Monday, January 02, 2006

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2006! Or as my son Noah calls it..."the year I turn 6!" His birthday is several months away and he's already planning his birthday party. :)

I've taken a bit of a blog break, I guess. We've been busy with family visiting, get-togethers, and just doing things around the house. I always think I'll be sad to see Christmas come and go, but then I'm always ready for a new start in January. However....I am sitting here listening to Christmas music while I blog. THAT I can do all year-round. :)

We've been moving some furniture around in our house. I'm trying to make each piece of furniture and each area of the house as functional as possible. For example, we have a black Pottery Barn cabinet with two large, long open shelves at the bottom. I had this cabinet in the entryway with baskets of books and a few blankets on the shelves. However, to get the MOST use out of it, we moved it to our family room and now have DVDs on the shelves. (we didn't have anywhere to store them before) Then we moved the piano into the entryway. So now we'll use the piano more (I plan to teach Noah how to play this spring/summer) and the PB cabinet is being used more efficiently. Trying to do this in several rooms. It's fun to use what you already have in an entirely new way! Note: When we bought that cabinet 2 years ago, it was almost $150 cheaper! In the words of Napoleon Dynamite...."GOSH!"

Wednesday night is ROSE BOWL NIGHT!!!! We can't WAIT. GOOOO HORNS!!! I'm sure a lot of family will be coming over to watch the game and eat dinner. David will most likely request chicken fried steak, cream gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, and iced tea. Very southern meal and one of David's favorites. Either that or chili for the meal, except that it's been in the 80's here each day and chili is more for cold weather. I'm sorry, but I really hate this weather. We have warm weather long enough March thru November. Do we have to have it NOW? I was coming home earlier today and there were people in the POOL...on January 2nd. That is just wrong. :Looking at the positive side of it, though....Noah is able to play outside a LOT lately and is just so tired each night at bedtime. So that's a plus to the warm weather God have given us.

I have my scrapbook area all organized and ready to GO. I'm just itching to get back to my design team work and to just scrapbook for myself! I am going on a scrapbooking retreat in February, too, so that is more motivation to at least get some layouts planned. I am considering teaching a class at the retreat, too. I love Donna Downey's projects so something DD-inspired might be fun. We'll see :) I might want to just go and wear PJs all weekend! I need to decide soon....

Have you been to the Target One Spot lately? They have some CUTE new organization things!! Lots of little items in blue and brown. I picked up some magnetic-backed tins with clear tops and some brown magnetic oversized clothespins. They also had lots of storage boxes and several other display items, like a clothesline type wire with little clips. It's all really cute! I'm going to put the clothespins on our refrigerator for Noah's art creations. That boy loves to draw! :)

Oh, and if you are looking to organize and get rid of some clutter around your house for the new year, here is a great article on Clutter Control.

Have you downloaded the new free fonts at 2Peas? They are too cute! Garden Girls Love Me and GG Max. :)

And I still have a big scrapbooking-related secret. But I can't tell for a little while! Just something I'm quite proud of that is coming up soon. :)

I'll start sharing recipes again soon. You can check my archives for other recipes and recipe sites. God bless you today!
- Jennifer

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there are always some obstacles in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." -Alfred D. Souza

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year, Jennifer!! Can't wait to hear all about your big secret!

Kim said...

Hey Jennifer--can you come help me organize my house? hehe. Can't wait to hear your big secret!

Anonymous said...

Jennifer....
As usual, the things you always share inspire me...
Makes me want to organize, scrapbook, and just LIVE! Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!
Debi

Deanna- yep Dee-na said...

seriously wish u could help me organize mine too.. lol.
happy new year! yay for big secrets!

Anonymous said...

"I'll start sharing recipes again soon. You can check my archives for other recipes and recipe sites. God bless you today!
- Jennifer"

Jennifer, I always enjoy when I have a few moments to read "what's up with you." It's honestly like a visit with a friend!
Cathy

Anonymous said...

I love reading your blog, miss Jennifer!!! I'd truly love to come visit with you...you have such a dear heart. :) And I can't wait to hear what your big secret is!!!

Anonymous said...

Please come over and help me pack my scrapbook room! Then when I'm moved, come and help me set it up! I need heeelllpppp! :)

Bridget said...

Dang, Jennifer, I love surprises, but I hate being teased! What's up? I'll let you come over and scrap with me. LOL

Anonymous said...

"We have warm weather long enough March thru November. Do we have to have it NOW? "
Sorry Jen...I say Yeah!!!!!! I am loving this warm weather! It's why we moved to Texas...Bring it on!!!!! :)
Happy New Year and GOOOOOO HORNS!

... said...

awww, can I come over for the game :)

Hook'em Baby

Lisa

Anonymous said...

you go with the rearranging! i seriously need help getting more functional use out of what I have.

saw all that cute stuff at Target today - bought some of those boxes to alter

enjoy the game and can't wait til you spill the beans on your secret and start sharing some more recipes!

Jenn said...

Isn't it nice having had a child born in 2000?? It is so easy to always know how olde he is! LOL... especially since mine was born on the thrid of January, so he is the same age as the year for pretty much the whole year!

Happy new year!

Jana said...

Happy New Year, Miss Jennifer, & Hook 'em Horns tonight!!!

Anonymous said...

My, you have been busy!

I'm with you on the gripe about the weather!!! Grrr.

Thanks for the inspiration to use our existing furniture instead of just plunkng down cash for something new. You are clever!

Have a happy day and GOOOO HORNS!

Anonymous said...

Hey Jennifer! Welcome Back!!! I've missed ya! Love that your son calls this the "year I turn 6." My little guy is equally excited for his 4th birthday this year. I think he just counts time between presents...from Niklaus to Santa Claus to Little New Year to BIRTHDAY TIME!!! LOL! Thanks for bringing to my attention the new 2peas fonts...they are awesome!!! Also...LOVE that Pottery Barn Cabinet....very cool! As for Target, I have always counted my blessings that there isn't one very close to me....it could be VERY dangerous. Unfortunately/FORTUNATELY they are now building one RIGHT UP THE STREET!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! Serious problems for the pocketbook though. EEEK! Anyway...I'm glad to see ya bloggin' again...I've missed reading your blog!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

TracieClaiborne said...

You always find the best quotes!!!! I love that one!

Love the idea of moving things around for better uses too. I have done that before. I'm thinking of re-working my Living Room a bit.

Love reading your blog girl!

Deanna- yep Dee-na said...

saw something today... have you seen thishttp://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=1542865 thread on 2peas?

Deanna- yep Dee-na said...

so meant to link you... well anyway... martha stewart is pairing up with EK Success- saw it in Gen. Scrappin!

Benita said...

Happy New Year, Jennifer! You've been tagged :) Go to my blog for details & have fun :)

Anonymous said...

HEY JENN! TAG! YOU'RE IT!!!

http://heatherdwhite.typepad.com/unwrapped/2006/01/tagged.html

BTW..where the heck are you??

Anonymous said...

A secret eh?! Oh I can't wait to hear! Hope you are well...trying to catch up on life and get ready for CHA but had to check in on you!! ;)

Anonymous said...

Hey! Yes, I have seen the dollar spot! Very cute stuff! Makes me want to buy it all! :-)

I know you said you're taking a little break, but I tagged you again. Sorry! ;-)
Robin