Not Much

Well hello. I know it's been a bit. But really there hasn't been much to share. Or really I haven't felt like doing much. So in truth I haven't. It's just been the bare minimum around here. But well today I got a little somewhere on my cleaning. I thought I share.

The hubby hung these that we got at Ikea a few weeks ago.

I'm liking them a lot. But I think I want another spice rack above that one. I hadn't planned on putting the knives there. But my input wasn't asked for until after he had hung them. I really wasn't going to argue at that point. Just glad to have and have it up.

Now on this next one I wish a had remembered to take a before picture. But if you can image: the bottom shelf had baskets with the kids' color and crafting supplies, the middle shelf had my cook books and all the recipe print outs that I haven't tried or copied into my note book to keep. and well the top had some of what is there now plus a bunch of random things (it's the catch all place for when we clear the table off to eat).

The shelf I've had for 9 years now and I got it only because someone left it when the moved out of house before we moved in. But I have something on my list of things for my hubby to make that will replace this. I'm hoping that will happen before the end of summer. I know that seems like a long ways out, but I have 2 other projects for him to make before this. And well it's the case of time and money (no money and lots of time vs. some money and no time).

We also celebrated someone turning 2 a couple of weekends ago.

And well I listed my first item to sell on Craigslist. I hope it goes.

I hope everyone has a great week. And here's hoping the we will continue to have so spring weather. I'm tired of snow.

Finished Bunk Beds

Well  I finally finished something. Well the Hubby helped on this one, in fact my step-son and nephew also helped.

We were originally going to build a loft/fort bed. But we changed our minds and went with classic bunk beds.

The girls love it. Now on to the next build project: Dresser for the girls. They also will be done in this purple color.

        

New Meal Monday

Do you meal plan?

I do. It's a love/hate thing. I love the money that it saves me at the grocery store and the fact that I know I have enough food for the week. I hate trying to come up with meals to put on the list for the week. And I'm so tempted to make the same things all the time. But there are almost always something new to try on my list.

Since I have a hard time finding new things to make, I figure there's a bunch of us out there that could use an idea or two. Or find out what out there didn't make the cut.

 So last week here was the meal plan:

• Potato and Dumpling soup
• Pork Roast
• Quasidias
• leftovers
• tuna salad
• chow main

Well there were only one new meal on my list. The soup.

The Potato and Dumpling soup recipe I found here. I made half a recipe and probably could easy get 2 meals plus leftover for my family of 4. I loved it. It tasted great even though I forgot to add the salt, pepper and parsley. This one will definitely make it's way into my cookbook or recipe notebook.

WIP

This is what I worked on when my sister was here. I had about 12 blocks left to make and then worked on the lay out.




This is about half the quilt top laid out. I ran of room and had to pick up the first half and then lay out the second half.

I'm making this out of some vintage sheet squares that I had won and an Ikea sheet. I'm very excited about this quilt and can't wait for it to be done. If I did my math right, it should be close to a full size quilt when it's done. I'm hoping to put it on my bed. If I ever get it done. I've been wanting to craft, but just haven't had the energy to do it. I've been so tired by the time the girls go to bed, that I haven't been getting much done. Maybe I'll get something done today as I am home with a sick kid. Even though she insists that she is all better and is fine to go to school.

Here's hoping that your day is starting out better then mine.

I've been reading.

Well I've gotten sidetracked off the spring cleaning. I did start the bathroom and well there not much left to do. Just need to take down the light fixer and wash it, then just a quick sort of under the sink and then take measurements for a shelf. Then that will be done. But unless I work on it during the week, it won't get done until next weekend. This past weekend my SIL and her kids were over. And this weekend will be crafting weekend #2 with my sister. I got one project I really want to make some progress on. So here hopeing.

But if I haven't been crafting and I haven't been cleaning, what have I been doing? READING!!!

More specificly I've been reading this series:



Now I read the first book of this series back in July. I liked. I put the next book on my to read pile. And then got caught up with reading other things. Now in the past 3 weeks. I have read #2 and #3 and the graphic novel. And well the graphic novel is the only one that I think I could have skipped. It tells part of the story from the first book, just from a different point of view. Well I would be reading more of this series right away if it wasn't for the fact I have 2 borrowed books on my nightstand waiting for me to read.

We've also started working on a bunk bed for The Monkey and Squirms. Not what I originally wanted but I think it will work out better for them. The boys made it last weekend. Once it gets home I get to fill in the holes and paint it. Agian not the color I wanted. I was going for a nice teal/turquios color but Monkey wanted purple. And since she's the one sleeping in it. Her voted out ranked mine.

Now that the end of winter is in sight, what plans do you have? Are you starting any new projects?

Cold

It's cold and well there's not much more to say about that. It was -11 this morning when I left for work. I think I'm still cold.On the plus side by Monday we should have a 40 degree increase in high temp for the day from what it is today. We will see. I'm hoping.

I don't think I've ever really minded winter as much as have lately. But I was talking to a claims adjuster at work today who lives in Sioux Falls. We're thinking the older we get the less we do outside when it's cold, the more we dislike winter. I used to do stuff out side all the time during the winter. Now it's only what I have to do.

Well I did get the living room cleaned on Sunday. Not that anyone can tell the difference. We got rid of a lot less then what I wanted to. One shopping bag of baby toys and maybe a dozen movies and video games. But every thing got wiped down or vacuumed off. And five things got put on a project list. I would love to get new furniture for my living room. The stuff I have is 2nd time hand me downs. It's 23 years old. It needs to be replaced. The problem is I don't think what  I want to do will fit into my living room. So it's taking measurements, and making drawing to see what will fit. And well furniture cost money. So I'm trying to hold off as long as possible. I would rather hold off until we get into a house or find something that I like that would work any most any space.

This weekend I think it will be the bathroom's turn to be spring cleaned. This should be another space that's fairly easy to get through.

Early Spring Cleaning

Good Morning all. How has your weekend been going? Ours has been pretty quiet so far. Just did a couple of errands yesterday. Now today, hopefully will be different. I hope to crack the whip and get some house chores done.

It is all quiet here still, everybody still sleeping or just laying there playing quietly. Which is amazing. But my mind isn't. I have idea's rolling around in there like crazy. So I decide to stop by and spill some of them out to you.

I'm a horrible housekeeper. Most of the time I feel that I just barely do enough to make it not gross. Most nights the only thing that gets done is hopefully the dishes. Now I know what I see out in Blogland, is what people choose to share. That their houses are not always perfect. But when I look around my apartment, I don't see much of promise of it looking good.

So on that note, I've decided that the months of February and March are going to be spent in doing a deep clean. Just taking it one room or part of a room at a time. The goal is to clean and minimize some of our junk. Then make a list of all the things that I would like to do for that room at this time. Then when we have the time or the funds to slowly start working on those things. Then if I can get myself through this process now and get myself motivated I'll go through and do a cleaning, toss and re-evaluate my lists again in September and October.

So on top of regular chores, I'm starting with the living room today. I feel this will be the easiest room to do.

Well here good luck to whatever you have planned for the day