Saturday, January 23, 2010

You know you're old when . . .

you get excited to find cabinet knobs half price
you wish for rain in the summer in order to help water your lawn more cheaply
your children tell you that your face is "crinkly"
a student asks if the picture of you and your husband is of you and your son
you fall asleep before 9:30 while watching Grey's Anatomy on DVR
the skin on your hands looks mysteriously more baggy than usual
you are too tired to want to go out on a weeknight after working all day
a coupon for $2.00 off a favorite product is exciting
a date night takes three months of planning to fit into the family schedule
the current big item you're saving for is new flooring for your house
you begin to consider buying that foundation makeup that firms up your skin
you realize that you have worn the same outfit every Saturday for a month because it's comfortable
you have researched Roth IRAs and 403b accounts
your oldest child is almost past your shoulders in height
your 20th wedding anniversary is this year

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A Year with Frog and Toad


Last Saturday, I took the boys to the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville to see a play there for the first time. We had been given free tickets to attend the play through Hudson's participation in the H.I.P.P.Y program. This musical was originally a Broadway show that was based upon the children's books about two characters named Frog and Toad. Frog is the happy, upbeat, organized friend, while Toad seems to be grumpy and worried about everything (think "The Odd Couple"). The differences in their personalities make for a lot of humorous events!

Owen and I had seen this play at the Arkansas Children's Theater in Little Rock several years ago, and we had really enjoyed it. However, this was the first time that Hudson had been to a full-length theater production. The Walton Arts Center was amazing, and this version of the play was much more professional than the one I had seen previously (though it was good too). This version completely amazed me, and I would have seen it again, if it hadn't been the final day of the play before the tour left. The actors were professional, New York City trained performers with degrees from places like NYU and the Boston Conservatory. The show included scenes that were not included in the smaller show I'd seen in Little Rock, and the actors were very impressive in their musical and dancing abilities. In fact, we all liked the musical score so much that I just ordered a copy of the CD from the original Broadway version this week, and it should arrive in a few days.

I'm looking forward to singing along with the boys in the car and learning all the rest of the lines! If you ever hear of this play in your town, you really need to take your kids! It was wonderful!

The next production I'm looking forward to is Grease which will also be at the Walton Arts Center in May. I think Owen and I will be attending that one since it's a bit too mature for Hudson, and Owen acted in a short production from Grease at a drama camp. These tickets are a bit pricey, or we might all go. I'm so glad that my children are already loving theater like I do!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Search List 2010


This list is mainly for me since I want to keep a running list of what I am looking for used this year. I will add to it as more things come up that I realize I need/want, and I will update when I've found the items on the list. Since I plan to print my blog as a book each year, this is a fun way for me to remember what I search for during each year!

Search list for used items in 2010:

1. twin mattress and boxsprings for Arden

2. side table/nightstand for Arden

3. Fisher Price Loving People dollhouse furniture and people for Arden's house

4. Leap Frog grocery cart replacement food
*1/28/10: I found a complete used set on Ebay with a good Buy-it-Now price of $20.00. These were discontinued items and hard to find. I had been outbid on many previous auctions for more than this!

5. Custom bedding for master bedroom (queen size)

6. Entertainment center with side bookcases for bonus room (maybe this year, but might be in 2011 due to other house projects)

I found another great deal on Craigslist this week and stumbled upon a like-new Radio Flyer Canopy Wagon that has folding seats and a removable canopy. The owners said they used it twice. It retails at Walmart and Target between $120-$140, and I got it for $40! However, I had to go out in 8 degree weather to test it out in an ice-covered parking lot when I met the lady for pick-up, but it was worth it! It will be wonderful to use to transport all our pool items to our neighborhood pool this summer, plus it will be great at Silver Dollar City and the Tulsa Zoo which I hope to visit this year. Last summer, I realized that all my neighbors used wagons at the pool to haul all the gear and snacks, and I looked for one all summer to purchase. Luckily, most people probably weren't out on the hunt for a wagon in January, so I was able to bargain down the original price. :)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Snow Days

We are going to be on snow day #3 tomorrow! It just posted on the Bentonville website that they have closed classes again for Wednesday. I guess Bella Vista and more northern roads are still bad because my street is now completely clear. I was actually really wanting to go to work tomorrow because it's getting a little stir crazy being inside with three children and no where to go. They are about bored with electronics and getting restless, too. I think they want to get out and see their friends, and I haven't left the house since Saturday. Now, I'm getting concerned that it will be a long time before Arden goes back to daycare if we are closed until next week which might make her transition rougher for her return and separation from me again.

Unfortunately, more snow is predicted to come in tomorrow night with several inches in accumulation. Since we are only having high temps in the teens right now, nothing is melting much at all. I expected we would go to school on Wednesday, but then we might be out again on Thursday. I really wanted to check in with my students and give them some assignments to do at home in case we got more snow! Ha. They are probably glad we didn't meet after all, even if I had a fun activity planned that involved using toilet paper.

So, I might take the kids out in the next hour to run a few errands before it all refreezes overnight and more snow comes in tomorrow. This is too reminiscient of last January when school closed for a week due to an ice storm. Now, it looks like we will possibly have this entire week out of school and have to make it all up in June.

At any rate, it has been a nice, long break, and I will be ready to go back to school when the snow thaws. God has helped prepare me for the return to work by giving me enough extra rest that I'm actually getting bored!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Design on a Dime

I like nice things and have a designer taste for my home, but I've always been on a tight budget for decorating. I usually only have a couple hundred dollars at any time to spend in a room, and I've never hired a decorator. I don't even know where to shop to find a sofa that would cost thousands or more. In fact, I am the person who pulled off an entire wedding for $1750 which included the dress! Granted, that was back in 1990, but it was still dirt cheap then. It wasn't fancy or elaborate, but I didn't want to accrue debt for a one-day event (that's my practical side). Now that I've been married for almost 20 years, I don't think I would change my wedding at all except for one thing: I would spend more on photography. That's really the only object of the wedding budget that endures past the one day ceremony. Well, I might consent to better accomodations for our honeymoon since the $35 per night "cottage" was a bit, um, questionable!

Many people comment that they like my home decor and are amazed when I share that the majority of my home furnishings were purchased used, repainted, or handmade. I don't decorate fancy, but I tend to do a mix of traditional/Pottery Barn/Country French. I tend to use approximately 60-70% used/recycled items and then mix it with around 30-40% new, more upscale items (still on sale) that I adore and can't find used. I think that mix helps make the room seem more pulled together, and I like to have one or two "focus" items in the room that are often new items. Then, the cheap stuff appears like it is valuable too! I want my house to look like Pottery Barn, but not be expensive!

My daughter's room is one of my favorite rooms in my house. I think it is because it is the first time I was able to really go all "girly" in one space after living with a houseful of boys! Arden's room is a perfect example of how to mix new plus thrift store/used items. Now, I'm not saying her room is the best, fanciest nursery that I've ever been in, but I can guarantee that it's much less expensive!

If you are trying to branch out to use thrift store or used items, maybe these ideas will inspire you to try it!



This wall is Arden's window, rocker, and crib. The bedding is the inspiration piece for the entire room, as most nurserys are. I found the beddings first . . on Ebay. Yes, it was used. However, it was custom-made, decorator fabric bedding with lots of details like cording in a contrasting fabric and a two layer dust ruffle that is 18 inches long, so it reaches the floor. I didn't see it before I bought it, but I saw a lot of pictures of it on the internet and emailed a few other questions to the seller. I was thrilled with it! The auction included the bedding, lampshade (which is currently not is use until she gets a nightstand), and the slipcover for the child's rocking chair. I paid $150 for all those pieces. I've also found used, custom made dining room drapes (with pinch-pleating!) that I bought on Ebay, so it is worth checking out for custom fabric treatments. I like to benefit from rich people who are redecorating and getting rid of perfectly stylish items!

The crib has been used by SEVEN children, and it's still going strong. It is a Simmons crib that was well-made and sturdy. It has caster wheels and two drop down sides, so it is functional. It was actually my sister-in-law's crib who let me borrow it (free) for my children. Yes, it is now dinged up and has lots of chipped areas, but you really can't tell with the bedding in. Sure, I would have loved a $1000 wrought iron crib with finials (Corsican . . . *sigh*), but I couldn't justify that expense when this free crib works fine and was a traditional style. If you have to choose, I would buy upper scale bedding and a basic (good and functional) crib. The bedding makes the crib and the room more than the crib by itself. Also, consider a crib that would work with both genders, so you can use it multiple times. Craigslist is a good place to look for used baby furniture, since a lot of people sell nice cribs after they are done with them. Don't let a few scuffs or nicks deter you because it will look like that a month after your toddler gets through with it anyway!

The glider was purchased new for Hudson. I made the decision because I was practical, and this Dutailer glider allows you to order replacement cushions in different fabrics. So, instead of buying a fully-upholstered denim rocker for Hudson's nursery, I just switched out his cushions and ordered new toile ones for Arden at 1/3 the cost of a second chair. It's held up great and is very comfortable. Plus, it's slimmer than a fully padded chair, and my nursery rooms are always a bit small. I try to think about how to "repurpose" new items before I buy them, so that they can be moved elsewhere in the house when my needs change. That helps to make the cost of a new item more practical. I've used this chair with two children and in two different nurseries for almost six years!

My two "focus" items which were where I spend 60% of the entire budget for the room are the custom toile drapes and the handpainted canvas above the bed. The drapes were a necessity in my last house because the nursery had a room where sun shone in early in the morning and heated the room. Arden would never sleep in there during the day and was up at 5:00 a.m. in the summer. So, I got these drapes made to coordinate with her bedding and had them lined in blackout fabric, so she would sleep. My boys never had fancy drapes and weren't bothered by light as a baby. The canvas is 36" square, and it was painted by a friend in Little Rock, so it was actually cheaper than one might cost if you ordered it from a catalog. If you know student artists or art teachers, they are good resources to paint custom canvases or murals are a reasonable cost. The cute wooden rocking horse was a Craigslist find for $20, too!



This wall is next to the crib and includes the closet doors. It isn't very exciting since this wall is mainly a closet, but I did get the cute peg shelf at Land of Nod catalog. I love their items, and they have good sales. The painted sign above the closet says, "Dreams do come True," and I ordered it off Ebay for less than in a boutique.



This wall is across from the crib, and it is also full of used items. The main hanging shelf was a handmade wedding gift from one of Stuart's relatives. It started off stained light brown pine, but I eventually painted and distressed it shabby chic. Often, if you can visualize an item in a different color, you can repurpose many thrift store finds by painting them and changing the hardware. I already had everything in the hutch from previous nurseries, my childhood items, or other decor from around my house. Use what you have! The prints on the left are from an old Beatrix Potter book from a thrift store that I cut up and framed. Framing book art is a great idea for children's rooms. The bulletin board was also from a thrift store, and I used a staple gun to attach coordinating fabric from Arden's bedding to cover it. The child's chair was slipcovered with the cover that came with her bedding from Ebay, and I found the chair underneath it at a children's consignment sale for $12.00 (it's actually an ugly blue check), then I simply used upholstery tacks to keep the slipcover in place and make it fit. The bookcase was purchased new since I wanted something sturdy, and it was from Land of Nod catalog.



The final wall is Arden's new play kitchen area. The kitchen was purchased used from Craigslist. The clock is a Storytime clock from Timeworks. They retail around $85, but I found it used on Ebay for $20. I made the square plaque myself from a vintage ceiling tile! I also have one upstairs in our bonus room, and I get a lot of compliments on them. Basically, you need to find a 24 inch square vintage ceiling tile. Where, you ask? I found both mine on Ebay (search: vintage ceiling tile), but flea markets often carry them. I painted over both of mine, then distressed them again, but you can leave them really old and rusty if you want. This one is over 100 years old and came from a church in Nebraska. It cost $40 with shipping on Ebay. I got a piece of wood cut to a 30 inch square and painted it pink (my plaque upstairs is stained dark brown for the wood part to look more Pottery Barn). Then I simply centered the tin to have a three inch border and nailed it on! There are usually holes in the tin edges that I used to attach it. I attached picture hanger screws and wire on the back and threw it up on the wall. I've seen similar decor at designer stores for around $200! It's a pretty cheap statement piece if you need a large 30 inch diameter object to fill a blank wall.

When tackling a design project, select your big items first (furniture, bedding) and see if you can find any of those used. You might have to look for months! Craigslist is great for furniture, and Ebay is good for fabric items that can be shipped. Then, add new and old accessories to finish the look! Remember to always have at least two places any new item can be used in your home, so that you can move things around when you desire or if you move to a new home. That makes everthing work longer, and it gives you the option to mix up your decor when you get tired of it without purchasing much else!

For more design inspiration, check out The Nester's blog since she shares my philosophy and gives me lots of good ideas! Her house is amazing and on a budget!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Best 2009 Thrift Store Treasures!

So . . . I'm a compulsive thrift-store, Craigslist, garage sale, Ebaying shopper! I can't help but think that when I pay for something new that I could have saved so much money had I found it used! Not everything can be found used, but I have had a lot of good luck finding some deals this year. My rule of thumb is to look for several months for certain furniture items used before considering a furniture store, if I still haven't found something. Most of my decorative accessories in my home are repainted, recycled thrift store items that I've found on my many treasure hunts. That's part of the fun of it -- there's no telling what you will find!

Here are a few of my favorite finds from 2009!

Glass hurricane, $2.00, and pewter silver platter which I painted with chalkboard paint, $7.00


Handcarved wooden bird, signed on the bottom from an art gallery, $1.00 (Stuart hates this bird!)


Primigi girl's shoes, .75 cents!!


Stride Rite mary jane shoes, $2.00


Willow Tree wooden figurine, this one is over 14 inches tall, $8.00


Gail Pittman, handpainted platter with iron stand, $8.00


Black and Decker coffee maker with timer, everything works! $2.50


This year, I did have some success finding larger furniture pieces which are mainly on Craigslist. I use thrift stores for clothing, decorative home items, toys, and books. Craigslist is good for larger items like furniture, electronics, or baby furniture. I search Ebay when I'm in need of something specific and don't have time to search for months in thrift stores to hope I find it, like if I want to buy Arden a pair of used Stride Rite shoes in size 7. This year, I've found the following by using Craigslist:
- television
- 9 foot tall silk tree in large decorative planter
- La-Z-Boy chair with matching ottoman (down filled cushions)
- wooden kitchen playset for Arden's room
- cream sleigh bed (twin) for Arden when we move her out of the crib
- two leather bar stools
- full mattress set for guestroom

I can't wait to see what I stumble across in 2010! Happy bargain shopping!

Happy Birthday!



Arden turned 2 on December 27! She is becoming such a big girl now. She slept in a queen size bed which was the first time out of a crib last week on our trip to a hotel in Camden. She is convinced that she wants to use the big potty and keeps taking off her clothing multiple times each day to get on the potty, but nothing is really happening yet. However, she is very interested, and this is not my idea at all. I want to wait until school is out to begin potty training! She is still tall, according to her recent two year old checkup this week. She is in the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. Right now, she is about 36 inches tall (3 feet), weighs 29.5 lbs, and she is wearing size 2 clothing and size 7 - 7 1/2 shoes. Arden is a great sleeper and still takes a long 3 hour afternoon nap on days when she is home. She only naps about 1 to 1 1/2 hours at daycare since other kids wake her up. She goes to bed around 7:30 and sleeps until 7 a.m on school days and 8 or later on weekends!

We didn't have a huge party for her birthday since she's so young, plus organizing a post-Christmas party is really hard! We celebrated once with Mama Bea and Papaw and all of Arden's cousins from Ohio when we were doing early Christmas in Camden last week. Then, on Arden's actual birthday, Stuart and I took the three kids to Jump Zone to play and then did a McDonald's dinner. Her final party was yesterday at her preschool where she attended just two days this week in order to ease back into school resuming for me next week. I sent Dora plates, Dora napkins, Dora cupcakes, and goodie bags for the six children in her class for their afternoon snack. She had a lot of fun seeing her friends again after ten days and had to hug her best friend Chesa at least ten times!

Happy birthday, Arden! We love you so much!