Shopping Euphoria

Photo Source

Once upon a time whilst I was shopping with my

 dear expressive husband,

I happened upon a fabulous sale...

the kind of sale that might make one foam at the mouth

and the heart rate speeds up just a bit.

I was beside myself with excitement!

What was given unto me with very little out of pocket

was joyous to my soul.

Whilst I was taken away by the spirit of shopping

 and partaking of the many fruits

that were being offered unto me,

 my husband said unto me...

"How's that shopping orgasm working out for you?"

Gag me!

I follow some fabulous home improvement and redesign kind of sites. I love what they come up with for cheap, cheap doing a lot of their shopping at thrift stores. I truly admire their talent and ability. They are so inspiring!

I saw a new store the other day called Re Design and was excited to go in and check it out. As soon as I walked in, I was assaulted by the thrift store stench. I seriously had to turn around and walk back out. That smell makes me want to, well, vomit. It gags me. Why do thrift stores stink? The old stuff in my house doesn't stink...I've been to consignment stores that don't stink. Why the thrift stores? I know there are true gems there waiting to be found. I've donated good stuff...

Should I smear some Vicks under my nose so I all smell is that?   I am leaning toward paying a bit more for an item in order to not toss my cookies. Blah!

WOW

Photo by: Miguel

The Other Day

 

Photo Source

The other day

I realized,

It's only two weeks away.

When it hit,

I couldn't breathe.

Technological Precipice

I am on the verge of a technological precipice. For our anniversary, Mr. KT got me an ipod touch. I am in love. I am no longer jealous of his mistress, as I now have my own. I can't believe how much I can do with this little thing. I take it everywhere with me....and I mean everywhere. (wink, wink)

My quandary is this...I've made it no secret that I love books. I mean I love everything about books from the smell of the pages to the crinkly covers. It's just a sacred experience! But my little ipod now has over 20 books stored on it. I couldn't actually imagine taking this stack of twenty books stored neatly in my purse anywhere besides the chiropractor? My back would give out for crying out loud...

I also love my day planner. Isn't it cute? It's an old friend...It keeps me organized so I know what I am doing and where I am going. We became well acquainted several years ago when I forgot my daughter. I know, right? What kind of mom forgets her daughter? Well, in moments of great stress and busy-ness you just might forget your daughter, too. My agenda has helped keep me on track ever since....But wait! My ipod and a calendar in it. See the size difference. Weight difference?

What is a girl to do? I am standing on the edge of a cliff ready to jump...What say you?

Pantry Re-Organized

I've been bitten...Not by Edward, but by the spring cleaning/organization bug. Remember when I showed you my pantry inspiration from http://honeywerehome.blogspot.com and House of Smiths?

 

My pantry before

Well, I have been out and about searching for some good deals to remake my pantry. I wanted a country store kind of feel to my pantry. Here is the finished product.

  

My pantry after

What do you think?

I got these cute baskets with the chalk boards on them at Lowe's on clearance. The large basket was $5.48 and the smaller basket was $3.99. I got two of each. The red baskets also came from Lowe's, on clearance again. $7.99 for a set of three.

I got these fun canisters at Walmart for $4.96 each. They are actually called cracker jars. I like being able to see inside. I plan to get some vinyl lettering to denote, flour, sugar and whey.

I also got some little spice shelves at Walmart on clearance. I think $2.48 each. The see through pasta jars I have had since I got married.  The biggest expense overall, was the shelf liners. At $3.96/roll they added up. I thought lining my shelves would be much easier though than painting my pantry like the design inspiration did. I really did want to reclaim my kitchen at some point...While my pantry is still pretty crowded and full, I can be happy with the controlled chaos.  The first person to mess it up, dies.  They have been warned.  

Help Wanted!

Photo Source

Seriously, PEOPLE, I need help! I've been asked to teach a mini class at church on "Praying for the Success of your Family". "Have fun with it, make it fun", were my instructions. I'm not sure about you, but I have never used Prayer and fun in the same sentence before. Truly...I have a few ideas brewing and percolating around in my head, but I was wondering if any of you dear blogging friends might have a good angle, idea or direction in which to take this. I have to provide a glorious, fun filled 15 minutes.

I'm out...

WOW

Photo:  Miguel

I Must Have Done Something Right

In all my scroogie-ness over Valentine's Day, I must have done something right. 

This was delivered to me yesterday from TJ the Military Man.

Thanks T!

On another note,
here's a Valentine's facebook exchange
between myself and KT

KT Status:  Happy made up bogus greeting card and candy maker holiday!!!
Me:  You are such a delightful man to be married to...
Random person:  lolol xD
Me:  "Every day is like Valentine's Day when your married to me..." spoken by a true cheapskate ;)
Me:  I'm just kidding, really. I loved the movie you got me, big KT. 
(He's really not that bad, Random person's name here, don't let him fool you)   
Random person:  Oh, I know. I just find this freakin hilarious. haha 

Pantry Chaos

My dream is to have an organized pantry like that unto a model home, or the kind you would see in the Better Homes and Garden's magazine. Not the chaotic closet I now possess. With the five of us and all the neighbor boys who tend to forage in my pantry, it's no wonder I can't keep it organized.

I found this blog called Honey We're Home and she has totally inspired me and my pantry. 
She got her inspiration for House of Smith's.  I am in blog love... 

Source

She gives a step by step and where she got her cute containers.  She is my inspiration, my organizational muse.  It  helps that she has an IKEA close by...and happened upon some cute finds at a thrift store.  I am on a quest to fix this bad boy, and it can use all the help it can get!

Results to follow soon...

TJ the Military Man

This child shall here to after be referred to as Military Man. TJ has joined the Air Force! What child doesn't look forward to the day where he can leave his mama's home and enter the pits of hell with a drill instructor to be your mommy and daddy for eight weeks? Seriously, he is so excited to leave on March 8th. I'd like to be excited for him, but really I'm not. Because...

#1. It means I am getting old, and who wants to do that?
#2. I have to cut those apron strings because the government now owns him for six years. And...
#3. From a practical stand point, I'm losing a tax deduction.
#4. All kidding aside, I'm just plain gunna miss him!

In order to help focus on the positive I have compiled a list of reasons it is good he is leaving.

#1. No more fighting over the extra car with his brother
#2. I can drop him from my car insurance saving about $1,000/year
#3. My grocery bill goes down quite significantly
#4. My water bill goes down, seriously, teenage boys take freaking LONG showers!

All these savings, will help offset the price to travel and visit him in his various locations across the world, yet to be determined. And that's a fact!

PS.  The crazy eyed picture is my revenge for flying the coop.

WOW

Photo Source:  Miguel

Busy Laziness an Oxymoron

 Source

I've been busy lately. Not the kind of busy that has me running here and there, from this appointment to the next, but the self inflicted, I feel like playing bejeweled all day or curling up on the couch with a enthralling book kind of busy. Have you ever pondered the complexities of how dirty a house can actually get before someone cleans it?  I guess a better word for my busy-ness is just pure unadulterated laziness.  Truly!

AND, it has affected my blogging, too.  Not that I haven't had some blog posts, but really, they haven't been meaty, the stuff of sustenance.  I've also neglected you, my fellow blogging buddies.  I promise here and now before God that I do solemnly swear that I will read and comment more on your blogs.  Cross my heart and hope to die.  Because with the new rising and setting of the sun, I have awoken.

Does this seem bizarre to you or is it just me?

Sunday Wisdom

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him

shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life."

John 4:14

The Sun is Rising

Photo Source

Yesterday morning as I was driving to work in the frigid, chilly temperatures I noticed something strange on the horizon. Like an old friend returning, I was beside myself with excitement. There in the eastern sky, just above the mountains was the inkling of daylight. Just an inkling, mind you, just enough to take the pitch dark out of the heavens. Later, after a glorious day of sunlight, that old friend stuck around just a little bit longer. Instead of setting at 5:00, it was almost 6:00 before the dusk of the evening seemed to settle in. When did that happen? Have I just crawled out of my hole in the ground where I try to hibernate the winter away? Without the cloud and fog cover that has graced us recently, I was able to enjoy almost 10 whole hours of sunlight. Those amazing, energizing hours of daylight leave me feeling productive and with a clean home....So despite the fact that it is COLD like 20 degrees cold, spring is on it's way....

WOW

Photo Source: Miguel