$6 Window Treatment

I normally don't blog about DIY home projects and that's for one reason and one reason alone...

I NEVER FINISH THEM!!!

Oh if only my husband knew how to comment on my posts. This is probably his biggest complaint (& I'm sure the only! ha!) with his darling wife. I've mentioned before that my friend Amanda tuned me in to LittleGreenNotebook and I've been addicted ever since. As soon as I found her blog, I rummaged through every yard sale, every thrift store, every flea market I could find and had loads of success...I mean loads! And my back garage proves it - there are shelves upon shelves of great furniture pieces that are just waiting to be turned into something even greater. But there is a problem - I always have a vision, but I DON'T always have the time or know-how.

Today I made the time. Check out my new pelmet box in the guest bedroom!

I love it and feel a sense of completion. Who cares that the paint on the back of the living room shelves hasn't been finished, or that only 1/2 a wall is stenciled in the foyer, or that our bed has no bedskirt, or that...well, you get my drift.

For those interested, I used these instructions here and varied just a bit based on the materials I had. The $5.90 I spend was for fabric & trim. My sweet husband salvaged some old project boards from work and knew I would appreciate them. I did! And look what I did with them Allen! Aren't you proud? ;-)

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving Week/Weekend! We stayed in Dothan on Wednesday night with Allen's aunt & uncle, and their sweet little girl, Presley. Tripp had so much fun with her! Especially in the leaves the next day at MawMaw & PawPaw's house in Louisville.

(in case you're wondering, yes, that is a mullet you see on my son. His father cut his hair and this was the result...I'm working on it.)

This was taken at Allen's great uncle's house in Louisville.

The apartment above the garage was where Allen's great grandmother lived.

Allen & his great uncle Merrill.

That night we drove to Greenville and made it to Mamie's just in time for another delicious meal! I'm so glad we were able to make it! We had such a fun time!

So many cousins to play with & entertain Tripp!

The four siblings, Bill, Jan, Tom, & Marie all trying to figure out what happened to Dad's hair!

My beautiful Mamie & her brood!

Love this picture of Dad & Aunt Jan.

And this was the scene at Mom & Dad's house the next morning...

that's right, folks - It's Game Day!

Normally Dad reserves his omelette station for Christmas Morning. I guess he felt the Iron Bowl was a big enough event to treat us!

And what seemed liked days later...

our very own Toomer's Corner!

WAR EAGLE!!!!

Allen is off to Atlanta this weekend for the SEC game, but I just can't take the pressure. Seriously, this season has given me gray hairs and countless headaches. (*see above picture - total stress and tension on my face & I wasn't even sitting in the stands...just watching from a cozy chair in my mother's living room. I'm telling y'all, I can't cope with the craziness of it all.)

*Oh and one more thing about the above picture - that hot guy in the back with the Auburn hat on & holding the little boy in the AU jersey...I adore him.

B!

We didn't forget about the letter B...I just haven't had time to post about it. We "studied" B a couple of weeks ago, then had to take a break because we were in Auburn & Greenville for a week. Reason for a trip to Auburn...

these lovely ladies and ALL their kiddos. I love these girls today as much as I did when we were at the White House. And I missed the ones that couldn't be there...what a miracle it will be if we can get everybody together!

And Back to B!

I totally got side-tracked!

We played in a box.

We ate blueberry muffins with butter.

We also tried to eat a crayon while we colored a banana.

We went to daddy's ball game.

We got new boots.

We read one of our favorite books

We popped bubbles with a bat which almost resulted in a bruise on my face...

We are working on C's this week and as the Holidays are approaching, I'm feeling less and less creative. We may not get to D's until 2011...

29 & HOLDING

Yesterday was my birthday and it was my last in the 20's. This makes me just a little sad. I told Allen yesterday morning (when he brought me weekend coffee in bed) that I thought by my 30th birthday I'd have my life together, everything would be settled, & I'd know what I wanted to be when I grow up. He responded with, "Well you've got a lot of work to do in one year." ;-)

Later that morning, I read this verse in my Upper Room..."Paul wrote, 'I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus'." Phil. 3:14

I was reminded that this life isn't mine at all - I don't have to be burdened with figuring out what to do with it. This is HIS life & as a believer I (try to!) wait patiently on His direction as I "press on toward the goal". I may not know what I want to be when I grow up, but He does and that is so reassuring & comforting to me. Ahhh... Did you hear that? That's me breathing a sigh of relief ;-)

Anyway, yesterday was a great, relaxed day. Tripp and I were treated to lunch by the Turner girls at a Mexican restaurant - thankfully, no sombreros were involved. That evening, Allen took us out for dinner - the Atlas where I had wine & sushi & it was all kinds of delicious. I would have ordered the creme brulee for dessert (my FAVORITE), if this hadn't been waiting on me at home....

compliments of my husband & J's Pastry Shop

so thankful I had help!

& another picture of me in action... with Will looking at me like I'm crazy!

Will's birthday is 5 days before mine and we are accustomed to celebrating together. Our sweet mother threw a party for us last weekend at Will's when we were there for the game.

Thanks Mom!

Will trying to pop the string on my party hat. Brothers...

Allen's expression is the same in every photo I have of him.

Grandma Judy chasing Tripp with balloons.

D-Daddy watching the game instead of looking at the camera.

Will showing off his favorite gift from yours truly.

This picture needs no explanation.

And a few pictures of some of my "loot"!!

New chair! Thanks Mom & Dad!!

Bought with some birthday cash - old Reader's Digest books. I just love the colors! And a bargain - they were $1 each!

New egg for my collection from Mamie. She bought it on her most recent cruise to Alaska. I love my Easter decorations when I get to display the gorgeous collection she & Daddy Don started for me!

Fun new bracelets for the holidays

And boy oh boy! How I love these shades - I've seen these

at Ballard, and was so thrilled when I found these at SteinMart for a fraction of the cost!

Thanks, Papa!

And this lovely mirror that's showing off a very cluttered guest bedroom. Not sure where to put it yet, but I just can't get enough of that design. Thanks, Meme!

Allen bought Tripp, I mean me, a portable DVD player for the car. Considering I get insanely car sick, & Tripp gets fiesty during our many hours spent on the road, it's probably more of a gift for Tripp... However, I have had my eye on one of these

gadgets to go in our kitchen and Allen, who is king of practicality, thought the DVD player was a good solution. He is right of course, and I'm ever-so-thankful for his ability to kill two birds with one stone. ;-)

And finally, two gifts that scream SAHM - a cutting board (pictured with the bracelets) from Tripp & a book of coupons from Kathy!

Now to my list to decide what to do with the rest of my birthday cash! What would you choose?