Thursday, January 28, 2010

Happy 21st Birthday to Devin!

I would like to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby, Devin! I am so glad you were born, and I love you very much!

So we are only 25 DAYS AWAY from Devin leaving for boot camp!! We actually made a paper chain to help the days pass. (I'm a visual person, so to have something visually symbolic of the days helps me not to feel like it'll never be the day. There is just something satisfying about ripping a loop off every day). I know we are like little kids with our paper chain, but that's okay. :) I will make another one to count down Devin's time spent in boot camp until the day he graduates.

So I was doing really well decluttering...we threw out so much and also donated so much to the D.I. I was feeling really accomplished until I was staring into our room and thinking, "Did we really get rid of anything??" I got overwhelmed in that moment of realization. We really should get rid of more and possibly hold a yard sale for our furniture. I'm starting to panic as once Devin leaves in 25 days, it will just be me tackling my biggest enemy - my own disorganization. (dun dun DUH!!) Really, this is quite terrifying to me.
My question for you: What is the best method you've found for simplifying the clutter? Do you have any self-made rules you follow? (for example: "If I haven't used it in six months-it's gone." or "If I wore it when I was still in high school-it's gone.") I honestly want to know your methods. I am not good at organizing and busting the clutter AT ALL, and I NEED HELP!

Love,
Chianne

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Off the record (no pun intended)

Hey this is Devin,
Not very often I come and write a blog, but I just wanted everyone to have an update of where we are in life. One month from today, I leave for basic training for the Coast Guard. And getting our affairs in order is tough. We're trying to get all ends to meet, and I had a personal goal I feel really good I accomplished this week. After the desire to do it for the last four years I got up the gumption and wrote my letter of resignation to the LDS church. It was crazy all the things I had to include and the fact that I had to send out 3 different copies. I had to say I didn't want any contact from them trying to get me to come back and that I would not go to any church court. The strange thing is that when we mailed it out , two of our letters came back. The mailman opted to take them to the bishop himself though. I don't think he had any idea, but I feel that God was watching out for my best interest.

I just want to clarify really quick that I didn't resign to spite or to be a jerk, I just felt that I needed to do it. I had no prompting from the church I attend nor anyone but myself. I just want to show the world that I love Jesus Christ and there is not one thing I could do to work my way into his love. Ephesians 2:8&9 say this, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Well, still gotta tie up those loose ends so I can be Semper Paratus. BYE NOW!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

dog treats

So for Christmas, my little brother got me "The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook Kit". I couldn't wait to use the cookie cutters to make Zombie and Eevee Taco (more on my dog that has two names later) some delicious treats! The first recipe I tried was the "Tuna Melt" (pictured above). They turned out great! I was worried because I'm not gifted at all when it comes to baking; it takes me a lot of practice to get a recipe right usually. This one seemed to work perfectly.

Now the real test came - would my picky eater (Zombie) like the treats? I have watched him spit out treats that other dogs would fight over! Well:
He went crazy for them! Both dogs did in fact. I watched my chihuahua jump 3 feet in the air to try to get one. I'm so glad because this will save us lots of money in the long run. Also, they should be gentle on Zombie's sensitive stomach as they are gluten-free and corn-free. I tried one, and it was alright. I think dogs have better taste buds than humans.
I'm sleepy, so I'm off to bed!
love,
chianne

p.s. I'm only 15 Swagbucks shy of my third Amazon gift card! How many Swagbucks do you have?

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Clutter?!

Since we know we are moving in the near future (and I know Devin won't be here to help me), we've been trying to "bust the clutter". I feel like we've already donated so many things to the D.I. and there is still so much STUFF. We dropped another huge box yesterday and I feel like my house still is not any less cluttered. This is going to be harder than I thought. My lovely best friend, Erin, will be the first to attest to the fact that I have a SERIOUS issue with throwing stuff out/donating it. To help with this, I'm trying a few new things.
First, I've been tapping into the site FlyLady.net. It has some very helpful tips if you live in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It pretty much has my name all over it.
I'm also going to be following Amy over at The Finer Things as she hosts her own
Declutter Challenge.
I'll let you know how it goes. I have yet to set any specific goals, but I know one big thing I need to focus on - getting rid of clothes! I have so many things I haven't worn in years but I am convinced I should keep "just in case", and I need to let it go! I have clothes that are too small, too big, and everything in between. This will be the hardest for me. Wish me luck!
Love,
Chianne

Monday, January 4, 2010

Swagbucks

Just thought I'd let anyone who reads this know why I have the little Swagbucks swidget off to the right side there...It isn't an ad. I've actually put that there of my own accord.
Swagbucks is a GREAT! I first heard about it from some blogs I was reading to learn recipes, and I thought it was [another] scam. I did some research and discovered its completely FREE and it isn't a scam at all. All you do is use their search engine (which is powered by Google) to search the things you typically search and every now and then BAM! you will earn a Swagbuck or 3. Also if you look over at my swidget it says "Swag Codes" at the bottom...you can click that and check if their is a "Swag Code" currently available. Occasionally Swagbucks will post a free code on the swidget, their facebook, or their blog and it will tell you on there where it is. These codes gain you extra bucks for paying attention. And here's the best part...
They have their own online store you can purchase TONS of things from. From airline tickets, to games, to gift cards, and MORE. I've been doing this for about two months and just use the search engine and I've already purchased TWO Amazon.com $5 gift cards. So I've already earned $10 for doing what I already do online.
And one more benefit...if you get your friends to join with your referral code, you get a Swagbuck everytime they do! (up to the first 100 bucks)

Are YOU getting paid for doing your usual online searches? I am!!
Join and be my friend at http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/chianne

love,
chianne

Friday, January 1, 2010

So this is the new year...

It is amazing what a difference a day makes.
Yesterday, saying Devin was going to boot camp next year or in a couple months still made it feel like forever. Now today, it is seeming ever so close because he is going this year. To make it feel even brighter on the horizon is to say he is going NEXT MONTH! That is crazy and exciting. We are constantly praying for a sooner date. Knowing my personality, I would handle better if he suddenly had to leave within a day or two (or even a week) and not had to dwell on him leaving as it built up weeks before. That's how I like to do things [aka flying by the seat of my pants]. It reminds me of when I first moved to Utah. I only decided to move about a month before I actually moved. This enabled me to get my crap together and go. If I had sat and thought about it for months, I would have never actually done it, and I would have missed out on a lot of things God had in store for me here.
On another note, Devin heard from a recent graduate of boot camp and was able to find out more regarding church at Cape May. He discovered there is a church choir he can join to sing in the services on Sundays. Though he was told it is not the "typical" choir but more just group of recruits praising the Lord whether they can sing well or not (Though I'm sure it is a joyful noise!). This is making Devin really excited and is stoked to know he'll have more ways to break of the constant physical and emotional stress by going to choir practice, praising the Lord with other recruits, and then singing in the chapel on Sundays. He was even informed there are instruments available to play with the choir, and guitars were listed. ;)
We are still super excited to get this chapter of our lives started!
Happy New Year! (Geeze, I remember when the year 2000 happened..how quickly a decade passes!)
Love,
Chianne