Weekend Wishes

Oh how I wish the weekend never had to end.  I love Friday's at 5:00, when my work day has ended and my family and friend time has begun.  We have big plans for part of the weekend.  A trip to my favorite city, which I may or may not have mentioned on my blog several times, hello Pittsburgh!

The camera is charged and ready, so stay tuned for some cool pics.

What are you doing this weekend, friends?

Wishing you a great one,
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Funny Foto Friday

This week, I'm kicking it old school and by that I mean...the fabulous 70's.  Yes, I know it's hard to believe that I was actually a child (a very young child) in the 70's but I was.  I got to experience bell bottoms - the first time around, bright prints, plaid in all it's glory, coordinating clogs, and many other crazy combinations {be jealous}.  
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Take a look at these lovely ensembles.  OMG!  Keep in mind that my siblings and I were way more stylish in the 70's that you may think.  My brother Jeff, sported a 'fro' from an early age all the way into the mid-80's.  My little sister, Leigh, always the "pretty one" dressed fab from the beginning.  Despite the outfits below, she is quite the fashionista in the big city of Chicago.
 

The Brady Bunch had nothing on us!

Smile ~ it's Friday,
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SO WHAT! Wednesday:

It's Wednesday already and you know what that means?  My favorite link up with my funny and fabulous friend, Shannon over at Life After I "Dew".


This week I am saying SO WHAT!:
  • If I stay up late almost every night so I can get my blog posts in.  I am still a newbie and trying to attract an audience of loyal followers.  Consistency is the key.
  • If after I cleaned out my hot mess of a closet, I had a contractor size garbage bag of "throw aways".  I had to let go of some of the clothes I've been trying to fit {back} into for 5 years.  
  • If I wanted to throw our small suitcase away after the handle broke on off.  Rob wants to take it to a shoe maker/leather repair shop to get it fixed (the suit case is neither a shoe nor does it have any leather on it)??  Whatever...I told him to "have at it". 
  • If sometimes during these late night blog fests, I fall asleep staring at my computer and my finger gets stuck on one of the keysssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.  That's what the backspace button is for.

  • If I bought this new frame at Kohl's yesterday, but don't plan on putting a picture in it.  That cute little dude on the left is my nephew, Presley.  
Well that about does it for me.  What are you saying SO WHAT! to this week?

Happy "Over the Hump Day",
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Closet Cleanup Crash Course - Part II

In CCCC - Part I we left off at reloading your closet with the "keepers".  Now I want to share some ideas for getting more out of your space.  This was particularly important for me since I share my closet with my professional by day, sporty by night, cool & classy by evening hubby.

  1. Use slim line hangers.  These hangers are  the bomb!  They feature a non-slip, space-saving design and they won't leave those pesky little shoulder points on your tops.  (fine if you're Lady GaGa, I suppose).  Pitch those thick-padded, wooden and even plastic hangers, they are huge space wasters.
  2. Use skirt hangers.  These can also help you limit your inventory and save space.
  3. Use over-the-door hooks on the back of the door for belts, robes, etc.
  4. Use organizers for scarves, undergarments, and even jewelry.
  5. For more drawer space, use simple bins (coated wire, plastic, or fabric) on shelves or a mobile cart with drawers.
  6. Instead of one long clothes rod, consider adding an additional rod underneath it to create double the hanging space for shorter items (this works great for hubby's side).  Just be sure to leave space for longer items like dresses, coats, etc.
Here are a few of my organizing favorites:

These fantastic slim-line hangers can be found at TJ Maxx for only $9.99 for a pack of 18

REAL Simple has a great line of closet organizational products, like this for my belts and scarves...

...and this awesome jewelry organizer, both available at Bed, Bath & Beyond

So, now that I've shared with you, all the great tips I've learned, how about a peek at the finished product?

ooooohhhhhh

ahhhhhh

This is just a start, I have to clean out my jewelry before I can continue to organize it.
Well, this has been fun (posting ~ not so much organizing).  I feel so much better getting ready in the morning now.  It's a good start to my day.

Be organized,
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Closet Cleanup Crash Course

So I cleaned up my closet clutter last weekend and feel so much better - really, I do.  As I mentioned yesterday, I participated in a series of calls by Organizational Expert, Kimberly Medlock and she discussed that there are two aspects of getting organized - the mental and the physical.

The Mental:
  • Your clothes should make you feel good when you wear them.  It doesn't take any longer to put on clothes that fit and flatter you than it does to put on clothes that don't - so put on clothes you like to wear and that make you feel good when you have them on.
  • Your clothes and your overall appearance will greatly influence the interactions you have with others throughout the day.  If you are presenting yourself to others with nagging feelings that your clothes are too tight, too big, or out of date/style, etc. that can keep you from showing or giving your best.  You won't feel as confident, you will feel judged.  That creates "mental clutter".
  • When you start your day working with a crammed, unorganized closet with piles on the floor and no sense of order, you have just sent your brain a message of chaos, frustration, a sense of being out of control and possible guilt.  That is no way to start your day.  Case in point...

The goal to reducing closet clutter is pretty simple.  It is to have enough clothes in your closet that you actually want to wear and, enough to meet your dressing needs of work, casual, etc.

The Physical:
{this is the tough part...uggghhh}
  • Clear an area close to your closet and make enough room for piles, big large piles.
  •  Get boxes, laundry baskets, bags or just make spaces for putting things into the following categories:
    • Donate
    • Trash
    • Return to the place or whom it belongs
    • Repair
  • Take everything out, YES EVERYTHING.  Sort like items with like items making separate piles for pants, tops, dresses, skirts, jackets, etc.  Now stand back in astonishment that there was THAT MUCH stuff in your closet!
  • Pick a pile and start your quick sort.  This will be your easy-to-make decisions: donate, repair trash it, return to where/whom it belongs.  You will then be left with items that need a second consideration.
  • Everything left in your "consideration" piles should be auditioned and able to pass the "keep it" test.
The Keep It Test:

Here are the questions to consider for each and every piece:
  1. Does it fit me well?
  2. Is it physically uncomfortable in any way?
  3. Is it too "worn"?
  4. Is it still in style?
  5. Is it a good color for me?
  6. Would you want to run into a long-lost friend (or boyfriend/girlfriend) with this on?
Once you've gone through this painstaking (and by that I mean, PAINSTAKING) process. You can begin to reload your closet.
(Before you reload, take a few minutes to give your closet space a good cleaning - vacuum, wipe baseboards, shelves, etc.)

Tomorrow we will discuss ideas for getting more space out of your closet.

Be productive,
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Credit:  Kimberly Medlock- speaker, trainer, author and coach is known as the productivity expert of choice because of her simple, direct and common-sense approach. She addresses time, information and stress management issues with solutions you can actually live with. If you need more time and more energy, less clutter and less stress in your day, she can help. www.kimberlymedlock.com


Another Blogger Gift

Last week I mentioned that I participated in a Bloggy Bracelet Swap hosted by michabella.  Well I received another surprise in the mail this weekend from Melanie from Glasgow, Kentucky.  Unfortunately, there was no blog reference for me to personally thank her, so I hope she gets this...
And thanks again to Michelle at michabella for linking us up.  It was fun!
Smile,
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Just Another Manic Monday...Again

Manic Monday already?  It seems like it was just Monday and here we meet again.  I have lots to do today so I thought I'd get my post in a little early.  I had a craaaaaazzzzzy busy weekend.  The kiddos went to Chicago with my dad to spend a long weekend with my sister, so while they were gone the hubby and I kicked it into high gear around the house.

Rob's project...the garage.  My project...my closet.  Yikes!  Take a look at this hot mess:
Listen friends, I am a very organized and neat person.  I know this photo may beg to differ, but I lost control of this mess awhile ago and it became quite intimidating.  I decided to take a full day of uninterrupted time to really go through the clutter.  I feel so much better now that it's all cleaned up and organized (step by step pictures and closet clean up tips to follow).

I participated in series of calls by Productivity Expert, Kimbery Medlock and learned that closet clutter can be one of the worst culprits for sabotaging your daily productivity.  Your clutter is not about messiness and it's not about neatness.  It is about your time, your health, your self-esteem, relationships, money, career and energy.  It can affect everything you do and even things you don't do.  Starting each day with a "mess", wasting precious morning-time digging through things you don't wear, you can't wear and dressing by default in clothes that make you feel physically or emotionally uncomfortable sabotages your daily productivity and your piece of mind.  I decided it was time to reel it in.  My closet is neat and organized (well my half anyway) and I feel so much better when I walk in there to start my day.

"When you change the way you see things, the things you see can change." - Wayne Dyer

Later this week, I will share step by step tips and suggestions on how to organize your closet.  Stay tuned.

Make Monday Matter,
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Funny Foto Friday

It's Funny Foto Friday here at BellaBud so grab this way cute button and share a funny foto or two!


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I not only love to laugh, but I love to make people laugh so I am sharing these silly fotos of "yours truly":

I'm the big mouth on the right
This is my "seriously" face.
A good time to laugh is any time you can.  ~Linda Ellerbee

Laugh Out Loud,
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SO WHAT! Wednesday


It's SO WHAT! Wednesday so link up and dish.  This week I am saying SO WHAT!:
  • If I am exhausted and have fallen asleep at my computer three times, I have to get my SWW post drafted and ready for the morning.
  • If I only lost one pound last week, I won the weekly prize in our family's friendly Biggest Loser Competition.  Yay me!
  • If I served DQ ice cream cake for my daughters birthday this weekend instead of "regular cake" for my husband's uncle, who apparently doesn't like ice cream. 
  • If I got by with a little help from my friends during my daughter's first slumber party on Saturday night.  My BF's hung out, they helped and they participated.  They are the best therapy in the world!
Different Party, Same Girls
  • I'm still excited that I got to meet Shannon from Life After I "Dew" last week.  I love her blog and after meeting her, I feel like I have a new new friend.
  • I had to spend $100 on my extended warranty deductible to get my car fixed yesterday - my air conditioning stopped working on Saturday - during the hottest week of the year!?  Money well spent.
That's all she wrote folks.  What are you saying SO WHAT! to?

Happy "Over the Hump" Day!
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Choose your path...

It's been a long and busy day, but I wanted to share a great quote I heard last week.  Today I came across a picture that I thought fit it perfectly.  This picture is of my husband and our son fishing in the Gulf off of Sanibel Island, Florida.
Tonight's post is short but sweet.

Good night,
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Blogging Friends Rock!

I haven't been blogging long, but I've already made a few new friends and won a couple giveaways in random drawings.  Blogging is definitely a fun little hobby.

Last week, I went to Columbus, Ohio for Thirty-One Gift's National Conference and got the opportunity to meet one of my favorite bloggers, who just happens to work at the home office.  Meet the funny and fabulous, Shannon from Life After I "Dew".  I started following Shannon's blog about two months ago and I just love it!  She's "real" and "real funny".  I participate in her weekly "SO WHAT!" Wednesday link up.  Stop by and visit, you'll be glad you did.

How cute is she?


Ironically within two days of each other, I received two fun giveaways.  The first was from another favorite blogger, Kylee at Uppercase Diva!  She sent me three new fun nail polish colors to try out.  Yippee! 

The second was from Eleise at One Artsy Mama, whose blog is her "place to give & seek inspirations". 


Eleise and I participated in an awesome Bloggy Bracelet Swap sponsored by Michelle at michabella.


Thanks to my blogging buddies for making me smile!
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Baby Girl Grows Up

I can hardly believe that today is my baby girl's 10th birthday.  Seriously, I don't know where the time has gone.  Isabella has brought so much love, joy, and laughter to our world that I can hardly remember what our lives were like pre-Bella.  I miss the days of my "little baby Bell", but I really do love watching her grow into a beautiful young girl. 

One of the things that I have always been really good at, is taking photos of everything.  I never leave home without my camera.  I take pride in capturing special moments with family and friends.  This is a little collection of some of my favorite Bella moments over the last 10 years. (..sigh...)
Happy 10th Birthday, Bella!
When your kids are babies, people always tell you to cherish that time because they grow up so fast.  I'm here to tell you that it is 110% true.  The last 10 years have flown by, but they have been amazing to say the least.

Well, now I'm off to prepare for a 10th Birthday Slumber Party with 8 girls ~ because when your daughter turns 10 a slumber party is like a rite of passage.  Wish me luck!

Love,
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Funny Foto Friday

It's Funny Foto Friday at BellaBud again.  So what are you waiting for?  Pick a few of the funniest photos you can find, grab my cute little button, and link up. 
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Look at what I found this week:

My nephew picked flowers for my sister, roots and all!

This picture of my little guy at age 3 makes me LOL.
Laugh Loud,
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