I'm soliticing your advice. And perhaps qualify myself for Hoarders.

It's no secret that I'm not at all type A.

If there was a type Z, I'd be it....because it's the farthest one can get away from A.

But, I'm desiring some order.

I'm feeling like my lack of organization is starting to affect my ability to think clearly, and find things in a pinch.

Those of us that are over committed do not have time to spend 30 minutes searching for that fundraiser paper...that I totally forgot to sell anything from anyway.  Sigh.

Anyway....There are a few areas of my life that really need help.  For example:

My kitchen pantries.  Now that we're totally in one kitchen, the two pantries have a combination of food, spices, bake ware and serving stuff.  There is no rhyme or reason to it, everything just is there.

My papers.  I have a filing system, but the papers never do their job by getting themselves in the proper folders.  They're just complacent and sit around in piles all day.

Junk drawer stuff.  There is no room for a junk drawer in the new kitchen.  This breaks my heart.  And what do I do that that stuff?!?!?

And...perhaps my ultimate vulnerable moment on this blog.  C's old room has become a dumping ground for everything that I choose not to deal with.  And now we have a room that looks like this:

Notice the door doesn't even open all the way anymore.

(hangs head in shame)

Since it's only one room, I don't believe that this qualifies me as a person on Hoarders, right?!?!?

I need organizational help.  So...here's where I ask for your expertise...what do you use as organization for your house?  Is it easy to maintain?  I'm looking for any tips you have here, friends!

Top ten random blessings that give my heart joy.

I need to read a book.  I'm not sure what it's called.  But, some of my friends are reading it.  One is actually listing 15 of her blessings every Sunday on her blog.  I think I need to start doing that.  But, in the meantime...I thought I'd share them with you today.

1.  Good books.  Ones that you can't put down, and continue reading...and look up at the clock to realize it's 1am...and you continue to read until you reach the end of the chapter.

2.  Loving husband.  Can't imagine life without him.

3.  A full roll of toilet paper.  Or should I rephrase that to say "an un-empty roll of toilet paper."

4.  A car that works.  Getting me from point A to point B.  Nothing fancy, no status symbol, just gears, wheels and a body.  It gets the job done.

5.  A comfortable bed.  A great night's sleep.  Nuf said.

6.  Camera.  New pretty DSLR camera.  I am content.

7.  A good cry.  Sometimes we just need a good cry once in a while.  Feels good to clean the ducts out once in a while.

8.  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  Gluten free goodness.  Yum.

9.  Soft fuzzy socks.  Perfect for cold toes.  Emphasis on "soft."

10.  Under arm deodorant.  Allowing mating rituals around the States to continue without repulsion.

WHOLE developments

Well, it happened.

What I've been waiting 10 months for.

I no longer have 2 1/2 kitchens.

I have one WHOLE kitchen.

That's right. 

It started on Thursday,

(he took Friday to actually work on other people's homes)

And by Saturday afternoon, I was helping him clean out the fridge and repack it.

Wanna see our new (temporary) kitchen?

Here it is!

Why temporary?

Well, because in a few years, the old side of the house will be torn down, and our kitchen will be expanded.

That wall (in the second picture) will be torn down, and our kitchen will expand another 12 feet.

So, for now....I'm going to enjoy our new cozy little kitchen, and the fact that it ONLY takes me 10 minutes to empty the dishwasher!!!

5QF

This week has been a busy one.  I've been an auditor, mom, PTL president, fill in nanny, part time babysitter, car pooler, exerciser, discussion leader, friend, wife, handyperson, maid, cook (moreso than usual), and whatever you need to fill in the blanks or additional hats that we moms wear. 

They're all fun hats to wear most of the time, but it certainly fills up the calendar in short order.

Also, I now have 1/3 kitchen and 2/3 kitchen.  One of D's customer's doors didn't come in time for his scheduled day, so he had a "free" day.  And he chose to work on our kitchen.  I now have running water in the new kitchen, but no appliances.  And all of our kitchen items are strewn about our old living room.  This is a very interesting phase.

And we host our small group this weekend.  Awesome.


1. Where do you escape to when you've had enough?

Depends on my mood and what I've had enough of.  If it's the family (which really doesn't happen often with my non-type-a-personality), I'll head out to the store for "something I forgot and need to get right away."  If it's other people...then I just avoid them for a while.  If it's the schedule, well....my body usually tells me when it's had enough by compromising my immune system enough for me to get sick...then I HAVE to take some time off.

2. What shows are you watching this fall?

I really love the Sing-Off.  I'm really trying to be careful of what I watch, and what kind of ideals I'm exposing my mind to.  I LOVE Glee, but they started tackling big liberal issues...and I'm not a fan of all the extra stuff, but I loved the music...so the sing-off really falls into a great category.  I'll watch the Property Ladder at my mom's house on Saturdays...because I can commiserate with them....except for the big payday at the end. 

Any other shows I should be looking for?  I'm open to suggestions.


3. What was the longest roadtrip you've ever taken and where did you go?

When I was in 5th grade, we drove down to Florida.  We split it into 2 days, but it was still a long journey. 

On the way home, we drove straight back.  22 1/2 hours in a mini van.  I'd like to believe that we did pretty well behavior-wise...but you'd have to ask my mom about that one.

4. Do you plan on taking your kids to Disney World?

We'd love to...sometime soon.  But we'll see how that goes.  I want the boys to remember it, and I want C. to be old enough to enjoy the rides, etc. 

Are we going to be the parents that take their kids once every year?  Ummmm, no.  I really don't understand that, but to each their own.

5. What is something people would surprised to know about you?

I really don't think there's anything of me to hide....I'm pretty much an open book.  If you're new here, you can read this recent post.  Hhhhmmmm, something that would surprise people.....

I've always wanted to host a big Halloween party for adults complete with costumes.  My friend hosted one a VERY long time ago, and I was an Egyptian lady....It was fun to see what everyone came as, and it was fun to be dressed up!  I think D and I would have a lot of fun figuring it all out.  :)

Is that surprising?

Sneak Peek Photos

We had pictures taken on Monday night (Thanks, RACH!).  It was chilly, windy, not as colorful-foilage as we had hoped, and I had a cranky 4 year old...but we got it done.

She sent me some sneak peeks yesterday via Facebook.  Wanna See?

C. with a pumpkin.  These were fun little props to have around.

Since it's our 10th anniversary year, we asked Rach to get a few of the two of us.

This is a great shot.

I can't wait to see the rest of them! 

(And I hope that I won't want to throttle C. when I see his antics...)

Top ten things you may or may not know about me....depending on how long you've read this blog

1.  I'm debt free.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be debt free growing up.    I assumed credit cards would always be a part of my life.  Dave introduced me to Dave Ramsey, and I'm so grateful.  I can't imagine what our life would be like with credit card payments, car payments or a mortgage.  Actually...yes I can.  It would suck.

2.  I bungee jumped once.  Actually, three times- but all within one hour.  I went out to visit my brother in the Air Force, stationed in Utah at the time.  I brought 2 friends with me on this trip, and we had a blast.  I don't regret it at all. 

3.  I have a dream to travel.  I'm addicted to Pintrest, and I have a folder called "pipe dreams."  Other than the dslr camera and a 69 red Ford Mustang Convertible....they're all destinations.  I just realized this when looking through the folder last night.  I think I get this trait from my mom. She loves to travel.  As do I.

4.  I have a crush on Justin Verlander.  Pitcher for the Detroit Tigers.  He's a cutie.  Dave knows this and is ok with it...as long as I'm respectful, (which I always am!!!).  I think he's secretly glad they're off the tv until next spring, though.  :)

5.  I used to have my belly button pierced.  It lasted a few years...until I started an internship in an office and had to wear professional clothing.  Most dress pants have a button on the inside.  My ring kept getting caught and once actually ripped some skin.  When I got home, I pulled out my dad's pliers and pulled that puppy out.

6.  I don't consider myself a "trendy" person.  Actually, if someone calls me "trendy" I don't take it as a compliment.  I just want to be myself, not everyone else.  I'd rather be an individual marching to the beat of my own drummer rather than some sheep that looks like everyone else.

7.  I hate the dentist.  Hate them.  Loathe, despise, hate.  Really, I do.

8.  I've lost 52lbs so far, and still have a long long journey ahead of me.  Even though this journey is painfully slow and sporadic, and I have health issues working against me, I figure that if I'm consistent with my choices, I'll get there someday.  Perhaps I'll be 45, but I'll get there.

9.  I used to not text.  This development for me is only 2 years old.  I used to think texting was stupid and used as a method to be rude to others when you're texting while they're talking to others.  But, now that I have it, I LOVE it.  It's totally eliminated the need to make small talk on the phone.  Essentially, texting feeds my love of lazy dialog.

10.  I am unimpressed by people with a lot of stuff.  I'm unimpressed by stuff in general.  Name brands don't send me into a flurry of envy.  Big houses?  Nope, doesn't float my boat.  Fancy cars?  Not that either.  If they need ot have it, that's fine....but it's not for me.  I want to get to know people, not stuff.

A case of the "Mondays"

I got nuthin'

My brain is empty.

Well, it's actually full.

Of many other things than blogging.

There's an old marching band picture on my facebook wall, and it's amazing how many people are writing on it.  It's been fun to reconnect with my band-mates.    And it's fun now that true things come out...things you suspected about people but never believed because you wanted to believe you lived in a perfect little bubble.

It's been fun.

My friend, Rach, came over tonight to take some family pictures.  C. was less than cooperative.  He thought it would be funny to be the "odd man out" in all the pics.  I hope he gave her something to work with.  And I hope my rolls were concealed.  :)  Thanks, Rach!

It's been fun.

After a short sabbatical, I'm back to writing on the other blog.  Actually, I haven't written yet, but I'm starting a monthly series that I'm hoping will produce more motivation for that aspect of my life.  It's a fun blog, and I adore the ladies I'm working with....so I'm hoping this will continue for some time.

It'll be fun.

I'm working on an audit that I cannot balance.

That's not fun.