of any table and bathroom linens that need replacing before the holidays, and pick up a few each week. I need to pull out the table linens we have and figure out what I need. I have plenty of pretty hand towels for the holidays. But I would like to make some with my new embroidery machine anyway. I'd love to do some Thanksgiving and Christmas embroidered linens.

Last Week's Holiday Grand Plan Summary

2009-09-15T19:27:00.012-05:00

From the long-term shopping list--I bought flour and sugar, and bought an eight cup clear glass serving bowl.

Cleaned the entry. The living room was cleaned the week before I started the plan and the rain has kept me from cleaning the front entry outside.

Bought extra flour and sugar; I have plenty of shortening for now.

Make an extra meal for the freezer. Today I made 12 cups of tomato sauce in the crockpot. I added the recipe to the main dish recipe page on my website--scroll to the bottom of that page. I'll serve this on pasta, as a sauce over calzone, and for pizza sauce.
I also had a roast, some of which Dear Husband cut into stew meat. I put it all in a crockpot with a can of Progresso cream of mushroom soup and a couple of teaspoonfuls of Worcestershire sauce, about half cup of red cooking wine, and a couple shakes of smoky hot sauce. I served the roast with potatoes and carrots. The stew meat got the predominance of the sauce, and I served it over egg noodles, with a green salad on the side. I made extra potatoes, and they ended up as mashed potatoes, which I served with a crockpot pork loin.

I made return address labels and I'm working on a Christmas card address list. Dear Husband wants to write a holiday letter.. For the return address labels, I went to the Microsoft Office Template page and searched for return address labels. This is what I picked, and after I downloaded it, I opened the file and added our return address. All I have to do is buy the blanks and print them out.

I printed out the Grand Plan checklists for weeks 1, 2, 3, and put together my notebook. And no, it wasn't a fancy schmancy one. I do enjoy looking at all the cute things other people have made, but the one I made for myself is very plain and very me.

Make batch of Holiday Goodies. I made a double batch of Snickerdoodles)

Buy supplies for homemade gifts. We want to make home made goodies of some kind to give. A few years ago we bought several dozen jelly jars and put red and green M&Ms in them. We put the M&M jars plus a few other goodies in brown paper sacks. I stenciled the sacks, folded the tops over, used a hole punch and punched a couple holes in the top, and tied them closed with a length of ribbon. I'm hoping to score some jelly jars off of craigslist.

Betsy McCall

2009-09-14T08:47:00.002-05:00

For those of you who are of "my" age group, the name alone gives you the shiver. McCall's magazine had a pull-out page or two of paper dolls each month for many years. They gave me so many hours of pleasure during my childhood. I'd beg my mom to buy the magazine, but durn if she wasn't a "Woman's Day" and "Family Circle" kind of gal. One of her friends did take the McCall's magazine and would save me the pages occasionally. Take a look. There are pages for download. I downloaded the full size printable pages for my birth year, and I'm thinking of framing them to hang as a grouping in my cra(p)ft room.
I can't believe the excited and happy response this link elicited in me; for a woman would wouldn't give you two cents for a doll, I am finding myself unable to stop looking!

More Holiday Planning

2009-09-12T15:41:00.007-05:00

This is from organizedchristmas.com, some of them I linked to before, but this is the home page with LOTS of planners. Here. Aren't they CUTE?!

Today I downloaded my xmas files from our old computer and organized them on my Mac.

I downloaded all the Holiday Grand Plan files from the organizedchristmas.com site and put them in a notebook. Plain and utilitarian.

Later this evening the hubby and I will sit down and look at the checklists of things we need to do and lists to make.
Computerize the xmas card list.
Decide if we're going to write a holiday letter or design a holiday card.
Visits we'll make for the holidays.
Parties to give over the holidays.
Menus for the parties.
Goodies for sharing/gifts.
Favorite meals for freezing ahead.
Long-term shopping list, so we don't have TONS of stuff to buy right at the holidays; on this list will be perishables as well as canned goods, linens/dishes, decorations.

According to the lists, I'll need to:
Clean the front porch, entry and living room. And apparently the front yard as well, which will include freshening plantings as needed.
Plan for decorating these areas during the holidays--that will include Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Expect to see a coat closet organization post.
Expect to see a post about sewing pillows for the living room.
Buy extra flour, sugar, shortening.
Make an extra meal for the freezer. (Expect to see a post about this.)
Develop ideas for gifts and decorations. (Expect to see a post about this.)
Order Xmas cards and address labels.
Print out checklists for weeks 1, 2, 3.
Make batch of Holiday Goodies. (Expect to see a post about this.)
Buy supplies for homemade gifts. (Expect to see a post about this.)
Buy extra battery for camera.

So, join me! I may not do it in order, and I may not do every week. Heck, I may even do two weeks at once, depending on how much work and other life things allow me. For me, doing this plan is an opportunity to clean my house and get it all organized for the New Year. Even though we just moved in a little over a year ago, there are still things I want to do organizational wise. And heaven knows, everything in my house could be CLEANER!

I can't decide if I want to do the CEO six week plan. It is the plan I usually do every year. And it may be too much to do both plans, work, take care of Hank and, well, etcetera. But I'm at least going to give the Grand Plan a stab.

Is it time yet?

2009-09-11T16:23:00.002-05:00

To start thinking about Christmas? Well, yes it is! In fact, according to my favorite Christmas organizing website, it's a lil' late! (Shoulda started the last week of August!) Luckily, I have the "bones", that is, the notebook, organized, and a basic knowledge of how the program is run. It really isn't too late to start, though, as the program only has you do small bites each week, so catching up on the first few weeks is not a problem. If you are just starting, I'd suggest you sit down and do the notebook and the paper planning and budgeting all in one fell swoop, over one week instead of 2-3 weeks.
This year I am going to follow the longer and more involved Holiday Grand Plan. I usually just do the six week "CEO Christmas Countdown", but this year I feel like I need to do the more detailed program.
I have been following the Holiday Grand Plan for as many years as it has been going, and that would make it seventeen years. I don't always follow it to the "T", but I use it to help me plan for Christmas shopping/cooking/decorating and getting my house cleaned. Making the notebook is about as fun as it gets; I even created some divider pages from my own graphics. There are plenty of printables on the organized christmas site, which make creating the notebook fast and easy.
This weekend I plan to update my notebook, and do all the paper planning and budgeting. I have a long weekend free, free, free from work, and hubby and I were intending to work on the budget this weekend anyway.
I will take pictures of my notebook when I've completed it and post so you can see what I've done. In the meantime, look at these planners:
Mission Inkpossible
The Inspiration Institute
Christmas Planner--don't miss this link--there are some really cute ideas here!

Goals for the rest of the week of September 7

2009-09-07T19:14:00.002-05:00

Since I didn't do anything on Sunday/Monday due to work, I'll try to do a bit of catch-up as well.

Sunday: Family Day, Gardening
Monday: Scrapbooking Day
Tuesday: Knitting Day
Wednesday: Sewing Day, Anti-procrastination Day, Gbuddy Day
Thursday: Website/Blog Day
Friday: Weekly Home Blessing/Decorating, Gbuddy Day
Saturday: DH Day, Gardening

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Gardening: clean up garden, trim, plant as needed

Scrapbooking: work on Daddy's album, finish DD recipe book

Knitting: finish yellow vest, pick up sleeve stitches on jacket

Sewing: work on Chris's quilt, sew pillows

Website/blog: make plan for website, add articles: digital supplies 2, greeting cards, clay, cork, fibers; redo recipe pages--add page for DD recipe book

Decorating: go through pictures, decide what to hang on family wall

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Exercise Plan for This Week

Depending on energy level, basic EVERYDAY workout is a “walk” with George of at least 45 minutes and either Pilates or weights

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Eating Plan:
Weight Watchers points and eat as Paleo as possible

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Organizing

2009-09-05T16:03:00.011-05:00

I did some organizing in my closet a few weeks back and never posted about it due to the wedding celebration parties. So here are some before and afters--

I have a great closet that I share with my husband, and he graciously gave me the larger set of built-in shelves. I piled things in there kind of willy-nilly, but with a semblance of organization, making do with what containers I had on hand. I had my undies in a few rattan containers, and I got so annoyed with that situation that I replaced them with some cute fabric boxes that I found at Lowe's.
So I don't have a real before, but here is the after with a few items redone:

Then one Sunday afternoon, I got the organizing bug, and finished the shelves. This is the before and after of the top two shelves.

I used a kitchen pots and pans rack to organize the purses. Hey, it works.

The second shelf originally held I dunno what, jewelry and socks and panties and bras I think. And now it holds undies, separated nicely and easy to access, and not in view or falling all over the place. It looks just like the top shelf with the fabric boxes, so I won't bore you with that.

The next section down functions a whole lot better. This is the before:

And the afters. I used the larger left hand side for jewelry and a mirror which remains to be hung. I lined the side walls with cork and hung my necklaces from little pokepins. The right hand side has adjustable shelf racks for a couple of shelves to place my shoes.

Left side:

And Right Side--

I can't tell you how much better I like these areas. I can see all my shoes with ease. I can find my jewelry much easier. Woot!

The bottom shelf was treated in much the same way as the right side of the above area was treated, so I won't bore you with those photos.

All together I spent about $150 dollars to gain a ton of functionality.

September Gardening

2009-09-01T19:40:00.003-05:00

Weather's been too hot to do any planting, but with the weather cooling, and September here, I hope to do some planting soon! According to my handy-dandy Texas A&M fall seeding guide, I should plant the following (I only included the ones I'm interested in) in September:

September 1: bush beans, cucumber
September 10: summer squash
September 20: transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts

Simple enough.

It's getting to be time to transplant my fall flowers, among them, pinks, shasta daisies and snapdragons. And maybe a few alyssums.

TV stuff

2009-09-01T19:18:00.005-05:00

Okay, so why didn't anyone tell me about "Lost" before this? Thanks to Andy mentioning it a few weeks ago, I added it to my Roku list, and finally got bored one day and watched the first episode. Chip was watching in passing, then stopped cold in his tracks and watched, as enraptured as myself, till the very end. Then he whispered, "I have to see the first part--REPLAY IT!" We've been trying to catch an episode a couple of times a week. Rotating with "24" and "Mad Men", of course.

"All Creatures Great and Small" has fallen by the wayside, Season 4 is just too boring. Poop.

I'll start watching "Elliotts" again soon.

And how in heckfire did the release of Season 3 of "Dexter" to Netflix pass me by?

Funny but true story. I figured out that Dexter Season 3 had released when I added a new movie for the hubby yesterday. And this morning, I was talking to Anne, and she asked me if we had every watched/heard of Dexter. Ummm, had we ever! She and J had just finished watching Season 2. Perfect timing, eh?

And, have you been watching Project Runway? LOVE. IT. As well as Top Chef Masters--go Rick Bayless! And Next Top Chef. And HGTV Design Star. Biggest Loser starts in two weeks--September 15. And Amazing Race starts September 27. Football regular season starts soon, and hockey starts in a month. Good for knitting.

Cough, cough, oh.

2009-09-01T19:11:00.001-05:00

Cough, cough, cough. Oh. I can't breathe, either. Stuffy nose. Missed work. Oh. Oh. Oh. Cough, cough. Can't breathe. Oh.

Engagement and wedding pictures

2009-08-29T17:24:00.003-05:00

The link to the wedding photos is here. Ya gotta know their last name to get in.

Engagement pictures on this page.

I'm back, I think!

2009-08-29T16:42:00.006-05:00

I have no excuse for not writing except a wedding, a couple smallish get-togethers of less than 20 people, helping to put together a post-wedding party of about 125 people, babysitting the grandson, parents needing attention, which entailed a three-day trip to Houston, some massive housecleaning for the above mentioned parties, work, work meetings, annual skills checkoffs at work, getting a tooth pulled, which turned out to be infected--shocker, and, daughter moving back home! And, other things I've either forgotten or blotted out of my mind to save my sanity.

So now that you know that I have no excuses for not writing, let's dive in and try to do some catchup!

I took some pictures of the dresses I chose for the wedding and sent them to my daughter, oh yes, this was way back in mid July. (I told you we had some catching up to do!) These pictures were the beginning inspiration to rejoin Weight Watchers--how did I get so BIG!?

Really, hitting 150 on the scales took my breath away! And how is 148 or 149 any different? So, there you have it--denial is a (grumble, grumble) wonderful thing.
The day I joined Weight Watchers, I weighed 148, and I lost 8 pounds the first month. (Hubby also lost 8 pounds.)

Then we had the big post wedding party, my boss messed up my schedule totally (so what's new?) and said I had to fix it myself, which took up hours and hours of time figuring it out and calling people, during which one of my coworkers agreed to switch with me and then she realized she'd switched with someone else which caused me twice as much work for the most complicated switch. Lesson learned, sometimes the people who are always so willing to make changes say yes to everyone and can't remember who they've said yes to. I worked four days in a row so that I could be free for the days I needed to (and had requested paid time off for months ago) so I could be at the party and run hours and hours of errands for the party and babysit my grandson as well. So I've taken a weight loss hiatus. And I'm slowly getting back to Weight Watchers, Monday I'll start back in earnest, counting points.

I'm telling you, counting those points is what works for me. I get 20 points a day, and I can eat really well if I'm careful. I still eat ice cream in the form of fat-free frozen yogurt and have a glass of wine several times a week. Fast food and eating out are very hard. If we are going to eat out, we plan ahead at the beginning of the week and use our extra points to eat guilt-free. Even so, after a week of eating mostly meat and veggies and working SO HARD to be GOOOOOD, we were still very careful in choosing our foods. Because after all, weigh-in day is Monday.

Who knew bread really really tasted THAT GOOD!

So I'll be resuming Weight Watchers on September 1, and the goal for the month is to lose another 8 pounds.