Opt Out October Update

::via::

Things are continuing to go pretty well for my personal Opt Out October challenge.

I've stuck to my rule for coffee and eating out one time a week. This week has been tough though. We've had ample amounts of rain, a sick baby and my hubby has been home for a total of one day in the past week. I'm exhausted. The urge to stop for coffee more than once this week, while probably justified, was a bit challenging at times. The only additional purchases I've made this past week was one pumpkin (G has to have a Halloween pumpkin) and some new socks for G because well, she's out grown all of her infant socks. I also booked the hotel for my upcoming Girls' Weekender. Regarding the pumpkin...I know I said that I'd not purchase anything to decorate the house, but look at her face...it had to be done.

I'm excited about the coming weekend. I have my Infertility Bible Study on Friday evening (gosh I love those gals!), our annual pumpkin patch/orchard trip with our friends and we're hosting the Youth Group's dinner/game night on Saturday, and family pictures on Sunday after church. Here is my dilemma. I have been scouring my closet for something to wear for our pictures. It's embarrassing to acknowledge just how outdated, faded and blah my wardrobe is. I've been weeding out those items (which equates to almost two trash bags-some of the hubby's clothes have been included) and I'm not left with much that screams fall-winter...nor do I have much of anything that would be suitable for fall pictures. If I'm paying for pictures, I want them to be ones that I want to see myself in. With that being said, I'm trying to decide how to make this work. I refuse to purchase a whole outfit at this point but a new top may be in order.

I do have a scarf that I love...maybe I'll just try to work out a solid colored top to wear...truth be told, I seriously need a fashion consultant...

I've also continued with my de-cluttering. I patched up the wall by our front door where our dog, who is now outside, had scratched it up. My hubby put up the new coat rack and I'm loving the mail/magazine baskets on the stairs.

I have a new sense of order upon walking into the house. I may be learning to let go of things but some of the things I love to do, such as decorating for fall, has been neglected. I love this time of year but I'm also in "get it done" mode in regards to prepping our house for sale (hopefully sooner rather than later.) I will decorate for Christmas...so that gives me a little time to get some things taken care of.

::via::

I've also found a new way to work my menus. I plan monthly...yes, monthly, menus and for several years now I've been printing them out using a calendar template. Silly me. This has been such a waste of paper and printer ink. My hubby bought me a magnetic calendar for the fridge. This allows me to easily change my monthly menus and adjust meals as needed without having messy scribbles or reprinting.

For those of you who have sold your homes, what did you do to prep it before sale? We have some landscaping and miscellaneous items around the house, but are there things that you recommend we definitely do before putting it on the market?

Linking up with Home of Malones