New Years Resolution Continued.....

Well, as I mentioned in an early post about New Years Resolutions...like many of us I set my goals waaaaaay to high and set myself up for failure. So this year I decided to just not let others have the power to tick me off.  And for the most part it has worked out ok. Hey...it's only Jan. 16th...I am bound to slip a little. Not letting others tick you off is a hard job and I do work in retail ya know!

I also wanted to get organized. At one time I really was. People would say things like "Wow, your house is always so neat and clean" or "I would eat food off you floor any time" But that is when I was a stay at home mom. Going back to work has really taken a toll on the hours in a day I have left to do all the little extras I used to do.

So this year I decided that I would take small bites out of the "Elephant" so to speak and not overwhelm myself with big promises of all the grand things I was going to do. I decided each Saturday I would fill one trash bag with either things to throw away or give away.

 Yesterday I filled 2. And I only cleaned out one small night stand drawer and one big dresser drawer. And most of it was paper! You know old receipts, handouts from church, recipes torn out of magazines...etc. Boy did it feel good! It will take another Saturday to finish the drawers in my room and then on to my closet...which isn't bad at all. I usually keep it pretty tidy. I would like this.....

But will settle for just being able to find things when I need them. My house does not have a linen closet in the hall (builder must have been on drugs) so I have to keep extras like sheets and towels in my mater closet. It  can get out of hand pretty fast so I tend to keep it tidy...well kinda of tidy.
Then it will be of to tackle the office.....I want this.........

But again I will settle....for being able to find the phone when it rings...LOL

I will take pictures of each room before and after...well maybe...the before pictures could get really embarrassing and I may not want you to see them. BUT 2011 is my year!! I am going to get my house in order and keep the Hefty Trash Bag company in business!!!

OK, so I have said it out loud, and I have blogged it....now I will HAVE to do it...right?

Happy Birthday Brandon

Our son Brandon is 22 years old today...wow...he has grown into such a fine man. It will be nice to get to celebrate with him this year. He was gone the last two years on his birthday serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. An though we are so very proud of him and the time he spent serving the Lord and the people of Mexico we sure are happy to have him back.

Brandon we love you very much and  want you to know how proud we are of you and the choices you are making in your life. We hope your birthday is as wonderful as you are.

Love you....Dad, Cricket & Cody

Ugly Sweater Dance

In December my son Cody and his friends went to a dance at the school called "The Ugly Sweat Dance" I thought it was so cute (since I have been wanting to have an Ugly Sweater Party for years) but have just not gotten around to it.

No pressure to get a limo, or a fancy dress or tux, and they had sooo much fun shopping at the D.I. for ugly sweaters. For those of you not familiar with the D.I. it is like  a Good Will or salvation Army store. Yes, I washed it (TWICE).

I made dinner for the two couples and served them. It was fun for me and I think they liked it too.

This Cody and his friend Rachel. I really don't think his sweater is ugly. But when you are 6"4 it is hard to find anything long enough. So we had to take what we could find.

This is Austin and his girlfriend Kelsey

And of course we had to have a group shot.

I tried to make it nice for them but not too fussy. So I went with a Christmas theme.

I wrapped small boxes of chocolates so they would each have a present.
I served salad, lasagna, garlic bread and Cider. They came back after the dance to watch movies and have dessert.

SOOOO FRUSTRATED!!

WARNING!!!! Graphic pictures of a broken finger!!!

 Many of you know that last August I did this...

With one of these........STUPID CARELESS MISTAKE!!













Six weeks of this.... and I thought I would be all better!!

Well that just isn't the case. I have done all the exercises the doctor gave me and I still can't pick up a lot of things and when I do I drop them. I can't open jars or even cut an apple. I have no grip or strength left in that hand and yes it is my dominant hand. I am getting better at doing a FEW things with my left hand but I get sooo frustrated!! I hate having to ask for help. I feel like a baby when we go out to dinner and my husband has to cut my steak, but grasping a knife is almost impossible. OK....now I am starting to think this is more about pride than frustration! But I just hate it. I am having trouble at work opening boxes and actually slipped and cut myself the other day. If I am home alone and want to open a jar I can't and even though I am not afraid of the mixer...wasn't it's fault I made such a stupid mistake, I can't use it either. So I either have to make sure someone opens everything before they leave or someone has to be home when I do things. That is really putting a cramp in my cooking and baking skills!!! OK....I just needed to sound off and now that I have done that do I feel better...NO but it's the only place I can do it...LOL

I guess I have done things when I want and how I want especially in the kitchen for so long that having to wait or ask for help just makes me feel helpless and I HATE that feeling!