A {To-Do} List a Mile Long

No more Goodwill or Ross for me.
I swear.
Or Hobby Lobby.
Egads.

I have a to-do list a mile long. And I keep adding to it each time I visit one of the aforementioned stores.
Must. Stop.

Here are a few of the things I need to work on pronto:

Sand and Stain my living room table ($12 Goodwill find)
Sand {err? maybe prime?!) and paint the side table ($9 Goodwill find)

Sand and paint the small radio cabinet (another Goodwill find) - which may or may not be staying in its current location.

Refinish these bad boys and find a home for them (Goodwill, a buck a piece). They are candle holders. They are not wood, but metal. I love them!

I found two of these at Goodwill...  I know I am going to paint them an Espresso color, but beyond that I have no idea what to do with them. I do not collect nick-knacks, and would hate to start now. But they were a pair that I couldn't pass up.

I got these super cheap - and just for the frames. I am going to use pretty fabric and do something fun for Isabel's room.

I am sure there are more things to list, then I am remembering...

But before I forget - I wanted to show you something that I am currently working on...
The front of my house!
Alex has been replanting plants, etc. And I have been working on my wreath and front porch.
I bought a canvas drop cloth at Home Depot this past weekend and started playing wit it - I wanted to make some bows. Such a cheap and easy way to make a statement.

 

Oh wait. What's that?!?!

I've been working on that wreath since before Christmas. And truth be told, it's hanging on my door already, but it's missing a very important element... just because I am waiting for said element to dry. Once it's complete - complete, I will get a good picture of it to share.

What I can share... is the beautiful teal (aqua?!) aronda-dock-dock-dock chairs I have on my porch.
I am sorry - I've never been able to pronounce that word.
And look at my lovely new pillows. Kohl's, $9 a piece.

So there you have it. So much to do. So much to finish. A list a mile long.

Word!

Even though I've shared a few resolutions with you, I've decided to take part in Layla's This Little Word of Mine link party.

I didn't have to think long and hard about my word.
It relates to all facets of my life right now.
2012 has brought new challenges {good and sad}, and I am determined to come out ahead this year.

My word is:

With my new role at the bank, I want to show tenacity in everything I do.
Same with our goal to follow The Total Money Makeover (again)...
and same with my goal to CELEBRATE more.

No, I will not go around calling myself Tenacious J {although it *does* have a certain ring to it!}, but yes, I will go around, with my word in my head - as a constant reminder of what I hope to accomplish in 2012.

What's your 2012 word?

Updates, Breaking News & Random Randomness

I am truly trying to get back into the swing of things... Half of the month has gone by, and I feel like I've accomplished nothing.

I take that back...
We planned, executed and survived my grandpa's memorial service. I was the lucky one who prepared grandpa's obits and also wrote the program and tribute. I also read the tribute at his memorial service.
As in - with a micro-phone. As in - with Nic coming up to the stage every 5 seconds "Mom!" "Mom, can I talk into that thing?!" - to which at one point, I laughed nervously and claimed, "That one isn't mine. I promise."
To which, Father Brian* replied, only loud enough for the table he was at to hear him, "He's not MINE either!"

*Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Or maybe since he's not my Father, I can't really remember his name. Sorry!

With grandma settling into her new routine, we've started to settle into ours.

Marcos and I had a few shopping trips this weekend. We went to Home Depot to buy some rose bushes. We will be planting those on the side of the house. We went to Best Buy to purchase a new mouse for me... and a cover for my Kindle Fire {love that thing}... and we went to Barnes and Noble and purchased a few books.

Nic and I are starting to read some of the Magic Tree House books. I remember those books being for 1-3rd grades. Now they are listed as Pre-K - 3rd. What the heck?!

We should have started in order, but Nic loves Pirates and he loves Mummies {he's already planning his Halloween costume for this coming Halloween}.

We finished Chapter 3 last night... after each chapter I ask him questions to ensure he is #1 listening and #2 understanding. If nothing else, it's awesome cuddle time with my baby.

At Barnes and Noble I also picked up One Pot Meals by Weight Watchers - it has over 300 recipes. Looking forward to trying some of them out. Who doesn't love one pot meals?! Easy peasy.

Isabel and I had to make an impromptu trip to Wal-Greens on Saturday night...
I had to seriously consider if I wanted to share this with you all on the blog. But after thinking about it for a while, I've decided to go ahead and put it out there.

#1 Reason?! It's *my* journal - I want to remember these things. I want my kids to be able to read back on them and remember....

#2 Reason?! When she sent out a text message to all of her friends that said "I am now a woman!" - I figured the news was fair game.

;)

Marcos had to go back to work yesterday, but I decided to keep up with the errand trend. While Alex went on his first {uhem} date {accompanied by his girlfriend's 9 year old niece}, I took the girls and Nic to IKEA.

Let's pause for a swoon moment.

SWOOOOON!

I was in desperate need for a new down comforter. My old one was actually for our old queen-sized bed, which Alex now has. I had a hard time picking out the cover{sheet?!}... but I love the one I ended up with.

I know... I need to work on my bed picture taking skills. And my bed making skills... sorry everything was so wrinkled. Just keeping it real, folks. ;)

Since I had my camera up in my room, I thought I'd show you what I wake up to every morning...

Doesn't even look real, does it?!
Some day there will be houses behind the pool, so I will miss the view of the mountains and such. /sigh
Until then, I will continue to soak it up as much as I can.

Wow - what a recap. This all brings us to today. Today, I am off {I work for a bank, remember!} and the kids are off... so Alex and I are getting my OFFICE squared away.

Marcos has decided to move out.
So I get my whole entire office to myself!! That means no more crafts on the formal dining room table (which already houses a nice modge-podge "stain").

YAY!!

Of course, I *will* miss the husband, but I am sure we will meet in other parts of the house.
 If he's lucky!

;)

Drool {Blog Love Alert}

I found a new blog. Thanks to Today's Fabulous Finds...
And I can't stop drooling.
Seriously.

Holly over at Down to Earth Style is brilliant.  I want her house.
Take a look at her house tour....

Makes me realize that 10 days have gone by in the new year and all I've managed to accomplish is a half-made wreath and not much else. But I have PLANS. I love the molding around her door.
I. AM. SO. DOING. THAT!

And look at this sitting room...

One of my resolutions was to stop spending money on the house this year... but after taking Holly's house tour, I want to run right out and find stuff to re-purpose and age. I may have to create a small monthly budget and find a way to make it work.

But first... I need to find a way to convince the ball to my chain to allow me to get adventurous; tear some carpet out and stuff.  :}

Who? What? Where?

It's not that January started out *bad*....

It's just that it started out different than I had planned.

My resolutions were put to the way side...

Lazy Day

But I think I am ready to go.

I start a new job on Monday.

Next week is bound to be busy with the memorial service.

I need to get my act together.

Olive, cuddling with me.

And I will.

Starting right now. The husband and I are working on cleaning out and organizing my office.

I need to get out my master budget and get gazelle... We are jumping back on the Dave Ramsey train.

I need to finally order Sunday papers... Need those coupons.

I need to restart our Weight Watchers plan.

The scale says so.

I need to get on my bike.

And ride like the wind.

T.G.I.F