New year, New Decade

Happy New Year! And Happy New Decade! Who would have thought the past 10 years would have gone by so fast. I wanted to honor the next 10 years of my life starting in 2010 with a recap of what happened since 2000.

2000- I was a sophomore in high school and the only thing I was concerned about was my boyfriend, my friends, and when the next party would be. And getting my learners permit so I could be sooo cool and drive my friends around!

2001-Junior in Highschool, got my licence in January and drove the COOLEST Chevy Beretta around. I started dating Andrew on 5/5/01. Andrew got seriously injured in a baseball accident on July 2nd (my 17th birthday) he was put in the ICU for 5 days due to a ruptured spleen. That's when I knew I was in it for the long haul... i spent the whole week practically by his side.

2002-Senior in High school, graduated in June. We found out earlier in the year that Drew would be attending The Citadel in Charleston, SC. Who knew what our future would hold for us since he was going to be so far away?!?! Drew left for school in August and I returned back to PA to start school at the community college. November 28th, Thanksgiving night, Drew proposed to me. We were inseparable.

2003-Not a year that I remember very well. This was my limbo year. I purchased my 1995 Dodge Neon which I loved dearly.

2004- graduated from CCACC, bought a 2001 Dodge Stratus due to totalling my Neon after hitting a dear on the highway with Drew and his brother in the car, I fractured by sternum and dislocated my thumb... good turnout considering what the poor deer looked like. In August I moved down to Charleston, SC to be closer to Drew. Got my first apartment at WestChase in West Ashley and was scared to death to be on my own. Got a job with Saks 5th Avenue and was loving life! Zoey was adopted in October of 2004 :) My first baby. Went through TWO roommates and finally lived on my own for 4 months.

2005- Moved to Fairfield Drive with my friend at the time Kate. Quit my job at Saks to become a CAR SALESMAN at Rick Hendrick Volvo. Loved it, for a while at least :) December 13th Drew graduated from the Citadel and we married on December 17th. I turned 21 this year also!

2006- Drew got accepted to Colorado State Veterinary School (among MANY others) and we decided to make the move out here to Colorado. I quit my Volvo job and started working for Enterprise Rent A Carin February. I found out I was pregnant in June... I couldn't wait to become a mom (after the initial shock)! We moved out to Colorado in august.

2007- Our beautiful baby girl, Evangeline, was born on February 18th. We celebrated milestones and also had many sleepless nights. Shes amazing none the less.

2008- The Phillies won the world series, and the same night I fould out I was pregnant with our 2nd child. In February we found out we were having a baby boy.

2009-Tradd Mason was born on June 24th. Drew took his National boards on December 8th and spent the remainder of the month completing his ADT in Savanna GA. We should soon find out where the Army will be sending us, and be moving there in June of 2010.

I promise there was more to this, but these were the importants in my life :)

Barn Star Ideas

Today on my lunch break I went over to the Goodwill that is thisclose to my work. Their Christmas items were 75% off! I purchased a gold angel candle holder (which I will be spray painting black and storing for next Christmas) and another ceramic candle holder for $.25 cents EACH. I also got a ceramic Christmas house that holds a tea light in the top and a votive in the bottom for $.75, 3 candle stick for $1.99 each, (it was a big splurge but they are SOLID and will look great painted black), a spice rack for $1.99 (I got drew spices for Christmas... i'll spray paint it black also), TWO Christmas topiaries that are from target that sell for $30 each.. I got them for $4 each!

.... And my favorite steal is a Barn Star... for $3. That's right, in fact it was only $2.99... for... a ..BARN... STAR. New, they cost anywhere from $50-$75! I'm in heaven! I plan on painting it... possibly black (do you see a theme here with my painting? BLACK everything)! Right now it's an ugly gold color... yuck. But I don't know where to put it and the thing is HUGE.

Should I hang it in my living room? Above the mantle? Save it until we move and decide then? Keep it as a Christmas decoration? I just don't know! Help me! When Is aw it I thought "ohhh... I'm going to paint this black, and hang it in my living room!" But then I second guessed myself. Grrrrr

This isn't MY star (mine is much bigger) but this is what it looks like. Any ideas on what to do with it and where to put it?!

The Crafty Mom

Oh how I long to be one of those moms who can look at an old piece of furniture, an imperfect discounted item, or a piece of fabric and just KNOW that I could turn it into something fabulous. I can't.... YET.

My favorite store over the past year has been Hobby Lobby. Haven't heard of Hobby Lobby before? Don't fret... I didn't either until I moved out here to Colorado. It's a craft store like Michael's but 100X better! They have furniture, wall decor, holiday decor, craft items, flowers... you name it, they have it. But the thing I like MOST about Hobby Lobby is their sales. Oh how I LOVE their sales! My first purchase from them was last year when they had their Household decorations on sale. I kid you not, I bought THREE heavy candle holders to go on our new table and two picture frames to go on our new dresser. The cost? Less than $10 for all 5 items. one of the picture frame's glass was cracked... but I put a black and white photo of our wedding in there and it gave it an old feel. One of the candlesticks had a chip out of the bottom, but turned just the right way, you cant even see it. And i saved 95%! The candlesticks alone were ORIGINALLY $19.99-$29.99... I got them for $1.40 each for 2 of them, and the larger one was $2.40! WHAT A STEAL!

My favorite deal from them is a wall clock i found for $5! Originally $49.99! It looks like a long rectangular picture that hangs on the wall, but its actually a functioning clock! I love it!

Right now Hobby lobby has some of their Home goods on sale again for 66% off... there are some AMAZING items there (like these purple shelves I want to get Evangeline) but they are currently $6.50... and I think if i wait just a bit longer, I can get them for cheaper... RIGHT?

OK, anyway, like I said before, I have this dream of becoming a crafty mom who can turn anything into a work of art. If you look at the blogs I am following, I have gotten great ideas from so many talented blogging moms! I cant wait until we move to our PCOS and I get to stay at home... I'll be crafting the day away!