Behind the scenes
Hi friends 🙂 Holy Winter Shape Up excitement! All day today, I’ve been thrilled to read your comments and hear about your workouts. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the first workout! It’s going to be a great 4 weeks.
Behind the scenes of the Winter Shape Up blogging, our house is in shambles.
Ok, not really, but we’re smack in the middle of Wood Floor Project 2013.
Things have finally calmed down a little bit -the Pilot’s had 2 surgeries in the past month, Liv got sick, he got sick, then Livi’s birthday party- so we figured in the stillness, why not add a little excitement and finally put in wood flooring?
My dad came over Saturday, my stepmom played with Liv while I went to work, and the Pilot and my dad blitzed through the master bedroom and loft. My dad is a ninja at anything house-related, and the Pilot quickly learned what to do, so they rocked out the floors. I can’t wait to post some “after” pics when things are back to normal, but in the meantime, here’s a little sneak peek:
Gorgeous.
I thought the superfluous wood pieces, dust and wood remnants from sawing would drive me a little crazy (I tend to be pretty intense about keeping the house clean, especially now that Liv is a moving machine), but it surprisingly doesn’t bother me too much. There was an article in SELF about Emmy Rossum that I read last week, and she said something to the effect that when her life is chaos, she has to make the bed. If everything is pretty calm and she’s not stressed out, she can let it go. I totally understand that. When things feel crazy, it’s nice to feel like you have a little bit of “control” by keeping everything neat and tidy. Now that things are still here, just for a second, the rogue wood pieces and dust are NBD. (Don’t get me wrong, though, I’m still kind of excited to use my new wood mop.)
Some eats:
One night recently, I also made a couple of baby meals to take over to friends.
So many friends have new babies, and it’s so crazy that Liv looks like a teenager next to them. I figured it would be easy to just make more of something that we were going to have for dinner and take some over to two families.
Gluten-free brownie bites with peanut butter frosting
salad with brown rice, chickpeas, cucumber, heirloom tomato, sundried tomato, balsamic, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, pepper and garlic
and pan-seared then baked salmon with orange juice and zest, Tamari, garlic, honey, salt and pepper:
Tonight, I’m going to join you for Workout 1 (wahoo!) and I’ll see ya back here tomorrow with a new amazeball flavor.
xoxo
Gina
Do you make the bed everyday or leave it? Any awesome wood floor cleaning tips?
Don’t forget to check-in for Workout 1 and enter our first WSU giveaway! <3
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What’s the exact recipe for the salmon?? It looks delicious!!!
Oh my goodness, that salmon looks delicious! Would you post a more specific recipe for that? I love salmon!
I’m spoiled–my husband makes the bed most days. I never remember to, so it’s nice that he does. 🙂 I think you’re going to love the new wood floors! We put some in our place, and it was one of the best upgrades we did!
Oh tje browneice salad and the salmon look delicious!! My man and me have the deal that the one who leaves the bed last, has to make it 🙂 pretty perfect since i am an early bird 🙂 but yes, I am picky there, I even iron the sheets #sorrynotsorry 🙂 and I totally agree. If my inner side is in chaos i need to clean out my outer space!! It totally calms me down.
My apartment has really dark “wood” (I’m all but sure it’s actually laminate) floors– even darker (but less redish) than the picture you posted of yours. The biggest problem I’ve had keeping it looking clean is my very blonde hair! I shed like a dog, so when I clean my floors by the end of the day you can see a bunch of long blonde strands all over! I’ve always had light floors before (wood, carpet, tile, etc.) so it never even occurred to be that it would be a problem and now it drives me crazy when I’m getting ready to have company (I’m not at neat-freak AT ALL, so it really doesn’t bother me when I’m the only one home). Fortunately, you shouldn’t have that problem since you/Liv/the Pilot are all brunette (you might start to feel differently about little Bell’s fluffy white fur, though, haha)!
I’m sure you’ve thought of this already, but I am also super blonde and I think the swiffer is the best invention EVER! 🙂
And yes I totally make my bed every day!
I love that you bake and cook feasts for your friends in need. I’ve always admired that! So nice of you 🙂
Home renovations are always so exciting – can’t wait to see how things look when they’re finished! And oh boy can I relate to needing to keep my house tidy when life starts getting overwhelming – I become a clean freak and tidying up becomes my therapy. That being said, I hardly ever make the bed 😆 I go the dusting and vacuuming route.
Floor is looking amazing! I just made dinner for a friend who’d had surgery and it made me think of your baby meals! I just made chili.
I’m pretty sure I only make the bed when I change the sheets. It just never occurs to me to make it in the morning!
I read that Emmy Rossum interview, too. As much as I’d like to say that I’m laid back about bed making and other household things, the truth is I’m a psycho. Stress or no stress, my bed must be made—any clutter in my bedroom = straight up anxiety!
Josh always makes the bed. I never do. It’s weird being messier than him but he doesn’t seem to mind! ;p
If that is real wood, do not use much water. ALWAYS used “distilled” water. If you use tap water it may leave water spots. My city water is horrible.. All wood floors need is dusting and an occasional damp mop. Never use any products. I took the carpeting out and have beautiful original wood flooring from the 50’s. The above comments are what the contractor advised me to make my floors last another 50 years. A fun thing to do is get some clean hand towels and use your feet, DANCE… you get a good workout in and the floors will always be dust free. Beautiful floor you have.
I always use tap water on our real wood floors and we don’t have spots. I use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water with a microfiber mop. Works great!
I’d love to put wood flooring in our house one day! I think it’s beautiful. Looking forward to your new Amazeballz recipe! I tried your chocolate chip version for the first time last week, and I’m hooked! 😉
Wow, the floors look fantastic! Nice work, mad props to the hubby! And I make the best first thing in the morning – I thought I was anal! 😉
that floor is looking great! and so are those brownie bites.
as for beds.. well for the passed while i haven’t actually been using a bed, so i dont have to make it really either… we fold it up the blankets in the morning and lay it out and straighten it at night. Sure i sound crazy, but i enjoy sleeping on the floor! its a choice
I almost never see real wood floors in AZ. Is it laminate? Are you also going over the travertine with it someday? It looks terrific. So clean and shiny!
That salad and salmon look fabulous, too. And the cupcakes.
HAHA I make the bed like once a month!
The Bona system is really great. It’s not all natural by any means but it does clean your floor wonderfully. I use a Shark vac for the dust and dirt. I clean it every few days using the mop and polish once a week. I also use the swiffer dry mop in between 🙂 but I am a clean freak too!
awesome- thank you! what polish do you use? bona also? and what shark vac do you have?
Why would you want to clean the floor with chemicals? Liv is going to be on that floor. Really, how dirty can a floor get? Be careful with steaming the WOOD.
That salmon looks AMAZING! I would definitely love the recipe! 🙂 How sweet of you to be baking for your friends- the cupcakes look like they were done by a pro.
Congrats on the wood floors- they look beautiful.
Those brownie bites are so cute!!!
The only time I don’t make my bed is when I am greatly looking forward to getting back into it.
As for cleaning wood floors, I just vacume them with my old carpet vacume. Works pretty well with my hard wood floors.
Can’t wait to start the week 1 workout tomorrow.
Def get a Swiffer Sweeper Vac, I also have the Shark Steam Mop. The floors look great, and the food looks delicious.
Mmm hmm, I do make my bed because it would be a tad hypocritical to ask my kiddos to make theirs, and me not to do the same 😉 I don’t think ppl should ask their kids to do something they are not.
I got this vacuum for Xmas to tackle our hard wood- it’s a vacuum and mop all in one. I obviously hate cleaning (who doesn’t?) but I’m obsessed with this!!! You just purchase!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Hoover-FloorMate-SpinScrub-Vacuum-FH40010B/dp/B003A2IDMC/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1359427645&sr=1-3&keywords=wood+floor+vacuum+cleaner
I make my bed every single morning. I need the stability and sense of order in my life. I’m a stickler
Yep, fellow bed-maker (I make 3 beds each day..kids’ and ours) and I have to have the house tidy as best as possible..especially when it’s really chaotic! It makes such a difference when you walk by the room and the bed is made and room is picked up! Your meals looks delicious. I’ve wanted to ask you, where do you buy your salmon? I’ve bought Trader Joe’s frozen and it’s not bad. I think Whole Foods fresh is better, but more $$! Thanks!!
i get trader joe’s fresh or whole foods fresh (which in arizona, it was probably all frozen at one point haha)
i also LOVE costco salmon when we’re cooking for a lot of people- they have wild caught and huge portions, really inexpensive
I am a daily bed marker ever since I got with my husband (Navy), and it bugs the daylights out of me now if I don’t do it.
I used a shark floor cleaner that I got on sale at Target for all the tile and wood floors for our house in San Antonio. I loved it so much that I would do the floors a couple of times a week.
Did I miss the link for the brownies? We are setting up to be gluten free and it’s working really well. This would be a great recipe to add to the mix.
here’s the top secret recipe:
1. buy boxed mix from trader joe’s (they have gf)
2. make it in cupcake liners
3. homemade frosting (linked in the post) and no one will know they came from a box 😉
Your floors look amazing! Love the color…!
I make the bed every day, while having my first cup of coffee…clean is a bit of a religion with me, and like the beautiful and talented Ms. Rossum, it sets my stage. And prevents that anxious feeling that a cluttered house creates…my husband was the clean freak when we met, and over 11 years he has made me into one.
That salmon and brown rice salad look sooo good…making that tomorrow methinks! 🙂
p.s. Wood flooring in our bedroom…sweep and then dry mop, with a Liebman rag mop. That’s my method anyway…!
Bed maker here all the way. Rain or shine. Even when we’re rushing to leave! I just have to have it made. One day I didn’t make it, and then I had to go through some things in the apartment and left a lot of stuff out. My boyfriend came home and I was gone and when I came back he was like, “I thought we were robbed and ransacked! The bed wasn’t made!”
In other news, I now need assistance lowering myself to sit down thanks to yesterday’s workout 😉
Your floor looks beautiful! I’m someone who always likes the bed made haha
The brown rice salad and cupcakes look amazing! You’re a very creative cook – recipe book upcoming by any chance? *crosses fingers and hopes and hopes…*
Oh my goodness I have to make my bed every day
I also have to do the floors daily (I have a poodle who although he doesn’t shed feels the need to make up for that by carrying in (in his mouth) leaves or branches or whatever he can find EVERYTIME he goes out he’s lucky he’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen) my “recipe” is sweep, dry swiffer, then “wet swiffer” I use a trader joes microfiber cloth and method all purpose cleaner (totally a pink grapefruit fan) and I do that on all the wood too but occasionally I will use the method wood for good products instead and then I’ll use a brawny paper towel instead of a microfiber cloth
I always make my bed. 🙂 My parents are recently retired, and my mom told me she now makes the bed every morning, just as a way to start the day on the right foot. You’ve already accomplished one thing before you even brush your teeth! Kinda sets the tone for the rest of the day, ya know? 🙂
Your meals always look so delicious and full of love! What a great group of friends you have (including yourself). 🙂
floor looks great!! and yes, i agree with emma rossum…i have to make the bed! theres so much clutter in my room, even tho i try my hardest each week to clean up and tidy things up, but when my bed is made, it’s all good… 🙂 yummy brownies!!
Your floors are going to be amazing!! Plus, hardwood is so easy to care for – you will love them!
I make the bed every day without fail. In fact, I make the bed at hotels is I am in the room for a bit before housekeeping comes. It is one of my most anal habits!
the floor looks great! ..bed-making: i’m pretty on top of it… if it doesn’t get done before my workout, it def gets taken care of first thing after my shower 🙂
Yummy looking food! Your wood floors look beautiful! I just can’t wait until my husband and I can put in new floors-our carpet is just awful!!!
Your friends are lucky for those baby meals! Looks delish!! We moved into a place with wood floors and I love the Shark mop! It’s just steam cleaning so no chemicals or anything and it works so great. My sister got one when her youngest was Liv’s age and was going through a phase where she licked the floors haha, the mop was great 🙂
I try to make my bed at some point, even if it’s when I get home from work, but it doesn’t always happen. I try not to let a mess put me in a bad mood. As long as everything is somewhat tidy and not all over the place everything will be ok!
When we moved into our house we put wood floors in the bedrooms, but decided to wait on the rest of the house. We were dumb totally should have done it when the house was empty. If my life is chaotic i have to clean my work desk or it makes me nuts. That salad looks delicous!
Pretty wood floors! I’ve usually only vacuum or swiffer ours. Once I used Murphy’s Oil soap but they turned out so slippery, I haven’t done it since. 😉
This floor cleaner is by far the best thing I’ve found for cleaning my hardwood floors and it can also be used on tile and vinyl flooring. I tried the Shark, but it just seemed to push around any dust or pet hair that hadn’t been swept up, while this cleaner actually gets into any grooves and sucks up water and dirt instead of just pushing it around the floor.
Enjoy the floors, they look beautiful!
http://www.walmart.com/ip/5723667?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227001174649&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=13223061430&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem