Small Update you should know.

I'm still ALIVE, yes I am. I know I've not posted anything since Wednesday, I'm sorry. Summer if just getting the best of me, I guess. So wishing I was back in California right now. This is a picture from Yosemite. My grandma went with us. I miss her. She lives in California with my aunt, and cousins from my fathers side. They are pretty much the only family we have left in California.
I've also been spending a lot of time doing research for my upcoming ETSY shop. 
Yup, I'm taking the plunge, and opening up shop. Any guesses what I will be selling? I think it will be great seeing what you think I will be doing? A couple of you already know, so don't ruin it for the rest, by telling anyone, NOT yet that is. 
I really hate being gone, and not blogging, BUT I am also trying to change a few things about my blog altogether. I really NEED, more than anything to get a schedule going for real. 
I tried this before, BUT it didn't work to well, It was just too much. I need to go simple, and realistic with my goals. 
I also haven't been to the gym in several weeks, BUT have started TAE KWON DO, so I guess that counts, but now I really need to work my butt of, because I feel so silly being the only one in class who can't do 30 situps, lol. 
So my dears, for those of you who are missing me, I will be back really soon. I promise!! I am loving everything you have been lining up, you guys are amazing, so please keep it coming. I've also been lucky enough to come across some new AMAZING blogs the past couple days, and I'm so excited about that, oh and I've done a tad bit too much PINNING also. Just can't help it, that place is beyond addicting. 
So to recap, you can be on the look out for the following new labels, or categories I will be blogging about soon.
ETSY SHOPI am beyond excited, but so SCARED to start this venture. MAKING CAKES, is normal to me, I've been doing that my whole life, but this will kind of be MY little venture, and I'm scared nobody will like it, erghhh. I know that's bad, but I can't help it.Menu Plan Mondays I used to menu plan a lot, and need to start again, there is no other way to get in shape and keep track of what I eat.FITNESSFor real documenting my journey to be healthy. Being accountable for working out, and creating simple fitness goals we can all strive for. I'm not looking to be skinny, I want to be HEALTHY.RECYLE, REUSE, REPURPOSEI love all things repurposed, and am always on the lookout for great ways to reuse something nobody wants, or to use up what would otherwise go in the trash. Now I actually want to start doing these projects. My junk piles are getting too big.What I  Wore WednesdaysI've done this a couple times, and both times got the sweetest compliments, and that made me feel good. Seriously at least ONCE a week I think I can GET DRESSED, and look nice. Home DIYYou wouldn't even believe the crazy list of things I need to do around my house, (even though we are on the lookout to possibly buy a new home YAY). Things need to get fixed, on the CHEAP, and with my two hands if possible. This should be fun.FOODLike seriously, I will still be blogging about all the yummy food, recipes, and desserts I eat, and make. Only hopefully I will also start taking better pictures of it (once I get a battery and charger for my fancy shmanzy camera).
AMAZE ME AUGUSTStill going strong, I enjoy hosting my parties so much. I LOVE the support I get, and I am always finding new blogs because someone took the time to link up with me. I love that!!
OH and ONE more thing. DID you know that my blog is turning ONE on August 3rd?Yup it is, and I am planning a HUGE party for all of you. Only it won't take place until sometime in SEPTEMBER. 
SOOOOOO if you have something you'd like to contribute to the celebration, please let me know. I will be so grateful for your help and support.
Well that's about it for now. Just wanted to say HI, I miss you all, and I'm off to the park, to grill something, and play with the kids. 

The list.

If you've been following along, you'd know that I challenged myself about 2 weeks ago to get my house organized and cleaned up. I had a pretty long list of things that I wanted to accomplish. While I didn't actually complete everything 100%, I already came to terms with that, I did way more than I was able to do in previous attempts. All of which took anywhere from months, to even years, and in some cases forever, because it's still not done. Back to reality though, I''m actually Ok with starting a list, and not finishing everything on it. I can always make a new list :)

This is THE LIST~~~ I posted when I started along with my Amaze me August party challenge. I had some pretty lovely ladies join me in my amazing transformation. While they had really cool projects, I was doing boring organization, but you know what I am AMAZED that I did most if everything I set out to do. Thanks to all of you, who inspired me without even knowing it. Blogging really helped me out, because one way or another I became accountable to more than myself. I'm pretty happy right now, so THANK YOU ladies, and readers, and all of you out there who have been on organizing sprees like me, and have shared it with the rest of us.

Here's the lovely list so you can follow along:

1. Pantry, Fridge (both of them)  Took longer than expected, but I can finally step in my pantry now without tripping over stuff. 
2. Kitchen drawers, and cabinets  Rearranged things until what do you know I actually have extra storage space where before I was struggling to make things fit. 
3. Shoes in garage, clean microwave, and toaster oven This may not be the best combination in the world, and I'm really dying to make it like I want it. For now however it will do. I have not had my microwave or toaster oven in the house for years, and I love it. 
4. Door hanging organizer thingies I put these babies to good use. Check out my pantry makeover part two where I cut them up and hanged them on the wall to organize all kinds of goodies. I have to admit that 2 of them are still filled with junk, but at least I've narrowed it down right. Will get to those later. :)
5. Coat closet This is almost completed, as in cleaned out. I have other plans for this great storage space, but for now at least its not a junk closet. 
6. Piano, cookbooks There used to be a beautiful glass vase on this piano, along with other plants, and my favorite cookbooks. Then one morning, the glass cracked, and water seeped all around. THANK GOODNESS my piano was not damaged, as the sheet ,music and the floor seems to have absorbed all the water, as it must have leaked very slowly all night. Needless to say I removed everything, and never put it back. Now its back, minus that vase. Oh how I have to fix it, I love that vase.
7. Desk, paperwork, bills I honestly didn't think I would get this done. I hate, and dread doing paperwork, and sorting through bills, especially medical bills. HATE IT! Despite that I took almost an entire morning and afternoon, until the kids got home to make all my phone calls, and take care of the bills, and paperwork that's been piled up. So happy it's done.
8. Take down dino decorations, collect all dead plants, RETURN The poor dino decorations came down finally, after being up since LAST MAY. I think it was time, and my little Dino, didn't even notice. The plants, however Im still working on that, hope to take them back today, or tomorrow at the latest. Now the key is not buying any more until I've figured out exactly where they will live, and in what. Yes, being at a garden center is like drugs to me, and I always walk out with a cart full of plants, and flowers. I will try, unless of course there is a really cool plant, on sale. He he, I just can't help it, I know myself well. 
9. Big B closet, including sorting through winter and summer clothes Luckily I already sorted through all the clothes last spring, so woo hoo, I didn't have to do that. 
10. Big B desk, including old school work Yeah this was done yesterday, when the last thing I wanted to do was clean out his desk, but again, knowing that it was the last day of my challenge, I just did it. I'm happy I did, and boy was he happy. I even fixed some of his magic stuff, which really made his day. 
11. Princess M closet, including clothes that need to be sorted Again finished the sorting last spring, so not much to do, other than make sure there was not a mess in there. 
12. Dino D, dresser and linen drawers, plus all his toys, and books I'm finishing up his room today. I collected all his toys, and stuff, but was to tired last night to finish up his room, so it's being done today. Sorry Dino D. 
13. My dressers, and closet, including tons of boxes of paperwork My closet, lol, theres a project waiting to happen, but until then, at least its not a total disaster. My drawers are mostly cleaned out too. Man I have a lot of work left in there, but at least no junk, for the most part anyway. Just need to organize better. Project time, he he. 
14. Bathrooms under sinks Yup, done with that, but again would love to have a better system of storing things. Future project!!!
15. Office library books, videos, dvds. For the most part, all put where they should be, but do I like it, NO. I want it to look less cluttered, so I really need to better organize everything in this room. I have tons of cabinets, but no shelves in them. Future project.
16. Deep clean everything, probably take a day or two. Well, I don't think I can say that I deep cleaned everything, but I did clean most everything. Does that count, in this case I'd say yes it does. To make it even better, I've been keeping it like that, which is the best part. 
17. Almost forgot my deck, I need to clear that place up for sure. Don't even want to think about it yet. I did step foot out there, and quickly ran back in. :)
18. My very neglected garden will get a very quick peek, if weather is cooler, and I feel up to it, otherwise sorry to say you will be next on my TODO list. Again, out of sight out of mind, only this is totally in my sight every time I leave and come home. I never knew weeds could grow so big. I must have a really fertile flower bed. Good news is the weather has started cooling down, so I think I can finally start on working outside. Good thing too, because I don't think I can take any more of this. 

So you see what I mean, I finished almost everything. I am proud of myself, and hope to finish the rest very soon. I've also been thinking up some really great projects I want to share with you guys soon.

Until then, I hope you guys have a great day, and I'll try to get some pics up later, to show some of this work I've been doing. Can't wait to start on some of these projects.

Thanks again to all who participated in my new party. I will be doing it again NEXT WEEK starting on Tuesday. It will be a weekly party. So get ready to Amaze me again ladies. Read all about  it above on the Amaze me August page. Woo hoo~~

As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

Amaze me August, a BRAND NEW linky party!!!!

**Quick update: This is my first linky party, and although it will usually take place on Tuesdays, this one will be ongoing for the next 2 weeks, as I need a major kick in the butt, and I'm sure some of you do too, if you like my blog, (I hope you will) please consider joining the party at the bottom.**

Here's a quick look at some things I hope to achieve for the rest of the month.

It's already Tuesday August 17th, and with only a little more than 2 weeks to go let me be realistic with my goals. I hope to do a VERY LATE spring cleaning, to purge my home of all things not needed, and to get a clean slate going for all my future projects.

I don't know about you, but I can't cook in a dirty kitchen, and can't exactly think about projects when I have stuff all over the place. I feel like I'm going crazy, so before I can do a redo, I need to tidy up first. I know it sounds weird, but that's what I HAVE to do.

So I will challenge myself to go through every room in my house, (thank goodness it's only a small 3 bedroom) and get RID of anything I don't need. Put away all things required for future projects in a way that I will actually use them and do a quick clean up.

Then I can get to the nitty gritty, and start this darn home makeover, I am constantly thinking about.

Tonight I am clearing out the pantry, and fridge. Not a pretty redo, just cleaning up. Still a sight to see, so please watch as I get under way, and wipe one thing off my list.

Here's the lovely list so you can follow along:

1. Pantry, Fridge (both of them)
2. Kitchen drawers, and cabinets
3. Shoes in garage, clean microwave, and toaster oven
4. Door hanging organizer thingies
5. Coat closet
6. Piano, cookbooks
7. Desk, paperwork, bills
8. Take down dino decorations, collect all dead plants, RETURN
9. Big B closet, including sorting through winter and summer clothes
10. Big B desk, including old school work
11. Princess M closet, including clothes that need to be sorted
12. Dino D, dresser and linen drawers, plus all his toys, and books
13. My dressers, and closet, including tons of boxes of paperwork
14. Bathrooms under sinks
15. Office library books, videos, dvds.
16. Deep clean everything, probably take a day or two. 
17. Almost forgot my deck, I need to clear that place up for sure.
18. My very neglected garden will get a very quick peek, if weather is cooler, and I feel up to it, otherwise sorry to say you will be next on my TODO list. 

So with just about one thing to do everyday, I think it's very manageable. I hope to get these things done by the end of the month, so I can start on some fun, and ever prolonged projects I've been waiting to do for years now.

Please join me in challenging yourself with things you can do this month, to amaze not only yourself but others as well.

I will be highlighting several neat posts I've seen throughout the next few weeks, so  keep your eyes open, you might be one of them. Also don't forget to link up to the party, as it will be going on until the end of the month.

Ok gals, AMAZE me ALREADY!!!

Ok gals Quick TIP.
NEVER throw away your lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit. After you eat it, save the rind.
If you are after the juice, like I was for my fresh salsa, save those lemons, and FREEZE everything.
Just toss, leftover lemons, peels, whatever, in a bag, and pop in the freezer.
Then when it's time to clean, pop some in your microwave with some water, takes off all the gunk.
I use mine frozen in the garbage disposal ALL THE TIME, works wonders, and smells yummy.
Use to wipe your cutting boards, or even shower doors, and sinks. I use baking soda, and vinegar for most everything.
Next time you think about trashing your citrus, DON'T, remember my advice, and take it.
P.s. you could always compost it, too, something I want to start soon, for everything else of course.


For a complete list of all the parties I participate in go here party hardy.
Im linking up to these parties with my lemon tip, and new linky party:

Rules for entering are so simple.

• Become a faithful follower of my blog :) add my button if you'd like, it took forever to make. 
• Comment on at least three other blogs.
• Create a link back here, so others can join in the fun.
• Post as many Amazing things you've done or are getting ready to do. 
• This time ANYTHING goes. 
• Also you know the rules, link directly to your project not your home page. 
• Although I love etsy, please no selling, no business, just free fun for the taking.

Don't forget to follow me, and please share this great party with your friends. Remember I'm new, so I need all the kindness, I can get, of course ONLY if you mean it! ***Have fun ladies.***



As always ENJOY!

Special requests, or mad love always welcome:)
bellabeforeandafter@gmail.com

For a complete list of all the parties I participate in go here party hardy.

Im linking up to these parties today: