Free cycle

I was supposed to have a garage sale last weekend. Actually, I planned it for the weekend before that but life happened and here I am, with a bunch of crap all piled in the corner of my bedroom. I think this is its third location in the past two weeks and with the up-coming party for the girls, I was contemplating moving it (yet again) into the laundry room.

Instead, I decided to Free cycle most of it. YAY! I just reduced my load by more than half in a matter of minutes. And when I say minutes I mean literally. If you have never tried Free cycle you really should. People will take anything for free and fight for it! Which is always entertaining, but really I do love that they rid me of things fast before I have time to change my mind.

It usually goes something like this...

1. Gather a group of similar items like 8 or more shirts for boys 4-6.
2. Put them in a plastic grocery bag.
3. Get online and make a listing (I have 8 or so shirts in size 4-6..easy curb pick up)
4. Go look around the house for anything else that could go in the bag.
5. Check my email with over 10 people wanting the bag right now in less than 5 minutes!
6. Pick someone and give them my address.
7. Set the bag by the curb.
8. Like magic, I never see the bag again.
9. Start a new bag of similar items and repeat....

Now, you may be thinking, "Who wouldn't want a bag of free clothes?" but I assure you, people will come and pick up ANYTHING you list.

It is perfect for items I have guilt throwing away but have no need for, such as clothing store hangers, glass jars, magazines, plastic cups from fast food places etc...

Yes, people have come and picked up those items willingly and thankfully.

It is also great for larger items that you don't feel like hauling off.
Old beat up couch.. gone! (had 2 recliners in it too. Ever tried to move one of those?)
Old dishwasher...gone!

Look and see you have a FreeCycle in your area. You might even score something awesome for FREE!

Things I've saved.

I am constantly saving images and ideas off the Internet. I'm terrible about knowing where they came from so forgive me if the things I am about to show you came from your site and I am not giving you credit. Also, if you would like to know where I found them, too bad. I have no idea and it probably came from a few years back. If you just happen to know, feel free to tell me, but if you know and feel like suing because you didn't get credit.. get a hobby. :D

These are a couple of displays a woman did in her home that stood out to me. Something is a little dark about them (probably the old photos and frames above because I find them a bit creepy and haunted) but I do like the feeling of them both.

Here is FALL:

I am really liking the corduroy pumpkin. The color of that orange is especially nice and the woman that made the knitted hats for me just posted a picture of crocheted pumpkins she did. Ohhh so tempted to have a few made! (If you want won I can put a word in!) I love the varying heights and soft lighting. I have some large candle holders I want to try out as pedestals , inspired by ones here. These displays are actually what made me yearn a credenza/buffet in the living room.

And WINTER:

I love how this does not feel Christmas, just winter. I found a glass dome at Helping Hands (thrift shop) the other day with this display in mind. All the glass and white lights seem cold and serene.

Here is my Fall table from last year which I was so proud of but now I'm finding a bit cheesy. I want to "rich-it-up" a bit this year.

Here is something else I found. I love the ringed display!

I was just telling my mom about this photo/idea because she recently moved and found a "treasure" left behind of old linens. I thought she might be able to do something like this with them for her guest bedroom. I just saw a bunch of these rings in Good Will on Sat. and I should have snagged them up, but I let this idea slip my mind until mom's linens reminded me. It would be fun to do some of these for a kids room using some of their favorite screened, but too small, T-shirts, maybe even painting the rings in really loud colors.

This photo made me want to start collecting globes. If I could just find one that I really liked, I would probably impulse buy it in hopes of creating a similar shelf set up with the same blue paint. It would be so nice in the Scientists room some day, but I know I have high hopes. Girly posters, dirty laundry and food bowls seems more likely.

I'll do more of these posts randomly I'm sure. I have TONS of stuff saved. Maybe posting them here will refresh my memory about all the things I intended to do lol.

Halloween is in the air

The Honey and Ms. Thang just headed out to get some supplies. We are planning on making headstones for the front yard. We've never done it before, but I think it will be fun. Honey even bought a fog machine. I promise pictures no matter how it turns out lol.

Just before they left, Ms. Thang had finished decorating her brothers room in paper webs, spiders, and skeletons. It's cute!

I want to make a wicked table display too, but I think it is all going to have to wait until after the girls b-day party next weekend. Cupcakes and skulls just don't mix. Well.. actually it sounds kind of cool, but not for MY girls. They are sugar and spice and everything nice. Lets hope they hold off on the goth look for a few more years.

Speaking of party themes, I kind of crapped out on the girls theme this year. I couldn't just pick a theme that suited them both (1yr and 12yr party) so I just kept finding things that were pink and on sale and buying them. So now it is a total hodgepodge of stuff. I'm going to try and do an awesome job on the cakes to make up for the lacking decor. I'm thinking pink and daisies, but the oldest likes blue, so maybe blue centered daisies on her cake. We'll see...

Well, they just got back with a huge piece of foam so wish us luck in the graveyard business!

Home Tour Challenge- The Den

This is the room in the house we actually "live" in the most. When we first moved into this house, we came from a small apartment where there was one open-plan room including the dining, living, and kitchen. Somehow we brought that feeling into our den and still don't branch out much lol.

Here it is when we bought it:


And here it is now split into what we call the kids side:

and the adult side:



What I love: The comfort. I'm not afraid of anything being ruined with a spill. I don't get angry if the kids put their feet on the arm rests. Things are casual in here, and since it is the furthest room from the front door, and guests can't see it unless invited back, I am really lax in it's appearance. I don't mind if blocks are piled in towers and left for awhile, or if paper art projects lay in piles on the floor. In here, I just don't sweat it. I also love my daughters minpin Wednesday who is always a staple in this room and usually in my lap as shown. :)



What I hate: It's thrown together appearance. The paint job is lame. I could do so much more with that window nook. The furniture is all hand me downs from the rest of the house. But I know if it were more put together I wouldn't enjoy it as much right now when the kids are small. Someday I will have it nice, but for now I just let it be. If I had to pick one thing to hate though, it would be that the floor slopes pretty drastically. It was a garage at one point, long before we bought it and the flooring was carpeted right on top of the concrete. Every time I move the couch to sweep, there are about 10 bouncy balls/marbles/etc.. collected under that window lol

What I want: Sometimes I visualize a bench seat in the window area. Maybe a bar replacing the kids area. A pretty sectional with a chaise of course and since the room is long and narrow, the walls would be perfect for displaying a gallery of art work. That is far in the future though. I have been thinking of painting the walls in a high energy color like orange but I probably won't do it.

What I need: A new tv stand. The TV is actually on an old dresser (plastic and particle board) we got for free from a friend of my MIL's and the bottom drawer always sticks. It is holding more toys than you can imagine and the bottom is falling out. I want something more simple and sleek, but really I love the drawers. It looks like it is 3 small drawers across, but really it is one short and one longer side that is perfect for wrapping paper, but it's just slowly falling apart.


Something old: I'm going to say this Jack in the Box type toy is the oldest thing in the room. It's circa 1980 or so and I found it at a garage sale in perfect condition. I thought it was adorable and Cutecumber loves it. (As do the other two, but they probably wouldn't fess up to it lol)



Something new: The recliner is new to the room although it is a hand-me-down from my FIL. Don't tell the Honey, but it is sort of eerie looking over and seeing him falling asleep in it just like I've seen his dad do a million times. I start realizing that we do become our parents and I wonder if my mom and his dad would have made a good couple. lol (Mom, don't even think about it! That would make Honey and I siblings. I know we live in the south but remember your roots in California! lol)

Good bargain: What's not? Almost all the furniture was free. I'd say that is a pretty good deal.

Most expensive: TV hands down. The Honey had a lot of influence on that purchase. I can't say I regret it though. We all enjoy watching movies together as a family. It paid for itself the first time Honey made popcorn, Ms Thang made up fake movie tickets that we had to use to get in at the door (she rips them in half too!) The scientist leading us to our seats as the lights are slowly turned down by my daughter (we have a dimmer so it works out great) and not a single person complains if we paused a minute to put the baby down in the crib.



Unexpected: Hmm, I guess having the entertainment center adorned with toys on each pull is not that typical. I think it was actually The Scientists idea and when I noticed it encouraged Cutecumber to crawl and pull up, I like it. Another unexpected thing is probably the way we display cards on the mini blinds. In the photo you can see two b-day cards for the girls. I put holiday cards up this way as well.

Most meaningful: My kids art work. I think my Honey and I are creative and it's an outlet we both enjoy and use in our every day lives. I love to see that in the kids. (the baby in the lower left is actually a picture that came inside a frame. My oldest gave it a Captain Jack Sparrow make-over including the random beaded hair and eye liner lol)



We also have easels that my oldest has really had fun with ,painting the few pieces you see on canvas. Another reason this room is so great, the flooring in here is left over industrial tile that my Honey had put in his work space. They may be a little unsightly, but paint comes right off :)

Where is the bird? I have a couple in here. One is paper mache that you can see hanging just below the kids art board. The other, I actually hand painted on the wall as a beginning to a mural that I never finished. Story of my life lol. Here it is and beneath it is the concept I was going for. Kind of one animal or nature scene flowing to the next. Of course I started with a bird, but lost interest.



Worth mentioning: I have family photos hanging on the wall above my larger sofa and would like to put more in here since it really is the "family" room. I don't have many because although I take quite a few with my digital camera, I am horrible about going and getting professional pics done, and even worse about having my pictures printed. I need to work on that. I actually have three multi-photo frames (one for each kiddo) that I have been meaning to fill and hang in the hallway. Maybe I'll make that a goal and post a hallway tour challenge next time.

Thanks for checking out my den!

Webkinz sneak into my kitchen

So a few weeks ago, I buy this cute little pitcher/creamer? at a thrift shop knowing that even though it has my favorite persimmon color (it looks more orange in the photo), the black trim wouldn't look good in the kitchen, and I was right. It stands out like a turd in a punch bowl.

(try not to envy my manicure)

Anyway, today I was dusting (more like moving items around to make my old stuff feel new again) and I happened to notice the bottom of the creamer.

For those of you that are not "in the know", GANZ is the same company that makes webkinz. If you don't know what webkinz are, I'm sorry you're missing out and jealous you are not addicted. No wonder I was so tempted to buy it even when I knew it wouldn't go well in there. lol

It is a cute little item though right? I may end up giving it to my mom because her colors are similar to mine, but more "spice" so black might go. It would make a cute Halloween arrangement too with themed suckers.

Speaking of halloween theme, have you seen the new monster stuff at Target? I think it's really bright and fun and I am hoping to get a few items on clearance after the holiday for the Scientists.

Costumes for this year:

Me- a mom, I'm being a party pooper this year

Honey- Kung fu master

Ms Thang- Alice (in wonderland)

Scientist- Mario (nintendo brother)

Cutecumber- Pumpkin

Both the girls have the cutest striped stockings, and the scientist is really cute in his too. I don't know what made him decided to be Mario, as he doesn't even really know who it is, but he was persistent and I have to say he looks darn cute!

Kids unscripted

I was clearing the camera card and came across a few random things I feel like posting so here ya go...


The scientist sleeps cocooned in blankets w/ingenious breathing hole:


Miss Thang is caught making faces as she pulls out a hair-tie. Of course I post this hilarious animation I made HERE because Miss Thang specifically said not to.


My oldest took a short silent video of Cutecumber that will give you motion sickness and make you avoid peaches forever. I call this one Baby Red Beard and the sequel will be titled Baby Takes a Bath.

:)

Morning noise

Sometimes on Saturday mornings, when it's my turn to sleep in, I lay awake for a bit and listen to my family, usually in the kitchen, with old Star Trek episodes playing in the background because Honey loves to cook breakfast while watching Captain Kirk do things he has seen him do a million times. It's probably one of my favorite moments of the week, listening in on them as if I'm watching a reality tv show starring my very favorite people.
Today was fun. I'd give the award for best actress in a day-time drama to Miss Thang for her role in "I don't want to go to the grocery store."
Best supporting actor goes to My Honey, based on great one-liners like, "Fine, then stay here and when we get back you can't eat anything ever again."

I enjoy every second because I know someday, these will be the moments I miss the most.

Sore throats and baby hats

I'm going to try and get up another Home Tour Challenge today since I'm sick and taking pictures is about all I feel like doing lol.

I woke up this morning with a killer sore throat. I sound like an 80yr old chain smoker, but really I don't feel as bad as I sound. I still want to take it easy though. When mom gets sick, the household doesn't run like the well oiled machine I have made. The worse I get, the more I have to do when I'm better. NO THANKS! I'll take it easy now so that I'm not out for days.

Speaking of how I sound, the scientist did the sweetest thing last night. He came into my room, tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Mom?"

"What is it honey?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice for a minute," and then he hugged me and went back to bed.

MELTED MY HEART! He may be big enough for kindergarten, but he still needs me plenty. :)

I'm starting to feel the onset of Autumn. A few falling leaves have caught my eye and there are those lingering gray cool mornings and evenings. I just ordered some of the cutest hats for Cutecumber from a friend of a friend. I can't wait to get them. I ordered this bear one in pink and brown, and the mohawk one as pictured. My Honey especially loved it. lol

I also ordered this one for my nephew.

I could have bought about 10 more because there are some super cute ones (even a strawberry hat and you know how I feel about fruit!) but 3 is enough....for now lol

Guess I've rambled on long enough. I'm going to work on getting up that Home Tour Challenge but I'm not going to promise anything.

Watch out world

1 box of hair dye and 1 box of highlights on clearance at Big Lots- $8

Generic/walmart brand Proactive skin treatment- $18

Walking away pounds with a new friend- Free

Total cost- $35
Total feeling- Million bucks!

The scientist has a new friend.

Me: "Who is your favorite friend at school?"

Scientist: "A little girl named Della."

Me: "Why is she your favorite friend?"

Scientist: "because when I growl at her she says, "Ahhhhhh!" (fake scream) and we laugh and laugh. Oh, and she has cute shoes. They are black and shiny with a strap and she always wears dresses."

baby phenomenon #304

As a mother, tons of things happen that mystify the mind. Like, how did a pickle get in the dryer lint trap and how did it turn pink? lol These are things I just explain as baby phenomenons.

So, phenomenon #304-

Cutecumber lives up to her nickname and is cute cute CUTE! Not just to me, but to anyone near her and already, before she is even one, has received numerous gifts from strangers, including and almost exclusively from men lol. Yesterday as we were walking out of Albertsons, the deli worker not only offered, but begged to give my beautiful girl a cookie. The thing was the size of her whole head! As I pushed the cart out to the van, she held it with two hands and nibbled it ever so daintily. Such a little girl! As I placed her in the car seat, most of the cookie fell to the ground leaving her with about a quarter sized piece and two chocolate chips at the most. She didn't even notice and for that I'm sure I am thankful lol.

Now for the phenomenon part of this story. How is it, that I can barely get an entire gallon of semigloss to paint 4 tiny walls, yet she managed to put, not one, but TWO coats of chocolate on her face, hands, clothing, car seat and a good portion of my van with two tiny chocolate chips!?

I did work it to my advantage though. I was cleaning up the mess with a baby wipe and realized I had to pick up my oldest two from school. She was clean except for a giant smudge on her shorts and the front of her shirt. I just didn't have time to change her. I went to get the kids, and as they climbed in the back, I said, "Sorry if you smell poop, I didn't have time to change her clothes."

If only I had a camera!!!!! LMAO

Sentiments from my Honey

Honey: "Did you just brush your hair?"

Me: (smiling at being noticed and tucking a few strays behind my ear ) "Yes actually, How did you know ?"

Honey: "You are shedding all over your shirt, and your back looks like a wookie."


Dedicated to you my love: