{organizing and party planning}

Sometimes it feels like time is just flying by me and I have so little to show for it! I am pretty excited about the slow progress that is happening in my house. Together my husband and I cleaned out a huge chunk of our laundry room and pantry (picture above). I know it's nothing fancy, but I really love it and it's so much better than before. I still want to add chalkboard labels to the baskets, but I'm celebrating even this accomplishment.

I'm also beginning the planning of my twins' fourth birthday party. It's almost three months away, but their birthday is the day after my daughter's first ballet recital. At first I thought it was exciting, but then I realized, what a mess! It looks like we'll do the big "kid party" a week earlier at either their gymnastics gym or one of those indoor-jumper-castle-party-room places. That's where we'll invite classmates and soccer teammates. Then we'll do a smaller home party for the family around recital time. I'm thinking something along these lines, but toned down a bit.

All that being said, I'm loving this post on energy. I need more!

But I did take the time out to make these on Monday morning. With the twins starting Pre-K 4 in the fall, I figure I won't have much more time for Monday pancakes!

{kitchens and menu plan}

My current obsession is organizing my kitchen. It's either because I saw this post, or because I really don't feel like packing for our trip to Disney. I am the worst packer ever. Thank goodness for my Pack ME!!

But back to my kitchen. I attempting something like this, but with dark brown baskets. I know that we're not using our pantry space in an optimal way, and things get lost as a result. This could easily be a year-long project! Luckily there's pinterest and its never-ending ideas!

On my menu (when we get back):

I actually started to try this, but burned the last of our quinoa. Sunday mornings are too distracting in this house!

I'm late to the Pioneer Woman party, but saw her make this on her Food Network show. I'm obsessed.

And this, because I really love quinoa. It must be the Peruvian in me.

And this, because I also really love avocados. Did I mention I'm half Peruvian?

I'm also overwhelmed with the amount of ground deer meat in my freezer and desperately need suggestions. I can only make so many meatloafs (although, this is our current favorite).

image from here

{ compost ME }

One of my goals this year was to begin composting. I was looking for a compost bin that would look okay on the kitchen counter and that wasn't too big. I finally found it. And its only $14.99. Any composters out there?