28 October 2011

Weekly Wrap-Up

Considering my history of sporadic blogging gaps I thought a little structure may help me out.   Every Friday I'm going to share something that I've been enjoying, working on, or drooling over with you! 
This week has been Christmas gifts.  We're going to try to give strictly homemade gifts this year.  Of course, I can't share everything we're making, but when I can I will.
First on the list is Madelin.  I'm sure she won't mind we spoil the surprise.  She's good at sharing...kinda.



 My name is Ashley and I have a problem.  It usually present itself when a garage sale sign is present.  I don't know what happens. Something just comes over me and I follow that sign like its a road map to Baskin Robbins (ice cream is also a problem, but that's for another time). 
Typically I don't stop unless it has furniture and is located in an older neighborhood.  (I like my purchases to come with history and baggage.)

Last week on my way home from work (with no time to spare, I might add) I stopped at a garage sale in College Hill.  This is one of those neighborhoods where each tree seems to be perfectly placed, the houses (no two are alike) are scrupulously kept up and it just makes you want to sit on their front porch and watch the children play.
 Well...lets just assume you know the people who's porch you end up sitting on. 
Otherwise, that's a little creepy isn't it.

Back to my story.
I found an old nightstand and a bookcase with doors which I haggled down to $20- for the pair!  The bookcase is real wood, by the way, which is very exciting for those of us who like to paint furniture.
I didn't really need a nightstand, but I've been looking at some DIY play kitchens and for $10 it was worth it.
For example...



 I love the modern color combination paired with the classic lines of the nightstand.  Look at those glass knobs; don't even get me started.  This one is definitely for a girlie girl, or the girl who likes to pretend to cook and never will.


 I like the simplicity of this one because, lets face it, I'm no Ana White.  A little paint, plywood and elbow grease equals a great-looking play kitchen.



This one looks pretty similar to the one I picked up.  I haven't decided if I'm going to take both the drawer faces off or just one.  I know I want an hinged oven door, but I'm not sure if I want to attempt a microwave or just the curtain.
Good thing Christmas is two months away.


 

This is awesome!

Am I too old to play with this too?



This is by far my favorite.  The tile accent and the oven light make it so realistic, plus Madelin loves turning lights on and off.  Two birds with one stone people.


There you have it.  One man's junk really is another one's treasure (or in our case, Christmas present).

27 October 2011

Oops, I dropped the ball...

Like big time.
How long has it been since I've written a post...umm a month (probably longer).
Like I said,
Oops

Honestly, you all haven't missed that much.
What have we been up to?  Hmm, let me think...
We hosted a garage sale, rearranged the furniture (just kidding this doesn't count- I do that at least once a week), and introduced Madelin to pumpkins.  Yea I think that covers it.
Our schedule has been packed, as you can see.
Right...

It turns out garage sales are no joke (pun intended).
I was under the impression that we'd just quickly label our items and have loads of fun haggling with customers.

Not so sally (That's for you Marty).

It's like real work.
In addition to our junk, we had stuff from both parents, the Shaffer's, and two of our friends.  That's too many people to keep track of when you're totaling up someone's tab.  Not to mention setting up and taking down for three days.  After sitting outside all day doing, well, nothing, I've never been so tired in my life.
Thank goodness for grandmas.  I'm not sure what I would have done had Madelin been here all day with us.

All in all, it was a mess success.


Family picture count = 3
That's pretty bad isn't it.


We spent an afternoon at Cox Farms with my brother, his wife, and their adorable son Jadon.  It was a nice (not so crisp at 80 degrees) fall day and we figured we better get a pumpkin before Halloween.  Little did we know these were $8 pumpkins.
Note to self- next year just buy pumpkins and skip the patch.


This was Madelin after we told her how much her pumpkin cost and that she better appreciate it.
Wait, no, this was her, "Get your camera out of my business," look.
Sorry, they look so much alike.


Madelin did gave us a couple good photo ops throughout the day. 
Sadly I didn't get many pictures of the actual farm.  Probably because I was a little disappointed.
You didn't even get to pick your pumpkin off the vine. 
They had already picked them and put them in an open field full of hay bales, scarecrows, and a dead tractor.


  Can you see the attitude this girl has already.  It makes me nervous.  God help us if she's anything like I was when I was a teenager.


So after we "picked" our pumpkins we found the goats.  Oh boy, goats never disappoint.
Let me present you with exhibit A:


Exhibit B:

Madelin. Loves. Goats.


Madelin tried to share her love of goats.

Jadon wasn't that impressed.


As the afternoon wore on, the thumb went in,


and the head went down.

So we took our fancy $8 pumpkins and headed to QT to get some refreshment but we decided we couldn't afford to $5 drinks and funnel cakes (darn it).

That was a good day.
Even though it definitely was no Corn Dawgs.