A Makeover Story

Don't be jealous of my skirt.........

I think I paid $1.98 for it at Red Racks.

This was one fashion forward skirt.........it has pockets!  So before its time.

And although it was great as is, I figured the hemline needed to come up a few inches.  So I took it to an alterations shop for a little snip snip..........

And now I love it even more!

Picture it paired with a belted shirt and some great shoes.  Like this........

Source (thanks Pinterest)

But minus the windblown hair.

And the rooftop.

Updates

1.  Blue the Betta and Cookie the Cat survived two weeks of being in Aunt Dandan's care.  I think it was the special post-it notes from Whit that kept me going....

I don't know why I doubted myself.  I mean I do just fine keeping Sir Chester alive and happy.....

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2.  There will be no need to take bids on the antique wardrobe.  The mister, who was taken aback by the size of the thing, actually laughed after discovering it.

Which I let happen on its own.

It went quite well.

He has not, however, noticed the little $10 dresser in the garage.  I'm not too worried though.  I have a knack for strategically placing things so that they are often overlooked.

Need help hiding a potentially upsetting purchase?  I'm your girl.

And I can fish-sit for you too.

While the mister's away....

I buy large antique wardrobes.

Not everyday or anything.  Just once.

Sort of.  (The other very small $10 dresser doesn't really count.)

But this one will probably be noticed...........

 
I found it at Pheona's monthly sale.........just hours after I'd dropped the mister off for his two weeks of out-of-state Annual Training (Army stuff).  So I was sort of in a fragile state.  Two weeks without the mister were staring me in the face.  Retail therapy was the only cure.

So I bought it.

Then I had a terrible case of buyer's remorse.

Until it was delivered.

And now it's in my special room.  Most of the remorse has evaporated.

But....

The mister returns tomorrow.  Let's take bets on how long it takes him to notice it..........and see if my remorse returns..............in which case, I'll be taking bids on it............

U2

I did dub this the "year of concerts" awhile back (from Trans Siberian Orchestra to Elton John to Michael Buble).

So another day, another concert.

But I really can't be casual and nonchalant about my excitement regarding any of them.  Especially this one.

I mean, when Bono came into view, I think the whole stadium lost it.

For me, this concert was like the Beatles of our generation.

Look at the stage............

There were over 52,000 people in attendance.

It was incredible, magical, amazing, and insane......

They sang most of their greatest hits.....

We were enlightened with some random statistics.........

And completely awed by the production....

Thanks to Schlager and Wendy for a great weekend.  Here's to hoping our "squash into the metro no matter what" won't end up on You Tube.

A Prayer

Dear Lord,

I have but one small request while the Hoodenpyle family is away.  They've entrusted me with the care of their pets.  Sooo please, please give me the skills to keep Blue the Betta alive. 

I'm a little worried about adding water to his tank, as it's dropped considerably in 24 hours.  And I sort of had a mishap years ago with my betta when I changed his water.  So now I have betta-water-changing-anxiety.

I have to keep Jack's fish alive.

Have.  To.

Please?

Amen

P.S.  Could you also protect me when I go feed Cookie?  You never know when the devil cat will attack.

P.S.S.  Hey, and see if Whit will bring me a t-shirt or something?  Wolves baying at the moon maybe!

A Keeper

Remember this.......

It's my turn to host again tonight!  And what good is a hostess without tasty treats? 

Fear not!

This hostess just made the best brownies, and she'd like to sing it from the mountaintop. 

Or just blog about it. 

But not in third person.

Anyway, remember that whole Pinterest thing I mentioned awhile back?  It's good for many things.  Like finding recipes.  And that's how I found the recipe for tonight's shindig......

Those, my friends, are Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies.  And they taste as good as they look!  I believe I have Casey to thank for finding them so I could repin them.  And make them.  And try not to eat them before all the girls get here.

This recipe is a keeper!

But who will be a keeper on tonight's show?

Hahahaha!!!!!!!

(I'm such a dork.)

And then there was light!

Bob was a rock star this week.  He came and went in one day........getting all three bedrooms up to snuff in the lighting department. 

No more skanky fluorescent bulbs in wooden window boxes that barely work.

I can't tell you what it's like to go in any of the bedrooms and actually SEE things.

What luxury!

Except for the fact that two of the rooms got (deep breath) ceiling fans.

For true, my friends.

And you know how I feel about ceiling fans. 

But one bedroom is the "man room" so the mister insisted on choosing his own fixture.  And guess what he wanted?

Next, we were dealing with a very poorly ventilated master bedroom.  Basically, we wake up drenched in sweat every single night despite the no matter what the air is set on.  So for sound sleeping purposes, I relented and ceiling fan number two was purchased. 

To make up for the tragic-ness of buying ceiling fans, the special room was going to get something that was sure to be, um, special.  And vintage.

In fact, I'd had the fixture in the special room for quite some time.  Under the bed in a box.  Found it on ebay years ago and had been saving it for this very purpose........

One step closer to a finished special room.  Now that the light boxes are gone and the walls are patched, it's paint time!!!

Who is good with a brush or roller?

Let there be light!

In the middle of setting off fireworks, Bob surprised us with a phone call last night.  He was ready to come for his next project.

TODAY!

So I'm anxiously awaiting Bob's arrival this morning, not to mention the completion of his project.  I threw out a hint about this very small overhaul about a month ago.  Finishing this little project will allow us to finally paint and finish the bedrooms.  I'm hoping Bob's upgrade only takes a day, maybe two.

This project probably won't be too exciting for all of you.  But after living with fluorescent bulbs in wooden boxes above every bedroom window for five years, I am flipping out.  First of all, the wooden light boxes are not esthetically pleasing.........

Second of all, the light they produce is minimal.  We practically need flashlights to see in each of the bedrooms.

Third of all, they often flicker.  Like in a scary movie when someone is about to get the ax.  Then they might stay on, but more often they flicker until they go out completely.

Why, oh why would someone choose to light a house this way?

Dear Builder of my house,

What the heck where you thinking?

I realize it was 1967 when you made this 

choice, but really?  Even a caned blade

ceiling fan would have been better than this.

Love,  Dana-v

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Speaking of light, the 4th of July was excellent.  It's not a true 4th unless you light up the sky.......

Or blow up a mailbox......

The mister and I had nothing to do with this.  Innocent bystanders.  I swear.

Hope your 4th was explosive too!

Two Fifths

One "fifth" was the fifth anniversary of getting my house.  I always remember what a big day it was........going to the closing all by myself..........getting my house completely on my own.  

I can't believe I've lived here for five years!  So much has been accomplished in that time.  All the visions I had for the place are becoming reality.  I can't wait for the next project to be completed.  

*   *   *   *

The second "fifth" was the Fifth Annual Garage Sale we had this weekend!

I can't believe we've had five of these babies!  And each year they get bigger, even though we donate every bit that we don't sell.

Looking back on previous sales, we've had one that was fun even though I may have been a bit delusional.  One where I got sweet vindication but was emotional.  And another that was messy.

The only word to really describe this one?

H.O.T.

Heat indexes through the roof.  But it was still successful, and we always have a good time.  Especially when Pullan brings her famous salsa.  And there's unlimited lemonade.

Oh, and does anyone need a dryer with a slight squeak?