The Life of the Unemployed...

The end of the semester came up quickly, I am very grateful for that. I am finished, except for 1 exam next Thursday. I am enjoying a little break until then. Yesterday and today I busied myself with laundry, dishes and baking. This morning I had some errands to run, and floors to wash. Of course, I enjoy some down time now and then.

TiVo is amazing! I love the Real Housewives of Orange County, and Jersey Shore. Let's be serious though, who takes their daughters who can barely walk and talk to get manicures and pedicures? Crazy! These people have too much money!

I'm ready for Christmas. Our house is decorated, and all the gifts are purchased and wrapped. I'm planning to try some new recipes, which is exciting. I actually have time to try recipes, because I am home to make them!

That's about all that's been going on.

Made it through the weekend....

Where did the weekend go? Seriously, it went by way to fast. I didn't get half of the things accomplished that I had on my "to do" list.

Friday night was an uneventful dinner out and mandatory Wal*Mart shopping trip for necessities, such as nail polish and foot creme to give myself an at home pedicure. It was nice, and much cheaper than going to the salon. Of course, it was work! I wear sandals or flip flips almost everyday, so it is very important that I have pretty feet. I have a foot soaking machine that vibrates and has rollers to massage my feet. It seemed like a silly purchase at the time, but it was worth it - my Mom and I both use it a lot.

Saturday was a nice, relaxing day. A good friend brought her little girl over. We had a girls lunch date, along with a trip to the park to feed the ducks. In the afternoon I went to get my eyebrows waxed by my favorite hairdresser, and while I was there I made a long overdue appointment to get my hair cut for real, like 1 inch or more. Seriously, it is getting so long that the split ends have a style of their own. It doesn't look too bad, but that is only because I'm a 'magician' when it comes to styling my hair, and concealing all the ugly parts.

After my eyebrown appointment, my brother, SIL, EBF, and I went out on the lake for a few hours. It was nice and breezy, and the sun was out so I had a chance to work on my tan. I am as white as I've ever been, this is the first year I haven't laid in the tanning bed to get a base tan before spending weekends on the lake. Saturday night was just lazy. I napped, watched recorded shows on the DVR, and cleaned up a bit.

Then today started with an early trip to the mall, and home to take an afternoon nap to sleep off the headache I developed. My throat was sore most of the day, and the headache still won't let up. I gave up on sleeping it off when it only got worse and made me feel sick to my stomach. I ate a light dinner, then my parents and I headed to the park to get in some exercise.

Notice I haven't mentioned homework yet? Yup. I didn't do any of it until late this evening after doing some grocery shopping for the week. I sat down and started on it, but I didn't get it all done. Tomorrow is another day.

I'm still sad that the weekend went by so fast. My car didn't get cleaned, and I didn't get as much homework done as I wanted to. However, it was nice to spend a relaxing day on the lake Saturyday, and buy some smaller clothes today.

I'm weighing in on Friday's now since I have class on Monday night. I lost 4.4 pounds last week to bring my total weight loss to just a little over 23 pounds. I've officially lost a great percentage of my total body weight, and I am down 2 pants sizes. I'm not going to go buy all new clothes, I will just look like a "bag lady" for a while, wearing all my larger clothes. I don't want to splurge on a new wardrobe when I have more weight to get rid of!

Better get to bed, morning comes far to early!
-BB

Random Tuesday Tidbits

The beach was fun, but it's back to reality!

I'm out of school for 2 weeks, then summer classes start, and I'll be back in school for a month before another short break. It will be nice to get my summer class over with and out of the way. I got my final grades for the 2 classes I took this semester, I got an A and a B. I'm very happy with those grades, even if 2 A's would have been better. I'm just glad I'm done with those classes!

More about the beach....the weather was beautiful, and the water was cold. However, our hotel had several heated indoor and outdoor pools that were very nice, and we got a lot of use out of them.It was a very fun, relaxing trip.

Today I have long list of things to do at work,and at home. I'm off to clean and organize my office and our storage room. Hopefully I get everything done today so the rest of the week is relaxed....wishful thinking!

I weighed last night, I was down 1.6 more pounds for a total of 16.6!

It's Tuesday! Only 3 days until Friday!
-BB

Manic Monday

I got a lot of things on my list complete this weekend, however - it's never ending and in that fashion, I still have things to do.

I am supposed to go to lunch tomorrow with my friend who is moving, all I managed to get her was a card. I've got to find something good tonight, somewhere, or I will have a lame present. Any ideas?

One thing I accomplished this weekend, that I am proud of, is putting away all my laundry. Every last piece has been hung in the closet, no more living out of a laundry basket.

At the end of every semester I go through this panic mode and only do things related to school and sleeping. I fail to get housework done, until it's so bad I cannot stand it anymore. Considering my last exam is not until this Thursday, it is pretty impressive that there aren't piles of laundry placed in various baskets throughout my bedroom.

I'm only working 4 days this week, then I'm beach bound for 3 days of pure bliss!
-BB

The Infamous Never Ending To-Do List

I am one of those people who is a little obsessive about making lists and sticking to them. I honestly think a list keeps me organized and prepared, for me a list is the smallest effort to accomplish everything I need to do.

Because it is the end of the semester for school and the beginning of the month at work, I have more to do than time to get it done. Seriously! A co-worker walked in my office this afternoon and said “Wow, I can see the wood on the top of your desk”. Sadly, he’s right – my desk has been covered for weeks, and today I organized my mess into neat little piles. I didn’t get a lot accomplished, but hey – there is always Monday. At least I can see the wood on the top of my desk, right?

I combine my list for home and work on one sheet and carry it in my purse for convenience. That way I can look at it over the weekend and dread coming to work on Monday add things that I suddenly remember while watching TV and relaxing.

My list, which I started today, looks something like this:

• Clean/Organize desk
• Process ***** paperwork by 3 pm
• Draft and send e-mail to pesky employees about nagging situation
• Process and approve April time cards
• E-Mail exam # 2 study guide to home e-mail account
• Call **** and ask random questions regarding extracurricular activity that I am planning for my volunteer thingy I do.
• Take Exam #1 by Friday night at midnight
• Study for Exam #2
• Grocery Shop
• Dust and Sweep
• Laundry
• Grocery Shop
• Wash/Wax Car
  
• Buy present for friend that is moving away
  
• Clean junk out of car
  
• Go to Ikea and Barnes and Noble
  
• Update Process Manual for ******* **** Paperwork
  
• Start preparing tables and fields for new fiscal year database
• Write Memo for **** & ****** time card explaining situation to Payroll
  
• Update database with new entries online

Sorry about the asterisks, you know I have to protect the every famous identity. I’m just kidding about the famous part. If I was famous, I wouldn’t be making lists, my personal assistant would.

Yep, I’ve got a lot to do this weekend, and yep – I’m boring. I know.

-BB

Habits

I have bad habits, and I have good habits. I just started thinking about my habits, and the ones I want to and need to change. Here is my list:

BAD Habits

• Biting my fingernails. It's such a nasty habit, and an ugly habit. It's also kinda expensive because it requires more frequent manicures than the average person.
  


• Tapping my foot. When I'm impatient or nervous, I constantly tap my foot. It irritates me, I can't imagine how people around me feel when I'm doing it.


• Procrastinating when it's time for bed. I am like a small child when it is time for me to go to bed at night. I think of things to do, until it's nearly midnight and then I go to bed, only to drag my half dead rear end out of bed in the morning.


• Making my bed. I never make my bed in the morning. I always make it just prior to getting in it, what's the purpose? I don't know.

GOOD Habits

• Cleaning up after my self. I am obsessive about cleaning up something when I am finished. I think it comes from years of getting yelled at by my Mom for not doing it.
  
  
• Keeping my car clean. I loose sleep when my car is dirty, seriously. I'm crazy - I know!

The bad far outweighs the good!
-BB

Missing In Action = Busy Lady

The bathroom remodel project is complete. I can now assume my regularly scheduled blogging! :)

Yesterday was a full day of Bathroom Remodeling, from 9 am to 11:30 pm. It is now complete!

Here is what it it looked liked before.

Here it is now......


New white vanity top, with cabinets, Q-Tip Jar, and blow dryer holster. My favorite part is the faucet, it sticks out far enough that when I wash my hands water doesn't splash all over the wall! I found the rug in front of the sink at Wal-Mart, and I love it because it has the brown of the floor on it, and the also the black of the cabinets, so it pulls everything together nicely.


This is the new Linen Cabinet (ignore the white spot, something on the camera). I love the candle holders, and the shadow boxes, they're from Ikea, as are the rest of the decorations. The shadow box on the left is full of white silk rose petals, the one on the right has a print in it. I am going to get a picture printed in black and white today to put in it. The linen cabinet it awesome, it has 2 doors (as pictured), you push them and they pop open, and there are 2 shelves. Below the doors are 2 drawers that open the same way. I have a lot of room to store and organize things now. I love the space!

This is the new white commode, complete with free standing toilet paper holder and accent mirror (also purchased from Ikea).


And finally, here is the new shower curtain, and towel hooks. It is a bit hard to see, but the curtain has a lot of the blue wall color, and a stripe of gold/yellow here and there so it picks up the shower and floor color.

I am relieved that everything is complete, and now I can start organizing and putting things away. I'll do that later today, now it's off to the grocery store to grab a few groceries to make a fruit salad, and head to the park for a picnic with friends!

-BB

Slow Moving.......

The bathroom renovation project is taking a little longer than I thought. Apparently 13 degree weather and paint do not go together. We painted the drawers to the vanity last night and the paint was not wanting to stay in one place, forming ugly runs all over the place. We gave up until today, it's supposed to be warmer this evening. The good news is that when we checked them this morning, it appeared that we had done a good job of 'fending off' any runs, so there isn't any sanding in my future. Thank goodness! Sanding is messy.

On a much happier note, they are calling for mid-70's temperatures all weekend! Can you hear me screaming loudly over here? Oh yeah! I am excited to open up some windows, do a little spring cleaning, and give my car a good cleaning too. It will be so nice to be outside without a jacket on, and getting some much needed chores done around the house.

Oh, and before I forget...stop by Mrs. Newlywed's blog and enter her fabulous giveaway for a great prize! HINT: It's a tote! I love totes!

-BB

Goodbye, Good Riddens!

It has been nothing but a wet rainy day, it's a mess outside! This morning we went to Lowe's and got everything we needed to do my bathroom. Hopefully if it snows as forecast, I will get a good start on my bathroom tomorrow.

This is ugly old yellow sink top and vintage vanity! The mirror, and sink top are going. The vanity will be re-painted satin black with brushed nickel handles and knobs. The mirror is being replaced with a black cabinet, with mirror type doors from Ikea (very cute), and the new top is a crisp clean white.

Of course, this is the ugly yellow toilet, complete with cream colored seat. (Don't mind the junk next to the toilet. It's some of the stuff I am going to need for the next week while we're working on the vanity). The new toilet will be white.

That's all I'm telling now. I can't want to get to work on it, and be able to post "after" pictures.

-BB

Entertainment = Shopping

Opps! No Sunday Post! That "I will blog everyday" mentality was short lived! No less - I didn't forget, I just got too busy and wasn't near the computer.

I have become an avid reader of James Patterson and Debbie Macomber books. I like them because they are realistic, sweet stories. Not raunchy romance novels. James Patterson has some mystery books, but I don't read them - I'm a chicken! I stayed up until 3 am on Sunday morning reading, and when I woke up at 9 am read again until I finished the book (Promise, Texas by Debbie Macomber). It was a great book! I decided that I needed to quit being lazy and get some housework done. I started in the bedroom, and I cleaned every inch of the room. When I was done, I decided that I needed to reward myself with a new bed ensemble, complete with curtains to match and throw pillows.

I was off to the mall in less than 4 hours, and back home with a great new set! I meant to take pictures, but again - I forgot before running out the door this morning. I will definitely take pictures tonight and upload them. Promise.

I have decided that from now on, before I go shopping I should try to accomplish something at home, and treat shopping as a reward. My reward? (Other than the new bedding). Panties from Arie. I love that store! (www.ae.com/aerie/index.jsp).

Ah, it's another Monday. I have a midterm at 2....blah.
-BB