Weekend Bits

This weekend I took things fairly easy. Who am I kidding, I take most weekends easy. Sleeping in is always featured heavily, as is plenty of couch time. But I did manage to get 30 minutes of driving practice in on Saturday, and without crying- bonus. I also reorganized the kitchen pantry, and as a result the spice cupboard got a little tidying up as well. Falling under the "Use What I Have" resolution category I made good use of spare containers I had in the kitchen for my pantry reorganization. I had two large plastic containers that I had bought ages ago for freezing leftovers, but had decided I didn't like very much and since then had only occasionally used. I transferred my powdered and granulated sugar into each of them which makes for much better storage than the bags I had them in, and is much easier to stack and keep track of on the shelf. I also got rid of some old cake flour that I never seemed to finish using, and I'll use that jar to hold my corn meal now. I dumped out some old flavoring extracts, slowly peeled the labels from them and had Josh wash the little bottles up. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at making my own vanilla, or maybe a small amount of flavored oil. Whatever I make, I'm sure I can find a cute use for them. And of course, now that everything is much more organized I can actually SEE what I have, making it much easier to USE it.

That was the most productive part of my weekend. Sunday I caught a $5 matinee of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy with my pal Holly. It was an excellent mystery; they gave nothing away until the very end. I'm hoping I can go see it again with Josh, or maybe my mom. After an afternoon of grocery shopping my cousin Angie came over and I made a quick version of Shepherd's Pie and some Pumpkin Bread Pudding for our little Downton Abbey premiere viewing party. We had such a good time she's going to come back next Sunday to watch the next episode again. I can't wait!

Goodies

While Josh is in the UK until the 19th, I've got a lot of free time on my hands. Surprisingly school work has been slow to pick up. Holly came over yesterday and we went to lunch and then to check out the new J. Crew store over by my office. Luckily there weren't any sale items out yet to catch my fancy. Somehow that didn't stop me from spending too much though, as we also went to Anthropologie and Old Navy. I got two of the striped sweaters, the other one in black and cream. Everything but the last top is from Old Navy. The roll-necked tee is from Anthro. I also picked up a 40's style teal sweater there, but can't find a pic of it.

New Year

Well, it's a new year now, isn't it? Josh and I spent NYE day celebrating the 1st birthday of our best friends' twins, and then spent a quiet evening at home watching Simpsons, snacking, and doing laundry. Exciting I know, but there's nothing else I would rather have been doing.

New Year's Day was a marathon shopping day. Holly picked me up and we grabbed some breakfast before heading to Stephanie's. I got to play with the twins a little more while she finished getting ready. Then we headed to Home Goods, Ikea, and lunch at Chili's. Steph went home, and Holly and I moved on to Anthropologie and Target. I got several cute things at Anthro, including the Hop, Skip, Jump skirt that I wore to work today. At Target I got some great basic sweaters on sale, a second pair of jeggings, and a new belt, all of which were paid for with gift cards. Then we went back to my house and I forced Holly to help me make some new outfits with my purchases so I knew I didn't waste my money. Holly left, I tidied up and went to bed.

Josh had been in Houston for a show and driven back w/ a bandmate, arriving home early in the morning. We both slept in Sunday, however I got up before him and worked on framing up some photos for our bedroom over coffee and some Bob Newhart Show. Once he was up I had moved on to watching some Simpsons and started putting together the new drawers I'd bought for my closet at Ikea. I went to work installing them, which led to a reorganization, which led to some closet purging. I worked on Josh's side a little bit too. It took me quite a while, but I finally got things just the way I wanted, including a new pull out peg rack that stores my necklaces. I showered and we made a late run for groceries. So, all in all, the first weekend of the New Year was pretty darn productive.


Oooh, aaaah, organized.

TGIF

What a long week! Lots of studying for my math test, which was beyond frustrating. And then yesterday was just the pits. I overslept and missed my first class. I rushed to school just in time for my second class, only to discover it was canceled. And then there was the math test. I actually did great on it, which turned out to be the high point of my day. Then work, therapy (where I impressed my doctor with my neuroses, can't be good) and tons of traffic while trying to run errands. I was able to make a nice dinner, and do a little housework, so I suppose we can add that to the good list. But Josh didn't get home until almost 11, so that put a damper on that stuff a bit.

In other words, whine whine whine, ha. BUT! Tonight should be much better. One of my errands post-work yesterday was picking up some goodies for this evening. My pals Steph and Holly are coming over for some snacks and drinks, hopefully on the deck, before we head to the bar Steph's bro works at for more (and cheaper) drinks. Yay for girly fun times that I need so badly after this week!

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, yuck
-Home to do some thinking, research, Simpsons watching
-Josh gets home from errands with Chick-fil-a for dinner
-More TV and hanging out with Josh
-Bedtime

Saturday:
-Sleep in
-See Josh off to Houston to play at BBQ Championships
-Long walk around the neighborhood
-Breakfast and a little reading out on the deck
-Talk to Ann
-Shower and get ready
-More Simpsons while thinking over budget
-Shopping with Holly
-Sonic for dinner
-Watch Andy Barker, P.I.
-Run to store for cheap booze and ice cream
-Watch Extract
-See Holly off
-Hit the hay

Sunday:
-Sleep in
-Tidy bedroom and bathroom
-Clean kitchen
-Clean out fridge and pantry
-Take out trash and recycling
-Sit out on the deck for a bit
-Josh gets home
-Make meal plan and grocery list
-Grocery shopping
-Put groceries up and start laundry
-Chipotle for dinner
-Clean and prep salad veggies for week
-Shower
-Finish laundry
-More research while watching Pride & Prejudice part 2
-Try to sleep
-Bad insomnia, wander house, lay on couch, back to bed finally

Pants Party

As noted in my weekend roundup, Holly and I went on a turbo shopping trip on an already tightly scheduled Saturday. It was required however to take advantage of our 30% off reusable coupons for Old Navy and Gap. And even better after our first purchases at Old Navy we received a coupon for 35% off at Gap, improving the total savings. And better than all of that, I got to use said coupon to get pants. Glorious pants! I know have 10 pairs of pants that actually fit me well. Apparently I just have to spend more money on clothes to find some that will work for me. I picked up three pairs of straight leg, nearly skinny, corduroy pants in dark blue, gray and yellow. Also got a new denim skirt, as the one I owned was woefully outdated and a bit too big too. At Old Navy I picked up two more striped tops, a black & white tee that seems a bit of a cross between frenchie and mod, and a yellow and gray sweater with shoulder button detail. And for layering I picked up two tanks with ruffle-front detail in white and a soft pink (not shown). Yay pants!

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Work, blech
-Head to AT&T for our new iPhones, whee!
-Grab some Chipotle on the way home
-Eat and watch 30 Rock off DVR
-Target run to look for iPhone case
-Back home for some iPhone playing
-Solo Beatles Rock Banding
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Sleep in, but so not rested, ugh insomnia
-Search around for iPhone apps
-Eat leftover Chipotle
-Get ready
-Michael's for baby shower decor supplies
-Best Buy for iPhone cases
-Head down to museums to finish off roll of 120 film
-Back home for apple & wheat thins while watching Cosby show reruns
-Shower
-Doug comes over to work with Josh
-Quick chip & salsa dinner
-Start getting ready while watching some As Time Goes By
-Holly gets there, finish getting ready
-Stop by Misty's for a beer
-Lola's for Saboteur, Dovehunter and Descender
-Hang out with Holly, visit Lisa & Jamie
-Stop by the Aardvark post-Holy Moly show
-Get lots of love from all my boys, one more beer, and then hit the road
-Late night Whataburger and Simpsons with Holly
-Wash up and hit the hay

Sunday:
-Sleep in
-Tidy house
-Make menu plan and grocery list
-Grocery shopping
-Start laundry while Josh puts up groceries
-Eat and watch some Ken Burns' National Parks
-Chop and clean lettuce for salads
-Composting
-Finish National Parks episode
-Shower
-Work on baby shower ideas while watching History Detectives
-Finish up laundry while watching last half of French Kiss
-Into bed to start reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
-Sleepytown

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Sleep in
-Breakfast
-Clean house
-Shower
-Finish reading Teacher Man
-Grab some Chipotle with Josh
-Eat and watch some Arrested Development while the storm moves through
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Up early
-Cereal and coffee
-Get ready
-Shopping and lunch with Holly and Steph at Grapevine Mills
-Score loads of tees at J. Crew Outlet and goods at Old Navy
-Great pant hunt with Holly, failed
-Grab some Schlotzsky's for dinner
-More Arrested Development while eating
-Surrender to big fat sinus headache, take ibuprofen and benadryl
-Climb in bed and watch Netflix movie, Because I Said So
-Remember how much I love Diane Keaton and fall asleep watching Manhattan Murder Mystery

Sunday:
-Sleep in late due to benadryl
-Leftover Chipotle for breakfast/lunch
-Make menu plan and grocery list
-Place online clothes order
-Grocery shopping
-Put groceries up and start laundry
-Clean and prep veggies while watching A Mighty Wind
-More laundry
-Put slipcover on living room chair
-Shower
-Homemade pizza for dinner and finish Manhattan Murder Mystery
-Finish laundry and ironing
-Bedtime

Weekend Roundup

Friday:
-Sleep in a bit
-Quick breakfast
-Clean master bed & bath
-Clean hall bath
-Sweep
-Clean giant living room window, change cushion covers, vacuum rug, and dust
-Put Bye, Bye Birdie on the laptop for some cleaning/cooking entertainment
-Scrub dingy kitchen counter grout with baking soda paste
-Sweep and shake out rug
-Make pineapple upside down cake
-Shower and get ready
-Make guacamole
-Welcome guests and give house tour
-Make enchilada sauce while chatting
-Enchiladas in the oven, rice on the stove
-Dinner and chatting
-Boys making music and girls chatting in the living room
-See guests off
-Hit the hay

Saturday:
-Rise and shine, get ready
-Haircut appointments
-Hit Best Buy for new TV for bedroom
-Home to set up new TV, remember that the closest plug isn't three pronged.
-Target for outlet adapter, few other house supplies
-Josh finishes up TV set up
-A little "home spa" time for me, while Josh and Matt work on music
-Chips & salsa snack
-Wash sheets, duvet cover and foot-of-bed blanket
-Fix mattress topper
-Fresh sheets on bed
-Eat some watermelon, mmmm
-Loosely arrange dresser top (now that ginormous TV isn't there)
-Holly comes over, show off new boots
-Put duvet cover on
-Order pizza
-Watch movies with Josh and Holly till the wee hours
-In to bed

Sunday:
-Oversleep
-Shower
-Breakfast
-Make menu plan and grocery list
-Grocery shopping
-Unload cargo
-Start laundry
-Clean and prep veggies for the week
-Rain!
-Change couch cushion covers back
-Eat leftover pizza and watermelon
-Fold some laundry
-Start ironing
-More folding
-Make some popcorn
-Watch Masterpiece Mystery with popcorn
-Finish folding laundry and ironing
-Bedtime

Lola's

Holly and I are hopefully going to Lola's tonight to see Josh's band mate Tony along with Chris Johnson from Telegraph Canyon. I am really looking forward to a nice Thursday night out, especially since this week I'm back to my regular no-work Fridays! Here's Telegraph Canyon at the Modern Art Museum earlier this year.