Menu Plan Monday ~ May 31

Monday: Pork Chops, Broccoli, Grilled Red Peppers
Tuesday: Salmon, Homemade Fries, Corn, Salad
Wednesday: Broccoli Pasta Bake
Thursday: Leftover buffet
Weekend: I'm on a girl's weekend and I'm not in charge of all the meals!

For more menu ideas, check out Org Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Spring Clean & Purge Party ~ Master Bedroom Closet

Welcome to Week 4 of my Spring Clean and Purge Party! Check out the introduction and jump in! When you are done your room, add a link to your before and afters (or just how it went). Can't wait to see how we all get so neat and tidy together!



I let the master bedroom take two weeks because it was a bit of a bigger job than I anticipated (and I got sick half-way through it). This week we will tackle the MASTER BEDROOM CLOSET. Our closet it actually like a small bedroom so it's easy to get stuff accumulated in there. Also, have been through a variety of clothes the past four plus years due to pregnancies and such, my clothes are in a serious re-evaluation of "will I wear it when I get to pre-pregnancy weight again".

Here's the list I'll be following. Don't be surprised if as we progress the list starts to sound the same. It's not rocket science, it's house cleaning; I can only be so original for each room! Please leave a comment if I forgot something that you include. Remember, you have ONE WEEK to complete this entire list. You can do it in one day or spread it out. I've tried to put it in some-what sequential order. Start at the top of the room and work down.

The List:

• General Tidy ~ put everything in its place, especially if it doesn't belong.
• Clothes ~ I organize light to dark, left to right and arrange by type (e.g. skirts, dresses, short-sleeves, long-sleeves, etc.). I worked in a clothing store and this is how they organized clothes. This way it looks less mashed in there for me too.
• Shoes ~ I also organize these light to dark, left to right and arrange my type (e.g. flats, heels, boots, sports shoes, etc.).
• Dust ~ use a damp, soapy cloth to get a deeper clean. Start at the top of the room and include tops of curtains, cobwebs in the corner (you may need a stool or an extendable duster if you are short like me), light fixtures or ceiling fans, window frame, crown molding, door frame, all middle sections of the room perhaps including light switches, lamp shades, door handles, vents, baseboards. Also clean mirrors.
• Vacuum ~ move things to get cleaning behind items that don't normally get moved in a vacuum. I also try to vacuum the hanger/tops of clothes that I haven't used in a while (perhaps time to get rid of these items??). Febreeze carpet for a fresh scent!
• Purged Items ~ drop off to donate or list items you want to sell. Don't let this sit more than the time it takes to finish your next room. 

Post It Note Tuesdays ~ May 25

Last Post-It Note Tuesday

Spring Clean & Purge Party

Book Review ~ Size 12 Is Not Fat

***SPOILER ALERT*** If you have not yet read this book but intend to you may want to finish it before you read the discussion questions. There are some spoilers herein! 

I am joining Busy Moms Who Love to Read for the May 2010 book club. 

Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot

At 28, former teen-pop-star Heather Wells feels as though she has lost everything: her family and fortune (her mom fled the country with Heather's earnings), her recording contract, her slender waistline, and her fiance, Jordan, a philandering, boy-band singer. Then Jordan's brother, Cooper, a dreamy private investigator and family black sheep, offers Heather room and board in exchange for clerical work, and she finds an additional job as a residence-hall director at a nearby Greenwich Village university. After several female students turn up dead at the dorm, Heather takes on her own stealthy investigation and finds herself the target of the killer. In the first title in her Heather Wells series, Cabot combines a fairly straightforward mystery with a single-girl-in-the-city plot in which Heather triumphs over cheating guys, bad luck, and a fattist society. Most of the characters are two-dimensional, but Heather's strong, amusing voice, the plot twists, and the possibility of romance will draw mystery and chick-lit readers alike.

Book Club discussion questions:

1.  On a scale of 1 (lamer than lame) and 5 (super fantastic) rate the following:
• Style of Writing - 4 out of 5
• Development of Characters - 3 out of 5
• Flow of storyline - 3.5 out of 5
• Over all book - 4 out of 5
2. Heather has quite a history, what do you think you would do with all of the turmoil? Heather exuded self-confidence and forgiveness that I am not certain I would share if I were in her situation. 
3. What was your most favorite part? There was some redundancy (e.g. residence hall versus dorm) that got skimmed over.
4. What was your least favorite part? The love relationship didn't blossom.
5. What did you "not see coming"? That Rebecca used to be fat.
6. The book starts out in a dressing room, would you have done the same this Heather did? I'm not a fan of vanity sizing either but if the jeans looked good, what does it matter what size they are?
7. Would you have pursued the issue of murder, if everyone just wanted to brush it under the rug? It wouldn't have made a very good story if Heather didn't and then I was dubious of the private detecting and police work that went on in this particular story. I let the experts do their thing, however, in a role such as Heather's I perhaps would have definitely asked questions.
8. This is a random question, but did you get annoyed by Heather constantly correcting herself when she called Fisher Hall a dorm?  Yes! (see my answer to question 3).
9. Will you read any more of Cabot's books, specifically the sequel, Size 14 Is Not Fat Either? Yes. It was a fun book. It's on my nightstand to be read next, actually. I want to see if she gets Cooper after all.

Getting To Know You ~ May 23

I've had some sort of stomach thing going on since Friday. Actually Tuesday but Friday I really felt it. So I've been sleeping away most of this long weekend (bah!).

Happy Sunday and here's to Getting To Know You (and me) better thanks to MannLand5.

1. Do you have a fetish?  I love my kids' feet!
2. Do you sing in the shower? I used to but I'm all sung out with Row Row Row Your Boat these days.
3. Who was your first crush? There was nobody before my husband (isn't that the p.c. answer?)
4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have? Being well-read, handy around the house, and who follows eastern standard time regularly.
5. Do you sleep naked? Quite the opposite - I am the most bundled sleeping person ever.
6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking? Check for wedgies.
7. What's the first thing you do when you go online? Check my emails
8. Summer is.....? Nice in the shade but a bugger for allergies and mosquitos. I also hate humidity.

Post It Note Tuesdays ~ May 18

Spring Clean & Purge Party ~ Master Bedroom

Welcome to Week 2 of my Spring Clean and Purge Party! Check out the introduction and jump in! When you are done your room, add your blog post of your before and afters (or just how it went) lat the week-end room summary post. Can't wait to see how we all get so neat and tidy together!



This week we will tackle the MASTER BEDROOM. I hold my yarn supply and pattern books in here. At least the yarn is organized but I still need to get to the patterns I've inherited and not gone through yet. Here's the list I'll be following. Don't be surprised if as we progress the list starts to sound the same. It's not rocket science, it's house cleaning; I can only be so original for each room! Please leave a comment if I forgot something that you include.

Org Junkie has a great clothes purging and how to let go post if you need inspiration!

Remember, you have ONE WEEK to complete this entire list. You can do it in one day or spread it out. I've tried to put it in some-what sequential order.

Start at the top of the room and work down. The closet is next week so don't worry about that.

The List:

• General Tidy ~ put everything in its place, especially if it doesn't belong in the room.
• Drawers ~ one at a time completely empty, vacuum and wipe down all sides, front and knobs with a damp, soapy cloth. Purge what you don't want or use, reorganize to suit your current usage, and put everything back. It's great to sort like with like for a tidy look and to take inventory of what you need or need to use up.
• Dust ~ use a damp, soapy cloth to get a deeper clean. Start at the top of the room and include tops of curtains, cobwebs in the corner (you may need a stool or an extendability duster if you are short like me), light fixtures or ceiling fans, window frame, crown molding, door frame, all middle sections of the room perhaps including light switches, lamp shades, door handles, pictures, plants, vents, baseboards. Also clean mirrors.
• Vacuum ~ move any furniture you can. Consider re-arranging the furniture in your room for a new look. Include the mattress (and flip it) then spray with Febreeze for a fresh scent!
• Launder ~ mattress protector, sheets, comforter (hang to dry), curtains that can be washed. If you don't want to wash curtains, give them a good vacuum and spot clean with a damp cloth.
• Floors ~ mop or steam clean carpets.
• Windows ~ clean the window inside and out if possible. Remove the screen and wash it with soap and water. It's best to use a cloth and wipe it down too.
• Purged Items ~ drop off to donate or list items you want to sell. Don't let this sit more than the time it takes to finish your next room.

Children's Medication Recall

I may be late on this bandwagon but wanted to share it for any who might be effected and didn't know. Also, the timing is perfect since I just went through and organized our medicine cabinet. Thanks to Theta Mom for bringing it to my attention.


Please be sure to click HERE to get more details and acquire the latest recall list including Infant and Children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl and Zyrtec.You can find the NDC number on the upper right corner or in the center on the top of each box.

Taken directly from the McNeil site it states, “Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises consumers who have purchased these recalled products to discontinue use.”


So I encourage you to check your labels and stay safe. Please share this link on Twitter, Facebook and email your family and friends. This is too important of a recall not to.

Spring Clean & Purge Party ~ Bathroom Summary

I'm late posting my bathroom before and after today because I was dashing around finishing the last one. Apparently this is where I stashed all the baby stuff that needs to be "taken care of" (a.k.a. sold or donated).

If you are just joining, check out the bathroom assignment and introduction to the Spring Clean and Purge Party. We'd love for you to join us!

Here is my summary of the four bathrooms I cleaned. Incidentally, Ava (4 years old) threw up in two of the toilets that I had already cleaned so I had to go back and disinfect those. I guess she likes clean to do her pukies.

Bathroom #1 ~ The Master
This room basically got a fabulous deep clean and I tidied the already organized drawers and cabinets. Not much in the way to see photo-wise.

Bathroom #2 ~ The Kids

BEFORE

 AFTER

Here is the "stuff" that got jammed under the sink cabinet.

And here is the pile of things to get rid of.

And now the clean under the sink.








There was a table jammed in the corner.










So I took it out. Much roomier.








And here is the "clean" look of the Kids Bathroom.








Bathroom #3 ~ The Main Floor
There was only one shelf that really got stuff taken off of it as it is only a pedestal sink and toilet in this room.

Here is the shelf before.

And after.








Bathroom #4 ~ The Basement
This bathroom had the biggest transformation. It's on the "to renovate" list so at present has become part of the dumping ground. It's also hubby's seed planting area.

Before

After

And this is all the garbage I threw out.

Now I am off to list the items I want to sell on Kijiji. I think I'll list them for low amounts just to get them out of the house but feel I'm getting something for them versus nothing. Then I'm writing up the next room for tomorrow which is the Master Bedroom (wahoo!). It will be posted bright and early.

Link up your before and afters for the Bathrooms. If you are already a part of this McLinky, add your name and the room you are posting so we know. I thought that would be easier than a whole bunch of McLinky's.

Motherhood: My Other Resume

Upon reading the Village of Moms blog, I came across the post Motherhood: My Other Resume as written by Amber Johnson of The Life and Times of Stella.

I may not be original but I seem to find those who are and love to share it. Hope you enjoy her resume as much as I did! I'm going to make one for me soon too. I'll post it when I do.

EXPERIENCE

Mother, 8/17/08–present (lifetime commitment)

• Collaborate with Stella, Eleanor’s father (my husband), to ensure that she grows and thrives; oversee everything from basic maintenance, such as diaper changes and feeding, to high-level development including babbling, drooling, sitting up, laughing, and rolling/tummy time, with plans to teach her how to be kind, walk, use the toilet and drive
• Provide attention, protection, guidance and full range of entertainment services including peek-a-boo, tickling, general zaniness and impromptu songs, stories and farting noises
• Willingly put my daughter’s needs before my own while still taking care of self and providing excellent example of how to live life to the fullest
• Manage public relations; handle photography and mailing of seasonal cards and wellness updates; manage upkeep of Flickr account with near-daily shots of Stella to prevent extended family from suffering cuteness withdrawal
• Love that girl with all my heart, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year–even when her yelling reaches peak annoy-ability levels

Giver of Life, 8/15/08–8/17/08

• Gave birth to baby girl weighing 7 pounds and 7 ounces; filled with pure joy upon her arrival
• Kicked butt throughout 32-hour un-medicated labor during which baby’s head was transverse (sideways)
• Nearly broke husband’s hands with vice-like grip; will try harder next time

Grower of Human Being, 11/08–8/09

• Provided egg for successful fertilization; worried endlessly about fetus from moment of conception
• Attended prenatal yoga, birthing and parenting classes despite overwhelming exhaustion and overwhelmed bladder
• Ate enough cheese to feed all of Wisconsin for three years; consumed record amounts of grapefruit juice
• Tolerated the shooting of sharp pains up my rear-end for several months; withstood debilitating hip pain and baby’s roundhouse kicks
• Enjoyed pregnancy despite all of the above

Warrior, 10/08–02/09

• Assembled and coordinated a top-tier team of Seattle doctors, as well as two lactation consultants, an occupational therapist, nutritionist, dietitian and cranial osteopath
• Managed to maintain sanity when baby refused to eat; chugged olive oil and ate bacon in a valiant attempt to fatten starving, anxiety-ridden self and improve quality and caloric value of breast milk
• Mastered use of Supplemental Nursing System while successfully limiting use of the “f-word” to 400 times per day; managed insertion and maintenance of nasogastric feeding tube and associated pump and evil face tape and crap-tastic peripherals; sacrificed small but previously perky boobs to hospital grade breast pump
• Navigated labyrinth of hospital and health care challenges; slashed red tape and improved child’s outcome by 1000%; successfully argued case for the removal of nasogastric tube and executed successful tube weaning; produced a happier child and family as a result of round-the-clock efforts
• Analyzed growth charts, lab results and intake levels; conducted in-depth, terrifying online research on daughter’s condition and treatment

 

EDUCATION

The Parental Institution of Barbara and Gregory Hescock

• Coursework in everything, with an emphasis on love, the value hard work, and a good sense of humor
  School of Hard Knocks
• Classes included Terrible Mistakes, Bad Relationships 101, and The Awkwardness of Middle School

Sink or Swim Academy

• Curriculum revolved around parenting without anything resembling adequate preparation

 

SKILLS SUMMARY

General: Expert-level nurturing, crisis and conflict management, hazardous waste handling and sanitation, budgeting, soothing, teaching life skills and morals, child safety, nursery decorating, baby-wearing, silly face and nonsensical sounds mastery

Technical: Milk production, human creation, swaddling, rocking, one-handed diapering (experience with both formula and breast milk poop platforms), bottle maintenance, reflux abatement

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

• Contributed a new member to the human race
• Responsible raising of a kind, compassionate, contributing citizen
• Adept removal of screeching baby from public places, ensuring a peaceful community
• Addition to the world of a love that grows by leaps and bounds each and every day

Friday Follow ~ May 14

Happy Friday to all! I'm going to work on finishing this week's Spring Clean & Purge Party room - the Bathroom. Then I'm going to work on the quilt for Travis! (My very first one ever ... gulp!).

The Kill-Joy of A Redundant Observation

When I was younger I felt attractive. When courting, my husband would tell me daily that I looked hot, beautiful, great; now it's rare. Even still, I get up in the morning and get myself dressed with shoes and make-up on. I like to do this because it makes me feel better about myself and it gets my day started as it did pre-children. It also helps any smudges of a rough night with the kids. And I feel pretty good about myself as I load up the kids and take them out to a play group. Until some jerk wonderful person tells me I look like shit tired or sick. If I am tired or sick, could it be because I have toddlers crawling all over me all day and night? The killer is the majority of these people have young kids themselves. Would you want to hear that you look tired or sick? It makes me hunch over and feel like crap for the rest of the day so what has that question got you except "Well, yes, I am tired. I've been tired for four years in fact. Thank you for telling me. Jackass.".

The Yucky's

The kids are rotating fevers and feeling yucky, thus forcing me to cuddle on the couch with them and leave my computer alone. I'm starting to feel a little yucky myself. But I have gotten 3 out of the 4 bathrooms scrubbed and purged of crap ... wait until you see the before and afters ... you'll be so impressed. This all happened before the yucky's joined us.

I'll try to write something riveting later this week.

Spring Clean & Purge Party ~ Bathroom(s)

I'm so excited for my very own Spring Clean and Purge Party! Check out the introduction to the party and jump in and join us! When you are done your room, add your blog post of your before and afters (or just how it went) at the end of the week on the "room summary" post. Can't wait to see how we all get so neat and tidy together!


This week we will tackle the BATHROOM(s). I have two full and two half baths. I'm hoping one week will be enough for me. Here's the list I'll be following. Don't be surprised if as we progress the list starts to sound the same. It's not rocket science, it's house cleaning; I can only be so original for each room! Please leave a comment if I forgot something that you include.

Remember, you have ONE WEEK to complete this entire list. You can do it in one day or spread it out. I've tried to put it in some-what sequential order.

The List:

• General Tidy ~ of counter tops and put everything in its place, especially if it doesn't belong in the room.
• Drawers, Cupboards, Medicine Cabinet ~ One at a time completely empty, vacuum and wipe down all sides, front and knobs with a damp, soapy cloth. Get rid of all expired medication; often your pharmacy will take it to dispose of without entering the landfill). Purge what you don't want or use and put everything back. It's great to sort like with like for a tidy look and to take inventory of what you need or need to use up.
• Dust ~ today use a damp, soapy cloth to get a deeper clean. Start at the top of the room and include tops of curtains, cobwebs in the corner (you may need a stool or an extendability duster if you are short like me), light fixtures or ceiling fans, window frame, top of shower stall and any crown molding, door frame, top of towel holders, all middle sections of the room perhaps including some high traffic wall splattering areas, light switches, door handles, pictures, plants, vents, baseboards.
• Vacuum ~ move any furniture if you have it and really clean those hair balls up!
• Launder ~ mats and, if applicable, curtains that can be washed. If you don't want to wash curtains, give them a good vacuum and spot clean with a damp cloth.
• Clean ~ bathroom fixtures (shower, toilet, bath, sink, etc.) Use elbow grease and get in the corners that you don't normally spend the time on with a regular cleaning.
• Floors ~ mop or steam clean carpets.
• Windows ~ Clean the window inside and out if possible. Remove the screen and wash it with soap and water. It's best to use a cloth and wipe it down too.
• Purged Items ~ Drop off to donate or list items you want to sell. Don't let this sit more than the time it takes to finish your next room. You'll regret it (just as that box in my garage from last year's spring clean!).
• Repeat all of the above for each bathroom.

Friday Follow ~ May 7

Don't forget to link up and join my Spring Clean & Purge Party! It starts this Saturday (tomorrow) and I don't want to be cleaning alone.

Happy Friday Follow everyone.

Spring Clean & Purge Party

First, is it really a party when we spring clean and purge? Let's make it one anyway, okay?! Are you in? If so, join my blog hop McLinky so I know who you are! Make a post on your blog and we'll clean up really nicely together!



Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It ...
Don't you find over the year that "stuff" accumulates, gets moved out of its proper place, or isn't used and so it is time to donate, sell or toss it? Unless you have a set time to do this it often never happens.

Last year, I was pleased with my plan to both purge and deep clean each room of my home. By tackling spring cleaning by breaking it out one room per week (some took two weeks because the job was a biggie) the house had a fantastic makeover.

I have joined spring flings in the past but found the lists weren't as complete as what I like to do. This is why I thought I'd like to have one on my blog so I can share my list of tasks. Feel free to use or ignore them as required. I'll post the room and the task list Saturday of each week and then we'll have the entire week to complete said room. As Flylady says, baby steps! If it's too overwhelming I balk and the task never gets done.

Before we start, here are some tips on how I like to "prepare" myself and the house.

• Have one sorting spot to purge or sell. I've tried selling but unless in bulk and for cheap, things hang around. Try not to make this pile too big OR set a time limit for if it doesn't sell that you will just sweep it in with the donation pile.
• When I clean, I like to pretend I'm moving and ask myself, "would I want to pack this?" and "have I used it in the last 12 months?".
• I also pretend I'm a cleaning lady and try to take the emotion out of the task. Rubber gloves on also help me in detaching. Sometimes we need mind games to get through it. I know I do!

The following list are the rooms based on my home. Please substitute rooms that are in your home that I may not have included. My list is based on top floor, front of house then moving in sequence down the hall.

The Plan:

• Bathrooms ~ May 9-15
• Master Bedroom ~ May 16-29 (2 weeks)
• Master Bedroom Closet ~ May 30-June 5
• Bedroom #1 and Closet ~ June 10
• Bedroom #2 and Closet ~ June 11
• Laundry Room ~ June 14
• Hall Closet ~ June 14
• Living Room ~ June 15
• Dining Room ~ June 15
• Kitchen ~ June 16 & 17
• Office
• Family Room or Play Room
• Cold Food Storage Room & Deep Freezer
• Furnace Room and Storage Area
• Under Stairs and Storage Area
• Garden Shed
• Garage
• Car

Post It Note Tuesdays ~ May 4

 

   Link up your Post It Note Tuesdays with Adventures of A Wanna Be Supah Mommy.

Menu Plan ~ May 2-8

Sunday: Waffles, Sausages, Eggs (a.k.a. breakfast for dinner)
Monday: Minnesota Sloppy Joes, Corn, Toasted Pita Chips, Salad
Tuesday: Chicken Cacciatore, Egg Noodles, Salad
Wednesday: Leftover Buffet
Thursday: Maple Glazed Salmon, Grilled Vegetables
Friday: Pizza, Salad (I'm going to make this Roasted Eggplant & Tomato Pizza for me)
Saturday: Pork Chops & Rice Oven Dinner, Broccoli

Don't forget to check out Org Junkie for her Menu Plan Monday.

Getting To Know You ~ May 2

1. Are you superstitious? Yes; I'm not taking any chances!

2. If you were an animal, what kind would you be? A pig (I hear they have hour-long orgasms)

3. You would never catch me wearing...! A thong bikini

4.  If someone posts a VLOG..do you watch it? Sometimes - depends on who it is, the subject, and how long it is.

5. Have you ever waxed your girlie/manly parts, or any other part of your body? Only my eyebrows. I'm very sensitive.

6. Are you a spender or a saver? A saver.

7. If  you were starring in a movie, who would you want to play your leading man/woman? Matthew McConaughey (he actually looks a lot like my husband).

8. Smoker..never smoked..social smoker..or smoked back in the day? I'm going with never smoked.

Join MannLand5 for this week's Getting to Know YOU Sunday.