Are you cleaning? If not, click the simplemom.net button on the side to join the party!  I'm doing small bits at a time, in between caring for Max. I tackled the family room today, because it's small, and Max has set up camp on the couch in the living room. I have to admit, there was not a lot of work to do in this room. The two hot spots for me are the kids' craft storage and my desk.


Yah, the desk is bad. Honestly, it's always bad. I thinned out a lot of stuff around my desk - it tends to be the dumping ground for all of my projects, even ones I'm not currently working on. I hung a few pieces that were above the desk on the pass through, and dusted A LOT.


I don't know if the kids' art center looks any better, but I did sort and toss some drawings, filed others, and generally organized supplies.


And the final product:

Yah! It's May and the new, fabulous kit is ready at Scrap For A Cure! Here are a few designs I did with this month's kit:







These are just a few. Check out Scrap For A Cure to see my gallery, and the other inspiring designs from their design team. Remember, each purchase is for a good cause - this quarter it's Donate Life, a very worthy cause. I've been a registered donor since I was 18. So far, I've made 4 layouts, two cards (the pendant on the Mother's Day card is removable), and one wall hanging, and I still have tons left in the kit! If you are a card maker, or a scrapper who uses cardstock instead or patterned paper for the background, you'll get even more out of it! A great deal, for a great cause, from a great team. Check them out!

A side note - I'm joining in with simplemom.net (love that site) and the Spring Cleaning Party. Madeline's school is closed this week due to Swine flu, and Max has the regular old flu, so we'll see how far I get this week, but I'm determined!! Click the button on the side to check it out!

Edit: Here's my progress update for Day One - Clearing the Clutter:


after:




after:


I won't bore you with the rest - you get the idea;) Happy cleaning!

Not much art happening around here lately - more painting the grout in the kitchen, taking the kids to OT, reading about food allergies and nutrition and trying to plan Easter and Max's birthday. I did get a wonderful package in the mail yesterday, all the way from Tasmania:



It was from my blog friend, Sharmaine,, who whips together these amazing, to die for layouts every day! I am in awe. Having these new goodies is making me itch to get back to my table, and the kids were thrilled to have chocolate cookies all the way from Australia. They have a particular fascination with the country, and at least once a day will ask me what the people in Australia are doing at the moment. They are fascinated by the time difference. Thanks, Sharmaine!!

Now that we are paying for two private OT sessions a week, I have taken a renewed interest in budgeting. Through Ali's site I found simplemom.net, and have spent a few nights exploring the current and many past posts. Recently she posted her dinner menu for the entire month of April, and it intrigued me. I usually meal plan only a week at a time, and loosely. She themes each nights (ie - pasta on Mondays, stir-fry Tuesdays) which I immediately stole. Max has had such a difficult time with dinners and transitions lately, so this seemed like a great way to address both. Since a few Facebook friends have asked, here is our menu for the month:

Mondays - pasta
Tuesdays - Mexican
Wednesdays - chicken
Thursdays - soup/salad/sandwiches
Friday - pizza
Saturday - pork or beef
Sunday - leftovers

April's Menu (with links to on-line recipes)
6 - spaghetti
7 - soft tacos or beef fajitas
8 - BBQ chicken with my special sauce
9 - grilled cheese and salad
10- pizza (trying Bob's Red Mill gluten free mix)
11 - flank steak and rice
12 - Easter dinner - ham
13 - zucchini pasta carbonara (I made a light version and it was still super good!)
14 - chicken and summer veggie tostadas
15 - honey glazed chicken stir fry
16 - chicken noodle soup and salad (my concoction)
17 - pizza
18 - maple pecan pork chops and apple hash browns
19 - left overs
20 - Max's birthday choice
21 - nachos
22 - BBQ chicken again (Matt's favorite)
23 - grilled turkey or ham sandwiches
24 - pizza
25 - beef and veggie stir-fry over rice
26 - left overs
27 - chicken fettuccine
28 - tacos
29 - crock pot Italian chicken
30 - left-over chicken sandwiches with artichoke hearts and feta

It is very SPD friendly and kid friendly, but it works for me. I keep the list in a binder that has my iCal print-out for the month, household stuff from Fly Lady, budget info and plans for any home/family thing I'm working on for the month (like Max's party). This way I have everything for the house in one place. A big shout-out to simplemom.net for the idea, as well as several of the recipes. You should go check it out now - not only is it a great site, but she's having a Croc give-away. And the spring Crocs are actually cute. Cute enough that, fashionista snob that I am, would actually wear them! Go take a look here!