Project complete, I think

Found:

I bought a child's "antique" dresser for $10. It was in a little bit of rough shape-but with some sanding, priming, painting, and some new hardware, it turned out soooo cute! The paint and harware cost about $50. Not too shabby for shabby chic!

During:
Using lots of coats of stripper and some sanding I got this dresser down to it's bare bones. Finally I was able to paint on some primer. Looked great! Next-I painted it with some Chapagne Bubbles! I was looking at an antique grey color-but it felt too cold to me. I love the warmth. I crave warmth! Amazing what a few shades of color will do for me. Ahhhh. Plus the name alone just makes me all bubbly inside. Next I ordered some awesome blue glass drawer pulls from House of Antique Hardware. http://houseofantiquehardware.com/. Great prices and fast shipping. My darling husband (and Joey helped) had to cut off some of the bolt so we didn't gouge the inside of our wrist everytime we needed underwear. This is a picture of the paint stripper hard at work. I think it looks so neat and so satisfing to scrap the goop off. YA!

After:

Wowey. This is beautiful. What great character-warping included. Ok, is it really character or is it just an excuse for being cheap? Now where am I going to put it? I really don't know. Joey's room? Charlie's room? It is a little awkward because it is taller. I will just have to keep wheeling it around until I find the spot that is just perfect!

Orginally I was going to paste on days of the week on each drawer then plan out the boys outfits for the week. Now I really don't want to add anything to it. I am afraid it would ruin it. I love it just the way it is. I think we can remember that the top drawer is for Monday and so on. Or perhaps it will just be used to looked cute. Any ideas anyone?

Completing this project is so satisfying. Cool.

Baby, Baby, no more

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!

We celebrated Charlie's birthday last Sunday, on his birthday. What a special day. What a special year! Charlie is growing up right before our eyes! The night before his birthday, I was sure to give Charlie his last 1 year old hug. This stems from the continuing tradition my mom started. Even over the phone, my mom would give me my last ___ year old hug. And she still gives me these hugs!!! Continuing another tradition Jeff grew up with, we snuck in some balloons into Charlie's room when he was sleeping. We he awoke the next morning he was voicing his normal complaints, I was listening intently, and then Charlie mumbles some excited words about the balloons! How cute were those sounds! We had a small party and included Mamie, Grandma and Grandpa and us. Those that couldn't make it were sooo sweet to send birthday wishes in the mail! Thank you! Charlie loves Cookie Monster-and he certainly was one on this day. (Where did he get the love for cookies??? Hmmmm???)

Charlie LOVED the noise makers and the balloons. He is putting on the miles on his new trike!

Do you have any candy?

Here is the video of the boys trick or treating!

The Package and The UPS Man

This year was so much fun! Joey dressed as a package, which was his idea, and Charlie dressed as a UPS guy! (That was Sarah's idea, her hubby is a UPS driver-thanks Sarah!) The Thursday of Halloween week Joey's school had a costume party. He saw his friend dressed up as a Power Ranger-and Joey's eyes got big and he said "I really like your costume, wow". Seeing all his classmates all dressed up was so sweet! They all looked so cute. Joey's friend was dressed as a banana and there was another kid dressed as a monkey. That banana better watch out!

On Halloween, Grandma Mamie came to our house to tend to the other neighborhood kids so that Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf could take their kids around the block. (THANKS MAMIE!) Charlie was the most adorable UPS man I have ever seen. His little gloved hands holding his pumpkin bucket running down the sidewalk and talking made me smile so big! "happy hallwowwween" "twik o tweet" "thank youuu" We have a video too-see the previous post. Carrying the little "big" package after he was all worn out, filled up my heart for the next week! Grandma Mamie took the boys home with her to that we could go to a costume party. Tarrah's Halloween party is the best every year! Her costume was one of best I have ever seen! She is the blue one.

I had the super fun opportunity to work at the shop during the downtown trick or treating! It was a constant barrage of little witches, princesses, devils, bumble bees (the insect and the transformer), "scream", firefighters, ladybugs, dragons, dogs and cats, Thomas the Train, and a few unicorns. There was over 800 kids 2 hours! There were a few great homemade costumes- a Jack in the box, and a bulldozer-and I just want to say that is awesome. These parents put a lot of work into those costumes-great job! A special treat for me was to see Joey and Charlie all dressed up! Joey saw me and asked, "Mommy, why are you at trick-or-treating?" I gave away too much candy in the beginning and ran out with still an hour left! So far this has been the best Halloween for me.

Pumpkin Patch and Ghosts

Making Ghosts!
Take a plastic grocery bag and cut off any printing and the handles. Save the handles. Put another grocery bag inside of the cut one. Use the handle to tie the neck. Stick in a skewer through the middle. Use permanent marker to make eyes and a mouth. Super easy and fun!!!

At the pumpkin patch on a hayride. We met some friends and had a great time at Mommsens' produce patch in Rice Lake. http://www.producepatch.com/Mommsens_Produce_Patch/Home.html It was a really cold day.

Fall-Beware-This post has lots of cute pix!

This Fall has been busy so far. Did we miss it? It is already snowing. Well I least we got some pictures of classic fall activities! I will do another post soon!

At Grandma and Grandpa's house we raked a big leaf pile. There was a tree stump that was perfect for a photo opportunity.

We went to the Apple Orchard with the Mom's club. Joey will be going again with his preschool. What fun! I posted this first picture because if you look closely you can see how hard Joey is laughing. He was having the most fun on this bumpy ride! The second picture, Charlie is in mid-sneeze! I love to capture a sneeze. (Only digitally.)

The boys in the leaves. We raked a pile of leaves in our yard. They would hide their toys and then dig to find them. Out on the sidewalk I raked the leaves from the boulevard onto the sidewalk and Joey would ride his bike superfast though the pile. He would get stuck sometimes!

Face painting. Joey discovered Mamies face paint. We painted away. I drew a mustache on Joey. Joey made this sophisticated look on his face because he had a mustache. Where did he learn about that? When I told him to say "Do you have an Grey Poupon?" he laughed so hard!!!

Joey also had the opportunity to take the dog for a walk. Zoey is a small dog, so Joey is able to walk her on her leash without getting his arm ripped off. Joey was so cute! He took Zoey out in the woods on the path while I watched from the front steps. Every time the leash got tangled, Joey figured out how to untangle it. Joey is a little man!!!

Attempting some green clean up

Along with composting, I have been trying to add more things green around here. First I wanted to try homemade cleaning products. So far I have made some dishwasher detergent that works great! See the recipe on the picture. Just use a tablespoon in each load. What a great way to save money too! I have also starting buying Soy candles-as they release less toxins in the air.

To get some ideas, I looked through the book Green Your Clean Up, by Jill Schoff. I rented it from the library-but I am thinking about buying it. It has lots of good information, but I am not going to go buy a $3,000 vacuum cleaner.

I am not for throwing away perfectly good cleaning supplies-green or not green-just to try a new one. So I still have some windex, toilet cleaners, and other spray cleaning supplies that I want to use up before I replace them. I plan on mixing my own window cleaner using vinegar. For toilet cleaner? I learned from the Flylady (http://www.flylady.com/) that I can use any soap really. So I will be using a shampoo that we don't like. I will also use baking soda as a replacement for Comet. From Mother Nature's Foods, I found some essential oils. I will add these to the cleaners for a more pleasant smell. Another idea is to put a few drops of the oil on a paper towel along with some baking soda and place at the bottom of your trash can. I use the lemon oil. Adding some baking soda with a few drops of any oil into a dixie cup and putting anywhere that needs a little refreshing is a great idea too.

I am just trying to take one step at a time! I did have Charlie is some cloth diapers for awhile. I really liked it. He grew out of that size, and now I am still thinking about getting some more. I do at least 2 loads of laundry just about every day-so why not one more with just diapers? I purchased my diapers through Punkerdoops diapers. Amber is awesome! http://www.punkerdoopsdiapers.com/

So that is my green attempt around here!