My plan for today is to do some spring cleaning. However, right now I’m reading about it. Why actually do the cleaning when you can peruse a million different ideas about it on the Internet?
My thoughts for a quick spring cleaning this year are really to just do a top to bottom cleaning and clearing of the entire house.
The top part usually presents challenges as I’m not super tall. So, the ceilings and ceiling fans might not get the treatment they deserve. A little is better than none, I think.
Some of the spring cleaning I’d like to do in the coming weeks:
Top
Clean the vent fan in the bathroom
Dust some light fixtures/ceiling fans
Clean off the top of the fridge (maybe the cabinets as well *if* I can get my husband to help)
Clear the ceiling corner cobwebs
Bonus item: I’d love it if I could talk my husband into repainting a few of our ceilings but that’s low odds
Middle
Wipe off all the kitchen cabinets
Dust pictures
Clean windows/curtains (I know I have this on my to do list for the week for some reason)
Clear off some cluttered surfaces/clean them when clear/hopefully get rid of some stuff
Refresh the mattresses
Bottom
Finally, we are almost to the end of the spring cleaning!
Wash all the floors and vents and add a drop of peppermint oil to them
Basement Bonus
Last one, clean off the desk down here and go through more tubs
***************
Before I leave here to actually go do this cleaning, tell me do you do a full spring cleaning? What’s on your list?
Been a busy first day of spring around here so I’m a bit late getting to things today. Are you excited for the new season? I know I am so happy and ready for warmer days, green grass, and flowers.
Let’s just get straight to joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for this planning post.
The Weather
It’s currently 60 degrees and sunny. We couldn’t have asked for better first day of spring weather. Maybe a little less windy but I don’t mind as I’m too busy soaking up the sunshine and warm temperatures. There are chances for rain the rest of the week until Friday, cooler tomorrow with a high of only 48 but then, we bounce to 67 before leveling off in the 50’s for the rest of the week.
As I Look Outside My Window
I see a robin! A sure sign of spring. All the winter birds are still here but I I’m thinking they should be packing their suitcases soon (looking at you little snowbirds!)
Right Now
Trying to get this post done before I have to throw together dinner and take J to his lesson tonight.
Thinking And Pondering
Too much on my mind. One of the things: I was just in the grocery store thinking how sad it is that my go-to cheap meals are now some of the more expensive ones. French Toast used to be such an easy thing but now the bread, eggs, and milk make it cost as much as a “normal” meal. And still with the random things they don’t have at times. I just want my normal taco seasoning packet (and yes, I know I can make my own but I like this kind)
On My Bedside Table
Currently the camera bag. I should have my phone on the charger but just remembered it.
On My TV Tonight
Probably just The Voice.
Listening To
Nothing at the moment. Earlier the cat was meowing mad at me for forgetting her outside when I came back inside. I got an earful of meows! Ha.
On The Lunch Plate
The boys and I had McDonald’s, one of those days.
On The Dinner Plate
No idea, grocery store chicken, leftovers (pork chops or tacos), cereal. We ate lunch kind of late. My husband had a root canal so is not super excited about eating. It’s an on your own type of night, I think.
On The Menu This Week
MONDAY: OYO *J had to take a test for school off-site at 9:30* *J has a lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes *I might go to Bunco*
WEDNESDAY: Homemade sub sandwiches, chips, fruit
THURSDAY: Might make fajitas or finally the pepper steak I keep moving around on the menu *I work 2:30-5 and then, have CPR training, I think…need to make sure*
FRIDAY: Pancakes (might switch this with Wednesday depending on how my husband feels)
On My Reading Pile
Just the spring magazines. I really need to find a book for tonight.
On My To Do List
My faux plant from Ikea for our bathroom
Spring cleaning
Grocery store
Pay a couple bills
Get some seeds started
Other stuff…?
Plans This Week
wash living room curtains, shower curtain, (all the curtains!), clear off a few tall surfaces, go to Bunco depending on how tomorrow goes, work
What I’m Creating
Way too early but I’m anxious to get the garden going. Also, I did buy a new diamond art painting to try.
Simple Pleasure
Warm spring days with sunshine, birds, flowers, and bees!
(See that little yellow ball on the bee? I had to look that one up as I’d never noticed that on my early spring bees before. Interesting explanation of it all in this article about why bees have pockets.)
Looking Around The House
Ugh. Let’s do that after a bit of spring cleaning happens. We did get a new dresser for J’s room at Ikea but I forgot to take a photo before we set it up in there. I’ll have to sneak in one day when he’s not home.
From The Camera
Last sunset of winter over a local lake.
On My Prayer List
A peaceful, positive spring season for all. J to graduate high school, we’re inching closer. My husband to not be in too much pain after his dental work. Friends, family, strangers.
Quote For The Week
Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat. (Laura Ingalls Wilder)
Just a quick post to say Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Our day was fairly low-key. Started off by baking a loaf of Irish Soda Bread.
I used this recipe. And added a few golden raisins. Turned out pretty well. I would make it again. Should note that I did use a little less salt than the original recipe, 1 1/2 teaspoons instead of the full 2.
J and I did a bit of running around so he could get some new vinyls (we called these albums or LP’s back in the day). And of course, we swung by McDonald’s for Shamrock shakes. Our tradition.
Finally, after dinner we had shamrock sugar cookies from Target for dessert.
Somewhere during today, it also snowed on and off a bit but melted as it arrived. I watched some of the local St. Patrick’s Day parade on tv and may or may not have taken a short nap.
Just some random thoughts for today. Pretend you joined me in the car for the addictive drive-through coffee shop. Couldn’t resist another Irish Blondie Breve. Hoping that’s a seasonal thing because I definitely don’t need to be doing that everytime I’m over near the shop.
My joke of the day: What do you call Spring Break when it happens prior to payday?
Answer: Spring Broke!
(Gather your rotten fruit, I’ll be here all year!)
Can you tell I typically work with preschool children? Where even jokes that make no sense are funny. Drive-through coffee shop might also explain the spring broke.
Would you like to see the photos that were supposed to accompany yesterday’s post?
Winter Wednesday Photos
The crocus that finally bloomed!
The purple flowers taking over more of the yard.
A pot of dirt just waiting to be filled with spring/summer flowers.
Finally, a random photo of one of my daffodils in a vase.
And now that we’re back here at the house, have fed the birds (or rather the squirrels), and drank our coffee, let’s go walk around the yard.
After This Morning’s Rain
Final picture for today:
Creepy little critter isn’t it?
I don’t like them. They’re rodents and they steal my bird seed. However, they’re also super smart and it is interesting to watch them figure out all the “squirrel proof” bird feeders. I do wonder if I started feeding the squirrels instead of the birds, would the birds eat the squirrel’s food? Hmmm…
Before we get to my final winter Wednesday thought, have you ever had an entire post just disappear? *POOF* Gone, not even a draft of it seems to exist. SIGH. Annoying.
And of course, I can’t remember exactly what I wrote.
The Weather
Maybe the wind blew my post away? It’s (don’t hate us) currently 62 degrees out there but I can hear the wind picking up. Also, cloudy though we had a decent amount of sunshine earlier. Tomorrow, however, we’re supposed to get rain that transitions to light snow by Friday morning.
My Goodbye Letter To Winter
Dear Winter,
It’s been such a nice visit with you this year. Thank you for the snowflakes and especially for those surprisingly warm and sunny days. However, spring is on the way already having sent through some luggage covered in daffodils and tiny purple flowers. Please make sure you remember to pack up and take all your weather with you on your journey to the southern hemisphere. I’d really hate for you to have to turn around and collect a forgotten snow storm late in the spring. I’ll look forward to your return in December when you’ll perhaps bring us a white Christmas?
Wishing you snowy safe travels!
************************
I’ll skip trying to remember the rest of my post and just share this fun meme:
How are you spending your last Wednesday of winter?
This is going to be a quick and just for fun type post today.
It all started when my husband brought home Dr. Pepper flavored Peeps, I think at the end of February (his word of the year is not “wait”). Anyway, we all tried them and if you come across Dr. Pepper flavored Peeps, know they are very, very good. We’ve not been able to find them anywhere since he bought that first package.
However, we have found all kinds of other odd flavors. I decided every time I saw a new flavor, I’d get it for us to try. And so it began, our quest to taste test every weird flavor of Peeps we could find.
Peeps are essentially just marshmallows and usually not too many in a package or too expensive. I did find some gummy Peeps at Target, a bit different.
As well as J’s current favorite flavor (also mine):
We’ve done lots of tastings over here so I thought I’d share our results with you all today.
Peeps Flavors Found And Our Thoughts:
Dr. Pepper Peeps, we all LOVED these. How they managed to make them taste just like Dr. Pepper is a mystery. If you are a Dr. Pepper fan, you’ll love these.
Sour Watermelon Peeps, we mostly liked these though I can’t remember them making a huge impression.
Party Cake Peeps, these were memorable for all the wrong reasons. For all of us, they completely missed the mark on the cake flavor. And the sprinkles on the outside were kind of weird.
Cotton Candy Peeps, I didn’t mind these but they didn’t really taste like cotton candy. I’m the only one who even kind of liked these.
Hot Tamale Peeps, these were surprisingly good! Tasted like a soft hot tamale (the candies, not the savory dinner item).
Sparkly Wild Berry Peeps, were not a hit with me. Too much grape (I should note I hate grape flavored things: grapes yes, grape artificial flavoring, no). J didn’t mind them. They left a weird coating on my hands as well. Cheetos can leave my hands covered in stuff, not Peeps.
Fruit Punch Peeps, these weren’t bad but I was looking around for Mr. Kool Aid to come bursting through the walls (Remember those old commercials?). They tasted like Kool Aid to me.
Tropical Burst Peeps, nice and subtle. We really like these. Hard to describe as no in your face flavors, definitely not coconut, but we know the flavor is tropical.
The Peeps Gummies, I loved these. Very vanilla flavored. J thought they tasted just like a peep. G said they weren’t for him. My husband hasn’t tried them yet.
Final Thoughts
The only flavor I’ve seen and not bought are the ones with the chocolate on the bottom. No doubt those are good but I’m not paying the same price for half as many candies just because they have chocolate on the bottom. Maybe I’ll get some for actual Easter or when they go on clearance from being over priced.
Peeps aren’t a candy for everyone. Personally, I prefer the regular flavors of them when they are slightly stale. My husband and J like to roast them (they are marshmallows after all). And G just likes them.
What about you, tried any new flavors of Peeps lately? Or do you even like this type of candy?
A week without worrying about anything school related? Sold! Of course, I will probably still spend some time looking at my calendar and replying to few texts I blew off last week. And I won’t be surprised if I get a text or two.
However, I don’t have to worry about being anywhere school related this week. So, I’ll take that. My days are (mostly) my own this week. So let’s get to planning them by joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom.
The Weather
Here’s the weather my alter-ego, hip and young avatar Jean is experiencing on her spring break:
Our actual weather, not what I ordered. Not going to complain too much as I saw where those of you north of us got hit with more snow over the weekend so I’ll take cloudy and cold. Right now, it’s currently 26 degrees but feels like 14. What?! I know it’s still winter but grumble, I’m on “spring” break. Thankfully, by mid-week we are in the upper 50’s/low 60’s but with rain. Then, cold again for the weekend. We were just completely spoiled with those super warm days earlier this month.
As I Look Outside My Window
Clouds, mostly sparrows at the bird feeders. I keep “encouraging” the snowbirds (juncos) that maybe it’s time to go home so our nice warm weather can start. Ha!
Right Now
I’m trying to see how far I can get on this post before I have to stop and take J to an appointment.
Thinking And Pondering
Thinking about all the things (looks like they’re going to be mostly indoors) I want to do this week. Pondering how much of it is going to be “goofing off” vs “getting things done”
On My Bedside Table
The usual. I do have some shamrock cookies hidden in the bottom part for later this week. (Have to keep things hidden around here or they tend to disappear…) The amaryllis blooms are starting to fade but I do see another bloom trying to open.
On My TV Tonight
J still has a lesson so probably not much unless I stay up later. End of The Voice when we get back from his lesson.
Listening To
The heat kicked on this morning so that’s all I hear at the moment.
On The Lunch Plate
Hoping to talk J into lunch at a local restaurant near his appointment that sells great cinnamon rolls. Otherwise, no idea. *UPDATE: Neither of us were hungry so we came home and had frozen Mexican style pizza for lunch later*
On The Dinner Plate
Leaning toward spicy potato soup. Simmering on the stove right now.
On The Menu This Week
We had waffles on our breakfast plates
Thought about trying to do an Irish theme this week but that might be too heavy for us. Instead I’m just going to add an element of green to each meal.
MONDAY: Spicy Potato Soup/I always add a chopped fresh (seeded) jalapeno to this soup for an extra kick and bit of color *J has an appt at 11* *J has a lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Pepper steak/chicken/takes lime juice in the marinade so we’re counting that
WEDNESDAY: Ham steaks, cornbread, salad *I have a hair appointment at 9:30*
THURSDAY: Tacos, we’ll have them with guacamole
FRIDAY: Crunchy coleslaw with grilled chicken added, asparagus, and shamrock cookies and shakes (from McDonalds)
On My Reading Pile
An overdue library book, You by Caroline Kepnes on the e-book kindle app on my phone, and a pile of March magazines.
On My To Do List
Pay a few bills
Go to grocery store Done, late but done
laundry
clean the house
Enjoy my spring break!!
Plans This Week
Relax, movie with G tomorrow (we’re planning to see Everything Everywhere All at Once), Getting a haircut, going to a record store with J one day.
What I’m Creating
Really need to start on creating the vegetable and flower gardens by starting a few more seeds.
Simple Pleasure
Coffee (especially the day after Daylight Savings Time)
Looking Around The House
Well, we were here pretty much all weekend and it looks like it. The daffodils were drooping outside (apparently big variations in temperature/early warm days can cause this) so I broke down and picked a few.
From The Camera
It was a slow week for picking up the camera, pictures are all from today. Chelsey looks like she’s posing for senior portrait, silly cat!
Quote For The Week
A kind word never broke anyone’s mouth. (Irish proverb)
I was lazy today and didn’t get a post put together. Still wanted to share something so here is a really sweet Irish family blessing I found while playing around on Pinterest earlier:
(Original source: Irish American Mom, she offers a free printable of it on her site)
