A Day In My Life

Home Decorating

So, I have been thinking...I am really struggling with this last part of my declutter journey (for this year anyway).  Today I decided I needed some different motivation so I pulled out my Home decor binder.  I LOVE binders and how organized they make me feel.  For as long as I can remember I have torn out pages from Home decorating magazines and kept them...first in a file, then in a composition notebook and for the last 10 years a BINDER.  I clean it out periodically, cuz as we know Home Decor ideas change quite often.  I wanted to show you some of the pages from it:

 

THis was from a Pottery Barn catalog.  I use catalogs, magazines, paint samples and more for inspiration.  Now there might be just one or two things in a picture that I really like and want to remember like in this one:

 

You see the page on the right has some writing on it reminding me WHY I chose that picture.

I use binder separators that have pockets and I stick little things like paint swatches:

 

And as you might have figured out, each separator is for a different room in the house, and the back pocket I put things in that need to be filed in it rightful place.

 

This binder is a great source of inspiration and I am going to sit down with it tonight and remind myself WHY I need to declutter.

The last few days I have been working on an Americana purse...yesterday I had to tear the whole thing out and start again as I had twisted the darn stitches.  Today this is what it looks like...and I will show you pictures before and after I felt it:

 

Well folks, that's it for today.  Hope you found some inspiration in this post...tell me how you organize ideas...

Denise

You will be missed

Grafton O. "Graffie" DeRedin
SANDY POINT - Grafton O. DeRedin, 73, died April 28, 2009, in Belfast. He was born Oct. 2, 1935, in Sandy Point, the son of Francis and Margaret (Perkins) DeRedin. He attended Stockton Springs schools and was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War. Graffie was a member of American Legion Jerry W. Dobbins Post No. 157 of Stockton Springs. Graffie retired in 1992 from Champion International Paper Co., Bucksport, where he was member of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers. Since his retirement, he enjoyed his winters in Florida with his wife. He also enjoyed working in his shop, between his numerous trips to Perry's Store. Graffie loved fishing, hunting, golfing, flying and the Boston Red Sox. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Leola (Theriault) DeRedin of Sandy Point; two daughters, Marianne Bridges and her husband, Raymond, of Prospect and Cindy Kingsbury and her husband, Eric, of Frankfort; six grandchildren, Erin, Michael, Breanne, Evan, Alexandria and Thomas; one brother, Alfred DeRedin and his wife, Marilyn, of Sandy Point; three sisters, Janis McKeen of Sandy Point, Kay Coleman of Holden and Linda Elden and her husband, Clarence, of Sandy Point; several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends both in Maine and Florida. He was predeceased by his parents; son, Barney; and daughter, Colleen. Family and friends will gather for visitation 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Mitchell-Tweedie Funeral Home, 28 Elm St., Bucksport. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church, Franklin Street, Bucksport, with Father Richard McLaughlin, celebrant. Interment with military honors will be held at Sandy Point Cemetery, Sandy Point. Donations may be made in his memory to American Legion Jerry W. Dobbins Post No. 157, Stockton Springs, ME 04981. Graffie you will be missed!  He is my Dad's cousin and close friend and partner in crime.  I believe Dad was up there waiting for Graf and met him with open arms.  For as long as I can remember I have known Graffie...everytime Iwould run into him he would give me a big hug and chat away.  When Dad got sick I realized something about Graffie that I hadn't known.  He is a listener.  he would look me right in the eyes and say "how are you doing?" and then he would wait and listen to my answer.  Or he would ask me how Dad was doing...same response from him...he would wait and listen.  I watched him do it with Bonnie too and then I saw him at a parade talk with someone else the same exact way.  To me that is a rare and wonderful trait to find that someone is actually listening to what you have to say.  I along with many people will miss you Graffie!  Have fun up there with Dad! Denise

Show HUNGRY whose boss...

 

I am trying to...

For a Monday

It hasn't been such a bad day:)  The morning started out with getting those kids off to school...I truly needed School to start again to get back on a schedule.  I had breakfast with my PEEPS this morning (Lisa, Bonnie and Angela)...Kicked myself for not having my camera.

Then I went to work at SILKWEED's and got to put out all kinds of new stuff... Kicked myself for not having my camera.

Then when I got home, a woman came and looked at the last of my racks I had in the scrapbook store...she took them all and I made a little money...and they are out of the garage...Don't care that I didn't have my camera.

Then...we took the very lovely BOBO out for supper for her birthday at the restaraunt that has her FAVORITE waitress (Lauren) PLUS Bobo's sister was there and some other friends so that was an "unplanned" little party...Kicked myself for not having my camera.

Took a ride to Belfast Library to pick up NINE books they had on hold for me...all about knitting/felting...I did take a picture of the pile of them, but alas I am too lazy to upload it.

Stopped and visited with Bobo for awhile and we just got home.  And now?  Gonna curl up with my books and relax.

Rule of thumb: ALWAYS carry your camera!

Goodnight,

Denise

Happy Birthday To Sharon!

Today we celebrated Scott's sister-in-laws 60th birthday.

 

It was a beautiful celebration of her life...lots of people spoke about what an amazing woman she is (she has fought cancer and won three times)...she is a nurse...was at the births of both my babies and many others.  It was a slight tear-jerker as many of the people who spoke had quite the stories to tell.  For me, Sharon has always been around to listen...recently when Dad was in the hospital for 15 days straight, she would meet me and Bonnie in the cafeteria and simply just sit and listen to us.  Happy Birthday Sharon!

 

The newest little guy in out family attended today too:(Kelly and Nathan's baby)

 

School vacation is over and school starts up again tomorrow.  I love my kids, BUT I need a vacation from my kids vacation!  This week has been a busy one, and I am ready to get back to some sort of schedule.  My PLAN is back in place, and although I did not finish my house by the end of April (I know I have a few more days, but it ain't gonna happen)...I feel like the plan I sat down and worked out tonight will get things pretty well cleared up in the next two weeks.  You will see my progress, as I will post here as things happen.

My pal Judy said something the other night and at first it made me chuckle and then aftr thinking about it...it truly made sense.  She said she was taking "Art classes"...and I said "really, where?"...I truly was very intrigued with the idea...and then she explained that she was sitting down with some of her very favorite idea magazines each day and pouring over them...studying them.  I chuckled...and thought, well geez that isn't art classes.  THEN...yesterday i decided to try it and I sat down with these two magazines that I have had for awhile now, but just haven't ahd a "chance" to look through

 

I was extremely inspired...took notes, drew some pictures...BUT there was one problem.  The second one I took to bed with me and after going through it AGAIN I couldn't sleep...my mind was going 100 miles an hour with ideas!  Guess I should take my ART CLASSES during the day:)

I am going to throw some laundry in and then get ready to watch the finale of LAST CAKE STANDING.

Goodnight all..

Denise

Happy Anniversary To Us...

 16 years today...but we have been together 23 years HALF OUR LIVES!

We had a nice day...Scott started out by bringing me a red rose and a white rose.  We got lots of Anniversary shouts from people.  He and I went out to the Olive Garden tonight for supper and this is how old we are...We called it a night at 7:00:)  Tired, had to come home and rest.

Nate and Cody had track today, but as we got there Nate threw up by a tree...we didn't know he was and Scott started driving off.  Lucky for us Cody told us.  The poor kid...he and I just can't seem to shake this stomach ick.  he seems fine tonight, but says he is tired so I am going to get these boys settled down.

Goodnight all...

Denise

FOUND...one pretty (expensive) Prom dress...

I am EXHAUSTED!  We went to Mr. Bernard's School of Hair Fashion to tour it AND had a full day of prom dress shopping.  Wanna see the results?

Here's another dress she tried on:

 

and another:

 

and are you ready for the one she finally chose???  Can you stand it???  It needs to be hemmed...and it is too big (size 4...blah to her) so we will have to take it back to get it altered, steamed etc... AND she said to tell you it looks better in person than in these pictures (which I agree)...but here it is:

 

 

We found some gorgeous Gold shoes to go with it...so now she just needs some earrings  (couldn't find anything she liked).  I am so proud of her, she has paid for it all by herself and not because we told her she had to, but because she just did.  This dress is a "one of a kind"...they were never produced so nobody at the prom should have one like it!

Have I mentioned that my husband is out of work for THREE WEEKS?  His time off started yesterday and we are very nervous about how we will do this.  We are a family that lives paycheck to paycheck and so we are being very careful.  I need to put together a HONEYDO list for him;)

AND I made another BOWL...here is the before:
 

and the after it was felted:

 

Nate said it would look nice with sunflowers in it.  I just really like it!  It took forever for it to felt cuz it was three starnds of yarn together.

Tomorrow is Scott's and my 16th wedding anniversary.  We decided we would go out to eat (some place inexpensive), but would forgoe cards and gifts to each other.  last year dad was in the hospital so we didn't make it anywhere to celebrate...which is okay because at that time w knew I needed to be with Dad and Bonnie and we could "celebrate" another time...we just haven't yet, so tomorrow night we will do something.

I am going to go rest my feet!  My girl really did wear me out!

Goodnight,

Denise

Prom Shopping

Today Lauren, Joe and I went to check out another Cosmetology school.  Our thoughts are mixed about it...tomorrow we will go see another one...then there will be one more we want to check out in a few weeks.

After we did that, we went looking for a Prom dress.  I am guessing this was a much more fun day for Lauren and I than it was for Joe;)  I took pictures of some of the dresses (much to Lauren's dismay) BUT in the end I think she was glad I did so she could revisit them later.  I will show a few of them here (she tried on a TON):

Joe's favorite:

 

My favorite:

 

Lauren's favorite:

 

and one that we all liked, but Lauren felt it might be a tad too POOFY for her:

 

We didn't come home with a dress:(...but we will look some more tomorrow.  We have discovered that there really isn't many places to shop for Prom dresses in Bangor.  We did have them hold the yellow one as that is the favorite at this point, as far as Lauren is concerned.  I really think the yellow is beautiful too...Joe is worried that with a black tux they will look like a BUMBLE BEE...LOL

Okay, so what do all of you think????  Which dress is your favorite?

And for those of you wondering why I needed to get my house in order in ten days...no particular reason.  It was a Goal i set on here back in January...and one so that I wouldn't spend the rest of my life decluttering.  It is not going to happen in ten days, as with the kids home from school and some other things that need to be done I need a little more time.  I will tell you my plan when I figure it out.

I am beat...we shopped till we all dropped.

Denise

Empowering...

"Aim High!  The person you see is the person you will be."

~ Jim

So, I have had a great deal of time to think lately as I have been laying low trying to feel better.  How do I feel?  I am exhausted...wiped out...but the sick to the stomach feeling seems to be subsiding.  Nate seems to feel a great deal better, so I believe there is hope.

In thinking about things these last few weeks, the word "EMPOWERED" keeps coming to mind.  I believe that to feel empowered it generally has to come from within, but lets face it folks...most everyone in life (if they are honest) likes positive feedback from others.  I like it...and as of recently I have realized how much it empowers me to keep going.

For instance, in one of my recent post I believe I could be quoted as saying I was "enjoying" the declutter process.  Okay...being real about it...I am tired of it and I just want the darn thing done...BUT what is spurring me on this time, that wasn't there the last time Itried to declutter?  I believe it is that with every little space I declutter Ifeel EMPOWERED.  I find that my brain is thinking much more creatively again.  When I go in a space that I have worked on, no matter how small it is, I want to keep going...I want to creative a home that feels PEACEFUL...but not perfect.  I also know, that outside influences are helping to EMPOWER me to keep going... Scott when he says something looks good, Bonnie and Lisa's nagging;), The picture of my dad on the fridge that seems to say "get your Act together", the kids, company when they drop in and I am embarrassed by the shape of my house...

This weekend I endeavored to "neaten up" Lauren's room.  I didn't declutter, I just simply washed laundry, did the bedding, washed curtains, dusted, vacuumed.  A job that should have taken me a couple of hours, took me all weekend because my energy is so low.  But Lauren was happy when she came home to a "spring cleaned" room.  Before:

 

After:

 

Now, on to more "outside" empowering.  I SOLD A PURSE!!!  My first one!  I am very excited and I sent it off in the mail today (It's Patriots day here in Maine, but the PO was open) Here it is ready to send out:

 

It feels so good to know that  people are actually looking at my purses, and selling one spurs me on to make more.  EMPOWERS me.

Can you stand anymore?  For those of you who scrapbook, you will know who Stacy Julian is:  Altogether Too Happy  She is the founding editor of SIMPLE SCRAPBOOKS magazine and BIG PICTURE SCRAPBOOKING.  She is a huge name in the scrapbook field.  BUT more than that, you would enjoy her blog even if you don't scrapbook, cuz she is all about feeling good, being empowered and creativity.  Anyhow, imagine my surprise when I read this comment on MY blog the other day:

Denise,

LOVE the high chair story. You totally need to clean it up, paint it and use it as a plant stand in your kitchen!
I LOVE your little purses too ... just might get one for my cute little addie for her birthday!

Thanks for reading my blog.

Posted by: stacyj | April 18, 2009 at 10:28 AM

How incredibly EMPOWERING was this for me?  Someone who I feel is HUGE as far as creativity...LOVES my purses.  Yup, it was outside, but it sure does make me feel good INSIDE!  EMPOWERED.

So, with a huge lack of energy this weekend, I started a YELLOW purse, not finished yet.  AND I decided to try something new, so I knit and felted some BOWLS!  Obviously they are not bowls to eat from, they are containers to contain things.  I think these would look adorable in a babies room holding all those little things you just have to have.  Here is a before of the largest one:

 

and a picture of all three of them after I felted them (they are still wet):

 

And now, what is the plan?  I have approximately 10 days to whip the rest of this house into shape.  Can I do it?  Maybe not quite...I have to be careful cuz as soon as I overdo, I feel sick again...BUT I am going to continue to plug along and hope that I can get it done as close to the end of April as possible.  Right now?  My house is a total mess...it has to get worse before it gets better right?

Empowered,

Denise

Looking up...I hope;)

Hi Dear Friends,

Sorry I have not written, but I have truly felt lousy, as has Nate, and our two pups.  Nate is feeling better today, and I still feel slightly nauseous, but not as bad as I have been, and my energy seems to be gaining a little bit.

Let's see...in the meantime I did get all 150 prom invites done...this is what 100 of them looked like:

 

Yup folks...complete with sand, shells and a treasure box!  DONE!!

My Lauren is right now, as we speak, hanging out in NYC...they left this morning and so far she is having a great time:

 

And, presently I am doing all of her blankets and bedding...and will be washing her curtains and such this weekend.  PLUS I discovered to baskets of dirty laundry in her room:)  A mother's dream come true:(

I have washed every blanket, sheet and pieces of bedding that we have in the house...here is getting rid of this FLU-BUG!

AND I am very excited...I SOLD MY FIRST PURSE!!!!  It is all wrapped up and ready to go in Monday's mail...I am so excited!

Today, Bobo took Scott and I to see her new apartment.  It makes me sad to know she will be moving, but happy to know even though it is with mixed feelings, that it feels right to her.  It is a lovely apartment, and will be ready for her in a couple of weeks.

I am off to go through some more magazines and wait for the dryer and washer to stop to switch things over.  We have school vacation this week and Lauren and I are looking forward to checking out two cosmetology schools and prom dress shopping.  Nate and I are going to get his bedroom done I hope!  Exciting stuff.

Denise