Happy Wednesday friends! Another overcast semi-wet day here on the East Coast. I snapped a picture of my back deck this morning. Anxious to be able to get back out there for our meals, and my morning cup of coffee. I found the fencing down cellar and added it to keep Oliver safe and it has worked out perfectly…and I think it kind of looks cute.

[Carry your light with you wherever you are

Can you say, Yum!? More pictures, and a great recipe on Sunday.

I’ve been lazy, lazy, lazy today {insert a huge surprise grin here}, and cannot believe that it is almost 8pm. The days just seem to ‘fly by’, and again I realize that I was able to find a lot more time and got a lot more accomplished when I was working full time! Amazing, I know!

So, on that note…Nikki is going to be here bright and early in the morning so we can study together, and I have a few things to pick up around the house, so until later…

xO-Jenny

Seriously, I really try to stay upbeat, but this rain is killing me! My body is hurting, I am hurting and I feel like crap. I took a shower this morning and put clean pajamas back on…not so good for ambition and productivity!

I did call the Registrar’s office, and did enroll in three classes for the Fall semester. I am on the fence regarding a fourth. I need to take a Statistics class, but the one I need is full at this time. If there is a cancellation I will grab the seat, if not, I’ll take statistics in the Spring. So, right now my schedule is: Journalism {I needed another English}, Pharmacology for Nurses, and Healing and Spirituality.

I checked my calendar book this morning and today marks 14 days since I began my new regimine of cymbalta. From what I have read it can take up to four weeks for therapeutic results. I am hoping that this medication is not related to my 5 nights of horrible insomnia!!

{Laugh at life more than cry about it

So folks! It’s about time that Sharon and I begin our Project 365 and that is exactly what we are going to do together. So stay tuned for our weekly project shares as we motivate and challenge each other to get this project begun, and more importantly, completed!

Here’s a recent self portrait of Oliver and I. Oliver of course had other more important things in mind that he would have preferred to do. Man, he is so much fun!!

Well friends, in an attempt to not waste my tomorrow, I am going to find myself in the medicine cabinet for something to help me sleep tonight, {I think it’s time to resort to a benadryl}…Until later.

xO-Jenny

[Give up on the idea that more is better.

I am attempting to better organize my scrapbook and rubberstamping ‘collection’. Sharing a space in the diningroom has proven to be difficult for me, as I feel it is important for us to have a functional diningroom, but at the same time I want to be able to ‘play/create’. I do not use things that are ‘hidden’ out of sight. So in an attempt to use what I have I began going thru two drawers of my work table. Two drawers and this is what I created:

Yeah, one hell of a mess! But, I have gotten a lot of embellishments more visible. I came across a little pink plastic container to put things in that are used regularly so I can just grab it and create {scissors, glue stick, ruler, brayer etc}.

Hoping this rain will finally come to an end, but in the meantime my scrapbook area is going to be so organized!!

xO-Jenny

{Simply Sunday} will be focused on simple living, healthy living, frugal ideas, helpful links etc.

To-Do and This’n That

I’ll be tackling my usual Sunday system in an attempt to keep me organized this week, and more importantly, hopefully I am able to get a few things accomplished. I have included Olivers bath on Sundays also.

And, before I forget…Today at 1:45am EST Summer Solstice has officially arrived, and from what I am reading tho it is claimed to be the longest day of each year, it is actually only 1 minute longer than yesterday, and summer solstice actually marks the point when daylight length begins to decrease.

And Happy Fathers Day to my Daddy, Keith and Reg. Three important men in my life and my children’s lifes.

You know you love a good yard sale as much as I do. Admit it! 10 Yard Sale Entertaining Essentials and more yard sale entertaining finds here.  I am still working on putting together my outdoor table setting…I’ll share a picture once it is completed. 

A few blogs that have caught my eye and I think you may like them also:

• Cindy at Home Simple Home 
• Shannon at Bless Our Nest
• Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful

 Healthy{ier} Living:

• Eating Less Calories: This morning I came across this great, quick article about making better meal choices when you find yourself in a restaurant. Scary Easy Ways to Eat 1,000 calories
• Over to On Simplicity.net I came across this great article. Four Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Day –making each day valuable. The concept of doing one thing a day that scares you, soothes you, one thing for someone else, and one thing for the future is really cool.

Busy week ahead of me…here’s to a wonderful week for all of us!

In the Kitchen

Mitchell and I made a Coffee Cake tonight after supper. The ingredients are all basic pantry items, so nothing special needs to be purchased. Very moist cake, and delicious.

Homemade Coffee Cake

Cake Ingredients:

2 c sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c sugar
6 tbls butter
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 tbls melted butter

Topping:
1 tbls flour
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Cut butter into dry ingredients with a fork. In separate bowl combine egg with milk; add flour mix. Stir until mixture is well blended and smooth. Spoon into greased and floured 9 inch layer pan. Spread dough with melted butter.

Combine sugar, flour, and cinnamon; sift over the top of cake, spread with a fork to cover evenly.

Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Serve warm.

  In the Stores {couponing}

I try to use coupons faithfully, especially on the everyday products: crest toothpaste, secret deodorant, shampoo etc. I don’t have time to store hop, and especially don’t have the time to shop for my items only to receive an attitude from the cashier and refusal of coupon uses…so I have decided because of my horrible experience at Target, I will no longer shop at Target.

Because of needing to know the in’s and out’s of couponing at Walgreens and having more difficulty using coupons at Walgreens vs positive experiences, I will no longer use coupons at Walgreens {sorry, if I’m buying particular items I shouldn’t have to purchase ‘filler’ items because of the number of coupons that I am using}. I will still shop at Walgreens, because I have not had a bad experience related to customer service.

Where the hell is she going to use coupons you ask? Easy.

Walmart. I have not had one problem using coupons at Walmart. No beeps, no cashier attitude, no refusal to accept coupon because the coupon = $1.00 off and the item = .99cents. Thank you to Walmart for allowing me to save some money and not cause undue stress or humiliation..or the waste of my valuable time.

Total Price = $6.00. With coupons = Free.

I needed a new pair of slippers to bum around the house in, looked over and spied these. {Toni the teal pair are for you}.

Total price = $15.00. On Clearance $1.00 each.

• Skintimate $1.00 off
• Kotex

Well friends, this night is closing in on me, and I have a few things I want/need to get accomplished before I call it a night. With any luck, tonight will not mark night 3 of Insomnia!! I hope you enjoy this Simply Sunday post, and I would love to hear some comments/feedback from all of you who are reading. Until later…

xO-Jenny

[Savor each day.

Because of a horrible case of insomnia last night/this morning, I got a tad bit of a late start this morning on life. I grabbed Keith and Oliver and we hit a couple of local yard sales. Came across a gorgeous buffet table, but the price was too steep and would have taken too much work/time to fix the problems with it. Keith picked himself up a table saw at a very good price…now he has no excuse for not building me the pantry that I am {patiently} waiting for.

I found some great books, and at .50cents each, how could I resist?! Ya, I think I am addicted!!

Need to think about supper and hope to play for a few minutes with my scrapbooking goodies…Until next time.

xO-Jenny

Good Saturday Morning friends!!

This weeks sketch is up at Unscripted Sketches. The Unscripted Design Team have created some gorgeous projects.

Ready for the day to begin, so for here I must run along….talk to you all later! Hope your day is a beautiful one!

xO-Jenny