New Organizer

I got a new organizer.  I know.  Get a smart phone.  But I'm still a paper girl.  So I picked up this ARC notebook at Staples.  It is half-sheet sized.  I also got some dividers, a little notepad, a folder and a zipper pouch.  It was on sale so I made it out of the store for less than $20.

Cute, right?  I took most of the extra paper out to save weight.  And I printed tiny white labels on clear tape for the dividers. 

The cool thing is the rings there.....  The paper is cut in a mushroom shape so you can take pages out and put them in somewhere else. 

Here I am in design phase....  Trying to figure out what to keep in it.  My tabs are:  schedule, books & movies, places to go, medical & reference.

I didn't like how it was opening up in my bag so I put two paper-punch holes in the back and ran a strap of narrow black elastic around it and then stapled them after threading them through the holes.  Slick.

Pinterest Inspired Pantry Organization

First.  I LOVE CATHE HOLDEN.  I used her fantastic (and free) labels for this project.

My "pantry" is a big cabinet in the laundry room.  It looks like this:

 Well... it looks like this today.  Some days it looks better and some days it looks worse... much, much worse.  Let me take you on a short tour.  We've got a shelf with the roasting pan/crock pot/wafflemaker by the blue basket with the stick blender & accessories, electric knife, and salad shooter accessories.  There's the salad shooter in front.  Don't laugh.  I love that stupid thing.  An old applesauce jar of baking soda.  Then a basket of individual snack chips.  Raise your hand if you ever swore to not buy individually packaged food because it is so much more expensive.  Yup, me too.  Welcome to Camp Hypocrite.  Then we have a shelf of food (important mommy chocolate there in the front), rice cooker and a stack of plastic containers.  I think that bottom one has light bulbs and the top one in napkins and plastic silverware.  The stuff in the pink cup gets used to dole out cat food.  Ew.  TMI?  The bottom is more food, a brown box of condiments and stove top and a blue sweater box of things I'm afraid the mice would like.... cereal, grains, beans, brown sugar.

Anyway.... the point of the sidetrack tour was to see the jars of "white sauce" that my kids adore.  And next to them.... the latest project.  Also... bonus points to those of you who knew me in college.... yes.... still the same rice cooker.... still missing a handle......

We love rice.  I've always used the "dump in the rice and add water until it is at the first knuckle" measuring method.  It drives my husband insane.  BUT.  We recently switched to brown rice.  It requires more water and WAY more cooking time.  So I wasn't making it very often.  By the time I got out the rice, measured, measured more, cooked.... it just wasn't working.  So I actually read the rice package and learned 2 cups of brown rice need 4 1/2 cups of water.  Well.... 2 cups of rice just HAPPENS to be exactly the size of the empty alfredo sauce jars.  Out to the recycling bin I went.  A little goo gone and a run through the dishwasher and I was ready to go.  I put 2 cups of rice in each jar.... and realized it would never work because Hot often starts the rice and wouldn't know about the water..... so I found these cute labels by Cathe Holden and fixed them up.  At the same time I was spray-painting some plastic bins in the garage (note to self:  Do NOT spray paint things that are lattice-work and not solid... it takes forever and two cans of paint.) and had a bit of lovely "lagoon" spray paint left over.  So I gave the lids a blast and attached the labels (cut out by hand.... I should get a punch) with a little scotch tape.  Ta-da.

Simple.  I know.  But if it gets dinner on the table 3 minutes faster (and without boiling over the rice cooker and sliming starchy goo all over the counters) then I call it a win.  Bonus that it keeps the mice out and reuses some jars.

Spring Break

Had to take a break for spring break and a few health things.

I want a new term for Bucket List.  I get it.  The movie.  Kick the Bucket.  Whatever.  I still want a different term.  Anyone?

So the spring break bucket list

1.  EAT DESSERT BEFORE LUNCH DOWNTOWN.  We went to lunch at the new Taco Del Sol location..... Tuff wants to have her birthday there because, "LOOK mom... they already have a pinyata in the window!!!"
2.  BIG DIPPER.  We had to sit outside and wait until they opened at 11.  So worth it.  Followed by lunch.
3.  DAIRY QUEEN.  Sweet had his first Blizzard.  Reece's PB cup.  A new obsession.
4.  EXPLORATION WORKS. I had a pass for one kid for Exploration Works..... it was still fairly pricey for what it is... in my opinion. 
5.  SKIING:  Fail.  The day we were planning to go the wind was blowing mach 3 so we skipped it.
6.  GO TO THE MOVIE THEATRE.  We saw the Lorax.... complete with giant bag of popcorn.... and it was daddy's idea.  This was our most expensive outing.  I think tickets were $5.50 for the matinee so $27.50 to get in and then about $10 for popcorn and a pop for daddy.  Yes, I smuggled in water bottles. 
7.  MCDONALD'S.  Green Lantern Toys.
8.  THREE PARKS.  We did Pioneer Park, the fairgrounds & the school.
9.  MOVIE NIGHT(S).  We did several.  We watched HOP.  We ate spaghetti on tv trays.  We went all out.
10. SWIMMING.  One day we were slightly delayed for a quick freak snowstorm.  Yes, the pool is outside.  Yes, we went anyway.
11. PLAY DATE AT DAYCARE.  The bigs love daycare.  They did a playdate and lunch date to see their buddies.  And it gave me a chance to sneak to Target and get some Easter stuff and run to the office for a bit.
12. LIBRARY.  Including a visit upstairs in the elevator to see the turtle fountain.

The girls and I even did a strolling trip down the walking mall on a day when Sweet went hiking with his dad.  They couldn't decide which store to go in first.... the toy store or the kitchen goods store.  Seriously.  They love the kitchen store.  We didn't take any good walks but we did play outside quite a bit. 

Day 14 What would you do with a million dollars. Why?

Eat expensive cheese.
Hire a house cleaner.
Pay for college for my kids.  (Hah!  That would about use the whole million.)

Ok.  Wait.  First.  I'd invest the million and do things with the interest.  I am my grandfather's daughter. 

A long time ago I wanted to set up an endowment to give Class C kids in the state $500 towards college text books.  But now I think I'd rather give them a tablet computer so they can get their books online and have access.  Knowledge is power and isolation is pain.  And maybe I'd make it all Class C high school freshmen. 

Day 13 . . . A post about people . . . .

Name a minimum of 10 pivotal people in your life.  Use these as starters and give a why.

A person whom you admire:
A person that inspires you to be more:
A modern day superhero:
Someone you'd like to be like:
Someone that scares you:
A quality that you admire and the person who embodies it:

1.  My Grandma:  Stylish but down-to-earth.  She loved to go places and watch The Young & The Restless.  She taught me how to drive (a grain truck, an a stick-shift Celica), how to wear jewelry and how to cook for a field crew.
2.  My Grandma:  Organized and self-confident.  She loved to travel and watch baseball.  She taught me how to pack for a trip, how to order a drink and to always keep a giveaway bag in the closet.
3.  More and More... My Grandpa:  He built me a doll house.  He takes me fishing.  He always has snack snickers bars for my kids.
4.  My Mom:  She is classic Scandinavian.  In looks, attitude and style.
5.  My Dad:  He shows that scary-looking, hairy rednecks can be addressed as "Doctor." 
6.  My Sister:  She seems to be doing it all.... gracefully. 
7.  My Brother:  My favorite dirt farming technology wizard.
8.  My Husband:  No matter what.... always my number one.
9.  My Kids:  They make me laugh at least once a day.  Everyone needs that.
10.  My Dog:  When all else fails....

More Freakin' Laundry Room Stuff

Upon further consideration.... .and a trip to Lowe's....

I might need a cabinet 28" deep by 70+" tall by 12" wide..... AND THEN a rolling cart 52" tall by 28" deep by 12" wide......

Hot and I had a date last night.  Burgers and a beer and then a trip to Lowe's.  We wandered around Lowe's in the garage storage section trying to think what would work in the laundry room.  Hot has great ideas when he's willing to focus on a project. 

Thoughts?

Do a rolling cart/shelf thing for the:  dog food, cat food, recycling bucket & tool box right next to the washer (where the white plastic shelf is now). Then put the carpet cleaner(s) and some cleaning stuff in the cabinet (where the carpet cleaner is now).  I need about 8" of clearance from the hot water heater.  In a perfect world include the vacuum in the pantry cabinet to clear space in the upstairs hall closet... if I can get it empty I'm turning it into game storage and a reading nook.... but don't hold your breath.

Hot also thinks a more robust book shelf would work where the little one is by the breaker box..... that would be cool.  If it is very tall it has to roll to get the breaker box free so it has to be short and not stick out very far. 

Hot was also open to my idea about changing up the little desk in the dining room to make built-in storage. 

The search is on.....

I need a cabinet. 

52 inches tall.

26 inches wide.

28 inches deep.

I'm planning to put it between the washer and the water heater.  I'd like closed doors and more of an open inside (not lots of little shelves) so I could maybe put the carpet cleaner and pet food in there.  It doesn't have to be fancy.

Oh, and in a perfect world it would have casters.... I have to be able to move it to get to the whole-house filter and water valves.

Anyone?

Day 12 . . . Photographic challenge. Photos of 10 random things and a less than 10-word explanation for each.

Day 12 . . .  Photographic challenge.  Photos of 10 random things and a less than 10-word explanation for each.

 1.  Redneck.  Party.

 2. My First Truck.

 3.  Happy Fun.

 4.  A boy and his dog.

 5.  Spring.

 6.  Things to come.

 7.  True Love

 8.  Farm Girl.

9.  Skipping Stones.

10.  Work or Play.

Where the Alligators Roam.....

"Mom.  Alligators are in Georgia."

Ok.

"Mom.  They not in the bathroom. (Shaking head and making a very funny face) No.  Not in the bathroom."

Towels.

Ok.  Really.  We are working our way through the house.  Group effort.  Starting with the bathroom.

I ask this question of Elle every, oh, 6 months or so...  I think it is the time change... I'm tired and my mind is on repeat....

HOW MANY TOWELS DO YOU REALLY NEED????

But her answer is based on having 4 kids & 4 bathrooms. 

We have:

3 towels on hooks (me, Hot, Tuff)
2 hoodie towels on hooks (Sweet, Bugsy... the princess and the frog)
1 hair towel (those twisty things)
3 towels on the shelf
1 hoodie towel on the shelf (why?  I don't know... it is a duck.  It is cute.  Bug likes to use it for the sprinkler)
5 beach towels
2 hand towels... one on the hook and one on the shelf
5-6 washrags
And Hot has a gym-bag towel that rotates into the wash every once in a while. 
And a stack of beachy towels in the garage that are good enough for running through the sprinkler or washing the dog but not house-worthy and probably not even pool worthy.

I think I've finally even culled all the "someday I will need these when we have a second bathroom" towels from the shed.  Sigh.  That was a hard dream to let go.

Day 11: A photo of the last single-item thing that you spent more than $50 for . . .

The only thing I've spent more than $50 on in the last 60 days...

FUEL.

I'm not kidding.  One fill up.  $56 and change.

That's all I have.  I looked at receipts even.

Day 10: Your celebrity crush.

Day 10:  Your celebrity crush.

Didn't we do this here?

Ok.  Only one?  Based purely on looks?  Not on "oh he's such a good guy?"  Because I adore Adam Sandler.  But....

Go here to see.

Day 9: photo of your last kitchen creation.

Day 9:  photo of your last kitchen creation.

I have two.  First up.  The STROMBOLI.

Ok.  Yes.  Not a great picture.  But it was really cool in real life.  I did a braided top and fresh parmesan with an egg wash.  Gorgeous.  Delicious.

This comes our latest project.... Bento Lunch.  More on how this works out later....

Quick and Dirty Thoughts on Being Organized

I am living a parallel life with M&Co.  I've been getting us out the door on time for almost 8 years now.... it CAN be done.

Feeding the Hoard:  Make a list of your favorite foods.  Plug those foods into a two-week spreadsheet.  (I make mine seasonally... more grill in the summer, more crock pot in the winter.)  Plan to shop every two weeks.  (I do Costco and, yes, the veggies will last two weeks.)  Plan to spend less than an hour on the shopping trip and reward yourself if you are successful.  You just made grocery shopping a 2 hour/month chore.  Who-hoo.  Ok, yes, I do stop at the regular store about every 10 days but it is between work and kid pickup so I do it solo and it takes 15 minutes max.  Be prepared to fall off the "meal plan" wagon on a regular basis.  Just get back on.  I actually enjoy cooking so I try to put in a "new recipe" once in a while.... usually on weekends.  But I'm not afraid to serve canned soup and grilled cheese on a regular basis.  Get friendly with giant bags of frozen veggies.  Yes, sometimes this means we eat green beans as a side four times a week.  Oh well.  I'm working to embrace the crockpot during the week.  I use it on weekends but ours cooks SO HOT I'm afraid to leave it alone during the week for fear of it cooking dry.  I'm always on the lookout for new recipes to try in it.

Laundry:  We have one big lidded wicker hamper in the bathroom.  Get your stuff in there or your mother will give it to Goodwill.  Even the 2-year-old has mastered this concept.  Give yourself permission to a do a wild-card load every once in a while... loads that aren't sorted.  Also... I confess to only washing the kid bedding every 3 weeks.  Ew.  And the delay setting on my washer is seriously awesome.  I set a load to wash in the late afternoon and can walk in the door and switch it to the dryer and it is ready to fold by the time Big Bang Theory is on.  And at least one day a week should be "dress from the clean laundry basket" day.  I never fold towels... they go through the wash and right back on the hooks.  I'm going to add some jammie hooks in the bathroom so kid jammies can be worn more than once before they get washed. 

The Morning Exit:  I am NOT a morning person.  I only survive it by getting up first.  I need 20 minutes to exercise (or recline, moaning, on the couch) and 15 to shower and do my routine and have a cup of coffee.. then I can deal with other humans.  I've streamlined the HELL out of my wardrobe, makeup, hair & routine.  And I use a timer.  Kids will get dressed in 5 minutes if it is a beat-the-clock thing but I can yell at them 10 times and get no results.  And I have a little note (neatly printed, of course) by the front door telling kids what to remember.  It looks kinda like this:

Morning

Backpack, Water Bottle, Lunch, Snack,

Homework, Hat, Mittens, Sweatshirt

Monday:  Sweet Show-n-Tell

Monday:  Sweet PE Shoes

Tuesday:  Library Books

Tuesday:  Tuff PE Shoes

Thursday:  Sweet PE Shoes

Thursday:  Tuff PE Shoes

Friday:  Tuff Show-n-Tell

After School

Empty Backpack, Hang up Coat,

Put away Shoes, Snack, Homework

Hooks by the door for coats & backpacks, primary shoes on black plastic mat and a hanging basket on the closet doorknob for the most used pairs of hats & gloves.  A hook inside the coat closet for my purse and bag.  I seem to require carrying an additional bag for lunch stuff, take-to-work stuff, library books, etc.  Breakfast is required but can be creative.  What's the difference between a hotdog with a bun and sausage with toast?  Althought I do draw the line when comparing rice crispy bars with rice crispy cereal... call me a hypocrite.

Day 8: What kind of phone are you using? What apps do you love? List them and rate them.

Day 8:  What kind of phone are you using?  What apps do you love?  List them and rate them.

Motorola Barage.  The playskool phone.  It doesn't break.  A good thing.

I'd love a "smart" phone but it isn't in the budget right now.

I do enjoy the apps I have on my ipod touch.  And several Dr Seuss things are free at iTunes right now.  Scurry over and get them.....

Aussie Bites

M & Co.  asked about Aussie Bites.

They are little cookie-like things you buy at Costco.  My aunt apparently got some for my grandpa.  My dad ate them at his house.  While I was in Costco I called my mom to see if she needed anything for this weekend and my dad was also on the phone raving about Aussie Bites. 

I thought they were, possibly, dog treats.

He said they were little "muffin things" so I headed to the bakery.  No luck.  Then the regular bread section.  He was describing them as granola bar alternatives so I went to the granola bar section.  Finally, I was tired, so I asked for help.  Turns out they are (today anyway) in the center isle thingy near the frozen food section.  Right next to the brownie bites. 

I know what brownie bites are....

Here are the stats:

Ingredients:  Rolled Oats, Whole Grain Flour, Unsalted Butter, Sugar, Honey, Raisins, Dried Apricots, Sunflower Kernals, Flax Seeds, Shredded Coconut, Non-Hydrogenated Canola Oil, Baking Soda, Salt.

130 calories, 7 g of fat (3 saturated), 10 mg of cholesterol, 35 mg of sodium, 15 g of carb, 2 g of dietary fiber, 7 g of sugars, 2 g of protein.

They are very sweet and cookie-like. 

Lunch It

So Tuff has been having a bit of a lunch time struggle.  She loves to pack her lunch but things have been BORING lately.  She may or may not have eaten a LUNCHABLE this weekend..... So we decided to GO BENTO.

I remembered the cheap-o biscuit cutter I bought was a 3-pack so I already had the perfect circle cutter (above top left).  So we did some turkey circles (Tuff immediately named them turcles) in the blue cupcake cup.  And a "cowbell" next to it.  Some delightful fancy crackers and an orange pepper in the red cupcake cup.  A clemintine and an Aussie Bite.  A hershey's kiss for dessert.

And a Happy Day printable from here.

I'll let you know how it goes.

The cost breakdown?  Well... I think I happily managed to spend about $100 on things to make a LUNCHABLE instead of spending a couple of bucks on an actual lunchable....

Costco shopping....
Mini babybels are $9.99 for 28.
Aussie bites are $8.59 for 32.
Mini peppers are $5.49 for 1.5 pounds.
Crackers are $7.99 for about 5 boxes (8.8 oz or so each).
Kirkland honey smoked turkey is $6.79/pound.
Clemintine oranges are $6.99 for 5 pounds.

So any thoughts on adorable packaging, cute containers and fantastic tiny foods for lunch?

I know matchstick-cut carrots & "pickle dollars" will be a hit.  I'm also planning some "pinwheels" with chopped turkey, cream cheese, tiny diced peppers & carrots in a tortilla.  She loves nuts so we will do some little cups of almonds.  (I wish I had an adorable tiny container.... must think on that... surely there is a tutorial on pinterest to make one out of scrapbook paper or something....)  And I got her some of her favorite jalapeno-artichoke dip... so we will create a lunch around that.  I have a box of mini food picks (from the dollar store) that are handy for making cute lunches.  This morning I sent her with a cloth napkin to put everything on when lunchtime comes because my mom remembers a student who had a mom who took lunch making to an artform and that was one of her tricks.

She wants a pizza lunchable.  As near as I can tell that means making a mini pizza crust and adding a side of sauce and a container of shredded mozzarella... it isn't even cooked.  Here's an example of a homemade one.  Anyone have thoughts on that?

And a good old can of Campbell's chicken noodle in a thermos is an easy option.  Especially if I've got some delicious breadsticks to put on the side.  We've also done noodles with parmesan in the thermos.  Seems to work ok.... a bit of carb-loading.

Day 7: A Video That Makes You Happy.

I like Hoodwinked 2.

Day 6: Five things that the younger generation is missing. What will you do to teach them and bridge the gap?

1.  The ability to dance with a partner.

2.  The joys of imagination and creative play.  Yes, we once took a chalkboard apart to make weapons and we were destructive... it is part of being creative.  Kids should be able to play for hours without a toy.

3.  Handwriting.

4.  Relaxation, being unplugged and just hanging out.  Everything is technology, schedules and attaining goals.  And we think watching tv is relaxation... it isn't.

5.  Doing dangerous things.  I'm a big fan of helmets.  I don't like tiny high-powered magnets, sucker sticks or dangerous chemicals under the sink.  But I was riding a 3-wheeler, hooky-bobbing behind a horse, building a sled from an old formica counter and I could drive a "big rig" by the time I was 12. 

Bedwetting

Here's an interesting article that associates bedwetting and constipation.  The most interesting part is about how the colon can get stretched out and a kid can have regular bowel movements and still be constipated.

Books Update

How to Knit A Love Story by Rachael Herron
The Associate by Grisham

 and I'm about half way in The Red Pyramid by Rick Reardon (the Percy Jackson guy).

Sweet is reading the third book of the Narnia series, two anamorph books and The Lightning Thief.... all at the same time.  Love that boy.

Mission Organization: The Bathroom Edition

The Inspiration:  Open & Airy. 

Painting the bathroom a gorgous shade of pale grey helped.  The color is "January Dawn" which had me hesitating.... Grey winter days as inspiration?  Not so much.  But it is lovely.  And my ultimate goal is to add some turquoise and tangerine accents and a dolphin or two..... subtle Miami Dolphins decor... funny, right?
The Challenges:  This is the biggest room in my house.... almost.  Poorly laid out and awkward.  The tub is small.  The toilet is tan.  The countertops are trashed.  The cabinet is ancient.  It has hollywood lights and seriously 80's ceiling light fixtures.

Organizing:  The kids have baskets for jammies.... sometimes I even fold them.  I'm pretty happy with the generally organization of this room.  My husband has taken over the dresser in here for his own.... it was baby stuff for years.  I take the towels off the hooks, wash them and hang them back up.  I don't like to fold towels.  And we don't have towel bars.... the humidity here is so low I don't worry about mildew.  I buy a lot of shampoo and things at Costco in giant bottles but having 5 butts using the same tub makes for a crowd... so I decant into smaller bottles.  I don't like labels on bottles.  Is that neurotic? 

Cleaning:  I often clean the toilet with vinegar and baking soda.  It's like a volcano experiment and the kids can help.  Sometimes I break down and buy real toilet cleaner.  And right now things are so bad I actually bought one of those giant bleach tabs for the tank.  That goes against everything I believe but desparate times call for....  I clean the floor of the tub with Barkeeper's Friend and scrub down the walls with a Mr Clean Magic Eraser.  I scoop the cat box pretty much every day.

Handy Tips: To keep the shower clean.... don't let your husband use it.  Seriously.  Since Hot has been showering mostly at work (after PT) my tub is spotless.  I blame it on bar soap.  Have you noticed that?  I have no scientific evidence but I think bar soap makes bad scum.  

Confessions:  How often do you clean the tub?  What about washing the plastic shower curtain liner?

We went skiing.....

We had a long weekend the 17-20.  The 20th is a holiday and the 17th was a PIR day for teachers. 

A 3-day weekend is a catch-up weekend.  Maybe some baking and a dance party in the kitchen.

But a FOUR-day weekend?

This called for a plan.

I've always been a downhill skier.  Nothing fancy.  A decent skier.  A solid skier.  I have a poorly-repaired acl and metal rods in my back so I'm not a hotshot but I can muddle my way down most slopes and manage to have some fun. 

You can tell the skiers with bad knees.  We tend to go faster and faster as the day goes on.... because it hurts to turn. 

I haven't skied in years and it is a part of my pre-kid life that I miss.  (The other major pre-kid thing I was mising I have recently regained.... eating wheat thins, cheddar, avocado & salami in bed for dinner.....)

So.... I've never skied our local ski hang out.  Never.  Not even before I had kids.  It's a long story. 

So I decided to brave it.  Daycare was open on Friday so I would only have two kids.... easy, right?

So we got up and got ready..... I made a list for the kids and they checked things off... nothing motivates my kids like checking things off a list.

get dressed
eat breakfast
put on sunscreen
brush teeth/hair
extra socks
sunglasses/googles
hat
mittens/gloves
extra mittens/gloves
coat/snowpants
sweatshirts
snacks
water

The kids are ready.  We talk about the skiing soundtrack.  How the easiest thing is to just get a song in your head and move to the music.  Sweet picks "Grenade" and Tuff picks song 6 on the Sugarland CD.  They ask me about my soundtrack.  I realize I don't have Aerosmith's "Pump" on the ipod at all and I only have one Jane's Addiction song..... but the Soup Dragons are on there so I settle for that for now....  Don't be afraid of your freedom.....
And away we go.  I immediately regret my decision when Bugsy cries and clings... she knows we are going somewhere fun.  Sweet also cries and clings.... his best buddy is at daycare.  Sigh. 

I give Bugsy a kiss and I give Sweet the "be thankful for your mama because she rocks" speech. 

Tuff is a thinker.  So as we near the area she is full of questions and details.  We sit in the van discussing the merits of hauling our snacks with us versus leaving them in the van.  We talk about the lesson they will take later.  We discuss walking in ski boots.

We wander around the area checking things out.  Where to meet up if anyone gets lost.  Bathrooms.  Lunch plans.  Tuff thrives on this.... she likes to assess.

We get our boots and skis and helmets.  I've decided to go it in snowboots (my trusty muckmasters) for the day.  I figure we will get about 20 minutes in on the rope tow and then eat cheese fries for a few hours.  I'm ok with this process.

Wow, was I wrong.

Sweet had one moment of 7-year-old anxiety.... about run 3 he was just sure he couldn't do it.  I remind him to hear his song and as I listened to him talk he suddenly talked himself into trying it a few more times and after he figured out how to put his own ski back on there was no stopping him.

Tuff has some colossal 5-year-old wipe outs..... mostly doing battle with the rope tow.... but she had on short pink skis and was unstoppable.

I was exhausted.  Running on snow is hard work.  And of course I had to help everyone... not just my kids.  The ski area has lots of staff on the rope tow slope helping, guiding and encouraging.... which was a huge benefit when one kid would wipe out at the top while the other was sliding backwards into the bench at the bottom. 

An instructor said, "So... how many of these kids are yours?"  Just two.  "Oh..... which two?"  The ones down there getting on the rope tow... "So.... NOT these three up here that you've been helping?" 

Finally around noon I had to call a break.  The kids were showing no signs of stopping on their own.  We had some lunch & a potty break.... sandwiches, popcorn, chips, granola bars and carrot sticks.  Sweet chewed about 3 times and was gone again... back to the slopes.  Tuff stopped long enough to squeeze me around the middle before she took off.

The weather was incredible.  Sunny and warm.  The kids had a lesson.  Tuff mastered the pizza.  Sweet still liked to race top-to-bottom and wipe out... singing the whole time.  The instructor said all the right things to say to a mom like me.  "What athletes."  "What great attitudes."

About then some friends showed up and Sweet was in heaven.  Buddies!!!  I'd been visiting with the ski school director off and on during the morning and he said, "Tuff is ready for the chair lift."  I agreed and mentioned we might try that next time.  He said, "No.  She's ready now.  I'm going to get her a chair lift ticket and taking her up to try it out."  Who-hoo. 

The kids skied until about 4:30.  Sweet had sore feet and a sweaty head.  Fortunately the rental shop is RIGHT THERE and we had gear off and dropped off in no time. 

Sweet didn't make it out of the parking lot.  He was out cold.  Tuff managed to stay awake while talking about "delicious roast beef sandwiches" in a sort of delirious trance. 

I'm already -in my way-over-the-top way- planning season passes and season-long rentals for all of us for next year.  First steps are to get 2-year-old Bugsy on the slopes, get in shape, and get myself going again.  I'm not sure how to do all of this.  Hot is not very excited about it but I seem to be managing ok by myself... at least with the big two.  I have a few friends with kids who are really into it and love it as a family activity.  I've always considered skiing a solitary activity but I'm trying to expand my thinking.  I know it was amazing to see my kids fall in love with something I love.

And, yes, "Janie's Got a Gun" is playing in my head.....

Camera Found

Found it.  In the garage.  Of course.

WTF?

Bruno The Baker

We are making the cake from the Bruno the Baker book.

It is in the oven.  I'm wiping up flour.  Bugsy was in charge of flour.  Need I say more?

Pizza Crust

So I'm making stromboli tonight.  Sort of following this recipe.

But I like my (mom's) pizza crust recipe.  It's in the red Betty cookbook.

Here's the thing.... I CAN NEVER FIND IT. 

Why?

Because it is behind the CHEESE & EGG tab.

But..... it is alphabetized behind that tab as...... T.  T?  Why not C for crust or P for pizza?

Traditional Cheese Pizza. T.

Sigh.  Who wrote this cookbook?  Betty... what were you thinking?  T for Pizza.

The sad thing is the recipe is REALLY simple.  I should have it in my head.

Pizza Crust
(makes two small 12" thin crust pizzas or one big medium crust pizza)

1 pkg active dry yeast
1 c warm water
2 1/2 c flour
2 TBS oil
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in water, stir in everything else.  Beat 20 strokes.  Let rest 5 minutes.

Done.

Cleaning 3 feet at a time West to East

So I needed some cleaning inspiration.

The wind is blowing west to east.

There ya go.

I'm cleaning the house west to east.

I started with the first three feet across the bathroom.  This included tossing a slimy scrap of bar soap, washing the towels & getting out new toothbrushes for Hot & I.  I also wiped down the sink and mirror and tidied my drawer under the sink. 

Then the laundry room.  That was easy.  Tidy the markers and kid desk.  I cleaned out the 4 drawers last weekend so that was good.  3 feet puts me just short of needing to take out the recycling.... that will be the NEXT three feet.

Same with the living room.  No problem.  I dusted the window sill.  Then I hit the game cabinet and the office armoire.  That was a bit more work but still good.  All the stray game pieces are now in their rightful home. 

Upstairs.  I cleaned Tuff's closet.  Fair is fair.  And the dressup bin.  And the shoe bin.  And Tuff's desk.  And the toy shelf.

Then on to the hall closet.  Ugh.  Getting tired.  But it wasn't bad and now it is done.  I moved some paint back to the kitchen..... stupid. 

Now, technically, I have to clean my closet but that ain't happening.  I have all of my hangers turned backwards and I'm turning them forwards when I wear the clothes.  I have a promise from my sister to help me sort, purge & create outfits next time she is here.

So now I'm taking a break before I go for the next 3 feet.  This will include scrubbing the tub, cleaning out under the sink, the kids' toothbrush drawer & the bathroom hair pretty drawer.  Oh dear.  The recycling in the laundry room.  Nothing in the living room and not much in the upstairs bedrooms..... oh.... my dresser.  That won't be bad.  I'll toss some underpants.  Excellent. 

Day 5 . . . . ONE single photo that best describes what you'll be doing over the next 48 hours. One photo.

Day 5 . . . . ONE single photo that best describes what you'll be doing over the next 48 hours. One photo.

Insert photo of my children here.... except I don't have a spare moment to do that because the pictures are all on the external hard drive and it is downstairs and I am upstairs.  Snuggled in with a sick boy.  He's reading Percy Jackson.  I'm looking at facebook.

We were going to sled and ski this weekend but it is snowing sideways and Sweet feels awful..... it is only fair... the girls had it last weekend. 

So instead we are cleaning bedrooms, planning to watch "Hoodwinked 2" later and I think I'm going to make a stromboli-like substance for dinner.

Day 4: A list of projects that are started, but currently undone in your house. If you are really bold, add a time frame for completion.

Day 4:  A list of projects that are started, but currently undone in your house.  If you are really bold, add a time frame for completion.


Shit. 

Fortunately "bold" has never been in my job description so I don't have to add a timeframe.

1.  Paint the laundry room ceiling.
2.  Paint the living room walls and ceiling.
3.  Paint the bedrooms (2) upstairs.
4.  Remodel the house.
5.  Put Hot's arrowheads back in a display.  I sorted them out last weekend and bought the glass last night.
6.  Sorting and purging in the garage.
7.  Make a mouse out of felt to sleep in an altoids box.
8.  Put up 3 hooks, (I put up 5 last night but ran out of screws and didn't want to venture to the garage in the snow storm.)
9.  Scan and sort and index documents.
10.  Have negatives scanned to digital prints.
11.  Clean out the top of the stairs closet.  I don't know if I really need to do this but it seems like a good idea.
12.  Purge my closets and create cute outfits.  I need my sister here to do this but she has promised to help if I will feed her waffles.
13.  Super glue things.  I ran out of super glue.  I have a small stack of stuff that needs gluing... a fairy wand, a transformer with a broken leg & a tea party plate.
14.  Print next week's breakfast/lunch plan.  And plan dinners.
15.  Print some adorable lunchbox notes.
16.  Laundry.
17.  Return some light plate covers to Lowe's and buy some really narrow long screws to try to fix the book bag hangers.
18.  Find my yak-traks.
19.  Return library books in my car and get some new ones.  Encyclopedia Brown maybe.
20.  Sort the hair pretties.

Day 3: A Photo From Your Day Today

This is tough what with the lost camera and all. 

But this kind of sums up how I feel right now....

Where is my Camera????

Dude.  I think I lost my camera.  It isn't in any of the usual places I leave it (the bathroom counter, the workbench in the garage, the ledge in the dining room) and it definitely isn't where it belongs.... the drawer in the kitchen. 

And it has all the bathroom painting pictures on it.

My sister is painting her new bedroom.  It has some seriously unfortunate "bordeaux" carpeting.  But she has a vision....  taupe-grey walls, purple carpet, pale bedding with a really great throw on the foot of the bed, minimal furniture and graphic wall decor.  I've been pinning things on pinterest and also marking things on houzz. 

So anyone have a favorite taupe wall color? 

Day Two: In picture or written form, ten of your favorite things

You can pretty much just cut-n-paste Elle's list as my own.

1.  My family. 
2.  My dog.
3.  Coffee.
4.  Lists.
5.  Yoga pants & Apt 9 v-neck tshirts from Kohl's.
6.  Taking pictures.
7.  Eating meals at the table.
8.  Reading.
9.  Eyeliner.
10. Daydreaming.

Add ons to THE LIST from you people....

Pay property taxes They are due end of April and end of October.  Ours are running at just over $2000 for the year right now.

Update calendars/reminders
I have to update the ipod with school dates every fall.  I get the kids at 3:15 on Monday and Friday and after 5:00 Tu-W-Th... and all those odd little dates have to be recorded.  Once for me, once for Hot, once for my mil, once for my boss (for days off).  I use a paper perpetual calendar (that I made) for birthdays.

And the little daily schedule for school has to be updated with library books, show-n-tell, pe shoes etc.

Benefits/addresses/wills
I do this in October when we do health insurance for the state.  And addresses are done with my office inventory stuff for work in December.  I use the same emergency contact sheet for work and home.

Toys/clothes purge
Maybe if I set a date I wouldn't feel so perpetually overwhelmed by this.  And I wouldn't chronically have a pile of too small stuff on the laundry room counter.  Ah-hah Moment.  We do a toy rotation... one tub in and one tub out on a fairly regular basis... but a schedule would be good.

Smoke alarms and furnace filters
We don't have a furnace but I do schedule a yearly pellet stove cleaning in August.  And how often do you change the batteries in the smoke alarms?  I've heard twice a year when you do daylight savings time but I've been doing it on Valentine's.  Ok.  check that.  I bought the batteries.  They are on the laundry room counter.

Tax Stuff
I gather the tax stuff in a file that says, oddly enough, "taxes" and then sort and organize it during the Super Bowl.  That's when I make notes of what is missing and track things down and fill in the paperwork.  Then I have it all gathered by President's Day for drop off at the accountant.  Our taxes are easy.... but I also anticipate doing taxes someday in the future for the farm.... that's more complex.... deductions and write offs and quarterly payments....  maybe someday.

Scanning
Have you seen the new two-sided scanners?  Maybe they aren't new.  But that is something I would find very valuable if we ever become full-time farmers.  I'm in an organizating situation with scanning now.... I need to do better at sorting my digital files and figuring out what else needs to be scanned.  I have a pile and I'm procrastinating.  We are ditching our safety deposit box in favor of putting things in the safe at home.  Some of it has been easy... some not so much.

And I get one vote for weekly laundry with sheets on Saturdays and dog beds once a month.  Anyone else??

Day One: Something that you are good at

Elle challenged.

Spinning Plates.  I'm really good and keeping a lot of things going all at once.  I'm not saying I excel at all of those things all at once.  There is a lot of wobbling.... but that's the whole thing about balance.  When you balance on something you have to make a million tiny adjustments to stay in one spot.  I'm good at that.

Project: Mission: Organization: Make-a-list

I have the day off today and we were planning to ski but..... 66% of my kids are complaining of sore throats and the other 33% have some serious booger issues so we are going to stay low today. Doing some meal planning, a little baking (for the upcoming Carnival Event at school), and some much-needed scanning and organization of digital documents.  I'm also doing a bit of the eternal organization shuffle as priorities change..... winter gear is the goal.  We are set for sledding but now I'd like to add in skiing as an option......  our test-drive on Friday has me perking on some ideas.

I'm also doing some thinking. I'm slowly pulling out of my February funk and, while I don't like it when it is happening, the dense non-functioning funk of February usually results in some serious productivity when I do finally come out of it.

One of my big goals for 2012 is to make some to do lists. 

Wait.

Let me explain.

Some sort of seasonal lists of things to do to keep organized.

For example:

Clear photos & video from cell phone & ipod & flip.  I am pretty good about getting things off my camera but not the cell, ipod or flip.  (See previous post for example.)  I could set a goal to do this yearly, semi-annually, or quarterly.  Make a note.... for now we will do it every 6 months...  February & August.

Gather tax materials.  I like to sort and organize this stuff during the Super Bowl.

Submit taxes to accountant.  I like to have this done by President's Day.  I have it ready today and can drop it off tomorrow.

Pay van & pickup insurance.  February & August.

Pay car insurance.  April & October.

Pay house insurance.  August.

So what else?  What do you do on an automated schedule?  Either consciously or unconsciously?

I should add clearing out the broken drawer... either glueing/sewing/repairing/tossing....  probably monthly.  And some laundry things... like washing the couch cover and blankets and pet beds. 

I recall summer.....

February is not my favorite month.  (Apologies to Kae.... it is her birth month and I gotta tell ya.... that's pretty much the only redeeming quality....)

So I'm doing all the things I do in February to make myself feel better..... hair cut, nesting down with a book, making soup.  We had a Big Ski Adventure on Friday.... more to report on that later.

Part of my nesting included clearing the photos off my cell phone..... now THAT makes me smile.

Practicing Patience in 2012

Continuing to Read....

The Help.

The Paris Wife.

Two Anne McCaffrey books I pre-read for Sweet... the Dinosaur Planet ones.... not my favorites and, ultimately, boring for Sweet.

Susan Mallery "Only" trilogy.... I read half of the first one ages ago and got distracted while I read "The Help" and "The Paris Wife" so I just got back to it.  It was perfect smut for this last week.  I finished the third book last night. 

Next up is.... hmmmm... I have a James Patterson or The Bonesetter's Daughter. 

the weekend list

*went to Costco (without a list... more as a social outing with my Grandpa, kids & aunties).... actually managed to remember and buy everything on my list except cat food.... and we have enough for a while so all is well.
*had breakfast with gramps and crew at ipod.
*went to Ross.  twice.
*wrapped a gift for a birthday party on the 11th.
*immediately got an invitation for ANOTHER birthday party on the 11th.
*got the kids started on Valentine's cards for classmates.
*found 100 things for each kid to take for 100 day on the 8th.
*washed coats and mittens.
*had a Valentine's celebration with Nana & the kids.  Painted Pot, lunch at Taco del Sol, ice cream at The Big Dipper.
*made a delicious ham and lovely cheesy potatoes.
*grocery store trip (quickie for football chips, sunflower seeds for salads, bananas & sour cream).
*stopped to pick up Hot's driver's license... forgotten at the local sporting goods store.
*returned the WRONG paint and got the RIGHT paint.
*folded eleventy-million pounds of clothes during the Super Bowl.
*drank some wine.
*fed the clan some lovely simple suppers.
*received a jewelry box of Grandma's old jewelry.  so happy.
*talked about a plan for a birthday bash for Grandpa this summer.  complete with cake and crafts.
*cleaned the fraggin' oven.  (you are thinking.... "how fraggin' hard can it be??"..... BUT.... when the microwave died it took out the controls for the auto-clean.  and the delicious cheesy potatoes spooged all over the oven.... it was horrific.)
*requested flex childcare and medical.
*gave up on balancing the checkbook for 2011 and started fresh for 2012.
*cleaned Tuff's desk and restored order.
*gathered tax materials.
*bought a lottery ticket.  A FIRST EVER.  And on my "better than a bucket" list.
*packaged up another box of toys for garage storage.
*picked up a reserved book for Hot at the library.
*bought some Tervis glasses on clearance at BBB for mini-Valentines gifts.
*downloaded the digital copies of Jurrassic Park.
*updated iTunes.
*compared our budget to our actuals for January.
*read some trashy novels.
*broke my ceramic compost bucket
*watched "Blackthorn" & "A Dolphin Tale"
*planned for the kids' week:  outfits, hot or packed lunch, dinners & events (Tuff ice skating on Monday, School kids snowshoeing on Tuesday, pay daycare on Friday, treat shop money for Friday, Valentine's writing, 100 days stuff)

Still to do:
*finish painting the bathroom and restore order.
*wash Tuff & Bugsy's sheets.... apparently Bugsy smuggled a sugar cookie into bed last night.
*buy & wrap another birthday gift for the 11th.
*finish Valentine's cards for classmates.
*find a box for Tuff to use for a Valentine mailbox.
*find a backup box for Sweet to use for a Valentine mailbox... I know it is coming... just no request yet.
*put a new light bulb in the night light.
*put a new light bulb in my reading light.
*put new light bulbs in the THREE dead spots in the bathroom.
*change batteries in the closet light bulbs
*get a split pea soup recipe.
*drop tax stuff off.
*order a roller thing for my IT band.
*wash all of the couch blankets & cover.  (Yup... more sugar cookie.)
*reorganize and restore order to the pantry.
*think about Valentine's gifts.  To do or not to do.
*heat up the oven and see if it smells like cleaner.
*pay car insurance.
*pay credit card.
*put giant box of toys in the garage.
*pick up stuff from Painted Pot Wednesday.
*spray paint a frame to make a magnet board.

Did ya catch the half-time show?

  Did ya?  I love '8o's music.  My girls ROCKED OUT and danced.  And I loved Cee Lo's glittery wizard costume.  Love that little man.

But what is up with old rockers?  I guess there was some controversy with Stephen Tyler's anthem a few weeks ago.... I saw it... thought it was fine.  The thing that concerned me was.....  I HAVE THE SAME HAIRSTYLE AS TYLER.... right down to the grey streak.....  Anyone else concerned about this???

January is KITCHEN

Here is WEEK ONE.


Countertops.

Oh my. 

I like mine to be COVERED so you can't see the pink-ness. 

Actually I'm pretty good about clearing the counters..... for the most part.

The table is cleared off.  The little odd desk thing is mostly clear... although it often collects things that are "outgoing" in our house.  Right now it has some movies to be returned and a bill to be mailed.

The main countertop is cleared. 

The coffee pot is always out.

The utinsel bin, knife block & smelly-melter all live on the window ledge.  So does a glass trivet and my drinking glass.  I won't lie.... I hate the knife block.  Opinions on magnetic wall ones?

We moved the countertop microwave to the corner.  Better.  The cherry tomatoes live on top of the microwave.  Is that odd?  Where do you keep tomatoes?

We can't leave out paper towels anymore.... damn cats.

I have a little green spoon rest on the stove top. 

That's about it.

What's on your countertops?

What needs to change in your kitchen?

My kitchen needs big changes structurally but in the short term I am considering a wall mount magnet knife holder & a new hand soap dispenser.

Organizing in January

Home Storage Solutions 101 has a 52 week challenge up right now.  Are you ready?

Go.

http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/organized-home.html

Random Responses

In response to this post from Elle.

1.  Bandaids and such.  You can condense all those boxes of 25 down into about 4 boxes if you don't mind mix-n-match bandaid grabs.  That's my only tip.  Oh.  And it makes me think how EXPENSIVE hoarding must be....  If $1722 fits in a mid-sized box.... how much money is in a hoarded house?  Hmmm.

2.  We aren't in the Survivor habit because we didn't have that channel for several years.  Now we have the channel but hardly ever watch it.  Something else must be on in that time slot that we watch... I wonder what it is.

3.  The Bachelor makes my teeth hurt.

4.  2011 wasn't the greatest year around here.  Maybe a nice review would help.

5.  I did some goals.  I enjoy hearing your health goals, triumphs and setbacks. 

6.  Yes, more organizing please.  I'm in the throes right now.... as usual.

7.  I reinvent and rededicate myself to the meal planning goal on a weekly basis.  Sigh.

8.  I figure if I let it be in their closet then they have the right to wear it.  On that note... several pairs of ratty leggings went OUT of Bugsy's drawer this weekend.  Tuff likes to wear yoga pants and a long-sleeved shirt under a cute graphic t-shirt with knee high socks.  That's her mo.  Sometimes jeans.  And we cut her hair off so she can wear it up or down now.... no more ratty stocking cap pony tails.

 

9.  I haven't gotten my rewards certificate.  I hope I didn't toss it.  I'm on budget for groceries so far this month. 

10.  I'm looking to replace our impossible-to-clean George with a more all purpose thing with removable plates..... My cousin has one she got at Costco but it must be seasonal.... she even had a coupon for it.  So I'm watching...  My mom has a panini press and it is AWESOME.  Grab some bread, slice up some nice veggies, toss on some cheese and squeeze away.  Yum.  The way I do it now involves an electric frying pan (because our stove top cooks too hot) and a cast iron skillet to press it.  Not so easy or pretty and time consuming when the 7-year-old eats the sammies faster than I can cook them and need at least 3.

Dinner this Week

Meals this week....

Monday:  We were on the way home so we had lunch at The Prospector and pasta for dinner.
Tuesday:  I made the Panera Bread Brocolli Soup recipe.  First time.  It was good but my cooktop simmers at a boil so making creamy soups can be a challenge.  We had delicious olive oil-rosemary bread from Costco and green salad.
Wednesday:  Chicken bones.  I made (the last of the bag) of chicken wings.  Baked with garlic salt.  Brown rice & the end of a part of a bag of perogi with fried onions and parmesan. 
Thursday:  The plan is to have roll ups with turkey, cheese, tomato, lettuce & ranch.
Friday:  We have a package of delicious Rocky Mountain Hot Dogs... if I remember to get buns.
Saturday:  Chicken pot pie.  Special request.
Sunday:  Elk steaks & baked potatoes if Hot is home.

Wildland Fire Number 3, Week 1, 2012

First was a fire at Dearborn due to a welder spark. 

Then a transient campfire out-of-control on Mount Helena.  (There were actually several fire calls but only one graduated from city fire to wild land.)

That was yesterday.  Hot got home late and we had dinner.  Then he got called again to go to Browning for the series of fires there.  WTF?  It rain/slushed on them this morning so maybe he will come home tonight. 

Nothing like packing long johns to go fight fire.

Ok Mother Nature.  Enough.  Seriously.

Because it IS January... GOALS.

I'm still hoping to do a goal-a-month.  So far my January goal is reading.  20 pages a night of something non-magazine.  And, preferably, non-work and non-web-based.  A book.  And more books for my kids.  My 7-year-old is an Anamorphs maniac.  And now he's reading Tom Sawyer.  And the dinosaur encyclopedia.

I haven't thought of anything for February.... but other 2012 goals include:

Hot's Eyes.  Boy needs lasik.  One eye (the cataract eye) is good.  The other one is a big exercise in compensating.  Need to get that fixed.

Budget.  We have one.  Now to track it.  I already kinda hate it.  And so far in 2012 I've spent $160 in Costco groceries and $11 at the dollar store (new toothbrushes, organizer drawer baskets & 2 frames for a project...)

Travel.  We don't plan to go far but we do plan to plan.  Last year we made a goal of taking 2-3 yearly mini trips.  In 2011 we did the rodeo finals in Great Falls in January, the state fair in the summer and Fairmont Hot Springs in the fall.  We are doing the finals again this month.  We go up on Sunday, do the rodeo at 2, go out to dinner with family, stay in a hotel and watch trashy tv, swim & eat breakfast.  Then a bit of shopping and a nice lunch on Monday and home.

Money.  We are cooking up a rather major money thing right now.  Paying off our mortgage.  Go ahead.  Laugh out loud.  But our investments sucked in 2011 and the outlook for 2012 is baseline... so we are thinking of yanking a big chunk of change out and paying off the mortgage.... well... most of the mortgage.... ok, part of the mortgage.  Ok... a little bit of the mortgage.  But it is a goal.

Seasonal Fun.  Doing things with the seasons.  Sledding, skiing, swimming, watersliding, picnicking, fishing, hunting, shooting, biking, baking, cooking, canning, gardening....

Organizing.  Less planning, more doing.  I'm seriously considering boxing half of the toys in my house and storing them in the shed and rotating every 3-6 months.  Not every category but maybe books, puzzles, games & stuffed animals.  The play kitchen/food/pollies/barbies and lego/dinosaur/transformer/fantasy stuff can stay year-round.  I'm trying to accept the challenges of a small house with a poor floor plan and make peace.

Remodeling.... or buying a new 4-wheeler.  It's a toss up.  We have plans for new flooring but not any time soon.  Carpet for the living room, stairs & upstairs bedrooms.  Something laminate for the dining room, kitchen, laundry room & bathroom.  When the stove dies we may do a bit of work in the kitchen... moving a few things around and getting new countertops.... but that might be a 2013 goal. 

Work.  Work is a hard one for me to talk about.  You see..... Hot's position is temporary.  He's in fairly solid shape until fall... although he may not have benefits after April..... but then what?  With a little creativity and our carefully molded 2012 budget we will be ok for a while.  But he needs joyful and meaningful work.

Holiday Love Day 24

Holdiay Love Day 23

Holiday Love Day 22

12 Months of Goals

This year I'm going to try something different.  A new goal each month for 12 months.  Problem is... I don't have any ideas.

Anyone?

My first goal (which I started last week because I'm an overachiever like that) is to read 20 pages of a novel each night.  I'm reading "The Paris Wife" right now.  It is very good and I'm speeding through it.  It is an easy read and I'm guessing when I hit some grittier stuff I might have to scale back the 20 pages a night.  I have a stack of good reads from my mil and sister so I have lots of books.... a few trashy novels by Nora Roberts, The Help, The Bonesetter's Daughter.... and a stack of others. 

So that's a solid goal.  Now I just need 11 more.....

Last day of school 2011

This is it.  The last day.

Dropped kids this morning with a ton of luggage.  Sweet had two paper bags of treats for the recess paras.  And a giant blue grocery bag with his book exchange gift, a teacher gift and a "tree" gift of the sharpie markers his teacher wanted.  He also had a veggie tray with ranch.... his contribution to the healthy holiday party.

Tuff was lugging a teacher gift and a "tree" gift.  Her tree gift was glitter glue.

This year for teacher gifts I went with Body Shop items. 

Normally I give black gloves.  Two stores in town offer a holiday price ($9.99-$12.99 for regularly $25 gloves) for nice black driving gloves.  Either Manzella or Black Diamond brand.  I have the Black Diamond ones and have been wearing them for years.  They are nice alone or layered under my John Deere gloves.  And they are longer... so they cover naked wrists.  I like that.  I also think black gloves are easy to re-gift so if they don't want them they can pass them along.

As the daughter of a teacher I realize no teacher needs another coffee mug, Christmas ornament or body lotion from the dollar store.  So I went and broke my own rule and got lotions and potions. But... Body Shop.  Right?  I hit a deal at Body Shop and for $25 I got two gifts (plus a cute bag I plan to use as part of a housewarming gift later this year).  One teacher is getting a giant jug of strawberry body wash, a bath pouf, peppermint foot scrub (I love that scrub.... I had a hard time not keeping it for myself) and hemp hand cream.  The hemp hand cream is raved about... but it kind of smells like dirt.  My mom and sister love it.  Maybe next year....  The other teacher got a vanilla spice set... body butter, body scrub & a bar of soap.  So those were both high-value gifts on the cheap.

The SACC ladies got treat bags like the paras.  This year was fudge, cheerio scotcheroos, white chocolate cookies & hershey's kisses.  I'm not going to lie... it wasn't my best effort.  The fudge was overcooked and hard.  Tastes good but not my usual creamy flawless fudge.  The scotcheroos were an effort to use up some seriously stale cheerios... good but would be better with new cheerios.  And the cookies.... I discovered I had no brown sugar.  So they were messed up.  Here's what I like to do.... use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and then sub white chocolate chips and adorable tiny blue snowflake sprinkles.... make them small and round and bite-sized.  They are adorable and tasty.  Well.... no blue snowflake sprinkles could be found so I used red and green holly..... they looked like spinach cookies.  Not adorable.  I'll do better next year. 

I didn't get anything for the superintendent, music teacher, pe teacher or front desk staff.  Is that bad?

What does everyone else do for holiday gifts?

Holiday Love Day 21

Holiday Love Day 20

Shoes

I'm already thinking ahead to organizing for 2012.

I had to order new snowboots for Bugsy yesterday.  She has two pairs of size 6 boots and then there is a gap until the size 12 boots Tuff is wearing..... WTF?  Somewhere there is a whole box of snowboots.... hope I accidentally sent them to Good Sam's and not the dump....

She's getting these... in pink of course.  Size 8.  Got 'em for $25 with a coupon and free shipping.  I might have done better with Land's End sales but sometimes those Land's End ones are hard to get on....

You will recall I had to buy $50 boots for Sweet earlier this year.  Size 6.  When he gets to a size 7 he is in men's sizes. 

Tuff is holding out in size 12 purple boots.  The next good pair is size 2 camo sorels.... which just might not be fashionable enough (or warm enough after serving Sweet for two seasons) for next year.  So I might be boot shopping again. 

I'm struggling, as always, with the hand-me-down organization.  We cleaned the closet and hauled out a big black garbage bag of shoes that didn't fit anyone.  Now to sort that bag into:

1.  Keep for Tuff
2.  Keep for Bugsy
3.  Give to mom for spares at her house
4.  Consign
5.  Give to cousin
6.  Donate
7.  Save for baby girl cousin

I think I'm making this harder than it needs to be.....

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Holiday Love Day 18