Canton Bound Tomorrow!!!

As I sit here typing this out, I am making a list of things I will be searching for in Canton this weekend and trying to check off my packing list.  Supposed to have some fall-like weather so I'm pulling out my fall attire.  That alone has me super excited!! I am so ready to get away this weekend with girlfriends.  I need the time to laugh, be silly, gossip, eat, drink and do a lot of shopping.  The shopping will actually be a bonus.  I'm just ready for some girl time. 

In search of....

• Texas star for my porch
• Fall & Christmas wreaths
• Candle holder thingies (I have no idea what the proper name for these things are so I'm going with candle holder thingies)
• Picture for Bella's room (Bella has this plate on the wall that covers the spot where the breaker box used to be--still need to cover that ugly thing up)
• And just maybe....a giant chicken!!

This is just a few things I've been looking for or thinking about.  I know in my head what I want, its just finding it.  ha!  I have lots of other things I'm thinking about so we'll see what I end up with.  If and when I make the decision on a star for the front porch, I will be tickled pink. 

Y'all have a good one!!

  

Stuff

My favorite 4 year old managed to successfully delete most of my apps once again.  Didn't get all of them this time but still.  I'm taking it as a sign to re-evaluate what I use and don't use.  Been on the fence about FB for a while now but put it back on.  I'm an avid user of Twitter and Pinterest so those will stay.  She did not delete Instagram but its staying.  I'm on it more than FB.  She deleted most of the games, including a few of hers.  Well...let me rephrase that, she deleted most of HER games because she thinks they are all hers.  She will play rounds of golf, match color blocks and sling angry birds like its nobody's business.  When she clears a level and sees a star, she gets very excited.  I cheer for her and wonder which game she's playing now.  Its all good. Those games have been a lifesaver a time or two.  For me, it was my way of trying to relax, take my mind off of all the crap that has me stressed out and depressed.  Until recently, it was all fine and dandy but as of late, one of my opponents in a game hasn't made it relaxing at all.  This person has been sort of harassing me, constantly sending me messages.  I've reached my limit and don't like it so maybe this was my girl's way of taking care of the problem for me.  Ha!! 

Monday my A/C was finally fixed.  The unit was very low on Freon.  There was a small leak outside but none found upstairs in the attic.  Going to watch it and hope for the best.  That was more money out the door but I keep telling myself it could have been much worse and cost a whole lot more.  Trying to keep it positive but still feel like I need an extra job here lately. 

On this same Monday, I woke up with my left eye matted shut (gunky), swollen, itchy and hurting.  I thought for sure I had pink eye.  After getting the kids off to school and daycare, I called my eye doctor who worked me in.  He said it wasn't pink eye but I do have an infection, just not the contagious kind.  Well that's good. Prescription drops with an antibiotic and I'm good to go.  No contacts for the 5 days I'm doing the drops.  I'm on day 4 and I miss my contacts.  But I will say it has been nice not having to put makeup on every day.  Not sure everyone at work is enjoying it but oh well.  I stay in my office for the most part.  I took these pictures on Day 2 when the infection has moved to my right eye as well.  Not as bad but you can still see how swollen my eyes were.  My niece told me I didn't look very well.  I tend to agree, but I'm looking a lot better on Day 4, trust me.

 

Sorry!  Hope you didn't get too scared!!

   
Cleaned out the garage Sunday and had the broken refrigerator finally hauled off.  That's where the eye doc thinks I picked up something to give me this infection.  I'm sure my shoving a box lid in my eye didn't help either.  But you know what....the garage looks great!  You can see the floor and once that frig came out, the utility room area looks huge now.  Woo Hoo!!

They are remodeling the guest bathrooms on our floor at work.  Oh the drilling!!  It is horrible.  These particular bathrooms back up to the executive offices on our floor so we get the most noise.  Its heard all over but good grief.  We've all gotten to the point of just laughing because every time one of us has to talk or make a phone call, the drilling starts.  Its like they are watching us.  Glad the weekend is nearby.  I'm not gonna miss it.

The rain last night and this morning sure was nice, although I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I got to stay snuggled up with my girl at home.  Christopher even said on the way to school that he was ready for it to rain all day.  I agreed but we then we both said...but when we can stay home!  The garden will surely like all the watering its getting, especially since we just replanted our cucumbers.  I still owe you pictures of the garden I know.  I'll get on it, I promise. 

I guess that's about it for now.  I am doing ok.  I am trying to think positive and quit dwelling on all the negative stuff.  Y'all have a good one!

10 Habits of a Clean Home

I came across this on Pinterest (which I pinned) and thought I would share it on my blog. I'm always looking for ways to help keep my house clean or picked up. Some days/weeks I do really great, other days not so much. I think it all boils down to how much you have going on whether its running your kids or running in your mind...and of course, how you are feeling.  I think concepts work for different people. I've adapted a few of things that work for me but I'm going to try and incorporat more into my life.  We'll see what happens...

You can visit the website HERE, but I have listed the 10 Habits of a Clean Home below.  If anything, maybe one of these habits will work for you and get you started in the right direction...if you even need it.  Heck, y'all are probably the neatest people ever! 

1. Shine Your Sink.

Several years ago I was on the flylady email list and the first thing I learned was to “shine your sink” every night. (Unfortunately, that’s as far as I got with the flylady. Maybe I should try again!) Anyway, the shine your sink concept is a great habit to begin! Every night take five minutes to clean your kitchen completely. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, clean off the counters, and scrub and dry your sink until it’s shiny.

2. Wash One Load of Laundry Daily.

Instead of waiting until the weekend to wash several loads of laundry, get in the habit of washing one load every day. As soon as you wake up, put a load of laundry in the washing machine. As soon as it’s finished (that’s the hard part for me!), transfer the load to the dryer. Hopefully it will be finished by the time you leave for the day! When you get home, fold and put away the clothes.

You may need to modify the routine if you’re worried about your clothes getting wrinkled or you have more or less than seven loads of laundry every week. Just make adjustments and find a way to make laundry part of your daily routine.

3. Process Mail Immediately.

Go through your mail daily. As you walk in the door, open all envelopes, throw away or shred junk mail, and put bills and other action items in your command center.

4. Create a Command Center.

A command center is an area in your home that can be used as a catch all for items that need to be processed (i.e. bills that need to be paid, cards to send out, etc.). It’s also a place that can house items that need to be picked up quickly as you walk out the door like keys, bags, and phones. Some also benefit for having a calendar in this area. Customize the command center to fit your family and life!

5. Throw Away Trash.

Throwing away your trash seems so simple right? But, how many times have you (or someone in your family) taken something out of a package and put the package on the counter beside you? Or, maybe you’ve taken tags off clothes and just placed them on the dresser instead of the trashcan? Instead of waiting until later, just take a few extra seconds and immediately throw away trash in the trashcan.

6. Straighten Up Every Night.

Waking up to a clean home can make the start of your day more pleasing and productive. Take a few minutes each night to pick up around the house. It doesn’t have to be spotless, but straightening up nightly helps to keep the mess from becoming overwhelming.

7. Create a Cleaning Schedule.

Depending on your personality, a cleaning schedule can be as detailed or scaled down as you want it. You may want to clean bathrooms on Monday, mop and vacuum floors on Tuesday, dust on Wednesday, cut the yard on Thursday, and something else on Friday. Or you may prefer to do everything on the weekend. In either situation, a plan will help you move through the list much more quickly. Just like other areas in life, a plan will encourage, motivate, and enable you to reach your goal for a clean home.

8. Become a Minimalist.

Reducing clutter reduces stress. You’ll have less to clean, less to pick up, and less to maintain. You may even be able to live in a smaller house! Or at least not feel like you have to move into a bigger one.

9. Do One Thing.

Sometimes the list of household projects can seem so overwhelming. If you have a list of 10 things that you need to replace, build, or update, just pick one thing to complete. Then do one thing that will move you closer to finishing that project. For example, if you need to organize your closet, start with your pants. Then move onto skirts the next day, and tops the following day. Break down a large project by just doing one thing. And if you need help picking the “one thing” you can get daily prompts at SpringCleaning365.com. The tagline is: one thing. each day. all year.

10. Have a Junk Drawer.

Yes, a junk drawer is a must for a clean home. In some cases, a cabinet or closet may be more reasonable! Having a place to store random items that don’t have a home can be so freeing. Plus, when you’re in a hurry, sometimes it’s just easier to dump everything into one place. Of course, the only downfall is that you must clean it out periodically!

Oven Woes

For those who haven't heard by now, I have been without an oven for about 2 1/2 weeks and let me tell you, it hasn't been fun...at all.  Let me just say, you never truly know how much you use something until you can't. I will spare you the details of why I'm still without but it boils down to my forgetfulness in the first week, the parts store not calling me back in the second week and more of my forgetfulness and me hem-hawing on what to do after that. 

Buy a couple parts and hope the oven works vs. buy a beautiful new gas range

dilemma...my current gas range measures 36" instead of the normal 30" = more $$$.

I have decided to go with the new range and (sigh) the basic model as opposed to what I call the cadillac model.  Maybe someday when my dream house/barn is built, I'll get to put in a cadillac gas range.  Someday.  I'm still looking at the best deal but hopefully will make my decision this weekend and get the thing ordered and delivered real soon. 

I hate not having an oven.  Its a pain. I'm already trying to cook more and this just isn't helping that goal.  And I've been wanting to bake!  I'm still not sure if its because I don't have an oven that I have these urges to bake or if I really do want to bake?  Ha! I'll let you figure that one out. 

Y'all have a good one & happy Friday!!