Wasn't Going to Go There

I wasn't going to talk about the election this morning and I'm not going to. Rachel and Jill said everything that is on my heart.

I'm praying for FirstBorn today for wisdom, on the way to school he was saying that he was glad that Barack Obama was elected because now Jesus is going to come back. And he'll probably be glad to share this information with anyone he meets today. Oy vey.

Wordless Wednesday

Real Makeovers for Real Budgets, Part 2

Earlier this spring I had mentioned flipping our dining room and playroom. One day when my good friends KennyD and Marcella Kay were over the three of us manhandled a dining room suit, a room of toys, an uber heavy reclining couch, and this dresser:

I didn't want the dresser in the new playroom so we temporarily tucked it into a corner in the living room. Then I bought this sign at Hobby Lobby for half price ($15) and ever so sweetly asked Mr. Steady to hang it for me.

I picked up two lamps for $1.00 each at the thrift store (they are a matching pair even!) and Mr. Steady splurged on these lamp shades for me. The shades were $14 each.

I added a black satin ribbon to the sign to give the illusion that it is hanging. I paid $1.99 for the whole spool.

Then I shopped the house and gathered up all the gold gilded picture frames I have. The three in the back were gifts from my aunt, that's my grandmother and grandfather on either side. ($0)

I didn't have enough sepia toned pictures to put into the other two frames so I went through my scrapbook stash and cut pieces of scrapbook paper to fit ($0). Then I added a few other things I found around the house...a black wire basket, a garden finial, and a small wooden box with some doilies tucked in ($0). I bought a bag of small gourds ($3)and am busy thinking up the next thing to fill the wire basket with for the Christmas/Winter season.

I feel like the dresser needs a scarf or table runner or something to that effect but I am not quite sure. I am thrilled with the overall effect and love the soft lighting from the lamps. To me, the best part is creating a cozy little nook for less than $35.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Don't forget to visit Peggy's for more daybook entries.

For today, November 3, 2008
Outside My Window... it is warm and sunny.
I am thinking...that His grace is sufficient for me.
I am thankful for...my loving husband who does projects for me that he doesn't love just because he loves me.
From the kitchen...Cream Cheese Clouds were served for breakfast. They were gobbled up before I could even take a picture.
I am wearing...my "uniform", jean skirt and black tee.
I am creating...still working on my Advent calendar. All the pockets are made, they just need their days sewed on them and to be strung.
I am reading...I just got a new book from the library called Anathema, looks interesting.
I am hoping...to get my presentation and math homework done early tonight so I don't have to stay up late or get up early.
I am hearing...the two older boys chat with each other as they play a game
Around the house...Mr. Steady is steadily (pun intended) working through his "honey do" list and things are looking really nice.
One of my favorite things...the welcoming glow of warm porch lights.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Not too much exciting this week, finishing up the bedroom so Mr. Steady can start painting, going to class Tuesday and Thursday, that's really about all.
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Real Makeovers for Real Budgets, Part 1

Do you ever see magazines with promises of "Budget Makeover" splashed all over the cover? Am I the only one who finds it laughable when they call $1,000 a good deal? Maybe if you save up for a while but that doesn't really satiate the instant gratification itch in me.

This week Mr. Steady was trying to stabilize our ceiling fan in the living room. He added a switch so that we can turn the fan and light on separately. While he was up there I asked him to flip the blades over and show me what was on the other side. The side that was facing down had hideous cane stuff, it was so hideous it doesn't even have a name. Then he removed the globes to keep from breaking them. Except then he broke one. Not to worry, the globes were almost as ugly as the blades. I'm sorry I don't have a before picture to do this post justice. Just take my word for it.

Mr. Steady remembered a broken fan I unknowingly purchased at a garage sale some time ago. I knew I purchased it...I didn't know it was broken. He removed the globes from the broken fan because, let's face it, that's the whole reason I bought the fan. Then he switched out the globes.

I think I paid $10 for the fan, he paid $6 for the switch. I am thrilled. I still don't love the fan (I can't stand brass) but I am so much happier with it now and our wallets aren't feeling violated.

P. S. Mr. Steady just said if I play my cards right the brass could be painted - so if you're looking for me, I'm in the back room practicing my poker hand.

I Guess Beggars CAN Be Choosers

So I went to purchase the aforementioned obnoxiously colored cupcakes and to my surprise they were buy one get one free. To my disappointment all the chocolate cupcakes had halloween (which blogger tells me needs to be capitalized but I refuse to give it that much credit) or ghost picks in them. Now typically I would just take what is there and keep quiet. But this time I decided to ask the nice bakery lady if they had any other cupcakes. She asked what I was looking for and I told her something a little less evil. No, just kidding, I asked if she had any with pumpkin picks. She said no but she would change out the picks for me. Trouble was the picks didn't come out so well so she pulled 12 new cupcakes out of the freezer and quick frosted them for me complete with pumpkin pick on the top of each while I completed my shopping. I guess my mom was wrong, beggars really can be choosers.

Yeah...about that

Yesterday I passed Snow White's evil stepmother on the road. She was driving a Isuzu and smoking. Only in America. I'd like to say only in America on Halloween but that would be a lie.