Poor Blog....Stress = Repurpose & Organize

Poor Blog....so many things I want to write, however the wrath of the IRS continues =( it is relentless and even tho we prove everything they are not accepting it....so needless to say our tax accountant is digging in and words like appeal and litigation are starting to be part of our daily discussions....when we are talking as the stress is getting to both of us and we have had many 'silent' days where we don't want to speak as it would not be pretty....if you know what I mean...in addition Steve lost his Aunt and 12 days later his Uncle....his back is bad and both our jobs are very demanding right now.....I find in my life when chaos reigns I have to organize anything, something!

I have been saving special cards for years in a tupperware container under my bed. I just can't part with these and feel that they are not appreciated in a box under my bed so I finally came up with an idea to organize them with....

Michaels had these 'binder rings' 6 to a package for $2.99, less 40 percent off = great deal. I bought several packages.

Then I hold punched the upper left hand corner of the card and put them on the ring.

Here is a basket full and I am still not done! Had to take a break to watch the boys Friday night and take them to soccer Saturday, so some errands and help Kristen with her H'ween party last night and plan Steve's bday dinner tonight here....moved our bedroom furniture to the fall configuration and dusted and cleaned, did laundry and ran some errands.

I think when I have them all punched and in clips I may go back thru and sort some by categories. When I have the finals then I will put them in my office and leaf thru them from time to time. I even think this is a great idea to take to nursing homes (as long as the cards do not contain anything personal). I found several birthday cards from Steve's mom and dad to him (they passed away years ago) so I tucked those inside his gift bags for a special treat.

Off the Grid; On the Grid and big plans

Well, we survived the biggest blackout in SD history.....yes, one man alone brought down power from Yuma to Rosarito, Mexico to Palm Springs all thru San Diego and into Orange County and towards LA....never underestimate a man!

Having lived in Earthquake territory since 1980 and being evacuated twice for wildfires you would think we would be better prepared...we are usually all over preparedness but giving ourselves a C on this one. Had candles, water and flashlights, but no batteries and no smart phone with data access....I should know better!!! 'Sad News' as Dylan's kindergarten teacher would say...

Every source of communication was out, cell phone towers overwhelmed with calls, both Steve and I have emergency responsibilities at our work and it was one of the hottest days ever....I have to admit, being the week of 911 that crossed my mind as well....and once I heard from Steve and the kids and how proud I was of my kids being responsible I counted my blessings....also, I am grateful for the people that checked in on me and kept me updated to what was happening in the outside world....those people are my rocks....you all know who you are. Thank you Thank you

On the upside, saw stars from the backyard, first time in years as all the city lights were off and it was almost a full moon! None of the sirens I heard all night were for us or our family members...all the txt made me feel reassured and when the lights came on at 3:21 a.m. Steve and I collapsed in bed - a few txt later and up for the 5 a.m. office status call....

So a day of recovery and have to boil our water and throw a few things out of the fridge....communication is delayed but at least there....starting to let my mind drift off to some big plans for these thrift shop treasurers....

...hard to see but a shell of a chandelier.....

A wooden ladies cane....

wait and watch peeps!

Projects - Fun and Fab

....a few favorite finds I have inherited lately....this incredible lucite hanky (hankie - is it hanky or hankie?) holder....pressed and folded my aunties and grandmas hankies to perfectly fill the holder.....hard to see but there is a ballerina on top and these are *rare* pieces.....

...this incredible mirror came to me in pieces....a good friend enlightened me to glazing nails and proper hanging materials for for $6.50 this has a wonderful perfect home over my MaMa Autens dresser in the guest room.....doesn't it look happy there????

Have you put pieces together that love each other like this?

Christmas Projects I love.....

For a little boy who loves Mickey.....

and his older brother that loves airplanes.....

Two very special trees designed by their GiGi for their own rooms to sleep all night with the lights on feeling the love from GiGi and wishing for a visit from Santa (HoHo)....Dylan's is covered in paper airplanes (his fave) and a Star Wars Space ship as the Topper.....Brody's is Red, White and Green Mickey Ears with Mickey in a Santa Suit as his Topper (HoHo if you ask Brody)....Two very special trees for two very special boys....

.......and.....I love turning this.....

.....into this.....

Making pretty!

Skylines and Board Rooms = Welcoming Fall and the Need for Creativity!

I used to travel so much for my job and over the years I have reported to 6 different Sr. VP's who each have their own way of budget planning....suffice to say I have seen the *best* and the *worst*. Just last week I headed to Chicago for a full week of 2011 budget planning. It was being in a reality show - can't go any further than that - but it was like no other. The days were LLLLLOOOONNNNGGGGGG. Every day at 7:00 when we would start the last thing I would see as I entered the windowless Board Room was the spectacular Chicago Skyline. I have had to go to Chicago for years for what seems like every job I have ever had.....when I worked for CBS for the talk shows like Donahue (ok, I am really dating myself) for all the other jobs I have had in health care, too numerous to list. I LOVE Chicago - from the Museum of Science and Industry to State Street (that Great Street) to Michigan Avenue to Sears Tower to the suburbs of Naperville and Downers Grove. My absolute fave of everything was once being in what used to be Marshall Fields (now Macy's) at the Walnut Room having lunch, near the window about Christmas time and the giant tree was decorated and I was eating Butternut Squash Soup and looking out the window with the snow falling ever so gently on the shoppers below, all dressed in their minks and hats - so fashionable. I just loved that moment. The tree in the Walnut Room looked like the picture above.....ahhhhhh

But this trip all I could do was watch the skyline every a.m. coming to live at 7:00 and then go to the windowless board room for 12 - 14 hours and then come out and see the skyline all lit up as I headed back braindead to the hotel to order room service. I could hear State Street calling my name....the Tiffany window on the 5th floor wanted to see me - the shops of Michigan Avenue! But alas....no chance this trip.

I was absolutely exhausted going over numbers and technical strategies and all the political part of corporate America that goes with that......so when I finally got home Friday night and got some rest into Saturday I had to let the creative juices flow.

I had bought some candelabras at the thrift stores - one silver (2.95) and one brass (3.95) I also got a bag of beads for 1.00. With an investment of 1 can of black shiny spray paint ($1.09) I turned them into some Witchy looking Halloween Scary Candelabra's! I need to find some candles but I think they turned out really nice.

Then I moved to my table runner project - and finished them up - I think they turned out pretty cute!

And finally - I pulled out my fall table decorations and did the dining room up all fall like.

So the left side of the brain got some goin on and the right side of the brain got some goin on and like everything else in my life....bittersweet.

Happy Fall!

Bed with a View!

A few weeks ago my girlfriend got this great bed at IKEA in black and loved it......so I headed down to IKEA to check out the white one and I loved it, expecially the bead board on the back. You can pull out the drawer area and slide the top mattress across and it makes a king bed! We have so much company and always need bed space. My friends husband (engineer type) put it together in 6 hours....that was a little daunting as Steve was out of town and when I decide to do something, there is no waiting around. If it took an engineer 6 hours I just could not imagine how long it would take me! But tempted I was and felt up for the all night challenge.....then my girlfriend called me and said she saw an ad on Craig's list for the same bed, assembled, 5 days old. After a series of back and forth emails we agreed on a price and since our truck bed is limited with a hard cover, Kristen offered to drive me over to get it. Sounds good - right?

So, we agreed on a time and loaded up the boys and the directions were for us to drive to the address provided and then call the lady that listed the bed. We headed out by OB (one of my fave areas) and then the address took us to Sunset Cliffs - an incredibly beautiful area near OB. I called the lady and at first she was not answering (uh-oh) and finally called me back and then told us to drive down this alley and around this block and it was like a scavenger hunt to find her place. Kristen parked and I went to look at it....however, as I went through the side gate I stopped dead in my tracks and my jaw hit the ground. Her place had the single best view I have ever witnessed in my life.....I have been to all the Hawaiian Islands, Capri, Russia, Sweden, The Fiords, Scotland, England, France, Africa, all over the Caribbean, coasts of Spain, Italy, Canary Islands, Greece and no where ever have I seen a view like that. I could not move it was so stunning.....so after I regained my composure she showed me the bed.....it was just as she said, brand new and assembled! I agreed to buy it and she took it apart in some pieces and Kristen and I took turns hauling pieces down. It took me longer as I just could not move past that view.....unbelievable....these pictures do not do it justice. The boys were *perfect* as they were in their car seats and entertained by watching a professional photographer do a photo shoot across the street - she had a whole vignette set up with a wicker chair and old door, etc - very interesting to watch. Once we were loaded we headed to my place but Kristen was in a hurry so she took my car and left me her truck with the bed in the back, the boys came in with me and we hung out for a few hours until Brian got off work. Brian then helped me take down the old daybed and haul it to the garage and he and I unloaded the new daybed pieces. Then he was in a hurry and had to head out with the boys. (See a pattern here - they are busy people!!!) and at 10 pm that night when Kristen was done she headed back over and helped me try and assemble the rest of the pieces I could not figure out....but we did not have the instructions. We did find them on the Internet and if any of you have IKEA furniture you know what a challenge that can be to follow their cryptic instructions......however, we perserved.... We did find we were missing a couple of screw caps and I was leaving the next day at 5 a.m. so we did as much as we could and then called it a night. By the time I was home from my week long trip Kristen had gone to IKEA, got the pieces and Adam and her finished up the assembly. I am really really happy with it and love the white white against the moss green of the walls......but I kinda feel sorry for the bed, it had such a beautiful view and loads of fresh air and now it is a toy room that doubles as a guest room....but I like to think it will be happy to be here with lots of interesting peoples staying on it, drawers full of toys and little boys jumping on it......ahhhh but that view!!!

What's Yellow, made of wood and had 26 years of dust on it?

Brody is such a little daddy....he loves Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and puts them to bed , hauls them all around - inside and out....drives them around in his car, pulls them in the wagon, feeds them and believe me they have had many many washings and are loved to pieces....

......going back in time my little girl (Brody's mommy) at age 2 was such a little mommy and loved her cabbage patch kids and put them to bed and hauled them all around. They all had different personalities and 2 of the dolls would fight constantly (according to Kristen).

So.....during my insomnia one night I remembered when we moved to San Diego I had saved Kristens little wooden yellow bunk bed she played with when she was the same age as Brody (2). Steve and I drug it down from the rafters and cleaned it up and Kristen did her first sewing project - making blue Mickey Mouse blankets for Brody to cover his Mickey and Minnie.

I could not resist finding a picture of Kristen at the same age playing the the same toy and enjoying it so much.

Also nice to let go of some of my 'organized hoarding' treasurers =)

The Price was Right!

Love my new little treasure? Yesterday when Steve and I were making our way to Home Depot for our weekly title of 10% of our income - we drove by the neighbor on the corner and as we waved we saw he was having a yard sale - mostly motorcycle stuff and guy stuff and on the table I eyed this white birdhouse like item.....so I thought if he was still out when we drove back home I would look at it.....and an hour later when we turned the corner it was still there.



We stopped and visited and I saw that it was in great shape and was a candle holder inside (tea light) and at some point the candles must have spilled as wax was everywhere on the beveled glass inside. When I asked the price - he said - 'I want you to have it, bring me down a beer sometime' so when we got home I sent Steve down with a beer and cleaned up my new little treasure. Paid in full, thank you very much!



I think it fits perfectly in my living room and love the white contrast against the taupe walls. I also think it works with my birdcage too.....



I need to find the perfect picture for my shell frame - another thing on my long and winding list....

Sew Fun!

I think I have written before about the excellent sewing skills in my family - grandma's and aunties....and that certainly escaped my DNA.

About 20 years ago I won a White Brand Sewing Machine in a sales contest when I was working in Pharmaceutical Sales.....it was rarely used and when I did use it - it made for some unhappy experiences.....so I bit the bullet and bought this little gem.......it has a self threading needles and 26 different stitch types!!!

I am thrilled with it and it just hums along and is most happy to do whatever I program into it!!! Could it - can it....is it...just possible I too can be 'Sew Happy'?!

I have to be careful not to escape into areas of overwhelming sewing projects.....I struggle anyway with hobbies....they become more like work to me....like I have to finish it and can't leave it alone for a minute until it is done.....

This is my first little project after reading and following the instructions on my new little cutie. The embroidered costumed figures are off a tshirt I bought for Brody when he was 7 months old to wear around Halloween....I backed it with some cute candy corn fabric, made it into a decorative pillow and stitched a little yellow ribbon to hang it up with when the holidays come.

Brody and Dylan slept over last night and this a.m. while Dylan was at Bowling Team and Brody was outside working in the yard with Gramps I whipped it up. When Brody came in (and I changed his clothes as he was soaked - Thanks Gramps) I had it finished and we talked about all the costumes and he would point at the ones as I called them out; ghost, devil, skeleton, mummy, vampire, monster, black cat, pumpkin....if he knew the sound they made he would say it (Monster - RAHHHHH), Kitty (MEOW), etc. It was a lot of fun and he liked the Mummy the best (I think it is because he loves his Mommy and it sounded close).

Anyway - loved the project, loved the inspiration to make it, loved sharing it with Brody and you all!

Before and After Project

I have had to travel to Salt Lake City for years for business....I have my faves there - staying at Little America in the tower, sushi at an old church, the gift shop at Cracker Barrel and the best of the best: Gardner Village - an old Grist Mill turned restaurant and shopping mecca. They decorate over the top for all Holidays. I especially love their Halloween Theme - full size witches all over the village, flying on brooms, playing softball, stirring the boiling pot....and the elves at Christmas - so cute. I love all the shops and love to eat their fried green tomatoes....mmmmm...but not as good as my mom's.

So on a trip one year that was near Christmas it was all decked out in it's glory. At one of the stores they had a full size sideboard and all things snowman and red and green on it.....I think I heard the Hallelujah chorus when I saw it. For so long I have tried to find a nook or cranny at the house so I could incorporate that into my decor. I love Craig's list and would scour for hours and they were all so big and no way could I find a space for it. So a few weeks ago I came across this and scooped it up. I used the Behr primer and paint combo and gave it a once over and then took my handy sander to distress it out. I am really happy with the outcome and I can't believe I was able to cram yet another piece of furniture into this house!

Another Check off the List: Table for Entry

Yes, I have lived in this house for over 20 years and yes it took that long to find the perfect table for my entry way - don't judge!

When we first moved in (circa 1989) it was all about the white walls, mauve carpet and pink and green couches, and antique oak furniture. Along the way we have made a few updates and change of paint colors and at present we are in the 'distressed white beach cottage' phase.

So while in Palm Springs last weekend I rooted around a few places and found this treasure. It was a bit stressful not having the measurements with me and eyeing this table but I took the plunge and happy I did. Of course I was with my sister in law in her tiny Honda and we put it in the backseat and I was contorted over, under and around the table until we got to her house and could transfer it in our truck.

When we arrived home the tension mounted and 'ta da' it fit perfectly. Of course it was painted all nice and everything so I took the sander to it and distressed it out a bit. I am oh so happy with it!

Creative Queen Bee Strikes Again

Kristen is the Creative Queen Bee - you will have to check out her blog.....ever since she was a little girl it has been all about creating things.....she would save every tag, every milk add, every this and that for a 'project'. Steve and I were always worried since her room was upstairs and full of creative treasurers it would surely cave in under the weight. However, I must say she creates beautifully in all mediums (wood, paper, oils, paint, fabric, vinyl) I am amazed at her talent. She has endless ideas and of late they involve sewing which is not one of my talents. That does not seem to stop her creative juices tho.....nor her persistence....

I have always envied those who can sit at a machine and whirl away, my MaMa Auten, my Auntie Gwen, my cousin Connie. My mom and I, on the other hand, fight it all the way, bobbins act up, tension is off, swearing begins and it does not end well, as they say. So when the Queen announced her latest idea and after my 18 hr day grueling day at work I needed a creative distraction. Since she was so active in sports as a child I never sat her down with a sewing machine and I plan to do that when I get one that does not frustrate me or her! She whipped out these Little Monsters and Tie templates and I zig-zagged away. Steve got us dinner and after some salty language and some good laughs this is the end results. Turned out pretty cute huh?