breathe breathe breathe- at long last

Hello Blog friends... I know it's been too long since I last posted... but life is ... you know ... life. 
I am happy to report that my whirlwind cleaning-organizing-tidy-ing-packing-de-cluttering-painting-furniture moving time has finally realized two things:  Our house is for sale and my mothers house is for sale. 
I am breathing a little bit today- I don't say breathing easier because the adventure we are on is not easy, but it is an adventure.  First and foremost the adventure of: The State of Real Estate in 2011.

breathe breathe breathe

trying to breathe breathe breathe

Our adventure pales in comparison to one that MANY of you are going through (Japan, those who have lost a child,  life long disabilities)  My heart goes out to you.

We've certainly learned a lot and hopefully by keeping a 'glass half full' attitude we will be happier for this adventure!

Yes, my friends the signs are up and (trumpets sound...) let the house tours begin.  I am going to take pictures and take YOU on one tomorrow.  

These weeks have been busy and I missed you all, my blog friends, and as I try to explain to Mr. Produce, THEY ARE REAL FRIENDS, not figments of my imagination, right?  right?  yes, I know you are.  Thank you for hanging in there.

In these last couple of weeks I have realized  that I enjoy blogging, and while I really WANT it to be a craft blog, it is more of a family/mom/grandma/personal blog.  but hopefully I can share the fun creative things I have found along the way.  A sharing blog, and no I don't aspire to be one of the 7,000 follower blogs.  That is TOO much pressure.  Although... I will be looking for a part time job at the end of this adventure??? so ya never know!

THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME!   and tomorrow YOUR Open House

Consider It All Joy--especially the toilet

Hello friends- I am still alive, barely

After working every day   (I go to work to relax)

Each night brings another challenge…

Tonight is toilet night 

I am replacing the toilet seats AND cleaning all that brown hard water out of the bowl.

It is freezing water.  It snowed BIG TIME last week (just in time for the carpets to be put in so they had to measure them in the garage!! Good thing Mr. Produce had just cleaned that out…) and it is still so cold out!

What can I say, every day is a joy and a big project!!

And I just had to share the toilet project with ya

Cuz I’m nice like that! ( and I should mention that Mr. Produce is OUTSIDE Pressure Washing in 36 degree weather... what a trouper!!!)

HOPEFULLY  I’ll be back to my bloggity self next week!  After out ginormous garage sale

And HOPEFULLY Lauren mailed my camera back …I miss it.

You’ll get scads of photos,… and see all the people that show up early to garage sales, in the snow and rain, THEY DON”T CARE.

( I had to tell my mom NOT to answer the door Thurs or Friday, you see out here in the north forty, people show up at your door with a sad face and say…I’m not going to be here Saturday, can I look at your items now!  It’s a scam I say!!)

Ok no more putting it off, gotta get to those toilets!!!

I’ve been trying to carve out a little time to check out all your blogs… but some days there is nothing left to carve!

Thanks for sticking with me!

Time is running out

I'm behind in most of my goals around the house...
Stress is my constant companion.

I am going to have to take a little vacation from my blog...
We only have two weeks left... and I still have rooms to box--rooms to clean--baseboard to paint--doors to paint--plants to spruce up--Carpet to lay--
...and then there's all the work over at my mothers house too!
You can be sure that I'll have LOTS to say, and LOTS of pictures to take... WHAT? you think I'm going to take pictures of all this mess??? hardly...only the nice finished product to show off all the work we've put into this place. 
(I wonder how much this little project will age me, I already can't walk upright because my back is killing me-and my eyes are watery and half mast... not getting my 9hours of sleep you know)
Are you Feeling Sorry for ME YET??? ha
It will be nice to have it all done.
So don't think I'm ignoring you, I'm just putting in more hours on this house than my body wants to... let alone my mind.  be back March 1st is our goal...only the garage sale is March 5th... so guess our goal is March 7th.  wish me luck

Food Fun Friday - Garlic Lime Tilapia

We have a love hate relationship with Tilapia.  The fish is a nice white fish, and reasonably priced.  But sometimes the meat is just soso for taste! and it is so thin that some pieces (after cooked) just fade away!!
Tilapia is low in fat, and fish is so good for you, AND it is on our South Beach/Atkins Menu!
I finally found a recipe for good Tilapia.  You can make a ton, or just a little, your call! 
Another plus, it is easy-peasy.

Garlic Lime Tilapia

• 3 Tbs. butter
• 2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 6 Tilapia fillets
• Old Bay Seasoning
• 1/4 cup lime juice


Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook for a minute or two.
Season the fish with Old Bay Seasoning on both sides of each fillet. Add to the skillet. Cook for several minutes. Flip and cook the other side for a couple minutes. Pour the lime juice into the skillet. Cover and cook the last few minutes until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Wednesday Wisdom

I had such good remarks yesterday- about organizing and cleaning up the clutter and getting rid of the unnecessary things.... I am copying them to today's Wednesday Wisdom, because they truly are wisdom.
oh yeah, Blog friends ROCK!

My rule is, if I haven't touched it, used it, remembered I had it...I probably don't need it.

Everytime I think about getting something at the store.....I say OUTLOUD, "This is just going to end up in next year's garage sale...nope...I don't need it!"

I have cut WAY down on my clutter...and the saving's account is actually growing! Cool!

I attended a class years ago and the teacher said : stuff owns you. You have to move it, clean it, pay for it, dust it, store it........It makes me think twice about my purchases.

Coming to terms with my 'Saving Addiction'

This weekend we were back to the NEVER ENDING job of getting our house in order.

Over the weekend we (he) painted the LAST room in our house!! 
Next week carpet.
And I am still trying to par down and get rid of stuff we don’t need..

Love it or lose it

Toss and tidy up

de clutter

organize

pack away stuff ya don't need 

These phrases are my watch cry

Here it is ... confession time.... (Mr. Produce look away)...
I really can’t believe all the ‘stuff’ I have JUST IN CASE
I mean come on, WHY? do I have a box of shells, and a whole stack lf construction paper... and a drawer full of crepe paper... and a large heavy box of books my girls read while they were growing up. I could go on but I won't.  (we won't even mention all the costumes I have collected!!)
As much as I preach LOVE IT OR LOSE IT to my mother (who DOES NOT listen to me) I am finding it hard to do this myself. 
Such is my inner dialogue.

I figured I'd "put it out there" so I could be guilted into finally getting rid of the boxes of all this good stuff.  MAYBE...I'll just leave it boxed up and in 5 years if I haven't used it I'll give it to Goodwill.  
yeahhhh
THAT's what I'll do, just box it, label it and no one will be the wiser.
Thanks guys for listening and supporting me...
No more guilt for me, Hey, I'm organized, It's all boxed up right? 
check check and check
here's another motto I just might follow

It's the day of hearts and love- Ever had a bad one???

One of the blogs I follow (the Rowdy Stroudys) told about her worst Valentines day... and asked for other 'bad' Valentine's day experiences.... I all of sudden remembered one that I really hadn't thought about for years.......

As a freshman in college I was friends with absolutely NO ONE of the opposite sex! So it was weird that on Valentines day I received a beautiful box, a LARGE beautiful gold box all tied up in a large red ribbon. On the card was written: from your Valentine, Robert (Robert was the very short, older guy/man that cleaned up the cafeteria. And he was in our ward...)  I felt my face turn red as I opened the beautiful box and saw a dozen long stems.
Yes,  just a dozen STEMS. (seems my roommate's brother worked at a florist and they all thought it would be fun to send me STEMS) 
I displayed them proudly!!
andNOW... yes...you guessed it, YOUR turn to tell about your worst Valentines day experience.  (and Cherie you can tell yours again!...a lesson worth repeating!)

me, only withOUT the actual RED BUDS!!!

I really do love having everyone chime in about their lifes and opinions... I still laugh when I recall all the pros and cons of calling people names like sweetie, and darling and dude!!!!  LOVE YOU GUYS! Here's my appreciation of the day.... a bouquet of flowers for you!!!   WITH the blossoms on!!