All done! I endured the 3 day wait, “conditioned” it as the can of paint instructed, and now I’m free to write and draw anything I can I dream up! Yay for chalkboard paint! (I actually wrote that on the chalkboard, hehe!)
February 26, 2008
final color
Welp, painting is done! There are a few touch-ups that need to be done, but otherwise the bulk of the work is over and I can show a semi-after photo! (I’ll show a final-after photo when the whole room is done, of course!)
I’ll admit, that dark pink was really overwhelming for me at first. I walked into her room several times over the course of the day yesterday, looking at the color in different lights, trying to decide if I loved it or hated it. I think I’m starting to love it. And once I get all her furniture painted white, I think it will help immensely. As you can see, it’s pretty cute with the white bookshelf!
Still so much to do, though… paint the crib and dresser, sew some curtains, make or buy wall art (most likely I’ll make most of it, I’ve got a lot of ideas – too many actually, she doesn’t have enough wall space for everything I’d like to do)… but I’m motivated now, so hopefully I can crank it all out quickly. I’m making it my goal to have it finished by her birthday at the end of April.
Oh, and speaking of making things myself… I quickly painted up a letter “E” for her bedroom door last night in-between feeding the kids dinner and Jason getting home. I used a purple floral patch from her quilt as inspiration.
(I bought a “J” for Jag’s door too, but he’s decided he wants to paint it himself, so it’s in the works… )
February 25, 2008
menu plan monday – 02.25.08
This is a crappy menu week for me. Jason plans to work late a good bit this week, and when he works late our meals get all kinds of screwy. To save myself the aggravation, I’m going to plan easy/instant type meals. And I’m going to try to not feel guilty about it.
Monday: chili
Tuesday: frozen pizzas
Wednesday: bourbon chicken (will type up the recipe in a later post)
Thursday: lasagna (probably the store-bought, frozen kind so all I have to do is pop it in the oven)
Friday: beef fajitas
Saturday: Mongolian beef (never got to it last week because of Jason’s schedule – will try again this week)
Sunday: chicken pot pie
last.fm
I’m going to start noting when I add to the growing list on my Elsewhere page, because I just know you want to know where I spend all my online time, right? Ha!
Anyway, I’m on last.fm now. Really neat site, I only found it last week. I’m a numbers kinda girl, I like seeing lists and statistics. Seeing my most listened to tracks is cool to me. It’d be fun to have some friends on there to keep track of too – so if it’s your kind of thing, join and add me! I’m always looking for new music, so I’d love to see what you’re listening to.
Also, I once attempted to add my facebook profile url to the Elsewhere page and it didn’t work. I don’t know how to do it, but if you are on facebook and haven’t already added me, look me up! I can be found under my current last name, or my maiden name if you know that.
Thatisall. Fornow.
February 22, 2008
UFOs
While my Mom-in-law was visiting last week, we got to talking about all our unfinished projects. I was telling her of my huge stack of unfinished sewing stuff and various other ideas I’d had and bought supplies for. She told me that on a sewing/quilting forum she’s on, they call these “UFOs” – Un-Finished Objects. She said she’d once had around 25 UFOs but made it a goal to get them done and had managed to wittle that number down to only a handful. I was inspired! Hence the starting on Kat’s room (which, btw, is still a UFO – hopefully we’ll find the time to get the paint done this weekend *fingers crossed*).
I remembered this week a project I bought supplies for several months ago – a magnetic chalkboard wall in the kitchen. Since buying all the supplies, we had a change in ideas for the wall I had in mind so I had packed the cans of paint and rollers away. Once I got to thinking about it again, though, I realized I had one other wall space that would work. It’s much smaller than the original wall space, but actually a lot more practical in location. So I won’t be able to do large fun drawings, but I will be able to write reminders to be seen as we’re leaving the house, or grocery lists or weekly menus.
I got to work on it yesterday just as soon as Kat went down for her afternoon nap and managed to finish it up right after the kids went to bed last night. Yay for knocking out a project in one day! I did 3 coats of magnetic paint and 2 coats of chalkboard paint. I didn’t take a before, but here’s my semi-after:
I say semi-after because we can’t write on it for 3 days. Right now it looks like nothing more than a black accent wall (and I’m not an accent wall kinda girl, so it’s bugging me). Once we can start writing on it, and it’s apparent what it’s purpose is, I think it’ll look better. (you’ll have to please excuse the condition of the baseboards and doors – dogs and kids will do that. one day I’ll get around to repainting them all) And just FYI – that door leads to the laundry/mud room, which then leads out to the garage, so we go through it every time we leave the house. To the left there are the doors to the pantry, and to the right (not pictured) is the fridge. So this really is a great location for a chalkboard – it will make it easy to jot down notes or To Buy lists.
So there you have it. The first UFO I can mark off my list! YAY!
February 19, 2008
i like to play school
When I was a little girl, I loooooved playing school. I loved writing on the chalkboard and pretending to give tests and grade papers. FUN! Now before you say it, no I shouldn’t have become a teacher. It takes a very special kind of person to be a teacher. A very patient person. When it comes to teaching other people, I have zero patience. Ask me about the photography forum I used to run and why it’s no longer alive. 
Anywho, Jag has started getting a good deal of homework in the last month. They’ve started having weekly spelling words and tests, and with that comes spelling homework 3 nights a week (on top of his nightly reading homework and the occasional math worksheet or project that she might send home).
As a kid, I never enjoyed my own homework. I’m LOVING Jag’s! I get to play teacher!
Every week I print up little “flashcards” with his spelling words and little descriptive pictures, and tape them to the wall next to his desk. I print up simple sentences using his spelling words so he can read and copy them on the lined paper I print up for him. I make little word games, scrambling the words for him to unscramble, or “code word” games where he has to match numbers to letters to come up with the words. I give him practice spelling tests.
I don’t think he’s enjoying the homework nearly as much as I am. Okay, I know he’s not. He grumbles about sitting down to do it most days. But you know what? He’s gotten 100% on every single practice test he’s taken (the teacher gives practice tests on Thursdays, and if they ace it, they don’t have to take the real test on Friday and instead get a special “free” time to color, draw or read). The truth is, I think he’d be getting 100% even without all the extra practice, but I’m trying to teach him good study habits. It never hurts to do a little extra work, ya know?
Enough of my blabbing – I have homework to print! Yay!
those swedish meatballs?
Goooooood.
I definitely recommend them. Easy, quick and inexpensive too.
I made very little change to the recipe. I skimmed over the “other takes” listed at the bottom and did the following: as I was heating up the meatballs in the skillet, I poured in enough white wine to cover the bottom of the pan. Then after the meatballs were heated through and I’d added the gravy and sour cream, I added a pinch of dill, a hefty pinch of kosher salt and a hefty pinch of coarsely ground black pepper. Served with “smashed” potatoes and steamed sugar snap peas on the side.
Definitely having these again!
February 18, 2008
kitty kat’s room – a home decorating project
So the project has begun. Okay well actually, the project technically started when I got the bright idea to use the yellow trimmed quilt and buy berry pink paint.
BUT, I have put brush to wall and there’s no turning back now!
Here’s my “before” shot. Please don’t mind the mess, I pushed stuff out of my way and was about to get started when I remembered I needed to take a picture, so I didn’t bother tidying up.
Here is my paint choice. The lighter pink is just the primer. That darker pink there is the actual paint color.
And here’s about all I was able to get done last night before Jason and the kids came home from playing at the neighbor’s house.
I fully intend to continue to document the progress. The good, bad and the ugly. Okay, hopefully there will be no bad and ugly, just good and pretty! Anyway, stay tuned!
menu plan monday – 02.18.08
Rough week last week, I ended up skipping meal planning and just threw stuff together at the last minute most days.
This week I’m back on track! I have to say, I really love doing this – not because I’m sure you all find it so terribly interesting, but for me because it keeps me on track. I normally h-a-t-e putting a weekly menu together and making my shopping list. It’s nice to have a reason to get it done (besides the obvious “so we have food” reason of course).
Monday: chicken salad sandwiches
Tuesday: salisbury steaks with mashed potatoes and cheesy broccoli
Wednesday: mongolian beef (jury’s still out on whether we’ll have it with rice or noodles)
Thursday: swedish meatballs (I’ve been trying to make/serve this for weeks, hopefully this week works out)
Friday: blackened chicken and steamed broccoli over pasta alfredo
Saturday: homemade pizza
Sunday: pulled pork bbq (eastern carolina style) made in the slow cooker. served with coleslaw and baked fries.
February 12, 2008
60 things you possibly didn’t know about me
I’m baking dozens and dozens of little heart-shaped brownies for Jag’s class today, and it’s boring. Oh so boring! So I thought I’d do a little meme I saw on myspace to kill some time.
1. What is in the back of your car? two Britax carseats, a Maclaren umbrella stroller, a navy blue golf umbrella with white polka dots and a plush giraffe
2. When was the last time you threw up? I can’t even remember, it’s been years!
3. What color is your toothbrush? pink
4. Name one person that made you smile today? Jag. He’s such a good kid, he makes me so happy.
5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? shopping for brownie ingredients and Valentine’s Day baggies/ties
6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? putting another batch of brownies in the oven
7.What is your nickname? Jason and friends call me Stef, my Mom and other family members call me Teffie
8. Have you ever been to a strip club? nope, I’m a prude like that
9. What is the last thing you said aloud? “night night” to Kat as I put her down for a nap
10. What is the best ice cream flavor? oh so many to choose from! I can always go Caramel Swirl
11. What was the last thing you had to drink? kind of embarrassed to say: Diet Mt. Dew. My secret is out! I’m a Dewaholic. I don’t let myself buy it by the 2 liter anymore, I usually just treat myself to a small one from the cooler by the register when I grocery shop.
12. What are you wearing right now? Calvin Klein jeans, an “I’m a Democrat” tshirt (souvenir from DC) and a Florida Gators hooded sweatshirt
13. What was the last thing you ate? erm, also embarrassed to say: salt & vinegar potato chips. I swear I don’t eat them as often as it may seem. I only buy them when we have guests.
14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? not for myself, but I bought Kat 3 new spring/summer dresses that are just SO cute!
15. When was the last time you ran? Sunday, playing with the kids at the park
16. The last sporting event you watched? the Pro Bowl on Sunday
17.Do you have a birthmark? no
18. Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace? I don’t even remember! I don’t use myspace much anymore since discovering facebook
19. Ever go camping? yes, when I was in jr high school
20.Morning or Night? morning. total morning person.
21. Farthest place to go? erm? farthest place I have to go today? I guess Jag’s school.
22. Do you have a tan? bwahaha!
23.Dream/Favorite Car? I don’t really dream or lust for cars. I guess if I could go out and by any car right now and neither money nor space was an issue, it’d be either an Infiniti EX crossover, or maybe a little hybrid of some sort
24. Do you drink your soda with a straw? only if it’s in a cup with a lid
25. What did your last text message say? the last text message I received was from my wireless provider. the last text I sent was to my sister, telling her to check her email. I don’t do a lot of texting.
26. Are you someone’s best friend? I hope so!
27. What are you doing tomorrow? packaging up the brownies for Jag’s class party and going to a “reading ceremony” at his school where he’ll be getting a certificate from the headmaster 
28. Where is your mom? at work
29. Look to your left, what do you see? a wall. it’s a pretty wall though, with a pretty white chair rail and two tones of yellow Laura Ashley paint
31. What do you think of when you think of Australia? koalas and beer ;-P
33. What is your birthstone color? citrine (November)
34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? drive through
35. What is your favorite number? 2
36. Do you have a dog? yes, 2 yappy mutts that are free to a good home! (totally kidding of course, we love our yappy mutts)
37. Last person you talked to on the phone? well, I left a voicemail for my Mom and a voicemail for my Sister, so I don’t think they count. That would leave Jason.
38.Last trip? We went to the zoo in the western part of the state and made a weekend of it.
39. Any plans today? just to bake 3948918 brownies, pick Jag up from school and make baked ziti for dinner. Exciting, eh?
40. How many states have you lived in? four. Indiana, Tennessee, Florida and now North Carolina.
41. Ever go to college? yes
42. How many pillows are on your bed? four. one head pillow and one body pillow for me. two head pillows for Jason.
43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now? just that I’m tired all the time. I need to start going to bed earlier, and figure out what I’m going to do about Kat waking me up several times a night still.
44. Last song listened to? Flathead by The Fratellis
45.What is your favorite TV show? Project Runway. I look forward to it every week!
46.What is the weirdest thing about you? weird? me? never!
47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? black Tevo flip flops. if the temp rises above 60 degrees (which is often lately!), I usually have them on. it’s probably time I replace them, they’re getting a bit flat and faded.
48.If you could do anything right now what would it be? go on vacation. to someplace tropical.
49. Are you jealous of anyone? not really.
50. Is anyone jealous of you? I doubt it!
51. Do you love anyone? lots of people
52. Do any of your friends have children? most of them do
53. Do you eat healthy? not like I should, I used to be much better
54. What do you usually do during the day? play with Kat, clean, fold laundry, run errands. fun stuff!
55. Do you hate anyone right now? I’m not sure I hate anyone. I strongly dislike the lady up the road who can’t lay off the gas on our neighborhood streets. Speed limit is 15 mph and children are playing, slow the hell down! And stop tailgating your neighbors!
56. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily? I do with Kat
57. What is a goal for your life? just to be happy and live well
58. What do you want to do with your life? same as above
59. Have you ever been to Six Flags? no
60. How did you get one of your scars? strange way to end the meme. Um, I have a scar on my nose from a car accident about 12 years ago where my nose was broken and cut up pretty badly
