More January Random

There is no school today, the teachers have a work day without students.  Last Monday was a holiday so I am enjoying having another Monday at home. The best part of not working on a Monday is the Sunday evening before, just chillin'. 

Just a random post today. I am still on my declutter, get organized and pare down the junk January kick.  I filled the back of the Jeep last week and brought a load of things to the thrift store. I have cleaned the laundry/work room.  I could get rid of more craft stuff, but just wasn't ready. I cleaned out the cabinets above the washer and dryer, wiped down all flat surfaces and mopped.

I sewed a new liner for our dirty clothes basket.  Remember, I am not a seamstress. I'm just a gal sewing seams with stress.  I am pretty proud of the fact that there are no open seams, my arrows are lined up and I didn't lose my salvation.

 All for dirty laundry.

 I refreshed my ribbon bar.

 Romans 12:12 is my Bible verse, I mutter it to myself a lot. I found it online and actually ordered it, hung it up and embellished it with faux greenery. We have lived in the Stone House for 17 years and there are bare walls.  I am not good at wall decor.

 For four years I left Christmas up on the wall at the top of the landing.  It was all I had. That has been fixed too.

 Some days I get more checked off the To Do list than others.   I do have a job, regular housework and a life.  Some days I pick one drawer and clean it out. On Saturday I just could not face the attic so I went through my pajamas.  It's baby steps.

The eat less, move more should progress at this point as Hubby and I have now finished the Costco package of Almond Roca. Yep, we did it! Ugh.

I am walking and I am looking through all of the exercise videos on Netflix.  No, not actually doing them yet but I am checking them out.

Which leads to my other goal of watching more television.  I started Longmire last night and I think I am going to enjoy it.  Any other suggestions?

It's not all work here, on Friday evening Hubby and I enjoyed a strawberry basil martini, appetizers for dinner and spun some Bobby Darin tunes. Good times in the sitting room at the Stone House.
NOTE: Blogspot and videos are not friends so this is just a snapshot.

In my last post I touched on the government shut down which resulted in me deactivating my face book account.  We are getting a break until February 15th, but I am not quite ready to return to FB.  I had enough stupid comments in real life.  It's better if I hibernate right now.

  

Enjoy your week!

January Random

Oh January, you aren't easy. The pressure to eat less, move more, the wind, the lack of light, back to school, the pressure to clean and organize. Ugh.  #thestruggleisreal

The first week of school isn't busy for subs so I had coffee with Leslie and Marjean one afternoon and I visited with the Pie Pals one afternoon. Having a bit of  friend time helps with the winter blues.

*It was last minute but I texted the Pie Pals and asked them if they could come over one afternoon for pie. They fell over themselves getting back to me. Yes, they would love to come over for pie! Since it's January I suspected diets and resolutions were the norm.  If I baked a pie I thought some wouldn't eat any or ask for a tiny sliver. 

So, I made sugar-free Jello in a pie plate. I had Cool Whip in the freezer left from Snow Salad Season aka Christmas and I had berries I had froze this summer. 

Imagine their shock, no coconut cream pie today, ladies! Oh my, did we laugh! I told them if they were having a cheat day I had Cool Whip.  The Jello with Cool Whip and Berries was a BiG 25 calories.

It turns out everyone loves Jello and it's the new January Pie Pals tradition.

Hubby and I have enjoyed the leftovers for dessert in the evening. 

*Besides the usual January eat less, move more, I have set another same goal. Hhhhmmm, as I'm writing I am realizing that if I have to keep setting the same goals or making the same resolutions every January, I am obviously not successful in the prior year. Anyhoo, back to goals, I have again set the goal to watch more TV.  I am generally not a fan of the television.  I have nothing against it, I just don't have the patience to sit there look at it. 

For Christmas I received a Roku and a Firestick, I kept both.  I am serious about it this year.

Party conversations turn to television shows and movies and I've been lacking. So, here I go again.

I've been watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I love the apartment, her wardrobe, the cars and the fast pace.  Midge is predicted to be the 2019 girl name of the year. #partyconversation

*I have watched a half an episode of Marie Kondo. I jumped up to clean out out junk drawer in the kitchen, got intimidated, sat back down and watched one episode of Schitt Creek.

Watching Marie Kondo is a two-fer resolution/goal.

I am watching TV and organizing and cleaning. Wait!  It's a threefer because I am moving more while organizing. 

The junk drawer is a fail.

The dishtowel drawer has been reorganized.  Isn't it pretty?

And that will last 3, 2, 1...

I have filled a few shopping bags to bring to the thrift store. But the reality is that I haven't actually brought them there yet.

*I have deactivated my Facebook account for a bit.  The political hate is too hard for me right now. 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to free speech, but the pasting and sharing of unverified information was bringing me down and making me think less of some friends.

 Essential personnel is still going to work, yes, they will eventually be paid, no they cannot go on vacation. Furlough isn't a paid vacation if you still are going to work every day.  Many officers are GS5 or GS7, they live paycheck to paycheck and though they aren't getting paid, their daycare provider still needs to be paid.  Single parents, single income families are hurt by the government shut down.  Please don't sugar coat it with the trite, oh well, they'll eventually get paid, to me.

It's too close to home and if you can put names and faces with it, it would be for you too.

*The best thing about January is thinking about sunny vacations, camping trips and all of the planning. #overplanner  Sometimes my sunny fantasy doesn't match reality. But a girl can dream.

Isn't her suit darling?

Best Wishes friends, may all of your goals be reached and attainable this year!

Carry on.

Happy 2019

Happy New Year friends! A fresh start and new beginnings, here we come.

 Christmas decor is back in the attic.  I took a lot of time this year organizing and going through things as I put everything away for another year. I kept the poinsettia as it still pretty and some wintry coasters that I love.  There is candy on the kitchen counter but it's not long for this world either.

I took down all of the blow molds, Napco figurines and bottle brush trees from the kitchen shelves.  As I put things back together I went through each basket, found and organized all 2018 tax information, took care of appointments for doctor referrals, and organized bills and records. 

 During December I don't look at the bank account because it may be frightening and because I'm busy.  I have since balanced and checked everything and that feels good.

As soon as the new year arrives I start making campground reservations and airline reservations.

Check and check. I like to look forward to something so the January rain doesn't get me down.

All holiday linens have been washed, starched and ironed.  I am still working on the pile of shirts.  Oh, how I miss Toni and Pearl.  Our local dry cleaners closed in November and I miss those girls and their mad ironing skills.

 I am dreading the power bill for December.  The lights are taken down inside, Hubby has to take down the outside lights this weekend, weather permitting.

 We enjoyed many lovely holiday meals.

 Baked Alaska for dessert, yes please. Oh my, it was fun!

Now recipes like Sassy Water are popping up everywhere.  Not as fun but I'm ready for less.

One last hurrah!  The traditional post holidays clean out the deli drawer mac and cheese dinner.  I'm going to make it for dinner tonight.  Whether it's good or bad this year, it will never be duplicated. 

Vacation ends on January 7 for me and until then I am organizing, prepping and doing some relaxing.  List making is my favorite so it doesn't feel like work to me. Goals and resolutions do not begin until vacation is officially over, as in back to school.

I don't make hard core resolutions so much as goals and just wanting that uncluttered fresh start that comes with a new year.

Here I go!