Mission Organization: The "Bedroom Office"

Well, I could deny it all I want, but it's true: Organization really is the key to my calmness.  Now, don't get me wrong, I have learned over the years to adapt and to not let my britches get rattled when everything isn't in its place.  Okay, okay ... so I still have a little long way to go, but really -- when the apartment is in order, my life is in order.  Weird?  Probably (atleast I can admit it, right?).

Annnnnnywho, with a recent move that involved hauling most of our loot from storage, I needed to make some serious organization interventions.  Meet the "bedroom office" (post-move):

Pre-organization.  Trust me -- all kinds of stuff is scattered in the bins and drawers.

Devil boxes.

Understandably, you might be wondering:  The "bedroom office?"  Let me explain: out here on the East Coast, living space is quite limited, unless you have lots and lots of moolah.  :-)  Therefore, we must combine -- or, consolidate -- if you will.  You know ... two rooms must sometimes become one.

Since the move, this little corner has needed some serious work.  So, during my first break from exams, I immediately jumped on it. 

As I scrambled to empty the boxes -- some from storage, some from the previous apartment -- I came across a few interesting finds, like these ...

Holiday hand warmers!  During those long winter months, these will be quite "handy."  Hehe.

Bouncy ball with happy tooth.  Hmmmmmm ... not sure where I picked up this.

A men's Coach wallet?!?!?!  Hubby had no problem recalling when he got this little beauty, which was in storage.  I guess he's saving it?  

And, finally, the most ridiculously splendid treasure I completely forgot I had ... a FREE 60-MINUTE FACIAL from the NYC Aveda Institute!  You bet your bottom dollar I'll be using this after my final exams.  Indeed.

After my discoveries ended and I proceeded to trip (and play hopscotch) over all the goodies laid across the floor, I finally got to organizing.  I used three cheap fabric bins, filled them, and labeled them.  Then, I organized the drawers.

For the final step, I whipped out the Pledge, Windex and all other relevant cleaning supplies, and soon enough, I could see the sparkle.  I felt completely rejuvenated and ready to study.  Yes, study.

Ahhhhhh ... organization. 

Now, on to my next project (when I get another break).  Darn it.  I guess I'm not gonna be completely calm until the end of the semester. :-)

Ooooooh Boy

Halloween is out, Thanksgiving is in, and we're ready to celebrate the season here at the 3-T household! 

In fact, check out what's waiting oh-so-patiently in the wings ...

Nope -- I shall not be bothered by any Bah-Humbugers out there who think it's way too early.  Yep -- I have a feeling this little gem of a tree (along with another one!) will be going up soon. 

But first, I must keep my priorities in check.  I must be a responsible little student.  And, I must focus on surviving the next round of exams. Hmph.

Stay tuned!

What's For Dinner? A Healthy, Quick Meal!

I truly enjoy cooking -- the thrill of a creation, the aromas, and a (hopefully) delectable final product!  But, nowadays, adding in the school factor (read: long days, late-night study sessions, countless exams, and two bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived students) can sometimes make cooking more of a pain than pleasure.  So, as we stroll through the grocery aisles, we do our best to seek out anything healthy, quick and satisfying ('cause I do have to feed a 6'4" inch bottomless pit husband, ya know ;-)  I certainly don't cook every night, especially on nights we go to the gym.  But, rest assured, if I'm cooking during the week, it has gotta be quick.

The other day, in the frozen foods section, the hubs found breaded eggplant.  I was skeptical at first, but as I glanced over the nutrition facts ... SCORE!  It was rather good for us.  And, the box was huge.  DOUBLE SCORE!


So, what did I do with it?  I made eggplant marinara (courtesy of the recipe on the side of the box).  And, after all of ten minutes or less, I had this baby in the oven.


First, I took a casserole dish and sprayed it with cooking spray.  Then I spread one layer of marinara on the bottom.  I used Classico Cabernet Marinara.

Then, I spread a layer of eggplant on top, along with a moderate amount of low fat mozzarella and fresh Parmesan. 

Next, I repeated steps 1 and 2 (another layer of marinara followed by eggplant and cheese).  I also sprinkled a small helping of italian seasoning across the top layer.

I then covered the dish with aluminum foil and stuck it in the oven for 35 minutes at 375 degrees.  I uncovered it for the last five minutes, then took it out of the oven and let it stand for about ten minutes.  Here is the final product:

Top it off with a colorful spinach salad and your beverage of choice, and it's done!

Most importantly, this dinner received rave reviews from the hubs (who, thankfully, is easy to please) and he wasn't even scrounging around later on for something more to fill his belly!  I have a feeling this meal will definitely become more regular around here!  

Happy (healthy and quick) cooking to you! 

Hot Dog Halloween

Tootsie experienced her very first Halloween this year!  So, in order to celebrate, we participated in the doggie Halloween parade sponsored by the four-legged-friendly boutique just a couple of blocks from us. 

Well, right off the bat, we knew she just couldn’t get enough of her costume. (Do you sense the sarcasm here?) Taking a picture of her before she proceeded to rip it off was next to impossible, but we did our best. 

Isn’t it so fitting for this tiny dachshund? 

Speaking of fitting … okay, so it didn’t fit her that well, but what’s a puppy momma to do when she has to order the costume online because the store didn’t carry extra-smalls and the small in the store looked GIGANTIC?  Because of this fitting fail (due, in part, to her odd proportions … uhhh huhhh), we had many rounds of adjusting as the parade carried on …

And, because the costume kept gravitating toward her rear end, she turned into little hot dog “buns” by the time we finished walking.  Oh, but that’s quite alright, she was still the cutest little hot dog there (and yes, we saw multiple).

Hot dog "buns"

Sigh.  Maybe we’ll have better luck next year.

We hope everyone had a spooky and sugar-filled Halloween! 

Hello, Blogland!

Well, folks, I've taken the proverbial leap into the world of online journaling!  I've been toiling with the idea for quite some time, and finally decided to just go for it.  Even though I am the definition of amateur blogger, I honestly could not be more thrilled to document our journey.  (I figure some of those veteran bloggers out there may be willing to help a youngin'!)  

Anyhow, my main goal is to keep that undying support system I so gratefully have -- my family and friends, that is -- well-informed and, perhaps, entertained (time permitting, of course ;-)  Really, I have nothing extraordinary to say, but hey, some of you might find it interesting.  I hope to write about a number of topics, including, but not limited to: my daily (or not-so-daily) musings, school and teeth (oh dear), big city living, organizing, decorating, cooking ... the list goes on.  I also plan to have some guest posts from the hubby and Tootsie Roll!  Maybe I can even inspire an individual or two?! 

Please do enjoy!  It'll make me smile -- the same way she does ... :-)

Tootsie - 7 months old

P.S. If you're ever so curious about the blog title, just move your eyes to the left sidebar!