I think I spy a receipt in there. Obvious work to be done!
Remember the parameters:
1. Tackle 1 small(ish) project each week. Complete one week from today.
2. Set a timer and work in 15 minute increments.
3. Hopefully, reign in the CHAOS and gain a sliver of sanity.
Our weekly task:
manage the CHAOS: the makeup drawer.
Only two sorting piles this week. Keep. Throw! Old makeup, unneeded products, crusty lotions, half used tubes? Toss them and don’t look back. If I remember correctly, in Econ 101 these past purchases are called sunk costs. Don’t feel guilty…just feel free of all that clutter.
This should be a quick task. When you are getting ready this week-put aside all the makeup and products you ACTUALLY use on a regular basis. Choose the essentials you use for a big “night out” and the rest – are history!
I had to giggle this weekend while reading Bossypants by Tina Fey. She included a list of attributes women must have to qualify as beautiful in our modern age.
She writes, “Now every girl is expected to have:
Caucasian blue eyes
full Spanish Lips
a classic button nose
hairless skin with a California tan
a Jamaican dance hall ass
long Swedish legs
small Japanese feet
the abs of a nine year old boy
the arms of Michelle Obama
and doll tits
The person closest to actually achieving this look is Kim Kardashian, who, as we know, was made by Russian scientists to sabotage our athletes. Everyone else is struggling.”
She then went on to list the healthy body parts for which she is grateful. While that is a difficult task for most of us, it is probably the healthiest thing you could do for yourself today. Why not give it a try?
PS. Also loved this message I saw recently! Had to share it. Going to repeat this to myself everyday this week. I may even write some of it on my bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker. (Thanks, Becky!)
I am reminded this week of a quote I carry in my wallet on a small card.
“The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” ~ jill churchill
we are all in this together. lean on those around you when you need it. be the support for others when you are a strong. (I have been doing a lot of leaning lately.)
Umbrellas. I have been thinking about them quite a bit lately. Hmmm, I wonder why? It all started when I spotted this lovely one carried by a prince.
The London premier of War Horse was water logged. Catherine’s Temperley London floor length gown was gorgeous and I am certain she didn’t want to cover it up with a trench. The umbrella was absolutely perfect! The shape ~ devine. With the perfect accent of black, which played off her dress.
Then I remembered a little something I purchased on my recent trip to NYC!
Isn’t it the cutest? The bubble umbrella is all the rage!
Want a bubble umbrella for yourself? I did a little research for you!
Took my boys to get haircuts yesterday after school. I always take them to Rudy’s Barbershop on Bellevue Way. Great cuts, no appointments, old auto garage, kinda hip. So thrilled to pick a little something up for myself at check out time!
A shower bomb! They come 4 to a box for $9.
The description on the back of the box (and on their website):
THIS TRICKED OUT LITTLE BROTHER TO THE BATH BOMB COMBINES MENTHOL, EUCALYPTUS AND TEA TREE OIL, ALONG WITH THE STEAM FROM YOUR SHOWER, TO CREATE A UNIQUE IN-HOME SPA EXPERIENCE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BREATHE DEEP AND RELAX, AND LET IT WORK ITS DETOXIFYING EFFECTS.
Could this be the answer to my “stay on a budget in January” and still cure the winter doldrums? Let’s hope so!
Want to give ’em a try? Check out the Rudy’s Barbershop website for the shop nearest to you in Seattle, Portland, LA, (and soon to be NYC).
I know, crazy how Tuesday is here already! I have to admit, didn’t complete the previous assignment. With children underfoot all last week, not much got done. (Well, aside from sledding and watching movies!) SO, that means double the work this week!
Your weekly task.
Manage the CHAOS: the game closet-or your equivalent.
As you notice, I do have shelves. Somehow everything gets thrown on the floor! Hmmmm, wonder who does that?
Remember the parameters:
1. Tackle 1 small(ish) project each week. Complete one week from today.
2. Set a timer and work in 15 minute increments.
3. Hopefully, reign in the CHAOS and gain a sliver of sanity.
Same drill. Keep. Donate. Throw Away. A big roll of packing tape might come in handy this week. Many times game boxes need to be reinforced with a little tape to hold their shape. Good luck!
PS. I am thinking when my play room morphs into something more grown up, this storage system from The Container Store might work superbly!
What does one do when home with the children for 7 (unplanned) days straight? Bake. Came across this recipe third hand (from blog, to blog, to blog to ME!). I could not resist it and picked up the essential ingredients to whip up a batch today. And just in time to take them along to the ski hill tomorrow.
salted brown butter krispie treats
**The following deliciousness is direct from smitten kitchen **
What’s different about these? Oh, just a bit more (coughdouble) butter which you toast until it’s brown and nutty and help along with some coarse salt, just minor things. But it changes everything.
Makes 16 2-inch squares or 32 1- x 2-inch small bars
1 stick unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan
1 10-ounce bag marshmallows
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (about half a 12-ounce box)
Butter (or coat with non-stick spray) an 8-inch square cake pan with 2-inch sides.
In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Don’t take your eyes off the pot as while you may be impatient for it to start browning, the period between the time the butter begins to take on color and the point where it burns is often less than a minute.
As soon as the butter takes on a nutty color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows. The residual heat from the melted butter should be enough to melt them, but if it is not, turn it back on low until the marshmallows are smooth.
Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the salt and cereal together. Quickly spread into prepared pan. I liked to use a piece of waxed or parchment paper that I’ve sprayed with oil to press it firmly and evenly into the edges and corners, though a silicon spatula works almost as well.
Let cool, cut into squares and get ready to make new friends.
Our snow storm has turned into an ice storm. Super fun for getting around. While driving is the uber-adventure, even walking can be difficult. SO pleased that my mom and dad gave me “super” boots for Christmas. I included them on my list this year, deciding that I needed proper winter foot wear. I love, love, love them! They worked great yesterday while sledding and have been perfect on Ski Saturdays.
Sorel-Caribou (black and stone)
THEN, this morning I read this article on Lucky magazine.
In the midst of pulling kids up hills on sleds, searching for carrots and buttons to complete the snowman, and snapping photos of your perfect snow angels, remember….
happy snow day to you all! hug ’em, feed ’em, keep ’em warm!
It’s Tuesday. Time to Manage the CHAOS! (I sure hope you got that junk drawer cleaned out last week.)
Remember the parameters:
1. Tackle 1 small(ish) project each week. Complete one week from today.
2. Set a timer and work in 15 minute increments.
3. Hopefully, reign in the CHAOS and gain a sliver of sanity.
This week the beast to tackle is the linen closet. Oh, boy. I might need a few rounds of 15 minutes!
Designate 3 piles- Keep. Donate. Throw Away.
Take everything out before putting anything back in. You may be dying to run to Target or The Container Store to buy storage organizers. Try to resist. Use what you already have or be creative.
Martha Stewart neatly stores sheet sets inside pillow cases.
Now, there is only one Martha-for a reason. She is totally unrealistic most of the time and the rest of us just fail miserably. But this idea seems fairly attainable. Any other great storage ideas?
