October 2013 Reading List

Lizzie Searches for Love Series by Linda Byler
Running Around (and Such)
When Strawberries Bloom
Big Decisions

Submitted to: 2013 Booking It @ Life As Mom

Clutter Busting Challange October 2013

I donated quit a bit of stuff this month. I have been spending time each week trying to see what I can add to my collection of donations. I load my car on Thursdays and drop my items off at the Clothes Closet while running errands on Friday. I didn't take a picture but I did donate about 10 books. You can read Organizing the Kitchen and My Clothes from earlier this month.

I donated 12 items of clothes.

A tote full of notebooks.

A lot of home décor .


A pile of magazines.

Declutter Tip

Do you wish you could tip your house upside down empty it out like you would a box and get rid of the clutter!!

I somewhat do this every year. I pack away the décor in our main living areas every December since they get decorated for Christmas. In January after I pack away Christmas I leave the house bare for a few weeks. I slowly redecorate and rearrange things into new areas and donate anything I decided not to keep.

Anyone have any fun tips for getting rid of the clutter or refreshing your home?

Muffin Tin Meals

Have you ever made any Muffin Tin Meals?

I've made several types of Muffin Tin Meals but never more than once a year. They are fun to make and taste good. They are more work for a family meal than just using a casserole dish or pie pan. My kids liked them when they were little so I can see me making them for my granddaughter. Make sure to grease your pan well so they don't stick and come out in one piece. They could be made by using up leftovers.

I could see making a lot of them once we are empty nesters. I could make a whole recipe and then freeze the extra servings for another meal but I would use the large size muffin tin. They would be nice in a lunch for a Bento Box style meal.

I think I will make some up next week and freeze them for the holidays for appetizers. The Impossibly Easy Mini Thai Chicken Pies look good so I will try them.

Sharing a link to several...
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/courses/dinner-recipes/muffin-tin-meals

Our Fall Weekend Getaway

Shawn and I visiting the Bob Evan's Farm Festival on Saturday, Flea Marketing on Sunday, and Bike Riding on Monday.

Organizing the Kitchen and My Clothes

I worked all day in the kitchen yesterday cleaning up all my pantry cabinets. I emptied some old plastic canisters and filled 4 glass jars that I got at the thrift that match some I had bought years ago. I cut up a pineapple. I did all the dishes. It took me about 4 hours to do all of this since I was visiting with my daughter and helping take care of my granddaughter and feeding her and my dad breakfast and lunch.

I organize my closet that I have my cold weather clothes in but not the full on version that I need to do. I need to try-on clothes and purge some things since I bought some stuff at the thrift store recently. I did purge 6 pairs of size 6 jeans last month. I have about 90 cold weather items such as jeans, dress pants, dresses, skirts, sweaters, tops, jackets, and coats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am narrowing down my clothes to 75 items for cold weather and 75 items for warm. I don’t think I have too many clothes since they all fit the space I have them in but I still have more than I need.

I went through and tried-on and purged my warm weather clothes yesterday. It took me about 2 hours in the afternoon. I had 85 summer items such as shorts, tops, skirts, and dresses. I’m keeping 73 items and donating 12 items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like to go through my clothes every fall and spring. I figure that way I know what I wore that season and can get rid of anything I didn't wear or like and I can decide if there is anything I want to get rid of for the next seasons clothing before it begins.

 

Pete

This is my stepdad Pete at my granddaughter Arileise's birthday with my sister Chrissy and brother-in-law Sean.

Pete is 87 years old and has lived with my family for a little over 3 years since he has Alzheimer's.

When my husband Shawn asked my stepdad Pete if he wanted a million bucks after spending the day with my stepsister and stepbrother he said "No, I'm already rich I have two families." and said "Thank You" as he walked into his bedroom. Made me cry.

My Happy Dance

Never have I been as excited to go to the BMV to renew my driver’s license but 4 years ago I weighed almost 200 pounds. Yesterday I got all dressed up and proudly got an ugly picture of the non-fat me! I’m over my goal weight by 15 pounds but I am 50 pounds lighter and have beaten the weight loss statistics.

Every August I ask God to lay it on my heart as to what he would have for me over the next year and I start hearing His leading over the months up to my Birthday in October. That driver's license picture 4 years ago was the start of my journey although I didn’t actually work on losing weight for another 6 months God was working on me for the changes. It starts in your head before you can put it into action. I am not posting my driver’s license on-line so here is my first selfie. LOL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”
 Mark 8: 34

Family Wedding

We went to my husband Shawn's cousin Scott 's daughter's wedding on Saturday. It was a very pretty Autumn themed wedding in the hills of Southern Ohio.

Me, Shawn, Brandon, and cousin Scott.