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Posts Tagged ‘Shanna Hatfield’

In Over My Head

Posted in Musings, tagged , , , on November 29, 2011| 2 Comments »

I’m feeling the need to come clean with you today in both of my blogs… so here goes:

I’m in a bit over my head. As in swimming frantically but not making much headway.

To sum it all up: I’ve got 24 hours to write 10,428 words and finish my novel for the National Write a Novel in a Month contest, I’ve got a pile of things that need immediate attention at home and a long list of to-dos at work and it all needs to come together Wednesday.

So while I’m frantically digging myself out of this mess, I hope you’ll forgive me for not having some fantastically wonderful blog today.

She Who Must Really Put Her Nose to the Grindstone

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Illuminating the Kitchen

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Musings, tagged , , , on November 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

A few weeks back, I had the brilliant idea to replace the lighting fixtures in our kitchen and hallway.

It seemed simple enough. Captain Cavedweller has installed lights before. No big deal.

So he started working on the first one, wires began to crumble and panic set in (on my part, not so much his). For three days I had a gaping hole in my kitchen ceiling where he had removed the ancient light fixture and the new one waited to be installed. That’s how long it took to get an electrician to come.

When he finally arrived, I was about ready to fall at his feet and offer him bonbons. After several hours, he had installed new wires, wired in the boxes for the new lights and updated two electrical outlets and a switch for me. Then Captain Cavedweller began the fun project of sheetrocking, texturing and painting.

Have you ever tried to cook a meal amidst sheetrock dust, tools, wire caps and did I mention sheetrock dust? Not the easiest thing to do, or the most fun.

I have convinced myself it was all worth it because now I have three lovely new lights installed that I love. At least I think I love them. It was discovered, by the bright illumination in corners of my kitchen previous left in the shadowed darkness, that my housekeeping has, perhaps, been somewhat lacking of late.  Maybe. A little bit.

But those dust bunnies and cobwebs have never had such a lovely light turned on them before!

She Who Needs to Hire a Housekeeper

 

 

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Helpful Tips for Entertaining Guests

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Holidays, Thanksgiving, tagged , , , , on November 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

If you are the lucky one hosting Thanksgiving Dinner this week, here are some helpful hints for preparing for your guests. You can find these tips and more in my free Savvy Holiday Entertaining book!

Entry

Make sure the outside of your door is clutter and dirt free. Check the interior entry area and repeat the decluttering process. Have a candle and some flowers in your entry to create a welcoming atmosphere and scent as guests enter your home. Put down a mat both inside and outside the front door to help keep floors clean.

Kitchen

The kitchen truly is the heart of the home and where most people gather to chat. Clean the floors, clear off the counters and then wipe down. Give the fridge a quick wipe-down inside and out and polish the sink. Set out some decorations and have something for early arrivers to do while they wait for the party to get started.  Involved guests are more likely to mingle, which adds to the fun. You could have them roll silverware in napkins, chop up salad ingredients, arrange serving platters – anything they are comfortable doing.

Bathroom

Of all the rooms to clean fanatically, this is the one. Scrub everything, take out the garbage make sure faucets and mirrors are shiny. Add some flowers and a lit candle in this area. If the bathroom is clean and sparkling, it is likely no one will notice anything amiss in the rest of the house. Make absolutely sure there are extra hand towels, plenty of soap and toilet paper available. Although you hate to think of it, also have a plunger tucked away for a guest to find if necessary.

Gathering Room

In whatever room you are planning to set your buffet or eat the meal, spend a bit of time dusting, polishing, cleaning floors and creating a warm atmosphere with lighting, candles and music. It doesn’t have to be perfect and remember candlelight or dimmed lights hide a multitude of dust bunnies and smudges!

Coat Closet

If you have a coat closet, clean it out completely before the party. Make sure it is stocked with plenty of sturdy hangers. Enlist an older child or neighborhood teen to serve as a coat checker. Make sure they understand their duties before the guests arrive.

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A Monday List

Posted in Captain Cavedweller, Family, Musings, tagged , , , on November 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

1. I decided to finally tackle the spring cleaning I promised myself I’d get done in April of 2009. So far, I’ve managed to complete two rooms.  I need to finish the other five tonight if all my plans are going to come together this week. Anyone have a super cape I could borrow? Or a magic wand? How about some fairies? Fairies could be helpful.

2. While I was frantically cleaning,  Captain Cavedweller finally agreed to update two lighting fixtures in the kitchen. The first light caused the following:

  • A mess of monumental proportion.
  • Captain Cavedweller to become quite agitated.
  • Crumbling wires from the old fixture that quite possibly had been there since the invention of electricity.
  • The need to call an electrician and beg for help.
  • A gaping hole in my ceiling.
  • The inability to turn on any of the kitchen lights for fear of what will happen with the crumbling wire.

3. After the first light, the second one is still in the box, unopened. Guess who gets to call electricians and beg for assistance? Here is a hint – it won’t be CC.

4. I staggered through the cobwebs on my treadmill and actually walked on it today. The treadmill and I are not on the most friendly terms and this recent interaction has caused us both to be conflicted and confused.

5. I am supposed to be writing a novel this month for a contest. The goal is to reach at least 50,000 words by Nov. 30. So far, I’ve written 15,660. This does not bode well for getting the novel done in a little more than a week.

6. Captain Cavedweller has requested prime rib for Thanksgiving rather than turkey. This has caused me to be conflicted and confused. What’s next? Carrot cake instead of pumpkin pie?

She Who Needs a Few More Hours in the Day, Please

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