Friday, October 28, 2011

Mystery Solved!

For several months construction crews have worked on a new building in my area. Every time I passed it I would ask myself the same question: "I wonder what that is?" I got my answer this morning; it's an Aldi supermarket. I have heard that this store has great prices, and I hope that is true, because I am always looking for a deal. I also hope they that they have affordable natural/organic products. The grand opening is scheduled for November 3rd and I may have to sneak a peek. Do you have an Aldi in your area? What do you think?

Isn't She Lovely?


Well, isn't she? There is a silent strength about her that I love. I also get a kick out of the afro, because I got me some big hair too! Groovy Lady is finally hanging in my office after several months in hiding behind an armoire. I have commitment issues when it comes to decorating. Groovy Lady is the name given to here by the artist, but my daughter keeps trying to name her Sally, Annie, or some other name that doesn't reflect the way she speaks to me. This was painted by P. Lewis, a good friend of my mine from college. From time to time she displays her work at art exhibits in the Atlanta area. To see more of her beautiful work, check out the P.Lewis collection here.

Monday, October 17, 2011

What's For Dinner?


Lately I've been in a cooking rut. My use of the word lately probably isn't accurate, because this rut has lasted several months. You know what I'm talking about.  I never know what to cook, and when I do, I prepare the same meals over and over again. By the way, the rut applies to every meal, not just dinner. At some point my children will start picketing my use of PB and J. I've had enough exposure to know that the appropriate thing to do in this situation is to develop a weekly meal plan, but just between you and me, laziness is preventing me from doing that. If you are in the rut with me, I just found a website that I think will give us the direction and motivation needed to become well oiled, meal planning machines. Go over to Meal Planning Magic and check out the ideas for starting a basic meal plan, freezer cooking, and making life easier in the kitchen. The Resource Guide on the site is definitely the place to start. It has links for information on the topics I mentioned, plus it features help for folks with special dietary needs, such as gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian. If you aren't used to meal planning, I hope you feel inspired. If you do plan meals weekly, what's your system?

Friday, October 14, 2011

Warning: Disaster Area

Is your house a wreck when you come home from a trip? I came home Monday from a quick trip to the land also known as "Hotlanta", and my house is a hot mess. For example, the suitcase hasn't been unpacked but we've been taking things out of it as needed, laundry everywhere, etc. It wasn't a mess when left, but I haven't been on my household maintenance game this week. So here is quick tip before I attempt to get this place in order: invest in a timer. Nothing fancy, just a simple digital timer that you can probably get from somewhere like the Dollar Store. Set the timer for about 15 minutes and pick a room. Look here girl, this ain't deep cleaning. This is straightening, clearing surface clutter, making the bed (no, I didn't make the bed today). You will be amazed at what you can do in 15 minutes, and it helps build cleaning momentum because you know you are only working for short periods of time. Give it a try, and let me know what you think!

Oh So Special


   



If you have children, do you savor the special moments that you have with them, or are you telling them to go play so that you can finish the crazy number of items on your to do list? I have to admit that I am usually guilty of the later. Of course my list of things are important, but time moves so fast, and everyday my kids are saying, doing something different. I have to remind myself to enjoy them, love them, play with them, and for goodness sake, stop letting the t.v. spend more time with them than I do. Ladies, let's put those lists aside for 10 minutes and love on our kids. It just might be the highlight of the day.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Solutions for Itty Bitty Waistlines

I made that sound like a problem, right? Well it can be a bit of an issue if you are trying to find clothing for kids that are kinda on the petite side. My munchkins are all under the age of four, and one of the best places to find affordable, quality clothing is Target. Now, I know other companies make pants with adjustable waistlines, but you can get Cherokee brand jeans from my favorite store for $10.  The pricing is different, but online they  have the adjustable waists for older children, so they may offer them in stores also.  Check it out!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Savin' in the South

Don't you love it when someone does your work for you? I do, especially when it comes to couponing. With the economy in pitiful shape, coupons are definitely "chic". Actually, I don't care about it being chic, I just want to save a few pennies here and there. If you live in the southeast, check out Southernsavers, a website dedicated to compiling weekly grocery and drugstore deals. The site will list a store's sale item and tell you where to find the matching coupon, if available. Jenny, the site's creator, also travels the region training folks on the fine art of couponing. I absolutely love Southernsavers.  Go have a look, and let me know what you think!

Guess Who's Back?

So...I've decided to try my hand at blogging again. Why? I realize as a wife, mom, businesswoman, and serious girly-girl, I have a ton of interests and OPINIONS. Hopefully I can share something with you that will be encouraging, informative, or maybe even funny!