Back to School

I know..my blogging skills are lacking.

What can I say?I had a busy spring and summer.

My kids are back in school...all of my kids.My youngest child started kindergarten this year while my older two are in high school.So far, so good.Everyone still likes their teachers and classes and the big kids got all the classes they were interested in and needed.I kinda got misty eyed sending them all to school-this is a special year for all of us.My oldest son is entering his senior year, my daughter is a freshman(so high school is a new thing for her), and my youngest son is just beginning school.It's a big year at our house.
This is the first time in five years that I've had time to myself every day.It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't have kids around to keep you busy(and make sure they're not getting into trouble). In the past two weeks I have crocheted an afghan, started another, reorganized some cabinets/drawers, and read six books.Oh, and I decorated my mantel for back to school.

I got most of this stuff at thrift stores.

 

 

 I found the brass book stand at the Goodwill outlet store for a dollar and cleaned it up.The book, "We Like Kindergarten", is illustrated by Eloise Wilkin.The cover is pretty beat up and the back page is torn out,but the illustrations are so sweet.Definitely worth the quarter I paid for it at the thrift store.

The little chalk dog was $1.00 and so was the ceramic pail with lid.It doesn't have any marking on it, but I think it was used for grease at one time.The apples were a thrift store find last year for .50 cents. "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" was my husband's book when he was a boy.His grandmother used to play that game with him, his brother, and cousins in the hallway of her house.She would pretend to be the troll under the bridge and they'd have to get past her without her catching and tickling them.

The little globe came from a yard sale for $1.00.The ceramic tile has a bear and a giraffe glazed on it-it came from the thrift store for .50 cents.That big stack under the globe is a bunch of Highlights magazines.My MIL had saved them and sent them home with my husband one day.I'm not sure what else I can do with them(maybe ebay?)The music book was a thrift store find too.

That's it for now.I plan on changing the mantel in a couple of weeks for my oldest son's birthday.He turns the big 17.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Linked to
http://sirthriftalot.blogspot.com/

Sick Day

I feel like I've been hit by a truck.
I think my husband's right and I have the flu (don't let him know I said that-I'll never hear the end of it).
So all the clutter I wanted to bag up stayed exactly where it laid as I tried to figure out how to sleep without coughing or my nose running like a faucet.

And then I got an email from Ebay telling me about free fixed listings from the 17th-21st.I think they're mocking me because I'm sitting here on the verge of death(not really) and it's taunting me in a singsong voice..'Yoohoo, you have all this stuff to list.You're fever's only 100.2..get up and take some pictures.You know you want to.'

I'm on medication.Excuse my delusions.

I only had two sales this week, both have paid and they've been shipped.

I snatched this iittala Festivo candlestick up at the thrift store for $2.70 a couple of weeks ago.It sold for $75.00.This one went for so much because it had so many rings, but I've sold smaller ones for a good profit too.They're usually inscribed with a "TS" on the bottom.

I had this listed before Valentine's Day,but it sold last night for $14.99. I guess someone wanted to wear their heart on their sleeve(and chest).Ha!

Did I mention I'm on medication?

 

Fingers crossed that I feel better tomorrow so I can take some pictures and get stuff listed.

 

Day 3(40 Days of Clutter) & found treasures

Wow,it's getting easier to get rid of things . In fact, if I didn't have this dang cold (my husband still says it's the flu) I would've kept going.Here's today's box o' clutter:

More gift wrap ribbon,some brass animals,some random plates,a colander,a lips phone missing the cord,some stackable canisters,a cardboard cupcake tier, an oil and vinegar set,some gingerbread house cookie cutters,and a Woody hat.Super props to me for getting rid of a couple of Valentine's decorations before President's day.I paused for a split second before I threw the gingerbread cookie cutter set in the box, but I realized what I really love to do is buy the premade house and let the kids go to town decorating it.They don't care whether I make the house from scratch so buh-bye Mommy guilt!! I had kept the colander so I could make a light fixture, but I wouldn't have had anywhere to put it so I let it go. See?? The potential of clutter-it'll suck you in with Pinterest boards that make you look like the most interesting person on Earth, but your house looks like a disaster.

As I was decluttering today,I found some blown glass Christmas ornaments(including a Christopher Radko) that I had gotten at a thrift store early fall and stashed and then forgot.And if that wasn't enough,I found mine and my husband's wedding bands.I have been looking for these rings for years and had searched the house several times.We don't wear them since he's a mechanic and I'm always mucking around doing something with my hands, but it is a huge relief to know they are safe. Our 18th anniversary is coming up in April-we might have to break them out that day.

Day 2 (40 Days of Clutter) and an Egg Sucking Dog

So I dropped off the boxes of plates at the thrift store today and they were having a half off sale so I came home with a bag of stuff. It's really good stuff though! And I've got places for it and....(hanging head) I know.The point of 40 days of Clutter is not to bring more stuff home.
I'll try harder.

On to Day 2

In today's bag, I have a bunch of Christmas ornaments(most of the balls at the bottom are cracked-why was I keeping those?),a lampshade,a Halloween chair cover (it's been on one of my kitchen chairs since Oct.),a ceramic mouse,and some gift wrap ribbon. I thought about keeping the ribbon to use, but then I realized that I have alot of  beautiful FABRIC ribbon stashed away. Most of the ornaments came from my Mom's house; she decided to get rid of all her Christmas decorations and this is stuff that's been sitting in my kitchen since December.
As I look at this pile,I can clearly see that it's a pile of potential.I look at the lampshade and I see I can recover it.I look at the ornaments a see a wreath or a garland, or hey I can tie that onto a package. That's my problem.Lots of potential- not enough time to execute.

Remember I told ya'll about the new dog Susie?Here she is.

The vet told us she looked like a mix of Husky and something else.She loves the kids and is friendly,but she is chewing everything in sight.We've had to spray bitters on the walls by the back door because she was ripping the siding off. My dad saw a picture of her and replied,"That's an egg sucking dog if I ever saw one."
Backstory on my dad: He grew up on a farm with lots of animals.Dogs are funny things because once they get a taste of something good like chickens or lambs or eggs, it's almost impossible to break them of eating it.He had this dog that would dig his way into the henhouse and steal the eggs.One day, my dad set out to break his dog of sucking eggs.So he takes an egg, empties it out, and proceeds to fill it with any gross stuff he could find.He said the dog got ahold of that egg and immediately keeled over and died.My grandma once told me that the dog was really old and she thought it probably died of a heart attack from eating an egg filled with hot sauce, cod liver oil, and sour milk.
My Daddy is special.
Special doesn't always mean better.
I'm not sure how this relates to Susie as I've never seen her eat an egg..or suck one.
Just thought I'd share.

Catch up and 40 days of clutter

Dang I am a terrible blogger. I really did mean to post more often, but life and stuff got in the way. In the past month, the following has happened:
*16 yo ds got expelled from school...again.For saying something inappropriate...again.Since he was expelled/suspended for the same reason last year,this time the school psychologists, social workers, and counselors got involved.That meant interviews, filling out questionnaires,and he's being tested for Asperger's Syndrome.It's been a huge pain in the patootie, but necessary.He's back in school now.
*I've also had meetings about my 14 yo dd(who has high functioning autism).The teachers and guidance counselors want to get her IQ tested again because she's such a smarty pants.They had tested her IQ in kindergarten, but seeing how her vocabulary was about 10-15 words at the time I don't know how they did it.They also think she should be in honors classes next year in 9th grade- that will be interesting.
*Everyone in this house has caught the "crud".It started with the 4 yo last week and then went to the teenagers, my husband, and finally me.My husband has been laying around for the past two days absolutely sure that we all have the flu (and he's dying from it).He gave me temperature updates at least three times yesterday ("Honey,my temp is 100.2").I took all three kids to the pediatrician to get them checked out and they all tested negative for the flu. When I came home and told my husband the test results he replied,"Oh so it's just me that has it then." SMH.At least when he gets an idea, he remains committed no matter how wrong. At that point,I took a big dose of medicine,told them they could fend for themselves for awhile, and went to bed.
*And then there's a bunch of other stuff like we got the transmission on my son's truck replaced,we bought a new dishwasher(VERY happy about that-it had been broken since before Thanksgiving),and we got a new dog from the shelter(I use the term "we" generously here.My husband and the kids went out and came back with a dog.Her name is Susie.)

I've been busy.
Ok, catch up over.

Now for the 40 days of clutter.
I get emails all the time from FLYLADY about decluttering and baby steps...I really love her ideas about making routines and getting rid of stuff you don't love anymore.Anyway,today is the first day of Lent and she has suggested giving up one bag/box of clutter to be given or thrown away per day for 40 days.I'm not Catholic, but I'm totally going to try this. Here's my first day's box(es).

This is two boxes of Franklin Mint decorative plates that belong to a friend of mine.I sold a bunch of stuff for her on consignment and this is what hasn't sold.She said she's over it and to donate them.Hooray!!They have been sitting in my Ebay area for close to a year taking up space. They probably would have sold eventually, but it is a drain sometimes to see stuff sit.Besides, she made about $1000 on the stuff I did sell and she'll get a tax deduction from these boxes (this was all from her stepdad's estate).They're in the car ready to go to the thrift store.
Woohoo!

Happy New Year! 2013 is going to be great!

Yes, that is a mantel full of fireworks.This is what happens when my husband and son go off to buy fireworks without me.When I got it all up there, I told my husband,"I can't believe we have so many fireworks." His reply-"I thought we had more." What?!  (The mantel will be empty come tomorrow).

Happy Soon To Be New Year Everyone!!! Was 2012 a great year for you or will you be glad to be rid of it? Although I have had a pretty good year,I am looking forward to 2013.

Do you all make resolutions?I do.
Every year,I have this big list of resolutions I want to accomplish.Within the first week(or day),I've broken almost all of them.Then the next year would come and I would have a brand new list with the same old resolutions on it.Lose a ton of weight, get organized,etc.,etc.,etc.I often thought,'Why am I setting myself up for failure?'

This year, I'm trying something different.

Instead of a list of resolutions,I've come up with a theme for 2013.

I wish to be happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise.

At the first of every month,I'm going to ask myself:
Am I happier, healthier, wealthier, and wiser than the month before? Even something small is a step in the right direction. Then I'll post about my progress.

So here's to a fantastic new year..and I hope that it finds you happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise.

One more picture of my fireworks-

                                    and two very excited guys ready to blast in the new year!

I'm Bona Fide

 

 

I know, I know...two months is too long to go in between posts.I've had a very good reason though.

 

It's official. Black belt, baby!

 

I have been training for this for a VERY long time.I've been taking shotokan karate for about five years now(and have been putting off my black belt test for about a year).

The reason(s) I had been putting off this test??

1. It's a brutal test.The test is broken up into two days.One day for the physical endurance and then another day for the katas and sparring.
2. At a little over 200 lbs, I'm a big girl..horizontally.Vertically,I'm only 5'2".So I had been trying to drop some weight before I did this.My problem??My love of butter(and other fattening foods).
3. Part of the physical test includes a two mile run.I am not a runner.It is probably my least favorite activity and not just because of my resemblance of Marvin the Martian (my legs are really moving fast,but I'm not going anywhere).In fact, they say that people have a Fight or Flight instinct..I don't think I have any Flight(I'm all Fight,lol).

So I've been training.Running my two cursed miles 2-3 times a week,building up my endurance,practicing my katas and kicks.
And it has been hard...really reaallly hard.

I did the physical test on Wednesday. It included:
*a two mile run (did it very slow at 22 minutes.I told you I'm not a runner.)
*100 push ups and 100 sit ups in 5 minutes
*100 front kicks and 100 round kicks on each leg/100 reverse punches on each arm in 5 minutes
*60 slide up hook kicks and 60 slide up side kicks on each leg in 5 minutes

Then on Friday I took my black belt test.It included:
*performance of 13 katas(routines)
*8 universals(fighting combinations)
*12 one steps(fighting moves)
*Breaking two boards

*6 rounds of sparring with my peers who were testing with me.These rounds were with a fog machine on and some of the rounds were in the dark with a strobe light on.They wanted to see what we could do when there are distractions.
*30 seconds in the ring with Red Man. Red Man is one of the instructors who is dressed head to toe in steel plated pads.
*9 rounds of sparring with the black belt instructors.

It is seriously one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life.
I plan on continuing with karate.
At the end of my test,one of my instructors said,"Getting a black belt isn't the end of your journey.It just means you know the basics."Too true.