Six In The Country

Moving out....

2009-04-21T16:12:00.003-05:00

With a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to move my blog. I hope you follow me over to my new blog

See ya there!

roaming thoughts

2009-04-18T17:38:00.003-05:00

Spring is marvelous. It's a time of renewal and new beginnings. It is a time of starting fresh and making changes for the better.

I am in serious debate as to whether or not to move my blog to another name. I've been blogging here for nearly two years and have made so many sweet friends. When I began this blog we truly were a family of six living in the country. Not so much any more. These days it's more like four of us. It's sort of a sad reminder to know that we have dwindled down to only four. Besides the numerical dilemma, I began this blog without any true mission. After a year or so, I finally found out that my favorite subject quickly began my quest of decorating my home on a budget. This remains my favorite to this day.

So, as I ponder this decision, I hope that my sweet bloggy buddies will all follow me if I choose to move along to another spot on the web.

WFMW: Cute Compromise

2009-04-15T05:18:00.006-05:00

A chandelier at Lowe's for $99 made my heart sing. Recent car troubles meant I had to dig deep to finish our remodeling on the cheap. Lampshade, $4.99, skirt, $3.99 = $8.98 for a cute, cottage light fixture. I simply put a lacy skirt over the shade, nothing more. When I finally do get around to getting that chandiler, the shade can then grace a lamp (yes, Nester, I'm working on lamping it up.)

For more great ideas, scope out the WFMW tips!

Awards Time

2009-04-11T08:44:00.003-05:00

Nessa awarded me this sweet, sweet gift a few days ago. I was floored and very flattered. Thanks so much for passing it along to me.

Although I have so, so many bloggy friends whom I admire, one of my favorites just had her sixth child. Marshmallow Circus has my dream life. I would so love to have more kiddos and stay at home with them all day. She takes such beautiful care of all her little peeps. And her new baby boy is soooooo cute!

Frugal Friday: Vacation Edition

2009-04-09T20:49:00.004-05:00

Since we are "spring breakin' it," I thought it was only appropriate to have a few frugal vacation tips.

Before you leave, make sure to pack some everyday types of medicine: tylenol, bandaids, neosporin, pepto bismol, immodium, heart burn releiver, sleeping medicine (Advil or Tylenol PM), etc. This will save from going to find a Target or Walmart, and we know you can never just buy ONE thing there, or if you get it at a convience store you will pay 3X as much.

When you get to the hotel, look around up front for pamphlets, many will have coupons for local attractions to save you a little money. Even restaurants will get into this game sometimes. You can also look online by Googling the name of the town you are in plus "discount coupons." Many visitors centers have websites to help tourists save. Entertainment Books can also be a great source for special deals. Coupons help get more people in the doors, which means you save!

Try to find a hotel with a pool for some free fun, as well as a contential breakfast. If you can eat a free breakfast, it will be one less meal out of your budget. Also take advantage of lunch deals, making it your larger meal for the day, so that you can eat a lighter dinner (which translates to cheaper). Use those same online coupon sources to look for 2-for-1 coupons, too.

To learn more ways to save, check out the Frugal Friday gang at Life as Mom.

I'm sure there are a ton more ideas out there. If you have some advice, please share! Every dollar counts when you are 'trippin' on a budget.

Spring Breakin' it

2009-04-09T08:46:00.002-05:00

We are off to see the sights in Nashville this weekend. Living so close, we go up that way at least once a month, but this time we are actually making a weekend of it. Spring break was the perfect opportunity for us to take a break from the ~~construction zone~~ house.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

The Diet: 3 Months Checkup

2009-04-06T19:36:00.003-05:00

Yes, I have successfully stuck to my new eating habits. With a lot of work and sacrifice, I have lost a total of 65 lbs. That is 6 sizes my friends. S. I. X. I'm stoked!

We went yard-saleing this weekend and I came out with several new pairs of pants/shorts and even a shirt. It's odd to put clothes on that seem so small (compared to where I have been). They are still not where I wanna be, but I'm working on it.

Did you see Molly?

2009-04-05T20:23:00.002-05:00

She's giving away a book, Dining on a Dime. Time's up tomorrow, so hurry on over and get your name in the hat!

Keeping it in the Closet

2009-04-02T20:29:00.008-05:00

Anyone with little kids knows that adult height closet rods are not a good thing. And when I say little, I mean a nearly 10 year old girl who looks like she is still in first grade. She is old enough to choose her own clothes and dress herself, but simply can't keep her closet straight because it was just not useful. Luckily, I finally found a solution.

With all of the new custom built-ins that DH is constructing, we have a few free standing shelves that really don't have a home right now. They will eventually make their way to my mom's basement (which is where all family surplus furniture ends up), but I had one that was still sitting in the dining room and, quite frankly, was just in the way. After freaking out one too many times over the mess in the floor of her closet, it finally dawned on me to get her things on her level.

A $29 bookshelf from Target (which earned all that money back over the 7 years we have already owned it) with a couple of holes drilled in each side to hold a stray wooden rod (no idea where it even came from), and voila, an organized closet.

Well, it is never that easy as DH had some struggles getting it into the closet as well as some irritation getting the old shelf out, but less than an hour later it worked perfectly.

It was basically a free closet redo. And you know "whatever's free works best for me!"

Go see what other fine frugalites have come up with. Go on -- scoot over to Life as Mom for Frugal Friday.

It's about time

2009-04-02T11:28:00.003-05:00

Time really is the largest single money saving tool. Remodeling our kitchen in a weekend on such a small budget would not be possible, since we would have had to buy pre-made cabinets, etc. Since we took nearly 4 long months to do each step ourselves, that time translates into big savings. We have saved thousands upon thousands by taking our time and doing each step of our custom kitchen to be exactly what we wanted. Quick results were not our goal, a truly custom space with quality furnishing was.

So, yes, your mamma was right -- Take your time!

Come on over to the other side

2009-03-31T20:44:00.006-05:00

Except for installing the new light fixture, the other side of the kitchen is pretty much complete. It looks a lot like the flip side, obviously. Our galley kitchen is so spacious now, funny how removing a couple of very small walls can do that for a space.

Like the barn star? It was an ugly green when I found it at a surplus merchandise store for $4.99. A few strokes of some paint and glaze transformed yet another piece of the puzzle.

Funny how a little paint really does go a long way..... it works for me!

For more WFMW, scoot on over to see the gang at We are THAT family.

Old World Charm

2009-03-30T21:51:00.003-05:00

In all of the inspiration kitchens I found, a great structural range hood with lots of detail always jumped out at me. A local store was eliminating their appliance section, and I scored a new range hood for $25. Of course, a plain metal one was not my idea of a charming addition, so DH built a new cover for it with a sheet of sand ply, some scraps of 2x4s, molding that ties it into the rest of the kitchen and a pretty carved wooden piece for the front.

The construction cost for the cover was about $25, so for a total of $50, it was well worth the price to add so much charm. I took leftover glaze from the china cabinet and gave some dimension to it. DH made the project a true labor of love, spending nearly an entire day building it. Bless his heart, because the odd angles of our ceilings were not fun for him. However, I think my reaction when I got home from work that day was almost as excited as Christmas morning when I opened my ring from Tiffany's.

To find some more inspiration, see Kari & Kijsa and the Trash to Treasure gang

Coming Along...

2009-03-28T21:25:00.003-05:00

One half of the kitchen is finally complete! With just a couple of projects left in the next couple of days, we hope to have a finished room very soon.

Like the light? It is a pendant fixture, but instead of a $20 glass shade, it's a $2 spring metal pail from Hobby Lobby. I simply used wire cutters to get rid of the handle and a Dremel to cut a whole in the top for the fixture to attach just like it would to the intended shade. Easy peasy! It was a 10 minute project, saved me about $18, and is unique, quirky and fun. Those little green pails on the window sill came from Target's dollar spot, and nicely hold sink stoppers and rings while the dishes are being done.

The only thing left is curtains for this window. I have no idea what kind to make, although I already have a beautiful citrus green linen. Any ideas?

Tile with style

2009-03-22T20:37:00.003-05:00

When we had to make some adjustments to move the counter forward, we decided to add in a backsplash. I fell in love with a sheet of gorgeous glass tiles, but at $15 a square foot, it was way too much for my heart to cope. The great lady at Lowe's helped me find some 22 cents each subway tile to cover the bulk of the area, while using the glass tiles as an accent. Two sheets were a lot easier to stomach than ten of them.

Beauty on a budget, gotta love it!

Trimming it out

2009-03-19T19:49:00.002-05:00

Using a staple gun to put the fabric on the chair had one big drawback -- there was going to be at least one place where they would show.

To remedy that, I put black grosgrain ribbon on with the first staples, layered in with the fabric. Once I had all the fabric on to my satisfaction, I used cloth hot glue to put the ribbon onto the chair.

Finished edges with a finished look!

Chair Repair

2009-03-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I had never taken on an upholstery job this detailed before. However I knew that I could figure it out! So I thought I would share a few hints on how I figured it out, as well as how I kept it all on budget.

The chairs had springs underneath the seat for support and were filled with cotton and horsehair. That was not very appealing to me. I did look at webbing, but the chairs were sort of short, and so I decided to to put wood on them instead. You could use whatever you want, but particle board was the cheapest, and it is incredibly strong. A whole sheet is about $6, and these six chairs took half a sheet. Cut a template out of cardboard or posterboard, and use it for the wood, as well as the foam.

For the foam, I had an idea that cut the price for the project in half! To get enough 3 inch foam for the chairs, it would have been about $100. However, we were replacing Bre's mattress, which was a foam bunkbed mattress. When we went to throw it out, I realized it was just foam. We were replacing her mattress anyway, and a dear friend who was moving needed to get rid of one. We bought it for $25. Since Bre's original one was going to the dump, it was basically a freebie once I figured out I would use it. We used the same template for the wooden bottoms, traced the outlines and used an exacto knife to cut them out. I trimmed them with a pair of scissors, washed them in the washing machine and they were ready to go.

Remember that fabric that I got on sale? I used Scotch Guard to protect it, so it would be more family friendly. After sanding the bases well, I used $1 a can spray paint for the legs, and used $1 a can clear coat for some more protection. To protect the back, I wrapped them in Saran Wrap.

For more padding, I covered them in quilt batting, using two bags of king size sheet batting. I also covered the backs, just for a little more comfort.

So between the batting, foam, wood and sale-priced fabric, I kept this portion of our remodel well under budget. In a few days I will share more on making them look fabulous!

Rewarding Reveal

2009-03-14T17:41:00.006-05:00

So you wanna see some results, eh? Well..... OK! Remember those chairs?

Before.....

During......

After!

I love, love, love them! A sweet bird told me about the poshness of their original home -- and I feel so blessed to have a set of six of these lovely, lovely chairs, which was a mere $125 total! Come back tomorrow for hints on how I did them.....

OOPS!

2009-03-13T14:39:00.003-05:00

Well, I was wrong. I was wrong on two accounts: 1) I did have to purchase a new appliance, since the dishwasher was beyond repair; 2) I went over my budget (thanks in part to the dishwasher), by about 25%, or $500.

I guess in the grand scheme of things, $2,500 to redo a kitchen, dining room, laundry room and hallway is still a pretty good deal. It's just not as low as I thought.

Oh -- and to make matters worse, we will have to redo the floors, which I thought we would not have to do. It's ok, really, since we have decided on hardwood floors, which should NEVER have to be relaid. They may one day have to be refinished, but not replaced.

It keeps getting worse since the reason we have to redo the flooring is because we have to redo the guest/kids' bathroom, which has done some damage to the floor and it joins the dining room. We didn't notice it originally because the spot it damaged was under the china cabinet. It was on our "to-do" list, anyways, just not before we went on vacation!

C'est la vie!

Sneaky Peek!

2009-03-02T19:18:00.007-06:00

With a little nudge from Meredith, I have decided to share a sneak peek.

Those "French doors" I scored at the Restore.

The green base coat on my China cabinet. I'm still tinkering with the glaze samples, trying to get the look just right before I put it on the cabinet.

Those cheap-but-chic chairs in need of some love. This is, of course, a 'before' version. I love this fabric that will soon cover them, found for 40% off at Hancock Fabrics. Sales are such a great way to save, this one saved me about $50!

I'm hoping to have at least one project completely done by Friday. At this rate, I have no idea which one it will be.....

Budget Blowers

2009-03-01T00:47:00.006-06:00

Thank you to all of those who are stopping by from sweet Meredith's blog!

Grab a glass of tea and stay a while!

When we started this project, the decision was made early on that we would have that one item that we would splurge on. It started out as the sink, then I found the great deal. Next was the dining room set, and then that was settled. Item after item we decided to splurge on has changed time after time.

There are a couple of places you honestly should not scrimp on, but you might find a good deal all the same. First and foremost please, please, please do not use cheap paint. This is not to say that you cannot find incredible deals on good paint, but do not use bargain paint. If you are using Wal-Mart paint, get Kilz. If you are using Home Depot, go with Behr. I prefer Glidden, but Duron, Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore are all excellent choices. First, check the mistint section of the store. Our Glidden dealer sells mistint paint for as little as $4 a gallon. This is an incredible deal, since you are getting $30/gallon paint for basically pennies on the dollar. Also check out the Habitat Restores for paint. Last time I was there, quarts were 25 cents, gallons were $1 and 5 gallon buckets were $5. I got 2 quarts of neutral colors that would basically match everything I have. I had no specific purpose for these, but knew they would come in handy eventually, so they went into my paint stash. Even if you cannot find the color you want, spend $10 more and get good paint. It will go on better, cover better, and the end results will be so much better. There is a reason professionals use good paint. It is definetly one of those areas where you will get your money's worth.

Our big splurge on the current project is going to be reproduction door knobs for our hallway. Since the hallway connects to the dining room and is very visible, it is the perfect touch that will tie in the vintage look we are trying to replicate. We choose to do these because, honestly, we were at the end of the list of things we need to find. We only need four sets, so even though we are not using simple $10 sets, we will not be buying tons of them. I guess this does make it a little easier to stomach paying $40 a set.

The beauty of knowing when and what to choose for budget blowers is a fine line. Some people might rather have gorgeous electrical faceplates for all of their switches/sockets. Since we needed 22 socket covers and 7 switch covers, I honestly could not see paying $5 each for them, when the basic model was only 27 cents each. $145 versus $7.29 was a no-brainer while I was standing in the aisle. I just knew that it was not an area I was particular about. I honestly did not think that the difference was worth the price. However, if it is what "makes the room" in your vision, GO FOR IT! You may not have that many to purchase, which would make it much more economical.

Other than paint, there is no right or wrong item to splurge on. I think every great project needs one splurge, no matter how small. Even if no one else notices it, every time you see that one thing you love, it will make your heart sing. Your home should make your heart sing! So find that one detail, and be your own conductor!

Remodeling on a Budget: 102

2009-02-22T07:27:00.002-06:00

With so many ways to save money on my big project roaming around in my head, I thought I would offer some more of my ideas. I hope that you are don't mind me using my recent experiences as blog fodder, but I think that is what we all generally do.

Yes, my friends, there are even more things to consider when you are remodeling any room of your house. These are a few more of the tricks I use:

1. Consider all of your options. Although you might have a clear vision of what you think that you might want, take the time to see what is out there. Just like with the sink at the Restore, finding a different option was really a turning point of this project. Spend some time when you are 'shopping around' to really see what all that is available. Who knew that there are four different options when choosing a beadboarding method? There is the traditional way, then there is a thinner version of traditional, paneling and then plywood that looks identical to beadboard once installed (this is called plybead). We choose plybead, because visually it is very similiar to traditional beadboard and the application process for an entire wall is much faster. Did I mention the price difference? Traditional is 5 times the price! And that was without our research discount. GI Joe was right about "knowing is half the battle." Once you know what is actually available, you might find something that you like better than the original image in your head.

2. Learn a new skill. This follows closely with the DIY in 101. I had NO idea how to redo chairs. I had never taken one apart, let alone put it back together. I used great care in demanteling the first one, so that I could see how the original builder had put the chair together. Once I saw the way that the fabric was put onto the frame, I then did a little research online to figure out my best option. Instead of using webbing, I have decided to use pressed wood for an actual seat and then put LOTS of padding on it. The chairs sit much lower than our old chairs did, so we were not very comfortable at 2 inches shorter. I am a tall girl, and squatting at the dinner table is not my idea of a good time. Redoing my chairs in a different manner means that I will get the look I want, at a fraction of the cost. Not only is using wood sturdier, it is also much cheaper, because the webbing and clips alone would have cost nearly $100 for six chairs. Half a sheet of the pressed wood cost about $5. Without learning different methods of doing the chairs, I would have never thought to do them in a different way.

3. Creativity is the key. In doing my research for this project, I found a gorgeous green armoire that would have looked ideal in my dining room. It was aged to perfection and had that warm glow of something that had been loved for a long, long time. After a few days I could not get the image of that cabinet out of my head. Slowly I realized that I could get the same effect by using a paint treatment on my own china cabinet. I love my china cabinet, it is an heirloom that I will never part with, but I was not a big fan of the deep, dark finish on it. The cabinet itself is a gorgeous, well-built, all-wood piece that my children will probably fight over when I am gone. Once I realized that I could get the wow-factor from the colors of the gorgeous green armoire on my very own furniture, I was excited! With some paint, glaze and a couple of new handles, my china cabinet will be completely transformed for abou $25. Since I had no room to put yet another piece of furniture in my dining room, and I knew that I was not going to get rid of my beloved cabinet, it was a wonderful compromise. Learning to be flexible and gather some creativity was just another way to keep my budget down.

4. Think outside the counter. Yeah, you thought I was going to say box. This tip might only apply to the kitchen and bathroom, but it is a great one (or so I think). I can completely relate to Natalie Portman's character in Where the Heart Is when she confesses, "I've never lived anywhere that didn't have wheels under it." Other than a couple of houses that we lived in before I can remember, I have spent my whole life living in mobile homes. Some big, some small, this one is just right. I sometimes get offended when people stereotype me as a redneck because I live in a mobile home. I really shouldn't care. Mine is about 15 years old, but was well built and is very sturdy. We bought it from my mom and dad when they decided to move to a real house (that was my mom's one dream in life -- to own a REAL house). They did not want to make any money off of this house, so they offered it to us for pay off. The location is a serene one, which includes an 8 foot waterfall about 100 yards from my front door, a babbling creek ('cause in the south we don't call them brooks), and some of the most sought after real estate in our area. People who generally move to "the Branch" don't leave quickly.
Now, back to the original point. Trailers always have cheap countertops. They use cheap materials to make the most money. I completely understand the concept. I love the look of granite counters, but they are very impractical for trailers. Trailers tend to shift too often, and they can break (but they do not always). I did not want to put hundreds of dollars into something that had the possibility of self-destruction. I also did not want laminate. After being inspired by a show on DIY where they put wood counters in a bathroom, I thought, "If you can use it in a bathroom, you can use it in a kitchen." Since I had used laminate for as long as I could remember, I knew that I would not be sitting any hot pots onto the top, therefore damaging it. And since I always use a cutting board, I knew that cutting the counters would not be a problem either. Want to learn how to do these? Gimme a couple of weeks and I will show you how! The point is to take inspiration and flip it around to see what you can do. My counters will be about $100 when finished, which is half the price of laminate, and even cheaper than tile or natural stone. The bonus? I get to choose the color and texture.

I think I have a few more tricks and tips up my sleeve! I'll be back in a few days to share more of my ideas with ya'll!

Remodeling on a Budget 101

2009-02-19T02:29:00.007-06:00

I have recently found that if you tell the average person that you are gutting your kitchen and completely remodeling it for under $2000, the reaction is a little lackluster. Tell that same person that you not only intend to remodel a kitchen, but also a dining room, hallway that connects to the dining room and a laundry room, and they will think you are nuts! I, my friends, am not nuts. I am frugal.

One of the most expensive parts remodeling the kitchen is new appliances. My appliances are mid-grade and work absolutely fine. I see no need to replace a perfectly good appliance that I bought merely 5 years ago. The only appliance-related expense in my budget will be to repair the broken dishwasher. (If you listen carefully you will hear my girls singing songs of joy over this event, since they have been the resident dishwashers for the last year at my house.) Another huge expense in remodeling is flooring. A couple of years ago we replaced the floors in the laundry room, dining room and kitchen, so that will be another project out of the way. I made a long list of things that were going to be done a couple of weeks ago, and if you would like to see exactly what we are doing, then go here.

So, how does one do everything on that list with that budget? A lot of shopping, a lot of work, and some good help goes a long way.

1. In with the old! There are some great stores out there, along with online resources, that sell used building materials. My favorite? The Habitat for Humanity Restore, hands down! Although there are several within a two hour radius of my home, the best one by far is located in Nashville on Division Street. In Nashville there are two different stores, one with furniture and decorating items, and the other with building items. Although both offer some great deals, you also have to know what you are looking for, and know the average retail price for those items. Originally I was going to buy a farmhouse sink, and the one that I found that I was going to get was $700. I know that sounds expensive, but it was supposed to be my "one big splurge" for the project (which at the time was running about double my current budget). That was before we went to the Restore. On our first trip there, I found a sink that was almost exactly what I wanted, minus the apron front. I looked at the price tag, $18.75. After taxes I would save nearly $750 to live without an apron front! You better believe I scooped it up (ok, well DH lugged it up front). The same sink that I got for such a great bargain is listed in Home Depot's website for $381.41. So, at the very least I saved $320. Although it is a little dirty and scratched, it cleaned up well. As for the scratches, after six months even a brand new one would look the same.

On another trip to the same Restore (after checking out a couple of others with no luck at all) we bought all enough doors to replace all of the interior doors, exterior doors, and a set of beautiful doors that will become "French doors", all for around $280. The same set of French doors at the local Home Depot was $300. I also found a double paned window to replace the one in the kitchen for a mere $5. Yeah, I love that place! The estimated savings for all that we have purchased there so far is about $700 if you are comparing the sink to the Home Depot one. Since I fully intended on buying the apron front sink, the savings would be much, much more if you consider that.

2. You better shop around! Home Depot and Lowe's both have a price guarantee. If you find the same product somewhere else for cheaper, they will match the price and give you an additional 10% off. This is not generally worth the hassle of running all over town, unless you are buying a huge amount of one item. Well, we were! First we went to Home Depot, where we looked at all the prices of lumber and wrote everything down. After we got all of that info, we went to look at faucets and light fixtures. I simply did not find what I had in mind at Home Depot, so next we went to Lowe's. While I was looking at light fixtures, DH decided to go see what the price of bead board paneling was, since this was going to be the biggest single expense of our entire project. The Home Depot price was $18.97 a sheet, while the Lowe's price was $17.99. That translated to about $2.79 a sheet savings, and multiply that by 30 -- after tax we saved $75, all because DH looked at the price while I was finding light fixtures. He took a photo on his cell phone, we showed them at Home Depot, and voila! Another big cost cutter we found was the "cull cart" at Home Depot. We needed several 2x4s, and DH found ends that had been cut off of 2x8s that were amazing cheap. For $2 we got 13 2x8s, which means 26 2x4s, once DH ripped them on the table saw. Between the cull cart and price matching, we saved nearly $125 total. It really does pay to shop around!

3. Do it yourself -- or have someone you know help you! Custom kitchen cabinets are soooo expensive. Traditionally I could not even get the cabinets for this project on the original $4000 budget, let alone the slashed-in-half version. Fortunately, my wonderful father-in-law is an awesome carpenter. His father built houses literally by hand, no power tools needed. His name is still well known in our area for the quality work that he did the majority of his life. He taught my FIL how to do things right, who in turn taught his son (my DH) the same lessons. My FIL can build anything by simply looking at a photo of the object. He is amazingly talented and I am so grateful to be lucky enough to have such a resource. For my kitchen cabinets, I simply had to purchase the wood and hardware for the project. This one thing has saved me at least $5000. Honestly, it is probably much, much more than that, since he came to my house and took all the measurement, asked me exactly what I wanted in my kitchen, and is doing all of the work out of love. (My budget will not absorb the gift that I will give him for his wonderful generosity.) The only other discount I found in this particular project was the handles for all 7 of the new, deep drawers that will soon find a home in my kitchen. I found drawer pulls at Hobby Lobby for $2.99 and bought them during a 50% off week (these usually rotate every other week), and with 11 total pulls, I saved about $15. Similar pulls at Lowe's or Home Depot were $5 each, so the savings were much greater. (I guess this tip also falls into shopping around.)

4. Beg, borrow or barter. The original budget included the purchase of a new dining table and chairs. I looked and looked, but never really found anything that just sang to me. I wanted something that went well with my style of decorating, but was also sturdy and dependable. I did find a set of chairs at the Nashville Flea Market, but there was only 4 of them and they were $200 each. I might have splurged on them, had there been six of them. The saving point for me was that the day we went to the flea market we drove the car instead of the truck. Silly, I know! Let's just call it divine intervention, because the next day when I was at my mom's house I noticed that she had gotten different dining chairs. The chairs were worn, but had a great shape to them. They were a freebie from a friend of hers, who simply wanted to get rid of them. Stained white pleather covered the parson-type chairs, and she used them because she needed chairs, but did not like them very much. I, on the other hand, instantly fell in love with their shape. I knew that with a little work they could be amazing. Ever see something that you just knew was worth saving? These chairs had the it-factor. I half-jokingly said, "Mom, we need to trade chairs." She loved the idea! The chairs in my dining room were originally a hand-me-down from her. She had bought a new dining set and gave me her old chairs. Although the new table she bought was gorgeous and sturdy, the chairs were not and didn't survive very long.

The very next day she asked me if I really wanted to trade, and I confessed that I really did want to. Since DH was off work that day, he took my chairs to her house and picked up the six matching parsons chairs that needed some love. When I got home and started looking at the chairs, I found a plate on the leg of each of them that said "Richland Country Club, Nashville, TN." These chairs were expensive in their day. There is no way that any self-respecting southern country club would have cheap chairs. I carefully took apart the first chair, and realizing that all of the springs were worn out, brought it down to the bare bones. I have gotten two broken down so far, along with sanding them so that they are ready to be painted. A warm, clear day is all I am waiting for. $100 worth of upholstery fabric (bought on sale at Hancock's), a half-sheet of plywood to put on the seats in place of springs, some foam and batting, and a couple of cans of Scotch Guard and I will have new chairs. New custom chairs are outrageous! They would cost at least $400 each for the quality of the chairs and the expensive fabric. Since I intended to spend about $600 on a new table and chairs, we will call it a savings of $500.

There are dozens of other ways I have saved money on this project, many of which will reveal themselves in the upcoming weeks. Please excuse my random posting, but we are simply using all free time available to work on dozens of big and small projects that are in various stages.

Currently working on: Redoing dining chairs, Painting/glazing china cabinet, Painting/Polyurethaning counter tops, Sewing curtains and table runner, Among others......

Stay tuned!

The Diet -- My Method

2009-02-10T10:24:00.003-06:00

I have tried SO many times to lose weight......cabbage soup, Slimfast, Richard Simmons, the list goes on and on. The only thing I had never tried was going to the doctor. Simple, huh? You have a health issue, you should go to the doctor. I just never did it that way.

So I decided that now was the time. Eating healthy is MUCH more expensive than eating "freebies" from coupon shopping. However the real expense I paid for all that free food was more and more weight gain. Don't get me wrong -- I still love a good deal! I have simply cut back on my grocery couponing ways. Of course, the fact that my lovely DH got a fantastic new job that allowed me to pretty much have an unlimited grocery budget made the transition to eating healthier a lot easier.

Now -- what you really want to know: HOW DID I LOSE SO MUCH SO QUICKLY?

1) When you weigh what I did (umm...wayyyy too much), you will lose about 10-12 pounds of water weight in the first week alone. The rest was all hard work.

2) The doctor prescribed me phentermine, which is a generic form of Adipex. It is an appetite suppressant -- which I desperately needed. This makes me NEVER feel like I am hungry. When I do eat, I lose interest in food very quickly, so I am eating much, much less than I did before the medicine. It is not intended for people with 5-10 pounds to lose. This is a medicine that is for obese people, and I fit into that category.

3) I drastically reduced the amount of calories I take in. If you think of calories like a checkbook, you have deposits (what you eat) and withdrawals (what you burn). The goal is to go into caloric "overdraft" so that you are basically burning more calories than you take in. When you weigh more, you burn more calories because it takes more energy to move more mass. As you lose, you have to work out harder to still burn the same amount of calories. Your body burns 10X your weight a day just to survive. For every 3,500 calories you are in "withdrawal" you will lose 1 pound. My doctor put me on a 1,500 calorie a day diet. Never, EVER go below 1,200. EVAH!

4) You have to work out to lose more quickly. The first week I could only walk 20 minutes at a slug's pace. And that was pushing it. The next week I began to build energy and stamina and was walking faster. At the end of four weeks, I could easily walk an hour, at a quick pace. Now (about 6 weeks into the plan), I walk about an hour a day, incorporating 10-12 flights of stairs. The place I walk is upstairs. I walk about five minutes, then race down the flight of stairs and go back up. This adds more calories to my burn pile. The faster you move, the harder you work, the more calories you burn.

5) I eat healthy foods. Lean protein, complex carbs, fruits, veggies, low-fat yogurt and cheeses. I eat wonderful food -- I am just learning to eat it healthier. I keep up with all of my calories -- whether it comes from a donut or an apple. I still eat an occasional "bad food". Life would be dreadful without donuts!

6) LOTS of water. Divide your weight in half. You need that many ounces of water a day. 8 glasses is great, if you only weigh 128 pounds. The more you weigh, the more you need. Carbonated beverages are off limits. The carbonation seeps into your fat cells and blows them up. You will not lose fat cells, but they will shrink. This rule alone can help you lose up to a dress size in a couple of weeks.

7) Rest. If you work out every day (or at least 5 days a week), you need time to get adequate rest. Not only sleep, but just time to relax your body before you go to sleep.

Sounds simple, right? It's all of the tricks that your mom and grandmother knew -- but as a society we try to fast track everything. If you are a fan of Dave Ramsey, remember his plan is just basics in life. The best weight loss comes from the basics.

And even though you have heard it a million times, I am gonna say it anyway. YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE TO CHANGE YOUR BODY PERMANENTLY! If you lose 20 pounds then go back to eating McDonald's every day for breakfast, it will seep back on! I am NOT on a diet -- I have changed my lifestyle!

I have now lost about 45 pounds -- and if I went back to my old ways it would be back before the Easter bunny got here! Good luck to all of you trying to lose weight!!!

The Diet -- 30 days check-up

2009-02-02T15:05:00.002-06:00

Today was my one-month check-up for my new diet plan. I decided to go this route, instead of on my own because I have a huge failure rate on that. I lost 38 lbs. in 30 days! I am stunned!

Now.....only $@&# to go!

Thinking, Planning, Hoping, Wishing

2009-01-30T10:32:00.003-06:00

Forgive me for being so slow to posting lately. We have spent so much time lately planning our new kitchen redo (which is slowly coming to life). Not only are we redoing the kitchen, but the dining room, laundry room and another hall off the dining room going that leads to the girls rooms. WHEW!

In the long list of things to do:

Dining Room -- Paint china cabinet, remove built-in mirror, recover new* chairs, build new* table, cover all walls with beadboard (that has to be painted), all new crown molding, 2 new walls built on each side of the entry to the living room, new media cabinet beside one of those new walls, baseboards, new french doors, sew curtains for french doors, sew tablecloth, find artwork for dining room.

Kitchen -- Cover walls with beadboard (and paint it), new crown molding, new baseboards, all new cabinets (custom built by father-in-law), new counters (that would be by me), new custom range hood cover (built by DH), install plate rack and new shelves above sink, install new sink, faucet and plumbing, moving refrigerator to new location (to create more cabinet/counter space), remove one wall, sew new curtains that match those in dining room.

Laundry Room -- Cover all walls with beadboard, new crown molding and baseboards, new cupboards across rest of wall (FIL building -- oh I love him!), move freezer to pantry, install current dining table along wall for "folding space", build two doors, one for broom closet (which is currently just a nook), and another for a small storage spot.

Kid's Hallway -- Cover with beadboard, crown molding, baseboards, replace 4 doors (both girl's bedroom doors, bathroom door and coat closet door), build storage shelf with doors (another DH project) [they simply do not have enough space in their tiny bathroom -- so this will be their storage], trim around all doors.

So, yeah, I'm very busy these days! I have TONS of upcoming posts -- a $200 sink for less than $20, building a dining room table (think windows!), making my own counters, and more!

Wanna sneak peak?

The white is the color of the walls, trim, and cabinets, the black will be the counters and the green will become an accent color. Ahhhh...I love remodeling!

Kitchen Inspiration

2009-01-21T17:31:00.000-06:00

Once the new sofa is completed, our next project will be our kitchen and dining rooms. Since we recently put down new flooring (black & white checkerboard tiles), it will be our jumping off point. Beadboard will cover all of the walls, all painted in a soft linen color. Other than that, I am still searching for inspiration. This is what I have found so far.

What do you think? Have any other ideas or websites that inspire a country cottage home? Please share!

*all photos in this post are courtesy of HouseBeautiful.com, HGTV.com and HomeDepot.com

Monday Funday: Cake Challenge

2009-01-19T20:50:00.003-06:00

Join in on the Monday Funday fun! See rules here.

I think we must watch way too much Food Network. A new favorite activity is to hold cake challenges. Of course, Lala knows there has to be a ton of rules and Bre enforces them. Sometimes we even have cake challenge tournaments, where the winner has to face off against mom, and then the loser faces the winner of that round. Sometimes we have themed rounds or just fun for all. Their creations can be so much fun!

Now that I think about it, maybe we watch TV wayyyy too much altogether! Last week it was Jon & Kate Plus 8 (which is on TV now, btw) and now this week it's Food Network. There seems to be a theme.........

So what fun did you find this week?

Building a Couch -- Planning Phase

2009-01-18T08:04:00.003-06:00

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that we are going to build a couch. I didn't really give any details of what it would look like. I cannot draw, so I cannot actually show you a working photo of how the couch will turn out, but I can give you a few clues to tide you over for a couple more weeks until we get it completed.

It will be basically a big, oversized bench, with a seating height of a dining room chair. The seat portion of the main sofa will hold a twin size mattress, and the backs will be cushions. Along with the couch, we will be building two ottomans, that when put together on one end of the couch will make it look more like a chaise lounge.

Each ottoman will also be able to be moved wherever we choose, maybe one as a coffee table and another an additional bench, or we could move them both along the wall if we need to make a huge space in middle of the floor for working out or slumber parties.

Is building a couch a cheaper option? No. This project will cost us about $700 when finished. However, it will be much, much sturdier than a traditional couch. We should never have to buy another couch as long as we live (unless we choose to). The lovely thing is once I decide I want to recover it, it will be easy to buy a fitted sheet and two flat sheets that match and recover all of the cushions and/or repaint the base.

The base itself will be completely covered in beadboard, except for the corner posts. We are using 4x4 posts for each corner of the couch and ottomans, and 2x4s to frame it out. The beadboard will go over the 2x4s (as seen in the sketch above). Overall the look will be very country chic and will blend well with the rest of my house.

I would LOVE to be able to pull an inspirational photo online to show you something similiar to the design in my head, however I cannot find one. I looked for benches and day beds and even couches, with no luck. After hours, and hours, and HOURS of conversations between DH and me, we have finally worked out all of the details. We made a trip to Home Depot yesterday to look at all of the options for the project, and we have decided rather than wainscotting kits or individual pieces, the best choice for this job is to use the plywood that looks like beadboard. It will add the most stability to the furniture and make cutting time for the project significantly shorter.

The added bonus? There will be storage in each ottoman, as well as in the sofa. That is a lot of hidden storage, my friends. Can anybody guess where Rock Band is going to be housed?

Awards Season

2009-01-15T12:50:00.006-06:00

So many lovely people have bestowed amazing awards upon me lately! I hope I found them all, and if I didn't, please jog my memory!

The qualifications to receive the award are:
A. Display a cheerful attitude - What is the point of going through life complaining every minute?
B. Love one another - Almost everyone, almost all the time.
D. Learn from others- Constantly!
E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world- I do my best.
F. Love life- Unabashedly!
G. Love kids- There is nothing sweeter than a child laughing or sleeping.
The Rules:
1. Must link it back to the creator
2. Post the rules
3. Choose 5 people to give it to (all will be listed at the bottom of the post)
4. Recipients must fit the characteristics above
5. Create a post to share this
6. You must thank the winner -- Thanks to Life of a Southern Belle

Another wonderful blogging buddy, Domestic Fashionista bestowed this amazing award:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award." Listed below are my recipients

Thank you BLC :0 at The Company She Keeps for sending me three sweet blog awards! The first one says: "This blog invests and believes in proximity- nearness in space, time, and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writings. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award." Continue to the bottom to see the winners.

BLC :O also handed me this award, The Lemonade Award. Here goes ...

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Nominate at least ten blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE.

3. Be sure to link your nominees.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post the person from whom you received your award.

Yep, you guessed it, see the bottom.

If you are in awards overload, please bear with me for one more, the Beautiful Award, which I think is amazingly sweet. BLC :0 at The Company She Keeps sent me this award, too. It goes like this ... "You are truly beautiful. Beautiful means more than a pretty face! It also means that you are unique, and oh so full of grace! The things in you that go on much deeper than the softness of your skin are the things that make you beautiful, both inside and within! Rules: Find and give the beautiful ladies that you follow. Don't be shy and don't forget to notify!"

And the winners are ...

(I chose ten to receive all five awards!)

Buzzings of A Queen Bee

Green Girl in Wisconsin

The Shabby Secret Garden

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife

These are all listed in random order, and all fitting of each and every award!

Clutter Busting Chaos

2009-01-14T17:43:00.003-06:00

If any of you noticed, I was MIA for most of last week. I did not even get on the internet from Friday until Monday. Not. Even. Once.

I don't know if it is my new medicine or hours upon hours of watching Clean House reruns.
I spent hours upon hours filling bag after bag with crap and clutter from all around my house. Lala felt like she was worked to the bone on Sunday, when we spent 12 solid hours decluttering every nook and cranny that had attracted junk for months years.

I took a quick look at things, one box (or basket or bag) at a time and quickly assessed if it was keep or toss. There were very few donate things involved, but those left are going to Goodwill soon. If I haven't missed it in a year (except photos), then out it went. Old cords? If I haven't needed them, I probably won't. If I needed them that badly, they have already been replaced. Old magazines, papers and just general junk went out, as did anything that was broken or in complete disrepair. Ten big, black trash bags (you know the ones) later, it was neat and clean.

And what do I have to show for it? A clean house, from one end to the other! It almost looks like Niecy Nash and her crew showed up to help me out.

Now if I can just keep it this way....

Cheapo Computer Repair

2009-01-13T19:23:00.004-06:00

Wouldn't ya know it! Just after my warranty expired on my laptop, the darn thing tears up? I blogged one night, and it worked fine. I woke up the next morning, and all of the keys were confused.

alk;sdjf;alsjfjd;flkm[o3irukmvz,xc ;ioawur[ = Hi! So glad you stopped by to see me!

At first I thought it was a virus, so when I got to work I downloaded the newest version of Avast, and still no dice.

I knew there was only one other option -- the keyboard itself was bad. NOT GOOD. I did not have computer repair in my budget. So, after a little thought, I realized that if it actually was the keyboard, then if I got one and plugged it into the USB port, and it worked then I would have to bite the bullet and get it repaired. Dearest hubby went to Tarjay and picked up a keyboard for about $15, and we plugged it in. It worked -- YAY!

After using it for a couple of days, I realized that if it works, don't fix it. As in, the keyboard on top of the laptop works fine, so don't take it to the shop. It's been over a month, and it still works fine. Another plus: I can leave the laptop on the coffee table and just put the lighter, easier to handle keyboard in my lap and write away to my heart's content.

Computer Solution: $15. This soooooo worked for me!

See what works for other people over at Rocks in My Dryer.

To find other frugal tips, see the gang at Biblical Womanhood.

Monday Funday: Television Viewing Hour

2009-01-12T19:03:00.003-06:00

To join in on the Monday Funday fun, post about something fun you have done with your kiddos and link up to share ideas with others. For more about the guidelines, go here.

This week we are kicking back and taking it easy on such a chilly evening, watching our favorite family show, Jon & Kate Plus 8. We watch it every chance we get, but don't always make it on Monday nights to see the new shows. Since it's so cold outside, we are snuggling up in the blankets and are gonna catch up on their latest adventures. I wonder how much longer it will be before the big move.....

So, what fun are you having this week?

Confessions of a Fanatic Reader

2009-01-07T18:53:00.003-06:00

OH MY! I love, love, love Rebecca Bloomwood. I have read every Shopaholic book that Sophie Kinsella has written (ok, well I have read all her books -- I love her writing!)

So now, on February 13th the movie is coming out! Can you guess what we are doing for Valentine's Day?

On another note ~ Thank you all so very much for all of your sweet, kind words about my sweet granddaughter. You had me in tears everytime I read another comment. What wonderful, comforting bloggy friends!

Missing My Baby

2009-01-06T01:43:00.003-06:00

It's odd how memories sneak up on you. I am not quite sure why, but Emma has been on my mind a lot lately. There is something so special about grandchildren, those are the ones that you are supposed to spoil beyond belief and not feel bad about.

Although I haven't written much about her, she is in my thoughts constantly. Being born 16 weeks early shows that she was a very impatient little girl. Living much longer than she was "supposed" to shows that she was every inch the fighter. Six incredible months I got to play with her, read to her, love on her and admire her. It was no where near long enough.

Nearly ten months have passed. I still have to catch my breath when I find things that we bought her or see one of the dozens of books that I read to her constantly.

I had promised her that I would teach her things, like how to shop, how to read, and, despite her mother's incredibly bad grammar, how to speak properly. I also had visions of tea parties, sewing doll dresses and catching fireflies.

It's funny how God has other plans.

She was our first grandchild. There is something so very indescribably special about first things. First kisses, first dates, first loves, catching your first fish, your first car, your own first child.

Although there were many things that she missed out on, there were also things that I made sure to accomplish. Certain things that all little girls should experience were carried out as best as possible.

Even though we could not touch her for nearly six weeks, I started reading to her from almost the day she was born. We had read every Dr. Suess book imaginable. Stories from the Bible were also frequent. As soon as we were able, I would rock her and sing to her. I treated her as if she were in my own home, rather than in the hospital where she lived her entire life.

Since all the machines gave her terribly chapped lips, my remedy was a sweet pink lip gloss. Pink was her signature color. When we knew that she was in her last days, I bought her the prettiest pink nail polish, and her manicure was so befitting of a southern belle.

Children are a blessing from the Lord, no matter how long or short you get to hold them. Six months and one week was no where near long enough, but I am grateful for every minute that I got to spend with my sweet angel.

It took me a while to figure out how to "label" myself. One day I was a grandmother, the next I became a grandmother to an angel. Some grandparents call their grandbabies angels, but mine truly is one.

Maybe it is that the holidays have finally slowed down and my thoughts and emotions are catching up with me. Maybe that it's that her actual due date was this week. I only know that nearly a year later, I still ache for her.

Monday, Funday: Everyone Joins In!

2009-01-05T06:34:00.006-06:00

Welcome to the first edition of the Monday Funday carnival!

You can use any post from the past week showing something fun that you did with your own kiddos. It can be playing a game, baking something, whatever you choose, the idea is to share how you spend time with your kids so that we can all get new ideas.

When using Mr. Linky, put your name and a couple of words describing your post, then use the direct link to that post. Please link back to here so that we can all find the great ideas. You can find the banner on the sidebar of my blog, but it is completely optional. (Ignore the Mmm Monday part, they don't have my carnival as an option.) Now....on to the show!

This week we went to Build A Bear. I have no idea why it took so long for us to go, but we had a blast. Bre received gift cards as a Christmas gift, and now her biggest request is more gift cards.

After much thought, she chose a bear and carefully pulled together her wardrobe, using mixing and matching pieces. Now DH and Lala want one, too! It was so much fun, and you could easily buy a bear and outfit for less than $20. Yes, that is a little expensive for a teddy bear, but the experience is completely worth it! I also reminded her that we could make Fluffy (great imagination, huh?) some new clothes when she was ready.

The most surprizing thing to me? They have a discount plan, when you buy $100, you get a $10 gift card. Cool! I see us spending a lot of money in that store in the coming months....

So what did you do this week?

Organize with Style

2009-01-04T07:27:00.008-06:00

I cannot keep a resolution to save my life, so I didn't make any. Although I have not made any resolutions this year, I know that many of you have getting organized on your lists. Since you are trying to get your stuff together, think about making it pretty while you are keeping it organized.

Candy in boxes and bags is messy. (No, this candy is not mine -- it belongs to DH and the kiddos.)

Candy put into jars and glasses is neat and pretty. Remember that yardsale find that held wooden cranberries up until last week? 50 cents at a yard sale. The candy canes look cool hanging out in a water glass.

We all have to have this stuff everyday.

Why not wake up to a beautiful bathroom counter instead of a messy one? My toothbrush container is a small fish bowl, while a pretty cut glass candy jar holds my Q-tips.

These containers were all clearance rack, yard sale, thrift store or flea market finds. How do you keep it neat and pretty?

For more tips and tricks, see the fine folks at Rocks in My Dryer for WFMW.

Lose 25 lbs. Over Night!

2009-01-03T05:11:00.003-06:00

Yes, my friends, I lost 25 lbs. over night! OK, well maybe not like you thought. I went to the doctor yesterday to on a good diet plan. I have tried it many, many, MANY times on my own and I hope this time it will work. *Crossing my fingers!*

So the night before my visit, I stepped on my scales, so I would not be shocked when I got to the weighing in part at the doctor's office. When I got to the doctor, I was amazed that I was a whole 25 lbs. less than I had weighed the night before. YES -- my scales were 25 lbs. off. I even weighed when I got home to double check and make sure. I think that was the ONLY time in my life I loved a set of scales.

Want to have a great weight-loss boost? Step on my scales and convince yourself you weigh much more than you actually do, then go to the doctor!

Such A Pretty Blog: Southern Sassyness

2009-01-02T16:22:00.004-06:00

Since it has been a few weeks, I decided to find another deserving blog to send my little postcard to. This time it is Sassy over at Southern Sassyness. Her blog is so much fun -- and her kiddos are adorable to boot! So scoot on over and say hello.

Have you seen a blog that you think is absolutely beautiful? Let me know so that I can tell them so.

Five More Windows Used

2009-01-01T10:54:00.010-06:00

First, I must confess that I miscounted. There are 17 windows total. Yes, two more to find a home for. I am almost afraid if I add these into my home with the four that were already roaming around, it is going to be overkill. I'm not there yet, though!

As I mentioned, there were two sizes of windows, a few small ones and then many larger ones. For this project I used 4 small ones and one large one. The only other items needed were 8 L brackets, two packs of four, all bought at the mart full of walls for $1.97 a pack. Yep, $4 was the only cost for this project.

I, well DH, used the screws included in the pack to put the bracket in all four corners, at the top and again at the bottom. Once it was completed, I put a large window on top. If it is not level, you could use slivers of a cork, those neat little squishy dots of silicone (I have no idea what the real name is), that should do the trick. I was very lucky that mine worked well.

I know that beside my current sofa that the table seems extremely inporportionate. Hang in there with me, we are building a new couch in a couple of weeks. Yes, building. I am hoping it will be fabulous. If the picture in my head comes to life (and DH normally makes sure that it does), then I can't wait!

Oh, and I have a few more window tricks up my sleeve, too. Just wait and see.

Oh, I forgot! Notice the window above the table? I found it, and the matching one on the other side of the actual window, in an alley years ago. There are six panes in each one, and I simply taped black & white photos of my children in the windows. See, my love of windows is not a new found one . *wink*

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T23:59:00.002-06:00

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Pretty as a Picture

2008-12-30T17:35:00.007-06:00

How is it when you move around a few simple things can make such a big difference?

This mirror and plaque were hanging in random places in my home. They did not have much of an impact alone. However, once I realized they were both completely in the wrong spots and decided to pair them together, I think it turned out fabulous! I SO cheated in pulling it together, using a thumbtack to attach the ribbon to the plaque, and then again to the wall. Putting two tacks into the wall helps hold the weight, to keep it more sturdy. Using ribbon from my fabric/trim stash, I simply used a lighter to melt the ends of the ribbon to keep them from fraying.

I love quick and easy projects, and this 5-minute fix was a great way to give my living room wall a fresh look.

Monday, Funday -- Chalkboard Revealed

2008-12-29T18:33:00.003-06:00

This project was so easy, the kiddos helped me with the beginning phase. First I cleaned the window well, then taped off all the wooden areas. We used paper around the sides, taping it well to the edges. Next, I cleaned the window again, just to be sure.

Then I took it outside (it was so pretty yesterday!) and used a can of chalkboard spray-paint. *TIP* -- once you have done two coats (letting the first coat completely dry first), hold it up to the sunlight so that you can see the areas that are not completely covered. I ended up using nearly the entire can -- four coats total. (There is just enough left to do a small picture frame -- yay!) You will paint straight onto the glass. If you lay the window flat, you will reduce the risk of runs, which is always my painting downfall.

When it was dry, I brought it inside and pulled off all the tape, using tweezers to get into the nooks and corners. Now for the hard part -- you have to let it cure for 24 hours before using! OH--that part was not so fun! Make sure to use soft chalk, so you will not damage the paint. We have drawn on it all afternoon, and no scratches.

Voila! A chalkboard from a free window. Total cost: $3.24 for paint, pennies for tape that was already in my decorating stuff.

Don't forget! You, too, should join in on the fun next week for my first official Monday Funday! Just do something fun with your kiddos and share with everyone -- so we all get new ideas on projects or fun to share with our kiddos!

Windows of Possibilities

2008-12-28T13:34:00.005-06:00

I love visiting my sister. She lives in a college town, full of possibilites. When we went down for Thanksgiving, the house across the street was replacing all their old windows with new, energy efficient ones. You know I couldn't leave a stack of 15 windows sitting on the curb.

Yes, my friends, I found 15 old pane windows. I knew, somehow, some way I would find a use for them. I have a few ideas floating around in my head, but not enough ideas for all of them. There are some smaller ones and larger ones.

One project, which I will reveal tomorrow, is that I made a chalk board out of one. It was easy and cheap, and fun to boot. We will talk about that tomorrow, though!

What would you do with a stack of old windows? I have found things online like greenhouses, etc., but that is not what I am looking for. I know that I can incorporate these into the "cottage chic" theme of my home.

Any ideas?

Take Advantage of Those Deals!

2008-12-26T04:33:00.002-06:00

Evidently this was the worst holiday shopping season in four decades. 40 years! That is longer than I have been alive!

So now, merchants are dropping prices even more to try to lure shoppers to do some after-holiday shopping. Of course, for a frugal shopper, this is a blessing. Now is the time to buy things like wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, and more that you will use for next year. It is also the perfect time to start your holiday shopping for next year.

However, some deals out there are bittersweet. Linens 'n Things are closing many, many stores. This means deep, deep discounts, but it also means that the store that I love so dearly will no longer be around, and more jobs are being lost. Toys 'r Us is also another chain that is closing stores, with the same bittersweet deals. I love the prices, I hate that the stores will no longer be an option.

Which stores will have the best deals, you ask? Target, Kmart, and Walmart are good bets, along with places that stocked way too much product for the slim season, like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid. However, this year it seems that nearly every store is dropping prices to try and lure money out of the pockets of their shoppers.

I do a lot of shopping starting in January, once the discounts fall even more. I tend to buy classic toys that are a sure bet for fun, staying away from character items. These toys might show up under the tree next year, but they are also good for birthdays, Easter baskets and more. All of those things that were aimed for stocking stuffers this week will be great in baskets in just a few short weeks.

Although I always start shopping really early, I never wrap my presents ahead of time. This year I hope to implement that into my plan, so that I do not spend two days wrapping gifts during the busy holiday season. I *hope* that if I wrap them and put a post-it tag, then all I have to add is a bow and name tag come next year. Anything that makes my life a little easier!

Do you plan on taking advantage of the deals?

Holy Night

2008-12-23T10:07:00.002-06:00

St. Luke 2: 1 – 14
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them at the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace,good will toward men.

Snow Funny!

2008-12-22T09:38:00.002-06:00

I figured for my 200th post, it ought to be a good one!

I feel so lucky!

2008-12-22T00:20:00.006-06:00

Two lovely awards in one week!

I have been given The Lemonade Award by Dani Brook at Down at the Lowe Valley Ranch. Dani tells me that the Lemonade Award is for blogs that show great attitude and gratitude. Thanks bunches!!!
Upon receiving The Lemonade Award, you also pass it on to other bloggers who you think show great attitude and gratitude.
Here are the rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

These are my picks for the bunch of lovely ladies who I think display great attitudes and gratitude. (So many great blogs...only 10 will be so very hard!)

Domestic Accident

Martini Mom

Stretch Mark Mama

From Inmates to Playdates

Mad Boastings of a Cheapskate Mom

So there you have it! The ten most fab finds of the day. Ok, well, there are so many it was hard to choose, but those are the ladies that I love to visit, each giving me a special smile. Now run over and tell them I said hello!

Christmas Cookies, Done!

2008-12-21T17:34:00.004-06:00

Six hours later, cookies are done. Peanut butter, chocolate chip, chocolate & walnut, oatmeal chocolate chip and sugar cookies galore. Plus we did pretzel snowflakes! So much fun, so many hands helping.

We had a total of 120 cookies, which was divided between two houses, well what was left after all that eating, anyways!

Smart Cookies

2008-12-20T16:59:00.003-06:00

So after hearing all of your wonderful ideas on what kinds of cookies to bake, Candi (my bff) and I decided that with four girls in the kitchen with us, ranging in ages from 5-15, the best idea was cookie mix.

Of course, I had a good supply of it in the pantry from earlier sales. So, there will be no "homemade" cookies, but they will all be made with love!

Don't forget that everyone will be joining in on the Monday, Funday fun starting on Monday, January 6th!

So many cookies, so little time....

2008-12-18T15:27:00.006-06:00

Baking cookies is on the agenda for Sunday.

I have no idea which ones to make.

Any suggestions?

Pretty Ribbons

2008-12-16T18:26:00.024-06:00

These beautiful bows are my favorite this season. They are outrageous to buy them, and you know that would never work for me! So I learned how to make them myself, when I bought a gift earlier this year at a beautiful boutique. I asked her to show me how, and she was so nice that she did!

You will need ribbon that is at least 3/4 inch wide, I like white because I can use it year round. First you make a big loop with the ribbon, and then keep going around and around and around. The more ribbon you use, the fuller and prettier the ribbon will be. For small bows you can use as little as 5 feet, but for big ones I suggest up to 5 yards. The average size bow needs about 8 feet of ribbon.

Once you have it all looped together, try to make the ends even, so the tails will be even. Next squish the ends together, so that you can determine the middle of the ribbon bunch.

Fold tightly so that you have a good crease as a cutting guideline. Next cut a long notch into each side, cutting about a third of the way into each side, so that you have about a third left in the middle. Next take a small piece of the same ribbon and tie it tightly around the skinniest part of the notch.

The next step takes a little practice and patience, but you will get it, I promise! Grab one side for leverage, and starting with the innermost loop of the loose side, pull down the loop tightly, pinch it at the base and twist it once or twice. Each time you pull the next loop, twist it the opposite way to give diversity. When all of your loops are twisted and turned, fluff and pull them until you have it just right.

It seems like a slow process until you have a few under your belt. Once you have it down pat, I suggest looping and tying a bunch at once, then twisting them and fluffing. To attach them to the gift, simply use self stick name tags and use the tails of the bow (after you pull them together and trim them neatly if needed) and put the name tag on top of the bow, using it like tape to hold the bow on. So easy, so elegant, so cheap! I made about 20 of these bows for a $2.25 spool of ribbon bought at Big Lots. I saw the same bows at a "frilly store" here in town for $2 for 3 of them. They turned out so very pretty.

Now go sit and watch your favorite Christmas movie and twist, turn and tie away. (Make sure to practice first so you don't miss the movie!) See what works for other people over at Rocks in My Dryer. To see how other people pull off being frugal, check out Biblical Womanhood.

Fabulous? Moi? Merci!

2008-12-16T17:16:00.005-06:00

My sweet friend Firefly recently bestowed this wonderful award upon me. What fun! She tells me that I need to reveal five addictions and pass it on to five friends.

Addictions:

1. Kissing my darling hubby -- many, many times daily.

2. Snuggling my girlies -- as much as I can get away with.

3. Blogging, of course.

4. Pepsi, the drink of divas.

5. Pedicures, which I am in withdrawls of, since it has been too dang long.

Five Friends:

Pink Cupcake

ShabbyFufu

Green Girl in Wisconsin

Marshmallow Circus

Fifi's Flowers

So run on over and tell all these all these fabulous ladies I said hello.

And if you are here, you are fabulous, too, so take it for yourself while you are at it!

Monday, Funday: Cooking with the Kiddos

2008-12-15T20:36:00.010-06:00

With 7 teacher gifts to give, I decided to make them, and have fun at the same time. We put together these pretty wreaths in a couple of hours. Not only did we do enough for teachers, we also made enough for me to give one to each person in my office at work. What fun!

What you will need:

1 bag small pretzels

1 package white almond bark

1 pack Twizzler Pull 'n Peel

Green sugar

Decorating bobbles (stars, balls, M&Ms)

First draw circles about 4 1/2 inches in diameter on paper. I used a bowl, putting two per page. Next, layer cling wrap over the paper. It is easier to lay out your paper and do one big strip of cling wrap over several, versus one by one.

Next, chop the almond bark into small pieces and put into a big zip bag (or bowl). Melt a couple of handfuls at a time in a small bowl in the microwave for about 1 minute. (Watch carefully.) Once it begins to melt, stir with a fork. Drop the pretzels into the chocolate and drain them a bit with a fork before putting on the circles.

Put them in the circle, with the outer edges inside the circle. It takes 7-8 pretzels to make the circle. If you get it too big it will break easily. If you want a double layer, wait for the first one to dry, then add on another layer. A single layer can be decorated immediately. Lots of sugar and stars and such make it so very pretty. We made bows by pinching the Twizzler into a bow shape, then stuck them on with chocolate.

Once finished, we wrapped them up in more cling wrap. We made 15 wreaths out of one block of almond bark, and had leftovers of everything else.

Next week? Snowflakes!

Marvelous Mess

2008-12-14T13:14:00.007-06:00

I made a mess all over the living room floor,

but after 10 hours of wrapping tons of gifts,

it was a beautiful display!

Are you all wrapped and ready to go?

Such A Pretty Blog: First Honors

2008-12-12T10:41:00.005-06:00

I visit pretty blogs everywhere I go! I have found so many lovely ladies who honestly deserve props for their beautiful displays. Whether or not they have done it themselves (they can share with a designer if need be), I wanted to give an award for having a pretty blog.

I think it goes hand in hand with paying attention to every little detail. I will be giving out this award to a new blog every week or two. It is not meant to be a meme, or even a pass-it-on thing. It is simply a postcard from me to say you have "Such a Pretty Blog!"

The first honor will go to To The Moon and Back. Her blog is simply breath-taking! Go take a gander, it makes you wanna tidy up your own blog!

Snow Pretty!

2008-12-11T17:59:00.005-06:00

After weeks of seeing other bloggy pics with all the pretty snow, we finally have some!

Old Tree Reused

2008-12-10T20:22:00.010-06:00

There is something that will not let me throw away that first Christmas tree that I ever bought. I was young, and it was one week before Christmas, and as a single mom, I knew my baby had to have a Christmas tree. I scrapped up the last bit of money I had, went to Kmart and bought a Charlie Brown type tree for $8 on clearance.

Even though now I have a great tree (bought in January on clearance of course), I still cannot throw away that tree. It has sit in our garage for years, and somehow made it into the house with the other tubs of decorations this year. After looking at it for a while, I realized I could use this. It was just pieces of greenery, afterall.

So after looking at it for a while, I realized that I could use it like garland. Inspired by Lala's favorite movie (The Nightmare Before Christmas), I turned up the ends of each branch, in a swirl motion. I did four branches, making sure that they would tuck into each other well so that I twisted them correctly. (I think Tim Burton would be proud!)

I swaddled them around a martini glass that holds my favorite deep aqua cracked glass ornament, the only ornament that ALWAYS finds its way into my Christmas decor. My mom bought it for me on a shopping trip, and although I fell in love with it instantly, there was no way I could afford it. It is one of my most prized Christmas possessions. (Of course you could use any thing in the middle that you wish -- something in a martini glass would be best, because the flat base with the tall stem lends itself well. Think small floating candles for a centerpiece -- GORGEOUS!)

Once all the branches were around the glass, I dotted the greenery with little plastic snowflakes.

Who knew a tree could make a table so pretty?

See how other people pull off being frugal over at Biblical Womanhood.

Keepin' My Priorities Straight

2008-12-10T20:12:00.003-06:00

I had no idea what we would have for supper tonight, but I knew what was for dessert!

WFMW: Choosing a Christmas Theme

2008-12-10T06:37:00.003-06:00

To my truly frugal friends, changing Christmas themes each year seems a little odd. Many of my friends reuse their decorating items each year, adding a new one every now and then, but keeping things the same for the most part. I do things a little differently.

I generally choose my theme based on the clearance rack paper I find in the weeks after Christmas. This past January I found gorgeous rolls of blue and white paper that inspired this year's theme. I generally spend about $10 to decorate my tree each year. I know I save at least that much by buying the paper on clearance. I tend to use decorating the tree a project each year, with some more involved than others. Although I might start off with a certain idea, I am flexible enough to let it change within the spectrum of the same theme.

This year's tree features white origami flowers that turned out beautifully, but the beginning idea was to have different kinds of origami. As we learned how to make several different pieces, the girls and I loved the way these turned out. We still had a basic version of the original idea.

When you find a good starting point (like paper), then reuse things you already have so that you can get the most for your money. If you can incorporate some neutral items from last year's tree, then go ahead! It doesn't have to be all new to get a fresh look each year.

If you like lots of different papers, try looking around for items you already have. A houseful of boys would be receptive to a tree decorated with Hot Wheels cars. A little girl's room looks adorable with a tree full of pretty hair ribbons tied on the tree. The idea is to get something unique to this year -- not to spend tons of money!

I like to think that each year with my children changes as they age and change themselves. Although it may be traditional to have the same tree every year, our tradition is to find something new. It definitely works for us!

For more WFMW fun, go on over to Rocks in My Dryer to see what the rest of the crew has to say.

Quick Fix for a Yard Sale Find

2008-12-08T18:50:00.012-06:00

A few weeks ago I posted about a Saturday of yard sale & thrift shopping. Among those things I found a pretty glass jar for a quarter. Sweet hubby thought it was a lost cause, pish posh! I knew that plastic lid would pop off easily, making it easy to clean.

A 25 cent steal, the plastic gasket was not tight and easy to remove.

The $1.00 tray I found along with a 10 cent doile and a bunch of wooden cranberries from my Christmas stash made a pretty display on my dining room China cabinet. (Notice my very first card there in the corner. I plan on arranging all my cards around this display.)

How do you show small Christmas touches in your home?

Threads of Thrill

2008-12-07T14:04:00.005-06:00

My dear, sweet hubby finally indulged me in a day of fabric shopping at the world famous Sir's Fabrics in Fayetteville, TN. This is the biggest bunch of fabric I have ever seen!

There are three buildings in all, two are connected and the third is across the street. I got fabric for as little as 25 cents a yard! I also got designer fabric for $5.99, that was $23.99 at Hobby Lobby for the exact same fabric. I have no idea how they do it, but I can't wait to go back soon!

The only problem with all the beautiful fabric is now I have a long list of projects. I got pretty French inspired fabric to do a new shower curtain for my bathroom, new fabric and trim for my upcoming bedroom redo, pretty 25 cent/yard fabric for a simple table runner, and gorgeous bright colors for aprons.

If you are within driving distance of this store and love to sew, you must make a trip there one day soon. You will love it -- but I hope you can get out in less than 4 hours (cause ya know I wanted to spend even longer there!)

Baby Girl Blogs

2008-12-04T18:05:00.003-06:00

My Bre wants a blog. Are we letting 9 year olds have blogs these days? I bet June Cleaver never had to contemplate that one!

The Big Reveal

2008-12-03T17:42:00.005-06:00

This southern girl thinks those "lotus" origami flowers look more like magnolias.

I recycled the prisms & gems from last year's Paris themed tree to fill in the spots.

I was afraid too many flowers might be overpowering.

The tulle was another great Dollar Tree find.

Two short rolls, found in the bridal section, added another layer of prettiness.

How is your tree coming along?

Beauty on Budget

2008-12-02T21:15:00.005-06:00

Strolling around the dollar tree this weekend, I noticed that they have some beautiful things, if you know where to look!

This garland was made with objects bought exclusively at the Dollar Tree. It contains one garland, two spools of wired ribbon and one strand of lights. Total: $4. I wrapped the ribbon around something round, and then gently pulled it out so it would be in a spiral. I then carefully placed it around the garland, which was bunched carefully with the lights. It may not be as pretty as a gorgeous $100 version in a catalog, but I think it gives them a good run for the money.

What works for you? Share it over at Rocks in My Dryer with others for WFMW fun!

For more gorgeous garlands, see what others have up at Nester's Garland Party.

Monday, Funday: Theater Tickets

2008-12-01T21:40:00.005-06:00

Tonight we got to enjoy a local tradition: Christmas Pops. The event is supported by a couple of local businesses, so tickets are free. Thanks to a couple of friends at work (thanks, girls!) I got a couple of sets of tickets so the girls and I could invite my mom to go with us. We had so much fun!

The feature of the evening was the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble. They were simply breathtakingly amazing! If you ever have the chance -- GO SEE THEM!!!

So this week's family fun was free!

I am considering making Monday, Funday a blog carnival each week so that we can all share ideas on how to have frugal fun with our kiddos. You do not have to do it on Monday, just which ever day. It could be an activity you have done with your kids or ideas you have in mind for upcoming fun. If there is enough interest, we will start in January, since no one needs more things to keep up with this time of year. Would you join in??? Leave a comment and let me know if you would be interested.

Five Meals for Under $3

2008-11-30T12:11:00.007-06:00

Monday -- Baked Potatoes

Pototoes -- 75 cents (4 meals @ $2.99/bag)

Country ham -- 50 cents (8 meals @ $4/bag -- we use end cuts, which is bought in a 5/$19.99 deal)
Cheese -- 12 cents (1/4 bag bought with coupons for 50 cents a bag)
Margarine -- 8 cents (1/2 stick @ 4 sticks for 58 cents)

Sour Cream -- 25 cents (4 meals @ 99 cents/tub)

Meal Total -- $1.70

Tuesday -- Soft Tacos/Loaded Nachos (Depending on what the person wants)

Tortillas -- 50 cents (2 meals @ 99 cents/bag)

Ground Beef -- $1 (4 meals @ $4 a pack, bought in same 5/$19.99 deal as ham)

Cheese -- 25 cents (1/2 bag @ 50 cents/bag, bought with coupons)

Sour Cream -- 25 cents (4 meals @ 99 cents/tub)

Tomatoes -- 50 cents (4 pack/$1)

Salsa -- 25 cents (4 meals @ 99 cents/jar)

Meal Total -- $2.75

Wednesday -- Loaded Potato Chowder

Potatoes (already cooked on Monday) -- 75 cents (4 meals @ $2.99/bag)

Cheese -- 25 cents (2 meals @ 50 cents a bag, bought with coupons)

Sour Cream -- 25 cents (4 meals @ 99 cents/tub)

Margarine -- 15 cents (whole stick at 58 cents/box of four)

Milk -- 25 cents (1 cup @ $1.99 half gallon)

Meal Total -- $1.60

Thursday -- Country Fried Steak

Minute Steaks -- Free (gift from friend)

Flour & Spices -- Maybe 10 cents (this is completely a guess -- but it can't be more than that)

Sweet Peas -- 33 cents (1 can from Aldi's)

Potatoes -- 10 cents (instant package, bought with coupon)

Meal Total -- 53 cents (this would be much higher if not for the free steaks, but you can still stay under $3 even with buying them.)

Friday -- BBQ Wraps

2 cups shredded chicken -- 50 cents ($3.90/10 lb bag, cooked and shredded)

BBQ Sauce -- 10 cents (only tax, bought with coupon)

Tortillas -- 50 cents (2 meals @ 99 cents/bag)

Baked Beans -- 25 cents (1 big can, bought with coupon)

Meal Total -- $1.35

Potatoes are a cheap way for us to get a couple of dinner & lunch meals for a couple of dollars each. A 5 lb. bag of potatoes will give us two meals, with left overs for lunches. The first night we always have baked potatoes, which Lala always starts baking when she gets home so they are finished when I get off work. I figure that four meals for $3 is a good deal.

For more menu planning ideas, go on over to Organizing Junkie.

For other frugal ideas, go on over to Biblical Womanhood.

Trio of Thanksgivings

2008-11-29T08:11:00.010-06:00

We made it back safely from a few days with my sister. I love, love, love spending time with her. There are no pretensions. There is no bickering. It is just our core four, her and her sweetie. We cook only the things we truly love, nothing there just for tradition. After our lovely time with her, we scuttled back home to go to my mother's late yesterday afternoon for the second of our trio to Thanksgivings.

This is where the relaxing weekend ends. Amongst family you only see once a year, there is always an air of "it's for tradition." Why does it HAVE to be tradition? Do we really need 10 desserts? Pick 2 or 3 that everyone loves or -- sacre bleu -- only one! There is no real reason for such an overabundance other than "But we always do it this way."

Today we will head over to my in-laws house. (This is the point where I am sooooo very grateful that none of my family -- with the exception of my lovely baby sister -- reads my blog, ever.) The idea of going already makes my right eye tick. I try my best not to expose my kiddos to bad influences. This is nearly impossible when your sister-in-law has four children who act like wild monkeys. One is so hateful you can't even get a normal "Hello" out of her, another so wrapped up in her looks that she spends more time in the mirror than Suzanne Sugarbaker, the third kiddo has an attitude that makes 9 going on 39 a whole new meaning. And then there is the boy. . .

Gracious me.

Me and my girls spend a lot of time in the corner with a book or game or something. I don't run into the kitchen trying to help every two minutes. I am the newest member of this family, I know my place is not in the kitchen. (I have never cooked a meal there in the 7 years we have been married.) This particular dinner is the longest. First there is the eating. Then we have to play board games. Next we all sing Christmas Carols. Next we have to put up the tree. Lastly we have to open "Thanksgiving Gifts" which is just a little something to let the kids know that gifts will be abudant in the coming weeks. All total, it takes about 8 hours to complete the festivities.

I figure there are three kinds of holiday dinners: The fun one, the happy medium, and the migraine one. I get to partake in all three. Yay me!

2008-11-26T14:49:00.001-06:00

I am sneaking away to see my baby sister for a few days. See you turkeys on Friday!

Oh My Lucky Stars!

2008-11-25T19:41:00.009-06:00

Following up with Monday, we went about making our lucky star garland for the tree. I scrounged some scraps from work and cut them in strips at the office on the paper cutter (much easier and straighter than me with a pair of scissors :). Oh? You wanna learn to make the stars?? Check out the video below. I'll wait right here for you to come back.

So then you practice the stars until you get it just right. It takes a little bit, be patient, you will get it, I promise.

So now you can do the lucky stars! To get them on a garland, first you need to get some ribbon. I got this varigated kind (its a pretty blue to white) at Walmart for 47 cents. Measure and mark off your ribbon in 8 inch (or so) increments. Don't worry, I just used the lines on my table as guides. You can do it in shorter lengths if you want more stars or longer if you want fewer.

Since you have got it all wound off the spool, wind it back on there. Now tie knots on top of each mark you made. Tie loops on each end for help with hanging the garland.

Once you are all tied up (sorry for the pun, ok, not so sorry, I gotta get my giggles in somewhere!) Start making the stars over the knots. (For my stars, I used 23 inch long paper, cut into one inch strips.) It takes a long time to make a long garland, so just sit down and watch your favorite Christmas movie and fold away.

Voila! A beautiful project for less than $1.

Run on over to Rocks in My Dryer for more tips and fun!

Monday, Funday

2008-11-24T19:14:00.003-06:00

The girls and I are having more alone time these days, since Sweetheart's new job means he works longer hours, but less days. So this week we spent our precious time learning origami. This year's tree is going to feature all handmade origami ornaments, which we will make next week. We are going to glitter them up for that extra special something. Can't wait to show ya pics next week.....

What did you do for family fun this week??

This Week's Grub

2008-11-24T06:36:00.005-06:00

This is an easy week for us, since on Wednesday we are going to my sister's house to spend a couple of days. After that, we will be shuttling back and forth to other family, so I am really only cooking at home 2 days this week.

Monday -- Steak Sandwiches on Yeast Rolls

Tuesday -- Cheater's Beef Stroganoff

Wednesday -- Take Out

Cheater's Beef Stroganoff
12 left over beef (could be from steak, or a roast) cut up in small pieces
1 package egg noodles
1/2 cup sour cream
2 packs dry onion soup mix
1 cup water
1 package fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 tbs olive oil
Salt & Pepper to Taste

Boil egg noodles while putting mix together. For the mix, in a separate pan, put the olive oil into a pan, then saute the mushrooms. Then add the water, beef and onion mix. Once it is warm through, whisk in the sour cream. Once egg noodles are done, drain and add to beef mixture.
This is so good, you will never know that it was done in about 15 minutes!

For more menu planning ideas, scoot on over to Organizing Junkie.

Bre's New 'Do

2008-11-22T21:55:00.000-06:00

How in the world I deprived her of such a girly luxury of getting her hair cut for so very long is beyond me. Until yesterday I was her hairdresser, our bathroom was her salon. I fear she will never go back to letting Mommy cut her hair.....

Jealousy = Creative Grease

2008-11-19T23:43:00.003-06:00

I have been in awe of the beautiful blogs I visit. With gorgeous backgrounds and headers. It feels like you are stepping into a beautiful home when you stumble upon a stunning blog.

Although I do not have an awe-inspiring home, I do love to fill it with things I love. I have tinkered around with the look of my blog for months, some of you seeing a different look each time you visit.

I especially loved the layered, scrapbook feel of the headers my favorite bloggy-friends. Funny thing is, I have the skills. I am by trade a writer and a graphic designer. I use InDesign & Photoshop nearly every single day at work, usually multiple times a day. So technically, I already had the skills. I could not, however, for the life of me, figure out where to get those quirky, fun graphics. Today, my friends, I figured it out.

Digital scrapbooking (until today I didn't even realize there was such a thing), was the key. You can download beautiful graphics that are in bits and pieces. The best site I found (and all of the above graphics come from) is Shabby Princess. Their graphics are the coolest, quirkiest, and down right cutest I have ever worked with.

So, now my dearies, you can go get yourself some downloads and Photoshop your own beautiful bloggy header. Doing it yourself is so much more fun and frugal!

For more Frugal Friday tips, scoot on over to Biblical Womanhood to see the rest of the gang.

And, do tell! Whaddya think of the new look? I am sooooo hoping it's a keeper!

Wall Washing Wonder

2008-11-18T21:55:00.004-06:00

Off the bat I have to admit -- we are still smokers. Try as I may, I cannot give up this habit. I have come to terms with it. The only thing I cannot come to terms with is what it does to my walls (yeah, I know, my lungs probably look worse, but I don't have to wake up to see them every morning.)

I have tried a dozen ways to find the absolute easiest way to wash walls. I have tried the Swiffer (which worked pretty well), the old fashioned rag method, even a sponge mop. The other day, I noticed DH's terry-cloth car washing mitt. (These are easy to find and dirt cheap.)

So, I set off to try it. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!! The heavens sang, as without soap, only the mitt wet down with water, it wiped every thing off so very easily, and in record time. Yes, my friends, it cleaned cigarette smoke tinged walls beautifully. If it will work on my walls, it will work on any walls.

I was happy to figure out a multi-use for a unitasker. Since it is washable, I have been using it for dusting, washing down any big items, even cabinets and large appliances. It soooooo worked for me.

For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, scoot on over to Rocks in My Dryer.

As Requested

2008-11-18T10:08:00.004-06:00

Creamy Chicken and Noodles
1 cup "Pickin' Chicken" (or shedded chicken)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 bag egg noodles
1 1/2 cups frozen peas & carrots
In a pot of water, boil the noodles as directed on the package. While noodles are cooking, in a separate saucepan warm the soup with one can of water, stirring to combine. Add in the chicken and peas, stirring occassionally until warm. Once the noodles are done, drain well. Add the chickn mixture to the noodles.

Voila! Dinner in about 10 minutes. Warm, fast, comforting -- what more could a girl want???

This Week's Grub

2008-11-17T14:20:00.005-06:00

Monday -- Baked Potato Night (Lala puts them in before I get home, so we just break out the toppings and it is faster than fast food, yay!)

Tuesday -- Grilled Chicken Salads (Another easy meal, just chop up a few veggies while I am cooking the chicken tenders on the griddle.)

Wednesday -- Taco Stack-Ups (This meal uses up the rest of the salad fixings, just like tacos with chips instead of taco shells. Since I have the hamburger meat precooked, all I have to do it warm it up and add in the taco seasonings.)

Thursday -- Loaded Potato Soup (Uses the left over potatoes from Monday. Since they will already be cooked, I am essentially just warming them through with some milk and other ingredients for a good, warm meal.)

Friday -- Cheesy Chicken Casserole (Since I have more time on Friday nights, this one got moved to here. Still an easy meal, I will have a little longer to get the rice cooked, etc.)

Saturday -- Creamy Chicken and Noodles (I will be Christmas shopping all day, and I KNEW I wanted something warm, easy and comforting when I get home.)

Although this is not my first shot at menu planning, I am not usually a big poster of it. I laid it all out yesterday, went shopping for what I had to have that was not in my pantry/freezer. For 3 meals each plus snacks for 7 days, I spent $32 this week.

For more menu ideas visit Menu Planning Monday at Organizing Junkie.

Cheap Corn Chowder

2008-11-16T14:43:00.004-06:00

We needed something warm to fill our bellies. I looked at a few recipes online, and all of them had potatoes. Since I had none, I decided to improvise.

Cheap Corn Chowder
5 slices bacon, diced (1/2 cup or so)
1 medium red onion, diced
1 stick butter or margarine
3 cans whole kernel corn
2 cups milk
1 Tbs. flour
1/4 cup water
salt to taste
shredded cheese for garnish
In a stock pot on medium high, start the bacon. After about 5 mins, add in the onion. Cook until onion is soft, then add in the butter and corn. Once butter is melted, add in the milk. Simmer for 10 mins. Mix the flour and water in a little bowl. Add flour mixture to chowder. Cook until thickened. (Potatoes generally are the thickening agent in chowder, so the flour replaces it.)
Add a loaf of french bread, which I break off and add to the bowl. Use cheese for garnish. Here I used parmesean. Cheddar would be yummy, too.

The Question That Haunts Me

2008-11-15T10:22:00.006-06:00

We went out Christmas shopping last night, finding some great deals in unconventional ways. Although Halloween shopping was not on my list, when I hit the almost empty seasonal aisle at Walmart, there were signs printed that said all Halloween items were 10 cents. WOW!!! I am always thinking ahead, buying items for the next season, especially when it comes to school party favors. I know that there are always about 25 kids to a class at Bre's elementary school, so I bought 25 packs of stickers, that were normally $1.99 for a dime a piece. Halloween for next year, done. (And she will be the absolute coolest kid, because each and every one of them will receive an entire pack of 4 sheets of stickers and not just one sheet. When you think ahead your kiddos can be the coolest, and you can be the cheapest.)

Then I found gift bags that were supposed to be ghosts. I took a second look at them. They didn't have to be ghosts. I quickly realized that if they were nestled amongst wrapping paper that was all covered in snowflakes that they could easily pass for snowmen. The giftbags were originally $2.49 each, yep, you guessed it, for a dime. I quickly found 15 of them. I hauled my finds over to find DH over in the movies, and he agreed that they looked enough like snowmen to pass off as a great replacement.

While I was there, I picked up three bags of Hannah Montana candy braclets that were Halloween packs, but said nothing of Halloween on them, to go in Bre's gift bags for her friends for school. These also had stickers included. Lala and Bre are allowed to choose up to 15 girl friends to share special gifts with. These will help to fill up her 15 pencil bags that I got on clearance earlier this year at Clare's for a quarter each. Free lip gloss and a few other trinkets will fill each of the girls bags for around $1 each. This is a fun way to let them get into the spirit of giving without breaking my bank. When you factor in that I do not spend $30 at once, but $3 here and 50 cents there, it seems like I am spending next to nothing, and they are getting a lot of bang for my bucks. Lala's friends get excited each year to see what they will have hidden in their bags. This is Bre's first year on this plan, so we will see how it goes.

OK, back to the bags! So, what do you think? Do they pass off as snowmen, or is it too obviously a ghost? Would you use them for Christmas???

Fun with the Kiddos

2008-11-13T18:21:00.005-06:00

My kiddos begged me to play a game with them when I got home from work. Once I finally had my wits about me and made it to the table, they had Scrabble all picked out and ready to go. Scrabble is a writer's FAVORITE game!!! They chose it without coaching, which is amazing, but awesome all at the same time.

We always purchase our children board games for Christmas. With all of our kiddos, that is a lot of games that flow into our home. The ones that don't get played with are happily sold at yard sales to make room for the upcoming ones they are already requesting.

As for the solution to lost pieces, we have had a method that works for years. All games are stored on a 4 foot book shelf that sits between our living room and dining room. Through many ears of practice, our family knows that games may ONLY be played at the dining room table or at the coffee table. No games are allowed in bedrooms. We have not lost a game piece in years. The shelf system helps keep them nice and tidy, while insuring that an overflow of games do not overrun us.

Since we currently have about 20 games, we can have a family game night almost any night of the week and not be stricken with "same game syndrome". Variety is the spice of life, after all. For more frugal ideas, scoot on over to Biblical Womanhood for Frugal Fridays.

What do you do to have fun with your kiddos???

Location, Location, Location

2008-11-13T08:33:00.004-06:00

With all of the current mortgage troubles, it makes me wonder where common sense went on vacation for about 20 years. You cannot seriously believe that if you are paying half of your monthly income on housing that you can afford to live. HALF? OR MORE!!!

My god-mother gave me the best advice I have ever received. If you are going to get cheap real estate, you have to do one of two things: "Choose the nicest house in the crappiest neighborhood or choose the crappiest house in the nicest neighborhood." We chose the first with our first home, and the second option with our second home.

No matter how many nice embellishments you put on a home, if the cops are two doors down every other night, it is not a place to raise kiddos. However, if you take a home that needs some work in a great neighborhood, there is room for improvement. So, slowly, over the course of five years, we have improved our home, but it still needs a little more work. The view however? The absolute nicest!

Pretty, Please???

2008-11-12T09:08:00.005-06:00

I have found myself dreaming of "prettier" things lately. I know, I know, I have been all aflutter lately talking about it, but it simply is the truth.

Changing the habit is the simpliest way to make things better. My family generally eats off of cheap plastic plates (found on Walmart clearance, of course) seven days a week. We got into this habit when our children were much younger and accident prone. Now that all but one of our children are teens, and the baby is now way beyond being a baby, it was still just a part of our lives.

Lately, I have realized that we can certainly eat off of the nicer dishes. So what if one breaks? They are doing nothing but taking up room on my shelves. They are no more useful on that shelf than they are broken in the trash. But, as of a week later, the whole set remains in tact.

Simplisticly, changing from a plastic to a glass plate makes meals better. It means that we are actually taking the time to enjoy our meal, not just the food set upon the table. There is something so great about a Sunday meal, why not put that much attention on the table every day? No, the food may not take hours to prepare, it may only take 30 minutes, but the effort for using those same dishes is the same. It all comes down to a frame of mind.

Cheap and Easy vs. Elegant and Easy

It really is a no brainer! And yes, this really is working for me! For more Works for Me Wednesday tips, go on over to Rocks in My Dryer.

Thank a Vet!

2008-11-11T11:19:00.001-06:00

My father, grandfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, my good friend Danny. All Veterans that I love and thank for my freedom.

Have you thanked a vet today?

Ham Made Simple

2008-11-10T06:44:00.002-06:00

After breakfast yesterday, I started getting out the slow cooker so I could put the ham in it for supper. I thought this was the normal way to cook a ham, until DH started questioning me. His mother, grandmother and sisters all cook their hams in the oven, so he had no idea it could be done in the crock pot.

Once we sit down to eat, he readily agreed it was the best ham he had ever eaten.

Crockpot Ham

1 picnic shoulder (that will fit in your slow cooker)

1 can pineapple (crushed, sliced or chunks all work)

3 tablespoons brown sugar (we used Splenda brown sugar and it worked wonderfully)

Put the ham in the crockpot, pour over the pineapple, juice and all. Sprinkle the brown sugar on top. Put the lid on and cook on high for six hours.

Although this is not the most frugal meal in my recipe box, it is great when you want an easy, wonderful meal. Even at $10 for a good ham, the cost of the entire meal is what you would pay for 1 person to have the same meal in a nice restaurant. It may not be the most thrifty meal, but sometimes you just have to let loose and live a little. And this is definitely a taste of the good life.

Beautiful Breakfast

2008-11-09T08:52:00.005-06:00

Weekend meals to me mean more time to prepare and so this morning I decided to make it special. Even simple ham and eggs can be more beautiful with a little attention to detail.

Thanks to Meredith for the inspiration!

Hittin' the Sales

2008-11-08T16:03:00.010-06:00

Lala, DH and I went roaming this morning. Yard sales and thrift stores were on the agenda. Such great deals to be had. So much fun and so very relaxing.

Doiles for a dime, damask for a dollar. Even the chilly weather could not deter these hot deals.

After School Activity

2008-11-07T15:54:00.002-06:00

There is something so sweet about sisterly love, even in the simplest of times.

Pretty Birdy

2008-11-06T19:57:00.005-06:00

A lucky Goodwill find for only $2.99. It haunted me as I tried to leave it on the shelf.

My head kept saying, "But the tag is the wrong color, it's not half price."

My heart said, "It's only $3!"

Score one for the heart.

Pink Paradise

2008-11-06T06:57:00.015-06:00

Bre is the girliest girl you could ever imagine.

All pink clothes - check.

Manis and pedis (even if mom is the beauty cooridinator) - check.

Sparkles and glitter -- she's your girl.

So, since she has now turned the magic number 9 (half-way to being an adult ya know), it was time for her first fully decorated room. She has lived with a mish-mash of furniture and cast-offs from every other room for her whole life. Now it was her turn.

Her formerly jade walls were turned into pop-princess pink, with hand painted matching gerber daisies at the top for a border. The paint was left over baby pink from my bathroom along with some bright red (from my best friend's paint stash) mixed in until the color was just perfect for her. The white paint was left overs from other projects in my own stash. The furniture was transformed with cream paint also from the same stash. The yellow centers for the flowers were the only purchased paint for the entire project. Paint -- 50 cents.

The curtains were a pair of sheers from half price Goodwill day. I found some sparkly beads on a wire at Walmart on clearance for $1 each and bought 5 strings. The flowers at the top were found in the remnants bin on the same trip to WM, in a ziplock bag marked 50 cents. We hung the sheers, then took the bead and wrapped them around the curtain rod and wrapped them around a broom stick to get the curly effect. We thumb-tacked the flowers at the top of the window treatment. Curtains -- $7.50.

Her canopy was a dream. She loved the little girls' room in The Holiday, with their beautiful tent. All of the fabric for her tent was a birthday gift from my best friend, and with 20 yards of fabric, some cuphooks and fishing line and a LOT of draping and fuss, she has a pretty princess canopy. On the wall inside is a big kite that looks like a fairy. Canopy -- a wonderful gift.

The only other cost was a new wicker bookshelf and a small side table, both found on our yearly Hwy 20 yard sale experience. I found a beautiful 6-foot tall wicker bookshelf in perfect condition for $10 and a side table for her bed found for $4. I also found a pretty floral rug for $1. So many yard sales, so little time. But we found what we went after. All the rest of the furniture in her room was already hers. A simple desk got a new coat of paint and the handles got into the theme with more gerber daisies. Furnishings -- $15.

Stylish room perfect for a pretty pink princess -- $23.

Princess satisifaction level -- millions.

For more frugal ideas visit Crystal over at Biblical Womanhood and Tara at Not So Perfect.

From the Inside Looking Out

2008-11-05T17:58:00.005-06:00

I have strived for years to live as cheaply as possible. Coupon clipping, garage-saling, thrift store shopping, using it up, wearing it out, making it do, and doing without.

But lately I have found myself a little lack-luster. Although you can have a stylish wardrobe on a budget, it will not be very much so with only cast-offs from other people's closets (if it was a great piece, it wouldn't be a cast off.) And, yes, you can have a beautiful home with curb-side finds, but a flea-market filled casa is much more appealing to me.

No, I will not be running around shopping like a maniac, but I am trying to learn to replace those worn out goods with only things I love, versus whatever is cheapest. And for the things that are not in need of replacing, I am trying to make them more like what I want with minor alterations like paint and fabric.

I have spent so long watching and reading the lovely blogs and lives of some of the most beautiful and stylish lives. I am now inspired and enabled. I want to live with more style, but of course I want to do it on a budget.

One Day Soon

2008-11-05T16:06:00.004-06:00

I will quit tinkering with this blog

I PROMISE!!!

Waiting for the World to Change.....

2008-11-04T14:53:00.005-06:00

Today is the day! Well, my day was a couple of weeks ago when I voted early, but it's not too late for your voice to be heard.

Either way -- history will be made. It's either a woman or someone of color. What a refreshing idea!

There are LOTS of places giving freebies to voters today, including Starbucks and Krispy Kreme.

So go vote, then go get yourself some coffee and a donut. What a sweet way to celebrate what is a wonderful American right!

I caved....

2008-11-03T15:02:00.002-06:00

DH and I decided to live without take out for 30 days. It was harder than we thought. To celebrate his new employment, we had Chinese for lunch. It was oh...so...yummy!

Once in three weeks is much better than nearly every day.

Back to Basics

2008-10-20T13:23:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I get so busy in life that I simply forget to keep it simple. I get so caught up in the big ways to save money, I forget that the small ones are those that drain you the most.

Yes, it is easy to talk about being frugal, and I am in many senses of the word, but sometimes I overlook the small things that add up to be so very much. Like cooking enough dinner to take some leftovers for lunch. It only takes a little more ingredients, but can save us as much as $60 a week! Yep, DH and I can easily spend that much eating out every day, but hopefully we can completely eliminate this habit.

Soda is another big budget drainer. We are trying to make our own tea at home this week, taking it in recycled Milo's jugs. (Embarrasingly we had more than enough of these for DH and I both to take them to work and still have a couple hanging around the house.) If I figure up the 4 sodas a day (for each of us), that adds up to $8 a day saved, or another $40 this week alone. (Since I have tons of Lipton tea, that was free with coupons of course, and quite a bit of sugar left from a great sale, this is practically free for us.)

So now we are up to $100.

Another one is over-shopping. Although it is a good idea to buy extra while extremely cheap or free (cause you know that's what works best for me!), sometimes I can get overzealous and buy 60 boxes of pop-tarts. After the 5th box, my kiddos are complaining.

For the next few weeks I will be sticking to a menu, eating (almost) completely from home and using up some of our pantry. Hopefully I can get back into the frugal groove that I honestly do appreciate knowing how to do.

Since our economy is in such economically hard times, I am so glad that I do not have to start from scratch learning how to pinch pennies. I just buckle down my belt a little harder, look a little deeper, and do the things I used to do when we were both in college. Nope -- it's not fun, but it sure beats learning for the first time after years of luxurious living.

CONGRATS!

2008-10-16T12:24:00.003-05:00

Congrats are in order for Meredith and a Happy Birthday for John, who was born on Monday! I'm sure she will be sharing pics of the new one soon, over on her beautiful blog at Like Merchant Ships.

Fresh Fall Look

2008-10-16T11:48:00.003-05:00

I hope I don't confuse anyone by leaving out my trademark pink, but I thought I needed a new look for fall.

Things are changing quite a bit around my house these days, the pink that I have taken off my blog has made it's way to Bre-baby's walls. Yep, Barbie-inspired pink is now the color that my girliest girl gets to wake up to, once we finally get her room put back together. A white 12-inch border with pink gerbera daisies and pink polka-dots top off the walls. A pretty pink canopy (which is more like a tent) will soon surround her bed.

I hope to have pics up in a few days so that you can all see our transformation, along with ideas, a price break-down and tips on the painting techinques.

My first blog award!

2008-10-15T14:49:00.005-05:00

My dear friend Nessa bestowed this award on me a few days ago. I am so very flattered!

According to Nessa: The words are in Portuguese and mean, “This blog invests and believes, the proximity” (meaning, that blogging makes us ‘close’ -being close through proxy).

I have learned so much from all of you, my bloggy friends -- those who entertain, inspire and educate me.

Savory Surprise

2008-09-27T07:23:00.006-05:00

My dear friend Angie is one of the most frugal people I know. She not only coupons, and shops yard sales and second hand stores, she grows all her own veggies, and they even raise their own meat. I am constantly in awe of her.

Last week she called me and asked if I could take some minute steaks. Free meat? SURE! (As I never refuse gifts of food -- we can always find a use for them somewhere.) In exchange, I offered her some bologna out of my freezer, since it is one of the handful of foods her newly-picky toddler will eat. She admitted she had been actually PAYING for bologna. There was no need for that since I have 20+ packs in my freezer that were free.

Of course, the day we were supposed to trade, nothing went right. My grandmother passed away, so I had to let my husband make the trade. I sent her 3 packs of bologna, thinking she was bringing me a couple of packs of minute steak. I was wrong.

He brings home a Kroger bag full of steak -- minute steak, sirloin, on and on. I could have cried I felt so blessed. She explained that she was getting a new cow that day and had to get rid of it -- so I received about 20 packs of beef from my sweet friend. And did I mention they were organic?

If you ever doubt how I make it on such a little grocery budget -- things like this are how. I believe you get what you give, and each time I hear someone is having a financial difficulty I gather them up a box of goods and it takes a couple of days fear of "how are we going to survive" off their shoulders. I do not do this to receive it back, I do it out of love. I truly believe God rewards good behaviors, and the steaks were my "payday".

Supper on Tuesday night was country fried steak, mashed potatoes, English peas, gravy and homemade biscuits. My husband did the cooking! A free meal I didn't have to cook? Such a wonderful savory surprise!

Coupon Alert & Money Maker!

2008-09-27T07:19:00.002-05:00

There are try me free COUPONS on the refill packages of Glade Scented Oil at most Walgreens. However, do not use them there.

Take them to Kroger, where until October 4th you will receive a $2 catalina for each one you purchase. MONEY MAKER!!!!

If you were ever wondering how I get free milk or meat, this is the key way to do so. $2 will easily buy a half gallon of milk on sale. It will also purchase small one-meal packages of meat.

So go out and stock up!

A Perfect Life

2008-09-24T19:13:00.004-05:00

There is no such thing as perfect. I have come to know this all too well. Even though from the outside looking in, you can see the "perfect life" from afar, that is often very far from the truth.

Being envious of a beautiful house, a luxury automobile or designer clothes, we are often very unaware of the mounting debt or very hard work and long hours that went behind those purchases. Those Bree Van de Camps of the world are very easy to be envious of. It is ever so much easier to be more like Peggy Bundy or Roseanne Conner. However, stereotypes let us know very quickly that these are the bad apples. We are supposed to be more like Bree.

The average woman, however, falls somewhere in the cracks that lie amongst the middle.

We cannot be perfect.

No matter how hard we try.

So dealing with what is before you is the best that you can do. Children will make bad grades. Bananas can go bad without ending up in a loaf of bread. A load of laundry can wait an extra day. The world will not fall apart.

Blogging shows a glimpse into the lives of our friends, either virtual, actual or a blend of both. It shows the best they have to offer. You will see very few pictures of a family that has a basket of laundry that needs to be folded in the background. Scarce are the kitchen photos with a sink full of dirty dishes -- or GASP! -- even some that are stacked up on the counter.

I know I am far from perfect........Thank goodness! Perfect is entirely too hard. I am too busy for perfect. I am too tired for perfect. Living, as I see it, is much more fun!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

2008-08-26T06:06:00.002-05:00

My baby girl is nine today! Only one year left in the single-digit years of life.....