Catch my Breath & Tackle-It Tuesday #6

*With school starting back up, I am busy toiling away the hours cleaning, rearranging and moving my old classroom into a new classroom.

*I will share pics with you later, but right now I just can't stop, or I will accidentally sit down and not get back up.

*Little...time...left.......must...clean.........kids-come-soon.....must...hurry.......

Menu Plan Monday Aug 26th (#2)

Come join in the fun of Menu Planning with 250 other gals and guys!
Click on Orgjunkie.com to see what everyone else is having for dinner!

Monday: Costco (which means pizza and grocery shopping)

Tuesday: Thai Chicken Pizza p. 142

Wednesday: Double-Dipped Buttermilk Chicken Fingers on Spinach Salad p. 178

Thursday: Calzones again! p. 118

Friday: Italian Tuna Casserole p. 110

Saturday: Mikey from Philly Cheese Steaks p. 120

Sunday: Everything Lo-Mein p. 114

I am cooking out of Rachel Rays cookbook-
And LOVE it~ so does my family!!!! That's worth it to me!

I need to go buy some pot(s)!

Haha- did I catch your attention?

Actually, we are in need of a pot or two for the backyard. We have plans to sink some beautiful fountain grasses in it, and place it by the pool.
We are in the very beginning stages of redoing the backyard to make it presentable. Let me paint you a picture.
First off, go to hell. No, no, I don't mean literally. I mean picture yourself in hell. What do you see?
Rocks, mounds of dirt on fire, stones, magma pools, screaming banshees.... well- you just described our backyard, minus the magma.
No SERIOUSLY!
(see pic above)
Last year my hubby turned off the water to it because we were going to take out the grass, and have it redone in concrete. We really have no place to put patio furniture, so we wanted to expand the area around the pool. So for two summers now, we have had Hell right here in our own backyard!

We have chosen to go 'green' in the backyard, like we did in the front yard, and xeriscape. That means use water wisely, and plant native plants where possible. Here is a great blog to see tons of pics about it!

So let's go to the local home improvement store, shall we? Hop in our dusty van and off we will go! Buckle up!

We're here already! Isn't it neat we live 4 minutes away?
Maybe afterwards we can hit Panda Express?!

Right when you walk in, you come across my favorite isle!
All the cute things you can decorate with! Let's check them out!

Wow- there sure is alot to check out! I cant believe Fall things are coming already!

Oh now this is cute! A glass encrusted starfish-love it!

Oh, now aren't these cute? I've got to have one!

Yup hon, that is the pot I was thinking of...
"What? We'll have pink tones in the rocks we'll be using? Oh, then that pot won't do."

Great job hon! I like that one too! Let's get two of them!

This is my 2nd favorite part of the store! Look at all the color!

If I am not mistaken, these are a tropical variety...bromeliads?

Look what's peeking out the top of these little cuties

These 'braids' always amaze me!

I like these too, so different

Oh orchids! (I've never been brave enough to buy one)

I just love all the color!

Cactus' needs gettin' used to, but can be quite stunning!

But I prefer something more like this.
I want to take you down one more isle before we go...

Ahhh...I could spend hours pouring over all these books!

Thanks for coming with is today!
I'll let you know when we work on the back, and invite you over for some ice tea and lunch!
Be careful- I might put you to work!

Vintage Thingies Thursdays #6

Well-grab an ice tea and sit a spell because I have a story for you....


...It all started this summer when I went to Indiana...and Aunt Bette told us girls (my sister Erin, my brother's girlfriend Lauren, and myself) to go down to the basement and go through her cupboards and pick out stuff we liked because she wanted to get rid of some things. (can you feel my heart beat faster?)
So we did, and it was chock full of pots, pans, vases, dish sets, picnic baskets, you know, the usual good stuff all aunt's have! We each made our "pile" downstairs.
A week later goes by and Voila! Here is the box from South Bend!

I gleefully opened it up and prayed the vases I put in there were in one piece. Then I discovered a few extra things.










(Now, I'm the one in my family that has Grandpa's dentures because no one wanted them and I couldn't let someone throw them out, besides they were in a cool box!...that is the type of person I am)
Anything my Aunt Bette had in her house, I surely didn't want it to get thrown out...those are precious memories for me because they were hers.
So, I open everything up and yes, everything was fine! I did come across this old coffee can that was not originally in 'my pile', so I wondered what was in it. I opened it up and there was something heavy inside a plastic bag. I unrolled the bag carefully and I was staring at all these little tiny cups! Who and how did they get in my pile?
Oh Aunt Bette must have come across these and added them into my pile! So I immediately called her to thank her for sending the big box of goodies and to thank her for these little cups! What were they and however did she know I would love them and they are right up my alley?!
To make a long story short, (I know- too late Beth Ann) she didn't put them in my pile, and dad packed everything. (Good Job Dad!) But, she did know what they were- salt cellars, and her mom used them on the table and she was glad I had them!

After calling Dad to thank him, and googling Salt Cellars, I laid them out to admire them. I gave them a good washing and they are very pretty! Come take a look- (click to enlarge photo)














So then I start researching and checking out eBay for salt cellars...HOLY COW!!!!! Well, it can become an addiction and I clearly had all the signs of it...
*staying up late on 'puter
*on 'puter all day long
*answering "Oh, Nothing" when hubby asked what I was doing
*credit card sitting non-nonchalantly by 'puter
*enough snacks and drinks besides me that I never had to leave my seat... you know.....

• So the blue ones are circa 1885-1895 from Brice Brothers
• Have cut glass ones, as opposed to pressed glass (pressed glass doesn't mean worthless by any means though)
• Spikey ones are English Hobnail circa 1920's (possible production copy from same era)
• Oval ones are circa 1910 from U.S. Glass

Now you know why I have listed the "5,000 Open Salts" book on my birthday wish list! :)

AND... to make this scene even better....I met this lady on eBay who lives up the street from me, and knows all about 'salts'! Can life get any better, I ask you???

Meet the Salt Lady~Lisa


"Say HI to everyone Lisa!"











Lisa spent a couple hours with me and helped me figure out what it was I had. She is a super nice and fantastic lady who is very knowledgeable in all kinds of salts!












Here is one book she used...this is the one on my birthday wish list (hint, hint)












I am so lucky to have made such a great friend!
Thank you again Lisa for taking time to meet me and help me with the salts!
(Her own collection....(gasping...) is incredible!)









So there you have it! My new collection is growing and I'll be posting more again about these adorable little things in the future!
Do you have any? Send me a picture and tell me who you got them from! I'd love to hear your story!

aM I CrAzY?

Here we are. The kids and I.




Yup, What am I thinking?
(I'm gonna be soooo sore tomorrow!)

Wow!... this is me!

You Are the Innovator

You're the type of person who is always a step ahead of everyone else. You thrive when you're experimenting with new designs, ideas, and attitudes. You are a creative person with many talents. You have to have artistic outlets in your life. You need to create - whether it's writing furiously or redecorating your home. If not, your life becomes chaotic. You tire of doing the same thing every day. You change your job, friends, and personal style often. You are at your best when you have a focus. If not, you develop a flaky artist's temperament.

What Role Do You Play?

Tackle-It Tuesdays!!! #5

Guess what day it is??? That's right! Tackle-It-Tuesdays, hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom!


Whew! I'm pooped!

I had been procrastinating cleaning off and in the writing desk that resides in our bedroom for too long. I had thrown receipts, paperwork, newsletters, pens, pencils, etc...into the three drawers for it to swallow it up like it always does.
Well, last week I re-discovered a box that belonged to my great aunt that was full of her little display-ables.. and I had yet to put them somewhere! So on top of the writing desk they went...to sit for a week and clutter up our room.
Today-I tackled it, and good!

Clutter on top...













Clutter on top and inside! Whew! What a mess!














Closer look inside drawers...had to pull them out and set on the bed just to get into them!
Trivia: there were over 35 pens/pencils in those drawers!

















Purging and beginning to organize 'piles' or stuff for separating....
Trivia #2- I found an old cell phone in there from 2 years ago!












I finally moved the trash can closer to me so I could easily purge.... See how full trash can is?












Getting better! Still have to do something with all those chotchkies/chochtskies/chochkeys...
however you spell that word!



And finally....








Cleaned inside and out! I packed up all those 'things' and put them safely away.
Whew! I'm pooped!

Et-hEM...Attention Everyone!

I have just received my very first award!!!!! Look---->
Ain't she a beauty?? (beaming with pride)

Thank you Elizabeth, (over at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord) for this distinguished award! It is awarded to those who 'comment' around the blogging community. I feel so excited to be recognized because I do try hard to visit alot of new sites and comment to those friends, as well as visit my regular blogs, and say hi and comment something to them too!
I remember praying so hard someone would come to my blog and leave just a little, "Hi Beth Ann, it's Mom".... (haha Mom!)

So Thank You Elizabeth for making my week! Im sending you a cyber-hug!

Menu Plan Monday Aug 18th (I'm brand new)

I'm very excited to join in on the fun that Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie has each Monday. I have been menu planning all summer, and was so excited to hear people blog about this! (My husband is groaning right now...)
Hop on over to Laura's if you want to join in on the fun- or just go check it out and be impressed with all the new recipes you can browse through!

BTW- these are all Rachel Ray's 30 minute Express Lane Meals!

Monday: Leek-y Chicken and Couscous p.22

Tuesday: Three Vegetable Penne and Tarragon-Basil Pesto p. 36

Wednesday: Steak, Fried Onions and Potato Salad Bowl with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette p. 38

Thursday: Chicken and Sweet Corn and Potato Saute p. 72

Friday: Tuscan Calzones with "the works" p. 118
I have to give it up to Rose-Anne, who typed it all out and blogged about it!
Thank you Rose-Anne!

PS- to all of you who have done this before- how do you get your recipes on-line? What if there is no on-line version? Please give me some advice! I was hoping to find each one and link it- but cannot find any that were in this cookbook! :(
They are all great tasting!

Bringing home the clothes... part 2 of The Outlet Malls

Well- highly successful day shopping with family in tow.



It went something like this...

(7:00am) riing, rriinngg,, riinnggggg... ("Boink!"...alarm clock get snoozed)

Repeat this three more times.

3 hours later...I stumbled out of bed and proceeded to check on kids and wake up hubby.
By 12:30 we had showered, dressed, ate lunch (what happened to breakfast?) and on our way.
(Click on pics to enlarge)

From Palm Springs going WEST towards Cabazon, we pass the windmills.

Then we pass Morongo Casino and Bowling Center....

They have a TON of things to do here, and it is located practically right next door to the outlet mall!





pic courtesy of Morongo

And we are here!









Remember there are TWO outlet malls right next to each other!







This is what the coupon booklet looks like (remember to go to information office and show your AAA card) I got to use the coupons on top of the already discounted merchandise!


We did make it to Stride-Rite, which we scored at for Tierney! Cope only looked at shoes that had the "Z-Strap". (no shoe strings, only Velcro)









Cope wore his out the door. He would have slept in them too if I hadn't caught him.










Tierney's shoes...this is the most shoes she has ever owned!











Went in some cool stores!







Admired the beautiful landscaping!








Even mommy got some new diggs!








Here is our stash from the day....








All the kids' clothes...








Mommy's clothes... (YES! there is a dress in there!)











And these iron candlesticks were an awesome deal!
Originally $30.00 a piece
On Sale $19.99 a piece
I got them for $1.99 a piece!!!!
Of course my husband said loudly, "And what do you need those for?"
So I shot him my "Why are you even asking me this question?" glare and he just smiled and sat back down.


Whew! I'm exhausted!