Where Am I?

I have been stuck to my computer for the last 5 days, creating printable/editable PDF files for my etsy store. This is my first time attempting to create something like this and I've had my fair share of frustrations over the last few days. I'm on my last straw with this whole thing, but need to finish because I've promised some customers that I'd create it.

My latest issue is that my form fields are all named the same thing due to default naming that Adobe creates...and when you try to merge the files together, the fields with the same names copy the same writing. It's all confusing sounding, I know. But it's not good. Now I'm tasked with renaming every single field in all 80 documents. Ewwe.

And tomorrow I have my first substitute job. I'm very excited.

So as for me, I'm here, but not. I miss blogging so much, but I need to finish this before I do anything else. Bear with me. I'll be back soon.

My Favorite Things: Belkin Surge Protector

I bought this Belkin Conserve Switch Surge Protector last year for our "entertainment center". As we've acquired more video game systems over the last few years, I'm sure it's made our electric bill go up, even if just by a little bit each month. Video game systems are energy vampires -- they continue to use electricity even when they're supposively shut off.

This surge protector allows you to plug two electronics that you want to "always be on" into the top two plugs (like your TV and a lamp). The other eight plugs are for those electronics that you want to switch off when you're not using any of them -- like video game systems, DVD players, etc. The switch comes with a sticky back if you want to stick it to something. I keep ours in our remote caddy.

This post was not compensated by the manufacturer in anyway. I wrote it purely out of my love for this product.

Reality Check: My Workspace

Okay, seriously. This (below) is what I have been fighting all summer long. I cannot for the life of me keep this desk clean. The rest of my place is pretty much kept tidy and organized, but this space is a mystery.

Before yesterday I was only on my laptop, working away on my blog, etsy store, pinterest, email, and keeping my rss feed empty. And then I decided yesterday that since I'm creating my printables all day long for the last week, I should be using the desktop computer...duh. Two BIG monitors, a real keyboard and mouse...what was I thinking? I love my laptop -- wouldn't trade it for the world. But I gave in and created an account on Chris' computer and started working. I got so much done yesterday. My etsy orders are growing -- more requests than anything. I'm currently working on a big home management binder kit full of 50+ (so far) documents that are all editable. It's amazing. I have two awesome customers who are giving me their two cents about what I should include. (So helpful -- thanks!) It just keeps growing and growing...

And then there's the so-called kitchen table. I can't remember the last time we ate there.

And then we have the crates that are left over from the coat closet clean out I did a few weeks ago. I don't know what to do with them (any ideas?) -- I don't want to get rid of them because I know I could use them in my classroom (someday).

Oh -- did you see that monkey on the floor by the crates? That is what I battle with e.v.e.r.y day. I pick up the toys, Jazz takes them out when I walk away. Which reminds me...

These pictures are from two years ago at our old place (oh how do I miss living somewhere nice...we shared an apartment with my brother and his girlfriend, so we could afford to live somewhere nice). Jazz hasn't changed one bit though. He just looks so innocent, sitting there wondering why I'm taking his picture. (And his toy bin was on the other side of the room...so he transported them to the sunny spot on the carpet.)

What To Do About My Spice Storage Issue...?

I'm having an issue.

As I broaden my cooking ventures...meaning I'm using recipes to create meals from scratch rather than boxed meals...I'm accumulating more and more spices. My (apartment) kitchen storage is not the best.

My spices are sitting on the lazy susan and are now being bought in bigger sizes...which means they won't fit on the lazy susan. (See the garlic salt container to the left.) And yesterday I bought a parsley container about the same size. I don't know what to do with my lack of storage room.

Plus I should mention that I'm short -- a whole 5'2" -- so I need a step ladder to even reach the second shelf.

I love these ideas...

I really would love the magnetic containers that I could refill as needed, but I don't have anywhere to put a magnetic board.

iHeart Organizing

I love all of the baskets that are labeled along with the shelf -- that way the husband will know exactly where to put the olive oil after he just took it out 5 seconds ago...

a bowl full of lemons

If I had drawers I would definitely be going that route. I love how easily I'd be able to reach access them.

expand-a-drawer spice organizer

If I had the counter space I would definitely get a freestanding spice rack. I love the look of them.

olde thompson stainless steel spice rack

This pull down organizer would be perfect for my lack of height. Unfortunately you have to mount it to the shelf and I don't want to put holes in it.

rubbermaid pull down spice rack

And last, but not least, this is probably what I'll go with. I'm just not 100% sure yet. Plus, I don't like the price. If you have one of these, please let me know if you like it and if it's worth it to purchase or not. (Thanks!)

super spice stack

How do you organize your spices? What would you do in my situation of lack of storage and accumulation of spices?

Wonderful Words for Today...

{source}

Just a little something I need to remind myself of every time I'm depressed or anxious, because unknown to me until now, it's so true. Living and learning...

This Is How I Feel Every Morning...

My wonderful husband sent this to me awhile back. He knows me all too well. It's too funny and true not to share.

{source}

My Favorite Things: The Hunger Games Triology

I have been consumed by Mockingjay for the last two days and just finished. I had heard a lot about The Hunger Games triology and decided to read The Hunger Games when it went on sale on Amazon. Of course, I bought it for the Kindle and it was just under $6 I believe. I was hooked. Loooooved the first book. Read it in two days. Took awhile for me to get back into reading and when I started Catching Fire, I was hooked again and read it in two days. And then after a two month break from reading, I finally decided to read Mockingjay Sunday night and therefore got nothing else accomplished yesterday or today.

They're making a movie, of course, and it comes out next summer. I'm not too sure how I feel about the cast choices, but I also felt the same way about Twilight. When you read the books, you get your own images in your head, and the movies destroy them. Except with Harry Potter; I thought they did an excellent job choosing the cast for that -- exactly what I pictured.

If you're into young adult fiction, which I often am, then you should read The Hunger Games. You can get it for $4.69 on the Kindle or $4.94 in paperback on Amazon right now.

Not sure what I'll read next that will fill my young adult fiction void. I have plenty of other non-fiction, adult books to read...ya know, the advice giving ones...self-help I think the term is? They're no fun though. I'll have to go searching for a new love.

Free Printable: Editable Blank Checklist

Want a free printable? How about an editable blank checklist?

Download the pdf for free here. To save to your computer and access the "editable" feature of the document, once on the Google docs page for the file, click "file" (within Google docs, not on your internet browser) and select "download original". Save the file to your computer and enjoy.

Want instructions and tips on how to use an editable pdf document? Download those for free here.

Check Out My New Thirty-One Products

A few weeks ago I purchased two more Thirty-One products. I posted about my mobile office previously, and have updated my office in a way...see the pictures below.

I bought another organizing utility tote in the windsor bouquet pattern. (The plastic open-top file box (the medium size) is from The Container Store.) I plan to use the other tote whenever I finally get a teaching job...

I also bought the fold-n-go organizer with notepad, also in the windsor bouquet pattern. I bought it to use in my purse to hold my coupons and shopping lists. I love the ribbon tie on the outside.

I keep my store and restaurant coupons in this velcro pouch.

It came with this matching notepad.

I keep a pen and the coupons I plan on using for my next shopping trip in this pocket.

The fold-n-go organizer can also hold a Kindle. I've put my Kindle in the pocket a couple times -- fits perfectly.

Want to purchase some sweet Thirty-One merch? You can shop through my new friend and Thirty-One consultant, Jessica Wright. Through August 31 you can get 15% off your entire order!

This post is not compensated in any way. I wrote it because I wanted to, not because I was asked to by anyone. =]

How I... Organize My Recipes

I've been attempting to cook and bake for awhile now. I'm not very good -- somehow I always mess things up. I have been collecting recipes for the last few years anyway though. I first started with photo albums and put all of my recipe cards in the albums. I hated rewriting recipes from the internet onto a 4 x 6 recipe cards...most of the time it didn't all fit. Plus, I liked the pictures that came along with the internet print out. So I decided to create two recipe binders -- one with entrees and the other with the rest of the recipes (side dishes, appetizers, beverages, etc.)

Here's what I created a few years ago...

These two binders I bought from Staples. They're made by Carolina Pad.

For my category tabs I used decorative tab dividers that I bought at Staples. They're Carolina Pad as well. I put the tab dividers inside page protectors (I got that idea from Prudent Baby) so they stuck out further than the rest of the pages. It was kind of difficult to do, because you have to make a slit in the side of the page protector for the tab to stick through. If you make the slit too big, the divider will slide around.

One thing I didn't like about this was how flimsy the tab dividers ended up becoming. They were made out of something like card stock (not sure?), so after awhile they started to get crappy.

Printed recipes just got hole punched and inserted into the binder.

Recipes from magazines were inserted into a page protector with a piece of colored paper behind so that I could put another recipe on the other side without it looking funny.

Smaller clipped recipes were taped to a piece of paper inside of a page protector.

I used scrapbook letter stickers to label the front of the dividers and wrote on the tab dividers with a silver Sharpie.

I just wasn't crazy about the way that this binder was looking now-a-days. The binder, being plastic covered, started to crack/rip. I wasn't crazy about the tab dividers not being easily turnable. I also wanted to redo my categories. So I decided to just redo the whole thing.

Here's what my recipe binders look like now...

I bought these binders from Target. They're made by GreenRoom. They were kind of pricey, but it was exactly what I wanted and they seem really durable. Plus, they're really cute. =]

I bought these Avery Big Tab Pocket Insertable Plastic Dividers from Staples. I wanted these so I could put recipe booklets into the pockets and I love Avery tabs -- they're very durable. I bought the 5 tab dividers. They also make 8 tab dividers.

I have this huge stack of colored paper and luckily I have each color of paper to match my tabs.

The categories I used in the brown binder are: appetizers & snacks, beverages, bread, desserts, and side dishes. I used an Avery template from their website to type up and print on the tab inserts.

The categories I used in the cream binder are: beef, breakfast, fish, one dish meals & stews, pasta, pizza, poultry, sandwiches, and soup.

I didn't cram the clipped recipes together this time. I wanted to leave room to write notes about the recipes on the sides.

And as for the recipe albums, I still use those. I subscribe to Betty Crocker and Pillsbury cooking magazines. The recipes that come in the magazines are 4 x 6 sized, with a picture on the front and the recipe on the back. I also just received a bunch of hand written recipes from family at my bridal shower on 4 x 6 recipe cards.

How do you organize your recipes?

I Can See Clearly Now...

This was supposed to post on Thursday morning...and didn't for some reason. I didn't realize until just now. So the references to certain days are in reference around Thursday.

Oh my...seriously. I have been just dying over this living room window since we moved in to this place in June of 2010. We're on the second level, so I couldn't go outside and clean the window. I didn't want to take out the screen and half clean each window. I didn't know what to do, so I left it. I don't understand because the bedroom window isn't as gross and the rain doesn't clean it at all. Being that our apartment building owners don't care about how this place looks anymore, no one is going to be washing my window for me. So since I've been in this "deep cleaning" mood all week, I was bound and determined to clean that window one way or another.

So you can't totally tell by this picture, but the window is pretty much just caked in dirt.

Big cobweb on the outside of the window.

And then somehow I discovered that the sliding window comes out! Seriously!? I lifted up on the window and the bottom part came up above the track enough that I could tilt it and take it out. Oh, I was giddy I was so excited.

I don't usually use paper towels to clean, I use microfiber cloths, but this was a nasty job. I wasn't going to use 10 microfiber cloths to clean the window. I used my Shaklee Basic H2 window cleaner and degreaser. I used the degreaser to clean the metal frame around the window. Worked like a charm.

Wa-la! For real...can you see the difference? Since I was home alone, there was not getting pictures of me taking out the screen and hanging outside the window with my Swiffer Sweeper in one hand, wiping the (left) outside window. It was nuts. Ridiculous even. But it was worth it!

I also pulled out the refrigerator and oven and cleaned behind them for the first time. Gross. I can't believe how much crap was behind each appliance. Pens, markers, a roll of film, a library card, food, bottle caps, etc., etc. Gross. I hand cleaned the kitchen floor with Shaklee Basic H2 degreaser. It went from ewwe to brand new. So amazing. I am going nuts deep cleaning.

That was all on Monday.

Yesterday I went to ACE Hardware to get some screen repair patches to fix the holes in the screen, Staples to get some goods for my recipe binder project (I'll be posting eventually after I get it done), the car wash (oh baby did the Jeeper Creeper need it or what), and Target to get cleaning stuff and other goods.

I have an interview this morning and then need to get my substitute application turned in. Baseball game tonight. Busy busy. I hope I can post something else today. Something with more content. Something more exciting. We'll see. I have a list of a million things I want to post about. I just need the time and energy. =]