This Is The Year

I've missed the past 2 weeks of FMM hosted by Kasey at All That is Good ...I've missed connecting with everyone who participates! But I'm back...Yay! This week's task is to name 10 things you love about Summer. 1. Barbecues...I looooove me a grilled burger with all the fixin's. Not to mention all the other bbq goodies...deviled eggs, yummy salads and desserts galore! 2. I n D e p e N d e n C e D a y . I am all over this celebration. I love the chance to reflect on all that has come to pass to make it possible for me to enjoy the freedoms and privileges that I take advantage of every day. I love discussing with my children the birth of this great nation, and the sacrifices of those great men whom we call "Founding Fathers". Fireworks are ALWAYS a must see for this family, we enjoy them every year! 3. Camping. I love being in the mountains, the smell of campfire, the sound of a rushing river...I can't wait to get out there! 4. Hot summer nights...

The Masked Mommy is hosting a Powwow where we can share some of the ways we have beautified our home. I'm going to share my Mantle Makeover and Creative Drawer Pulls , as well as how I organized my spice cupboard here . To me organization is beauty! A beauty I rarely see around here! This post has some other stuff in it too, but you can just skip those parts! Go check them out if you'd like, and then link up with The Masked Mommy and share how you beautify your home!

So I actually decided to do something other than blog yesterday! Yup...I got me some motivation! I couldn't handle this movie/music mess any longer! This is the cabinet beneath my T.V. My Monkey is no longer deterred by the child safety locks. She can even turn the bathroom lock with a penny! So things get pulled out by her, and shoved back in by anyone who happens to be the one asked to put the stuff away. Isn't it lovely? Yes we still have a ton of VHS tapes that I refuse to get rid of until I can replace them all with blueray This is the rack that holds the c.d.'s and the Disney VHS tapes. Yes I have my movies in 2 different spots...I don't have the room I need y'all! It might not look THAT bad upon first glance. But if you'll look closer, you'll notice 2 things: 1 - to the right of the shelf on the floor, behind the end table is a pile of caseless tapes, and extra c.d.'s. and 2 -The reason all the tapes don't fit on the shelf is because most of ...

I haven't given an update for awhile on my goals, but it's not because I haven't been working! I have increased from walking for an hour on my treadmill to jogging for 20 minutes and walking for 40 (in intervals). I am down 15 lbs!! I have some before and after pics for ya. This is my spice cupboard - another spot people just shove anything and everything, after they've shoved the pantry so full that nothing else will fit! Digging around looking for what I needed always caused a mini avalanche! Found these nifty little baskets and tote at Big Lots for $1!!! I labeled the tops of my spices so I can just get the basket down, look at the tops, and find what I need! Food Storage: I won't show everything, but we are making progress. I have recently purchased a year's supply of chili for my family - on sale at Smith's for 50 cents! Also got a 6 month's supply of Miracle Whip, a variety of salad dressings, and 40 cans of Chef Boyardee (also for 50 cents)! I...

Okay, I'm no organizational expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I actually do have some tips that have helped me keep my bathroom organized for months now. I have 2 major issues that were standing in the way of me keeping an organized, tidy bathroom. The first issue: hair combing stuff, as we like to call it at our house. This is all the stuff I use for doing hair for myself and my 4 kids. Obviously we don't use everything every day, but I use all of it at different points, depending on the day, and where we're going. Oh, and I let my husband use some of it too! The problem was this. I was trying to keep combs/brushes, hair accessories, etc. in the drawer. I kept the curling irons and other tools in the cupboard below the drawer. So I was always having to get down on the floor and dig around for whatever I needed that day. If it was way in the back, then the stuff in the front got knocked over, or pushed out onto the floor. Then whenever I got around to putting i...

The pantry is the place in my house where everyone shoves anything that they don't want to bother finding a place for. But no more! We are going to find a home for every item in this house, or we will sell, give or throw it away! before after

So, in my first post I mentioned 3 goals I have for myself this year. Any of you who know me know that there are 3 things I am NOT! Those three things are: organized, prepared, and in shape! So what am I going to do to change this? Well, I will tell you. I am going to get back in shape! I never really struggled with my weight or fitness until I was an adult and married. Then with each new child came a whole new set of pounds that stayed with me after delivery! After baby number 3, I had had enough! (pounds, not babies) I worked really hard at being healthy, through both my diet and regular exercise. It was wonderful! Eventually life distracted me from my newfound healthy lifestyle. I had a little one in the hospital with pneumonia, 2 deaths in the family, followed soon by the holidays, and I allowed all this to interfere with my committment to daily exercise. Once the exercise went out the window, the healthy eating habits soon followed. When I became pregnant again - I was doomed! Wel...