Spring Break

Well, it's Spring Break here in the Pacific Northwest and that can only mean one thing

~ RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN ~

Trying to focus on the positive this means:

• green lush grass


• happy flowers


• soft dirt for easy weeding (if it ever stops raining so I can actually go work in the yard)

As a Washingtonian, I also know that sunny skies are just around the corner. As soon as break is over, that is the sun's cue to come out and play. I can't wait :0)

Previously on Hoarders...

So while I waited for the phone guy, I watched Hoarders. Is it scary I can relate to the hoarders? Kinda. I completely understand not wanting to throw something out that is still useful to someone. (Quick disclaimer... The folks who pick up a book that has been used as a racoon's bathroom and think it is still okay, they are coocoo) But there comes a time when the stuff is taking over and action must be taken.

I have a pretty big master closet. Which is good and bad. It's nice to have room for stuff, but on the other hand we have lots of room for "stuff".

Here is the before shot. Not the best pic, but you get the idea, junk galore. After a few hours and 12 bags later it looked like this (try as I might to get a good "after" shot, Sam felt the shot needed something ~ her)

The front half of the closet is mine, the back half Joj's. I purged a lot of clothes. It felt good, but now my limited wardrobe is even more limited, but that's okay.

I had Joj put in these shelves about a year ago and I love it. There had been long hanging, but I really don't have that much to hang so shelves made more sense. I also love the fact that there is room for 3 baskets so I can presort the laundry. I sort by "heavy" (sweats, towels, jeans, etc), "lights" (polos, shirts, socks, etc) and "whites". I also keep a bin on the shelf to put my "delicates". When a basket is full, I wash.

As for the back half (Joj's area) he still has some stuff to go through.

We originally put a desk in here thinking it could double as an office, but that didn't really work. It became more of a place to pile stuff and that's not good. I think eventually we will loose the desk and install more shelves. As for the Marshall amp, we are undecided. It is one of the only surviving item from Joj's bachelor days. We refer to it as "the wall of sound". With all the other stuff we got rid of, there is plenty of room, so the "wall of sound" can stay for now. (yes, those are Sam's feet~she's "helping")

I love the feeling of a freshly cleaned room. I have to say the tackling of the closet has inspired me to clean out other rooms. I did the kids' bathrooms today. They went quick, gotta love that. Ben has been wanting to clean out his room so maybe we will do that tomorrow. Ugh, that will be a big job, but I'm trying to focus on how good it will feel to have all that clutter gone. :0)

Waiting

Our land line is having some issues. When I called the phone company for a service check I was told a technician would have the job completed by 8pm. Usually you get the "between 10 and 2" or at least some kind of time frame, but nope not this time. So I'm stuck at home indefinitely until someone shows up. Great. So making lemonade out of lemons, I've decided to start my spring cleaning.

If you watch "The Middle" (and if you don't you should, it's really funny) you can relate to the fact "we've been robbed". The past week has just been super busy and the house has bared the brunt of it. So since I'm stuck her all day, I may as well make the most of it. It isn't even 8am and I'm 2/3's done with the laundry. The kitchen is next including a good purge of the fridge and just because Debra inspired me, I'm going to continue to purge in our master closet (I can see the floor now, so I'm encouraged)
White House Black Shutters is doing a 40 bags in 40 days challenge so I thought I would play along. We'll see how it goes.

Happy Friday

:0)

Welcome to the Show

Yesterday was Ben's first game in "the Majors". This is the level that sends teams to the Little League World Series so the kids can really play. I think Ben was a little awestruck, but held his own his own on the field. The Tigers played well, but came up just a little short. Oh well, I was just glad it didn't rain. Our next game is Wednesday and it is the one day on the 5 day forecast that doesn't show downpours. Oh the joys of baseball in W. Washington.

:0)

Tidying Up

So I did a little house cleaning on the blog and I have to say I'm pretty happy with the new layout. It feels less cluttered and is easier to read. If only decluttering the house was this easy.
Happy Sunday
(hopefully your March Madness brackets are doing better than mine)
:0)

Happy St. Patty's Day

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone.

I wanted to make something a little festive, so I decided to make some Thin Mint Cupcakes. Now Thin Mints aren't my favorite Girl Scout cookie (I much prefer the Tresfoil and Tagalongs) but Sam loves them so I figured, what the the heck. All I did was crush up (not too small) a package of Thin Mints and add them to a devils food box mix. Can I just say these are super yummy. I'm not really a mint girl at all, but the cookies add just enough to give the cake a good and interesting flavor. I topped them off with plain butter cream. (If I would of had some Bailey's in the house I would have put a splash or two in there) I'm just bummed I thought of these after the cookies sales. I would have stocked up. Oh well, there is always next year.

:0)

A Jerry McGuire Moment

There is a scene in Jerry McGuire where Tom Cruise stays up all night writing his "mission statement" on how he wants to revamp player management. He then stands in middle of his crowded office and shouts "I'm leaving, who's coming with me?" Well, today I had my own Jerry McGwire moment.

I've been involved in my kid's PTA for the past 6 years. I've chaired various committees and even served on the executive board. In all that time, I've never felt that much as changed. Sure little things here and there, but there is still so much more I want to see happen for the kids. After about my 100th "what if" conversation with one of my friends we decided the time is now.

It seems the stars are aligning and a group of pretty action minded moms are ready to create the empowering and inspiring environment our kids deserve. So today, I sent out my own "mission statement" and asked "who's coming with me?"

The best part of running...

is stopping :0)

Well, I survived my 5K.

It dumped. We froze.

While my first mile was great, the rest, not so much.

Oh well, it was fun anyway.

:0)

Tick tock...

In less than 13 hours I will run a 5K. I had hoped to have trained a little more, but April showers showed up early and I'm not that die hard to run in a monsoon. I did get a few runs in though so I'm not going in totally unprepared. The forecast for tomorrow is for "showers". That means we are getting wet, just how wet remains to be seen. I'm guess it will sprinkle lightly until 9am when the race starts and then the heaven will open and we will have to run dodging various animal pairs making there way to the ark that I'm sure will be parked at the dock.

The last time we ran this course, back in December the sun came out during the race despite the early morning showers. Blue skies, snow covered mountains, running along the waterfront, you couldn't have asked for a more beautiful morning. As for tomorrow, I'm not holding my breath. Although, freezing rain may be just the motivation I need to get my tail in gear and run fast if for no other reason than to get out of the cold.

:0)

Now we're cookin'

So I've gotten my second order for cupcakes. Okay, it's from the same friend, but still, I'm very excited. When I told her I was thinking about putting a business card in with the auction cupcakes, she was very supportive and said, "if you want to do this, I will get your name out there". I thought this was so nice and she is the kind of woman who is connected and could "really get my name out there". Still scary, but now the scales are starting to tip towards more exciting.
Yesterday while I was bopping around the Internet, I decided to do a little more research on cupcakes and cupcake shops. I always like to see the what kind of flavors and flavor combinations are out there. While doing so I also clicked on the price list. Talk about sticker shock. Holy you gotta be kidding me, Batman. The prices where crazy, like $28 to $34 a dozen crazy. Do people REALLY spend that??? I guess so. c.r.a.z.y.
So now I'm thinking that my cupcakes might be a very doable option for those folks who drive all the way downtown to buy fancy cupcakes (and there are a lot of folks around here who do). Now I just need to find some signature "tried and trues" as well as some "fancy" cupcakes. With St. Patty's day around the corner I'm thinking I will try a chocolate cupcake with crushed thin mints and a little Bailey's butter cream might be a fun start.
:0)

Going Pro

I like to bake and I bake a lot. I don't make anything fancy, but it is always well received. Last week one of my friends asked me to bake cupcakes for her daughter's birthday. I thought "why not". When she asked how much would I charge I wasn't sure what to say. I know people can pay a lot for cupcakes (I took Sam to Hello Cupcake and spent 3 bucks on one of the worst cupcakes I've ever had) but I'm no "hello cupcake" so I said ten bucks for 2 dozen Red Velvet cupcakes. When she picked them up, she paid me more than double and that got me thinking... The same friend holds a auction benefit every spring and for the past two years I've donated pecan pies. It still shocks me how crazy people go for home baked goods, but apparently they are popular and I always get "you should open a bakery". I just smile and think, "bless your heart, what number cocktail is this?"

This year instead of pies, I'm donating cupcakes. A cupcake sampler including, Red Velvet w/ Cream Cheese, Devils Food with PB Butter cream and Chocolate Butter cream, Lemon Meringue and probably tried and true Vanilla w/ Vanilla Butter cream. What I'm toying with is putting in a little business card: Cupcakes for Hire.
Around here grocery store cupcakes go for about 8 bucks a dozen, much more if you go "gourmet". So I'm thinking folks might be interested in cupcakes somewhere in the middle, $25 for 2 dozen. Kinda scary to put myself out there like that, but the thought of picking up a little cash now and then, is kinda tempting.