new computer...

I am so excited for my new computer!!! I have gone without for about a month not to mention my baby girl has been really sick. She has under gone a number of tests with some good results. She is doing much better :)
I have lots of pictures of projects to post! But, lets face it, I have a million things to do for tonight! Have a safe and Happy New year! Yeah for 2010!

This Christmas my mom and sister and I decided we were going to take items from around the house and transform it to an amazing little something for each other. I took it a step further and decided to do the same for all my Christmas gifts. It has been so much more rewarding and quite a challenge at times. But, my receivers are in for some fun! I have taken before and after pics I will post as soon as I get a new computer (hoping within the next week)
I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday season filled with lots of family, love and yummy goodies.

Wordless Wednesday- Porter's perspective

I am linked to wordless Wednesday party

seak peak

This is the newest of a few projects I have going right now. I have her painted and will be adding the finishing touches this week. Oh, she is looking fab! I can't wait until its all done :)

#5 thankful

I am thankful for the opportunity to attend church every Sunday. I love the feelings I get while I am there. We moved into a new home a few months ago and the people in our new ward are wonderful and have made us feel so very welcome. Granted my husband grew up in this ward, so its coming home for him. But, they have welcomed me with opened arms and I feel so loved there. It is such a blessing to have something in my life helping me stay grounded and giving me perspective each week.

#4

Sunshine:

Vote for my nephew :)

Click here

to vote for my nephew Hunter! My sister entered him into a cutest kids contest at Captivated Candids. He is number 7 and you can vote once a day until November 30st.

thankful #2&3

#3 My family. Since I am semi-combinding these today I am going to say my family. I love being the Matriarch of my little family. Sure, it has its challenges and some days I question it. But, I truely love my little family. My husband is amazing, he is my rock and isn't afraid to tell me if I am wrong (which I need sometimes) He loves me for who I am, good, bad and ugly. Since the day we met he has made me laugh every day. Such a blessing for me because some days I tend to forget. I am greatful to be married to such an amazingly strong man. He works hard for our family which allows me to stay home to raise my children.
#2 My children! They are the light of my life. I can't imagine having better children for me. P is so sweet and gentle hearted and B is a little princess. It amazes me how quickly she started acting like one. I always thought it wouldn't emerge until she got a little older. However, from the time she was born she has had to have everything just so, or she is ticked. My little P man just turned 3 and I love watching him gain is independence, except when I am in line at the store. He loves his little sis and watches out for her all the time. They are challenging and I struggle to be the best mom, but, i wouldn't trade them for anything in this world.

Santa Baby

I snagged this darling little Christmas outfit up for my daughter at Fred Meyer for a buck!! That's right $1! There was a chocolate stain on the front of the onsie. So it was marked down from $18.00 down to $3.95 and then was an additional 75% off.
I figured if I didn't get the stain out I at least had a cute pair of pants for a buck. I sprayed some Mele-gel on it and lightly scrubbed it in. Let it soak for a few minutes and then threw it into the washer. First time through and it came out! I love my Mele-gel.

Day 1&2

Part of this blog is journaling my journey of loosing the weight (my two lovely children have so kindly left for me). I gained 60lbs with my first and still had 20 of it to loose when I got pregnant with my second. Since the birth of my daughter, almost 8 months ago, I have only lost 25lbs, leaving me with 35lbs to loose. I must confess I haven't been doing the things I need to in order to drop the weight quicker, thus beginning this process.
Going into an Idaho winter will not fare on my side of this process. Between holiday food and lack of being outside much I am forced to take a strong hold on my goal and work overtime. Landing myself with a whole (half of) new me in the Spring. Thank you Meg for pointing me in the direction and being there for me as I begin the journey you have had so much sucess in.
Yesterday, I dusted off one of my dance workout DVD's and my son and I cut a rug. While I was getting it set up he asked me what I was doing. After I told him she asked if we were going to the gym and after I told him no, he then asked "how do you workout at home momma? So, I showed him. It is inspiring to have my little 3 year old dancing right along side me, adding to my modivation. This morning as we were leaving the house he asked if we were going to dance again today. I informed him we would be and he said "let's go then mom"
I love it, just the inspiration I need.
I was looking around this morning at some of my fav blogs and Jacey at My Trashy Treasure is doing a project entitled project365. I have seen quite a few of my friends on facebook doing something similar with stating one thing they are greatful for each day and Jacey is taking it to a whole different level. I have been thinking about adding a "thankful for" section to my blog each day starting off with today as number 1
I feel so very blessed to live in the United States of America. Being Veteran's Day I find this fitting to be my first "thankful for" post. My parents have always tried to instill in us kids the importance of living in this country. Granted, it does have many problems that seem as though will ever be resolved. However, we enjoy many freedoms others could only dream about, and for that I am greatful.
Here is a shout out to all the men and women that sacrifice so much so we can continue enjoying the life we love. Thank you to their families for sacrifice just as much by letting them leave to enter into harms way to defend thier fellow American's. And a special thanks to all the men and women who paid the ultimate pirce, thier life! You are greatly appreciated and please know, I do not think you died in vain. I will do my best to live the life you fought to the death for. God Bless America!!!

I heart these

I was doing some shopping for my son's birthday at Target.com and found these beauties! I think these would be amazing on my table. Especially with my new demask napkin rings I won from Trashy Treasure (I can't get my link button to work on this so her blog button is on my side bar or in the post below)

I won my first give away!!!

I want to give a shout out to Jacey over at Trashy Treasures for this fabulous give away!


I heart fleur de lis, thanks to Meg for getting me hooked oh so many years ago! When I saw these babies I knew I had to have them.


What do you know, I won! They are going to look fabulous on my dinning room table. Which is in the middle of a make over. I will post pic's as soon as she is done.
Thanks again Jacey!

casserol and cookies

I got the recipe for these divine pumpkin cookies at Our Creative Life. Porter and I were a little bored this afternoon so I decided to have some bonding time with my soon to be 3 year old. Brynlee sat in her bumbo on the counter and Porter and I went to work. He is such a good little helper!
I must admit, this is the first time I have gotten cookies to turn out! I even botch the bagged and pre made doe ones. But, not these babies! They are amazing! I'm eating one as I type.
My house is now officially fall-ized, it smells so yummy!


I was in the mood for something hardy last night but really need to go grocery shopping. I started digging around in our food storage room to see what I could come up with. I hit the jackpot...bag of scalloped potatoes, can of green beans (which I canned myself :) ) and some mozzarella cheese, and some hamburger.
I went to work, browned off the hamburger and rinsed off excess grease. Mixed up the scalloped potatoes and green beans. Mixed in the hamburger and put into the casserole dish and covered with cheese. Put into the oven at 450 for 20 minute! and Voila!!!
Yummy, yummy, yummy!

china hutch too much or grab up?

Being new to the whole thrift world I am not sure and need some help. I have been in the market for a china hutch to add to my dining room. But, am in no hurry to grab one. Craigslist has been my main go to as all the garage sales are done in my area for the winter. I don't know if I am Mrs. cheapo or if this is a low end price. She is asking $490. So, ladies, is this a good deal or too high for this piece? Click here to see the ad.

Give aways...

Click here
for a chance to win two darling mother daughter aprons from Camille's Casa. There are some yummy looking recipes on here that I am definitely going to try out.

Click here

to enter for an awesome give away from Room to Inspire for her 100th post!
I just want to gobble up that crown! You have until November 7th to enter.


One more fun give away:

click here

to win this awesome momAgenda day planner. Entry ends November 3rd at 11:59pm! So hurry over for a chance to win!

milk glass vases

Saturday I took my son trick-or-treating at a darling little flea market. He was excited to come away with a good chunk of candy. But, I was ecstatic to come away with the first three pieces of my milk glass collection and I paid, you might want to sit down for this, a wopping $0.30!!!! That's right ladies, thirty cents!
What a fun game I have come upon. Finding amazing things in unexpected places for unbelievable prices!! Woot woot ;)

I linked up here

for a goodwill goodies party. Go Check it out, there are some fun finds!

beads bangles and bands

These are some of the cutest watch bands I have seen! Go check out their blog!
I will be hosting a party starting next week. So watch for the button.

Chaa Ching Part II

The chairs that came with this little table are really unsteady, but, will work for now. I plan on ordering some from Ikea soon.
My son is super excited about this tool bench. Boy is it built for kids. My husband just layed it in the trailer and half way home it blew out onto the road. When we went to pick it up there wasn't a scratch on it!!! Thank you Little Tykes :)
This lovely lady is in dyer need of a make over. I am going to use the slip cover on it as a pattern for a darling fabric I have picked out. The rocker legs are coming off and being replaced with new feet from Home Depot. She will be a new woman and for only about $30!!
These shelves are beasty and need some new paint. The white cubbies are 100% out. However, I am not sure about loosing the red. I am going to paint the entire thing black and wait on the red ones until the end. If I like the way it looks, they will stay. Will see I even thought about doing the entire back red and the rest black. I'm not sure yet, so we shall see.
Gotta love FREE!!!

ChaChing!!!

They gym I work at is closing the kids area and today all the employees from the "kids world" were able to get together and sort out what we wanted to take with us. Yes ladies, I mean FREE! I scored big time!!! puzzles, trucks, books, movies, interactive table, child's table, Hero's action figures, soccer ball, basket ball, shopping cart, some assorited baby toys, side walk chald, games, plus some more that I can't think of right now and my favoirtes...Pottery Barn style rocking chair and a huge shelving unit!!! Woot, woot! Plus I got a couch my mom is going to take. I was able to take the smaller items with me and the big tickets I will pick up on Saturday!! The rocking chair is in for a big make over. When I some of the girls asked me what I was going to do with such an ugly hunk of junk. I told them my plans and they all were bummed they didn't think of that. Aaawww how I love this trash to treasure hunt. It's so invegerating
I cleaned and sanitized the heck out of all the toys, added some batteries and Voila!!!

today's tjmaxx trip

I went into TJmaxx today just to get a kettle bell (for working out 9.99 instead of 49.99) I had found the day before. Got it and a girl can never go in there for one thing and leave without looking. I found these awesome looking candlesticks on clearance for 2 bucks a piece, a jar to hold my tea bags in for 2 bucks, a white tear drop shaped dish that will sit on my stove top for spoons while I cook for a dollar and a cool looking key mirror for 5 bucks. Another sucessful day! Woot woot!

another fun give away

Click here to enter for a darling black/white bench and a $25 gift card to TJ Maxx. woot woot.

fab fleur de lis give away

I heart these and they would go awesome in my dinning room. Click on the pic above and check them out. Deadline is October 18th at 11 pm pacific time.

dresser going entry way table...

I found this lovely dresser in a garbage pile on someones drive way. My poor husband (and brother for that matter) is starting to feel the effects of me turning thrifty crafty, but is a trooper. The house was vacant so I jumped at the chance to take her home. Side note: on a Sunday afternoon in the pouring rain. I didn't have my camera with me to show where we rescued her from. Now I know to carry it with me every where, and not just everywhere I have my kids.

I am not sure what to do with the top, as she has a big piece cut out. Do any of you smart, creative ladies have any ideas? I could use some help with this one.

my 1st thrifie day

made a trip to the DI on Wednesday and found a few keepers. I have been wanting a spoon and fork set to hang in my kitchen for years. Have only stumbled across a few sets and all were too expensive. Well, not today...these ceramic lovlies were sitting on a bottom shelf and only marked at $2. These little ladies will no longer be sporting their brown drab dresses. The perfect "little black dress" was waiting at home. The bowl which has the Target label on the bottom was a whopping 1 buck! which I saw the exact same one later that day while at Target for $14.99. woot woot! Darling little ceramic vase was $1.50 and the children's books were 50 cents and $1. I also found a trash bag filled with brand new yarn I picked up for my mom for $2.00. She met me in town to pick it up before I went home she was that excited about it. Needless to say I didn't get her home to make the shot. Oh, well some finds are just too good to wait for.
In my excitement to get the spoon and fork changed I didn't get an alone before, so this will have to do.

After:

kids table and chairs

Before:
These darling little chairs I picked up at a local flea market for 5 bucks including the table pictured below. Because they are for my little boy the flowers had to go. I spray painted them to match my dinning chairs.



After:

gold mirror

Head on over to check out some amazing transformations and creations.

Before:




After:

This is my first before and after for this blog.
I was given this mirror by my mother in law a few years ago. I didn't know what I was going to do with this awful looking piece. However, I loved the shape and the details, just not the color. Well, years later, during one of my crafty runs I took out the mirror and added some black spray paint.
I think she turned out lovely.