Christmas Break

It's just so hard having a little over a week off during the holiday season.....

Mornings are rough......











And I have such trouble filling up my time.....










But between playtime with the niece and nephew, trips to Silver Dollar City, pedicures with the sister, thrift excursions, Christmas with my fam and the mister's, annnnnnnd shopping I learned something important....

I am very good at having a Christmas break.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

I hope you are just as good at having some time off around the holidays!

Thrifting Frenzy

This week, I walked into Red Rack and was greeted by the most beautiful site ever.

I'm pretty sure it took my breath away.

It was shabby, with chippy paint, and green.  It was only $29.96.

It will not be going into my booth.........

Then I found these vintage babies.  In their original box (only $2.98).........

I'd been wanting a set since I saw something on Pinterest that I wanted to duplicate.  One clear glass compote later, they were ready to display atop my pie safe.....

Finally, there were the two suitcases I found ($3.98 each)......

I seriously thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

I swear I did buy some things that will end up in the booth.

Just not anything pictured above.

And my New Year's Resolution should probably be to chill with the thrifting.

But who am I kidding?

I have a booth to stock people.


(Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl & Her Library Adventures today!!!!)

Sometimes...

.....it is just a fish stick kind of night.

And I think they should always be kept on hand for evenings such as these.

I mean, I love trying out all those Pinterest inspired recipes.

But, on occasion, we all need to just preheat the oven, flop some fish sticks on a cookie sheet, and whip up a side of mac & cheese.....

And why it always mac & cheese?

For me, it was a staple as a child.  Fish sticks, mac & cheese, and peas.  That goes for the mister too.

Only the mister has banned peas.

I like peas, but I honor his no peas wishes.

I also honor his strange dipping sauce choice.  Ketchup is the only option for me.  The mister, however, coats his in mayo.....

Gross.

Buuuuut I guess if he doesn't mind the occasional fish stick dinner, then I don't mind the mayo.

Shiny Brite Obsession

When it comes to Christmas ornaments, there's only one type for me.  Vintage Shiny Brites.  

I started this collection a few years ago, buying every single one I could find.

They hang on my tree.....

And they get put in lots of different glass containers........

But I know when to say when.  I don't put them everywhere.

Like my mantel.  I just added a wreath.....

And maybe some super cute stockings made from old feedsacks and vintage towels.......

Why three?

Well, I have to put Sir Chester's Christmas treats somewhere!

Recently I....

....made another Pinterest recipe (that mom had been begging me to try too).  Crockpot Italian Chicken.  Boy howdy, it was tasty.  A keeper, fo sho.....

....stopped by our new (and only) Hy-vee.  I do not rush out to new stores.  It is against everything I believe in.  So I waited until the hype died down and parking was more plentiful.  Shrug.  It's cool, I guess.  Tasty coffee, while you're shopping, at least.  And I had a good cart.  Usually, I get the not-willing-to-turn-or-even-go-straight-cart.  But this cart glided along nicely...... 

....piled up all the books in my possession that I haven't read.  EEEEK!  I counted four.  Three of which are borrowed.  DOUBLE EEEEK!  I just need a good snow day or Christmas break to roll around......

....took stock of all my decluttering.  My 30 days are almost up.  I'm proud to say that I've definitely rid myself of 90 items.  The house is so clean, since I started.  Annnnnnd the special room has a walkway.  This.  Is.  Big.  People......

....got a new ironing board cover.  Handmade by Schlager!!!  Check out her tutorial!  I may have freaked out over her new cover, and she graciously volunteered to make one for me!  I picked out my fabric, and she whipped that baby up in no time.  What.  A.  Lovely.  Friend......

....have been listening to this Christmas song non-stop.  I have a major girl crush on Zooey.  Oh, that voice....

DIY No Sew Tree Skirt

Pinterest did it again!

It made me get crafty.  All because of a tutorial and these pictures......

Tutorial

Tutorial

I think it was the ruffles.

And maybe that I had to throw away my skanky tree skirt last year that made me want to make this really, really bad.

So I was determined.

Even after the Joann's fiasco, I was still determined.  I had purchased linen for a base, along with the red burlap that day........

First I folded the linen into a pizza slice shape, then I rounded the outer edge.....

Here it is all unfolded....

I also cut a circle out in the middle.

Next I began cutting long strips of burlap.......about three inches wide.  These were to be hot glued to the linen base.

And here's where I started to feel like I wanted to die.

Instead I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte.....

Although easy, this part was tedious.  Not to mention, dangerous.  Hot glue hurts.

This entailed row after row of:  glue, fold some burlap over onto the glue, and hold.  I should have counted all the folds it took. 

Yes.  I hated this.

However, I loved those pictures from Pinterest and the color of my burlap so much that I was NOT going to give up. 

But I could totally see why someone on Etsy was charging $130 for one.

Sir Chester was even over it........

But I kept at it.  And even though I wouldn't make anymore after completing this one, I am IN LOVE with my finished product......

Now I just need to play Santa!  Better start shopping.....

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.