How many pajama pants does a girl need?  I'm going with 5.  2 flannel for the winter and 3 lighter pairs because as I get older, I get hotter (not in a good way).  I began the horrible job of cleaning out my closet.  I found Christmas presents I forgot to give one of my children (She was happy).  I found earrings that I bought 6 months ago (could have used those in December).  

  

My best piece of advice to myself has been, "GET RID OF IT!"  I started throwing piles of clothes onto the floor.  It was so freeing!  I have taken four trash bags of clothes to Goodwill.  Now, I could sell them off the Facebook sites (which is great!), but I need to get rid of a bunch - fast.  I've had it.  I'm resolved to not live like that anymore!  

This is just the tip of the iceberg, Baby!  

This is not the picture that is posted on Pinterest.

And , anyway, does someone want to weigh in on why this impeccable woman only  has one pair of shoes? 

But, I can see my floor.  Now, I just need a paint job and a chandelier.  And, I do need to get rid of some more.  But, I'm a lot further now than I was yesterday!

I have a bazillion scarves and necklaces.  The long necklaces don't fit in my jewelry box.  I want to be able to see my stuff.  Repeatedly I find things I didn't know I had.  So, I came up with this little number.  After I untangled all of my bubble necklaces, I put gold necklaces together, colors together, silver together.... Well, you get the idea.  I can put necklaces on the top part of the hook and scarves and the bottom so, they don't bother each other.

  

Crazy Uno

Enough abut clutter.  See why I'm not type A.  Don't you love UNO?  This is a version that is rip roarin' fun!  It is addictive!  Even my Dad plays.  He is constantly having to draw cards and saying, "What is this for?".

Play UNO like you usually do, but:

If a 4 is played no one can speak until the next player plays their card.  If someone does speak, they have to take a card.

If you play a zero, you can switch your hand of cards with anyone at the table

If a 7 is played, everyone has to slap down their hand (actual hand on their body, not their hand of cards)  on it.  The last person to put their hand down has to draw a card.

If a Draw 2 is played the next person has to draw 2 or, if the next person has a Draw 2, that person can put down a Draw 2, and the turn goes to the next person.  The next person would have to draw 4 if they don't have a Draw 2.  If they do have a Draw 2, it continues until no one has a Draw 2.  At this point, a person could be drawing A LOT of cards!

The same rule above for Draw 2 applies to a Draw 4 card.

I hate socks.  They are stupid and like rabbits.  Why can't just one silly pair stay together?  I finally threw away a ton of them.  I'm not waiting for their partners anymore.  What I did with the rest of them (like that little turquoise reindeer one that my little girl just had to have)  was tack them to a sock board by my washer.  Just put some fabric around a cork board (that you probably already have) and pull out some of those tacks that the kids like to put in their walls and BABAM!  Happy Hunting!

We woke up to a bunch of beautiful snow!  It looks like a snow globe out there!  I always make this cocoa for the kids because it gets rave reviews, and I remain their favorite mom for another day.  I want to preface this recipe with the fact that we have 5 people who like more than one serving of this stuff because it is in fact delicious.  So, I usually add a bit more water and milk and keep the amounts of dry ingredients the same.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup unsweetened  cocoa powder

3/4 cup white sugar

1 pinch of salt

1/3  cup boiling water (If I'm running low on milk,  or if more kids that aren't my own are going to be over here, I've been known to use more water.)

3 1/2 cups milk

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Instructions:

Start to boil your water in a pan.  Combine the cocoa, sugar and salt in a small bowl.  When the water is boiling blend in the cocoa mixture.  Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.  Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes.  Watch that it doesn't scorch.  Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil.   Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Divide between 4 mugs.  Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

Sometimes to get going it requires a little push - some inspiration.  My sister-in-law sent these tonight.  It was enough to make me quit watching Proposal, and go work on the lurking basement.  This is quite simple to install if you are a rocket scientist (just kidding).  You can buy the closet sets at Lowe's.  You can buy either the individual pieces (they will even cut to fit) or you can buy a set.  Doesn't that look nice?

A new year, and the same resolutions! This ought to be good!  My husband says he doesn't want to make any because he is too tired.  I get that.  What I do (seriously) want to do, is get the clutter out of my home, mind and schedule.  My first priority is Jesus Christ.  As long as I can meet with Him through out the day, everything else should fall into place.  After all, if He is living in me, then the rest should come pretty easy.  I was reading in my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) notes today that sometimes the good wins out over the best.  We can do good things, but it's not the best thing we can do.  I will think about that I as contemplate what clutter to clear out of my home, mind and schedule.

Christmas went way too fast! I'm going to miss it! I did get all of Christmas put away today.  We have a small storage room which I have renamed the celebrations room.  I have placed the decorations in order by holiday. I started with Valentines and worked my way around to Christmas.  Feels good!  I also Saran wrapped the artificial trees, so I don't have to decorate again next year.