I like it! A LOT!

I don't know what got into us, but we started and finished a project very quickly (unheard of for us).

It started with this purchase, then a mind change (MBB knew it wasn't really what I wanted and in the end wouldn't be really happy with it), then a new find on the internet, a design brainstorming session, ordering / picking it up at the post office and three days of assembly occurred.
The only thing we have left is some corner moulding next to the cabinet by the stove.

The result:  Absolute beauty!

I love it and have a new favorite tool (at least my favorite tool for this project).

Namaste.

Wandering Around

I used to laugh when I would hear of someone roaming a parking lot searching for a vehicle.

I just couldn't imagine not being able to find my car.  Keep in mind that I had a green Tercel for awhile and then I had two Matrixes.   Both were always easy to spot so I didn't have any issues.

Now that I'm driving a black Camry, yes a Camry...you know the best selling car in America, well I'm having trouble finding my car.

Karma has visited.

So if you see a woman walking up and down rows of a parking lot, hitting the buttons on her keys until a car beeps, wave.

I'll wave back.

Namaste.

Directions

When the directions say to wear gloves,  it might be a good idea to follow directions.

And yes, this was after I scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed with a variety of cleaners.

Namaste.

Lent

It's that time again.
If I didn't see people with ash spots on their forehead, I would have still suspected...
For some weird reason, I start craving fish on Fridays during Lent - even when I don't know it's Lent.

I guess that I was a practicing Catholic for long enough that the traditions of Lent are ingrained in me, even though I no longer practice Catholicism.

Weird, I know.

Last year, I gave up Facebook for Lent.
I could do that again, but since Pip Squeak (my new grandson) is going to make an appearance during Lent, I don't think that would be a give up that I would be able to keep.

I know there are a lot of things that I could give up...
Some I probably should give up, but I am not in a good space to give up stuff like Chocolate and Caffeine or even tasty foods.

I thought about giving up my two games that I play on the phone, but that would eliminate a primary reduction of stress in my life.  Not a good choice.

So, I thought about things that I could do to improve my life.
I could try to blog everyday, but does that really improve anything?
Perhaps it would help with my mental state, but it just doesn't feel right specifically for Lent.

I even talked to MBB about exercise or trying to get back to 10K of steps a day.
Then I look at the weather forecast and realize that it isn't quite the right time for my lunch walks to return.
Honestly, I am not going to be successful without them.  And looking at my travel schedule - for work and personal - I just don't see how an exercise program is going to become a habit over the next 40 days.

Anyone got any suggestions?
I know that I am already late in starting, but I have no problem going a few days past Easter.
I should admit that I don't follow all of the Lent traditions.
As much as I crave fish, I had meat for all three meals today.

Namaste.

Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Calories: 127

 

Results

MBB - Okay - he wasn't a fan of the caramel.

SassyMarie - I liked the cake part (notice the few that didn't have nuts - those are mine.

I think we both agree that I need to combine the cake from this recipe with the icing of the Apple Streusel Cupcakes (posted yesterday).

Namaste.

Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Calories:  138 (148 if use sugarcane)

Results

MBB - Yep

SassyMarie - Yep

Namaste.

More Targets

Target #3 was actually more like Target 3 / 4 / 5.  I tackled my corner cabinet in the dining room while MBB took care of a shelf that seems to be a catch all and a bag of stuff from the now turned-in Matrix.

We had lots of umbrella covers (without the umbrellas), a calculator cover (without the calculator), a single glove and a variety of other things.  Since I had to let my season tickets go a few years ago, the hot hands have been sitting there...and sitting there...and sitting there.  The use by date was pretty long ago.  

In total, we got rid of 19 things.  Not really 10 per area, but to be honest everything looks much better as there was a ton of reorganization and things finding better homes.

.

Namaste.

Merry Christmas to us

MBB and I agreed that we weren't going to buy anything to start new projects.

We were only going to buy things to finish projects already started...

I really want to try to get some things done this year and be able to call rooms "DONE".

We don't have a single room in the house that currently has that title.

In our defense, we didn't technically buy the items to start a new project.

We had a gift card that Luke and my favorite sister-in-law (sorry, can't remember her nickname on here right now) got us for Christmas...

So, technically, they started the new project.

And now that it is a project already started - we HAVE to finish it...

Right?

:)

Yep, we are going to attempt to install my backsplash in the kitchen.

You know that one that I have been wishing for since we worked on the kitchen oh-so-many years ago?

The one that the only things that I could find that I liked were way out of our price range?

The one that was going to be so messy with all of that grout?

Yeah, well, MBB found these...

No grout.

No piecing together.

And they match my colors, for the most part.  I think I can live with the small amount of green.

Now, just to find a zillion more gifts cards to finish buying the many packs that we will need to finish the project.  :)

Namaste.

15 more

I must really want to get back into blogging.

The amount that I just fought with the stupid Blogger App to get this picture posted is unbelievable!

Target #2 was my "left-over container" cabinet or whatever you want to call it.

I keep my measuring cups and plastic containers for left-overs.

I searched everywhere for all of the containers and lids and anything that may have tried to find another home.  Then I played find the match and these lucky 15 are being gifted to the trash man as I cannot find their matches.

The cabinet looks great, but we'll see how long that lasts!

(And why in the world are these sentences centered?)

Namaste.

Time To Organize

NOTE:  I am having a love / hate relationship with the Blogger App on my phone.

Here is the third attempt at this blog post.

And I wonder why I don't blog more often????

There is a blog that is on my daily read list...

She did a series on organizing "spots" in her house with a goal of removing/giving away/trading 10 things a day. I apologize for not linking to her - I think the viral bug got her and she hasn't blogged about this lately for me to grab.  

That got me thinking about some areas in our house that need some serious attention. 

I don't think I can do one a day (I may try to target one a week) and I may not always be able to get 10 things (I have a few spots that need organizing,  but I purged them not too long ago)...

Yes, I am going to give it a go. 

The first target was the spice cabinet (I actually did this a few weeks ago, so the second space will be posted soon as well!).  

I found a few duplicates that I combined - I must use a lot of Nutmeg and Cinnamon.  

Yeah - HELLO - French Toast.  :) 

One empty jar with empty wrappers (hi Ma Bell!) and a few things we never use and to be honest are so old we probably shouldn't use - see the gravy mix in the back?  I bought that when I lived in Lexington. For those of you who don't know me - that was about 17.5 years ago. 

One area done.  11 items pitched. 

NOTE: 

After the picture was taken, I checked with MBB about another spice container that I thought was originally his.  Not so much.  

Now that I think about it - I think I bought it was the gravy mix.  

New total: 12 items pitched.

Namaste.