Framed Monograms

I was looking for a way to use some of the beautiful holiday ornaments that are now on clearance.  Many of the ornaments are very holiday specific however there are some that can translate year round. 

A few years ago I was looking for some art to hang in our master bathroom.  I had picked up some pearl monogram letters at Christmas time and that is when I got thinking.  Why couldn't I frame them.  I went to my stash of picture frames and found a couple beautiful wood frams that I had picked up at Pottery Barn on clearance and they were perfect.

The frames had 3 different mats inside that you could choose from.  This was perfect because the thickness of the mats created the perfect amount of space between the glass and the back of the frame to account for the dimension of the letters.  I found a nice corresponding piece of scrapbook paper for behind the letter and thus some beautiful and romantic artwork for our master bath.

Note:  Since we just moved last month, we haven't begun to hang up our artwork so I had to dig these out of a box to snap a few pictures. 

On the Menu

2011 is our year to get our family eating habits back in check.  Our plan for the next couple of months is to focus on the basics - more fruit and vegetables (atleast 5 a day), more lean meats and less white flour.  So, here is the menu plan for the week...

Monday - Chicken Cordon Bleu with stir-fried veggies

Tuesday - Taco Tuesday

Wednesday - Sweet & Sour Pork with stir-fried veggies and brown rice

Thursday - Pot Roast with Carrots & Potatoes

Friday - New Year's Eve - Pizza on the Grill

Saturday - leftovers

Sunday - dinner at the in-laws

Day 1: The Play Room Purge

Today was day 1 of the 7-day dump and decrapification and I spent the morning upstairs.  Sorted through the pit that we call the playroom and did a bit of sorting, organizing and purging. 

{BEFORE}   ...yikes, what a mess!

We had pulled a bunch of toys at the time that we moved but it seems that there is always a few things that can be pulled out.  Today's boxes included a bunch of happy meal toys, cheap plastic cars & trucks, wood puzzles and the Mega Blocks (which have been replaced by a huge tub of Legos).  The toys will be put on the yard sale or included in the Just Between Friends sale in the next couple of months.

{AFTER}     ...this should last about 5 minutes...enjoy!

After a couple of hours in the play room, I moved on to the kids clothes.  Christmas stockings always contain new socks and underwear at our house so it was a good time to purge that drawer.  I also was able to pull a small box of shorts, pants, shirts and shoes that no longer fit too.

{TODAY'S PURGE}  ...feels so good!!!

While cleaning up stairs we were also able to open the windows and let in a little fresh air (gotta love AZ winters).  I also washed the sheets, vaccuumed, and mopped the bathroom floor. While I was cleaning, organizing and purging...Gary had the kids outside.  Z got a new bike from Santa and is loving his big boy wheels!  S is become a pro at riding her bike without training wheels (she mastered it in just a couple of hours over Thanksgiving break).  Since it was such a beautiful day, Gary also started sanding the desks I found at a flea market last month.  Will share this makeover project in the future!

All in all, today was a huge success!  See you tomorrow for Day 2!!!

Countdown to a New Year!!!

The benefit of moving just over a block is that you don't have to carry anything very far.  The detriment of that is you don't really pack.  This makes an intersting dillema when you keep your same "systems" in place that worked (or maybe didn't work) so great in your old space - but just don't seem to as effective in the new space.  We packed up cabinets and moved them from one space to another without really having a plan.  We moved dressers without emptying drawers which meant, no purging was done.

Now, factor in that today is Christmas day and our living room appears that a toy store and half of Target have exploded right here in our new home.  It is time for a serious 7-day dump - it is time to rid ourselves of the unwanted, unused, and unneeded.  I want to start 2011 with a clean slate - so this week some major decrapification needs to happen.  Thus, is born....

We will dig through drawers, comb through closets, purge the playroom and more!  The countdown to a new year starts tomorrow morning at (well, whatever time I decide to drag my booty out of bed)!!!  Good night!