EPIC...EPIC...FAIL!!!

Okay, I totally feel like a failure. I initially had planned on doing the "31 days of" series. HOWEVER, as usual...Momma rarely makes time for herself. And since I've been swamped at work...there's been no blogging here either. I'm actually sneaking this post...shhhhhhh...

I want to apologize to all my bloggy friends. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has discovered her best laid plans are sometimes derailed by ordinary life.

Again friends...I'm sorry for the lack of "31 days".

At some point, I WILL do a few tutorials for those of you who would like some on simple things you can do with free graphics programs and some help with HTML for websites or blogs.

Until then...I've got to get back to work...BOSS is heading to my office...EEEK!!!!

31 days of...

I decided to jump on the band wagon and the fun during the Nester's "31 days" during October starting on the 1st of October. I decided to join in for two reasons...I think it will be fun to share something that is one of my passions with all my bloggy friends. And it will force me to actually WRITE a post once a day. I have been totally slacking when it comes to this blog and it's time for me to step it up. So hopefully...31 days of posting will create a new habit...and therefore make me more of a dedicated blogger and all around cool girl...in my mind anyways...;)

I have decided my series will be about graphics and websites. I don't have any topic set in stone yet...and I'll probably just fly by the seat of my pants, but hey...that's how I roll...:)

So be sure to check all the great "31 days" series that will be linked together and have some fun getting to know some great bloggers and learning some fun new things...:)

Master Relaxation Spot

Well there's a bunch of fellow bloggers out there who have been doing mood boards for their master bedrooms. So in true blogging spirit I decided to follow suit and join the fun! :)

I WISH I could afford some of the beautiful items I saw...THAT would be a dream come true. Not saying I couldn't come up with some pretty good knock offs...I could definitely do that! And maybe I will...but until then...I will just enjoy the tranquility of my mood board...:)

I started by just going thru the mood board site and picking everything that I found to be fun, interesting, beautiful, or things that just gave me a feeling...of some kind. What I discovered is that for my bedroom...I like some things that are light and soft...and lots of texture. I also discovered I've got sort of a more masculine decorating eye. I like the more straight edged things...dark colors...with a touch of softness. I also enjoy solid pieces instead of more light or glass ones. There are touches of femininity of course...I AM a girl after all...but I think my Man would enjoy the space I've created equally as well.

So...without further ado...here's my board...:) You can also check out my entire Olioboard choices here.

I'm linking up to the party here:

Brassy to Sassy...:)

Okay Bloggies...:) Today is the day that I FINALLY have a project to share! Woot! Woot!


~Come on...you know you wanna' do it to...just once..."Woot!"...


Okay now that's out of our system...ON to the redo project.

I found a pair of lamps on CL, they were $35 for the pair. They were that lovely brass finish...you know the kind...and the Man thought they were ugly too...*sigh*...the Man has a LOT to learn now doesn't he ladies??? Yes sir! I told him..."I can paint them". To which he replied, "you can't paint brass". I said, "WATCH me!"...haahaa!!! (insert evil laugh here)

So yesterday while he was messing with a friend's motorcycle farings (painting and such), I decided I would break out the spray paint and create some new lamps for my livingroom.

Here's what I started with (please ignore the messy garage in the background):

I know it's not glamorous, but I loved the shape and the ones I have right now are ceramic...with circles cut into them...not exactly "stylish"...but I do have plans for them as well...it involves rope. That's all I'm going to say.

And...here's the first coat of paint. I usually HATE spray paint, but the Man works with it a lot and he's taught me a few things about the in's and out's of spray painting. So I feel a little better about it. THIN coats...thin...coats. Let dry for a little bit...and THIN coats of paint. I did sand it, or rather "scuffed" up the surface with my trusty 3M brillo type sandpaper. LOVE that stuff. Then I used one of the Man's tack cloths (which I HIGHLY recommend using gloves with...yuck...sticky all over my fingers), and took off all the dust and oils from my fingers. After doing that, I wrapped up the top with a shopping bag...recycle..reuse...and the same for the plug and cord, then moved it to my outside painting surface (the garbage can lid). Here's the little beauty after one coat of paint.

Remarkable huh? Yeah,...I was amazed too. I thought I had uploaded a picture of the paint I used,...you can sort of see it in the above picture. It's Rustoleum's hammered Silver. I love it. I also have the bronze color but I have dark wood end tables so I figured they would blend too much.

So here's the final product. I'm not in love with the shade...*sigh*. Got those for a STEAL from the local thrift store...$6 for TWO...yeah baby! But they had ugly vinyl "princess" fabric around the outside of the shades...yucko. So I pulled off the fabric, and used it as a template for some muslin. Then I added the jute ribbon to the bottom and top. Now I see the shade is a TAD too small for the lamp. Oh well...I will find something that will work.

So...let's break it down.

2 lamps- $35

spray paint -free (already had it)

shades - $6

___________

Total - $41 for TWO lamps...SQUEEEAALL!

So happy. Now...gotta  find some rope for those other lamps...(insert evil laugh here) ;)






School...the same, but different...

Well blog friends...if you're a Mom you've probably gone thru or are getting ready for the first day of school with you kiddos. Mine hit the halls of their school on Monday. It's a little different for them because I'm having to drive them to school and pick them up. THIS is because the owners of the house we were renting gave us 3 weeks to move since the house is getting forclosed on...fun right?
ANY whoo...we were fortunate enough to find a house that our friends own...and we're basically living in it rent free for now. Downside...it's small...very small...almost too small for 4 kids and 2 adults and 2 dogs. Granted...two of the kids are not with us all the time,  but the living space we will need to share is not one condusive to peaceful times. *Sigh*...oh well...it's only temporary...it's only temporary...it's only temporary...if I say it enough does it make it better? Sort of. But not really :-/

So...here I am having to drag my butt out of bed wake up early in the morning to drive my little darlings to school. My daughter is totally into school this year. She made the school dance team last year and is joyus to the point of annoying all around her...eeek! She is more than happy to get up, get dressed and be the "middle" rank in the school this year (7th grade).

HOWEVER...my son...is a totally different story. HE is ready to throw down and make war with school. He is in 6th and it's first year changing classes,...having a locker,...enduring the rank setting antics of the upper classmen,...and generally not being treated like a little kid. You'd think he'd like that right? Ummmm...NOPE!
Poor guy was just beside himself after the first day. Momma-dearest (that would be me)...forgot...*gasp*...to give him and his sister $5 to get them lockers for the year. Okay...welll...this school does not allow you to bring bookbags/backpacks into the classrooms. SO...you have to tote them around with you all day, and put them outside in the hall (for anyone to paw thru) during class time. He wasn't mad that he had to do that...he was seething that he had to tote the bag around with him all day and...I quote..."look like a 6th grade dork"...ummmm...HELLOO...you ARE a 6th grade dork baby boy...face it...embrace it...and move on.

So I gave them the money the next day thinking all would be well...WRONG. He comes out of his friend's house (he rides the bus home to a friend's house since I don't get home until 2 hours after they get out of school), with a scowl and PLOPS down into the car seat...slamming the door behind him.  OoooooKay...this is how the conversation went:

Me: "how was school today"

Cam: "CRAPPY"
(keep in mind he's not looking at me, and is scrunched down in the front seat of the car)

Me: "why? what's wrong" (might as well cut to the point right?)

Cam: "I couldn't get my stinkin' locker open, and I didn't have time to mess with it, so I had to tote my bag around, and the 7th graders on the bus kept telling me to move when I was already pretty much in the back of the bus, I'm really, really tired...and..."
(silence followed this)

Next thing I look over and he's got tears rolling down his cheeks and he's literally sobbing in the front seat of the car. Bless his little heart...he just was overwhelmed with frustrations. I didnt' know what to do because his tears were just breaking my heart.
I tried to reassure him that it would take a few days for him to get acclimated to the new routine as well as learn how to open his locker. After that, he will be fine and dandy. Everything takes a little adjustment time. He wasn't convinced but he did lean over and lay on my shoulder the rest of the way home and I gave him extra snuggle time.

The man also had a talk with him about standing up for himself (without running his mouth to the point he will get himself in trouble), and how to answer the big guys when they are trying to assert their male dominance...lol. That's what I call it. ALLLLL boys do it and 7th grade is about when they start. It's like dogs learning to lift their leg and pee on trees. Boys are basically like that...to each other. Especially if there are girls within the vicinity of their antics.

SOOOoooo...that's been my two days so far. Hopefully today yeilds some better spirits. How are all you fellow Moms doing with the start of the new school year? What do you do to help your kids get over a change "hump". I'll leave you with a parting shot. The man decided the kiddos needed a night out...so we took them to their favorite mexican restaurant for some grub. I even got them to smile :)