I learned this little trick from http://www.flylady.net/.  Set an egg timer for 15 minutes and work like crazy to clean a single room.  Set a simple goal to put things away on your 1st pass.

Then, set it for another 15 minutes and move to another room.  Again, just put things away.  Don’t worry about getting out the cleaner and towels.

When finished, set the timer for another 15 minutes.  Go back to the 1st room.  This time clean!  That is, get out the cleaner, mop, broom, whatever it takes.

Now, set the timer for 15 minutes and take a break.  Watch tv, surf the net, do what was distracting you from cleaning in the first place.

Before you know it, your place will be clean and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.

Flylady is full of tips.  I bought her book years ago and for a while subscribed to her website.  However, I soon got overwhelmed.  Her specialty is working with stay-at-home moms not working couples. 

I started to feel like a failure because I couldn’t keep up with the guidelines.  Instead, I chose to adopt a few of her best tips.

My favorites:

• The 27-fling boogie
• The hot spot fire drill
• The 5 minute room rescue
• The 15 minute egg timer 

Hope this helps all of my working girls out there.  Good luck with cleaning up and cleaning out in the new year!

The first gift was my new adjustable lap stand for cross-stitching.  This will allow me to stitch hands free.  My first project is the mother of projects.  It’s a HUGE, 3 piece Amish farm. 

I’ve had the pattern and fabric for 10 years I bet.  I’ve been afraid to tackle it because it’s so big and so complex in terms of colors.  This is the year I’m doing it!  I don’t even want to go to work today I’m so excited to get started.  Guess I’ll have to wait until Saturday.  I’ll post pictures of the project pattern soon.

The mailman also delivered my new Country Gardens magazine.  I know it’s 20 degrees outside now but I can hardly wait to get out in the garden.  This year I’m going to build above ground beds for vegetables.  I need to sit down and make the plans and order the seeds soon.

The beautiful garden pictures make me anxious to see the hundreds of bulbs I planted in the fall.  I hope the squirrels didn’t steal or move too many.  I love the anticipation of new life popping up in the garden.  I can’t believe I have to wait another 3 months to see the fruits of my labor last fall.

Well I suppose it’s time to get ready for work.  After all, I have to bring home the bacon to pay for the craft toys!

Please help to keep me accountable.  I can’t commit to weekly cleanings as I’m gone almost every weekend in Jan.  I will commit to every other week and will post evidence.  I will do mini-projects so that I can see the progress.

First order of business today…find the darn Weight Watchers weigh-in book.  We are back on the wagon and going to a meeting at noon.

Wish me luck on both fronts!

I made a New Year’s resolution to get birthday cards out to all of my closest friends, their spouses and children.  Today I did 3 birthday cards and 2 wedding cards.  January events are covered.  Check me out!

Now for the “crap” room.  I’ve got to do something about it.  Starting tomorrow I will photograph the room and set a goal of 2 (maybe 3) months to fully clean and organize.  I’ll commit to bi-weekly updates (and photos) of my progress.

I can’t be creative in such a cramped space!

Today’s mail included a flyer for a magazine subscription.  Act you age?  Are you kidding me?

Then I scan to the right and it says, “Welcome to the one magazine for WOMEN OVER 40…”.  I don’t think so!

I really have enjoyed my 30′s and I’m very much looking forward to my 40′s.  However, I’m not there yet.  Yes, I’m running toward it with open arms but come on, don’t rush me.  I still have a good 9 months and by no means will I “ACT MY AGE!”

I plan for my 40′s to be carefree, adventurous and fun.  I missed my 20′s and I plan to make up for them…sort of.  I’ve never been a party girl but I’m full of adventure.  I want to see, do and experience so much that life has to offer.  I want to surround myself with wonderful, interesting peope, and I want to love with all of my heart.

40′s here I come but not quite yet.  You’ll have to wait a little while longer.

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Update…OMG!  I just flipped the envelope over and the back is even more depressing, “If you’re 40, 50, 60, or beyond it’s your time to shine…”

I’m not quite sure what happened but I got hooked on cross-stitch this fall.  I guess as crafters we always have more than one type of craft in the house.  For a while it was rubber stamping for me.

I’ve finished two small projects with another one in progress.

So, the panic begins…Oh crap I need a gift!  I’m exhausted, don’t want to go back in the kitchen and am not feeling particularly creative.

ACMoore to the rescue.  Fortunately I had some cookies left over from the weekend so I opted to make some candy.  No flour, no butter, no oven.  That’s a good thing.  Cute, tiny tins and a quick run next door to the grocery store & I was done.

Check me out!  I used milk & white chocolate.  I made clusters of raisins and pretzels.  I dipped potato chips in milk chocolate.  Don’t saw EWwww until you’ve tried them.  They are super yummy.  They are salty, sweet and crunchy.

I made peppermint bark with layers of milk & white chocolate.  Oreos dipped in milk & white chocolate where adorned with cute wreath & holly candies.  I also dipped some mini-pretzels and then used holiday doilies to fill the tins.

Not bad for a very last minute gift!

I was invited to a family cookie exchange in Philadelphia this weekend.  Unfortunately Mom Nature intervened and we will not be attending.

I made one recipe from my Gram, Holly Wreaths, and one that I picked up along the way, Frosted Creamy Sugar Cookies.  I could hardly keep up with my husband sneaking cookies and the poor cat kept getting blamed.  She wasn’t even in the room!

Gram’s cookies are very easy, although gooey.  In the end they also dress up a holiday platter.  I’m sure others have some form of the recipe.  In fact, it probably came from a marshmallow company.  Regardless, Gram has been gone for more than 20 years and I still associate these cookies with her.

Holly Wreaths

1/2 Cup Butter (1 stick)

1 bag Large Marshmallows

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

3  1/2 Cups Corn Flakes (not frosted)

Green Food Coloring

Red Cinnamon Candies or Silver Candies

In a large saucepan, melt the butter & marshmallows over low heat.

Stir constantly.  When melted, add vanilla & food coloring and continue stirring until blended.

Fold in cornflakes.

Grease hands and form balls on greased wax paper.  Spray oil works well.

Press balls flat, make hole in center (to resemble a wreath) and decorate while still warm.

Creamy, Dreamy Frosted Cookies

3/4 Cup Sugar

3/4 Cup Butter, softened

1 pkg Cream Cheese, softened

1 Egg Yolk

2 3/4 Cups Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 tsp Mint extract

Beat sugar, butter & cream cheese until light & fluffy.  Add mint extract & egg yolk.

Stir in flour & salt.

Refrigerate until firm.  It’s easier to roll out & cut with cookies cutters.

Bake  at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes until the edges are slightly brown.

When cool, frost & decorate.

Frosting

2 tsp Softened Butter

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

3 tsp milk

Food coloring

Additional decorations:  sprinkles, cinnamon candies, chocolate chips, etc.

Tip:  I like to add a touch of mint extract to the frosting as well.  It adds to the flavor.

I pulled a picture out of a magazine showing ornament garland to decorate the house so I decided to give it a try.  Can I say E-A-S-Y!

I purchased all of the ornaments (non-breakable) at Kmart for less than $20.  I used some floral wire I had around the house to string the ornaments on.  I started with a long string which I folded in half (to make a U).  I strung the large gold ball on the bottom first.  Then I alternated adding small, colorful ornaments to each side of the strand.  Every couple of ornaments I would put both sides of the “U” string through to make more stable.

I made several ornament clusters and used them to adorn garland around the railing, the entry & the mailbox.  I added some festive bows (a great deal at ACMoore) and dressed up a cute, little “tree” wreath (Michaels $5) with the last of the small ornaments to hang on the door.

All in all it was very inexpensive, quick and easy to do.

I saw this really cool and “souper” easy gift idea for just about anyone.  All you have to do is make a novelty label on your computer (cheap) and stick it on a can of soup.  Use double sided invisible tape to affix the label and have fun.

I can’t take credit for the idea.  I picked it up at a craft show.  Genius!  Don’t you hate yourself for not thinking of it?