Bug Graveyard

This picture was taken just a few hours after I vacuumed. It looks like I never do! I don't know how she does it, but she manages to get all kinds of bugs in the house and then torture them and kill them and leave them in the living room - to show off her handywork. It makes me crazy!

Here lately, we've been stopping her at the door to try to see if she has any. Obviously, she still gets some past us but we've caught her in the act on more than one occasion with LIVE bugs in her mouth - trying to sneak them inside. I have no clue what started this, but this is a habit I'm trying very hard to break her of. Until then, I know that my living will look like some horrible bug graveyard!

My New Digs

Back in June, I moved into an office and have been working here and there to get it all fixed up. It's still a work in progress, but I wanted to share where I was so far...

This is what you see, standing in my doorway.

As you turn to the right, I have some guest chairs and a book shelf. I would like to find some older wooden chairs to re-finish and reupholster, but I haven't found any that I like.

This is what is on top of the book shelf. A plant that I found at Wal-Mart for $5, a candle that was on clearance (originally $30 and I paid $9) at Hobby Lobby, a candle stick that was on clearance (originally $15 and I paid $3) at Hobby Lobby and an engagement picture of D and I. It's hard to tell but the candlestick, the pot, and the frame are all an oil-rubbed bronze. The frame is hammered. My photography skills suck, but it looks good in person! :)

This is the corner of my desk. I found this cute little lamp at Ross for $14. Next to it sit my business cards, calculator and electric stapler - that is probably my favorite office supply. It sounds ridiculous until you get used to it - now it's a must have!

The clock that hangs on the wall to the left. I found it at Ross for $12

If you come around my desk to the left, straight in front of you (on each side of the window), hang framed map pictures I found at Kirkland's (originally $30 each and I paid $30 for BOTH of them).

Some pictures and a plant (that I'm in the process of killing), I found that pot at Wal-Mart for $7. I bought a smaller one for $5 but haven't figured out what I'm going to put in it yet. The plant thing obviously isn't working for me!

This is the other side of the world - on the other side of the window.

You don't see the key box unless you are standing right in front of it, but I had to put it somewhere. That printer is my lifeline - I would be lost without it. It sits on a printer stand that matches my desk, and it holds all my paper and stuff. I'm still trying to figure out something to hide that one cord. - Hopefully I can think of something but I'm open to suggestions!

This is in the corner of my office, looking at my desk. My new custom bulletin board is under neath that hutch, to the left of my computer.

On top of the hutch, I got that arrangement at Kirklands for $25 with a amber cracked glass fleur-de-lis finial from Hobby Lobby that I got on sale for $7. I have an amber cracked glass potpouri bowl from Kirkland's (on sale for $9) in the middle, underneath a clearance wall hanging from Hobby Lobby (that I got for $9) and on the far right side I have an amber cracked glass (see a pattern here) faux jug that I picked up at Hobby Lobby for $12 when it was 50% off. The frames I got for $5 and $3 on clearance at Kirkland's.

This is Command Central! I really like seeing this bulletin board everyday. I re-printed everything I needed to put on it, in colors that coordinated with it (its hard to tell from my pictures) but all of my notes are in sage green and cream.

That Dymo dual labeler makes my life easy breezy!

All of my pens and markers, some note pads and apparently money to the left, and my electric hole punch.

When I sit down and look to the right, I see my notebook (with Monday's to-do list) and my pen holder that doubles as a picture frame. Cute, huh?

My new amber cracked glass candy jar that I got 50% off at Hobby Lobby for $12. Its always full of m&ms and I have MANY visitors throughout the day that enjoy those little treats. This is sitting at my computer - what I see pretty much 8 hours a day. Can you tell I'm ready for Fall? And of course, I have to have some good speaker so I can listen to iTunes and I always have a diet DP near by!

So far, I've spent about $165 on decor for my new office (not calculating the countless bags of m&ms that I go through). It's still a work in progress, but I'm happy with the results so far.

Thanks for stopping by, but I have to get back to work! :)

The Exterminator

This is pretty much what happens every night around our house. Coco harrasses us all night long to keep taking her outside, because this is her favorite playtime activity!

If you don't make her go inside - she could spend hours outside torturing bugs!

The little heathen sneaks them inside sometimes and plays with them until she kills them and then leaves them laying all around my living room like some kind of bug graveyard.

A New View

I got so disgusted at looking at my messy closet every time I opened the door, I decided to re-organize it. I was too embarrassed to take a "before" picture, but this is what I see when I open the door now...

All of my shirts are organized by sleeve length. I have always done this - we go from spaghetti strap all the way to long sleeve. I only have about 6 more boxes of clothes to go through and hang up (or donate).

This is to the right of the door. Can you tell I'm not big on dresses? The canvas hanger organizes my earrings and bracelets.

My shoes are to the far right. They started out as organized by color but I have way more shoes that room, so that didn't last long. It's better than it was though.

It's hard to see all of my black shoes up there. I have more shoes on top. I ran out of room and have two totes of shoes sitting in the office, waiting for a home. I have some of my necklaces hung up on a coffee mug hanger I found at Wal-Mart for $5. I had them seperated by color but I started running out of room. Then, I found a bunch more necklaces that I need to hang so I'm looking for another solution. I'm thinking something along these lines, but much longer. Maybe I make something really cute to hang in my closet?

Hmm, the possibilities!

Custom Bulletin Board

I've been wanting to put a bulletin board up beside my desk in my office, so that I can hang some phone numbers and log-in information that I need regularly. I had a regular bulletin board with the wooden frame, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for as far as decor was concerned so I decided to "oomph" it up just a bit, to make it look a little more appealing, while still being efficient.

I started with the regular bulletin board and had Darren cut it down to the size I wanted (that would fit between a hutch and my desk).

I grabbed the cut down bulletin board, some fabric, ribbon, upholstery pins and a piece of foam board (not shown). I cut the foam board down to size and glued it to the side of the bulletin board that I actually want to use.

Then I draped the fabric over it. Now, I just have to take a moment to point out this thick, gorgeous camel colored fabric is upholstery fabric from Hancock Fabric. It was originally $30/yard but I caught it on clearance in the remnant section for a mere $2.99/yard.

I cut the fabric so that I had about 3" left all the way around the board.

Then, you just start pulling it and stapling it. Nothing fancy about it. Just make sure that you smooth your fabric out and pull it tight. You don't want any wrinkles in your fabric.

Fold it over at the corners and staple away!

Then you're ready for the pretty stuff! Make sure that you have plenty of ribbon. I used about 45ft of ribbon (3 rolls) and make sure that you have a long ruler or craft ruler.

I started at the bottom left corner and measured about every 4" and placed a ribbon.

I used the upholstery pins to hold the ribbons in place, until I was ready to secure them.

Then I started at the top left corner and started measure 4" in the other direction, to get the criss-cross pattern.

Then just smooth your ribbon out and push the upholstery pins all the way in, at the intersection of your ribbons.

I wanted to add a little something extra, so I bought a set of tassels and wrapped them around the base of one of the upholstery pins and pushed it in. This is the bulletin board completely done, waiting to be hung up in my office.

It was a really quick and easy craft - it only took about an hour from start to finish and I did it while watching tv. Definitely something anyone can do! Hope you like it as much as I do!

Kindergarten

My sweet little nephew, Matthew started Kindergarten this morning. He did really well - no tears - he was happy and excited. I hope the rest of his mornings go as smoothly!

Here he is at his desk. Isn't he adorable?

Matthew,

I can't believe how fast you are growing! It seems like just yesterday your mom and dad were bringing you home. You have been such a blessing and wonderful addition to our family. We have enjoyed watching you explore, learn and grow and we all love you very much. As you start school today, I wanted to let you know that Uncle Darren and I are praying for you and wish you well today, and all of the rest of your school days. We hope that you enjoy this new adventure called "school". We hope that you have an inquiring mind and a discerning heart. We hope that you have the courage to persevere when things get tough or confusing. We hope that you enjoy lots of love and laughter with new teachers and new friends. We hope that you are kind and generous with your new classmates, and that they are in return. And, more than anything, we hope that you approach each and every opportunity to learn with joy and wonder.

Have a great day kiddo! We love you!

Wordless Wednesday