Fun post for the afternoon…sweet Laura over at Shorehouse Chic gave me my first official blog tag. I’m so completely honored.

Where were you 10 years ago? Ten years ago I was the ripe old age of 18, freshly graduated from high school and excited about beginning college life in my neighboring state of Texas. I honestly had no idea what I intended on studying in college, and because I didn’t want to feel like a doofus when all of the graduates were announcing at church their large aspirations and dreams for their future, I exclaimed to the congregation that I intended on majoring in finding a husband. (If you don’t have a clue, at least make ‘em laugh, right?) Turns out I did indeed nab the Mrs. Degree, and I couldn’t of made a wiser decision.

Five items on your to do list today? Today has been a very low-key, less is more day. I’ve been badly in need of a break so no must-do’s for me! But I have swept through the house, tidying up a bit and doing laundry…changing diapers and entertaining boys…and I wrapped up reading Anne of the Islands during naptime. *Thank You Naptime*

Snacks I enjoy: Carbs, drat it all. I just finished munching on some Mrs. Dunster’s sugared nuggets. Mmmm. And coffee. Love coffee. Soft serve ice cream also… and pretty much anything with chocolate.

What would you do if you were a billionaire? I would truly give loads of it away. LOADS. I’m a billionaire, right? I would pay off mortgages and college loans of friends and family; help people get out from under debt. Donate huge chunks to my church. And here comes the selfish part (oh yes). I would uproot my family and move us closer to the Maine Coast, and reside on a little lake within an incredibly short drive to the ocean. In my Craftsman Style Bungalow. Not too large, but roomy enough to entertain a constant stream of guests. I would have a housekeeper only a day or two a week-I do actually enjoy cleaning from time to time, but I would let said housekeeper handle the hardcore stuff (bathroom, especially). I’d have a chef on-call for the times I was utterly too tired to cook, who would begin by preparing a flaky Parmesan white fish, grilled corn on the cob, a green salad loaded with goodies like candied pecans, feta cheese, fruits and veggies, and peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert. (Doesn’t that sound delicious? If only I had the funds and the energy, we’d eat well tonight!) I’d have regular massage appointments, manicures and pedicures. I think as the only girl in the midst of boys I’m entitled. I’d open up store fronts all through the state; coffee shops, art galleries, gift shops, but I’d definitely be the overseer/decision maker (what to sell, how to set up displays) and I’d hire locals to do EVERYTHING else. Oh goodness. This dreamin’ could go on forever!

Places I would live: Maine, hands down. But wintering, say, February through April in the lower Carolinas would be dreamy, too.

Ok, I have to start supper and have no time to tag or post links.  However, I’d love to know more about my bloggy friends! Answer away!

For the past 3 years, we have had 2 fuzzy stations. CBS and PBS. For a good while there, I would tune into the Early Show during breakfast, maybe catch Oprah, and then watch the evening news. But for the past few months, I’ve completely tuned out.

And it feels so good. So freeing! I’m not inherently against tv…to be completely honest, if I could only have HGTV, I might never tear myself away. Whenever we spend the night in a hotel, I’m GLUED to that station. But it feels so good not to be tied to sitting in front of the tube. I love curling up in bed with a good book instead of staying up late to catch a show. I relish putting my creative energies to good use instead of zoning out in front of a sitcom.

The really big plus of the whole thing? I’m absolutely not semi-depressed a little bit of each day anymore. Although gas prices are ridiculous, for some reason I’m not as bothered as I would be if I were watching all of the reports on tv about the price situation. I’m blissfully ignorant of the sensationalism on every subject going on out there. I like that. AND I don’t have to deal with all of the political runaround that is thrown your way at every turn. That’s a BIG advantage.

Anyone else out there ever felt like tuning out? If not, you should try it!

I walk, therefore I swish. Because this belly is full of coffee! All on account of the fact that the boys decided to wake their momma up before the clock had struck 5am. And that requires multiple cups of caffeine for this lady.

I am going to finally reveal to you the projects I have been spending my spare (ha!) time on lately; I’m really enjoying them! I’m plumb out of the white fabric, so I can go no further until a re-order. Here they are, in no particular order:

I’m going to upload them to Etsy soon…only so many things you can accomplish in a day!

Ok, ya’ll.

I am a paypal user, but just switched to RME, and hope to give most of my business to these guys…because frankly, it’s free.

If you have ever sold anything using paypal, you know all about the fees you incur (they aren’t outrageous, I’ll give them that). But I’d rather deal with no fees at all. Through my interior design etsy team, I learned about Revolution Money Exchange, and I’m noticing quite a few more etsyians are signing up for it…and I’m ready to jump on the bandwagon!

Here’s the cool thing. I just signed up about 5 minutes ago, and they gave me an automatic $25 bucks. And if YOU click on the little green button in my sidebar, and proceed to sign up yourself, it will not only give you the $25 bucks, but it will give me $10 as well. I have no shame. I’m buying a house. My stomach is in KNOTS about the price. And an extra ten bucks here or there could come in verrrry, verrrry handy. And so while I’m sounding like a cheesy promoter, you know, that’s ok. I am laying down my pride. Only thing is you have to sign up by May 15th in order to receive the sign-up bonus. Just so you know.

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We hopped over to Home Depot tonight to get estimates to give to the lenders to get our money in escrow, yada yada. My brain is such mush! I should really be in bed! So here I go.

Goodnight!

Ok, ya’ll…take a look at this stationary and tell me you don’t love it. Just uploaded to Etsy, by the brilliant owner of Maddox and Klaus. I’d of posted more pictures, but I’m experience sizing difficulties that are about to make me nuts. She has plenty more to offer!

This morning I sat Jack down at the table with a bowl of Grape-nuts, then commenced to wander to the kitchen and talk to my mom. Jack was still in my sight, but I obviously wasn’t paying him any attention, because after a few minutes I turned around and there were Grape-nuts EVERYWHERE. Yards away, mind you. On the table, under the table, by the stairs, stuck to his hiney, down his pajamas, further than it seemed they could have possibly been flung. This child will end up a world-class baseball pitcher someday, and I’ll be the proud momma claiming “It all started with the Grape-nut incident…”

OK! Happy Post today. It’s Friday (good thing), mom and dad discovered a humdinger of a sale at Home Depot yesterday (they are moving buildings…good timing for our move, I’d say), and I’m just not stressed about the whole housing/loan thing. Whatever will happen, will happen. And certainly there is some misunderstanding in the fact that we would actually have to remove boxes from the basement before the loan is approved. And if that is the case, certainly the rest of it is a misunderstanding, also. Hopefully we’ll receive a final word today.

Well, time to play with my boys. I might get the urge to post again today-I usually do! But if not, TGIF! Have a wonderful weekend!

My oldest is the KING of sigh-ers. His sigh’s seem to completely deflate his whole body. He’s quite dramatic in the sigh arena.

I feel like I could outdo him today!

I had put away 100 dollars for our New Mexico trip, then forgot to take it…so I dug into other funds, and this morning when I went to replace the dug-into funds, I seem to have lost the original 100 dollars. It just flat out up and walked away.

Also, we received the appraisal on the house we are under contract with, and other than cosmetic changes, it states “No adverse conditions or necessary repairs were noted at the time of inspection. The subject does not appear to have any physical deficiencies that affect the livability, soundness or structural integrity of the home.” Great, right? We thought so! Especially since Maine State Housing is so strict on their housing standards when it comes to safety, and because this is a foreclosure, the bank won’t make changes.

Well, we received word that we might actually have to make the cosmetic changes before the loan is approved. What?! I know! Replace the carpet, add light fixtures, get rid of the boxes in the basement that the owners left behind, add and paint drywall. All before the loan is approved. Which means we could make the changes, and the loan could still, for some reason or another, fall through…and we would be out all of the money we put into it. OH, but then our realtor said that the bank might not even let us make those changes for liability reasons. So if ya’ll could send a prayer or two our way, that the incredibly generous underwriters for our loan would change their mind about all of these pre-cosmetic changes, we’d certainly appreciate it.

Sigh.

All in all, you know, something will work out. I’m just ready for an answer one way or another.

And sorry for shocking so many of you with the new blog format! I was incredibly tired of the drab, dark gray background of my last one, and wanted something springy and fresh. I’m not quite finished with it, but getting closer. I spent all day yesterday working on the new blog header and a new header for my etsy store. Honestly, I don’t have so much of a problem making up my mind…I just tire of things rather easily. Makes life interesting.

Please excuse the construction mess.  I’m in the midst of trying to change themes. Oh, and banging my head against the wall because it is just NOT my day to work with changing themes…but what can you do?

Tuesday, mom and I took the boys to the Play Place at McDonalds.  It was the second time ever, the first being over a year ago when Ry was too small to fully take advantage.

The boys loved it; they went nuts.  Climbing and sliding and interacting with other kids-it was great!

Wednesday morning they woke up sick.  BOO!  I’m positive they picked up something at the Play Place.  I’m so irked.  Last night my throat developed a tickle.  All in all, you know, you get sick and get over it, but I’m fully annoyed because we are leaving for NM in one week.  Last round of sickness lasted fully 2 weeks, and even if we get better before we go, it’s no fun feeling poorly during all of the preparations.

Prayers would be positively coveted!

In other news, it appears that we are under contract with the house.  :)  Closing date is May 14th…nothing is a done deal until the end, but we hope this pans out.  We are going through a First Time Home Buyers program (lower interest rate), but the state has incredibly strict standards when it comes to the house you can get into.  There might be a minor issue or two with this house that could stand in the way, but we hope not.  This picture is obviously not very good (when are realtor pictures ever very good?) but it gives you an idea.  While not my dream home (which is a craftsman style bungalow, on a lake, near the ocean) it’s not too shabby for a first place.  There is potential.

When Erick and I went to check it out the first couple of times, we hilariously disappeared up to our thighs in snow multiple times.  Great fun!

Happy Friday, everyone!

After years of making coffee, we actually read the warnings on the coffee pot today.  Friends, Do Not Hold the coffee pot Over People.

Just so you know.