Never enough...

There is never enough of this...

or this...

to deal with this...

I am seriously being burried alive by toy hell.

McDonalds isn't making my kids fat, it's overloading my house with toys.

Not to mention my MIL's only love in life at the moment is buying toys for my children.

My mother LOVES garage sales, but sees that we wade knee deep to answer our front door, and has graciously slowed the toy buying.

I feel that the kids will not appreciate gifts if they keep getting spoiled like this.

I am on SERIOUS purge mode right now.

I LOVE toys, always did.

I get what they mean to a kid. That is their job. That is their best friend.

BUT we have SO much shit, we don't know what toy to play with next, and we littlerly have floors covered in them.

Enough.

I can't clean a house if all I do is shove toys back and forth.

So here's my newest delema. Beside the fact that I am eyeball deep (yes we went from knee deep to eyeball deep, note I am an exagerater. Accept it, do the math, instead of eyeball, or knee deep its more like shin deep, but for stories sake and my love for babbling, I need to tell you this. This way)

So back to eyeball deep in toys, I have an almost 4 year old who LOVES her toys, sleeps in a big girl bed, and is just like her mother and every other kid, who has toys EVERYWHERE in her room. Doesn't help that her room is huge, so more space to put all this shit. and more space to spread it all out.

Now Weaky is still in his crib, bonus. BUT I want to move him to big boy bed in the next 6 months or so, and so the room has to be somewhat 2 year old proof. So middle of the night he's not... well nevermind. You get my point.

I do have attic space that we use for the kids to store toys. It is packed with toys. Well I guess I answered my own question, I just need to donate, sell and have less in everyones rooms! Sigh... toy fairy come help me!!!

Lists, Lectures and Laundry

I called my dearest friend Maternal Mirth last week for a chat. We got into discussing housework, and she told me she had lists.


Now I often hear of lists that people make, and prior to our conversation I had just started the week before of making a list for the next day, of things that had to be done. It all started when Sophie had to take antibiotics and get a foot soak twice a day (upper toe nail infection) so to remember I would write it down. I also started to add things that were random, like calling the Village Hall to find out what that ungodly noise was coming from the bathroom when you used the water (I thought the pipes were going to burst the whole damn floor humms and shakes. The Village Idiot  Plumming inspector said to push a button inside the toilet. I seriously thought he was blowing smoke up my ass because I was a girl, but needless to say he was right. We have to do it each time it happens. To weird though. ANYWAY off track here...)

So these lists were becoming a daily thing, and quite useful. My thought process on lists prior to this was, What the fuck, I've got 704 things to do today, and NO time to write it all down. Fuck it.

Not fast forward a week to my conversation with Maternal Mirth, and how she has a "list" that she hand wrote, and she photo copied it to check off. She says she tries to do this list 2x's a week. She also has a "maids list" of more detailed work (think dusting baseboards, cleaning blinds) this list she tries to do 1-2x's a month.

Key word "try". I asked her to email me her lists, and as soon as I got them I printed one copy, then sat down one morning with my cup of inspiration juice, Starbucks coffee! in my hand and tweeked her list according to my house...lets just say her one sheet is my two sheets. I also have more rooms. She has more square footage but mine is divided up into tinier rooms.

I wasn't too crazy with my list, keeping it simple for me, but enought that I could keep up with housework. The maids list is probably not going to be used for quite some time, because I need to get into a routine of simple housework before I get out my rubber gloves and Q-Tips for the detailing.

So I called her a few days later, because I was sitting on Facebook for hours, I had a messy house, and needed inspiration to get off my lazy ass and do something. I was looking for a lecture, possibly some yelling and screaming, telling me how horrible of a housewife I was. What did I get?

Sweet Maternal Mirth saying "Don't be hard on yourself. I said in my email that I TRY to do my lists. So just try. If you make your housework evil and chore, you won't want to do it. If you just do a bit at a time, and reward yourself with things like the art room, and facebook, you will feel much better."

As much as I was looking for a screaming lecture, or at least a stern voice, she has known me for close to 3 decades, and knows that force doesn't work for me. Glitter, sunshine and rainbows is what inspires me to work. So be it.

I do need to keep with the lists, I picked Thursdays and Sundays as my work days. Thursday is the day after my classes I teach so I am not concerned with them, and Sunday is like everyone elses Fridays (Spaghetti is off work Mondays & Tuesdays)

I am hoping that I can keep with the lists, and my laundry, if anyone cares (is anyone still reading this excitement?) is doing well. I am keeping up with it for the most part, I am trying (again key word is TRY) to keep it off the floors, and keep it moving. I know Maternal Mirth can do her's twice a week, I do believe if I did that, I would never keep up. Maybe someday, till then I do laundry almost every day.

There's your update on life around here. It's been cleaning, and purging. I have an enormous garage sale coming up on May 1st, we set up April 30th, and let the early birds pre shop a bit, it's a subdivision thing and people come from as far as Chicago to shop! (Were bout an hour away)

I will be spending all my free time from now till then (besides Weaky's birthday Sunday!) getting ready! Oh and Happy Earth Day!!

Easter Tramp

Happy Easter to you all! I don't care of your religious preferance AT ALL, I celebrate it for the sake of children who love imaginary bunnies that bring them fun gifts, and eating a great meal at my parents house.

Anywho, I am realizing more and more that the phrase "there are never enough hours in a day" is an understatement.

We all say it, but I am seriously feeling it. I have NO idea how I didn't get things done when I didn't have kids. Because with kids my days are cut in half with time to do anything. Make note the older they seem to get the easier it is to do things. So here's a hope that someday I can do things while they are awake.

I have everything from Stamp Camps to prep for, shit I still have to get out this quarters schedule, the meeting swaps, clean and organize the art room, keep up with my downline.

House wise there are the bills (gag) basic housework, laundry, dishes, and now added to it, I have the BIG Goose Lake Garage Sale coming up and I need to get ALL my shit together for that, I have boxes all over the house I am filling full of crap I don't need!!

More clutter = more time wasted cleaning, and finding the "place" for everything!

Plus there is the time with family, friends, and my "me time" and yes I do make that a priority. I have blogging (of coarse) scrapbooking and reading to keep me busy.

Shit. I have so much to do and NEVER enough time to do it. Well enough "me time" here, sorry it's short, kids need to be dropped of at the pool... if you know what I mean...

Spa treatment.

Fanfreakingtastical!! This is our bedroom (you may have guessed) and it has been our room since March 20th 2003. Almost 7 years and I have FINALLY made it nice. It was new home white until this last October, then we got all ballsy and picked out this Carribean blue shade (a bit brighter the it looks here)

If you click on the picture you can see the 3 pictures above our bed are of the kids (done at Babies R Us)

The sconces were a housewarming present from Aerial (moved from the front t.v. room up here) I have to say it may be minor to some, but just having all the simple things done like no laundry clutter, and it's painted and decorated now, just makes it our little retreat. I would also like to add it has NO kids toys, it never does. This is ANTI toy room (not that kind of toy, dirty bird. THOSE toys  are allowed!) We also have a NO kids in bed rule. Sure if they want to sit in here while I fold laundry, I mean the NO kids sleep with us rule. (scuz you still owe me $20 for that bet! Bwahahaha!!) I cherish my sleep a bit, well, not that I don't cherish my kids, but... well you get the picture right?

Here is the other wall, I love that little t.v., we are saving up Best Buy gift cards to buy a new one. I got that one when I graduate H.S. in 1996! (Its fancy with the VCR included. The DVD player under it was free. We won it from a local video store drawing.

The only other things I have out are all our wedding things, I figured if it was our room, I could have our nice Wedding pictures, and some momentos out. In the little black frame, right by the long mirror, not sure if you can see it. I need to put that up here. It's a hot picture of me. One of my favorites. I gave it to Spaghetti as a gift when we were first dating.

So that's it. I bust my ass last night, moving furniture (the dressers were in different places) and cleaning, picking up laundry, making it all staged to surprise Spaghetti when he got home from double shifts, back to back days.

I thought he deserved it and so do I. Alright this is to rambly for my own good. Later.

CHAOS is possibly over?!?

Outside of having jacked up coffee (and not in a good way. I added to much sugar, and its kinda gross. But I will just suck it up, and enjoy the sugar buzz for what it's worth) I am having a fanfreaking wonderful day.


Why? Well because last night I buried myself in Tupperware. LOTS o' Tupperware. Seriously, I had it covering over half my kitchen floor! Either way it's been organized, and is put away nicely (the cabinet was getting to the point where you just openthedoorfast and fling in the Tupperware slam the door hoping it won't all avalanche out.


I realized my Tupperware also multiplies like dirty rabbits, I ended up recycling a HUGE garbage bag of Tupperware. Yes I had that much and I STILL have plenty to use.


Got excited then I organized the pots and pans and my baking dishes, and in the process I realized I had a cabinet full of a bunch of nothing important. After organizing and shuffling around. I was able to make it my small appliance cabinet. SO now my George Forman grill, my omelet maker, my toast, toaster oven, and blender are all tucked away. Right were I can grab them easily, but not all over my counter! Hooray!!


AND great news, I know this is a freaking exciting post there, but it needs to get out of my head. I am 4 days shiny!!


That means that I have washed my dishes and kept my kitchen sink clean for 4 days in a row. Flylady would be SO proud! Each night I go to bed with a clean sink, and make my coffee for the next day. At first it was weird waking up to a clean kitchen, but now it's almost addicting.


Sounds crazy? I know some of you are OCD and LOVE to have a clean and organized home, I just COULD not get my shit together. Well readers, I have gotten my shiznit together, and wala! I have a love for keeping my house clean.


Don't worry it's not only the kitchen. I make my bed every day, and clean up the bathroom, I have been good about NO laundry on the floor, I am trying to keep up with folding. It's clean, just 4 baskets to fold still.


I am in love with this house, and getting it together, seems to be fun if I make it that way. So thanks to all the books, I have read on organizing, and websites I have been following on purging and organizing. It has taken me a year and a month, to really get it all to sink in.


So no, it's not just lazy like I thought. It's a mental process of understanding your home, and your role in it. And having less stuff makes it so much more.


I have noticed that it makes Spaghetti happier, and I am less stressed around the kids, and I have free time to play with the kids. AND I can actually have people over, and it's not CHAOS. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) I know, I know, again it sounds silly, but this is what SO many people deal with. And now I think I can beat it, and have a nice house.


Well I am off to organize my hall closet, purge some coats (there is a coat drive at Jewel foods) and clean my ceiling fans (I finally stopped them. Eww...) Oh and maybe fold some laundry. Maybe...

Boring...

(this is my loft, and where I am sitting right now. It should look like this.

Imagine the desk covered in papers and laudry as high as the rail on the far left...)


I'm getting it. Slowly... I think a bit slower then Spaghetti would like. Like 3 years slow...





What I am rambling about is the fact that ever since I had Bagel, and Weaky, I have let the house go. Sure I have my hand full, two kids just 22 months apart, two cats (who after one to many pissy messes have been banished to the art room in the basement forever) and two big boxers. Not to mention I attempt to run a scrapbooking business from home (not real money, more of a hobby support)





But the house is lacking, it's lacking that picked up look. Not the "not lived in" look, this house is defiantly "lived in" but it's just got piles of shit, and stuff and toys and clothes, and who knows what is under all that crap.





And every time someone is going to come over we just shove it into the room that we won't be using.





So I am trying to stop that process. I am trying to have a place for everything (I am quickly learning that toys don't have a place, they just multiply at a faster rate them laundry) and if I can't find a place I either create one, or it's gatta go.





I like stuff. Lots of stuff. If you've seen my house, you can testify to that. But after a while even us stuff lovers get a bit overwhelmed.





Right now I have been kicking ass in the kitchen. I have been taking a cabinet or a drawer at a time. Clean, purge, and organize. I am hoping for a small heat wave (I am hoping for around 50's or even 60's, to finish winterizing the garage. ie hang the bikes, toys, and get both cars in)





The t.v. room is quickly becoming a toy dump, so I am removing ALL the little toys, people, villages, up to the kids rooms (that should be great for Bagels nap time) and just have the big toys down there (ride carts, musical table) so when people come over, it's still a toy room, but not an ankle breaker of a visit.





Bagel's room is in need of a SERIOUS make over. She is still due to get her Tinkerbell room from the Queen and Carrots, but they had lots o' projects of there own over the summer, so she got pushed back. Weaky's room is fine, still animals and jungle like.





Our bedroom is fantastic in color, a very bright Caribbean blue, I still need to hand all the black framed pictures, and our bed spread is white (kinda retro/modern looking)





The loft is taking the brunt of all the crap now. There is still the mountain of laundry behind me but each day I take a few baskets and go through them. I have bags for donation, and paper garbage to go from my desk.





It's a work in progress, and I want to have a nice home for Spaghetti to come home to, I really do. I think as the kids keep getting older, I have having a easier time grasping the house hold chores along side of child care all day.





And that folks is my boring post about my mess of a house! (yes I have more posts in this little brain of mine...)

The piles.

I have piles of piles.



I have piles of lists that go on and on.



I seem to have an art of making lists, in fancy notebooks, on fancy tablets, that get put away and never seen.



I have piles of lists to find those fancy lists that I put away.

I have piles of laundry that need to be washed.

I have a husband that works sometimes two jobs a day, and works out once a day, and has his sleep wear (when he's allowed to sleep) that man alone could keep me in the laundry business.

My daughter Bagel is a Diva in the making, every time she come out of her room from a nap, or just to stop by she comes out in a different outfit, and clean underwear (I can't complain, I mean she must change her underware about 2x's a day)

Then you have the little 17 month old who is learning to self feed, and he has NO fear whatsoever of dirt, and bugs. (all goes in mouth or rubbed into clothes) that little tot is EASILY 2 outfits a day.

Myself? Ah I wear the stylish p.j. pants and tshirt (or long sleeved if it's chilly) around the house. I try to make the same outfit last a few days for laundry's sake anyway. If I go out I will fashion myself a clean outfit. But for the sake of ungodly laundry piles, I again repeat I would SO be in a nudist colony.

I have piles of blogs in my head. Is that possible? I just do things and think, this would be great blog material. I do believe that being on facebook has allotted me to cheat a bit, and post my currant thoughts there. But I would rather have them here.

Oh and the piles of toys.

Lots of those.

The front living room is the designated "toy room" I try to keep it as picked up as possible. I really need to purge. There are so many of those fucking little McD's toys my mother and MIL pick up for the kids, plus all the little peoples and cars, and balls. (I swear there are about 6 balls just waiting for me to walk by late at night so I can slip and break my damn neck)

Weaky's room has some toys too, some as in two houses (a small town and a castle) and a few people. Bagel's room has only stuffed toys, and one book. Because she WILL never sleep with toys in there. BUT I am seriously thinking about giving her a few more in there just because she seems to be doing better. (maybe when we paint her room...)

I have for the most part tamed the paper clutter to a small mountain. No really it's filed, or shredded. The mail barely makes it in the door and it's tossed, shredded and read and put away. (I am good at that!)

Oh and there are piles of pictures. Sounds bizarre, but being an avid scrapbooker, I have PILES of pictures, and I do scrapbook often, I just take about 80 pictures a month!

So excuses for not blogging? Nah.

Just lettin you know I am up to my eyeballs in just about everything. (like those fascinating people on the show "Hoarders"...but not really... more of a figuratively kinda way...)

(hoping to get my other post on how the P90X is doing done and out there soon!)

We have to talk.

Slump.

That is what I am in. The past few months.

I am not happy. I am not sad. I am just here.

I am oversensitive. I am touchy. I don't want to talk to anyone.

(please don't be offended if I don't call or pick up the phone)

I am just blah.

It took alot for me to start Stamp Camps again, but business wise I had to keep it going.

I have the time, to clean, play, organize, and do all the things I need to and should do.

Just don't want to.

I freaked Spaghetti out the other day. I was all weird and rambly. Not the normal rambly and giddy. More like rambly and weird. Not the normal weird and rambly. Um... I was just not me.

And he could tell over the phone. The kids were fine. Napping in their beds. I was just sitting in my art room. Just sitting.

But this is not every day. Maybe a day a week. Maybe more, maybe less. depends.

Am I depressed? I don't have a good reason. I have a home, beautiful kids, great husband, good friends, and a happy life. But I just don't seem to want to do ANY thing. AT all.

Nope.

It took me days to even post this here.

What is wrong with me? I had post partum. But this isn't it. Its not that I am freaking about the kids. I can do that and I do a great job of it.

Its just when they are settled, either sleeping or playing, and that is my time to clean or do ANYTHING I just don't. I do have the want or the need to do anything.

And it's not that I am lazy, in the back of my head I am screaming "CLEAN THIS HOUSE! FOLD THE LAUNDRY! WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS PAPERS! COOK DINNER!"

But I don't. I don't even want to watch t.v. or scrapbook, or play around online. Nope. No gardening, no nothing.

So where do I go from here? How do I get me back? Anyone? Anyone...

Rain delay on garden = a head start on the potty training

Day 1 of Potty Training (yet again)

I was going to wait till we ran out of her diapers. We have about 8 left. And today wouldn't have been a good day, Queen and Carrots were going to come over and help my build my veggie garden.

BUT with the rain, ALL day. The garden building was put on hold. So what better then to start potty training? Spaghetti is gone, left at 7 am, he will be home around 8 tonight. Where is he? Wrigley. Sigh. It's good money, specially since today is the opening day. But the LONG days suck. Plus Weaky can grow into Bagels left over diapers.


I thought since I was motivated when I woke up, thinking I needed to mentally prep for yard work. I will use the motivation for potty training, laundry and cleaning the house.

Bagging all this clutter up for the big Goose Garage Sale in my mom's subdivision (they get MAD Garage sale traffic. SO much more then I would here at home.) The date is May 2nd. So I have to kick it into high gear for that too.

1/2 our garage is all garage sale items. Lots of work. But now knowing that the talk of moving is serious, I REALLY need to declutter this house!


So wish me good luck. I have cleaning, folding, vacuuming, mopping, shredding, and potty training on the schedule for today!

Motivate me.

Too many nights out.

Friday Night: Not out, but up late because Spaghetti was off work.

Saturday Night: Went out to see the Drew Davis Band with my parents the Queen and Carrots, Aerial, Pipe her son T, and husband Pat. ALSO my IL's, Spaghetti's cousin, her mom, Spaghetti's Grampa, oh... and my kids.

Yes I brought my kids to a Irish Pub to see a country rock band. Both my sitters were in attendance, so I thought what the hell. The kids won't stop me just slow me down. It was fun, but the band was pushed back till 10pm!! Hello! 3 hours AFTER there normal bedtime. Long night.

Sunday Night: Dropped the kids off at my parents, and went to see the Drew Davis Band again, with just me and Spaghetti. Very nice, early show since it was Sunday (8 pm!) They played a 3 hour straight set! Home by midnight, in bed by 1 am, slept till 8:30 am Monday

Monday: So today was up early, pick up the kids from mom and dads, 20 minutes south. Turn around and go to Weakys DOC band appointment, 1 hour north. Bring kids home by noon, in bed till now. Both are up. (my only issue is that NOW is there normal time to nap, and I have 5 hours till bed. I am dog tired)

I did eat some yummy crab rangoon for lunch, but now I need to suck it up. If I can suck it up for the next 5 hours. Attending to kids, and possibly do laundry (Spaghetti is OUT of clean underwear, I have one pair left, and no more dress pants) maybe the dishes? Ugg... set the timer... 4 hours... 50 minutes... 28 seconds... till bed time for the kids...

Coffee BUZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

GOOOOOOD MORNING!!

Is it that obvious that I just finished my coffee? If I would have done this post an hour ago I would NOT be in this chipper of a mood... BUT since I am done with my coffee, I am a bit happier...


SO what's new...


Got my tax return! Wee! In all from state and federal we have just enough to pay off the taxes, and to pay the Homeowners Insurace! With at least $60 left over. Wah wah.

Hey at least I got money, and we can pay off the two big scary bills, and we STILL have our house! Phew!

Anywho, I got lots to do today, can't stay in Blogville as long as I like to linger in the morning (I spent my time paying bills online, and balancing the checkbook) I worked in my Fly Lady "Control Journal" the other day. Making a seperate list of to-do items for each day of the week.
(may be tedious to you, but necessary for me)

Laundry
Dishes
Bathrooms
Litter Box
Vacuum

So as I am typing this Spaghetti calls me from the video store... and HOLY SHIT! I look out the front window and see that the Casino that he works night shift is on FIRE!!



I can see the black smoke here! We are about 10 miles away, and Spaghetti can see it from the video store which is about 15 miles away!!

Crazy!

Well I will still do my housework, and keep listening for more information on the fire! Yikes!

Hope you have a coffee buzzed day!

Feisty

F You Friday! *2

F You Friday is here again, this would be my second "F You Friday" post. I find it quite therapeutic! Join in!

F you to my hair.
Sigh, short pixie cut was super, and cute, and fit me. BUT I miss my longer hair, and this growing out part really blows. When Spaghetti mentions something of a mullet on my head, I tear up and flash back to the 6th grade... shudder... (yes I F you'd my hair last week)

F you to the clutter.
Gah! You drive me insane. But cabinet by cabinet, and drawer by drawer, I am purging like Peter Walsh would want me too! (It's all to much!)

F you to my nap schedule.
I have yet to get it down pat. Where both the 2 1/2 year old AND the 9 month old are asleep for at least one nap at the same time.

Some days I can get it.

Most I can not, and I am either with both kids, or with at least one.
Don't get me wrong, I do love my kids. But from 7 am till 2 p.m. is seven hours with kids. Then if I don't get them both down at 2 (Bagel's only nap, and Weaky's second) then at 7 pm we are looking at a grand total of 12 hour with two kids.

And seriously that is just WAY to much fun for me. Maybe if I had more then just the house. Like use of my yard or a park or ANYWHERE. But since my yard is still covered in over a foot of snow, Bagel is petrified of snow, and I am NOT bundling up a 9 month old for the sake of snow. AND it's just WAY to effing cold out to go anywhere.

SO naps are crucial. I am a bitter, impatient mom around dinner and NO FUN. I repeat, run to your father children. I am DONE by this time of day if naps don't overlap. And after everyone is finally in bed. I am to zonked to do anything productive. Reality t.v. here I come!



Not to many F you's this week. Come back next week to play again!

Nagging clutter beware!!

This is an email I received from my mom today. II thought it was good and would share. And true about the way you feel about a cluttered home. Enjoy!


Well, it's still January - so let's not let that New Year's inspiration get away from us.
Decluttering requires inspiration. And this is the very best time of year for inspiration.

Clutter is a tough battle - but one that you can indeed win. And it's well worth winning... ...because Clutter makes people MISERABLE. And I'm here to tell you that:

1. Most people have a clutter problem
2. Many people have a clutter problem that is MUCH worse than YOURS. (You can enjoy a wee smug moment, I won't tell a living soul...)

Need a reason to declutter?

Okay, at the risk of trampling on some toes, here goes:

Your children.
You want them to grow up with good memories of house and home and family, of course... and one thing I love about children is that they tend to look at the positive interpretations of their parents' behavior, including the clutter. Ya gotta love them for that. But they too like having an orderly home - very, very much.
They want to be able to bring their friends home and not worry about how the house looks. I know some readers' kids are already grown, but we still care about how our home looks when someone comes over!

Here's one more reason to declutter for your children - no matter how old they are (if you have kids; if not, then for your loved ones)...

YOUR MOOD...

Your general disposition and outlook. This certainly affects the happiness of everyone around you. (You know the saying "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." So true!)

If you are surrounded by nagging clutter, you are going to feel powerless and irritated. (that is SO me!!!)
But if you make inroads into conquering that clutter, you are going to feel great.

Keep at it - don't give up. Every step you take is gravy for your decluttering project.

Declutering is empowering and healthy. It's a positive act.

It can lighten your load and the load of those around you.

Happy reading and decluttering!
With love,
Mimi Tanner
Author of Declutter Fast - How to Get Your Home In Order
http://www.declutterfast.com

It's true the nagging clutter, the stuff everywhere, and the shuffle I do to try and get it cleaned up is depressing and annoying me. I know Spaghetti is VERY annoyed with it. I am in the process of baggin it up, and getting it out the door.

Right now Spaghetti and I have an agreement. That he will give up his garage space for me to put everything going for the garage sale in May. (I would just donate it, or toss it (believe me ALOT is being tossed) but there is TOO much money here. I could probably rake in about $200 bucks for this stuff) I seriously need to crack down. Room to room, and work.

This week was the kitchen cabinets. (I have 6 sauce pans? Really I need at most 2) I am SO cutting back on all the stuff! TO MUCH!!

Anyone else neck deep in crap?

T- minus 20 hours 39 minutes....

Today is crazy.

I have T-minus 21 hours until we leave.


We as in me.


Me, the Queen, Pipe, my friend one L, her sister, and boss/best friend.


We are going to Indiana. Why am I so excited to go to Indiana, in January you ask?


Because there is a quaint little town, with a nice little place we will be taking over from Friday at 4pm, until Sunday afternoon.


We are going to a place where a nice lady will cook and clean for us, then disappear to be with her family all while we crop.


Yes this is my Christmas present from Spaghetti. He is giving me a 3 day, 2 night getaway. I have packed an insane amount of stuff.

2 rolling totes (one is 4 feet tall!) for scrapbook papers, chipboard, mediums, punches, adhesives, and Cricut cartridges.

1 bag for project scrapbooks, scrapbook magazines, my file of ideas, of coarse my Stampin' Up! catalog.

1 carousal of tools

My work mat

1 bag for pictures to scrap

1 bag of stamps
1 bag of more tools, less used. And memorabilia.
1 tote for accessories and journal sheets
1 tote for more accessories and ribbons
1 tote for just solid card stock and mini books to work on
(all the above is packed)

That is not counting the pink tote for candy, and my Starbucks drinks, and coffee. Clothes, and toiletries. (still need to pack clothes)

Still have to clean the house (Spaghetti is supervising the children this weekend) the more that Spaghetti doesn't have to do, the easier 3 days with the kids will be. (he is spending the day Saturday with his mom and dad, cheater!!)

I have been tackling the laundry all week, there are still 4 bags from Thanksgiving to put away, the BIG pack and play is overflowing with clean laundry, and there are 3 baskets in our bedroom to put away. 3 still to wash, AND one in the dryer and one in the washer. Phew.

I just have to unload the dishwasher, and do laundry, otherwise the house is clean.

20 hours and 40 minutes.... and counting...

My big ideas for 2009

Happy New Years Eve! As I sit in my cluttered home on the eve of a new year, 2009 holds promise for a new me, and a new home plan for us here.





So here it is. The big list. The list of things I am going to do, or not do, in this fantabulous new year. A year of projects and goals set just for me. I am not going to set out goals or projects that I don't think I can reach. But these are more guide lines for a better life. Starting tomorrow.

Eat better. Shocker right? Who doesn't have this one on there list. (one year I had it to NOT eat good. Go against the flow, worked well. I now have 28 extra pound due to that brilliant idea) Sparkpeople here I come. I am registered there. My Iowa friend says it worked great when she stuck to it. It's more of meal plan, and daily check in.

I know, I know, who's going to keep up with checking in everyday online? Well. Me. I want to try. It's really cool, and FREE, you can track your weight, size, and you get to choose what you want to eat off there menu. (I by the way will be starting this on January 12th, because of my Scrapbook getaway on the 9-11th, will be my last big weekend, until then I have planning to do)

Spaghetti and I need, and I mean NEED someone to tell us what to eat. That mixed with some working out, should do me some good this year.

Yes I said it. Working out. And not the gym like I have done before. I need something to work around being home with the kids. So there is some free Yoga and work out shows On Demand, so I can always go watch those. I actually have a goal of getting up before everyone else, doing morning yoga, drinking my coffee, and having everything perfect each morning. (did you just snort your beverage of choice out your nose too?) I know the hardest part will be getting up, so I need to start with my night routine (Flylady) and go to bed early! (like 10 pm early!)

I can't be negative or put down my ideas before I even try them. There will be many days where this won't work, but the days I have gotten up at 6:30 I am up before everyone, I get the dishwasher emptied, and thing set for the day. Now if I can just toss in some Yoga, what a great way to start my day!

I also would like to walk with the kids, and or dogs more. I have a HUGE neighborhood, and I could walk with the big double stroller. I want to set up Spaghetti's weight bench and we could both work out. I have some 3 and 5 lb weights to work with. Nothing crazy. But to tone my ever so jello like figure.

Budget. I do budget. I could always do better at this. And now with the taxes not being paid through our monthly mortgage payments, I seriously need to watch money. But we can breath better with things like this.

Scrapbook more. You need to make the time, and as much as I love to scrapbook, and take pictures, I need to use what I have and keep up with all my great ideas brewing in my head!

Take care of myself. Kinda goes along with the whole eat better, and work out plan, but I need to floss, and brush my teeth more, I need to just take the time and wash my face and put on lotion everyday (this pretty young face ain't gettin' any younger!)

Organize. Hee hee. Again on everyone's list. I started a HUGE project back in August to organize, and purge my house. I have LOTS of crap around here, and finding homes for it all is a bit time consuming, but that is why I started the "Where do I begin" blog, to keep track of what is going on, and how I am getting there.

We just have to much clutter, and stuff, and clutter, and gah, just everything here is to much. It drives me nuts but especially Spaghetti. I hate for him to be annoyed by the house he barely gets to spend time in. (and just so you know, I took over 100 lbs worth of clothes and house hold items to donate in December! Fly lady has you weigh your clutter, I lost 100 lbs in a month!)

I guess on the organize idea, I want to be able to walk out of the house, just grabbing a few things and go. Not the whole up stairs for a sippy, down the stairs for a blankie, up the stai... oh wait grab this real quick... now where was I going? Oh shit were SO late for this event! Yep that is our routine. By then Spaghetti is sitting in the car with Bagel and Weaky, while I do the crazy circle dance in the kitchen, listing out loud the items I have and need for a simple day out. So if I could plan ahead, or have a diaper bag just ready to go would be smart.

Emergency plan. Seriously with the two little ones, and my dogs, and my cats, if there was an emergency I would need to whisk everyone out the door, into the truck in minutes flat. I would want to have everything saved from our home, but realistically that won't happen. I do need to check and update the fire safe, be sure the picture CD's are easy to grab (in a file box on my desk) and have a emergency bag for all of us.

May sound a bit much. But when Bagel was 7 months old, the Carbon Monoxide detectors went off in the middle of the night, I called 911 and they came in all suited with special outfits and breathing gear, as they read our numbers (not sure what they were) but we needed to get everyone out. Now.

The dogs were let outside, and Bagel and myself went across the street to a neighbors house. After a few hours, we went back home, gathered up what we needed for the night, packed up cats, dogs, myself and Bagel and we went to my parents house. (before Weaky's time, and Spaghetti was working nights) We were able to go back the next day, the found it was our stove (only 4 years old!) had a leak in it. The levels were very high and dangerous.

I didn't have a getaway bag then, like I should, and especially with two kids, and all the pets, I need to be responsible and be ready for anything.

Business plan. As always I love my Stampin' Up! business and I want to keep working at improving my classes, and ideas for my customers. Stampin' Up! is the kind of company that always makes it super easy to do this. They have TONS of ideas, and tools to make this possible. And on that note, I need to track my expenses better for taxes!

Laundry.

I know. Laugh. No really. It's funny if you know me. If you know I STILL have 9 bags of laundry in Weakys closet from the people-are-coming-over-shove-all-the-clothes-in-garbage-bags-deal-with-them-later.

Riiiiiiiiggghhhtttt. Later as in when we are naked from the shower, have nothing to wear, and still need to do the spin around the kitchen dance to get everything to go?

So with Laundry comes the process of doing laundry before it is covering the WHOLE bathroom floor, spilling out of the laundry basket.

After washing it, put it in the dryer.

After drying the laundry, using the hanging rack and hangers in the basement, ACTUALLY use it to hang clothes. Take the laundry up stairs and PUT IT AWAY. No really away, dumping it onto the bedroom floor is not where it belongs.

I do need to purge and get rid of a TON of my clothes, I don't wear or fit into 80% (obviously the 9 bags in the closet) AND maybe if I can get my laundry shit together, I could actually iron, and put together outfits for Spaghetti to wear to work? Maybe? Let's just start with the knee deep laundry covering my bedroom floor, and the 9 bags still in Weaky's closet.

PICK UP AFTER MYSELF. No really, I suck SO bad at this. I can't leave an area with out making a mess, and leaving it there. I really have to out loud tell myself to clean up when I am done. It's a bit much but I am realizing I am a HUGE factor in the constant mess around here.

Any other ideas? I know it's alot to do, alot to change, but it's all real, and doable. I can get up early, do yoga, have things together, keep up with laundry, keep up with myself, and the kids, take care of myself and pets better, walk with the kids, eat better, feed my family better, run a better business, all while making time to scrapbook, read, and just stare at the wall.

Sure it's possible. I can do this. How? Because I believe in myself to do better for myself and my family. It may be the same speech we are all giving ourselves, but I need to do this for a happier family life for us Mc's.

Happy New Year everyone, may 2009 be a more organized and healthy year for all of us!

Manic Monday on Wednesday

Have you ever returned an item to a store for a refund after having used it?

Yes, because I used it, it was broken, and I didn't realize it until after I was using it. I also got crazy, and the toaster we got as a wedding gift, crapped out on us after about 7 months, of coarse I didn't have the reciept, so I went and bought a new one. (still the same model) then returned the old crapped out one (yes used for 7 months) with the new one's reciept. Shit yeah I did. Don't be bitter because you didn't think of it.



You are going out for the evening. If your partner objects to what you are wearing, would you change your clothing?

Yes and no. Yes I would now, but no, back when I was a skinny little thing, I would wear some pretty skimpy stuff. But only when I was out with my Spaghetti. Now I would change, even if I was a skinny little thing again.



What item that you don’t currently possess would you most like to have in your home?

Really? Just one item? Because just one item is kinda hard. I mean I want a lot of things. I would like a new CPU for the main computer, it says Dell, but who knows how much is really original, we have had the beast worked on SO many times (bought it 6 years ago!) I would also like a laptop for me. So I could go wireless down to my art room.

I think my garage is still "in my home" so a mini van, or something that would seat 7, something less then a decade old too. Oh and maybe if it would growl when it ran. Yes the car Spaghetti drives is 12 and the SUV we drive is 11 (yikes!) we are SO on the last leg, on both. With the mortgage and the escrow being separated, we have more $ so a car payment is in the future, but we have some medical bills and credit cards we are working on right now... (please last us... please last us...)

I would love to get Spaghetti his own iPod, he loves mine, and it has TONS of space on it, so we share it.

We talk about getting a new flat screen t.v. for our bed room. Nothing huge, maybe 19" and so we can get On Demand like all the other t.v.'s in the house would be nice. I do have to say, I got the t.v. VCR combo that is in our room now, for Christmas when I was 18, that is a 12 year old t.v.! Maybe move it to the art room. Use the VCR for old movies for the kids?

I would LOVE, love, love, to get money to buy the decking and have my dad finish the deck to wrap around the pool. But I don't see that happening until I go back to work... 5 years...

A new bed set. Not bed, but comforter and for gods sake paint the room. It's still drywall white.

And as always, since I am in dream land. We should go big. Here is the big items... lets say we Mc's win some money, not enough to go off and rebuild, but enough to pimp out the current dwelling.

I wanna raise the roof (over the sports/pool table room) is a vaulted ceiling. I would finish off the second floor, making a HUGE master suite, with a jacuzzi tub, steam shower with double heads, and seating, separate crapper, have a walk in closet, and washer and dryer hauled up two flights of stairs, and have it on the second floor, where it belongs. (assholes, put it 2 floors down, at the other end of the fucking basement. From the bathroom where the basket starts. To the washer itself, is down the hall, down the stairs, turn, down the hall, through the kitchen, down the stairs, turn, through the t.v. room, into the art room, and in the back corner is the damn washer and dryer. THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE CLOTHES it could possibly be.)

But that is champagne dreams with Boone's farm monies.

Oh and I would landscape like crazy...

Spaghetti talks and listens!

Not even on the list of things to blog about, but I must say that Spaghetti woke up and I have to tell you about our conversation. Well not the details. But the fact that I made us lunch, at a nice clean table, with no dishes in the sink before hand, just a few dirty in the dishwasher, laundry going, and a tot down for a nap. (Spaghetti and I did a small puzzle with her before bed)

Spike is up, so the three of us sat around the kitchen table for almost 2 hours. Just talking about money, the budget, Christmas, New Years, and our next year ahead.

Days like this, make every bad day disappear. Having a spouse, listen, and talk to you. I'm not saying he's an emotional guy. But he is a sit down and talk it out kind of guy. He listens, and after reminding me to listen, I do the same.

We work together as a team, and after 7 1/2 years of marriage, we seem to be doing amazing at the whole thing.

People say that money (or lack there of) and bills, cause the most fights between spouses. But for us, we know were in this together. And we work together, figuring out what works each year and what doesn't.

I love and respect our relationship, and everything we both put into this. He is an amazing husband, and my best friend.

Love you Spaghetti. Muah.

Things to do!

So.

I am on a good coffee buzz, and I have been cleaning, and doing my morning routine like a good mommy should. SO I can not sit here all day and blog on...

Bagel and Spike updates
The Mortgage
Candles
Q for my readers on Bagel


Besides cleaning, I have to do Baptism Thank you's, drop off some candle orders, but I do have to print out Spaghetti's football picks, and email some Stampin' Up! specials to my customers.

Phew. Busy bug! But I will be back! Oh, and I must say I am very happy to see that my Iowa friend Jayme, is back blogging! Plus it looks like Becky is back too? Aerial... Aerial? Yeah I know, your on your long weekend... I demand some blogging from you!

So I will post here later! Miss me!

Smocks and Scissors

These are two of my favorite things, that make my life as a mom just a bit easier.



First off we have the IKEA smocks, mine are blue and green and cute (the images online were not so cute) either way these are a life saver. Yes I know that regular bibs are great, but these are long, so they cover a good amount of the kid, and the long sleeves make it great for the kid who randomly feeds there sleeves. (2 for approx $3.99)



Scissors. Who doesn't love scissors? Well I am a crafty type of person, so yes I have every kind of scissor, special paper scissors, material only scissors, craft scissors, sharp dangerous snips, oh and snips with adhesive resistant on them, sewing snips, kitchen scissors, yard scissors (nothing fancy, just ones dedicated to the yard) and then there is the zillion other pairs of just regular scissors, for everything else.

I just read that one mom carries her scissors with her when she leaves the house, this is a great idea! So you ask, what do I do with my scissors besides cut paper? How is this handy to the rearing of my children? Well it cuts better and faster then a fork and knife... fish sticks, chicken tenders, hamburger, hot dogs, pizza, yep, its my form of fork and knife. Its fast, and when tots are whining for food like I haven't feed them in days, you will be happy to whip out your scissors and chop up a meal faster then... well fork and knife fast!

Hope you enjoyed this tip for the day!

**The End of the Twilight series**SPOILER**

I finally finished Breaking Dawn, the forth book of the Twilight series. I must warn you, if you are reading the Twilight series do not read this post. I will give you information that will mess with your reading and piss you off.

I have warned you. So now I can write freely on Twilight...

**SPOILER**

Oh by they way, I might talk about a few SPOILERS, here and there, just wanted to make sure you got that point... don't say I didn't warn you...

Let's start with Team Edward. My team, I love him and his demeanor towards Bella, well who doesn't. Immortal or not, I have always been a fan of vampires, so this book just reminded me that I love them cold, white, and everlasting.

Werewolves or shape-shifters, whatever, they are ok. Not my favorite of the monsters. But since Jacob has imprinted on Nessie, I guess they are stuck with him. But a great way to keep him around Bella, and just one more way to keep Nessie safe from the Volturi.

I loved Eclipse, I loved having Edward back, and when I was told by more then one person that the 4th book, Breaking Dawn, was even better, I wasn't so sure.

They were right. I cried thought the beginning, at there wedding, at all of them together. I was so afraid for Bella with Reneseme, I got her point, how she loved the creature before it was even born.

I did fear that Bella would become some crazy newborn, same for Nessie. But they both proved to be amazing.

I love Bella and Edwards house, I can only hope to see it in a movie someday.

I was scared that the Volturi's visit would be a bad one, but thanks to Super Alice, she saved the day with the Amazon tribe, and well Bella's kick ass shield.

All in all it was an amazing story. Thanks to Stephanie Meyer for letting me escape reality, and for helping me neglect my house work even more then I already do.

I can't wait till the end of December for the Twilight Saga, and to read Midnight Sun (Edwards version of the first book) until then it's back to reality... for now...

My next read is to reread "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. Awesome book, better then "Da Vanci Code" and the movie will be out in May of 2009! Which reminds me, I should put my Shelfari back on this site...

Hope you enjoyed Twilight as much as I did. I know some were not as excited about the movie, not sure what it was about the movie that you didn't like. But I loved it. Every bit of it. And yes the book was heavy in detail, but really that is a big ass book to fit into a 2 hour movie. So I loved it, can't wait for New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn, hoping for more books after, continuing the story. But I must say that Stephanie Meyer did an awesome job at the end.

How about you? Twilight fan?