Cleaning Routine

I like to clean, but am wanting to create a regular cleaning schedule. Currently, someone either cleans for me or it takes most of the day on Saturday. Do any of you have a schedule that you follow weekly (i.e. Bathrooms on Monday, Kitchen on Tuesday)? If so, please share!

Bargains

It is no surprise that I love bargains. I can remember being little and shopping the clearance racks at Dillards. I also paid $30 for one prom dress and $15 for another. As I said...I love bargains. Fortunately, since we've moved into our new house, I've found several of them.

Bargain #1 - FREE refrigerator

Story: As I was packing up the old house, I realized I didn't want to move the mismatched dishes and cups. I placed an ad on Craigslist and within an hour, 14 people asked to come pick them up. I contacted the first lady and as she was packing the dishes I mentioned that I haven't given away much on Craigslist. She said she had and was about to post a fridge on there. I asked a few more questions, found out it was free and voila...we had a garage refrigerator. It may be old, but it works like a charm.

Bargain #2 - $150 rug for $10 + $42 to clean

Story: After eating at Montana's in Granbury we decided to go in Aaron's Rental. We knew we had to be particular about what rug we purchased because of the dog and cat hair. So...we found a rug that was $150 and decided that that was a good price, but wanted to shop around a little more. When we went outside, the exact same rug was out there. I asked how much it was and the lady said $10 since it had been previously leased. $42 later, we saved approx. $100 on the rug.

Bargain #3 - $125 patio furniture set

Story: Once again, this was a Craigslist deal. I'm addicted. I spend at least an hour every night browsing things for sale. I will never buy a new piece of furniture after seeing what people are willing to sell and at such low prices.

Bargain #4 - FREE chiminea

Story: While moving out of the old house, I commented on the neighbor's chiminea that I saw for the first time. She then asked if I wanted to borrow it (most likely permanently) because she wasn't using it. So you guessed it, I borrowed it!

As long as I live I will be a bargain shopper. I love the feeling of getting a good deal. It's addicting!

Miscellaneous...

I don't even know where to start and I don't have any pictures to make this interesting. I haven't been able to find my camera for a couple of months now. I haven't looked terribly hard for it, but I do feel lost without it.

In the last couple of weeks I:

- Didn't drink as much water as planned, but have gotten better.
- Transitioned from the business world back to teaching. I love my students, team and school. I am so blessed.
- Have attended many basketball games. North Crowley is in the playoffs and typically wins their games by 20+ points.
- Have made some new friends through school and through Donny's school. One of the advantages of Donny being an English teacher is that he works with a team of mainly females.
- Have found a place to take piano lessons, less than 5 houses away from mine.
- Have had 3 days off of school thanks to Martin Luther King day, a snow day, and President's Day.
- Woke up Friday morning with a horrible sore throat and sinus pressure. I had been tired all week and winded when I walked up the stairs at school. Come to find out I had sinusitis and bronchitis. If you've never been to Trinity Xpress Med - I highly recommend it. I ended up with two shots and 3 antibiotics.
- Had a hair dryer catch on fire. Literally. I had to throw it across the bathroom to make it stop burning. Needless to say I bought a new one today.
- Kept the books at the Crowley Middle School vs. Summer Creek Championship.
- Had dinner with two great friends and one of their boyfriends.

AND...graded hundreds of papers!

I hope everyone has a GREAT Valentine's Day!!

Changes

I've said before that I like change. And...my life is about to change dramatically. I have made the decision to return to teaching and beginning Tuesday, I will be a 6th grade math teacher in Mansfield ISD!! I can't wait to be back in the classroom and be on the same schedule as Donny. That being said, I am really excited about this opportunity. However, I am sad to leave all of my friends at Northwestern Mutual.

If you think about it, please say an extra prayer for me as one chapter of my life closes and another begins.