Thursday, January 28, 2010

Anyone at your house excited about the Super Bowl????





I do know a few around here that might be.....I can take it or leave it actually.....so I'll be in charge of snacks.  I'll probably be checking/catching up with blogs while everyone else watches the game.
I thought I'd brain storm about some snacks my family likes and share a few recipes.
I know my husband would love some crab dip!  It has cream cheese, though, and he's been trying to avoid cheese/dairy.  I did get some garlic hummus he can have with crackers, and since he loves garlic, he will enjoy this!  I will also make a platter of ham sandwiches for everyone to nosh on....or maybe some sliders. 
I am toying with making the Symphony Brownies.....anyone had these before??  I just don't know if having a pan full of those would be a good idea, ya know?  I wish I could send each of you one so you could try them and I would have much fewer here!! LOL.
So I really need to give you that recipe, I suppose.......well, you can find one version of this recipe here ....you will want to thank me, but then you won't be sure you should thank me......;D

So what are some snacks your family likes for game night????/

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

I needed a hug today, so I thought


Perhaps you might need one, too.....
Enjoy your day, and hopefully you will , as I plan to do, get everything on your list done, accomplished before the day runs out.
Take care my blog friends, and hopefully after this week, I will be able to be more consistent with my blogging......

Saturday, January 23, 2010

My guest blogger........

She loves her books, her toys and her milk......she calls it Mulk......

She loves to play and even had fun playing with a SLaHOME box today!  My guest blogger is as cute as a button, and is just getting her start......she really has never even blogged before. So go easy on her, as you know she will get better at blogging with experience!!! LOL.
  Meet my friend, Sidney!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Friday Fives Again!!!!


It seems that last week everyone enjoyed the Friday Fives, and I aim to please, so why not do it again!!??? You remember how it's done.......I ask five questions, you answer them in the comments! Ready, go!
(Oh, and my two hour cleaning yesterday resulted in a spic and span master bath and bedroom (well, except for the small pile of stuff I have to go thru and cull.) Then this morning, I got the kitchen floor swept and mopped and had a friend over for lunch.)
And for the weekend's post, I'll be sharing a special guest with you....you'll want to come back and check her out...she is simply adorable!
So here's the Friday Fives!!!!!

1. Are you the leading lady or the best supporting actress? In other words, are you the life of the party or do you wait for her to arrive and then join in the fun?

2. Do you like cool, calm colors or warm, invigorating colors?

3. What do you most look forward to about Spring?

4. What do you like to do best: decorate, organize or entertain????

5. Best snacks for you....sweet or salty????

Enjoy!


I have no idea what happened to make comments disabled, but I've fixed it now, I think, so come back by and do your Friday Fives!!! I have no idea how that happened, as I was gone all day!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

up to my elbows in X's....



What is it with the cleaning products and X's????? I was thinking about and psyching myself up to do some major cleaning today, and it occurred to me that there are a good number of cleaning products that have an X in their name...hmmm......
Well, enough procrastinating...today on my agenda is to see just how much cleaning I can get done......I play this little game.....I will clean for two hours, take a break, and then see how much I've gotten done and how much left I have to do......I'll be back. Ready, set, go!!!
Have a good day, y'all!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Live out Loud!!!


I once went to a convention (actually it was a SLaHOME convention) that spoke volumes to me.....well, the theme of it did. It's pictured above just in case somehow you haven't had enough coffee and didn't see it! I didn't want you to miss it!

At the time my husband and I were struggling through some decisions that would mean some changes for our family. Decisions that would mean going outside the comfort zone for the ultimate good of our family. And they were changes that might prove difficult. You've probably been there before, right?

The woman who spoke had been through breast cancer, and was a survivor. TWICE. Don't you know those were difficult days for her!....but through it she had learned to seize what opportunities came her way, to choose the best for her life, to make a difference and to live each moment OUT LOUD. She made choices that were not always in her comfort zone, yet allowed herself to be stretched to follow out the steps that were needed to live in those choices. She is a TRUE "southern inspiration"!

So I came home, not only jazzed about my business, but ready to take on the challenge with my husband of moving in a different direction for our family. I came home ready to STOP being frustrated about being stuck in a rut, ready to take on with vigor what was truly going to be a hard choice, and even though it held some uncertainties, ready to face it. With prayer and the help of God, we made some choices and changes that proved to be good for our family. Hmmmm, imagine that!

I will be the first to admit that I move slowly. It is painful to make decisions sometimes, and takes a lot of work.......ummm, I go for the easiest, fastest, least painful route, if given a choice! But we all know that life is hard, and that what we work hardest for often is what we enjoy the most. After all, hard work can be fun, too, right?

So in my retrospective thinking today, I have been questioning whether I am indeed living out loud. Or have I slipped back into survival mode of one foot in front of the other? Those two can coexist, but I think I have grown weary. I need to be reminded of that vigor I felt when challenged to live out loud. I need to live with more intention. (I tend to be a "phlegmatic" type of personality.......laid back, a follower, a whatever works for the moment kind of girl.) But that also means that unless I have a purpose and a set of goals, I am a slug. Yes, a slug...and I don't like slugs. So every now and again, I have to have a little talk with myself, and say "Self, you need to get going again...." We had this talk this morning......it pinches, it hurts, but it's necessary.

I have several goals in mind, and they really are not resolutions, they are more like reminders. Remember you wanted to _____. Fill in the blank.
I have numerous ones to fill in the blank. But I quake to write them down because I have a fear of failure and a fear of being a hypocrite. I don't want to come back and see what I wrote and feel like myself or someone else can say, "But you said you were going to ____". So what do YOU do to combat that? What I need to do is take some baby steps toward a few of these goals and make some progress. Progress begets more progress, right?

Where in the world am I going with all of this? Mostly it's a self-reminder to get myself in gear, but it's also to encourage you that if you have ideas in the back of your mind, let some of them out!! Write them down, consider them, write down the steps toward making them a reality. Don't wallow in doubt, make it happen. Live with intention, live OUT LOUD.

We are not promised tomorrow, only today. In fact, the Bible says that "tomorrow has enough trouble of its own" so live in today. Make your moments count and be intentional. Let this truth be in the fabric of your being a little while today and see how and if it changes your perspective....
and LIVE OUT LOUD.
What does that mean for YOU?


Edited to add, that I don't think Living Out Loud really is a choice about noise, rather of choices and intentions, and living actively rather than passively, which is really what I am prone to want to do. Thanks for all the fabulous comments, my friends!!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Friday, January 15, 2010

Friday Fives.....


thought I'd take a few minutes to play a fun little game some friends and I do from time to time......on Fridays, we pose five "quick-to-answer" questions to get to know each other just a little better......so I thought it would be fun to pose some questions to you, my blogging friends!
I've been away for a little bit, focusing on a few things that are coming up....mainly a Ladies Retreat that I am in charge of , and secondly, shopping with my daughter for some clothes she needs for a few college "interviews". That is ONE job I will be glad to be finished with!!! Mercy!

Anyway on to our Friday fives....please take a second to leave your answers in the comments, so we can all get to know one another a little better.

1.Coffee or tea...which do you prefer?

2.Favorite hobby?

3.If you were given an all expense paid trip, where would you like to go? To an island or to the mountains?

4.You are given eight hours to spend on yourself--what will you use it for?

5. If you could redo/redecorate any room in your house, which would you choose first?

You can copy and paste the questions in the comment box if you want.....I'm all for easy!

Thanks for being such great bloggy friends!!! Have a great Friday and enjoy your weekend!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

What is YOUR choice???


A friend shared this with me this morning........another little gem about perspective!

Whale or mermaid?

Recently, in a large city in France , a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer,do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.)They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.

They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia,the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia .

Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.

If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human?They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me: I want to be a whale.

P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

What will you choose today???? Have a terrific day!

And go check out Renee's challenge for the day at Add More Chocolate!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Restful and thankful!


I am so glad so many of you have made a new friend in 2010, my friend Renee at Add More Chocolate! Her goals and witticisms have made the start of 2010 much more pleasant. They have actually helped me easily accomplish some things to start off the new year! YAY!

Today is the last day I will actually post her challenge; tomorrow and the rest of the month, add her to your blog list to keep up with her challenges. I know I WILL!!!

Simple one today .......no physical action required...in fact, I can already think of three people I'll tell thanks to tonight! So what about you???
Here's Renee's challenge:

New Year, New Start: Day 10

clip_image002clip_image002[4]Thank you! Thank you for sticking with our little project and thank you for stopping by on your day of rest. While we’re feeling thankful, why not find someone today and tell them “thank you” as well.

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Phil. 1:3



And another blogger friend, Marla at Always Nesting if celebrating her blogaversary with a giveaway....go check out her blog, too....She's crafty and witty and always an inspiration for the DIY decorators, like me! Go on over and see her!

Always Nesting
Finally, I want to challenge you to make out your menu this afternoon for the rest of the week! I will share mine, and I am trying to use up what I have in the pantry and in the freezer. I am only posting my dinner menus, but also fix breakfasts and lunches for my crew each day, too. Usually I will look at the calendar and see who has what for the weeknights this week and how that affects what I plan to fix for that evening.
Here's my menu for this week:

Monday: Pork tenderloin, pasta, and green beans
Tuesday: Potato Soup and ham and cheese rolls (daughter has Bible study here, so I will make enough for the girls to have some (recipe back a few posts here)
Wednesday: Jambalaya (since son is coming home from trip-- one of his favorites!)
Thursday: Chili/rice and cornbread
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: no dinner plans, except we will go to a Reception at friends who have Eagle Scout Ceremony and party for son.
Y'all have a fantastic week!

that GROOVE thang.....

My friend Renee--she's GROOVY! Her challenge for the day is to clean out the music stash.......feeling groovy yet?? I guess if a song has the word groovy in it, it likely goes into the archives as a BEST of the 70's, 80's????? Anyway, in case you haven't been going over to Add More Chocolate to see where I've been getting these inspiring, small, but ever so helpful suggestions for organizing ourselves right into 2010.....well, you should really go check out her blog. She's a personal friend, and somehow I know you'll love her, too! Thanks, Renee!



New Year, New Start: Day 9

clip_image002Is your music collection no longer in tune? Has your “groove thang” stopped shaking? Are you waiting for 8-track tapes to come back? Somewhere on that shelf or in that cabinet is a free CD that some promo sent your way, or that you picked up for 1.99 and listened to once. Just one. There is just one CD or tape that you can say goodbye too. It’s a start.


I know I have a few I could get rid of.....if I wasn't so darned sentimental.......perhaps just recording them to the computer would be a way to rid my cabinet of some stuff....and you know they all contain only one or two songs that are the actual favs......hello, Itunes!

Hope you have a great weekend.....our thaw begins tomorrow I think, and these frigid temps begin to ease up....then we'll be looking at helping all the brown landscaped problem spots in our yards.....ugh.

My tip for you today.........for this 9th day of January 2010....list nine things you are thankful for.

I'll start:

1.a warm, comfy home

2.good friends who I can laugh with

3.boots for a warm day

4.coffee!

5. great kids/husband/family

6. great blog friends like you!

7. My salvation

8. a car that works well

9. my husband's job

May you have a blessed and prosperous New Year, and gain perspective that changes your heart to make you a better person. That's my goal is to make myself a little better each day.


Friday, January 8, 2010

She's getting personal........


From my friend, Renee at Add More Chocolate:

New Year, New Start: Day 8

clip_image002Let’s get personal. Somewhere in one of your dresser drawers is an item that has holes, a frayed hem, stretched out elastic, or spots that will not come out. (I am not mentioning any unmentionables, but if one of your underwires has sprung and threatens to give you a body piercing, then you might need to pay attention.) You are a person of dignity and worth who deserves better! Out it goes.

Reminder – Notice I did not ask you to buy a replacement item. Sometimes we need to see that surrounding ourselves with good things doesn’t mean having more things, it means paring down so that only the best remain.


Now, you'd think that she'd been over here peering into my dresser......but she hasn't. How does she KNOW these things.....????? I guess we're all alike?

So into the skivvy drawers we plunge.....in mine are slips I haven't worn in over a year, things that have lost a little elastic, etc. I'm SO taking her advice and leaving only what I've worn in the last six months!!! So what about you? Diving in that drawer this weekend??????? You know you should.....

Isn't her series really right ON??? My friend Renee is a gifted writer and she is a homeschool educator. She teaches in a co-op and many are blessed to sit under her. Go on over and meet her; you will LOVE her.

So it is brrrrrr-isk this weekend.....doesn't it make you want to cook?

I'll share a recipe or two for your weekend .....

Baked Potato Soup


6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 3 3/4 pounds)

1 large onion chopped (about 1.5 cups)

3 (14oz.) cans chicken broth with roasted garlic

1/4 c. butter

2 1/2 t. salt

1 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper

1 c. whipping cream or half and half

1 cup (4oz) sharp Cheddar, shredded

3 T. chopped chives

1 (8 oz.) container sour cream (optional)

4 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Shredded cheddar for garnish

Combine first 6 ingredients in a 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 hours or on LOW for 8 hours or until potato is tender.

Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soup is slightly thickened; stir in cream, cheese, and chives. Top with sour cream, if desired and sprinkle with bacon and cheddar cheese. Makes 12 cups. This is from the Southern Living Slow Cooker Cookbook.


And this is a family recipe, that I make frequently....I don't really measure, but I will tell you what I do.

Ham and Cheese Rolls:

Frozen Bread Dough.......let loaf of frozen bread dough thaw until soft, then roll out to large rectangle, about 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Spread with softened or melted butter and sprinkle with whatever seasoning your family likes. We like Tony's cajun seasoning or garlic salt. Then sprinkle with any combination of shredded cheese, diced ham, ground beef, shredded chicken or whatever you like. Roll up jelly roll fashion, slice in 1 or 1 1/2inch slices and place on greased baking sheet. Cook at 350 for 20 minutes or so.........we love 'em!!!



Thursday, January 7, 2010

Renewing the accessories....


I spent the morning moving accessories around....and I'm not finished yet. In fact, I had to stop to go out in the very cold temps to go get my hair done......it was overdue, so this girl had to stop everything and get to the hairdresser! It would be fun to say I plodded thru the blizzard, but although dropping temperatures are blowing in, no snow this time, at least not yet.

When I finish my renewing the accessories I'll post a pic, as well as pics of my dishes pantry. {If I had a butler, I suppose I could call it a butler's pantry.....but I don't so I am trying to get over that and just call it the dish pantry!} I need to lay new contact paper on the shelves, which requires taking things out, since I had to remove all that foam, grid-like shelf cover I had in there before. Now I NEED things to slide, so out with that.....hopefully I'll get the paper in, pics done, and do a blog post about it next week. I've even inspired my friend to try the same thing.......we'll see how she likes it!

So what's Renee's challenge today? Have you been over to Add More Chocolate already to see? She is encouraging us to look at the jewelry box, drawer, or whatever you have your jewelry stored in, and then discard what you no longer wear. She suggests getting the advice of a teen if you lack discernment on what to throw out. I also need to clean some of my jewelry. I LOVE to wear silver, but some of it is looking a little tarnished, so cleaning it would be a good way to organize and weed out, don't you think? So what about you? How do you have your jewelry stored and organized? I am looking for some clever ideas.......do share! If you'll remember last year, I used the SLaHOME Estate Towel Holder to hang my necklaces on on top of my dresser. You can see that post here. I need to clean out that and wipe them off to spif them up a little!
So go on over to Renee's and check out her challenge.....Add More Chocolate or read it here:

New Year, New Start: Day 7

clip_image002Baubles, bangles, and …beadless, backless, and broken. Take a jaunt through your jewelry box and throw something away! If you need help deciding what is no longer in style, find a teenager. Trust me, if it makes them roll their eyes – out it goes!


Also, I have to tell you a funny story.....after all the organizing of my pantry, I decided I had three bottles of mustard too many (?????) and a few other extras that I didn't need, which turned into a facebook discussion, then a swap party! We took all our extra stuff from the pantry over to Renee's and had a little swap party! She whipped us up some coffee beverages, we had cookies and fellowship, and cleaned out the pantry. It was interesting to see what everyone brought, and to bring home a few things that I thought my family would use. Then all the extra stuff, we plan to donate to the food pantry! It was indeed a fun time. Thanks, Renee!


What's in your pantry you don't need? Take out a few things you know you won't use that are not expired and donate them to the food pantry. It's a great time of year to do that, and you'll have more room in the pantry!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

It's a brand new day......the first Wed. of the year, right?


Thanks to Renee's inspiration, I've been cleaning out the spice cabinets, how about you? I didn't have too much to get rid of, but I did find some multiples of things I use regularly, and now at least I know what looks a little tired and needs to be replaced. And it's a little more orderly...what about you, how are your spices organized? Are they alphabetically stored, categorically by sweet or savory? What do you do to bring order to your spice cabinet? Do share and we can all learn from it! I did find so many cupcake papers, you'd think I was having a party a month for the next year! Perhaps I'll share those with a friend...and cookie cutters! Let's just say that when grandchildren come along, I am all set for making sugar cookies and playing with playdough!

I thought I would do a little research on storing/using spices....here's a few links to what I found and learned about:

http://www.spicebarn.com/storing_spices.html

http://www.condells.com/kitchens/storing-spices/
http://www.helpwithcooking.com/spice-guide/introduction-spices.html


So for today's challenge, Renee is encouraging us to go to the family game and puzzle closet! I have done this once not too long ago, but with my children nearly out of the nest, I am sure there are games up there that could be eliminated! Let's do it!!! Don't you love these simple, small things Renee is bringing to us....doable, yet making steps toward uncluttering, and simplifying our homes and lives. Join us!

Now from Renee, at Add More Chocolate

New Year, New Start: Day 6

clip_image002The games people play…or don’t! It might have been fun once, but perhaps a piece or two is missing, no one remembers the directions, or your kids have simply aged out. Tastes change so do people. Don’t hang on to something that’s not useful any more.

This is a good time to put in a note about blessing others. Why keep something that someone else might be able to enjoy? Sometimes we need help to recognize what should have gone in the trash a long time ago. Other times we need a gentle nudge to let things go and let them have a new home. If one of your games or puzzles (in good condition!) can be shared, and it will take you less than 5 minutes to put a “donation bag” in your trunk, then go right ahead!


Speaking of games, Renee is a game wizard! She had some pretty good success when she went on the gameshow Jeopardy.......you'll have to ask her about that!

As for games OUR family likes, a few favorites over the years are Quiddler, a fun card game that focuses on making words, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Apples to Apples. What about your family? Are you a game playing family and what are some of your favorites?

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Spicey!!!????

As you many know, I've been following my friend Renee's posts since she's been dealing with EASY steps to take for the new year. I've ALL OVER the easy! So here's what she is challenging us to do today.....


New Year, New Start: Day 5

clip_image002Let’s spice things up! Oops…not with those old things. Something in your spice cabinet has definitely lost its savor. I’ll save the “fresh herbs” post for later, but for now – find an ancient bottle or tin and pitch it. Your palate will praise you.


I realize that by the end of the month, most of you will be following Renee and won't really need me to be telling you what Renee's challenge for the day is! However, I will continue at least thru day 10 because not only is it making my posts EASY (and we all know how I love EASY!), it gives those friends of mine a chance to catch up with who Renee is and I'm also all about spreading the blog love!!
She's giving us a small little challenge about our spice cabinet, and I know for sure that mine could use an overhaul. In fact, it's on my list of things TO DO...or em, ta da!! Something I've yet to blog about, but plan to, is that fact that I am overhauling my kitchen system...I've even got pictures. During the holidays, right after I got over the crud, in fact, I realized I couldn't fit another thing in my pantry. It was one HOT MESS. I mentioned my idea to my husband and he even liked it and encouraged me to do it, so in about one three hour session, I totally exchanged my food pantry and my dishes cabinet so that each one did the others job, and might I add, did it even more efficiently! I pulled every can of food, box of pasta, bag of chips, container of mustard (who knew there were THREE in the pantry!!!, and organized my collection of dishes into the pantry and put all the food items into my kitchen cabinets.....this included a little trip to WalMart to buy some baskets and wire shelving. I will bring pics tomorrow perhaps to show you just how great it turned out. So the clearing the spice cabinet out should be a cinch today! I KNOW there is a least one thing I can get rid of out of there! What about you?


Sunday, January 3, 2010

Calling all Texans......

picture is from an internet ad for San Bernard Electric

My friend Diana, of To Everything a Season has a great idea. She is interested in finding all of our Texas bloggers and making a little Texas network. Wouldn't it be fun to know how many Texans we have in blogland and be able to link up with our Texas blogger friends? I actually thought of doing this before the holidays, but it kept getting bumped for other blog post ideas. So when I saw her post about trying to find all the Texas bloggers, I just thought I'd join forces with here....so calling all Texas bloggers. Would you be willing to go visit Diana, and leave her a comment or shoot her an email so she can compile a list? That would be great!


And for our New Year's Challenge from my friend, Renee at Add More Chocolate:

whispered as an aside to her post---(in which I'd like to add.......HOW DOES SHE KNOW MY WEAKNESSES????) Are we truly all doing the same things and neglecting sock drawers and magazine stashes or does she REALLY see with x-ray vision into my house?????!!!! :0 LOL

New Year, New Start: Day 4

clip_image002[4]Somewhere there is a stack of magazines that you are meaning to read “someday.” Guess what? Life goes on and whatever benefit would have been gained by that bit of information buried in those pages, has since been lost by the negative impact of walking by that stack and feeling guilty. Pick one issue and toss it.

getting it done......then resting.....

I must agree with my friend Renee from Add More Chocolate....she has begun a challenge this year, and I am following along......this is day number three. Here's what she had to say today....

clip_image002Sundays are a day of rest, to be set aside and focused on others. Did you know the Lord builds in 52 days of vacation for you every year? What a blessing! Share one of your biggest, brightest smiles with someone today.
"A glad heart makes a cheerful face..." Proverbs 15:13


I am privileged to go to the same church with Renee, so I got to see her bright and cheery face this morning. Who have you smiled at, loved on and encouraged today? Make it your challenge today to bless five people with a smile, an encouraging word or a hug before the day is done.

Friday, January 1, 2010

What would you like to accomplish in 2010?


Thanks to my friend Renee at Add More Chocolate, I made my first accomplishment for 2010! And it took about five minutes!
New Year, New Start: Day 1



I love Renee, because she is fun and yet can easily address challenges and show you how to "get 'er done".......She is optimistic and joyful, a fun shopping partner, and a fellow ministry leader at my church. She has such a loving heart and is willing to serve "until the cows come home". She was my partner in fixing the meal for 80 people early in December for our Adult Christmas Dinner at our church. And because of her, it was SO FUN!

Oh, yes, back to the accomplishment....she offered up a challenge today to get the sock drawer in order.......find the missing ones whose companions have gone by the wayside, to sock heaven if you will, and will never really be the prodigal sock--- will never, ever return. There will be no sock party for the redeemed one....in reality, it's just an odd sock now, really good for nothing, unless of course, you're like my daughter and doesn't bother to even match her socks. She will wear a striped sock and a Buzz Lightyear sock. Yes, my eighteen year old daughter bought Buzz Lightyear socks from the Target dollar spot this past year.....she lives on the edge! :)

Ah, back to the challenge......clean out the sock drawer...and you know what??? I TOOK the challenge, I DID it and now there are no single, unmatched socks in my sock drawer. I am celebrating, reveling in the one small step toward order and simplicity in my home for 2010! Wahoo, won't you celebrate with me???? You can even do it while watching the 47 football games on tv today. Don't feel too compelled to move to all the other drawers...just do one or two and revel in your accomplishment! I cannot wait to see what she has for us tomorrow!!! Oh, I look forward to 2010.........it's a year for REDEMPTION!