Belly Shot

Oh, I'll have to write an update on how I ended up organizing the girls clothes. Best part was that 2 sets of friends were stopping by Saturday evening so I HAD to get it all picked up and put away. Nothing like company to motivate me to clean up my act!

Now...on to bellies.
I'm 21 weeks. Picture taken last night--after all my make-up was probably gone, but I was still wearing a pretty cute outfit.
Joel was being silly, so I went along with him.
Like the sucked in cheeks? I only wish!

Organizing and a Quick Photo

I'm trying to organize the girls' closet today. Yuck! It's already pretty organized, but it's had some things added over the last few months that are making it full. Thus far, I've already found a small stack of things that need to be put in a "to go" pile.

My greatest frustration with closets is the clothing. Duh! But, how in the world do you keep track of it all?

We've been so blessed to receive lots of hand-me-down clothing for both my girls and my son. I don't think I've really bought Asa clothes in the entire 3 years we've lived here!

But, here is the problem...clothes all fit differently and you have to store the clothing that doesn't yet fit.

So, I have a box for each size of clothing and manage to keep that sorted pretty well. But, it's the "in between" stuff that gets annoying and scattered. For example, Rylee can wear some size 6 shirts or shorts, but most pants are too short. Or, something is labeled wrong or she doesn't like the way it fits (though it would fit her). What do you do with those clothes? Then, there are the ones that need a repair or don't have anything to match it.

So, that's what I started. We'll see if it gets finished!

In the meantime, this is what's on my mind...Kicking, flipping, and making it harder for me to bend over.

How Do You Sort and Part?

We have a problem in our house. It's called "too much stuff". It accumulates and just hangs around.

I know we're fun people and our house is a welcoming place, but really?! Can't the stuff just go?

What kind of stuff, you ask?
Lots of stuff. Let's see, there's clothes that are outgrown. Along with the regular shorts and pants (or shorts) come sock and shoes and underwear and pajamas and swim suits and jackets and hats and belts. Then, there are games that are no longer played. Books that are no longer read. Decorations no longer in style. Really...the list is extensive.
So, to tackle my "too much stuff" in the area of clothing, I decided to listen to the advice of a friend. She said to organize it and label everything and then cover it up and work on it in small increments of time. This was after I said it was just too overwhelming to even start.
So, I took her advice.
Then, the covered up pile sat in my living room until it was absolutely necessary that it be moved--company! Now, it resides in labeled bins under one of my girls' beds. Bit by bit I'm getting rid of it (I hope!).

How do you handle outgrown clothes? What about the "special" ones? Shoes? Old accessories and decorations? Appliances you don't use any longer? Do you have a system?

Looking Back, Looking Forward

I was playing around with Photoshop Elements today (thanks to the encouragement of Ellie playing on it yesterday) and created a new banner for my blog. What do you think? Not bad for a first try, I think.

Well, if you have tried to create and save something, you might be like me and discover once you get ready to "save" your project that your "file cabinet" of computer files is a complete disastrous mess! Mine are.

Because I have a Mac (which i love!!!), I use the iLife products (iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, etc). So, my photos aren't really easy to get to when I need to open them for use in PSE. I also get sent random pictures that I download (apparently) and save (didn't know that!). I have a whole slew of photos that I didn't know were tucked away in a file folder on my hard drive. Hmmm...

So, I thought I'd bless you with these photos that will walk us down memory lane (if you knew me in years past). I just love looking back at years gone by through photos. My kids sure have grown quickly.
The days may be long, but the years are short!

Sweet Treats and Organizing

I know...my thoughts are always random. But, I usually try to only post on one subject at a time. I like each post to have a "theme" and corresponding pictures. Plus, it makes me post more often.

Anyway...the sweet treats.
They have a Rita's in Texas!!!
Fellow GFA staffers from PA found a Rita's Italian Ice shop nearby. It's the only one in Texas, we've been told. Our friends met the owner and told him they work with several other families from PA. He gave her a stack of coupons for a free regular italian ice. So, we went to Rita's last Friday.
It was yummy!
I absolutely loved the bright red lips on the kids.
The Rita's is located in Flower Mound, about 20 minutes from our house. It's in a little shopping area that sort of has a park-like atmosphere. We ate outside, enjoying watching bunches of kids running around, and listened to a band playing classic rock at a restaurant across the patio. (And, my kids have never met a stranger. They walked over to say hi to these girls. Rylee came back a minute later and said "They're nice. [pause, then then seriously] They don't speak English." If you know Rylee's personality, you know it was hilarious!)
Then, on Wednesday the twins went to hang out with Auntie Pam. She and the twins made an ice cream cake while I ran an errand. Then, I returned and we went swimming. That night, Auntie Pam came over to help us eat some cake! It was delicious.
On a completely different note...I have taken on a challenge. I have decided to organize my desk area. When we remodeled our kitchen, we put in an area for the computer/desk. I've had little nooks and spots for things but it tends to accumulate a pile in the middle. I bought a used bookshelf for $5 and stuck it next to the desk. I had a plan for how to use it, but it's also accumulated random items. And, our incoming mail tends to pile up on the island counter.
Joel doesn't like piles. I don't really like piles. We try not to have piles, but they just end up being made. I made file folders, but never stuck things in them. (I'm very visual...out of sight is definitely out of mind for me!) But, I read a blog called "organized junkie" and she had a challenge last week. She calls this sort of area "command central". Makes sense. I have a spot where the kids keep their shoes, a spot for their backpacks to hang, and a place for gloves/hats/jackets in cool weather. But, this area needs organization and a PLAN! So, while I am too late for the official challenge (posting a link and pictures and possibly winning a prize), I'm posting this BEFORE shot to challenge myself (and give you something to hold me accountable for). Check back soon to see our AFTER shot. (There will be an added shelf, some rearranged folders, streamlining phones, etc...by the end of the weekend.)
And, it's led me to examine another spot...our coat closet by the front door that is currently the picture, wrapping paper, random stuff closet. This organizing thing might just snowball on me!

Freebie things

I entered to win a free coupon organizer here.

You can enter too!

Check it out.

More About Food

Recipe organization is still underway. Feel free to still comment and help me out with it!

Next topic I want to throw out there is this--recipes in general!

I always feel "stuck" when it comes to menu planning. I feel like we are always eating the same things over and over again. I've also come to realize that half the battles we have as a family (between parents and kids) over eating good-for-you foods comes when I haven't planned well. In other words, I can handle some objections if I've been planning what we'll have for dinner all day. It's when my confidence is low that this battle becomes more difficult.

A friend recently introduced me to some freezer cooking. I'm liking that option. I will probably supplement it with some of what I've always done. But, the biggest thing that MUST change is the PLAN!

Well, I should say "I need to start planning."

I'm actually meeting with two friends who are in the same place of life with young kids and we're going to work on getting our acts together. Menu planning, cleaning schedule for home, holding each other accountable for daily QT with Jesus, less computer time, etc. I'm excited.

I need to be more organized...with my time and my home. Gotta get some order here!

So, what do you do for recipes/meals? Chicken breast, pork chops, and hamburger tend to be staples around here. We're a meat, veggies, starch family. Both grew up that way. We're trying to venture out, but it's hard to get used to.

How do you menu plan?
How do you keep from getting in a rut?
What is a favorite meal of your family's?

Organizing Things

I've been cleaning out around the house. I have many piles.

I have sold quite a few things in the last several weeks (thank you, craigslist!), but I still have many items left to go. I will eventually have a yard sale, but I'm waiting for warmer weather. Seriously, this is my dining room table full of stuff to sell.
This picture doesn't even show the stuff on the floor in front of the table!

It's mostly stuff from the baby phase of our life (when we had lots of double items, too). Other things are just not used, so they need to go. It's so wonderful to be de-cluttering our house and garage.

But, the reason for my post today is actually RECIPES!

As I have been cleaning out my house and just living life, my recipe collection has been haunting me.

I sold quite a few recipe books in yard sales before moving from Pennsylvania. So, my cookbook collection isn't that crazy. I will probably get rid of a few more in the months ahead, but right now that part is okay.
What's haunting me is a pile of recipe cards that are stacked up and lots of recipes torn from magazines.
Just look at the pile!!!

I have tried to think of a way to organize my recipes so it works best for my lifestyle. I really like having the 4x6 card in front of me by the stove. Our apartment had a magnetic backsplash above the stove and I would just clip the recipe in a magnetic chip clip. I loved it! I have yet to figure out a good thing here at our house.

Also, I was gifted with a very nice recipe book from some special ladies. You can slide your 4x6 recipe cards into the sleeves and organize them by category. I loved it (being able to fully see the recipe as I flip through them) and immediately took out all my 4x6 cards to organize. Problem--not enough pages. And, I can't find refills. (The only ones online are not very inexpensive. So, they're not for me!)

I've been scouring the web for recipe organization. You wouldn't believe how popular a topic it is!

I think I've come up with two options.

The first one came to me while I was shopping at Wal-Mart yesterday. Punch a hole in the top left corner of each 4x6 card and put it on a ring. Have a ring for each food category (I don't get too detailed on categories.)

The second one came today while I was browsing the web. Get a 3-ring binder and page protectors. Slide recipes from magazines or print-outs from the web in page protectors. Get some protectors with 4x6 photo holders and use those for my cards. Only drawback to this method is just how many cards I have and the fact that those photo sheet protectors aren't super cheap either (they are cheaper than the refills for the smaller book I was gifted).

Both these options will allow for expansion and are flexible. They both will allow me to remove my 4x6 card. The cards on rings will require all my magazine recipes to be written on a card--maybe. The binder would allow me to have a pocket page where I can slide recipes yet to be tried.

So...what do YOU think? Come on, my friends! Please, please leave a comment and a suggestion. Even if you just say "I like idea #2" or vice versa. Let me know you're reading. Help me get organized!!!

And, no posting is truly complete without a shot of adorable cooks!