Moving Update

Our moving truck was delivered on Tuesday and it is finally packed and locked. It was a long, tortuous experience and it cost a lot more than we expected, but it is DONE!!!! Yay!!! I feel the burden lifting!!
We also changed our flight to next Sunday instead of this Sunday, so we don't have to rush around tomorrow. We have all week to visit people and relax! Yay again!!! This also gives our new house a chance to be completed...the floors will be done and the house cleaned before the furniture arrives and before we arrive. It'll be good.
In other news...Holland and Kathryne are sick. Darcy is staying at my mom's. I'm just praying that I don't get anything from them. I'm not allowed to get sick for at least a few more months!
Thanks for all your prayers friends!!!
NOTE: trailer was picked up late Friday night...so it should arrive at new house by next Friday.

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Gorilla Glue Project!

I've been planning this little project for ages, and finally found all the parts and got my Gorilla Glue out. It took no time at all! My husband cut the trim and board for me, all I had to do was paint and glue!
This fits perfectly on the side of a kitchen cabinet so the little girls can scribble and draw on their level! Hope you like it! And thanks for visiting!

Paint your cut to size board with blackboard paint.
Allow to dry for about 2 hours.

Get out your Gorilla Glue (I used the wood glue) and run a slim bead of glue along your trim.

If you add too much glue it will seep onto your blackboard surface,
so make sure you wipe it clean before it dries.

Tape the corners so they dry perfectly simetrical!

After a few hours of drying you have a cute blackboard!
I'm going to hang this on the side of the cabinet when I find
the right hangers.

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American Gothic

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Moving Day Countdown

Have you ever heard the phrase about getting worse before it gets better? Well, that my life right now. It's been getting worse every day! I'm in the throes of packing...my house is the ultimate mess, I'm caring for my two little girls pretty much on my own, have not had more than an hour of sleep in a row for over a week, and I think I'm starting to get hysterical.
Today is the last day to get everything packed because tomorrow our truck is coming. Two hired movers are supposed to come and pack up the truck...but I'm worried about that and if everything is going to fit! If it doesn't they just charge us more...I guess it's not something to worry about that much.
This is the plan: get everything boxed up except for what we're packing in suitcases to fly with us, the truck will come and get packed Tuesday, we'll sleep on blowup mattresses and borrowed bedding (I'm hooking up a little 13 inch tv so the girls can watch Nick Jr.), then Wednesday they'll come and take the truck and it'll be on its way (should arrive in about a week at its destination), we'll stay in the house and do normal stuff until Sunday when we fly out at 4 a.m. (Another night of zero sleep).
So that's the plan in somewhat of a nutshell. I'm mostly dreading today...
Thursday the girls and I are driving to Camarillo to meet Trish and Rudy for a visit. We'll also go to the Crocs store and get them a new pair each. I have Friday and Saturday open still...so maybe the beach or our favorite park and hanging with friends.
It's going to be a rough week...

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Happy Halloween!

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My first Halloween costume: Julia Child

I started doing some research for my costume today...I know...only 4 days till Halloween. Where am I going to find a rubber chicken on such short notice! Anyway, I found The National Museum of American History website that had tons of stuff on my choice of character - Julia Child! There are some awesome audio clips of her so I can practice my speech too. I also read lots of info on how she found the tools she used in her cooking and decorating her kitchen. You've got to check it out!
Julia was 6'2", and I'm only 6 ft., so at least I'll fit into her shoes somewhat. I am going to Surfas on Thursday to check out some of the culinary items I want to take to Missouri with me, so hopefully I'll find more inspiration for my costume there, ie. a baker's coat, hat, apron etc.
All things I can totally use in my real life!
Don't worry, I will take a bunch of pictures to share the Julia costume with you. I've got pearl earrings and strand, and I have a blouse, if it fits, the only question is a pencil style skirt... My hair is going to blend in well too. Maybe I am Julia Jr., instead of Martha Jr. (Martha is SO last year right?). This really will be my first Halloween costume. I've never been to a real Halloween party, except for work-related-at-the-office type dress up parties (I was a gypsy).

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Nesting Instinct

I had to order these adorable cards as my change of address cards!
From Sadie Olive!

I'm really into nests right now so I had to get this!

I also love Cathy Walters style, she's a wonderful photographer too.
One day I hope she can photograph my family.
Check out her Etsy site here. You can find her blog here.

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Before and After Desk

A before and after party at:

Our favorite desk

Pretty much perfect

A little bright

White on white

My mom bought this desk for me at a garage sale, and it was a dark reddish brown wood, and it's potential was hidden behind that gloom. I immediately pulled out the white spray paint.
Six years later I realized I was getting bored with all the white furniture everywhere and decided I love aqua. After getting several tester pots from Lowe's of different shades and hues I tried one that was just a bit to saturated and green. I painted it at six in the morning before the kids woke up. I must've been asleep too.
That afternoon I realized that it was UGLY! I pulled out another pot of paint and - VOILA! My new desk was born.
This piece has been a favorite with us and I get lots of positive comments on it. Who knows what its next color potential will be!?

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Going Junkless

We've been working hard, pulling out all the stuff that has accumulated in the shed, the backyard, the laundry room. It is so BAD!!! I mean, there's so much stuff I can't believe it. We've taken two large truckloads to Goodwill and I've sold some stuff, but there's more!!! What's a girl to do with all this minutia? At 7 a.m. today I was packing up my grandmother's china so Doug could take it in the car and I wouldn't worry about it getting broken on the truck. He also took some large mirrors. And our dog.
After he left this morning I looked around and felt a surge of doubt that I can complete this task. It's nonstop junk around here. My new bigger home is not going to be much bigger if we take all this. On the other hand it is quite difficult to just giveaway everything that money has been spent on. No more Target trips eh? Definitely no more estate sales! Of course, I'm planning a trip to Ikea before I leave town.
Hmmmm...what oh what shall I do? I really want to walk away.
What would you do if you knew you didn't need it all? I'm thinking of renting a flea market space and putting my extra stuff up for sale there. Or maybe find a needy person to give things to. Obviously selling isn't going to work.
I imagine our new home to be thoroughly organized, simply and elegantly furnished, light, airy, family friendly, easy to clean, and easy to do everything we want to do in it.
I won't know till I get there, but I'm going to do my best to incorporate all those things. You can follow all my home developments on my other blog: www.differentdogcottage.blogspot.com

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The Last Birthday Party - for a while

It's all about Darcy.

Yesterday we had a party...which was kind of silly of me to have the day after the Cottage Sale! Hubs and I are super duper very tired. And I'm weird because I can't sleep longer than six hours in a row (that's why I'm writing at five in the a.m.).
Anyway, I digress, we had a birthday slash going-away party for Darcy and ourselves. I secretly hoped someone else would throw us a party, but, uh, that didn't happen.
At 9 a.m. the princess bouncer arrived for the girls...this is a good and bad thing. The good part is that they LOVE it and don't want to do anything else all day...that bad part is that is was so hot and someone had to watch them jump. It's still out there by the way...they're going to jump for a few more hours.
(Oh, the other scary thing about having parties is that there are germs everywhere and kids coughing on eachother etc. Keeping my fingers crossed we don't catch any more bugs).
Poor Hubs and I scrambled around most of the morning moving furniture and junk and boxes. I cleaned the floors and the bathroom like a trooper. Sissy made cupcakes and corralled children.
The food and everything came together beautifully, our friend Mark took pictures, the kids ran around and fought over slinkies and bounced their booties off. The adults tended to congregate inside in the a/c, drinking spiced sangria and munching chips and salsa or slirping up fruity-marshmallow (waldorf) salad. I definitely need to post that recipe, and the frosting too.
The party went really well...there was no blood or accidents, maybe one sangria spilled...around 6ish the kids started melting down and us parents looked at eachother and said enough.

I don't know if I'll see everyone that came again for a while. It was bittersweet. I got kind of teary eyed at one point but I don't think anyone noticed. I have to say I love my house when it's clean and full of people...great memories of my babies and birthday parties here...

It's my party too - I'll cry if I want to.

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It's raining again...

I've got some large feet, but they go well with my tall frame (6ft.). The hard part is finding shoes to fit these puppies. I have taken to wearing flipflops year round, because I am in So. California. Moving to the midwest in a few weeks I decided to research shoe and boot availability. And I think I might have found the motherlode!
I haven't purchased anything yet, but I'm going to try their wellington style boots from Hunter. If you've got larger than size 10 feet you might want to check out BarefootTess.com and see what they've got on sale!
The boots pictured above go up to size 15! They are $98, but that is worth it when you don't buy a lot of shoes. There are also some cute clearance shoes that I have my eye on.
Okay, my next order of business - find warm clothes for the little girls!

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Cottage Sale

Items shown above are for sale...vintage raincoats, painted furniture,
and a lovely antique buffet. (One raincoat sold, round table sold, buffet sold,
white magazine table sold)

SOLDLittle black table, great for a smaller bedroom, $25 obo

SOLDThis is a little shabby chic style table with built-in magazine holders
and a little drawer. Perfect for an entry way. $35 obo.
Really cute bench...I want to keep it but don't know where I'll put it in the new house.
$45 firm

Beautiful antique armoire in perfect condition. Much bigger than it looks.
$450 obo Will consider lower offers

SOLD1930s oak buffet with beautiful carved drawers.
Has key and locks that work. One drawer is felt lined.
$450 obo

SOLD! Shapely dresser, needs some tlc, but would be
gorgeous painted black or silver! Dimensions 47" tall, 20" deep, 38" wide
$45 (everyone keeps calling but no one takes it away!)

Smaller scale china cabinet in lovely condition.
$150

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Decorating in my mind

I know most of us out there are really into decorating...and that's what I'm into right now myself. I am imagining my new home already finished and the furniture in place before I get there. That's the super fun part.
Well, today, I am one step closer to that: I purchased a dresser and bedside tables for my new bedroom, a cute dresser & mirror for one of the girls' rooms, and two pairs of elegant lamps. I am pondering the bedside tables that match the little girl's dresser. I think they are all Pottery Barn or similar store. $50 each for a gorgeous bedside table???? I couldn't pass it up! I am taking photos right now and will get some up so you can drool with me. Thank you Hughes Estate Sales...I'm going to miss you. A LOT!

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Reality bytes...

Holy Mackerel! I almost missed a cool giveaway for a Homegoods gift card. I thought I'd tell you about it, but you better not enter! There's too many of us already.
Read about it here. This is also a great incentive to me to try the beadboard wallpaper! It looks totally amazing and so much easier than real beadboard. You know I love beadboard right? Watch out new house!!!

Spent the afternoon with Lyndsay and kids today. It was fun! We didn't get to watch Oprah together on Wednesday...I can't believe I'm moving away after making such a lovely new friend. I hope she comes to visit me one day.

I also have a friend coming over next week to help me pack. AHHHHHHHH! I don't want to do it but I have to start. I'm sort of pretending I'm not really leaving here. I catch myself just staring into space sometimes...and I think that I'm going to be in a different place next month. Oh deary me.

We've been loving pumpkin spice cake this week. Trader Joe's has the best mixes for baking there. I'm going to stock up for the winter. I think the spice cake is seasonal.

I do have photos to share with you but I'm missing my usb cable again. I need to tape it to my desk so it doesn't wander. I promise to do better!

Also, if you haven't heard of Allegiant Airline you might want to check them out. I got oneway tickets to Springfield for under a hundred dollars. And it's usually non-stop. No frills but lots of leg room. Check them out!

I'll pick you up at the airport! Read More......

Getting Ready for Afternoon Tea

I have had to cancel my tea invitation. Sorry girls. I am so tired from everything, I don't think I can handle another event. Love to you all! Read More......