Things To Do Tonight While Josh Makes Music

-Take the compost out
-Spray the deck for ants
-Sprinkle cornmeal around the yard for ants
-Use tape to come up with a spare bedroom floorplan
-Put the luggage and air mattress up
-Organize my office a little bit more
-Fix the mistakes I made putting posters in frames last night
-Read more of my photography book before my classes tomorrow
-Clean house (hmm, this should probably be at the top of the list)

Wishing the picture my list painted looked a bit more like this:






















Pic from Real Simple

Another Iron in the Fire

As if I don't have enough plans and projects on my to-do list as a new homeowner I'm constantly coming up with more to add to it. The latest idea that has come to me is to make/build a canopy for the deck in the backyard. I want something to shade the area, especially in these hothothot Texas summers, but I don't want something as big and difficult to move as a patio umbrella. Even when you close them those big umbrellas are still there- like an unattractive fabric obelisk. So instead I'm mulling over some sort of hybrid between these two ideas from Martha Stewart (who else).














I had already bookmarked the first project and discussed it with Josh as a way to string some lovely globe lights around the deck area. With the temperature rising and my thoughts turning to creating some shade I realized that this second picture, which I had tucked away in my house inspiration folder, might be a great solution to work in unison with the first. And I can take down and fold the canopy, and tuck it away when it isn't needed- no eye sores involved. So, it's on the list. Along with organizing my office, hanging the picture rail, putting molding up in the bathroom, putting the posters in their new frames, building my raised garden, finishing the drain work, fixing the doors, etc., etc., etc. It sure is a good thing I like lists so much. :)

6 Months Down

Wow, it's June already. Can you even believe it? I sure can't. This year has gone by so fast so far. I really haven't been very goal-oriented this year, so I thought I would do a little resolution check-up to try and help get myself back on track. So, what did I have on this year's to-do list again and where do I stand on them?

2009:
Read 15 books- have read a mere 3 books that I can recall off the top of my head, but I'll be finishing a fourth this week and am already into three others.
Set up an efficient new household- I'd say this task is half accomplished. I need to get my office completely organized, but we keep up with the housework and are slowly ticking projects and tasks off our list.
Finish my needed dental work- Don't ask.
Try yoga and tai chi- Haven't tried yet, but I've got a couple of instructional DVDs in the Netflix queue.
Watch 5 foreign films- Haven't started yet, but I've got one at the house from Netflix just waiting for me to find time to watch it.
Travel more- One real vacation and one family vacation so far this year.
Cross 5 things of life-goals list- I can now cross "Visit Washington DC" off the list.

2008 Continued:
More physical activities: pilates & walking- Have been super lazy lately, but I've got a ballet conditioning DVD on the way from Netflix.
Study photography and experiment- I've been studying recommended books, taken a class on my camera, and have two photography classes coming up in the next two weeks.
Keep up with Newsweek reading- I'm currently one issue behind, but so far so good.
See our friends more often- We've definitely been socializing more, and this should only increase once we feel ready to really start entertaining.
Improve my wardrobe- Having a new, well organized closet has helped me know what I need and what I have too much of already. I could still use some improvements though.
Be much more money conscious- Failing miserably at this one. We're still living below our means and saving a lot, but I have a very consumerist mentality after needing to buy so much stuff for the new house. Trying to remember that I don't truly "need" everything I think of.
Try 4 new restaurants- Have only tried one new local restaurant, that I can think of, so need to start chowing down!

Busy Bees

We're heading into one busy weekend. We'll definitely be ready for our vacation to start on Tuesday. So, just what's on the agenda for us?

-Tonight: Show Mom how to use our washer & dryer, go to Target with Holly while Josh has rehearsal, Scotchguard livingroom rug(?), make ice cream for Sunday, a load of laundry (?), get together with Josh's fam for Drea's birthday, run soaker hoses, water compost pile a bit

-Saturday: Possibly hit farmer's market early with LeAnn, Nikon class at Fort Worth Camera, Ashley's 30th birthday party in Grapevine, Jason's birthday party back in Fort Worth

-Sunday: Up early to start digging ditches, installing yard drainage, make lunch/dinner after a hard days work (Nathan's hot dogs, grass-fed beef burgers w/ homegrown onions, roasted corn and homemade ice cream, I think), probably collapse, run soaker hoses

-Monday: Buy Nelson/Dylan tix on presale, clean house, finish laundry, pack clothes and carry-ons, notify Ann when we'll get to their house in the morning, spray the house and deck for springtails, get entertainment for flight together, pay mortgage/water/electric/gas online, decide on what sightseeing we'll do during our (rainy) visit to DC, decide best way to pack S&M's wedding gift.

Sadly, I'm sure there's more that I'm just not thinking of. But, when I leave today there'll be no more work 'til June! Yeah!

Weekend To-Do List

Lots to try and get done this weekend!

-Build dining room cabinet
-Get hair cut, bangs how I've missed you!
-Smooch Josh, 11 years!
-Unpack at least 4 boxes
-Put doors and shelves back on built-in
-Clear rocks and sticks from yards
-Weed and cut backyard
-Cut front yard
-Clean house, especially vacuuming
-Grocery shopping
-Make enchiladas and cilantro-lime rice for Josh's boss for recovery dinner
-Try and get at least one room ready for some photographs
-Finish laundry
-Drop film off for development

Anticipation

I can't wait:
-until we've got the painting in the house done so we can move in
-until we've got our stuff moved in so we can go to Ikea for new stuff
-until I've got the inside of the house done so I can fix the outside
-to get my kitchen cleaned up and organized so I can get back to cooking
-to have John help me plan a plot and pots of herbs, veggies and blackberries
-to organize my new closets, with inspiration from Nicole
-to have some more time to study more photography
-to make some time to try Marta's writing club prompts
-to be ready for entertaining our friends as often as possible
-for spring to be sprung (as Josh would say) so we can head to the zoo and parks
-to see the Barbara Crane and First Look exhibits at the Amon Carter
-to settle the possibility of a vacation on the horizon

So much that I have to muster patience for!

Full Recovery and a Meme

I am feeling much better and am back at work today. I have no idea what brought on my headache, but I am glad it is gone, after two consecutive evening remedies of 3 Advil and 1 Benadryl. That's quite a medicinal cocktail, but it seemed to do the trick. No worries, I didn't exceed anything that my doctor has not prescribed me in the past. :) Monday marked my sister & her husband's first anniversary so I called the other day to give my congratulations. We are soon approaching an anniversary of our own, but I will write more on that another time. During my sick leave I managed to finish Pride & Prejudice completely, which has improved my reading streak. I seem to have broken, at least for the time being, my previous habit of stopping every book 3/4 of the way through. And after I take a small amount of time to revisit some P&P fanfiction, I think I will move on to Sense & Sensibility. And all of this planning leads me to the meme that my garden swap partner, Colleen, recently posted.

Five Things On My To-Do List:

1. Make special cake for my special guy.
2. Sign up for Ed's Camera Workshop.
3. Plan next week's menu and choose something to make for dinner at the In-Law's this Sunday, probably another yogurt cake.
4. Get a post up on Small Time Cooks, also probably the yogurt cake, ha.
5. Laundry. Really need to do laundry.

P.S.- 6. Post pics of what I got from my garden swap partner.

Household To-Do List

Things I'd like to get accomplished this weekend, knowing full well that hardly any of them will actually get done:

Bedroom:
-Wash sheets and blanket
-Vacuum mattress topper and mattress
-Put up clean laundry & drying rack
-Tidy closet & bedside area
-Dust bedroom
-Vacuum floor & walls

Living room:
-Wash sofa blanket
-Vacuum sofa and chair
-Tidy and clean coffee table
-Lint-roll curtains
-Dust TV stand, bookcases, and desk
-Vacuum floor & walls

Dining room:
-Clean of table and wipe down
-Clean off piano
-Vacuum floor and walls

Kitchen:
-Do any dishes needed
-Wipe down cabinet fronts and counter tops
-Empty fridge and wipe down surfaces
-Clean sink and drains
-Microwave sponge
-Empty and clean trash can
-Sweep and mop floor

Bathroom:
-Scrub bathtub, tile, and shower doors
-Clean toilet
-Scrub sink
-Clean counter top and mirror
-Sweep and mop
-Wash floor mat

Other:
-Make next week's menu plan & grocery list
-Grocery shopping
-Eat Chipotle (don't worry, this one will definitely be accomplished)