Fridays Mean Something Again! (H54F)

Well someone started back to full time work again this week.  And that means Friday means something again!  It means that Friday nights are for viticulture sampling and Saturdays are for sleeping in and Sundays are for church and doing something fun with the family.

And Netflix.

Here's my five.

This is so true....I'm always giving my vacuum a new do.

1.  Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning!

My cleaning roster is nearly full - well it is full for March and luckily I can still do this while I spend the majority of the days sitting at a desk I have flexibility to still go out and keep the cleaning going.  That is a huge blessing.  I may take on a new cleaning client in April but right now we're full.

Currently!  I cannot wait to bring this to you next week, all fresh and clean!

2.  The smell of paint!

I know that sounds weird but I'm so thrilled to smell fresh paint in my house.  My life just doesn't seem right until we're working on a home project.  I cannot wait to share it all when I bring back Around The House (ATH) next week!

3.  Tax Season!

We switched accounting services this year and I'm thinking I'll be totally happy we did.  The consultation was fabulous and not just because she had the cutest Pomeranian ever entertaining us....when I get puppy fever that is what I'm getting.  Naturally, when I see a dog I'm crazy about I have to google it and this dog has to be mixed with another lap dog breed.  Number one the face is shihtzu, the hair is more poodle, and the body type is pom....now who can help me find that mix?!?!

This is Walmart.  This is excellent.  Stop hating!  Start loving!

4.  Walmart!

I laugh because there is this mass of bloggers who hate Walmart.  I love the damn place.  They have some cute crap and this week I got one of the cuties they had to offer.  A travel coffee mug (found in the accessory department).  They also have some ADORABLE statement necklaces for spring and they are only $5.  I think I may just have a Walmart post coming up in March about some cute stuff they have to offer (that I maybe purchase...?)  And don't even get me started on The Pioneer Woman collection (pic)!

5.  Book Group?

This week I connected with Cait over at Cait's Cozy Corner.  I recognized her face from another blog that just happened to be her old blog!  She has some great posts and I just love her response emails to comments.  Seriously, I wish I was closer to ATL so I could join her tribe that she posted about yesterday!  But anyway - she's starting a book club and it looks like Party Girl by Rachel Hollis is the winner.  However, I'm totally intrigued by Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman which is coming in second place.  Anyhoo if you want to join in the book club then go over to see Cait's blog and look on the side bar to vote for the book we can all read together!

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This week's recap is no longer a Saturday post but now simply found on my #H54F post.

Sunday - We made a menu for the week...

Monday - Cleaning Post!  The pre-cleaning step you MUST take!

Tuesday - Tasty Tuesday Meals from Pinterest I'm making in March!

Wednesday - Come See What's Been Up In My World!

Thursday - Confession for February

Halloween Month = Turkeys & Layaway!

And my brain is racing around Thanksgiving and Christmas....

Seriously.  Why does this time of year have to fly by?  I guess because we allow it to by doing stupid things like fast forwarding ahead to thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.

So here's the deal blog friends.

My favorite holiday on earth is Thanksgiving.  I love it because there is no stress when it comes to Turkey Day for us.  The four of us load up in the car and take it to Boone, NC for the day.  We eat a big meal, do a little shopping, then go to Greene Tree Farm and get our Christmas Tree.  It is a special day to me because we enjoy each other to the fullest.  On the way home we always stop by one of my husband's old friends and visit with his family.  Its the simplest of holidays and I just adore it.  Its true!  I cannot say that enough!

A million years ago during Thanksgiving...2011 really.

This year we'll be lucky to be back in our home by Turkey Day.  I keep thinking positive - Yes Brownie!  You will be in by then and you will be able to get your tree and eat pumpkin pie on your couch!

Then my husband says, "I think it will be more like Christmas when we're in."

Insert pin into balloon.

I should just shut up.  Keep my positive thoughts to myself and pray for the best but brace for not being in until Valentine's Day huh?  

At least I can keep some humor in the situation.

It wouldn't be fair to mention Thanksgiving and leave any Christmas thoughts out.  I mean, duh guys we cannot give Thanksgiving its own anything because Christmas is the mean big brother that steals the spotlight (i.e. start your Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving at 6PM....that's pretty much screwing the turkey dinner and shaking up the cranberry sauce....)

Part of this stems from my precious seven year old who two weeks ago started talking about Santa Claus (so glad she still believes) and presents.  Way to go Brownie on instilling the true meaning into your kids...

The other part stems from pulling toys out of the mud last week before the house was moved.  A hearth fell out and out came a stash of toys.  Part of me is like whoop whoop and the other is thinking dammit smalls.

Let's be honest, this year we don't have the money for a big fat Christmas.  So I started thinking about gifting and decided that this would be the year of the handmade goodness.  For the family members who are like little kids that means that you aren't going to get something of mass grandeur but something you can actually use that Pinterest or Amy G. helped inspire me to do.

I think I have just enough creative juices to pull this off....

Of course I cannot really make a train or Barbie because I do not have the Chinese infrastructure for that.  So I'm going to do one better.  I'm going to take advantage of the Walmart Layaway program.  The kids are only getting three things this year.  If I lay that crap away I can make payments on it until its good to go.

Back when I was growing up my mom took advantage of the layaway program for all special occasions.  Then the program went away.  Thanks to the economy tanking the savvy business dudes realized the need for layaway still existed.  

Here's the skinny on Walmart Layaway.  Happy shopping!

Click here for all the details