Angry Birds Gone Bad

Does this ever happen to you?  You’re walking through the aisles of a cute little shop and suddenly you look over, and the thing staring back at you and it makes you wonder “what the hell was the creator thinking?!”.

 

Here is how this went down in my head.

“Oh look at the cute little tree.  Oh and those stockings and that ornaments and… WTF???!”

Bird 1: WTF are you looking at?

Bird 2: I’m looking at that stupid hat you got on mofo.

And then I was all like “Chicken down!” and then..

Bird 3 said: Well you can all kiss my ass!

And that’s exactly how it went down…

Seriously do these look like sweet little Christmas birds or when angry birds attack?

 

~Sommer

A Rooster

It’s amazing the things I’ve learned out blogging.  It’s not just the technical stuff like how to add buttons and signatures.  But how to express myself to an audience that I can’t see.  And then once you get comfortable with writing it’s about learning to take photo’s that draw people in and tell your story.  And then adding guests and developing relationships with other bloggers.  And today it’s about what to share when I have so many unfinished projects so that I don’t keep loosing followers lol. 

I often have lot’s to say but not enough photo’s to express it.  And I so then I post nothing at all because I don’t want to disappoint my readers with a bunch of my ramblings.  But then I find that people loose interest because I don’t post enough.  So I find myself at a loss sometimes. 

I’m finding myself in the middle of seasons right now. Trying to prepare myself for a house full of guests for Thanksgiving and getting ready for my daughters birthday this weekend which we’ve hired a magician for.  We have seen him before and he’s excellent.  So that will be tons of fun.  I’m also out scouting for Christmas décor since I have all this new space to decorate for our first Christmas in this house.  And then in between I’m doing the normal cleaning and running children to and fro and couponing and my weekly babysitting for my fun money etc.

I’ve been working on moving all my paints from the garage to the basement since it’s freezing at night now.  Getting the basement organized so I can work down there during the winter.  Painting a new dresser, a couple actually.  I also met our newest neighbors across the street last weekend.  They are so nice.  Younger grandparents but her and I like were like peas and carrots.  She also has tons of really neat pieces she is getting rid of!  And while showing me around the basement I spotted a framed print I really liked and she sent me home with it.  Like I said, super nice people. 

So without further delay and boring you senseless with my banter here is my  rooster =)

 

I wish I had more for you but alas… this is my crazy life where some days are nothing but a rooster.  I think I should name him.  But what?

 

~Sommer

Change Can Be Good

After a long summer and a very neglected blog I’m back!  I just missed you all so much and was so totally gracious to see that even though I was tied up with three children to a buoy in the pool all summer a few new followers still joined the Designer Garden bandwagon!  Thanks to you all and welcome!

The good the bad and the ugly is that the kids start school again next week. Hooray!  But my youngest starts kindergarten.  My last baby grew up this summer and is leaving the nest two and a half days a week.   It’s bittersweet really. 

Because I Give A Stick

I’m not really sure how I survived last summer.  But I know this summer I have had to make some changes and institute some structure.  I just showed you how I made our summer activity and chore schedules.  We’ve instituted some ground rules and along with rules come consequences.  So we have created the almighty complaint jar.  And we have filled it with these wonderful little chore sticks.  I found this awesome idea from Homebody Holly who found it originally from Family Fun.

The rules this summer are:

• Morning chores done by 9am
• No fighting
• No complaining
• No TV or other screen time before noon.  This includes video games.

If a child breaks one of these rules they have to pull a chore stick.  If two or three children are fighting they will jointly pull a chore stick and work on that chore until they can be civilized once again.

Here’s how it works.  You clean out any old little soup can…  This is just a glimpse of my stash.  I use these puppies for all kinds of things.

Do What You Love

Because it's not just about you and someday you'll inspire someone.  I gave away the slip covered sofa.  Please don't cry for me Argentina.  As I settled into this house I found that it just wasn't right for this new space.  And it found itself a wonderful new home!  It's story time folks.

The doorbell rang and a woman with the sweetest smile was standing there with her family.  She was very excited about the sofa with the slip cover.  She asks "Did you make this out of canvas drop cloths?" and instantly I knew she read our blogs!  She asked also if I was a blogger.  Said my home looked like a blogger home and she kindly threw more compliments at me. 

I closed the night telling Mr Garden what great family came to take the sofa.  It was the best experience I have had to date with giving something away. 

Until last night.  When I received this email from her.  And I hope she doesn't mind my posting it since I've given her my blog address now heehee.

"Hi Sommer.


Have you ever had one of those "divine" moments where something happened that was eerily meant to be?? I'm also a blog stalker - I spend an inordinate amount of time surfing. I can't imagine how productive I would be without the internet - like laundry would be done, dinner would be on the table, etc. But for as much time as I spend drooling over what other people have done with so little, for whatever reason I can't seem to muster the courage to do any of the cool things I see. Perhaps it's more to do with my limited finances in conjunction with my frugal ways - I'm afraid to mess up and waste money I guess.

Anyway, walking into your house was like walking into a damn Ballard Designs catalog. To see in person some of the things I see in blogland and in that catalog was inspirational to say the least... Thank goodness you have a blog, because I may have done something I would never in a million years consider like invite myself back for a tour :)

Two greasy straps and a windy drive along C-470 back to Golden has officially turned me into a slip cover convert. Those covers washed so nicely that I'm completely determined to figure out how to do that! I have another sofa that I would like to cover - is there anything you would do differently with respect to cutting, sewing, etc.???

Thanks for the sofa but really, THANK YOU for the inspiration!!!!!!

Congrats on your new home, enjoy those precious kids and if you're ever on the West end of town holler -

Amy"

She even writes like a blogger don't you think?  I think I see one in her near future :)

Let me just tell you I sat there re-reading the email over and over.  Clearly I was in shock that another person could think of me and my home this way.  I didn't even know how to respond at first.

And then it dawned on me... THIS is why I started blogging in the first place!  I wanted to inspire people.  I wanted to encourage people to make their homes and lives beautiful without going to the poor house.  I wanted to teach them how to be even happier living within their means or on a tight budget. 

I have learned that what we do in life doesn’t just affect us. It affects those around us and if I can inspire just one person to be able to do what they love and wake up each morning feeling the way I do about my job and my life and my home, then I’ve really accomplished something great!

I've learned so much from my other wonderful friends in blogland and am ever so grateful for each and every post that you all take the time to write.  Every stroke of the brush that puts paint on a piece of furniture and dab of hot glue has inspired me and now my time has come to pay it forward.  So thank you.

~Sommer

Gobble Gobble Gobble

 Stopping in to wish you all a happy Thanksgiving! I will be cooking, cleaning and crafting as usual. I'm so excited to put up the tree and lights tomorrow I can hardly stand it. For the meantime I'm going to relax a little, enjoy my family, drink some wine, play some cards and put on another 5lbs!

Cheers!

Tips for Selling Items on Craigs list

I couldn't resist posting this for you all today.  I often need a good laugh and one of the best places I've found to find one is in the "Best Of Craigs List" section.  I needed a good laugh today because as some of you know I have been taking Chantix to quit smoking.  Today is my third full day without a cigarette.  Though I feel great physically, my sinuses are clearer, food tastes better, breathing better, coughing less... the Chantix is taking it's toll.  It's doing strange things to my body.  If I could only elaborate on some of the crazy dreams I've been having!  I am extremely irritable, moody, snappy... an over all bitch.  It's like invasion of the body snatchers, I mean this is so unlike me to want to rip my skin off and throw it at people!  Okay so you get the idea.

I came across this add and couldn't stop laughing.  Not only because the person who worded it so perfectly was funny but because it's so true!

Hey sellers - take some advice before posting




I've spent the better part of 3 months searching craigslist, looking for furniture for my apartment. I've bought nearly everything I need for my apartment from craigslist, but it hasn't been easy. Why? Because most sellers repeat these same mistakes when listing their items. Take a moment to read this before you list, and I'm certain you'll get better results.


1. INCLUDE PICTURES. Take the extra 10 minutes to include some photos of your stuff. A photo makes all the difference! You can try to describe your "brown couch with lovely accent pattern" but a photo will tell me exactly what your couch looks like.

2. INCLUDE DIMENSIONS. Take 3 minutes and measure your stuff. I can't tell you how many "large tables" I looked at that were no bigger than 30" in diameter. And I can't tell you how many people thought I was crazy for asking for measurements before I came to look at something of theirs. Hey - if it won't fit in my dining room, I don't care how beautiful it is.

3. PRICE YOUR ITEMS APPROPRIATELY. This may be the most important tip I can offer. You may have paid $1500 for a couch 5 years ago, and it's probably a lovely piece of furniture. But, you sat on it for five years, your kids sat on it, your Uncle Troy with the flatulence issues sat on it twice a year for five years. Therefore, it's not worth $750, or $500, or probably even $300... and that's why your expensive couch sits on craigslist for weeks and weeks and weeks without selling. If you'd price it more realistically, it would probably sell quickly, and you could move on. Re-listing it a dozen times at that inflated price doesn't help. Price it right, and it'll sell quickly. Trust me!! I laugh when I see ads from people that have a dining room table "with a few nicks" or "some minor wear" listed for $800+. I'll buy a new one from Ashley for $399, thank you.

And finally, try being nice when you respond to e-mails or phone calls. I dealt with one person who seemed genuinely upset that I wanted to buy his kitchen table. He was rude, inconsiderate, and didn't even seem to be remotely interested in selling the table. I'm not forcing you to sell anything - I've got cash, and I want to give it to you, so it might not hurt to brush up on your manners.

And when you tell me to "call with questions" don't act as if you have no idea why I'm calling, especially after I say something like, "Hi, this is Joe - I saw your ad on craigslist for the table and chairs. I have a few questions if you have a few minutes available to chat." I said that exact same thing to a lady who was selling a table on craigslist, and her response was, "What? Why are you calling? My table? What about it?!" Crikey.


So... take this advice for what it's worth -



1. Pictures

2. Measurements

3. Price appropriately

4. Use your head



Oh, and how about one last bit of advice - tell us if you smoke, if you have pets, and if you have kids. And, if you have any one of those three items, reduce the price of your item by at least 25%. It makes a difference!

Never Pass Up An Opportunity

It's story time.  I'm still mid project due to the holiday weekend and some weary weather putting me in a holding pattern.  So today I'm going to share a recent experience with you that I think you'll enjoy. 

With my ever growing love of seeking out old things and bringing new life to them my husband has quickly become caught up in the glory of treasure hunting with me.  Last weekend we took a piece I had created to the local consignment store since I wasn't having any luck selling it on Craigs List and it was taking up real estate in my home.  The response was overwhelming.  The shop owner listed it at a beautiful price that we would be happy to walk away with even at our 45% cut.

As we rolled out of the parking lot my husband and I were all grins.  Who doesn't love a little (okay a lot) of kudo's on their work?  Mr Garden was in the mood to go find some new treasures we could be proud of so we headed north toward another consignment shop we don't frequently visit. 

As we pulled in to the parking lot in the big white expedition with our three children in tow we saw three men about two spaces over measuring the trunk of their car.  The owner of the car was obviously the older man with the help of the store employees.  As we exited our truck we could hear them discussing the fact that the trunk simply wasn't large enough to accommodate the piece the old man wanted to purchase.  The look on the mans face was sheer disappointment. 

My wonderful husband walked over to the men and asked the older gentleman if he needed hand hauling something home.  Now you really should have seen the look on the old mans face!  Sheer delight as he says "Oh would you?!" and of course the answer was yes.

We browsed the store full of over priced used items while the old man paid for his furniture.  In the meantime I fell in love with the perfect chandelier for my front porch knowing I would never pay the asking price for it.  Then once the boys loaded up the truck we followed the old man out of the parking lot toward his home.

Now I know what your thinking because I was thinking the same thing at the time.  This is going to be the longest drive of my life following this old timer lol.  Let me stop that thought before it starts.  This man had to be a nascar driver in his past life!  I think he even ran a red light because there was a point where he pulled over to wait for us while we were stopped at the intersection lol.  I don't really recall if the light was yellow or not though.

When we arrived at his house I was helping Mr Garden carry the furniture up the front path when the older man insisted he did not want me doing that.  I insisted back that I do this all the time!  Then he took over as they moved it through the house.  Once it was in place he says to us both "Do you know how old I am?" in which we replied no.  He says "My name is Sam and I'm 99 years old".  We were both astonished.

 

The thoughts started racing through my head as he invited us all into his home to show us all the things he makes.  Can you imagine being born in 1911?  Living through both world wars, the great depression and all the things he's seen in his life.  Sam is a designer like many of us.  He designs decorative perpetual motion artwork.  He makes all of his own templates out of thin steel sheets.  He paints them, moulds them, cuts them and makes the most amazing things out of them.  Windmills, mobiles, free standing motion machines etc...

After our visit with Sam as we were heading to the door he slipped a $20 into hubby's hand and thanked him for the visit.  Not for delivering the furniture but for staying and visiting for a while. 

I thought about Sam most of that afternoon.  About how alive he is at his age.  How his face has grown old but not his mind or his creativity.  And I have to wonder... what will I be making when I'm 99 years old?  What will you?

So never pass up an opportunty to help someone... you just might learn a little something about yourself in the process.