bullying

So what are you to do when your little one comes home from school and complains that they have no friends because the friend that they do have doesn't have any friends.

You try to figure out why.

And this is why, your little one is a sweetheart and doesn't want to leave anyone out.  Why, oh why do we raise such sweet little creatures?

To make this world a better place so that when they are adults they raise sweet kids of their own.

So, what does this have to do with bullying, you ask?

My little one is being bullied by a little girl at school and it is wrecking havoc on my nerves.  How do you send someone into a situation that you know how to fix, but they are stubborn and don't want to do it?  You just deal, I guess.

This poor little friend of Lil' Sis's is so insecure and not wanting to make new friends that she has latched onto my sweet little thing.  And my little one doesn't want anyone to feel alone or hurt, so she plays with this little one that tells her that Lil' Sis can't have any other friends besides her.  That she is going to be mean to Lil' Sis on the bus if they don't play together at recess, etc. 

The school has been notified, the teacher is aware, but yet my daughter doesn't want to stop being friends with this little girl. 

I have to commend her for sticking to her feelings, I guess.  I'm having a hard time with this, but I have to let them learn to make their own decisions...even if it means making the wrong one and getting hurt.  That way, we are there to help pick them back up and hopefully learn for the next time.  That is the whole purpose for parents, right?  To raise them to be good, decent people who love God, have good morals and treat everyone with respect. 

Hopefully this situation will resolve itself, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Happy Birthday!!

I just wanted to give a quick shout to my dear friend, Aimus!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

We love ya, girlie!



Flea Markets

I have to tell you a secret.

I really love to go to flea markets!

Yep, I do!  It may sound crazy and maybe a little cheap and tight-a**ed, but I dig it!  Really, going thru all of the booths and looking at the things that people are getting rid of.  And the crazy pricing that they have.  It's insane...some may think that they have a true treasure to be had by all, and want an arm and a leg for it, and others will have the exact same thing and just want it out of their attic or whatever.

I went to the flea markets in big town with my mamacita yesterday.  We had a blast!  It is always nice when you are on a mission for something specific, but it is also fun just to see what you might stumble across and think you can't live without.

Well, I found a few treasures that I am going to fix up for my newly remodeled casa.  I found a round mirror that is very aged and worn for $3 and a footstool that someone reupholstered for $6.  Granted, the foot stool is going to have to be redone to my satisfaction....especially since they just taped the fabric onto the bottom of the stool.  Not even good duct tape either!  Just plain ole shipping tape.  No biggie!  I have plans in store for these special little treasures in my casa and will be showing you soon. 

Oh yeah, did I tell you....I love flea markets!

" Life style change?!?!"

Well, today has been the 6Th day of a change in the way my family and I are eating.  (Actually, it is my 10Th.  But who's counting!)  My husband and I have decided to lose some of those extra unwanted pounds that seem to sneak up on you from out of nowhere.  He has a few more than I do to lose.  But he will make his goal before I do, because he is a flipping guy!  NO FAIR! 

So a few months ago my dearest tells me about this infomercial that he saw and really wants me to check out.  He wanted me to check it out so much that he DVRed (is that even a word?) it for me.  Really!  I checked it out and it seemed pretty legit and safe.  From what I could tell, but I am not a registered dietitian or anything like that at all. 

Well, a few weeks ago I decided to order it.  Because, I am over-weight.  Really!  It is very hard for me to type this, but I am.  I admit it!  I am out of the closet.  Or maybe I am finally dealing with reality for once.  Who knows.  Sooo, how did I come to this realization you ask?  Well, it all started on PTA skate night.

PTA SKATE NIGHT

Oh what fun that was!  Really, it wasn't that bad except for the fact that my kiddos cannot skate at all.  And I on the other hand, learned to skate at a very young age.  The preschool that I went to actually took us skating and we had little demos that we did around town.  Yes, that is correct....I even have the pictures to prove it, but don't know that I am going to share that with you right now. 

So, here is mom and her two kiddos at the skate rink.  Dad is working late and doesn't really want to go anyway, but he ends up showing up.  Thank goodness!  I had my hands full, literally, trying to hold onto one and watch the other or vice verse.  Don't know how single mommas do this job.  You girls are amazing! 

So, dad arrives, the kiddos have dollar dogs and drinks and then they are ready to show dad their new mad skills!  As dad is off with little one, I am with CX trying to help him steady himself, when, oh yes, he falls.  Let me explain....this is not the first fall of the night, nor the last.  I try to help him up and as I am letting go, thinking he is steady, he topples onto momma.  And down I go.  Right onto my right ankle.  I have never felt such pain or heard such awful noises come out of my body (besides childbirth).  Oh the pain!!!

I knew I was a goner, but my skates were laced so tight it wasn't that bad.  Until, the unveiling of the ankle.  Check it out....Ain't it a beauty?!?!?



I could still walk on it, but I was afraid that I had fractured it, so I went to the doctor the next day.  And that is where I got the glorious news about my weight.  How delightful and this is what it looked like when I got home. 



You think that one is a beauty...check out the one below.  Gorgeous darling, gorgeous!

So, I am a gimp and overweight!  What a sight I must be!

So, back to the lifestyle change...we are currently trying this diet out and not doing too terribly bad, but let me tell you what!  I never realized how much salt is added into every tiny little thing that we eat!  And how much!  Yikes!  So, this is a no-to-low sodium, no sugar, no dairy diet.  I know, no milk, can't be healthy.  Well, maybe it's not, but I eat all of the time!  Seriously!  I am not starving myself but I sure do miss the taste of stuff. 

I'll keep you updated.  If my dearest doesn't kill me first! 

Renovation

I've been busy working on odds and ends for the house and I just wanted to share a project with you that I've been working on for the last week.  I'm pretty excited about how it is turning out and hoping that it will be perfect for what I want it to be.  Wish me luck! 

My MIL gave me this beauty a few years back.  She was cleaning out the garage and didn't have any use for this and was going to just trash it.  Heck no!!!  Look at the curves on that puppy!  Wow, I didn't know what I was going to use it for, but I knew eventually I would figure something out.  So, there it sat, in my garage, for YEARS!  Collecting cobwebs and critters and I even believe we had a pack rat living in it at one time.  At least it was put to good use for someone something. 

Well, I totally dug the dresser, but I wasn't digging the color.  Don't get me wrong, I love yellow, but it just wasn't the shade that I wanted and I thought that it might clash with the brown walls in my casa. 

I have a sander and tried my hand at sanding it, but after two days of sanding and all that I got done was the one drawer, I gave up and decided to Kilz it. 

That was the smartest decision I made on the renovation so far.  It almost stayed white.

Looks 100 times better already, don't you think?  But that wasn't the look that I was going for.  So after the layer of Kilz dried (BTW...Kilz is awesome!  It only took one coat to cover that beautiful shade of yellow.  I was amazed!) I brought out the spray paint. 

Still debating about leaving the while and just antiquing it.  Nope, gotta go with the gut instinct!

I pulled out the Krylon Bahama Sea and set to work on my new dresser. 

I know, you're probably thinking, "Great color, but Autumn, it is still as obnoxious as the yellow."  Same thing that I was thinking.  But I do think it is a much needed update for the dresser, No?!?!

I love the reflection of the clouds in the sky on the top of the dresser in this picture!  Isn't it beautiful?! 

So after what seemed like forever for it to dry, I pulled out my Val-spar Faux Glaze in Charcoal and set to work on the antiquing of this lovely piece of furniture. 

 I love antiqued furniture, even if it is a brand new piece.  I think that it gives the look of a truly loved piece of furniture.  I don't want cookie cutter pieces of furniture in my house.  I like one of a kinds and originals.  And, the uglier the piece, the more I love it.  Just wait till you see the rocker that I bought years ago.  Wow, it is a masterpiece! 

I know, it still needs a little something, right?!  But isn't that an improvement?  The Bahama sea blue doesn't seem to be so in-your-face now does it?!

Now, I need to install the handles on the drawers.  The handles that were attached, which you can't see in the first pic because I had already removed them, were missing pieces, so I only really had two whole handles for four handles.  Can't add it up to make it work right.  I was in Overland Park, KS a few months back visiting my Auntie CC, she took us to a wonderful little boutique of handmade clothing, jewelry, and furniture.  I saw this idea and HAD to try it out on something.  I think that this is the time to try it out. 

I really wanted to use sisal rope for the handles, but the holes in the drawers were so small, I just didn't want to drill bigger holes for the fact that I may want to change them in the future.  So, I just took Jute Twine and braided three pieces to make the handles more substantial.  I like the added texture to the dresser that they give.  I'm not really digging the wheels on the legs, but I couldn't get them out.  Those suckers are rusted into the legs.  I was afraid of what might be waiting for me if I did remove them.  So I will just have to deal with them for a while.

I'm really enjoying the dresser.  I put it in my new entry way that I have many plans for, but for right now I am just using it to catch keys and light the way.  And maybe display a fall decoration or two.

My renovation was a success as far as I am concerned.  I'll try to keep you updated on the many plans I have in store for the entry way.

Thanks for looking!  Happy Fall, Y'all!!