Tuesday, December 01, 2009

in A BIG way

The hub has never been one to do anything half-hearted. He is a go big or go home kind of guy, whether that be good things or not so good things. HIS daughter has inherited those tendencies. Case in point: before the hub turns in for the night, he always scoops Little Sister out of her sweet dreams for a midnight bathroom run (yes, still battling the bed wetting).

Tonight was no different except that when daddy had Little Sister half way back to her bed she started to vomit. Instead of keeping it contained in one spot (outside her bedroom door) he decided to race her back to the bathroom toilet as she continued to vomit all the way, in a BIG way.

I had no idea that that much puke could come out of one such small-ish child and I'm an expert on the subject. I do in fact get paid to deal with such matters. It was not pleasant. It was running down the walls, splashed down the hall and covering the hub. It was dripping into the cabinet drawers, it was splattered all over the cabinets, it was covering the hub. It smelled like the morning after a really bad margarita party which led me to wonder just what the heck she ate for dinner (it was strawberries). She is now all showered, gravol'd up and tucked in beside me.
So now it is just a waiting game to see if the fun will begin again with any other members of this family (namely the hub since he was exposed to a lot of gastric contents). When that boy is ill, it is not pretty. He vomits with much force, loud sound effects and very poor aim. I'm not sure if I should start laundry right now or wait a few hours to see if there will be more. It could be a long night. Thank goodness I have a full box of dimenhydrinate suppositories in supply. DO YOU HEAR THAT HUB?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

room service

The peace, the quiet, the shopping, the learning - it's old already and I want to go home.

Don't get me wrong, I love a fancy hotel as much as one can but $12 for a bottle of water is just silly. I could order bottled house water @ $4 but geesh, who drinks house water! sarcasm
Just for reference, mixed cocktails are $9. Ah, so why would you drink twelve dollar waters?
(bottles of wine range from $60- $450).

Well, it's time to wander down to the conference center and sit on my ass for several more hours.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Sex Shopping in the city

I've hopped a plane (or two) to our capital, part work-related, part personal R &R and maybe a little Christmas shopping.

While the view from the hotel room is fantastic, the weather is not.

In case you can't tell, it's raining. Pouring actually. I'll take snow over rain any day thankyouverymuch!
My hair prefers snow over rain too. Frizz anyone?

The hotel is lovely. I'm trying to figure out how to hide one of these gorgeous chandeliers in my carry-on.

Speaking of carry-on, my aunt gave me a list of stocking stuffers to bring back for her. There is $100 worth of Rogers chocolates waiting to fly home with me. I wonder how many will actually be left at the end of the week. Mmmm good.


Tomorrow's agenda: antique row. I am so excited. Tonight it's a quiet uninterrupted soak in the tub with a good book. I miss my kids like crazy. It is a very surreal experience for life to be this quiet and this uninterrupted.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ah a ah aha a ah aha aha ah aha a

My children wander about their daily lives singing this tune. It's very catchy and it will stick in your head.


I was a card carrying member of the school choir until age 12. Then I hit junior high and it was so not cool to be a choral/band geek. Where was Glee when I was a kid? Wouldn't it be cool to record at Abbey Road!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Reposted: not exactly the nutcracker ballet

Already I am feeling the pressure that this time of the year brings. In the period between November and January each and every member of this household has a birthday as well as a couple of friends, my father, my BIL, my niece and a cousin, not to mention the Hub's sister, nephew and best friend. That's a lot of celebrating. Then Christmas is upon us and there are work related gatherings, parties with friends and of course family holiday dinners. The shopping is overwhelming and socializing is not high on my list of favorite things.

This year I have decided to keep the stress to a minimum. I am shopping early. I will be declining invitations. My children are not participating in any sports until the spring.

I am a little sad that we won't be watching the girls perform in recitals this year. So I am reposting Little Sister's performance from Dec 2008 complete with newly uploaded video.

-------------------------------------------------
Little Sister performed in her first recital.
She was beyond excited until ...

we arrived at the studio. She refused to warm up with all the other girls. She wanted nothing to do with posing for photos on the floor. I really thought she would be that one little girl who stands in the middle of the group and does nothing -just stands there.
But she rocked that Suzy Snowflake dance. She is the youngest/smallest in her group therefore she was the first one out. She did every single move (about three beats ahead of the music and everyone else in the group). She owned that choreography. I am trying to post the video but am having serious problems trying to get my computer to recognize my video recorder.

Her first ever dance rose
apparently it didn't smell very good
Now in her video debut: Little Sister dressed in pink, age three
(somehow blogger cut off the first part). Her curtsy at the end totally cracks me up.
video

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Oh the pressure

I have recently been informed that the cutoff date for submission of 2010 vacation time has been moved up by a month. Say what??? I have until the end of the week -as in today, tomorrow and the next day to submit my request. So now the mad scramble is on to decide when and where we want to take our annual "big" family trip that breaks up the LOOOOONG harsh Canadian winter.

Don't they know how much time and effort and TIME I put into researching for just the right balance of family fun time and parental relaxation? For me, half the fun is the planning of the trip. This feels too rushed. What if I make a mistake and book us here

when we really would have had more fun here
or hereOkay, this may not be a life or death situation. Honestly, I could take my children to the local Motel 6, as long as it had a pool they would be happy. Since I work really hard some of the time to earn vacation money, I expect a great vacation at a reasonable price or even a reasonable vacation at a great price. Either way, I am researching our options online till my eyes are crossed and my head is spinning (which is it anyway, I loathe vertigo).

I thought I had it figured out
- fly to New Orleans (seat sale $69 each way woohoo)
-stay at a fabulous haunted B & B (have ALWAYS wanted to experience NOLA)
-catch a 7 night cruise down to Guatemala.
*The kids get to learn a little about other cultures (plan to visit an orphanage) and momma gets to drink by the pool while the chil'uns are entertained at kid's club. Sometime in the last 48 hours, the seat sale ended (price quadrupled), the B & B I picked out has no vacancy (who knew Mardi Gras was so popular) and the companion ticket we hold is only applicable on one airline which doesn't fly to Naw'lins. Crap. Crap. Crap.

Our options are limited due to travel time constraints. It takes us 7 - 11 hours of continuous driving to reach the nearest major airports. We then have 1 full day flying/airport lay-overs with connecting flights to anywhere. We also have at least 1 -2 overnight stays somewhere to be sure that we arrive on time for flight departures/cruise departures. You just never know what the winter weather will present. All this before we even arrive at our destination point and let the good times roll. Are you exhausted yet? I usually am by this point.

This is a serious undertaking that requires a very precisely timed schedule. We are a cruise loving family but I am taking into consideration any land lubbing all-inclusives. The only catch is the budget; cannot cost more than $10,000 TOTAL. Which in the grand scheme of things is not much, a mere $2,250 each and must cover everything from gas, airport parking, taxes, food, entertainment, transfers, tips and the actual vacation. The only other requirement is that it must be a tropical destination we have never been to before which rules out most everything north of the equator well almost. So if there is anyone in Brazil who has room for us in their lovely beachside home, we are available anytime early 2010 and are not opposed to sleeping on the floor. Thanks in advance.

Seriously, any and all destination suggestions will be gratefully accepted and appreciated. Tick tock time is running out.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Weekend Warriors

Every so often I let the hub talk me into venturing forth unto the great wild wilderness. I may balk and complain but secretly I enjoy the great wild wilderness. Please please don't let that get back to him or I will be booked on his next grand hiking adventure. I may like the outdoors but I don't want to sleep in the outdoors. His idea of fun = climbing up the side of a mountain, sleeping on the cold hard ground and eating leaves. My idea of fun = waiting for him at the spa.

I've been feeling a little restless, being all cooped up inside lately so I agreed to an easy afternoon stroll through the forest. It's a mere 12 mile round trip hike to the falls. It starts off nice and easy, following the creek; a very pleasant way to spend time with one's family.
I seriously had to run to keep up with Little Sister who has done this trail many times before. She was NOT impressed that I couldn't keep up.


After a series of straight uphill switchbacks and a precarious jaunt across a rocky ledge with CLIFFS on either side, I was ready for a pit stop and some oxygen.

switchbacks
straight upwards
narrow trail on rocky cliff



pit stop (the first of many)


Then she was off and running ... again. So unlike Big Sister, who at this age insisted on being carried. Ever tried packing a kid up Diamond Head? All 9,999 stairs!


This is her "I AM THE LEADER and YOU HAD BETTER STAY BEHIND ME" face. No worries Baby Girl, I AM behind you and I have no energy to pass you!

The view from the top was beautiful.

Then we happened upon a fabulous tree sturdy bridge over the creek.


We head down to take a closer look.Who wouldn't want to walk over that? (if you guess Big Sister then you would be right)
Really, can you blame her? It is a little daunting.
She was all smiles until I dared her to walk all the way across.

She may have inherited my fear of heights but this girl cannot turn down a dare.
To prove that it was completely safe, I went first which probably was a pretty bad idea considering, oh, I AM TERRIFIED OF HEIGHTS. And yes, the lingering VERTIGO, the kind where I can't even bend down to tie up my own shoes without falling over. Not such a brilliant idea but since I was packing about a grands worth of camera gear, there was NO WAY I was falling.
She cried half way over and froze. I was able to talk her through it. She was extremely proud of herself. She even stayed out half way while I climbed back up the bank to take photographic proof of her bravery.

The hub was in his element; giving us the Latin names for all the vegetation and helpful tips if you ever find yourself stranded in the wilderness.
This green stuff is called Old Man's beard (Latin name, antiquus farticus) and it is particularly useful as fire starter. It is also an apt description for the hub, he JUST TURNED FORTY!


As much as I trust the Hub's survival skills, it was quickly turning to dusk and I had no intentions to sleep there so it was time to turn back.


Little Sister may have big time evened the fitness playing field for me on the way back. I was packing my own extra body weight and the Hub was packing her.
Side note: the old dude can't wait for it to snow so that we can trudge this trail together, through 6 feet of newly fallen powder on snowshoes. Oooooooh goodie, I can't wait either!

Monday, November 02, 2009

Balloons



A gathering at a local park, releasing balloons in the memory of a loved one



Click over to I ♥ Faces for more balloon pictures!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

it's baaaaaaack


The dizzies are back. Not as bad but enough to cause me to lurch around like a drunk person. Maybe I'll go trick or treating as an alcoholic tonight. Ok, not funny. It's also not funny that in 3 hours people will start to arrive for the 4th 5th 6th whatever annual fireworks/wiener roast and my house is a complete disaster. Yes, the actual party is outside but my bathroom obviously is inside therefore there will be 50 75 100 however many people tromping through my house.
This makes my antisocial personality cringe. And instead of cleaning up or perhaps installing towel bars and a door on the yet to be finished downstairs guest bathroom which guests will in fact be using tonight, I am watching clips of really old horror movies on You Tube. They just don't make them like they did in the 80's

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The out takes and the re takes

Annual Christmas card photo possibilities

The hub was literally rolling his eyes when I commanded him to "pull over here" on the side of the road. He has learned to just go with my whims (it's faster and there is less nagging).

Me: "Little Sister why aren't you smiling?"
Little Sister: "I'm acting bored like Big Sister"
Me: "well, can you try a different look?"

Me: "ok, try putting your hands down"


Me: "what are you doing?"
Big Sister: "we're being homeless people"


There are many out takes. Enlarge to enjoy.

Now for the keepers
1
2


3

4
If you have an opinion on which photo is your #1 pick then please vote below. If you vote I promise to add you to my Christmas card list.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Children of the Corn

We headed out to a local farm to pick out our pumpkins. Yes, leaving it a little late this year. Usually by this time, the hub has all the pumpkins carved and the fireworks purchased (just itching to light them off).


I wanted to get a nice family photo but my family was having none of it. I snapped a few of the girls though, ones to include in our Christmas card. I will post those sometime this week after I choose a few favorites.






Little Sister is EXACTLY like her father in that she hates shopping, no matter what it is for. It took her exactly 0.3 seconds to pick out her pumpkin and then she was off to play on the equipment outside. I didn't even have time to snap more than one photo of her pumpkin quest.


Big Sister was a lot more accommodating and let me take LOTS of photos.






Who knew that spending a lovely fall afternoon with one's family on what should be an enjoyable outing would involve so such drama and so many tears. Yes, tears. By the end of the hour both girls had cried several times and daddy's nerves were frazzled and momma may have been shouting. Big Sister seems to have entered the hormone zone and she was a little bundle of bad attitude and sass.

Nice attitude, I'm surprised she's not giving me the finger

Little Sister was crying because she wanted to sit with Daddy but couldn't climb up. Then she was crying because she was sitting with Daddy and she wanted to get down.



I haven't seen the movie since I was a teenager but it made a lasting impression -large corn fields freak me out just a little bit. Enlarge the photo and tell me those creepy stalks aren't hiding horrific creepy children with pitchforks and "he who walks behind the rows"

and is it just me, or does Big Sister's smile look a little demonic? Thanks Stephen King, you really know how to scare a girl.
PS. we were the only people at this farm, out in the middle of nowhere. After we paid for our pumpkins the cashier disappeared and we were all alone. Very very alone with all that corn.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Photo heavy update

As you know, I haven't been posting here much. Every so often I go through phases where I get tired of blogging and debate deleting the whole thing. Then my sister confirms that she likes keeping up with her nieces lives this way and urges me to continue (reciprocation would be nice hint hint. Perhaps a few photos hint hint).

The girls are happily settled into the school routine. Big Sister just came back from a three day camping fieldtrip with her class. They were learning about survival, being Earth-friendly, First Nations history and a sense of community. Big Sister breezed through the course since she lives this on a daily basis thanks to Daddy's influence. He is both Native and wild, I mean, loves the wild.

He and his survivalist disciples aka daughters have been building lean-tos and shelters all over our back 40. I wonder when the teepee will go up. Yes, he has plans to erect one down by the water.
shelter #1

shelter #2


"Down by the water". That statement freaks me out. Not only can I NOT visualize the girls when they are playing survivor but they are too darn close to the water. One day my sister who lives 700 km away will look out her window and see my girls floating past her house on a log tied raft (or a dug out canoe if the hub is involved).







My itsy bitsy teeny tiny baby (in my mind only) has adjusted to three day a week/full day kindergarten beautifully. She LOVES to go. She wishes she could go everyday. She now thinks daycare is beneath her. I had no doubts that she would do well since she is slightly on the extroverted side.



Her teacher reports that she keeps them all entertained. I hope that's a good thing. (Is that a good thing?) Somehow I don't think that's a good thing.


Case in point, I standing at the top of a ladder (installing manly wallpaper in my man's closet) when Little Sister wandered into the room. She craned her neck up at me, grinned and broke into this song: "I like BIG butts and I cannot lie you other guys can't deny. I LIKE BIG BUTTS". The song came accompanied by some bootylicious choreography. Yes, she knows how to work the room. Thanks, Shrek.

I have been enjoying my new work schedule, perhaps a little too much. You see, I get long stretches of days off in a row (8 to be exact). One would think that I would be completing many home improvements on those long stretches of days off. One would be wrong. The house is a complete disaster. My mentality, eh, if I don't do it today there is always tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes people.

I've been too busy doing online puzzles to worry about the paint a frame factory I have going on in my kitchen, including every horizontal surface where children would normally eat nutritious meals and complete homework. "Sorry kids, no dinner tonight, momma is kicking some jigsaw butt"

Just look at my time! In case you can't see it, my time: 3 minutes 49 seconds. Average time for non-slackers who complete projects and feed their offspring: 11 minutes 51 seconds. Oh ya baby. Oh ya!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Beadboard Wallpaper

My favorite place in the whole house is the little alcove just outside my bedroom door. I have debated moving out the desk and bringing in bookshelves and a comfy reading chair but in the end, I love my rolltop too much.

I wanted to make this space stand out from the rest of the tan walls and my heart was set on beadboard paneling. Priced at $40/sheet x 3 this was more than I wanted to spend, not to mention would require more effort than this one woman show was willing to put forth.

Then I happened upon a blog post about beadboard wallpaper. Yup, paper. I was sold on the $25/roll price tag and ease of installation. Oh, did I say ease? Ya, not so much. For two solid days I wrestled with those NOT prepasted panels from an English company only to walk into WMart and discover they sold this product PREPASTED. It was cheaper and of course no shipping wait.

I am not sure how this stuff will hold up to busy family life as it seems a bit fragile/easily scratched & dented but oh my, how it looks like real paneling. It however, feels a bit like styrofoam.


I tried my hardest to install crown molding, following these super simple instructions. It just wasn't happening so super dad to the rescue.



Why oh why does crown make me so happy? Incredibly stupid happy!

There was half a roll of the paper left over so I plastered it onto the breakfast bar.

Finishes it nicely. And now I am wandering all over the house, beadboard paper in hand trying to decide where to install it next. I am leaning towards the laundry room ceiling. A cottage ceiling would make my heart sing.
To see what other bloggers have done with this product, link to the BB wallpaper party at

Friday, September 18, 2009

Heirloom Party

My small builder's boring house is not one conducive to displaying vignettes of fabulous antiques. I wish I had the room. I wish that I had the antiques.

Years ago my mother bought an old broken down roll top desk from a family friend who estimated that it was about 100 years old. It sat decaying in her garage until I spotted it and gave it my best efforts at restoration. This was my first attempt at any type of furniture refinishing but I figured that I could not do any harm since it was in such rough shape. Too bad I didn't think to take any before photos.


It sits in an alcove leading to the master bedroom. It is my favorite place to sit and talk on the phone, browse magazines and drink tea.




I wish I knew it's history -who sat here before me, handwriting letters and filing correspondence. I wonder if it was used in an office or a private residence.
The teacup is one of a set belonging to my great grandmother (who was born in 1899). My grandfather and I had many tea parties using these cups. Sometimes my girls and I do the same.

I haven't finished staining the rolltop. It's been on my to-do list for the last 12 years. It's highly unlikely to get finished anytime this decade.


The chair was one that sat in my grandparent's kitchen for my entire childhood. It too needed a little TLC. Stained to match the desk color. Both my children learned to walk by pushing this chair around the house. Big Sister used to get it wedged behind the bathroom door and would get so mad. As a toddler, Little Sister used to stand on it to
reach the phone,dialing people at random




Last year my SIL gifted my youngest daughter with her 35+ year old Disneyland charm bracelet. It is in immaculate condition, even the charms have retained their painted accents.


Little Sister loves to wear it, though I safety pin it to her shirt sleeve for safekeeping.

I am participating in Emmacallsmemama heirloom party. Click to see other heirloom posts.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

whatever

My 4 year old came home from kindergarten with some new skillz. Only 6 hours into her official school education and already she "knows some sign language."


what

ever

major

loser


Nice huh? Good to see that my tax dollars are paying for such a fantastic education. Guess that's what happens when you let babies on the playground with know-it-all 12 year olds. I guess it could be worse, she could be flipping the bird. Maybe that will be tomorrow's lesson.

And just for the record, Big Sister wants everyone to know that "loser" also indicates the health check symbol. Thank you nutritional education class. Mighty hard working tax dollars, indeed!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

she's off

...and running!

I was hoping to keep this one with me for a little while longer but her four year old self is more than ready for the scholastic world. I have no doubts that she will do well, it's just that suddenly she seems so little.

I honestly don't remember how I felt on Big Sister's first day of kindergarten, I think it must have been a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Today I just feel sad. From this day forward, I will no longer be her entire world.

I am very glad that she has Big Sister at the same school to look out for her, although more often than not, it is the other way around. Little Sister is rough & tumble and doesn't take crap from anyone.

We knew that she would be in a split class. What we didn't know was that it would be a kindergarten/grade one/grade two split. I'm not fond of this plan but am willing to give it a try since there are only 11 kids in the entire class. She will attend full days alternating, two and three days per week. I was half joking with the hub that she will be reading by her 5th birthday at Christmas.

Ya, that whole reading thing. It kinda comes as a double edged sword; on one side it opens up a whole new universe and on the other it sucks for momma because I can no longer tell her that the McDonalds sign reads CLOSED, that the TV guide reads NO KIDS SHOWS ON TODAY and that I-C-E- C-R-E-A-M actually means that I am asking Daddy if he can go buy me some spinach salad.

What shall I do with all this new free time? Finish some of the dozens of home improvement projects that I currently have half finished? Nah, I'll start a NEW project - a complete over haul of the hub's closet.


It's long overdue and since he is out of town, I get to do it without his interference. What? You say your ghastly white (girlish) shorts are missing? Hmm, I haven't seen them. Your blue fleece vest with the HUGE logo. Can't say I know where it is. The cheap & ugly black sandals. Not a clue. I'm off to don paint clothes and break out the power tools. Off and running.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Bedside table in miniature

For some time now I have been searching for an antique bedside table for Little Sister's room. She has been using an Ikea tray table that has gotten pretty beat up and doesn't hold much.

I was hoping for a sweet little vintage piece, distressed in white with drawers for all her treasures to be hidden away and some baskets to store favorite books and toys.

Try as I might, scouring nearby second hand stores, antique stores and anyone on Craigslist willing to ship to the middle of nowhere Canada, I have been unable to locate such an item.

As I was cruising through WMart recently, on the hunt for back to school shoes, I walked right by this really ugly brown fake wood piece. It was exactly what I had been looking for and at only $80 that miniature table came home with me. After assembly, I sanded down as much of the fake brown finish as I dared and painted it bright white.
I screwed petite ball castors onto it's feet and bought dainty wicker baskets for the shelf.

I will replace the drawer pulls with small crystal knobs once I find some. I had plans to distress it to make it look really old but I figure that my children will do a much better job of it simply by using it.

Looks like it has always belonged here under the little glass shelf, stuffed full of Little Sister's most special treasures.



I am participating in Metamorphosis Monday. Click to see other projects

Friday, September 04, 2009

attention deficit disorder: home reno type

My laundry room is about 90% finished and that can only mean one thing -time to start another project. I like to have several things going all at once, that way I never get bored or ever finish a single thing.

As per usual, my timing is brilliant. Out of town company are due to arrive any minute and I have just started to rip out carpet and strip wallpaper. Maybe if I wait an hour, my guests workers will have arrived.
In my defense, the carpet really is grotty and it really needs to go NOW. Whomever (that would be me) picked out cream carpet for a stairwell OBVIOUSLY didn't have children. Small children that like to take strawberry jam on toast (that slides off the plate) down those stairs or husbands that pack 100 - 200 bags of wood pellets in from the garage to the furnace in the basement WITH HIS WORKBOOTS ON in the middle of winter.

And well, if the carpet is going, I may as well take down the wallpaper since it is really ugly all matched. U.G.L.Y. You ain't got no alibi. It's ugly

The dudes who installed this carpet deserve gold stars. There must 1001 nails and staples in EVERY SINGLE TREAD. I have been pulling them out with a pair of pliers and a hammer. Check back with me next Thursday, I should just be pulling out the last of the staples then.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

content

It's been a long road full of pot holes but I can finally say without a doubt that I am content

There have been times when I have wanted to walk away from this relationship. We have very different opinions and ideas and definition of clean and tidy. At the end of every day, I am still very thankful that he became part of my life.


Another child is not in the cards for us despite our yearning for one. It is out of our hands. We have made peace with it. Our daughters are at ages where life has become easier again. I don't think I want to start over now with sleepless nights and diapers.


The girls are happy and healthy and oh so much fun, despite their hourly squabbles. Life is not dull. Nor is it quiet or clean and tidy. That's ok. I can have a silent show home when they are grown.


So often I have browsed through home decor magazines and wished for a larger kitchen with professional appliances, a huge en suite bath with garden tub and a formal dining room. My house is neither large nor fancy. It is filled only with special objects that have meaning in our lives. We use every single square inch every day. It is a house that I love, full of love.


My weight is more than I want it to be. It's a work in progress. I can work on it. I will work on it one day.

Life is good. I am content.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Deals

I am the absolute last person you would ever want to take to a garage sale. I prefer to sit and wait in the car, or better yet, simply drive right by and remark, "yup, a whole lotta junk"

Well, all that has changed. I have been so inspired by everyone's projects and/or deals of the century that I was determined to find myself some "treasures"

The girls and I spent a lovely Saturday morning driving around and looking at other people's junk. Yup it was a lot of junk. Can't say as my mind has completely changed but I did manage to find a couple of things worth buying. A local photographer was selling all her sample albums and frames. I scored an Art Leather album and inserts for $10. These things normally retail for upwards of $200, I know because years ago I bought one for my wedding photos.


The frame will be receiving a few coats of mat black paint $2


On the way home we stopped in at my favorite discount chain, Liquidation World. I am on a first name basis with all the staff. I am a VERY good customer. Found these glass vases for $5. There is a third one but it has a chip in the top (thus the discounted price). Sure I will find something to use them for.
Best deal of the day: Corning Ware bowls $3 each. These things are huge and HEAVY. I have no idea why they were so cheap. There is not a thing wrong with them. Great for whipping up weekend pancakes.

And because I was on a roll I decided to stop at a local Goodwill. Found just the right sized basket to sit next to the sink and hold cleaning stuff ) $0.50


This fugly frame will also receive some paint love $6 (I plan to ditch the print. I only wanted the frame). I have a photo wall project I hope to execute soon.

A beautiful shiny old brass lamp. Soon to be a beautiful newly spray painted lamp. $4

A very sweet metal container that I sprayed blue and distressed. It holds the lotions and potions that I use on a daily basis $2
Anyone else found any great buys lately?

Check here

and here

Bloggeritaville