A New Office

Did I tell you that I am going to England this summer to study Global Leadership?

While I am there, I am going to have to go to Dorchester and pick up one of these Shepherd's Huts to park in my backyard...



Why? You might ask... Well, because I want to write my dissertation sitting inside at this desk sipping hot tea.

Not Me Monday...

Today, for the first time, I am joining the party hosted by MckMama...



This carnival blog is a time for all of us to confess what we definitely did not do this week. I had to post this time because I had so much to share.

First of all, it is important for me to tell you that I did not shove everything under my roll top desk and then shut the top when we had unexpected company. No, m'am. Not me. I would never do such a thing. All of my things are neatly put away exactly where they belong (especially my son's inhaler and breathing machine. I keep them stored and sanitary at all times).



And in the midst of that mess, I definitely did not find Christmas thank you notes already stamped but still lacking addresses. NOT ME! My thank you notes were sent in a timely manner two months ago...


My house is so clean and organized, in fact, that I would NEVER throw a Mr. Cl*ean Magic Eraser into the tub... and then move it around with my foot while taking a shower... and then consider the tub clean. I would never do that, NOT ME!



And while taking the above cleaning shower... I would never find the water rising and realize that a toy had been shoved down the drain. I would NEVER pull a toy (especially a spider, for goodness sake) out of my drain. Not me. That just would not happen at my house.



In fact, my eyes would never leave my child during bath time. He has my fullest attention. I would never sit on the floor and read while he plays. Not me. And if you did find me reading during bath time... It would only be because I was having my quiet time right there on the bath room floor, not because I was trying to find cute cupcake ideas... not me...

And finally, I must let you know that I WOULD NEVER give my husband a lecture about our current finances and our spending habits and then run out to Hobby Lobby and purchase a large barn start that I just had to have. That is not something I would ever do... no, not me...



But if I had done it... my kitchen sure would look cute, don't you think?

Now, you need to head over to MckMama's blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

A Staple Gun, some Sheets, and My mom

As many of you know, my mom is a crafty little wizard, a handy-woman extraordinaire, and a baby whisperer (which I don't need at the current moment). I do, however, need her other talents. So, when she came into town last weekend, she asked if there was anything I wanted to accomplish. "A Kitchen Renovation!" I screamed aloud!

However, before I reveal the kitchen, I need to show you what she did to my living room with $9 sheets from Walmart and a staple gun.

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Yes, new window treatments for $9 and a staple gun! Maybe someday I will do a close up tutorial... Until then, I am going to pretend that I have fancy drapes hanging up in my house and that my mom didn't rip up sheets with her hands and then staple them to my wall.

I love them...
Ignore, the pinkish pillows on the couch, we were just experimenting with splashes of color on the couch... those aren't the pillows that will stay..

My mom, however, can do whatever she wants to my house because of how she helped me in my kitchen. Here is my kitchen before...

and here it is now!

another before...

and now...

Mom, when are you coming back to Texas??? I have some carpet on the stairs that desperately needs to be replaced. Can you do anything with a staple gun on stairs???

It will not return empty...

The Bud House
Originally uploaded by ~Mina~

*** Photo found at The Bud House on flickr.

Teaching preschoolers is not always easy. An adventure? Yes. A joy? Fully. Easy? mmmm...

Sometimes you wonder if you are truly making a difference in a child's life. " Will they remember anything I teach?" You question. This year, I felt led to claim Isaiah 55:10-11 as a teacher. I am so blessed to teach in a Christian environment. We talk about scripture daily and get to pray together as a class.

Although I may not see the "spring" in the lives of these children. I cling to the promise that God's Word will not return empty in their lives!

Isaiah 55:10-11 (New International Version)

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Hello Kitty and some of my favorite blogs!

Here is just another reason why I need a little girl someday... Look at these cake pops! Aren't they the cutest things you have ever seen? Go over to Bakerella to learn how to make these for your next party!


My friend, Stephanie wrote a blog about Lent and this cartoon made me laugh out loud.

Need a renovation for your Dining Room?... I LOVE this dining room on The Inspired Room...

I think that I might try to repaint my master bedroom this week with this as my inspiration... mmm... Yes, I just repainted my master bedroom two months ago, but this is just too beautiful to not copy somewhere in my house.

Finally, I am very behind on my blogging, but you need to check out a series that The Nester did last week: Ten Minutes to a Room You'll Love. Great Ideas!

Later today, I am going to post my own: 48 Hours to a Room You'll Love - including my kitchen renovation! I can't wait to show you. I haven't been blogging because I have been painting:)

You know you are a mom...

When Barney has been on your TV for the last 30 minutes...

Your child is not even in the room...

And you just now noticed that you are watching it alone...

And have been for a very long time...

Still Here... Valentine's Day for under $10

I know that today is Friday, and I am behind on my Phonics Lessons for Fridays! I have not forgotten about you. I am in classes this weekend for my PhD seminars, so I have been trying to write a paper, read some textbooks, and do all the stuff that I should have been doing for the last month.

I promise to catch up soon on my blogging.

In the meantime, however, I wanted to share some quick ideas for Valentine's Day for under $10. That's right - under $10 for both the hubby and the son.

Austin first - I went to Walmart and bought a cute valentine's bucket ($1), then I bought 4 containers of playdough ($4). Put them in the bucket with some tissue paper and he is done!

Then, I had to come up with something fun for James. Here was my idea after walking through a dozen stores and not having any luck finding that perfect gift. James loves hot sauce (yes, hot sauce) and we have been out of hot sauce in my house for quite some time. This man loves his meals hot! So...

I went to the grocery store and bought about 6 bottles of fun hot sauces (about $5), put them in a brown paper bag with red construction paper coming out to resemble fire, and wrote...

I am so glad you are my valentine. You are smokin' hot!

Trust me, the cornier in my house, the better. I don't get away with buying those sweet, sentimental cards for my man. No, he is getting a construction paper heart that says, "You are smokin' hot!" I am so classy, I know.



Maybe your man doesn't like hot sauce. What about grilling? Buy him a steak from Kroger and write, "Baby, you light my fire!" Trust me, if I try to make my man laugh, I have won his heart.

Okay, too corny for you. Here's another. Fill your house with hearts (construction paper ladies). Tape them on your walls, your bathroom mirror, your shower door, etc. On each heart write one thing that you love about your husband. Make one heart a little larger than the others and on it write.... "You give me a heart attack!" Too much? Maybe, but he'll remember it, and I promise it will make him smile.

So... to all my friends who wrote on your facebook that you just bought your husband a 68" tv with full surround sound that only plays football games over and over... your husbands are going to be jealous. James is getting some hot sauce!

Happy Valentine's Day!