a STEAL!

See this beauty?

It's the Ikea Stornas Buffet.
It retails for $449.

I picked it up, with a few added drawers at Goodwill last night...

...for $60!!!

It has a few paint transfer marks on it, but those are easy fixes. There was one little scratch on the top part, but that was easily fixed with some spray stain I had.

Whatever!! I was so GIDDY!!!

I bought it for my craft room. My plan is to paint it teal...as long as teal is the color I still plan to go with as the accent color down there! Either way, it will be getting a full remodel when it gets to it's final home in the basement.

But for now...it's Husby's dresser. I figured, instead of taking up space in the ever changing basement, we could use it in our room till the craft room is done. Then we will move it and purchase the drawers that we planned on putting in our room, which is basically the same size. (The Hemnes 8-Drawer Dresser)

Isn't it just GREAT!!!

Time to Pamper

We all get busy.
We all forget to wash our face some days. ok, at least I do *heehee*
So...there are times...when we just need some pampering!

Check out some of these Natural Pampering recipes from Domestic Ease!

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup raw oatmeal
1 cup olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together and then apply on dry skin, using your hands. After scrubbing gently, rinse.

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey

Mix olive oil and sugar to form a paste. Massage over hands to lightly exfoliate; then rinse with warm water. Warm honey in microwave and apply to hands (don't let it get too hot!). Wrap hands with plastic wrap, and relax for 30 minutes.

1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup bentonite clay (available at health food stores)
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp almond oil
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together and apply evenly to your face or anywhere else you'd like to smooth. Leave on 10 minutes before rinsing.

1/2 avocado, mashed
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup sweet almond oil

Combine all ingredients and mix into a paste. Brush on wet hair, pay special attention to the ends. Let sit a minimum of 30 minutes. Shampoo and condition as normal.

1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon tumeric powder

Cleanse face. Combine yogurt and tumeric and brush an even coating on face, neck and chest using a clean makeup brush. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes then rinse and follow with a moisturizer.

FOR REALZZZ!!

If you don't know what the vuvuzela is...you haven't been tortured watching the World Cup.

Seriously...the sound of this instrument makes me homicidal...it sounds like a thousand buzzing bees...

I would almost rather the BEES instead of that AWFUL noise!!!

If I could get paid to do anything...

to be a Photographer.

I mean, I want to be a Mother. And I want to be a Wife...but those things are 'paying' the bills.

To pay the bills...to earn the cash-money...I would LOVE to be a Photographer.

I am slowly getting into it and every time I snap a lovely picture it just melts my heart. I love seeing the joy that I can capture with the snap of a shutter.

If you could get paid to do anything...anything...what would you do?

Seriously.

I have SO much to blog...I just can't wrap my brain around doing it all!!

It's been so stinkin' HOT around her...I think it's zapping all my juice.
It's sucking the life out of me.
I have nothing left.
...
feel sorry for me yet? ;)

Anywho...Let me go down the list.

The House - Basement work is on HOLD. We are paying off some small things then it's back to SAVING money for insulation and drywall. I foresee us being back on the basement bandwagon late Summer, early Fall. This is pretty much what we thought would happen anyhow! Although with it being so stinkin' HOT lately, I really can't wait to finish the basement! It's going to be our cool sanctuary...hopefully by NEXT Summer!

Our house was 77 degrees almost every day this weekend! AHHH, and that's with NEW windows and all the fans up high and the curtains drawn. That's what we get with an all brick exterior and some builder's lame attempt at insulation!

The Garden - I have PICTURES of this coming soon. We have one little green bell pepper that is doing it's best, slowly growing...albeit deformed per Husby. Hopefully I will have some tomaters, red bell peppers, zucchini and squash to pop up soon!

The Dogs - They are LOVIN' all this heat. I let Olive play in her little kiddie pool last week, she loved every minute of it...except for when mean ol' Mommy topped off playtime with a bath outside. She normally loves back, but is not a fan of getting rinsed off with the hose. BRRRRR! Pickle had a knuckle-headed day on Saturday, which resulted in him going bonkers and knocking my doggie-bag leftovers from dinner with the girls out of my hand. He wasn't lucky enough to get to the treasure that busted out of the to-go-box though...he did land himself in jail his crate for a while though.

The Rest - our friends J & B, have officially moved into their new home...I am SO stinkin' excited for them!! I am sure she will post more about it on her blog once they get settled in! Our other friends TT and Andrew are due to have sweet little Kennedy very soon! I am ecstatic to get to hold and love on that sweet little girl! They too bought a house, and will be moving in about three weeks after Kennedy is born...isn't she BRAVE!

Church and VERB are great...same ol' stuff there.

My Father-In-Law is having back surgery, today...like as we speak. I actually just hear from Husby that he came out of surgery great and they should get to go back and see him really soon. He has a long 10-12 weeks of recovery ahead of him, but we are all glad to see that hopefully he will regain some comfort and mobility very soon!

So that's the update...along with some promises of photos and more bloggy action coming very soon...SERIOUSLY...I promise!

Does anyone still read this?? Thanks to Myya, my almost constant commenter!!! Now if I could just get my butt into gear to return the favor!!! :P

Boston Trip - Day Four

Day Four...

Fenway Pahk!!! Home of the Green Monstah!! :)

We took a tour in the morning, then got to sneak buy a ticket to get in early to watch Batting Practice from the seats of the Green Monster.

Here we are on our tour...Adorbs!

...here's my cutie-pah-tootie next to the Green Monster...supporting his LA Dodgers!

So these...are the original chairs...still in use at the Park. We heard all about their history, how uncomfy they were (as we sat in them during the tour). Little did we know...they were our seats (only on the other side of the stadium) for the game...ehhhh.

After our tour...of which I have more pictures than I could imagine...here's Husby as we are waiting, yet again for our Hotel Shuttle. He was mocking on the Bostonians who apparently nap anywhere and in what ever position they find most comfortable!

Once we got changed and ready for the game, we headed back to Fenway for the Batting Practice. Here's Husby...after he stopped my heart a few times trying to catch balls...while reaching over the wall...ahh!

And here we are in the worlds' most uncomfortable seats...yes, wearing our smiles. We were still at Fenway part, enjoying the game and the history of it all! I felt bad for Husby, J and B...they all have long legs and their poor knees butted up against the seats in front of them...my short stature helped me out in that regard...

Just a minor glimpse into how deliriously hot it was...at times we didn't move, just sat there in agony!

And a little post-game sadness. LA got spanked...my poor dear was bummed.

But we slapped on more cuteness to take one of my favorite pictures of the trip!

...and as we were leaving, J wanted a picture by the Pesky Pole.

It was a great, long and HOT day...but well worth it.

That's really it for our Boston Trip tour de pictures....Saturday was pretty low-key and we flew home. Thanks J and B for a fun trip with NO trips to the ER! :P

Boston Trip - Day Three

So...Day three...an early morning.

We were going Whale Watching!

How cute are we?

I was able to break off some cute pictures before we even left the Pier...I just knew I was going to get some great shots of whales...

...but THIS was the best that I got. Literally right before our ship had to turn around and head back we found a Humpback Whale...he did a couple dives for us, but no jumping out of the water like you see on TV. Oh boo.

AND it was FREEZING too. As we were headed back we snagged an indoor seat and the boys took a nappy-nap.

After storing up a little energy, Husby posed for some pictures. This was like the third try though, he was really sleepy and kept closing his eyes or laying his head on my shoulder! :)

This is how close the airport is to the water...the planes were landing like right next to us on the way back to the Pier!

Then we took an afternoon Trolley ride throughout Boston. We some some GREAT stuff...I have just way too many pictures of all that...

But we saw Cheers...

And one of the oldest Police department buildings, which is now an Irish Pub...

...I love this about Boston...you can have all these old homes and historic churches...right next to sky scrapers and big brand new office buildings. It's a lovely blend of old and new!

Later that evening we walked over to the "Barking Crab" for dinner...(Don't mind the blurriness of the shot, still teaching Husby how to focus on the main subjects! heehee)

How was the food?? EXCELLENT...get a look at all of it...and that piece there at the bottom was my HUGE piece of fish!!! So yummy!

So, all in all, Day Three was a ton of fun!!! Stay tuned for Day Four...our Day at Fenway Pahk. :)

Boston Trip - Day Two

Boston - Day Two...

This was probably my favorite day!!

It started off low key, we all got ready...J & B made a quick video for thier daughter who is staying with Gramammy in FL till they get back and move into their new home! (what an exciting month for them!)

We headed into town and over to Boston Gliders for our 2-Hour Segway tour. We all got trained and set out on our adventure. It took me about a mile to get settled and comfy...Brittany never quite got comfy...

We stopped by and saw the USS Constitution and the USS Cassin Young...

I rode behind this hottie for most of the trip. Oh and by the way...for those of you who know my reputation for horrible balance...I did AMAZING on the Segways...I was totally proud of myself!

But then...tragedy struck. Only not to me...like I just totally KNEW was going to happen. Instead the unlucky segway rider was my girl, Britt. Poor thing...didn't quite make it down the hill unscathed...but we won't speak anymore of that! :P

Husby and I really enjoyed our ride and plan to do it again any chance we get!

We stopped off after our adventure to grab some crepes at Modern Pastry Shop. Well J & B enjoyed the pastries...Husby and I weren't very hungry, I just ducked inside for a little AC...but when I came out...I couldn't find Husby for a sec...then...there he was. Tucked in the doorway of a neighboring Cafe watching some World Cup Soccer...shocker! :P

We spent more time that day waiting for the shuttle...which proved to make us a little loopy...

...and later that night we stopped off at Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage...which had been voted on the World's Best Burgers and showcased on Diners, Drive-In's and Dives with Guy Fieri. Ehhh, we weren't really that impressed with the Burger...but it was a decent eat and a fun little place.

So overall, Day Two was great as well...tomorrow our Whale Watching adventure!!!

Boston Trip - Day One

So we vacationed in Boston...I know, that may not seem like an ideal vacation spot...but the guys had underlying motives.

To see the Red Sox and Dodgers play ball. So we made a week of it.

It was a blast. Since we have a TON of photos. I will break up our trip into days for ya...

Boston Day One.

At the Airport...Husby got to meet and pose with Sarah Palin...she didn't have as much personality as I thought she would, she was kinda stiff.

We landed in Boston and waited, and waited, and waited for the Shuttle to our Hotel...enjoying the glorious weather though...

Once we reached the hotel and the other half of our vacation group, we decided to head back into town...so we waited some more...for the shuttle (this would be the recurring issue the whole week)...sleepiness set in...

We headed over to Quincy Market which is filled with some GREAT eats and some great shopping surrounding. There are also many, many performers and plenty of interesting people to see.

We finished off our day with a bite to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe...it was within walking distance of Quincy Market, and J & B (our vacation partners) collect cups from there...so it was a must visit! (don't mind my FACE in this picture...who knows what kind of horrible joke the shadows were playing on me!!)

So after dinner, we walked towards the pier...running across a funny picture opportunity...oh the irony.

...and finding a garden, that later in the week we found out was a memorial to Rose Kennedy...JFK's mother. It was so pretty! Especially with the city of Boston as the backdrop!

The pier had some gorgeous sites as well, but I couldn't keep my eyes off the setting sun and the city skyline!

As we traveled back towards our Subway station...we ran across the most amazing fountain. It spit water up randomly from the ground...it brought out the kid in all of us!

...and it made for some GREAT photos too!

So that ended our first day...pretty low key and relaxing...the rest of the week got pretty busy...but you will see more of that soon!