I am starting another new series about “Organized Simplicity” which is a term I stole from the Simple Mom and her book, “Organized Simplicity.” I’m adding the book to my Amazon links on the sidebar to the right! Read more here. As I progress on my journey toward more simple solutions to organize my life, I want to share those things with you!  I am realizing that adding a child to my life will require MORE organization and making things MORE simple is the only way to go!  So, you’ll notice a new category “home management” that I’ll be posting under and would LOVE your suggestions!!!  I will share what I know, learn, try, and error!

I took the above picture yesterday while having IT trouble with my PC at work…..the IT guy was “on” my computer and I couldn’t use it so I stepped away and took the above photo….kind of fitting since this post is about how awesome mac products are!

This post may frustrate those of you without an iPhone…..or it will convince you to go out and get one

Why do we have iPhones? (1) We are Apple (mac) junkies! We LOVE them! Totally sold on Mac products.  (2) Our iPhones make our lives easier and less complicated!

The Grocery Gadget App is a perfect example of how our iPhones simplify our lives!! How?

Perfect scenario:  Wife has to work late. Grocery list is on the counter at home. Wife is at work. Hubby gets off work early and says he needs to run to the store for something…”Is there anything else you need, hon?”  Well yes! But my grocery list is at home on the counter!!!! AAAAHHHH!!!! I am all about efficiency! There’s not enough time in the day to waste any!

Another scenario:  Send hubby to the store with a list after wife breaks ankle! Hubby comes home with (1) massive quantities of things we don’t need (2) things we don’t need that were not on the list (3) the wrong items even though I thought I was specific on the list….not so much.

Same scenario with Grocery Gadget! Honey leaves work and says he’s headed to the store. “Is Grocery Gadget up to date?” “Yep! I think so…I’ll double check and make changes before you get there!” I go into my Grocery Gadget app and make sure that it’s up to date with all the items I want and he has it updated on his iPhone REAL TIME…yes immediately! Oh the joys of technology!

What does Grocery Gadget do?! Well…everything, of course!

• I walked around my kitchen on Day One with this app and scanned barcodes of our favorite items.  YES, SCANNED BARCODES WITH MY IPHONE!
• I can take a picture of the exact product so that FIThubby has a photo of exactly what I’m talking about.
• I can add quantities (and trust me, FIThubby sticks to the quantities so that I can never say “why’d you get __ of those?” He wants to be able to say…”b/c the list said to get two, so I got two.”)
• I can sort by the aisle so that it’s easy on myself and on my FIThubby if he’s not familiar with the aisles and order of items.
• I can add brands and store info of exactly where the item is.
• I can sort by different lists such as WalMart, Kroger, Sams & the Commissary (which each have items that I can only get there or that I choose to get there due to pricing)
• I can add prices and compare different store prices and tax to different lists (i.e. no tax at the Commissary)
• I can look up store coupons by the store name!
• The best parts….my hubby has my list & there are no more sticky notes all over the counter and my purse!!!

Get Grocery Gadget here (or download on your iPhone!)

How do you organize your grocery list? (and coupons)

What’s your favorite iPhone app that I HAVE to try??!!

This is a big year. A big year of changes. All good changes. All blessings. We are so blessed!

Last week, I enjoyed my home for one last week.  We lived in that home….our first home purchase…for 4 years.

In my life I’ve only lived one place longer, that was 7 years (from 1st to 8th grade).

All other homes since then were NEVER more than a year…yes, I said it….ONE year.

Not only was this MY first house [n0t parents' house], but it was also a house I lived in for MUCH longer than others.

I am a nester. I was a nester before pregnancy. I am a super-nester now.

I loved that house. I will always love that house. I loved that yard. I will always love that yard.

I cried all weekend having to leave it. I’m hormonal. I wanted to bring our first baby home to that house.

I cried. I mourned. I moved on….literally and figuratively. I [we] have great memories of that house. I [we] always will.

Nothing stays the same. Things change. And, change is good. Change is inevitable. It can still be hard.

There are bigger and better things ahead for us! And, it’s just a house! Things are just things. Stuff is just stuff.

What’s most important in life? Things? No. Stuff? No.

I snapped some fun iPhone pics last week for my Project 52…. I have discovered that I can lose highlighters on my shelf.

What a handy little shelf it is.  Oh so handy, until….

I drop food….and it lands on one of two shelves….shelves I didn’t have a few months ago!

A few pictures of my buddy. As a military wife, I am alone sometimes more than I’d like.

But, what a blessing it is to have such a great companion by my side.  I know he will miss his yard too, for the time being.

I may be more sad for him than for me, but he is just a dog. Do dogs have memories?  Will he have dreams of his old backyard?

[pic on left] Toby on my lap on our swing looking at the backyard!

The older you get, have you discovered that “things” are less important than they once were?

Were you a nester during pregnancy?  Have you ever “lost” anything that had significant meaning to you?

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Find other Project 52 Bloggers Here…

Cyan Baby Bliss ■  Healthy Cultivations ■  McBabyBump ■  PE Burgess ■  Phreckle Face Photography Blog ■  styleberryBLOG ■  wickedkate

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So, we finally purchased something for baby!!! Well, we purchased half and it’s ordered! Step one complete.  Even though we won’t be setting it up right away, it feels good to have ONE decision completed!

I shared with you a few weeks ago that my plan was a Tiffany Blue color on the walls (or a wall) and hot pink accents. Maybe a white “bookcase” in the cube style for storage?  Check out my inspiration here.

I do really do love the white accents with the Tiffany Blue but I also love the idea of a crib that will grow with her into her childhood bed and we just love real wood, versus painted wood.  Here’s what we picked out. It was HALF OFF!  And, it’s great quality.

We’re thinking about this bed in “Merlot” [color in the top pic...the darkest wood they have available] which I swear isn’t too red!  It’s more of an espresso color, but it does have a hint of red. We went back and forth though….every bed I found I liked came with the wrong dresser or the wrong color, etc.  We picked out the double dresser without the changing piece on top.  We are planning on getting the rails for the conversion now and maybe the trundle or drawers for under the bed in a year or so just in case they discontinue the color of wood in the future.  I love the idea of her having a trundle bed or drawers under the bed someday and this was the only brand that had that option!

This furniture set is really expensive full price, we think, but at half off it’s the same price as the other convertible crib sets we were looking at.  We know that there are definitely cheaper options but we like buying solid furniture. AND, this was my favorite design.  We don’t like to buy the TOP of the line that we’ll be heartbroken when it gets damaged BUT we know that cheap furniture just won’t make it through a few moves. It falls apart!  This set is really sturdy and we like that.  You can find it here:  Young America by Stanley.

Do you buy furniture that lasts a long time and is durable in moves or that you can discard and replace in just a few years when it gets ruined?

Link me to your furniture pieces if you’d like! I’d love to see!!!

I thought I’d post this today to inspire you all to do something fun to your house this weekend like I did last!!

So, I wanted hubby to paint for me [since I'm preggo] but he knows I love to paint things MYSELF and I like it done MY way so he got me a gas mask to try…IT WORKED!!! The thing is amazing! I couldn’t smell a thing! It was lovely!  :) He kept walking into the room saying, “You can’t smell that?!” I was merrily painting away saying, “NOPE!”  It was bliss!  We left right after the painting, left the windows open and ran errands and when we got back…all gone!!! [Granted, I only did a wee bit of "touch up" and the vent shown below]

I had to share this project with you!!! I LOVE painting over things that don’t need to “stick out” in the walls! I still need to do a 2nd coat, but I love painting things like return vents so they don’t stick out like a sore thumb!!! It was white (forgive me for not taking a before pic!) and stuck out every time I walked past it! Now, I don’t even notice it and when I do notice it….it makes me happy!

Any weekend [house] projects planned? Have you done any fun ones recently?  SHARE! I love learning from you!

Share your links in the comments if you have any posted!

I thought I’d share a few updates and pics from the week!

Our life in the military, my hubby is a pilot in the AF, means my hubby is often gone.  He was gone last week and this was Toby’s sad look as he laid by the front door waiting for him to come home!  And, I’m very pleased to say he seems to like my new rug! Or, at least he’s dealing with it!

I did not bring this leaf into the house and onto the carpet. It traveled through the kitchen and living room and halfway down the hallway almost to my office. Grrr…..  Keeping a floor clean is nearly impossible with a hairy dog who sheds and brings the outside IN! This picture has definitely spiked my interest in taking a pic of the living room floor covered in his toy mess….teeny little pieces all over the place.  This scares me when I think ahead to having a crawler who wants to stuff everything into her mouth! I’m shaking in my boots!

In November, I posted a pic of my front door and my minimal Fall decorations. I also said that my Welcome Mat that we got when we were married in 2004 was SAD, SAD, SAD and it was time for a new one! So, you can imagine my excitement over replacing it!!! I am cheap, or thrifty, depending on perspective!  So, I had to find a good deal but I also have a rule that I will not bring things into my home that I do not LOVE.  I LOVE this new welcome mat!  I liked the well-placed [placed by the wind, not by me] leaf on there when I took the pic but I don’t love it now. I think I should have moved the leaf.  Details. Details.  I love how my new rug matches my entry and it’s just ME! Love it!

So, to take the pic above I had to open the front door. Toby LOVES to go out the front door and explore the front yard. NOT this day! I wanted him to stay put. I picked the wrong time of day to take this pic because I couldn’t get him and the welcome mat in the same pic with the glares in the mid-afternoon sun.  I still thought this pic below was hilarious. He was sitting so perfect, hoping to get the chance to run out the front door!  It cracked me up! I had to share it.  I often think we only trained him to “Sit” & “Stay” so I could get good photos of him or make him sit/stay outside of the frame of the pic I’m trying to take without him! WHAT A GOOD DOG!!!! [He definitely got a treat for his efforts!]

What did you buy this weekend??? How do your animals/kids act when your other half is away??? Link away to your fun pics on your blogs from your weekend!

I’m off now to buy my new lens from B&H Photo!! I saved up to buy it and can’t wait to use it!!!  I opted not to rent it first so let’s hope I love it….I have a very strong feeling it will be perfect!!!

So, I posted here in August 2010 about our old counters going bye bye! Finally! Hallelujah!  We added new counters. We added a new backsplash. We added a new oven/stove and fridge.  And, we added new hardware. And, a fresh coat of paint. [We didn't mean to do all that at once...it's the dreaded snowball affect of home renovations!]

I posted this “sneak peak” picture above on a post in September 2010 and STILL haven’t shown you the finished product!!!  Why not?!

That’s why!!!! I’m still waiting on ONE outlet cover….and yes it’s been since AUGUST!!! I won’t go into the disaster that was the FIRST set of counters that are now gone….I might share that story later. Or maybe I’ll never speak of it again, because it makes my blood boil just thinking of it!

I am entertaining next week and I’ll have more than 20 people in my house and I HAVE TO HAVE THIS COVER ON BY THEN!!! So, I’ve resorted to calling daily! Daily!  It’s Wednesday.  I’m starting to get a little worried. I need this done by next Tuesday night. Next Monday is a holiday.  UGH!  I have to admit I took a month or so off from caring when I was in bed with nausea [1st trimester] but now I’m back! And, HAVE to have this done NOW! It’s one cover! AAAHHH!

My day today…Without boring you with details…today started out a little rough with a bad internet connection and then leading to a plumbing issue. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse……………the kindness of a stranger!!! Our plumber was awesome!! Made my day!!  Funny how that works!

I think I’ll be taking the night off from studying and the computer. I’m finishing my Weight Management course and almost done with my Pre and Post-Natal Nutrition course as well.  I feel the pressure to get it done now….probably just a channel for my anxiety.  But, I’m taking the night off and relaxing. I think I’ll clean a little….a clean house always makes me feel more relaxed! So, I’ll get back to you all tomorrow…well rested and happier!

I hope to have pictures posted next week of the kitchen!!! The house should be ready for my party on Tuesday, so we’ll see!!!

Have you a house remodeling disaster of any sort?

Do you ever feel the need to take the night off from the internet and veg? How do you relax?  Books? Movies? Bath?

It’s the end of the year. I’m cleaning out my computer.  I found this old pic I didn’t share on 10.4.10 like I should have!

I always put a label on food when I make it…whatever dinner/lunch is or just for rice or whatever. I also put the date.

I find that my hubby tends to avoid containers when he doesn’t know what’s in them. So, less waste.

And, he will also eat things that are weeks old and say “it’s still good”…ew! [Hence the date on the label.]

10.4.10 – This night he was working late. I had dinner with friends. I put dinner away in the fridge, labeled, front and center. [Almost] impossible to miss.

Also, totally in love with the new super sticky removable labels!!!  Only a nerd like me would be that excited about new office supplies.

Find my Lemon Walnut Chicken [Salad] Recipe here.

Any secrets in your house for how to get the hubby and kiddos to eat what’s in the fridge?!

I have heard great things from my friends who have done a Project 365 and contemplated doing one last year but didn’t even realize it until after January 1, 2010. Many who have done one have said that it makes them look at the world differently. They are glad they had the photos to remember the year. And, it has made them better photographers!

I got my new “fancy” camera for Christmas last year….best. gift. ever.  [Thanks hubby and BFF.]  I’m loving it!  I’m definitely wanting to become a better photographer. And, I think I’ll need to start taking my “fancy” camera more places if I want to get more photos using it!!! That means…..I’ll need a new camera bag.

Do you have a camera bag you love?

So, the idea of Project 365 sounds like a LOT of work.  A friend recommended a Project 52!!!  That sounds MUCH more do-able!  One week I may have a pic for every day and another week I may only have a pic for the entire week. Who knows! At least this way I won’t feel so obligated to take a pic and post it EVERY single day. AND, that sounds less annoying for YOU, the readers.

What do you think?

Above is a pic I took this week of my sweet family…minus myself and the unborn child.

I think I will have to take the challenge of adding in photos every once in a while of MYSELF with my family.

Here’s the story of the day I found out I was pregnant….

5:30am I get up to pee. I decide to pee on a stick.  ”It’s morning so that’s the best time to test.  It’s only 10-11 DPO [days past ovulation] so it’s really early but with all the symptoms I’m having, I’m testing now. Ok, tested. Nothing.” Threw test in the trash can.  [5 seconds pass] “Was there a line? A faint line?” Hmmm….took the test back out of the trash.  ”Well, there’s an extremely faint line….extremely! Is it there? Am I dreaming? Are my eyes blurred?  It’s 5:30am. I’d better take a pic.” Grab the iPhone. Take a pic for later.

8:00am Wake up for real. Take a look at the pic. “Is there a line? Hmmmm….maybe that’s a line. Maybe I’m dreaming it.”  Text it to BFF.

Immediately. {BING} [BFF] OMG! Did you take a real one?

{SWOOP}  [me] Just that one. I think I’ll wait til tomorrow morning, no? I’m not getting my hopes up!!

{BING} [BFF] Well I am! Go get a digi!!! That is what my first one looked like! Search my blog for the pic!

{SWOOP} [me] Same day as the faint line?

{BING} [BFF] If you got the line once, it’s not going away.

{SWOOP} [me] I’m scared it’ll say NOT!

{BING} [BFF] Well it might, but I saw a line!!!!

{SWOOP} [me] I’m still thinking about waiting til tomorrow.

{BING} [BFF] Go get a test!!!! A line is a line.

I got a test…..PREGNANT! (Clearblue rocks!!)

{NOTE: iPhone noises may only make sense to iPhone users}

How’d I tell the hubby? We started dating when we were 15 years old. We have quite a history. We have had many first together. We graduated college. Got married. Went on first trips. Bought our first house. Got our first dog. Raised our puppy. Renovated houses. Etc. Etc. I wanted to put that all together and tell him that we were about to start a whole new chapter of our lives together after SIX years of marriage!  I made a slideshow of our lives together. I used a song that was special to us when we were fifteen. When FIThubby moved away [after only 8 months of dating] I [we] listened to this song ad-nauseum…..and I think it has some meaning to our future…..”I’ll be the greatest fan of your life” Applies to each other….and FITbaby.

Here’s the slideshow of our lives….

As soon as the slideshow was over, it went back to slide one….FIThubby’s reaction…

“Wait, what?! Go back?! What did that last slide say?! What?! Really?! When?! Are you sure?!”

Find BFF here….  styleberryBLOG.com

I just realized today that this week I have off work MAY BE the last week I have off before we have a kid!!!  Crazy…..

How’d you tell your hubby you were pregnant?

How do you plan to tell your  hubby?

What’s the best idea you’ve heard from a friend?

I love Scentsy!

It’s been a struggle for me for about 5 years to find a great way to make my house smell wonderful….when I come in the door from being gone all day.

What’s wrong with candles? I LOVE Circle E “Birds of Paradise” and I love a ton of different Yankee Candle scents.  And sure, you can light a candle, but not while you’re gone!! [Remember, I want to smell the great smell when I walk in the door.]  Or if you’re like me, you do leave them lit while you’re gone and count your blessings when you come home that you didn’t lose everything [including Toby] while gone!

What happened 5 years ago? I learned that the plug-ins that I LOVED are a fire hazard! They are plastic and they can melt and catch fire!  I decided it wasn’t worth the risk.  There’s a lot of evidence that they can cause fires and my home, possessions, Toby and the hassle that would be involved are too important to me to take the risk. The same goes for the candles that I’m awful at remembering are lit!

Enter Scentsy! I love this idea. Yes, they stay plugged in all the time, but they don’t have to stay on. [On/Off Switch] They are decorative but they are not plastic, so they’re not going to melt and catch fire. Now, anything plugged in is a fire hazzard, I’m sure!  But, to a lesser extent if it won’t burn [like the plastic plug-ins.]

Scentsy is a warmer for wax, but there is no flame. There is a lightbulb that heats the wax and makes the scent fill the room.  A little scent goes a LONG way in our house also. I have one in each wing and then one in the foyer and since I inherited another as a gift I added one to the kitchen! I love them!  I empty the wax right into the trash can and add new wax every few days, when I need to cover up a smell, or if I come into the house and don’t smell it!

Home Decor. I love that they add something to my decor and are functional too. The one I posted on my outtake is my favorite…the stand is separate, but I love that too!!  The one in this pic is in our Master Bedroom since we have some Zebra accents in the Master Bed and Bath. OH! And, they’re great night lights too!! I don’t need night lights in the bathrooms anymore….I just add these!  Another purpose! Love dual-purposed items!! Less clutter.

My favorite scents. I buy the bricks but I cut each cube in half because they’re plenty big!

• Sugar cookie [for the kitchen] in the Bakery Collection
• Autumn Sunset [seasonal and in foyer] in the Favorites Collection
• Satin Sheets [all over. always in the bedroom] in the Favorites Collection

I love my Scentsy rep and you can find her here.  Just click on BUY to start shopping. You can also search for a local rep in your area.

What are your favorite Scentsy scents?  How do you make your house smell great?