Tackle it Tuesday~~Change is coming

Well, the kids went back to school last Thursday. So I really want to reschedule my life so I have time for everything I want to do.

• I want to do 2 bible studies this fall with 2 different sets of ladies.
• I want to work more at my part time job.
• I want to keep a cleaner house.
• I want to stay off the computer after 3 when the kids get home.
• I want to begin walking regularly to get healthier, lose weight, & to do fundraisers.
• I want to pray regularly about the people I care about.
• I want to spend more quality time w/my children.

So that's my plan this school year. In order to make these changes, I'm going to blog daily or every other day so I am really working on this things & to be accountable.

That's what I'm tackling this week, how about you?

Tackling with FlyLady ~ Week 3

Last week's goals:

Shine my sink

Read the daily digest

Shave the dogs again & keep up the vacuuming

1. Identify Hot Spots & start putting them out.

I really haven't done well lately. I think I'm going to have to keep better track of how I am spending my time. Hopefully I'll have a better week!

For more Tackle it Tuesday posts, click that button above. To learn more about FlyLady's way of life, click her picture on the left.

Tackling with FlyLady ~ Week 2

Last week's goals were to shine my sink , read the emails, & vacuum the house almost daily.I shined my sink 3 nights & kept reminding others to load the dishwasher instead of dumping dirty dishes in the sinks.


The emails are a whole different story. I tried to sign up for the daily email, but I'm not getting them. I got the registration confirmation from the site where the group hosting is, but no reminder emails. On Sunday, I found the news section of that website, so I will carry this babystep over to this week again. Also, I found how to connect w/her on Facebook, so I can check that too.We did vacuum almost every day, plus we bought & used a pet trimmer for the first time. We keep saying we are going to get 2 of the 4 dogs shaved at the beginning of summer, but we never remember until they are already dropping fur everywhere. Plus they are not the best dogs at going to the vet, so I can just imagine how much they'd love the groomers. But we did shave them once & we are probably going to have to do it again, this time shorter. Which means less vacuuming. :)This week's goals will be:

1. Keep shining that sink!
2. Read the daily digest or news.
3. Shave the dogs again & stay up on the vacuuming.
4. Identify Hot Spots & start putting them out.

For more Tackle it Tuesday posts, click that button above. To learn more about FlyLady's way of life, click her picture on the left.

Tackling with FlyLady ~ Week 1

Seems I vaguely remember this lady? Is that the tooth fairy? Hmm...I wonder if she's under this big pile of papers on my desk? Oh Wait! I know! That's the cleaning lady I use to have.

Not only have I fallen off the Flylady wagon, I must have hit my head because I have amnesia & can't even remember how to keep my house clean.

Getting back in the habit of cleaning daily is going to be my tackle for this week. Which is something else I've gotten out of the habit of doing...tackling something weekly I mean.

This week I'm going to work on Shining My Sink & Reading the daily emails. Plus since we have 4 dogs who have been inside alot lately, (heat advisory) we are taking turns vacuuming the entire house daily.

This should be enough to work on this week since my husband is off Tuesday & Wednesday, then he will start midnights which really messes with my cleaning schedule. I wanna know why he's always on midnights during the Master Bedroom week?

For more Tackle it Tuesday posts, click that button above. To learn more about FlyLady's way of life, click her picture on the left.

Tackling the linen closet

I'm not very wordy lately but I've been busy, so I'll just give the pictures captions ;)

This is my work on the linen closet.

Before:

After:

I filled 2 bags for April Showers!

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Reusing Christmas cards

I have always wanted to find a way to reuse our old Christmas cards. We send & receive so many every year. I love to look at them all month. Someone suggested cutting the front to make gift tags for the following year. Great idea!

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Tackling some books

I tackled my first reading challenge of the new year this past week. I finally forced myself to get off the computer sit still long enough to read 2 books that have been sitting on my dresser for weeks. I have been wanting to read Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork & U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton, so I put them on my goal list for the New Year's Readathon at Kristin's.

I also have all my reading challenges neatly organized in files on my computer so I can keep up w/them & update them easily.

To see what others are tackling, click the button above!

Tackling my birthday

Here is the early birthday present I got from my dad & step-mom. We celebrated Christmas with them the weekend after Thanksgiving because they were joining her family in Texas for half of December.

This really neat white bag was filled w/the following goodies!

My favorite perfume, DKNY Be Delicious w/a tube of scented hand lotion too.

Then Friday, my actual birthday, Mom took me to breakfast w/her, my husband, grandparents & aunt. She gave me this great basket filled w/an apple mug, coffee creamer, tea, cookies, cocoa mix & an awesome book to read. Plus a pair of new jeans in 1 size too small, so now I have incentive to get back on Weight Watchers.

After that, all I wanted was to go home & plop down w/that basket until I finished that book. But that was not to be, I had too much shopping to get started on.

When I got to school to pick up my son, my friend was waiting there with this gift. Cucumber melon is a nice mellow scent that's not overpowering, a good summer scent that is not too heavy.

I am noticing a trend here though...hmm

That night, we had my husband's church choir party. We went to a murder mystery dinner. It was my first time & a free evening out, no kids. While there, another friend brought me this gift. She knows how I love to bring my coffee with me to church, bible study, school, & anywhere else I go before noon.

At the end of dinner, they said whoever had a gold star on the bottom
of their placemat got to keep 1 of the table decorations.

*Yea me! How appropriate! I LOVE carnations & cute vases!*

So I had a nice visit with family for breakfast, a productive afternoon with my husband, a fun evening of fellowship with great friends, & some great gifts too. What more could I ask for?!

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Tacking a new recipe!

Snickerdoodle Chex® Mix

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:15 min
Makes:8 cups

1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups Cinnamon Chex® cereal
2 cups Chocolate Chex® cereal
4 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup butter or margarine

1. In small bowl, mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals and popcorn.

2. In 1-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.

3. Microwave uncovered on High 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture evenly over cereal mixture; stir. Sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer. Spread on waxed paper or paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

I made myself sick on this the first time I made it. Now I'm thinking 1 batch at a time until I build up some self control! For more Tackle it Tuesday posts, click the banner above!

Tackling 62 Chistmas cards

Last Friday, I realized that Christmas is only 5 weeks away.
You can imagine the panic. My 1st Christmas task is ALWAYS the cards.
I try to ship them out right after Thanksgiving.

So I sat down w/the planner to write out our yearly Christmas letter,
updating family & friends on our highlights (or low) of the past year.
Then printed it on pretty Christmas stationary.

While I was doing that, my husband was addressing all the cards.
He even said he liked doing it, so guess what happens next year?

Later that evening, I took all my supplies to my bedroom to
fill out while watching a bunch of shows on the tivo. Just look at the mess!
Cards, envelopes, a stamp & pad, pictures, the letters, address stamp. Whew!

But, here they are! 62 cards, hand-signed & addressed,
most with a handwritten note inside too.
And while I was digging, I found my Christmas Planner Journal!
Will be tackling Christmas for the next few weeks now.

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Tackling Vacation Bible School

I'll be at Vacation Bible School this week
trying to teach rambunctious kids about Jesus.
Pray for me!

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Tackling my "to be read" pile

As you can see below, I am VERY behind on my reading.

Let's just say I've been on the phone alot lately.


So now I'm making myself read 2-3 magazines a day
before picking up my phone to play.

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Tackling a birthday party!

I made these birthday invitations w/my daughter for her birthday. She wants to have friends over to

1. Play basketball & jump on trampoline.
2. Eat pizza & open presents.
3. Lay all over the living room & watch a movie.
4. Have ice cream cake & hand out party bags.
5. Have a select few spend the night.

I love it when she knows what she wants! Makes things easier for me!

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Tackling my purse!

Cute purse! But where are my keys?

Holy Cow! No wonder I couldn't find anything in there!

Ahhh! Much neater!

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