I tried on skinny jeans today.  Monumental FAIL!

I looked like a 34 year old trying to look 24!

I'll stick with my boot cuts!

Amazed

I'm suffering from a bit of insomnia right now. It's 5:30 AM and I'm still awake... this really wasn't the plan.  Let me break down my night for you.  

- I watched "The Killers" with Katherine Hiegel and Ashton Kutcher.  A little far fetched but it was cute.

- I watched "Everything's Fine".  BAD IDEA!  It was depressing!  I cried and cried and cried and felt horrible for Robert DiNiro's character.  The end was OK but wasn't uplifting enough to make up for the sadness of the rest of the movie.  

- After I dried my eyes and pulled myself together, I decided I needed to clean out the drain in my bathtub. I'm just going to leave that point right here....

- I swept the floors

- Emptied the dishwasher

- Took out the trash....

..... and that's when it happened.  I looked up at the sky and felt pure AMAZEMENT!  The sky was perfectly clear and the stars were gorgeous!  I took and deep breath of the (extremely) cold air and smiled.  My heart was full!  

And then I ran back inside because it was 27 degrees outside. 

I got back inside just in time to hear a story on the news of a young couple who adopted newborn twin girls, gave birth to their own daughter 6 months later, and then when the birth mother of the twins asked if they would adopt her 18 month old daughter, they said YES!  

I think my heart is ready for Christmas.

Now I'm finally ready to go to bed.   

Baking Extravaganza IV

For the past four years, my friend Gina and I have gotten together around Christmas time to bake some of our favorite holiday recipes.   We always have SO much fun chatting and laughing and eating WAY too much sugar.  Here are a few pics of the festivities.  I have 9 containers of goodies so if you would like a taste, I make deliveries!

The carnage begins

These are thumbprint cookies filled with raspberry jam.  I normally don't care for anything raspberry but these are delicious!

Haystacks and Peppermint Bark. 

Those are buckeyes on the right... just prior to being dipped in chocolate.  

These are similar to a Mexican wedding cookie.  Powdered sugar makes anything better!

We also dipped peanut butter filled Ritz crackers in chocolate.  I'm pretty sure my blood sugar is about 500 right now.

It's UP

For Whitney

I drug myself out of bed around 2PM this afternoon so I could spray paint my wreath before it got too dark.  It dried fairly quickly so I was able to paint both sides several times in about an hour.  Here is the finished product.  Still can't hang it on the door, however.  The 3M Command hook I bought said the temperature of the surface needs to be greater than 50 degrees.  Guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow.  

I love the stark contrast between the white and red.  

Also, I have a dark blue door.. I think the white will look amazingly beautiful!

Crafts, COMPLETE!

I finally finished gluing all the lima beans onto my wreath.  I'm hoping to get it spray painted in the morning.  Since I started working night shift, my sleep is all screwy.  When I want to sleep, I can't.  When I only want to sleep a few hours, I sleep all day. Today I woke up at 5:15 PM!  All that to say, I'll probably still be awake when the sun comes up so if I can brave the cold weather, I'll take the wreath outside to paint it.  I'll post some pictures after I hang it on my front door!

I'm Gettin' Crafty!

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  I spent the holiday at my brother's house with my sister-in-law's family.  We had a wonderful time, ate far too much food, and closed out the evening sitting by the bonfire.

Today, I spent most of the day finishing my Christmas decorating.  I'm really not into the "formal" look.  I like the to keep it simple.  Here are a few pics of the finished product:

Yes, the tree if artificial!

I made the wreath and the stuffed trees on the hearth.  

Since I started working night shift again, I've been on the internet WAY TOO MUCH on my nights off.  However, I've found LOTS of craft ideas to keep my busy.  Tonight I decided to take on a few projects.  The first one is the Lima Bean Wreath.

This is all I could get done since I ran out of hot glue

Here is what it is supposed to look like (at All Things Thrifty).  I think it's a really cute idea.  I plan to spray paint it white and I have some red velvet ribbon to attach it on a hook on my front door.  I'll post more pictures when it is complete!

My second craft project of the night is what I like to call The Rice Bag.  Many, many years ago, I had a Rice Sock.  It was essentially a sock with rice in it.  You heat it up in the microwave and then use it like a heating pad.  I've seen these sold in specialty stores for upwards of $35.  INSANE!  I had seen a tutorial and thought I would give it a shot.  The one I made is probably too large and contains way too much rice (almost the entire 80 oz. bag.. cost me less than $3 at Wal-Mart) but it's working wonders on my tight shoulders.  Here's the finished product:

And while I'm on the subject of sewing, I thought I would include pictures of my sewing machine.  It's OLD and it weighs about 75 lbs.  It belonged to my aunt and she always kept it serviced so now, years later, it still works well.  It serves it's purpose to sew straight (ish) lines.  I always say I want a new sewing machine but I really don't sew enough to justify the expense.  

Nothing digitalized!  

It even fits in it's own table (which is a BEAR to move)

And who decided these things should be shaped like tomatoes?

I've Been Busy

I've been busy in the kitchen this weekend.  Here are a few pictures:

This is a basic pumpkin bread in BUNDT form

This is another pumpkin bread recipe with pecans and dried cranberries.  DE-LISH-US!

I also tried my hands at some candy making.  Word to the wise, don't do this if you are in a hurry or in a bad mood.

The Christmas edition full of great recipes

Ina's Fleur de Sel Caramels.... not as easy as they look.  

Hot Sugar!

Waiting for it to turn "dark, golden brown"

Very close to 248 F

Attempt#1:  you can see that I scored the surface.  That's about as far as the knife would go.  These were TOO hard!

Attempt #2:  No Go!  Even harder! More like toffee than caramel.

Attempt #3:  I actually just melted the two previous batches with a little half and half  then heated the mixture right to the soft ball stage (I think once you've hit the firm ball stage, you've gone too far).
YUUUUMMMM!  Sweet and Salty Perfection!

And now for some funny pictures I wanted to include:

The Pilgrims are protecting the pumpkin bread

These were my mom's.  I think they are precious!

Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Commercial Break

I won't be discussing DIY for a while.  Like I mentioned in my prior post, I'm out of $$ for any big projects.  I do have a few decorating projects I'd like to pursue so I may post a few of those.  One of which involves these:

These are old family photos.  Mostly from my mom's side of the family

That's my dad and his brother.  My dad is the one with the dirty feet!

My mom and grandmother. 

 And this:

I bought this at the Brooklyn Flea Market when I was in New York last month.  I love it even more now that it is framed but I am having a hard time finding the perfect spot for it.  The artist is Michelle Han.  She has an Etsy store if you love the look of the wood block prints as much as I do.

I'm also very excited about decorating the house for Christmas.  While I'm appalled that one of the local radio stations is already playing Christmas music, I am looking forward to getting festive after Thanksgiving.   Here are a few pics from last year's tree.

One of my favorite ornaments

My childhood Winnie the Pooh ornaments. Yes, Eeyore is missing an eye.  

Stuffed trees like these are very sentimental.  My mom always had one out when we were growing up.  As an adult I took it upon myself to find a pattern and make a few of my own.  

My tree from last year.  I have a LOVE for the REALLY BIG colored bulbs

What Now?

I've been a little bit at a loss since completing my last project.  I've had so much spare time on my days off. I've spent LOTS of money on this and that.  For whatever reason, I decided I wanted to change my makeup.  I ended up buying not only makeup and the three step program but also three additional steps.  I was regretting it the next day, but last night at work Laura told me my skin was "peaches and cream".  I figure, whatever I can do to keep people in disbelief that I am actually 34, I should stick with it!

I've also been reading.  I've started the Sieg Larson "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" series.  The first book was really good.  The second one is OK but doesn't keep my attention as well.  For some reason, the first 1/3 of these books are hard to get through but once you get to the body of the story, it sucks you in.  I'm waiting for that moment with book 2.

For now, I have no other home improvements on the books.  There is plenty I would LIKE to do but I'm out of energy and CASH to do much of anything.  Alas, I will fully enjoy my free time without any complaints!

COMPLETION!

My floor is finished.  I completed the remaining trim work today.  Even the closets are done.  I have a normal bedroom and living room now.  It feels wonderful.  Here are a few pictures.  The lighting is bad since I was trying to ward off the trick-or-treaters.  Maybe I'll get a few more with the daylight instead.

Bedroom sans closet doors

Yes, that IS the carpet pad showing

I SWEAR I'll cut the rug pad eventually!

OOOOH!  And the coffee table is new too!

I need something on the walls.  I've lived here almost four years and I've never found anything I LOVE

That bowl on the mantle contains Halloween candy I'm keeping to myself!  

Yes, I'm aware...

...that my past few posts have been about my rugs.  However, those are the things that have been occupying my mind lately (yes, I agree it's a bit shallow,  but please cut me some slack).

Bedroom rug - CHECK!  Finally got it down after I had to take apart my bed in order to get it straight.

Living room rug - estimated date: SATURDAY.  Plan is to get the quarter round down (FINALLY) and possibly completed (holes filled, sanded, and repainted) tomorrow.  Tomorrow will be a busy day.

I just realized that tomorrow is Friday and NOT Saturday.  That just made my night!

THE Rug

I brought home one of my new rugs today.  It's HUGE and really heavy.  I don't think I even realized how big it was going to be.  I got it in my car but we had to tie the trunk closed.  Let me remind you, I drive a Civic so this was a sight to see.  When I got home, I backed into the garage thinking it would be easy for me to get it in the house by myself.  That was a lie!  I struggled for about half an hour but I rigged up a little contraption and got it in the house safely.  Right now, I have it still rolled up and sitting in the hall.  I was able to paint the quarter round for the living room today but will have to let it dry so it will probably be Friday before it goes in.

Here are a few pictures of my rug (sorry about the foot shots).  I love it.  I feel like such an adult.

I have rugs!

I broke down and bought TWO area rugs today.  The one for the bedroom is fairly casual but I had to special order it so it should be here in the next week or two.  The one for the living room... is a little more traditional.  It was made by Karastan.  I found it at Macy's and saved $1000!  Yes, that's THREE zeros!  It was on clearance but I loved it.  I can't find a good picture to upload but I'll take plenty once the living room is complete.  I will pick it up tomorrow.  Annette at Macy's assured me that they would be able to roll it on the short end so I could get it in my car.

I'm very excited that my floors are almost complete.  I've gotten really lazy since my house has been in disarray.  Tonight I went through alot of junk and threw stuff away.  It was very cathartic.  I also moved my dresser back into my bedroom.  I had been using it as an "entertainment center" for the living room but decided I needed to start living normally again.

I'm also very excited that I start my new job on Tuesday..... I'm just sayin'!

I'm not a quitter!

I swear I have been working on the house... but I haven't been taking pictures and I sure haven't been blogging.  I actually took today off to just rest and get some OTHER things done around the house.  I also went shopping for rugs.  The one I REALLY wanted was almost $1100!  YIKES!  I am very close to settling for one that was much less expensive.

I should have some time on Sunday and Monday to do more work and I could potentially be completed with the hardwoods by late next week.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  However, I have at least moved my bed back into the bedroom and I am no longer sleeping with my mattress on the floor.  The living room remains another saga.....

Ahhhh....

The floor is finished except for the closet in the master bedroom.  I had to buy a few more boxes of wood today so the closet will have to wait until Saturday.  Othwerwise, all I have left to complete is the quarter round.  I bought enough to do the bedroom this week.  I decided to go with white instead of something that matches the floor.  Amazingly, there is plenty of controversy on the internet related to this very subject.  I decided that since my house is very INFORMAL, I would go with the white and just paint it to match my other trim.

After dinner this evening, I went to Home Depot to buy the quarter round.  It wasn't until I looked UP that I realized there was no way I was going to be able to fit at 12 FOOT long piece of wood in my car.  I drive a Honda Civic!  I cut all wood into 6 foot long pieces and headed home.  I hope to get it painted in the morning and maybe it will dry in time to get a few pieces in during the afternoon.

I WANT MY HOUSE BACK!

Not Totally Lost

I had to meet a friend from work this morning so we could work on our storyboard which is due next week.  Don't ask me, "what is a storyboard?"  Trust me, you don't want to know.   Anyway, I was really bummed about losing the entire day, or even part of the day, to anything but my floor.  I am DYING to get it done.   I think on more than one occasion today I said to myself, "I just want my house back!"  Oh well, it will come soon enough.  I got home a little after 4 PM today and set to work.  I knew I needed to be at a stopping point by 6:30 since I was having dinner at 7PM with my dear friend Kristen.  Amazingly enough, the work went quickly and before I knew it, I had it completed except for the long pieces that will need to be cut up against the baseboards.  I am so excited.  My plan is to get that part done on Monday in between mowing my desperate grass and going to a class at work.  I'll keep you posted!

In The Home Stretch

I got SO MUCH done today.  I only have a few more rows before the master bedroom will be completed.  This floor has gone down so much easier than the living room and hallway.  It looks like I am going to need to order another box or two to finish into the closet but that can wait.  Here are a few pics from today.

I'm Pretty Sure I Only Cussed Once

I stayed up late last night trying to stay on schedule with the master bedroom.  I think I finally hit the sack around 2AM.  This morning, I got up early to tie up some loose ends.

While I was painting the trim, I noticed several places where you could see the old paint color through the new paint color.  I marked these areas with painter's tape so I could come back to them later.  By the time I was finished, I easily had 75 areas to fix.  Those would have to come later.

So.. the trim!  It was late and I was feeling grumpy and just wanted to get it finished quickly.  I started getting sloppy with my paint.  At one point, I dripped paint all over the wall.  The "F-bomb" came out and it was at this point that I decided I would finish the trim and then take myself to bed.

This morning, I fixed all the exposed green paint and then touched up the trim.  It's amazing to me how different the room looks with trim that not only is CLEAN but also not so stark white.  I used "Fresh Cotton" by Valspar.  It's a perfect color... just a little bit warm but not beigy.

This afternoon, I opened the windows and started to tackle the floor.  I placed all the underlayment (except for the closet) and even got started on a few rows.  I think it's going to look amazing.

I LOVE Demolition

This is me in full haz-mat gear

Since I decided to give up on the living room for the time being, I thought getting started on the master bedroom would be a good idea.  I moved out all of the furniture (including the couch).  I'm now sleeping in the office.... with my mattress and box spring on the floor.

I pulled up the carpet....

Notice the dust in the picture?  That's not on my camera lens... it's in the air!  Now you know why I wear a N-95 mask!

The floor is clean and ready to be patched (there is a sizable crater in the middle of the floor).  I'm hoping to get a good bit of painting done today.

And as a side note, I finally have furniture in my living room!  Well, it's only a chair but I did get the television hooked up again so I could watch football today.