Days 2 & 3

Day #2 was to clean the top of your desk, but I had already done that before the challenge started because my mother in law was coming.  I didn't want her to think I'm a terrible wife and mother so I cleaned the kitchen desk  which gathers all the CRAP that comes into the house!  Needless to say, I did not take pictures so I can't share that with you, plus I don't think I want to show the world that mess! 


So, on to  Day #3 which was clean your Tupperware cabinet.
I have two of those type cabinets and they both needed cleaning!  I threw away a garbage bag FULL of plastic that I will never use and it felt awesome!  


Cabinet #1 before:

What a MESS!!!!


And AFTER:

How pretty!  I used some baskets I got at Family Dollar to help organize.  They aren't very cute, but no one will see them except me so who cares.  


Now, Cabinet #2 that holds all the plastic bowls on one shelf and Crock Pot and Griddle on the bottom shelf...
Before:

and AFTER:

I tossed every top that didn't have a bottom and every bottom that didn't have a top...it felt GOOD!  I used a larger basket to hold all the lids.  Now maybe I can find the one I need!  It feels so much better to open these cabinets now!  Go on over to A Bowl Full of Lemons and join the challenge, go on, you know you want your cabinets to look as good as mine!  

2011: Year of the Organized House

ok ok , you can stop laughing at the title now!  If you know me, you know this probably won't last the entire year, or even the month of January, but I'm going to give it a shot anyway!  One of my constant New Year's resolutions is to get the house organized, but I've never been able to quite get there.  I'll get one room done and then be so overwhelmed that I give up.  Maybe because I always try to get it all done at once and then burn out. So, I'm trying a new strategy this year and taking it slow.  I know it's gong to be a long process, but if I can see progress, maybe I'll keep going...maybe?  Anyway, I found this awesome blog the other day while wasting precious organizing time and decide to join Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons in her 21 Day Organizing Challenge.  So far, I've done pretty good, only missing one day so far, but I'll catch up this weekend on that one. The first day was to clean a junk drawer and I can't believe I'm posting these pictures and then inviting people to see my messy drawer, but here it is!  Ok, I do have another one to go, but this one was the worst!  

Since this drawer barley closed with all this valuable stuff crap stuffed in, I dumped everything in a box and went to work purging and organizing.  My hubby sat in his chair and laughed about how long it was going to stay organized, but I trudged on, determined to get it straight!  I'm still not sure why we had 13 hair combs in the kitchen drawer, but whatever!  They are now all back in the bathroom and they are gong to stay there!  lol 
My drawer now looks like this:

So far, three days later, it is still organized!  YEA!!  I even got the hubby to fix the track so it closes correctly now!  On to challenge #2...


Happy Organizing!


Amy 

I must have it!

Ok, I have entered to win a Silhouette on the following bogs because I really MUST have one, but I haven't gotten up the nerve to mention it to the Hubster yet since I have been begging for a new camera for months now and this is yet ANOTHER expensive toy that I really really NEED, no not just WANT I NEED it!!  lol  


Southern Hospitality

Oh Hello Friend

Thrifty Decor Chick

Todays Creative Blog

Givers Log

Please oh PLEASE let me win one of these so I don't have to convince The Hubster that I do indeed NEED one!

My Ugly Yellow Candle Holder

ok, I know these things are all over Blogland, but I didn't have one so I HAD to make one.  I found this U-G-L-Y awesome VERY yellow candle holder at my church yard sale for 0.50 and said to myself "what the heck, I'll give it a try, it couldn't get any uglier more awesome".  My 6 yo daughter asked me if I was REALLY going to buy it and my 11 yo daughter just looked at me and gave me that look!  Then, as I'm contemplating buying a truly awesome dresser (which I did) one of the guys from my Sunday School Class asks me if I'm going to buy that candle holder....I proudly say "YES, I am" to which he responds, oh good, Elizabeth (his wife) will be happy it sold!  After the urge to crawl INSIDE the dresser passed, I told him I would be sure to send him a picture of it when I'm finished with it, which I plan to do today!  Here is what it looked like when I brought it home AFTER I washed it

and then I used the AMAZING Gorilla Super Glue to add this

and got this beauty

At this point my 12 yo son walks in and finds this sitting on the counter and asks the hubby "what the heck is Mom doing with this ugly thing?" to which the hubby just shakes his head and says "Son, it's better just not to know!"  and then they both crack up laughing.  Well, I'll have you know that after a few coats of ORB that ugly thing now looks like this

I think she turned out pretty good, but I may add something to her later.  She still needs a coat of clear, but I couldn't wait to show her off!  And No, Elizabeth you can't have it back now!  :-)  I haven't decided what to put on it, but I have my eye on my son's practice baseballs to make some of the awesome decor balls that I saw at House of Hepworths.  Check out her blog...I intend on copying using her for inspiration on several things!  

Check back soon to see what I am dong with THIS ugly thing

Button necklace

I have been so inspired by all the talented crafters out there in Blog world that I have decided to join you.  While I'm not anywhere near as talented as the other blogers, I hope I can create a few presentable things for my house.  I have a few projects started, but as most things in my house, they aren't finished yet!  


ok, here goes my first craft project post...


I have TONS of old buttons and am always trying to think of creative ways to use them so when I saw a necklace made from buttons at my local bead shop, Panda's Crossing, I knew I had to have one!  Since I'm WAY to impatient to wait for the next class, I begged Donna to show me how to make it immediately!  She gave me a crash course, which is basically all it takes since this is SO easy!  I went home, dug out my box of buttons, some wire and made this...

After learning a few tricks, I tried again...

Here is a close up of the buttons...complete with part of my cat's feet!  She thinks she is supposed to be in every picture I take!

Now I just have to go in search of the perfect outfit to wear it with!  

Since I had the buttons and the wire to make these, the only cost to me was the cord and clasp which were only a few dollars.  I'm going to try some different things with this idea and will share those if WHEN I get them complete.  So dig out those buttons you have buried in a closet and get creative!

I have linked up to House of Hepworths go over there to check out her awesome projects!

Check out these other Shabby projects at The Shabby Chic Cottage

Linking up to Frugal & Fabulous Design's Fab Friday party--go check out her awesome Mosaic Mirror!

And...the Sunday Showcase Party at Under The Table and Dreaming  UPDATE: My first post was featured by Stephanie this week...I feel so honored since her blog is one of my favorites!  Go check out all the other cool projects...go on...you know you don't want to mop that kitchen floor right now!

I'm baaack!

Ok, I know I've not kept up with this blog like I intended on doing, but I'm going to give it another shot! So much is different from when I started, I really just need to start over! I'm going to attempt to post at least once a week, but we'll see how it goes. Hopefully I will have something to say or share each week. This week I'll start with pictures of Braxton's baseball game and go from there. He is on the Yankees this year, and as much as it pains Todd to cheer for anything Yankee, he has embraced it. Check out the pictures of him batting and notice that he has finally gotten to be the coveted #6 this year! His idol, Chris House, of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets was #6, so it's #6 he wants to be! He is coming along pretty well with hitting...as long as he doesn't try to hit a "grand slam"! I'll post some more pictures as I am able to get them.

Summer Camp

Carter and Samantha went to their first "away" camp this summer. They went to Asbury Hills in Cleveland SC and had a great time. We stayed in cabins in the woods during the hottest week of the summer! It was over 100 every day, but we stayed cool by swimming in the pool and the river, canoeing, and eating ice cream! Carter rode the zip line and really thought that was cool. Carter got TONS of Chigger bites, but despite that still had a great time and is already talking about going back next year. Check out some of the cool pictures from our week!