to us.

 

 

because i am shameful, too.

so my bff has blasted to the blog world about how unorganized she has become due to life.  i thought, "oh my, if she thinks that is bad...just wait until she sees my house!"  with the new year, i had already decided that i want to simplify and get rid of stuff.  so her post was perfect timing and i am jumping aboard.  i started with my bathroom cabinet that i had let go to crud.  it drove me crazy every morning while getting ready for work.  ugh.  i hit up the dollar general and purchased a load of bins that i thought i may be able to use and then headed home to work on this:



after what seemed like forever since i had a little two year old "helping" me and a trash bag later, it became this:

now the paint color is not very appealing, but after painting every room in this rental house i had to draw the line somewhere and it was painting the closets.  (i did line the shelves when we first moved in though.)  not a huge transformation, but it lets me breathe again as s would say.  i rearranged the medicine cabinet, the cabinet under the sink, and found a spot for my makeup bag in an otherwise useless pull out (must have been a laundry shoot at some point or something) by sticking a hook in there and hanging it up.  much better than on the back of the toilet. after my husband hangs the baskets on the wall (i tried, but i'm not tall enough) and i hang some prints/photos the bathroom will be complete.  oh and it needs a curtain to cover those nasty blinds!

mine needs some more loving after seeing shan's (below).

this is next:


the dreaded hall closet.  i'm scared and am positive it will take me a day per shelf especially if this little guy is going to help
again.  good thing i have a week!

linking up to: short history of now: the shame files

it's a new world

ahhhh...we just got home from christmas traveling and it feels good.  we were able to spend quite a few days in NE with d's parents and brother's fam.  m had a blast with t & p.  icing on the cake was being able to watch them both play some ball.  they have grown up so much.  now i know how people feel when they see my kids after a few months and say they are soooo big.  crazy.  the highlight for m was probably definitely playing uno spin.  grandpa baby even got in on a few games (that's a big deal since he hates that game!).  we spent a half day at home and then headed to IA.  it was lovely.  it always feels good to be home.  the highlight of that trip for me was spending time with mama and lunch at leonardo's.  it was soooo yummy.  highlight for m-sledding!  he LOVED it!  we got back just to send d off again for a few days.  we are trying to get back into a routine and our days are full of cleaning, organizing, making phone calls, a bball game for m, and a work party for me.  it's passing quickly.

with the 1000+ miles in the car, i've thought a lot about where we are as a family, where i want us to go, and how we need to get there.  i've mainly focused on what i can personally change and what i want for myself and then d and i can do the family stuff together.  that's on our agenda next week.  i am excited to write it all down, get a plan in place, and make it all happen.  i think know good things will happen this year and am anxiously awaiting it all hand in hand with d.  it feels good.  but first, i must get this christmas tree taken down and clear out the clutter from 2012.  oh and your christmas card will be coming...if i have your address. :)  happy new year!

distractions.

lesson one of math done.  test opens up tonight at 11.  think i'll wait until the am to start it.  i'd like to say that i have completed lesson 1 of english as well, but i haven't.  it's due tomorrow so i technically still have time.  i am kicking myself for failing this class my freshman year.  if only i would have gone to class more.  too bad that had such a huge percentage on our final grade.  sigh.  live and learn i guess.

i treated myself to a distraction after i got my math submitted...designing in publisher.  i downloaded a trial version of microsoft office 2010 and publisher a few days back.  i've been waiting and today i got to play with it.  i. am. in. love. with. it.  used to use publisher to make posters all the time when i worked at girl scouts in salina.  so when shan sent me this link (see below) to see if we could recreate it for her wedding programs, i said heck yeah!  so between dreaming up some subway signs i want to make for my shows coming up and many fb messages and emails, we came up with this so far.  only showing you a tiny bit of it because really, that's all that is set.  they will be perfect for her backyard, mad men themed wedding.  she has been finding lots of treasures thrifting and at garage sales...it is going to be absolutely beautiful.  i *think* i finally found my dress...there is only one left so as long as it is there on friday, it's mine.  otherwise, i will be starting over again.  then i have to find shoes and a cardigan and accessories.  which reminds me that i must start my workout.  i bought a jillian michaels dvd ages ago.   weights, too.  pretty sure they all still have their tags on them.  but i must fix that. 


yesdearstudio

 a sneak of what shan's will be



m is doing AMAZING with school and he memorized his first Bible verse.  "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority."  Hebrews 13:17  He told me I must submit to him driving to school this morning.  Guessing he will get the meaning of it later, but for now i am thrilled that he memorized it.  he did tell me he was nervous to say it to his teacher so we'll see how that goes tomorrow.  lol

 

 

going back to see this sweet little girl very soon...worried about my little monster being himself.  a monster.  pray we make it out alive and that sloane does, too.  :)

how can it be?

he was happy to see that his owl was winking.

this little guy is off to preschool.  he wasn't thrilled, but went with it.  i was in love with getting to buy new school supplies.  that was always my favorite thing about school.  and the smell of them.  yum.  anyway, he goes full days all week which works out great for childcare and all and will be sure to make it easier for me to let him go come time for kindergarten.  i mean, he goes to a real school and learns real things...it's only just begun.  d said in the car while pulling away from school, "here goes the next 13 years of our lives."  more like 14, but well said anyway babes.  after a rough first couple days and a meeting with his teacher, he is doing much, MUCH better.  his teacher even called me at home last night to tell me what an awesome day he had.  thanking God he is where he is. 

 

 

didn't even look back.

was so thirsty since he didn't find his water bottle
in his bag and he refused to use the water fountain.

q started a new daycare, too since i never really liked where he spent a couple days of his week and our favorite girl who came to our house couldn't this semester.  it is a good enviroment for him and he is doing very well.  mr. independent.  still doesn't say much.  loves bananas to pieces.  loves to give pounds and high fives, play basketball, race cars and beating on the washer and dryer to hear the funny noise.  he is not liking going to bed lately, taking a bath or us feeding him.  a few weeks back at his 18 month check up, nurse had to measured him, noted measurements and then had to come back into room to do it again because she thought she messed up.  turns out he really just grew 2+ inches in 2 1/2 months.  tall guy with a big belly.

excited!

 

banging on the door to get in.

as if we didn't have enough going on with m's new school and q's new daycare and d's new schedule for work, my classes started yesterday.  i got a big box of books in the mail tuesday and so it all begins.  two classes first 8 weeks and three the next 8 weeks.  looked at assignments today and they are very fast paced.  and that's putting it mildly.  we are settling into a routine and my schedule will get ironed out soon allowing me two full free days to do school while all the boys are away.  success.

still trying to find the perfect dress for the perfect wedding coming up in oct.  the one i really wanted is sold out and the next one i really wanted is sold out, too.  really people.  so it's back to the drawing board although time is closing in.  excited for it.  need to get crafty on a few little things for it.  no, shan, i am not telling you what it is! ;)

have a couple shows coming up in sept.  really need to get busy on those.  i know, how many more things can i possibly put on my plate.  trust me, it's a large one.  maybe too large?!  i mean, i have procrastinated all day today while i had hoped to get some things made for work, do some school work, laundry, empty the dishwasher, decide on dinner...and now it's time to get the little monsters.  cute little monsters i might add.

fresh.

so some crazy people were reading my blog...so i restricted it and then thought, "they're crazy.  i don't care.  this is mine and you are not taking it or my life away from me.  thanks anyway."  so, now i'm back.  my blog is back.  and i am ready for it so bring it on.  lol  (that was in my tough voice)

i freshened things up around here and have added a couple things including a button for "The Gathering."   (it's a vintage, junk fest full of workshops and a guest speaker and vendors galore.  and my friend, jennifer morris, is co-hosting it.  no doubt it will be fab.  mark it down.)  i'd love to get a blog designed for me, but that will have to wait.  until then, i'll keep playing with it to try and keep it exciting. 

i've been doing a lot (i say a lot because it feels like a lot although it's really not a lot.) of decorating around the rental. we've been here for almost a year so it's about time to actually "move in" right?. the kitchen, hallway and laundry area have been painted for a long time. everything else was on hold until whenever. i took advantage of the boys mini-vaca and painted q's room. (i don't have the horrible before photos with lighthouse border peeling off and tan/dirt doors so i'll save the after photos for when i get it all the way completed.) now this next room, oh my, it was intimidating. i just kept thinking it was so awful that i didn't even know where to begin. but i took the flowers by the petals (ha ha) and began.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

those photos do not do that wallpaper justice.  it was textured and shiny and thick.  top of the line back in it's day i am sure.  and paired with the pink doors, window, trim, vanity along with that carpeted/cracked vinyl floor it was a dream bathroom.  gag.  now you see why i was scared to tackle it, but had to?.  our landlord had someone come in and put the floor down which was the biggest part holding me back so once it was done, i wanted it all done.  i ripped that yummy wallpaper right off the wall (yes, it came off in full sheets thank you jesus.) and starting painting.  1.5 hours later i was done and happy.  very happy.  i am in love with the mirror cabinet and the old vintage (it sounds better) sconces which i spray painted a dark plum.  i picked up some dark plum towels to match and they will become two rugs (thank you pinterest) and a twin xl sheet set to make a ruffled shower curtain and window curtain.  i must wash them all first though and my washer and dryer are not hooked up due to new flooring that went into that closet.  so, the finishing touches are on hold, but i am anxious to get them completed soon.  photos to come.  oh and my four year is heartbroken that the flower wallpaper is gone.  it brought tears to his eyes when i "switched up his house" and "took away the pink and flowers."  i am sorry, m, but i love you more than that wallpaper and the color pink.  i promised him that i would make a flower picture and hang it up in there.  it seemed to suffice for now.

planned rug-via finecraftguild.com

remember those father's day gifts?  here they are in all their glory (they make me happy walking down the hallway):



be happy, not sad.

i freaking love this kid. and he freaking loves to eat.

i will start with the positives: (because i really need to be more positive and wow wow wubzy is singing to me to be happy, not sad.  i'm trying wubzy.)

*we finally were able to get internet service at our home.  we have been without since moving here almost three years ago.  we did have a little hotspot that we could use, but it worked like dial-up.  ok, worse than dial-up so it was basically worthless especially when d was trying to work from home.  so here i am LOVING every second of having this new internet that works just internet should.  i'm not sure i believe it yet.  ahhh.

*i am listening to two screaming little boys jumping on the couch with the cushions on the floor.  hey, it's a safety hazard to have the cushions on the couch vs. the floor since one little child like to climb onto everything or just walk right off the couch thinking he can walk in air.  sigh.  yeah, i like to think of it as saving a few trips to the er and it makes them happy.  so, i embrace it and even took a nap on them the other night after the boys went to bed.  guess it is kind of fun.  made me feel like a kid again with a semi-fort in the living room.  p.s.  i need earmuffs due to all the screaming though.

*i had an appointment this morning that lasted forever, but it was worth it and much needed.  really don't want to get into, but it was a positive thing so i had to list it.  especially since i am trying to be more positive.  (tired of me saying that yet?  i am.)

*i stopped into an antique mall that i have been wanting to go into for forever.  i was on a mission to find some old treasures for s's wedding.  it was heavenly.  and some good therapy. 

*m and i made some cookies yesterday (trying to lighten the mood around here-see below.)  he loves to do it all by himself and he did a great job.  :)  it was nice to enjoy him helping me and how excited he was to do it.  i should have made sure i had everything though.  no powered sugar=no bueno.  so the cookies sit unfrosted in a tub and i have been dying to have one but we all know they are WAY better with lots of frosting.  so they will sit there until tomorrow and i will keep wiping the drool from my mouth.

ok, the junk: (that's me trying to be positive again although it is really sucky and negative)

*d's car got broken into at work.  adjuster came out today and it will be $2000 to fix.  thankfully we had just switched insurance companies and put full coverage back on his car.  but, still it will be $500 for us and then insurance will pay the rest.  oh and then we have to fix some leak or something that will cost us $500.  we have known about that, but couldn't swing it lately so we've been putting it off.  grr.  now it will only be $1000 out of pocket and many days without it while it's in the shop.  lovely.  this really has me down, i mean we have now had my car broken into once and his car twice and we haven't even lived here three years.  i know it can happen anywhere and to anyone, but really?!?  i have managed to not ever have this happen before in the many places i have lived.  i just wish this town would give us a break.  i don't like it and i'm pretty sure it knows it.  i've been clear about that since day one, but a break is needed for goodness sake.  pray for me.  pray for us.  pray for me not to get admitted into a psych ward. 

"please don't go."

now onto the crafting news:



here's the before shotof the light in my "dining room."
(i had my super fab electrician stepdad hang my light already though)

and here's the after.  i'm loving it.

*now i am getting me anxious to start painting the living room since the light is in the same room and that we get new furniture sometime soon. our "old" couch has a broken arm that they can't fix it so after months and months of looking, they have finally been able to find something i like. 

 

 i really, really want the chair and ottoman, too. but they will have to wait. 

*and here are a couple of letters i made for a friend's sister.

i actually made the letters since i couldn't find the right size. 
definately won't be the last time i do that-loved it!
(yes, i know the j is backwards. the back had to dry too people!)

i even have a superman cape on the back!

have a great day...i am going to try :)