By Popular Demand..I Give You..Yellow Door!!

RARRR!!!

Okay...a few of you have expressed interest in seeing the incredibly "obnoxious" door as Brad  has so aptly named our door.


Here we have it in all its glory..one coat in!! I am happy to report I left it looking like this for a good day because..that's how I roll kids!

This is when he first expressed interest and a comedic take on how the door looked and how we should leave it like this to bug one specific nosy neighbor.

Before you feel sorry for said neighbor I'd like to let it be known that she is quite obnoxious. We are now nearly five years into living near her (but just far enough away, thank GOD!) where she notices everything, comments on it rudely "Why can't so and so take care of her damned plants? Is it that hard to water them?"  Direct quotes as she complained about various people. Anything and everything seems to bother her. She mows  her lawn twice per week at least..obsessively and has the lines down the lawn.  Last year after Brad's hip surgery, she walked down to our house and asked "What's going on down  here?" Me: "What do you mean?" She pointed at some weeds in my flower bed, I sighed, clearly annoyed and said "You know what...I just don't give  a damn about that right now. Brad just had surgery and can't move. We do home exercises daily and physical  therapy every other day. I've got bigger things going on."  I share this with you because A) she's an extreme irritant!! and B) to show that we don't just randomly try to irritate our neigbhors. If my yellow door annoys her,  that makes me kind happy!!

"I love it, Mommy! You have great  ideas!"

BAM!! In your face!! I just added a fall wreath to it today that I believe grounds it A BIT.

My baby. Watching all that painting really wore her out.









What I'm working on now. These. Was going to sell them in my Etsy shop, decided to instead do a wall of frames behind our couch. Pics coming soon..I think I love it!!

Before!

 

 

 

 

After!

 

 

 

At least it's not orange..YET.

 

I've had the same fly in our house for three days now. THREE! Any tips would be welcome! I've tried wine in a glass, some other "home remedies" thanks to Brad..but it's still living and harrassing and yes..we all know..pooping on everything..microscopically or not, it's gross. And rude!

 

Have a great extended weekend!

 

xoxo

T

 

Yellow. Yam. Fall Color Inspiration and Ignoring Rules.

Just wanted to let you all know...I am MOVING things around in our house again! And none of it follows the rules BUT...some of it is working.


Job One: I have always disliked our dining room. It's just "eh" no matter what we've done simply because there's no natural light. Yes, I have a large mirror on the wall reflecting light from the window in the opposite room, but it's always been dark and dreary. So I moved the table into the sunroom a few days ago and bliss! I'll take some photos tomorrow to share. It's sunny and warm. I have begun working in there and using the table to make my creations. Very. Happy. The point? Why do we bother following the rules? We have hardly sat at the table in four plus years! Now I'm at it everyday and we had a rousing game night with Emerson on said table last week. His first try at Balderdash and he did very well. Was even judgemental at a certain point as he "the dasher" silently read the answer I gave to him, shook his head and said 'NICE, Auntie Tina!"


I'm also in the process of painting our front door yellow. I was going to do an orange but remembered being inspired by pumpkins back in 2005 and painting the living room of my townhome  a color called "yam". Big mistake. But see? I am victim to the changing seasons! So I settled on yellow and..damn it's bright! I'm painting over a black door, so anything will look too bright..but...as a fan of "too many  neutrals" as those close have told me..this is kinda big. Pics in a day!

image via art-paints.com. Trust me. Just say no.


TEASERS! We all need cliff hangers to make life interesting, I think.

In other news: Curtis our puppy found and ate a whole cucumber in the tall grasses beyond our backyard tonight. I could NOT get that thing out of his mouth, that kid is fast! As I researched it with fear in my gut, I read that they are non toxic. One possibility is diarrhea as he's never eaten them before. Praying for that to NOT happen tonight during my slumber! He also found a hot dog bun on our walk yesterday. I think I'm fairly quick with him and with watching..but geez! I may have had the nerve to look up at a cloud or something for three seconds...

I'm currently researching natural alternatives to ibuprofen as Brad my cute hubby is nearing his surgery date and the constant ibuprofen for pain is taking a toll. I would sincerely appreciate any help from anyone and everyone!

Rock this Tuesday, Kids!

xoxo~

T

AmazeBalls! Who Loves Cake?

That's what my BFF would say about this below.


Thanks to Pinterest for having so many fine foods, crafts, inspiration and fabulousness!

Brad's at work and I'm off to email him this recipe! Yep, he worked at a bakery in high school and still refers to certain baked goods as "Oh my god, tastes like wedding cake!"  the first time he said that I responded with  "How many wedding cakes have you HAD?"

I digress.

He loves baking.

Recipe here: http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/pumpkin_gingerbread_trifle/


Oddly enough, he finds Paula Deen annoying. I think she's beautiful and funny. Does her (former, I guess..) overuse/abuse of butters and all things fine and clogging scare me? Yes! Yes it did! I just never thought of the way she ate as everyday eating or food. I WANTED to, but common sense told me no. And I guess diabetes told her the same thing.



Can you ever really plan too far ahead? I mean, I make lists. I lose them. I don't get through the lists I am ABLE to keep, so they get longer and added to new lists. The point: I've gotta plan for all of this now or we all know it's NEVA going to happen!

Recipe: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/monster-munch-recipe.htm\



Pumpkin love!

Recipe: http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2011/09/14/pumpkin-roundup/

I'm not exactly sure why I'm all UP in Fall's behind. Normally I am sad at summer's end/close. I fear the darkness of winter here in Minnesota. This year I'm planning on painting my front door orange, have bought mums in mid August and am dusting off my fall wreath. I don't get it either!  Then I go back and think "I should have swam more this summer. Yes, it was too damned hot, but I will regret not doing more cannonballs come January!"

Where am I going with this? I don't know either. Seems I'm off course!

Anyway...have a fabulous weekend everyone! Brad and I were busted at our local McDonald's drive thru after the girl making and giving cones/working the food window smiled and Brad said "you see us here almost everynight!"  I started to laugh, she smiled and then said "See you guys tomorrow!"

Busted! 

I'm off to eat a piece of carrot cake. I told you I LOVE cakes!

xxoo~

T

Last Year's Lamb and Hot Dog

It's a bit early, but I am currently gathering ideas for the sweet doggie costumes for Curtis and Daisy this year.

Last year, little six month old Curtis was a lamb. He was NOT happy. But my god..he looked adorable! This costume stayed on him for maybe 5 minutes before he tore it off.

On the other hand, Miss  Daisy was a largish hot dog and seemed almost..happy in costume! She was the one I thought was going to give me problems. But she walked around in it for awhile and seemed almost proud. Curtis is next to her in a little pumpkin costume here. Didn't like that one either and somehow shoved his little front arm and paw out of it in two seconds flat!


So the question is: how do you get your dogs to go along with this? I just think it would be fun to keep them in character (if you will!) for ten minutes..a stroll down the street as the kids are heading out to trick or treat. Suggestions?

Emerson is here and I think I hear ice cream cones calling our names!

Happy Wednesday!!

xxoo~

T

Madison Turns Twelve!

My sweet little niece Madison turned 12 last week! Sunday was her family bday party and it did NOT disappoint!

M-Dog is her nickname. It's what we yell at her gymnastics meets. Don't DARE call her Maddie! ;-)




In true bday party form, we all got on her trampoline for some fun. Sadly, I took a lot of the photos so you won't be able to see me rocking some serious moves! I have to be honest and say that it's A)Scary to be the heaviest person on the trampoline. At times I was WAY too high in the air for my own comfort and B) I realized after jumping for a bit and feeling winded "Wow..I think I may be out of shape and need to turn up the mph on my treadmill workouts!"

Emerson, Andrew and Nick (all of my nephews) on the trampoline...

Man Down!!

Nick and Em! They did this move as a joke because when Emerson was smaller, he loved the trampoline but ONLY If Nick ( or me or his mom or another cousin) was holding him while jumping. So he essentially enjoyed I guess...a trampoline "ride" back in the day! I was teasing him about it before the party, so they yelled "Tina! Look!" and I got this! Hilarious!

She's staring at Andrew like this because he had just shoved two pieces of birthday cake in his mouth, at once. True "Andrew Style!" and his little face was blue as was his left eye area for unknown reasons. How did the cake get THERE? Picture here does not do the actual look justice!!

Me and my niece Kirsten. She is lovely! Smart, kind and just returned from Costa Rica. She's about to begin her final year of college and she'll be a teacher when she's finished.

Happy 12th Birthday, Sweet Madison! You are good, kind, smart and very loved!!

HOLLA!!

xoxo~

T

Hilarious Pinterest Finds!

Thanks to my lil charmer and best pal...Kim San for forwarding me these hilarious and fabulous Pinterest finds!

Get ready to giggle!

Who hasn't slapped their mother with pizza while trying to save her?

Ahh...the excitement of the young!

Dream house wishes, Harry Potter Style:

I'm off to eat large quantities of something! Sadly, it will probably be salad although I would prefer another Belgian Waffle! Had one this morning with my nephew. He is fantastic and very, very fun. Also..I'm exhausted. His excitement is both  motivational and very tiring!

Wine and Salad! Living Large!

xoxo~

T

Why Are We All So Tired?

Seriously?

Miss Daisy "I can barely keep my eyes open."

Curtis. "Good God, I am exhausted after breakfast."

I feel the same way!  Two cups of coffee into this day and Mamma is still overly tired!

Sidebar: When I run out of coffee and/or creamer I'll hit either the drive thru Caribou OR McDonalds.  Sadly, their coffees and espressos are just not as strong as what I make here. I think I may make ONE crazy cup of coffee with enough coffee beans for five people. It gets me going! But I forget that when I run out, I should order two or tell Caribou "Please moose the CRAP out of this one!"

These two are so funny because they nap (to me) at the BEST times of the day! Between Noon and 2- 3PM both are exhausted. I always feel like that's the best hang outdoors time/walking time unless it's crazy hot. The point: They're RUINING it! Kidding. They know what they like...and they like a good nap!

In other news..I will be hanging with my nephew Emerson for the next few days. Who knows what we'll do? One thing is for sure: No more Minecraft! I am happy he loves the game and can build rollercoasters and cities, but he gets wayyy too involved to the point where you're asking "Are you hungry? Thirsty? You haven't peed in hours!" So today...Crafts! I"m kidding..but something different.

Rock this Tuesday, Peeps!

xoxo~

T