My nutshell

So, I just realized that it has been over a month since I last put an entry in.  Yikes, am I a slacker or what?!?!  Just a little busy actually.  I kind of wanted to update you on what has been going on in my life for the past month.  I'm sure everyone else is just as busy, I just want to justify my absence to you.

First off, my mom just got done with a loser of a husband, (it's okay, she knows how I feel) and got her divorce finalized a few weeks ago.  This marriage of hers has been a huge strain on me for quite some time.  He was very controlling and mentally abused her.  Alienated her from the rest of her family and I lost my mom, for what seemed like, an eternity.  That issue is getting much better and my mom and I are as close as ever, again!

Second, my best bud of many years, Aimus, has been dealing with massive head aches for quite some time.  Since the first of the year...she has been dealing with migraines and such, getting tested and trying all sorts of drugs to find out that none of them were working.  Then she went to get her head scanned and found out that she has a tumor.  It is benign, which is a blessing, but it is still there and must come out which means brain surgery.  She is such a strong woman it is unreal to me at times how she pulls thru, but God only gives us situations that we can handle and he knows how strong of a woman she really is.  I have been praying for her and her family and am scared to death for her, but I know she will pull thru with flying colors.  I just love her and her family so much. 

Okay, keep going??  Of course!  Another really good friend of mine, for many years as well, just left her husband.  There are many issues that has brought her to this decision.  This is once again, a blessing, but it is still hard when you are friends with both parties.  You hate seeing them hurt, but you know in the long run, that this is better for everyone.  The only one that I really worry about is their little guy, but he is strong and kids are resilient to things.  Besides, kiddos pick up on everything and if you aren't happy, they know it, even if you try to hide it.  They are like little sponges and just absorb everything.

Alright, well, there is the obvious, of course, my casa and all that goes along with it.  The electrician came today to hook up all the lights!  It is getting there!

My babies both got out of school for the summer.  Lil' Sis ended her preschool career and is heading into kindergarten in the fall.  Holy smokes, how time goes!  I don't know if it has really hit me yet that I won't have a baby at home with me anymore, but I am sure that it will and I will be a mess!  Then CX graduated out of kindergarten and is starting first grade in the fall.  This one really bothered me, I can't explain it, but I balled on the last day of school.  It could be that there was a picture of him in a cap and gown from the little graduation ceremony they had for them the day before.  Can you believe that he is going to be in the graduating class of 2022.  That seems like so far away, but I am sure it will be here in a blink of the eye.

Then, my babies started summer school the very next week.  Yep, I am that mom.  The one that is mean and puts them into education over their break from school.  Although, I must say, they both say that it is soooo much fun and don't understand why more of their friends aren't there.  I think it helps with lil' sis getting adjusted to the school schedule in the fall and it keeps CX from playing Wii all day or his DS. 

Okay, another thing, all the women in my family, on my moms side had a little womens retreat planned for the end of May.  We all went to my Aunt CC's house.  It was my momma, her momma, my aunt and my SIL to-be-one-day-hopefully!  We shopped, ate, got pedis and just had a really good time together. 

Then, a friend of mine asked me if I would design a few necklaces for her.  She was putting a tea party together for the women of her church and wanted to have a few door prizes.  So, of course, I came up with a few and let her pick the ones she wanted.  She wanted them all, but ended up taking the two in the middle.  Which lil' sis was happy about because she really loved the one on the right and didn't want me to sell it.  I think that I didn't do too terribly bad.

Okay, I almost forgot, don't know how I could forget, but CX is playing baseball again.  He really enjoys it and I think sometimes some of the parents get a little too wrapped up in the winning or losing of the games, but if he is having fun, that is all that I really care about.  He is only 6, that is way too young to get worked up over a bad call or whatever.  They are just learning and if they don't enjoy it, they will end up resenting it later down the road.

And last, but not least, it was my husbands birthday.  Why is it so hard to buy presents for your man?  Does anyone else have this problem?  If he wants something or needs something he just goes out and buys it.  Which is great, but it also wrecks havic during holidays and such when you are trying to get them something that they will like and actually use.

So, that has been my life in a nutshell for the past month.  It's been a little hectic, but that's how life is, right?!?!?

yes, I still exist

Sorry for the long hiatus from blog land.  We have been very busy with the addition on the house and are trying to a bunch of stuff by ourselves as to try to save some money.  You'd be amazed at the things you can do if you have the right tools.  I am sure that it takes us longer to get certain things done, but there is such satisfaction when you complete a project by yourself.

Call me crazy, but I love working with power tools!!  Seriously!  Over the long weekend we were finishing tiling the new laundry room and I got to use the tile saw!  Yep, I am a nerd, but you should have seen the smile come across my face. 

Anyway, I am stoked that it is coming to a close, but then the remodeling on the inside will be starting soon and I am looking forward to it, but then again, I have mixed feelings on the issue.  It's just because it is a change and I don't deal with changes very well.  I very much like routine and normalcy.  Yep, that's me, miss boooorrring!  I'm getting better, but it still frightens me at times. 

Alrighty, thats what I have for right now.  I promise to come back sooner!  Thanks for checking in with me!

Bonus room paint job

Here is my version of the paint tape stencils from AllThingsThrifty.com.  I am really liking the way it turned out.  My son keeps telling me that I need to paint the vines green, but I am really liking them the stark white ceiling paint color.  That was the plan all along, but when your 6 year old tries to give you advise, you have to try to take it into consideration so that their feelings don't get hurt.  The edges on the vines aren't as crisp as I was hoping that they would be, but if you don't look really close, you'll never know the difference.  I am a bit of a perfectionist and I really, really want to try to straighten up the edges, but my hubby keeps telling me to leave them alone, otherwise I might just make it worse and that I am the only one that it is going to bother anyway.  Probably true, but I am itching.  I'll restrain, for now!  Until something else gets me fired up.  What do you think of the color?  It was supposed to be a much softer orange, almost tan, didn't quite turn out that way, but I really like it.  Can't wait to get the room all loaded with all my goodies to start crafting again.

This is the "hunting" closet in the bonus room.  CX was a little put out that I put a vine on his and dad's closet, but I think he's over it now.  At least I didn't put a flower or butterfly on it!

Bonus Room Redo

I have been perussing blogs for ideas to decorate my new remodel and I have found some things that I am going to try.  I wanted to show you a few things that I have spotted that I absolutely adore and am planning on doing. 

First up is this idea from All Things Thrifty.  I love this blog and I love this idea.  Check out this picture and idea. 

This is going to be going in the bonus room above the new garage.  I hope that this turns out as well as it did for them.  I will show you pictures once I get it done.

Wish me luck.

My to-craft list

Well, I have been browsing around in blog land for quite some time now and am getting mad at myself.  Why, you ask?!?!?!?  Well, I keep finding all of these super cute things that I want to try to make myself and keep forgetting where I found these things!  It is very annoying and it takes me forever to find them.  So, I am going to start a to-craft list. 

Once the house is all done, whenever that will be, I am going to come back to my to-craft list and get started on some crafting! 

So, my first feature is these spring ribbon wristlets from Tatertots and Jello.  Jen has the cutest little ideas.  I've tried a few of them and am very inspired by her.  I love the blog name as well!!  Go over and check her blog out sometime.  She is sure to have something that you will like.