my amazeing journey

Movie Date...

2009-11-09T21:36:00.000-08:00

don't get too excited, it was a movie date with myself! ha! Today I realized Michael Jackson's movie would only be showing for 3 more days so I went to the movies after school and treated myself to a movie and dinner! Sometimes it's great to date yourself! Anyway, it was a great movie and picture into what the concert would have been like...totally awesome. All the great songs from my childhood were brought back to life again.

I think he was a totally weird and strange person in real life, however on stage he was a creative genius. Just watching him 'become' the music you could actually see how deeply music was a part of his being. He was a perfectionist and it showed in everything he created, wrote, sang, etc. If you have time in the next two days and have any interest in Michael's music I would encourage you to see This is it!

news...

2009-11-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

I completed the special needs application for my agency this week. it was a great and overwhelming feeling at the same time. i feel excited at the things that may come (a daughter) but frightened by what the Lord may ask me to accept in her special need. I'm looking forward to being a parent and filling my house with the ramblings a baby or toddler will bring, but I am worried that I may long for these quiet Saturday mornings as well.

I'm human and I'm selfish. It's part of being (almost) 35 and never married...never really being in a long term relationship with anyone. I've always been able to cater to my every whim...it's sad but true. Want to lay around all weekend and watch Lifetime in my Pj's...done; want to go shopping and spend a ridiculous amount of money on new clothes I don't need...done; want to go on a trip...done; want to go to a movie of my own choosing and eat a whole bucket of buttered popcorn...done. I mean I've lived a great life and try not to play the poor, pitiful me I'm single card (but sometimes it does happen). I know that I'm on the brink of a life change, one that will forever change me. I can't help but be a little apprehensive...only apprehensive about what is to come. I'm not worried about making this decision. I think God has totally lead me to this point and he is with me still. I have to have faith in what he will bring to my future.

So on to how this new decision will possibly affect my wait time. I'm approaching the 3 year LID mark as of February 2010 which also mean I'm approaching 35 years old. I try not to define myself by my age, but let's be real people. A toddler takes a lot of energy and I can already feel my energy levels waning compared to say my mid twenties! Now...3 years of LID plus nearly 1 year of being on the singles list and many months of waiting for paperwork means basically I've been on this journey for 5 years. Right now, in the NSN (non special needs or healthy child) "line" the wait is not speeding up any. There have been rumors of a speed up, but nothing happens. However, things in the 'special needs' line continue to move along rather quickly for my agency because they are a part of the relatively new shared referral system. Basically (from my understanding) the CCAA (China) sends out a listing of special needs children and all the agencies that are a part of this system can view the children and can match them with their families. However this is only for families that have completed the special needs application. For the past two months I have come across pictures of little girls I was interested in and basically I couldn't get any real information on them until I applied. So that is what sort of kicked me into gear a little bit. Unfortunately for me the girls I was interested in have already been matched with a family, but now I'm on the "list" for when the shared list comes out again in November.

I could wait another year for a referral or I could be matched next month. We just don't know. The day after I completed the special needs application I actually did receive a call for a little girl who had a more difficult special need than I was willing to take on right now. Let me tell you how crappy I felt about looking at a sweet, cute little girl's picture and turning her down. It's not a good feeling, but I just knew she wasn't my daughter. I can't explain all the reasons why, but hopefully this mother's heart will immediately know when I'm looking at my daughter. Please pray for that confirmation for me. Another thing is you have to make a decision to move forward pretty quickly. There isn't much time to sit and wait because you don't know who else from other agencies may be looking at a child. If you are really interested you (your agency) have to "lock" the child's file. At that point nobody else can look at her while you review her medical/health info more closely.

I know that is a lot of details and I've probably missed many important things along the way. At times my head is spinning thinking of all there is to keep up with now in terms of a possible referral. I'm reading blogs (not unusual) and researching different special needs. I'm trying to think about what is more manageable for me and trying to keep in mind my financial and time constraints in being a single parent.

My perfect time table if I lived in a perfect world would be to see my daughters face by Christmas and travel to China in April or May of 2010. I'm only recording my dream here to see if my timing is in sync with God's timing... and we seem to be off by a couple years or 10!

Yard of the Month!

2009-11-01T08:14:00.000-08:00

Each month my neighborhood association acknowledges one home for "Yard of the Month" and this I was October's Yard of the Month! When they came to put the sign in my yard and tell me I just laughed and laughed because it was only a few short months ago...(July) that I touched a lawn mower for the first time! So to think that I was yard of the month was just funny! I will say that I've absolutely worked my hiney off in this yard since I've been here! The previous owners spent A LOT of money on landscaping and put in a lot of shrubs, bushes, and plants that had been really unkept for years. So I've spent a lot of time trimming, replanting, and taking out old, overgrown things. It really does look a lot better than it did before I moved so I think the neighborhood association was just so glad to have someone move in that actually took care of the yard. And the best part...I get $50!!

See my beautiful mailbox! My uncle installed it last weekend. The previous one was literally falling over and being held up by large stones. This one is gorgeous!

I've had to pick up/dig up each of these landscaping stones and literally replace them because they were all crooked and backwards. That was a J-O-B!
I can't wait til spring to mow down that monkey grass and thin it out!

And now my home improvement project...

Do you like my pink tools?
My bathrooms have the fabulous 1980's gold faucets and I'm slowly replacing them with silver. I actually figured out how to take the faucet handle off and replace the gold thing! I'm so proud!

Halloween Party

2009-11-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

Halloween night proved one great, fun expectation I had from living in a sweet neighborhood...trick or treaters!!! I've always lived out in the "country" and we never had trick or treaters. I always thought living 'amongst people' would be so fun on Halloween night...and it really was! I had a little Halloween party at my house for mom, grandma, granny, Aunt Judy, and the kids. Hopefully it will become an annual event because Eddie and Ambre are building a house in the "country" beside mom and granny and the kids will need a place to trick or treat in the future. Eddie is braving being "Mr. Mom" this weekend while Ambre is away at a work conference. He did pretty good at getting them dressed and ready for Halloween on his own. We only had to help with a few final details! ha!

Some Details:

I made some Chili and grilled hot dogs for everyone

These cupcakes were DIVINE...if you need a great chocolate cupcake recipe you can find it here. Basically the secret is substituting orange juice for water in a basic chocolate cake mix box.

Other goodies

The stars of the party...Eddie is Frankenstein and Maddie is a Princess. Painting Eddie's face was an interesting experience. He did not want his face green and when he looked in the mirror to see the final product...he just cried and cried! It was hilarious!

And we're off!

They were a little unsure at first since this was their first real trick or treating experience. Mom had to carry Eddie to the door to get his candy. But after this first house they were pros!

Look at Eddie holding out his hand!

Maddie was good at looking for houses "with lights on".

After each house they said, "another one".

We got to probably 10-12 houses and they were ready to go home and show off their candy. It was also getting cool outside and Little Eddie fell in the street and got a boo boo on his hand...major trauma! But the funniest thing was at one house Eddie asked for a "sucker" and it sounded like "supper". I laughed and laughed thinking what those people must have thought. Poor little hungry boy is asking for supper on Halloween!

Here are a few of the trick or treaters that came to my door. Don't they look happy that I was taking their picture instead of giving them candy...they obviously don't know I have a blog to write!

The rest of the party participants...

Overall it was a very fun and productive night! Hope you had a good one!

Christmas Traditions

2009-10-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Danielle over at The Design Girl is having a Mr. MckLinky party to share Christmas traditions. I shared detailed traditions last year for a month so I'm just going to post my link here to all of my favorite things to do for you to browse through. I love the Holiday Season and am especially excited to get my own home ready for the holidays this year. So, whether you are in listening to Christmas music already like some of us (:)) or not even thinking about it yet...have some fun and share with us! I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!!...

32 Months Paper Pregnant

2009-10-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my 32nd month anniversary of my LID. I spent some time on my fall break to renew paperwork and get things updated. I'm including on my new homestudy update a broader age range and minor special needs. On Christmas break I plan on completing the special needs/waiting child application from my agency. This could mean a referral in 2010 for me, but not necessarily. Please continue praying for Molly as I go forward with these changes. I know it's in God's hands and in his perfect timing.

"i sick"...

2009-10-20T11:51:00.000-07:00

that is what little Eddie says when he's sick it's so cute, he has many cute 'eddie-isms' right now:
"i sick"
"i s-carrrred" (for i'm scared)
"i did" (for i do, i am, or sometimes for yes)
"i told" (for i'm cold)
"pum on" (for come on)

but i really am sick:( naturally on my fall break i would get sick...so sad! but at least i don't have to use my sick days (trying to look on the bright side here). I've had a fever, chest congestion, and bad cough for a couple days. today i do seem to be getting a bit better. but i had such a long to do list and nothing is getting accomplished and it's a very pretty day! i don't think it's the flu (had the flu shot on Thursday) but could be h1n1 or bronchitis. probably bronchitis because i'm feeling better too soon to be h1n1...unless i relapse. i hope not.

Christmas Decor...

2009-10-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

I know it's still fall and we haven't even approached Thanksgiving, but I started listening to Christmas music this week and I am gathering my thoughts and ideas for a beautiful Christmas at my home. Come along and join me for this tour of lovely Christmas beauty courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens...

Of course, I love the all white theme

but, pink gets me every time!

I love using ice skates in the winter time as decor!

Simple and beautiful!

Love the mantel

Love these two side chairs and the stockings!!

Beautiful bulbs hanging from the chandelier

Candles are so easy and romantic!

it's a cold october morn...

2009-10-17T08:30:00.001-07:00

and i haven't turned my heat on yet! i was waiting to have my heat serviced before I turned it on and they aren't coming until Monday. too bad for me that the high is 48 degrees today! I'm also waiting for the gas co. to check my gas logs before i turn them on and they are coming on Monday as well. naturally the forecast for next week is highs in the 60's and 70's...i won't need the fireplace on then. so this morning i made a pot of coffee and have many layers on...my thermostat says my house is 58 degrees! that is cold!! lucky for me i do have an electric blanket on my bed for nighttime!

I'm beginning my week of fall break today! we have a whole week off for the first time ever (we normally don't get a fall break in my district) so this break is a welcome relief! i have a very long to do list on my table but I'm taking it easy today as i merge into my break.

i have a praise to report on this post ? well, the situation reached it's peak with said student a few weeks ago when her mom called to basically tell me her daughter was a rude and disrespectful person because i did not send home enough happy notes (read: push the blame on me). of course, how could i single handily change the total persona of a person in 5 short weeks?? it must be my magical powers...but probably more likely it's that she has little to no responsibilities at home, gets everything she ever asks for, and has no consequences at home. Therefore said student is in shock at school to have to obey the rules like all of my other friends! Also mom told me her daughter is NEVER a problem at home (LIAR) and is only a problem at church and school!!!!!!!! At the end of the conversation, when she saw I was standing firm about the fact that her daughter's problem was not my lack of "happy notes" but rather her inability to accept authority, rules, and consequences...her mom hung up on me! Yes, she hung. up. on. her. child's. teacher! Now, I ask you ...would you hang up on your doctor, nurse, accountant or attorney? No, I don't think so! Teachers are the only professionals that get treated like crap on a daily basis and some people think it's justified. So sad. (I won't even start on the pay) This is why we need fall breaks, spring breaks, and summer breaks!!

OK...now to the praise! It's been about 2 weeks since this scenario and I've really prayed and tried to begin loving this child. It's hard. But, it's getting better. She has many positives and I did try to tell her mom that. Fast forward to Friday...the day before fall break...my principal comes to my room to tell me he was moving rude chick to another classroom when we return from fall break! I have to admit I was giddy with glee and happiness! She was the thorn in my side for the first 9 weeks of school and I dreaded my days with her because I knew she was going to suck me completely dry!

Don't get too excited for me because the other part of the story is that he is also switching another (boy) student into my room. Basically me and this other teacher are switching out two student/parent problems. This does not happen often and I usually don't recommend the principal bending to parent complaints. However, when the parents are so unwilling to work with you and are keeping a "check list" of sorts on everything you do and say to their children it does become an issue. So I'm getting a possible new behavior problem, but he's a boy and I can usually handle bad boys better than bad girls so I'm happy!

So thanks to anyone who prayed for me and my situation. I consider this a blessing and am looking forward to the second nine weeks of school!

more fun to come...

2009-10-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to know that some of my favorite girls are coming to town in November!!! i'll be so happy to welcome danielle, jill, and tippa to my hometown for another girls getaway next month! (tippa, i don't really know you, but i'm sure we'll have a great time!) i'm planning some fun adventures for this weekend and i'll be sure to post about it as i'm sure we all will! stay tuned!

i spoke with danielle for the first time tonight by phone and she was most amused by my southern accent, ha! she'll be rolling for sure after she spends the weekend with a true southern gal...born and raised in Nashville...it's a smidge different than life in l.a. i think! i can't wait!

oh what fun!

2009-10-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

my best friends candace, deb, and amber had a great girls getaway weekend in the mountains this weekend!

this is our adorable cabin

it had great space and was very cozy

we needed one more day to utilize this kitchen

after traveling up the mountain through many curvy, dark roads we finally saw the street sign!

how cute is this episcopal church?

our running joke for the weekend...you had to be there but we all took one of these kitchen towels home!

the smokey mountains...in two more weeks these trees will be a beautiful variety of colors!

the sky lift!

beautiful fall, everywhere!

breakfast at the pancake pantry...yumm-o!

candace's b-day! 39 in 2009!...i had to get that one in here, candace!

a little christmas spirit!

pic with santa!

after traveling since 9 a.m. we were still only half way through our journey...it was a long day!

candace's kids: shepherd and hadley were so fun and cute!

shepherd, a total ham!

Girls Getaway

2009-10-08T15:04:00.001-07:00

I'm about to head out on a girls getaway weekend with my three best friends! I can't wait to get out of town but had to post this hilarious 'teacher story' so you all could get a great laugh while I'm gone.

Figuring out student's pronunciation of names is always a challenge. You never know what syllables the parents want stressed and vowels may be long or short anymore because hey, let's face it....people are not hooked on phonics anymore! The normal "rules" for pronunciation do not apply. Throw in the dashes, hyphens, and accent marks and a name could be pronounced any number of ways, but this is the best one yet!

Name: Le-a

How might you guess to pronounce that?

Leeeeah or

Leah or perhaps

Laya....but no....it is actually pronounced

wait for it....
make sure you are sitting down...

Ledasha because as "mom" put it....
the dash is not silent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

enjoy and share!

Goodwill and Yard Sale Finds

2009-10-04T08:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a glorious feeling, oh what a glorious day...
It's fall and I was home with virtually no plans on Saturday morning. It was also Goodwill's monthly 1/2 off sale! So I was more than happy to jump out of bed, brew my coffee, and get out the door by 7 a.m. to venture out into the cool brisk breeze of a fall morning! It made me smile!
Here is some of my loot...a Christmas Santa bag hand made from felt ($2), a pumpkin Halloween costume ($2), a handmade ghost candy basket ($1), 2 tin lunch boxes ($1 each), a handmade pumpkin jar (.50), a Halloween doll ($2), and a White Christmas puzzle ($1) for the holidays.
This was one of the best deals...a Jim Shore Snowman in perfect condition...retails for about $40 and I paid $2.50 I think.
The second best find...an 8 piece setting of this Holiday China for....$15!!!!!! Complete with bowls, glasses, a serving bowl, and salt/pepper shaker. I love this!

Before I went to goodwill I went to a few Yard sales...it was my lucky day!
A rolling pin for $1
a brand new Kitchen Aid mixer for $40....do you know how much these are? around $200 and do you know how much I love to cook and bake? that is why my kitchen was definitely naked without one!! I can't wait to bake a cake!

friends

2009-10-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

these are some gals (minus one, sorry noelle!) that i used to teach with. we get together occasionally to catch up, talk teacher stories, and show off babies!
Patti, Meredith, and Sheralee
Baby Olivia, 5 weeks old
Baby KelliAnn, 4 weeks old
Proud new mommas!

Family History

2009-10-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I went with my Granny to her hometown to learn about some of our family history and meet up with her siblings. It was a great trip and I loved hearing about her childhood in the 1930's. So interesting!!
Granny's sister Joyce, her brother E.W., his wife Edna, and my Granny, Jean.
We went to a local gathering of families effected by the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) overtaking their property. My great grandfather lost many acres of property to the TVA and many other families did too. This is a picture of my great grandparents, probably in the mid 1920's.
We went to several cemeteries so I could photograph all of my distant relatives tombstones for names, birth, and death dates. This one was so interesting. This is a very distant grandmother (maybe my great, great, great?) and there were no dates even recorded. Also, there is no first or middle name...everyone just knew her as "grandma" and so that is what was on her tomb.
This is the church where my Grandmother was saved and where her family worshiped when she was a child. I thought it was interesting to know they only had "church" one Sunday a month. Everyone had to spend their time farming, working on their land, and just trying to live. There was no time for Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday evening, church! Now we (modern churches) feel like we have to have our doors open for everything and constantly be involved in small groups, accountability partners, Bible Studies, meetings, worship 3 x's a week, etc. and in my opinion all we are doing is pulling ourselves away from our homes and families. At this time in our countries history families went to church once a month and really learned about the Bible from their home life. They probably had family devotions and they also learned about the Bible and memorized scripture in school. I think we should learn from them and have a healthy mix.
One of the cemeteries we visited, it is on the same grounds as the church.

the gosselins

2009-10-02T10:14:00.001-07:00

did any of you see jon's interview on larry king last night? i tell you, i think he has gone off his rocker for sure! his attorney seemed to be a major wacko and jon never makes sense. i always (before girlfriends and divorce) tried to give him the benefit of the doubt in his relationship with kate. but now i see he is a spoiled brat who has no work ethic. he's never held a job for any length of time and only was successful when kate brought it out of him to complete something.

i think he loves his kids, but he looks like and sounds like a lost little puppy dog. just like a little boy...that is why he fell in love with the overbearing kate in the first place i suspect. little boys are always attracted to women who will become their "mothers" and then after a few years they resent each other. so sad for the kids. really it is. the kids are always the ones to crumble inside in the midst of their parents idiotic tendencies.

i'm not saying that i've thought that much more of kate either. I mean you could tell throughout the seasons of the show how she was really falling in love with herself and becoming a stronger person at her husbands expense. (although i don't know what would make him feel like a man either?) He is just making it REALLY EASY for her to come out of this smelling like a rose because of his irrational decisions. I think they both love their kids and want the best for them. Everyone has there own faults and I certainly do as well, that is why I would not want a reality show broadcasting my all of my mistakes to the world...or wait a minute for $1 million a year maybe I could deal. Would you?

my $.02!

emergency room

2009-10-02T07:55:00.001-07:00

Last night Little Eddie went to the ER:( So sad...he's been very sick for several days. I think it's a compilation of many things, but has been hard to diagnose exactly. The flu test came back negative, xrays are clear for pneumonia, but he has a high fever, congestion, stuffy nose, cough, etc. I guess it's just a bad cold/allergies/viral and bacterial infections. Anyway Ambre took him to the ER late last night and I couldn't rest at my house until I saw him in person to make sure he was ok. He was asleep, quietly taking his nebulizer meds when i got there, but he briefly woke up to see his "Amy" and I held him for a while. Then a few minutes later he miraculously woke up, drank juice, ate candy, and felt so much better. his fever broke! We were able to come home...it was 2:30 a.m., but I felt so much better knowing he was ok. So now I'm trying to get through the school day on 4 hours of sleep...I think I can, I think I can! Subs are to get on Fridays and I needed to be here today so I'll manage. I'm just glad Lil' man is home resting (I hope!) from his adventures in the ER. Say little prayer for him and pray that Madison doesn't get it too!

31 months paper pregnant

2009-09-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Today I'm 31 months paper pregnant...that is

943.542347 days

22 645.0163 hours

but who's counting?

Things with China adoption do not seem to speeding up any and so it will more than likely be another 3-4 years before I receive a referral. That is too much for me to comprehend. We're talking 10 years of waiting to become a mom! What is God trying to teach me through this? How is he trying to grow me? What is it about me that has to take this long to learn? This process makes you questions yourself like never before. It makes you doubt your intentions and plans. I just never thought it would be this long.

Next year I'll be 35 years old and by the summer of 2010 I will have been in my house for one year. I'm giving myself one year in my house to get things set up, painted, re-decorated, etc. before I make a big decision. But by next summer I will put my name on the special needs list unless God strongly convinces me not to. It's a scary thing for me...because I will be a single mom. But many of the children that are adopted through the special needs lists have very minor special needs. If I do this I could have a referral within a few months or another year. While I wait for special needs I will also remain in line for a Non Special Needs Child just in case it doesn't work out. I know this will scare many of my family members (mainly mom) because they don't want me to get in over my head. But I'm praying about it this year...someone recently told me a great quote that I'm applying to this situation. "You are waiting on God to move and God is waiting on You to DO". It's so true in many situations! If you are a prayer warrior you can pray specifically for this as well. Pray for peace and confidence about adding myself to the special needs list for China.

Rainy Days

2009-09-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a rainy week in Nashville and I must admit I have enjoyed the rainy weekend. I stayed in my pj's all day yesterday and only accomplished two things: 1. laundry 2. reading 2 magazines!! It was great! I know I'll regret my laziness come Monday morning, but for now it's been a wonderful way to decompress. I have a busy week ahead and next weekend will be out of town.

I had a wonderful Pampered Chef party and look forward to getting my boxes of "stuff" this week. I'll post pics of everything I bought and got for free. It was a great way to stock my kitchen and I can't wait to get it all organized!

I hope you have enjoyed a good weekend and have had some time to relax as well!

the un-lovable students...

2009-09-18T04:37:00.001-07:00

I need more patience, lots more! please pray that i don't loose my job because i couldn't handle one of my students this year...and by couldn't handle i mean can't take her constant back talking, rolling eyes, stomping her feet, being mean to my kids, self entitled to everything personality, spoiled, rude, and disrespectful attitude any longer! now i loves me some lack of discipline challenges each year. i love to mold and shape them into the 'maze way' and watch their parents look on in a-maze-ment (pun intended!) give me some bad boys and i can work with it. give me some un-organization and i can go with it. give me some low performers and i can do it! but, don't give me the attitude riddled girl who has always gotten her way. i can't do that! I need more patience, lots more!

i AM NOT one to give up easy and i DO NOT send my kids to the office because i think it shows them you have given up and you have no control over them. bad thing to show them on week 5 of school! however, i have gone against my own better judgement and sent Ms. Horrible Attitude to the office on Wednesday and she was put in In School Suspension for Thursday. It was the best day of the school year, Thank you Jesus! The whole feeling of my classroom was dramatically different with this little **** out of the room. But this morning I am faced with walking back in the rink with her inside the ropes again and I'm not ready for the fight that will be ahead. I really am trying to let some things slide and not provoke her, but there are rules and my rules must be followed. She is the kind of student that once she gets in trouble, even for a small thing, she melts down and is horrible the rest of the day. I need more patience, lots more! The sad thing is the rest of my kids are really good hearted little friends. They are sweet, excited about learning, and appreciative. I. really like them. But one bad apple does spoil the whole bunch sometimes and this is a classic case. I need more patience, lots more!

OK, I'm about the journey on to school. i can do this, i think i can, i think i can! i have done it for 13 years....oh the thrill of the fight ahead!

two questions

2009-09-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

1. what's up with kanye west, serena williams, and rep. joe wilson?
2. what has this world come to? do we have no class anymore?

I Love Labor Day!

2009-09-07T07:05:00.001-07:00

I love Labor Day...the long weekend, the expectation of fall it brings, and the beginning of football! What a great weekend! I had some out of town guests in yesterday for a labor day cookout.
This is (me), Aunt Judy, Aunt Shelby, Cousin Debbie, Great Aunt Bub, Great Aunt Mot, and Grandma

I'm also ready for Halloween...it may be a bit early but I wanted to be all decorated for my guests.

I made the monogrammed pumpkins last year. The directions are here.

Love the simple arrangement of wheat tired around a vase.

I saw a similar display on Martha Stewart's website and had to copy it here. This is the link to her directions and templates of the jar labels! Imagine Eddie and Maddie's face when they walked into my house and saw these jars of candy!!!! Eddie got one of the orange and white sticks and ate the whole thing...and then smeared his sticky hands on my white sofa! ha! Of course, Maddie's favorite were the gumballs!

My big purchase were these jack o lantern shades and pumpkin and bat magnetic chrystal charms for the chandelier in the dining room. I bought them here.

Everything else I just gathered from mom's attic!

I love fall, do you?

My new Kitchen...soon to be:)

2009-09-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

I contacted Layla over at The Lettered Cottage before I even moved into my house to help me redesign my kitchen. It was very 80's and I need to move it into the current century with a timeless classic look. I'm so excited about her sketch and suggestions.

This will be the new look:

Major things on my to do list:

Scraping the popcorn ceiling...should be fun:)

Painting the walls a soft cream color

Adding bead board wallpaper as my back splash...painted white

Adding cute plates to the soffit area at the top

Changing the light above the sink

Adding hardware to the doors

Changing the fluorescent light in the middle of the kitchen

My fave...the counter tops! I'm going with a cream-ish color corian with an under mount sink!

The thing I'm most scared and unsure about: the cabinets...Layla suggests painting them a warm, dusty brown to take out the orangey-ness of the current wood tone. I agree. I would love a warmed up space. And I like the idea of them still looking light wood b/c painting them cream would just be too much cream/white in the house. But I've never painted cabinets and of course the thought of it is scary. But her drawing is precious...if I could get it to look just like that I'd feel good about it.

These are some of the before pic's I sent to her:

see the antique appliances!

see how orange the cabinets look...

These are some improvements I've already made:
The chandelier and curtains in the nook area

My new white appliances. I know she recommended I go with stainless but the fridge was a freebie from mom (thanks mom:)) and the stove and microwave were under $600 for both so I couldn't resist. I do love stainless and may consider going that direction in the future.

Help Me Stock my Kitchen!!!

2009-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

I'm having a Pampered Chef Party on September 17th to help stock my kitchen full of great cooking products. If you live in the Nashville area, please come by and shop a while. However I realize most of you do not live near me, but you can still shop! Go here and click on "shop online"...then type in my name as the host (Amy Maze) and shop away! Everything you order will be delivered to your home and I will receive credit for it at my party! There are some great specials like all the stoneware pieces are 20% off and there are some wonderful new products for fall. So go ahead and get shopping! My goal is to get a set of this:

and this...

so I really need a lot of orders! So go get a cup of coffee and browse the online catalog and get shopping. Don't forget to put my name as the host of the party so I can get credit for your order! Please leave me a comment if you would like to come to my party or if you order something online. Thanks so much!!

30 months paper pregnant

2009-08-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked my 30th month of paper pregnancy...please pray for a speed up in China!

LID 2/25/2007