Thrifty Nifty

I haven't had time to post much lately.  Life keeps rolling like a stone down a mountain.  Gaining momentum, tumbling and twisting, with an occasional ricochet in some random direction.  

But I don't have time for those illustrative philosophical ramblings.

I have checked a couple of items off my to-do list.  Things that have been sitting around adding to the stress of a long, ever expanding list of simple-but-time-consuming things that have piled up.

I had to share.  Pat myself on the back.  Give myself a little self-affirmation that I am productive, thrifty, and creative.  (Okay, maybe not creative.  But definitely thrifty.)

Case Study #1 - Redo, reuse, recycle

Mauri had some dresses that we had purchased a few years back (on sale, of course).  She had pretty much grown out of them (they were getting much too short on her), but she STILL wore them a few times with leggings.  I was ready to put them in the Goodwill pile, all the while lamenting that she really needed some more Sunday dresses/skirts since she was down to a denim skirt, a white skirt, and a few summery dresses.  AND she's almost in Young Women's.  Meaning that wearing her favorite 2 or 3 year old velvet/satin embossed Costco holiday dress is almost out of the question.
Not that she has a problem with it, just that her mama does.

Then Mauri (deserving of the creative credit) said, "Why don't we make these dresses into skirts?"

Brilliant idea.

So I did.

Ta-da!  Three "new" skirts.  She wore the silvery one last Sunday and it was long and beautiful and awesome.
Totally YW worthy.

Case Study #2 - Use what you have

I purchased this Nativity set back in the fat days.  Not that I've ever really been conscious of those once-upon-a-time fat days, but in hindsight, I can see more clearly.  Let's just say that the lean days have increased my awareness.

When I purchased this, I had every intention of painting it darker.  I loved the figures themselves AND their large-ish size, but definitely had more of a bronze-y look in mind.  That was a good 4 years ago.  My intentions were so good at the time that I purchased a can of bronze spray paint within a week or two; the SAME bronze spray paint I dug out of our crawlspace the other day to set about finally completing the job.

Ta-da!

I am very happy with the results.  I used some metallic gold acrylic paint for accents, which was hanging out looking for purpose in the large stash of craft paint left over from my formative Homemaking years (I think I may have slightly overdone, but I can always redo years down the road if I find I can't live with it.  And considering I spent all of 20 minutes to do it, I think it's a mighty fine job).

Like I said, "Thrifty."

I have so much more to post about, but it will have to wait for another day.

Aye Aye, Captain

Congratulations to Shilo for being selected as one of the four Captains on her high school swim team!

She worked on her speech today after school, practicing several times for Lex and I.

Makes me think of this fun(ny) clip that I would love to share:

I'm going to watch it whenever I need a kick in the pants boost of encouragement.

"Everybody, I know you can believe in yourself!"

Last week Mauri and her friends participated in their middle school Talent Show.  This wasn't just any ol' participate-if-you-want-to kind of a deal; this was a bona fide try-out show.

The girls would practice after school, but I had never seen their performance until the evening of the show.
I'll admit, I was a little nervous for them.

They sang One Thing by One Direction.

I was surprised to discover that they all had SOLO parts, and Mar started it off.

I was thrilled to discover that they are ALL great singers, these girls that live only a stone's throw away from each other.

The curtain call:

And the last hurrah:

NOTE:  Mrs. Tarbell is the principal.  She has been the principal for all all 5 of my children.  We met for the first time the week we moved to CO as I was trying to open enroll Taylor in Sierra Middle School (we were technically in another middle school boundary, but it would be changing the following year and I did NOT want to manage two different high schools down the road).  I swear she hasn't changed a bit.  I'm sad that she is retiring after this year... couldn't she just wait for two more years until Mar is finished??

Mar is so much more gutsy than I ever was.  Or am.

Nice job, girls!

Attitudes and Gratitudes

Mar made this for me yesterday during some free time at school:

That girl is awesome.  She knows how to help a momma keep on keeping on.
How to lift spirits.  How to share a smile.  Thanks, Mar!

I attended a Relief Society meeting on Wednesday.  The evening was focused on others as we participated in several service activities for our community.  There was also the opportunity for a "service exchange" - you could write a service you would do for another sister in the ward on a paper ornament, then hang it on a small tree set on a table in the room.  You could then read through the services other sisters had offered and select one you could use.  (A simple but brilliant idea.)  In conversation at the table where I was sitting, I mentioned how one of my sisters I visit teach had told me of a book she was reading about positive affirmations, and how I would like to read it to rid myself of Satan's negativity that regularly encroaches on my thoughts (maybe I didn't quite state it as bluntly in that group setting, but you know what I mean).  Another sister at the table had another {simple} but {brilliant} idea for a great service exchange:  a positive affirmation every day until the end of the year via text or email message.  I jumped on it and decided I would give that as my service (along with an eyebrow wax... for good measure), and another sister did the same (along with brownies... for good measure), and we exchanged with each other.  Two days down and I'm thinking everybody needs to do this.  It has given me the opportunity to think about the talents and gifts of someone else, but it has also helped to encourage me about my own positive attributes.

This month our family is focusing on gratitude.  (Of course.)
We really should do this exercise on a regular basis, as it elevates our attitudes.
Counting your blessings can do nothing less.

I got this idea from you-know-where (who got it from here), but of course it is much simplified.

(I was going to tie some twine around my tall vases to dress them up a bit, but have yet to git 'er done.  At this point, I think I'll let it ride.  Can you see how my candle burned a hole in it's side and leaked wax all over my amber glass marbles?  That's going to be fun to chisel out!)

Something we are grateful for EVERY DAY.  No personal repeats.  We plan to read them together on Thanksgiving.  {Simple}.  {Brilliant}.

My gratitude for the day:
25 years ago today Bill asked me to marry him.
I am so thankful he did.

Happy Friday!

My New Mantra

After a slightly rough week, I have a new mantra:

Be a duck.

Let that water roll right off.

Let's see if I can put it into practice!

Disappointment and Success

Yes, I was disappointed at the outcome of the Presidential election.  So disappointed, in fact, that I turned off the telly and climbed in bed around 10pm Tuesday evening.  I didn't even turn on the TV the next day.  The Romney sign is still in my front yard (think I'll be taking it down today).  I was also disappointed that CO voted to legalize marijuana.  Just what we need: a hotbed of potheads.

 If you remember, I was also having a refrigerator delivered on Tuesday.  I was excited when it arrived, especially because I could not find a scratch, A- or otherwise, anywhere on the front of it.  It was carefully carried into the house, hooked up (water through the door again... functional ice-maker...) and signed off on.  Then I set about the tedious task of pulling off all the packing tape and foam on the inside, wiping it down, and arranging our displaced food items neatly on it's shelves.

Then I peeled the protective plastic film from the doors.

There appeared to be some residue that I chalked up to grimy hand smears (some of the protective film had been torn so there were several large holes in it when it arrived), so I set to the task of wiping it down.  The residue didn't come off.  Upon further inspection, it looked to me like it was a flaw in the finish - like the film had stuck to some areas while the paint was wet.  I had Bill inspect it when he got home, however, in the dark of short winter days, neither he or my girls could really see any BIG problem.  I swore to them that it was blatantly obvious in the bright sunlight of midday.  The next day Bill confirmed that the flaw was obvious, at least a C or C- (we are professional appliance graders... cough, cough), and we should call the salesman to see what he could do.

The salesman wanted pictures, which I assured him would most likely NOT adequately show the problem, especially since, again, the evening darkness had fallen.  He told me take them anyway.  The warehouse needed them to determine the extent of the flaw.

Since this is all I could capture on camera (which, btw, looks like some surface buffing had been performed previously),

I did a little photo-editing to show the areas in question.

I've yet to hear back if we will be getting a different slightly-but-much-less flawed refrigerator as a replacement.  I'm disappointed that I spent a good 2 hours unpacking the interior of this baby.  On the other hand, I'm happy to have a refrigerator that doesn't smell funny because it's contents are only slightly above room temp.

Enough with the disappointments and on to some successes.

Last Saturday, Mar and Shi had a swim meet.  Mar's age group competed mid-morning, then Shi competed early-to-mid afternoon.  Bill timed for Mar's session, so I needed to attend to make sure she was where she needed to be, when she needed to be there.  Bill and Mar headed home afterwards, and I stayed to cheer on Shi.  A full day at that same lovely pool mentioned back here.

Mar took 3 seconds off her 50 Free, and stayed within nanoseconds of her 50 Breast time.

Nice job, Mar!

Shilo improved her times in all three events she competed in, placing 8th overall in her 50 Back, and scoring team points in the other two (50 Free and 200 Back).  She and I were both impressed at this accomplishment -- I'm not sure if she has ever been in the point-scoring category on the club team before -- especially since also attending the meet were the Colorado Stars (Missy Franklin's team, which has become the elite team around these parts) and DSA (Denver Swim Academy), both of which are known for their FAST times.

(I still can't believe that people want to walk in front of your camera when you are literally next to the edge of a pool OBVIOUSLY filming.)

Way to go, Shi!


And my house was repainted the actual color I chose a year-and-a-half ago (you can read the long story here).

Instead of this color (no wonder I had anxiety about it... refresher here),

Good-bye Snapping Turtle

it is now this color:

Hello, Grass Clippings

It wasn't the best time of day to take a pic, with the sun going down on me, but you can see it, right?  The difference?  Ahhhhhh.... so much better.

It's so much nicer to focus on the successes than the disappointments.

Working on staying sunny side up,

Run, Run, As Fast As You Can...

I only have a few minutes this morning before I head off to my sub job.  I quickly glanced over my blogger reading list and found a link to this awesome post:

Run, Little Red Riding Hood!

I wish I could write as well.  I wish I could think as well.  Thank heaven for people who have great thoughts and great skill that can benefit and inspire me and my family.

It reminded me of another story that my Grandma used to read to me called The Gingerbread Man.

It had a sly fox in it.

It brings this scripture to mind:

"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say:  All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well -- and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

"And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them:  I am no devil, for there is none -- and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance."

(2 Nephi 28:21-22)

Unfortunately, the Gingerbread Man trusted the sly fox, which was the end of him.
Hmmmm.... something to think about.

Election Day Stress

I'm trying to keep busy today to alleviate my Election Day stress.  I watched the news only briefly this morning, then figured it would be best to turn it off.  The added adrenaline is helping me be more productive and efficient.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  That I'm more productive and efficient.

I sent emails that needed to be sent.

I scheduled appointments that needed to be scheduled.

I put away things that needed putting away (there's still more to do, but I did some of the tedious stuff).

I took the garbage out.

I posted two recipes (not necessarily new) on my family recipe blog Eating It Up.  

(I made my banana muffins yesterday using coconut oil instead of butter.  They turned out delish, and so much better for you.  Try it, you'll like it!)

I slept in until 7am, and had a nice long morning of peace and quiet (in which to accomplish all of the above), since the kids are out of school today.  I woke them up at 10.

I have watched this preview of Les Miserables THREE times.

I can't wait.

I am now heading off to the kitchen to straighten up and prepare for my new refrigerator to arrive.

Oh.  You didn't know?

Our not-so-beloved nearly-departed fridge has decided that, after 13-or-so years of partially freezing anything on the top shelf (even with the thermostat set at the warmest setting), and sucking up plenty of electricity doing it, it is sick and tired of keeping things cold.  I realized it when I put meat in to defrost (which typically takes several days) and it was soft and only slightly cool to the touch the next day.

Lest you think I am replacing it with the refrigerator of my dreams, I must say I am slightly anxious to see how serious the "A-" grade scratch is on the front of the "sufficient" appliance we have purchased (sight unseen).  I hope I can live with it, because I can't live many more days without a refrigerator that serves it's purpose.

The salesperson's comment:  "You can always put a magnet over it."

My thought:  "Unless it's 3/4 of the way down the door... who puts magnets down there?"
Maybe I can find a creative solution on Pinterest.


I was going to post a picture of my newly-painted house, but it's garbage day and you do not need to see my trash.
I have so much to say about it.
Maybe tomorrow.

Go Mitt!

Halloween Wrap Up

If you're like me, once Halloween is over, it's OVER.  Unfortunately, I haven't had time to properly record (in a non-traditional-journal-keeping-kind-of-way) and wrap up the festivities around here.  So here it is.  If you've already moved on, by all means move on.

Mar wanted to be a zombie this year.  Thanks to Pinterest (obviously my ONLY source of creativity these days), I convinced her to be a.... zombie-inspired... creepy girl??  She wanted a big, full skirt, and thanks to wedding supplies purchased earlier in the year, I had a boatload of tulle.  Her original idea was to wear the same dress she wore back here (with the big tulle skirt underneath), but we lent it to someone and couldn't remember who.  After texting and asking a half-dozen of our "best guesses," we moved on to Plan B.

This was Mar as she headed out to the ward Trunk-or-Treat Autumn Fest.

Caitlin, Lauren, and Mar... all creepish.

The pie-eating contest was a hit.

See many adults dressed up?  Me neither.

Bill and I were slightly overdressed.  (Thought you might appreciate the full-body shot.)

Trunk decked out and ready to go (my battery-powered eye lights that I purchased at 75% off after Halloween last year NOT knowing they were battery powered came in handy for a quick decor job).

Halloween Night: the gang of trick-or-treaters.  

Having to get only one child ready is so much simpler, although we were still rushing at the last minute to get Mar's make-up and hair done.  We cut a few corners, but she was ultimately satisfied in the end.  And out in plenty of time to make a respectable haul.

The pups had costumes, too.  Bill took them on a short walk as he escorted Mar and her group around the neighborhood.  He dropped them off at home after a bit, and they were content to nap in the play yard.  Personally, I think they liked looking more like people.

I don't have pics at the moment (Lex has them all on her phone), but will post one of them here as soon as I get one.  Be sure to check back, you don't want to miss it!

The weather was perfect.  Bill and Mar returned with a stash, and Mar was kind enough to share will the fam.  Such a nice girl.  I think Baby Ruth's are my favorite this year.

Being the only candy collector in the family, she had some high expectations.

She delivered.