First brush with buttercup

Heyyyy ๐Ÿ˜€ Happy Indian Food day! Whoโ€™s celebrating?? Iโ€™ve kind been slacking on the Wednesday Indian food tradition lately- both of my usual Indian food dates (Jeni and the Pilot) are out of town. I might ask one of the girls if theyโ€™ll hit up the buffet with me sometime very soon ๐Ÿ˜‰

Very interesting reading your opinions on the circus โ€“ glad Iโ€™m not the only one who thinks itโ€™s redunk. Still looking for fellow protestersโ€ฆ Iโ€™m ready to cause a ruckus !

So for lonchi today, I broke out this bad Johnny

buttercup

I was SO excited to see him at the commiscary as it looks just like kabocha squash which Iโ€™ve been unable to find in V-town. I learned from the lovely Heaby that kabocha and buttercup squash are remarkably similar in appearance and taste, so I decided to give it a whirl.

I threw some veggies in the oven, too ๐Ÿ˜€

While I was waiting for everything to cook, I got snacky and made a small salad.

tomatosalad

Spinach, grape tamaters, orange bell pepper, balsamic and EVOO

I had brussel sprouts, campari tomatoes, sea salt, pepper and garlic

roastedveg

And the buttercup squash

buttercuproaster

veglonchi

Everything roasted at 375* for 40 minutes (which was a little long for the brussels and tomatoes, but I like them crispy and slightly overdone)

How was it, you ask?

Iโ€™ll let this photo do the talkinโ€™:

demolished

(Didnโ€™t eat the peel since it wasnโ€™t organic)

It was amazing!!!! The texture was smoother and creamier than my favorite butternut squash. Iโ€™ll definitely be trying this again and looking forward to the day when I have a kabocha squash of my own ๐Ÿ˜€

On the re-organization frontโ€ฆ.

WE HAVE VICTORY!!!

Letโ€™s peer into our closetโ€ฆ.

closet 

closet1

So what I did was take everything out, store ALL of my summer clothes (into bins in the storage closet), put old clothes into bags to take to Goodwill, wash the boatload of laundry we had accumulated since Iโ€™ve been gone to OKC and Fresno (12 loadsโ€ฆ not joking) and put everything back in!

My side of the closet:

closet2

All of my shirts, spaghetti straps to tanks to short sleeved, to long-sleeved and sweaters.

 

closet3

Plastic bins, each with its own category (swimsuits, pajama pants, athletic shorts, undershirts, etc.)โ€”they barely close but at least everything is organized ๐Ÿ˜‰

closet4

And the row of purses I use the most (rest were put into storage)

Nice pants, skirts, dresses, coats, pilotโ€™s shirts

closet5

The pilotโ€™s side:

closet6

Shirts, long sleeve shirts, polo shirts and dress shirts; His and Her hampers

Shoe wall (I tried to save the pilot some room!)

closet7

Whew!!!!

It feels SO GOOD to have that done with. Now I can finally get started on all the other things I want to do ๐Ÿ˜‰

I leave you with one of my favorite pictures:

pilotkiss

Nap then Zumba!

See ya soon!

xoxo,

G

Todayโ€™s tip: Tips for closet re-organization! Itโ€™s fall cleaning time ๐Ÿ˜€

  • If you havenโ€™t worn it in over a year, donate it. SO necessary! Often I hang onto clothes thinking โ€œmaybe theyโ€™ll come into style againโ€. They never do.
  • Color coordinate. Sounds a little nit-picky but I promise when youโ€™re looking for a certain item of clothing, youโ€™ll be so glad you did!
  • Invest in some bins (plastic works great or you could splurge and get the super nice ones). It makes it so much easier to fit more into a smaller space and can definitely come in handy when you need to find something particular.
  • Keep laundry separate. Some people can effectively do their laundry together, but I canโ€™t roll like that. I just love the peace of mind that my Cosabella lace bra wonโ€™t be thrown in the dryer with his gym clothes.
  • Keep larger plastic bins in storage with seasonal items. Every spring and fall, I store the clothes I know I wonโ€™t be wearing for the current season but want to keep for later. This way, I can fit more clothes in the closet ๐Ÿ˜‰

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48 Comments

  1. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on October 28, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    Aw, you are so nice for allowing the Pilot to share a closet with you. I kicked my hubby into one of our guest rooms, have taken over our entire closet, and used the 3rd guest room closet for more shoes. Maybe I should follow your lead. ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm

      haha or maybe i should take YOUR lead?

  2. Lizzy on October 28, 2009 at 4:46 pm

    isnt buttercup squash the best! i have one in the kitchen waiting to be eaten! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm

      it was delicious! i was very pleasantly surprised ๐Ÿ˜€

  3. Mellissa on October 28, 2009 at 4:47 pm

    I just cleaned and organized my closet and got rid of a few bags of clothes. I color coded and organized by clothing type and it looks so nice in there.

  4. Whitney @ Lettuce Love on October 28, 2009 at 4:49 pm

    I love a good cleaning day ๐Ÿ™‚ It is lame but I feel so much better when everything is orderly and organized.

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 4:57 pm

      ME TOO. it makes such a huge difference!

  5. Allison (Eat Clean Live Green) on October 28, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    I’ve never tried buttercup squash! Adding it to my ‘to try’ list ๐Ÿ™‚

    I really need to clean out my closet. It’s a disaster.

  6. K on October 28, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    I would come chow on Indian with you! Nice work on the organizing! I have my closet set up in a similar manner (tanks to tees to 3/4, etc). I love that picture of you and the Pilot – very cute!!

  7. Tyler on October 28, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    I love organizing EVERYTHING! Husband thinks I’m crazy, but I can tell him where anything he needs is.

    On to the circus thing… I have a crazy Uncle Larry that lives in a small town in MO. The circus was traveling through and he decided that my little old Granny needed to see the elephant. So he convinced the elephant keeper to walk the elephant through the town. Then, he proceeded to travel with the circus for a month cleaning up elephant poopies. He is a crazy ol’ man!

    Happy Hump Day!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 8:14 pm

      hahah what a crazy story! have you read water for elephants? totally reminded me of that ๐Ÿ˜€

      • Tyler on October 28, 2009 at 8:59 pm

        Sure haven’t. Is it a kiddy book?

        • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 9:01 pm

          no, not at all! fiction– about circus life.. very fascinating

  8. Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries on October 28, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Ah can;t wait to try kabocha!! I also like my brussels and toms overdone; I feel like it brings out more flavor!

  9. Amy on October 28, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    I am so excited to leave work because that is what I am doing tonight — major room clean! I want to follow the donate if it hasn’t been worn in a year rule. I really do, but it’s so hard!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 8:13 pm

      it is hard.. but sometimes i just suck it up and throw it into the bag! it feels good later, i promise ๐Ÿ˜€

  10. Steph on October 28, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    I’ve been putting off cleaning/reorganizing my closet and dressers for weeks!! Seeing how clean and pretty yours closets are definitely gave me some motivation. Thanks girl!!

  11. Mama Pea on October 28, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    I’m drooling over your closet and your kabocha. I know it’s strange, but I take equal satisfaction in the stripped squash rind and the very neat rows of hanging clothes ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Jenn (eating bender) on October 28, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    Love that picture of you and the Pilot! You two are so adorable and always know how to cheer me up on a bad day ๐Ÿ™‚

    Also loving what you did with your closet. Holy cow – I wish mine looked like that! I need to take a page from your book today! Your tips are awesome and much needed given how messy mine looks right now. Thanks, G!

  13. Diana on October 28, 2009 at 6:31 pm

    That closet looks soooooo organized. I’m jealous! ๐Ÿ˜›
    Also, you made me want to try that squash! ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Lauren on October 28, 2009 at 7:02 pm

    You have an AWESOME wardrobe! I have approximately 1/8 the stuff and 10x the mess, LOL! P.S. That squash looks delicious! You have a way with vegetables–your meals always look SO good!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 8:12 pm

      thanks girl! i love my veggies ๐Ÿ˜€

  15. caronae on October 28, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    I think buttercup and kabocha are the same squash. That’s what they told me at the farmer’s market the other day, and I just googled it and it appears they are either the same, or the buttercup is a variety of kabocha!

  16. Jessie (Vegan-minded) on October 28, 2009 at 7:48 pm

    I wish I was celebrating Indian food day! The nearest restaurant is about 45 minutes away from me so it is mainly reserved for special occasions. I would eat it everyday if I could. ๐Ÿ™‚

    I have never tried a buttercup squash before, it looks awesome!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 8:11 pm

      i would totally eat it everyday too if i could!

  17. Jennie {in Wonderland} on October 28, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Whoa, Gina, how did you score all those awesome purses?! There is about $10,000 worth of beauty right there ๐Ÿ™‚

    I had Indian the other night… Channa masala and naan bread. It was delish.

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 8:11 pm

      whoo hoo for indian food!
      ehhhh.. i have a purse and jeans fetish

  18. Tracey on October 28, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I really need to use your advice and get my closet organized.

    Thanks for the tips!

  19. Spotty Prep on October 28, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    I think we have the same taste in bags ๐Ÿ™‚ The Burberry check is so fall; I just pulled mine out the other day!

    I saw your earlier comment- Water for Elephants was such an amazing book!!!! I seriously just got a little choked up thinking about it. Such a beautiful story!

  20. Tou Tou on October 28, 2009 at 10:20 pm

    Are u a fan of Zumba too???? That’s my fav exercise! ๐Ÿ˜€
    And, women can never have too many clothes!

    • Fitnessista on October 28, 2009 at 10:22 pm

      yes, i teach zumba and love it! and i couldnt agree more about the clothes ๐Ÿ˜‰

  21. Shelley on October 29, 2009 at 12:59 am

    your blog makes me want to get into indian food ๐Ÿ™‚

    xoxo,
    Shelley

  22. Julie on October 29, 2009 at 7:45 am

    I love the picture of you and the Pilot! So sweet.

    If you ever want to get rid of any of your bags, or want some extra cash, I will gladly buy them from you! You have amazing taste girl!!

    I celebrated Indian food on Tuesday…it was a store bought form a pouch made in the microwave tasty delight, but it was Indian nonetheless!!

  23. Paige (Running Around Normal) on October 29, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Nice job! Those tips are great, too. Don’t you just feel so much better now? ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Kelly on October 29, 2009 at 9:36 am

    Look at you, Mrs. Fancy bags! I adore purses!

    Nice job on the organization. I need to do that soon too!

    • Fitnessista on October 29, 2009 at 11:01 am

      hahah, thank you ๐Ÿ˜€

  25. Krista on October 29, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Buttercup squash is amazing!

    The closet looks great and I love the picture of you and the Pilot!

  26. Menden @ Skinny Menny on October 29, 2009 at 10:14 am

    Nice job with the closet reorganization!

    I do the same thing with the color-coding. I know it seems pretty anal, but it totally makes finding things much easier! ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Tina on October 29, 2009 at 10:35 am

    Oh man, I’ve been dying to get my hands on a kabocha squash too!

  28. Diana (Soap & Chocolate) on October 29, 2009 at 10:49 am

    Ah, winter squash is a glorious thing, no? I roasted myself some brussels last night too and they were even crispier than yours. I like em that way but a minute longer and it woulda been the point of no return! Note to self: 400 is too high. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Congrats on the reorganization project! I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate til that was done either. Every night when I get home and change clothes, I can’t get myself to do anything else until all the day’s clothes and jewelry are put back in their places. I hear ya!

  29. Heather-For The Health Of It! on October 29, 2009 at 11:09 am

    HOLY COW! IT would take me a year to organize my closet!!!

  30. Betty on October 29, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    I should be doing this very soon…. My closet is a MESS!!

  31. Jenna on October 29, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    great job on cleaning! i am glad you left a lil space for the pilot ๐Ÿ˜‰ haha.
    jenna

  32. Lauren on October 29, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    How did you prepare your squash? I just bought some ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on October 29, 2009 at 3:30 pm

      just cut it up and roasted at 375 for 40 minutes with EVOO, sea salt and pepper

  33. Rebecca on October 29, 2009 at 3:33 pm

    serious handbag evny! closet looks good though ๐Ÿ™‚

  34. Emily on October 30, 2009 at 3:10 am

    That is a cute photo.
    Right now I have severe wardrobe envy! I share one with Andy too, and I have to stop him creeping in to my half! Tsk, tsk ๐Ÿ˜‰
    We now celebrate Indian Food day on a Wednesday! We did have it on Friday nights, but since Andy got a new job and has been socializing on Friday nights we moved it to save us eating at 9pm or later. We have this great Indian place near us – the vegetarian selection is fantastic. It makes me so happy ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on October 30, 2009 at 9:41 am

      i LOVE how indian restaurants always offer an amazing selection vegetarian dishes ๐Ÿ˜€

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