Read this post

Rather than re-write or re-post everything to this blog that I just put on the other one, please just go read it over there. :-)

http://2008accountability.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-adventure-revealed.html

Photos Update

For those of you who want to see random photos of our lives and don't have Facebook, please use the links below to view some of my albums. This would be the closest I can come to scrapbooking these days! Enjoy!

Melissa & David’s Wedding – June 2008

Playing at the park in Ohio – June 2008

Girlfriends Visit in Ohio – June 2008

Texas Trip – July 2008

Karate Photos – White, Yellow & Green belt levels - 2008

Random Kid Pictures

Our Wedding Photos (1996 & 2001)

Moments for Myself - 20 August 2008

What we feel, think, and do this moment influences both our present and the future in ways we may never know. Begin. Start right where you are. Consider your possibilities and find inspiration...to add more meaning and zest to your life.

- Alexandra Stoddard, Moments for Myself, Daily Inspiration Calendar

Moments for Myself - 19 August 2008

The problem is not entirely in finding the room of one's own, the time alone, difficult and necessary as that is. The problem is more how to still the soul in the midst of its activities.

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Moment for Myself, Daily Inspiration Calendar

Organization Crazy

Apparently I've lost my mind or I've been invaded by body snatchers. Either way, I somehow found the fortitude to clean up my closet. I think it really came down so I could finally find clothes without getting wrapped up and tripping over shoes. Anyway, it was a weird bonding exercise with Emily, too, so it was fun while we were doing it.

I actually got the idea for my shoes from Clean House Organization Queen, Trish Suhr. Since I rarely keep shoe boxes, I couldn't suddenly go back to using those. So, I went to Big Lots and bought many many clear shoe boxes (32 to be exact, which Emily really didn't think I'd completely use - HA!). Then, came the fun part!

We set up a white towel to use as our photo shoot area and then we pulled out all my shoes. Each pair got placed in the same position on the towel and Emily got to take the pictures. We were trying to make it so each shoe showed the most visible space as well as the height of the heel (apparently, I have a lot of black shoes at varying heights!)

Then they each got a box. After all the pictures were taken, I printed them off wallet size and taped them to the correct box. (My husband didn't understand the pictures until he saw the finished product. He kept asking "Aren't the boxes clear? Can't you just look THROUGH the boxes?" He's cluelessly cute sometimes...)

I got rid of about 10 pairs of shoes that I didn't even remember having, that didn't fit or that I never wear and about 5 or 6 pairs didn't end up in boxes at all (boots that wouldn't bend or heels too high). In the end, 24 boxes ended up on the shelf and 8 on the floor (hiking boots and canoe shoes, etc.). My shelf now looks like this:

I think the photos on the ends are self-explanatory now! :)

Now, don't think it was only my shoes that got to have all the fun! My scarves all went on to one hangar (you can see them in that picture too), my shirts & blouses all got arranged by sleeve length and dressy-factor, pants got 5-to-1 hangars, and my winter clothes got space bags. (The boys liked watching my clothes get sucked into small packages - they thought that was pretty hysterical!)

All in all, it was a pretty good few hours on a Sunday and about $75 (tops) and it made a HUGE difference for my closet and my bedroom floor. And now I'm ready to tackle my desk this coming weekend.

May the body snatchers wait until September before they realize they're in the wrong body!

1st Day of 1st Grade

Well, the boys are off to a new school year - 1st graders!

We went to back to school night last week and met their teachers and found their classrooms just fine. They're excited and ready to go. They are in different classes this year, which should make for some interesting conversations and probably a few breakdowns. They still get to see each other for recess and lunch and of course all their sports activities are together (still, thankfully!) so it's not like they're totally cut off from each other. But, they can't be compared as easily by their teacher now and hopefully that will make a difference for Travis.

So, all is back to normal in the world. Guess I need to get to work! Enjoy their first 1st grader photo...

Moments for Myself - 09 August 2008

The human heart has hidden treaure
In secret kept, in silence sealed;
The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasure,
Whose charms were broken if revealed.

- Charlotte Bronte, Moments for Myself, Daily Inspiration Calendar