Getting ready to enter 2nd grade. Sigh

I can't believe how time flies by. I mean that. It seems when 'we' have children, the faster time seems to zip on by us. I'm writing today because I have a lot on my mind. This is a busy week for us. Our 1st born E is going off to 2nd grade tomorrow. I think I'm taking it much harder than she is. I have butterflies in my stomach and I'm feeling sad.

Backing up, Monday, was her 8-10am day. Before it even began, I rolled over in the bed, my hand came up to my face just as I barely  opened my eyes to see the time, and I scratched my eye with my finger.Ouch! That hurts. Well, it was more like a 'meet and greet" her new teacher and fill out paper work. So we were there for about an hour. It was stressful just getting there! We have a lot of construction going on around our back roads and I decided instead of bypassing it since it was early, I would go right through it per say( why oh why would I pick this day to do so is beyond me). The road literally dropped off where they  cut into to make a new road. I missed my turn..heading towards the workers thinking "I have no place being here, I have no way out." Turning around, I found the road I was suppose to take- duh! I thought I landed in the twilight zone. It was dusty, dirty and just looked nothing like the road I had driven on for many years.

Getting to school to park...well, they were all taken. I'm already nervous about meeting E's  teacher, making sure we are on time, making sure E is feeling comfortable. After driving around I finally had to park next to the curb. We made it...barely.Talk about 1st impressions. whew! So, my husband, E and our baby daughter, K all walked upstairs to her 2nd grade class. It was H.O.T ....someone forgot to turn the air on. I felt so bad for the people that had to stay all day up there. But we met E sweet teacher, filled out our paperwork and off we went. Our day was just beginning.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love to shop. I love to browse, look, take my time. But this shopping trip was to get E some new clothes for school. So, off to pick up Mamaw and the 4 of us girls were on our way by 930am. I really had a game plan, an agenda. I wanted to be home before 6pm. We get to the mall within 1hr 20mins, eat a quick breakfast. Bathroom break and off we go to shop. I'm already tired:( E does not like to shop at all. She decided she didn't feel good.(which she doesn't. Allergies.)She hardly would try on shoes, Her sister didnt want in the stroller, every time I turned around we were in the bathroom.Or the kids were screaming they were hungry. And my eye was hurting- i was trying to focus- talk about a terrible day. I was just grumpy.

Luckily, before I pulled my hair our, we ended up not breaking the bank and a few outfits to get us through the rest of the hot months. We got home by 730pm. It ended up being a much longer night than I wanted it to be.

E has been begging us to be a "lunch boxer" for sometime now. I have finally caved in and we are gong to give it a try. I hope I can keep it up. She is so picky.If anyone reading this has good luck with packing your child's lunch, please share.I worry that her food will spoil or her sandwich will be soggy. I bought these nice containers from Pottery Barn Kids- I love the girly colors and the fact that we are helping save the planet.

Wish us luck as we begin...2nd grade.

Welcome 2012...Medicine cabinet ORGANIZED

Happy New year! I don't know about you, but starting New years can be kinda

hard for me. But NOT this year. I welcomed 2012 with open arms. I was ready to "get the party started." Bahahahaha!

With each new year, I'm always cleaning out my filing cabinet( its still on my "to do" list), and

trying to find "Problem areas" within our home, well, for the lack of a better term, I have just been plain ol' lazy the last year trying to fix.

So, that takes me to today. I wanted to make sure I accomplished at least 1 task this week that made me smile.

For those that know us, we remodeled our home( that blog will come later) we have now been back for over a year and our medicine cabinet was an AWFUL, UNORGANIZED, MESS! We use it everyday & something would fall on my head everyday & pardon me, but  I would say a cuss word or two( in my mind. so the kids couldn't hear) not really bad ones. Get your mind out of the gutter!

Here is how bad it was: If you are brave: Look at that mess. ewww! Disgusting. I mean, I have cookbooks, knives and medicine on 2 different shelves AND the microwave!

I have been thinking of organizing this cabinet since we moved in, but again, plain ol' lazy. yep. that is me:):):) here I'am. Ok. I confess. I have been on Pinterest. Alot.

I'm a Pinterest addict!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, before you think I need an intervention, read on. I saw THIS picture on Pinterest that

someone else had pinned and it " had me at HELLO !" & while your staring at it, wishing your cabinet was as neat and organized, please write down her blog ( a bowl full of lemons), and visit..she has many other interesting things to read. Of course, after you read the rest of mine silly thing you! HEHEHEE! I promise, its good. really good, unless of course your a sloppy pig. OINK!

Ok. Now the good stuff.

Here are the steps to making this easier:

1. Start emptying your medicine cabinet like this. Get that cabinet empty. Dust it while your at it:) I LOVE my short handle Swifter...with a soft lavender scent. Look at all that mess! ewwww....talk about getting a laxative when you only wanted Gas Ex moment. Be right back. Hahahahaaaa!

I could NOT decifer anything in this mess!There were things I threw away that expired in 2009. Really?! Am'I on the verge of hoarding too??????

Hi pretty cabinet. Say Cheese. Your on Candid Camera:)

Now, I adjusted my shelf up a few w notches, so we could easily access the bottom self and still be up high enough the kids can't get anything. I figured If I put anything up higher It might be things we hardly ever need. We have our medicines above our microwave. Which for some might be above the stove. Where ever it works for you is fine.

While snapping that photo, here is my 3yr old "helper"...she wanted to stop and say "Cheese."

I have to give her credit. Katherine handed me my cookbooks to store in another cabinet & willingly so. She has been a helpful handful today. But I LOVE her.

Back to the good stuff. Sorry. I'm easily side tracked.

2)NEXT start grouping your medicines & throwing away EXPIRED medicines. (They make it all the time.) Here are a few examples of mine. Ie: Children's medicines, Mommy's meds, daddy's meds, sinus/allergy, fever/PMS/sore throat, eyes/ears/skin, vitamins....and you get the idea. Your medicines on your counter should start looking like this. I have labels in front, when I come home with my containers, I'll be armed and ready to label.

Then I measured my tallest bottle to get an idea of how tall I would need my container to be.

Had my list in hand. Katherine and I went to get her sister and headed to Wal*Mart:)

Side note: Its so nice to go in that store with only a few items to buy with kids in tow.And NO, we didn't make it out of there without a bathroom break. For you parents reading this, you'll understand that one:)

Here is what I came home with. Heart:) I LOVE containers.

I can tell I'm getting older. I get excited over really, really, really silly items. But I love anything that simplifies our lives.

3)I took my handy dandy label maker. Oh poop! No photo of that:(

Katherine's favorite word lately has been poop. But label makers can be bought from just about any store. If you don't want to buy a label maker: print your labels out of a font you like on your computer "writing program." such as Microsoft Word. Print the labels on a card stock or regular plain white paper.  Then, cut them out with a straight edge. The neater the better:) Are you following me? Smile:)

I really enjoy my label maker. Even though my labels are expensive:( I can make a lot of labels with 1 roll. I got a great deal on the "machine" that prints them. Go figure. 'they' had to get me somewhere.

I put all my medicines in their new home and labeled each one. Here is my finished project!

Ahhh..A organized, uncluttered, labeled medicine cabinet.That makes me smile)  Even my husband bragged about what a good job I did!

Total cost : approx. $23-$25 depending on where you buy your containers.

Can you believe that most of that clutter fit in these containers? It did. Really. AND my top shelf is empty! Wahoot! I hope I have inspired you to get something that is CLUTTERED in your home UNCLUTTERED and organized. When you finish your project, hop on over and share it with us. We would LOVE to see it:)

Happy Organizing in 2012!

Smiling from ear to ear,
Jennifer

1st Snow 2011...its not officially winter yet!

Hey ! I'm finally the one putting the fingers to the keyboard. Please excuse me, I can be wordy.Sorry. If you think I'm boring, please, feel free to move on to a better blog. This is my 1st blog. I promise, I plan on being a better blogger as time goes on. What I do know is I'm very good at blog stalking!? (I think that's what they call someone looking at a persons blog all the time.?)That sounds terrible. I will rest assure you not the creepy kind. I'm just soakin up all the info I can. Doesn't it count as brain "exercise's to keep us young and smart?Smile. I love to see other women's blogs that are so crafty. There are soooo many talented women out there- Girls rock! I don't know if I'll ever be as good as them, but I'll be as good as I can be.

I thought I had a good reason to blog tonight. I received my Christmas present early. Yes, its a present to myself.

I like it so much I can already tell you, it was worth the money I spent on it:) I know, I know, I should wait until Christmas morning to open it.

Really,if you received this gift, there would be no waiting. After all, I need it for Christmas! And I have to "put it to good use" ( or as I should say, Practice) before the BIG DAY! It so far has been so fun to use.Have you figured it out yet? Here is a snazzy photo of the box it came in. Heart.

I'm in love.Smile. I heart Santa! Look how it just jumps out of this photo? Love the Bohek effect. When I saw my package on my front porch step early today, I was like a kid on Christmas morning, gleaming from ear to ear. You can't take the kid out of me! I don't know why I waited 4yrs (or longer) to buy a lens:( I guess I felt there was always something else to buy( for the girls). I can tell you, for the money(and this is one of the least expensive lens.It was well worth it. I'm kicking myself I didn't buy it sooner. Darn it! If your wondering if you should invest? I say YES- do it now! Amazon had this baby to me in less than 2 days. Go Amazon.You rock.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Mother nature decided to bring us a little snow today.Its not officially winter yet:( I like the snow and all, but NOT when I have to drive in it. The kids got out 2hrs early today so I bundled Katherine up and grabbed my camera(duh.) I'll take a photo opportunity when I can get it:)

My girls are not the best when it comes to being a model for their mommy. For some unknown reason, they forget how to smile, sit Indian style(really, now come on girls your going to give me gray hairs.) sit up straight, cry, whine..the list goes on. BUT tell my 3yr old she can "play" in the snow and I get a great photo with my snazzy new lens. Did I mention I LOVE this little girl? She says I'm the best cooker. She told me I was the best mommy too. And that was before our little treat today.

She melts my heart.

This photo was NOT retouched and

I even got the snow coming down in slow motion. I'm no pro but I get so happy when I take a photo worth sharing.

My 6yr old was so excited to get out of school early today.

I mean so excited!

I thought on a wet, snowy day, It deserved a detour to a special new brick and mortar

store in town. Can you say, Mommy award?

We haven't had a chance to go and now that have, I know why. They are a bit pricey- but if you ask the girls, they will tell you it was worth it.

Why is it when we are in the drive thru and I have barely put on decent clothes not to mention any makeup only to get Elizabeth from school that she feels the urge to go potty? Really, honey- dont stress your mommy out. Luckily she was able to wait until we got home. Whew!

So we all had lunch and I had to snap a few shots

of our treats. Over acheiver! I'm addicted to

taking photos( not donuts well, i guess i could get addicted to donuts?!) and the girls were getting tired of me begging for them the model. Next BEST thing to photograph, YOU GUESSED IT-DONUTS! .Smile. Look at these.YUMMY!

We bought 4 glazed with chocolate on top and the girls each wanted a blueberry glazed donut. Anytime my girls want a fruit, bonus points for this mommy. I've done something right:)We have always been told they are good for us. Right? Laughing out loud.

I'm quite proud so far of how my photos have turned out. My "kit" lens would never, ever take photos this clear!!!And never in the house of all places.

I have found a blog I want to share with you( kevinandamanda.com) because even if you are not into photography, she has the cutest darn photo's of her Boston Terriers I have ever seen! I'm not sure where she is located but I would love to babysit her dogs sometime:) I bet they would love to be my models. Laugh. She also has many other things worth reading. Did I mention we are trying to convince daddy that getting a Boston would be fun? Look at these little faces, how can he deprive them like this?

As I close, Im showing a few other pictures that I took of our girls. I think they turned out cute, not perfect- now, I didn't say they were going to be on a cover of a magazine. I'm really a big fan of spontaneous snapshots, but today, I had to get them to pose a little. Let me tell you it was blood, sweat and tears for this mommy.

ANYTIME I can get my girls to hug is a picture worth taking.Smile. I love my 6yr old's smile. I have been wondering why she has been singing, "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth....."

I love the look of my Christmas tree in the background. Too bad we can't keep it up all year for photo backdrops. Do you think people might think we are a bit strange if we did? Frown. It sure is pretty.

This last photo, if you look closely, is my 3yr old model hiding behind our Christmas tree. Even though its cute, I think that's her polite way to say," enough photos mommy".

I hope you all have enjoyed my 1st of many blogs. If you made it thus far, thank you for taking time to do so. May all your dreams and wishes come true this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas from us!