The New Old Mantel

Do you remember months ago when I said that I had mantel issues?

Well, I never stopped thinking about it I just stopped trying to do something about it.  I decided that I needed to just be open to what came to me and see if it would come together. 

So for many months my mantel looked pretty shameful. 

And then it looked like this....which for some....may look pretty good...not so much for me.

But over the last month or so I have started to put some stuff together and though I know that it is not finished I feel like I don't hate it anymore.

I feel like it was like one of my inspiration pictures...

That layered look.  I kept the same mirror that I have always had there and then just slowly and surely I started to accumulate things to lean up there.

I drew this letter H from a vintage letter that I found on a website that I found on Pinterest.  I for the life of me cannot find that website again...which really bums me out because I really liked it.  Anyway, I just printed out the image and then hand drew it with a Sharpie onto a canvas that I had lying around.  Totally free and I love it!

The large canvas in the back is actually an old canvas that I have had that I just primed and then painted with some craft paint...I really love how it turned out too.  Now that black frame I got on sale at TJ Maxx back in January.  But Boo, when I took it out in June it totally fell apart.  I had to glue it all back together.  That picture of a very large and very pregnant me is not so good.  It was just the only black and white picture that I had on hand that would fit in the frame...I kind of hate it up on the mantel so I will be replacing it soon!

On the other side of the mantel I just want you guys to notice the AMAZING framed Japanese Woodblock print that I scored at the Goodwill for an amazing $9.99.  As if you couldn't already tell that it was fate or serendipity the mat on the print perfectly compliments the light green that I have going on in the rest of the house.  Yeah it was totally meant to be!

Behind the print is a frame that I have had lying around for years.  The frame was empty so I simply got a piece of foam board and transcribed Bible verses translated into French.  I don't really love how it turned out so I will probably be changing that too...as soon as I get a better idea.

Finally, no mantel reveal would be complete without me showing you the plant that I have already killed.  Yeah it really doesn't take me long, now  we are just waiting for the next victim perfect indoor plant.

So what do you think?  Have you been messing with your mantel lately?  Killed any plants recently?  Got any tips or explanation as to why I cannot keep anything alive?  Doesn't look good for my kids!  HaHa!

Sunny

I am linking up to Laylas Summer Mantel Party over at the The Lettered Cottage.

On The Road To Achieving More!

So yesterday was a big day for me.  I ran my first half marathon...well actually I have run it on my own before but I actually competed yesterday.

Sorry about the picture quality... it was taken with my iPhone.

My Word Of The Year is Achieve, and one of the ways that I wanted to achieve more is by competing in a marathon.  Well I am not there yet but I am getting there and yesterday I proved it to myself. 

It was interesting.  It rained the whole time.  It was long...13.1 miles long.  It took me exactly 2:00:00.  Which was my goal.  Previously it took me 2:11:00.  So ultimately I was happy.  Today I can barely walk which makes me wonder how I am ever going to run twice as far.  But I guess that I will just have to figure that out. 

So what about you...have you reached any goals lately?  Do you have any goals that you are working towards?  I just love that feeling when you finally make it, don't  you?  Tell me all about it!!

Sunny

How Did I Get So Old

So my family was sitting down to dinner and the conversation got on the candy Skittles and my 8 year old asked if their were purple Skittles when we were kids. My husband and I laughed and said "of course". Quickly followed by " it has not been that long since we were kids".

My 8 year old then asked about iPads and I told him that there weren't iPads when he was born nor tablets or netbook computers.

Just then I hear my five year old say " yeah mom had to write in the dirt..... with a stick.


Sunny

Apothecary Jar Terrarium

This last summer I read a post of the Nester about Apothecary Jar Terrariums.  I knew instantly that come spring I was SOOO going to make one.

So this late winter/spring I started gathering the supplies.

Here is what I got:

-Rocks

-Carbon (I got mine in the fish supply aisle at Wal-mart)

-Dirt

- Low light plants (I bought way more than would fit in my jar)

-The biggest apothecary jar that I could find.  (I got mind at Michaels with a coupon)

Here is what I did:

I put the carbon in a strainer with some small holes and rinsed it out in the sink.  It will start to run clean after a few seconds.  I set that aside for a minute to fully drain.

I placed a layer of rocks in the bottom of the jar, I used regular drainage rocks that I had from a different project but I think that smaller river rocks would really look great. 

 On top of the rocks goes a layer of the rinsed carbon.  The carbon helps keep the water from becoming yucky and stagnate. 

Then I layered the dirt.  I actually put too much in so I had to scoop some out, which kinda made the sides of my jar messy.  So try and add a little at a time.

Next came my plants.  I intended to have three different plants of varying heights and textures...but apparently my jar wasn't as big as I thought.  I could only fit one of the plants that I bought.  A mini fern, it is cute but I wish that I could have fit more.  Alas what is a girl to do?!

Then I added some rocks.  I wanted to add some cool moss, but I honestly have no idea where to get that in my neck of the woods.  So I am going to have to work on that.

So then I basically just added water, maybe a cup and a half.  As I was adding the water I let it stream down the side to try and get the rouge dirt off the sides, that worked pretty good but not perfect.  That is okay thought I can live with not quite perfect!

I am sure that I must have made a terrarium in school but I don't remember it, so I guess it doesn't count.  YAY!  I made my first terrarium!

I am enjoying it a lot, I just wish I had some moss.  Sigh!  I think that this plant has a fighting chance of me not killing it...as it is going to water itself.  Bonus

Now I keep thinking about all of the other containers that I could turn into a terrarium. 

How  about you, have you been busy with any "gardening" lately?  Made a terrarium lately?  Tell me all about it!

Sunny

This Is My Hustle

Every stay at home mom that I know (with the exception of only one) has a hustle.  I mean a way that she increases the income of her family.  It is often selling things like jewelry, Scentsy, embroidery, daycare, blog writing etc. 

Well I am no different.  This is my hustle.

 

I am a school bus driver.  Yes I drive a 40ft long, 78 passenger school bus.  I affectionately call it my big yellow mini van. :)  I drive about 70 elementary kids aged kindergarten to fifth grade.

I started driving a bus almost 6 years ago, shortly after my middle son was born.  I was 26 years old, and my husbands sole military income wasn't quite cutting it.  We could always pay the bills but there wasn't too much left over for extras, much less emergencies.

So I knew that I must do something to help.  I wanted a job that would give me flexibility, one that I could do with my kids (I knew that I couldn't leave them at daycare), and a job that I would enjoy.

I entertained lots of things like stuffing envelopes, working at night, cleaning etc, but most just seemed to interrupt my life too much. 

Then one day my sister (who is a bus driver/stay at home mom in a town not far from mine) suggested driving a bus.  At first I thought "No way, I can't drive that big ole thing".  But then I thought that if she could do it so could I.

So I took the test, trained with my school districts bus barn, took my driving test, got my license, and have been loving it ever since.

This job has been such a blessing.  It provides that much needed second income, great benefits (like membership the gym, discounts at local businesses etc.)I really feel like a contributing $ member of my household. My kids ride along so they have never been to daycare.  And now that two of my kids are in school, I drive for their elementary school so I can drop them off and pick them up from school everyday.

In addition my kids and I have gone on a zillion field trips to some really cool places.  And because drivers get in for free we have gotten to go to places that I could not have afforded otherwise.  We must go to the Zoo like 45 times a year, in fact I am going to the Zoo this week.  I always get the priority of taking my children's field trips when they go somewhere, super bonus I get to be with my kids like all the other moms and dad but I get paid by the hour to be there.  It is like I am practically stealing people!  And I can always turn field trips down if I have something else to do. 

Driving a bus rarely interferes with my home life.  In fact my husband usually forgets that I drive the bus. 

There are a few draw backs to my job.  The first is both a blessing and a drawback, I have summers off.  Yay!  That also means that I don't get a paycheck.  Boo!  But we always think ahead and put some $$$ back to help.  The mornings are early, I have to get my self and three kids out the door by 6:50.  Which is a feat every single day!!  Oh and it is very cold in the winter.

All in all I LOVE driving a bus and just couldn't imagine doing anything else while I still have kids at home.

So what about you, do you have a hustle?  Or are you one of the exceptional few that is a solely stay at home mom/wife?  Or do you have a full time job? I would love to hear what you do.

Sunny

I Went to Hawaii

So one of the biggest things that I did recently is I went to Hawaii!!!

I was so excited!!!  Because lets be honest here, I am a normal stay at home wife and mom that operates within a budget.  It is not a part of my normal life to jetset around without my kids.  Or jetset at all for that matter, kids or not.  A trip to Hawaii is never in the budget. So how did it happen you ask?  Well my husband was there for work.  He is always saying how I should come with him on these trips but I live here in the real world knowing that it won't work out.  But this time he was going in March over Spring Break, so I could leave the kids with family without having to worry about how they were going to get to school.

So the Hubs got me a ticket with frequent flier miles, he already had a hotel room and rental car through work and was getting per diem.  So yeah I pretty much went to Hawaii for FREE!!  HOLLA!!!  But shush don't tell anyone because I kind of feel like I pulled a fast one and am just waiting for someone to tell me the I  am not going to get off that lucky.

So I was there for a week without children, and for a few hours during the work week my Hubs had to go to meetings.  He said that he felt bad for leaving me all alone; but lets get real, I am the full time mother of three boys.  I am never alone, I truly relished the time that I spent alone!

I used some of my free time to:

Lay on the beach, and watch the people go by.

Read a book....in peace without being interupted by "Mommy I need a drink"

I worked out in the Hotel gym, at my own pace without the hour and a half limit that my gym has at the daycare.

We stayed on the island of Oahu, down on Waikiki Beach.  It was okay but it was a very touristy area so it was nice when we took a trip north to Kualoa Ranch to enjoy a horseback ride.

The ranch was really cool.  It is a 4000 acre ranch on the east side of the island.  The ranch has been used to film a lot of movies like Godzilla, Jurassic Park, and 40 First Dates, just to name a few.  The scenery was off the hook.

We also climbed to the top of a volcano called Diamond Head.



That was super fun and a really cool way to look down at Waikiki Beach.

"Look mom I can see my hotel from here!"

Anyhow, we also went and visited the Pearl Harbor memorial.  But ding dong me forgot my camera so, I guess if you want to see pictures of that you will have to Google it.  I am sure that there are plenty of images out there.

It was an interesting and sobering reminder of the cruelty that we as humans can inflict upon one another.  But also a stark reminder of the bravery and compassion that we can also display.  But mostly it made me think of my Grandpa.

There was lots of shopping and eating, and maybe a little bit of adult beveraging.

All in all it was a great time.  I feel so blessed to have been able to spend alone time with my best friend, and reconnect with him the way it was before kids, and mortgages, and soccer practice etc.  I just keep finding myself dreaming of the next time that we get to get away!

So how about you, have you gone anywhere exciting recently?  Have you been to Hawaii and can't wait to get back?  Or are you looking forward to a trip?  I would love to hear about it!

Sunny

Greetings!!

Greetings my friends from somewhere off the face of the planet where I evidentally fell off to.

Actually I took a break from the electronic world during Lent.  I took a break to evaluate the things that are taking up my time to see if they are important to me still.

The thing that I found out is that blogging is an important outlet for me and quite frankly I missed you guys.  You have no idea how happy  it makes my to receive comments from you my friends. 

Even though you probably didn't receive them I was blogging in my head the whole time...no kidding!

I also missed seeing what the rest of you were up too.  But I am happy to say that I am back and could not be more excited.

There were some significant things that happened in the last month that I will be sharing with you:

1.  I hosted a 1 year cancer survival party for my brother in law.  It turned out great and I made some cute and inexpensive table decorations that I want to tell you about.

2.  The family spent a lot of time on Pinewood Derby cars for Cub Scouts.  I have 3 boys and this will be a part of my life for the foreseeable future, so it is kind of a big deal.  I am happy to report that we had 3 winning cars.

3.  I turned 32.  Not much to say about that.

4.  I went to HAWAII!!  I have never been and I was so excited.  I got to go childless and spent some much needed alone time with the Hubs!!  I will tell you all about it.

5.  I did the Daniel Fast for Lent.  This had a big impact on how I live my life.  I also had a sabbatical from the internets, but I already mentioned that.  I will be telling you all about it and what I learned.

6.  I also got a little crafty and decorating for spring and I cannot wait to show you what I have been up to.

7.  I have been spring cleaning like a mad women.

8.  Finally I worked out like a mad women.  Not much to say about that either.

I am so glad to be back and I plan to spend a few hours catching up with you guys today.  So did I miss anything huge in the blogospere?  Anything on your blogs that I must see?  Let me know so I won't miss it.

Sunny

Bathroom Update!!

Hello world...I am back!!!  And I am so excited to be rejoining the  cyber world.  I think that I actually have a headache from blog/pinterest withdrawl. :)

I am a little ashamed to tell you that I didn't make it as far as I thought that I would on the basement bathroom.

I don't know if you watch Jersey Shore or not but they have a saying on that show that is something along the lines on "time to G.T.L" which stands for Gym. Tan. Laundry.  well around my world it is Gym. Dishes. Laundry.   So I have been very busy with the usual mom stuff, time spent at the gym, and cleaning...unfortunately that hasn't left a great deal of time for the bathroom.  Plus I am not sure exactly how I feel about it so I am living with it for a while.  I may need to make some tweaks. 

The good news is that the Hubs likes it... so that is step number one!!

This is what I am ultimately wanting.

 I started by selecting an Eddie Bauer color from Lowe's called Labrador.  I thought that I had asked for the paint plus primer...but when I went back to pick it up it was just regular Valspar paint.  I didn't want to make a big fuss so I took it.  The problem being that when you tint paint so dark it really lowers its coverage abilities.  BOO!  So I had to do two (in some places three) coats.  That includes cutting in...so it took a while.  But I LOVE the color.  When I originally painted it brown I really knew that it should have been dark chocolate but I got scare to go so dark so I wimped out and went with a watered down milk chocolate and I was never happy with it.  It looked horrible with the wood work and was just a bad choice...the good news is that I finally have the right brown and it looks soooooo good!  Yay!

Don't you just love it?  Well I do!!!

Yes!!  I do believe in child labor.  Actually there is something about painting that children are fascinated with...my boys are like a moth to a flame.  I wish I shared their enthusiasm!!!

After I got done with the brown I got out some of my artist brushes and some off white paint plus primer and painted a few trees.  I think that for this step it is super important that you use paint plus primer, just for the coverage needs.  Especially white over brown, you wouldn't want to have to go over the lines several times.

At first I was unsure how I felt about it so I have been giving it a few days to marinate, I think that I like it so I think that I will continue.  I know that I said that I was going to stencil the trees, but I never found a stencil that I loved.  Plus the ones that were decent were a lot of $$$$.  So since I have experience with painting I thought that I would just save my money and try it myself.  I figured that if I couldn't pull it off I could always paint over it and order a stencil.  But now that I have tried it I am glad that I choose not to get a stencil.

So what do you think?  Have you done any wall muralling?  If so I would love to hear about it.  Am I the only one who is so excited about "springing up" the house.  I think that we are going to get a whole new spring/summer look!!!

Technical Difficulties.

So here at The Home Place we are experiencing so technical difficulties.
Sad Face!
Anyhow I will keep working on it, and Operation Birch Bathroom and hopefully get an update soon.
If you are wondering, I am blogging with my phone. Cause we are high tech!!
Do you love how I keep referring to "we" like I have a team of computer experts working around the clock to solve the problem? Yeah, it's just me.
Since a post without pictures is sad here is a little something from my phone.
Who doesn't need a little light saber action on a Friday?
Have a great day!
Sunny

I Am SOOOO Excited.

So my kids and I are off from school for the next two days...AND...Monday is Presidents day...SO...if you are doing the math, that equals 5 days off.

Can I just say HOLLA!!!!

So you will have to tune in over the next few days because Operation Birch Bathroom commences tomorrow.  YAY!

I am just so excited that I am finally getting some time to play in a little paint.

So tell me, what kind of projects are you working on?  Are you looking forward to enjoying a long weekend?  Have you ever stenciled?

I have to admit that I am a little nervous...wish me luck.

Sunny

Not Exactly What I Was Thinking...

So do you remember the other day when I was whining about discussing my mantel and how I didn't know what to do with it in this in between season?  

Well this last weekend my Hubby did a little redecorating of the fireplace...and I am not sure that this is what I had in mind for the mantel...

Hmmm....Now I really don't know how to decorate the mantel.  This guy is named Steve, and we just got him back from the taxidermist on Saturday.  He is my husbands trophy from 2010. 

I am happy that my husband is so happy, but Steve doesn't quite fill up the space...not to mention that it kinda lends toward a lodge look in my house (not exactly my thing).  This is not Steves final resting place, he really lives in the man cave in the basement so in a few weeks he will be leaving.  But the Husband is so proud that he just wanted to display him prominently for a while.  Meanwhile, I just cannot help but chuckle to myself.  I guess it is a small thing to make the Hubs happy...right!?!

Have you ever had to make any design sacrifices for the significant other?  Are there any animal heads prominently displayed in your living room?  Are you a fan of taxidermy? 

Have a great day!!

Sunny.

Look What I Found This Morning.

This is what I found when I went outside this morning.

Which made me very happy for what I bought last week.

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It is the Columbia Whirlibird Parka.  It comes in many color options, but I got the black plaid. 

I have had the same Columbia coat for the last 11 years.  I bought it in college and have loved the way that it has performed.  But like most things I don't still like the same things that I liked 11 years ago.  So the past couple of years I have been wanting a new one, I knew that I wanted a dark color (my last one was sage green with light gray accents) I just couldn't find the perfect one.  Until this year I found the one shown above...it was the perfect one!!  I found it in the black Friday sale ads and I SOOOO wanted it.  The problem was that spending $200 on a coat just before Christmas didn't seem like the most responsible thing for me to do.  So I waited...I thought maybe Santa would bring it for me, but no.  Don't get me wrong I totally got spoiled, I got a new DSLR, table saw, and miter saw. 

So all through the month of January I lusted after the perfect coat, I wanted it so bad...but I didn't need it.  Then last week I was having an exceptionally bad day when I walked into a sporting goods store and there it was...my coat in my size....on SALE!!!  It was thirty percent off and it was the last one.  I quickly called the Hubs (knowing full well that I would be leaving the store with that coat) and of course he said yes!

It all seemed so perfect...like it had been a part of a divine plan, and that got me thinking.  There are a lot of times that I want something really bad for my home, and it used to feel so painful to have to wait to get it.  Sometimes I feel like I will never get all of the things that I want....but here it what I have realized.  I always get what I want, I just have to be patient.  My entire life I have always mystically been provided for.  It doesn't always come in the time that I think that it should, but I always get it.  The best part is that I usually get it at a bargain simply because I am willing to wait. 

So does that ever happen to you?  You find the exact thing that you have been wanting at the exact moment that you are able to obtain it?$$$  Have you been lusting after anything lately?  Or have you recently gotten something that you had to wait a little while for?

Have a great day...I think that I am going to not do house work and just take a nap with the little man on this snowy day.

Sunny

House Hunters

Ok... maybe it is just me but I kinda think that HGTV should change their name to House Hunters TV.  I feel like everytime I turn that channel on it is always House Hunters. 


Don't get me wrong I like that show, and in college I used to watch it a lot.  But there comes a point when it is a little much right?


I have been watching HGTV since I was like 17...which was only like last week.  Just kidding ;)  But it used to be that there was shows about gardening, and crafting, and decorating and I could watch for hours.  (By the way did I mention that I have been obsessed with all things home for ever?)  But now I would be totally set if I were say house hunting in Barcelona, or California.  I got a house I want to see new and cool things to do with it.


I wish that they would bring back some of the other things.  Like gardening would be good.  I totally need help with the gardening thing.  More Candice, Sarah, Genevieve...more delicious interiors.

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I am in no way saying that they should take it away I still enjoy a nice House Hunters too, I just want a little more of other things.

So what say you?  Do you think that the House Hunters has taken over, or do you think that it is just right?  Do you secretly pretend that you are Sarah Richardson?  No...thats just me?  OK.  Do you hate it when bloggers roll off on some strange tangent?

Have a great day!

Sunny

I Am A Nerd!!

So...I am kind of a big nerd.  I just accidentally subscribed to my own blog.  And now I can't figure out how to unsubscribe.  I thought that I was clicking to subscribe to a different blog...but nope it turns out that I was subscribing to myself. 

I told my husband what I did and he said with grin on his face "well...that is one way to get new followers".

So now the question to you is...do you know how to take myself off my follower list?  Or do I have to look like a nerd forever?

Anywho...I hope that you are all having a great day!  Have a little chuckle at my expense, I can take it! 

Sunny

$5 Table Runner

I have been down for the count the past couple of days with a cold, but before that happened I had planned to share my new table runner.

I find this weird season between Christmas and Spring is a little difficult time to decorate.  Everything feels cold...probably because it is dark and cold outside. 

So after Christmas I wanted to find a new table runner.  The problem; because there just always has to be a problem, is that standard table runners that I find are just too dinky.  They are neither long nor wide enough.  I have only found one ready made runner that has been the dimensions that I wanted and that was from Pottery Barn...which is three hours away, and usually not in the budget.  So I find my self making my own.

So here is what I did:

First I went bargain shopping and found a curtain panel on clearance that had the look of burlap.  The nice thing about making a runner out of a curtain panel is that it is plenty long enough and wide enough to make two table runners.  The bonus of this particular panel was that it was only $10, (originally $40, woot woot) and like I said I have enough to make another table runner too. 

I cut off the existing hems and the top, I could have saved some fabric and used a seam ripper...but I hate ripping out seams it makes me want to rip out my hair.  So it was just worth it to me to just cut them off.  Then I simple cut the panel in half lengthwise.  This took some time to make sure that I was cutting straight and exactly in half but overall pretty painless.

So I had a small amount of fabric left over from making some throw pillows and I added it too the ends of the curtain panel runner.

 I used a simple straight stitch and hemmed all the way around.  Ran an iron over it, and Voila!!  Table runner that coordinates with my living room!  Yay.

The only thing left that I need was some new chargers. I find that if I use chargers then my boys have less of a chance to muck my runner all up.  I like plastic ones so that I can easily clean them like 37 times a day.  By the way little boys are messy.

I found these awesome faux bois plastic chargers at Pier One.  They are rocking my world.

I really like how it all turned out.  Not too fussy just right, I kinda need less fuss after the Christmas storm blows through my house.

So what are you up to?  Got any simple sewing projects going on?  This one was sooo easy I literally completed it from start to finish in the time it took the hubs to cook dinner...HOLLA!

Sunny

I posted this to:

I want to stencil...

I have two bathrooms that I have been dying to change.  Well actually I have been dying to change all three of the bathrooms in my house.  All three are on the to-do list for this year, but I only want to stencil in two of them.  Okay... the actual number of bathrooms that get stenciled ultimately depends on the ease or difficulty of the process.  I may find that I love the monotonous work of stencilling in which case they may all get it, then again I may find that I hate and stop immediately and paint over it.  Nevertheless I have big ideas.

I think that I want to start in the basement bathroom.  This room is also the laundry room and crafting room.  The fact that I primarily craft in there is kind of funny because really there is no work space and no supplies in there, but I always find my self working in there on top of the dryer(?) so I really want it to look great.

I told the husband that I wanted to redo the laundry room and I got that "seriously!" look, so I don't know if he is going to love this or not (actually I know that he won't but he pretty much let me do what I want).  The reason that he doesn't want me to mess with the laundry room is because I have repainted that room like 3 time and I have changed the flooring once.  But the flooring needed to go, we had ugly blue berber carpet....in a bathroom...and a laundry room...who does that?  We replaced it with tile that I still love.  I picked a light brown that really looked nice with the tile but when I got it up it made the trim look horrible.  I wanted to paint the trim but my husband said "no, you can't paint wood".  Why do men say this?  I mean it is wood...its not like I want to paint over 24 karat gold.  Whatever.  I needed to find a happy median that we could both be happy with.

So here is my plan:
I plan to go dark chocolate brown. 

I know that it seems like that will make my laundry room look like a cave but I think that in the end I will add enough light accents that the light/dark ration will really work well.

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Then once the walls are deep chocolate brown I want to add a stencil on top just to make it a little more graphic and cool!
This is what I had in mind:

This is actually wallpaper...but it is like $200 a roll...and...that isn't happening!  So I have found some stencils that replicate this look, and they are only $60.

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I think that it would look really cool and graphic if the back ground was choc brown and the trees were off white.  What do you think?

I also saw where a professional faux painter hand painted one, and that looks really great too.

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I have a lot of experience painting, so I totally think that I could pull this off.  The question is how long would it take?  I don't want this to turn into a long drawn out process....so?


I also saw where another blogger had done some in her bedroom using an overhead projector...that is an idea!

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So that is kind of the short term plan for my basement bathroom/laundry room...what do you think?
Have you ever stenciled?  Do you like the idea of trees on the wall, or is it done already?  Are you contemplating a bathroom remodel? 

Have a great Friday!!

Sunny

Word of the Year

Layla wrote a post about her word of the year.  If you are unaware, the word of the year is a word that sums up your goals for the year.  It is fitting that you choose a word of the year at the beginning of the year versus in the middle or at the end, I think that it keeps you focused.  I guess that it is a lot like a resolution, but maybe more abstract and manageable.


I got to thinking about what I wanted my word of the year to be...I only had one that came to mind.  So here it is, are you ready?


Achieve.


I think that I always strive to achieve to be better, but this year that word has more meaning.  I want to achieve to be a better blogger, a better photographer, mother, I want to set goals and achieve them.  Isn't it a great word?


The last few years I have been busy being a mother.  The only thing that I was trying to achieve was to make it to the end of the day.  Not this year.  This is the year that I become more.  I really hope that you enjoy the ride, there is going a lot going on.


I have also made it a goal to run a marathon this year.  This is something that I really want to achieve.  I feel like the world is my oyster, I just need to dream it and then achieve it!

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Sunny
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