Revenge of the Arachnid

Are you afraid of spiders? Is it actual fear or do they just creep you out? I'm in with the creeped out bunch....but I'm not really afraid of them. My hubby and sweet daughter hang over with the fear bunch. I am the spider killer in our house. It works out pretty good. Hubby is in charge of all things rodent and I take on the eight-legged predators. I like this deal....most of the time. We spray around our house to lower the spider to human ratio so that helps. But every once in a while we get one of the really big, gianormous house spiders. Those creep me out BIG time. Did you know they look very much like a hobo spider. In fact I have added a couple of pictures to help illustrate my point. I give you exhibit A......
And exhibit B.......
Can't really tell the difference can you. Me either. In fact the only definitive way to tell the difference is through a microscope. Bummer.....right! Well here we come to the story of my latest encounter with the spiders. I was minding my own business one morning when I heard a frantic cry for help coming from the garage. I raced out to see what was the matter and I found my sweet daughter backing away from the car she was supposed to be driving to the store for me. "I can't g g get in the car...." she stammered. I looked around for the cause of her fear and found a BIG DANG SPIDER that had crawled up the wall and seemed to be waiting to pounce on her. Well since I rarely have shoes on, I had to go find some instrument of death....I was in the garage so that wasn't a big problem. I grabbed a hunk of 2x4 and squished the spider into a heap on the floor. Jo got in the car and drove away while I went back into the house. I left the carcass on the floor as a warning to his friends and relatives.....Don't mess with Lori....she is B.A.
Fast forward a few days.....I was out sitting on the porch at dusk, it was about 65* and the sunset was beautiful. I was just enjoying the sounds of the neighborhood.....the kids playing a few doors down, the commuters making their way home for the night. I was peaceful, I was content, I was unsuspecting. When my rear was beginning to fall asleep I decided I'd better head in and start some dinner for my family. My sweet daughter was perched on the counter of the island, watching me assemble ingredients and we were chatting. I turned away from her toward the oven to get a pan from the drawer when I saw something moving on my flannel shirt. After quickly identifying it as one big bleepitybleepin spider I proceeded to swack, flap, slap and otherwise try to dislodge it from the front of my shirt where it was RACING toward my face. I didn't scream but there was a panicking sound coming from somewhere in the room (ME!). My sweet daughter was watching me with a confused albeit concerned expression on her face. "Did you burn yourself?" She asked as I whipped off my flannel shirt/jacket and proceeded to jump on it. As soon as she saw the wild look in my eye she knew it was not a burn. As I stood there convulsing with the heebiegeebies my sweet daughter just had to know....."What is wrong with you?" Such concern, such sympathy from one so young....NOT! I then explained to her that some time while I was out sitting on the porch, enjoying the evening and minding my own business, the spiders were hatching their plan for revenge. I told her about looking down to find one very large eight legged bandit charging up my front, headed for my face. I was (at the very least) expecting some show of concern, some empathy from my spider fearing child. You wanna know what she said to me? "Are you sure you weren't imagining it? I didn't see anything." So much for empathy, sympathy or any other pathy you can think of. Imagine it.....I think not. That sucker was real and he had revenge on his mind. Well, I never did find that spider. He is somewhere in my house....regrouping, strategizing. Planning to attack when I least expect. I have had nightmares about spiders all week. I am over it! Today I am declaring war on all spiders and I'm bringing the spray INSIDE the house. Oh, I'll get him alright.....and his little dog too!!

Photo Wall

This is one of the walls in my bedroom. I started with a bunch of empty frames that I spray painted either black or heirloom white. I had a rough idea of where I wanted everything....but now that they are up....a little tweeking is in order. But first of all I am hoping to fill the frames. The big frame on the right is for a project I am working on for Jim for Christmas. I am pretty excited about it.
Here is a close up of the left side. Just frames and pics of people that I love...Oh, and the Salt Lake Temple. It is the most gorgeous building.
The middle....a tree with a fabulous quote at the bottom;
Living Life
Life is not a race-but indeed a journey. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you, "I love you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul.Take time for your self - plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment. -Bonnie Mohr
The right side. The pic of Jim and Kevin is one of my all time favorite shots. The photo with the glare on it is a mural of the pictures of my first 5K. It reminds me every day that I can do things that are hard or scary or that I think are impossible.
This is another wall. How many bracelets and necklaces does one girl need? But look at how easy they are to find!! When I get the energy to actually clean and stage my room for photos I'll show you the rest. For now....that is it...hahahaha I know....you don't care if Jim's dirty socks are on the floor or the fan we use in the summer is still in the corner. But I do.
Until then, my friends, be thankful this wonderful holiday season. I am thankful for you.

It's Time

So this year I had decided to wait to put up my Christmas stuff until the neighbors around me had theirs up. I didn't want to deal with the comments....these folks don't know of my love, nay...the passion I feel for Christmas. They don't know the years my Mom spent cultivating this obsession with all things Christmas (that only intensified upon her passing). I am still finding my way in this new place and i didn't want the constant reminder that I just don't fit (yet). And then my mood crashed. We are talking epic melt down here. My sweet daughter and her friends (that happened to be visiting from Minnesota) decided to help cheer me up. I came home from church to find the tree up and the boxes containing all things Christmas stacked in the living room....waiting. We found the lights and the kids put them on the tree and then we sat back to take it all in. Sweet. I did feel a bit better having the familiar sight of my old Christmas tree hogging up precious space on display for all to see. Then I dug into the boxes to find the rest of my favorite things. No hiding it now.....all the neighbors will know....yes, I am crazy.
It lights up and everything!!! It is great at night!
Ah, snowman......how I heart thee......
I did decide to down-size a few of my collections. Since we got rid of some of our furniture for the move I am short a few places to display my obsession lovelies.
This set is probably my favorite. It is identical to the one that has been displayed at my Mom's house since I was little.
I did discover that I am missing a box that has a couple of my Nativity sets. I'm not very happy about that.....but I would be devastated if this one was lost. My Mom made it at a church craft Super Saturday when I was about 10. I loved it then and I am over-the-moon for it now. There is just something about those things that my Mom loved.....it makes her seem close.
Here is my tree. After the Season of Joy is over and the Christmas trees go on clearance, I will be looking for a tall skinny one for next year. This one is just too massive.
A few of my favorite ornaments......
Loving those Ruby Slippers.....there is no place like home.....
From my Mom......on our last Christmas together.
The traditional Christmas Spider. What....? You don't have a traditional Christmas Spider?
Of course my tree has a few of this particular gal. Cinderlori likes Cinderella.
My babies.....when they were actually babies. The time....were did it go?
I just thought you'd all like to see what I will be looking at for the next couple of months. I am happy to have it up and I guess the neighbors will just have to deal.

I have been working on some other projects too. I promise to get busy and show you all very soon!

The Birthday Girls

This weekend I was lucky enough to spend it with some of my favorite girls on the planet. My peeps from MN and I met in the middle in the exotic city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ooooo....you say. I know, right! Sun and sand and...wait....not in Sioux Falls. But we did have thrift stores and pedi's and bead class and FOOD. What more could sister chicks want? Not much, in my opinion. It was the weekend closest to their birthdays and we couldn't think of a better way to spend it than together. Of course my pictures are somewhat lacking....shocking I know....but I did get a couple of group shots that I love.
These women are amazing. Really, they are. I'm not sure why they let me hang out with them, but I am so thankful that they do. Ms. Nae, she is an athlete at heart. She inspires us to reach beyond what we think we are capable of and be amazing like her...at least we try. Her type A tendencies keep us on time and scheduled....and laughing the whole way. She is a farm girl and tough as nails. She sets the bar high enough for us to have to reach...but not so high that failure is imminent. Ms. Heather has mad wizard skills. She is our go-to girl for all things organized, out-going and off-the-wall. She is just crazy enough to get the job done. Seriously....she isn't afraid of anything. She will talk to anyone, try anything and follow any of us off whatever bridge we are jumping from.....loyal to the core. Being around these girls makes me happy. So happy in fact, that even today....I can still feel the effects of the weekend laugh-fest. So as I count my blessings today, I start with my friends....and I am SO blessed to have MANY friends....and these two...well, they have my heart.

Before, During and After

I have been searching Craigslist for the last 3 months or so looking for the perfect piece of furniture to go in my entryway. It couldn't be too big....and it couldn't be too small. It had to be just right. I looked at pieces like this.....

And a lot like this.....
A few like this.....
Until I found this picture. I loved the color and size of this piece. I loved the drawers and the cupboards too. It has a pretty skirt at the bottom and nice legs. Now if I could just find one in my price range. I didn't want to pay a fortune for this.....after all I would probably definitely be painting it. I looked in thrift stores and on Craigslist for months, until one day.....
This baby was posted on Craigslist a mere 20 minutes from my house. I called on it right away as I was just sure that she was perfect. I traded my car to Jim for the use of his trusty pick-up for the day and set out. When I got to the swank neighborhood that mapquest guided me too, I was afraid I'd been led astray. Usually family heirlooms like this, in "hoods like this, were out of my price range for sure. Luckily I was wrong. I found the house and was led in and introduced to Ivy. Yes, I've named her. She was sitting in a corner of a HUGE dinning room and looked quite happy to see me. The couple that was readying themselves to part with sweet Ivy was really cute. See, they were moving to Denver and didn't have room in their new place for such a treasure AND the hubby informed me that it just didn't "go with their place". OK....and score for me then. They had already turned down one buyer who wanted to "ruin the integrity of the piece" and turn my Ivy into a bathroom vanity, complete with a sink. Gasp! "No way!" I said in an offended voice. Who on earth would want to change such a perfect piece of furniture as this? Of course I fully intended on making Ivy over to help her to fit in with my other furniture finds....but I wasn't about to tell Mr. & Mrs. Scarypants that. Oh no, my friends....I wanted Ivy for my own. So of course when they told me of their trip to pick up Ivy from his Grandma's house back in the 60's I was respectfully impressed. I even wished them well as we loaded up my prize.
Of course upon getting Ivy home the first thing to go were these ugly priceless dingleberry drawer pulls. You don't even want to know what my 17 year old daughter compared them too. I blush just thinking about it! Who taught her to think for herself anyway.....curses.....Under the dreaded dingleberries there were the old locks. They didn't work with the skeleton key that came with Ivy (it works on the doors though!) so I didn't feel bad about covering them up again.
As I started to clean Ivy and prep her for paint....I did start to worry. What if I mess up this beautiful piece of furniture. After all Mr. & Mrs. Scarypants said it is solid burled walnut....crap. So I went to consult a professional. There is a store in my town, Weathered and Worn. It is the most amazing Mecca of vintage and new that any girl has a right to behold in one dwelling. I called upon Sue, master furniture painter. She told me (for a very reasonable fee) that she would paint my treasure and I'd not have to stress out over it. We agreed that a warm white with a dark top would indeed be heavenly and I left her to it. She took the doodads off the front of the doors. I am thinking about using them on the sides.....
The next day I got a call from Sue who informed me that it wasn't solid walnut, but a nice thick veneer. Still worthy of the price I paid but not so precious that a little paint would ruin some one's eternal peace. So she continued on....and she did a wonderful job. She left the door pulls on, thinking the wood knobs would do it for me....Not so much. I bought a couple to try and settled on the round knob from The Big Orange Store.
Jim is even coming around. To him....you don't buy old junk and you NEVER paint a nice wood piece of furniture. But truth be told....he is starting to like Ivy...really, he is.
I think she was worth all the time and effort searching and the price paid for the final result was worth every penny.
She has some beautiful flaws "character additions" that are still visible and I love them.
She is holding her age just as well as before. But she has gone from a piece of furniture that I liked a lot, to one that I will be passing on to my grandchildren one day. She is sturdy and beautiful....
One last reminder of before.....
And Ivy in all her newness. What a gem!

The Cheese Touch

So apparently my daughter has The Cheese Touch. If you don't know what that is....you need to rent Diary of a Wimpy Kid. If you don't have any 6 years old boys hanging out at your house, you might want to rent one of those too. It just makes the movie that much better. Trust me. So I have so much to tell you....first off....while I was in Utah for my Dad's wedding my daughter's fish died. Not her favorite fish, Juno, but her newest fish, Leah. Leah was sweet and unassuming. She just loved to swim and eat....and little else. Somehow poor, sweet Leah got sucked up into the filter thingie and not being a small fishy, she got stuck and passed on. Sad for Leah...but REALLY sad for my baby, who, like her Grandma Connie, has a very tender heart where her pets are concerned. Fast forward to this morning when I get the frantic cry for help from the basement. Apparently, Juno decided she just couldn't go on without her pal Leah and swam under the filter thingie and became lodged there.....stuck by the suction. When I arrived on the scene Juno was still gasping. Hoping to save her we acted quickly and moved the suckie thingie and Juno swam free.....only to turn upside down, gasping and trying to right herself. It was a morbid scene and I decided I'd better put Juno out of her misery before my sweet baby suffered any more trauma. So I did it. I had to flush a still wiggly fish to it's eternal resting place. Does that make me a monster? I sent my girl back to bed where the dogs and I joined her for a quick therapy session. The dogs tried to console her with their foul breath and wet noses....and it did seem to lessen the sting of Juno's betrayal. I went up and made my baby some cocoa and toast (a quick cure for a broken heart) and sent her off to school. Now I must decide how bad I want to fix this for her. Do I rush out and buy a couple new fish (and a better suckie thingie) or do I wait and let the dust settle, our hearts mend and then go find some more future floaters? Do things in your life seem to fall apart all at once.....or do you get to face your life's tragedies one at a time?

Pretty in Blue

Before I moved into this house, this is what the laundry room looked like. Unfortunately this is the best "before" shot I have. I say unfortunately because the washer and dryer didn't stay with the house. hahahaha As we moved in I knew I'd be changing this room. In fact back when I made-over my last laundry room I already knew what my next laundry room would look like. When we chose this house, with it's open floor plan and designer paint colors....the laundry room was less than a thrill. But with my vision in place, I knew it would become girly and fabulous.
So, I started with the paint color. My sweet hubby started the process of painting for me. Since he was here for the closing and before our stuff was delivered....he jumped right in.
Then the fabulous in-laws came to visit. Hub's Dad always likes to have something to do. Small projects are his specialty. I can't tell you how many light fixtures he has changed for us and he's changed out just as many faucets too. This time I needed him to help DH change the light fixture and add some much needed cabinets.
So, (almost) all said and done....girly and fabulous times ten! I love it. It is a small space with a big window. So along with the beautiful warm glow from the chandelier, the room is filled with lots of natural light as well.
Picture this pretty valance up over the top of the window. It is on it's way....but as with all good things....this took some doing.
A peek to the left.....
My newly-started L collection....you know Laundry...or Lori....whichever....
And a peek to the right....baskets on top for extra storage.
This "laundry" sign was actually the jumping off point or inspiration, if you will, for this room. I made it back in Minnesota and since I had just done my laundry room....I knew I'd be saving it for my next house....(yes, there is always a next house)
So here is my wonderful, girly, so-me laundry room transformation.
Do you love it? I surely do!


UPDATE:
This is the valance on the window. It looks so good! I am linking to Met Monday's Mom Cave. While this isn't a fabulous craft room or a romantic master bedroom....it is practical. I spend SO much time in here....and I LOVE being in the laundry room!!