My Pocketbook and Me

subway art

2011-09-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

there are so many takes on subway art. and i had not yet tried creating my own. and lately my craft groove has been dormant (along with my blogging groove). but today i gave it a try. a sweet friend is having a birthday...a big one. so i decided to make her some subway art with the places and things that are most meaningful to her and her family.

what a fun project.

now i need to start one of my own. how about it ball's? give me your favorite family traditions, memories, places. i'll see what i can come up with.

and don't tell me nothing.

geez.

you know we did stuff.

vintage paintings

2011-09-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

these two small original oil paintings hung in my grandmother's house. they were a gift to her from my mother. i love these two paintings. they are quaint, sweet and vivid, and, in person, have dimension and layers. they make my heart smile.

my mother purchased them from the artist, eric linnell, in 1945. she was on her way to work (her very first job) at wanamaker's in philadelphia. the artist was sitting outside of wanamaker's on the sidewalk painting them. still in their original frames, they measure only about 5" X 6".

they were lovingly handed from daughter to mother.

they hung in my grandma's house until she died in 1977.

after that they hung in my mom's house.

i've had my eyes on them ever since i can remember.
(so much so that i put my name on the back of them lest any of my siblings get any ideas that they might be going to their homes.)

recently they came home with me and they now hang in my house.

i see them every single time i enter my home.

love.

a gumball machine

2011-09-03T18:13:00.000-07:00

i needed a gumball machine. on a stand. not that i was anxious for 10 grandchildren to be running around my house chewing gum and leaving it wherever....

no, i needed a gumball machine because this little girl is a sassy, i'll say hello if i want to, kinda gal.

i needed a bribe. so when she comes over i can get some loving.

yep, i needed a gumball machine.

like this one. because miss sassy will do just about anything for gum.

but every gumball machine i found was red and black. and i wanted black and white.

so out came the paint. spray paint. one of man's greatest inventions.

here she is. all ready.

so come on over elise. this nana can't wait to get some leelee loving!

i want to live here!

2011-08-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Tracery Interiors, Atlanta Homes Mag

yummy light, monochromatic, windows to die for, and worn, rustic wood to warm it all up.

but alas...i live in the desert.

why? why? why?

biscotti di prato recipe - piu delizioso

2011-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

biscotti di prato because it originated in the italian city of prato. it's a love acquired no doubt from my italian heritage. and hands down this is the best biscotti recipe ever. it comes courtesy of my niece (hey, sarah jones!) who got it from the mother of the owner of a little coffee shop she used to work at.

here's the recipe

biscotti di prato

cream 1 1/2 sticks butter

add 1 1/2 cups sugar

beat and add 6 eggs (save 1 egg white for top)

add:

2 - 4 tsp anise extract (i use 4 very generous tsps. it is, after all, anise)

2 tsp of vanilla

2 cups minced nuts (walnuts or pecans)

4 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

1 to 1 1/2 cup chopped craisins (you can omit these)

cream mixture together. shape dough into 2 loaves. paint with egg white

baked on greased cookie sheet 35 - 50 minutes (yep, you gotta watch it)

to quote wiki..."these cakes are large biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the oven"
so don't forget to slice and twice bake (or they won't be biscotti!) about another 10 minutes.

delizioso, squisito, prelibato.
p.s. i'm back...i think.

winter solstice

2011-04-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

it's no secret. i hate winter. that season of dormancy, darkness and cold. motivation escapes me. not a single fiber of my being is alive. my time is spent curled up in a ball trying to keep my bones warm while my spirit plummets. seasonal affective disorder. it's the winterizing of my soul. as the daylight wans i teeter into that dark, cold abyss. my soul falls dead asleep without feeling or hope. nature uses this time to rest. to reflect, rejuvenate, and replant. i am now, slowly, taking my cues from nature. and as the days begin to lengthen and the light begins to brighten i find myself waking up.

and for this i am grateful.

turn out the lights the party's over

2010-12-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

done. finito.

because about now my beloved christmas decor has turned into christmas clutter.

i need to get back to normal.

whatever that is.

christmas 2010

2010-12-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

at carrabbas. before the nutcracker ballet.

christmas eve dinner. prime rib. might have to be a new tradition.

its christmas morning. where are those bouncing ball? we've got presents to open!

happy will. and apparently bumpa likes little people too.

drew was happy too...but was still looking for that nerf recon. (yes, he found it.)

wessie got to building right away. cool stuff.

geez nana...clothes...that all you got.

yea skechers twinkle toes rock!

elise was happy...she hadn't found her clothes yet.

now if we could get the rest of those bouncing balls home from michigan,

we could wrap this christrmas thing up.

cause this nana has cooked her goose and needs to cuddle.

with this. (since the boy i live with went hunting...again.)

but i'm not complaining cause this keeps me nice and warm too.

with sleepytime herbal, lemon zinger, mandarin orange spice, cozy chamomile, peppermint, white hot chocolate, double chocolate, cafe mocha, and caramel apple cider.
and if this mormon momma gets to feeling edgy
she's got her eye on the butter toffee, hazlenut, raspberry chocolate truffle decafs.
thanks again babe...i love it. but you should know if you keep up this hunting pace,
my new keurig will be getting the best of me.

christmas baking

2010-12-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: i'm out of biscotti...i'm out of pizzelles.
mom, can i borrow your pizzelle maker?

is finally done. 8 loaves of biscotti, 3 sheets of toffee, 7 pumpkin spice jar cakes, and about 18 dozen anisette pizzelles.

we are in sweet overload over here.

except for elise. we can never get enough of her sweetness.

while baking she says to me, "nana, you're cute".
yep, full of sweetness and sass that one.

additions

2010-12-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

i wish i could be one of those bloggers who posts everyday but things have been busy around here. real busy. and all this busyness has included a couple of new additions.

addition number one is by far the most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition to come into our lives, well, since the last most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition.

introducing

natalie olivia

natalie came into the world on tuesday, december 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm.

7 pounds and 11 ounces of pure joy.

i am most blessed. she has filled my heart during a time i was afraid it was breaking.

and while natalie and mom and dad were resting in the hospital

this sassy little creature spent the night with me.

she let me take two pictures and then proclaimed,

"ok nana, that's enough".

during all this busyness i was drooling over christmas ball wreaths. i had to have one.

i liked the more abstract ones best. i didn't want my balls all lined up.

(in contrast to the days when i needed all my "balls" lined up and the boy i live with gave me some telling advice..."all your 'balls' are swimming on different ponds. get used to it".)

so i made me a christmas ball wreath. and my balls are not all lined up.

additions are a very good thing.

not quite the same

2010-11-28T10:29:00.000-08:00

decorating for christmas 2010 has been a struggle. i love this time of year. celebrating the birth and life and ministry of christ and making my home reflect my heart has always been a joy for me. but this year my dad is facing his final journey. much of my time has been spent pondering all he did and gave and sacrificed for his family. my dad is a remarkable man. he is tough and stern. right is right and wrong is wrong. principled and strong, he is passionate about many things. he loves deeply.
his lessons have served me well and taught me much.

this year my dad probably won't be able to make the trip to my home to enjoy our traditional christmas festivities and to share in the love we have for each other...
a love and a legacy that has grown and flourished, in part, because of a man i call dad.
but daddy, i don't want you to miss anything. you will always be a part of my life.

so here is a little bit of christmas 2010 at the ball home.

siblings

2010-11-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

the first time in a very long time that my three siblings and i had a chance to get together...just the four of us. no spouses. no children. not that their spouses and children aren't wonderful...they are.
but it was so nice to just have us.
and while the occasion that brought us all together is a sad and painful one,
i am so grateful for the time we had together.
i love you bobby.
i love you charlie.
i love you jo.

headed out

2010-11-11T18:56:00.000-08:00

in the morning. to here.

chick trip 2010

just outside of palm springs.

to laugh, eat, shop, cry and laugh some more.

because that's what best friends do.

and these two girls are the best.

to quote donna, "i'd clean sewers with these two."

can't stop...

2010-11-08T07:42:00.000-08:00

gathering ideas and planning my christmas decorating . because while thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday (much less stressful) i A.D.O.R.E christmas decorating. here are some pics of the ideas i would like to incorporate for my christmas tablescape. can't wait to get started.

(from http://www.iheartnaptime.blogspot.com/)

(reindeer and birds from www.potterybarn.com)

i want to start right now. but my kitchen is only half painted.

and this weekend is palm springs with my besties.

curse you menopause. it's all your fault that i can't stay focused.

update

2010-11-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

i loathe painting. it's still not right.

i should have gone to disneyland.

while the cats away

2010-11-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

i L.O.V.E. it when my boys go off together. trampling in the wilderness. chasing the big one. sitting around a campfire telling remember when stories. patting each other on the back. eating soup that i made just for them. makes me feel all warm inside.

it's their own male bonding time.
and over the years their male bonding time has given me plenty of opportunities too.
girlfriend time, sleeping in time, chick flick time, shopping time, and best of all...
daughter time.
why one time when they went hunting carrie and i left them a note on the kitchen table.
'gone to disneyland', it said. 'see you when we get back'.
now their latest hunting trip hasn't taken me to disneyland.
but that doesn't mean i'm sitting around whining and crying in my diet coke.

no sireee. let the fun begin.
painting the kitchen.
because while i love the kitchen cabinet redo from last year,

i hate the way the cabinets look with the current color of my kitchen walls.
a nice, soft swiss coffee background is just what they need.

so thank you, my boys, for giving me a free weekend.
i hope you are enjoying your male bonding time.
and that pot of soup. it's filled with love.

my new strategy

2010-11-02T11:43:00.000-07:00

wear skin tight jeans...no breathing room.

should equate to no eating room.

because in 2 weeks my 2 skinny besties and i will be heading out to our annual

palm springs weekend.

i can't help that i'm the oldest.

but dang, do i have to be the fattest.

i'll let you know if my new strategy works.

for now, i'm in pain.

tight jean pain.

i think my ocd is showing

2010-10-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

i can't stand it when the "header" end of my sheets is wrinkled.

see that big wrinkle. it's tragic.

so every week when i wash my sheets i end up ironing the header.

but i do it when it's on my bed.

makes me feel less neurotic.

you know as opposed to putting up the ironing board.

check it out!

2010-10-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

my dining room side chairs (you know, the ones decked out with roosters and other farm animals) make-over made it over here! and the story she tells about them...it's not my story. but oh, so accurate.
thank you better ater.

can i just say sweet.

my panties are all bunched up

2010-10-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

there is much in today's world i don't understand. some of it i'm just fine with. but some of these modern day behaviors have me either chuckling to myself or shaking my head. sometimes i even seeth.

for instance.

initialism.

lol (always thought it was lots of love), omg (what's wrong with 'heck'?) bff (cute if you're 12), lmao (if it were only that easy to get rid of my 'a').

these are the chuckling, head shaking ones.

but then there are the 'other' ones.

wtf (really...) and fml (a sign that therapy is needed).

please america. if you are under 20 go ahead. initialize.

if you are anywhere in the adult world, articulate.

with decorum and respect please.

maybe then our rising generation will have something to rise to.

finishing touch

2010-10-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

i finished the burlap pillows.

i'm liking the texture.

and the best part of these little pillows...i didn't have to buy a thing. i had looked for a pillow insert that was the size i wanted, about 8" X 16". couldn't find that size anywhere. but all i needed to do was check my pillow stash.

there it was. the average pillow. 16" X 16". so i cut it in half.

oh how i love upcycling.

p.s. no bathroom jokes allowed.

at last

2010-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

finally...my chairs are reupholstered. and i couldn't be happier with them.

here they are before.

during

and after

now i'm off to make some little burlap back pillows. i think they could use the texture.

that and i love burlap.

why i love the internet

2010-09-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

because i get a kazillion ideas. and it gets my brain going. and ideas flowing. why sometimes it even gets my heart pumping. i could peruse design and decor and crafting sites all day long. and because of the many hours that i spend blog hopping i have seen some amazing stuff. so amazing that i have done something i have never done before. decorate for halloween. ok, maybe not 'decorate'. more like tablescape.
here's my dining room table decked out for halloween.

wish i could take credit for this spooktacular (yes, i amuse myself) idea.

but i can't. it came from here. check it out. amazing.

he da man

2010-09-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

i fell in love with this face the very first time i saw it. he (and his brother...i'll tell you about him later) had been on a plane for 24 hours. his eyes couldn't have been bigger and the look of fear on his face couldn't have been more real. he didn't know that he had a family waiting. that he was loved beyond measure. and that he was ours forever. he had no idea that he was in for the adventure of a lifetime. neither did we.

now he's all grown up. almost.

that's him playing the stand up bass with the cdo jazz band. and he plays golf. and he's in r.o.t.c. he loves to fish. he loves to hunt. he plays a mean cornhole. he's always happy. he's very loved.

you da man koll.

why i store stuff under the couch

2010-08-27T19:49:00.000-07:00

i have this funky angled wall in my dining room. it is only 31" wide. it used to house the pool cues but since letting go of the pool table and actually getting a dining room the wall has been bare. i have looked at several architectural pieces but just didn't find what i wanted. while vacuuming tonight i came across two old ceiling tiles that i forgot i had.

bingo.

i layered them and i knew right where they needed to go.

i think they'll stay...for now.

holy cannoli

2010-08-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

you have got to check this out!

i am stunned and speechless. it is extraordinary and beyond words. i spend oodles of time perusing design sites and blogs. this has taken my breath away.
let me know what you think.

catching up

2010-08-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

i was admonished today to update my blog. thank you donna. because it's not that i haven't thought of it...i just haven't taken the time to do it. and there is so much i want to remember about the last few weeks. trips to new jersey, new york, pennsylvania, a phillies game in philadelphia against the arizona diamondbacks (i cheered for the phillies...family loyalty trumps locale), a day trip to phoenix, 5 days in heaven on earth aka pinetop, arizona. and then there was a beautiful, whimsical wedding reception where i got to plan and decorate and cook for 300 guests. a full month indeed. and the best part. each of these events was shared with the people i love the most.

i don't even know what to write about my big trip back east. it was wonderfully fabulous. i went with my mom and sister. we spent precious time together. time that we haven't had together in years. and we were able to visit family members i haven't seen in years. i've tried to decide what my favorite part of the trip was. impossible. so here are some of my favorite pictures.

steel pier in atlantic city. cousin brenda, sister joann, me, aunt thelma, and mom.

at the phillies game. joann, cousin cissy, me, cousin in law anne marie, cousin junior.

the city of brotherly love as seen through the walt whitman bridge.

amish country. stunningly beautiful.

the streets of new york. in front of penn station.

new york city roof lines.

thank you daddy for the incredible gift of that trip. i will remember it always.

and a few wedding pics.

and to my besties donna and deb...i love you girls. you worked your bottoms off. i can never repay you. and donna...ditto...i would clean sewers with you too.

and one last picture. 4udeb

barber avenue, woodbury, new jersey

a pictorial

2010-08-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

soon i will post a recap of my trip to new jersey, new york, and pennsylvania...it was beyond fabulous!

But here are some pics of my wonderful week.

some of the new york skyline. breathtaking.

broadway is waiting for me.

central park is beautiful. green and cool. and clean. very clean.

my grandma's house in south jersey. a million memories behind that door.

268 elm avenue. mantua, nj. i grew up in this house.

and since i've been back i've been frantically working on a wedding reception.

today i had 200 gerbera daisies delivered for use in the centerpieces.

you can't tell in this pic because each head is in a protective sleeve,

but the colors, hot pink and tangerine, are so vivid.

i can't wait to see them in the centerpieces.

feeling special

2010-07-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

we arrived in philly. on time with lots of giggles and a 25$ voucher from us air. which means our luggage flies home for free. woot. woot. and mom never fell out of her wheelchair. which is saying a lot. joann is more than a little challenged when it comes to pushing a wheelchair and dragging a suitcase.

and look what was waiting for us when we arrived at our hotel.

i got a gift bag with food goodies.

but don't be too jealous...there was no chocolate.

summer fun

2010-07-21T13:09:00.000-07:00

it never ends around here. and while my dining room is still not done, and my chairs are still sporting their same english country themed fabric, and my baseboard replacing is still undone, and my garden needs some serious fertilizer if its ever going to produce anything, i am off once again.

but not just to pinetop or palm springs. oh no. this is a big one.

drum roll please.

philadelphia, new jersey, new york city here i come!

(don't hate.)

ground zero, central park, madison square garden, statue of liberty, time square.

all in one day.

and the jerseylicious girls at the gatsby salon in green brook, new jersey.

i'll be stopping by to see you.

big hair, attitude and fashion.

because once a jersey girl, always a jersey girl.

we're back

2010-07-09T19:06:00.000-07:00

pinetop was beautiful. the parade was "small town" and entertaining (well, except for the belly dancers...seriously who puts belly dancers in a 4th of july parade?). the fireworks were "small town"...which for fireworks translates to fabulously stupendous. really, the best to be had.
the resort had everything we wanted or needed. the pool was inviting. the game room was hopping. the kids were great. and the temps never got over 80.

so what could be wrong.

my picture taking skills. my camera. whichever one is the culprit doesn't matter.

these are the only pics i got. not that i didn't take more. i took dozens more.
they were just all blank.

jen, i'll ask again. please help. i need it.

p.s. the thrifting was nonexistant. so sad.
guess i'll have to hit my favorite tucson haunts.

let freedom ring

2010-07-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

headed to heaven on earth again. get to stay the whole week this time. we'll be staying at the timeshare. and the kids will be with us (sash, koll, and oksana where are you?) so this pool will be hopping with ball progeny.

but the best thing about the 4th of july in the white mountains is the show low freedom fest. old style, hometown parade, barbeque, farmer's market, artisan fair, rodeo, and fireworks. the best fireworks known to man.

and then there's the thrifting. which requires a trip to the bank before we leave.

can't wait to show you all my treasures. because they will be there. they always are.

can't get enough of that white mountain thrifting.

this and that

2010-06-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

i have a new best friend.

isn't it cute.

it puts lotion and sesame oil on my back. it makes my back feel so good.

i love you new best friend.

my two favorite spices are now growing on my patio.

greek oregano and cilantro.

this table used to be in my living room.

i decided to get rid of it so i put it on craigslist. no takers. so i asked jen if she wanted it.

"do you care if i paint it?" she asked. nope, i sure don't.

dang. why didn't i think to paint it. it now looks fabulous.
if i were an indian-giver i'd ask for it back.

woot! woot!

2010-06-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

i've been featured!

F.U.N.

http://www.inthefunlane.com/

(click the link above and you can see all the fabulousness)

chandie lamps

2010-06-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

i have been meaning to post these chandie lamps that i found on craigslist.

arent' they gorgeous.
don't hate...but i got a matching one too.

$10.00 each. with plastic still on.

i love my new chandies.

they are quite romantic.

especially since they have dimmers.

and i swear...someday i am going to learn how to take pictures.

or buy a real camera.

p.s. and since i was going out of town the day these lovelies were posted,
my bff, deb, picked them up for me.

i really am a lucky girl...

mine vs. theirs

2010-06-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

these are my chairs. (given to me by a friend. aren't i a lucky girl.)

i'm swooning over these chairs. aren't they gorgeous.

i want these chairs. i want these chairs real bad.

and my chairs could be these chairs.

just paint the frames black.

reupholster the seats and backs in a similar fabric.

easy peasy...but...there's always a but....

i can't get the seats and backs off my chairs. i even took them to an upholsterer.

just to get the seats and backs removed.

he wouldn't touch them.

he said the seats and backs were glued on. tight. real tight.

i'm tempted to take a sledge hammer to the bottoms and backs and pound away.

because when my chairs look like these chairs my dining room will be complete.

and then i could post pictures.

if i could take pictures.

another story.

i'll keep you posted though on my demolition.

i'm determined to get those chairs.

tea time (and a sneak peek)

2010-06-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

oh how my girls love a tea party. they love fresh flowers and hats. they love pretty dishes and "fancy" food. they love talking like "grown ups" and sipping lemonade. it makes me wish they would never grow up. that they would always want to come to nana's. and spend hours pretending we are "fancy" people.

it couldn't have been a more perfect afternoon.

except we missed oksana.

sani leigh, one summer you must stay home so we can be "fancy" with you too.

could these pics be any worse. is it me or the camera?

which is why i have yet to post my finished dining room pics.

well, that and the fact that it's still not quite done yet.

jen, please help. you take beautiful pictures.

wanna come over?

p.s. sani, hurry home. we miss you. we don't like having fun without you.

2010-06-04T23:50:00.001-07:00

Personalize your own free photo collage

motorcycle mama

2010-06-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

we're back. heaven was green and cool and relaxing. and included a ride.

thanks geno! it was a blast!

p.s. that's a real harley jacket i'm wearing. gene and ann don't mess around.

up north

2010-05-27T21:02:00.000-07:00

headed here. pinetop, arizona. heaven.

to read. to rest. to work. to play. to thrift. i love thrifting in the white mountains.
good stuff.

a saturday well spent...sorta...i think

2010-05-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

my beautiful, loving and very capable daughter spent the day with me today. cleaning out my closet. a chore that has needed to be done for about a year now. yes, we cleaned out my closet just one year ago. who knew that in a year's time one could accumulate so many shirts and shoes and purses and scarfs and jeans and capris and sweaters. she was brutal. she did not let me hang on to anything that didn't have her stamp of approval. well, except for one sentimental piece. this is what things looked like about half way through. before my anxiety attack. because she was making me get rid of all my hangers. but i talked her into the white ones. after i promised that i would change out all the hangers in the closet. because hangers really should match.

and if you're thinking those piles don't look like much....they filled up 8 large plastic lawn and leaf trash bags.

this is the one sentimental piece that she let me keep...a cowgirl shirt that the boy i live with bought me in san antonio...a george strait shirt. i love george strait.

and my clean closet.

and my beautiful, loving and very capable daughter.

thanks bear.

but just so you know...i got nothing to wear.

do overs

2010-05-21T22:27:00.000-07:00

i want a do over.

one that looks like this.

can you imagine a room like this for sleepovers with the grandkids.

i love how each bunk has its own lamp.

oh, the books that could be enjoyed in those spaces.

and cousin sleepovers would be so much fun.

i think they would want to be here every weekend!

(image from tracery interiors)

things are never what they seem

2010-05-20T20:56:00.000-07:00

especially in room redos. our new floors and dining room redo are taking f.o.r.e.v.e.r. the floors have been down for a couple of weeks. but it took that long for the special order transition moulding to come in. my question, if you stock the floor planks why is the transition moulding a special order? and then there are these little spacer things that stablize the planks as they are being laid AND maintain the "proper" spacing for the transition moulding. at least that's what the spacers are supposed to do. but news flash...they don't maintain the proper spacing. but you don't know that until the special order transition moulding comes in. then you find out that the moulding won't fit in the space that was maintained by the spacers. so frustrating! especially for the boy i live with because he had to take a router all around the perimeter of the dining room and family room floors and make that space wider so that he can then install that special order transition moulding. and do you know what a router and wood do in the house.

this.

and it settles everywhere.

the boy i live with must really love me. cause he hardly said any swear words.

but i love my new stripes. and new floors. and new baseboards.

and if that boy i live with didn't need to golf THREE days a week i might be showing you the whole new room!

thrifting find

2010-05-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

last week i stopped by the salvation army thrift store. i have been on the hunt for a new dining room table. a round one that would hold 6-8 people. i walked to the back of the store. and there it was.

this table. (sans the chairs.)

brand new with the tags still hanging on it.

it sported a salvation army sticker price tag of $180. hhhmmm i thought. not the right color. i want white. but i can sand and paint. and it would be perfect for my space. love the base. yes, this is the table.

up walks a salvation army employee. with a big red special poster. he sticks the poster on my table.

price $50.

sold.

this is my table today. the sanding has begun.

i can't stop looking at this picture. i can't wait to get the look.

chairs are next. then the bookcases. white accessories.

and can you see that clock from a pottery barn catalog. how cool is that. perfect for on top of my dining room bookcases. my next project. (sorry babe, i know how you hate my projects.)

from my peeps

2010-05-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

(you're the best koll!)

women's conference in review

2010-05-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

i arrived at women's conference on empty. i left with a full tank. with a renewed determination to choose the right and do the right. to give my attention to the essential and necessary things. i want to value and seek for things that are better. to focus on the things that matter most. julie beck, general relief society president, gave us some commanding counsel. she said, "nothing powerful happens in our home if we aren't a lioness". i love my crafts, and my hobbies, and my time with friends. but sister beck reminded us that those things won't save us. they will bring light and fun into our lives, but that other things need to be in line first. she reminded us to take care of one thing at a time. that little things lead to big things. and every other presenter there had just as much wisdom to share. here are some gems that stand out.

1. run your own race. we don't have to "catch up".

2. imperfections make us interesting to others.

3. best effort doesn't always equal best outcome.

4. frailities can enrich our journey.

5. problems come. even if we build on the high ground.

6. "perfect people only" is not written on the heart of the savior.

7. creation means bringing to life something that didn't exist before. what would i like to create with my life?

8. the measure of what i am worth is what i give to others.

9. my heart is the only thing i can truly give to the lord because everything else he has given to me.

10. slow down when distractions come. gain ground before moving on. if i keep moving when i am distracted i will surely collide with something.

11. sacrifice is almost always inconvenient.

12. life is like a garden. our harvest is the choices we make.

13. don't get caught in the thick of very thin things.

but the greatest counsel i received came from a review of the story of rebekah.

know who you are. know your mission in life.

listen, heed, and obey.

and then, like rebekah, feel joy.

i'm off

2010-04-27T20:37:00.000-07:00

to women's conference. 20,000 women on the campus of byu. all women who just want to be better...as wives, mothers, daughters and friends. it is an event that fills my depleted reservoir. it makes me want to be good and do good. it makes me want to try harder. it confirms to me that there is still goodness in the world. it gives me an opportunity to serve others. and it reminds me of all that i have to be grateful for.

and i get to go with these fabulous women (and shannon too but i couldn't find a new picture of all of us.)

even if they are skinnier and younger.

i still love them.

that's another thing that women's conference teaches me.

i am me. and they are they.

and that's ok.

my loves

2010-04-26T17:19:00.001-07:00

Free photo collage generated with Smilebox

transition

2010-04-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

the pool table has found a new home with dave and jen.
dave and jen...enjoy your new toy.

i hope to soon be enjoying my new dining room.

we went from this

to this

now here is where i would like to go.

from ballard designs.

a white dream. a lovely white dream.

even the most neutral colors pop off the white.

and as the caption says, repetition is powerful.

now if i only had the 6,000 or so dollars it would cost to get this look.

craigslist here i come.

hall of fame

2010-04-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

kenny was inducted into his high school hall of fame on thursday night. it was fun hearing all the accolades that were expressed.

kenny with chuco miranda and delano price. teammates on his state championship team.

no, babe, you still cannot get a badger tattoed on your chest.

our family. (sans the grandkids...)

they love their dad.

so do i.

congratulations kenny. you've always been a hall of famer to me.

i've got sunshine on a cloudy day with my girls...

2010-04-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

i had dinner on tuesday night with these girls.

what a lovely dinner it was. it got me to thinking.

time spent with these women is a vital commodity in my life. i find precious and much needed moments of reprieve with these girls. when we are together we can let our hair down. be ourselves. relax. our time together gives us an opportunity to take a break from being moms and wives. it's our time to be women. we talk and talk and express things and feelings to each other that are hard to share with others. when we are together we crack jokes. sometimes irreverant jokes. and our peals of laughter are loud and contagious and sometimes cause others to turn and look at us. we listen to each other's stories. we celebrate each other's successes. we cry with each other's heartbreaks.

so to my girls...

thank you. thank you for calling me just to check in. thank you for calling me when you find a good sale. thank you for running that errand for me just because you were headed that way anyway. thank you for lending me your lovely goods when i am stressing over making a good impression. thank you for lifting me when i am down. thank you for the laughter and love you bring to my life.
thank you for caring about my heart.
and sharing yours.

i love you.

truth

2010-04-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life

and create something of beauty and helpfulness,

you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you"

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

liar liar pants on fire and related stories

2010-04-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

everyone (except maren) said i wouldn't be hungry. they practically guaranteed it. i had my doubts. 500 calories a day. how could you not be hungry. well, here's the truth. i'm hungry. very hungry.

my stomach is rolling. i have a headache. i want to tear something up.

but i'm sticking with it because i am determined to lose weight before this:

because i am attending with these three hot women.

i'm already the oldest...i don't intend to be the fattest too.

and then this skinny thing called me and said she was on hcg. seriously carrie.

and then she said she was getting it for free. what? how?

and then she chuckled.

translation: grandbaby # 10 is on the way!

woot! woot!

but i'm still hungry. very, very hungry.

much ado about nothing

2010-04-01T17:59:00.000-07:00

since i've been blogging i have been surprised about many things. but the hoopla about chandeliers over the bathtub has me smiling. really. it's a big topic. why it just might be the next big economic indicator.

i happen to have a chandelier over the bathtub. okay. some might call it a candelabra. whatever. but even if i didn't like my chandelier/candelabra over my bathtub, these girls think it is marvelous.

so it's staying. end of story.

ideas needed

2010-03-25T18:53:00.000-07:00

i found this quote perusing vinyl sites. do you love it as much as i do? i want to recreate it in vinyl. but not on wood or a tile or not just applied to the wall.

i want something more abstract.

but i don't have any ideas.

do you?

getting my craft on

2010-03-24T22:16:00.000-07:00

tonight i was itching for a crafting project. and this little stool was tired of being naked.

so we met up. stool is no longer naked. i'm no longer itching for a crafting project.

mission accomplished.

now i just need a tutorial in the art of picture taking.

sweet little pin cushion cake on the loveliest little cupcake stand

2010-03-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

disclaimer: if you don't get bountiful baskets you won't get this.

so, deb, you might want to quit reading.

this was today's project.

and what a sweet project it was.
the sweetest little double layer pin cushion cake on an ever so lovely little cupcake stand.

i'm in love with these sweet little diy pin cushions.

i'm in love with thrifting for glass candlesticks and little dishes to make these ever so lovely cupcake stands.

today was a most sweet and lovely day.

10 minutes of thrifting

2010-03-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

with this kid = SCORE

literally in and out of the store in less than 10 minutes.
i told him what i wanted.
a couple of clear glass items to put together to make cupcake stands.

(because who doesn't need a cupcake stand...or a pin cushion stand)

the boy has an eye.

this is what he found.

and you see the milk glass dish.

won't my paperclips look lovely in that.

thanks for 10 minutes of bliss sash...you're the best.

currently on my nightstand

2010-03-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

i currently have four books on my nightstand.

the 19th wife by david ebershoff is a "historical illumination" about brigham young's 19th wife intertwined with a modern day narrative about murder in a polygamist family.

the last song by nicholas sparks is currently a movie about love and forgiveness.

the amateur marriage by anne tyler has no narrative about it's story. i was just intrigued by the title.

and

uncle tom's cabin by harriet beecher stowe. a classic that i need to read again.

any suggestions on where i should start?

my husband needs a purse

2010-03-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

he has stuff everywhere. the kind of stuff that i keep in my purse. i have given him numerous places to keep his stuff. but it's never enough...he keeps gathering more. because unlike a purse that has to be cleaned out every once in awhile because it gets to full to contain all its contents, he never cleans out his stuff.

he just keeps collecting more.

he currently has 6 gathering places.

this is his favorite place. the top of my dryer. this is my least favorite gathering place.

this basket is on top of the dryer right behind my least favorite gathering place.

you know for his stuff.

maybe he can't see it.

these are the three bins across from the dryer. for his stuff. they are full.

maybe that's why he uses the top of the dryer.

this is the dish on top of his dresser. it has everything from his glasses, to car wash tokens, to pesos, to mexican coral beans, (for reals), to business cards, and even some drip replacement heads.

these are the baskets on top of his dresser.

you know, for his stuff that doesn't fit in the dish on top of the dresser.

this is his stuff in the nightstand. in the guest bedroom. yep, his stuff is everywhere.

and this is the pot that used to sit on top of the dryer until it got to full and we had to go to the basket.

hey babe, wanna borrow a purse?

craigslist and z-gallerie have my heart this morning

2010-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

i should be doing something constructive. but no, i'm perusing craigslist.
and this is what i found.

a black and crystal chandelier.

stunning.
(seriously though, where would i put it?)
oh, heck, that doesn't matter because

i want it. i want it bad. and i could have had it. because my daddy sent me, my sister and my mom gambling this weekend. and he paid. (thanks dad!) but no. apparently i don't know how to gamble. every machine i sat in front of must have been smiling big and thinking, 'oh, here she comes...loser...'

so while i don't have the money to indulge this splurge, if i had won this weekend at wild horse pass i'd be calling on this baby right now.

and on craigslist it is $50.00 less than the z-gallerie price.

200 smackeroos.

but then nothing can replace the time spent with my mom and sister.

we sure know how to laugh and have fun.

but gamblers...yeah, we're not so good at that.
i'm bitter.

my daughter isn't just beautiful. she's smart too.

2010-03-03T20:56:00.000-08:00

she already fixed my blog. and she knew just what to do.

thanks bear. i love you. i'd be lost without you.

now could you come fix the hole in the wall before your dad gets home.

Does this work

2010-03-03T19:53:00.000-08:00

Hi mom! You are the best! I hope this works! I love you!

Aren't we pretty???

Aren't your granddaughters cute???

madder than a wet hen

2010-03-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

i am madder than a wet hen. all of a sudden my create a new blog post page is totally different. i don't have any of the same options across my toolbar. before when i created a post and wanted to post a picture i saw the picture. now when i'm writing my post and insert a picture all i see is the encrypted code garble. even my signature is now in that encrypted code garble whereas before i just saw my name. all nice and pretty and in blue. i want to swear. sheat...damn...hell...i've looked all through my settings and layout...it makes me want to punch the wall. i don't know the insides of computer navigating...heck i hardly know the outsides of computer navigating. prime example...i just went to center this post...but no...i no longer have the left, right, center option on my toolbar. i am a center kind of girl. i don't like leaning too far to the right or too far to the left. i want to hit something. and i must not be the only one who feels this way. whole studies have been done on the subject of computer frustration/madness. like this one from www.sciencedirect.com..."a model for computer frustration: the role of instrumental and dispositional factors on incident, session, and post-session frustration and mood". google it. you'll see. but here's how i roll...i'll just start over. with a new blog. frustration and anger have no place in my life. i won't allow it. it doesn't belong. it makes me quite grumpy. and the boy i live with doesn't like grumpy. not one bit.

but before all this frustration and madness and grumpiness got started here is what was happening in our hood. we went bowling. all nine grandkids, uncle chuck, kevin, dave, jen, carrie, and kenny and i. and i took pictures. and sasha turned 14! (FOURTEEN...i have a 14 year old grandson...how did i get so old.) and kasey made homemade tacos. and we had cake and ice cream and the whole family partied up a storm. and i took pictures. and we went to see tracy lawrence. and we went thrifting. and i took pictures. but do you see any of these pictures? NO. because everytime i go to upload them they just "magically" insert themselves, in encryped code, somewhere/anywhere in this post.

so to the boy i live with...i am frustrated. i am mad. i am throwing things. i am hitting things. i am swearing. you will hear words that don't normally cross my sweet, kissable lips. you will get hit if you move too slow. you will get hit if you move to fast. you will need to invest in a drywall repair kit.

did i mention i am madder than a wet hen?

p.s. and if you know how to rescue me from this madness, please speak up. the boy i live with will thank you. so will my walls.

p.p.s. see my signature below...it's in encrypted code garble...somebody save me.

i needed a project

2010-02-24T18:24:00.000-08:00

so i made a cake stand. from a glass plate that had taken permanent residence on a top shelf in my kitchen. and a candlestick from a recent goodwill run.

then i made a homemade apple cake to put on top.

doesn't it look yummy. (the cake and the cake stand.)

now if the boy i live with would just come home so i can eat it.

no, i'm not a bad blogger. i've just been busy living life.

2010-02-24T18:07:00.000-08:00

and in case you don't believe that much living could be going on over here, i'll list the events and then just let this post speak for itself.

allie's bachelorette party at el charro.

making centerpieces for the reception.

making bridal party and bride's bouquets.

a wedding.

a wedding reception.

a family breakfast. that i wasn't invited to. so carrie and i crashed it. we're not shy.

a birthday party.

and so many more pictures.

but i could post for 10 more pages. so i'll stop now.

but just so you know. we are very busy living life.

and couldn't be happier.

another super bowl weekend but without the bowl and a valentine or two

2010-02-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

who needs a bowl game for a super weekend. not us.

it started on saturday with drew's baptism.
what a wonderful occasion for one amazing boy.

drew, we love you. you are important to our family.

here are some pics to document this special event.

and we had quite the celebratory gathering at dave and jen's after the baptism. so much so that we were so busy celebrating that no one took pictures. not one. which is really too bad because their home was filled with family, friends, food and fun.

see drew, you are very loved...by lots of people!

then sash, koll and oksana spent the night. they love to eat and i love to cook for them.

their breakfast...1 dozen homemade bisquits with a pot of country gravy, 1 pound of bacon and 1 pound of sausage.
now i remember why i had a job when my kids were all home. they liked to eat too.

and it was valentine's day too.

but valentine's day in our family means only one thing

kasey's birthday!

kase, you may be 36 years old with a family of your own.

and you may go out in the big scary world every day to fight crime and suppress evil.

and you might really like busting up the bad guys.

but i still love you like you were 6.

and here's some birthday/valentine art by the budding artists (and nathan) in the family.

yep, it was a great weekend.

thank you family for all the wonderful reasons to celebrate being us.

my own personal super bowl weekend

2010-02-08T14:01:00.000-08:00

started at mc cormick park where the cobras met up with the scorpions for a hotly contested game of flag football.

turns out drew ball has an arm not unlike that of drew brees. he knows how to get the ball where it needs to go. and lead his team to victory. must be a drew thing.

cobras - 26 - scorpions - 0

and this drew knows how to celebrate after the game too.

let's see...3 pankcakes, 2 strips of bacon, 2 slices of ham, 2 sausage links, hash browns extra crispy, bowl of fruit and two cups of hot chocolate.

we're making our own drew brees over here.

the truth

2010-02-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

i stumbled upon this clip this morning.

it buoyed me up and made me feel better about why i do the things i do.

i've posted it here in case you are wondering why you do the things you do.

dream date

2010-02-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

today i went on a date with this guy. and can you believe i forgot my camera. but what a date it was. we lunched at burger king (and yes, i let him play outside in the germy playground). then we went to the wal mart next door. will knows his way around wal mart that's for sure. we spent most of our time in the toy section. but he also likes to peruse the sporting goods section. he opened most of the fish bait containers because well, we just had to smell them. then it was off to the library. oh, the choices to be had there. we ended up with a book on tanks, a book on tractors, two movies...policemen hereos and lassie, and an encounter with a libray shelf that left a nice big welt on the side of his cheek. (sorry about that buddy.) from the library it was off to the corner store for bubble gum and orange push-ups.

best day ever will will.

can't wait to do it again.

i love you.

a giveaway

2010-02-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

who doesn't love a giveaway! and look at what high heeled foot in the door is giving away! a sunburst mirror. who doesn't love a sunburst mirror. head on over to enter. click here.

another divine design site...they are endless...

home - (hohm) – noun; the place in which one's domestic affections are centered.

2010-02-01T17:45:00.000-08:00

from this

to this

much better.

mother power

2010-02-01T12:35:00.000-08:00

i have a list of blogs that i love. there are design blogs and craft blogs and blogs written by people i don't even know. maybe i just like their style of writing or they give me inspiration so i stop by every now and again. but there are three blogs that i check every single day...and many times, more than once a day. those are the blogs of the people i love the most...my children.

this is what i found this morning when i checked carrie's blog.

it was titled "freezing time".

"Today I want to freeze time...I don't want this beautiful, thoughtful, sensitive, loving girl to get any older. I want time to stop, especially the way she looked today as she told Primary about her favorite song. All the kids got to write down their favorite primary song on a white piece of a paper and then crumble it up and have a "snowball" fight with the chorister. Then papers were chosen, songs were sung and kids told why. Well, Emeline's got chosen. Her favorite song is "I am Like a Star Shining Brightly". When asked why, she stood up and said "Because my mom used to sing that to me when I was a baby and I used to love that and I really like that song". My heart became a puddle on the ground...and then there were tears...Emeline's first, then mine, and then the choristers. I looked in her beautiful 6 year old face with tears in her eyes and I begged for time to stop. If only..."

my heart is full and my cheeks are wet.

to my children:

i love you beyond words.

you are more than i ever dreamed you could be.

thank you for letting me be your mother.

wife of the year award

2010-01-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

you know that chalkboard that i recently made.

it's getting a lot of use. here is the message that it currently displays:

that boy i live with is pushing me to the brink.

he's off to mexico a.g.a.i.n.

first it was just until sunday. then sunday became monday.

now monday has become tuesday.

i think i deserve the wife of the year award.

or at least a runner-up position.

(either that or i need to go to mexico and whip on some little senorita)

rocks and a surprise visit

2010-01-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

bumpa came home from mexico with rock crystals. the boys couldn't resist. they made their mama drive all the way over here to look at the rocks...and take some home. but then isn't that the definition of a boy... 'a noise with a rock in his pocket'. then, of course, they had to have a root beer and a snack and then where did they go. on nana's big, comfy bed to watch "kid shows". made for one happy nana.

all is right with the world.

(well, except for the shoes on the bed...what's a nana to do.)

a shower, a missionary, and somebody's wish list

2010-01-26T07:49:00.000-08:00

a full weekend for sure...my feet still hurt. but one of the best ever. it started with a bridal shower for my niece, allison. she will soon marry mike. they are good together. and she raked in the loot. it made me happy.

the spread, the panty line and the attendees.

and carrie and ashley were the best co-hosts and workers ever. they let me leave early...and did all the clean-up...so i could go off to prescott. i love you girls.

the trip to prescott (rhymes with bisquit) was to attend a missionary farewell. elder max kurtz is quite the young man. confident, ready, and a smile that is going to light up spokane. you will be in my prayers elder kurtz. every night.

and of course, the prescsott trip included these amazing women.

somebody's wish list. no self esteem issues here.

(and because chicka trips without them would be boring and dull.)

i got your backs girls...thanks for having mine.

i love my life. i am blessed. i am grateful.

my pocketbook is full.

yesterday's projects

2010-01-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

this is my laundry "room"..."room" being a word only a builder would use. because a space that measures 10' by 7' is not a room...a closet maybe. or perhaps a pass through. yes, that's what this is. a pass through. and i pass through it a dozen times a day. i've tried to make it an inspiring place because sometimes i do more than just pass through to the garage. sometimes i "wash, rinse, fold, repeat" in here. so yesterday morning i got up and decided to add a little pizazz.

i got an old frame, some chalkboard paint, and my vinyl cutter and perked it up.

and can i just say i love the orange frame on the chalkboard. oh that beth rubin. she knows her stuff.

( jen, you and miss beth must be bff' since you've been adding touches of orange for years.)

i wanted a chalkboard...a place to jot down reminders and write little love notes to that boy i live with. and, of course, every chalkboard needs some vinyl. mine says, "scrivere, i verbo; esprimere o comunicare nella scrittura. italian. translation - write, verb: to express or communicate in writing. (because someday i'm going to italy and i need to be able to write about it.)

i work better under pressure

2010-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

send help.

quick.

this woman needs it.

this morning i woke up energized...and i could use some energy. i mean i do have a shower for my niece, Allison, here at my home on saturday. and i am leaving to go out of town on saturday afternoon. i have plenty to do. i should be cleaning, getting my nest ready for company, cooking, so my company will have a few tidbits to nibble as we honor the bride to be. but, of course, that would require a trip to the grocery store and that still hasn't happened either. or i could be putting the finishing touches on the shower favors. or maybe packing for my weekend. but am i doing any of those things. nope. my morning energy is being spent projecting. projecting. somebody just shoot me. please. i've started to annoy myself.

(i'll post pics of my projecting later today. check back. it's good. but i am meeting friends for lunch. i should probably shower.)

vinyl wall art, wal mart paint and a sneak preview

2010-01-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

in the six years or so we have lived in this house, i have had many things in this niche in our master bedroom. i've had a wrought iron wall decor grille thing-a-ma-jiggy, candle wall sconces, a tall narrow print that i just leaned against the back of the niche. none of them seemed to please me. in redoing the master i wanted to do something different for this troublesome little spot. and since vinyl wall art is so b.i.g. right now and i just happen to have a vinyl cutter, i thought i would design some vinyl wall art. i have to say, i am pleased with the design. i am not pleased, however, with the wal mart paint that i recently used to paint the back of the niche. talk about cheap paint. first off, when i painted it about 2 weeks ago, the paint was so runny it just dripped down the wall. and in applying my vinyl art, wal mart's cheap paint actually came off the wall as i positioned the vinyl. which has never happened before and i have installed a lot of vinyl. now i have to touch up the wall with some minuscule paint brush that i don't have. lesson learned...no more wal mart paint. it's cheap and it stinks.

but you now have a sneak preview of one little piece of my master redo.

and here's another one.

this was painted with benjamin moore paint. almost $50.00 a gallon.

but it went on like silk. so worth it.

(sorry about that cord...i hate cords. i'll be sure to tuck it away before i snap another picture.)

it's complicated

2010-01-19T12:42:00.000-08:00

i've seen the movie twice. yes, i loved it and i'd go see it a third time. but seriously, forget the movie with it's comedic yet ever so poignant content. the set design for jane's (meryl streep, the main character) house is absolutely T.O. D.I.E. F.O.R. (an i never write in capital letters.) i find myself at least twice a day googling the set designer, beth rubino, to peruse her work. her relaxed yet elegant style (and in this case, not a cliche) has me mesmerized. her color palette...browns, creams, greens with a blush (that word, blush, is used strictly to entertain my family and give them another reason to laugh at me) of oranges and yellows feels so comfortable and right. she mixes antiques with squishy, big, comfortable furniture. natural elements are everywhere. the dinner and glassware are beautiful without being fussy or formal. her little vases of fresh flowers are in such unexpected places. the woman is a genius. i want to make a new goal for 2010. to visit the set/location of it's complicated.
i have a very strong desire to see it in person.
now how to make it happen?

isn't it lovely.

i just can't stop looking at it.

(these images and more can be found at www.traditionalhome.com)

are we having fun yet?

2010-01-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

at the mall today with this crew.

everyone seemed to be having fun.

well, except for will.

and there's no bribing that kid either!

my guy

2010-01-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

can't you just hear mary wells....

nothing you can say can tear me away from my guy.

nothing you could do 'cause i'm stuck like glue to my guy.

i'm sticking to my guy like a stamp to a letter,

like the birds of a feather, we, stick together.

i can tell you from the start i can't be torn apart from my guy.

and it's true for me and my guy.

except during hunting season.

let's see...3 weeks of deer hunting in southern arizona.
one week of guiding in mexico.
one week of hunting in mexico.
eight days in reno at the safari club international convention.

catching the flight to reno.

as a matter of opinion i think he's tops. my opinion is he's the cream of the crop.

as a matter of taste to be exact, he's my ideal as a matter of fact.

yep, mary wells, there's not a man today who can take me away from my guy.

unless, of course, he has a set of horns.

karaoke

2010-01-13T17:00:00.000-08:00

recently had a karaoke night with these little beauties. look out taylor swift. competition is on the horizon.

emeline is quite comfortable behind the microphone.

oh, the life of a little girl.

my hope is that they will always feel this happy, this secure, and this safe.

belt it out my loves. for now, the world is yours.

swooning

2010-01-07T20:35:00.000-08:00

i need to quit perusing design sites. it takes hours of my time and has me falling in love on a daily basis.

today i fell in love with these.

how simple and cool. burlap, a stencil, and some black paint.

i'm swooning.

check out more.

http://www.kmckaydesigns.com/

keeping it real here

2010-01-07T11:16:00.000-08:00

last saturday i went shopping at ikea (oh ikea...i love you more every day) with these two lovely ladies. aren't they cute.

we each have some redecorating projects we are working on. mine is my master bedroom. and when i'm in the middle of a project i'm not very tidy. i get too involved in my project to worry about being neat and putting things back where they belong and making the bed. i mean, who has time. i'm projecting here.

so, to those of you that think i am hopelessly entrenched in my ocd, i proudly give you the following:

i know it doesn't look like i'm doing much, so let me fill you in.

my color scheme is black, brown, platinum, and a silvery green. i am painting my "tres amigos" furniture black. i mounted a flat screen tv on the wall (heaven). i'm moving an armoire (also to be painted black) from the guest bedroom into the master and moving my antique dresser into the guest bedroom. my new bedding is a yummy, delicious silvery green that you won't get to see until the project is done. i'm replacing the window coverings on the slider...still undecided there but i want texture, like wood or woven woods, in a rich expresso with creamy white panels on the ends. i've got my eye on a fabulous piece of artwork (from ikea of course) for over the bed. and i'm reupholstering a side chair and creating a little seating area with the sweetest little ikea side table...(duh, it's from ikea...of course it sweet.)

most of the furniture painting is done. it's what i do at night since the boy i live with isn't around to play.

i can't wait until it's done.

neither can my ocd.

three hooligans

2010-01-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

the boy i live with is guiding/hunting in mexico for the month. yep, you heard right...the month. okay, not actually the whole month because the later part of the month he will be in reno working the safari club international convention. same difference. and since carrie and her family and dave and his family were all out of town for the christmas holiday we weren't able to have our usual christmas with them. and, since the boy i live with is "selectively unavailable" until february, i had my own christmas with these
three hooligans last night.

i couldn't love them more.

score

2009-12-31T15:20:00.000-08:00

perusing craigslist i came across these two pier 1 beauties.

clean and contemporary.

just the look i'm after for my master bedroom.

asking price $50.00.

selling price $20.00.

tee hee...i'm such a frugal shopper.

want a designer blog?

2009-12-28T14:21:00.000-08:00

if you do go to designer blogs and check out some of their fabulicious designs! and you won't be disappointed in their service either. erin designed my blog...probably not an easy feat for someone as blog challenged as i was. and they are having a giveaway. you might want to enter. i just did!

giving and the giving tree

2009-12-21T23:22:00.000-08:00

sunday was a lovely day. we spent it at the giving tree helping to feed the homeless and passing out coats and clothes to those in need. the giving tree is quite the organization. what i really like about the giving tree is that those who receive help are also expected to work. the organization of the clothes and the coats and the volunteers and the food boxes is all done by the same people who are receiving the goods and services. the giving tree recently got some bad press. the usual negative stuff...misappropriation of funds, different citings of various violations, yada, yada, yada. what organization, federal or private, hasn't fallen short when it has been scrutinized by those looking for something negative. all of that really doesn't bother me. why? because hungry and cold people are hungry and cold people. and they need help. and that is what the giving tree does. dave and jen and the boys were there to help too. in fact, jen organized a coat drive for the giving tree. her goal was to collect 100 coats. but she did oh, so much better than that. she collected over 200 coats. way to go jen! and boy were those coats snatched up. it was so rewarding watching those in need, especially the children, try on coats and pick just the right one. but one of the best parts was watching drew, wes, and will help unload coats and participate in the giving and serving of those less fortunate. yep, sunday was a very good day. and here are some pics of the afternoon.

tables with clothing to be handed out the sorting of the coats and food boxes

dave, jen and boys getting some directions a jumping castle for the children

if you or your family are ever looking for a chance to give service and help those in need the giving tree has plenty of opportunities. and you will get so much more than you give. i promise.

i found it

2009-12-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

my favorite, all-time ever, talk to me baby, blog that is. design *dump. a place to dump pretty ideas and beautiful inspiration. oh my gosh. holy wow. fabulicious. she's divine. here's a sneak peak.

but wait till you see her real stuff.

oh my. i'm dreaming.

let's partay

2009-12-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

cousin christmas sleepover

only had one meltdown...abelha

and one temper tantrum...elise

overall a success!

vegging after the white elephant exchange.

emeline is sick.

but she loved her new blanket.

boys and computer games.

i can't figure them out...the games that is.

nana and bumpa's bed is a great place to hang out and watch cartoons...

can we get some breakfast over here?

ah, dippers, sausage, pop tarts, chocolate donuts...and oranges.

oranges. come on nana.

you just threw those in for our parents.

good stuff maynard.

it's the attack of the cousins.

sash is under their somewhere.

no more monkeys jumping on the bed.

nana needs a nap.

gearing up

2009-12-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

it's a most wonderful time of the year.

this is what i've got planned for this week.

can't wait!

them mountains are gone

2009-12-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

the granite mountain backsplash that has been a major eyesore to my eyes that is. the ones that made me cringe everytime i walked into my kitchen. who wastes good granite on a backsplash that is cut to look like mountains.

here they are before.

they just look plain wrong.

mountains are gone.

thank you greg and tony.

you made me a happy girl today.

and the new backsplash will be stone tiles, laid in a brick pattern with decorative tiles interspersed. my mom did the same backsplash when she recently redid her kitchen and i love it so much i want it too.

mom, hope you don't mind that i'm copying you.

and you can kind of see the new finish on my cabinets. they are very distressed and antiqued and i'm hoping, please, please, please, that the stone tiles will be the finishing touch to the look i was after.

update: i'm liking it! the tiles are giving my cabinets exactly the look i was after.

woot! woot!

crazy...who me?

2009-12-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

i must be crazy. i'm not a fan of chaos so it must be that i am just plain crazy.

i mean who invites workers into their home in december.
i'm pretty sure it's only a crazy woman who would do such a thing.

next up in the kitchen after the cabinets is a new stone tiled backsplash.

good bye granite mountains.

i will be so glad to see you go.

kenny finished laying the floor tonight. i love, love, love it.

he still has the new baseboards to install.

but i was excited to put my furniture back. you know, for a sneak preview.

so he and dave obliged.

but not before they managed to topple the christmas tree.

life in the ball house. why, it's just a ball.

p.s. i can't wait to post pics of all the loveliness. hopefully in another week.

if i haven't taken up residence in the funny farm that is.

a commentary

2009-12-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

this is my blog. my journal. i can write what i want. and if you don't like what i write you don't have to read it. you have a choice. you can just log off. you never have to visit it again. you don't have to be offended by anything i write.

well, i want to be able to do that same thing when someone is slinging expletives. just what is up with swearing? i've certainly swore in my life. but i have to say it has never left me feeling better. not once. quite the contrary. it has only fed into the anger or frustration that i was feeling to start with. and it has always left me feeling small. very small.

i try hard not to swear. and not to let vulgar words enter my mind. am i always successful? no. every once in awhile a "hell" or a "damn" crosses my lips. and while these words are only mildly offensive and commonplace in our culture, they are still obscentities when used in anger and hate. i don't want to be that kind of person. nor do i want to be around the kind of person that screams and hisses words of ugliness. our world today has enough chaos and meanness and hatred. and i sometimes have to be witness to those things. but i refuse to be defined by ugliness. there is still goodness and beauty and kindness all around me. and that is what i am going to surround myself with.

my day

2009-12-01T21:59:00.001-08:00

soccer with sani leigh.

didn't end with a win but sani gave it her all.

sani gives everything her all.

hardworking, determined, charming and incredibly loyal.

sani amazes on a regular basis.

next up...

homemades.

by mom.

there is nothing like it. they can't be described.

if all you've ever eaten in store bought spaghetti, you are missing some exquisite cuisine.

(and thanks dad for cranking that spaghetti machine.)

and then...

i emptied all my kitchen cupboards.

and what you see doesn't even include the goodwill pile.

does one really need all this stuff?

but the best part...

these southwest, pickled, whitewashed cabinets that have turned pink with age will finally get a new finish.

they will be sanded, primed, and painted a clean, crisp color, silver leaf.

then they will get a light coat of umber glaze.

goodbye pink cabinets.

i will not miss you.

now if the boy i live with would just come home and live with me i would be a very happy girl.

yep, he's still chasing bambi.

i root for bambi.

everytime.

grandperson's day

2009-11-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

today was grandperson's day at emeline's school.

we had lunch together...mcdonald's...um, um, good.

emeline gave me a tour of her classroom. her favorite spot...her classroom library nook.

(no surprise there.)

we visited the music room.
she spontaneously performed a song from her school christmas program.

we went by the library but it was closed.

we toured the 6th grade hallway. sacred ground to a 1st grader.

we had our picture taken together.

i love this girl.

she is captivating and engaging and delightful and smart.

she was the grandperson in my day today.

thank you em for showing me around.

you make my heart sing.

christmas cheer

2009-11-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

i love christmas decorating. here are a few of my favorites so far this year.

just looking at them fills me with christmas cheer.

see all these lovelies and more at http://www.bhg.com/

thank you bhg. you brighten my holiday.

i came, i went, i conquered

2009-11-27T08:33:00.000-08:00

thanksgiving 2009

dave and jen's.

yummy food, great company, needed nap.

(we demolished tom...nary a morsel left.)

thank you dave and jen for hosting.

it was a great day of thanksgiving.

next up...target.

2:45am.

about 50 people in line in front of me.

target took pity on us and passed out candy.

thank you target.

but next year you might want to consider some hot chocolate.

it was craazzzzy.

some people were quite grumpy.

(note to world: if you are going to be a grump on black friday...stay home. the lines will be long and you might not get what you want. deal with it.)

i conquered and i scored.

woot! woot!

now i think i'll go to bed.

p.s. for my posterity, the boy i live with ditched me for a chance at a whitetail deer.

the checkbook will reflect this injustice.

confidante: a woman to whom secrets are confided or with whom private matters and problems are discussed.

2009-11-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

shannon, me, donna and deb

(it was a bad hair day...and a fat day...and an i might need a breast reduction day)

tonight we celebrated deb's birthday. she picked acacia. a lovely restaurant. especially the chargers. we closed the place down...we were the last to leave. there is just something about girl time. we let our hair down. we talk about whatever we want to talk about. sometimes we talk about people (sshhh...don't tell). we divulge secrets. we laugh at each other. we laugh at ourselves.
and it just makes us love each other even more.

want to know what we talked about?

here it is.

sex

children

shopping

church

movies

books

boobs or the lack of boobs

thanksgiving plans

hair

blogging

facebook

and a few other private matters that aren't for public consumption.

it was a very grand evening.

happy birthday deb.

we love you!