52B in 52W: Fifty-Two Bags in Fifty-Two Weeks

I am taking on a decluttering challenge this year. I was inspired by 40 Bags in 40 Days. I knew that with my work schedule and my general tendency towards laziness that 40 bags in 40 days is much too intense for me. I thought about it and I think I can manage a bag or an area per week. Once I fill up a bag it must go directly to my trunk for donation or directly to the trash. I tried to list the areas in a logical fashion but I will not be doing them in order. I will just cross them off as I go.
I left a couple of weeks at the bottom for areas I haven't though about as well as a few weeks to donate junk.
I hope my list inspires you to start you own.

Wish me luck :-)

1. closet: work clothes
2. closet: play clothes
3. closet: shoes
4. closet: top shelf
5. closet: downstairs
6. storage clothes (pantry & garage)
7. bedroom drawers
8. bedroom floors
9. bedroom dresser tops
10.under bed
11. closet: hall
12. closet: linen
13. wrapping paper storage
14. cabinet: bathroom
15. makeup bag / storage
16. jewelry
17. refrigerator
18. refrigerator: top & cabinets
19. freezer
20. spice cabinet
21. utensil drawer
22. kitchen food cabinets
23. under kitchen sink
24. pantry
25. pantry
26. couch downstairs (remove couch and junk on it)
27. junk drawer
28. lower kitchen cabinets
29. white counter: kitchen
30. open shelves: kitchen
31. office: craft closet
32. office: craft closet
33. office: filing cabinets
34. office: desk
35. hutch
36. tv cabinet
37. dining room table
38. dry sink
39. car junk
40. car: deep clean
41. garage
42. garage
43. books in family room
44. books in bedroom & office
45. books all over house
46. laundry room
47. misc.
48. misc.
49. trip to goodwill
50. trip to goodwill
51. trip to goodwill
52. trip to goodwill

So I Ate the Nugget, Move On

Every one in awhile I need some nasty, greasy, fried food.  If I don't eat what I am craving, the craving turns into an obsession and that obsession will catapult into an angry beast. That beast must be fed. I say east the junk, pay the price and move on.....ain't nothing to see here folks.

I Float Like a Rubber Duckie

I have taken the plunge and I joined a local gym. This gym is not your average place to workout. It is a all encompassing center of health. There is a spa, cafe, track, 3 indoor pools, machines galore, racketball courts and much more. I even have a nurse that helps me to manage my diabetes and my workouts.  If you are interested check out www.acac.com.

I discovered what may end up being my favorite class at the gym. Water Yoga? What? Yes we practice yoga in the water, in a warm water pool and it is fantastic. The pool might be 85 degrees, I'm not sure but it feels great. It is definitely not as hot as the hot tub I jump into after class. One of the best parts about taking water classes is that nobody can really see what you are doing. I find this fact to be extremey freeing and I can relax much more and enjoy my workout. I am forever comparing myself to everyone but being in the water prohibits my unhelpful competition and I stretch and splash away the hour.

If you have ener taken a yoga class on land you usually do a relaxation at the end called savasana. The water did not stop this relaxation but enhance it. We each got a noodle to support our neck and shoulders and push off to float on our backs. With my head partially submerged I couldn't hear anything. These few moments floating like a rubber duckie were the most relaxing moments I can remember having in a very long time. I look forward to more of the same at my new gym.

My Un-Diet Journey

Fat, skinny, big, small, what does it really matter. We all come in very different shapes and a variety of sizes. Why is small so desirable? Why is small better to so many people? Many of us are not small. Should we live our lives striving for unrealistic measurements and live hungry and miserable in the process? I say NO.

I have decided to embark on a journey, a journey of the un-diet. I want to enjoy the foods I eat and I want to feel good after a meal. I want to exercise without feeling exhausted and weak for days afterwards. I want to manage my diabetes without tragic swings in my sugar. I want balance. I want peace. I want a lot of things but most of all I want to feel better.

Join me on my journey towards better health. I will be eating when I am hungry. Moving somewhere between a snail's pace and a dog with really short legs. I am going to take it slow and enjoy the process.

Paper Bag Apple Tart

Bill White Farms: Macontish

Tart Filling
7 C apples cut
2T flour
1/2 C sugar
Cinnamon to taste

Crumb Mixture
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C flour
1/2 C butter

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust (See below for recipe)

Toss together the first four ingredients and place in unbaked pie shell.
Combine crumb mixture and sprinkle over top.
Place pie in a large brown paper bag (grocery bag). Turn edges under
Bake at 375 degrees for 1 1/2 hours, making sure bag does not touch sides of oven.

Pie Crust
3 C flour
1 t salt
1/4 t baking powder
1 1/2 C shortening (don't use butter)
1 egg
5T water
1T vinegar
Sift dry ingredients ina large bowl. Add shortening. Using a pastry blender mix until crumbly.
In a small bowl, beat egg, water, and vinegar together. Add to flour mixture and mix. Dough can be pretty wet. Roll on floured surface.
Makes 2 to 3 (9inch) crusts.

Garlicky Cuke and Tom Salad

I am happy to have found a delicious recipe to use up the cucumbers and tomatoes from my garden. Easy, refreshing, and delicious. 

1 big cucumber chopped

A bunch of little tomatoes

Sauce 

1/2 C mayonnaise

2 cloves minced garlic

1/4 tsp pepper

2 pinches of salt

Combine all sauce ingredients and purée. 

Toss cucumbers and tomatoes with blended sauce. 

Enjoy!!

From This to That

One of my wishes for starting a garden was a simple one. I want to grow the ingredients to make fresh salsa. Today my wish has come true. The satisfaction is almost as delicious as the salsa. I didn't measure or use a recipe. This is pretty much what I did. 

Garden Salsa

A bunch of cherry tomatoes

1/3 jalapeño

Slice of vidalia onion

Small handful of cilantro

A bit of vinegar

Salt and pepper

Small pinch of sugar

Chop up and enjoy. 

The only item not from my garden is the onion.