All the Small Things...

Hold Onto Your Knickers...

I have a cooking tip!

This is a RARE event indeed.

 

Okay, so it's not exactly a cooking tip, BUT it's something I always do when I cook and it saves me time and energy, so I thought I'd pass it along.

 

Let me introduce you to the-

So here's the deal:

This is a huge pot that ALWAYS sits on my stove. I think I put it there originally because it didn't fit anywhere else, but then I grew to love it there, so it stayed.

Now for the tip!

So, in the morning when I am prepping for dinner and checking what ingredients I will need for it, instead of leaving the ingredients in the pantry until I'm ready to use them, I throw them in this pot.  

Also, when I get home from the market, I toss the night's dinner ingredients in there too.  

Then when I'm ready to cook, I just grab my pot and I have most of the ingredients in one neat condensed place.

 

Ok, so it's not rocket science, but it helps me, so I posted it.

Yes, Dan, In Case You Read This Before Getting Home...

I framed the thermostat.

I KNOW it's ridiculous.

I KNOW there are so many other things I could/should be doing with my time.

I KNOW I wasted 6 perfectly good dollars and a perfectly good frame from Home Goods.

I KNOW I have about 70 frames throughout the house that are missing photos in them.

 

 

 

BUT... I like it.

In fact, it's a freaking masterpiece.

☺

 

Apparently I'm Now Decorating Fridges...

(note to self-- CLEAN the fridge before taking pictures next time)

 

Okay, so last week I showed you my kids' BACK TO SCHOOL pics where they were holding a cute chalkboard frame with their grade on it.

Well, this is where that cute frame from Paper Source ended up!

No more "What's for dinner?" 10 times an afternoon- AND I AM NOT EXAGGERATING!

 

So, decisions, decisions--

do I actually write in the words Topper's Pizza or do I write "oven baked pizza?"

hmmmmm...

 

Summer Day #15

 

 

Okay, I must confess posting this after the US lost in the World Cup is not so fun.  :(  waa waa

BUT-- I still have really great memories of MOST of the game and our crazy US fan-base!

Our whole family gathered around the TV to watch the US play Ghana and before long Dan walked in from outside marching back in forth in front of the TV with our flag.  Well, then the pandemonium began!  KK had a turn at it and then, Scarlet, who can't be left out of anything had a go!  

We were a little down when Ghana scored the first goal, but knowing that the US is a 2nd half team, we still held out hope.

Then the gorgeous Landon Donovan scored his penalty kick and the house went MAD!  Patrick picked up the flag and took off running up and down our street screaming, "GGGGOOOOAAAALLL!" at the top of his lungs while we all stood in the front yard screaming "GOAL" as loud as we could.  It was about the funniest thing I've ever seen and I'm sure the neighbors think we're even more ridiculous than before.  

Let's just pretend now that that was the end of the game, shall we?!!?!?

No?  Well, the US lost and shattered our World Cup dreams and we were a sad house with a great memory of our crazy eldest son.  Worth it?  YES!!!!

A Favorite Compliment...

So one of my very favorite compliments I get when someone enters my home is, "Oh your house smells sooooooooo good".  This makes me beyond happy! 

Why?

Reason 1-  It's good to make someone happy

Reason 2- It's always nice to hear something kind about your home

Reason 3 (and most important)- It justifies my obsession with scented candles!  I always turn to Dan and give him that "told you so" grin.

I really am OBSESSED with candles.  It started with my long lost best friend in Utah, Malin Thomas (I miss her)...  she was completely obsessed with Salt City Candles and her obsession turned into my obsession.  I'll always remember Malin's house smelling like Sunflower.

After we moved to California, my obsession continued and lo and behold I found another BFF, Michelle, who is addicted to them as I am.  We always laugh that one of our great pleasures is to have a cupboard filled with scented candles just ready to burn when needed.  Michelle's house is another house that ALWAYS smells amazing.  When I think of Michelle's house and how it smells, I'm always reminded of Welcome Home.  Michelle recently introduced me to a new fab brand of candles called Gold Canyon.  They are sooooooo good too!

Now, as luck would have it my life long BFF, Minette, became a sales person for Salt City Candles!  What are the odds?  Heaven I tell you!  No more ordering online!  Now I can honestly say that Minette is the best ever spokesperson for the candles.  Her house is ALWAYS smelling delicious and  is so bright and white and fresh.  When I think of Minette's home, I instantly think of Honey Cotton.  Her home is so bright and white and fresh.

I would be remiss if I left my mom out of this Stroll Down Scented Candle Lane.  I don''t think I ever enter my mom's home when a delicious candle isn't burning.  She a little different though... she's a  connoisseur of all candle brands.  She'll try them all, but thinks that Salt City are the best!  When I think of my Mom's house I immediately think of Pumpkin Spice.

Now for me... I'm very fickle when it comes to scents.  I'll try most, but usually stay away from the floral, pine or woodsy scents. 

In summer I love the citrus and tropical ones.

In fall I adore all the pumpkin, cookie, apple ones.

In winter I love all the peppermint, cranberry, or wassil scents.

Springtime has me loving all the rain, cotton, soft smelling scents.

As of right now what's burning in my house?

In my family room... Pineapple Coast.

In my office... Canary Island Banana.

In Scarlet's room... Cranberry Autumn.

In the kitchen... America's Garden.

In my bedroom... Juicy Orange.

In my boy's bathroom... Lemon Ginger Coconut

So... what's your very favorite candle company and scent?  I'd love to try something new...

Have I Mentioned My HATRED of Laundry?

Well, hopefully this will help me loath it a little less.

LOST & FOUND-  for all the cars, crayons, packs of gum and legos I find in the kids' pockets.

COINS- for all the coins (and sometimes large bills) that I find at the bottom of the washer and dryer.

Will this work?  Will this help me enjoy laundry more knowing that I have cute jars to look at? 

No...

I hate it and I always will. 

Can I Get an Amen?!?!?!!

My dear readers, let me introduce you to my new piece of sanity.

No more searching for hours for my keys, remotes, wallets, etc.!  Oh my gosh, I love this little device.  I bought it for Dan for Christmas and he didn't seem too excited about it, so I took it over and now it's my peace of mind.

I love it.  When something goes missing, I just head to my fridge, grab my remote and a tiny alarm goes off and tells me where my junk is.  Beautiful.  Look where my little remotes go:

Sharper Image... $50... priceless

Responsible...

So, after having nightmares and daymares and horrendous thoughts about losing all my pics and files on my computer (no, I'm not good about creating CDs), I sent Dan off to Best Buy to alleviate my stress.  He came back with a Western Digital My Book.

It's about the size of a small CD holder book and just sits by my laptop and backs up all my files automatically.  Can I get a HALLELUJAH? 

Now, I can spend sleepless nights worrying about something else...

Organized and Ready to Go!

This month is flying... so much going on!  I did the most exhilerating thing this week though... I gutted every single room in my house.  Okay, so I don't have that many rooms, but as of right now I know EXACTLY what is in every closet and drawer and corner.  I tossed so much stuff and it feels great.  My kids have no idea how much of their stuff I got rid of and you know what... they NEVER will!  I'm making a solomn promise right here, right now--- no more Happy Meal toys will ever enter this house again!!!  I'll buy them, but I will toss them before they come through the front door.  NO MAS!!!

Okay, so now that I have a super organized home... it's time to get busy!!!

First project... LOVE NOTE CHALK BOARDS for Valentines Day.  Fun, huh?  The wood is cut and sitting by my feet as I type.  I'm thinking of making them for my children's teachers.  I'll keep you posted and take pictures of the project along the way.

The boards are 22 inches by 12 inches.  Nice big boards for lots of lovey dovey notes!

Now where did I put the darn chalk paint?

Not Quite Spring Cleaning...

Okay, so Spring was MONTHS ago and YES, I have cleaned Scarlet's room since, but today I got rid of so much stuff and completely organized the heck out of her room.  Oh my gosh, best feeling ever...

It is still my favorite room in the house, even after her 4 years of systematically destroying it with every Happy Meal toy known to man and more than her fair share of Crayola "murals" on the walls.

Here's a peek...