Current Lusts {{Home Decor Style}}

While I realize the holidays just got over and I got more than what I ever could have dreamed of, I am still like Veruca Salt from Charlie and Chocolate Factory. I want all the things and I want them now! Only difference is, I know it will be a hot second before I get any of these things and I live on a budget. So, what is it that I am lusting after you ask? This go round, it is all home stuff. I have started to get ideas of what I would like our house to look like. We have been here a year, have done all the major remodel to the outside that needed to be done. Now, I would love to be able to focus on decorating and finishing some of the rooms.

Sonoma Console Table  I think that this would make a great entryway table for us. I like to keep candles and other items like that stored in the living room, so those baskets would be great for that! I also love the under shelf, with thoughts to put our wedding album and Royals Post Season album down there.

Starburst Mirror Set  I love the idea of mixing these into a gallery wall in our living room, in theory directly above the entry table mentioned.

Green San Miguel Vase  and Purple San Miguel Vase for the living room as well. We have a pretty dark pallet in our living room, which these could help brighten up. We also have the bookcases bracketing our fireplace that need filled.

LOVE Marquee Sign I really, really want one of these for our bedroom, but have no idea where to put it. The bedroom is the last room that we plan to decorate since we have been updating so much around the house and want to decorate the communal rooms first.

Shelf with Scroll Brackets  This would be to use above the kitchen sink. I enjoy having lotion and my ring holder next to the sink, but don't like having stuff cluttering our counters, since we don't have a ton of counter space as it is.

Where do you usually find good home decor? I generally stick to Kohls, Target and maybe TJ Maxx/Home Goods.

Fall Goals Recap

bahaha so I was late to getting my Fall goals together and then I decided that I would go until the Winter Solstice so that I could give this my best effort. In case you weren't aware, the Winter Solstice was December 21st. Suck on that, it gave me an extra few weeks to meet my Fall goals! I also have to say thank you to Kathy, formerly of Vodka and Soda, for giving me some REALLY great organization advice! Thanks, boo! 

• Get Organized and Down Size: I have a lot of stuff. I like to keep things forever and I know that I don't need to. I put these two things together, because I feel like they go hand in hand. 
• Clean out Closets--- keep things I ACTUALLY wear and that fit. 
• Hall (winter boots and scarves) Got rid of a pair of boots and 6 scarves. 
• Guest Room (craft supplies, coats, and STUFF) Haven't even touched this closet besides coats/jackets, so I have plans to get it down over Christmas Break. The craft supplies are going to work with me. 
• Bedroom (clothes and shoes, including under bed storage containers) I filled the guest room bed with clothes to donate and decided to try and re-sell a few nicer pieces. 
• Clean Desk 
• Start filing system (we have all our paperwork shoved into a drawer) Half Way started- got the filing system put together and started moving things over 
• Clean Out Kitchen Cabinets

Overall Get Organized and Down Size Grade: B+ I got rid of a ton of stuff and am still in the process of finishing this goal, but it will be done by Jan 1. Also related, we cleaned out the garage and got rid of a TON of stuff there too AND I organized my office at work, getting rid of stuff to make room for my craft/art items to be moved there-- so I factored those into my grade as extra credit. 

• Sell Said Stuff (or donate): Not only do I need to decide to get rid of stuff, I need to actually do it. Why do I need to keep the shirt someone gave me for Christmas 2 years ago that I've never worn?  

Overall Sell Said Stuff (or donate) Grade: B+ In the middle of doing this. It will be done by December 31st for tax purposes :) 

• Stick to My Routine and WRITE It Down: I am thinking of starting a calendar in the kitchen that is there for both of us to see. Gabriel doesn't like surprises and I try to do a weekly run-down, but we both have a lot going on and can forget. We tried sharing iPhone calendars--- worst idea ever!  Didn't start a shared calendar-- am looking for a cute one on clearance now. 
• Workout- I love to walk when it is this time of the year, but I need to do more than that. Didn't really do much with this goal truthfully. I stuck to what I usually do, which is inconsistent. 
• Cleaning (including the dreaded laundry) because the house gets NASTY during the wet months with the dogs. We did a big deep clean, I have been keeping up with the laundry weekly, am doing kitchen clean up 3x/week. 
• Cooking- I would like to eat out one less meal. We have been eating out 1 weeknight, Friday night, Saturday morning and night. I meal plan, so that keeps us within a set budget and gives us a weekly menu. We started eating in on Sundays nights and weekend one breakfast about a year ago, so this has been a slow work in progress. This has been better. It wasn't perfect, but definitely better. The extra meal in per week fluctuated between being a Friday night or weeknight depending.  If a weeknight, it was usually a frozen pizza. But, that frozen pizza was planned and on the meal prep menu, which now hangs on the side of the fridge. 

Overall Stick to My Routine and WRITE It Down Grade: C- I didn't do so hot with changing my workout routine, didn't start a mutual calendar, but did do really well with keeping the house clean during this nasty weather and with meal prep. I have a goal of finding a cute chalkboard or something like that to use as a weekly calendar for us and have talked to G about putting it by the garage door where he can see it as he enters/leaves. This wouldn't be such a big thing, but I teach night classes throughout the semester, take classes sporadically, have parent/teacher nights intermittently at my schools, etc. and he frequently forgets when I verbally tell him on Sundays.... So a communication board is a must! 

I loved hearing how you all organized your life, so if you have any more tips SHARE! 

Fall Goals--- Any Advice?

I know what you are all thinking, girl Fall has been here and it's almost Winter and you're just now putting together goals?! Yep, I am just now getting my shit together to put my goals down on paper. I want to put them out there in the world to hold myself accountable. So, for me Fall started Nov 1 and will go until December 1. 

• Get Organized and Down Size: I have a lot of stuff. I like to keep things forever and I know that I don't need to. I put these two things together, because I feel like they go hand in hand. 
• Clean out Closets--- keep things I ACTUALLY wear and that fit. 
• Hall (winter boots and scarves)
• Guest Room (craft supplies, coats, and STUFF) 
• Bedroom (clothes and shoes, including under bed storage containers)
• Clean Desk 
• Start filing system (we have all our paperwork shoved into a drawer)
• Clean Out Kitchen Cabinets
• Sell Said Stuff (or donate): Not only do I need to decide to get rid of stuff, I need to actually do it. Why do I need to keep the shirt someone gave me for Christmas 2 years ago that I've never worn? 
• Stick to My Routine and WRITE It Down: I am thinking of starting a calendar in the kitchen that is there for both of us to see. Gabriel doesn't like surprises and I try to do a weekly run-down, but we both have a lot going on and can forget. We tried sharing iPhone calendars--- worst idea ever!  
• Workout- I love to walk when it is this time of the year, but I need to do more than that.
• Cleaning (including the dreaded laundry) because the house gets NASTY during the wet months with the dogs. 
• Cooking- I would like to eat out one less meal. We have been eating out 1 weeknight, Friday night, Saturday morning and night. I meal plan, so that keeps us within a set budget and gives us a weekly menu. We started eating in on Sundays nights and weekend one breakfast about a year ago, so this has been a slow work in progress. 

Does anyone have any tips? I am trying to de-stress and de-clutter my life so that I can focus more on being the best me all the time. I would love to hear how you've organized your life! 

What I Did On My Break...

and other fun stories. I have to admit that what I did on my break consisted largely of this:

I'm just keeping it real up in here. I wore no bra, dry shampooed the shit outta my hair, and put a pillow on the couch so that I could watch all of my Lifetime movies with no shame. The dogs loved it. I also had the very disturbing realization that SoapNet is no more. Why, God, Why?! Apparently their parent company decided to go with more children's programming because it draws a larger audience base. Man, don't kids have enough channels to call their own? How else am I supposed to get my re-runs of the original 90210?! Riddle me that!

This also happened:

I re-tweeted one of my besties and then it got favorited by Alex Newman. Now, we should all recognize this name... crickets, crickets. Right. It's a rookie that was drafted 10th round by the Royals. I really, really understand his excitement about being a member of a Major League Baseball team, but I also do not know how he can't recognize that he is signed to the best farm team that the MLB has. Just sayin. Also, how do you not recognize WHAT is being said in that tweet?! If I played for the Royals I wouldn't be favoriting that shit. 

Truthfully, I didn't do the couch potato thing the entire time. The week of Christmas, I had my family December birthday lunch and got birthday presents. We also had Christmas with my family on Christmas day, where I got to see my family for the second time in one week and eat too much. I had Christmas with my friends and watched K-State play in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, which is the worst name ever. Unless you're giving out coupon codes for free shit just call it a normal name. I can get down with the Fiesta Bowl (although that sounds like something from Taco Bell) sponsored by Tostitos. That makes sense. 

Then, came the week of New Years. This is where shit got real and the above picture actually transpired. I swear, the week before I was so busy I was forced to shower every day and put on a bra. This week? Hell, nah. I did go do another walk through of my wedding venue with my parents, so that we could finalize a few details and I scheduled a wedding gown appointment, but other than that? I really did zilch. And loved every second of it. We did nothing on New Year's Eve except sit at home watching all the tv specials. Well, I drank a bottle of champs and a bottle of red. 

NYE started like this

and the bitch ended like this

Now, it's back to the real world for me. I did manage to check my work email over the break, so I sorta kinda know what I am walking into. But, you never know with kids. 

What was your favorite part of this holiday season? Did you do something great for New Year's Eve?