I made it in one piece. :)

I know you are all anxiously waiting to get word that I arrived. ;) I am here but the drive wasn't completely uneventful.
For starters; no one ever bothered to tell me that GPS systems do not function properly in bad weather. It was rainy, foggy, and just really gloomy the whole way here. Thanks Fay!
So, my GPS was completely worthless! And that's putting it nicely. According to the GPS I was in a field somewhere. At other times I didn't even exist, as far as it was concerned. At one point in the mountains the fog was so thick that I could barely see the tractor trailer that I know was right in front of me. Ah, the joys of traveling!

I chickened out on making the trip by myself and drafted Alex to come with me. I am so very glad that I had him with me. I would never have found my way if it wasn't for him. When the GPS went on the fritz he was a huge help keeping me on the right paths. Thanks Alex! Momma wuvs you!

Oh, it also turned out that we weren't going to Durham at all. Chris had read the information wrong! We are in Roxboro, NC. There's a road around here called Durham and he took for granted that is where we were going. Silly husband!

Wish me safe travels.

I'm going to spend two weeks with hubby over in Durham, NC. I'm driving solo and it's about 5 hours away, with rain forcasted for the rest of the week- remnants from tropical storm Fay.

I don't mind driving in the rain but I hate the sudden "curtain of blindness" when tractor trailers go around you, or get in front of you. And I hope my GPS knows where I'm going because I haven't a clue and I am horrible, horrible, horrible with directions. I could learn to speak Hebrew faster!

After two weeks I get to drive back alone again because Chris will be heading to another contract.
Just think good thoughts for me and safe, uneventful travels. I should* have internet access once I get there and if I am able I will update to let you know I arrived ok. :)

Tree Ornies/Gift Tags

My latest creation. Aren't these cute? Just made and listed them. They'd be nice on a traditional Christmas tree or used as gift tags.

Inked edges, chalking, foam pop dotted the stocking cuffs, gold pen detailing, and soft velvety ties. Made of textured Bazzill cardstock.

What's your design style?

Mine is totally primitive/rustic and shabby chic.
I made this faux chocolate decoration set with a primitive flair in mind. All hand formed from cold porcelain clay. No fancy tools used, except my hands. ;)
I'm hoping someone, somewhere will just have to have these. I know I'm not the only prim crazy girl on the planet! lol You can see more pictures and a better description in my shop.

Hand made beads!

I wanted to share this one with you. I made the beads on this bracelet by hand. Some are fabric, some are paper. They are ultra durable and I think this is one of those items that a lot of people are going to want to know more about. Get ready for a conversation piece. Just listed in my shop.

What's up with that?!?

So strange! There are songs on my play list that I did not put on there. I tried to remove them but when I log in they aren't there. I only see them when I open my blog. So if you see I wanna sex you up, LOL, I most certainly did not put that on my play list. That, along with several others that keep playing!

Aug. Entries Updated

August Gift Certificate Entries

On the last day of each month I draw a name from the pool of customers that have shopped with me.

I'll be doing this on the 30th day of each month throughout the year.

The name I draw will receive a $5 or $10 gift certificate, or free item of their choosing from my shop!

*Only actual purchases count for the drawing. PIFs and trades are not entered to win unless a regular purchase was made at the same time.

*You can see the list of winners on my shop home page under announcements.

Entries for August:
jessiewagoner

VieleraDesign

LisaJean2

nebesocobe

Out with the old...

and in with the new.
We built this extended counter top/table in when we built the house. That was some 10 years ago give or take a year. The BIG problem with it was it made it impossible to bring anything large in to the house. Bringing in the kitchen appliances was almost impossible! Beyond that I was just sick of it!
At one point we had bar stools at it so we could sit there and eat. But if anyone came walking in, the front door would hit your chair. You had to get up and move your chair, wait for them to scrape by and then readjust your seating position. Not the best building idea we ever had! Plus is was never technically finished, as you can see by the oh so fancy leg Chris built on to it. lol

BEFORE

That's DS Caleb under there loosening the screws, getting ready to rip that thing out for good.


AFTER
With the old bar gone there was plenty of room for this little kitchen table and chairs. Yes, my kitchen is small and there is no formal dinning room. We work with what we have though.

Tomorrow we paint the baseboards and repaint the front door. Some day when I am feeling really brave I will tackle those stark white cabinets. Chris doesn't know about this little addition yet. I hope he approves when he gets home again- first of September.

And I forgot to tell you that he really liked the bathroom remodel. He said he was pleasantly surprised because he was expecting it to be really feminine. He said we did a great job on the flooring, loves the lighting fixtures. "It's nice to be able to see when I'm shaving." So all in all it was thumbs up all around. :)

Zen Garden. Zero $$

Look what my DS Caleb made for me! A Zen garden!

He's so thoughtful and sweet. And the best thing...
It didn't cost anything to make (technically), because he used supplies we already had around the house and made the little rake out of toothpicks and sticks. That kid of mine is so creative! :) Just thought I'd share.

This Week @ CVS

Between me and Alex we got just over $100 in product for less than $1 out of pocket.
In fact I had a $6 overage and that's how I came to get the Gain detergent. A pleasant and unexpected surprise. I'm not good at thinking fast on my feet so I just grabbed that and ran back to the register. LOL She scanned that and I still needed another .21 in product so I had my niece grab herself a candy bar.

8 bags Dove chocolate
2 Suave body wash for men
2 CVS Ibuprofin
2 Covergirl TRUblend foundations
2 8ct. packs Extra sugar free gum
1 Gain detergent
1 Gillette Fusion razor pack
1 Advil
1 Alavert bonus pack
1 Colgate toothpaste
1 Lamasil foot spray
1 Lamisilk foot lotion

1 Reese candy bar (not pictured) lol

He's Gone Again

No that's not him giving me a credit card. LOL That's him finding yet ANOTHER motel key card in his pants! He never leaves those at the motel. Drives me batty! LOL

:( Chris packing up his clothes to leave out this morning. Gone again...

But on a funny, this proves that men will NOT shrivel up and die from doing their own laundry. HAHAHA

Hey all you Etsy people!!!

If you buy on Etsy or sell on Etsy here's what I want you to do. Make me laugh. Keep it "G" rated, please! Whoever makes my sides ache the worst from laughter is gettin' the goods. :)

The bag will contain some of my handmade jewelry but other things as well. You'll just have to wait and see. ;)
*You must be a member of Etsy.com to participate in this drawing. When you leave a comment with your joke or funny tale you must also leave your Etsy username so that I can contact you for address information if you are the winner.

I'm taking comments until August 29th and will announce the winner here on August 30th!
Spread some much needed laughter. Enter as many times as you wish. Ready, set, GO!

August Gift Certificate Entries

On the last day of each month I draw a name from the pool of customers that have shopped with me.

I'll be doing this on the 30th day of each month throughout the year.

The name I draw will receive a $5 or $10 gift certificate, or free item of their choosing from my shop!

*Only actual purchases count for the drawing. PIFs and trades are not entered to win unless a regular purchase was made at the same time.

*You can see the list of winners on my shop home page under announcements.

Entries for August:
jessiewagoner

VieleraDesign

My Big Lots find.

I found this shelf set at Big Lots the other day and thought I would show them to you. I think they are really cute and they were only $12.
The bears on the shelves were hand made by a lady on Etsy.

I'm being wife napped!

I'm being wife napped for the night.
Hubby is finally getting to come home. He will be coming right by the house via Virginia on his way to the office in Knoxville. He has to stop in at the office before he can officially come home, (as always.)
So, He is going to pop in, grab me and I'm going to the office with him and we'll grab a room for the night down there.
We haven't seen each other in a month and a half. I think we deserve one night really alone with no kids around. Sounds like a plan to me!
Going to pack a little overnight bag and wait for my wife-napper to arrive. LOL