Happy Thanksgiving One and All

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, I guess I can say that my hopes to blog on a daily basis went right out the window, for the month of November, but on the flip, I am very thankful as my Internet ornament business is lifting off the ground and has kept me very occupied. With Halloween and all the wonderful stories and pictures that helped me create all kinds of fun things, it was rather easy to write on a daily basis, and I will be the first to admit. I miss it when I don't. I have some fun ideas planned for Decembers blog, as well as the countdown day looms very close - "Organizing Stacey Bolin by 2013." You'll never believe what happens in all of that quest and it is a story you won't soon forget. So hang in there, and I am sorry that my words were silent, I am just learning how to multi-task productively. Below are some pictures of today's accomplishments and I am so very thankful that I have my husband and my boys to share my cooking talents with.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and wishing you luck in your quest to find that special holiday gift if you are considering going out on Black Friday. May I suggest a place you can go look without leaving the comforts of home, - www.etsy.com and type in Ukandu in the space to find shops. Until next time - Blog ya later.

My own bread/roll recipe. Still rising.

This was a butterball Fresh Young Turkey.
So moist you could squeeze the juice out of it when it was done.

One of four pans of rolls, however not all were just dinner rolls.



In our house, if you make dough, you make cinnamon rolls too.

"The Gulf War Within"

http://bu3-ret-staceybolin.blogspot.com/2012/07/gulf-war-within.html

Put One Foot In Front of The Other...

OK, so a few days ago, I posted my blog about cleaning out our spare bedroom/office. My plan was to do this cleaning project in four stages. However I failed to inform you, that this plan only works in my house during the week days. If I even tried to accomplish a large cleaning project on the weekend, my entire family knows that means I have to be in or be put in a bad mood. What’s that old saying, oh yes I remember, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I think that is why my family opts for the happy mom and lets me slack a bit on my progress on the weekend.  Well I am proud to announce that I have started, what I promised, working on this cleaning chaos  that I thought was going to be well planned, easy, simple, never feeling overwhelmed, want to scream, project - not, not, not, not, not, and NOT. As you know, I am easily side tracked. Here is a perfect example; Radio on, washing floors, Cindy Lauper "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" comes on the radio, mop gets put in the bucking, phone gets picked up and two hours later, I am hanging up from a very winded conversation on big hair bands of the 80's. Then I pick up the mop, reheat the water with new floor clean, and attempt it again. Well unfortunately it's been one of those weeks, but I did however, manage to get part of the project done. Many of my distraction were edits needing to be done on my soon to be release book "Deemed Crazy", which is a fictional story...really it is. (Smile). Then our kids needed to be taken here and there for school. (Can't wait to share that blog. An event that was so crazy that I recorded it on my phone so I won't forget any details when I start writing it). I am also getting paper work together to file our newest in VA Claims - I'll be bald soon as it is a hair pulling experience. (Smile). I know, sounds like more excuses, but seriously, being a stay at home mom, means you do all the jobs and then some.

My hope was to get the room clean and get some of the new accessories up. Before I started I went to Home Depot to pick up some new switch plates and outlet covers, Yes a form of self-motivation that I believed would work, and it did a little - A very little. While I was there something bad happened, something I feared - The garden section was screaming and begging for me to wander through. OK, I didn't fear it because I am not afraid of plants; my fear is that I can't say to no to pretty flowers. My youngest son warned me of my lack of will power to say no to the pretty flowers. He was so right. We are now the owners two new plans, one of which is a hibiscus plant. (I'll get back to the bedroom/office progress in a second; see I am side tracked already).

I also got a Boston Fern which I have the ability to get those things to grown to ginormous sizes, so before it gets any bigger, let me provide you with a before photo and then at the end of the summer, I'll provide you with the after photo. All the plant items were 50%, 60%, and 70% off. Normally to buy both of these plants would have sent me back $53.00 + 6% sales tax (Thank you Maryland, please learn to budget better and stop taxing everything). But I got them both for only $15.00. I so love a bargain! OK, so by now you can see, I get distracted pretty easy, unless I am watching the movie Highlander, A Knights Tale, Hunt for Red October, Pretty Woman, or enjoying private time with the honey...OK, OK, TMI! Enough of my ramblings. So You want to know the answer to the the burning question of the day..."Stacey did you get your clutter crap cleaned up yet?" Yes and No.  Below is a picture of my progress on my newest clutter clean up.

I can finally open the closed door. The book shelf is better; it's holding a few books and music binders. As you can see by the next picture, I cleaned my desk off. I got the things off the floor. The stuff on the bed is what was in the closet. I didn't have the kahunas to show you that monstrosity. So, I can say, I got two parts of the four step plan complete. I am hoping that by Monday, I will be able to present you with a room so clean you'll wonder whose house it is. (Smile).  So day by day I am kicked my addiction. What addiction you ask? My addiction to keep things because for some reason years ago, I honestly believed that my things were the only way I could keep my memories. Dumb hua? I seriously thought that.

But after a while, my things were now only keeping bad memories in my mind, as the things made my house look bad, made my family feel bad, and kept our friends away. With the house now in a rapid decluttering state, I feel like a million dollars, but don't have any urge to shop. I also don't feel any connection to the things like I once did. Well unless it is photographs and those types of mementos. But a magazine dated 2007, seriously needs to go. I can clean and say to myself - Do you really want that? Do you really need that? If you keep it, where will it go? Most of the time I don't have to ask myself all three questions as the first one is more than enough. My garbage guys used to hate us, but I can safely say we now have a normal trash pickup. No more mounds of garbage bags pilled in our driveway. We use only two trash cans and that is it. I've come a long way baby. (Smile).  So, again to all my loyal readers and those with your kind words of inspiration, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Who says you need therapy when I have the whole world to answer too. Thanks everyone for your support and the storage ideas are awesome. When I get enough of those, I am going to put a blog together on everyones suggestions. Well until next time - Blog you later.

 I love this quote and I wanted to share it with you. Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

P.S. As you may now know, I have started in a new endeavor to raise money for Gulf War Veterans - One book at a time.  I am asking that you go to the webpage on facebook entitled; "Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves", There is no cost to anyone, just the click of the "Like" button is all that I am asking of you and then send the information on to all of your friends and have them do the same, and so on and so on. This will help us advertise our cause without the high costs of advertising companies out there. Again many thanks for your continued support. Until next time, blog ya later.

"Getting Back on Task - Can I really do it?"

Hello to all in blogger land. Today is a quest to complete the newest in organizational projects - finally organizing our home office/spare bedroom. As ashamed as I am, I am posting a before picture to show you what I am up against. Lately I have been a bit side tracked as you probably have noticed with my other blog site. I found that the last week was both challenging and rewarding. The most challenging part was trying to teach my children about personal boundaries and why they should practice this all of their lives. A topic that I try not to harp on, but there is a few out there who just put themselves right smack dab into the middle of my soapbox, which I vented about enough the other day, but I know the lady in question read it, or was told about it, as she and the other lady was on their best behavior at the barber shop when we went in again for my other son. "See I knew you could be nice, ladies!" But ya know what. This isn't about them today so I'm moving on to an even better topic in addition to my getting back on track with this clutter chaos in our home. So what is better than seeing my clutter chaos unfold for all to see...?

20 Years Ago May 6th, 1992

 My husband and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary on May 6th, WAA WHOO! WE MADE IT! I will say it was a wonderful day/weekend that was spent with dear friends that we have adopted as family. My husband and I spent most of that weekend hanging out at an event called "BayBBQ", that was hosted by the Annapolis Rotary Club to raise money for youth community programs. Food was delicious, over 32 bands played for two days. It was a great time. It also gave us time to sit and do something we haven't done in a while. Sit and just talk and remember the great times we have had over the last 20 years together. What I found to be the best part, neither of us has any regrets as to our choice to marry and we are hoping that the next 20 are less eventful, meaning medical issues, family drama, and extreme life challenges. However with all that we have endured in our marriage one thing stands true, and believe you me, we have had people and things really try to push us to the brink of separating, our love just gets stronger and stronger. Won't they ever learn....they are only making our bond stronger than ever the more they try to pit us against each other?

20 Years Later - May 6th, 2012

With my husband going through testing for Gulf War Syndrome, I see a new focus on our lives together and he knows that, just like he did for me when I fell ill, I will stand by him, whatever the outcome brings. I feel like I have my best friend back. He calls during the day just to say hello and believe it or not, that means more to me than flowers, cards, or candy. Now as I have said before, the power of positive thinking can move mountains and with the card that he gave me for our Anniversary. His written words, and our special conversations about us and our future, was all this lady, meaning me, needed to get in the complete mindset that I can accomplish anything. My goal this week get the projects finished that I started and got so distracted, that they never got done. So my project for the rest of this week, not two hours or in a day as this project will be tedious, I am going to completely organize our home office/spare bedroom. I will keep you posted on my progress.  What I have planned is to cut the room into four quarters and do a quarter a day. Less overwhelming, more progress...ok, that's my mind set, give me a chance. (Smile). So I must begin my newest quest now, as my previous plan to get the bathroom redone, did not work with our budget at this time. Have a fantastic Thursday and remember....depending on where you live in the world, It's either almost the weekend or is the weekend. WAA WHOO!  Until next time - Blog you later.

TOTAL CLUTTER CHAOS!
MY NEWEST PROJECT IN TAMING THE CLUTTER MADNESS!

"Nuclear Energy - Friend and Foe"

http://bu3-ret-staceybolin.blogspot.com/2012/05/nuclear-energy-friend-and-foe.html

Things Just Happen

Sorry for the delay. Found out yesterday that my Internet was down. I assumed is was because I didn't pay a bill. Yet I knew that I had.  Much to my surprise after four days of having blogging withdrawals. Comcast calls me and says...I had never been disconnected.  "SAY WHAT?" The customer service lady was very polite and simply said, "Did you check your modem?" Honestly they had never come into my mind, maybe because it was located downstairs and I never realized that you had to reboot it.  Again to my surprise she indicated that I didn't have to as long as it was plugged in.  Bet you'll never guess what was wrong...It was not plugged in.  About 8 days ago, my son was downloading music from his laptop to his Ipod. He needed extra plugs and unplugged the Internet and phone connection. It worked on a battery and then suddenly died. UGGGGH. So, how about this. I am going to shoot for my three part mini story to begin publication on Monday, April 9th, 2012. It will be something to look forward to after people celebrate the holiday, whether is be the big arrival of the Easter Bunny, and/or the Celebration of Jesus Christ  rising from the dead, and/or a way that that may be celebrated in your home. My choice to also wait on the publishing on my mini blog series is for another wonderful reason, I am enjoying time with my husband, kids, and family from Michigan. We have been seeing a lot of historical sights. Sunday we went to Gettysburg and today we are heading to the Smithsonian in DC.  So, let me let you all go for now. Have a wonder day and I'll blog you later.

Gettysburg, PA

Organizational Sabotage - Someone call the police.

Day Nine

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Wow, I could have gotten that cleaning done if...X, Y, and Z, had not altered my plan?"  I think I am victim of Organizational Sabotage. Wow, sounds like a new thriller title for a book. Ha-ha. But seriously, all my intentions, to get things done, come from my heart, but I don't have a clue on timing or getting back in the grove when I've been distracted. Then I have to deal with what looks like easy quick projects, only to find out the hard way - ARE NOT!  Sometimes I'd like to just stand in the mirror and yell, "What the hell are you doing girl!"

So here is how the projected project unfolded. I wanted a miracle for Sunday. I envisioned this closet that was so organized it was color coded. The shoes all fit on the shoe rack and the belt and tie rack would say nailed into the wall. I wanted so much to get the closet cleaned out and the new door and knob on. I know if I am getting tired of propping the closet door shut with a pillow, I know my husband is too, but he airs on the side of caution, when making comments on my ability to put something off for days, months, and weeks at a time. He is getting better; lately he has been expressing himself to me, which is what I asked for. Last thing I want is to hear my about my flaws from somebody else. I know I have a very long list and I am working on making that list shorter and shorter each day.

So here it was, Sunday midday, and I was ready to begin. My kids were outside and my husband was downstairs doing laundry...hum??? Him, doing laundry and watching football...what was he up too? I thought to myself.  As I started my project - I was getting things off the floor and putting shoes, I didn't want, into a donation bag... when it happened - the first interruption that lead to many. The family was hungry and wanted some lunch. UGHGH!!  I stopped what I was doing and put some sandwiches and chips together and was ready to venture back into my project when I heard, "Mom, football is on, come and watch it with us. Immediately my, "What are they up too," radar kicked in."  I am thrilled to think they wanted me to hang out in the man cave with them, but what really ended up happening...I was the one who ended up washing and folding the laundry. By late afternoon, I decided the closet will wait until Monday, and I took it upon myself to at least attempt to work on a smaller clutter project that desperately needed attention. I cleaned both the inside and tops, of my nightstand and dresser. WHAT A MESS!

I don't have a clue why I keep some of the crap I do. What is the reasoning behind it? Why would I have receipts, some dating as far back as 2004? Then I found about a hundred or so, movie ticket stubs. Again...have no clue why I was keeping them.  However, the best part of my day, was dumping out one of my drawers and finding over $65.00 in change. SWEEEEET! So I found the top of my dresser and nightstand, but I still had not touched the closet...I felt like a failure - again.

So here it was Monday morning, same routine with Ron and the Kids, dishes done, cat fed, trash out to the curb. After all this got done, it was now time to get started on my delayed bedroom closet project. I was very eager to get started. Nobody home, cell phone off, my crystal light lemonade made, found my tools and chisels for the hinges and commenced to begin. I got the floor decluttered and began to take the door off the hinges, when suddenly, once again I was interrupted..."SON OF A B*TCH!" I was not feeling the best and needed an immediate bathroom break. UGHG! For about three hours I was either flat out on my bed with a heating pad or in the bathroom hoping the pain - OK, gas pain or whatever it was, would just go away.

By 11:00 am, I was finally feeling back to my old self and got the garbage can and bins for the clean out. Ring; Ring...now the house phone is ringing. It is my oldest son, who missed his bus and needs a ride two towns away for his Vocational Class. OMG! Will I ever get a break? Don't answer that.  By the time I get home, it is now 1:40 pm, and in about 35 minutes my kids would be walking through the door and want snacks and need help with homework. These are the days I want to just sit and cry. Why can't I get time to work for me? I plan and plan, yet things never go the way I hope.  So this morning, I said to hell with it and jumped in with two feet and started my project once again, only to hear...Ring, Ring. My oldest son failed to inform me this morning, that he is taking HSA testing and will miss his bus again to Vocational class. Yep, you know what the means, in about 30 minutes from now, I will be heading out of the house again and my project is now half done. 

I got the new door measured, the hinge notch's chiseled out and the door hung. I was so excited...it was now time to drill the hold for the knob. WHAA WHOO! WHAAA WHAAA....WHAT THE HELL!?!? Yes, that is exactly what I said out loud. As the tool cut deeper and deeper into the door, the slower and slower it was cutting - the battery on our cordless drill died. No problem, I thought, I have a backup battery - NOT! Someone unplugged the charger when they were working in the garage. So, here I sit, everything in my closet is on my bed, my door is on with a partial hole for a knob and I have to leave the house in T-minus 20 minutes and counting. I tried to take a picture of today’s project, only to learn...my batteries are dead in my camera, and so I will be going to CVS as well as taking my son to his class.

So all in all, I am now totally frustrated and I have made this mission a quest for completion. I will have this job done today, because I am going to need my bed to crash in tonight. UGHGH!  CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!!