Pottery Barn

Oh, how I LOVE POTTERY BARN!!!

The only problem is that Tommy loves Pottery Barn, Speed Racer and Ballerina love Pottery Barn too.

It's the highlight of our day when the Pottery Barn catalog comes in the mail.

When I see the Pottery Barn Kids catalog, I know that I am in trouble. It means that I have to listen to a certain little girl say I like that and I want that!!!

Some of their items are easy to make or find at a much cheaper price.

Last week Pottery Barn Kids came in the mail. There are soooo many things to admire in that catalog.

Ballerina pulled up her stool and started looking through the catalog. I kind of held my breath.

All of a sudden I hear "Ohhhh, Mommy I love that princess bed."

What 5 year old wouldn't love this room/bed. What she was talking about was the pink flower canopy.

I know that when I was a little girl I wanted a canopy bed, ok, I'm not going to lie...I still want a canopy bed. However, my sleeping buddy does not want a canopy bed!!! Boo for boys!! LOL

So, her re-action to that canopy bed got me!! I know how I wanted/want a canopy bed.

Price tag for the canopy bed $139. Gulp!!!!!!

I almost choked!!

My head started turning, I could try to make that out of tulle and a hula hoop. Hmmm

 All of a sudden an alarm went off in my head.

I remembered I just saw a pink canopy with beading at an antique store for like $18.00.

So, after I dropped the kids off at school, I headed 1/4 of a mile to my favorite antique place.

I headed to the booth, praying that the pink canopy was still hanging from the ceiling.

There it was hanging from the ceiling. I didn't want to seem too eager. I didn't want someone else to see that I wanted the canopy and reach up and grab it. I tried getting it down myself, but I needed to grow another three inches in order to get it off the hook. I suddenly noticed a mom and her eight year old daughter circling the area. I thought quick and grabbed the tallest person I could find.

The 80 year old lady was so happy to help me!!! I told her it must be nice to be tall and she laughed down at me!!

I had the canopy in my hand. I quickly ran to the register before someone saw the same Pottery Barn catalog I just saw and decided to add another $50 to the price tag. I must have looked like a football player heading to the end zone. LOL!!!

As, I was making my way to the register another vendor approached me saying she had a canopy too. She thought about bringing it in to sell, but she thought no one would buy it.

I told her how Pottery Barn is selling them for $139. She looked at me with price tags in her eyes.

She said "I'll be bringing my canopy in tomorrow." I think I want to go back and see how much she is selling it for.

I ended up getting this canopy for $17.00 because it was 10% off!!

On Saturday morning, when the kids were occupied Tommy went up to Ballerina's room to hang up the pink canopy. It was a surprise for her.

I know it doesn't have the pink flowers and ruffles that the one from Pottery Barn has, but Ballerina is soooo happy with her princess bed. She tells me all the time how much she loves it and thanks me!!

I can always add the pink flowers and ruffles if she starts comparing the two!!

 Mommy is so jealous!!!

At least one of us got her princess bed!! LOL!!

Now, if I can just get a certain coffee table out of my head from Pottery Barn or find it for $20.00.

Re-Arranging

You know my saying

"When the cat is away the mice will play."

Tommy was in Atlanta this week for a meeting.

My parent's came up to keep us company and help me with the kids.

On, Tuesday night I told them I was thinking about making a big change in the family room. I have been thinking about doing this for some time, but I wasn't too sure. My parent's listened to my idea and encouraged to make the change. That's what parents are for right? To encourage their children!!

Anyway, we sat around Wednesday discussing it some more because it would take a bit of work.

I figured I would sleep on it and decide in the morning. I thought about it and decided to go ahead and re-arrange a few things.

Here is my Dad (playing Vannah White). Since, buying this TV a few years ago for Christmas we never had a entertainment center for the TV. I was bothered by that and the fact that you can see ALL the wires. Wires for the TV, computer, Wii, DVD player, DVR, and the computer router. Too many wires.

I had a simple solution without spending any money!!!

I bought down the fireplace from room and placed it here!!!

What do you think?

I really like the change.

The fireplace was slighty covering my heater vent in my room making my room very cold.

So, by moving the fireplace downstairs I resolved two problems.

The fireplace also has some logs that needs a new light. I also need to get some black felt to cover the wires in the back. I can't stand seeing wires!!

My Dad built a little shelf inside the fireplace for all the cable and computer boxes. We also hung the TV on the wall which is something Tommy has wanted to do.

I  just got this new chair!! Nana gave it to me. It was suppose to be my chair over 12 years ago but she really wanted it so I let her have it! LOL!!! Nana got a new reclining chair that helps her get out of her chair.

The more I look at the new arrangement the more I am happy with my decision.

I just need to get new tiles for around the fireplace. The kids also think that Hanukkah Harry has a new way of coming into our house.

I can't wait to hear what the Cat will say!! TEEHEEE

I am linking up with My Romantic Home.

Organizing

I am still organizing.

I decided this year to do one organizational project a day.

The other day I decided to tackle the always messy area...under the kitchen sink.

I don't know why this area is always a mess, but hopefully I have managed to fix the messy problem for good.

Here is the BEFORE:

YIKES!!!

While cleaning under the sink I found four soap bottles only 1/4 way filled. (I guess I am the glass is half full kind of girl).

So, I poured all the soap in a glass jar and now I have soap when I run out in a few days!!!

I hit the dollar store for a few items and Target for another item.

Get ready for the AFTER photo.

Look how nice!!!

Impressive don't you think?

I spent $2.12 at the Dollar Store- I bought the white and blue bucket.

In the white bucket I have some cleaning products and in the blue bucket I have those annoying grocery bags. I need those bags some times!!

At Target I spent $3.79 for the tension rod that my spray bottles are hanging from!!

Grand Total $5.91 for this impressive organizational project!!

Look how nice!!!

I love to be organized!!!

Are you organizing anything special?

First Run

Today was my first run of the New Year.

I plan on running a 5k and a half marathon.

I am so excited because I've had some people want to run with me!!!

Yippy!!!!!

My Aunt Lady Di (Tommy's maternal aunt) will be running the 5k with me in April for the Susan G Komen.

(I love making up knick names for people to protect their identity.)

My brother Gav will be running the half marathon with me in the fall!! (Even though it was New Years Eve and we were happily buzzed and having a great time, I am holding him to it.)

 I dropped the kids off at school and headed to Wal-Mart.

I wanted to get a phone arm band to wear while I am running.

Once I made my purchase I headed over to ESU for my run.

It was very cold!!! My face was freezing but after awhile my face either got use to the coldness or just became numb!!

By the end of the run I was sweating!!

Looking at the field and blue sky I kind of thought it was Spring.

I had on my new kicks Asics!! Nice and comfy.

I put on Pandora 80's Cardio Radio and started running/walking.

I recently downloaded AllSport GPS on my phone.

It tracks everything.

Today the AllSport told me I ran/walked for 17:36 with max speed 5.1 mph.

I have another app that I will try on Friday.

After the run I treated myself to water, clementines, and a hand full of nuts.

I had a lot of energy and felt pretty good!!!

Tomorrow, I will do some light weight training.

That's the update for my first run!!

Have a great night!!

Organization

One of the things I LOVE about the New Year is all the talk about organizing.

I LOVE to organize!!!!

I planning on re-organizing everything in the house. Paying special attention to certain areas.

I headed on over to Pinterst to look for some inspiration and some helpful tips.

Here are some of the things that caught my eye!!

I could totally do this in my office.

I love the organized pantry!! I think I need to head over to IKEA for some of these containers.

I am going to make one of these for Ballerina. She loves to draw and craft and this would be great for her.

I need to organize all of our paper work like this.

Love this little area. Might be something I need to do before this fall.

Cute print-outs to keep organized

Another well organized pantry.

My first project will to be organizing the pantry.

It's Can Can month at Shop Rite and I always stock up on canned goods and other cheap items.

Another organized pantry.

I really like this door for the pantry.

I think that I am truly inspired to work on the pantry.

I think that will be my goal for this week.

Wish me luck.

Happy New Year!!

I wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

This is going to be a great year for us!!

I will make some New Years Resolutions but my main focus (besides my family) this year is to work on my

40 Things to do before I'm 40.

I have less then a year to get my list done.

I have checked off three things and I am in the process of doing two.

I need to get on the ball!!!

But when I make a list I usually do whatever I can to complete it.

Picture Credit


I have really missed blogging this past month. It's something I really enjoy doing so I hope that this year I can blog at least three times a week.

This year as I prepare for my 5k and half marathon I figure it would be a good time to lose weight. Maybe if I share that with everyone I will work harder at losing weight. It's very hard for me!! I know what I need to do and I just need to stay focused on making the right choices!!!

What are your resolutions? Do you make any?

Hello Monday

I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving Weekend.

We had such a nice quiet (well as quiet as it gets with two five year olds).

For Thanksgiving it was just the four of us. We started the day with the Macy's Day Parade.

We went for a 2 mile hike and came home and I made dinner.

The dinner was a little weird. We had no stuffing, mashed potatoes, or string bean casserole.

As I mentioned here before Ballerina LOVES Giada. Several weeks ago she was watching the Giada Thanksgiving episode and decided that we would have a Giada Feast.

I figured since it was the four of us it would be ok to do.

The Menu:

Turkey Breast with Orange Cranberry Sauce

Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

Pumpkin Risotto with Goat Cheese

The dinner was simple and yummy!!!

Tommy said it was the best!!

On Friday we headed down to Bethlehem, PA for an appointment for Speed Racer and then decided to spend the day down in Bethlehem. We walked around the beautiful Moravian town  We also took the kids to a Japanese Hibachi place for lunch. They had a great time watching the chef cook in front of us. The kids were a little freaked out by the fire.

Ballerina was adventurous and had some sushi. I thought she was very brave.

While in Bethlehem we went to a great book store and so many other great little stores.

While there Ballerina came across a stage that was not being used and music playing in the background. Ballerina being as shy as she is (hahaha) decided she would get up and put on a show. Another little girl decided to join her too.

On Saturday we headed to another little town in PA Jim Thorpe. Such a cute little town with trains and many stores.

The weather has been so wonderful here. I can’t believe that it’s November.

We are really trying to get into the holiday mood.

This week we are saying Hello to:

Getting Speed Racer glasses. It turns out he is farsighted and has an astigmatism.

Taking Ballerina to the eye doctor and the possibility of glasses as well. She is both far and near sighted and also has an astigmatism.

Decorating for the holidays.

Getting ready for our new Hanukkah traditions

Little holiday shopping

Planning gifts

Making gifts

Adopting a local senior citizen for the holidays

Dance class

Gymnastics class

Trip down to South Jersey

and of course whatever else comes our way.

Linking Up with Lisa Leonard-Hello Monday.