2 in one day?!?

OK, think I am caught up...for now!
#1 Dresser: Here is the before, dusty, with socks to be matched on top...
Clothes semi-organized inside.

We also have a TV stand/dresser in our room that stores the kids' DVDs, Joe's hats, pajamas, and workout gear, and some books that don't fit on the shelves. It doesn't need to be organized inside, but I'm sharing because it is super dusty and needs cleaning, too (though now not sure why I am sharing that, though maybe because Sally shared her microwave...haha! Just kidding, mine looks like that, too, until I get my Shaklee on it!)

And AFTER: Not really showing the insides because...well, you probably don't want to see my undergarments and pajamas, right?!) But trust me, they are organized. I'll share my t-shirt drawer with my oldie but goodie Cure concert tee looking up
(it was a gift, I haven't been to a Cure concert...yet!)

And dust free:

Then #2: Linen Closet
Before, semi-organized, even labelled with my label maker:

And after: even more organized with family quilts on top and my King sheets tucked into my pillowcase (saw that idea somewhere, to tuck sheets into pillowcases to keep sheets together and organized).

(I KNOW it still looks a little messy in the picture, but it's not, I swear! Maybe I need to buy tubs after all to put the sheets in, but I am happy with this!)

All done, even snuck in a jog there. But ask me if I started report cards yet and that's a NO. Oops. Good thing I have a week! Happy Sunday! Hope you at least got some rest!

Catching up!

So I did the under the sink challenge last night (AND in a stroke of good luck, the pantry was already done...I did that right after Christmas, so I am happy about a day already done! Scroll down a bit for those pantry pics). And I had a sweet helper while her brothers were at a slumber party for cousin Tyler.

Here's the before...gross...and the vases mixed in...

And here's the after...much better! I put the "green stuff" (Shaklee, Seventh Gen) in the green basket...get it?? I am so clever..not! LOL! I need some more Shaklee, need to try some other cleaning supplies, though I LOVE the Basic H2! That stuff is the best! I also moved the vases to a new home. The pink basket holds the sponges and Magic Clean erasers.

Other updates:
Grateful for books (some of what I'm currently reading), sleeping children, yummy California burritos at Victoria's, having a girl, and when my sweet kids receive awards: Go Cooper-he got Writer's Hall of Fame!

Other news...still doing my 29 Gifts...love this! LOVE looking around to find someone to gift...last night had a nice 30 min. conversation with my Grandpa on the phone...I rarely call him, but I plan to start calling him every weekend to chat. I know he's a bit lonely! The call was my gift to him, and I felt so happy afterwards! I've heard many people finish this challenge and want to keep doing it. I think that's me!
On Day 5 of my 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels...and I am starting to finish the workout and NOT feel like I will collapse. In fact, I did a few more sit ups after last night's viewing...Catch me in 30 days! Whoo-hoo!

Still truckin'

So, I am failing miserably on the 21 Day Challenge BUT I will catch up this weekend. I went and bought a ton of organizing bins and buckets and such at Target tonight...on clearance! So watch for those pics updated this weekend.

29 Gifts: Still going on...I'm finding it would be easy to just buy gifts for people each day, but I want to try and do different kinds of gifts. The last few days I watched my friend's boys for a break, cleaned Joe's desk, gave Spencer's teacher a big box of yummy chocolates someone actually gave me (but I know how much she loves chocolate, so I told her I really appreciate her and she should have them. She happily accepted!), and helped Joe with a project (though I had other things to do...love you, honey!). Joe's doing the challenge with me, too, and he's doing great!

Project 365: Grateful (I know I change the name each time! LOL!)...Taking my pic and recording it in my journal. SO much to be grateful for!

But leaving you with a gift...(Kelli, Joe forgot the recipes I printed to give to Brian tonight, I will get you the printed copies, but here's the links now)...here's 3 of our recent favorite recipes and they're easy and cheap. You probably have a lot of the ingredients already:
Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup: SO good and filling!

Balsamic Beef and Onion Pasta (crockpot)...seriously one of my favs! I could eat every other day, I think! I always look for a roast on sale when I go to the store.

Beach Street Lemon Chicken: I was on the lookout for a good lemon chicken recipe. Tried one with Jello...too sweet. This one is perfect, light, flavorful and good. I made it for some friends, including the picky husband, and he ate this right up!

So there, another gift...now go cook! See you tomorrow! I leave with pics from our field trip to the Hilmar Cheese Factory with friends over break. That was fun! The kids made their own ice cream (that's what they're shaking!).

Day 3 and Day 2 and what?

OK, so now that work has started...though I am happy to be back with my sweet class (and since I have to work, it's so great to do a job that I love)...I am behind though....not in my Project 365 and my 29 gifts....
*29 Gifts: Yesterday I gave a fellow working mama a needed break and took her kiddos for a while.
Today, I cleaned Joe's desk (and doubles as my challenge for the 31 Day Challenge). I am having fun with this. It's fun to be thinking about it during the day and trying to gift others. I am finding myself being even friendlier to strangers and giving smiles and thanks yous to anyone helping us in anyway: waitress and cashiers, etc.)

*31 Day Challenge: I am 1 day behind, but that works OK because I can catch up on Sundays! I cleaned Joe's computer desk from this....

to this....

And Project 365 Grateful:
Day 2: Homemade Food (YUMMY creamy mushroom and chicken soup...thank you, Becky Higgins, for the recipe!) and that I am enjoying cooking!

Day 3: Potty Training (and grateful that Miss Michelle is really helping us out on this! She's really doing the actual training...thank you!)

And what are you GRATEFUL for? :-)

Project 365: Grateful

A couple of years ago, I did the Project 365 and took a picture (almost) everyday. Still trying to finish it up (hahaha)...but this year I am doing a different kind, inspired by this article: GRATEFUL. Check it out. I made a little journal

to keep track of my 29 gifts (did a few little gifts today: paid the tip on a lunch we were treated to, kind email about a friend) and my Project 365. I am taking a picture, of course, to go along with it. Love that Hailey did polaroids, but don't want to shell out for a camera yet! LOL! Hoping this keeps me grounded and grateful...even when things aren't going my way or I feel slightly down, I will remember how lucky and grateful I truly am!
Day 1: My hubby!

Cliche, I know, but I am truly grateful for him: he is the best Dad, so patient with the kids, loves spending time with them; so helpful and kind to me, working hard on his business, fun to be with-we love hanging out together! Even after being together for almost 16 years (wow!), he still makes my heart beat faster when I see him. Love you, Joe!

Day 1...on track!

Day 1 of the organizing challenge and all is well. Feeling pretty good, even though the kids demolished the playroom today (was on my list of places to clean), but had a nice dinner with Joe's parents instead...gift 1 of Day 1 of the 29 gifts...gotta lot going on! Cindy wasn't feeling well, so we invited them to dinner: my fav crock pot roast with pasta. SO yummy! So here's some pics of the progress: today's challenge was to clean the junk drawer. Don't have one in the kitchen, so I cleaned 2 random drawers! Note to self: bring home the empty baskets cluttering the classroom counter. I bought storage tubs, but no small, cute baskets. I have a ton in my classroom! Will bring some home to corral the stuff, so the drawer's not technically done....

Pretty good for Day 1...here's the pantry clean out I did last week, too (Do I really have to go back to work??? I could do some damage around the house if I could stay home for a couple of weeks!).

Also, set up our new housekeeping system: stole this from the sherbert blossom website and while her version was so much cuter, this one works for me! I divided up the everyday chores into 7 days, and added the person in charge of dinner. Luckily I have a husband that loves to cook, but I (can't believe I am saying this) actually have been enjoying cooking lately too! So, we'll split the nights, and I decided on 2 theme nights: Taco Tuesday and Pizza Friday (at home, out, our own versions). So here's my cute little organizer:

SO...there it goes....will be back tomorrow with Day 2. Not sure if I can post everyday...homelife is a bit nuts with 3 kids...but will try to be better! (Plus, I'll be doing my 30 day Shred in the evenings). I am a bit tired of thinking about all my projects. I am doing a different version of Project 365 (take a picture a day), but I will share more about that later!
Here's some cute pics of my babies (because I know some of you only care about that! :-))

Are you ready????

OK, I bought my labeler today...rounding up baskets...started my household command binder last night...and bought the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD...I am excited for the new year! I also have my 29 gifts calendar ready to fill in...here we go!

I'm back!

Sorry that I have been missing so long...busy busy time of the year! We had a great Christmas! I got a new (little) camera for now...been camera-less for a while now...will get my Rebel next month sometime, whoo-hooo! BUT...I thought I would change up my bloggy blog a bit fro this month. I joined the 31 Day Organization Challenge at http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/, as you can see from the link to the right. COOL blog! Also, I read this amazing book: 29 Gifts ...about a woman battling MS. She has a terrible attitude about it and is feeling very depressed. Someone gives her the prescription to give away 29 things in 29 days....and she follows it. By the end, she feels changed, healthier (not healed), supported, richer in life, etc., etc...with a whole new attitude towards life. I was so inspired by it that I joined the challenge, and both Joe and I are starting on Jan. 1. I look forward to a better me in 2011. Come back and see what I'm up to (and see pics of my darling kiddos, of course!). :-)

I am Grateful...

(Pictures include Kendall's first haircut...and playing with the WII with the Ferguson kiddos)
....I am Grateful for my sweet family, for my kids who tell me 100 times a day that they love me, for my Joe, who does the same, and buys me a banana shake and McRib when I was sick in bed yesterday, for my mom and dad, who love spending time with my kids and spoil them, for my mom and dad-in-law, who adore my kids, as well, and are so sharing, for my sisters, who are great aunties and sisters to me, for my nieces and nephews, especially Maddie, who I wish we hung out with more...:-) and for my great sister and brothers-in-law....I am a lucky girl! Not to mention all my great friends....oh I could go on...just counting my blessings.

Thanksgiving is almost here!

What are YOU thankful for???? Here are some images of late...my garland I made for the mantel...I didn't end finishing it, but I like how it looks anyway...my button flower art for Kendall's room...the GREAT saying on my Starbucks...the awesome log cabin that Joe and Spencer created for his class project...so grateful for my family and my sweet Joe, who is the best! Count your blessings today!

Merry {Shutterfly} Christmas

So every year, I have used Costco for my Christmas cards, and I have been satisfied. And then every year, I get so many cute cards from friends and family, and the majority of the ones I end up loving are from Shutterfly: http://www.shutterfly.com/. So this year, I am using Shutterfly. I am excited to try their cards: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery! I've always been a big fan of their picture developing (love the bright colors!), so can't wait to design my cards (now I just need to find or take the right pictures!). There are a ton of cute designs, and I really like that I can share more than one picture on the cards. Come on now, admit it, the picture cards are your favorite Christmas cards, too, right? I have to admit, I am a bit disappointed when I get a regular card now. I even started putting together scrapbook pages of the cards I receive so over the years I can see my family and friends change and grow. (Don't remind me that I'm only on the year 2004...haha!).

I'm also thinking of using Shutterfly for Christmas gifts....check out these cool things:
Calendars: http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/wall-calendars
Photo Gifts: http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts Thinking my Dad (and Joe's Dad) need a mouse pad of his grandkids for work!

Here are a few of my favs....maybe you will be receiving one of these adorable cards from me in the next 47 days! Ahhhhh.....

Mongrammed Card: (Isn't it darling? I love monograms and using several photos!)
Sharing the news/love (SO cute, and a good way to also share family news without writing a full on letter!)

So, what do you think? Where are YOU getting your Christmas cards from??? If you are a fellow blogger, you can try Shutterfly and get FREE cards??? Here's how: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/

My Pumpkins

We finally hit the patch...the day before Halloween! Where did October go??? I really like some of these pics. I am about to get a new camera, just waiting for my insurance check, and can't wait to be playing with my new toy. Watch for a post later today on Christmas cards...did someone say Christmas cards?!? Yes, folks, there are only 47 days until Christmas!

Good news

Lots of good news to share...the first is that I am going to be an aunt again...yes, Jenny is pregnant! Whoo-hooo! And DUE on my birthday! :-) What a great gift! We are so excited for you and seriously bummed we are so far away....but she is sending me belly pics so I see her progress.
The second is that I am getting a new camera! Good news for you, too....since I will be able to blog and share more! My camera lens cracked last summer, and at first I was told that my lens would be replaced (gotta love insurance), but the camera was having issues and every picture was ending up so blurry, so they reevaluated my camera and determined that it would cost more to fix than to replace, so I am just waiting for the check now! I am trying to decide to upgrade to a newer Nikon or switch to a Canon Rebel...dilemma, dilemma...
So until I can start posting our creative endeavors around here...here are some postings I have bookmarked lately...
Cute canvas paintings that we can do!
Blessings Board (can't wait to make this!)
I made these! Cute pumpkins from guess what...

Happy Saturday!