Let the Light Show Begin

No, you have not stumbled on vacation pictures of the light show at Disney. Although at times I thought I was living in a Mickey cartoon, not the castle we all want to have. Lighting plays a very important part of your decor. Man, I am starting to sound like a designer,NOT. Then again I am sure you have read all that blah,blah,blah on other blogs. I know ya'll just want to see the pictures and hear the drama.

Before photo is not too great, I am sure that I have a better photo somewhere.
This is the dining area. I had a light that I ordered from JC Penny's fifteen years ago. It was a cut Tiffany style glass fixture.

This is Camo Man and a friend of ours hanging the new light. It is so blurry, I snapped it fast cause Camo Man was fussin about me putting down the camera and helping. He is not a blogland fan. Am I the only one whos husband sighs this hugh sigh when he walks in and I am on the computer?

Below is the light above our island. Here is the drama, actually I hope this helps someone out. When you get to this point of a remodel you are fed up with each other and want to put the house on the market "AS IS". Our old light was a box light with the long florescent lights. Well I wanted to pull that down and put a light with pot hangers or some really cool pendant lights. No one told me the new light weighed over seventy five pounds and there was no stud in the ceiling where it needed to hang. So Camo Man came up with the idea to leave the wooden light box and enclose it with matching boards. This would make it sturdy enough to hold my fabulous new light. After I shed a few tears, I agreed. I told him I did not want it to look like a we had to do a fixer upper. He assured me it would look great. Gosh, he was RIGHT. It looks as though it was made to be hung that way. Even his mom said how wonderful it looked, she thought he built the whole light box. She did not realize that was the same box that had hung there for fifteen years.

The kitchen is now bright, sorry no fireworks here.
I love my new lighting. It has the look of French Country.

This is the light above the dining table. It took me a few days to get used to it instead of the Tiffany light. This one is so much heavier looking.

It is very hard to take photos of lighting. It is too bright with the light on and dark with it off. But stay tuned, hopefully you will see them better in photos of the whole kitchen. WOW, I am starting to feel a little like Cinderella ......

We're Cookin Now...Well Maybe

Can you remember when the kitchen looked like this?... it really wasn't that bad now looking back over everything we have been through. My white gas stove was great. But in one of my few cleaning moods, I sprayed oven cleaner on the front by the knobs. Warning I don't know what is in that stuff, but it WILL chomp thru paint. Hey I just realized for all you crafters maybe you could use it as a paint remover for metal...(just a thought). The old vent hood was actually new. Camo Man said it had to go. I found it a home, next door with Grannie. Hers did not have lights and she needed a stronger one for all that chicken she fries.

This is Camo Man and Main Man (Susie's /http://susieharris.blogspot.com/ better half) installing the vent pipe for the hood. Mr. Appliance Man told us that if we have an industrial stove you have to have a vent that can handle the heat and vents out of the house.
Camo Man thought he could just cut a hole right thru the ceiling and roof. It did not take long for him to realize that our sons' bathroom is right above (heehee). So he headed thru the cabinet and out to the porch. I was not happy about that, but I try to pick the battles that I really want to win. (Newly weds remember this advice. Of course not now cause you are still honeymoonin, but trust me and thank me, one day you will pick your battles.) Now back to the kitchen.

All stainless, shiny and new. The stove is a five burner DCS. I LOVE the oven racks, they just roll right out.

I am not quite sure if I am ready to yuck it up yet. I am hoping Camo Man will finish the out summer cooking on the grill or better get take out....Oh yeah, now where did I put those menus??

TWICE AS NICE

I am friends with two great girls who have one fabulous blog, and they just happen to be twins (TWICE AS NICE).

(Note: this is not a actual picture of them)

They are giving away a FREE vinyl wall art. What a great way to say whats in your heart, right on your wall. They need a little help with a project, so the way that I hope to help is by posting their link. You know I am all about helping out our blog friends. Please take a moment to drop by and see if you can help them. http://twiceasnicetwin.blogspot.com/ .

Where's the fork?

If you have five minutes, you can make this dessert that looks like it took all afternoon. I had a few friends over friday night and needed a quick dessert. All I needed to do was pick up an Angel food cake, cool whip, pudding and blueberries. I mixed the pudding with milk and folded in a little whipped topping. I then cut the cake in half, dolloped the pudding on, then replaced the top of the cake. Dollop on more pudding and blueberries. I wanted to add strawberries, but the ones at the store did not look to pretty. Whala you have a dessert that looks and tastes great. When I pulled it out everyone was amazed.

Hot Christmas in July

Christmas in July, you say it is too early and way to hot. Well you are right, but I have to tell you, yesterday on my way to work I pulled out a cd without looking (I do that sometimes). Low and behold it was Jazzy Christmas Music. I turned the car ac down to 60 degrees and actually enjoyed listening. It had me thinking, for us crafters its time to get jiggy with it.



When I got home yesterday I went to visit a few blog friends. I admire bloggers who take the time to teach a craft. They put so much time in the photos and giving directions (to those that take time to post tutorials "May you forever be blessed with front row parking at the local craft joints").

I could not believe what I saw. I found Christmas at the blog of some great friends. If you are in the Christmas in July mood you have to go over and visit my friends at Roots and Wings. They are two crafty sisters, Rebecca and Anjeanette, along with their craftey sister in law, Katrina. If you have ever wanted to make a advent calendar and did not know where to start just drop over a take a look at all the different ones. (I would show you a picture, but their work is copyrighted and I have not asked permission) They show you in great detail how to make for your family. Oh and I almost forgot to tell you about the cool Christmas garland chain they show you how to make. This idea can be used in so many ways, but you have to see it for yourself....let me know what you think...

Closet/Me Makeover

This photo got your attention but don't get too excited, this is not the remodel of my closet...but my closet will look like this in my next house.

For years I lived in a very small trailer with a very small closet. Everything was in that closet, you know the kind with a sliding door and a pipe across the length of it. The ceiling was like 6 foot tall so when I would hang any long items you could not see the floor. I felt like a little possum scouring looking for my shoes under all the clothes. In a trailer you do not have an attic. So guess where the Christmas tree and outgrown baby items where stored? You got it ...my closet.

I felt like a queen when we moved into our house. I thought that closet was huge. The greatest thing was I did not have to share it with Mr. Christmas tree, or the vacuum cleaner, or the 1988 highchair.

Actually in this photo I had already started taking stuff out.

Camo Man hates sharing with me. He is so organized and everything in a place. But now I wear scrubs to work and I am not really a clothing shopper. I hear all you shoppers gasping for air.

It is ok, I have come to terms with it. (After gaining weight, I would rather buy house stuff and of course fabric than clothes). If there is anyone out there like me, please leave me a comment, it gets lonely not going to the mall.

Well it is time to clean out and organize before Camo Man puts it all on the front lawn. He really is a patient man.

Who wants to dress after wearing scrubs all week? On the weekend I tend to grab a t-shirt and old shorts. I never really dress nice. Then if I run an errand I feel frumpy.

And boy you won't admit it but thats when you see everybody that you graduated with or worked with at a past job. The worst is when you see the guy you dated a hundred years ago with his cute little fabulous young wife. Then I ask my self "Why didn't I just take five minutes and put on something cute???". (I'd be perfect for that What Not To Wear show).
Solution for me, I put all the t-shirts and shorts in the dresser drawer. Only my nicer clothes are hanging. As you can see I don't have that many.

Yes, that is a pair of bee slippers on the self.

This way I am hoping that I will think twice before I just grab something. Last weekend I got dressed to go out. It made me feel so good when my sis in-law wanted to know why I was dressed up. She even wanted to know if I lost weight. What motivation me not to just grab something other than a t-shirt and tennis shoes. I think I will clean out the closet more often and maybe throw in a little shopping trip.

Welcome Home Little World Traveler

Yes, after many prayers and worrying, Brattany has made it back to the good ole USA. While I and my blog friends (thank you) were here praying she was having the time of her life.



I do believe the travel bug has bitten. On the plane ride home she was planning her next adventure.
Oh to be young and have the world in your hands...

When she arrived home Bratt informed me that her teacher will be offering a Creative Writing class next summer. She let the teacher know her mom would be attending. I told Bratt that would be GREAT, but I only get a two week vacation and who would be paying for my adventure???
Oh to be young and not have any bills...

She has some really great photos, I am trying to get her to be a guest blogger for the day...

Well I am on my vacation from work this week, but not to be the world traveler. Not really a traveler at all unless you count hiking to the coffee pot, joggin to washing machine, climbing the great orange ladder to put books on the bookshelves. I am home to do the much needed cleaning and organization of the house even though the remodel is still not complete.

Oh too be old and have so much shit to do...

But of course it is 2:15 pm I am in my pjs and have not gotten much done. Lets see if that cafe on the counter top is still open for another cup of hot coffee.(giggle)