We've Gone Green...And Pink!

For last week's project better challenge we had 3 choices. I chose...do something in your child(ren)'s room(s). For Manga Dork's bday we gave her a room makeover...Here is the journey...

Things were a little bare since Foster Son moved out, but Manga Dork had been sleeping in here.

She had a few things in the drawers and watched TV in here after school.
\

Instead of buying new furniture I decided to paint the old stuff. We sanded and then primed...

We filled the nail holes and taped off with painter's tape...

We had to cover the blue with 2 coats of primer...

My Mom is a real trooper. She painted all the green for me while I painted the furniture white. When we were fixing up our current home she came to help. We had to paint all the walls and ceilings. The day before we started she fell while jumping rope with Manga Dork. She broke her arm. Against my wishes, she still painted with one hand! She is a true workaholic.

Here are our results...We still need to put some things on the wall. She is wanting a Twilight poster at the end of her bed in a black poster frame. We haven't figured out the rest yet.

She also scored a new TV and DVD/VCR combo. Thank you Dr. Hubby for being such a good sport! LOL!

The bedding is from JCPenney's catalog. The zebra throw is from TJMaxx. We want to add a green pillow to the bed, but we haven't found one we like yet.

I can't quit looking at it as I pass by. I am slowly adding her stuff. She moves in tonite. We waited because of the paint smell.

Mechelle joined me in project better this week. Go see which of the 3 choices she completed...

This week I challenge you to...

Clean out your junk drawer!

Don't forget to take before/after pictures to share!

Happy Tuesday!

I'm IT...

I apologize for the delay in Project Better and the photos of what I did...Dr. Hubby took my camera cord to work and did not bring it back...He is bringing it home tonite...He isn't allowed in the house without it...Just Joking...Kinda!

I was tagged by Keli over at Dream.Imagine.Live. She is such a sweet bloggy buddy.

I don't know if there is much that you don't know about me by now...Here goes...

1. I am terrified of the dark. I won't go outside without someone with me. This drives my family nuts (mostly Manga Dork cause she has to go with me to get things out of the car).

2. After having Manga Dork was when I first got fat. I was to be a bridesmaid in my friends wedding and they had to sew material into the sides of my dress to get it to fit. Then it was sleeveless and I was SO uncomfortable. I am one of those people who HATE sleeveless (even when I was thin). They wanted to have our hair up in french twists. I couldn't bear the thought of it so I went and had my hair cut into a short shag. They actually fixed that into something that looked like a french twist. I was humiliated. Then one of my former schoolmates saw all us bridesmaids sitting together before the wedding. She was talking to us and then all of a sudden looked at me and said..."OMG, I wouldn't even have known you." This still remains in my mind as one of the most humiliating experiences I have ever had.

3. My best friend in high school was a guy. Actually most of my friends were guys. They were a year younger than me. We had SO much fun. He typed a letter one summer and sent it to me as a secret admirer...pouring out his secret feelings. BUT he wrote the address on the envelope so I knew it was him. We laughed about it.

4. One of my biggest fears is a coyote or bear coming into the house and eating my entire family. This haunts me...

5. I once was described as "having trouble living in the adult world alot of the time." I won't tell ya who said it...

6. I didn't have any "we were so poor..." stories until I got married. LOL! Our first 10 years were tough ones! I was a little spoiled as a child.

7. Caution...this could be labeled TMI...I change undies 2 to 3 times daily. So when I went to New York for 7 days I packed 16 undies! LOL! I was putting away my clothes in the hotel drawers while BIL was watching tv in the same room. I was embarrassed so I kept taking a couple at a time to the drawer in between taking other items. LOL! I'm such a geek...I have done that since childhood. Not sure why I do it...I just do.

Ok, I am going to tag...

1. Melonscraps

2. MangaDork

3. Redhoodoos

4. Lawanda

5. Slacker Mom

6. Michelle at Creative Treasures

7. Pearsonality

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Award & Project Better Reminder

I received this award from Heidi over at Adventure Girl Wannabee for "being so nice to a newbie." She has been blogging for one month now and her blog is great! Thank you Heidi!

This award got me thinking about the people who were kind to me in my first month of blogging. I went back to March and I want to pass this award on to 3 of my first month commenters.

1. Scrappy Happy

2. Scrapper Mom

3. Melonscraps

Thank you girls for enabling my addiction. LOL!

Reminder: If you participated in Project Better this week. Let me know. I hope to post my results by Sunday evening. Can't wait to see your results...

Happy Weekend!

W.W.M.I.L.D or How To Tick Off Your Daughter In Law

My MIL has ticked me off...

On Wednesday she asked me if she could just buckle Wild Child into the regular seat belt to drive the 2 miles to pick up niece/nephew from the bus...I said ABSOLUTELY NOT! She got the car seat from my car and took it to her home.

On Thursday she had both little ones. I was gone picking up a second gallon of "Wake Up Lime" paint. She buckled both of them in regular car seats and drove to pick up niece/nephew. My Mom was at my home and she could have taken them there until she got back.

Her exscuses were on Wed. my FIL did it and on Thurs. she didn't realize that it was time to go pick niece/nephew up and it was too late to run my kids up on the hill.

My point was that FIL should have known better (they had thrown the car seat in the trunk)AND she should have taken the time to take them up on the hill INSTEAD of endangering their lives to be ON TIME for niece/nephew. They would have just been with the bus driver for a couple minutes.

Would you be upset? Do your inlaws/parents do things with the kids even when you specifically tell them not to?

Post #150

Wow! Post 150! Cool! In honor of my 150th post... sign up to "Follow Me!"

It would make me SO happy!

Happy Thursday!

Primed and Ready...

Just a little Twilight humor (stolen from Manga Dork)...

Today I primed the walls of Manga Dork's bedroom...the BLUE is gone...

I am so tired and I have to manage to stay awake during a volleyball game...

Happy Wednesday!

Still Blue...

NOT ME!...Manga Dork's bedroom. LOL!

My Mom arrived last night and we are getting ready to PAINT and add FABULOSITY to Manga Dork's room. Soooo...this post has to be short....Mom is already commenting on my lack of ability to stay away from the computer. What is the deal?! What is she talking about?! LOL! It is perfectly natural to check your blog every 30 minutes!? Right???

I hate cats but I thought this was cute!

Only the Twilight fans will get this, but HAHA it is SO funny!

Happy Tuesday!

Renewed Life...Know Your Limits!

Project Better Challenge at the bottom!

This photo is shameful to me. However, I feel the need to blog about it because of the huge change I have made. For the last couple years I felt no desire to decorate our home. I felt like I was struggling to make it through the day and the basic things I needed to do. I felt like I was just going through the motions of day to day life.

I knew I was overstressed and very unhappy. I knew I was over my limit and something needed to change.

Before Foster Son came into our home we had two other foster children for 3 days...I discovered that 3 children fit my life best. I turned down 15 foster children in one week! Then Dr. Hubby and Manga Dork begged to take Foster Son...and I gave in. He was quite the challenge and his strong dislike of Manga Dork created tension/stress/negativity in our home.

As I look back I am glad that we brought him into our home. It taught me lots of lessons and I truly believe we made a difference in his life.

In the last 5 weeks I have felt more like myself than I have for a long time! I have bought new decorations and I am looking forward to making our home come alive! I did not go out yesterday for my "girls day out." I was SO into finishing my decorating!

It feels good to be back...

Don't be afraid to push yourself, but learn your limits. Don't be ashamed of them.

Project Better Challenge

This week you have choices...

#1: Organize or makeover something in your child(ren)'s room(s).

#2: Clean out your vehicle.

#3: Clean your porch.

I am doing #1 this week. I have already done #2 & #3! Choose to do one project or two or all three! Have fun! Post about your before/after on Thursday evening and let me know you did. I will link to your post on Friday morning when I post my results!

Happy Monday!

Girls Nite Out! Or At Least Afternoon Out!

I am taking your advice. After posting "Housewife Burnout" and reading your comments I went and called up some friends (My MIL an SIL) and made plans to go out. BTW...is it weird if when thinking of people to call I wanted to call my bloggy buddies?! I need some new friends here in "reality."

Bet you can't guess where I want to eat!?

I can't decide if I want to go with a "stupid comedy"

or a chick flick...

Annoying Tidbit: When I called my SIL I asked if she wanted to go eat at 5:30and watch the 7:00 movie with me. She has now changed it to the 4:00 movie based on HER schedule without even consulting with me. Argh. This is the most annoying thing about interacting with her. She changes things based on her wants/needs with no regards to the other people involved. I am not going to let her control me and we'll see how things turn out...

I couldn't resist this...Too Funny...Gross...But Giggle Worthy!

Small Hands...Soft Heart

Wild Child: I want a game.

Mean Ol' Scrappy: You are not getting a game until you pick up all those Little Pet Shops in the Family Room.

Wild Child: Ok... (she turns to go out of the room then suddenly turns back around)

Wild Child: Oh no Mom...my hands are too small... (as she holds out her hands and looks up at Mean Ol' Scrappy with those huge blue eyes)

(Mean Ol' Scrappy goes to the game closet with tears in her eyes and gives her the game)

Housewife Burnout!

Do You Often Feel Like This?!

Or This?

Do You Sometimes Wonder If This Is Your Hubby's Point Of View?

Lately I have found myself exhausted, bored, overwhelmed, taken for granted, depressed, etc. It seems I can only manage to clean up the clutter and there is no time for deep cleaning. I am also not having enough time to work with my two little ones. I feel like all I do is clean...then it is messed up...I wake up and do the same thing the next day. Argh!

Project Better has been a help because one project a week has been manageable. It also gives me a sense of accomplishment.

I have also noticed that if I could just get Dr. Hubby and Manga Dork to pick up after themselves I could probably complete my housewife duties. They leave stuff out and NEVER put stuff up. Alot of the work I do is picking up and putting away stuff they just lay around. In an attempt to help this situation I made signs two nights ago with my very reasonable requests on them...they were wadded up in the trash last night. HOWEVER...they are doing better. I guess they read it before trashing it!

Do you feel like you have "housewife burnout" too? What have you done that has helped?

TGIF!

Project Better Results! A Little Late...

Boy did that party put me behind! Wow! Here are my results:

Whole linen closet (BEFORE)

Whole linen closet (AFTER)


Top Close Up (BEFORE)

Top Close Up (AFTER)

Bottom Close Up (BEFORE)

Bottom Close Up (AFTER)

This really wasn't as bad as I thought it was! Just alot of refolding. I am in desperate need of washing my towels. We are one night away from having to use the beach towels. LOL!

Be sure to check out Mechelle's results over at Smelling the Flowers! She started with her linen area and it ended up having a domino effect all over the house...Thanks for joining me Mechelle!

The party has put me SO behind in my housework. I have had a couple frustrating days. Monday my Mom arrives to help me with next week's challenge...Are you brave enough?

You Asked Them...

Merrianne wanted to know which 5 of my bloggy buddies would I want to meet the most and what would we do...

1. Melonscraps (Marilyn)- I would like to scrapbook with her and her buds for a weekend.

2. Merrianne, Jan, Pam, and Mechelle and we would all go out for a Girls Nite Out!

(BTW...this was so hard. I could not figure out how to get it to 5 because I have about 10 I would honestly love to meet and spend time with. BUT I stuck with the rules.)

Adventure Girl wanted to know how many farm animals we have...

11 horses, 25 cows, 10 chickens, 5 goats, 3 cats, 7 dogs

Is it a working farm...

Yes. My FIL does most of the farming due to Dr. Hubby's schedule.

Do I want more children...

No. I think everyone has a limit and mine is 3.

What kind of Dr. is Dr. Hubby...

He is a Family Dr. He is also the kind of Dr. that people go to and LOVE. I love when I am out in town and someone will start talking to me about how they went to him and he has helped them SO much. He takes his time with each patient. He treats them like they are family. He goes to 3 local nursing homes to see patients, makes home visits, and will meet you at his office on the weekends if needed. We have also had patients come to our home. At times he will spend an entire weekend consulting and researching to help a patient. He has a big heart and is a great doctor. But I could be biased...LOL!

Jan wanted to know what my biggest pet peeve is...

I can't stand to hear someone smack their lips when they eat or chew gum! I literally squirm if I am near them.

ALSO...my newest one is that song by Katy Perry "I Kissed A Girl." I think it is gross and horrible and because the kids like the beat they are singing it. They don't even care what it is about...so sad!

Slacker Mom asked if I ever wear jeans...

No, it is a religious based choice.

What is on my Ipod or in my CD player...

I don't have an Ipod (yet!), but in my car CD player is George Huff's christian CD and the CD my BIL made for me with all of David Cook's American Idol performances on it. I love pop music, but I am limited due to the content of today's lyrics. My fave song on the radio right now is Pink's "So What." Manga Dork and I LOVE to jam to it!

Marilyn (Melonscraps) wanted to know exactly how long my hair is...

It is approximately 34 inches.

When and why did I start scrapbooking...

I scrapbooked a little in 1995...then started BIG TIME in 2000. I wanted to be creative and I love taking photos.

BTW...I would love to visit you in OR! Now I just need to convince Dr. Hubby...LOL!

Mechelle wanted to know where I want to be in 5 years...

I want to be at a healthier weight and living a healthier lifestyle. I want to live in our dream home (or at least have the addition finished on this one). I want to have more time to be creative. I want to be working outside the home (my own scrapbook business, in hubby's office, or at my own nonprofit). This was good to think about...

How is Foster Son...

I have spoke to him once. I told him to call me whenever he wants, but he has not called. Dr. Hubby and MIL saw him at Subway and he said hi. He looked very well taken care of and happy. We are taking some things to him on his birthday Thursday. His foster parents called the other night and he was wanting Nephew to come over to play. Dr. Hubby has had a hard time with him leaving our home. Wild Child talks about him sometimes. Manga Dork never mentions him and has no desire to see him. I still believe we made the best decision for everyone involved.

Do I have a sitemeter on my blog?

I have a free counter at the top right side and a Map at the bottom of my blog. I check my map daily and look at my counter every time I check my blog...which is WAY TOO MUCH! LOL!

BTW...if you did the project better challenge for your linen closet/area let me know and post it to your blog! I will post mine tomorrow! Sorry I fell behind! That party got me!

Go Ahead...Don't Be Shy...Just Ask!

Do you have a question you would like to ask? About me?About the kids?About Dr. Hubby?About Rocket Science (I will warn you that I am a little rusty in this subject. LOL!)? Go ahead ask! I will post all the answers tomorrow!

BTW...Manga Dork's 7th grade volleyball team won their first game last nite! Go Lady Reds!

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 4!

Ok, this is the cake and these were the instructions they said they could follow...pink icing, green edging with black dots in it, 13 done in zebra stripe, Happy/TH/Manga Dork done in BLACK. This is what we got...not exactly what I wanted and definitely not the quality they have done in the past.

Manga Dork made a wish and blew out her candles...I bet she wished that a certain someone was present...HE was on a church field trip...HE is the reason she gave my party a 9 out 10...Rotten kid. Just joking. Kinda. LOL!

She was having SO much fun.

Dr. Hubby had to break up several kids who ended up doing this with their pieces of cake.

Then Manga Dork opened her presents. She received $110, $20 BooksaMillion gift card, $10 McDonalds gift card, bath set, journal, room stuff from us, a bike, and the Season 5 That 70s Show DVD.

We ended the party by dancing our butts off for the last hour! It seemed like it ended too soon. We had to clean up and hobbled into our home at 11:30 pm. Ugh! Manga Dork fell into bed and was snoring within 5 minutes. She said she loved her party. Mission Accomplished.

Happy 13th Birthday Manga Dork Part 3

It's Time to Party!

We always do a group photo. The lighting was terrible for this picture and unfortunately this is the only photo of the DJ that I got. I think now would be a good time to mention how these photos would have been so much better with a Nikon...Hint! Hint!

Here are a few photos of some cute guests...

Cutie Patootie finally came inside and actually had a good time! BTW...did you notice the cool tshirts I designed with glow in the dark neon puffy paint!? That is my FIL in the background.

Wild Child would live on candy! She did ALOT of dancing too!

The guests answered the 13 questions about Manga Dork and voted for Best Dressed. The winners received glow in the dark glasses!

My SIL and MIL were part of the Club's "staff."

Most people think that SIL and I are the sisters instead of our hubbys being brothers. We are alot closer than they are! We did the electric slide and kept the kids "hyped" up. Dr. Hubby and I even slow danced. How romantic!

This was the hit of the party. "The Manga Dork" It is lemonade with a sugared lemon slice and a ice cube made with a strawberry and strawberry koolaid. Yummy! They loved them so much I ran out of lemonade and had to use Sprite!