The New Years Rings

We totally missed the New Year!  SLEEPING! 

We had a spur of the moment get together the next evening which turned out to be a lot of fun!  Our neighbors and Reagan's friend Abby came over!  This night we stayed up until midnight!!

The new year is off to a great start.  We sold our house in the middle of all the end of year chaos and are working on getting a new one.  The packing begins.  I am loving cleaning out and throwing old items away!  So relaxed and enjoying not having anything to do or places to be unless we want to!

Reagan had her first gymnastics class on Saturday.  She LOVED it and sooo did I!  I went that same day to a small photo class to get a few tips on my camera :).  Can't wait to take the editing class that teaches how to work with photoshop!

So what about new years resolutions?

1.   Get to the GYM
2.   Eat better
3.   Surround myself with people who treat me well & make me smile.  Push away all the others
4.   Stay on top of laundry & dinner meals
5.   Go to the gym
6.   Go to the gym
7.   Watch more reality TV.  HaHa
8.   Save more money
9.   Play more with my kids
10.  Be more open & honest with my feelings.
11.  Be careful not to hurt others feelings or say negative things .

We all have our bad moments of frustration.  Sometimes our emotions are directed at others when it has nothing to do with them at all.  (that's when we take it personal).  We shouldn't criticize other's negative behavior when I am SURE we have had an episode from time to time, even if no one witnessed it!

People just seem to forget the last time they exploded in frustration but sure do want to bad mouth someone else for it.

Know when to apologize.  One of my beefs is when someone is in the WRONG and never acknowledge it or apologize for their behavior.  They just move on LIKE IT NEVER happened.

We don't forget how people make us feel. 

When someone hurts my feelings or makes me feel bad,  I never forget it & have a hard time forgiving it.  I put up a wall.  Then they never apologize & just go on like it never happened...  I don't forget.  I need people to say they were out of line and let's get through it and move on!

I don't bash people.  But when you are around people who do it,  it tends to rub off on ya.  Very contagious.   They say misery loves company.  Those people flock together.  So you have to distance yourself.

That's my soap box and new yrs resolutions

THE  END

Foyer Lighting

I am pondering new lighting in the foyer.  Here are a few ideas i like

Kitchen Tables

I need a new kitchen table sooooo BAD.  Can't wait.  Here are a few things that I am fond of.  As you can see, I love Potterybarn.

All from http://www.potterybarn.com/

Bathroom Rescue

"I have scum buildup on shower doors."

Use furniture oil to prevent buildup. Cleaning soap scum off a shower door is a tough, time-consuming job. Try using lemon oil furniture polish as a barrier against the scummy buildup. The next time you clean the door, follow up by wiping it with furniture oil on a soft rag. Let the oil sit for two minutes and then polish off the excess with a dry cloth. The furniture polish will leave a slight film of oil that will act as a buffer against future soap scum. Using a shower squeegee (available at discount stores and supermarkets) after every shower will also discourage the buildup."My bathroom grout is grungy with mildew"

Spray it with vinegar. Mildew on grout is no match for that miracle household cleaning dynamo called vinegar. Just pour somewhite vinegar into a container, dip in an old toothbrush, and scrub away at the mildew. Or pour the vinegar into a spray bottle, squirt it on the mildew, and let it sit for ten minutes. Rinse with water and apply the old toothbrush if necessary. Bleach is effective in removing mildew from tile grout. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts of household chloride bleach and water. Spray the grout, let it sit a few minutes, and then wipe with a clean white cotton cloth.

Inspiration for the Perfect Kitchen

Kitchen Cleaning To-Do List
When cleaning the kitchen always start with the sink. "Keep it empty and shining," says Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections (Bantam, $15, amazon.com) and creator of FlyLady.net, a housekeeping website.

A sparkling sink becomes your kitchen's benchmark for hygiene and tidiness, inspiring you to load the dishwasher immediately and keep counters, refrigerator doors, and the stove top spick-and-span, too.

Every Day Kitchen Duties:
• Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher (30 seconds).
• Wipe down the stove top (one minute).
• Wipe down the counters (one minute).
• Sweep, Swiffer, or vacuum the floor (two minutes).

Every Week :
• Mop the floor (five minutes).
• Wipe the cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances (10 minutes).
• Wash the dish rack (four minutes).
• Wipe the switch plates and phone (one minute).
• Wipe the inside of the garbage can (one minute).

Every Season:
• Empty and scrub down the inside of the refrigerator (30 minutes).
• Empty and clean the insides of the utensil drawers (15 minutes).
• Scrub down the cupboard exteriors (30 minutes).
• Clean the stove-hood filter (10 minutes).

• Perform "Shiny Sink 101". (See Below)

Beat the Clock

In the time it takes to brew a pot of coffee, you can get through your "every day" list.

Be Prepared

Keep extra garbage bags (or a whole roll) at the bottom of your trash can and never again have to retrieve an apple core from a bagless bin.

Let It Shine

Streak-free stainless-steel surfaces are the Holy Grail of kitchen cleaning. Caldrea's olive oil–based Stainless Steel Spray promises to reduce fingerprints. (Starting at $12, Yahoo! Shopping)

Shiny Sink 101

1. Fill sink to the rim with very hot water; add one cup regular bleach. Soak for one hour.
2. Drain and rinse thoroughly.
3. Scrub with Ajax, Bon Ami, or baking soda.
4. Be sure to rinse thoroughly.
5. Shine with Windex or another glass-cleaning spray. Dry thoroughly.

Cleaning Kitchen Odds and Ends

The quickest way to clean and disinfect these supplies is to put them in the dishwasher.
• Burner grids and knobs
• Brushes and combs
• Toothbrushes
• Plastic utensil organizer
• Refrigerator drawers
• Drain catch
• Sponges
• Dish rack
• Plastic toys (use discretion)

Cleaning Supplies to Keep in the Kitchen

• Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (Starting at $4, Yahoo! Shopping): for all hard, nonwood surfaces. They leave a fresh, nonchemical scent.
• Windex Glass and Surface Wipes (Starting at $4.50, Yahoo! Shopping): for windows and chrome.
• Microfiber cloths and mops, such as StarFiber ($17 for mops, $3-$11 for cloths; starfibers.com) or Act Natural ($22 for mop, $10.50 for cloth; euronetusa.com: green alternatives to disposable wipes, or to chemical cleaners and paper towels. For cleaning all surfaces. Especially effective for polishing stainless steel.
• Bleach.
• Ajax ($2.70 drugstore.com), Bon Ami ($4, drugstore.com), or baking soda.
• Clorox ReadyMop (Starting at $16 for starter kit, Yahoo! Shopping): Wash the floor without a bucket. Works on most surfaces.
• Broom, Swiffer (Starting at $11 for starter kit, Yahoo! Shopping), or handheld vacuum: for crumb busting.

http://www.realsimple.com/