It's about time!

Well... I'm a little behind... but that is what life does to us every now and again....

I have finished the first section of the CHRISTMAS 2010 Book! YEAH!!!

I'll be delivering to them to you this week! Did you get your binder?

So check off your list...
Menu Planner
Shopping Planner
and Recipes... plus a little BONUS!
You may or may not enjoy - but it is done!

For April....
I am focusing on
Neighbor /Teacher gift ideas
Short stories / Poems
And a Gift Log

Cost: $8.00 (lots more copies!)
Orders due by April 23rd
Completion date: May 3rd....

So.... let me know if you are interested!

And... how is the planning going? Are you getting excited?!?!?!
I AM!

A change in the plan.... again.....

I know - I know - I'm "wishy-washy"...
but... I'm just trying to get ORGANIZED and my brain WILL NOT SHUT OFF!
Soooooo many ideas running around in there - I had to stop and think for a minute and really put a plan in order... and I think I finally have a plan....


For anyone interested...
I've decided to "change up" my "BOOK" plan...
I have been working and working on organizing it... but soon discovered that it was MUCH too large a task to just "whip" it out... so, here is what I'm going to do with it....

Each month - I'll be putting together the "category" in a packet...
You will need to purchase a 3 ring binder a 3-4" size ring I'm sure will work when all is said and done... and I'll put together the "packet" for the month - you will find it located to the right under "monthly packet" and I'll list the cost there as well - you can pay through pay-pal or make arrangements with me... I'll have the packets available by the 1st of each month. I will need orders for the following month by the 15th of the month... AND as soon as I get a WORKING camera, I'll post a picture of the packet as well as list what is included in the packet.

So for this month - I'm going to start with the
M&M&M&M plan!
(You'll get a "sweet surprise" in your packet as well :))
Rather than try to "catch-up" I'm going to start fresh and try to "catch-up" along the path somewhere - so be watching - as a "surprise" packet just might show up...

In the M&M&M&M packet you will get:
Menu Planner
Recipe Organizer
NEW recipes
(I'm going to include my FAVORITE holiday recipes)
Shopping List
AND divider pages for:
Menu / Shopping List
& Recipes

These are 8 1/2 x 11 pages
Divider pages will be in a sheet protector
3 hole punched (unless you choose not to have them punched)
and they will be ready on March 31, 2010.
If you are interested in the packet the cost is
$6.00
Orders due by March 15, 2010.

Just leave me a message to let me know how many you would want...
Don't forget... this would be a great CHRISTMAS gift for the over the top organizer person on your list... your favorite friend... that hard to "buy" for person... or... YOU!

Let's get organized!

MARCH MADNESS.....

Ok - are you ready...
I'm slowly working on it...
BUT I must get a move on it - Christmas is only 8 months 4 weeks and one day away!
That is.....
Until CHRISTMAS REALLY counts! HOLY COW!!!!

March Madness Month of MENUS!
So....
Off we go...
our M&M&M&M month!!
Go ahead - eat a few too! It's all good!

This month I will be gathering and compiling my menu for the month of December...
I know - you're thinking "but what if that just doesn't work for me when December comes..."
Trust me... It's ok! You gotta start somewhere right?

I have menus for Winter~Spring~Summer~Fall
And... I also have "traditional dinners" for December
I'm sure you do too if you really think about it....
So, just gather those recipes,
and start your shopping list
(you know... for the "special" meals...)

OH! Also - don't forget your "TRADITIONAL"
holiday baking ~
candy making ~
treat taking lists as well.....

Now, with that being said...
I have another plan....
I'll post it tomorrow...
So for today.....
Start gathering your recipes.....

Month 9.... OH MY!

My oh my!! How time flies so QUICKLY!!!
I must say.... can you believe it is MARCH already???
I really, really REALLY meant to post this MUCH MUCH sooner... but FEBRUARY just RAN past me! I simply can not allow this to happen any more! Christmas will be here before you know it at this pace!

So.... I had come up with a theme for each month... I think I jumped the gun a little too quickly with my WILD idea to make this CHRISTMAS better than in the past... (especially this LAST year! agh!) and thus... I OVERWHELMED myself in FEBRUARY!!! SILLY!!! So... here is (or was) the plan for February.... I'm a tad behind... but I'll catch up!

February... "GRRR month"..... I know... It should be "BRRR" month... but I just couldn't get the acronym for the "B" ... (but if you have ANY ideas - I'd love to hear them - and it could possibly change!) For now.... "GRRR!"

G - Gather
R - Repair
R - Replace
R - Replenish

Gather: Gather all the misc Christmas items that just drove you crazy! this year.... stockings, decorations, ornaments, lights, wrapping paper, cards, tags etc.
Now.. the rest - pretty expanitory... REPAIR, REPLACE or REPLISH the items....
February is a good month do to this in - as you can find "clearance" items most anywhere... (and I apologize that this is a tad bit tardy...) BUT hopefully - you were right on the ball and your a few steps ahead of me....

Be sure to get "totes" or "bins" to organize your "stuff" in... Like all that wrapping paper, tags, bags, bows and such... that is one thing that just really drives me crazy! IT IS EVERYWHERE except WHERE I want it to be WHEN I need it.... GRRR! :) But now... I'll be prepared!

I found this really amazing container place on the internet... check it out here! What great ideas and items.... but my brain is now going 100 miles a minute! I'm going to try and figure out a way to make a "shoe organizer" work (because I found some at the dollar store... for like a DOLLAR! :)) and I think I can make it work and hang them (or tack them) to the wall in my storage room so that I know where it is at all times.... the only problem would be keeping the GIRLS out of it!!! But hey! I'm thinking I can make it work..... even the smaller size bags that are used for "travel" kits... maybe those would be great for cards and tags, tape and such... oh... the possibilities!

Just a little FYI - maybe helpful - maybe not - but here it goes....
I have purchased a couple new "totes" to help get my act in gear!
Inside the totes I have taped 2 large envelopes (if I had a camera - I'd show you...)
You know the large gold clasping envelopes....
I taped them so that I can clasp them shut still, but in one envelope I've put "receipts" (this is for the gifts that I'll be purchasing through the next 8 months for "Christmas) and in the other envelope I will be putting "GIFT CARDS" - this will come in VERY handy - as most of the gifts I "GIVE" to extended family are homemade - I'll be purchasing gift cards to places like "ROBERTS" "JOANNS" "HOBBY LOBBY" etc....
The tote is to PLACE the purchased gifts into :)
Also, I have slid into the "Gift Card" envelope a list of the items I have purchased listing "who" it is for.... I tend to forget.... I also will be keeping a copy in my "book"....

So, off to my behind month of GRRR I go! And I'll be back soon with my theme for MARCH MADNESS! Are you ready?

We are breaking ......

For a VERY important announcement....
No! Christmas was not changed... don't get too excited!
But CHRISTMAS around here would be a LOT more fun because of my BREAK!

I REALLY WANT TO WIN THIS.... (and I'm sure you don't!) - but I'm going to share, because I said I would... and I ALWAYS keep my word! :)

I stumbled - somehow across this blog that stated another blogger was giving away not ONE but TWO embroidery machines....
ARE.... YOU..... KIDDING!?!?!?!?! OH MY!!! Heart be still!!!
Can I just say how much I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to WIN WIN WIN!!!!!

So yes - you read right.... TWO EMBROIDERY MACHINES!!!! FREE!
So.... go ahead.... click here to enter yourself..... but remember.... I WANT TO WIN!!!!! :)

Here is what they have to say.....
To celebrate the launch of this new show, our friends at Janome are letting us give away TWO (yes, TWO!!) dream machines! Someone is going to win the Janome 350e EMBROIDERY machine and a second person is going to win the Janome DC4030 SEWING machine! Now how cool is that?!

(You can also see their FUN FANCY STUFF by clicking the DIY-Dish button to the right)

9 months....3 weeks....6 days......

And Christmas will count!!!!
OH MY! It is time to kick into gear!

This week I am taking all my "saved" files of ideas and such and putting them into a "BOOK" - so that it is right at hand.... I have sorted it somewhat like a recipe book - Gifts ideas for her, Gifts ideas for him, Card & tag ideas, Activities, Recipes, Card mailing list, etc.... I'm so excited to FINALLY get this put together! (If you are interested in a copy - let me know - and as soon as I find out how much the "copies" are - I'll let you know) I know, I know, I have them on the computer... but honestly - sometimes - I just need to have it in my hand - you know - something tangible... Plus, it is nice to have a "picture" to remind me - or get my mind moving along too! So... If you're interested.... let me know....

My other projects for this month are making my "Activity/Countdown calendars" and "stockings!" YEAH!!! I love stockings - have I told you that before??? I've been unpicking like crazy - and trying to find designs to put on them... I just can't wait.... Are you getting yours ready? I have lots of stockings if you are in need of any.... Just let me know - it is the "SPECIAL" of the month!

I hope to get a WORKING camera soon! So I can post pictures....

I still need to round up a few totes and sort some things... I'm also going to work on my ornaments - I've decided I want to do a memory tree... should be fun....could be a lot more work than I'm ready for ... but we'll see....


So.... Tell me - what have you been up to? What are your goals for the month?

26 days..... OH MY!

Are you kidding???? Something must be wrong! The month is nearly over.... See! I told you we need to be prepared - it just goes WAY TO FAST!

We are 26 days into the plan.... How are things going? It's time to evaluate....

Honesty....best policy.....
This month was my ORGANIZE month!
Good thing I have 5 more days left!
I wonder if I can skip church Sunday.... JUST KIDDIN!
Check list... here it goes...
Clean/organize food storage room - CHECK
Clean/organize storage room - oops!
Clean/organize spare bedroom - oops 2!
Clean/dejunk girls closets - 2/3 done!
Clean/dejunk MY closet - oops!
Clean/organize linen closet - oops!
Clean/organize hall closet - ok! OK! I'll do it!
Clean/organize laundry room - done
Clean/organize pantry - done - but needs it again!
Clean out bathroom cabinets/drawers -done
Clean out junk drawers - yes drawers - not done!
Make trip to DI! - on my agenda for Saturday!

Well... doesn't look like I did much this month now does it!

Open your book and see where you are heading - have you accomplished or in the process of accomplishing the things that you were wanting to get done this month? I don't want to stress you out - because believe me, I KNOW life happens.... it is happening right now - just so much to do and so little time it seems.... but we must keep pressing forward....

So, take a look at where you were wanting to be by the end of this month - and see what you might be able to accomplish in the next 4-5 days - and if you don't think you can get it done... it's ok - move it out a month or so -(believe me, I'm moving a few things out to my "spring-fling" months) and try again... but whatever you do.... don't start February out behind! Just move it! It's OK!!! Do what you can and let's move forward!

Sometime before Monday, take a minute and sit down to look over your first "list" and choose something to focus on for February - I'll be focusing on my "would/could/should/didn't list"....


ARE YOU READY????