Simple GAB

What’s a blog without a year in review post?? Probably infinitely more interesting and engaging, but WTH lets give it a whirl. Thanks to Heather at Hopelessly Flawed, and all those who joined in before her,  for the nudge to post.

So before the year is officially over I better get at it…

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Started a blog, worked in the snack shack at baseball, grew garlic in my garden, painted cabinets, made freezer jam and bought a vehicle sight unseen via an internet auction.

2. Did you keep your New Years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t really set any resolutions other than hey the holidays are over time to get back to reality, clean the place up and stop eating so many desserts.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! My sister-in-law gave birth to my cute little niece Lucy, and my friend gave birth to a great little guy named Cooper!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

Only those in my dreams.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Focus.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?  Why?

Dates, um no dates for me…well except for those random “date nights” Mr B&W and I have.

As far as dates on the calendar, well November 11 was memorable because AJ turned 11 on 11/11.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Keeping the budget in line and making it work.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not conquering the clutter monster.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Well no, unless you consider sore joints from too much shoveling an injury.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My new-to-me minivan. It’s loaded & it rocks. (and the boys can easily be separated)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

AJ had a great year with  High Honor Roll, a Baseball Championship, Sportsmanship Award and a golden Birthday.

Bubba deserves credit for a fabulous start to his first school year, and no trips to the principal, yet.

G-Man had a great internship and is poised to graduate on schedule and make 2010 memorable too.

Mr B&W gets kudos for keeping it all together and working his butt off for us.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Some real loser teenagers that think killing random people is somehow fun. UGH disgusting, appalling and depressing.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Money, what money?

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

My youngest starting Kindergarten and him being really into it.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

You Spin me Round (Like a Record Baby) by Dead or Alive.  Bubba sings and dances to it incessantly so it is now permanently etched in my mind.

17. Compared to this same time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
b) thinner or fatter?
c) richer or poorer?

Who said we were supposed to be keeping track?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Play with the boys, listen, exercise, declutter, and finish all the projects I started.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Procrastinate.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my family at home, reveling in the magic and joy on their faces.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

I fall in love with my guys over and over when I look at their cute faces. I am sappy that way.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Well now that The Shield is over I’d have to go with House.  Although Survivor and Jeopardy are family must-watch TV shows.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I don’t really go around saying I hate people.  But I am sure there are some bozos who probably deserved it, like pedophiles, wife beaters and psycho teenage killers.

24. What was the best book you read?

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, really makes you think about what you eat.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

That I play a pretty mean base on Guitar Hero World Tour.  Oh, and I don’t really know EVERY word to all the songs I thought I did.

26. What did you want – and get?

More time with my husband.  (isn’t self employment great?)

27. What did you want – and not get?

No snow.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

I did not see very many new movies, so the re-release of The Dark Knight would have to be it.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Officially I turned 47 this year, so yeah all I recall is the delicious Chocolate truffle cake with raspberry sauce.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeausurably more satisfying?

If it were 75° and sunny all the time.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

I embodied the Mom-on-the-Go style thanks to Angie at You look Fab.

32. What kept you sane?

Mr B & W  and those random margaritas.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I am not big on fawning over celebs, but I do enjoy watching Gordon Ramsey rant and rave.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I would have to say healthcare. It bothered me terribly that so many people with coverage think everything is fine, which for them maybe it is, but seem to not care that many people do not have affordable healthcare, or any at all.

35. Who did you miss?

I miss G-man and AJ when they are not at home.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

AJ’s new social studies teacher! She is super nice and has a clue.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Don’t drink wine with Shelly.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Another one Bites the Dust

Alrighty then, now it is your turn…go ahead it’ll make you think, and maybe grumble a little  too. Post to let me know you  joined in, and the Comment Luv will link you up.

Happy New Year!

Any of you with small children know how much clutter their school and activities can generate.

I love perusing the web looking at all the clever ideas out there for what has now become a new catch phrase…the Command Center.  There are simple options and the oh so beautiful (and pricey) options a la Pottery Barn:

Yes I covet these fabulous modular set ups.

If you need a simple, quick option, try this Family Matters® system from Day Runner®:

It is color coded for each family member, with little clips under for notes and such. It could fit most anywhere, and can be hung on the refrigerator, too.

Our system is far from fancy, but it works for us:

The large bulletin board is where we hang the school calendar, lunch menu, sports schedules, community rec. dept. information/registration sheets, and other assorted to-dos. Also during the school year we will hang up artwork, projects, tests or other accomplishments for the boys.

Below is their dry erase calendar:This gets updated with sports practices/games and all the other social stuff that comes up during the year. We also notate on the dry erase when library books are due.

I am not a fan of refrigerator door clutter, so everything goes here on the bulletin board. Getting the papers up here also keeps the nasty hot-spot at the end of the counter clear!

We also have the coats/shoes/backpacks area, but I will save that for another post!

Do you have a Command Center?

What is your setup like?

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Here are a few other links for inspiration:

Command Center Round-up at I’m an Organizing Junkie (link up your own Command Center post for a giveaway!)

Small Spaces Wall mounted Command Center at Organize Magazine

Elegant French Memo board, a great DIY project from Pecuniarities

From Gaudy Art to Fabulous Chalkboard, a DIY project from Twice Remembered

…as the first day of Kindergarten is finally here!

Of course he has to show off the backpack:

School was GREAT!

Bubba jumped right in to his “homework”. (which really consisted of giving Mom some papers!)

Oh, and remember to always make your mini-man the night before:

Now what’s a mom to do with 3 ½ hours of free time everyday?

The other day Bubba and I were in the kitchen whipping up some goodies. He was in a very helpful mood, so I asked him to go into the pantry to get me some Lipton dry soup mix that we needed for a dip.

I instruct him to go to the shelf where the cans of soup are and look for some blue boxes that say soup mix on them. I knew this was a pretty simple task, as they were quite visible and just barely below his eye level.
I hear a little tiny noise, so I think okay he has it. Well he does not come right out, I wonder why but wait another second or two.
Then he says to me “Mommy are you a slow cook?”.
Perplexed, I respond “why do you ask?”.
As he walks towards me with the box of soup mix he replies, “this box says it is for Slow Cookers, so I want to see if you are a slow cook because if you are not then you can’t use this”.

Ahhh the joys of an emerging reader.

There is something so relaxing about curling up with a good book, don’t you think?

I love visiting our little local library and perusing the book shelves, trying to find that perfect summer read. This week I somehow remembered that Jodi Picoult ( author of My Sister’s Keeper, book turned movie) lives in our fine state of New Hampshire,  so I decided to read one of her books.  On the shelf were two choices, one of which was My Sister’s Keeper, surprise, surprise.

As I sat all curled up on the couch reading this novel it occurred to me that somewhere else there are other  people out there in the world, also curled up  reading  a good book, but they are holding a laptop, reading an ebook.  It just struck me that I do not think I would enjoy that much.  I really, really like the feel of  sitting with the book,  sliding my hand behind the current page,  filled with anticipation of turning to the next page…and then the next,  and so on.

So how about you? Read any good books lately? Actual books made of paper, or ebooks?

He seems to be sorely missing from this blog…so when he gets back home next week I’ll be sure to pop him into a few posts!

…Mommy wants the boys to go out and play!

It has been raining on and for months…well weeks at least! Makes it a little tough to get out and about with the boys to have some fun and take photos. I guess I shall have to resort to some old pics to spice up some of my upcoming posts.
Oh wait I got  Mr B&W to let me borrow one!

© Scott Bulger Photography

Welcome to Simple GAB!

I appreciate you stopping by to check out my new endeavor.  I am hoping this will be a place to share a little about life in general…all about family, organizing, fashion, fun, and whatever else comes up.  I’d like for you to jump in and participate in the discussions along the way.

Also be sure to take a moment and stop by our sister site, Frugal GAB, where the topics are all about making our money work the best for us.