Thanksgiving Break

Thursday:  Happy belated Thanksgiving!  Ours was tasty, lazy, and pretty darn great.  My mom is the best cook.......

Friday:  Yesterday, the cleaning beast came out again, and you would not believe the progress I made on the special room.  The mister was even impressed.  I was able to add quite a few tally marks to my donate, trash, and garage sale totals.

We also had our annual "Friendsgiving" with some of the mister's crew, where he attempted to carve the turkey.....

Saturday:  It rained.  I had no desire to get out really.  And with this clean house, I got the hankering to get my Christmas decorating on.......

A little Christmas in the kitchen, inspired by Pinterest.

My bottle brush tree collection in the entry!

But then I did get out.  And was reminded why I don't do Black Friday.  A trip to Joann's for a little craftiness almost sent me to the loony bin.

I just wanted a few yards of red burlap.    

All's well that ends well though.  I have my burlap.

And I'm gonna get my craftiness on.  Here's a little sneak peek.........

Stay tuned!!!

One Week In

Decluttering Challenge weekly update time......

• After a trip to a resale shop, I'm $37 richer annnnnd minus eight articles of clothing (thanks sis for taking it in). 
• Made another pile of over 40 items ready for a spring trip to the resale shop.
• Gave the sister-in-law a bag of ten random items.
• Threw away only three things.
• Put over 20 things in a garage sale tub.
• And made a donate pile. 
• The Relics pile grew a little larger too.

Not bad, right?

But while in the midst of working on this challenge, the house was volunteered for the mister's 30th birthday gathering with his family.  So the decluttering was put on hold in order to make the house presentable.

Oh, and happy 30th to the mister.  (Who got a wild hare this week to rip up the carpet in his manroom and paint it too.  Before we knew we were having the shindig.)  We did have a lovely little outing with all our favorite friends to celebrate on Saturday.  Thank you to everyone who came out.  We really like you people.

But back to the house.  This means sacrifices had to be made to get it to a presentable level.  The special room and garage became hiding spots.  The progress I'd made on each of these areas became null and void.

Here's why it's all okay.......each room of my house is sparkling and decluttered, with the exception of those two hiding spots.  Keep those doors closed, and you'd never know I was a hoarder!  

Another positive........all my junk is now confined to those two rooms............so if I can focus all my energy on those spaces, we may have a completely decluttered house by the new year!

I'm really trying folks!

And I'm dying over this clean house (thanks to mom and the mister for help).  Love it. 

To be continued.......

 

Fashion Muse

Oh, Pinterest.  You are good for so many things............craft and recipe ideas..........home decor inspiration..........work shenanigans.............even teaching resources!

But who knew my new fashion muse would be a website? 

Yep, Pinterest even can influence your wardrobe.

For instance, this outfit had me at H.E.L.L.O............

Source

I mean, I was overcome at the sight of a denim shirt with black pants and brown boots.  So I set out to make it mine.

I had the black skinny jeans and boots.  I just needed a denim shirt.  Cue a trip to the mall, and voila......

Thanks Old Navy!

Luckily, I've pinned some outfits that won't send me back to the mall.

See?  That's the beauty of Pinterest.  Giving new ideas for things you already may have!

And quite possibly, causing you to want things you don't have.

But everyone needs a denim shirt.

Right?

A Challenge

Schlag sort of called me out recently.

Regarding my hoarding problem.

A "30 Day Declutter" challenge she found might just do the trick.  Especially if I have an accountability partner.

(Can you hear me, Schlag?)

(Or anyone else who'd like to terrorize me, so that my special room can see the light of day?  Or so the mister can park in the garage again in time for winter.)

Here's the skinny:  30 days.  90 items (at least).  Or better yet, a clean garage and spare bedroom.  Weekly posts updating my progress.

All in time for the holidays.

Maybe I could host Christmas.  Or Craft Night 2011.

Can I even do this?

The Big Red Coat

Once upon a time, I thought this coat was the hottest number around.....

Taken last Friday

Circa 1997 (in my JCPenney shoe department days) I was browsing the coat clearance on a break.  Found that red gem.  Made it mine.  

I really did think it was the best thing going in outerwear.  Maybe the crazy discount ($150 for $25) had me.  Maybe the real fur trimmed hood was it?  Wait, it was waterproof too.  So many great features.  And it was red.....my favorite color.

It was such a good deal, and so fetching, that I talked my sister into getting one also......

Circa 1997

Anyway, this was the number I was strutting down Grand in (hood up), when I took my fall into the street.  

At least the oncoming vehicle could see me. 

*   *   *   *

And so here we are today.  You might be asking, "Why do you still have that thing?  Why?"

Two words:  recess duty.

Best teacher coat ever.

More Falling Stories

Back by popular demand.

Well, maybe only two people.  But for those two, here they are......

First fall:  College freshman at SBU in Bolivar, MO.  In the library.  On the stairs going to the second floor.  Looking for my (unrequited) crush of the year.  I was running up the stairs, because HE was up there.  And I tripped.  And fell down about three steps.  Only to look up and see HIM watching from above.

Awesome.

And that story makes me sound like a creeper-stalker.

Awesome-er.

Second fall:  College junior at MSU in Springfield, MO.  Walking down a snow and ice covered sidewalk right along Grand Ave. (busy street) to the commuter lot.  One wrong step and boom I was down.  But not on the sidewalk.  In the street.  Yes, I managed to fall and slide into the path of oncoming traffic.

I'm a fast crawler and scrambled to my safety with a few yards to spare.  Luckily, I had on a huge red coat (which is a blog entry in itself) so no one could identify me.

Awesome-est.

Or is my third falling story the awesome-est?

You be the judge.