Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts

Monday, October 10, 2011

simplify.

So, as I mentioned the other day... { Everything must have a "home"!  If it doesn't fit, nicely, it needs to go }  Therefore, I have been on a "simplify the house cleaning extravaganza" Between my desire for our house to be clean & tidy AND my new found cleaning system, I feel like a new woman! And my house is looking awesome!  

Here are a few things I've done...

               Fridge: AFTER (don't have a before, sadly)            Laundry room: AFTER*    
 
*Our iron & ironing board used to be where the brooms are hanging -- but I moved them upstairs & hung them in our bedroom (in an out of the way place that you can't see from our bed!) I figured this way we will actually iron when we pull a shirt out vs needing to go downstairs to do it!
                                 Pantry: BEFORE                                          Pantry: AFTER
   Pantry: BEFORE                                          Pantry: AFTER
My weekly "3 times a week" extra chore list is actually getting crossed off! YEAH!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

new toys = fun

 { photo: Wes at his first birthday party }

Our little guy just had his first birthday!  And we were so blessed to receive so many great new toys!  Wes was thrilled! ...for about 2 days! Then... it happened.  He got bored! All these new toys & he could care less.  I was devastated.  So, thanks to my genus mom & sister, the toy rotation plan came to life & our boring toy problem has been SOLVED!

Toy rotation plan:

> divide toys into 3 piles = 3 week rotation (I tried to put similar kinds of toys in separate piles) *I do have a few larger toys (like his "ride on" car) that I just rotate every other week- so if it has been out, I put it away - if it's put away, the next week I pull it out
> buy 2 plastic bins (size according to your size of toy pile)
> leave one set out/put away in toy bins/baskets
> put the other 2 sets of toy piles into the plastic bins & store -- store away, but also still easy access for you to make switch time easy -- I stack mine in a closet (the bin on top is the bin that I will pull out to play with next)
> play with toys for ONE WEEK
> Sunday night when he goes to bed, I pull the old switcheroo!  (Again, I put this bin under the other one in our closet so that the bin on top will be easier to grab the next week)
> Monday morning = Mondays that can be so drab are the most exciting day ever!!!! NEW TOYS!!!!!!

...This morning... I can hardly get a bottle of milk ready without Wes flipping out because he wants it sooo badly!!  (him wanting the milk badly is every morning!) And we were walking from the kitchen into the family room where I give him his bottle... he's frantically following me UNTIL... his eye catches the magnetic farm on our fridge!  "That wasn't there yesterday!!!" He thought to himself.... You are right my genius child.  It is NEW. But old.... shhh don't tell him it's his.  I can't tell you how much he loved that farm today!  And he hasn't played with that in months! So fun!  I love our toy rotation!


{ photo : Wes playing with his new birthday toys at his party }

Monday, October 3, 2011

My home thanks you.

I have been trying to get a good cleaning system down for our home for... well, 6 years now... and sadly it has been 6 years of new ideas after new ideas.  Apparently I'm not so great at sticking to routines!  I long to have my home be perfectly organized, decorated, comfortable, beautiful AND CLEAN { as Amy put it, cozy, cute & clean -- I like that! } Sadly, clean just seems to always be the kicker!  And that grosses me out!

BUT, thanks to Amy, I THINK I found one that works!  I haven't been perfect at it (yet).  But, seriously, this is the closest I've ever gotten! YEAH!!!!

Here's the system:
(I modified it to fit my house & weekly routine -- do the same to make it your own! See Amy's version here)


Mondays: Laundry Day meal plan & grocery toy rotation (not included in 25 min) 
(I chose to do laundry this day b/c our Mondays are a part of travel for us a lot & laundry is something I can easily do when we get home-- plus its great to throw everything from our suitcase right into the wash!)
Tuesdays:  Downstairs only: Dust + Floors (vacuum + mop kitchen) 
Wednesdays: Bathrooms
Thursdays: Upstairs: Dust + Floors  
Fridays: Wash Bed Sheets  
(my Friday's are really busy, so just doing one load of sheets is actually tangible & so lovely to enjoy the fresh sheets for the weekend!)
Saturday: Yard work
Sunday: Sabbath. Rest. The house has been cleaned.  
Kitchen: clean as its dirty (daily wipe down for us!)

Daily: a 10 minute pick up before bed

Some rules:
-Each daily chore should take no longer than 25 minutes.
-Let kids help me with the chore 
-Resist moving on to another area. Rest. It’s clean and done.

3 Times a Week:
-choose 3 areas in my house to organize, de-clutter and remove “stuff” to keep things simple. This will help to not spend –  see what “things” take up time already.
-This should also have a 20 minute time on it – when 20 is up I need to either come back to it again or it’s done.
-have a box/bin for my car that is Goodwill bound - drop it off when it’s full (I keep ours in the garage)

{ cozy, cute & clean ideas }
> Check out Norwex! They are a green cleaning supplies company -- I'm obsessed... even though I don't have anything yet :) But it's on my wish list!!! So I'll let you know more when I get some stuff! *Goal: buy all Norwex products = never buy another nasty chemical cleaning product again! Whoo hoo!

> Daily goal: clean after each meal ASAP -- put dishes in dishwasher/hand wash, wipe table, sweep floor (under little man's high chair) -- and the backup plan for when "life gets in the way" is to do all this before I go to bed... leave no mess behind!  Bonus for those late, tired nights when I don't want to touch one more dish = wake up to a sparkling kitchen ready for a new day of mess!!
> Everything must have a "home"!  If it doesn't fit, nicely, it needs to go.  My thought is, if we don't have a  lot of stuff (period) AND if what we do have we really love & it has a lovely place to call home then it will be more difficult for clutter/mess to happen.... when we get it out, put it away. Don't have a lot, don't clean a lot. Done. 
> new obsession: chalkboards!  I have one in our master bathroom (well...2!) One is for my hubs & I to leave notes for each other (encouraging or reminders).  And one is very small, for scripture verses, so I am reminded of Truth first thing in the morning :)  My third is in the kitchen.


Do you have any cozy, cute & clean ideas??

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

hair it is.

So I'm not one for doing my hair in creative ways.  It basically comes down to 3 looks with the ever occasional 4th... down & straight, in a side braid, in a side pony tail OR... down & curly (very rare cause it ends up all frizzy by the end of the day!)  But, despite my few looks, I've been inspired by my friend Lisa who is challenging herself with new hairstyles for 30 days!  I'm not ready to tackle that! (You go girl!) But I did a version of one of her looks today.

...We'll see how long this lasts rough-housing with Wes all day :)

Hair... I mean here it is...
  

Friday, June 17, 2011

baby steps.

A journal to financial peace by Dave Ramsey { found here }

Baby Steps:
1. $1,000 to start an emergency fund
2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
3. 3-6 months of expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
5. College funding for children
6. Pay off home early
7. Build wealth and give!

Friday, February 25, 2011

fate or free will?

"Your life is made up of defining moments - random encounters, split-second decisions and unique
 connections that have led you to where you are today.  Are these events in your life
 predetermined by fate, or are they the result of you own free will?"  (found here)

This is the question asked by the upcoming film: The Adjustment Bureau (coming March 4)

You can submit your story & the world gets to vote if they believe it is fate or free will. Hmm...

Matt Damon & Emily Blunt (actors from the film) believe that it is both -- there are things in their life that they decided the fate of, and other things that they had no control over, but something or someone else did.

Who is in control?  That is the question.

In Christianity, we ask this same question - do I have a say?  Or is God the one that determines my every move?

What do you think?





1 “At this my heart pounds 
   and leaps from its place. 

2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, 
 to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. 

3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven 
and sends it to the ends of the earth. 

4 After that comes the sound of his roar; 
he thunders with his majestic voice. 
When his voice resounds, 
   he holds nothing back. 

5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; 
he does great things beyond our understanding. 

6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ 
 and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ 

7 So that everyone he has made may know his work, 
he stops all people from their labor.

8 The animals take cover; 
 they remain in their dens. 

9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, 
the cold from the driving winds. 

10 The breath of God produces ice, 
and the broad waters become frozen. 

11 He loads the clouds with moisture; 
 he scatters his lightning through them. 

12 At his direction they swirl around 
 over the face of the whole earth 
   to do whatever he commands them. 

13 He brings the clouds to punish people, 
or to water his earth and show his love.
 14 “Listen to this, Job; 
   stop and consider God’s wonders. 

15 Do you know how God controls the clouds 
 and makes his lightning flash? 

16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, 
 those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? 

17 You who swelter in your clothes 
 when the land lies hushed under the south wind, 

18 can you join him in spreading out the skies, 
  hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19 “Tell us what we should say to him; 
   we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. 

20 Should he be told that I want to speak? 
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up? 

21 Now no one can look at the sun, 
 bright as it is in the skies 
   after the wind has swept them clean. 

22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; 
 God comes in awesome majesty. 

23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; 
in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. 

24 Therefore, people revere him, 
for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”
Job 37 }

Saturday, February 19, 2011

enjoying the weather.

 This was on our walk yesterday -- 62 degrees!  We walked to Kroger & I got a coffee & rented a movie for the evening.
Today it's only in the high 40's, but it still feels really nice in the sun!  Wes loved our walk so much he fell asleep.  Love this little guy!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

"to do" list before you have a baby.

1. learn how to get ready for the day in 30 min. or less (you never know how long they will or won't nap... to be safe, plan on 30-- then even with a 20 min. nap, hopefully your baby will be OK to chill in bed for a few) *this includes shower & shaving, hair, makeup & clothes.  Good luck.... And don't skip the shave... you still have a hubby :)


2. train your hair to be able to go at least every other day for a shower (more would be best) -- helpful tips: dry shampoo - works great & smells wonderful!


3. ...and find a way to wear it dirty that still makes you feel pretty (I suggest up in some way)
{ this is my go-to-no-shower-up-do }

3. have exercise equipment at home - no space? no problem... I recommend this.

4. finish all projects you would like to do (even 9 months pregnant you will have an easier time getting it complete)

5. either get used to drinking cold coffee OR buy a great thermos that keeps your coffee warm :)  ...Or the other option is to microwave over & over & over.... *I suggest buying some type of one-cup coffee pot -saves time not having to clean & fill a big pot

6. finish all books you've started to read (...you'll be busy reading baby books & blogs)
*Here's my favorite book & my favorite blog.

7. save some money to buy a few post-pregnancy clothes (tops & bottoms) - my tip: go to walmart, I found super cute skinny jeans for $7!!  You'll probably only need them for a few weeks, but you don't feel like wearing your maternity clothes & you won't fit in your old stuff. Sorry. But bonus is you get to experience the joy of jeans becoming to big on you if you have a transition pair or two!  *tops- it is probably worth it to splurge more than $7 :) ...because your chest will be large for a long time!  (at least as long as your breast feed)
(one more thing... wait to buy your nursing bra till your milk comes in-- until then you can always wear a sports bra-- and buy one that is both comfy & pretty)

8. make sure you have all your baby essentials & do all your returns & exchanges

9.  finish all your thank you cards from your baby shower(s)

10. have someone help you give your home a good hard clean!  ...When you're sitting around all day (...and night) feeding your newborn, you don't want to be starring at the cobwebs you couldn't bend over & reach up to get while you were pregnant :)

11. if you like to watch TV, get some type of DVR... or get used to missing half the show

12. the most important one... prepare yourself to be blessed beyond your imagination with the most precious gift that you get the opportunity to take care of!  It's worth all the sacrifice, tears, dirty hair & new jeans :)

Monday, October 4, 2010

hip hop kids.

Seriously? This is amazing. Watch this.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

love this.

Ok, so here are a few things I'm loving right now...

> Lil' P-Nut (Ellen DeGeneres Show) -- this is the cutest thing ever!
> So You Think You Can Dance (Ellen DeGeneres Show) -- amazing! Wish I could dance like this :)
> Today is National Coffee Day! (some stores are giving away free coffee today!) ...Here's me enjoying my first cup of caffeinated coffee in 9 months on the 20th!
> my adorable little boy... I had to get him a hoody since it's so chilly out! He's so cute I can hardly stand it :)

Thursday, June 3, 2010

when in Rome...

befriend a good barista who always smiles & who will treat you well & make pretty designs in your cappuccino with chocolate :) mmm.

make sweet friends like these ones & have a lot of good laughs together!

go to the best gelateria & be patient waiting in line so you can eat the yummy stuff!

find a beautiful piazza & spend time there each morning. Spend time there with Jesus, with friends. Just start your day with a good cup of cappuccino & a cool breeze.

eat lots of chocolate cornettos -- and if you're pregnant, you just might get another one for the little bambino!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

cleaning poop. already?

so I know I am preparing to be a mother... but I think that being only 5 months pregnant, it IS too early for me to have to wake up & clean poop! Yep, that's what I said! POOP!

We sleep with our windows open... apparently a bird somehow pooped on our window screen which sprayed all over the window... then managed to make it on to our WHITE comforter & WHITE throw pillow. Lovely. That wasn't how I wanted to wake up... cleaning bird poop off white fabric was not on my "to do" list for the day. But, I guess God has His funny ways of preparing you for motherhood... and this just may be one of them! :)

Although on a high note, this does make me really glad that we decided NOT to place our bed directly under our window...

(sorry, I already cleaned it or else I'd post a photo- oops!)

Monday, April 12, 2010

does this mean I'm nesting?

I'm trying to get more organized... in many ways... I don't really have a system, I just go through spurts of trying to get everything done, then getting disappointed that I didn't. That's not really the best way to do it, I'm pretty sure. I figure if it's not working now... it's not going to work when we add a baby to the mix. So I think I'm making some headway on a new plan, and hopefully this works out!

I went to a women's luncheon at OBF a few weeks ago, and one of the speakers shared some helpful tips from FlyLady. It's actually pretty helpful! Not everything on the website applies to everyone... so I've made my own modifications & created my own display systems, but I'm feeling empowered to conquer this!

Here's what I've been working on...

-weekly tasks are now on our fridge, with a refillable pad to write down my grocery list- & it even works as a pencil holder! Check.
-recipe binders are on their way to being complete (I need to get another binder & more paper!)
-daily routine is posted in my bathroom. Check.
-I'm working on my first weekly menu (we usually decide the day of what we'll eat that day).

Half a day down.... the rest of my life to go.

Next, keep following the plan.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

first day of spring.

Perfect time for our flowers to begin to bloom. How did they know today is the first day of spring? God is so sweet... I've been waiting all week for this!

I went to our church's ladies spring gathering this morning. It was lovely. Then I baked some brownies/cookies & we're off to our small group's "fiesta" progressive dinner.

enjoy your first day of spring!

Monday, October 5, 2009

my architectural personality.

You're a refined Victorian!

You love antiquing or working in the garden when not planning the next fabulous party you're hosting. You love the preparations and presentations of life but this doesn't mean you're shallow -- far from it. You want your friends and family to feel cared for and comfortable. Like a Victorian house, you can be dark with mysterious passages, but for someone willing to look there's always a sunny spot.

[ find out your own architectural personality! click here. ]


and then I made Scott take it...

You're solid as a Ranch house!

Simple and suburban by nature, you exude a cozy warmth that lets people know you don't mind if they leave their shoes on in the house -- it's only carpet, after all! Family and friends are important to you, and you love having them stop by. While not overly fussy or vain, you care about your looks -- but honestly, you're happiest in sweatpants. To you, life isn't measured in the goods you've acquired, but in time well spent.


Saturday, September 26, 2009

hello fall.

hello fall. you're my favorite. thanks for coming back again. please stay for a long time this year. and thank you for your pretty colors. oh, and you smell good too.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

25 random things about me

This is something that is going around on facebook.  I thought I'd share it with you too.

1. I’ve made a few really good life-changing decisions… best decision #1 chose to ask Jesus Christ into my life as my personal Saviour at age 5 with my mom by my side, leading the way as she always has done ☺

2. best decision #2 chose to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, Scott Bryan Ebsen, July 10, 2005—we’ve been married for over 3 ½ years now! I liked him (a lot) from day one!

3. best decision #3 chose to join full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ in 2006, working on college campuses around the world as a spiritual resource for students—telling them about the hope & joy found only in Jesus. I love my job! I get to spend all day face-to-face with people, talking about the most important thing.

4. back to my husband… my sister “introduced” us my freshman year of college (Scott’s junior year)—officially we met on a Campus Crusade for Christ spring break trip to Daytona Beach—yea 'El Caribe'!!! (a lot of couples have met there! Its magical)

5. I always liked older guys and always knew I would marry a man 2 years older than me… and I actually did! I usually always liked my sis’ friends, maybe that’s why I said that, who knows?! …It just seemed like the perfect age apart …or maybe I’m just that mature… ☺

6. Getting married in the summer of 2005 means that I was married my senior year of college (Scott was graduated). Obviously there were some hard things about that—but it would have been hard to not be married when we were ready to be married too. So, I do not regret that decision, at all!

7. I really like international food; Italian, Thai & Indian… specifically carbonara, arrabiata & tiramisu (Italian), pad Thai (the best is from Teak Thai!!!), & Tikka Masala with a side of naan (Indian).

8. I don’t like to eat dessert unless its chocolate. For me, I’ve concluded its just not worth getting fat unless its chocolate…then its worth every pound.

9. I’m obsessed with Western Europe. I love everything about it. I’ve only been to Liverpool, England & Rome, Italy—but they’ve changed my life! I love the history, the buildings, the cities, the arts, the food, the music, the public transportation, the way of life, the people, the languages… I could go on and on…

10. If you didn’t pick this up in #9 I’m obsessed with cities. I begged my mom all through junior high & high school to move to Chicago… we didn’t… now I’m working on Scott ☺ Yes, I know I live in Oxford, Ohio. The Lord has different plans than me & I am more than fine with that & willing to follow His plans & not mine.

11. I love photography. Which is why I chose to be a studio art/photography major at Miami University. Who wouldn’t want to have their homework be one of their favorite things to do?? I love capturing memories & God’s creation & sharing how beautiful it is with everyone.

12. I really like movies, no, love movies. If I start watching one, its really hard for me to not finish it. That probably means I like closure. I have to know the ending. And I only like it if it’s a very happy ending. Enough bad endings happen in life, why do I need to see a fake one in a movie?

13. I’m a big component for living every day as if it were your last. We don’t know how many days are left in our life. All we know is that we have today. That’s what God says in the Bible, and I choose to live that way so that every day is my favorite day—living to not miss out on seeing God & glorifying Him.

14. Because of #13 sometimes that means I wear the same outfit multiple times a week (especially if I’m seeing different people!) Why wouldn’t you want to wear your favorite sweater or hat on the best day of your life?! (also another reason why I love Europe #9… they own like 5 really nice outfits & will were the same thing all week, love it!)

15. …my favorite days also include my husband. He really is my best friend, and no offense to anyone else, but I have the most fun when he is around.

16. Details really matter to me, in so many ways. I love seeing how God reveals Himself in the details & knits things perfectly together.

17. When I was little I had a New York accent… no idea where that came from. But people thought that I was from NY & very confused when they found out I am from Cincinnati, Ohio & no relation to NY.

18. If there is a British spelling of an English word, I like the British spelling better. It kinda makes more sense too, the way you say it. Examples: Saviour, behaviour, etc.

19. Ok, I blog. Depending on who you are I’m slightly embarrassed. But I want to explain myself either way (maybe you'll start one!)… Its great for keeping in touch with friends on deeper things & it helps me process (which I can forget to do) & it keeps me accountable to create art—because I want to share things with people. Accountability is big, because if I don’t have anything to blog about… its probably because I’m rushing through life & missing out on what God is doing in it. And I like to read other people’s blogs too. I’ve gotten some really neat ideas from them.

20. I’m a passionate person. I can easily get fired up about things I’m passionate about. Examples: the Spirit-filled life (if you don’t know about this, PLEASE ask me! It will change your life, seriously), using your gifts/passions for God’s glory, creating welcoming environments, including people. But Scott says I get passionate about everything.

21. I’m very fair. I do not like cheaters or unfair situations. I give equal servings of food (or more to others). I like to follow the rules (unless its a rule that is meant to be broken or its silly or unimportant).

22. I literally can’t lie.

23. I don’t like to play games unless I know I have a chance of winning. So I guess that means I’m competitive. I always thought I wasn’t. But that’s only cause I don’t want people to be competitive with me if I’m not good at it.

24. I love decorating, cooking & traveling… so I like watching all of that on TV—A lot of HGTV & the travel channel.

25. it took me a while to actually sit down & do this—and then to finish writing out all 25 because… #25 I hate pressure!!! And I felt pressured to think of 25 great/interesting/fun/etc. things about me that you would actually want to read... Know that I am not pressuring you to write 25 things about you… but I honestly do really enjoy reading about you!! …way more than writing all this about myself!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

day 8

product of the day:  stainless steel magnetic cloth by Casabella (microfiber)

*(casabella) that's "beautiful house" in Italian!   Just in case you were wondering.  I practiced my Italian in the car today!

I don't know about you, but stainless steel can really get on my nerves-- it's never clean!  But thankfully, there is a solution!  My mom & I went to World Market (its going out of business, sad!)  today & we found this!  And, it works!!! Finally!  So now you know that pretty stainless steel is possible.

(thats my coffee pot in the picture-- its NEVER looked like that since we bought it!)

Problem: solved.

My mom also hooked me up with a bunch of great international food & cooking items.  I can't wait for my husband to return (2 more days!) so I can cook him some good international meals we love so much!  Thanks mom!!!

It was a great day.  Good company, good food, good shopping (although the Walmart we went to is going out of business too, wierd!)... and we saw a good movie!  She invited me to join her for a good chick flick, Bride Wars.  I love movies!!!  

A day full of my favorites.  What's not to love?!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

genius

So, I was looking at some blogs... I know I'm cool... but this really is... the light lane!   Maybe I'm over protective of my dear husband who loves to ride his bike.  Or maybe this is just a really good idea?!  I mean, it is hard to see bikers, I know it scares me when they are on the road in the dark.  This, my friend, is genius.  The question of the day is... where do you get one?!