My Love for... LISTS!!!

If you were to go through my house, you would find little pieces of paper with lists everywhere! All kinds (I don't discriminate!), for different things: vacations I'd like to take, recipes I'd like to try and the big one... to do's! To do's are the most common because, well, there's just always something that needs doing. So I categorize them: to do today, to do this week, this year... you get the picture. The sky's the limit on lists!

I strongly believe this obsession came from when I was little. My father was always making lists (hmmm... I wonder if it's hereditary?). Anything that was to be accomplished he made a list! Whenever we were going to build something (and by we I mean that dad was going to be doing 85% of the work), he'd pull out a small spiral notebook he kept in his shirt pocket and start drawing. The notebook always reminded me of a detectives' notebook (ya know the kind they'd pull out during an investigation to jot down all the facts.). He'd label items in the drawing and start making an inventory list of things we needed. Oh, how I love and miss those lists!

Being stuck in bed (day 4 for those of you keeping count) has given me a lot of time to catch up on my list making. This week has been all about getting organized, and since one of my resolutions is to massively purge and streamline this house, I, of course, start with a list! The first goal is to reorganize all of my papers (and believe me when i say there are A LOT!). It's a very overwhelming task but with my handy dandy list I'm just going to take it check by check!

DAY 1:
•empty out files
•go through, discard old & make following piles:
-bank statements
-401K/investments
-credit card bills (discard once paid)
-student loans
-car loans
-employer benefit plan
-household manuals/warranties (w/receipts)
-insurance policies (current only)
-pay stubs (current year only & discard after taxes)
-tax returns (for past 7 years only)

Let's see if I can get through this first step, then we'll move on to the next!

Til later,
~Melissa~

Poll Time!

So I'm on day 3 of being in bed. Hopefully tomorrow my back will feel good enough for me to venture out and work on my Etsy. I have some Valentines Day themed towels and such that I'd like to get on there soon. Ya know... before Valentines Day!

And what's up with this weather? Other parts of the world seem to be having normal January weather. The great state of Arkansas, on the other hand, cant make up it's mind! Seriously! The weather is 30-40 degrees one day then 60-70+ the next! Crazy right?

Anyway... (for those of you who ARE having normal January weather) if you were to go to my Etsy (www.melissagchristy.etsy.com), you will find some of the scarves I've made. And heck! If you happen to see one you like... Buy it! Or if you like a style and want a different color, I can do that too! Just let me know! I'm very open to custom making something you'd really love! Oh! And keeping you warm would be good too!

All this brings me to my other point (poll time!): what would you like to see on my Etsy? I'm completely open to suggestions so leave me a note with your idea! Also! What colors would you like to see for spring?

Thanks in advance!

Bed Rest:

Bed rest is absolutely no fun! I'm voting totally against it! The original thought of it was ok... having your meals brought to you and being pampered. But I'm one of those people that in the middle of the obsessive list making gets a hair-brained idea to go do something crafty or realize that something needs to be cleaned. This, of course, cannot happen because I'm not allowed to get up. AAARRGGHH!

My mother was sweet last night and sent steaks, a salad and peach turnovers for me! All of which were delicious! Tonight however; it's eat whatever's in the fridge, or as my husband likes to call it "fridging it!"

All this has sparked the idea that I need to take a weekend and make up a bunch of freeze-ahead meals. Hopefully it'll help in times like these when I can't get in the kitchen to cook. I'd make soups and casserole starters along with even some dessert and easy breakfast things.

Heres my list so far:

-Chicken Enchilada Soup
-Pork Chops & Rice
-Chili
-Meatloaf
-Smoothie Mixes
-Pizza Pocket Pies (Beef, Sausage & Pepperoni)
-Various Flavors of Dessert Pocket Pies (Apple, Peach...)
-Cooked Ground Beef (great for quick meals)
-Cooked &Shredded Chicken (also great for quick meals)

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Here's an idea on how I'd like my freezer to look (notice how organized it is!):