Christmas Craft Show Open House

  

My Mom and I hosted a craft show at my house over the weekend. My Mom used to do craft shows with my older sister back in the 90's but this was new territory for me. Although I have recently developed an interest in all things crafty I have little craft experience to speak of. We came up with the idea at the end of September sitting in the garage during our garage sale but we didn't really REALLY decide to go for it until around Halloween. So, basically 6 weeks to throw the whole thing together - and that included actually MAKING all of the crafts!!! Talk about a crash course for this girl who, two months ago, didn't know one end of a glue gun from the other! Anyway, my Dad (who will be 80 years old in March) put up a bunch of signs for us (in the snowing 20 degrees weather - thank you Dad!) and my husband made homemade cookies and hot apple cider and kept the fireplace going as we nervously opened the doors! I think the snow kept some people away but we did have some visitors throughout the weekend and most of them actually bought something! Really? Something I made. You actually want. to. pay. money. for. something. I. made? Really? Get out!

We even had a drawing to give away some fresh cut trees that we grew on our property! We had them on the porch as people came in the front door. :)

Here are a few snippets of our "craft shop".....

Thanks for stopping by!

I am linking up at the following parties. Won't you join me?

One Man's Trash......

It's only day two of Easter break and I'm not sure that I'm going to survive another 9 days.

Just sayin'......

Onto other news.

As you may or may not know, I pretty much live for garage sales.

It's in my DNA.

So, with the weather being so beautiful the past couple of days, the kids and I decided to hit the pavement, in search of signs for garages sales, rummage sales, estate sales......ANY kind of sales! Here are a few of my finds:

I also find a great table that I plan on using in my new craft room. I have been searching Craigslist for about 3 months now without any luck. But today I hit the jackpot. I stumbled upon a great wood workbench for the whopping price of just $10. I LOVE A GREAT BARGAIN! I am going back to pick it up today, so I will post a picture soon.

I picked up this shabby chic cross and shabby chic birdhouse for just $1 each. Can't beat that! Plus, I just really love saying shabby chic.

What kind of great finds have found a new home with you?

Have a blessed Easter!

Less Is More

"Project Organization" is coming along quite well, thank-you-very-much! I have sorted through and purged all of the useless contents from my entire house (I only have a few more rooms and closets left to tackle) and, surprisingly, I'm kind of having fun with this whole process. I'm actually sort of sad knowing that the "sortanizing" (as Ali likes to call it) is almost done.

Oh, I'm kidding. Because......well......that would make me a complete dork, missing something like sortanizing.

As if.

However, there is something very freeing about letting go of "stuff." Especially stuff that wasn't really needed in the first place and was just taking up space and creating chaos in my life. Chaos that was slowing stealing my sanity, one Lincoln log after another and one Polly Pocket accessory after another. I mean really, could toys these days have more pieces?

I am, however, happy to learn that what they say is true - less is more.

Now, if I can only get the scale to relay that to my hips and butt, I'd be all set.

Storage Containers Are My New BFF

Cleaning, organizing and sorting......OH MY!

I'm kinda tired. I've been an organizing fool this past week and I'm not done yet. It's exhausting getting a house clean and organized. Who knew?

I'm pretty excited about the progress I'm making. I never thought it was possible to be excited about cleaning and organizing. Who knew?

I have to admit, I've been accused of being "over the top" at times. Becoming overly passionate about certain projects. I don't really see it in this particular situation. I mean, having dreams about storage containers, file folders and other various organizing paraphernalia is perfectly normal right?

That's not at all weird, right?

Don't answer that please.

By the way, I actually went to K-Mart today in search of new cutting-edge storage and organizing tools. Because I'm a weird dork who thinks that makes for a fun Saturday afternoon.

What's even weirder, I actually went to the store looking like this chick:

I may look very disheveled at this point but on the bright side my house has never looked better.

A Slow Start

My plan today was to begin my transformation into a domestic diva. Or at least to try to find my super hero Mom cape under the huge pile of laundry calling my name. Come to think of it, I don't think I own a super hero Mom cape.

Maybe that's why I stink at all things domestic.

No. It's because I lack direction. And a plan. Remember? Please stay focused. I obviously can't, so you will have to, ok?

So, because of the whole lacking direction and a plan thing, I didn't chart my chores for the week or tackle some serious messy closet issues. No, I spent 3 hours this morning visiting my favorite blogs. Sigh.

Please don't judge me.

I know. I know. Yesterday, I was all "I'm going to be a domestic diva! I'm going to be a domestic diva!" I was all prepared to bring it and get all up in my house's dirty grill. Really, I was. But then I woke up and I was tired. And it's Monday. And a few minutes on the computer couldn't hurt, I thought. The only problem with that last excuse, is that my brain doesn't understand "just a few minutes." It's like eating just one M & M. It's just not going to happen.

My only defense is that old habits die hard and it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

And I couldn't find my super hero Mom cape. Of which I do not own.

On the upside, I did stumble upon a great blog that, not only makes me laugh out loud but also offers great domestic-y kind of advice. If you are in need of some domestic inspiration, head over to Mom's the Word . Her post today is so true and exactly what I needed to hear. Whew! There is so much to learn. But to my defense, I have only been a SAHM for 7 1/2 years. I really shouldn't be good at all this stuff yet.

Should I?

Finally, so that you don't think I'm a total domestic loser, I did accomplish one of my very important duties today. I went grocery shopping. Ooohhh!! Aaahh!! I will post about that memorable experience tomorrow.

I promise.

Unless I forget.

Domestically Challenged? Welcome to My World.....

Today was a "do nothing" kind of day.

I have been having a lot of those lately.

I don't know why that is. It actually could be because of any number of reasons. Including, but not limited to, the following:

A) I don't actually like doing things (if those things involve cleaning, scrubbing, organizing, grocery shopping, cooking and all things domestic.)

B) I am old and tired. 40 is not the new 30, no matter what they say.

C) I am allergic to dust. And cooking. Strange but true.

I know what you are thinking. These are all very valid reasons for not cleaning and cooking. I hear you, I do. However, I don't think any of them are the real reason why I am so domestically challenged. I think if I were to dig a little deeper, I would discover why I will never appear on the cover of Martha Stewart's magazine.

Does Martha Stewart even have a magazine? That's how "out of the loop" I am when it comes to this kind of stuff.

After reading blog after blog of other super hero Moms who are able to keep their household running on an even keel, I finally figured out what my problem is.

I lack direction. And a plan.

How do you like them apples? Pretty profound, huh?

In all honesty, I really do want a clean, organized home. I really do want to be a better cook and make delicious and healthy meals for my family. I really do desire to sew all of our clothes, make soap and churn butter.

My life motto is "Go Big or Go Home."

Seriously, I would love to be a better homemaker. Is "homemaker" politically correct? Or are we now called Domestic Divas? Again, out of the loop. Anyway, what I have found is that other moms who have it all together, seem to have some type of method to their madness. I am learning so much about domestic issues that I never knew I wanted to know.

Surprisingly, I am all excited about it.

Originally when I discovered the blog world, I really enjoyed reading humorous stories of women keeping it real for the readers. Stories of moms pulling their hair out and drowning their stress in a double mocha cappacino latte something or other. Those stories made me feel like I wasn't alone in this crazy ride we call motherhood. They still do.

Then I started to notice that many of these same hair-pulling, caffeine-drinking mamas were also getting stuff done. And they were pretty good at it, too.

Because they have direction. And a plan.

Whether it's following daily chore charts, preparing a months worth of meals and then freezing them or organizing the entire house in handy storage containers, there is a secret to their success. All have incorporated ways of doing things that have helped them to be more organized and efficient, thus succeeding at getting things done.

Did I just use the word "thus?"

So, I think when it really comes down to it, it's just a matter of learning the tricks of the trade. It's not rocket science or a "domestic gene" that I wasn't born with. It's just a matter of incorporating some of these clever little household tips, little by little and week by week, and maybe I just might start making some progress. I will continue to scour (scour, get it? oh, never mind) my favorite blogs for helpful hints and domestic advice. There are so many awesome domestic divas out there to teach me the ropes. So, if you have any smart little tips you would like to pass on, please don't hesitate to share! I'm very excited to begin the process and report on any transformation that ensues.

OK. Seriously, did I use the word "ensues" properly? You never know with me.

So, here's to starting over and turning over a new leaf. Tomorrow is a new day!

Because now I have direction. And a plan.