Time to redo the curtains in the dining room

I'm in LOVE with this curtain rod and curtains!

I  may not be so in love when I find out the curtain rod cost.. but for now, I'm in love with this idea!

 

I really think that those curtains would look GREAT in here...

what do YOU think?

 

 

Oh, yeah, and I redo these curtains, then I have do redo the ones in the living room as well - they do match...

hum... will have to stick to the color scheme it is now as that's the rug that will have to stay for the duration.... too expensive to replace ALL of that...

 

 

now what type of curtains do I want, that is the $20,000 question this week.

I think I want sheers similar to what is in the top picture... but the living room looks like this:

 

yeah, we need something different in there... and longer curtain rod too...

 



Cancer Awareness

Saturday I went to a cancer study that I had signed up for in the summer... a LONG time back, however I was feeling that I should give back to the world in some way at that point and mom had spotted this blurb in the paper about a cancer study. She couldn't participate due to age - they wanted people in the study for long term - still not sure what that REALLY means as it was never really spelled out in years.

Fast forward to Tuesday; I get a phone call asking me to come back for a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound with the local Imaging Center. Ok, this isn't THAT shocking as I have had one aspiration and multiple checks on the left since 2007. It was funny because when I called to set up a routine mammogram they ask when my last one was and I said a year ago in July ... she looks and looks and looks and states, no, the last one you had was in 2007. She came back on the line with an "oh, wait, I see, you have had diagnostics every year since then." Yep, that's me and my very loved and examined left breast. Sigh.

I go in and they have changed their approach, there is no more draping of the teeny tiny top. No sir, now you go in with bare breasts and let's face it gals, there is no modesty in those teeny tiny tops anyway... they are a joke to modesty!

I finally had a "normal" mammogram, no ultrasounds, no extra decorated BB dots on odd spots of my breast that when pressed with that vise grip leaves divots that last a full day. Those same said BB's that I tease the technicians that if they squeeze ANY harder will shoot across the room and take an eye out and I can't be held responsible for that! While we're on the topic of those BB-Band-Aids - who in their right mind thought they should be decorated with flowers... I laughed and told Butch one day I was going to wear those bad boys home to him - hahahaha. I'm sure he would really appreciate the little flowers more than I do.

Anyway, I digress. I got the call on Tuesday for a follow up and the message was a little garbled and asking me for follow up and right. Ok, that can't be right. The left has known issues that are always getting more and more attention. So, I have Angela listen to the message and ask her, "did she say "RIGHT"?" To which the child was mortified... but with a 14 year old having boobs now, this is the perfect time to discuss self-exams, etc.. Then I start feeling my boobs and muttering "right?" Hum... I don't feel a thing. She walked out shaking her head - poor child will be scared for life with the things she sees/hears around me, I'm sure!

So... the exam is set (27th), the Right shall join the team of "problem children" and we'll see how this one plays out as I still can't find the "issue"... watch, I'm going to go in, they'll try to find where this mystery spot is on the right and find they mismarked stuff and it IS the left!! Ha!

Until then I'll continue to look like I have a boob fetish and randomly feel around my right breast for this mystery lump/bump/issue - ha!

Angela's new doo

Angela decided to go for a purple under layer on her hair. I decided to help.


First bleach it.





Why yes, it IS a bit pink in the middle. Weird, eh?


Onto the purple dye. Ok who's brainiac idea was this???



Wow!!! Dried.


Drying in with the rest of the hair!


"normal"


When pulled forward. Can you tell she loves it?


In her normal French braid mode for color guard. Yes this has been approved by her guard coach. First thing I insisted she check!

Angela stats

Angela is now 5'7". Wow!!

Laundry room revisited

Before:

Mom had asked today why did I buy the crock for the Oxiclean if I was just going to leave the bucket up there. Good point. I was waiting for the perfect "bucket" to use for garbage. Seems I had it outside this whole time! :)
After:

Even a basket to gather pens and change in a lost and found setting.
Next up? Paint the rusting lid to the dryer. Wow. Didn't realize how much rust was there until I scrubbed it today! Wow. Time to paint it!!
And a little more:
You'll notice not all of the collapsible baskets are out now. Only two. One for reds and whites.

Here is where I tucked the others until needed. I probably should have hung them in full site for kids and husbands. However if all goes well we shall train then where their home is when not in use :)

I have one more plan for this room. The idea came from here http://southernhospitalityblog.com/my-laundry-room-makeover-finale/
I have to see if mine needs one more coat of paint or not at this point.
I have to say I LOVE a separate laundry room with a door however the next house shall have one twice this size... And a big pantry.
A girl can dream can't she?

Not sure the real color can stay with they yellow. I think it clashes.

Sunday morning rearranging

Before. The soap is on the opposite side of the washer opening. Not horrible, not nit convenient either. So I got a bee in my bonnet to rearrange today.

After. The shelf on the shelving unit was dropped to have the soap be at the level of the washer. The Oxiclean crock is moved to the shelf as well.

Better view if the soap and Oxiclean crock.

The ONLY issue I may have with this is that my softener is in the overhead cabinet on the opposite side. Easy remedy will be to shift the contents around and have it over the washer again.

The other thing that may interfere us the drying rid is now directly over the washer. Means I have to put clothes away more than once a week. Hum. Small price to pay, right?? Maybe.

Angela homecoming

I was gone to Utah and Angela went to her forts Homecoming dance! No more little girl!!

Dinner

Scrapbook Steals Retreat Day One

Full day!!!
bag contained this:

First project looked like this:


And made all of these:

Package 2:

Turned into a challenge of using Christmas paper for a non Christmas layout. Here is what I came up with:

Project three:

Made this and a two page layout that hasn't been done:

Inside looked like this and our challenge is to fill them out. The designer has a husband with cancer so really knows the importance of documenting:

The next kit - I missed the before shot made this card and one page layout:

Odds and ends freebies:

A nice subset out the hotel window! Nice!

Mustache you a question.

Are these pasties?

Free scrapping and I finished my goal of a mini album...

Whoot!!

Hallway project

To match the other end with Liz's sweet 16. We will update the pictures to her sweet 16 when we get them done in two years.

Angela's recovery from wisdom tooth removal

Surgery was Friday ...

Day 2 (Sunday)

Day 3 (Monday)

Day 7 (Friday)- 99 % healed. Only a little swelling left on one side. Not too bad. (Outfit is her color guard outfit. I'll post a full body shot shortly!)
Now here is the kicker. We didn't do nearly the preventative stuff this time - no walking for days... Just ice on day 1 ever 30 minutes on and off. Then some icing on day two however not religiously.
Two kids same parents and Liz did more to actively prevent selling and Angela recouped faster. Interesting results, don't you think??

Project

Have to love when a project, thought, plan, comes together seamlessly after a year of picking up items ;). The crab was found last year some time. I couldn't find an original picture. The candle holders this year early in the year. And even better?? NO changes, painting or otherwise needed. Love it!!

























Original. See no changes needed. Add sand and shells and the beach comes to you :)

Before:

 

After:

AND AFTER...

 

 

Both girls have assumed this position now.  Poor Angela. She's using her iPod to type out what she wants and needs.  Aside from a failed attempt to drink water while still numb, we're on the road to recovery!

Georgia’s Guidelines for leaving a child without adult supervision:

Georgia's Guidelines for leaving a child without adult supervision:

•Children under 8 years old should never be left alone, even for short periods of time.
•Children between the ages of 9 and 12, based on level of maturity, can be left home alone for brief periods of time.
•Children 13 and older can generally be left as babysitters, with the exception of children in foster care. It is not recommended, however, that 13 year olds baby sit infants, small children and children that require special attention due to medical conditions.
•Children 15 and older can be left home alone overnight, depending on the level of maturity of the child.

WHAT THE????
I don't think so!!!

Weird thoughts on aging

Ok, so this year I'm a whopping 48.  I relate more in the 50's group than the younger group even with still having a 14 year old at home.

I watch folks retiring and think... shouldn't that be me?

 

Thinking this could be brought on by my 30 year high school reunion?  Could be, could be…

 

They're only in their mid-50's (57 or younger) and I think that should be me...

Me? 

Here's how it breaks down:

56 +2 months	2021	NOVEMBER 15th
20	2016	age: 51
30	2026	July

 

You’ll note that I’ll be 20 years of service at age 51… but I won’t be the right age to retire.. I have to be 56+2 months to qualify…. So if the early out states they will give me 6 years, I’m IN!!  Not likely, but worth the thought process.

 

So the breakdown with all things considered is here:

Age	Years of Service	Age Reached	Years reached
62	5	2027	2001
60	20	2025	2016
MRA	30	2021	2026
MRA	10	2021	2006

*MRA = Minimum retirement age.

 

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later (that would be 2025, may as well hang out another year!).  In my case that would be:  30% penalty = penalty 5% * 6 for years of service less than 30 UNLESS I get another job and don’t receive benefits until after 62… just don’t see THAT happening!!

 

2031 is full SS benefits as well… not that I really think that there will be ANY SS by the time I get to that age, but you never know.

 

Color code from above indicates yellow being the “reached” timeline and red being the optimal with no penalty.

So… 2026 it is… and it won’t have to be November, I think my service comp date is now considered to be July 16 so any time after July 16^th of 2026 is a GO!

 

That’s just depressing.

 

 

Score on summer clearance

Ok we all know I LOVE 90% off and wish these had been in that category however I am happy with 70% in this case. HUGE beach towels for $3.38 each. Whoop!!! I love Target clearance.


A few things @ 90% were found as well