time management or lack there of.......

I’ve noticed an increase in talk about lists and time management across the blogging community lately. I’m not sure what happen but after the New Year everyone seemed to get off their rhythm. Well, I know I sure did. I’ve always struggled with my time management skills. I’ve always waited till the last minute to do everything. Honestly, and I’m not using this as an excuse, I work much better under pressure. Somehow when it’s 2 a.m. and my final is due I seem to do a much better job than the projects I’ve been working on for days. Life doesn’t always allow that to happen.

I used to be a night owl. I would burn the midnight oils with the best of them. Getting older and having a child has totally changed that. I’m ready to fall asleep at 9 p.m. anymore, and if I could I’d sleep till 9 a.m. Unfortunately if I would never get anything done if I did that! I try a get about around 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. to get something started; I usually just end up browsing blogs or suffering through Etsy. I realized that if I want to do anything for myself I have to stop clicking the mouse and do it!

Making lists has always been a key for me to get things done. I can’t make a calendar on the computer or a note on my phone. I have to have a piece of paper and a pen so I can write it down. Whether it was for school, work, or life, I don’t think I’d do anything without a list. So, I made a giant list book. I had several different notebooks dedicated to different things, my daily likes, homework, blog, and everything else. I combined them into one places so I can; hopefully, stay more organized and actually get something done!

Before
Making Tabs
After

While we’re on the topic of lists I’m so excited about a project that is going to be starting in March. 30 days of lists is a way for people, like me, who don’t have a ton of extra time to journal to make a fun and simple daily log of lists. I was so happy to find this gem! I’ve wanted to make an art journal for a while, but I just ever found the time to do it. I think this will be a great way for me to start to find just a few minutes in my day to work on a journal. I haven’t made my 30 days of lists journal yet, but I have a great idea for what I’m going to do! If you’re interested Campfire Chic has some great journals already made up in her Etsy shop, or make your own. I can’t wait to share my lists.



Campfire Chic: Mini Notebook Kit

Happy Thursday!!!

someone call the board of health, kat cooked!!!

First off let me start with say that I HATE cooking. If you didn’t already know this fact it is one of my least favorite tasks. I think the main reason I had cooking is that it grosses me out. I hate seeing food, mainly meat; go from its uncooked form to cooked. The smell the texture… ew… I have come very close to becoming a vegetarian many times. Not that that would really matter now, I cook for my family and that’s the important part.

I’ve been trying to find new recipes to try to get us out of our food rut. We always make the same stuff over and over, and frankly, if I have to eat another noodle I might vomit. I have also been trying to make much healthier meals. With the second lil one is brewing inside me, I’m TERRIFIED of how much weight I’m going to be gaining this time around. I’m much hungrier than I was with Aurora. Hungry hits me like a ton a bricks. It’s either eat that very second or pass out, scary.

So, to get to the point, last night I attempted to make stuffed peppers, and amazingly no one got sick and they tasted great! They are so easy and super filling! If my husband (the bottomless pit) could only eat one, so I did a good job!

After searching google and consulting with my mother, I came up with a pretty happy recipe. I found it on Allrecipes.com.



Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
• 1 cup water
• 6 green bell peppers
• 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place the rice and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 20 minutes. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the beef until evenly browned.
3. Remove and discard the tops, seeds, and membranes of the bell peppers. Arrange peppers in a baking dish with the hollowed sides facing upward. (Slice the bottoms of the peppers if necessary so that they will stand upright.)
4. In a bowl, mix the browned beef, cooked rice, 1 can tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Spoon an equal amount of the mixture into each hollowed pepper. Mix the remaining tomato sauce and Italian seasoning in a bowl, and pour over the stuffed peppers.
5. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, basting with sauce every 15 minutes, until the peppers are tender.

I did change it slightly. I didn’t use tomato sauce with seasoning; I decide on Classico’s Four Cheese Pasta sauce. I mixed that in with the rice and meat as well as putting it on top (with shredded cheese of course!) They turned out soooo yummy. I’m definitely going to make them again.

Wow, I can’t believe I just blogged about food… crazy! What's your favorite recipe? I need some more ideas!!!

Spread the Love.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!!!

My sad little attempt at a Vday card for all the lovely people who stop by my little blog. Love you all!!!

I hope you have a great Monday!

Valentine's Day Lunch @ In Pockets

WARNING: Photo Overload!

Yesturday we celebrated Valentine's Day together. Marc's office used to be in Historic Downtown Chandler. He used to eat lunch at this little place called In Pockets all the time, and I was super jealous, because he always raved about how good it was! Since we went there I have to tell you, it really is amazing! It's kind of has a bistro feel to it. They make great sandwhich and salads. They also do wedding pastries. It was sooo yummy!!!!!

The outside of In Pockets

Marc being himself.
Aurora playing with my lens cap.
Aurora with her chocolate and raspberry cupcake. She went on a serious sugar high after this.

After lunch I had to do some portait photos for my photography class, and of course who did I call on? My adorable family!

My Daughter, The Ham




My husband, The Man





What have you been up to this weekend?

BIG NEWS!!!!!!

So, craving twisters, Chinese food, and orange juice all at the same time? You might just be pregnant! Oh wait... crrrrappp!!!

Baby "A" ^_^

I am very excited to say that, yes, I am pregnant! It’s pretty crazy and I think I’m still in shock over the whole thing. Life really hasn’t changed that much, so sometimes I completely forget! It seems crazy to think that I could forget that I’m developing a little life form inside my stomach, but I just do! I’m about 13 weeks along now. We decided to wait a while to tell everyone about our future new addition. When I was pregnant last time we blurted it out to the world right away, so it was kind of nice to have a little secret for a while.

I’m excited, anxious, and scared all at the same time. I don’t know how I’m going to manage two kids, but I just keep reminding myself that people do it all the time and they have even more! I don’t know how some families do it. I’m sitting here pulling my hair out over one, and some people have three, four, or even more! AH! It makes me a little nauseous just thinking about it. I’m excited for Aurora to have a sibling though; I think it will be really good for her socially. I grew up as an only child and although it did have its perks I think it would have been nice to have a brother or sister around.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. I can’t believe I already have a “baby bump” or it’s just extra chub around midsection, not too sure yet. I’m definitely not as young as I was when I had Aurora, and I’m way less in shape than I was. I am trying to eat better this time, no tubs of ice cream, or midnight Arby’s runs for this girl!

Happy Valentine's Day Weekend!!!!

work in progress.

Well, I told you all that I was going to start painting again and I actually am! Wohoo! While Aurora was taking a nap today I started a new project. I was just working on the background so far, but I can't wait to see how it looks finished!






I hope everyone had an amazing week, now on to the weekend!!

Etsy Treasury Tutorial

Making a treasury is super easy, a lot of fun, and a great way to get your name out there! Here are some easy steps to get you on your way (click on any of the images to make them larger.)

Step one:
On the Etsy main page under the “Ways to Shop” section, click on Treasury.


Step two:
Once you’ve reached the Treasury page, under Curator Tools, click on Create a List.


Step three:
Start creating your list! Enter your title, description, and tags. Don’t forget the tags, they are just as important for searching Treasuries as listings. Also on this page you will see grey squares with a small box underneath. It will say “Listing URL.”


Step four:
Open a new window and go to the page of the item you would like to use. Scroll down and on the right have side of the page you’ll see the Listed Date, Listing # and number of views. Copy the listing #, only copy the numbers!
Listing from xhochixx

Step five:
Paste the listing number into the rectangle box under the grey square and click, “OK” and your image should appear. After you fill your boxes you can do some rearranging, but watch out it can get a little tricky.


Step six:
Save and Share! Make sure all your items are where you want them placed. Complete your title, description, and tags like I mentioned above and just click Save! You’re done with your lovely new treasury!



I've made a bunch of treasuries. For a while I was going crazy over it. I got one of the front page of Etsy and I just had to try for another! If you want to see more I made you can see more examples here. Feel free to ask me any questions you need. I'm happy to help with any problems that I can with this. It's pretty simple but it's also creative and fun. Go try it! I'd love to see what you come up with! ^_^