Lookout 2007....

The new ME is going to be WHAM! in your face!!!!

Stay tuned.

*Ü*

No longer a virgin...

I received my first piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry!!

Our 11th anniversary was last week (more pics to come later), so we spent the night at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas! While we were there, we walked over to the Bellagio shops, and there was a Tiffany store! I had been mentioning that I would like a bracelt from them, and I also have a beautiful necklace in mind (hint hint, hubby!), so we went in and shopped!!

I am now the proud owner of this beautiful piece:



















A girl could get used to this!! ;)

So much to catch up on...

...and so little time.

SO much has happened since my last entry. Too much to list right at the moment.

But!!

I'll be back after some major house cleaning, and I'll spill all the sordid details. Okay, not sordid, but they're details....lol.

*Ü*

Meh. Just meh.

Feeling a little down in the dumps today. No idea why though, lol.

Meh.

Reality check.

I have come to a very serious conclusion in my life.

I have too much scrapbooking stuff.

That's right, you heard me. Too much.

I am convinced that if I were to scrapbook every day from now on, I would never need to buy any more supplies except for the occasional adhesive.

Today I decided to start "organizing" (hearty laugh) my scrap area. I found a cheaper way to go and hopefully it will turn out like I envision it. I still have a few more pieces to buy, but I'm on my way.

I put a table on top of the shelves I have now until I get a real table top, just so I can get an idea of how/where things will go. I'm hoping I didn't shoot myself in the foot by going a bit cheaper, because as I'm looking at it, I have NO IDEA where everything will go, lol.

I do know that I will need a bookcase to house my albums, and I *know* that I do not want anything sitting directly on the floor if I can help it. So, now the game of "will this fit here" begins.

Wish me luck!

Here is just a snack of what visiting guests see in my house right now. *eyeroll*

Freakin' wind

Ugh.

It is forEVER windy here. I don't mean, "Oops, my skirt blew up" windy. I mean, "Dang, my skirt is covering my HEAD" windy.

Add to the wind the fact that we are surrounded by acerages of DIRT and SAND and TUMBLEWEEDS....this makes Jane a grouchy girl. >:(

Just needed to vent.

Carry on.

I've been tagged!!

I'm so lucky to have received my first tag from the sweetest person EVAH!! TANGEE!!!

Word association. Tangee's words, my association:

Hobby scrapbooking

Fun shopping

Life family

Passion love

Mountain camping!!


I'm tagging JenK and Carrie!!

Here are my words:

Travel

Weather

Suitcase

Car

Sweater

Have fun girls!!! *Ü*

How does your garden grow?

Well. I've wanted to plant a garden in my backyard ever since we purchased this house almost two years ago. We're on an acre, so there are other things that need to be done first to begin the layout of the backyard, such as building D's workshop and setting up a pen for the (future) chickens. We also need to extend our patio and do a few other things.

In my true fashion, I have no patience and want a garden now lol.

On Tuesday, I ran down to Ace Hardware and purchased two plants: one green bell pepper plant and one tomato plant. I've had a huge (empty) planter sitting on my front patio for a long time, and now it has life!!

I hope that my non-existent green thumb decides to show up this time around!!

Salsa, anyone?!

Bid puppets, BID!!!!

Today I listed a few (read: tons) of stuff on ebay.

Since my most recent purging phase I've had two boxes of rubber stamps sitting in my office, waiting to find new homes. Today I took pictures and posted some of those puppies in the hopes that someone on the World Wide Web needs these stamps...at any cost.

Even if I made what my starting price is, that's more than they're making sitting here collecting dust, right?

Check 'em out!! Feel free to bid if the desire strikes you....

MY AUCTIONS

One more thing...

Since I had the sewing machine all dusted off and out, I whipped up a cute.....

...jeans purse!!!

There's a craft show coming up soon so I thought I would sew up a few of these and see how they do!!

I don't think this is too bad for no pattern, my first try, and breaking two needles, lol. I still need to figure out how to put a liner in it but it has possibilities!!!

Here is the purse hanging on a chair...




...and modeled by my lovely assistant...

Curtain call!!!

In my usual manner, I get a wild idea and I cannot rest until I get it done. Ask D. He'll tell you how I am with a great big eyeroll... :)

I decided that I wanted to make my own "custom" curtain top for my kitchen. I watch WAY too many decorating shows and read WAY too many decorating magazines, and then I get carried away.

Today I dusted off the ol' Sears sewing machine and went to work!! It took me a little bit of time to get it right, but I'm liking the finished product!!

The first time I put them up, I decided that the rod needed to be hung higher, much to D's dismay. This meant that he had to get up off of the couch and move it for me.

While he moved the rod higher over the window, I went back and re-sewed the curtains because they were waaaaaay too long. I now have a nice matching table runner, lol.

Here is the before. The photo is very yellow-y and you can't see it but there are cream-colored sheers above the window:



Now, here are the after pics!! Please keep in mind that I was so excited to have them up, I took photos before I finished ironing and positioning them. I also wanted a little more scallop at the bottom, but all in all I don't think they're too bad for a first timer. ;)

New habit, day 5...almost on track...

Today is day five of building my new habit. Things have been going swimmingly, and I have been less stressed about housework and cooking than I ever have. I'm already right on target for the day...and it's only 7:50 am.

I see one area where I am "falling behind," so to speak.

Work.

Since I work at home, it is far too easy to tell myself that I can work later, or that I'll work after everyone goes to bed...and that usually doesn't happen. So, now that it is a school day, I'll be working this morning!!

Why do I make everything harder than it has to be? Is it genetic? I don't think so; mom is a go-getter, so why am I NOT? I want to be a go-getter, lol.

I guess I'll just reserve myself to be a work in progress...

*Ü*

Everything's peachy...

We went to Caliente on Saturday to visit D's mom and dad, and see their new store Sunshine Creations. We had a very nice visit with them.

Earlier in the day, we went to Pioche for their labor day celebration. We walked the small town and had a great time relaxing. Here are the men taking a breather:



On our way home, we were given bag of freshly picked peaches!! The first thing I thought of was peach cobbler!! After dinner tonight, I washed and peeled some of them and we had delicious (and easy!) peach cobbler for dessert!!

Aren't you jealous?!

A family portrait...

While we were down in Havasu last weekend, I had my aunt snap a picture of my family as our group photos are few and far between since I'm always behind the camera.

I then posted it on a wonderful photography site and a friend photoshopped all of the lamps and end tables out of the background!!

Here we are:

Don't we clean up nice?! *Ü*

Let the schedules begin!!

I've said many, many, many, many.......many times that I need to get myself on a schedule. I need to prioritize my day and git'r done. Procrastination is my middle name, so the thought of scheduling makes me want to put it off, lol.

Today, I changed all of that.

I got up at 6:15. Bed got made, woke up Haley. Jumped in the shower and got dressed. I came downstairs, did a few of today's chores, then took Haley to school. Came home, took out dinner, did the rest of my chores, took Cass and Z to school. Then I started working.

This is going to be my new routine, every single day. I *have* to do this, not only for my job's sake, but for my sake. I'm tired of waiting until the last minute to do anything and everything. I'm tired of scrambling around because I'm almost out of time. I'm just tired of it.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Welcome to day one.

First day of school!

Well. We knew the time was coming.

The First Day Of School.

Such a milestone. We have Haley going into 8th grade (top of the food chain at middle school), Cassidy going into 5th grade (top of the elementary food chain), and Zachary going into 1st grade (all day long).

Very traumatic day. For D and I. ;)

Here are a few photos of my lovely crew. Please keep in mind that the lighting stunk bigtime. I had to try and get photos with no trashcans (trash day), no squinting, some were half sun/half shade, and others were just blech. Without further ado...

And school would not be complete without a meltdown from my sensitive guy:




Man, I love him!!

What's the name of this blog again?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's been awhile. Sue me. :)

Life sort of got in the way *again* so some things got put on a back burner...and then the burner went out...and then everything got cold and dried up...

I digress.

So. I'm back, I'm (getting) better, I'm in the zone.

Thanks for sticking with me.

*Ü*

Funk. Just funk.

I hate it when I get in a funk. It's not my style, it's not in my programming. But it happens. I just want to take a vacation from responsibility...with no consequences.

Unfortunately, that will never be an option.

Life goes on, and so must I. But there are things that I can step back from. It's time to really re-evaluate things that I spend my time on, and figure out if that time could be better spent somewhere else. It's hard...dealing with stuff you like to do, but probably should be doing something else.

I'll make it through. Things always find a way of working themselves out. It's the waiting and wondering that kills me.

Well, back to square one.

I really had my heart set on the Target trestle desk for my new scrap area. Well, unfortunately, after taking all of my stuff out of my office, there is NO way it will all fit in/around that desk.

I'm going back to square one.

The Crop In Style cubes are back in the picture. I figure I can decorate them nicely, maybe paint them a darker color, and then put a "skirt" around the bottom half so that you don't see all of the drawers.

This will also be more cost-effictive in the long run, and be more practical.

So!! CIS cubes it is!!

You know you're behind in your blogging....

...when you HUSBAND tells you that you need to update your blog!!

*gasp*

*Ü*

Time for a change.

Today I decided, much to my husband's dismay, to rearrange our office. I've known I was going to move my scrap stuff into the front room for awhile now, but I thought I would just take the plunge and dive right in. The rearranging just happened to follow, lol.

Here is a picture of what my office/scraproom used to look like from the door:














And this is what it looks like now! Just a note: at the time this picture was taken, the desk was still a mess. ;)~


I'm very excited for this small change, and I can't wait to finish up this room and get started on my new scraproom!!

A cry for help...

Someone, please remove this computer from my hands. I can't seem to tear myself away...

A new little venture!!

I'm always looking for ways to sell my excess scrapbook stuff, or anything, for that matter. Well, today I took the plunge. I started a message board to buy/sell/trade anything!!

It is http://iwantthat.proboards101.com/index.cgi?

It is by referral only but everyone is welcome, so if you want to refer someone trustworthy, please do!!

I'm so excited!! *Ü*

Well, not much done today.

I spent most of the day *thinking* about what I wanted to do in my house, lol, and then got nothing done.

In case you did not know, I am planning on moving my scraproom from my office to my front entry room. It will give me a ton more room, and I will be a part of the "family" area once the whole room is done.

I had originally wanted the Crop In Style cube system for my unit. Well, I've been looking around, both online and in my front room, and decided I want to go for more of a furniture look. So I think I've decided on the trestle desk from Target, and the ladder shelving that goes with it.


I'm really excited to get these in the house and start my reorganizing!! I think I am going to start taking everything out of my current scraproom, and put it on several six foot tables in the new room. This way I can see what all I have, and do some purging/organizing from there!!

...drive by posting...

Busy weekend, so no updating of the blog just yet.

But I will back tomorrow, with new entries, new pictures, new organizing ideas!!

Have a good one!! *Ü*

Who was that masked woman??

::Today, the part of Superwoman will be played by Stephanie::

Lots of stuff to do today!!! We're piling in the shower, one by one, and getting ready to truck out to Mesquite and hit Super WalMart! Lots of shopping to do for the weekend because I darned sure don't want to "run to the store" while everyone is here, lol.

We also have to make the dreaded decision: What to get daddy for Father's Day. So difficult for such an easy going man. But we have some ideas....;)~

After the trip to Mesquite, it's back home to CLEAN!! My goal for today is to have everything done tonight so that I just have to pick up tomorrow and wash sheets. Sounds good in writing, doesn't it? I need an eyeroll smiley...

I had a bit of a stomach bug yesterday but thank goodness I feel tons better today...and I lost two pounds!! So, the remainder of Cassidy's room still needs to be done. Once we fill the trash bag, I'll be able to see a little more clearly, lol.

Off I go, in my invisible plane....

Happy Wednesday!!

Today is beautification day: I get my nails done. I love having nice, clean, freshly-painted fingernails.

Today is also part deux of the clean-Cassidy's-room event. So far we are one huge green garbage bag into it. Lotsa crep going in the trash!! I am absolutely amazed at what these kids keep, lol.

We're getting down to the wire for our frantic weekend. Family will start arrving on Friday. I need to finish up the grocery shopping, and order a cake (ack!), and then finish cleaning the house more thoroughly. Linens, vacuuming...all that good schtuff.

Have a fantabulous day!! *Ü*

Today's project is....

Cassidy's room!!! And boy what a project that will be.

Here is what her room looks like now. We had to pile everything in the center of the room so that the bug man could get a good spraying in.

<---left side of the room, from the door.


















Other side from the door--->





So this is where I will be today!! I'll post after pictures when I am done!!

Wish me luck....:)

On the mend...

Cassidy is feeling *much* better today, thank goodness. I woke up to her playing video games. ;)

She took a bath this morning, had some toast and a little bit of eggs, and is on mandatory rest day today!!

Here is a pic I just took of her:
(click on picture to enlarge)

Isn't she cute?!

Another Mucking Funday...

Last night, Cass got sick. While it's been awhile (knock on wood) since she's been really sick, it's never fun. She started vomiting at about 2am, and has gone full force since then. Right now she's sleeping, and for that I am thankful.

I had big plans to work all day today, but since I have to listen for Cassidy, I'll work later tonight. I'm not in the mood to organize anything (gasp!), but that may change soon. ;)

Instead, here is a *really* bad picture of the meltdown my son had at his kindergarten graduation program last Thursday. We have no idea why, but he cried the entire time he was up there. He's never had stagefright before, so we think it was just the excitement from the day and it being the final day of kindergarten. (click on picture to enlarge)

Isn't he pathetic?! ;)~

Thank goodness for Monday!!

We have had the busiest weekend EVAH!! See previous entries for descriptions. ;) I'm happy for Monday to come so that we don't have to go do anything!!

Well, with all of the swimming we did over the past few days, we've decided to get a small-ish pool for our backyard. This way the kiddos have something to get wet in, and can still "swim." Maybe not Haley, as she's bordering on 6' tall....but she can dunk herself in.

This is the pool we are working on:

It is 18' by 48", and plenty deep for the kiddos to swim around in. Maybe enough room for me to get a tan on my lilly-white legs!! It should make for a nice, cool summer!!

Busy days!!

Today is Cass's last softball game, with a three-team pool party afterwards. There are only three teams in their league, so we decided to have the parties all together.

Last night I had bunco, which is always fun. I always gripe when I have to trek into Vegas, but I always have a good time. Good friends, good fun.

So, after last night, and after the party tonight...tomorrow is a birthday party...in Vegas...for our family friends' children. Lots of fun and I get to see all of my great friends again. ;)

I had a blast shopping with the kiddos yesterday, and got them some really cute clothes. Now, we're in Podunk, so I did not know that the "cool" thing for the girls to wear are the boys board shorts!! I picked up some for both of the girls (and me too!), and we all look so summery and ready for swimming at the drop of a dime!! Of course, no swimming in these; don't want to lose their vibrant colors...

Here is a pair that I bought for Haley:

The bug man came on Wednesday, and I had both of the girls pile (and I do mean PILE) all of their stuff in the middle of their rooms so that he could spray. Well, now that leaves a lot of cleaning to do!!

I purchased some more totes at WalMart yesterday, and we will begin their rooms this week. I will post before and after pictures for you to see. Hold on to your hats....lol.

I'm goin' shopping...and you can't have none....

*sigh* I love Eddie Murphy. ;)

Today, I am venturing into the animal that is known as Las Vegas. Wish me luck, people. I have to do a little bit of shopping and then I have bunco tonight.

I haven't decided what part of the house I want to organize this trip. I do know that I need to hit WalMart for some storage containers. If you are in need of storage totes, I have discovered the KING of storage totes: Homz brand. I found them at Walmart and fell in love with my first purchase. Their online catty does not show them, but when you see them, you will know. ;)

So, a trip to Walmart is in my future. Maybe a sqeak into Linens N Things. Definitely Old Navy...for my non-organizing fix, lol.

See you all tomorrow!!

Ouch. That stings.

It's amazing how one word can make me cringe and revert to my inner child.

Fat.

It's a word. But to some of us, it's so much more. It's who we are, right now. It doesn't matter who says it, or how they say it...it still stings.

Now, I know I am not slender. I'm overweight, and the only person that can change that is me. I'm not happy in my skin. I'm not the same person I was before. I still have my same personality; that is a blessing. But the rest of me is someone else. It stinks not having the willpower to do something about it. But someday...

FINALLY!!! And a decorating brainstorm...

Dear Blogger peeps:

Do you KNOW how hard it is waiting to post ideas on your brand spankin' new blog and the site is down?? Do you KNOW the ideas that go streaming in and out of my head at any given time? With my age, and the amount of children I have, don't you KNOW that I have to get these down somewhere or else they go *poof*???

Thanks for getting us back and running.

Sincerely,
Stephanie

So....after reading a post on Two Peas In A Bucket and seeing some bathroom remodels, I have decided that I want to remodel my half bath. This is a bathroom that is right off of my kitchen, and gets used the most when we have people stop by for a visit.

We've made some changes to this bathroom (and the entire house) since we bought it, but I'm thinking I want to go one step further in this particular lavatory.

<--This is what the bathroom looked like when we purchased the house.
<--This is the bathroom after some paint, new decor and new mirror. Also, since this picture, I've painted the cabinets black and changed the hardware and hung the mirror, lol.





And THIS is what I want to do in my bathroom now!! A vessel sink on a pedestal with a nice long neck faucet!! I think it would look fabu in there!! I just need to find another place for my hundreds of candles that are under the sink now, lol.




















Now I just need to work my magic on hubby....*Ü*

Yeah....I'm awake....

...barely.

I think I pushed the organizational envelope this past week and have been totally dragging butt yesterday and this morning. But man, the result is worth it!!

I have a clean house with minimal upkeep. Some deep-cleaning stuff that still needs to be done and will be, soon enough. I still have many organizing projects in the works, and now that school is almost done, I will have some help!

Today's organizing project: My credenza. The credenza, located in my office, is jam-packed with old catalogs from scrapbooking vendors. I would like to go through them, rip out any ideas I might like to keep, and then toss them! This would free up an entire drawer so that I may store my blank CDs and cases in there, along with other office-y things.

Off to make my first cup of coffee for the day...

I'm back!!

Back with a new blog, a new goal, and a new outlook!!!

Stay tuned!!!