I can give you what you want

But you have to come home with me...

Anywho.  As I was fleasie shopping, I brought home this super duper pimped out ottoman for only six buckaroos!  Yes, I am tight!  So tight you can insert a piece of coal in my *** and six weeks later you will have a diamond.  Not really.

But if you got the joke, then you understand what I'm saying!

So, here is the beaut!

Oh my gosh!  Pay no attention to the dirty tile this thing is sitting on!!!

And here is the underneath view that I told you about the other day.  Seriously, that's a nice job!



You can really get a feel for the material as well with this pic.  Now, if that's your thing that's great and all, but it is sooooooo not me.

Next, I had to remove the fabric to see what is underneath this material....I can only think that it is something much worse than what is on the outside.  Plus, what the heck keeps rattling around inside of this thing?!?!?  I'm gonna have to take this thing apart!  Dang git!!

WOW!!

It doesn't have a scratch on it and it doesn't even have a strange aroma coming off of it.  What the chiz?  I'm confused...why would you cover this up?

It's still rattling!!!  Thought it might of had a secret compartment or something, but NOOOO!

Okay, lets remove that underneath!

Not bad...the leather or pleather or vinyl or whatever is stapled pretty well....hmm.

Oh, did I mention....this ottoman was made in the U.S.A. 

I'm so proud to have bought someones trash to recycle that is American made. Just shows that we can make things in this country that can withstand a few years. (Sorry, getting down from my soap box.)

Yep, it is blue too. 

Removal of first layer.  Forgot to take picture....sorry.

Remove next layer.

That's like a plastic bag from a trash can or something.  Probably helps with the friction caused with the foam.

Next layer....cardboard?

Okay, one more.  This is getting to be a bigger adventure than I had anticipated.  I hope this is the last one.  Who knows?!?

Ah ha!  Gotta fix me some support beams.  No prob....gonna grab the drill and some screws and ta da!  Good as new, or maybe even better!

Where the heck is that darn drill?!?!?!?

No, I'm not just using wood glue...but thought it couldn't hurt to have a little extra hold.

I am woman!  I screw screw by myself!  No need for power tools!

Yep, there are three screws.  Every time I got one in, the end of another leg would pop off.  GREAT!

Okay, I think that is going to do it.  Next layer back on.  Sorry, no pic, again.  I'm slacking, I know!

Next, the lovely foam....yum!  If it hadn't been in such good condition I would have replaced it.

Next, the trash bag.  Is this really necessary?!  I better do it.  May regret it later.

Yes, that is duct tape.  I know, I know!  I'm a hypocrite!  It is going to get covered anyway....not like it's going to be on the outside or something.

Don't judge me!!

And, voila!!  Back to normal.

Now, do I leave it like that or do I do what I had planned on all along?

Hmm....decisions, decisions.

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!