OK I am trying to figure out how to get pictures off of my older camera to post before and after pictures. I put in the good memory card but I guess it is to new for the camera. I will look for the older card in a bit. I was not going to do the kitchen counters today but with looking for a grinder part it was easier to do the counter tops today.
These are the after pictures that I just took tonight.

In the first picture there is my Scentsy purple warmer that matches my kitchen colors. I have the red radio in the corner and that can be moved outside in the spring. The black basket is holding the bread and bagels. I also have a white utensil holder. I did have the utensils in a drawer but as much as I use them it is easier to have them at hand.

The second picture is the oven/stove in case you did not know lol. I had stuff like candles on the stove top along with a pan that was clean and a dish rag. All clean now and I even ran the cleaning cycle on the oven last week. I can not get near oven cleaning products being as my asthma kicks in and if any gets on my skin I react with a bleeding rash.

The third picture is the other corner of the oven. This corner is easy to pile stuff up on for some reason. Now it is straightened up and looks pretty darn good to me. I have my two olive oils next to the stove being as they are a daily usage pretty much. I am thinking of just having the smaller jar of olive oil to use and just refill it when needed. The large jar is to tall to sit in the cupboard by the stove.
There is the fruit bowl with apples, bananas and oranges. I am trying to see how to get the fruit off of the counter tops. I might try and hang the fruit in a basket but not sure how much I like having fruit hanging around lol.
Then I have a bowl of onions which are usually a daily used item as well. The paper towels are on the counter but I am thinking I might like an under the counter holder for them. The could go under the counter next to the can opener.

OK here is my before of the center island. Yes that is for real. OK some of the stuff was just put there tonight but hey I needed a good before picture! There is the meat grinder that is missing its blade that has caused all heck to break out here at the Gray's house. On top of the meat grinder is a crystal bowl I am giving away at church. A few other things are going into a giveaway box as well. I will have the island cleared off tomorrow and will post pictures of it when I do.

OK I have to start with a happy picture. This one just makes me grin. I would love to hold that many kitties at one time. Oh can you imagine if you received this as a bouquet from your love?
I am still cleaning out stuff that is pure garbage. I am embarrassed at how much junk I accumulated in a short time. This is really insane. I have boxes and boxes of stuff that I am throwing away now. How so many sheets of paper can accumulate and take over a house amazes me.
I stayed home today with Megan being as she ended up having five grand mals. She didn't eat and has slept most of the day.... on my lap or next to me. I just now got to do some cleaning being as she is pretty rested now and not likely to jump up and run around.
Tomorrow I have to go to Target to get her prescription in the morning and I will check out any coupon deals at that time. I have to start paying off credit cards and get serious about it. Yea that was out of left field! I am going to start keeping track of every penny I spend starting in March with my paycheck. I have to get very frugal now and save all the money that I can.
So just to let you know and to keep me accountable I have goals for this week and for each week there after. By the end of this year I will be sticking to a budget, being accountable for my budget, walking five days a week, my house will be organized, I will have a cleaning schedule and stick to it, weekly menus will be planned, and the list goes on.
So you ask what are my goals for next week? My main goals are:

1. Taxes done and filed

2. Closet will be organized

3. Pantry will be organized

4. Bathroom will be organized

5. Desk will be organized

When I am done blogging I will take pictures of what I am dealing with right now. I have done a lot of work but there is still a lot more to do. It seems when I clean I make bigger messes in different areas. Yes that is a lot of things to get done but that is one thing a day and I plan on working my butt off this week. Oh and I have gave away and tossed three bags stuffed of clothing, tossed out around 8 Avon boxes of junk that is not worth giving away or papers that yes I did recycle!

So yes I am a pack rat on my way to being a hoarder but gave myself a good intervention. I will be working on the closet this weekend as well as the desk so I might get most of that done! OK I am going to go take care of Megan and try to find my camera. Yea when I am organized I wont have to look for it I will know where it is!

The full prices and items are as follows.

2 gallons of Lipton flavored teas @ $3.49 each. I paid $2.00 each.

Minute Brown rice $4.49.  I paid $3.79

4 Knorr new Home Style Stock $3.99 each  I paid .99 cents each!

Dannon Activia 4 pack $2.39. I paid .88 cents.

Kings Hawaiian Rolls $3.59. I paid just 1.50.

2 Oscar Mayer Turkey Breast $5.49 each. I paid $2.25 each.

2 Johnsonville Brats $4.49 each. I paid $1.75 each!

1 Johnsonville Chicken Sausage $4.99. I paid just $1.99.

1 Open Nature Sausage $4.49. I paid $1.24 for this pack.

Another great offer and blog from my friend!

http://www.confessionsofapsychotichousewife.com/2012/02/giveaway-hersheys-for-valentines-day.html

Ugliness

OK I have a huge complaint. I was watching Nate Burkas today and they did a make over. The lady was average at worst. She was not ugly at all. I think she complained about dowdy? She was a young mama and was adorable before the makeover. What I want to know is when is someone going to do a make over one someone like me? I am ugly and always have been. The older I get the uglier I get. I would love for someone to do a professional make over on me and have me be average looking.

I have always known that from I think sixth grade on that I was ugly. I always had friends that were cute, pretty and beautiful. I had a few that were average or ordinary looking. I think they were more of a personality that made them average or ordinary.

I want to be made pretty. I want to look into a mirror and not want to burst into tears at who is looking back at me. I want to be proud of what I look like. I know people say beauty comes from within. I am sorry but that is BS to a person that is ugly.

I have a great personality, I am lovable, friendly, helpful, yadda, yadda, yadda. That does not show through on the outside. When people see me they see ugliness. I am good at ignoring my looks and acting as if they do not bug me. Yet when I go out in public and see how pretty, or pleasant, sweet, cute, adorable or whatever word you want to use everyone else is, I want to scratch up my face some days.

I am not sure if anyone understands what I am talking about. Maybe I am just having a pity party. I just want to see a make over done on a hopeless looking person that turns out beautiful after the make over. Heck like I said even a makeover that shows the person average in the end.

YES! Look at how green the grass is and how lush and thick and beautiful! I honestly miss spring and summer more this year then I have ever before. I thought I would post a lovely picture of summer on my blog to remind us all of how lovely summer is.
I have been cleaning out my closet like mad. I am bringing my clothing that I tossed to the clothing bank in town. I am embarrassed at how many bags I have already. There was no reason to have accumulated as many articles of clothing as I did. I also seem to wear the same items over and over. I will take a picture of all the bags of clothing before I donate them. I admit I had clothing that it to small for me that still had the tags on them. I was going to try and sell them but I have tried and I tore the sale tags off and tossed them. At least someone else wont be able to try and resale the item as NWT. Childish I know but that is me!
I will not toss any of my shoes being as I love high heels and dressing up. Even if it is just for church.
My best friend Jo will be coming home from her winter in Arizona the first week in April and we usually do lunch once a week. I am going to try and go to the better restaurants where we will have to dress up at least once a month. I am talking dresses or skirts, nylons, heels, make up, etc!
I am hoping to finish the closet tomorrow and then start on my dresser. I have panties that I have not worn in years but always thought I will be back into them. I wear a 9/10 in panties and these are a size 7. So yeah I will be donating them as well. OK before you say gross these are new panties that were never worn. Hubby bought them for me not knowing what size I wore or what style I liked let alone the color. OK I hate tan panties! When I get back into the size 7 panties I will buy new panties in nice pretty colors!
In the dresser I have swimming suits, and shorts, heck not sure what all is in the dresser. Well i will be donating what does not fit me or is more then 2 sizes to small for me.
I need to find a way to earn money. I am trying to think what I can sell on Etsy. I know there has to be some craftiness in me somewhere. I need to check out ways to sell clothing online that works. Adult clothing cost to much to ship but baby clothing is cheap to ship. I buy cheap and forget I have stuff and then it is to small for who I bought it for. *sigh*.

I love how sweet Megan is in this dress. I bought the dress at Goodwill for a whole 99 cents! I love the good deals I used to find at thrift stores now days it is getting pretty hard to find anything I want or need.

I went shopping today for some groceries and to check out the clearance at Fred Meyer's. I didn't find anything on clearance worth buy except for some groceries that were in the clearance cart. I was able to pick up five six packs of Zevia soda for free with my coupons not counting the tax.

The kids went to school with a two hour late start. I am just glad they both went to school and were out of the house. It would of been nice having quiet time but I was in town while they were gone lol.

I am staying home tomorrow except for my chiropractic appointment. I will pick up Megan's medicines at Target at that time as well. I will then work more on my closet and get stuff loaded into the van to take to the clothing bank on Wednesday. I will also be working on my taxes.
I did not make the stew today being as when I got home I had a migraine and had to go take a nap. I got to feeling sick in town and was just not able to do much when I got home.

\OK not much to day today just want to make sure I blog each day and I hope to get more followers and readers!
XOXOXO D