12 Days of Christmas/Most Meaningful or Best Gift You Have Received-Day 3

Today's topic for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog party, hosted by Aly and Molly, 

 is to tell about the Most Meaningful or Best Gift we have received.  I actually have two. Most meaningful:Growing up we did not have a lot of money.  My mom and dad were just normal working-class people trying to raise two daughters.  They both worked hard to make sure that we had everything we needed and most of the things that we wanted.  Like most kids in America, when the Cabbage Patch Kids came out my sister and I each wanted one.  I think they were going for $40 or $50 and this was back in the early '80's where $40 or $50 was more like $100.  Being kids, though, we had no clue how much things costs and we just knew that Santa Claus was going to bring us each a Cabbage Patch doll. Now, my mother is a fantastic seamstress.  (She's a good writer, too, click on her link)  She came up with the idea of making us "Cabbage Patch" dolls.  She went to Wal-Mart and bought doll heads that looked like CBK's and then she sewed and stuffed the bodies.  She then made our dolls several outfits each.   Well, on that Christmas morning we were so happy!  We had no idea that our dolls weren't "real".  We actually thought we were lucky because our dolls came with all kinds of different outfits. At the time, this didn't mean a whole lot to either us of us but now that I am a parent and have 3 kids to buy for I can appreciate how much time, effort and money went into those two dolls.  She would work all day long at a regular job and then somehow sneak in making us these dolls at night.  It was definitely a gift of love and it is now so cherished. Best GiftEach year we do Christmas Eve with Scott's family.  This was new to me when I first started dating him because my family has always been together on Christmas Eve.  The great thing about his family, though, is that they have welcomed mine and one particular year my mom and dad were at his sister's house, too.   We had been dating for a couple of years and, of course, I was at the point where I really wanted a ring.  I mean I really wanted a ring.  I knew that it would come at sometime but I was just hoping that sometime wasn't 10 years down the road. Another factor was that I had a son, Kanin, who I had when I first met Scott.  Scott is Kanin's only Daddy and had been since he was 5 months old but we were at the point where Kanin was calling Scott Daddy and I wanted to solidify all of our relationship so that not only would my heart not be broken but Kanin's, either. We were out at Debbie's and had finished eating and opening Christmas presents.  Scott said that he had one more gift to give and it was to me.  He came out with a scrapbook.  I thought that was great because I love scrapbooks.  This scrapbook was filled with all kinds of things:  our 1st trip together, Mother's Day at Busch Stadium with Kanin, Kanin's first Rams game.  On and on just all kinds of memories. I kept flipping the pages and when I got to the last page, there was a blank page and on it read "Will you marry me?" Yes!  It was such the perfect proposal.  It was intimate and sweet but it also included our family.  That was, by far, the best gift I have ever received. 

DIY: Mother-In-Law's Buffet

A year or so ago my sister-in-law, Debbie, moved to a new house and in the process she got rid of a lot of extra furniture.  Scott and I got two pieces, their mother's buffet and the piano.

I have been using the buffet to store dishes, place settings, table cloths, etc., but recently, I decided that I could really use the storage for other things.  I only use the "fancy stuff" one time a year, Thanksgiving, and I could move all of that stuff down to the basement and have a lot of extra room for other miscellaneous stuff.  The buffet, though, just wasn't my style.  It is quite a few years old, the door was broken and one drawer stuck so I decided to redo it.

Before I go on with this let me tell you that I am not a a crafter, DIY'er or anything close!  The only thing I can claim to be is a HGTV watcher and I have seen shows where they refurbish plenty of things so I figured it couldn't be hard, right?

BEFORE:

Notice the broken door.

The one thing that I knew for sure that I did not want to do was to sand it down and stain it.  I knew that I wanted to paint it but I wasn't sure if I could just do a spray on Krylon paint or if I should prime it and then paint it.  I decided to prime it first. 

Before priming, I took off the hardware and used a wood filler to fill in the holes.  While using the wood filler, it didn't seem like it was "working right" but I have never used it before and I didn't know.  After the filler dried, I sanded it down.  I primed all of the pieces two times.

Next, came the paint.  I decided on a semi-gloss black.  Everything took two coats with a little extra touch up here and there.

Here is where the problems started mounting.  After all pieces were painted, I headed off to find some new hardware.  If you look back in the original pics, I just couldn't stand that look so I knew that I wanted stainless steel pulls and handles.  After using the wood filler and sanding it down, I could still see the holes from the original hardware but I couldn't get them to fill up.  I don't know if I didn't do something right or what.  I, personally, didn't care because I knew that no matter if you could see the holes through the paint or not, it still looked better than it did before. 

It was at this time that I realized that I was way over my head.  I am full of creative ideas but I do not have the knowledge to follow through on them.  I have never used a power drill before today. 

When I got to the store, though, I started doubting myself.  I had really put a lot of effort into the buffet already and I didn't want to mess it up so I decided to go with handles where there were handles before and pulls where there were pulls. 

Now, remember how I said this piece was old.  I couldn't find any handles that where the holes were exactly the same length apart as the old ones.  I decided to get as close as possible to the original ones because if I would have gotten 5" or 6" pulls then you would definitely be able to see the former holes.

I got home and measured where to drill the holes and this is where the trouble began.  The new holes were literally within millimeters of the old holes so whenever I would try to drill the bit would slip over to the path of least resistance.  No matter how hard I tried to drill down straight, it happened every time.  So, now, I didn't have two holes but 4. 

This is where the meltdown began.  I don't mean getting upset.  I mean full on crying, ugly face upset.  This was Scott's mom's furniture and I didn't want to mess it up to where it had to be thrown away.  I would have been heart-broken.  Plus, I really wanted this to be a piece that I would keep for a long, long time since it was hers. 

After I came to terms with the fact that I would have to fill in some extra holes, I went on to put on the pulls for the three doors down below and I didn't buy any.  Are you kidding me?  I had texted Scott to ask him how many handles I needed and he told me 7 but we both didn't even think about needing pulls for the 3 doors.  I just figured that I would get the doors back on, replace the magnets and then go out tonight and buy the pulls.

On to the hinges . . . I bought hinges this morning along with the handles and magnets.  When I went to put the hinges on, they wouldn't fit.  Don't ask me what this means but, apparently, the old hinges were kind of like two "backs" put together that allowed the doors to open.  The six that I bought this morning would not let the door open.  Ok

It was getting close to time for me to pick up Kanin so I thought I would just run back to Home Depot and exchange the hinges, buy the pulls and buy some new black puddy to fill in the new holes.  I drove all of the way to Home Depot and realized that I had forgotten my wallet.  I didn't think they would exchange anything without an i.d. and a lot of the times stores will just credit back the card that you used to purchase.  

Back home to get my wallet and then on to pick up Kanin.  I took Kanin with me to pick up the stuff and realized that there were NO hinges like what I needed.  By this time I had been working on this buffet for almost 3 full days.  I was very frustrated and overwhelmed.  I just decided to grab some spray paint and spray them black. 

Finally, after a very, very long and stressful day.  The buffet is finished.  It is beautiful and I love it.

I hope she would have been proud of me.

I forgot to the put the costs down:

1 can of Valspar primer $20.98

1 can of Valspar semi-gloss paint $24.47

2 3" brushes $2.72

1 1" brush $3.79

1 can of spray paint $5.19

3 knobs $8.91

Puddy $2.97

3 Magnet catches $2.94

7 handles $20.93

GRAND TOTAL:  $92.90

One Breath

The following email was sent to me by a childhood friend.  I am not sending this out to pass judgement but as a favor to my friend.  If you like it, please feel free to copy and re-blog or to send it out to your email contacts.

ONE BREATH

What is it worth to you??

This is a letter/message about the recent passing of my father. My father, thru his 76 years of life here on earth, has fought many battles and won. However on Tuesday, November 16th he lost his battle with lung cancer. My father had been a smoker all of his adult life, surviving lung cancer in his 50's with part of a lung removed, only to continue smoking and be diagnosed with advanced stages of lung cancer about 3 weeks ago. It took only 3 weeks for the cancer to spread throughout his body and take him from us. I received the call early Tuesday morning that things were looking really bad and that I need to make the 2 1/2 hour journey from St Louis down to Cape Girardeau where he was in the hospital. During the drive I kept making calls checking on his progress only to learn that the whole family was there saying their goodbyes and that he was holding on to see me but was fading fast. He had made his wishes clear not to be on a respirator but to let him go when his body quit. He was kept on heavy oxygen to keep him alive unitil I could get there. The drive seemed to take several hours but now I can't remember any of it. When we arrived at the hospital I ran the length of the hallway to the end where his room was. I entered the room and ran to his side to hold his hand, the oxygen mask was removed, he took one breath and passed. He was waiting for all his children to be together one last time. What does one breath mean to me? Everything. Everything knowing that he fought to stay alive thru pain and suffering to give me one last breath. When he was admitted 3 weeks ago he was no longer allowed to smoke. I know in my heart that 3 weeks gave him the strenght to give me that one last breath. I am writing this letter not only to inform friends and loved ones of his passing but also as a message from a child of a smoker, a silent sufferer. I love my father dearly but have always wondered why he choose to smoke, after marriage, after his children and even grandchildren were born. You see when a smoker becomes ill, hospitalized, there is always someone there by their side to care for them. A spouse, child, or perhaps a grandchild. Some one to hold their hand, ease the pain and help them on their journey to the other side. That was my mother, who lived at the hospital for the last 3 weeks. We all have addictions of some sort, smoking, drinking, drugs, overeating. But none so greatly and directly affect loved ones as smoking. From the secondhand smoke they breath, the smell in their clothes, hair and furniture to the commitment they must make when that time comes. The time when they must be the handholder, the usher thru the journey to the other side. And not once are the sufferers asked do you mind if your hair smells, if you go to school smelling like smoke, or will you be there,my hand holder. My father was laid to rest in a Veterans Cemetery, given full military honors including an usher by the Patriot Guard, a twelve gun salute and a medal of honor. All of which he deserved and so much more. At the gathering after the services several family members smoked as they stood in mourning. As I watched I wondered what is one breath worth to them? I hope that everyone this letters reaches will read and ponder what is one breath worth. I am asking that you forward this on and that those receivers continue to forward it. Even if just one person who reads this is moved, motivated to quit smoking it will have all been worth it. My father's last breath will continue on.

Kaylynn Rampley

mahelamama@yahoo.com

Top 2 Tuesday . . . Wish List

So I have found, yet again, another blog party.  I just saw it this morning but apparently every Tuesday the host, the Undomestic Momma, puts a Top 2 topic out.  This week the topic is Top 2 Tuesday Wish List for Christmas

#1 I am on a roll and trying to decorate my house.  So, a substantial gift card to any of the following would be fantastic:

#2 I would also really like to have:

Maybe not this particular one but just a new knife block set.  Mine is a few years old and I'm in need!

I know this is a pretty boring list but I feel that I've been blessed.  There isn't a whole lot more that I want or need.

12 Days of Christmas/Christmas Holiday Traditions-Day 2

Today's topic for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge hosted by Aly & Molly

Day 2 of the challenge is Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

To be honest, I don't know how much I can add to this topic.  Occasionally, I do go shopping on Black Friday but I'm not one of those people who go out at midnight nor am I waiting outside of a store waiting for it to open.  I like my sleep too much!

I don't have any specific stores that I go to on Black Friday.  If I do plan on going out, I try to find out what the sales are earlier in the week and plan accordingly.

For general shopping, though, my new "trick" is to shop online and to go straight to the Clearance or Sale section on the store's website.  This year I have two nieces who are in 5th grade.  I decided to get them two shirts each.  I know that Abercrombie is really big within that age group so I went out to the Abercrombie site and to the Clearance section.  I was able to get 4 shirts, deliver and with taxes, for under $63.  I thought that was a great deal!  I know the girls will love the shirts, they are more useful than a toy and I was able to save money.  I also shop the Clearance and Sale sections of Gymboree, Children's Place and Baby and Children's Gap.  I already have tons of summer clothes for the kids next year and paid 1/4 of their original price.

Lately, I have signed up for a lot of online coupon sites.  Some of them such as Groupon are available throughout the country while others are local.  Sweet Pennies from Heaven, STL Mommy, and Clippin' with Carrie are a few.  Last week I received an update from Sweet Pennies from Heaven about a Woody dress up kit at Target for 50% off plus free shipping.  I got it for my great-nephew for $7.99 delivered.

That is about it for my shopping tips.  I try to use coupons when possible and for groceries I make shopping lists instead of just showing up with no plan.  I buy a lot of canned goods and snacks at Wal-Mart but save the deli meat for Schnuck's so that I can get Boar's Head. 

For all of you crazy shoppers out there, have fun!

DIY: Downstairs Bathroom

When we moved in to the house in December 2008, the downstairs bathroom had carpet in it.  I don't know why anyone would think it is ok to put carpet in a bathroom but apparently that used to be a trend.  Anyway, the toilet flooded one day and the carpet got soaked.  Scott ripped it up immediately and then . . . we walked on sub-flooring for a year!  Yes, I know.  A year! 

In his defense, he did ask me several times about putting tile down in the bathroom but we also want to tile the kitchen and the laundry room and I would like for them all to be done in the same tile.  It would totally be my luck to tile the bathroom and then not be able to find the same pattern for the other rooms.

We are having Thanksgiving at our house again this year and I could not stand the thought of the entire family coming over and still having no flooring down in the bathroom.  Plus, and this is where it just gets gross, Gracie has potty-trained all summer and if you have ever potty-trained a little person you know that they don't always make it to the toilet on time.  Get the picture???

So, we decided that this is the weekend to fix the bathroom.  Staying true to my fear of not being able to use the same tile, I told Scott to just lay down the stick and peel tiles.  

BEFORE

Of course, Gaga couldn't do the job by himself.  His boys had to "help" him.

And, of course, every helper needs to walk around with a chicken nugget in his mouth.

As with any DIY project, we expected some mishaps.  Caleb got into the chalk and it was red.  There was little red feet all over the kitchen.

The Finished Project

I love it!  I still want to put down a tile but I think it turned out really well.  The final cost was under $50.  It took 2 boxes of the tiles ($17.75/box) and then the carpet strip was under $6.00. 

As a side note, see that star on my wall?  I got that at the consignment shop for $8.  It has been sitting on my chair for at least 3 months because I couldn't figure out what to do with it.  Perfect place for it!

12 Days of Christmas/Christmas Holiday Traditions-Day 1

Over the past couple of days, I have been reading blogs that have different "blog parties".  I have never heard of them before but I participated in one the other day, click here, and it introduced me to a whole new group of blogs.

This morning I received a blog from my friend, Holly, about different family Christmas traditions.  This link party is being hosted by The Fushcia News. 

Here are the days:

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions
Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks
Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season
Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special
Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)
Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)
Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays
Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe
Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles
Day 11: New Year Resolutions
Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outside)
Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe
Day 14: Oprah's Favorite Things: What item(s) would you want if you were in the audience?

Our Christmas holiday tradition begins on Thanksgiving night with the reading of The Elf on the Shelf.  Our elf's name is Chuckie.  He starts arriving the day after Thanksgiving and appears every morning until Christmas morning.

When I was growing up we always opened up our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve and then got up early to go to my Grandma Hendrix's house for a day of family.  As we got older, things changed.  My sister's husband's family did their Christmas on Christmas Eve and then my husband's family did his Christmas on Christmas Eve.  With all of the confusion and frustration, my mom decided a couple of years ago that her Christmas would always be the Sunday before Christmas day.  We've done it for the past 2-3 years and it has worked out great because it makes Christmas last longer than just one day.

My mom's Christmas is very chaotic.  There are 5 kids and 6 adults at her house.  It is usually pretty loud and we destroy the place.  We don't have a formal meal but just plenty of appetizers, sandwiches, and usually a meat tray.

Here are the kids from last 2009.  My niece, Alison, is holding Caleb.  Then my nephew Aidan, GracieAnn then Kanin.

On Christmas Eve we get dressed up and go to church and then to my sister-in-law, Debbie's, house.  Christmas outfits are a big deal around here and I search long and hard to find matching ones.  We used to go out to Debbie's house around 5:00 and eat, do presents and then go to church.  Last year, though, Debbie and her husband, David, moved to a new house in the city and started attending a new church.  We decided to try out early church and it was perfect!  We are going to do it again this year.  Church around 4:00 then over to Deb and Dave's to eat and open presents.  Then, home to do Santa.  The last couple of years Santa and Mrs. Claus have been getting in bed around 3:00am and were so tired the next day.

In Scott's family, it is a tradition for each individual family to take a picture in front of the Christmas tree.  Then, we take one big huge picture with everyone in it.

We buy gifts for all kids under the age of 18 or who are still in school.  Up until last year, the adults drew names and we bought gifts for that person.  This year, though, there are so many of us spread out.  One nephew is in Afghanistan.  Another nephew will be here this year but is normally in San Dieg (last year he was in Iraq).  A niece lives in Chicago and her mom and step-dad go up to do Christmas with them.  Another niece has to split time between our Christmas and her husband's Christmas.  It was just so chaotic.  We decided that this year if you are going to be at Deb and Dave's house then just bring a $15-$20 gift card and we will do a drawing for those.  This way if any extra friends, boyfriends, etc decide to tag along, they can participate, too.

  

 Here is our picture from 2009. 

After having Christmas Eve with the Westerhold's, it is back to our house to put the kids to bed and to do Santa Claus.  This is always such a fun time for the two of us.

Here is our tree from last 2009

Christmas morning is sweet.  The kids don't really know what to think when they walk in and see all of the toys under the tree. 


After opening gifts at home, we get dressed and head to the Ameristar Casino for the Christmas brunch.  The Ameristar has a great brunch every Sunday but their Christmas brunch is over the top.  We started this a few years ago because I did not want to cook on Christmas!  It is an open invitation to the whole family and we usually meet around noon.  We usually are so stuffed from this one meal that it ends up being a fend for yourself kind of dinner later on that night.

After brunch, we go back home and play with our toys, watch football, take naps and just enjoy being together!