New (School) Year's Resolutions

By now school is in full swing.  It has taken me weeks, WEEKS, to get used to the new schedule.  I'd say it has been much harder on Mom than it has been for the kids.  Fortunately, I am now feeling settled.


I can owe my new found comfort to what I've decided to call "New School Year's Resolutions".  On January 1st of every year you won't find me making any resolutions, because I don't feel the motivation to and doubt that I will keep them.  But when school starts for the kids, I feel this urge to get organized!  My desire to schedule and plan and clean all combine to make a more prepared and confident mama!


Staying on top of housework has always proved to be a little difficult for me.  I love having a clean, clutter-free home (don't we all) but rarely is my house like that.  So, I've devised a plan to make housekeeping more manageable, by designating a day for different tasks:


Monday - bathrooms
Tuesday - dust & straighten
Wednesday - vacuum, sweep & mop floors
Thursday - bake bread
Friday - laundry
Saturday - relax
Sunday - meal planning & grocery shopping


I know, it's not rocket science, but sometimes it takes me a while for the light bulb in my head to turn on.  Now I make lists, I write things down more, I use a day planner!

This planner by Moleskine is perfect - it fit's into my purse, comes with stickers to mark events, and is my signature color: red!

Planning my weekly meals has proven very positive.  We rarely eat out, I buy (and use up) only what I need for that week, we are saving money, and when the dinner hour approaches I'm not in a panic trying to figure out what to feed my family!  On the menu for tonight: homemade pizza and salad.

Hmm, I think I should schedule some more time to blog, since it seems to be a rare event these days {sheepish grin}.

Mon Beau Tapis De Cuisine

The moment I saw it I knew it would be the PERFECT mat for my kitchen!  I knew it would look great nestled up against the matte black cabinets and blend flawlessly with my other bistro décor.  This rug arrived to my doorstep this afternoon, which resulted in an excited squeal and careful tearing into the box.

Isn't it gorgeous?  The size, shape and chalkboard menu design is pure perfection under my kitchen sink.  It will protect the hardwood, and adds a French flair.

Bon appetit indeed!  I find this mat inspiring - perhaps I'll dust off that old French cookbook and create culinary masterpieces ...

... I think I will start by making the "Gateau au Chocolat"!

I love my mat.  It is easy to clean and is comfortable to stand on, but it has an intense rubber smell to it which I hope will dissipate soon.   By the way, my kitchen is not ever as clean as it is in this photo.  Just keepin' it real.

Worth Its Weight In Gold

With our move coming up very soon, I have been getting estimates for a move-out clean on the house.  The first company, a national chain, quoted a small fortune ... to vacuum and dust an empty house!  Once the sticker shock subsided, I pretty much decided that I will just do the cleaning myself, even if it might be stressful on me.  I did, however, get an invaluable tip from the cleaning lady on how to maintain shower doors and walls, and keep hard water stains from building up.  This tip is worth its weight in gold as far as I'm concerned!

Lemon oil.  Dab it on a soft cloth and apply it to the doors and walls after cleaning the shower.  The oil will make the water bead up, making it easy to wipe away with a squeegee after showering, and prevent stains from penetrating.  What an awesome idea!  She recommended using something other than Old English, but since that is all I have on hand I gave it a shot.  It smells good, it polishes chrome, and gives a nice clean sheen to surfaces.  I was so excited by this idea, I just had to share.  (Oh, and I would recommend using the oil for light colored furniture, not the dark, if you have light colored walls.)

Spring Cleaning Carnival: Week Two

This week in the Spring Cleaning Carnival (inspired by The Nourishing Gourmet) it's all about the pantry. Unlike with the scary refrigerator, I like organizing my dry goods. Plus I get to use my label maker!

I am also a big fan of using mason jars with the white screw top lids. I find great enjoyment in seeing my pasta, beans and rice lined up in uniform containers. I know ... I'm such a nerd!

But an organized nerd.

Blog Fodder

Rained Out

Our annual family camping trip was this last (Labor Day) weekend. It almost didn't happen because of the weather report: in the low 60s with rain and showers Saturday AND Sunday. We powered through until about Sunday, then several of us had had enough sogginess and many went home a day early due to the constant rain. You might say it really put a damper on things ... ha! We couldn't sit outside and roast marshmallows or go play in the lake. And when everyone in our party just stayed in their trailers instead of socializing, the purpose of the trip wasn't fulfilled. Still it was great to see everyone and I'm glad we got to use our tent trailer one more time before we have to button it up for the winter.

Our very sad and lonely campfire. (Note the unused boats in the background)

Shopping My Closet

I have been going through my clothes and sorting out things to donate, trying things on to create new ensembles, and making lists of things I would like to acquire. In doing so, I have realized that my Fall/Winter clothes are lacking in a variety of color. I am a "Winter", meaning the colors that look best on me are from the Winter palette such as black, gray, ivory, navy, red, wine and chocolate - which I have plenty of garments in these shades. Fortunately, I look good in jewel tones such as turquoise, azure, raspberry and butter yellow. Which brings me to my coveted color of the season: marigold.

After seeing Sandra Bullock wear a cardigan this cheery and rich shade in The Proposal, I have desired something very similar.

It may be just a temporary want, after all last year I had a brief affair with the color eggplant (that quickly passed), but I just will not be satisfied until I have something this color this season.


OxiClean

Seriously, this stuff is awesome! For example: just last week I bought my daughter a brand new pair of tennis shoes that she needed for school and she wore them camping. Needless to say, they ended up begrimed and unrecognizable. I wasn't going to stand for that! I took a wash bin and filled it with lukewarm water and a little bit of OxiClean. After letting the shoes to soak for a while, I scrubbed at the mud with a brush and popped them into the washing machine. After a run in the machine they were as good as new ... no joke! I also like to use a scoop of it with every load of wash I do.


Foux Du FaFa


With my favorite shows being reruns during the summertime, I have resorted to either watching nothing or exploring my Netflix options. And while at the local library one day, my son picked up a CD by a band called Flight of the Conchords. As it turns out, this "band" (who dubbed themselves as "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo") is actually an award comedy act who have an HBO series, and two seasons are available on DVD. After checking out the CD and listening to their comedic tunes I had to see what the show was all about. I am just now getting through the second season and I am quite impressed with all the wit and clevernesss - not to mention the New Zealand jokes. It's about two naive guys from New Zealand who are trying to make it as musicians in New York and they face many of life's obstacles like eviction, girl troubles, an obsessed fan and a not-so-bright band manager.

I'm hooked! So ... when does season three come out?

It's Just As I Imagined It

Back in May I was planning my flower window boxes with great anticipation. Adding a pop of color to the front yard is so charming and I spent a lot of time contemplating the right color for the boxes and what flowers would reside. I did a great job ... if I do say so myself!

The little blue flowers (lobelium) have gone crazy! They thrive in our little cedar boxes. The grass adds nice texture and the petunias add glorious color. I can't help but smile when I pull up to my house.

The Red Door

It is amazing what a fresh coat of red lipstick can do for a woman's confidence. It is attention grabbing, it adds a touch of classic sophistication and can fabulously compliment an outfit.

That's how I feel about our new front door.

We just replaced our rather vanilla steel front door with a craftsman style fiberglass door and boy is it purdy! Painted in "Sun-dried Tomato" it already stands out from the rest of the doors in our neighborhood. It compliments the "Warm Stone" paint of our house and adds a welcoming feel when you approach it.

Evidently, my son is just thrilled about the old door - and no, we did not prompt him to look this miserable!

Hello Gorgeous! The great thing about it door is that unlike lipstick, this coat of red won't wear off any time soon.

My Dirty Little Secret

I am working on trying not to be so attached to things. If I haven't worn a sweater in the last three years, it's probably time to move that sweater along, for example.

So ... I guess it's time to get rid of all of the Martha Stewart Living magazines I have been hoarding since 1999, huh?!

Yeah, I really should be ashamed of myself - I don't even want to think about how much all of that paper weighs!

It's true, I have had this magazine for over 10 years now. I have had it for longer than I have been married!

Five Things I Learned From Martha

Martha Stewart is a wealth of information. She has teams of people at her disposal to research, invent, and advertise. Whether you like her or not, you can't deny that she is the go-to person for great homekeeping, cooking, gardening and crafting tips.

Here are my top 5 awesome things I have learned from her:

1. How to clean a copper pot

This actually does work! Cut a lemon in half, dip it into coarse salt, and rub it on the exterior of your copper pot. It removes a lot of the tarnish, although a professional cleaner is needed for it to really shine.

2. How to make your liquid dish soap look pretty

Fill an olive oil decanter with your favorite dish soap. I've been doing this for years and not only does it look nice, I end up using less soap as it dispenses slowly, like olive oil would.


3. What the chrome bowls under electric coil burners are really for

They look like fancy drip catchers. I used to line these with foil to avoid having to clean them so frequently. The truth is, they reflect the heat from the coil burners and therefore should NEVER be lined with foil. As a result, I do clean them frequently in the sink with soapy water.

4. Kitchen shears

I don't know why it took me so long to realize the value in a pair of kitchen shears! I love to use them for cutting up chives, bacon and for opening messy food packaging. I used to keep my shears in a drawer along with my other utensils, but now they have a place of honor with my knife set.

5. How to be like Mary and not like Martha

This may be an odd thing to have learned from the queen of perfect. I am a perfectionist myself -I want things to look perfect, I want to be perfect and I struggle with knowing that I am far from perfect. But I am learning as a believer to be a Mary instead of a Martha. I am trying to slow down, listen, and sit at the feet of Jesus instead of worrying about how to impress Him (and others). I have a long way to go as I just know that if He were to come to my house, I would struggle greatly with not trying to rush around in a panic to cook and clean and, well ... appear to be perfect. He would see right through that! So while Martha Stewart is the queen of perfect, I don't have to be. Besides, Martha has a whole company to do things for her, I just have little ol' me.

Now I must resist the urge to fluff up the slumpy pillow on my living room couch ...

The Transformation is Complete

Eons ago, way back in January I had posted about our project to fancify our rather vanilla powder room (see before shot and concept image here). It actually took us quite a while to complete the project because so much other stuff has been going on, but now I am ready to reveal the makeover.

The finished product! The smallest room has become a warm and inviting hangout ... even if you don't really want to hang out in a bathroom.

It actually turned out even better than I imagined. We went to discount stores and antique shops for the details that have brought the look together. We were going for a style that was influenced by European water closets, but didn't look like we thought we lived in Paris or London. The stripes add interest and the touches of black add depth.

We "aged" the dentil moulding by using a dark stain and a small artist's brush. A couple of clear coats later and it was ready for installation.

I love how this rug fits perfectly in front of the vanity and adds a touch of class to the room. And I got it for only $4.99 at Ross!

This sign was purchased before we even moved into our house. Found at Paddington Station in Ashland, I couldn't wait to use it - and now it has real purpose!

This mirror is our favorite find. We picked up this beauty at a local antique shop for under $20 and the details are intriguing. I personally enjoy how the frame is falling apart, it adds age and character to the room.

There are a few more touches we would like to add, but inspiration must strike first. It has the be the right thing. But other than that the transformation is complete. So if you are in the neighborhood, we invite you to come on over and ... um, pull up a seat in our cozy little powder room!

How Much Is That Fairy In the Window?

Entirely by her own choice and motivation, my daughter dressed up as Tinkerbell yesterday and decided to clean anything in our house made of glass (the connection with the costume and the desire to clean is unknown). Our Windex supply is running low, but good golly my office window is sparkling clean!

HGTV, Eat Your Heart Out

There is one room in the house that I have been neglecting. The Powder Room. I really should not neglect it so much because guests use that room and while I want it to be welcoming and ... um...comfortable, I just have never given it much thought other than keeping it clean.

Other rooms have had the benefit of my interest, creative eye, and love for color and textures. The Powder Room has seriously suffered. Plain cream walls, no window, and arbitrarily placed accessories has made this space BORING! So it is time for a change.

Fortunately my husband was receptive to my sudden urge to give this bathroom a little TLC. I explained my ideas to him and then we headed down to the local Home Depot.

Before: plain cream walls and ceiling, strangely placed towel bar, and high ceiling with awkward lighting.

And through the magic of Photoshop (not to mention my somewhat brilliant abilities - if I do say so myself) I have been able to transform that little room into something warmer, inspiring, and may even make you want to "relax" a little more, if you know what I mean.

The Concept: wide vertical stripes and whole ceiling in "Gobi Desert" by Behr Paint, dentil crown molding with an antiqued natural finish about 15" down from ceiling with illuminating rope lighting to create a glow.

We are still relocating fixtures and picking out wall hangings, but I have a feeling it will all fall into place when we are finished with the painting. I will post photos of the finished product when finished but until then, can't you just see the transformation?

Barbie Limbs and Midge Carcasses

Many people do a good spring cleaning after a long, cold winter. However, I do a good fall cleaning after a dirty, dry summer. I tend to start to feel overwhelmed by the bark dust that has been tracked in and the clutter of things we have outgrown. And with fall being my favorite season, I want to be able to enjoy it in a clean and orderly home.

Two days ago I decided it was time to tackle my kids' rooms. My son's room wasn't too bad because he doesn't play in there too often. I went through all of his drawers, pulling out all the clothes he has outgrown, and reorganized a few things. My daughter's room was another story. I went up there with a garbage bag and with a somewhat militant determination to get it all under control. Letting my son roam around her room also helped motivate her. It took three hours, but in the end her room looks tidy, we were able to find all the pieces to her baby talking nursery, and now I don't step on princess crowns with my bare feet anymore - OUCH! To celebrate our hard work she and I had a lovely tea party (with real tea) in her clean room. Plus I think the experience has helped her to rediscover some of her toys and appreciate them more.

Part of fall cleaning involves cleaning the car inside and out. With road trips the car gets cluttered on the inside and covered in bugs on the outside. However, the is no point in cleaning the car now because of a little thing called a "midge". Midges are vile, repulsive and disgusting bugs that swarm the town that I live in.

Between the huge, shallow lake and the slow flowing river that cuts through town, these bugs thrive and mass produce. Most of them are bright green and can get through window screens and collect on your ceiling. Some of them are black and when driving over the river, you see black columns on the side of the road - yeah, these are thick swarms of midges. When driving through a swarm it sounds like it is raining as the bugs smash onto your car. It is indescribably nasty. So, I'll just have to wait for the first frost before I can clean my car. In the meantime, I will move on to cleaning my bathroom cupboards ... fun!

Here are what the midges look like on your car, alive. Imagine splotches of green of the dead midges on your windshield. YUCK!

Attack of the Fuzz

Let me just state the importance of routinely cleaning out your refrigerator. I have not been very diligent about that for various reasons: fatigue, busyness, lazyness, procrastination, and dread just to name a few. Yesterday my husband commented that it didn't smell very good when he went to get out some milk. He was right. It smelled like something had been in there too long and was probably covered in some kind of fuzz of several colors.

Today I finally found the strength and courage to tackle the unpleasant task. I emptied the first shelf and found that it wasn't too bad. I wiped down the shelf with soapy bleach water and carefully arranged the items that I put back. The second shelf was fine except for some cottage cheese which was obviously a few weeks past due. But the third shelf was the culprit. I found that a container of mascarpone cheese had been pushed back behind the milk and forgotton...for I don't know how long! Months at least! I won't go into the details of the smell and sight of this malodorous matter but let me just say, I am a lot more comfortable cleaning a funky toilet that dealing with old rancid food.

It didn't take too long and I feel very accomplished for having dealt with my fear of what was growing in the fridge. I would like to say that I will be much better about cleaning it out from now on, but who am I kidding? I probably won't.