5 thing Friday - freezer, veggies, lamp, Easter basket, books

This is a good problem to have, I realize.  But it's silly for our freezer to be this full and still go grocery shopping.

 Instead of buying groceries last week, I made meals from what was in there already and it worked out great!

 I love the fresh pre-cut veggies at Trader Joe's.  And butternut squash is my favorite!  I added a leftover piece of chicken and it was lunch!

I am working on sprucing up my desk area.  Got me a cute vintage-y looking lamp at Target and a shade at Wal-Mart.  Next stop: JoAnn Fabrics for some new fabric for the chair pad and the liner for the basket under the desk.

Another phone pic, this one of the Easter basket my peeps surprised me with for my first day back at work!  It was full of Russell Stover chocolates, bubble bath, and muscle rub. I'm sure they are all relieved that The Great Knee Incident of 2014 is over.

Books from the library.  Considering that the last time I went to the library I had a cane and a kid to lean on, this was another mini victory.  And reading?  You can't beat a good book and your feet up with a cup of tea at the end of the day.  It's been my favorite stress reliever so far.

Gina

Me versus the shredder

I didn't start out trying to make an unholy mess on my newly mopped floors.  I was only trying to catch up on shredding documents.  I've had a basket of them sitting in the garage for five months.  

Exhibit A:  The shredder that says it will take up to 12 sheets of paper, but it will not.  It's our second shredder - we tend to kill appliances.  Shredders are a good thing to have, but going paperless would be an even better thing.  We still have documents and old bills that will need shredding in the future.  

 Exhibit B:  The mess created from me taking the darn thing apart and unplugging the paper jam.  Yes, I used a skinny wooden ruler to assist.  Yes, I broke the ruler.  And  plastic fork.  Ditto a plastic knife.

Two more clean-outs and two and half bags later, I had gotten a chunk of paper so wedged in there it wouldn't budge and I knew I was finished shredding indefinitely.  I got the bulk of it done, so after thirty minutes of troubleshooting, I officially gave up.  Rather than give Hubby yet another thing to fix I think I will set this out on the next Big Trash Day.  Executive decision: go quietly to Wal-mart and purchase a new one.

Gina

5 thing Friday - yardwork, E Bunny, changing habits, Spring, these people

Just a few short weeks ago, this is what it looked like in my yard.  I know it isn't the greatest pic but, there is dead and scraggly looking lantana, leaves choking up the grass, weeds and baby trees sprouted in the Wandering Jew bed.  I was itching to get out there and get it whipped into shape.

 

 Fast forward to the last weekend of March and after four hours of yard work, three of us called it quits.  But we managed to rake and scoop 13 bags of leaves and yard waste:

 

 I still have a bunch to do, but it was a great start.

Hubby mowed the rest in.  Just in time, too, cause the next day all of the oaks in the neighborhood went berserk and everything is covered in pollen and those crackly things,  Yuck.  No more leaving the windows open either, cause that pollen settles on everything inside, too.

 Easter sussies for my peeps.

Last slammer meal for a while.  {Oh, how I love them}  I read that losing 1 pound is like losing four pounds of pressure off your knee.  Since the doc and PT advised I keep moving and lose some weight, I set up a basket for my lunch items, similar to what Hubby does. 

He keeps packets of tuna or salmon, canned sardines and oysters, protein drinks, peanut butter, almonds, granola bars, etc.  I will keep these baskets stocked with pantry items we can grab to boost lunches at work.  No more eating in the cafeteria or ordering out.  It's too expensive, too much food, and takes away from time you can sit with feet up at lunchtime.  

Scout has been taking lovely photos lately.  It doesn't hurt that it's spring and there's so much to photograph.  Have I mentioned before I am happy winter is over?  Also, did you know that ladybugs bite?  Seriously.  My mother told me that, but not until very recently.  I don't think I've every had that happen to me and I caught dozens of them as a child.

I ordered a magnet for my locker at work of this happy couple.  

Right before all heck broke loose last Fall.  We need to get busy planning what to do for our 30th.

Gina

Spring thrifting 2015

I stopped by my favorite thrift shop after my frustrating run in with Occ Health last week.  I needed a couple books to read and Bubbie and I were a few days away from our library jaunt.  It was fun to walk around (and good exercise) and I found a few things I can actually use.  No bringing home things I don't have a purpose for - that's my new motto.

 I spent a whopping $11.  Two books for a buck each.  I found them on Amazon here and here.  I think I did pretty good, considering. No shipping to pay! The book selection at this thrift store is pretty paltry, but I was happy to score these. 

 I also found a Rubbermaid butter saver (retail $10) for 1.50.  I never buy anything but real butter so this will keep an open stick from tasting like the fridge. This Fiskars mat is in mint condition (retail $20) for $2.25.  I love my rotary cutter, so this will be put to good use.

 

Lastly, this accent mirror was $5.25.  I have a spot to hang it, but I'm thinking I might spray paint it.  Tomorrow I start back at work.  Which doesn't mean I won't have time during the week anymore to thrift shop, in fact, it may be just what the doctor ordered.  What about you?  Done any thrifting lately, or are you mainly trying to purge for Spring cleaning?

Gina