Create Something Project

Victoria of Garden of Eden Designs, Lindsay of Scenic Glory, and the ladies at My Best Friend Jules are hosting the Create Something Project, so create, I did.  I got a GAP long sleeved t-shirt in a soft pink and then used some black t-shirt scraps to make gathered ruffles.  I cut the strips of black t-shirt down to about two inches wide and double the width of the shirt, then stitched right down the center to gather them (they almost gather on their own).  Then I pinned them to the pink tee and stitched again.  I really like how it kind of looks like what you see in the stores now.  Here's the finished one! 

Want to join in?  Go here.  Then link up on their sites so we can see!

Feed the Birdies is getting a new look!

In just a couple of days!  I was going to wait and just surprise you with how quickly it is finished, but I'm so excited that I wanted you to know that it's coming very soon.  What you do have to wait for?  A sneak peek!  I want to show it all to you in one big post...it's adorable!  If you need some design work done for your own blog, please go stop by Lindsay's place and see what she has to offer.  You won't be disappointed...this girl's got some skills! And she's super sweet to work with, too. We are shooting for tomorrow evening to be the big opener!!  It's going to be grand.

I need to clean up my kitchen

It's not the dirty dishes. Or mopping the floors. It's the food. I am trying, just for today, to eat no junk. (So far so good, but it's only 11:45.) And then (I guess I better let my family know this, huh?), to not buy it to sit out any more except the occasional treat. The more we eat it, the more we crave it (I'd pay a premium for Hostess chocolate donuts right now)...and the worse we feed ourselves.


Chocolate chip cookies from last night...


Shortbread left from Christmas...


Pretzel M&Ms, Reese's, and Hershey's Kisses...


Hostess Strawberry Cupcakes and Little Debbie snacks...


Junk cereal. We don't even do that right. No wonder I'm grouchy and don't feel good. This stuff stays out all the time. We stopped for frozen yogurt piled with tons of fresh fruit yesterday, and it dawned on me that keeping healthy food in the house isn't any more expensive than that $2.50 bag of candy, so why am I much more willing to buy it instead? I hope I can weed this stuff out and buy fresh food that keeps the weight off and us a much healthier bunch. Don't get me wrong...I'll still bake brownies and pick a little splurge now and then, but keeping it out all the time is (not) for the birdies. I'll keep you posted. (Not pictured: the big bag of Skittles I devoured this week). Ugh.

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Where'd She Go? {Trip Log 1}

{weekend of 1/29/2011}
--Estate Sale Re-cap
Chucks: red and black cherries

Here's the new Feed the Birdies feature! Ill take you tresure hunting with me. Come along! Let's go see where the vintage things are. This weekend, there were two sales that made a mid-century lover squeal with joy. Both were in North Dallas in gorgeous tree-lined neighborhoods scattered with residents walking their dogs. Enough of that! What was there?



Look at the front doors on this home. Quite unique. As was the screen divider in the entry.


This man must have been a geologist. They were selling rocks, yes, rocks, by the pound. Tons of cool maps and geology books filled an outbuilding.



This little tiled pocket in the wall was interesting. A gas fireplace, maybe? The pink tile was awesome!


Who was this pretty lady? I'm not quite understanding of families that put photos in sales, but maybe they don't know their identities either? There were tons of photos on the walls in this house.


Next up, and only a few streets over, bliss! Look at these light fixtures.


They were in the entryway. Ah. Love.


The first thing I grabbed here was a set of vintage fold-a-notes from Current. $1.


The kitchen was loaded with cool finds. A full set of these...


Cool Tupperware...


Cabinetry that reminds me of my grandparents' old kitchen...


This alligator made me giggle. You never know what you'll find.


This lady liked to sew. A bunch. The entire house was pretty much covered in sewing crafts. I kind of want to kick myself for not getting this kit to try.


Adorable animals! It looked like it would take a few years to complete, though.


I found this Danish lamp, with a very yucky shade that went straight to the trash, for $10.

Also came home with a sequined embroidery kit for $1. Saving that for another post!

So, did you have fun touring with me? I would love to hear your wishes for what I can include in my next feature. Inside? Outside? What's in the box? What do you want to see?

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School in the 60s

I have collected lots of little vintage smalls, and when I opened up the cabinet that stores my milk glass from my mom-in-law, my vintage cookie trays for Christmas, fondue pots, and party bowls, I was almost buried under the avalanche!  Ooops...  And it's not just kitchen stuff.  So, what's a girl to do?  

I'm taking it to my classroom!  Sorry kiddos, your teacher thinks she's Betty Draper.  Well, I will not take all of it, but some will be so swell (teehee!) in there.  My globe...some aqua little melamine dishes for my desk to hold paper clips and staples, and I am sure I could hang some embroidery or crewel pictures in there too, don't you think?  I saw some vintage world maps at a fun estate sale this weekend that would have been grand on the wall, but, alas, someone else got the gold. I have my grandpa's old college notes and teacher things.  Frames, please. They're going up.  This is gonna take all summer.

Old classrooms=love.  I wish I had a chalkboard.  I'd buy the colored chalk.  And look at these desks. *sigh*

I have vintage school books, planners, and readers that will go perfect on my shelves. 

 Why didn't I think of this before?

Sorry kids.  Maybe I should change my blog name to "The Meanest Teacher?"  Ha!

(all images via google)

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Remember I told you about the best gift ever? Christmas isn't over yet. Or at least not at my house. See this?



It's an aluminum tree. Somebody loves me a whole bunch. It's never been unpacked until now, and it's a beauty at it's 4 foot sparkly, shiny, flowering little top. I thought of leaving it out because red hearts would be lovely dancing on the branches, but decided to give it its festive debut at Christmas this coming December. I have to find some Shiny Brites that are worthy of this little treasure. Don't you think? *sigh*

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Kitty Toes

...are cute, aren't they?



Oops. I interrupted her bath. She doesn't look amused, does she?


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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly...

Haha!  I found this posted on The Regal Pup and I thought it was so cute!  

So I am playing along...

The Good:  My vintage suitcase collection is growing. I even got one from my Grandma!

The Bad:  It grew by three this week.

The Ugly:  I had to put some in the attic until I decide what they can store so they can come back out.  

The Good:   I got four loads of laundry done today, even feeling bad.

The Bad:  Two need to be put away. 

The Ugly:  One is still in the dryer.

The Good:  I have a Dyson vacuum.

The Bad:  The cat chews the cord on it. 

The Ugly:  I need to order the third one to replace it since I bought it two years ago.

The Good:  Best Deal Magazines 

The Bad:  Discount that ends today. 

The Ugly:  Don't shop online while you're sick at home.

The Good:  Hubby wants us to join a free weight loss group on Monday Nights with trainers.

The Bad:  I just finished my diet but still need the motivation. 

The Ugly:  Two pounds are haunting me enough to do it anyway.

The Good:  Library books 

The Bad:  I am reading two at a time.

The Ugly:  I filled the bag up heavy enough to hurt my neck.  Ow.

Wanna play? 

Go here.

Girls' Time Out

The girls in my family went into time out this weekend. Time out from cleaning, boys, and time in for giggles, no makeup, pajamas, and all kinds of fun stuff. We sewed, scrapbooked, read, talked, made jewelry, gifts, and consumed enough calories to get us through the week easily. Corn chowder, confetti dip, baked potatoes, brie, brownie bites, butter braids, queso...and coffee and Sonic drinks. Are you sick yet? I almost threw up my Starbucks this afternoon because I was still so full. But, oh was it good! Enjoy our weekend in pictures...I'll be back tomorrow with the best gift ever!!
























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Pretty packages leaving my nest...

 image via weheartit
Some pretty dresses are all wrapped up in vintage paper and labeled to fly from my little nest to these lovely ladies...
Pixie Polly
Cathy via Cassie Cakes
V A won via Bright Wishes
and Angelina won via Scenic Glory


If you wear them soon, loves, send pictures please!  I would love to see!

Can I etch clear Pyrex?

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from modern dining room furniture to cute cookware to chic lighting pieces!  I am ordering these Pyrex refrigerator dishes and going to try something fun with them, and see just how nice it is to have food storage without spaghetti stains.

Here are some ideas for etching.  Which one should I try?

• ISLY has this pretty pattern and tutorial
• Or I could monogram like Create Studio
• Oh!  The Out of the Attic girls used their Big Shot and punches for creating stencils to etch.  Cool!
• Here's how Martha does it.

I kind of like the idea of etching the Dharma Initiative emblem on there. (I miss LOST!)

  (Remember the food labels on the island?)

  Or maybe some cute little vegetables from Sublime Stitching?

Or maybe I should etch a plate of spaghetti on there in remembrance of the 

stains I'll be without?

Thinking.  But stay tuned for a 

peek at them in a few weeks!

 

Featured! (Yay!)

Soooo excited!  The ladies at For the Love of Blogs have this picture of Katie in their sidebar today...

 These ladies have the best ideas for making real friends through blogging, and they are all about making sure that it's done the right way!  It's Thirsty Thursday over there, 

so go link up...while you enjoy your cup of coffee this morning.  It's cold outside!

freedom....

image from weheartit

Last night, after dark, our bicycles found themselves in our driveway for just a few minutes for musical cars.  And, just on a whim, I hopped on mine (a new Schwin commuter bike...love) and went pedaling down the street, planning to turn around in a nearby driveway, but I just kept going.  And went around the block...in the freezing cold...no jacket...just me, my bicycle, and the quiet outside playing with the wind.  It was freedom...if only for just a few minutes...just like when I was  a little girl, pretending that my bicycle was a school bus, riding up and down our farm house road, picking up little ones for the day and dropping them off a few houses down.  I love my bicycle.  Do you have one? 

Then and.... (weight loss progress) WOW!

 Here are the weight loss progress pictures 

I promised yesterday!    

OK...here is the before (OMG...I'm really posting this?  Really?)  The last one...oh....my....no.....way...

 

 *Note to self...don't try to pose...haha!*

 

  *see note to self above again* *I kept these formatted as small on the blog hoping that would help.* I've been 98 pounds...been 188 pounds (nope, you won't see those pictures)...been 128, 145, and this was at 165-66. That's all changed now; I've learned some new tricks and I'm trying really hard to stay motivated to keep it off this time.  Katie and I even walked to Target from the house tonight.  It was a cold walk, but it was 26 minutes of pure fresh air and pushing 32 pounds in a jogging stroller, so I am sure it was worth it.  Anyway, back to the now.  Here I am today at 146...thank....goodness....no....kidding.  Yay! And thank goodness for good mirrors at work that help me with my self portraits.  Haha!  

Kind of a cheese ball photo, but you can see the difference, no?  Ah...ok...I'll take the jacket off. 

Better?  Yes, I do believe so.  

Still something of a tummy there, but that's ok.  We're working on it.  :)  I'm still eating on a salad plate most days instead of a dinner plate; still eating fruit; still cheating with some chocolate and some sweets, but I know when to quit now; still trying (although the last few weeks...not so good) to get some extra exercise (other than house work and running kids out of the hall before the bell rings); I stand at my desk instead of sitting (keeps the neck pain away too) and I walk a lot instead of sitting at my desk as well.  So...I'm at a happy weight now.  Happy as in on the fence between a size 8 and 10; knowing that I am fit enough to take off to Target on a walk even if its been a bit since I've been out, and knowing that I'm satisfied with the results, and so is my Miata man (that's my husband, if you are just now joining us...).  WOW!

Snuggled in...

with a kitty... 

and a book today. I think tomorrow I will share then and now pics of my weight loss journey.  The loss part is finished (yay) but the struggle to keep up the good work is just beginning.  It's a rough one, girls!  Melissa and I were talking about Zumba at work the other day.  Have you tried it?  

Do you think we should?