getting my crafting groove back

Here is what my desk looked like after Christmas...

Oh my goodness, can you believe it? Seriously. It was awful. I am embarrassed to admit it. I was avoiding it like the plague. The kids kept putting stuff on it and I was trying to purge drawers and stuff at the same time. It made for a very disturbing place to be. I was definitely not crafting at all. I spent a good week (after kids were asleep) cleaning it up.

Now it looks like this...

Way better, wouldn't you agree? It is still a work in progress. Why is it that crafters need to constantly be reorganizing and redoing their spaces?

I purged a lot from here, although it still looks like I have a ton. I find that a clean space makes me work so much more. Clutter and piles do not add to my creativity.

I have been making a few scrapbooking pages here and there (16 as of last night). I have also been making some cute gift tags and lunch box notes and cards. I always feel happier doing something that I like as opposed to things I have to do. I am literally stealing a few minutes after the kids go to sleep or if they are engrossed in a good PBS kids show. I am determined to get my crafting groove back. I have so many projects that I want to do: sewing, painting, making decor things, and of course scrapbooking and card making and I have been putting them off for a while now. I guess because we were trying to sell our house and I felt like I always had to be cleaning. And then sweet Asher was born and sleep was my priority if I had a few minutes.

It is so much fun to be working on a few crafty things again, even if for just a few minutes a day. Having a clean desk has been the best part. I am loving how it is organized (but there is always room for improvement!) and I can work and clean up quick therefore I am excited to start again the next time because my desk is always so tidy.

Do you work better in neat and tidy spaces or creatively cluttered spaces? Just wondering...

Monday morning musings

Blogs can instantly turn into forums for complaining. I've done my fair share here. I am really trying hard to avoid that but jeepers it is tough. I so want to tell you about playgroups that went awry and house showings that broke my heart over the weekend but I won't. You don't want or need to hear me moan and groan do you? I didn't think so.

On a lighter note, 17 pounds or so lighter, my baby is six months old today!

Say what?

Yep, six months. Don't blink, your kids will be all grown up.

I tried to get a cute picture of us together using our photo booth, it just didn't happen. And all that schmag stuff behind me is Big Tall Hubby's PhD stuff. I'm trying to ignore it too. Don't even look at my kooky hair- still trying to be patient as it grows out. I am dying to get it cut but I am really wanting a ponytail! Maybe 2012 is the year I stop being a perfectionist... nah, don't count on it.

my menus for this week:

• chicken and dumplings (kids are loving this but I am sick of it, I don't even eat the chicken, this is the last time for a while)
• cauliflower puttanesca (still haven't made this one but I am this week)
• stuffed peppers and roasted veggies
• pizzas and salads
• grilled cheese/veggie sandwiches (homemade half and half bread) and soup
• shrimp/mushroom alfredo fettuccine with some veggie side dish (not sure yet)
• potato and bacon frittata and biscuits

my things to do this week:

I don't have an "official" list. Honestly, last week kind of threw me for a loop. I had all these plans to get things done after all our celebrating but life gave me some curve balls so I am playing catch up. (unexpected visitors, house showings, terrible playdates, doctor's appointments, etc.)

I do hope to:

• clean up the basement
• take kids' clothes to resale shop
• finish taking boxes to Goodwill (I took 7 last week!!!!)
• return some items to Michaels and hopefully score a cute basket or two for Zoe's room
• finish the massive room clean up with Zoe (we are almost done)

Have a super fun week everyone.

Just bragging: I have scrapbooked 15 layouts so far this year! Yay me! I love that "craft" is my focus word. It really has helped me to make myself do things I want to do.

15 minutes can do more than save you 15 %

When I have 15 minutes the last thing I want to do is get on the phone and call an insurance company. Sorry Geico.

I didn't mean to do this. I promise. It was 8:10 AM on a school day. I was getting out a spoon, a Buzz Lightyear spoon to be exact (Tanner is very particular about his flatware) and this drawer was just looking like a hot mess.

8:25 AM (must leave for bus by 8:31 AM) and I had this huge mess on my counter.

Then...

Ain't it so purty?

I even had a small pile to add to my Goodwill box. Ha! It didn't even cost me a penny. Take that Geico. 100% savings! Boo-yah!

So do you have 15 minutes to organize something this weekend?

I'll bet you do.

Here are some ideas:

• duh, your silverware drawer (or if you are a hillbilly like me, your flatware that you call "silverware", the only silver I wear is around my neck or on my ears)
• your sock drawer (no holey ones allowed anymore)
• your purses (pass some on to your diva daughter, she'll be so excited)
• your hubby's junk drawer (My Big Tall Hubby has one, it is... woo-dawg, don't even get me started!)
• school papers/project dumping ground (might be a basket, might be a box, whatever it is, purge baby purge)
• hats, scarves, mittens, gloves (we still have a looooooong winter ahead of us girls)
• sort/share some pictures on your computer or **gasp** empty those envelopes sitting on your desk from Walgreens photo lab
• go through your makeup and get rid of that raisin colored lip stick from 1998, you don't want to look like a vampire do you? well maybe you do (Team Edward!)
• recipes-you'll probably find one you haven't tried yet but want to
• t-shirts, you know you have too many, admit it
• kids craft supplies, maybe you won't have to go to Target on Feb. 13th and grab the last box of Looney Tunes Valentines for your child who really wanted Toy Story cards, they can make homemade ones this year! Yes! Your kid will be the teacher's favorite, I promise. Creativity and resourcefulness always win extra points with the teachers.

Whatever you pick, do it fast, do it quick without over-thinking it, pretend you have to catch the bus.

this one is full of my made up words

A couple responses to yesterday's post:

I searched ABC new forever trying to find the story about the negative health effects of sitting for a long time but I cannot find it anywhere. Anyway, here is a similar version:

Time news story about sitting for long periods

It pretty much says the same thing. I hate when bloggers just sprout off facts (or things that seem factual) and don't back them up, or at least try to.

And by the way, ABC news has a crazy full website. So Diane Sawyer, love you babe, but please don't tell me to look at your website for more information. (Have you ever noticed she says that all the time?!) That website is its own world wide web of info. Shooo-eee!

And yes, Sarah, my princess, Asher is in fact at the stage where he grabs my hair and pulls me in for a wet, slobbery, mouthy "kiss." At least, I call it a kiss. Mmmm-wack!

And just a little tip...

I am using all my gift cards like crazy. Who doesn't love gift cards? This time of year is great because you are getting all those Christmas bills and you still have to shop, notice say "have to", I have to get more organizing things for all the toys Santa brought! Gift cards are the answer.

I used to try to keep the receipts taped to the card so I would know how much balance I had left but sometimes I keep gift cards for a while before I use them and then I would lose the receipts. I finally figured out that if I use a Sharpie, don't you just love Sharpies, and write the balance on the card as soon as I get home I can file the receipt (in case of return) and I still know my balance. Yeppers, I'm a genius like that.

Some companies have a number you can call to check the balance of gift cards but honestly, my house is too loud and crazy to talk on the phone even for a couple minutes. Be sure to check the rules of your gift cards, some of them expire (I don't get that but they do) and some take money off if you don't use them in a certain amount of time. GAH!

Do you love all my made up words? Just call them Jenny-ese.

watchin' my weight Wednesday

Does carrying around a 17 1/2 pound weight all day count as a workout?

What if he's really cute? Does that count as an extra rep?

How about never sitting down? I actually just heard last week (ABC nightly news maybe?) that sitting for 7 hours a day has the same negative effects as smoking! Who knew? Seriously, I never sit down, except to feed the baby. That has to count for some calorie burn right?

My treadmill time has been sporadic at best this past week. So bummed about it. I really do want to get up and get moving but honestly, I haven't heard the alarm clock for about 6 days. How is that possible? Jeezels. The only way I knew it was time to get up at all was because Big Tall Hubby got up and pulled the covers off me, freezing me to death. That is crazy. Usually I wake up at the slightest noise. I do get up with the baby (and Tanner- who has taken to waking several times a night- should I just give him back the paci?!). But that pesky beep of the alarm just goes unnoticed. I guess my body has programmed itself to hear what it needs to hear.

I found a dress that I want to buy when I get to my goal weight. I taped it to my treadmill as inspiration. I also downloaded Kelly Clarkson's new song, love it. And I have been listening to this a lot after the kids go to bed. Does night-time dancing/lip syncing while folding laundry count as a workout?

Next Wednesday I hope to post a weight loss and a successful week of workouts. Please excuse me as I go do some more weight lifting with my baby.

Really?!

Big Tall Hubby says we say "really" too much. Really?! It's even in the new Reese Witherspoon movie preview. I know I do, I am going to try to stop.

Oh yeah, he looks cute here but let me tell you. Too much partying has made this boy appear to be possessed by the devil. Yesterday, he bit Parker twice, threw a laundry basket at him, tried to push on Asher's head while he was in the exercauser and he hit all of us at least once. He said "no" so many times I think he used it all up. Sounds like a typical day of a three year old and normally I wouldn't complain. Read on to see why this behavior might have put me over the top.

Saturday,we had our last birthday celebration at our house. (until Asher's in July) And I was ready to take a break from partying and making cakes and cleaning house and all that. Our celebrating has been happening since October... no kidding! It starts with Parker's birthday and then comes Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Year's and sprinkle in some birthdays and well this party is pooped I tell ya. So anyway, I was ready to hang up my streamers, wait I already did that, a lot! I was ready to put them in their storage box and put my feet up.

Then our old realtor called. Really?!

She had a client who wanted to see our house. Really?!

We aren't even actively listed for sale. Our house is apparently still on the "for sale by owner" site we used way back and we get random calls for it every now and then. We have been tossing the idea of relisting on that site so we can try to sell at a lower price (because there would be no realtor commission) but I have been saying, "no way can I do that right now! I have a teeny baby for goodness sake Big Tall Hubby!!! Don't you know how hard it would be to sell a house with a newborn? I know because I have done it with Tanner!" To which he replies, "really?!"

Anyway, you can imagine what I have been doing for the last 24 hours. Yep, cleaning and the like. When our old realtor called yesterday, I was in the middle of 9 loads of laundry. No joke. I was planning on doing some catch up since last week I was cooking (and more cleaning) and entertaining. 9 loads of laundry just don't disappear so I kept at it until 1:00 last night and in between I was a cleaning fool. I do not miss staying up late cleaning house for people I don't even know.

Now do you see why my three year old's behavior might have been causing me to eat all the leftover Recess Cups from the cupcakes I made on Saturday! Really?!

Then, a totally different realtor called us. Really?!

She too has a client who found our old house listing and they want to come see the house maybe on Sunday. Really?! So now I have to keep this place clean until then?! Really?!

Have I told you before how much I hate the house selling process? Yep, I have? Sorry. I really, really hate it. Really.

So there. I am officially being a big complaining blogger mom. I hate that too but sometimes you just have to do it.

my things to do this week:

• catch up on sleep lost from late night cleaning and marathon laundry session, ha ha
• finish cleaning Zoe's room with her
• take books to sell to Half Priced Books
• take clothes to kids' resale shop
• finish these darn thank you notes (I swear I am finishing them this week! I refuse to look at them anymore!!!)
• maybe go to Hobby Lobby to look for some fabric (project idea swimming in my head)

my menus for this week:

• I have lots of leftovers from our party and I have a few things from last week that I didn't make so I'll be cleaning out my fridge and pantry. Nothing exciting to share. I think Big Tall Hubby has some late nights this week so the kids and I will be foraging. ;)

Have a great week everyone.

Really. :)

Buzz and Woody & Watchin' my weight Wednesday

Before I had four kids I used to say:

I'll never let my little girl's Barbies be naked.

I will have up-to-date scrapbooks.

I will not have fingerprints on my windows or toothpaste spit in my sink.

My eyebrows will always be perfectly plucked.

My CD's will stay alphabetized, how else can I find the one I want?

I will never skip a workout.

Then, I had four kids. Do I need to say anymore?

Never say "never" ladies. Never.

The only toys Tanner asked Santa to bring him: Buzz and Woody


Holy moly. Does anyone else cry their stinkin' eyes out when they watch Toy Story 3? Jeezels, those folks at Pixar sure knew what they were doing with that one. My boys are watching right now, I had to leave the room. Needed tissues. Lots of tissues.

Tanner plays with his Buzz and Woody exactly like Andy does in the Toy Story movies. It is creepy. How did the movie people get it so perfect? Buzz and Woody go everywhere Tanner goes. So sweet. He loves them a whole lot. I love him.

Watchin' my weight Wednesday:

Oh sigh, really. Losing weight stinks. Keeping it off, stinks even worse. I still need to lose about 15 pounds. Seems like so much. I have realized that with each baby, I need to lose about 5 more pounds than I gained to get back to somewhat "normal". I don't know if it's extra fat, skin, loss of muscle, or whatever, I just know I have one pair of jeans that sort of fit and the rest are staring at me in my closet every time I open the door. They are saying, "Jenny, get off your big bootylicious and exercise! Don't you want to wear my cute distressed, perfect hole in the knee, goes with anything self?" To which I reply, "yes I do, shut up you dumb jeans, I only slept three hours last night and I have thirteen loads of laundry to do and birthday cakes to make!" Jeez, the nerve of some clothes anyway.

I have been trying (I am italicizing a lot today!) so hard to get up and exercise before the kids get up. I am not doing very well. I sometimes think I should go get on the treadmill after a middle of the night feeding, I'm wide awake then! I know it will come. Loving exercise again. Right now, it seems like torture. Sorry to say. The truth hurts.

I would love to go back to my beloved Weight Watchers. I checked my schedule and I literally do not have one night that is free to go and Saturday mornings are completely out of the question. I'm pretty bummed. Those meetings worked for me. Accountability works for me. So I am going to share my successes/failures with all my bloggy momma friends. I know you'll understand! ;) Any ideas or tips you would like to share, I am always looking for new tricks in the weight watching game.

This week, I am making friends with my Ipod, downloading a few songs to get me motivated. I am tracking (writing down) all my meals and snacks in an effort to see when I eat and what. I'll keep you posted as the pounds just roll right off.

My motivating song of the week is "Soar" by Christina Aguilera. I love it. The lyrics are so perfect for what I need to hear right now. I love Christina, she can wail so perfectly. One good thing about working out in my Rocky basement is that I can wail along and dance and no one else can see. :)

things I am doing this week:

• finishing thank you notes
• cleaning Zoe's room
• packing up lots of boxes for Goodwill
• cleaning my kitchen, it is so icky and sticky, must have been all those goodies from Christmas
• celebrating Big Tall Hubby's birthday
• family party on Saturday

my menus this week:

• oven baked, fried chicken and potatoes and green beans for Big Tall Hubby's birthday
• mexican pizza and fruit salad
• italian subs on homemade rolls with oven fries
• slow cooker chicken fettuccine
• southwest stuffed peppers and chips/salsa
• cauliflower penne puttanesca with homemade french bread

See ya later gals!