Housewife Eclectic

Pringles Can Turned Cute Spaghetti Storage

2012-02-27T10:30:00.001-06:00

It always seems like every time I make spaghetti, I have some let over. That half package of spaghetti then floats around my pantry until someone (the child) knocks it over and we end up with crunchy noodle mess. Most containers I have tried to store my spaghetti are too short and just make it harder to keep out of the way, except one. Of all things, a Pringles can fits noodles perfectly.

Storing noodles in a Pringles can is incredible! They fit and the can is slender enough to not be a nuisance in your pantry.
You will need a original flavor Pringles can. You can probably use other flavors, but I figure that using the one with the least amount of flavor is probably the best way to keep your noodles from being flavored in any way. Next rinse out your Pringles can. Rinse it with warm water for NO MORE than a minute. If you keep it under a minute the container will have no problems holding together.
Let the container air dry over night. Take a piece of 12x12 scrapbook paper and Mod Podge, wrap it around the can, securing it as you go. Trim off the excess. Allow to dry completely.

After your container is dry, simply add your noodles for perfect storage. I have put spaghetti noodles and linguine in these and they have all fit wonderfully with no change to the noodles whatsoever.

How do you store noodles?

Letters to My World: Evil women and The Dr.

2012-02-25T11:33:00.000-06:00

Speak Important Things- Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

2012-02-24T12:23:00.001-06:00

This review of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson may contain some spoilers. Also know that Speak contains some sensitive subject material which may be briefly mentioned in this review. This is strictly of review of the book, not the movie which I have not seen.

“THE FIRST TEN LIES THEY TELL YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL
1. We are here to help you.
2. You will have time to get to your class before the bell rings.
3. The dress code will be enforced.
4. No smoking is allowed on school grounds.
5. Our football team will win the championship this year.
6. We expect more of you here.
7. Guidance counselors are always available to listen.
8. Your schedule was created with you in mind.
9. Your locker combination is private.
10. These will be the years you look back on fondly."

Speak is a book of pain, suffering and healing. Melissa, the main character and narrator, is a freshman in high school, who has became on outcast before the school year even starts. It is hinted at that she used to have many friends until a party at the end of the summer, a party at which Melissa calls the cops and gets many of the kids busted. Calling the cops on the kids at the party turns Melissa into a social pariah, she is alone with nobody to turn to. With nobody to tell the real reason why she called the cops, Melissa becomes silent.

Melissa becomes increasingly depressed and begins to fail all her classes. All of her classes but art, which she uses to express her frustration, sadness and shame.

Although what really happened at the end of summer party is not revealed until the end of the book, you understand something has happened. Something drastic to change her whole personality around so quickly. Normally in fiction, when I come across a teenage character that is particularly filled with angst I put down the book. Not so with this book. From the very beginning of this story there is clearly some underlying trauma. Something happened to break her and now we are watching as she puts herself back together. We aren't watching angst that comes from having to take out the garbage. Rather, this is angst that comes from having life as you know it ripped away from you.

Speak is well written. It is mostly an inner monologue, with very little dialogue and development of other characters. We see the world from inside Melissa, inside her trauma. It is, in some aspects, kind of disturbing because of the heavy subject matter. Being written from the perspective of a teenager I believe it is easy for young adults to relate to. It is important subject matter, even if it is not comfortable.

I really liked this book. It was funny in parts and easy to relate to. I understood her lack of enthusiasm for high school and the descriptions of the cliches at school was right on the money. Even though I really liked this book, it is not one I would read again and again. As important as I feel it is, it is kind of dark, a read that makes you serious and brings you down a bit, even as it uplifts you.

I highly recommend this book, with some caution. It is dramatic. It can be intense, but it is important.

Photo Showcase- Wood Shavings and Stupid Princes

2012-02-23T12:02:00.003-06:00

Today I mostly have some random photos to share with you. Don't forget to link up your photos too!

Day 46- This photo is from a Style United party I hosted. Style United is a fantastic all over beauty site. It gives your great recommendations for all aspects of your beauty routine.

Day 47- This is the last page of one of my FAVORITE children's books. The Paperbag Princess. I adore this book and I read it to my little girl often. I hope she soaks up the principle behind it.

Day 48- A fantastically awesome bracelet my sister sent me.

Day 49- Wood shavings. ALL over my floor. My husband loves to carve. Right now he is working on a cute carving for our newest niece.

Day 50- A lady at out church got a hold of a truck full of peppers. Yes, a truck. She was giving them out so we have made everything with peppers that we can think of lately.

Day 51- We found this fantastic marble run at the thrift store for a couple of bucks. It has led to hours and hours of entertainment. What a GREAT toy!

What photos are you sharing today?

WoW: Capturing everyday moments

2012-02-22T21:24:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it's Wednesday again? My husband was off work Monday for the holiday, so I'm a day behind...

How did it go last week, being a more patient driver? I actually didn't drive all that much last week, so it wasn't too difficult. I did drive more than usual with my husband as our pilot though, so I transferred my extra ooomph of patience to him instead of other drivers. :) It's so nice to reach our destination without already being aggravated. Save the aggravation for the places with poor customer service ;)

original image source

This week, I want to encourage you all to capture the everyday moments.

[random grammar note]

everyday is an adjective, but if you are talking about doing something daily, you do it every day (two words). So, capture everyday moments by taking a picture every day. :)

[end grammar nerdiness]

We know that our amazing host, Debra, is an fantastic photographer. Me, on the other hand... not so much. The pictures that I take usually end up okay, but I am teeeerrible about remembering to take pictures. If we hadn't taken our best (and almost only) vacations with Debra and her family, we might not have any photographic proof. Seriously.

One of my recent goals has been to take more pictures, and I've done pretty well. And, you know what? I love it. I love having photos of the humdrum things that definitely don't seem like Kodak moments.

A friend of mine always says that if there isn't a picture, it didn't happen -- it's not part of family (or other) history if there aren't photos. I find that to be absolutely true in my life, and so sad that the 95% of my life that is completely ordinary (and yet always changing) has NO moment in our family history.

So, I've started grabbing the camera more, to document the everyday. The mundane. The random! such as our new (brightly colored) running shoes, my daughter playing "dress-ups" with my son's help, the pajama-polo combination that happens when Daddy puts the kids to bed without Mommy, and the (expired) biscuits that explode all over the kitchen and try to take my thumb with them.

Nothing life changing. But the everyday normal moments we'll love to look over and laugh about as early as next week. :)

So, here's to the everyday! Go capture it, and then you can come back here and link up to Debra's photo showcase. If you're interested, you can see more of our everyday happenings over at my blog.

Lu (or Lorene if you prefer) is the mom of two sweet little things (except on the days that they aren't) and the wife of a singing and dancing elementary teacher. She is the proud author of this weekly Wednesdays on (or off) the Web (WotW) segment here on Housewife Eclectic and spends the other days of the week blogging about life and crafts and whatever else comes up at just Lu.

Easy and AMAZING BBQ Pork Chops

2012-02-21T10:22:00.000-06:00

These pork chops are quite literally amazing. This easy, hands off, recipe produces delicious and tender pork chops that never last long in our house. I am not a pork lover (except bacon, because everybody loves bacon), and this recipe makes my mouth water and makes me seriously consider buying pork chops every week. This recipe can serve as many as you want, depending on how many chops you can get into a pan.

You will need:
a pan with deep enough sides to allow the pork chops to sit in water (I usually use a 9x13)
water
onion, chopped into strips
pork chops
salt and pepper
BBQ sauce, preferably a honey sauce, you won't regret going with Sweet Baby Ray's
tinfoil

Add a half inch or so of water into the pan. Layer the onions on the bottom of the pan in the water. Salt and pepper both sides of your pork generously. Lay the pork on top of the onion, adding onion on top. Add water to cover the chops. Cover with tinfoil. Bake for one hour at 450 degrees.

After the hour, pull out the pan and uncover. Drain the water. Pour sauce over meat evenly and change your oven to broil. Put the meat back in the oven for about 5 minutes to set the BBQ sauce.

I love to serve this meal with my stand alone mashed potatoes, they are so good they don't need gravy. My mouth is watering just reading the recipe again. I think I am going to have to get more pork chops!

Simple Ideas to Decorate Your Home with Flowers

2012-02-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Flowers are beautiful, fragrant and attractive throughout the entire year. Fresh bouquets placed among your home during dull winter days can add vibrancy. In the summer, cut wildflowers are a fun addition to your dining table. If you prefer faux flower arrangements, there are many beautiful, realistic-looking flowers to choose from. There are many creative ways to arrange and display flowers in each room of your home. Check out some simple ideas that require only flowers and some items you probably already have lying around your house.

Florists are ready to supply you with any type of flowers desired at a moment's notice. Imagine waking up to flowers in post. All you have to do is arrange them in a vase and choose where to place them in your home.

Creative Containers

When you are looking for containers for your floral delights, get creative by recycling common items. Mason jars hold large bouquets and add a bit of personality to the arrangement. Use glass jars which may have previously held jam, peanut butter, mayonnaise, or salad dressing. Remove any labels, wash with soapy water, and dry. You will hardly recognize this "new" jar. Once you add the flowers, no one will suspect a thing.

Make hanging vases by wrapping a bit of wire around a glass container. Hang them in front of a window for a dramatic effect. Also consider using crystal glasses or champagne flutes to hold flowers. Colored glass jars and vases can add a pop of color to a neutral-toned room.

Don't discount any pottery or bowls as vases. Cut the stems from the flowers to create a floating assortment. Place it on a coffee table, or use it as a centerpiece. Florists often give creative ideas for flower displays.

Baskets can also act as a pot for a flowering plant. Line it with a plastic potting container to hold in the moisture, or place a plant that already is potted into a larger basket. The basket will mask the pot, but the flower will pop up over the basket for an interesting display. Consider placing flowers in a metal bucket or watering can.

For a flower display that really makes a statement, use a large floor vase. Large glass containers give a crisp, modern feel. Containers made of wood or metal feel a little more country.

Flower Placement

Flowers can add to the decor of any room in the house. Carefully consider where they will make the best impression, then go for it. Windowsills make nice landing spots for vases and pots. Add color to a white or light-colored room with brightly hued flowers, placed on a table or sill.

Consider placing bouquets in the entryway of your home, to provide a welcoming environment. Place them on the bottom step of a stairway leading up to the main living area, or on a side table. Place a large basket full of dried flowers on a chair in the entryway. You might even use an old cowboy boot as a creative container for a flower arrangement at your home's entry.

Coordinate a bouquet of flowers with a piece of artwork on your walls. Place a small table beneath the art print, and set a vase of flowers on it to bring out the colors or theme of the art.

Use flowers as centerpieces on kitchen islands, dining tables, or kitchen counters. Fireplace mantels are ideal for all types of flower arrangements. To add height or drama to a room, consider using a series of tall vases lined up on the mantel, with a few tall-stemmed flowers in each vase. When you order flowers in post, make sure you will be home when they arrive. They usually need to be placed in water as soon as possible.

Flowers are a versatile, fun way to decorate. Many flowers also carry pleasant aromas, giving an added sense of positive atmosphere to your home. If you've never tried decorating with flowers, you should consider adding a bouquet today.

About the Author

Patricia Hall works part-time for a florist focusing on floral delivery but loves to surround herself with flowers at any given point of time. Even in her free time she loves to involve herself with everything flora and fauna.

'To me there is nothing more beautiful and global as the language of flowers - it is the easiest to understand all around the world in the same way. That is one reason why I truly admire flowers for what they represent in some ways - unity of all mankind!'

Letters to My World: Memes, Balloons and Screaming Chilluns

2012-02-18T12:24:00.001-06:00

To See Wuthering Heights Is Not To Know It

2012-02-17T11:18:00.000-06:00

This review for Wuthering Heights is full of spoilers, but I would surprised if you don't already know the story.

It took me a long time to read Wuthering Heights. I have seen so many different versions of Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Jane Eyre and others that sometimes my husband is convinced that I single-handedly send the children of BBC executives to college. With all of the versions of Wuthering Heights that I have seen, I felt sure I had the story nailed down. A story that without a doubt always makes me cry. I story that was so full of love and hate that many people were doomed to end up unhappy.

When I finally picked up this book a few years ago, it took me chapters to shake off the preconceived notions I had of Heathcliff as a great antihero. Passionate, misunderstood and dark. I had to rid myself of the notions that Cathy was a sad victim of circumstance. The two of them together instead, are full of tantrums, unspoken promises, selfishness and obsessiveness. Their selfishness and presence is so strong it is felt years after death, haunting those around them, making themselves and others miserable even through the grave.

This dark and fulfilling story follows Cathy and Heathcliff, childhood sweethearts through their passionate and almost violent love and their eventually separations when Heathcliff leaves only to return to find Cathy married to someone else. It then follows Heathcliff through the madness of morals that comes, with his desire to exact revenge on anybody who had ever wronged him, even to the next generation. It then moves onto this pain with Cathy's death and the years of unquiet his soul feels. His has wrapped so much of his heart and his soul up into her that one of his true desires in life is for her spirit to haunt him, to be buried next to her with the sides of the coffins removed so that they will mingle forever.

It doesn't seem like it could be a wonderful story of love and redemption when the entire book seems full of emotional torture. The isolation of the two families from almost anybody else, creates an atmosphere of desperation. They are desperate to be close to each other and then desperate to be away with really nowhere else to go. They love each other with a twisted obsession, they manipulate and betray and ultimately make themselves unhappy. There is no redemption for them in this life, the only redemption comes from the love their children will eventually have for each other. Almost like Heathcliff and Cathy's love played over again this time with happiness and redemption.

Wuthering Heights is a rare book. The characters of mad, manipulating, obsessed and I love them. They are kind of like the train wreck that you can't look away from. Heathcliff is not a romantic hero. Cathy is not a damsel in distress. Did they deserve their unhappy fate? Maybe not, but they definitely deserved each other, selfishness and all. There are no tears shed for them at then end of the book. They don't need or deserve them. We see at last happiness between Hareton and Catherine and Cathy and Heathcliff are perhaps at last redeemed.

The true story of Wuthering Heights is very different from the movies. I guess you can only fit so much into two hours and two hours is not enough time to contain the dark, twisted lives of Heathcliff and Cathy. Wuthering Heights will always be one of my favorites. It is a book that polarizes people. You either love it for all its mysteries or hate it for the nonexistent likability of the characters. Me? It could read it over and over.

I shall leave you with one of the book's most famous passages:

I cannot express it; but surely you and everybody have a notion that there is or should be an existence of yours beyond you. What were the use of my creation, if I were contained here? My greatest miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning: my great thought in living is himself. If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn into a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it. My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.

Photo Showcase- Favorite Photo Linky

2012-02-16T09:56:00.001-06:00

Photo Showcase is here! Basically it is a chance to show off any image you have taken in the last week/month/just a photo that you love. In my case, I will be sharing my 366 project, but in your case, share any photo and the story behind it that you want! Make sure to link up, grab a button and visit the pictures of others!

Day 39- This cream little zipper rose. I love it, but I never wear it.

Day 40- One of the handles to my dresser. My dresser has three different types of handles on it. Random.

Day 41- Cinderella. For some reason every way I upload this photo it looks weird. Oh well, THIS Cinderella is darling in person.

Day 42- A church that I often shoot photo sessions at. They are wonderfully generous with sharing their grounds.

Day 43- FRESH strawberry cupcakes from a friend's Valentine's party. Seriously, if cake mix wasn't so easy, I would never go back.

Day 44- The cake topper from our wedding cake sit on display in our living room. It is always the piece I am terrified is going to get broken whenever we move.

Day 45- A little blossom, just barely starting to open up on my morning walk.

WoW: Patience is a virtue...

2012-02-15T15:35:00.001-06:00

Good Wednesday to you! I hope you all are having a wonderful day, and enjoyed your extra 10 minutes outside this week!

We were so blessed to have a-ma-zing weather last Friday, so we spent an extra 2 hours outside! Yes, we spent 2 hours outside playing (and splashing in puddles) in mid-February in Utah... in 60-degree weather! Global warming may put an end to the planet as we know it, but it sure makes the doldrums of winter go by more quickly ;)

This week's challenge: be a (more) patient driver.

I don't know that anyone loves being cut off by another driver who is in a great hurry, but I also don't know anyone (except maybe my mother...) who hasn't also been in a hurry and possibly committed a similar driving faux pas. It happens to the best of us.

So, this week, let's be a little more patient behind the wheel. Whether that means leaving early (or even just on time ;) biting our tongues, or just taking a deep breath when traffic isn't flowing our direction, let's see if we can diminish road rage by at least not adding to it further. :)

What did you do with your extra time outside last week? I'd love to hear!

Bath Pouf Flowers, alternative to real flowers.

2012-02-13T11:40:00.000-06:00

In our house this year, we are looking for alternatives to our regular Valentine's traditions. I love flowers, but the honest truth is, they can be expensive and they don't last very long so this year we decided to by pass the real flowers for something a little more practical and still cute. This mason jar of bath salts and poufs is a different take of the jars I made here.

You will need:
a mason jar or vase
ribbon to tie around the edge
bath poufs
skewers
bath salt or the stuff to make your own.

I always make my own bath salts. You can follow my recipe for the bath salts found here.

Add three or so inches of bath salts to the bottom of your jar. Stick the skewers into the poufs. Add to the jar. Tie with ribbon and you have beautiful, practical flowers!

What are you do for Valentine's this year?

Sometimes HTML falls into place

2012-02-12T09:55:00.000-06:00

I am not normally a lucky person, but I am when it comes to HTML. I can program by myself, but it takes me hours of frustration. I took one class in college on the subject and by pulling out all of my notes I can get by. My husband on the other hand does graphic/web design for a living. Nice, right? If I put on my very nicest smile, he will help me out. After an entire weekend of coding on his part, and sitting next to the computer on my part, I have some wonderful new features to show you!

First of all their are two differences when you look at my homepage. There is now a sixth button along with my other connect buttons. The new one has a little button on it, this button will allow you to get the HTML code to any of my buttons.

Click on it and this lovely button case will pop up for you to chose from. Speaking of buttons. Do you see my two new buttons? There is a Photo Showcase button, for Thursdays. Photo Showcase is a chance for you to link up ANY photo you took in the last week. A chance for people to come by and support you.

Then there is also a Creative Showcase button. A chance for you to link up the creative things you have done or made and see things other people have done! I am thinking crafts, recipes, manis, and great ideas!

There is one other major change to my blog. If you look at my header on the right hand side, right next to about you will see that it now says 366. This is in reference to my photo project, click on it and it will take you to a fabulous photo calendar.

Click on any of the days and the photo from that day will pop up.

My absolute favorite part? Go the the calendar and click on a day that doesn't have a photo yet. If you are nerdy like me, you will laugh, because it is fabulous. If you are not nerdy, you can just shake your head at the nerdy folk. At least I don't dress up at Comic-Con....yet. ;)

You may have also noticed that Letters to My World are BACK! It was always one of my most popular series, I am not sure why I stopped writing them for so long.

Have you ever found yourself in your blogging life trying to change your blog to fit the people around you? It doesn't work, does it? So, I am going back. I am going back to crafts that I love, Letters to My World, book reviews, photo tutorials and more.

What do you think of my new features?

Letters to My World: Smart Alec Children and Nerds

2012-02-11T10:44:00.001-06:00

Deep Fried... Angry Birds

2012-02-09T12:39:00.001-06:00

I used to think that photography was in everything I did, but NOW after starting this project it really is in everything that I do. My husband is starting to hide his face more than ever in photos. What did you photograph this week?

Day 32- We solved one of our greatest debates this night. My husband has always said that I jump on our bed. I have maintained it is not jumping, just a light flop. Yeah... I broke the bed. It wasn't too terrible, my husband is handy, so a trip to Lowe's and a few hours later he had it fixed. The major casualty of the night was our wedding glasses. I didn't cry over them, my husband was super impressed. Now if we had lost the wedding photos, then I would have sobbed.

Day 33- This is why I love winter in South Texas. It rains and rains and rains. I LOVE the rain. Last year hardly rained at all and this year is making up for it.

Day 34- Almost forget to photograph anything. So you get a Dr. B can.

Day 35- ANGRY BIRDS! Angry Birds is fun on a phone but with real blocks, plastic food for piggies and stuffed animals for the Angry Birds, it is a blast!

Day 36- Deep fried cockroach is quite literally one of the grossest things I have ever seen. This very unlucky roach climbed into my hot oil, luckily before there was any food in it. I washed the fryer about 20 times with boiling water and then deep cleaned my kitchen. I HATE roaches. One thing I hate about where I live, the need to have the exterminator on a monthly schedule.

Day 37- A picture of a picture. I went to check out Life: Our Century in Pictures, for about the hundredth time when I found out they were getting rid of the book. The librarian let me have it for a $1, cover price is about $90. I danced all the way home!

Day 38- I walk two miles every morning with a friend of mine, this day I made her stop anytime there was a pretty flower. :)

WoW: Get outta here!

2012-02-08T11:57:00.001-06:00

Hello and happy Wednesday! How did your week of letting your kind words be heard go?

I have to be honest... mine did not go so well. I was doing well and then it all just kind of fell apart. At very least, I refrained from saying unkind words... baby steps, right? Please share any success you had, to make up for my completely lackluster performance :)

The challenge for this week:

Spend an extra 10 minutes outside, enjoying yourself. A walk around the block, a walk to the mailbox, building a snowman (if you're lucky enough to have snow), watching the clouds go by, watching the street sweeper go by -- 10 minutes beyond what you normally spend outside. Because a breath of fresh air is a wonderful figure of speech, but it's an even better physical action. :)

Have a happy ten minutes (and more, hopefully),

Lu (or Lorene if you prefer) is the mom of two sweet little things (except on the days that they aren't) and the wife of a singing and dancing elementary teacher. She is the proud author of this weekly Wednesdays on (or off) the Web (WoW) segment here on Housewife Eclectic and spends the other days of the week blogging about life and crafts and whatever else comes up at just Lu.

Caramelized Pork- A Favorite Recipe

2012-02-07T10:31:00.000-06:00

If you had ever told me that a recipe containing orange juice and pork could be amazing I would have raised my eyebrows, but this is seriously delicious. It is the perfect combination of sweet and savory and it makes my mouth water just thinking about having this for dinner. I like to serve these with garlic mashed potatoes, because who doesn't love a good garlic mashed potato?

You will need:
1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into 1/2 inch slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 TBSP. brown sugar
1 TBSP. orange juice
1 TBSP. maple syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Saute the pork and garlic in olive oil until a skillet until the pork is lightly pink in the center, or about seven minutes on medium-high heat.

Drain and stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until the pork in well coated.
Don't fight over who gets the last piece. We always seemed to get locked in a fork battle. :)

Letters to My World: Elections and Angry Birds

2012-02-04T15:17:00.003-06:00

Enough Fresh Batteries to Choke a Hungry Hungry Hippo

2012-02-02T09:59:00.001-06:00

Did you catch the movie reference? If so then you might be a mom, or just a Disney lover. :)

I find some days I am fabulous at taking photos. I find other days I am lucky to snap a photo right before I hop into bed. I would like to get into more artsy, scenery photos but right now I just don't have the time. Here's what I took this week:

Day 26: Hungry Hungry Hippos at the zoo.

Day 27: Feeding my child to the crocodile statue. Yes, we really did go to the zoo four times this week. I am trying to get the most out of my zoo membership.

Day 28: It took him six years, but my husband finally bought me a box of chocolates.

Day 29: Our time out timer. I am trying to decide if it works. What do you use for time outs or discipline?

Day 30: Fabulously delicious orange blossom cupcake from the cupcakery. I must duplicate these.

Day 31: A care package I sent to somebody trying to get them into the couponing spirit. Which I have fallen out of a little bit. I am trying to shrink my stash a little bit.

What kinds of pictures did you take this last week? Link up any photographs you have taken, a 365 project, a random photo of your kid. Anything!

WoW: Let your kind words be heard

2012-02-01T18:31:00.000-06:00

Hello again! How did your digital exfoliation go? Mine was great. I unsubscribed from email newsletters, uninstalled some no-longer-used programs, and transformed my desktop from this outdated (picture-wise) and cluttered workspace:

to this purty and tidy one:

You almost can't see the items on the desktop. It's great! Among the gems I discarded were a friend's digital Christmas letter... from 2009, expired printable coupons and vouchers, and shortcuts to almost every application we've installed in the last, oh, 3 years or so. It's so nice to have it clean. :) I'd love to hear what you got rid of this week!

And up this week, a challenge to

let your kind words be heard!

Do you ever find yourself thinking something nice about someone, but for one reason or another (social "rules" are weird that way!), you don't ever actually come out and say it? I do this far too often -- taking note of a nice thing but not saying anything. Like somehow acknowledging the good in someone or something else somehow lessens the goodness in myself or my situation, or maybe I just don't have the courage to speak up.

So, this week, when a truly kind thought crosses my mind, I aim to share it, whether that means complimenting a stranger, telling a friend how much I really appreciate them, or writing a letter to a company whose service I appreciate.

One way or another, I'll let my kind thoughts be heard, this week and hopefully beyond. Won't you join me? :)

Chocolate Lover's Cake- Chocolate Velvet Cream Cake

2012-01-31T11:06:00.001-06:00

I have a small confession to make. I don't like cake. I know, that makes me crazy or something. Another confession? My husband doesn't like it either. I guess crazies gravitate together. Even with both of us being cake hating crazies, we have a weakness. This cake. It is delicious and moist and easy to make. It is so easy to make that my husband who is terrified of the oven in general makes me one on my birthday.

You will need:
1 German Chocolate cake mix (You can also use red velvet but we like the German Chocolate.)
1 large container of Cool Whip
3-4 TBSP chocolate powder, like Nesquik or if you want to pretend this cake is healthy, Instant Breakfast.
1 TBSP. malt powder, I used to use chocolate malt but you can't buy the chocolate stuff where we live. So regular works just fine.
chocolate syrup

Prepare the German Chocolate cake according to package directions. Separate batter into two round cake pans. Bake both according to package directions. Remove from oven and allow to cool COMPLETELY. I like to make it the night before. Patience really pays off here.

Cut each round in half long ways. Forming four rounds.

In a large bowl combine the Cool Whip with the chocolate and malt powders. Mix well until it becomes a light brown color.

Place the first cake layer on a large plate. Slather with a layer of the frosting mixture. Add the next layer and repeat the process for the rest of the layers. When all layers have been added use the rest of the frosting mixture to cover the top and sides of the cake. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the cake and then chill for 1-2 hours before serving.

Enjoy and try not to go into a chocolate coma! We always can't help but finish the cake in a day or two. We usually end up just taking forks to the cake. I guess we like the occasional chocolate coma around here. :)

The Capriel Felt Flower- Tutorial

2012-01-30T14:01:00.001-06:00

I can't help but love colorful polka dots. The second I saw this fun printed felt, I knew it was coming home with me. I have a weakness for felt and fun fabrics, much to my husband's dismay. This whimsical flower, named for my darling niece, came together quickly, using hot glue and is the perfect place to use your printed felt.

You will need:
Felt, cute of course
hot glue
scissors
a center jewel or button

The first thing you need to do it cut two flowers out of the felt. Think little clouds as you make the petal. Make one of them larger and the other small.After you have the large flower, cut the center out of it. This center circle will be the base of your flower. Cutting it out of the middle saves some felt, looking at us being all thrifty.

Next take your hot glue and gather the flower, glue it to itself every half inch or so to create petals. Glue this to your center circle. Repeat with the smaller flower. Then glue the small flower on top of the bigger flower.

Glue your center onto the flower and add a hair clip or pin to the back of it. Wear your cute flower everywhere, because it why wouldn't you? :)

Letters to My World: Wonder Pets and Regina Spektor

2012-01-28T11:25:00.001-06:00

Baby Gorillas and M&M + link up your favorite shots

2012-01-26T10:13:00.002-06:00

I am getting into a rhythm with my 365. Feel free to link up any shots you have posted from the last week.

January 20th- My daughter colored on her foot with pen, purple marker and decided M&Ms went between her toes all on the same morning.

January 21st- a cool little crocodile at the zoo.

January 22nd- My dying little aloe plant. I am nursing it back to health. Does anybody else have a black thumb like me?

January 23rd- I love felt. Felt and I are secret friends. Don't tell my husband.

January 24th- A scuba diver at Bass Pro Shops. This led to a conversation with my father who wants my husband to get certified so they can go scuba diving together. They both think this is a great idea...

January 25- A mamma gorilla and her baby at our zoo. Yes, we really like the zoo.

What is your favorite shot from the week?

WoW: Digital Exfoliation

2012-01-25T12:51:00.000-06:00

Welcome to another Wednesday! How did your exfoliation go? I hope yours was fantastic because...

...mine was AWESOME. (That is 4 boxes and a garbage bag, stuffed full of things to get rid of - not pictured are the 4 big loads of trash and recycling!)

I had gotten far too used to the odds and ends of clutter that had accumulated on just about every horizontal surface in our home, and it makes me SO happy to have (most of it) gone. It's like a breath of fresh air!

I exfoliated waaay more than just 50 things, but I desperately needed it. And, thanks to Freecycle, people are stopping by my house to take my junk off my hands... can't beat that!

So, now that we've exfoliated in real life... let's exfoliate digitally:

That's the challenge for this week: get rid of 50 things from your digital life that you no longer need, use, or love. You could....

clean up your desktop, or wherever your dump your digital junk
go through your photos and get rid of all the blurry ones that you've held onto for some crazy reason
unfriend (or just hide) friends on Facebook (you know which ones...)
trim down the blogs in your blog reader
uninstall the software programs you no longer use
unsubscribe from the emails newsletters that you never read anyway

Happy exfoliating!