Tackle It Tuesday

One of my goals for 2013 is to be more organized and sticking to somewhat of a schedule for myself.

Last week my friend Cheryl sent me a link to a  Facebook group 52 Week Clean House Challenge.   Each week we tackle an area in our houses to clean and organize.   I think it's manageable, Katrina makes it so you don't feel totally overwhelmed.   I wouldn't be able to keep up with it if I felt like there was no way I could finish the task in a day or two. 

So, I jumped in this week (Week #3) to clean out a kitchen cabinet.  That's the great thing, you can jump in at any time, and that tasks are so easy you could probably catch up on a few in one week.   

I choose the cabinet under my coffee makers (yes, we have two.. I'm an old fashioned-kinda-girl and like to make a pot of coffee and Chris loves to make all sorts of coffee, tea, cappuccinos and hot cocoas with the Keurig)  We have a bit of a hoarding problem when it comes to travel coffee mugs, as you will see in my "before" picture below.

I have old, old base cabinets that have been in our house for probably 30 years.  About 10 years ago Chris made all new doors with beadboard and I love them, so I never felt the need to buy all new cabinets. 

Ok, like I said we have an issue with buying and keeping travel mugs and cups, so that was the first cabinet I wanted to tackle this week.     

BEFORE 

EVEN PUT NEW CONTACT PAPER DOWN

AFTER

                            BEFORE (ewwww)                                                  AFTER (ahhhh) 

Yay for me!  I can't wait to do all my other cabinets.   I've given myself until next Tuesday to finish all the kitchen cabinets.      

Do you have an cleaning/organizing schedule?  I'd love to hear how you tackle your household chores.  

Don't forget if you want to join the 52 Week Clean Home Challenge, join the Facebook group and start at anytime!  

Out With The Old.... In With The New

Original title, I know.... but if the shoe fits.

2012 had it's up and downs.  I'm going to try not to dwell on the negative and focus on the positive.  

This year I broke through a few fears and did things I thought I would never do for the first time.   

I went to my first blogging conference (BlogHer12). I took a train to NYC by myself.  I took a NYC cab by myself. I even ate off a NYC food cart for the first time.  

This summer I also went on my first cruise.  I have a bit of a fear of boats so that was a big deal for me.   It was a great time and we made great memories but I don't think it's "my kinda vacation."  

Then, in early December I had a table at my very first craft show.  It was an experience.  I have never felt so vulnerable before in my whole life!  I mean, going to the gyno is less uncomfortable then sitting there while people walk by looking at crafts you put so much into making.

Those are just a few highlights of 2012.  I'm looking forward to 2013 and what it has to bring.  

I can't believe that this year I'm going to lose one teenager and gain another.   Nicholas will be 20 and Thomas 13.  It seems crazy to actually think of it that way.  

It goes without saying that I plan to be more organized, more financially responsible and pay attention to my health in this coming year.  But the most important things for me in 2013 is to break through even more fears, be happy and positive. 

Happy New Year!          

    

My First Craft Show

Saturday I went to my hometown for my first ever craft show!

Let me take you back to the beginning.   Growing up in Somers, NY there was a huge craft show at my elementary school every year called Holiday Happiness.   I remember going as a little girl, a teenager in high school and even a couple times when Nicholas was little.  It is put on by the school's PTA as it's biggest fundraiser of the year.

Over the last 5 years I have thought about getting a table and selling some of my small crafts.   I never had the nerve, until this year!    I was super excited, went on the website printed out the registration form and sent in the money for my spot.
I had an idea of what I wanted to sell.   I knew I wanted to gear the majority of my crafts as "teacher gift ideas."   I thought everyone would enjoy getting something different for those poor teachers who get the same old mug every year!      I also would sell my burlap Christmas wreaths.  

All of last week I was busy crafting my little heart out.  (Yes, I waited til the last possible second)
I was a big ball of stress, nervousness and excitement that I was actually going to go through with something that scared the crap out of me.    

Somers, NY is about an hour and 15 minutes from my house.  So, the night before I went down and stayed at mom's house.  We had to be there bright and early, registration started at 7:30am.

This was my set up.  Can I tell you, sitting there in that chair next to my stuff, I felt like I was naked.
I wasn't expecting to have such an overwhelming feeling of being vulnerable.

I thought I had a good variety of gifts.  

• Decorated Square Glass Candle Holders (filled with rocks or marbles with a tea light) 
• Decorated Mason Jar (with matches inside and sandpaper on top to light them.) 
• Cork Mouse Pads (in 4 different fabrics) 
• Decorated Hand Soap Bottles 
• Decorated Purel Bottles
• Peppermint Foot Scrub
• Over-Sized Metal Snowflake Ornament/Decoration (could be personalized with stickers) 
• "Notes" Dry Erase Boards 
• Burlap Christmas Wreaths

Unfortunately, I only sold 2 of my wreaths and one of my friends stopped by to buy a few of the smaller things.  The show just doesn't get the crowd it used to.   I heard from some of the other vendors that it was set up a lot different then the previous years.       

It was a disappointment, I can't lie. I guess I just have to look at like, I have Christmas gifts all ready to give and that I put myself out there!  

#XSREGirl Casting Call At Palisades Mall

First off I'd like to say that I know I'm more known to talk about accessories for decorating your home, but today I want to tell you about a new store that's all about accessorizing yourself.     XSRE is a hot new store popping up in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.   XSRE has a great selection of accessories for women of all ages in one superstore.  The selection in jewlery, handbags, footwear, kids, legwear, hair, intimates, novelties, belts, headwear, travel, cosmetics, pet, electronics, coldweather and eyewear is just amazing and all at affordable prices!     

This Sunday, November 25th from 2-4pm at the Palisades Center Mall in West Nyack, NY they are having an open casting call to be the XSRE girl.   A professional photographer will be there to take the photos.  The lucky fashionista will win a six month modeling contract and become the face of her store.  XSRE is also running a contest for all the girls who show up and have their photo taken, to have a chance to win gift cards by having their photo receive the most "likes on the XSRE Facebook  page.   

If you are in the area and know of any young, hip, fashionista-type girls who want to try out or just have a fun day of shopping head on over.       

Disclosure:  This post was compensated by The Blogger Connection. 

DIY Reusable Weekly Menu Board With #TBCcrafters

Hello everyone, it's another Thursday and that means another great round of "Thrilling Thursday Crafts" with The Blogger Connection Crafter Group.  (#TBCcrafters). Last week I had so much fun going around and seeing everyone else's projects.  It put a new found fire under my butt to get the ideas I have out of my head and actually create them.

This week I'm going to share how I made this Weekly Dinner Menu Board.

Lately I've been trying to be very good about planning out my weekly dinner menu by the sales at my local grocery stores.     I've always either written out the menu in notebook or on some sort of printable I've found searching the web.    I don't know about you, but I'm so overwhelmed with paper everywhere and no where to store it, display it or organize it.   My "desk" is my coffee table in the living room.  It does make it hard for me to be organized and productive.     I'm working on a solution to that.

So, when I was thinking about what project I could do for this week, it came to me to make a pretty, reusable menu board.  One that I could display in the kitchen without having a piece of paper taped to my fridge. (pet peeve of mine, BIG TIME)    

My kitchen is mainly blacks, whites and neutral colors so I knew I wanted it to match all that.
Damask is my favorite pattern right now so I took a clip from a picture I had on my computer and created the "Dinner Menu" as a Word Document, then printed it out.  

In my travels to Goodwill I found this frame with a tag on it for $4 but it was my lucky day because they had just changed the half price color to red and scored it for only $2.

Next I carefully took the frame apart, it was tricky separating the picture from the mat (it was professionally done)  Then I painted the mat black with regular spray paint.

 I waited for that to dry and put the whole thing back together cleaning both sides of the glass while it was all apart.   All that was left to do was to tie a ribbon around a dry erase marker and attach it to the frame so it's handy and always where I can find it.

There it is... I think it came out cute and it looks perfect in my kitchen!  

Do you have a Thrilling Thursday craft you'd like to share?   All you have to do is put the link to your blog post in the linky below AFTER commenting on this post.  Then make sure you add the button somewhere in your post.  

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Wordless Wednesday

Welcome Winter?

It's only November 7th.   I don't know about you, but I am NOT ready for winter just yet! 

Because You Just Have To Laugh.

I had all great intentions of posting some sort of DIY project today.  I have the ideas, supplies and even have some pictures taken.   But it just wound up being a bad day for me.

I've been so sick for the last few weeks.  First, I was fighting a nasty sinus infection/bronchitis and then this weekend I caught a horrible stomach bug from my 3 year old grandson Tyler.  It.Was.Not.Fun.
Even though I'm finally feeling better physically, I'm still pretty worn out mentally.    Every little (and not-so-little) thing set me off today!   Finally, I had to get out of the house and get some air.

So, instead of not posting anything at all and staying pissy for the rest of the night,  I figured I would make myself laugh and try to get out of my funk.     The first place I go for a laugh is my Pinterest board "Just Cuz I Love It."  It's where I pin funny photos, sayings, ecards and anything that gives me a good chuckle.  
And then I saw it, this photo....

 
On Pinterest this photo brings you to a post on HaHasForHooHas.com titled "The Fart That (Almost) Altered My Destiny"   My friend Cheryl  had sent me the link to this post a while ago and said it was the funniest thing EVER and that I had to go read it.  Hey, it's got the word FART in the title, it's gotta be funny right?    OMG funny doesn't even describe it.  Hilarious doesn't even give it justice.  
I would like to give props to Anna for a very very well written post!  It won't only make you laugh, it will make you laugh so hard you'll cry.  (and maybe even pee your pants a little too)
Honestly, it took me a good 20 minutes to get through the whole thing.  But you've got to go read it for yourself.   That is, only if you are not offended by bodily functions.   My advise before clicking the link is that you make sure you have time set aside and that you've gone to the bathroom.     

Enjoy!