A Day In My Life

2010!

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life........ Whatever you want in life, start today. Not tomorrow - today. Let it be a small beginning - a tiny beginning. Your happiness depends on starting today - every day.- Jonathan Lockwood Huie"

 

Every New Years I come out of the gate on a tear!  1000 new goals and resolutions to be accomplished, and I have to admit, MOST of them get put back on the list the following year.  This year, I have decided to change things up a little bit, oh don't worry!  I STILL have all those same goals...lose weight, clean the garage, drink more water, finish all my projects...you name it they are still there.  BUT  here's what I know...I like the idea of a "clean slate" at the beginning of each year, and although many goals keep being put on the list for the following year, I DO accomplish some of them and that feels good.

I am entering 2010...not feeling well and knowing that I truly have to do something about my health 5 weeks of Bronchitis is just not what I am hoping for in my life anymore.  2009 brought many changes...from living without my Dad, to being alone for the first time in 18 years on Halloween, to starting a new business, to nights with just Scott and I and no kids...and so much more.  When I sit back and look at it, the main thing I realize is that my life is about to change drastically in this  decade...Lauren will be graduating...and Nate has a life of his own:(  This leaves me with MYself a great deal of the time...with Scott's work schedule...and it leaves me with a husband that is so great a communicating and connecting at other times.

So enters MY WORD for 2010.  As I said the other day, it is CREATE.  As in..."She CREATEd a life she loved"...and that folks is what I plan on doing.  Sounds easy?  No...I am sure I will have obstacles and triumphs...I hope you choose to follow along with me.  Have YOU chosen a word to live by in 2010?  Will you share it with us in my comments?  let's travel on this journey together.

So yesterday was January 1st and what did I DO to start my journey of CREATing the life I love?  I only did LITTLE things...I made a great GARLIC CHICKEN in the crockpot...I chose the favorite pictures of 2009...I RESTED alot!  I am still taking my medicines for the bronchitis, but I have added CLEAR LUNG (a chinese medicine) and AIRBORNE...as well as some vitamins.  I NEED to get better as I have alot I WANT to do.

TODAY?  More rest...some dishes and crap:)  AND I am leaving this blog entry in a moment and starting on a special order of Primitive Mice.  I am excited to do that...I like to CREATE!

I wanted to share My favorite photos of 2009.  Stacy Julian Sprinkle No. 13 « stacyjulian.com had this idea of picking out 12 favorite photos of 2009.  So I did what she suggested...created a fav. photo of 2009 folder and started going through my digital pictures of 2009...I do not know what i was thinking, I really thought it might be tough to find TWELVE:) 175 pictures later, and that was taking it easy:)  So now I am suppose to pick out 12 and post them here....wish me luck!  These are in no particular order:

Wow...that was tough.  As you can see, they weren't necessarily the best pictures I took in 2009...they were more about the memories they told rather than the quality.  Which makes sense from a scrapbooker's point of view.  here's the thing...I now have 175 favorite 2009 pictures in a folder to upload to shutterfly and make a little 2009 review book from and to me THAT is exciting!  I had several runner-ups...pictures of me with my mom and my step-mom...a picture of scott with his mom and one with his sister.  So many GOOD memories from 2009.  It has been a tough year, but still good memories!

Have a great, but SNOWY day...at least here in Maine!

Please join us in the comments and let us know YOUR word for the year...or YOUR goals, resolutions, etc. 

Dancingly, Denise 

Forgotten Fairy Central

I have been working in my Artstudio this weekend...and yes that means a MESS in the rest of the house:)  But, it will all come together soon...I hope.  I decided I needed to make room for my other art projects in my studio, rather than having them all strewn around the house, however I am finding it difficult to find room, cuz I don't want to get rid of anything..that does become a problem.  BUT here is Maine's Forgotten Fairy central:

Isn't that basket of flowers great?  Mom gave it to me, full of flowers...and I added all the others I have from Aunt Dorraine...and Silkweeds.  I wish I had another basket like this one...it was perfect! And look at all the jars...and there are more...all the regular size jars are in a box, cuz I know what size they are, etc.  One reason why I set this up is Mom and I have decided to do a couple of craft shows...so I need to stock up on those Fairies.  Now I just need to find room for my felting, and my fabric...and ofcourse maintain all the space for my scrapbooking...wish me luck!

This weekend I also did a "little" bit of work out in the garage.  I found some great treasures, but here is one of my favorites:

Lauren made this key rack back in 1995 in preschool with Denise Gordon.  Now I am forever losing my keys...so it only made sense to hang it up and USE IT!

Well, I am off to get something done...

Dancingly, Denise

I LOVE a good mess...

I have been making a mess tonight...playing...and I love it!  (Sorry Bobo if you are reading this...no cleaning house for me today:)

I started out the day with a walk, breakfast...and then WHAM...I felt oozy, light-headed...and a little panicky.  I haven't felt this way since last summer when Dad was sick (the oozie and stuff could be flu...but the panic I haven't experienced since right after he died).  I really don't know why it happened...but I ended up coming home and going to bed for a few hours.  I still don't feel great, but the panic is gone and I was able to eat something.  I have kept things low key the rest of the day, had the air conditioners on, worked on my Fairy Jars a little off and on.

It's the beginning of August, and we have now had three fairly beautiful days in a row:)  It's nice...and makes it feel like summer is finally here, but the scoop is...School starts in exactly a month...football practice starts in two weeks...Dance begins in a little over a month...you get the idea.  I have been contemplating these summer goals I have had...and feel some of them are going to have to be extended.  BUT let's take a look at them and see what I have done so far: (taken from my June 2 post A Day In My Life: Feelin' Groovy)

So...my Goals for the next few months?...In no particular order:

Clean out the garage (pictures to come)

stain deck and front steps

do the work at Dad and Bobo's house that needs to be done

Finish side garden

read books that have piled up (list to follow)  WORKING ON THIS ONE:)

Ebay listings

date night...once a week?

Day trips with Scott and kids   We've been on one...plans for next week too

Concentrate on health...walking, water, sun, supplements and eating better  Walking some, water some, sun hasn't been very cooperative, supplements working on

Post a project a week 

All of these things are doable...the garage is something like you have never seen...even on those organizational shows...TRUST ME.  So the garage needs to get done SOON...I do not want it hanging over my head.  The other things on the list are all things I enjoy...so hopefully I will feel accomplished by the end of the summer and ready to move on to more new beginnings.

Some of these goals were on-going anyway...the health ones...I am working on.  Have made every weight watchers meeting except for one.  The biggy is that darn garage and I have to have good weather to work on it as there is no room inside to even MOVE.  Unfortunately we have had a rough summer as far as weather...and the good days I have used to enjoy otherwise...so I am guessing it will be extended into my fall goals.  BUT I gotta say...I am not discouraged with things, as I feel as though I am getting quite a bit done...and some things from my last set of goals are beginning to become a habit.  I.E. automatic decluttering...keeping the house relatively clean...etc.  So I am going to concentrate on some of the above for the next few weeks...and keep on moving on:)

I am running out of steam for the night...

Goodnight all...

Denise

Contemplating...

"Always keep several get well cards on the mantle... So if unexpected guest arrive they will think you have been sick and unable to clean."

On a good day my ARTstudio looks like this:

 

Today is not a good day...in fact there hasn't been a good day for quite some time:)  It is quite a mess right now...Not a whole lot of ART has been going on.  I have been thinking about this a great deal lately...and if you know anything about me...i really have to think things through before doing anything.  AND unfortunately, if I can't do it "perfectly" I often won't do it...I'll just "think about it".

I have been reading those magazines, by Cloth+Paper+Scissors... STUDIOS Inspiration & Ideas for your Art and Craft Studios.  Magazines can be deadly...cuz they show you how things are when they are PERFECT.  But regardless, I am a magazine junkie and I admit it.

Here is what I have been contemplating...I have quite a few hobbies and right now they do not fit into this ARTStudio.  I understand the whole "less is more" idea...I truly do...but folks I really like my hobbies.  Unfortunately, the only one I tend to be doing lately is my knitting, cuz it doesn't take up much room and is not a mess maker (so to speak).  WHY?  Well first I have a very limited supply of knitting materials...and truly it is so easy to take care of when I am done working on something.  BUT, if I could afford it?  I would have everything I possibly needed for this felting/knitting experience.  You see, though I understand the "less is more"  I don't necessarily subscribe to it:)  Now don't BLAST me...I understand that SIMPLIFYING is a great idea and such...and I am going to a little more...but don't push me...or tell me how wonderful it is to have less craft supplies.

Okay, so in contemplating all of this, I did discover I have several inside hobbies that I need to either get rid of...or make fit into my ARTStudio.  My room is approximately 12'x14'...and THIS is what I want to fit into it...AND be able too use the room again:)

Scrapbooking Supplies

Rubberstamping Supplies (for use in scrapbooking)

Sewing, which includes a sewing machine (or two), a place to cut fabric, fabric storage

Knitting: Yarn and needlefelting supplies

Photo Storage

T.V. and Music area

Laptop and printer

Worktable

Sitting area(just one comfy place is fine)

So...in order to do this...I truly am going to have to pair down.  One thing I have come to believe is that I have a shift in my ART.  I really want to "Scrapbook".  I love to make altered ART and Art for the heck of it...but my heart really lies in getting my pictures Scrapbooked.  So I am going to be looking at either packing away...or getting rid of much of my supplies for altered art and decorative art stuff.

Sewing?  I used to love making fancy dresses for Lauren and darn cute outfits for Nate...but that just doesn't happen anymore.  I want to be able to make raggedy Ann Dolls...and I gotta tell you...working 4.5 hours in the garage the other day I found TONS of fabric...I don't need to buy supplies for this...I just need to organize the ones I have.

Knitting?  I truly am just enjoying the process of knitting and felting with wool.  I have a bin of wool yarn, a small container of fancy yarns, and a container for the needle felting supplies...a binder of free patterns I have been collecting.  I don't THINk I will start knitting sweaters and stuff...I truly just like this process.

Rubberstamping...I have way too much stuff that I don't use in this arena.  I am going to pare this down...I want to save special stamps, ones that are great for scrapping with...and sentiment ones for cards.

Photos...UGH...gawd I have alot.

Right now there is a huge TV in this space, that doesn't work...and a small stereo system that doesn't work well.  I will look into all of that.  there is an entire wall of built in shelving and cabinets...dark wood...we shall see about that too.

Now ofcourse here is the clincher...sure wish I had contemplated this while the weather has been sucky and I had to do "inside" stuff.  Now that I am clearer on things...the sun will come out.

PLEASE tell me how your ART supplies, or hobbies are organized...or not organized.  Let's work on this together!  And thanks for listening...I know this was long, but it helped me work things out!

ARTfully,

Denise

 

Finding some motivation...

First off...several people have asked me for my 4th of July Strawberry Pie recipe...so here it is again...

This pie is so yummy...and easy...

Strawberry Pie

1 small package (1.1 oz) sugar-free Cook and Serve vanilla pudding
2 cups water
1 small package (0.3 oz) sugar-free strawberry Jell-O
4 cups sliced strawberries

 Premade graham cracker pie crust

In a medium saucepan, stir together water and pudding mix. Heat to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately add the Jell-O. Stir until dissolved. Set the pan aside and let the mixture cool slightly.

Place strawberries in the bottom of a (edit) store bought graham cracker pie crust. Pour cooled pudding mixture over the strawberries. Refrigerate until chilled. Let it set well before slicing.

EDIT:  2 points per 1/8 of pie

I usually put cool whip on it when I am ready to eat it.

It's YUMMY for your TUMMY!

I also tried this with raspberries... and raspberry jello...YUM!

I am tempted to try blueberries with grape jello???

Now when I make it I alwasy think about my Dad, as I made it a few times for him loast year when he was sick and was having such a hard time eating. He liked it...unlike my corn chowder;)

So this constant rain is really dragging me down...like everyone else.  The other day marked 8 months since Dad left...and it was a hard day for me...and Bobo had a tough time.  The constant rain seems to make everything seem worse.  It does have to stop sometime right?

Almost a month ago (June 2) I posted a list of "Goals" for the next few summer months...here they are again in no particular order:

So...my Goals for the next few months?...In no particular order:

Clean out the garage (pictures to come)

stain deck and front steps

do the work at Dad and Bobo's house that needs to be done

Finish side garden

read books that have piled up (list to follow)

Ebay listings

date night...once a week?

Day trips with Scott and kids

Concentrate on health...walking, water, sun, supplements and eating better

Post a project a week

So...I would like to put a line through the ones I have accomplished...but alas I can't as I haven't accomplished any of them.  Don't get me wrong...Scott and I have been going out to eat once a week together, just the two of us (I haven't told him it's "date night":)...but that one is sort of on-going.  AND I certainly have been walking, eating better...but again it is ongoing and I haven't done so well on the water, SUN and supplements:)

I am not beating myself up about it...but I am printing off the list as we speak to stick on the fridge where I can see it everyday.  I am in hopes that a month from now I can report that I have accomplished some on the list.  In the meantime...I will keep plugging along.

Goodnight everyone...what is on your list of goal...and are YOU accomplishing them?

Denise

The mini- "focusizer"

  Nate and Ineed this little guy.  It drives me crazy that Nate loses focus...especially this time of year and so i teased him about finding the "mini-focusizer" for him...Talking Cereal is serious business.  Then it hit me with a THUD...I too am not good at staying focused.  I have all kinds of plans, ideas, thoughts...and for the most part they are GREAT...but I have a hard time staying focused on the big picture.  Hmmmmmmmm...so what bugs me about my son, is the same problem I have...  Have I always been this way?  I have always had tons of ideas in my head at all times...big plans...BUT as a kid and a student I think I was very focused.  So when did this all start for me?  AND why can't I multitask very well anymore?

So I tried to guard against this focus problem, for me, this year by setting GOALS that I would work on for four months at a time...and then move on to new goals (while continuing to MAINTAIN the original goals).  And how have I done?  Well, I believe I have been more successful than I have in the past...but not as successful as I hoped for.  This is what I wrote in a post on January 7, 2009:

"Okay...so New Years Goals...this is how I see it folks.  There are three very specific times in the year that I find myself setting goals...resetting goals...recommitting to Goals...etc.  Those times are January...when everyone does.  May/June when the the weather is getting warmer...the sun cheers me on...and the kids will be out of school for the summer soon.  And September...change in air and the kids are going back to school.  So I have chosen to set Goals three times throughout the year instead of proclaiming them all now and then forgetting them in a month.  I am truly hoping this will make more sense to me. 

So for the next few months my Goals include HEALTH and HOME. Now, in thinking about these goals I realized they are two biggies and they are not goals for a few months...they truly need to be LIFELONG goals for me.  I am a professed clutter-bug...and to get that under control I am going to need to make some changes and work with those changes forever...or I will be back to professed clutter-bug in a blink of my eye.  I also know that at 45...my health is nothing to mess with and lifestyle changes need to be made.  The biggie is the weight...and I will again need to "deal' with this my entire life...but I think I am okay with that.  I want to live a long life, and to do that Ineed to be healthy.  Now, don't you worry...this food-lover is not going to embark on a plan that whittles me into a size 0 and makes me preach the virtues of lettuce...Ipromise (course those who know me know this won't happen).  But along with the health I have some other things I need to do...blood test, cholesterol screening, dentist, eye dr... and these things apply to the kids and hopefully Scott too. 

I understand that my goals need to be measurable and specific...so this is what I am working on:

Health January-May

Cholesterol and blood sugar testing

Dentist appointment (all of us)

yearly physical (all of us)  Nate still needs one...and Scott won't get one:(

eye doctor (Lauren and I)

I am going to work on weight loss...continuing to go to Weight Watchers on Thursday's.    The last three weeks I haven't gone cuz Scott has been unemployed...BUT i will get back to it.

Keep my food journal

walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes 3x per week

Do I have a pound loss goal?  I really need to lose 40 pounds (I could lose a little more but 40 would be great)...but I am going to break it down in increments of 5 pounds...I am in hopes of losing 5 pounds a month from January-May...that's 25 pounds.  Now honestly...I am hoping to lose 40 pounds by tomorrow morning when I weigh in...but it ain't gonna happen so there it is!

HOME GOALS: January-May

As we know I spent a good deal of my winter last year (until March) working on decluttering rooms in my house.  Remember how beautiful my ARTstudio looked?  Well what I have discovered is if you don't maintain things...they don't continue to look that way.  I also know that several of the systems I put in to place last winter actually work, when I use them.  BUT I truly want to get out from underneath the STUFF...so I can enjoy the things that I love...for instance I have several things that have belonged to grandparents etc, that I would like to display, that I just don't because there is no room. 

AND here is the other thing...and this is a BIGGIE!  I do not want to be decluttering my house for the entire 2009 calendar year.  I want to get it done...and then maintain it.

***I will clean out every cupboard, closet, nook and cranny of the INSIDE of my house during the months of January-May.  I WILL commit to 1 hour a day- 5 days a week (more if I want to...but if I set it too high I won't do it at all) that is spent ONLY on the purpose of clearing out the junk.  Now this hour a day does not include regular house cleaning, etc. And as you probably noticed it says INSIDE the house...that garage is a goal for later in the year.

***I will drop off items to Goodwill on Thursday mornings when running my regular errands."

So...How have I done?  It is almost the end of May and time to start focusing on other Goals.  Under the health Goals i have crossed out what has been accomplished.

I have been doing pretty good making trips to Goodwill on a regular basis so things are not piling up while I declutter. 

 The Kitchen is decluttered...

The dining room is decluttered.

The masterbath is decluttered ALMOST.

The master bedroom is decluttered except for Scott's stuff and MY summer clothes.

The Living room is in progress.

The hallways is decluttered.

Lauren's room is done except for her closet.

NOW this is not to say my house is clean...cuz I have a real mess going on right now!  EBAY bins everywhere.  Tax stuff to shred... papercrap...but it is getting there and when I get it all back together it will be great:)

So really I am not in as bad a shape as I first thought...it's just that the house is a disaster while I am "pulling it together".  In another week I will share my GOALS for the next few months.

Do YOU have new goals for this time of year?  PLEASE share them with us.  I can not tell you how wonderful it is to have a blog and find out that I have inspired someone...or that they respond with some ideas of their own.

Good night...

Denise

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

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

I LIKE to declutter;)

I actually hope that I don't have to do it again for a very long time...but I am finding a great deal out about myself.  AND I am lightening my load!

Today my plan was to go grocery shopping, but I just wasn't feeling it...so I went home and started tackling the master bathroom.  Last year you might remember that it had become a place to put everything that didn't have a place...it's a BIG room.  I did clean it up last year...but guess what...it was horrible again.  The pile of boxes, containers, etc was not good.  So I tackled it today.  I won't show before and after yet, cuz I am still tackling it, BUT I will tell you something.  Most of the stuff that was in there, just needed a home.  TWO boxes of office supplies...I donated some and I put the rest in the closet that I just set up for that.  SHEETS...I donated some and put the rest in the dresser in the hall...see what Iam getting at here?  Things just needed a home.  And while doing it it was easier to get rid of stuff, cuz I had already gone through a bunch of it last year and so i figured if I still didn't need it then it was gone.

While doing this process today, there were three boxes of paint/tole books in there that are my moms.  At first I was just going to return them to her, but then I decided to quickly go through them to see if anything jumped out at me for patterns.  I am so glad I did, I found this tucked inside one of the books:

This is a note that Dad wrote me back when I was in school.  I made posters each year for the American Legion sale for him.  I always put Garfield on it;)  What struck me as funny is what he wanted me to put on the poster:  "We need Rummage BAD"  How cute;)

What a treasure it was to open this book, find my tracings of Garfield and a note from Dad...

So, I realized last night in my blog post, maybe I was sounding like IWANTED alot of stuff...hmmmmmmmmm...guess what?  I thought of something else today.

*In our living room we all like to snuggle under blankets...these are not real pretty quilts or anything, but they end up hanging out all over the living room.  At first I thought I wanted a quilt chest, with a glass front, HOWEVER after great thought I realized I want the blankets to be hidden when they aren't in use.  One person i know uses a big basket to throw hers into, but here that just screams HUGE CAT BED!  So, I want to look for a wooden chest, either one that can double as a coffee table (we have no coffee tables or end tables)...or one to set behind the exposed back of the couch.  Thoughts anyone?

So, I need to get off here and go through some boxes of paper crap.  I am going to be merciless if I didn't need this paperwork this year, i don't need it now!

Oh yeah...to answer a few questions and thoughts:

Mom...you are right Shaws doubles up to 1.00 so if you have a .99 coupon it will double to 1.98.

Ralph...thanks for my first antique picnic tin...

Lori...I am so glad we have the three bestest quilts!

Lisa...I enjoyed the walk the other morning too

LadyDoc...I forgot to tell you that I do know about FLYLADY, just don't use her very well lately

Lori...yes I do watch Ace Of Cakes, sometimes

Aunt Sharleen...Goodluck on that painting!  Let me know how you do

Hi Cheryl...Hi Mom...Hi Bobo...no questions to answer for you

Anyone I forgot?  Just shout out to me

Denise

The Last Cake Standing

I have found a new "reality show"...I watched it last night and loved it!  Unfortune, I got sick right at the very end and MISSED who was voted out:(  I can't find it anywhere on the internet.  Now the woman who won...oh first let me TELL you about the show.  It is a cake making show...here is a picture of one of the contestants cakes (and this wasn't even the winner last night):

These pictures are straight off her blog at:Confetti Cakes

This entire dress form is cake...except for the post...but even the stand is CAKE!  I thought it was pretty amazing...and it was one of my favorites, but the judges thought maybe it was a little to "simple"???

Here is another contestant:

 

This cake was pretty darn amazing too...and it didn't win either!

Anyway...six contestants...one winner each night and one gets voted off.  If you missed it and want to see it I THINK it is on again Wednesday night...on the Food Network.

On the sick news...I STILL don't feel that great.  My cold is pretty much gone except for the nose stuff...but my stomach is rebelling against almost all foods.  Today I spent the day taking care of stuff that is in those boxes in the dining room.

Plus, while waiting for Nate to get done track (first day!)...I read this:

 

and ofcourse it got my brain thinking about my ARTstudio...as well as the rest of my house...and so now I am going to search for a few things...ready for my list???  If you know of where I might find some of these...PLEASE let me know:) 

*Okay first one of the studios had Vintage Picnic Tins

*And I want a Vintage Shopping cart to put Rolls of Wrapping paper  and such in:

Sorry can't find an image for that

*An OLD Ladder...not too big...to hang the three baby quilts I have...one for Lauren, Nate, and Jamie (all with the HUGE help of my talented friend Lori)

*A small bureau or shelving with flatish drawers that would fit rubber stamps  vintage like maybe?  I'll see if I can find a picture...

Also a vintage style dress form...(not yours lisa ...I won't steal her:)

I also realized that I THINK I want to bring the Sunflower Hand print in from the Garage and hang it in the kitchen.  It is HUGE and was in our last kitchen...it is three sunflowers each one made from handprints of Nate, Lauren and my niece Liz (she was staying with us at the time).

Okee dokee...those magazines are dangerous!  At least it got my brain going.

Tonight I have been working on coupons...but I am giving up for the night and am going to go rest.