Category: Shopping

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Christmas Lists and Shopping

My daughter will be home from Florida tomorrow and I’m so excited to have her back! I told her to write her Christmas “wish list” while she was on the plane. It will maybe take her mind off the flight. Her brothers who are still living at home are still indecisive about what they would like, so I have a feeling I’ll be getting them a prepaid debit card, so they can just get what they want and I don’t have to go through the hassle of shopping for them. Except the stocking stuffers, of course. That is a biggy for me and I enjoy it!

This week I’m going to shop for my sisters, brothers and my favorite aunt that always celebrates with us. I’m pretty proud of myself that I’m not waiting until the last minute to shop, as I usually do. With my daughter coming home and all the other preparations that need to be done, maybe this year I’ll be able to relax on Christmas Eve!

I’ve been told the stores of course are already really packed, and I hate fighting crowds, but this year, I have lists! Can you all tell I’m trying to be somewhat organized? We’ll see how THIS goes!!!

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Thanksgiving Shopping and A New Pantry

I’m a firm believer in lists. While going through my pantry, and listing what I have and what items I need to buy for Thanksgiving dinner as well as to basically stock up on, I realized that the pantry that I have is not roomy enough. I need more space. Yes indeed, I feel another project coming on. I haven’t decided yet as to why it is that I always have a mega need to do home improvements at the most inconvenient times. With the holidays coming and I’ll be in the kitchen for a good ten days, my mind is on the pantry project, I would indeed call this an inconvenient time.

Shopping today (while my mind was/is still on the pantry project) did not go as well as I thought it would. Normally I use coupons, but not to the extent a lot of my friends do. Today I forgot my coupons. Fail #1. While looking for 22 to 24 pound turkey who I just know will catch my fancy to the point I want to take him home, will show himself, was shy today. Fail #2. I did however get a good deal on giblets, necks and backs. Also some pretty good prices on spices I needed.

I’ve got a couple more days to power shop if I can get the building of a new pantry off my mind until after the Holiday season, I’ll be just fine and dandy!

 

 

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Designing an Adiamor ring

When my husband and I got married, I only had a plain gold band. At the time, even though we had the funds, I figured that I didn’t need an engagement ring. As the years went by, I have lost my wedding band at least four or more times, only to  find it again in places that are so odd. Lately I’ve been kicking around the idea of finally getting a diamond ring that my husband and I can design together, and have found I really would like to design an Adiamor ring.

Getting help from a professional for picking out a diamond is the first step to the design. Myself nor my husband have any experience in the diamond industry and I would know the difference between a real one or a fake one. This is where the help comes in. Plus I figure I’ll learn some great tips in case I want another ring in the future.

I think I have some settings in mind. But the folks at Adiamor seem very professional in a friendly way, and while surfing the net for ideas to design my ring, that is the reason I was drawn to this site. Even the site is layman friendly and easy to comprehend. I just may get my ring for our 25th anniversary that with help, my husband and I have designed! Jewelry

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And so school starts

In a way I wish I didn’t have to send my son to school today. We have had a great time “getting to know one another” in a whole new way. He is now a junior in high school and it seems like yesterday he took his first two steps.

All summer I have been picking up school supplies when I would see sales on the items he will need this year. Also we went shopping for some school clothes, but he generally only wears band Tshirts and jeans. I got a few flannel shirts for him and will get shoes and also some hoodies for him this coming week.

I have hit a lot of sales and in my shopping I kept an eye out for items I need to start my winter projects. Not quite sure what I’m going to remodel or make some home improvements to yet, but I’m sure I’ll find something to do to make winter go by faster. There always is something to fix or improve upon in old houses!

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School Starts

School starts on the third of September for my youngest son. He has been bored all summer except when their band was playing shows. This weekend we have to go shop for some jeans and shoes, shirts and such since I swear his arms, legs and actual torso, got longer!! As I look at him, I see one very wiry tall adolescent and realize that my “baby” at 16 is nearly grown up.

I’ve been trying to suggest things for the guys to do, and for the most part they do keep busy but have those moments of boredom.

When school starts, all this will change. My youngest always tries to make the honor roll and loves school work, but is a far cry from being nerdy. This year he of course will run track, and pick up more credits at school. It’s great having a kid that tolerates school and actually tries hard not to miss a day.

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Wallcovering Projects

Just a few posts ago, I believe that I said I didn’t want to start another indoors project, but I am very inconsistent when it comes to me sticking to home improvement. What I say and think I will carry thought with doesn’t apply in this case since checking out a site with Wall Covering Projects and loving the ideas! Now my mind is ticking again and the wheels are turning. I’m looking around my office and am thinking it needs something to really spruce the place up and show “me” in the room. I’d like to have a classy comfortable Tuscany feeling to it.

While looking through the Product Installation Gallery, I was rather in awe of the rooms set up and decorated with the accessories and furniture that can come along with the wall-covering. Very elegant but not overwhelming. For me however, I’d like to go with a wall covering that will catch my fancy, and then go shopping for the exact items I want to have furnishing the room. This gallery showed the possibilities of the room after the wall covering had been installed. There were some beautiful ideas also!

Now that I know there is another project that will be spinning in my head, I’ll just start browsing more and have a paper and pen handy for my lists. Yes, lists…more than one. Way more!

 

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Gifts and Calls for Mother’s Day

So far this morning, I have gotten at least ten phone calls from “kids” and family wishing me a Happy Mother’s Day. Even some young people who have grown up with my kids, have called! It’s awesome that they would still after all these years, consider me a sort of “extra” mom.

My sons bought me a beautiful rose bush that I fully intend on babying, since in the past, I’ve not had much luck with rose bushes. My youngest daughter called and sang me a song over the telephone that she had written just for me and this day! My oldest daughter is taking me out to lunch this coming week, and then we’re going shopping also!

I’m staying at my moms house, so the kids all are also wishing her mother’s day wishes also. This afternoon I plan on taking her shopping for some summer outfits and then we’re going out to lunch before my brother and sisters arrive at her house with gifts for her. I’m looking forward to spending time with the family and also.

To all my readers who are Mom’s, I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day! Pamper yourself or let others pamper you. Ya’ll deserve it!

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Entry hall revamp

After some time, I’ve decided that I would like to make the front entry hall more useful than what it is now. Since I’m planing on getting new carpet in the living room, I want folks to take off their shoes when they come over,  or come home, especially the guys in my family who are slackers when it comes to removing their shoes and also hanging up coats.

I’ve been looking at a lot of different DIY sites for ideas on more storage room, and also ideas for a bench so people can sit to put on or take off shoes, but also that would serve as a storage for gloves, hats, and such. I don’t want a coat rack, so I’ve been looking at antique hooks to hang coats and jackets on.

The floor without a doubt will not be carpeted. Not in an entry hall. I’d be just asking for dirty carpet, despite of people wiping their feet on the mat I have on the porch, and another inside the door. I’m thinking about going with a sort of stone floor look. I’ll of course know it when I see it. This week I’m planning on going to this carpet outlet store near here that also sells wall paper and other types of flooring besides carpet. Pictures of the finished entry hall, will be posted once I get my camera to work right.

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Preparing for Easter

Not being sure how many family members and friends will be here for Easter is making it rather hard to plan on a meal and what to serve, not to mention how much food I’ll need. I don’t like it when this happens but as of now, even my kids are indecisive about what their plans are and my youngest daughter won’t be here since she moved to Florida.

This is the first time that the whole family won’t be together and also don’t know if they will be around the house on Easter Sunday. The way I figure it, I’m not going to have a sit down dinner like usual this year if I don’t know who will be here and how many.

I’m seriously thinking that tonight I’m going to shop for everything I need, then just make it into a buffet style dinner. I can get a ham that is already cooked and sliced (easy out) and then make side dishes and finger food. Oh yes, and paper plates will be used. The strong ones but disposable plates I can throw away. I cook, why should I do dishes too!? At least that is my take on it, if no one knows what their plans are. Okay, I guess my rant is over. Now to make a shopping list…

Disposable plates

Disposable knives, spoons and forks

Disposable cups

Have a Happy Easter All, and remember what it’s all about.

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Spring cleaning and little repair jobs

While washing down walls the last two days, I have come across some small cracks and little holes in the plaster that need mending. I personally do not even like doing this job at all, but it needs to be done and though it’s just a little project, I know after the repair work is finished I’m going to want to repaint walls that I had just painted last year. And of course I’ll want to paint a fresh new color on the walls. Which means, new color complimenting home decor items.

There are quite a few little home improvement repairs on my “fix it” list this spring. The ceiling fans need new pull chains, and of course I’ll shop for pretty things to put on the end of the chain, which means either going out to stores or shopping online for these.

There are quite a few BIG repairs that need done also, but for them I’m sure I’m going to either scope out DIY books and online tuts for this. One being insulating around my windows and putting up new trim. I know how to do the trim, somewhat. The insulating is another story. For now, I’m sticking to the little jobs I know I can do.