Give Thanks!

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my family, friends and home.  I'm also thankful for my wonderful customers on Etsy.  As a thank you gift to you, I'm happy to announce that from now through November 29th, you can enjoy 15% off your entire purchase in my shop.  Just enter the code THANKS1 in your checkout for an immediate discount. 



Thank you!

Hurdles jumped

Last night, a monumental feat was overtaken.  Something that has been three years in the making.  Something that I have known I needed to do daily.  Something that seemed like such a huge project that I didn't even think I could stand to look it in the face. 

I finally stripped the last of the wallpaper off my three little walls in my kitchen!  And filled the holes!  All 137 of them! 

Can you believe it?  I am so proud of myself!  I'm not exaggerating on filling the holes.  I counted them as I filled.  And it really has been three years since I painted the first half of the kitchen.  What stopped me?  The three layers of stubborn wallpaper and thought of filling all of the holes that appeared when I was stripping the paper. 

But no more people!  I'm free from the bondage of my own procrastination!  The walls are cleaned!  To be sanded and primed today!  Yeeeesss!!

A big ol' pat on the back for me.  pat, pat, pat, pat, pat

Wahoo!

I FINALLY got my holiday with matthew mead today! 

I can't wait to read it! 

I have to go work now. 

Boo.

But when I get home, wahoo!

Tell me, did you order one too??

I've conquered my fear!

I feel like shouting from the roof top because I finally conquered my fear of skinny jeans!!  This was a huge hurdle that I've jumped.  Just the term "skinny jeans" would send me running in the other direction.  Skinny jeans mean  you need to be linear and skinny.  I've got what is nicely refered to as curves;  curves all the way down to my (c)ankles.

This fall, I've been determined to find my skinny jeans that look good with my non-size skinny self.  It wasn't easy.  There were many a pair that looked like a was sporting mom-jeans or so tight, I couldn't even think about moving.  My trick was to find a pair that was just inbetween straight leg and skinny.  Don't be afraid to try on different sizes and if you've got hips and and a bootie, keep your skinnies dark with no extra details like whiskering or extra pockets at your hips. 

Here's what I found and like:

Target's Converse Skinny jeans - these are a little less skinny and little more straight.  They do have a little bit of wiskering detail, but it's not too noticable.  These were the most affordable option that worked for me.

Gap Always Skinny - these were the first pair of skinnies that worked!  I had heard the praise of these, but tried out all of my less expensive options first.  Also, as a former Gap employee, Gap's dark wash jeans stretch out a ton.  Always get the pair that feels too tight in the store because they will stretch and stay that way until you wash them.

AG Stevies Cords and jeans - LOVE these!  The cords are so soft and comfy and the jeans are cute.  Too bad that these were the most expensive option for me. 

I can't wear skinnies with just a t-shirt, layers are a must do.  But, it I did it!  I can now confidentally wear skinny jeans!  I like to wear my skinnies with flats but now that the weather is suddenly cold, I'm in need of some cute winter shoes.  Actually, I don't really have winter shoes unless you count my old Uggs or my dressy boots I wear for church.  So now I'm on a new quest to find something cute and warm to wear with my skinnies that are not Uggs.  Suggestions welcomed.  So how about you?  Do you rock the skinnies?

PS:  This is a good read about how to be a mama rockin' the skinnies.

Laughter

They say that children laugh on average 300 times a day and adults laugh on average less then 15 times. When did we lose the ability to laugh unconditionally?

Here are two things that made me laugh today.

• Seeing this photo that I took of one of my son's Star Wars battles. He sets them up anywhere and this time, it was my messy craft table.

• These goofy girls that thought it was hilarious good times to stomp down the leaves in the garbage can. Did they not realize that they were in a dirty ol' garbage can? And why did they all jump at the chance to be the one that stomped the leaves down?

So thank you kids for giving me more reasons to laugh during the day with your sillieness!

Yummers!

I like this site. 
I like their recipes.
I want to eat some of those recipes right now.  
I want that potato soup. 
I make a mean broccoli soup that my kids adore.
And ask to eat the leftovers for breakfast.
It's not like their recipe but their's looks good too. 
But I am awesome because I make my own
and my kids love it.
That is all.

Enter gushy title here!

I can't think of a title for this post that isn't 100 words long and gushy.  As I mentioned before, I was one of the lucky gals that got to go on a personal shopping trip with the lovely Reachel from Cardigan Empire.  May I tell you that I highly suggest you do this!  It was so much fun! 

Reachel was adorable with her perfectly pattable baby bump dressed to impress.  She first asked me about my goals and how I wanted to dress.  What I liked and disliked.  Then we were off to play!  She pulled this and that and one of these and some of those.  I just followed like a little puppy because honestly, I have no clue how to put things together.  If I was to do this on my own, I would of been in and out of the store in 10 minutes because this fantabulous store just doesn't have anything that fits all this frumpiness of mine.  Back to Reachel...she had an armful of what I thought were random bits of clothing but when we reached the dressing room, she did this most amazing thing.  Out of the piles of lovelies, she made outfits.  Really, really great outfits!  And they weren't too shabby looking on me either.  I was as happy clam.  Best trick I learned from her, try on more then one size.  She gave me mediums and smalls and I ain't no small/medium gal.

The lovely Jill was just next door to me.  I couldn't help but go and visit her often.  It was fun to see her cute outfits too!  We played and played and played some more.  Thankfully, Reachel is easy going since we were there a bit long. 

loved her necklace and yes, I bought that shirt and sweater

We got to meet her darling Coco and her gracious Mother too.  I bought a few things and can't wait to wear them.  I can't tell you the last time that I have been excited about something I bought for myself.  I always just make do with whatever and tend to wear the same things over and over.  So thank you Reachel and Mr. Baby and lovely Coco for blessing me with your talent!  I had a great time!!

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After I skipped out of Anthropology with new purchases in hand, I decided to stop in quick at the Gap.  I was on the phone telling the babysitter that I was done and heading back when I made eye contact with Stephanie Nielson.  I smiled and waved at her like she was my BFF!  After I got off the phone, I went and introduced myself to her.  She was lovely and gracious with all my gushing.  I'm sure she gets it all of the time, but I'm just so touched by her and her life.  I've prayed for her and her family, cried for her trials and thought about her often.  I've read her blog for years ever since my sister sent me a link when she was doing blog posts about the Proclamation to the World.

All in all, it was a wonderful day and I feel so blessed to be able to have done it.  Thank you!

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Looky, looky!  I got to be on Reachel's blog!  Don't you love all of those outfits?  I really loved the gray dress with the floral sweater and belt.  And that cute pregnant gal in the blue dress.  So cute!

Break out the paint!

via apartment therapy

I swear I have project ADD because when I start to near the finish line, I feel like I am walking through molasses and get distracted easily because I can't stop thinking about all the other projects that I want to do.  Like when I wake up in the night and obsess over what the heck I'm going to do about the kitchen floor.  Yep, I'm the kind of person that says "heck" and lays awake thinking about stupid projects.  Is anyone else in that boat??  (phew- that was a tangent)

Annnnnywhoooo...where was I?  I've got a crazy little tug-o-war going on in my brain over weither or not to paint some furniture or not.  Paint!  Leave! Paint! Leave! Paint! What color? Leave it alone....argh.


via apartment therapy



So while perusing Apartment Therapy last night, I found this tasty tidbit about colorful painted furniture.  I'm sold and back on the PAINT! train. 

via apartment therapy

Seriously just need to do it so I can stop the crazies.  It's just scary to paint unpainted wood.  Also, one of the furniture projects needs to be painted with oil based paint.  Never done that before.  Yikes!

Who likes giveaways?

I DO! I DO!!

Everything Etsy is doing a whole week of giveaways this week.  Today, you can enter to win one of two printers and 10 prize packages!  Ka-bam! 





I even have a giveaway or two coming up soon!  Wahoo!