So, Now I Live In Virginia!

I haven't really had a chance to take pics or for that matter breathe! But hopefully I will get back into the swing of things soon!! Since we've moved in (yes we are all moved in) I've been able to work on a few things (watercolors) and I've been forced to start thinkin' about holiday wreaths and garlands! Anyway, here are a few pics of the AMAZING house we found!!

Life is Crazy!!!

We're moving to Virginia!! This past month has been a blur - pure craziness!! I'll post pics and updates soon, very soon, but needless to say I'm full of gray - happy, happy, gray!!!!!!


The beautiful Blue Ridge...


To the beautiful beaches!!

If You Thought I Wasn't Blogging Before!

Well, I've been away (swine flu),

but I'm back and I'm ready to express myself (Madonna),

and I think I should start by saying that I hate cleaning (makes me feel red

- I like gray).

This brings me to kids - what are they good for (that was screamed). Don't get me wrong, I love my kids (brats),

but I'm starting to think we should live like the Clampetts (I've never actually seen that show or fully understand the reference, but I feel like I'm on to something by using the metaphor).

Pack all the nice stuff up and keep it for later - like when all these grubby handed hoodlums aren't living in my house!!!

I'll buy thrift store couches and garage sale dishes (they can have at'it)

and later (after saving all my pennies),

I'll buy all the nice stuff I ever wanted and nobody, I mean nobody, will ruin it (cause I'll have shipped them off to military school - no I won't feel bad about it)!

Have You Noticed I've Not Been Blogging A Lot Lately??

It's cause I'm homeschooling my eldest daughter (4th grade) - she's a lot like me, stubborn!!! So, I've been a little stressed and frankly feeling a little like a failure (there, I said it)!! One day she does great and the next she's barely listening and practically refusing to do anything, but let me make one thing clear - anything is better then the schools here in Vegas!!!!

So I've decided to think happy thoughts...here are just a few.



I LOVE paisley!



I love gray!



I really, really love gray!



I love accent pillows!



I must love expensive things (cause this pillow is $220 and I love it - does not come with pillow insert)!!



I love blazers!!



I mean, really!! Where have all the blazers gone - I love them and I love how serious they make me feel!!



LOVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

So I Just Realized That Blogger Didn't Load The Final Pic

Here is the final pics of my little doodle...what's up with Blogger??

Space Problems...

So I have been having some space problems lately - for my art that is.

I gave up the third bedroom for my daughter (she needed her own space) and my husband cleared me a corner in the garage, but the lighting/his workout equipment and the general lack of atmosphere have left me empty.

I managed to create a little workspace in the master bedroom, not a lot of room, but a nice window, so this is what I've been tinkering with - watercolors...


Started with charcoals, just doodling, then thought it would be fun to fill in with some color.



I had fun, I think I'll do another...

Okay, I've Decided - Why Not White??

This past weekend we embarked on a tedious and strenuous task - painting everything white!!!

I'm throwing caution to the wind - who cares if I have young and messy kids, who cares if I haven't used my sewing machine in months and the lines on the seams of my slip covers will most likely be crooked, who cares if I'm driving my poor husband crazy and who cares if this is all an exercise in futility!!!

I'm cleaning things out and paring down...brightening up and cutting my pattern number down. Think breezy, clean, but warm - my couch will still be a cozy champagne color, but all the pillows will be slipped in white. The coffee table will be slipped, two tables painted white and some of my books will be covered in heavy white card stock (temporary, but effective).

My offset colors will be chocolate brown (rugs, throw, curtains) and a neutral linen beige (baskets, rugs, accents). With a few pops of color along the way...

I will post as we work our way along - hopefully I haven't made a horrible mistake!!!



Don't worry, all that horrible oak colored trim will also be painted white!

White, White Everywhere!

I have become obsessed with white lately!

I don't know why, but I want to put crisp, white slip covers on everything, and I want to paint everything white (walls, trim, ceilings, tables, accents, etc.)

I have kids, I shouldn't be having these thoughts!!!

I would love to spend a weekend sewing pillow covers with white fabric ties on one end and I would love to take my side tables and this little library table I have to a car painting place and have them lacquered in white!!

Hopefully this will pass - I'm not sure my hubby will go along this time (he went with my chocolate brown phase - of course gray is always my standard ;).

So, How About Minneapolis?

Let's face it, I don't appreciate the desert...I know, maybe I should try to like it more, but I'm a tree's kinda girl! It's just the way it is...so hubby has been looking for jobs to see what's out there and we have stumbled upon Minneapolis. All the lakes and green, green, green - it looks nice! Does anyone have any opinions on this lovely little town? I'd love to know if the schools are good, neighborhood info, and if the people are nice, is it a good place for families? Anyway, I love all the parks and lakes, it seems like a nice place to raise a family!!

My Daughter The Artist

My daughter decided she needed to paint my face, I decided I was to tired to put up a fight! My three year old, the artist...

Look Mom, Socks!!!

I don't know why, but I keep stumbling upon socks (and napkins, but that's a story for another day). Here's a few I've enjoyed!

I'd like to be their friends...


Why yes, it is Mr. T!


Say Cheese!


Kisses!


I don't know what's going on here, but I like it!


Awwwwww!


This guy makes me all zen

New Computer, New Lazy Woman!!!

So I could have gotten a prettier, flashier laptop, but this one is pretty good and was priced right! I did buy it from the devil though (otherwise known as Best Buy), and I hope I won't lose some vital part of my "fight the man" persona by doing so?? I've completely accepted that every 2 years or so I'm going to have to buy a new computer and once you've accepted this reality (and budgeted for it) everything is a lot less aggravating!



But, let's face it - this is a total money game created and propagated by the computer industry and they are not alone, many industries create products that have average lifespans (before they completely crap out and need major repairs or replacement parts - usually only able to be performed or provided by that specific company or it's designated contractors).

If you've ever owned a home you know this to be true...Between the washer/dryer/fridge/stove/microwave/dishwasher/tv/dvd/modem/router/AC/water heater/etc.......you find that things only last for a few years and usually start experiencing problems right after that way tooooo expensive warranty has ended!

Don't even get me started about cars!! Why do you think Asian car makers cornered the market? They figured if they created cars that would last even 18 months longer than American made (and if they sold to a larger market - IE all over the world), then they would become regarded as a quality maker and in the long run would make more money - and it worked!!!

Anyway...that's all the conspiracy ramblings I'm doing today.

My computer exploded!!!!

My computer exploded!! I've tried all week to fix it to no avail...so I will be buying a new one this weekend - hope to talk more then!

Part 2 - Ahhhh Mt Charleston...We Hiked Before We Left To Hike

I need a better lens, but the kit lens I have is serving me well for now...

My daughter loves rocks!

Ahhhh Mt Charleston...We Hiked Before We Left To Hike

If we end up staying in Vegas for more than the next few years, I'm going to try to buy up on Mt Charleston...I have no other choice!