Happy New Year - a few days late!

I know everyone else is putting their resolutions on their blog, so I am a big ole copycat and will do the same. My list of goals is quite long this year, but I need to get my rear in gear and get some things done! Here they are, in no particular order!

• Get organized - my house is a mess and I have some great ideas that I just need to implement and follow through!
• Keep better track of our money - now that I am working, we should be getting ahead of our bills and saving for a rainy day!
• Budget my time better - I know this goes hand in hand with getting organized, but it is something I need to work on now that my work is about to get really crazy.
• Go back to menu planning and better grocery shopping. Our budget per week is $75 for food. I can do it!!! and do it healthy.
• Make more food from scratch and garden more - I am still feeling the need to stock up and be self-reliant.
• Spend more time with my husband - I mean other than sleeping! We seem to pass each other all the time, but never get to connect.
• Spend some individual time with each of my kids. they are all changing so fast.
• Communicate with my extended family better
• And last but not least - blog at least 4 times a week! I am on the computer enough!

So what are your goals for 2009?

Saturday's To-Do

I updated my to-do list on the sidebar. I have a bunch of chores calling my name and I really should get my bottom off my chair and go work on them!
Jeff just left for work and the boys are watching a move. Ashleigh is practicing her guitar and the puppies are both sleeping. I should take advantage of the peace to get a few things done before the chaos begins again!

My blog has been dead!

I think I spend too much time reading other people's blogs and not enough time posting here! I need to kick it up!

My Mom is coming!!!

I am so excited! We were able to get her a plane ticket with sme unused points on our one credit card!
She missed her flight this morning, but is still on her way. It just gives me a few extra hours to spiff up the house!
She is coming to see Ryne off on his first day of school, something she has done for all of her grandkids.
I also have a pretty long list of projects for her to help me with, so its really a working vacation!
She'll be here in 6 hours!!!! Yay!!

It only took a few days!

Blanket Chest - Before


Blanket Chest - After


Buffet - Before


Buffet - After


Now off to the bookshelves!

Before and After

Here are the three things (other than work and the kiddos) that I am going to work on today. It shouldn't take me too long, but you all know how the day can fly by when your to-do list is long!

My blanket chest
This piece of furniture has lived in about every room of our home. It is now in a nook in the kitchen and it houses my placemats, table clothes and I use the top for some indoor plants and other pretties. Unfortunately, it looks like this right now:


My buffet
I picked this up at an antique store that was going out of business. I wanted something to hold my dishes and serving pieces since we don't have a dining room set. It has two drawers, one for silverware and another for placemats. I do keep some placemats and table clothes in here as well as all of our dishes and silverware. The top is supposed to showcase my "funky chicken" that was the inspiration for my kitchen as well as some other decorative pieces. Right now, it looks like this:


Bookcases
We have three in our library and they all need help! This one holds my collection of Anne Rice, Stephen King and Marion Zimmer-Bradley as well as our collection of Star Wars books. The bottom two shelves are kid's books and as you can see, they haven't been good about putting them away nicely.


Wish me luck!

One project at a time

I am posting my to-do list on my sidebar to try and keep me accountable for what I need to get done this week.
I have really let me housework slide since I started working. Jeff has been great about keeping up with the dishes and laundry - he is awesome! BUT - it seems like all of my horizontal surfaces are just crammed with STUFF!
I know this might be crazy, but I am going to post before and after pictures here to show that YES! I did accomplish something today - and to share a little of my house with you!