My Weekly Master

Every week I make a "master list".  By the end of the week it looks like this:

The first side is my grocery list.  I make it according to how items are found in the grocery store.  This prevents having to go back to an isle I've already passed. 

If you shop with children in tow you already know that any added time in the grocery store is expensive and can potentially end LOUDly.  I mapped out everything in the store and keep it in my coupon book for reference.  I also write next to an item a "c" for any coupons.  That way I know what brand and how much of an item I need.

I also put at the bottom corner of this side what recipes I plan on making that week.  In the past, we were throwing out food because I had forgotten what recipes I had prepared for.  Next to the recipes are how many Weight Watcher's points each is along with what book I can find the recipe.  This square gets torn off and put on the fridge for the week.


The other side of the "Master List" has things I need or would like to accomplish by the end of the week.  I enjoy crossing these things off.  If they don't get crossed off they are added to the following week, I don't enjoy that.

Lastly, I fold the list in half and use it to store my coupons for the week. 

This list is a result of many trial and errors in my adventure as a wife and mom I hope it will help someone on their own adventures!

Swap Party

I read about how to do a Swap Party in the Good Housekeeping January 2010 issue. It sounded like great fun! I knew my friends would be game. The invitations suggested were made from manila tags with added scrapbook paper and ribbon. I already had all I needed to make the cute invites, it was meant to be. They turned out cute!

Here's how the swap party works:
The invitation explains that each guest bring up to 10 items (handbags, accessories, drinking glasses, books, dishes etc.) just about anything to swap.

When your guests arrive they receive the same number of clothes pins as items they brought.

The clothes pins have their name or initial on them.

Each item is then tagged with a manila tag. The tagged items are placed with like items together.

The guests then shop by placing their clothespins on the tags of the items they're interested in.

After everyone has shopped, bag all the items with only one clothes pin. I used brown paper bags labeled with each guests name on it. This worked well.

If an item has more than 1 clothespin then a drawing takes place to determine who wins the item. The losing pins are given back to the guests so they can select a different item.

The items that are left over from the party can be donated.

Below is my stash from the party!

This party worked surprisingly well! I had a great time and will definitely do it again!

The Regrettable Tattoos

My fake tattoos from last weekend are still very much here. I layered 3 large ones together on my forearm for a costume. Regular soap didn't do a thing. Baby oil with lots of scrubbing only resulted in weird colored flakes atop a stinging red arm.

I have been successfully hiding my arm all week until last night. I was at a church function and it was spotted poking out from under my sweater. The tattoos were unveiled and I was showered with well meaning advice on how to get it off. A few of the suggestions: A Mr. Clean Eraser, Comet, make-up remover, Goo Gone, a cut onion, and rubbing alcohol. I tried several of these but the best one was the rubbing alcohol. It is not a quick fix but it got the flakes off and most of the second tattoo after much scrubbing with a washcloth, a Q-tip or cotton ball wasn't rough enough. I don't for see myself wearing anymore of these tattoos.

The Best Christmas Tree EVER!

My mother has always had a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, sometimes 2 full size trees. This picture just doesn't do it justice. The flash takes away the magic of it. Here are two photos of her trees from long ago. She has since perfected the art of dressing a tree and her lip color.




Mom and I may be the only two women who consider where to put the Christmas tree when purchasing a new home. We take our trees quite seriously. So when I got married, I tried each year to achieve the same greatness as hers. It took me 10 years. Last year was the first year that I thought, "This is it! I've finally done it!". I think I cried.
I wish I had a photo with the angel facing forward but my tree is in a rotating stand and it's a difficult shot to get. That's my cutie nephew Jack popping up into the picture. He was playing with the train underneath the tree.


Now I like a tree with lots of color, sparkle and memories. If you prefer a simply dressed tree I can't help you but if you want to wow your holiday guests we can do it together!

1. Choose a tree with LOTS of pre-strung lights, if you're buying a new artificial tree choose the one with the most lights that stay lit even when one goes out or becomes loose. We use a rotating tree stand from Amazon.com. This really makes everything sparkle and is unexpectedly useful keeping babies and animals from grabbing ornaments as they pass by to quick to grab. My dad made us a wooden stand as well because the tree limbs fell so low that no one could see the presents underneath. It also adds another foot or so to the height of the tree and is covered with a tree skirt.

2. Take the time to "fluff" the limbs. This is a very tedious and annoying task but must be done. Fluff by pulling the limbs up and apart with some branches going slightly down. I've heard that the next "new thing" in artificial trees are they don't require any fluffing. Nice.

3. Garland. This is also an annoying and tedious task but so worth your time. Most people don't bother with this which is why it'll look that much more polished when you do. Mom made this easier by using paper clips. First use the paper clip to join all the lengths of garland end to end. Next use the paper clip as a hook to join the garland to the end of the tree branches slowly going around the tree trying to make the loops pretty even and level with each other. When you're done it will not look great but have no fear. Your ornaments are going to cover any flaws. My 7 1/2 foot tree took 12 strands of garland.

4. Glass Balls are next. These need to be tucked deep into the branches spreading color evenly. You want to use the premium hanging spots on the tree limbs for your special ornaments. You will be tired of doing this but you're almost to the fun part! If you can stand it, do steps 1-4 without the kids. I later learned that Mom would rearrange just about all the ornaments that we hung after we went to bed.

5. All your unique and special ornaments are next. The kids can help with this and it will still look good. I don't think I've ever seen a tree with too many ornaments.

6. Tuck in some "picks". This will add that special decorator's touch to your tree. These don't require any hooks, they just lay or stick out of the branches. These are usually found in bins at the craft stores and are super cheap. Buy lots and buy those with lots of sparkle!

If you feel your tree just hasn't reached that greatness, I am guessing you need to buy more ornaments, picks, balls, and garland. After Christmas of course! No need to spend a lot of money for a gorgeous tree.

How To Take A Great Photo Part 2

Flipping through past photos I have run across a few that I liked. Usually these are ones that I have taken of myself with the assistance of flipping the screen of the camera so I can see myself. The problem with this is my eyes are always looking off to the left. I've got to learn how to make a good photo with other photographers. So let's study the good and the bad and see what we find.

1. Be choosy when picking backgrounds and lighting. Why would I pose with a walrus and in bad lighting? Very few people can look good when a flash is used. And only very slim people should pose with a walrus. Natural light is best or use a tripod with the flash turned off.


This one of me turned out well. The background is pretty and no flash.


2. Never pose with your body facing the camera straight on. I'm in the middle of this shot with my body turned to the side, pretty good!
3. When posing in a group shot, never be on the outside as this poor soul always looks heavier. Keep this nugget of wisdom to yourself and make your husband and kids be on the outside.


4. Stick out your neck. In the shot below I am not sticking out my neck but in the next photo had I been looking at the camera it would have made a better shot.

5. Don't forget to be looking up into the camera never down. I never allow my photo to be taken after I've had a baby until the color has returned to my face and I have on lipstick and earrings. Even with these few simple requests an ugly shot was taken because the angle was bad. Not to mention that chunky knee peeking out from the blankets. The shot below was taken the next day and what a difference!

I'm sure there are lots more tips but trying to keep just these simple few is enough to keep in mind. Good luck to me and to you in your next shot!

How to Take A Great Photo Part 1

The holidays are coming fast! That means posing for photographs. I've been researching how to take a great photo so I can stop hiding behind the camera or erasing hideous shots. Below is a list of WHAT NOT TO DO. After seeing some of my bad shots you will probably be thinking, "surely she was pregnant in this one." That is very kind of you but I'm not.

1. If you have large legs (like myself) refuse to have your photo taken whilst sitting. I have selflessly added some past photos to prove this point.

My thighs look as big as Katherine perhaps even bigger.

My feet look inadequate in size to keep me upright in this one.

Below is the same shot excluding my thighs, much better!

2. Be aware of your arm placement and body position. Don't press your arms close to your body and certainly don't bend over.

There are SO many things going wrong in this shot. The bending over, the pressing of the arm and that unflattering top! The hat was not working either.

Below I'm sitting slumped over, and pressing the arms, terrible.

3. When you know your photo will be taken, wear a tested outfit. It's worth your trouble to take a few shots with a digital camera to see if the clothes are working.

Below I have on a huge shapeless shirt that did me no favors. It joined the blue top from above in a donate bag.

4. Some moments should not be documented.


5. No one looks good when photographed from an upward angle.


When having your picture taken, don't sit,press your arms against your sides, wear an unflattering outfit, or let the photographer shoot looking up at you. Now I'm off to investigate what TO do to achieve a lovely picture.