Your'e gonna be jealous...

...of the deal I got today! Savannah and I hit the town this morning. I had a haircut at 10:00 and then we roamed around town after that. I checked out Steinmart and TJ Maxx and saw some good stuff, but the only thing I felt I needed to buy was a quilt that may go on Savannah's bed in the new house. It's apple green with embroidered polka dots and a scalloped edge- very cute! But that's not my bargain purchase.
One of our last stops was at this thrift store I've only been at once. My girlfriend finds deals there all the time so I decided to check it out. First impression: it's very junky! Most of their stuff is in tents for goodness sake! Like tarps draped over a metal frame kinda tent. There is a little house, too. So after perusing I picked up a patchwork backpack that looks like it's never been used, a Vera Bradley cosmetic bag, a mini Christmas tree with ornaments, a gold frame, an antique table runner (not pictured) and 2 pieces of fabric. One piece is definitely vintage- maybe 1960s and the other is from 1982. How do I know? It still had the original ticket pinned to it!

I was kinda worried that I didn't have enough cash, but that was not a problem. How much do you think I paid? $10? $7? Howabout $5? Nope. Got all that good stuff for only $2! DEAL!

edited to add: I thought I got the deal of the day and then Steve comes in last night from Lowes with 2 Christmas tree stands, regularly priced $17.99 and $11.99, that he got for free! With all these bargains I decided to add a label to the right aptly named, "bargains."

News of the Weird...

three-year old. Yeah, my Savannah is a funny girl.

What's one of her favorite things to play with? A very real looking rubber rat!

We were watching football one night and Savannah asked if it was “Go Tigers” or “Go Gamecocks” playing. I told her it's wasn't either one. It was the Eagles and the Cardinals. The Eagles were Ron's favorite. I asked her which one was her favorite, hoping she'd say Clemson. She said, “Dora.”

What's one thing she doesn't like? Toe lint. Whenever she takes off her socks, she sits and looks in between each of her toes for toe lint.

I was putting her Pjs on her one night and I said, “You're getting so big!” and She said, “Yes, I know. Do you want to know why I'm growing big like you?” Why? “So I can have a knife.”

It's my Brick...House!

Here is the latest on the new house! I took these pics this weekend.

Here's the front of the house- pretty much the same view I already showed you, minus the snow. The vinyl around the dormers and windows is up.

Notice my front yard of nice, thick mud?

The screened in porch on the back of the house and - oh! Can you say "pool party?"
The FROG: This area turned out a lot bigger than originally planned so we added a half bath (on the right). What's that area to the left? Where Steve's projection screen will be, of course.

Our kitchen table will go right where that table saw is. The trim/woodworking guys have really been working lately, but still no cabinets to show you.

Our great room with fireplace (gas logs) and the windows/doors that look out onto the screened in porch.

The coffered ceiling in the great room . Boy, was that a booger to figure out!
Steve's office with a "pseudo" coffered ceiling. It looks out onto the front porch.

Ok- I need some help from my decorating friends...This is a big empty wall in the living room (from the vantage point of standing by the fireplace). What do I put here? It will be a main walkway so I don't want any big furniture. The ceilings are 10 foot so I have a lot of room to work with. Ideas???

That's it for now. At this point, we're still probably not moving in until April. The trim guys have a lot to do and the the painter has just gotten started. Then, of course are the floors.

I'll keep you posted...

Stranger things have happened...

but offhand, I can't think of one. I've seen snow. Twice. This week. Here in the South. Now, it was just a dusting both times, but it still counts.
The first was in the mountains this weekend. We had gone up with my cousin and his family. When we woke up Sunday morning, it was coming down and accumulated a little bit on the porch.
The second time was today. My friend called last night and told me that my school district had already cnaceled school for today. What? I hadn't seen the news. Yep, because they were calling for possibly 1-3 inches. Yeah, go ahead and laugh if you like but a. Trust me: the people around here are not used to it and it will freak them out and cause wrecks so it's just as well we all stay home, and b. I didn't have to go to work today beacause of it. Enough said. Here is Savannah all decked out. No, she isn't a KISS fan. She's trying to catch a snowflake on her tongue.
A sneak-preview of the new house with a light blanket of snow.

I'm not sure what she was doing here. Just excited to be out in it, I think.

Let's just hope that we stay above freezing tonight or we start this all over again tomorrow.

The Big Day

I tried not to get too caught up in the TV today. Yes, it is a big day in American history and I wanted to be witness to it, but I also had a dentist appointment and a snow day! More about that later...
I missed the actual inauguration, but I was really glad I got to see the Obamas and the Bushes walking out on the steps afterwards. I just thought it was a very poignant moment. Two couples standing there, seemingly very different, but both some of the few in history who know/will know what's it's like to be at the helm of the United States. They exchanged waves and pleasantries (not quite like what I envisioned earlier this month) and then the Bushes boarded the plane, eventually bound for Texas. Out with the old and in with the new. Just like that.
While I didn't vote for the guy (yeah, I said it) I do wish him the best of luck. I hope for nothing but good things for him, his family and most of all, our country.
P.S. I see that Obama, like me, is a lefty. As my grandaddy said, "Everyone was born right-handed, but some people learn to over-come it." Overcome, he did.

Monday Musings

It's a holiday so that means no school for me. What have I been up to? I've been commenting like a good SITS girl, catching up with all your blogs.
We also met some friends for lunch at the craziness that is McDonald's on a day when school is out. So many kids all yelling and shoving. We got out in the nick of time! It felt kinda like in that movie where Indiana Jones just rolls under the huge stone door that is a bout to crush him. I know...some of you are asking, "then how do you work with kids?" Easy. When they're "my" school kids I can say, "Hey! You are being too loud," and give rewards to the ones who are being good :)
After that we headed to Kmart where Savannah almost had a meltdown over some girly make-up that was on clearance (at least I'll give her credit for that), but I was not buying that today. Next we headed to Goodwill. Here is what I scored:

Two cute gingerbread men and four melamine (I think that's how you spell it) plates for the grand total of $6. I see both of these having a home in the new kitchen. Speaking of which, I have a house update soon, but not until I can take some pics. Both batteries in both cameras were dead when I was there last time.

I'm also in the market for a blog make-over. Does anyone have any good suggestions for free stuff? I'd also be willing to pay someone for a reasonable fee ($50 is not reasonable). I like what I have, but I just feel like I need to "freshen up."

edited to add: OK. Obviousley I've been screwing around with the look already. What do you think? However, I'm kinda hesitant to ditch the header. It was custom made, but then I am tired of looking at it. I need a cute replacement. Must look into it further...

Atari, iit's not

Hello, out there iin Bloggiieland! Thanks for the well-wiishes! Whiile I am stiill not 100%, I am much better and Savannah is nearly 100%. Thank God, because I couldn't take iit any more iif she had to be on that antibiitic any longer! I think it made her mean!
It's been kiinda busy here siince goiing back to work after the holiidays and then haviing famiily iin town. Steve's mom and step-dad flew iin on Friiday, then we headed straiight to the mountaiins, stayed for one night and then came back home. We haven't done anythiing too exciiting except play the Wii. Yes, all the double "ii"s are in honor of Steve fiinally gettiing the damn thiing. It's fun, but iit iis, afterall, a viideo game - a very expensiive viideo game with lots of expensiive assessoriies.
Last night we bowled, golfed, boxed, played baseball, played tenniis, and diid some cross-bow game. Sadly, after about 9 rounds of boxing, my butt and arms hurt today! How sad iis that?!?

"Duh" TV

Have ya'll heard this story yet?
"Washington, D.C. - The government's digital converter coupon program is out of money, according to a report in "TV Week News."
The article says the government has committed the entire $1.34 billion available already.
Now, people who request the coupon will be put on a waiting list.
The article says increased awareness by the public that the deadline was approaching caused a rush on coupon requests at the end of December.
The government must now get additional funding from Congress or wait until some unused coupons expire before more of the vouchers can be sent."
Now, I don't know about you, but if your coverage has been anything like it has been here, you are sick and tired of hearing about the "big switch" to digital TV. Our local broadcasters with their bleached teeth and caked on make-up have been talking about this for the past year, no less, as if the world would shrivel up and die if you didn't know about the DTV change. The ads have been non-stop. It's been like Y2K all over again, and we know how that went... I suspect, if the government hadn't doled out so much money to the TV stations for said announcements, they'd still have money for the darn converters!!! Anybody else with me?

Blah, boring, yuck!

I hate this time of year. The thrill of Christmas is over. No more parties and get-togethers. The weather stinks. I've seen more fog this week than sun. I don't give a crap about football and that seems to be on TV non-stop. Everyone is sick and Lord knows I am sick of BEING sick. Today it's my congested head and attractive cold sores. Charming, I know. Decision deadlines for the new house seem to be approaching quickly, but oh, wait, it still won't be done until APRIL.
UGH! Somebody wake me up when it's June...

My New Year's "Rockin" Eve

Had an invite to 3 different get-togethers. Had a babysitter for the whole night; Savannah was spending the night with grandma. Had a cute new shirt to wear. Yep, I was excited and looking forward to the evening...until about 4:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. That began onset of vomiting and diarrhea for me. So, needless to say, the only thing "rockin" on New Year's were my insides.
Additionally, Savannah's cold has gotten much worse. She's had fever and her cough sounds like the sea lions at the zoo. She did end up staying at grandma's anyway, so I got a break and Steve went to one of the parties. I didn't care. I couldn't go so why should he be stuck home with me?
It was kinda funny- he called around 6:30 or so to say my brother was stopping by the house to get more beer and a meat thermometer (they were cooking bar-b-que). I was so out of it, I could barely drag myself out of bed and when I did I thought he wanted the rain gage (?). My brother returned to the party and told everyone I looked like death warmed over. Nice.
So, I am better today, but not 100%. Savannah is still struggling. Maybe another day on the meds and some rest will do the trick.
Here's hoping your New Year's was better than mine...that's a no-brainer, right?