Take 2

Remeber Project 365? And how I wanted to take a picture every day for a year, and then I blew it after, like a week?

Well, I have regrouped and started prepping for take 2. Last time it was a matter of failing to prepare. Today I bought some Red/Pink papers to prep the whole month of Feb in advance.

See?

It may not make sense to you right now, but I will keep updating as it progresses.

This is what I love about having a craft room...

I can walk away from my projects (spread out over the floor of an entire room) and not have to pick up after myself. Well, I didn't really do that before either, but at least now I don't have to feel guilty about it.

I had to stop the project because Jim was hungry and kept asking if the chicken was ready to grill. He does the outside cooking, and he's pretty darn good at it!

Random Bits

It's funny that now matter how boring you think your life is, there's always people out there who find it more interesting than you do. Every time I go a few days without blogging, I hear these cute little comments like "you haven't blogged in forever." That one was from Lynn :o)

To update you on my crazed obsession with samples, I have since last post received a granola bar, a fruit rollup, coffee and moisturizer. I'm like a child waiting for Christmas every time Jim goes to the mailbox. "Did I get anything???"

I love finding new cool blogs and this one is hilarious. Check it out!

One more thing. I just found out that Dad and Freda are in love with the onion string recipe I linked a few weeks ago (assuming 3 times in one week equals love). So, in honor of that, I'm on the hunt for some new recipes to share. Stay tuned.....

Got one!

I got my first sample today! It's funny that I posted about it yesterday because I started ordering stuff about 2 or 3 weeks ago, and I wasn't expecting anything yet. Now every day I'll be super excited to check the mailbox.
What did I get, you ask? Benefiber. Ya, so it's not something cool, but IT WAS FREE!!!!

My new hobby

Sometimes you happen across something that gives you a sense of euphoria, a certian feeling of unrequitted happiness. I have found such pleasure in searching for free samples. Seriously, did you know you can get almost anything for free and they will mail it directly to your home? It's the most fabulous thing ever! I'm hooked. I have ordered things like makeup, granola bars, cereal, deodorant, coffee, fruit roll-ups, perfume, vitamins, and about a hundred more things. Even Walmart.com has free samples. Did you know that? If you want to enjoy free gifts day after day (in 4-6 weeks) go here and here. I warn you now, once you start, prepare to spend hours glued to your computer searching for more.

Sleepy time

When I get tired, my mind shuts out coherent thoughts and I cease to hear. My eyes blur everything out of focus. Even if I'm staring at the TV, I see and hear nothing. When I'm tired, I stop talking. My blinks become slower and longer (and between you, me and the internet, I get cranky).

When Jim gets tired, he scratches his head.



When he's not tired, he's ornery and does things like this.

Do you see it?

Little bit here, little bit there

We worked a bit more on the house today. A lot of unfinished projects around us. I don't have any amazing pictures of beautifully completed rooms, so you only get a glimpse.

Remember, this is what we had to start with.

This is the wall just to the right of the wall above. The room now has a texture on it to hide the ridiculous panelling. I painted it a deep gray color then washed it with a light gray glaze. We put white moulding around the windows, but I still need to paint the window trim behind it.

I only gave you a glimpse because we need to finish the baseboards and add crown moulding.

Other than that, we got groceries today and we both exercised. I pulled out all my Weight Watchers stuff today (again), and decided to get off my lazy rear end and get in shape. So then we had steaks and brownies for dinner.

There's always tomorrow.

I'm Back

Check it out!
After 2 long weeks, I'm back to blog land. Last week I was away from home and working non-stop. Now I'm back on my "regular" schedule so I will be enlightening you much more often. I have no new pictures to post, but tomorrow I will blow the dust off the 'ol camera and get busy snapping pics.
As for project 365, well, when I didn't get the kit I blew it. I have a homemade version I will be sharing with you eventually so I will restart my attempt soon. I don't want to wait until next January so it will have to be Project 334, or maybe I'll do it for one full year starting Valentine's Day. That sounds pretty good, and gives me a little more time to prep!
Today we worked on the money pit house. The upstairs is soooo close to being done. We just need to install a banister and get new lighting. We demo'd all the trim downstairs today and started replacing it with the new white stuff. I can't wait to post before and after pics of the downstairs family room, but that will have to wait for now.

One little word

My word for 2009 is CULTIVATE.

cul-ti-vate (verb)
1. to improve by labor, care, or study
2. to further or encourage

I liked this word because it can apply to so many aspects of my life, from work, to hobbies, home, relationships, health and faith. To me, cultivate means to learn more, try harder, be consistent. To work on what I already do and what I already have to make it all a little bit better.

Starting the Year out right...

A BIG congratulations are in order (No, I am not pregnant).

I successfully went an entire year without drinking any soda. Admittedly, I substituted one vice for another. I gave up my Dr. Pepper and dove right into coffee. Ahh, delicious, eye-opening, body warming coffee, I will miss you. That's right. I am giving up coffee (for now). Probably not for an entire year though. A girl can only sacrifice so much.

Jim ceremoniously presented me with a champagne glass of that sweet, delicious nectar that I had not tasted for 365 days. It was OK.



Moving on to less life-changing topics...

Project 365 was a bust. The company ran out of the albums within 25 minutes. I still want to commit myself to taking a picture every single day for this year. I have to figure out how to store it all though. Sounds like a trip to Michaels is in order!

Another artsy, fartsy thing that I'm into is a Web craze called "One Little Word." If you had to choose one single word to describe what you would like to accomplish or feel or commit to this year, what word would you choose? I'm still thinking about it. I'll decide by tomorrow. Maybe.