Still Waiting For the Bumper Sticker

Last night, we attended the annual end of season football banquet. Calling it a banquet is kind of a misnomer; there are cookies, lots and lots of cookies, and there is soda. So, not so much a banquet as a stomach ache buffet, and, as always, I digress.

Anyway, the banquet honors the football team, focusing primarily on the Seniors and on the boys who earn places on the All-Conference and Academic All State teams. as a Junior, The Cub received a certificate of participation as well as the bar that goes on his Football letter, indicating that he has lettered for a second year. He was also surprised with an Academic All State Team Honorable mention, which, blew his little mind.

I don't know why, he's made honor roll throughout his high school career, and, Juniors are eligible for nominations; he should have seen the possibility.

On the other hand, this is the child who, when asked to put popcorn seasoning on the grocery list, does this:

Like, he literally put the empty seasoning container on the list. That's either an indication of a serious lack of common sense or a smartass in the making.

I'm going with smartass in the making because, otherwise, I would fear for the child's future.

Fall Decor

The day after Halloween, I decorated the house for Thanksgiving, as I do every year. With the excitement of the new scrapbooking room, I almost forgot to take pictures of the decorations.

Do I need to take pictures of the decorations every year? Noooo, but, as I've explained before; if I don't document it, I am likely to forget where I put things from year to year. I do really like to avoid everything looking exactly the same each year, so, remembering what I have done before goes a long way in forcing me to get more creative.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Also, when I put stuff out and Hugh accuses me of spending good money on more new crap, I can prove that I have had this shit for years. Believe it or not, this argument happens more years than not. Perhaps you can relate.

Anyhoodle, here are this year's decorations.

Ok, so I am no artist, but, didn't I do a fabulous job on this chalkboard? It is amazing what you can find on the internet: step-by-step turkey tutorial, anyone? Why yes! Thank you!

Don't worry, I won't quit my dayjob. And, yes, Hugh, I have had this chalkboard for years.

Honey Do's Honey Did

Our weekend was chock-full of projects, and, I mean, Chock. Full. We started Friday afternoon and did not finish until 9:00 last night, when Hugh declared himself too sore and exhausted to continue. Luckily, we were at a great stopping point, with all but one project left to complete.

So, what were we working on all that time?

My new scrapbooking room!

The room, as you may remember, was our guestroom, prior to The Teenager moving into her own house. Back then, it looked like this...

When The Teenager abandoned her childhood room (not bitter!), I moved the guest room suite upstairs, where it made for a very spacious and airy guestroom. It also left a lot of empty space downstairs for me to utilize for my scrapping purposes.

I had a pretty specific style and design in mind for that space. Thankfully, I also have a handy husband and access to raw materials, and, the picture in my head was translated beautifully into the final room.

When picturing the room, I knew that I wanted a work space that looked less like a craft table and more like fine furniture. I wanted the room, itself, to have a vintage look, in keeping with the rest of the style throughout the house, and; I wanted to incorporate reclaimed and salvaged pieces in the room, in addition to the  new builds. Tall order, I know, but, as I said, ultimately successful.

The new build, consisting of base cabinetry and countertop, were purchased through the hardware store (on sale!). I described the look I was going for and Hugh customized the plain white cabinets with ball feet, wainscoting, and an engineered top that resembles a sheet of slate. We finished the cabinets with the antique glass knobs that I found at Pickin' at the Pea last month, and voila! A stand-alone piece of furniture that can be moved if I ever want to re-arrange the room.

My paper storage/organizer is an inexpensive piece that I have had for years. Hugh tackled the problem of it being utterly hideous by finishing it with wainscoting left over from the house remodel (which we have been storing since 2006. Because, sometimes it pays to be a hoarder), and making a lid for it, with a handle created from two additional antique knobs that I found at one of my favorite thrift stores. The piece now blends seamlessly with the rest of the room, and, a pretty ugly piece has been transformed into a functional and lovely storage solution.

The large picture frame now hanging on the main wall was re-purposed from the old window sash that I also found at Pickin' at the Pea.

After scraping the existing paint from the piece, I repainted with chalk paint, added a few distressed areas, sealed with poly, and had Hugh replace two missing panes of glass and add a back. Although the panes aren't standard photo size, I easily adapted some black and white prints to fit. I'm really, really happy with how it turned out, and, I can't wait to use chalk paint on something else.

A bookcase from The Teenager's old room and an antique cabinet from another local shop complete the space (for now; I am still hoping to fine an old farm table for additional work space and I have a vintage office chair that I am refurbishing for the room even as we speak).

I love, love, LOVE it!

All of my supplies have been relocated from the mudroom to the scrapping room and I am ready to dive back into the kids' scrapbooks; currently, The Teenager's is five years behind, while the Man-Cub's lags by six. This room could not have come along at a better time, obviously.

If posts become scarce, you'll know where to find me...

Throwback Thursday: My How Times Have Changed

Say what you will about Facebook, but, you can't deny that it has changed the way that people relate to one another. In my experience, it has brought together friends and family from all across this country, and, sometimes, from even greater distances.

Facebook has connected me to kids I knew in grade school, to High School classmates, to family who I know well, and to family that I have barely met; Facebook is a forum for us to share memories and common experiences.

A while back, one of my cousins scanned and posted photos from his mother's old albums; there were photos of my grandparents, my parents, my sister and myself as young children, all of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and old family friends. It was a tremendous undertaking, and, in my opinion, a vastly rewarding one.

For one thing, we got this awesome picture of my Aunt Connie, sharing a tasty refreshment with her infant son while his adoring grandfather looked on...

The picture was taken in front of my parents' house during the Stampede parade; I can't count all of the ways in which it is wrong by today's standards: Providing alcohol to a minor. Violation of the open container law. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Child neglect, or abuse (depending on the sympathies of the presiding judge). Yet, I cannot help but love this photo, and, truth be told, to yearn for those simpler days.

I love that it captures, exactly, the way that I remember my Grandad.

I love that it reminds me of just how soft and squishy my cousin Brian's chubby little legs were and how delightful his laugh was.

I love that I see a strong resemblance between my aunt and myself.

I love that my childhood home is in the background.

And I love the mellowness of light that only old prints can capture.

If it hadn't been for Facebook, I probably would have never seen this photo, so, thanks, Facebook. Thanks, Cousin George. And, thank you to my Aunt Connie, for providing the photographer with an epic shot; I cannot wait to see how shocking some of the photos I have taken turn out to be forty years from now.

New Month, New Hairstyle

Lately, I have been tired of my hair. It had grown a little too long for a woman pushing fifty, and, it was damaged from six years of constant coloring and heated styling tools.

So, yesterday, while in the chair for my monthly root touch-up, I impulsively requested a new do. 

My stylist is awesome and she did not disappoint. Three inches and a new set of bangs later, I was rocking a totally new head of hair. 

I don't miss the length, as I said, it was pretty gnarly, anyway, and; I love the fringe around the face-it really distracts from the forehead wrinkles and crows feet around my eyes. 

So, new haircut for the win!

The End of the Season

The boys lost their final league football game Friday night. We thought we might have a chance at a wild card berth in the district play-offs, but, sadly, we lacked enough season points to secure our place.

The boys are taking it quite well; they are such good sports.

I'm sad. I really came to enjoy the Friday night games, which, for someone with a lifetime of football apathy, is saying a lot.

Thankfully, there is always next year (God willing and the creek don't rise). And, in the meantime, we have basketball to distract us. I think practice starts today.

 

This shirt also works for basketball. Go Team!

Hello, November

Another new month! This year is almost over; I can hardly believe it. Happily, November is my birthday month, and, I am going to make the best of it. I've given some thought to this month's goals and a lot of them involve me taking better care of myself, which, considering the fact that I have felt like complete shit since roughly June, is probably wise.

- Cut refined sugar and Diet Pepsi completely out of my diet. AGAIN. I forget how good I feel when I am eating a cleaner diet; I need to remind myself of that fact when the sugar cravings hit.

- Start exercising again. This doesn't have to be a huge chore, it could involve something as simple as a walk on my lunch hour, but, the bottom line is: I have to get moving again.

- Host Thanksgiving dinner. Hopefully, my mom will be able to make it (Stay off my turf, Old Man Winter!).

- Purchase five more Christmas presents and order Christmas cards.

- Treat myself to a facial and a massage.

- Figure out a way to relax. Maybe I should learn how to meditate...or, I could take more baths, with wine.

Last month's goals, it should be noted, were completed in their entirety. But, no pressure, November.