10 Random Things Friday...

1. Ok, this CRACKS ME UP! How cute is this??  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!

Go get yourself one at this shop on etsy: icehousecrafts  She has all kinds of other signs too-you know, just in case you haven't found Jesus, don't love your vacuum, didn't give at the office, or don't have kids selling crap!

2. I have a problem... I'm in love with a Porkie.  

I usually don't order food with embarrassing names, for example:

The Cinnamini at Burger King

The BIG Wally at Penguin Point

The Porkie from Logan's

What self respecting woman can say "I'd like the BIG Wally"?... I  mean, not a nice girl like me anyway!

(I was going to take a picture of one, but I couldn't get the camera fast enough)

This Porkie from Logan's has got me all turned upside down.   My love of the Porkie is something new to me... 1st up: the name, 2nd up: it's Pork, thirdly: the fact that I do NOT use love and food in the same sentence...ever!  You get 3 of these little sandwiches, 3 little rolls filled with porky goodness.  Pulled BBQ pork, a pickle slice and a plop of coleslaw on a sweet little roll... And to tell the whole story, I must add the fact that EVERY time I eat these I am an IBS-Mess... They tear me UP!  I won't let myself believe that a bit of pork, a pickle and some slaw can do this to me, I won't ALLOW it, so I will continue to oink, oink out on them every single time I go to Logan's!!

3. My hand looks giant in that picture, like the hands on the cover of the new Tina Fey book...

4. Ever wonder where mean blog comments go?  I mean, they certainly do NOT go to Heaven!  Well, I have the answer, I found out where they end up and you need to go there and get your LOLing on!
my favorite hate mail
Have you ever had mean comments on your blog?  I feel lucky that I never have (now, please don't leave me one just so I don't feel left out!), and am constantly amazed at how MEAN some people can be.
Why can't we all just get along??  The t-shirt is true: mean people suck!


5. When I mentioned to Darling this morning that some people were up at 4 AM to watch the Royal Wedding, she said:

"Why?  It's just 1 little thing that's happening in the World!"
I wrote it down so I can add it to her book that I keep.  That girl is NOT easy to impress.


6. Yesterday was the first time I've run in 2 weeks thanks to my rotten IT band that is giving me fits. 

I felt fine while I ran, but later was limping around like a 90 year old! You know the Bejamin Franklin quote "Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy"?  My friend Chris would like to add this quote "Pain is constant proof that God loves us and does not want us to exercise".  I'm a little worried about the 10K I am suppose to run in on May 14th...we'll see!


7. Mick has nothin' on me!

8.  Since getting this book at Christmas, the Mister has lost over 17 lbs and sleeps like a baby!!
Start keeping track of how much sugar you eat a day, and you'll be SHOCKED!!

Speaking of, I need to eat all the Easter candy quickly so it will just be GONE!!


9. I want my dining room table to look like this, JUST like this:

found here: all things thrifty

10.  I have such a heart for adoption.  I always knew I wanted to adopt and have been beyond blessed by this choice.  Even though she's going to kill us with future dental bills and eyebrow waxing!! Oh, she would die if she knew I just said that, don't tell her- OK?!

I just heard about this group this morning on the radio and encourage everyone to check it out.  There are over 4,000 kids in my state alone waiting for adoption... 4,000!!!!!  Can you imagine the impact we could make on this number if more people would see adoption as an option?  International, domestic, babies, toddlers, and teens, they all need a family!!  I encourage you to check this site and then pray about it.  Please consider adding the link to your blog or facebook!

http://icareaboutorphans.org/

Have a GREAT weekend!!

Plaster Disaster and other interior design mistakes...

So, you all (or "Y'all" for my friends down south) are aware of the mess I've made of our front entry!  First I painted it a yellow that would peel the skin off your eyelids, then tried to cover it with a layer of venetian plaster then looked like a bad 90's sponge paint... Oh the horror!  Thankfully I can't get our front door open so everyone comes through the garage.  Anyway, I was debating sanding the 1st layer of plaster off when the Mister shook me violently (just kidding) and told me there was NO way I'd ever get that wall smooth and that I should put the next 2 layers of plaster on and SHUT IT!  I spent the last 2 days leisurely slappin another layer of plaster on the walls.  I'll say this: IF I had the option of redoing this, I wouldn't, BUT... it does look better with another layer!  The splotchy yellow is gone, wish this mess was!

Of course, I ran out of plaster, so now we must invest another $40 in a bucket of crap we aren't thrilled with...

I also spent the day cleaning this giant bowl chandelier (that I did not pick out), it's the perfect shape to catch dust and dead bugs!  Lovely!

Ahhhh, yes, there is a GREAT shot of the spongy looking plaster disaster!  The yellow looks very day-glo in the pictures, which it isn't, thankfully!!

In other news, I don't like my fireplace wall and will soon be repainting it a different color.... NO, I am not available for hire!!

The Great Easter Puke Fest of 1978...

Years ago when I was around 9, my parents had these friends with 4 kids that were quite a bit older than us.  These kids, for some reason, loved to come over with their parents and get the 3 of us all wound up.  We loved these kids, they were "older", they were FUN, and they loved to hang out with us.  One Easter they made us Easter baskets with hard boiled eggs they had decorated just for us!  We, of course, were thrilled... these kids were COOL!  My brother, who shall remain nameless but not photoless...

was so thrilled with these personalized eggs of his that he just could not bear to have his broken and eaten, so... he HID his in his CLOSET!  Now that wouldn't be all bad as long as they didn't break, but he must have felt remorse at some point and returned them to the fridge.  My mother then looking for a way to use up all these eggs made egg salad.  I think you can see what's coming down the road, or rather, back up....  We then ate the egg salad and proceeded to puke our guts up for what seemed like years.  Food poisoning is never fun!  My poor dad ate 2 huge sandwiches and then went to a board meeting...believe it or not, he didn't stay till the meeting was over!  But here's the real kicker, my brother, the one who tried to kill us with his Easter eggs, didn't eat one bite of the egg salad!!  

Our Easter this year was puke free and fun!  We colored eggs, ate too much candy, went to Church, had Bob Evans fix us brunch and visited with the Misters parents.

Here are the highlights:

Ever dye eggs with a tiger?

 She wanted everyone to get their own egg

 My basket was the Mister!!

 Special egg hunting outfit!

 Special Church outfit (and the last time she'll wear a 5T-she'll be 8 in July, she's a tiny little peanut!)

10 Random Things Friday...

1. My friend came over to spend a day with me crafting and talking.  The clock in my studio WAS an hour behind.  I looked at my watch and realized it was 1 minute PAST the time darling gets off the bus, I screamed and RAN up the stairs and out into my driveway (Darling gets dropped off at the private drive right before ours that is at the top of the hill) where my lovely neighbor was waiting with my sweet girl! Whewww!  As I stood chatting and explaining that a friend was over and we were distracted, said friend came out, pulling the door behind her and thus, locking us out!  I won't tell you how we got in, I don't want my secret to get out!

LOVE my crazy friends!!

2. I listed 3 re purposed Vintage Birds in my etsy shop yesterday...

3. I need to put myself on a strict schedule, this free-stylin' life is makin' me CRAZY!  I'm going to take a class at the local art college

I realize I am very fortunate to not have to work, but not having any structure at all is not so good for me...anyone else struggle with this?  

4. 

My buddy, my pal, my mental twin, my BFF is FEATURED in this magazine

~Christine~

go ahead, head over to her blog viewsbychris.blogspot and tell her 

CONGRATULATIONS!

5. I caved on my "no fake chemical laden creamers"

plus I had a .55 cent coupon!

6. When I was a kid I wanted to be a truck driver when I grew up because of this man and his monkey

BJ and the Bear!  Anyone else?

7. How were these pants EVER popular?

you can thank this man...

I'm proud to say I never even attempted this "style"

8. Taking our sweetie to see this movie tonight

9. Can't believe how FAST time flies when you are a mama!

Last week we went out to eat.  Darling announced she had to  go to the bathroom and she got up and went.  She went WITHOUT me...she didn't need my help!!  I said to the Mister "she's going to be 8 this summer, then she's going to be 10, then she's going to drive, then she's going to go to college and then some boy is gonna want to take her from us" then I burst into tears...

LOVE this girl more than I knew was possible!!!

10. If you ever see me wear any of the following shoes, please smack me

Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!

The dang fine print...

Don't ya know it, here was my chance at talking the Mister into another little one... All I had to do was collect the $25,000 (all in 1's, of course) and then put them in a huge pile in our living room before he got home!  Trust me, if I could suddenly come up with this chunk of change, I'd be calling my agency....

stupid mustard... contest ended Sept. of 2010.

PS: don't worry "Funny" & Mel, that is NOT an orb, it's only my flash in the dark window!

Off to check my mega millions numbers....

Goodbye Cave Dwelling!

This was our living room 

(of course I started tearing it apart before I snapped a picture and yes, that is "Deliverance" on the TV- "you got a purty mouth, boy").  

On Saturday morning I said to the Mister "Could we PLEASE get the new trim put up today?" and that started the whole ball rolling.  He said he really wanted to paint the walls before he nailed the new trim up and then...

he said he really wanted new carpet and so we might as well do new tile around the fireplace before we had new carpet installed!

Here's a picture of the fireplace before the tile was removed:

after the tile was removed...so creepy!  I was afraid a critter was going to crawl down the chimney and run loose in our house!  But then again, isn't a wild possum lose in the house a bloggers DREAM?

I was never a huge fan of this wall color, it was SO dark in here!  

The kitchen after the cabinets got re-painted, but pre granite and tile backsplash.

I get a little crazy about picking paint colors, I always 2nd guess myself.  After my hideous entry way disaster I've been shell shocked and afraid to pick a color for the great room because it's a huge area with no real breaks, so I had to pick 1 main color.  I went with Tobacco Leaf, which is just that, kind of a khaki color.  With the 1st swipe of the brush, I knew I didn't know if I liked it- I saw the panic on the Mister's face but I had 3 full gallons of this color... Now that it's up, it's so much brighter in here!  

There's still a LOT to do: trim, fireplace, new carpet, new lights and someday...

new furniture! Don't ya know when you freshen up one thing, it makes everything else start to look ratty.  I'm talking to you faded red couch!

Anything you're working on in your home?

Anything you need to do but want to avoid (like me and my entry?!)?

Happy Tuesday friends!!!

Mother Nature is on my hit list!!

This is what I woke up to...NO, I am not kidding and YES, it IS April 18th....

Remember my bragging last week?  We had green grass 

and flowers poking through last years ratty mulch

Mother Nature: why you so mean??

Yesterday (during the holy day of REST) the Mister and I repainted our entire Great Room...We got rid of the horrible DARK green that made our home look like a cave all winter!!

At least someone was obeying that rest commandment!

We still have a LOT of work to do in this room, but here's a sneak peek 

Happy Monday, hope it's snow-free where you are!

10 Random Things Friday...

Random Friday... it's HERE!!

1. When you go on vacation and leave your mom a note saying "Please feed: Darling, the dog, the cats (outside cats), the rabbit (also outside in the man shed),  and the fish", then the plants do NOT get fed/watered...

 Oh, wait... there are 2 stems still alive... one on the "trunk" and the one in my hand.  Don't worry, I won't give up on you little plant... Unless Meijer gets more of you, then you'll be replaced, sorry!

2. Because my tiny little boobs deserve only the best, look what Victoria's Secret "gave" me (for spending some $$$).

it will look smashing with these

3. I didn't run yesterday, I didn't run today...

apparently I've done something to my IT band...These jeans are PERFECT for a knee injury!  Ice pack held on with a knee sock, MacGyver who?

My friend Sherry over at: Life, from my Perspective told me I needed a foam roller

I figured she meant this

she said only an artist would think that!  I need THIS:

4. I found this carrot while snacking (eat enough and you get a fake tan!)

I don't think I'll make further comments...I'll leave that to "Funny" and Mel

5. This is in my flower bed!!! Michiganders LIVE for this moment...

6.  I HATE this... HATE HATE HATE!!

Here's my problem, the light color is venetian plaster but once I got the 1st layer on I freaked and left it.  I NEVER meant it to look like a faux finish or a 90's sponge paint effect, but...by leaving it alone I've allowed it to taunt me daily!  My big dilemma has been: sand or add the next 2 layers and pick a new color to paint over the texture.  I WANT to sand it, but...I don't want to sand it, so... I'm going to pick a small area, add the next 2 layers of plaster and see what I think...Oh geesh, wish me luck!  

7.  Have you caught the CAKE POP CRAZE??

This is TOTALLY the type of book I would HAVE to have or this one

or better yet...BOTH!

BUT, with age comes wisdom, right?  I knew I would NEVER use them, or use it once and hate how tedious it was and then NEVER do it again, so... I thought Darling and I could just make some plain ones.  I've seen them on blogs, and at Starbucks- I get it, how hard can it be?...

I am SO glad I didn't buy the book!

8.  This was painted on the side of a building in Nassau...it was SO pretty!

Notice the building is PINK!!  Their National bird is the Flamingo, so pink buildings are EVERYWHERE in the Bahamas! Loved it!!

9. What I'm wearing today 'cause I know ya wanna know... I removed the bags from under my eyes for your viewing pleasure!

1. Long sleeve: GAP

2. Hello Kitty tee: Old Navy

3. Jeans: Aeropostale

Hahaha, like someone wants to know where each piece came from...

who copies a look like this? Duh!

10.  Found these ADORABLE crochet rings...

(do you even THINK I can get the picture to load...Grrr!)

Go here to see these

allfreecrochet

wanna make one yourself?

Materials:

• AUNT LYDIA’S Fashion Crochet Thread, Size 5, each ball approx 0.9oz/26g 100yd/91m (cotton)- 1 ball #410 Silver/Silver (One ball of thread will make many rings)
• Crochet hook- Size D/3 (3.25mm) crochet hook or any size to obtain correct gauge
• Stitch marker
• Thread needle
• Stitch Diagrams- Pick one or make all three!

Skill: Intermediate

Special Abbreviations:

Cl (cluster) Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st or sp, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook; [yarn over, insert hook in same st or sp, yarn over and draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] twice, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

picot Ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook.

Finished Measurements + Gauge:

ring #1 Approx 11⁄2"/4cm across (at widest point) x 21⁄4"/5.5cm circumference

ring #2 Approx 13⁄4"/4.5cm across face (at widest point) x 21⁄4"/5.5cm circumference

ring #3 Approx 11⁄2"/4cm across face (at widest point) x 21⁄4"/5.5cm circumference

Remember to check gauge for best results! Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Tip: Make it just your size! Work more or fewer chains in the ring band for your perfect fit.

Instructions:

RING #1

Ch 5; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1 Ch 3, dc in ring (beginning ch-3 and next dc count as one cluster), ch 3, [Cl in ring, ch 3] 7 times; join with sl st in top of beginning ch—8 clusters and 8 ch-3 sps.

Round 2 Ch 3, sl st in top of next dc, ch 4, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next Cl; ch 9 (first half of ring band made); (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next Cl, [ch 4, (sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next Cl] 3 times; ch 4, sl st in 5th ch of first half of ring band, ch 4 (ring band completed); [(sl st, ch 3, sl st) in next Cl, ch 4] twice; join with sl st in first sl st. Fasten off.

RING #2

Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1 Ch 1, [sc in ring, picot, ch 1] 6 times; join with sl st in first sc—6 sc, 6 picots, and 6 ch-1 sps.

Round 2 Ch 8 (counts as dc, ch 5), [dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 5] 5 times; join with sl st in 3rd ch of beginning ch— 6 dc and 6 ch-5 sps.

Round 3 Ch 1, sc in same st as join, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot, ch 3, sc in next dc, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp; ch 7, sl st in 7th ch from hook (first half of ring band made); [ch 3, sc in next dc, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot] 2 times, ch 3, sc in next dc, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp; ch 3, place marker in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in 4th ch of first half of ring band, ch 3, sl st in marked ch (ring band completed), ch 3, sc in next dc, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot, ch 3; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

RING #3

Ch 4; join with sl st in first ch to form a ring.

Round 1 Ch 1, [sc in ring, picot, ch 1] 6 times; join with sl st in first sc—6 sc, 6 picots, and 6 ch-1 sps.

Round 2 (Sl st, ch 3, dc) in first ch-1 sp (counts as first cluster), ch 5, [Cl in next ch-1 sp, ch 5] 5 times; join with sl st in first dc—6 clusters and 6 ch-5 sps.

Round 3 Ch 1, sc in same st as join, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot, ch 3, sc in next Cl, picot, ch

3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp; ch 7, sl st in 7th ch from hook (first half of ring band made); [ch 3, sc in next Cl, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot] 2 times, ch 3, sc in next Cl, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp; ch 3, place a marker in 3rd ch from hook, sl st in 4th ch of first half of ring band, ch 3, sl st in marked ch (ring band completed); ch 3, sc in next Cl, picot, ch 3, sc in 3rd ch of next ch-5 sp, picot, ch 3; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

finishing

Weave in all ends.

HAppy WeeKenD my fRieNds!!!