Friday, January 30, 2015

Nail Polish Organization

It's no secret that I have a nail polish addiction but it's about time that I got things organized and got a good look at what I have. This process was not necessarily to get rid of a lot but to make sure I have no duplicate colors and that none of it has gone bad.

The begining....


The below are the nail polishes I am getting rid of. As you can see some of the colors have gone bad and now look ombre in the bottle. Those nail polishes I will be throwing out but the others were just duplicates that I will be passing along.


Now for the fun part! My collection has grown lately because I was gifted over twenty bottles for Christmas. To accommodate all the polishes I got a little creative with some of my empty candle jars.


In the future after I use a nail polish if I notice I don't like the color or it's not my favorite formula it will be getting passed on right away. With this amount of nail polishes there is no point in keeping the colors I don't love.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

CVS Coupon Haul Week of 1/25/15: Saved 94%


- - - 

(3) Degree Women Fresh Energy: $6.99
(3) Listerine Floss Cool Mint: $3.79
Beano Dairy Defense: $9.99 on sale for $4.99


Manufacturer Coupons:
$1.00 Off Beano Dairy Defense - Coupons.com
$1.00 Off Listerine One Floss or Flosser Product - 1/4/2015 SmartSource


CVS Coupons:
$5 Off $10 in Degree Deodorant
$4 Off Dove, Degree, Axe Dry Deodorant Spray
$4.50 Off $12 Deodorant
Used $20.00 in ExtraCareBucks


Paid:  $2.57 + received $14.00 in ExtraCareBucks 


 - - -  
 
Retail Value: $42.33


  Paid Out Of Pocket : $2.57


($14.00 in ExtraCareBucks left over for next week)


Saved: $39.76  
94%

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

101 Things in 1001 Days: #26 - Add 50 New Amazing Recipes to My Recipe Book


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Honey Mustard Pork Chops


Ingredients

1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp honey
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp salt
Freshly cracked pepper
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 lbs. pork chops (one-inch thick)


Directions
  1. Prepare the honey mustard sauce by stirring together the mayonnaise, Dijon, honey, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and some freshly cracked pepper (about 15 cranks of a pepper mill). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Use a paper towel to dry off the surface of the pork chops, then season each side with a pinch of salt and freshly cracked pepper. Heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot add two pork chops at a time and cook until golden brown on each side (3-5 minutes). Place the browned pork chops in a casserole dish coated with non-stick spray.
  3. Smear the honey mustard sauce over the surface of the pork chops in the casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove the chops from the oven, then set the oven to broil. Move the oven rack so that the surface of the chops will be about 6 inches from the broiler. Broil the chops for 3-5 minutes or until the surface is golden brown and bubbly. Serve hot.
 - - -

#26 - Add 50 new amazing recipes to my recipe book
 

44% Complete  

Monday, January 19, 2015

Bookshelf Organization

Waking around my house wondering where to start with my simplicity project I walked into our living room and was mortified when I spotted the bookshelf. It seems that in our recent past Joe and I have been placing spare items onto the bookshelf as a pit-stop until that item got put away where it really belonged.

I have always been an extremely organized person but when you share your household with someone that is less organized it can be easier to let things go. My desk at work is always organized and looks the same way each and every day I leave. Unlike my house I am able to keep everything in its place at work because I am the only one who uses that space. 

Choosing the bookshelf as my jumping off point the first step was to go through our paperwork and file it away for safekeeping. Then I moved onto the other objects that belonged in the cupboards a mere foot below where it was currently sitting. When it came to the overflow of books that did not fit into our bookshelf I knew I need to purge some. I pulled up my GoodReads account and decided that any book I have read and rated two stars or less would have to go. It was a quick, fun project that left me feeling accomplished and ready for more.


In the end I donated eighteen books that have been read but have not really been loved.


It's funny how a small five minute project can make you feel like you can breathe better. I actually went on to tackle another organization project the same day... stay tuned...

Friday, January 16, 2015

2015 The Year of Simple Living


Every year around this time we all take a look at our life for the last twelve months or so and focus on things we want to improve on. I am currently working to complete my list of 101 things in 1001 days so I decided to skip the new years resolution. Instead I wanted to give 2015 a general theme about something I want to work towards.

2015 will be my year to make my life more simplified. In my life I have gone up and down with having too much stuff. After getting engaged and moving in with each other Joe and I really had nothing of value and not enough things to consider clutter. After our wedding was another story, we received so many amazing wedding gifts to help us complete our home things got a little cluttered. Once we decided to move across the country we went through every little item we had and downsized once again. Three years later I am sorry to say that we again have too much stuff. Living in 725 square feet we are quickly outgrowing our place. Instead of moving onto a bigger and better place I have decided to simplify our selves, house, and life.

Over the course of the next twelve months I will be going through our house little by little and purging what is not needed. I have also been told over and over how much makeup, beauty products, and jewelry I have that I barely ever use. I will also be going through all of the above and reviewing, using up, and purging the unused. I will be bring you along this journey with me and keep you updated on all my progress.

What are you working towards in 2015?

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Christmas 2014 in California

This year Joe and I were able to spend eleven long days on the west coast to catch up with our family and friends. As vacations normally do, this vacation had it's stress and drama but over all we had a great time.

This was our third year traveling to California for Christmas and each time it turns out a little different. The first trip (Christmas 2012) was our first trip back home after our big move and we were so excited to spend time with all our friends that we moved away from. With a short five day trip time got away from us and we spent little time with our family and got caught up in seeing all our friends. Our second Christmas home (2013) we focused on family more but still some parts of our extended family got neglected. This year we vowed to make it a trip for family (with some friend time mixed in). Booking such a long visit home I thought we would be able to spend quality time with everyone we missed so much.

Over the eleven days we spent on the west coast we spent a ton of time with family. For me it was the best trip because not only did I get to see most of my closest friends, I spent countless hours laughing, drinking, and just plain hanging out with our families. It got to the point that it felt that we still lived in California. The Holidays can feel so scripted with all the houses you have to visit, all the presents you have to open, and all the meals you have to eat. This all usually ends with someone feeling like they barely saw you or that your visit was too short. Unfortunately, this is inevitable but Joe and I try to do our best with the time we have.

Joe and I were able to get out of town twice to go to my Dad's house as well as my Aunt's just to sit on the couch and visit like the old days. I cannot tell you how much I needed this. It is no secret that I am a Daddy's girl and just as close with my mom. I am very blessed to have these relationships with my parents but it also makes it extremely difficult to live 2,975 miles away from them (yes, I mapped it). I know my parents would prefer us to live local but this is where we need to be for the time being. Joe and I have come so far from where we were when we lived in CA but there is not one day that I don't miss home for one reason or another. We want you all you know how much we love and miss you on a daily basis. We may not call enough, e-mail enough, text enough, or see you enough but the love is there.

After all that mushy stuff, lets get to the good stuff... pictures!

Christmas Day



 

Auntie's Birthday




San Jose Sharks Hockey Game


New Years 2015



There have been countless rumors about who is going to visit us in New York this year and Joe and I cannot wait. We love when people make the trip because we are able to spend days visiting versus minutes or hours when we are back home.

I hope you all had an amazing Holiday Season!

Monday, January 12, 2015

CVS Coupon Haul Week of 1/11/15: Saved 93%


- - - 

CVS Extra Strength Gas Relief 72 softgels: $12.49 on sale for $9.99
(2) Softsoap Hand Soap Moisturizing milk protein & honey 7.5 fl oz: $2.99 on sale for $2.50
(3) Colgate Total Whitening Gel Toothpaste 4.2 oz: $3.49
 (2) Halls Cherry 30 drops: $1.99 on sale for $1.50

Manufacturer Coupons:
(3) $.50 Off any Colgate Toothpaste - 1/4/15 SmartSource

CVS Coupons:
$1.50 Off Colgate Toothepaste
$3 Off $10 in Colgate Toothpaste
$1 Off Softsoap 

Used $18.00 in ExtraCareBucks

Paid:  $3.48 + received $17.99 in ExtraCareBucks 

 - - -  
 
Retail Value: $32.92

  Paid Out Of Pocket : $3.48

($17.99 in ExtraCareBucks left over for next week)

Saved: $30.46 
93%

Friday, January 9, 2015

2014 Highlights

4 Trips

10 Visitors

1 New School For Me

Attended 1 Wedding

2 Camping Trips

I Was Asked 1 Very Important Question!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

63 Books Read in 2014!

As you read last year I made a goal to read 75 books during 2014. This goal was decreased to 65 and I still fell short at 63. I think I underestimated how time consuming going back to school would be. Nevertheless, here are the books I read in 2014 and the star rating I gave them.

- - -


5 Stars:

Divergent (Divergent, #1)
Firefly Lane (Firefly Lane, #1)
Hush Little Baby
The Affair (The Affair, #1)
Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny

4 Stars:

Beautiful Day
Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions
Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades, #2)
Fifty Shades Freed (Fifty Shades, #3)
Heartsick (Gretchen Lowell, #1)
More than Enough: The Ten Keys to Changing Your Financial Destiny
One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity
Remember Me?
Shopaholic & Baby (Shopaholic, #5)
Shopaholic & Sister (Shopaholic, #4)
Something Blue
Something Borrowed
The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1)
The Consequences (The Affair, #2)
The Death Cure (Maze Runner, #3)
The Fault in Our Stars
The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)
The Nanny Diaries (Nanny, #1)
The One & Only
The Opposite of Me
The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner, #2)
The Undomestic Goddess

3 Stars:

A Most Uncommon Degree of Popularity
A Reliable Wife
Drinking and Dating: P.S. Social Media Is Ruining Romance
Girls in Trucks
Insurgent (Divergent, #2)
Memory Lake
One Moment, One Morning
Sliding Into Home
Smart Women
The Gift of an Ordinary Day: A Mother's Memoir
The Guy Not Taken: Stories
The Island
The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus
Then Came You
These Days Are Ours
Vision in White (Bride Quartet, #1)
When You Were Mine

2 Stars:

A Girl Walks Into a Bar: Your Fantasy, Your Rules
A Shore Thing
Allegiant (Divergent, #3)
Being Kendra
Four Wives
The Between Boyfriends Book: A Collection of Cautiously Hopeful Essays
The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing
The Sweet By and By
What You Wish For: A Novel
You're Wearing That?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation

1 Star:

None

0 Stars: (Read for School Purposes)

Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins #1)
Lord Peter (Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries)
Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot, #3)
Rebecca
Silver Blaze (The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, #1)
The Poetics of Prose
The Purloined Letter
The Sign of Four (Sherlock Holmes, #2)
Thomas de Quincey, Collection Novels

- - -


  In 2015 my goal will once again be 65 books - Lets see if I can make this happen this year!

Monday, January 5, 2015

CVS Coupon Haul Week of 1/4/15: Saved 97%


This was my first shop of 2015 and these product were very much needed. Both my husband and I are battling colds as well as jetlag. Let’s hope this haul eases our transition back into reality!  



- - - 



(2) Sally Hansen Miracle Gel: $9.99 on sale for two for $15.00

Naturemade Adult Gummie Multi + Omega-3: $19.29 on sale for $8.29

Bengay Pain Relieving Cream 2 oz: $7.49 on sale for $4.99

 (2) ZzzQuil Nighttime Sleep-Aid Warming Berry Flavor 6 fl oz: $5.99 on sale buy one get one 50% off

Zzzquil Nighttime Sleep Aid Liquicaps: $5.99

CVS Cough Drops Menthol Flavor With Soothing Vapors 30 drops: $1.49 on sale for $1.00



Manufacturer Coupons:

(2) $1.00 Off any ZzzQuil Product

$2.00 Off Naturemade Gummies



CVS Coupons:

$1 Off Cough and Cold

$3 Off ZzzQuil

(2) $2 Off ZzzQuil

$1 Off Bengay

$2 Off $8 in Vitamins

$5 Off 2 Sally Hansen Miracle Gel



Used $22.00 in ExtraCareBucks



Paid:  $3.03 + received $18.00 in ExtraCareBucks
 

 - - - 
 
Retail Value: $66.22


  Paid Out Of Pocket : $3.03


($18.00 in ExtraCareBucks left over for next week)


Saved: $63.97
97%