FlyLady

FlyLady has been around for a while and most people probably know her for her shiny sink. My inbox has filled up with her daily emails and I have even read the book. But I am still not "flying". I think she has some great ideas, and occasionally I will do them...just never all at the same time.

Her overall plan is to clean before it is really dirty, because clean things take less time to clean. She is also a fan of setting a timer, and only working for the allotted 15 minutes before moving on to something else. Other ideas are to clean a little every day and not wait until Saturday to clean the whole house. (I have a sister-in-law who has "Terrible Toilet Tuesdays" and every Tuesday they clean the toilets.) What a great idea, if I clean a little every day by Saturday my house will be clean and I can enjoy it with my family, instead of cleaning!

In the last week we have been on the go, visiting both sets of grandparents twice, babysat 7 kids, threw 1 baby shower, made 1 quilt, and sewed 2 bags along with all the other little things that go on. Basically our house was a wreck.

This morning I sat my timer for 15 minutes and set out to clean my front room. In 9 minutes I had picked up all the toys scattered about, vacuumed, and put all of the shoes piled by the front door in their respective closets. With 6 minutes left I removed a slipcover (finding a long lost remote) threw it in the washing machine and started it. I then dusted and finished with 2:27 minutes left on the timer.

I then spent 15 minutes in the bathroom and another 15 in the kitchen. Now I feel that in 45 minutes I spent cleaning my house is presentable for our dinner guests tonight.

It is great to see what can be accomplished when you are focusing on 1 thing at a time. In 12 minutes my front room underwent a major face-lift. I know it won't stay this way for long, but at least I now know that it only takes 12 minutes to get it back.

Maybe FlyLady does know a thing or two!

Model Cars

Amazon.com has dropped prizes on some of their model cars...just in time for Father's Day. Take dad back to his childhood with one of these classic cars.

Road Signature 1957 Ford Thunderbird 1:18 Scale Model in White for $6.83;
Road Signature 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $6.83;
Road Signature 1961 Desoto Adventurer 1:18 Scale Model in Light Green for $6.93;
Road Signature 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express Pick Up Truck 1:18 Scale Model in Burgundy for $6.93;
Ferrari F430 Spider 1:18 Scale Model for $6.94;
Road Signature 1966 Dodge Charger 1:18 Scale Model in Red for $7.02;
Road Signature 1959 Buick Electra 225 1:18 Scale Model in Lavender Metallic for $7.02;
Road Signature 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $7.02;
Road Signature 1948 Tucker Torpedo 1:18 Scale Model in Red for $7.19;
Barichello Racing Scuderia Ferrari 1:43 Scale Model for $7.59;
Shyne Rodz 1941 Plymouth Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Metallic Purple for $7.79;
Shyne Rodz 1934 Ford Pick Up Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Green for $7.79;
Shyne Rodz 1937 Ford V8 Convertible Street Rod 1:18 Scale Model in Metallic Orange for $7.79;
2007 Shelby G.T. 500 in Black for $8.04;
1966 Shelby G.T. 350 in Blue for $8.04;
Signature Series 1956 Continental Mark II 1:18 Scale Model in Black for $9.56; and
Shelby Cobra 427 S/C in Black for $15.99.

National Paper Clip Day

Happy paper clip day! Who knew they had a day for celebrating the little piece of bent wire.

Today would be a great day to read the story of One Red Paper Clip. Kyle MacDonald started with 1 red paper clip and through the series of 14 trades ended up with a house!

I'm off to find me a red paper clip...

Kid's Sale

Best Buy has select Disney DVD's on sale for $12.99. That's a pretty good buy if you ask me. They are even the more recent Pixar movies, Nemo, Incredibles, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bug's Life, and Monsters Inc.


Amazon.com has a huge sale on children's books right now. They start at 30¢ and when you buy 3 you get 1 free!

Knowing when to stop

Yesterday, as I was standing in line to make a purchase, I overheard the following conversation between a customer and an employee.

Customer: "You have lost a lot of weight!"

Employee: "I did it the hard way."

Customer: "How did you do it?"

Employee: "I have been sick."

Customer: "Oh, what have you had?"

Employee: "Breast cancer. I just finished chemo."

Customer: "But your hair looks great!"

Employee: "Its a wig."

You couldn't tell it was a wig at all. She went on to say that they think she is cured, so that is good. I feel bad for the lady who couldn't seem to say anything to help the situation she had gotten herself in.

Deals

The Children's Place is having a sale on summer clothes. Starting at $5, and I hear you can save an addition 20% if you use coupon code CLUBEM57. Shipping is a flat $5.
How cute would your little one be in these. They are $6.If I had a little girl I would most definitely drop $2.50 for these sunglasses.

Winner

Maybe it pays to be the only international reader....


Congrats Corrine. I'll get you package in the mail in the next couple of days.

Thank you all for entering.

Didn't forget

Just got in town. I'll draw the winning name and post as soon as I have a chance.

IKEA

IKEA opens in SLC today! I am assuming it will be jam packed crowded for a while. As soon as I can I will join in on the madness.

Deals & Steals

Check out the clearance at Target. These men's flip-flops are only $6.24. Coupon code "TGTSAVQ2" takes an extra 10% off. Free shipping for orders of $50 or more. So keep shopping. There are handbags on clearance and ladies and kid's shoes, although the ones I thought were cute are sold out.
You can get this travel set for $4.99(there is also a pink version for $9.99). I'm not sure of the quality, but for $5...
This Reebok tote is going for $4.49.

Its days like this I wish I lived next door to a Target.


Now for some free stuff:


I am a fan of Mary Kay's satin hands, and right now you can sign up for a free sample.

Blog-a-versary

May 24th is my 1 year birthday of blogging. To celebrate I am giving away a bag (like the one in the Etsy store) along with some of my favorite products. All you need to do is leave a comment by midnight of the 23rd (Wednesday). On the 24th I will post who the winner is. Its that easy!

Oprah Scratch

Oprah is the ultimate gift giver. If I had Oprah's cash flow I would give gifts like her. She is also an awesome party giver.

Her show this afternoon had a theme of "Hello Neighbors" where she encouraged us to get to know our neighbors. She set the example by throwing a party with her neighbors--with Michael Buble serenading, and of course had some awesome party favor baskets. Then she also had the patios of the Harpo neighbors decorated by Jamie Durie. (The other 170 neighbors are getting gift cards.)

Throughout the show she encouraged viewers to get to know their neighbors. Maybe it won't be something has extravagant with a party including a Grammy winning artist, but a little something would be nice.

If I had Oprah Scratch I would do something grand, instead I think I will take my neighbors a little something.

What are you going to do for your neighbors this week?

Martha Stewart: Crafts

I have a love-hate relationship with Martha. When I heard that her new line of craft products had hit the shelves at Michaels I thought I should take a look to see what all the fuss was about. There were different reviews, some thought it was fantastic, others thought it was nervy of her to waltz into the crafting scene with her own line. I wanted to form my own opinion.

Her stuff is great. It is stuff that is rarely found in small-ish towns. These towns have very limited resources, but are lucky enough to have a Michael's. The products on the shelves were (I'm speculating) products that were developed to match ideas shown in her magazines and TV show. Her cute labels, boxes, adorable ribbon, and punches make it easier for the common person to pull off a "Martha" project. The price you pay for "Martha" does cost a little more.

Does this take the crafting out of Martha Stewart:Crafts? There are kits you can buy to make featured products. For $19.99 you can buy the materials (tissue paper and wire) to make 7 (3 large and 4 medium sized) of Martha's pom poms. Each pom pom requires 8 sheets of tissue paper.Being the cheap person I am, I am think, "I can buy tissue paper and wire for less than that". So I start on my hunt for tissue paper.

Conveniently located just below the pom pom kits are packages of Martha tissue paper. 6 sheets for $2.99, hmm 6 sheets? That means I will have to buy about 2 packs for every pom pom I intend to make. Or, for 7 pom poms I will need to buy 10 packs of her tissue paper (10x6=60, 10x 2.99=$29.90).

Not satisfied with that I keep looking.

My looking takes me to Target. At Target I find packs of tissue paper with 20 sheets per pack, for $1.99. I buy 3.

Here's the math:
3x1.99=$5.97
3x30=60 sheets

Now that is more like it! I am planning on using wire twist ties (which I already have) for the wire part of the pom poms.

Martha's stuff is wonderful, but I found comparable stuff--located in the same store for less money.

Stick to using her ideas, but you may want to shop around for the materials!

Sara Blakely

Most of you are probably familiar with an Oprah favorite, Spanx. But did you know that Sara Blakely has a similar line called Assets carried exclusively at Target? I saw them tonight while shopping. Assets price tag is a little lower than Spanx and I imagine a little easier to locate now at Target.

I think the inventor Sara Blakely is an amazing person and I think her story of starting Spanx is amazing, as well as what she is doing now that they are a hit.

Auto Sun Shade

We drive a black car with gray leather seats, which means it gets super hot. Last year I was feeling really bad about having a baby in the back seat facing rear, so I tracked down this site.

I felt like a much better parent because the sun wasn't shining directly into his face and they kept our car much cooler.

You can see through it, much like a little SpongeBob shade that you can buy at your local *Mart, but these are big enough to cover the entire back window without the little character decoration (of which I am not a fan). They are retractable, which is a nice feature, although not one I use daily.

This winter we had it down and I was beginning to think that it was going to be a purchase I would regret making, now that he is in a forward facing seat.

But a few weeks ago I pulled the thing up and we are all enjoying a car that is a few degrees cooler!

Good Mail

My recent Good Mail:
#1 Card from Whitney
#2 Jeff's graduation announcement
#3 Thank You card from Tameka
#4 Deidra's graduation announcement
#5 Holly's bridal shower invite
#6 Thank you from Colleen
#7 Thank you from Deidra

Fabric and Etsy

I have been on a fabric buying craze lately. Most of these fabrics are by either Amy Butler or Heather Bailey. Told you I loved them.

I just added another item the Etsy store and need to get a couple more added before the day is over. Maybe if I have time I will play with some of that black and white fabric this afternoon.

Cosmetic Bag

Ever gone looking for a new makeup bag and all you have to choose from are bright plastic floral bags?

Pottery Barn has these on sale for $7. Not too shabby.

Easter Basket

Buying after a season is a great way to save money and be ready for next year. Although most of the time I am not in the plan ahead frame of mind when I see a good deal, and only later think of the possibilities.

This little basket would make for a lovely Easter basket. And at $2.95 you can afford for the whole family to match.

Realtor.com

For the past year I have spent some time online looking at houses for sell in our area. Realtor.com is my favorite site, because it shows homes from many different realty companies all in one convenient place. Today when visiting the site I noticed a new feature, still in beta.

This feature maps out the houses that fit your search so you can see where they are located. It uses Microsoft Virtual Earth which is kind of like Google Earth and MapQuest combined. I clicked on our little neighborhood and found 3 houses for sell.

How convenient is that.

Lotion

Suave has a new line of lotions out called Exhale. Since it was only a couple dollar for a bottle I decided to give it a try.

Not the richest lotion I've ever used, but I love the scent. Some scented lotions make me feel like I am exuding the scent, and that I don't like, but this doesn't. It is a light scent that I quite enjoy.

For a couple bucks its worth it. Maybe not as the solution for dry skin, but for the scent.

I have the Lavender Vanilla, but had a hard time deciding between it and Juicy Tangerine. Oh, the Lime Verbena was good too.

Fuschia Orchid

I know the artist. In fact I not only know her and own a few of her originals, but I lived with her!

Don't know what that makes me, but I think it is cool she was the featured artist a few days ago.

Graduation Announcements

I've been working on graduation announcements for my little sis. over the last 2 days. My printer is giving me all sorts of trouble.

It feels overworked (I believe).

But I am persisitent.

I will finish them.

One. At. A. Time.

Bold Moves

I love the bold fabrics right now. You know, the ones that look all retro-y but are new. Fabrics by Heather Bailey and Amy Butler. I saw some light blue and orange fabric a few weeks ago at a quilting store....should have bought it :(.

Welcome to the Patch

This blog will serve as my outlet to share the good things of life with you. I enjoy pretty things, things that are well made, and most of all, things with the right price tag.

Hope you will enjoy the journey of discovering these things with me.