I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of
criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for
me. -Anaïs Nin

New Year’s Resolution: To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not
encourage them to take up more of my time. -James Agate

We’ll be saying goodbye to 2011 in just a few days, and hello to 2012. I’ve been working on getting our family prepared for a new year of organization…

Our families ’central command station’ is the side, and front of our refrigerator.

We picked up a new calendar for the year, and Surprise! it’s all baby Schaunzers! This little guy looks pretty close to our, Oliver.

At Target I found an organizher by Meade, and decided to set it up for our Monthly Menu, a Monthly Daily Chore calendar [each day you do some type of small, quick chore, ie: clean out nightstand], and a To do section [the to-do section will actually be a monthly post it note reminder section, ie: make vet appt]. I don’t want to get too complicated, and I think this system is going to work out great for us.

Resolutions/Twenty Wishes…no matter what you call them: I create unrealistic resolutions for myself, and I fail miserably. In 2010 I chose three resolutions, and have decided to carry them forward for 2012;

• Embrace my family and friends with more love, more patience, and more time together.
• Live my life greener, healthier, simpler, happier, fuller.
• Enjoy each moment and blessing of today.

 One Little Word…I’m still narrowing down my options. Here’s a reminder of a few of my previous words; 2010: Today, 2011: Integrity, and Awareness

My new class, Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care has opened, so I am preparing the next 8 weeks of my life around the syllabus.

We will be attending a special service for Reggies bestfriend, Kyle, and his brother, Tyler, in town tonight. Unfortunately, Reggie has to return to basic training on the 3rd, so he will not be able to attend the actual funeral that is planned. A horrible tragedy, and just gut wrenching, and heart breaking. I received a wonderful note from the boys stepmother this morning, and am so grateful for the wonderful words she wrote about Kyle, and Reggie. Fly high boys, and may your spirit always be present with those who love you…

Love those around you…until next time…

-Jenny

I woke up at some point during the early morning hours finding we had lost our electricity. Waking up this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find that the snow had not accumlated as was predicted.

Taking advantage of the cold chill in the air, we have a pot roast in the crock pot, baked apples, and apple crisp in the oven.

 Ramblings…

• This is going to be one of my winter projects: French Flower Pots/Mod Podge. Love this look [and of course if you know me at all, you know that I am slightly obsessed with anything Paris themed.]
• Pumpkin filling plus cake mix!? Must try this.
• Mini Pumpkin Bread with Cinnamon Pepita Streusel Topping. Oh.my.goodness!!
• Because the winter storms are upon us I am thinking about the need to be prepared. This is a great emergency checklist. One thing that caught my eye was the solar powered charger for ipod, cell phone, flashlight. I need to do a search for this as it is a great idea! And we cannot forget about the car emergency checklist. Love this Emergency Survival 72 hour kit post, and finally this is a great emergency food stockpile. Each of us should truly be prepared for an emergency situation, and I plan on beginning ours this week.
• Use a wire magazine holder as can storage in your pantry. Now why don’t I think of stuff things like this?
• I am loving these collapsible market baskets. I think having one would be great for fruits and vegetables.

Well friends, there you have some of my disorganized ramblings. I have some things to accomplish before The Walking Dead comes on tonight. Until next time, here’s to a wonderful week ahead of us…

-Jenny

Last night I finished our meal menu for the month of October. I choose to go very basic in our meal planning. No meat on Mondays, and a meat of choice for most nights, such as fish, chicken, turkey. This system seems to work the best for us. Next month we will be adding homemade soups/stews to the menu.

I worked on coupons last night, and after a trip to Shaws today saved $38.58. If you are wondering what the purple thing is with the disney princesses on it, it is actually a two-up photo album from Walmart. Costs about $2.00, and for me is perfect for coupons. I was carrying a 3-ring binder, and truthfully for me, this two up photo album is just perfect.

Coupon Share: McCormick Recipe Inspirations are on sale this week at Shaw’s for $1.29 [regular price, $1.89]. I used four/$1.00 off any one [1] McCormick Recipe Inspirations, so paid .29cents for each. We bought Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Potatoes, and Apple and Sage Porkchops.

This morning Keith and I met up with Beate, her husband Gary, and son, Nick, in Ellsworth. They are on holiday from the U.K. Beate and I met via facebook about two years ago, and there isn’t many days that go by that we don’t have something to say to one another.  A kind, beautiful woman, that I would love to have tea and biscuit with every morning!

Beate brought me two beautiful gifts. An antique tea cup and saucer, and a tea cup and saucer to commemorate the Prince Williams wedding. Again, thank you, Beate!

I have a busy week ahead of me, which includes Mandt recertification [ugh], and before I call it a night I have to attempt to get a few more things accomplished. Until later, here’s to a beautiful week ahead of us…

-Jenny

Last night Keith, and I went out for supper, and participated in the Belfast Gallery Art Walk.

Now, I have to tell you…it honestly does not get any better than this…books, and antiques! The only thing this store is missing is a big old comfy couch so customers can relax for a few mintues.

I didn’t buy any antiques [mainly because I am concentrating on the search for this china], but of course I could not leave Bella Books without buying a new book. I had contemplated getting this book on my Kindle a few weeks ago, but had decided to buy paperback so I can share with friends… Inside Of A Dog…which makes me think of Hawkeye. Watching Hawkeye let out those huge sighs is truly heartbreaking…

Fedex delivered another piece to my Willow Tree Nativity Set this morning, the Ox and Goat. I am looking forward to setting up my nativity set this season…

Final grades were posted yesterday. My final grade for Managing a Continuum of Care for Positive Patient Outcomes: Grade To Date: 99/100 (99%) A. Our final paper for our team project lost one point. Hoping my peers did just as well for their final grade.

Well friends, I have a little DIY project I want to begin today. Here’s to a beautiful remainder of this weekend.

-Jenny

We were all up, and out the door early this morning so we could drop Keith, and Reggie off at the airport for their flight to Wilmington, North Carolina. A whirlwind trip to unload our daughters storage unit, pick up her dog, Tacori, and drive the u-haul home. At about 5pm they were 100 miles outside of Wilmington. I miss them, and will feel so much better when they are home…

So…because it was just Matthew, and I home tonight, and because neither one of us wanted to taste each others cooking, we ordered a pizza, and drove to my brothers work where he was working on his race car and had supper with him.

It is truly the little things in life…

-Jenny

Was so happy to sleep in this morning. My days off are few and too far in between, and it seems like I am entering into another fibromyalgia flare-up again. &^%$#. Keith and I went antiquing, and had a great morning together, and I picked up a few things for our home.

Visited my two favorite antique stores, and was pleasantly suprised to see that Old Things has a new room with a Christmas theme. Not necessarily antique items, but a cute concept and becoming popular as I am seeing a number of antique stores with a Christmas theme section. Was nice to visit with the owner, Sharmaine and talk for a few minutes, and hoping she may be able to assist me in finding pieces to a new collection that I am searching for.

In Search Of: This set is made by Johnson Brothers, and obviously is going to be difficult to find…but I am determined to have this set, and looking forward to adding them to a china hutch.

My sister showed up the other night and we tackled the diningroom together, and she left with a van full of stuff. I have decided to begin selling a majority of my scrapbook/rubberstamp supplies, and have decided to begin with some big pieces.

FOR SALE:

• Antique Library Card Catalog Cabinet. $900.00. Came from a college in Allenstown, PA. One solid, very heavy piece, 60 drawers total, and two pull out surfaces.
• 1938 Vintage Dress Form. $125.00.
• SOLD Martha Stewart Island. $100.00. This was used lovingly in my scrapbook studio, and unfortunately does have a few areas of paint on the wood surface, which does not affect the appearance.

Yesterday was the last day of my class, Managing a Continuum of Care for Positive Patient Outcomes. I am looking forward to my final grade, and excited to have a break. My next class does not begin until September 6th. I have been loading up my Kindle over the past few months, and I am looking forward to doing some fun/no thinking necessary reading.

New books that I’ve added to my Kindle; When I Lay My Isaac Down, Germs, Genes, & Civilization, One Thousand Gifts, Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Killing Time, The Stoning of Soraya M., Read This Before Our Next Meeting, and Code Blue.

My husband, and oldest son are flying out to North Carolina in the morning so they can empty the storage unit containing all of my daughters belongs and drive back in the u-haul. Wish I could have done the trip, but difficult to get time off from work, and right now I am aiming for a trip to Wisconsin in October so I have to be careful with my vacation time.

Well friends, for here I am going to close so I can grab my Kindle and begin some reading. Here’s to a wonderful week ahead of us! Until next time…

-Jenny