Refrigerator Chore List?

As we have settled into marriage and become more comfortable with each other, we've also gotten lazy. The dishes that we used to promptly clean after dinner now sit the in the sink overnight. The condo that we used to clean Saturday after breakfast sometimes goes unswept until we have company coming over. Sometimes we don't clean the bathroom floor until it looks like we have a 3rd black bath mat (we actually have two). My silent New Year's resolution is to be less lazy. I read about all of the extra calories we burn if we are up doing things around the house. I was also mortified when my friend, Joyce, dropped by after the holidays, and our house looked like a madhouse.

As a result, I proposed a 7 days a week cleaning schedule to my husband. I've read about this strategy for busy moms who don't have a lot of time to devote to cleaning the house. One room per day, I tell him. He grumbles and says that now coming home is like going to work. We've only been on new schedule for three days now. Granted, we don't have a chart on the refrigerator, and we don't earn a gold star each day we do our chores leading to some reward or allowance, but I hope we'll be successful, and I am hoping that I am never immediately embarassed when someone knocks on our door again!

My Dear Sweet Husband

Often I write about things that Jared does that are funny or silly or even embarrassing, but it's not often enough I write about sweet little things he does. Recently, in my Beyonce craze, Jared downloaded her CD for me in addition to a few other guilty pleasure CDs he thought I would like. He also downloaded the new Butch Walker CD for me. This may not seem like such a big deal, but, for the most part, this is all music that he HATES. As we drive down the road listening to a catchy rap tune as I dance in my seat, he will be miserable (and he'll be sure that I know it), but I suppose part of him will be happy that I'm happy. I just think that's too sweet.

Our New Gas Range...Happy Birthday to Me!

Well, our new stove was delivered to us yesterday. Rather than getting the bottom of the line stainless steel stove, we went with a stove somewhere in the middle (this enabled Jared to get out of buying me a birthday present which he was quite pleased with). It has a magnificent cooktop with five burners! Last night I baked a cake, and it turned out beautifully. I'd noticed that our old oven wasn't cooking very evenly (which led to some disastrous holiday cakes...I thought I'd lost my talent for cooking).

Aunt Crystal

This past week, my dear aunt Crystal lost her hard fought battle with cancer this past week. It was just two falls ago that doctor's discovered in what was to be a routine surgery that she had cancer in her pancreas, small intestines and stomach. Since then, she has battled hard trying multiple treatments. In her life prior to cancer, she was a hospice nurse providing care to people in their most difficult times. In our family of tough men and smart ass comments, she was always there to give me a reassuring look when someone said something that burned a little too deep. I remember being in her wedding twenty years ago and feeling like a princess for a day. She was a cherished mother and an adored wife. I will miss her greatly, but I am so thankful that she doesn't have to fight and be in pain any longer.

Loving home ownership....again...

Tonight, I arrived home from work a little late. Luckily, I'd planned to make a meal out of my new Southern Living Quick and Easy Cookbook (courtesy of Nikki Corn). We whipped up our meal of healthy, slightly low-cal calzones, preheated the oven and got ready to put them in only to find that the oven has not heated! Over dinner (out, I might add, to Bella's pizzeria for sinful, fattening calzones), we discussed repairing the oven v. buying a new one. It has always been our plan to slowly replace our appliances with stainless steel (or stainless steel "like" appliances before we begin to sell our condo. Luckily, this household disaster occurred during one of our two extra pay cycles each year (we are paid biweekly rather than twice a month resulting in two "extra" paychecks per year). I should also mention that the last time we had an extra paycheck we had to replace our fridge. I wonder what appliance will go out on our next extra check. Will it be a microwave/dishwasher combo? So, rather than paying down our remaining credit card, it looks as if we may be purchasing a stove this weekend.

Beyonce Knowles

Once again, Beyonce has mesmerized me with another song. Not only is she one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid my eyes on, she always seduces me into falling in love with another pop song. Not only has she won me over, she's won sweet Eli over who is also a fan of Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). Even in my days of being an "I am 99x"er, I was always won over by the beautiful Beyonce.

So...all the single ladies, put your hands up!

New Years with the Corns, Smiths & Marzurkiewiczes

Jared and I spent NYE with the Corns and company. Everyone bought dishes to share. Additionally, we brought champagne Jell-O shots. They were delish. Amazingly, all of the adults and all of the kids made it until midnight!

The Evans Mill Crew