Rant

I know that it has been months since I have posted. I hate to return with a rant, but ....you guessed it--I'm a gonna! My best friend has an eleven month old and is 25 days away from her due date with her second. She is sick. No, not because she is having two babies within a year (that constitutes crazy, not sick!) She said she can't take anything for her illness because her husband won't let her! Ummmm.....hello! 21st century! I don't think she liked my response, because I told her she is not the "little woman" and does not have to ask her husband's permission to take doctor-approved medication. Ridiculous!

What do you think? Should a pregnant woman ask her husband's permission to take medicine?

Teacher Gifts

Well, that's it folks. Another school year has come to an end. I wanted to send something to each of the teachers to thank them for a wonderful school year.

The first idea (x2) comes from Creative Gift and Party Ideas. Of course, I put my own little spin on it. I used canvases to glue the crayons to instead of cardstock and rather than purchasing frames. But to make it a little more special, I used my new special friend: zebra duck tape. I have fallen in love with this!!! What makes this even more special is the price.
Canvas (2 pk) 5.00
Zebra tape 3.50 (with plenty left over for other projects)
2 boxes of crayons 2.50
rick rack and ribbon FREE (already had)

So for around $5.00 each we had a cute personalized teacher gift!

The next idea is inspired by sweet Sandra Stinson, a wonderful K4 teacher. She lost her mother this school year and has been kind enough to share some fun things her mom used to say with us. One of our favorites is, "Happy people wear polkadots." Baby K says this every time she wears polkadots now. Naturally, this had to be incorporated into her gift. I, along with my trusty friend Duct tape, created a cutesy little sign with this on it. Can anyone tell me what might be better than polkadots and zebra together? I didn't think so. Oh yeah, one more thing....completely free!!! That's right-- I already had everything I needed to make this door hanger.



I had a blast creating these! Can hardly wait to show you the baby gifts I am working on!

Flea Market Finds

Mr. Wonderful and I headed out to some flea markets Saturday with the two girls in tow. I honestly was not thrilled with the flea market we chose because I just haven't found much in there lately. But boy did we find some good stuff. Some of it wasn't exciting to take pictures of, so I'll spare you the details. But we got an self-inflating mattress for camping, computer parts including a sound card that we needed for the kids computer($100 worth for $8), some cute sandals for the girls, a trolling motor to shorten that dreaded canoe trip that is coming up. What else? What else? Oh, yeah! The good stuff!

The first is this gorgeous brass frame. It is super heavy and only $5. Can't wait to make this thing even purtier! Any suggestions for colors? I think black would look amazing, hot pink, peacock blue, etc.

Next, we have this shelf. This baby is going white to join some other shelves. I saw this
on the Nester's blog, and have had my eye out for some more shelves. Don't you just love her home?


At a second flea market, the treasures continued. My girls are really into doing puzzles right now. We found a stash of appropriately sized puzzles for 25 cents each, 2 awesome stadium seats, and these lovelies. Aren't they just the perfect color? And the best part....only 6.95 each!!! Can't wait to do a room makeover and use these!!
Linking to:
Southern Hospitality: Thrifty Treasures

Blogger Jealousy

I keep seeing all of these fantastic entryways in blogland. And I'm jealous. I have no such entryway. When you walk into the front of my house (for people who don't belong at my house), you are in a converted closed-in porch that now serves as a music studio for Mr. Wonderful. When you walk into the back door (for those who belong), you walk straight into my office/laundry room/catch all room. My wheels are spinning as to how I can transform this room into something that I love. First things first....the pine paneling has to be painted. Second, the "extras" have to go. I think I would love some creative solution to catch backpacks and shoes, hats and scarves, etc. but I just haven't found her yet. I love the curtains in this room and am unwilling to part with them. But never fear....I will figure it out. And when I do, you will have a zillion and one before/after pictures to sort through. Until then, I will keep reading my favorite creative blogs searching for something that makes my heart sing!

crawling out

I think today is Thursday. I think. You see, I've been dealing with this cold and congestion now for a week and a half, and today I am just not sure of anything. I can't remember street names. Heck, I am not sure I remember my own name. But, alas, Wife Swap has made me crawl out from under the covers and get up to clean my house. I saw myself of Wife Swap today. Except her house was clean. I have been guilted by yet another television show (Hoarders does it too), to get up and get busy. So through my foggy-headedness, I have cleaned up the kitchen, and put on a load of clothes to wash. And the only reason I am sure of that is because I can hear the washing machine going. Once I got that going, I collapsed into my computer chair to read and maybe write a few words. Now I am totally exhausted. I'm crawling back under the covers now so I can go to class tonight. Good mid-day, everyone.

So the day has come.....

The day is upon us. The dreaded day. She left this morning. Saying goodbye last night was very hard. Maybe I am overreacting, but I really felt sick to my stomach. Still do. Now I know that she is only 10 hours away, a 1 day drive as my sister pointed out last night. But that is a little far to drive for birthday parties or a cup of sweet tea, or just because she needs to get away.

We had that aunt growing up--the one we could go stay with for a weekend when we just needed to get away. I enjoyed that aspect of our relationship--being the getaway. All of my sisters have been that at some point for her, but we were just around the corner. I haven't driven past the empty house yet. I am sure that will be emotional, as well, the first fifty times I do it. After they had several break-ins in the past years, will I ever get used to not looking when I go past to make sure everything is as it should be?

But, Kase, I want you to remember what I told you. I want you to give it a chance and be cooperative. And remember that even through the hard times, you are a Christian. Please remember that everything that you say and do reflects on you as a person. You are so smart and funny and caring....you won't have any trouble making friends. I love you, sweet girl! (You'll always be my first child).

Oh, Christmas!

Oh, Christmas! How I love thee! The beautiful decorations, the giving spirit, the wonderful comforting aromas of homemade baked goods, but most especially the love of a Heavenly Father who sent His Son to earth to save me!!

I don't love the long lines in stores, pushy irritable shoppers, having a zillion presents to wrap at the last minute because I procrastinate on things like that. But this Christmas is different. Yes, the lines are still long, people are still irritable, and I still have a zillion presents to wrap. But I am sad. Yes, sad. How can one be sad at Christmas? Well, I'll tell you. The joy of spending time with my family is overshadowed this year by the events of the following week. One of my oldest sisters (there are 5 of us girls) is moving and taking with her my beloved niece. Over the past few years, my niece has become a part of my family. She is the big sister to my children, our oldest "daughter." She even calls my husband "Dad." She loves his chicken strips and camp stew. She comes over just because she loves us and has a few minutes to spare. She comes over for a cup of sweet tea after school (because we have the best). We laugh together; we cry together. You see, Virginia is a long way from here. And at 17 years old, she has spent her last birthday in Alabama with her family. This will be her last Christmas with her family. She will miss my children's birthdays for the first time ever this year. And I am sad.

But tonight, I will put on my happy face and enjoy one last chicken strip dinner with her, as dad makes her some camp stew to take with her. I hope that every time she eats chicken strips she continues to say, "There aren't as good as Dad's." And I hope that every time she laughs, she remembers the laughs we have had. And every time that she cries, she remembers crying on my shoulder. And most importantly, I hope she never forgets how much she is loved by her family here. I wish her happiness and quick adjustment, and a speedy return to Alabama. We love you, Kasey.