Happy 4th of July

Popping in to wish every a safe and happy 4th of July!

Jennifer

My Week in Review

Hey everyone! How has your past week been? Mine has been so busy that I have barely been able to do anything let alone a post so I'm glad I'm finally getting around to it. If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw a lot of activity last week.  

We'll start off with last Tuesday.  I went to the OAR concert at the LC pavilion and it was great!  This concert I was very excited for because I had not heard an OAR concert since college and they were a pretty big band when I was in college probably because they were from Ohio State and everyone knew who they were. The concert started out with Phillip Phillips who surprisingly enough coming from American Idol was nothing like I thought he would be!   He actually had a Dave Matthews Band esk sound which was very refreshing so I would definitely see him again in concert. When OAR hit the stage the place went nuts!  Of course they waited until their last song of the night to play their most famous song "Crazy game of poker" that everybody knows so in general it was nice to hear them again.  A trip down memory lane!

So on Wednesday to my surprise my husband had tickets to the box for the Clippers game so we got a babysitter again and headed down to Clipper Stadium.  It was a beautiful night until a storm rolled in! It rained so they covered the field. It stopped raining so they uncovered the field, fixed it all up and sent the teams back on the field and it started raining again! So needless to say I didn't see much baseball on Wednesday but nonetheless it was still fun to get out!

Thursday brought my monthly book club which I always go to no matter what! I've been going for 10 years now and I rarely ever miss a bookclub. This month's book was The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline which I had already read.  It was an excellent book and swingle worth a read because this really happened in the US!  Not going to lie usually at the club we have wine, we eat cheese, and we gossip and we don't talk about the book. That is pretty much what happened last Thursday and I don't mind that at all!

On Sunday I got up really early to drive my youngest son to Connersville Indiana to a train station where they were doing A Day Out With Thomas.  Oh my goodness the look on his little face when Thomas came chugging down the track was priceless!  He is my little one that coughs out his funnel when he does couch so he has a full on obsession with trains to say the least. We spent about 4 hours riding on Thomas, playing with Thomas toys, watching Thomas on TV, and of course shopping for Thomas memorabilia.  Needless to say my son was exhausted after his big day and has not stopped talking about it ever since!  I would say this was the best day of his almost 4 years of life (his birthday is this Friday).  If you or someone you know has a child who lives and breaths Thomas like mine does this is definitely something you need to do with them!  You can find all the info about this at the link below.

http://events.hitentertainment.com/en-us/dayoutwiththomas

I hope everyone else had a wonderful week and weekend!  Did anyone else do anything fun?  I would love to hear about it!

Jennifer

Obsessions

Happy Wednesday everyone!  I am back with another round of obsessions.  So here we go!

Puffins

Oh my gosh I cannot get enough of these.  I don't even put milk on them.  I just east then as a nighttime snack and they are addicting.  My favorite is the peanut butter and chocolate mix.  Healthier Reece Cup anyone!

The Knockout by  Secret

This sports bra is the real deal.  I always have trouble finding one that keeps the girls in place and this one does the trick.  I swear Victoria's Secret just know how to do it!

Chia Pudding

I found a recipe for this and thought her why not give it a whirl.  It may look funny but it tastes like a dessert!  I was shocked that something you have grown in a ceramic head for so long can make a delicious meal or snack.  I definitely suggest giving it a try!  http://pinterest.com/pin/104990235037688388/

Ladies of London

This show is just to funny you can't not watch it.  Full of American ex-pats you see them make folks of themselves to their British counterparts in the "high society" of London.  It is a guilty pleasure but a must see!

Do you have any obsessions?  I would love to hear them.  I am always looking for new ideas!

Jennifer

Father's Day Gift Guide

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a wonderfully productive weekend.  I know I did.  Since Father's Day is on Sunday I thought I would share my picks for the men in your life whether it be your husband, father, grandfather, or a father to be.  If you prefer to buy it or DIY it I hope this will help you find the perfect gift for your special guys!

 

Ideas for the lover of spirits



Beer Tender, Beer making kit, Anchorman flask, Bottle Opener flipflops, Whiskey Rocks

 

 

For the tech lover



HoverBar For iPAD, Flash Drive Cufflinks, Solar Charger, Guitar for iPad, USBCell Rechargeable Battery, Wireless Outlet Speakers       

For the outdoorsman/DIYer



Power tools, Screwdriver keychain, Survival Bracelet, Portable Propane Stove/Oven, Mobile Shop toolbag,Tent Ceiling Fan with Light  

 

 

For the man who loves games

Video Games, Board games, Corn hole game, Cards Against Humanity

 

For the golf enthusiast

Golf Bag BBQ Tool Set, TaylorMade Driver, Golf Club Storage Station, Monogramed Golf Shoe Bag, Kid Colored Golfballs (FREE if you have extra laying around!), Ball Markers, Trunk Locker 

 

 

 

From the kids







 

I hope this list is a good jumping off point for you!  I know I will be busy all week making/buying things for all the men in my life.  Remember it is the thought that counts so even a store bought or homemade card can show them how much they mean to you.

 

~Jennifer~

Happy Friday!

Thank goodness it is Friday already!  I am so ready for the weekend even if it is jam packed with kids activities.  

Have a wonderful weekend and as always be safe!

Obsessions

I have decided to start posting on Wednesdays the things I find that I love or must have!  Who doesn't love a suggestion list.  I know I have found many of my favorite things by seeing what others like and of course what others pin on Pinterest.

Brad's Raw Leafy Kale chips

I decided one day on a whim to give these a whirl because I attempted to make my own and it was an epic fail.  These are DELICIOUS!  My favorite flavor is called Vampire Killer.  These are a must try!

Barre3

This has seriously been life changing for me!  I started 2 months ago and was hooked after my very first class.  The instructors are the best I have had and everyone really cares about you and it totally shows.  This is a must try if you have a studio close to you.  More on my love for Barre3 in a future post!

Lou & Grey

I am in love with all of this line.  I am already the biggest Loft fan ever and when this lounge wear line came out I became an even bigger one.  The fabrics are easy to wear and so comfortable!  It is a must try for anyone looking for lounge clothes that do not look like you should be going to the gym! 

Check out my obsessions and let me know what you think!

Jennifer

Kitchen Drawer Purge

 With the New Year in full swing I, like everyone else, have gotten the bug to purge and organize my home.  I seem to collect lots of things over the year as I am sure you all do also.  I have always had trouble getting rid of items because in my mind I think "what if I need that sometime and have to buy it again!"  Well that has never happened yet so I have started purging more frequently.  It does make you feel so much better when you have some semblance of organization, even if it is in a closed drawer that only you see!

This project first started out with me wanting to organize the junk drawer in the kitchen.  You know the drawer you through anything random in because you haven't the slightest clue what to do with it.  Well, sometimes a small project turns into something bigger!

The junk drawer before

 I started thinking about the flow of my kitchen and how annoying it is when I am cooking and people are coming over to me at the island to get silverware when the plates are at the other end closer to the table.  This was when I looked at the junk drawer and decided it would now be silverware drawer.  How perfect to have your silverware beneath where you have your plates!

So I cleared out the drawer and replaced it with my silverware holder and napkin container.  I have to say I love the change! 

 

New silverware drawer

Since I moved the silverware I was left with a large drawer next to the stove on the island that was mostly empty other then measuring spoons and other misc cooking supplies.  I decided it was time to purge my product make my island cooking station more convenient for me!

 

So I took all my cooking utensils out of the drawers beside the stove and beneath the stove and sorted them out on the island.  Does anyone really need this many cooking utensils!!!!

 

Prior utensil storage area

 

 

 

 

I boxed up everything I am not keeping so I can donate it.  I left myself with the bare essentials for cooking.  Just a few of everything.  Pretty much the ones that I use now on a regular basis.  I mean come on I had 9 rubber spatulas!  Once the purge was over I began the refilling of the drawers.

 

Um I believe I was photo bombed by a Yorkie!





I started by placing organizers I already had into the drawers.  When it doubt shop your house.  I did not buy a single organizer to finish the job.  Everything was from other places in my home that were not being utilized in the best way so I brought them into the kitchen and they all work perfectly.  They don't match at all but I am the only one who sees it regularly.  Of course I am putting pictures of it on the Internet so maybe.....

Without further ado I present my newly organized utensil drawers!

I also moved a smaller drawers contents of unique utensils that are not used on a regular basis which in turn misplaced my K Cups.  So I moved those to the smaller drawer now which is just as close to the coffee machine as they were before.  Now the coffee drawer only has that, Coffee!  I added a container to hold my long spoons that I always use to stir my coffee.  I had put them in the silverware drawer at first but decided it didn't make sense since I only use them for my coffee.

I am so happy with how my drawers turned out!  I think the flow of my kitchen is better and I am not rooting around under my stove for the utensil I need.  Now I just have to remember where I moved everything!  A bit of a learning curve is taking place but we will all get it soon enough.

Now my only problem is I don't have a junk drawer anymore! 

 

Junk without a home!

 



I guess I have created my next organization project! 

 

Anyone else catch the new year organizing bug? 

What have you organized and how has it helped?