Summer so far...

*Disclaimer* My camera-to-computer cord was "lost" for a week, so be prepared for an overload of housey pictures.  

This is going to be the summer of projects, both big and small.  Small = install hooks in walk-in closet to hang up the myriad of hoodies that I've accumulated over the years (or perhaps I should minimize my hoodie selection down to 5 from 12, yes, 12).  Big = paint kitchen cabinets.  (Yes.  Yikes.  Deep breaths.  It will be worth it.)

So here's what I've been working on lately:

A friend of ours works at a coffee roasterie (or something trendy-sounding like that) and he gave huzzie some coffee bean bags a few weeks ago (not bean bags made out of coffee beans...bags that formerly held coffee beans...you get the idea).  So to celebrate Memorial Day last week, we made frames for our coffee-bean bags (that works better, right?) and hung the canvas-looking art work on our patio.

  

Final product!  We need to get one more because, as everyone knows, odd numbers are totally in. 

 And the mildly ghetto-rigged way to hang said art work.

 They're not perfect, but they are a great addition to our porch. And for a total of $5 (cost of wood and screws for frame), they couldn't be beat.

 In preparation for the kitchen painting project, I decided to practice on our bathrooms first.  So here is our bathroom vanity before:

 

Now, you may love the look of natural oak and brass.  And that's awesome.  It's just not our style.  So we opted for something a little different. 

 After a day of sanding, priming, and painting, we were left with this!

 To save a few bucks, we used our leftover Rustoleum spray paint and painted all the hardware. 

 Including the brassy toilet paper holder.  Ha.

 So pleased with how it turned out.  Beginning with this...

Note:  the bathroom is far from finished.  I just wanted to show you the progress we've made so far.  

 But what I'm most pumped to show you is this little evening project I completed on a whim.

We all have disastrous closets.  I may claim to be an organized person, but I have secret closet spaces that I avoid due to their tornadic nature.  Like the downstairs bathroom closet.  See for yourself:

 So it may not look that bad, but those dang silly doors would hardly open due to the spillage of things. 

 So I took matters into my own hands. 

 Unbeknownst to my cousin Katie, my sister-in-law, Tammy, and I have become slightly addicted to IHeart Organizing through the link on Katie's blog.  The recent obsession created a fire in me to label everything and to make boxes look pretty.

 Lucky for me, Daniel's work place has boxes in at least 5 different sizes, so I cashed in last week and spent Thursday evening covering boxes with paper and labeling my silly little heart out.  And the end result was this:

Several final notes:
1. My handwriting is not awesome.  Typically I would wait until someone with pretty handwriting (mom, Tammy, B, etc...really anyone but me) could come over and write on my labels...BUT I was so anxious to finish my project that I just sucked it up and wrote as neatly as I could.
2.  The entire project took about 3 hours.  Not bad for a closet that will (hopefully) stay organized for a long time.
3.  Cost?  $10.  Seriously.  The boxes were free. I bought the brown butcher paper at Hobby Lobby for $3.99 and some other scrapbook paper for $5.99 (to make the labels).  For me, this was (1) more cost effective and (2) a better use of space than purchasing different sizes of plastic tub.

So if you're interested in some boxes, holla at me.  I'll hook you up.

Happy house projects!

THE List

One of my goals is to establish better self-discipline.  (Hence several aspects of the list.)  Any other books I should read?  What about any fun things I should add?  Day 3 of summer begins now. :)

2012 Summer List:

Physical:

·       Cardio 3 times a week

·       Other exercise (weights, abs, etc.) twice a week

Cleaning:

·       Monday – recycling (bi-weekly), dust, trash

·       Tuesday – laundry, wash sheets & towels

·       Wednesday – floors

·       Thursday – bathrooms

·       Friday – mow (if needed)

Reading:

·       Catching Fire

·       Mockingjay

·       Take the Stairs (Nook)

·       Life After Him (Nook – Kelsey)

·       Jude (10^th interrelated text)

House Projects (BIG):

·       Downstairs bathroom (paint & shower curtain)

·       Family room – curtains & accessories (lamps & table – paint)

·       Kitchen cabinets – paint & new hardware

·       Trim – paint

House Projects (small):

·       Hooks in walk-in closet

·       Organize kitchen pantry

·       Living room color scheme

·       Porch art work (finish)

·       Organize laundry room (shelves?)

·       Touch up teal paint

Miscellaneous:

·       Birthday/anniversary list

·       Freezer meal cooking day for fall semester

·       Learn how to use camera

·       Family favorite meal list

School:

·       Edmodo math modules

·       Arrange new room

May

Disclaimer:  today you are my soundboard of randomness.

Today was the last day of students.  Some bittersweet moments.  One of my recently favorite students gave me a hug.  She is a gem.  I told her to visit me next year.  I hope she does.

While my 5th hour was testing, I went through all my rosters and e-mailed the parents of those extra special students to thank them for raising such amazing kids.  I loved bragging on some of my kids, and in some cases, I think I was able to show some parents a wonderful side of their children.  I've already received some kind responses.  And I sigh.  Being a teaching is sometimes so rewarding.

I was told by a counselor today that she places kids with me who she knows need to be loved.  Hearing comments like that make me think that maybe, just maybe, I actually am making a difference in someone's life.  That is why I decided to get into teaching in the first place.

Tonight we're celebrating the end of an era.  The era of me teaching in the general classroom.  I think BBQ and a beverage of choice are in order.

Tomorrow I'm making breakfast for my in-service lunch buddies.  Much cooking to do tonight.

So here's to another summer.  Happy end of May!

I'm a prisoner...

...in my own home due to this creature perched right outside my door.

 I became brave for an instant and slowly opened the door so I could get a better picture.  But then its head moved, and I recoiled in fear.

 Truth be told: I love birds.  LOVE them.  But, I have had some unfortunate run-ins with said creatures as of lately (including watching the circle of life carry on as a feline snatched a baby cardinal right from under my nose.  Yes, this happened.). Plus I was am terrified that said bird will fly into my house and never be seen again OR (worse) that said bird will fly into my house and I will spend the rest of the evening attempting to shoo it out.

I quietly closed the door in response to my fear and took another picture behind the protection of the glass. 

I just want to know - what is going on?  Is there an egg under there?  Perhaps a baby bird has found a home in a nearby planter?  Maybe this bird heard about my unfortunate run-in with a feline and chose to seek revenge. 

Oh the exciting things that happen at our house.  Never a dull moment.

7 1/2...

The count-down is on. 7 1/2 school days from now, I will be free.

Free to cook.

Free to organize.

Free to paint.

Free to sleep in.

Free to grab lunch with a friend.

Free to make a day-trip to see a friend.

Free.

Oh how I long for freedom.

In the meantime, however, I'll bask in knowing that, hopefully, at least one student is feeling loved by me every day.  I certainly hope so.

Note to self:  don't act like the end of the year is near.  Keep giving it all you've got until the very last day.

So close...

Mondays

Years ago, we began a tradition of having Monday night dinner with any family that is relatively close (started with Daniel's mom, my brother, my now sister-in-law, Daniel, and I since I had a Monday night class in McPherson).

We now have dinner every Monday night (yes, every Monday night) with Daniel's sister's family.  (What's impressive is that we have only missed eating together twice in the past 20 months.  Monday night dinner is NOT something to be messed with.  It's on all our calendars indefinitely.  So you say you just had twins 4 days ago?  No biggie.  We'll be over on Monday.  What, we just spent 5 days together due to holidays?  Doesn't matter, we'll reconvene on Monday.)

It's just one of those traditions.

And we love it.

Tonight, however, we're shaking things up a bit.  It's just going to be Daniel, Cohen (eldest child of Daniel's sister), and I.

Looking forward to lots of Dan-Cohen cuddle time.  Which often looks like this:

 It's super adorbs.

So we'll miss you, B & T and company, but we're anxious to have time with just the big little guy. 

Happy Monday night!

Update:  Daniel and I did some light yard work this evening, so I was all grody.  I took a quick shower and when I came downstairs, little C and I had the following conversation:

C: Di, how was your shower?
H: It was nice, thank you.

C:  Did you stand up?

H: Yes, I did.

Love that kid.

Girlie Weekend: Part 2, Miscellaneous

Because it's Friday and my mind is mush, here are just a few snapshots of the weekend.

The guest of honor and her goodies.

 Giving the belly some love.

 Just being a helpful friend to Jazzy on her way down the slide.

 Our traditional purchase of nail polish (mine's in front...a lovely lavender).

 And the sad, sad farewells...

Happy weekend, friends!