Out with the OLD & in with the NEW

Goodbye

Hello

To quote my sister Vicki, "Count your many blessings!!!"

I can't wait to take a HOT shower!

Before-n-After

My one major goal this summer was to paint my bedroom furniture. Since the summer is coming to a close I thought I better get started. So yesterday I headed out bought some paint, invited a friend over to help and we started painting and we finished it too!!!!

Before

After

(Oh and I bought new bedding to go along with the "new" furniture)

This is what a $33 gallon of paint and a $4 can of spray paint can do!!! It looks brand new!!

You'd never guess now that this was my Grandparent's bedroom furniture and it's OLD!!!!

Before

After

I also added a little something to my kitchen

Before

After

This has been a TERRIFIC summer!!! Cameron and I have been able to do a lot and for that I'm very grateful. Work started today so it's back to the grind!!! Good thing I like my job!!! I still have a ton of posts and will hopefully get to them soon!!!

Despite a few obstacles I conquered!

The weather is so not cooperating this week. I started this whole lawn expedition on Monday it's now Wednesday and I finally finished but not without some mishaps;

1. The weed-eater kept coming unravelled

2. There was sun, then no sun, sun, then no sun....the problem was every time the sun left the rain came

3. My weed-eater kept coming unplugged (maybe I should purchase a gas powered one)

4. Finally the weather cooperated yesterday (for a brief minute) and I got one loop around the yard and the lawn mower ran out of gas :(

5. I told myself today come hell or high water I'm going to get this done so I mowed in the RAIN!!!!!

Here are some pictures of this great event....it's a great event because I hate yard work. Get use to reading blog entries like this because for me this is a BIG deal!

My neighbor mows his lawn down to the dirt and then my lawn looks like a jungle and of course he mows right along the property line so it looks horrible. Believe it or not I just mowed a week and a half ago. Why is it 2 or 3 days after you mow the dandelions spout up 6-8 inches? How do they grow so fast?

No wonder I couldn't start this thing last time....should have read the directions right on the machine.....it clearly states push to pime 3x. I had no problem starting it today or yesterday.

My new gas can!!!

Just wanted to admire the bushes in my yard....I need to weed my flower beds anyone want to help?

Look at that yard and I did it all by myself!!!!!

No picture to prove it but..............

I used a weed whacker yesterday....all by myself, no help from anyone!!! It even unraveled and I put it back together. I feel like such an adult!!

Now, who wants to come and mow today?

Need some input....

My mantel is needing a serious overhaul!! It lacks pzazz, it's small (5 inches deep) and does not hold much. I buy things bring them home and they either don't fit or it looks weird! So, I'm needing some input from all my fabulous friends....

I'm going to put JONES on my mantel off to the left side. I'm not going to paint them (I hate painting and I'm not good at it) I'm going to apply scrapbook paper in different colors and textures. I just want to know which J you like better?????

God Grant me the Serenity

The Serenity Prayer has been a big part of my life for the past 8 years. From the minute I heard it I loved it and I understood it. Vicki and I were talking this past summer as we were painting and decorating my house and one of us thought the Serenity Prayer in vinyl letters around my kitchen would be fun. So, I enlisted the help of a good family friend who cuts vinyl. The letters have been done for sometime now and I bribed Vicki and my Mom with dinner in exchange for some help.

Here is the blank canvas

the letters....

we lined everything up last night and for a brief minute we thought it was not going to fit...

I have some plates above my sink that we had to move so we could put letters there and have enough room. I'm glad we did that I think it would have looked funny any other way.

then it begins letter by letter

Four of the words I had printed in a different font...don't mind the pencil marks I have not erased yet.

and then the rest of the words were done in this font....funky and fun!! Totally screams Mandy!

I love it!!!!!

What do you think???

I love my house!!!! I have been so blessed! My sister often sings to me 'Count your Many Blessings' and this has been a huge one for us!

It's mine and it was FREE!!!

I love Orange and this Rachel Ray Tea Kettle is to cute to pass up. I would never spend $45.99 on an orange tea kettle but it was free so why not! It's a long, boring story but the moral is: remember sometimes it pays to complain (especially when they give you $50.00)!

and it's going to look smashing in my orange kitchen!

It's gunna be hot, hot, hot!

Vic had a great idea for the winter, let's buys some wood and utilize our fireplaces. I said ok and then this showed up.....

she forgot to mention we would have to stack all of it!

She always had such a great attitude....I love you Vicki!!!

good thing I have good friends that help!

look at my shed now....

only one problem (maybe two).......we found rodent poop in there.....if there are mice or rats in my shed I'm moving out. I CAN'T STAND THOSE THINGS!!!!!! You'll hear me screaming where ever you live.

the second problem is I don't know how to build a fire....who's idea was this anyway???? Good thing Sarah was around and knew how.

SUCCESS!!!!!!

Look what I can do!!!!

Yep, I mowed my own yard!!!! Just wanted to show you proof!

My street of dreams.......

Here is a virtual tour of my house.....

This is my front porch......I have this cute little sitting area that I don't get to utilize very much. I need to find a good book and have a seat!

I'm amazed at how cute my house turned out....I walk in after a long day and just smile. This place is mine and it's home!

My new favorite color is orange! I love ORANGE!!!! I even found a Chinese Lantern plant as my center pierce. Everybody thinks it's fake when they see it!

Cameron's play room

Cameron's very cool transformer room. There are still some things I'd like to do but it works for now!

My small but functional bathroom

My room....I have girl-a-fied it out!!!! The wall colors are so soothing and I've kept it clean and made my bed 97% of the time since we moved in. If you know me that's good!

I've been so blessed! When you do right great blessings do come! I wake up most days in awe!!!

Red Alert Red Alert Red Alert: We had a break through this morning.......Cameron woke up saying he likes his house and he feels comfortable. That makes me very happy!