Back to School......

Yes, it is that time again. No matter how I prepare myself, the first week of August always sneaks up on me! My boys sleepily padded in to the kitchen on Monday, partially excited about going back to school, but mostly annoyed that the summer had gone by so quickly. As they finished their breakfast, I think, just maybe, they had developed a bit more excitement. There were new folders and pencils, graphing calculators and highlighters all tucked neatly into the bazillion pockets inside the backpacks. My "summer hair" boys even ran a comb through their hair that morning and posed for a quick snapshot. I do it every year, and even though they are tired, they stand proud and tall, mostly because this is proof in the pudding that they really did grow another handful of inches in a year!

Although I enjoyed the solitude, I missed them. It also reminded me that there are only a few years left of this before they experience dorm life and all college has to offer. Over the summer, I saw lists of potential colleges sitting in my older son's room and my heart skipped a beat. Wait! It's not time! It's too soon! As excited as I am for them and all that they will learn, there is a bit of sadness that creeps into my thoughts. For now, though we will enjoy all the time we have. Football games and cross country meets, weekend movies and family get-togethers, annual parties in the neighborhood and just a few more cookouts before the weather changes. Someday when the boys are older, I hope they can look back and remember all the fun we had.

For all my teacher friends, I hope you have an amazing year. Our children have been so blessed with outstanding teachers. Without the constant dedication and mutual support of teachers, I don't know where I'd be. My hat is off to all of you!!!

And for us moms, now that the initial back to school shopping is done, maybe we can sit back and relax a bit. Each year, I prep ahead of time for the first week of school, knowing that it will be hectic. Mornings will be chaotic, trying to fit everything into the backpacks, responding to the "does this go together?" and "have you seen my flash drive?" questions. And some evenings are even more mind boggling - between after school practices, scouts and youth groups, plus homework, we lose track of time very easily. Dinner is sometimes a serious afterthought and feeding teenage boys is no small feat. Back to Pinterest I headed, for some additional recipes for make ahead meals.

Using a crockpot for make-ahead meals is the absolute best! The week before school started I used one day for shopping and prep, and then one afternoon for putting everything together. Now, we have 16 meals completed. Simply taking out the meal the night before for defrosting, and then the next morning putting it in the crockpot certainly is easier than putting together a dinner every night AND so much healthier than eating take-out! My favorite meal list is from  Who Needs a Cape? Pop on over to her site for some great ideas!

Finally, there's always the big question of "what's for lunch?" My boys have always taken a lunch to school. The lunches aren't that spectacular and the lines are incredibly long. With their lunch breaks being so short to begin with, they would have to inhale their food if they had to stand in a long line just to get a lunch. Yet, this presents another challenge - what to pack?

Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest?? Scores and scores of ideas for everything under the sun!!! Admittedly, I do believe I have a slight addiction to the site though. When you have to start reorganizing your boards and pins because there are so many of them, you realize that maybe, just maybe you are spending a lot of time "pinning." But, lo and behold, they have lunch ideas. Lots of them! Well worth a peek.... here are a couple of my favorites.
                                                                                                                                     

So, as we see our kiddos off to school this year, after the whirlwind of purchases and planning, take a moment just to share a quiet moment with them. Sit and talk, play a card game, share a story - soon they will be grown and taking on the world on their own. As much as we plan for that day, there are few of us who will honestly say we don't feel a bit of sadness, too. Hug them just a little longer today, if they'll let you!!

Until next time, Think Happy Thoughts!

Too Much Fabric?

What do you do when you have two giant bins full of fabric? 

You start dreaming up new ways to use it. Sure, there are lots of great fashionable pieces I want to create, but I have to use my bolt reserves for that. Little did I know that I had half a bin full of scrap fabrics.  Less than a yard doesn’t get you very far, so I turned to some of my fellow bloggers for inspiration. . . . .

Every girl needs some new headbands, so I hopped on over to Alice & Lois and used a very simple tutorial for headbands. I even have one for game days – Go Cardinals!!!!

Given that it is still about one thousand degrees outside, carrying sunglasses with you at all times is an absolute must. Over at Crazy Little Projects  I found a great sunglass case pattern. I even found new notions in my fabric store for this one – fusible fleece is pretty awesome. These were so easy and turned out so cute, I had to make two!

Let’s not forget that summer means lots of swimming and crazy footprints all over the new wood floors. After a while, I’ve grown a little tired of purchasing the Swiffer refills (and they are a little costly, too). Washable Swiffer refills are a must. And lo and behold, I had some scraps of fleece, which mop up those pesky, damp footprints really well. I “winged” this one, but there are several ideas out there on Pinterest sure to fit your needs, should you decide to try this one out too.

Now that the kitchen has been put back together, after time, you start discovering that you haven’t quite replaced everything. I had no potholders, nor did I have any large hot pads. After drawing several hand mitts I came up with a suitable pattern for new oven mitts. After putting them together, though, I realized I forgot to compensate for the batting inside, so the oven mitts fit only my hands. That’s ok, I’m usually the only one cooking. The hot pads were so much easier. Basically, two rectangles sewn together with thermal fleece in between.  I continued on with the greys and blacks and yellows, since that seems to be the color scheme I’ve gravitated to over the last several weeks.

 

The funniest part about this is my bin of fabric doesn’t even look like I made a dent in it!

Until next time, Think Happy Thoughts!

Going camping is always an adventure......

Our family has always been a scouting family. When we were young, both my brother and I were involved in scouts. Girl Scout cookies, pinewood derbies, summer camps - you name it, we did it! When my boys were old enough to join Cub Scouts, we once again took the plunge. Now, summer camp these days is quite different than what I remember. Fast forward several years, and my boys have graduated from overnight camps to week long adventures. My oldest returned from camp last summer with stories upon stories of his 65 mile hiking/backpacking adventure. How I missed him those 13 days but not enough to be a chaperone. I would have had to be airlifted I'm sure, by day five! Our state summer scout camp, nestled in the northern Arizona pines, is quite beautiful and filled with opportunities for these boys to "experience nature," and our destination for this summer.

The Natural Stairs......

Camp Tents

We started our trek to drop off our youngest on Saturday morning. We had to report to the "meeting spot" to divide up the Troop gear. After what seemed like forever unloading and loading gear, we set out on our journey. We stopped at the local convenience store for a few snacks and I grabbed an extra large jug of water - this will become VERY important later on. And off we went.

About 45 miles into the journey I start hearing this loud clicking noise when the truck is accelerating. I say "Does anyone hear that?" My husband says, "It appears that we are losing engine power." Oh fantastic! We are in the hills and now the truck is struggling to make it up the road. We finally find a spot to pull over - very conveniently in front of a AAA towing station. Immediately, everyone is talking at once. Nobody can hear anyone and tensions are quickly rising. A man appears at the gate and proceeds to tell us that although we are technically closer to one town, we must be towed back home because everything in the "small town" is closed for the weekend. Good grief! Oh, and I should mention at this point, it is over 100 degrees and there is not one speck of shade in sight. We are literally stranded on the side of the highway, baking in the sun! My oldest son pipes up, "well thank god we have water!" I start making calls, my husband starts making calls and the boys are bouncing around. My youngest is frustrated because he will now be late for camp check-in, IF we are able to make it there at all. We work out the details of the tow, but then Mr. Tow-man says "Well, I can only take two of you." Ha! Perfect! I'm desperately trying to find someone from our scout troop to come and rescue us, but - no luck.

Finally, about 90 minutes later, my friend arrives to pick us up and haul us into Scout camp. We stuffed her car full of all the gear we could and prayed we would make it before dark. Thank goodness she got a late start taking her boys to camp, or we might still be sitting there roadside. We arrived at camp exhausted and irritable. But we made it and my son is happy at camp throughout this week.

Camp Entrance

Although the camp is truly picturesque and I love camping, I really ached for home. I was tired, sunburned and downright cranky. Thanks to my dear, sweet friend who rescued us from the roadside, I was able to make it back into the small town closest to camp. From there, dear husband came and picked me up in a rental car and shuttled me home.

While the beginning of my son's adventure at camp was not the greatest, my hope is that he has an amazing week, makes lots of friends, learns a thing or two and creates long-lasting memories!

Until next time, Think Happy Thoughts!

What shall I do today?

So the local news stations have issued a "Deadly Heat Advisory" for this weekend. I'm already not enjoying the heat, thinking of frozen cocktails to make and ways to occupy my time indoors. With the kitchen construction done now, we need to start filling the gaps (ie: shopping). I needed trivets and napkins, so I came up with a way to make use of what I already had.

A couple of yards of fabric and my serger and I had four sets of napkins in a jiffy!

Then I moved on to some trivets. For this I used a few leftover tiles of cork, some fabric scraps from the bin at Jo Ann's and my trusty Eileens Tacky spray glue. Lo and behold, I had several trivets in bright, cheery colors and patterns.

How are you being creative today?

Until next time, Think Happy Thoughts!

And we are done!!!!!

The "order of completion" paperwork was signed on June 3rd, exactly four months to the day since the accident. While we have been living in the house for a month, we haven't actually "settled in." This takes time and I'm sure even though the reconstruction company is done with their work, we will find little things that need to be addressed. We still need to purchase a set of blinds for my office - that summer sun will start to heat up that room dramatically - so that is a priority. We still have a few touch ups to do and we need to hang the wooden cornices in the living room. Those things are so small in comparison to what we've been through in the last four months!

Although we loved our kitchen before, I have to admit I absolutely LOVE my kitchen now, more than ever. Our home is bright and cheery and now I never have to feel like I'm "stuck in the kitchen" away from everyone again.......

Our Kitchen ~ 2015

Our Kitchen ~ 2016

What a difference removing an interior wall made! I can't really have a messy kitchen, but if that's the only downside .... I'm ok with that!

And while our kitchen was the brunt of the "Lincoln Navigator damage," we chose this time to overhaul the whole house - after all, we hadn't been living here so why not? Easier said than done, in many cases. I must say, they make it look so easy on those HGTV shows, but I know first hand it is a far cry from easy! There were days of frustration, days filled with stressful tears, we went through a few boxes of bandaids, but the sense of accomplishment feels so good!

A few pictures from around the house.....

We would especially like to thank Envy Restoration & Construction, here in Arizona, for the amazing work they did and for being such a fantastic crew to work with.

From our house to yours, have a wonderful summer, and as always ~ until next time, Think Happy Thoughts!

Making progress....

What is today? It's countertop day! Finally! I couldn't sleep past 5am I was so excited about today. I guess I've reached a new stage in my life where I can become excited about new sinks and counters. Today being Friday the 13th had me a little bit on edge - I was a little concerned when the crew was running late this morning, then they thought the cabinets weren't level - but it all worked out.

Tomorrow morning the last of the cabinets will be hung on the wall and the island will be finished. I can actually start thinking about bringing our belongings back inside the house!!

Getting closer!!!!

Until next time, think Happy Thoughts!

Appliances ARE a Girl's Best Friend......

Appliances are tricky ~ we wouldn't exactly want an appliance as a gift but new ones can be exciting - sometimes. I have to say this is one of those moments for me ~ I am pretty excited about my new appliances. Now, remember I haven't had an oven or a fridge for quite some time. And the microwave I had was balanced on three paint cans in the garage (used mostly for warming up the insane amount of lean pockets my oldest son eats). I'd like to offer up a huge shout out to our local Spencer's store for the fabulous service, timely delivery and clean installation (not to mention a really great price).

Look at that oven. Isn't it pretty? While there are no counters yet, and there are sticky notes on all the cabinets ~ my road map of planning where everything will go ~ I can still appreciate the beauty of this stove. I cannot wait to bake something fabulous in this oven.

Oh, and notice the floors? Yes, those I am proud to say are done, too! They are absolutely gorgeous. There's nothing like wood floors. Thank goodness you cannot see the footprints left by our not so pint-size-anymore lab pup. She is leaving her footprints everywhere - but then, the outside of the house is still quite a disaster. The side yard still needs to be cleaned of debris and the pool still has glass and wall block floating in it. But, we are almost there!!!

The french door fridge, microwave and dishwasher - oh and yes, the wine fridge will slide in below those two drawers which need drawer fronts - but tomorrow is another day. Another trip to IKEA will be carefully timed with the restaurant serving breakfast!!! More sticky notes here, too. I feel a little confused and overwhelmed when I look at all the rows of boxes in my garage of items I still need to unpack. It feels a little like Christmas, since I'm not exactly sure what survived the accident yet. Thus, I needed a way to "roadmap" the new kitchen. That's when I broke out with the sticky notes.

Aside from the master bathroom and the laundry room, the pantry is the only "project" marked completely done. "As it should be," my sons said. After all, this is where they stand and dream up more food to eat! No wonder why the people at the grocery store know me by first name - I'm there ALL THE TIME. The ClosetMaid system worked great in this space. I love the drawers, too. All those little items we all seem to have an abundance of can find a home in those drawers. There was also room for my canning jars at the bottom, thanks to some really great crates I found at IKEA.

And that's the progress report for this week. Hope all my "mommy" friends have a beautiful, relaxing Mother's Day this weekend!

Until next time, think Happy Thoughts!

Hello Summer

Don't judge me, but I think I'm a little excited for summertime! For some, summertime in our neck of the woods is far from desirable. After all, temperatures soaring well into the 100's isn't ideal for most folks. But, since February, our lives have been one giant obstacle after another (although we've taken it in stride most of the time), and I think I'm ready for a little R&R. Otherwise known as summer at our house. I'm talking about no early morning rush for the coffee cup, lunch bags and running out the door to be at the front of the loooooong line at the high school for drop off. No more mad printing of homework and running out for missing school supplies. Just days of bare feet, pjs, and iced coffee by the pool while I watch the boys strategically plan their cannonballs. Yes, the hubs and I will still be working and my oldest son will go to summer school, but it won't be nearly THIS challenging. Thank goodness. So, let's cheer for summer peeking around the corner! And let's dust off our hammocks and our lounging pants!!!!

Until next time, think Happy Thoughts!

Springtime Baking

Since I've been displaced from my kitchen, I have experienced unusually strong urges to bake. Reminds me of when I was pregnant with the boys - wanted to bake all the time - and eat all of it, too! Isn't that a given when you're pregnant?

I miss my KitchenAid, too - very much! With spring upon us and Mother's Day right around the corner, every magazine I pick up has pictures of adorable cupcakes, beautiful cakes and delicious looking souffles. Now, I've never conquered the souffle - but I have made my share of cakes and cupcakes. But, which KitchenAid should I get? Red, black, white, chrome? There are so many options out there - I had no idea. I really like the red one - something about the positive, bright energy in that color. But the nickel one is pretty cool, too.

One of these recipes would be great to try out too......as soon as the mixer is out of the box!

So I wait - with idle hands (well, that's a lie - my hands are anything but idle these days - with an entire house to renovate) until my new KitchenAid arrives and my kitchen is complete - oh and the rest of the house, too!

Until next time, think happy thoughts!

Who says drywall isn't exciting?

My local Home Depot probably knows me by first name by now. I swear I've been there about two dozen times in the last week. Lumber, flooring, bath fixtures, more flooring - you name it, I've hauled it in the back of my trusty SUV. On one occasion, I had a small group of bystanders watching my creative juices flow as I crammed sixteen feet of trim lumber into the SUV. Hey, my dad taught me how to pack up from Home Depot the right way!

The bathroom has reached a stage of 80% completion. We still have the faucets to replace and all the baseboards to install. Then I have curtains to sew and hang, towels and accessories to purchase and dear husband will install the brand new toilet. I guess I've reached a new point in my life where I'm actually excited about a new bathroom toilet.

I discovered a new store in my neighborhood the other day, too. At Home Decor store. OH MY!!! This store is not intended for the quick stop. Rows and rows and even more rows of pillows, rugs, artificial trees and plants, outdoor furniture, mirrors, chairs, umbrellas - the list could go on and on. It has mom's night out written all over it. Grab a cup of coffee and browse the aisles. AND maintain control!! One could easily go shopping crazy!!

I see so many things I LOVE.....

Focus, focus...yes, the bathroom.....so, the windows are done - cutting all the lumber paid off - I think the windows look fantastic. I'm loving the "Craftsman" look, and the color scheme is really quite soothing.

Don't these look lovely? And wouldn't they just look perfect in the new bathroom?

Yes, those might have to be the next At Home purchase. Along with a few other things, I'm sure.

And in other parts of the house, we are making fabulous progress. After waiting what seemed like an eternity for work to begin, there is now what seems to be a large "push" to get this project done. The work has been phenomenal and the crews have been polite and always, always clean up - not all construction crews do this. But every time they leave, they sweep and stack what they've left behind. For someone who is a "clean freak" this ranks right up there on the importance factor. And I've never been so thrilled to see drywall going up.....

Yeah, I have a ceiling and I almost have walls....

And the outside of the house is coming along just as fast!

So, tomorrow is one more day closer to going home. We are so excited!!

Until next time, think happy thoughts!

Tearing Down the Old, Bringing in the New

I have never been the most patient person when it comes to DIY. As much as I like a challenge, I also revel in the great feeling of accomplishment. So, when things are moving at a snail's pace, I tend to get a little antsy. Apparently, this has also rubbed off on my oldest son.

One trip to the "broken house" as we now refer to it, presented a wonderful opportunity to get some work done. It started with just one swing of the hammer - I come by this honestly. . .

As a child, my father had many home improvement projects. He added a family room, a den (complete with a bookcase that led to a hidden room) and various other projects to the house we grew up in. The year he and my mother decided to add the family room presented some challenges. We were using the existing carport as the frame for the family room, but the floor of the carport was significantly lower than the floor of the living room, where the two would connect. It was Halloween and my mother was taking us out trick or treating. My father stayed behind to remove one brick (yes, we lived in a red brick house - this is important), "just to see how much of a difference between the two floors there really was." JUST ONE BRICK.

Needless to say, it was not just one brick. We happily trick or treated and returned home to find a gaping hole in the wall, and red brick dust absolutely covering every square inch of my mother's new living room. He smiled sheepishly when we walked in and simply said, "I got carried away." I remember my mother standing in the red brick dust, just staring at everything. My brother and I thought it was great. We could now run through the hole in the wall to the enclosed carport. Of course, my mother forgave my dad and we went on to enjoy many wonderful years in the beautiful family room he built.

My brother and I - circa 1974

So, you see, one swing of the hammer at our "broken house" led to well, no more wall. I have to admit, it was fun. My brother was quite upset that he didn't get to participate. You see he is very fond of the "just one brick" phrase as well. The next day after school, my two boys finished off the drywall removal. Guess I've passed down the "just one brick" gene to them, too! Aren't you proud, Dad?

 

 

My helper admiring his work!

The next day

Last weekend, the framers arrived - finally! And now the house looks completely different. We gained an incredible amount of visual space simply by losing half a wall. It's amazing! By losing one large window along the back wall, we have gained some space for the cabinetry we lost by removing the wall between the living room and kitchen.

Love the electrical "hanging" in the wind

Missing window won't even be noticed!

While I am overjoyed we are starting to move forward, remember I am very impatient! So as I wait to see more progress this week from our contractors, I may have to find something else to do. Uh oh, that spells trouble!!!

Until next time, think happy thoughts!