Clutter Buster Tips ~ 15 Minute Cleaning

I told one of my readers a couple weeks ago that I would start getting my tips for clutter and organization up, so let's start with baby steps!

This week I want you to take 15 minutes a day and tackle some area of your home that has been driving you crazy. And when I say 15 minutes, I mean just 15 minutes. Set a timer, clean to 4 songs or clean on the commercials of your favorite show but really start small.

If you get that overwhelmed "Why the hell did I start this?" feeling, then we
won't have success!

Okay so what can you do in 15 minutes you might ask?

Here are 25 things that you can do in 15 minutes!

Load or unload the dishwasher
Put on a load of laundry
Fold a load of laundry
Clean out a drawer in the kitchen, take everything out, wipe the drawer and sort the contents
Sweep the Floor
Clean out your purse or briefcase
Clean a bathroom
Dust
Wipe out the fridge
Clean out a dresser, refold clothes and take out clothes that are ripped or not worn
Vacuum a floor of your house
Sort and file the weekly bills/mail
Organize the pantry
Weed a flower bed
Clean the windows of one room
Collect all of the garbages of the house
Spot wash walls and doors
Wipe down all of the trim in one room
Sort through the recycling
Iron
Deep clean your sinks
Wipe out a cupboard
Wipe off the top of the cupboards (Gets icky up there!)
Wipe out the microwave

Take 15 minutes before bed and have everyone go around the house and claim everything that is theirs. Have them take it to their room.

I could have probably gone on and on and on but you get the idea! Stay tuned for the zone cleaning lists which will be out this week for you.

Image Credit

Sites I La-ove ~ The Painted Life

Recently I was lucky enough to find a new friend. Her name is Sherri and is sweet and funny! She is also an amazing artist. She makes these beautiful tiles like the ones above, I adore them! I have a project in mind using them but will have to save my pennies :)

She also makes handmade soap..isn't the packaging divine?

I was lucky enough to win this lovely one above! It hangs in my house and I adore it.

Please go visit Sherri's sites!

Her personal site is The Painted Life and it seems she is always doing giveaways! So generous!

Go visit her showroom Site and browse around her fantastic design. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Are you Spiritual, Religious...both? (Long Post)

Dictionary.com lists the definition for Spiritual as the follow:
spir·it·u·al
[spir-i-choo-uhl]

adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.
4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.
5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.
6. of or pertaining to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.
7. of or pertaining to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.
8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical: lords spiritual and temporal.
9. of or relating to the mind or intellect.
noun
10. a spiritual or religious song: authentic folk spirituals.
11. spirituals, affairs of the church.
12. a spiritual thing or matter.

Dictionary.com lists the definition for Religious as the follow:
re·li·gious
   [ri-lij-uhs]
adjective, noun, plural -gious.
adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday.
2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly: a religious man.
3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.

noun
6. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.
7. the religious, devout or religious persons: Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine.

This is the question that has been on my mind lately. Am I spiritual, religious...both?

One of the nurses at the hospital that I frequent quite a bit (Thank you Lupus!) asked me this as I was throwing up from treatment. "Are you a spiritual or a religious girl?" Normally I wouldn't have given this question much thought. I am not really one to discuss religion (or politics for that matter). But it was the way she said the or in that question.

I answered her without really thinking and said "well I am both". She shook her and said and informed me I couldn't be both. Like I said I am not one to discuss religion because I believe it is a personal choice. But if I said both, shouldn't that be my personal choice? This got me thinking and the research maniac that I am decided to do a little digging.

Of course I went to where all awesome researchers go to start research now a days.

Google

About 59,800,000 results was what I got when I typed in Spiritual or Religious. Soooo apparently I am not the only one that has given this some thought.

I read for hours the arguments why they were different, similar, corresponding, intertwined, overlapping etc. I won't wreck the surprise in case you want to google it!

While I didn't agree with many of the conclusions I read, I respected that they had their choice and took a stand. I however will concur with my first answer.

Both.

I believe in several forms of religion but I tend to gravitate towards being spiritual.

Recipe - Fried Green Tomatoes

See this little pretty yummy tomatoe above? I love green tomatoes but they are so hard to find. I found some at the market on Saturday and decided I would make Fried Green Tomatoes for Marky to try.

The recipe is so super easy!

Cut up as many tomatoes as you want to use.

Mix together some cornmeal, salt and pepper and whatever other spices you like. I usually add garlic salt and cajun spice for a little kick.

You can dip the tomatoes in a beaten egg before you drudge but I usually skip this part because tomatoes are juicy enough!

Place tomatoes in hot vegtable oil and cook for about 3 minutes each...then flip!

That's it! Easy fricken schmeasy!

Mark wasn't over the moon so he added hot sauce, but really who am I kidding...I made them for me and secretly hoped he wouldn't eat many!

Soooo much stuff to post, so little time!!

It's soccer season again and every year, these 8 weeks seem to be one of the busiest times in our lives! Both of the girls play, Mark coaches and I am the president of our soccer association.

The calendar is sooooo flippin full with things that I actually had a little cry yesterday. We love our lives but sometimes it is just too busy. We have soccer at least 5 days a week. I miss my husband during these two months because we don't get to see each other very much.

Every night watching my girls excel at the support they love makes all of the emails, travel, late nights, phone calls and missed suppers worth it. Mark and I think it is important to support our kids in their sports....the girls with soccer and Keenan with hockey.

I have so much stuff I want to post on my blog, so many ideas and projects to share but there are not enough hours in the day!

Better than being bored right?

Too Much Fluff

I love la-ove browsing blogs and I have spent hours and hours enjoying learning new crafts and swooning over everyone's homes. One thing I notice though when reading family blogs is there is wayyyyy to much fluff. I mean of course who wants to ever say that their kids are being brats, or your husband is pissing you off or you are just bitchy and having a bad day.

BUT that is real life...and sometimes I just want to read a blog that has a little of that real life thrown in for good measure. I have to admit I sometimes feel like not such a great mom and wife after reading some of the blogs. My house is NEVER as clean as the pics on those blogs, my kids are never as coifed and I am not greeting my husband in the doorway with a drink and an appy after work. The dude is lucky if he gets supper some nights.

I really enjoy the blogs where people show you how beautiful their homes are but then explain that normally it looks like this...and show you a picture with piles of clothes on the laundry room floor. That is real life. We all want the picture perfect house but with busy lives and kids and work and sports, we sometimes have to settle for the semi-clean house.

Oh as for the perfect kids...I do happen to have three that I like to call Precious, Perfect, and Prince...but somedays those three can also be Larry, Curly and Moe.

P.s. I sure hope I don't offend tooooo many people with this post!

Image Credit

Wordless Wednesday

I have "Hope" on my wrist to remind me that I always have it during this crazy rollercoaster of an illness. My friends Michelle and Lisa got matching ones to show their love and support.

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!

A bowl full of lemons.: May Silhouette Giveaway!!: "Im so grateful to be able to give away Silhouette SD machines on my blog. This week, I am offering another chance at a giveaway! This set ..."

Recipe ~ Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Salad

This is my absolute favorite summer salad! I grew up with it and I crave it. My kids don't really like...bonus more for me!!

The original recipe came from my aunt but I tweaked it a little. I usually make it in the morning or the night before so the cucumbers have a chance to marinate. So simple and so yummy!

Enjoy!!

Stuff you need:

2 Cucumbers Thinly Sliced
2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons of Oil (I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2 tablespoons of Balsamic Vinigar (My aunt always used regular)
Salt and Pepper to Taste
1/2 teaspoon of sugar

Mix the dressing, pour it over the cukes and away you go!

I like to usually add about 3 tomatoes thinly slices and 1/4 cup of purple onions. If you do decide to add the extra yummy stuff, make sure that you double the dressing.

Image Credit

Slave Lake Fires

Remember a few posts ago titled "I heart this place". That beatiful place in those pictures is now the place in the picture you see above.

Slave Lake, AB was engulfed in flames yesterday and the aftermath is devastating.
40% of the town at this point has been destroyed including homes, businesses, the high school and the list goes on.

My heart aches with grief for the people of this community. One of the families of this community belongs to my longest time friend Dawn.

Our province and country is stepping up to the plate and helping to look after these families.

If you would like to help, please consider donating to the Red Cross

If you are unable to donate, prayers are always free :)

Top Image Credit

DIY Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

Mother's day is just 3 sleeps away!! Haven't got anything for your mama yet? There is still time!

I am making my mama and mama in law homemade gifts this year...so I didn't post those hehe

But I did want to share some of my favorite links!

Enjoy!!

Heather

Subway art is HUGE right now. Recently Tenzie and I found a frame for $1.50, I sanded it up and painted it brown. I put a spring subway art printable in it for our living room and I love it. There are so many great places on the net to print these off for free (just search "free subway printables" on google). I plan on changing mine through the year.

Here is one I found and love it! She even was kind enough to make it in different sizes for your printing pleasure :)

Click here.

This is so great! I am going to make one of these for the akward spot above our stairs! I don't know it it will say the kids' names...could say anything!

Click here to learn all about this awesome project!

I love these little cuties!
Although this one is from Valentine's day, Cindy has all sorts of free downloads
for all kinds of holidays! Go here for instructions!

This is so beautiful!
A little labor intensive for my time but I would love
to try these sometime! Go here for instructions.

I adore these coasters!! I am going to make some of these for our bedroom! Visit here for instructions, she has so many great things!

Isn't this plate darling?!?
Go here for instructions.

Top Image Credit

Wordless Wednesday ~ Lighthouse by Morgan

Mother's Day 2009

Writer's Block..what the heck?!?

So it's been almost 2 weeks since I have posted with actual words. I just don't have much to say. I hope it ends soon, what a bad blogger am I?

I hope everyone is doing well!

Heather

*Image from Pinterest*

$3.00 Bedroom Lamp Makeover

I love love our bedroom. For the first time since I was a little girl I have a bedroom that rocks!

The only thing that really didn't work for me was our bedside lamps. I had these cute lamps from Ikea from a few years ago but the weren't giving me the pop I wanted. Being off work, I couldn't afford to get the damask lamps I wanted. So I thought I would make my own! I found scrap booking paper on sale at Michaels and was able to get all 4 sheets for $2.00. The ribbon was also bought at Micheals for $.50. So I spent a grand total of $3.00 give or take a few cents.

It took Tenzie and I about 30 minutes to do each one.

The lamp before.



Supplies:
4 Sheets of Scrapbooking Paper
Ribbon
Martha Stewart Craft Glue
Ruler
Pencil
Paper Cutter
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun


I laid the paper down and put the glue on each section. Make sure when you are doing it that the lines are even when you have to fold over the
second sheet. Since your ribbon will be covering this you
want it to be in the centre of the 2 sides.


Here is the lamp before the ribbon. Tenzie and I noticed after we had
glued it all on that it looks upside down.
But I like it actually!


Here is the finished lamp! Tenzie hot glued the ribbon down the
two sides first and then she did the top and bottom. Sorry about the crappy quality of the picture, my camera isn't working very well.

I can't wait to put these in our bedroom tomorrow!