365 Self Portraits - try again

Last August I declared that I would be taking a picture of my self every day for a year...that lasted about a month. This year I have joined a group on Flickr.com that is filled with people working towards that same goal. If you want to see my picture everyday look on my photostream here. I only have 2 pictures on there so far. I'm hoping that this project gets my creative juices flowing and helps me to improve my photography this year. I'm also hoping it will be a lot of fun.

Today is day 3 and I'm racking my brain trying to figure out something super cool to do. Any suggestions?

30 days to clean - Day 18

I can't tell you how pleased I am with my progress so far. My house has never been this clean and I hope that I can keep it up. I have done really well (with the help of my awesome husband) at maintaining the cleanliness. Monday night I mowed the lawn and was too tired to do any housework and last night I came this close (I'm holding my fingers very close together by the way) to finishing my bedroom. I have a laundry basket and a rubbermaid container that are filled with things that still have no home. Tonight I plan on mopping the whole house (minus the kids' rooms) and then I may conquer the cluttered computer desk in the dining room. I think I may finally paint the kitchen this weekend if I can get some primer put on the walls one night. I might just end up priming the walls this weekend. We'll play it by ear. That's what I do. That's the way uh huh uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh.

Anyway, my month of August has been such a success thus far that I think that the month of September is going to be 30 days to organization.....more to come on that later!

Someone else's sandwich

There is an older man I work with, we'll call him G(I'm not sure how old he is because he won't tell me...) G is always bringing me food. About once a week I'll come into work and there will be a Hardee's bag sitting on my desk with a Bacon, Egg, and cheese biscuit inside. I love those mornings. A few weeks ago he brought me a bag of cucumbers from his garden I didn't think I would eat them all...but I did.

Today he got a foot long sandwich from Subway and offered me the other half. Since I had just eaten lunch I declined but since he insisted, I put it in the refrigerator to eat for a snack later (I know, I like to eat, so sue me). I ate it and it was delicious, different than anything I would have ordered from Subway.

I usually have the tried and true, Mayo, Yellow mustard, lettuce, tomato on a turkey sandwich. Once in a while I might go crazy and put some green peppers on there.

The Sandwich that G shared with me today had chicken, bacon, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, pickles, olives, tomato and probably something else that I didn't even know was on there. It was delicious, but nothing I would have ordered for myself in a hundred years.

Sometimes you get stuck in a rut, not just with food but with where you go, what you do with your time, the type of movies you watch, the type of friends you make. So, I urge you to live dangerously, do something different. Why don't you start with having someone else make you a sandwich how they like it and split it with you!

Some pictures of my progress

In my house when the cabinet looks like this

The dishwasher looks like this:

and the sink looks like this

You'd better take a picture cuz it won't last very long!

here are some before and after pictures of my kitchen:

I think that the word on the dish-soap bottle best describes my feelings right now.

30 days to clean - Update

Some of my adoring fans have implored me to update my blog. The cleaning is going well. Over the weekend I cleaned the kids' rooms again although they really didn't need it, I decided that I need to get in the habit of cleaning even if I don't think it needs to be done. I changed the sheets on their beds, emptied their trash cans and swept the floors. After that I worked on my bedroom more which I think I have a good chance of finishing this weekend!! (fingers crossed) On Monday I cleaned the bathrooms, especially concentrating on the bathroom in my bedroom and it looks awesome. It's very small so it gets cluttered very easily. it is now clutter free. On Tuesday I organized the bookshelf in the dining room. I should take a picture of it for you to see. I didn't do anything the last 2 nights. Last night I did not feel well so I watched a movie (7 Pounds with Will Smith, I would recommend it) and Wednesday night I spent some time with Matt. I thought that I deserved a night off from cleaning. I pick back up this afternoon as I need to clean my kitchen.

I have a friend coming over tonight and I am very excited. I have not had a friend over in a long time (not counting my family). I honestly have avoided inviting anyone to my house because I have been embarrassed of the mess. Now that my house is looking good I can invite people over without being worried. I love this feeling!

11 things you must know to survive and thrive in America

I used to have this list hanging in my office at work. I came across it as I was cleaning the house this weekend and thought I would share it with you all.

11 things you must know to survive and thrive in America
-Ellis Cose

1 Complain all you like about the raw deal you have gotten in life, but don’t expect those complaints to get you anywhere.

2 Expect to do better than the world expects of you; expect to live in a bigger world than the one you see.

3Don’t expect support for your dreams from those who have not accomplished very much in their lives

4If someone is bringing out your most self destructive tendencies, acknowledge that that person is not a friend

5 Don’t be too proud to ask for help, particularly from those who are wiser and older.

6 Recognize that being true to yourself is not the same as being true to a stupid stereotype.

7 Don’t let the glitter blind you.

8 Don’t expect competence and hard work alone to get you the recognition or rewards you deserve

9 You must seize the time, for it is already later than you think.

10 Even if you have to fake it, show some faith in yourself

11 Don’t force innocent others to bear the price of your pain

Reminder to all fellow bloggers

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