Upcoming Projects: The Before Pictures

Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Since we moved into our house, we haven't touched this closet....well, I guess we've touched the closet---just to throw junk in this collect-all area--I haven't attempted to organize it what-so-ever. Obviously, you can tell that--how embarrassing---but when it is all cleaned up, it will look impressive! I love before & after projects, so hopefully I can work some magic and make it pretty!
This nice shelving unit we got from IKEA still needs the handles on it so I can use the bottom half. I have lots of crafty stuff I would like to keep hidden (but organized)! I would like to hide all of J's boring black financial binders. There is nothing pretty about them.

OH, this is the BIG project for 2009. G-man is going to get a play area!!! Grandpa B. is going to help J finish off this area very soon. We purchased some shelving from where else....IKEA!!! I've got a lot of ideas brewing for this little room. Ohhhhhhhh, the possibilities!

Hopefully I'll be able to post the "after" pictures sooner than later!!

For The Love of Baskets

**updated** I needed to preface this post by letting everyone that reads this know I'm not just randomly taking pictures of my baskets just for the heck of it---Thrifty Decor Chick is on a mission to organize & declutter---so I'm joining the blog party and showing off how I organize. They hold magazines.....

....and bills......and cookbooks......

...and books & more books & magazines......


..... & laundry supplies......

......& toilet paper........

& mittens, gloves & scarves.......

but the places i need them the most......

baskets, baskets, & more baskets--that's how i roll. it's amazing how much crap comes with having kids. don't get me wrong, i love my little man and all the unnecessary, large, noise-making, battery-draining toys he has accumulated in his short life--but i NEED some organization! so.....i stash the books, toys, blocks, train pieces, dvds, etc. in pretty baskets or boxes. i have baskets all over my house holding my items---i love them! i need to hit the thrift stores and see what fun baskets i can find for my upcoming projects. i'll post pictures of the jobs i plan to tackle very soon. we have a little toy room, craft area, & office closet work that desperately needs to get done. i hope to start the closet mess this weekend.

why yes, that is a VCR in the cabinet. i don't believe it is even hooked up...i think i'll hold onto it so griff can see what the old folks used to watch movies on. who knows what will be around when griff is an adult. i do have some classic vhs movies---dumb & dumber, when a man loves a woman, mary poppins.....some oldies but goodies!

& a basket to corral the remote controls....i think this is griffin's favorite basket to get into!

Scary Valentine's & Tuesday Ramblings

I just happened to be searching the internet for Vintage Valentine's---so I can print them out and make some pretty Valentine's cards for friends and family. I love all things vintage....except for this card. Yikes!! I hate clowns--they have freaked me out ever since watching Stephen King's IT. Speaking of Valentine's Day, I'm going to drag the hubby to see My Bloody Valentine.....or whatever that 3D movie is called that is coming out. I'm a sucker for cheesy horror. I'm sure it is going to be absolutely terrible, but I love 3D. That has got to make a terrible movie bearable.

Oh, and something else I love---BIG LOVE. It starts back up on HBO Sunday. Can't wait!

A little G-man update....he can sign "more". He learned it at daycare. He does it and says "more" at the same time, then he giggles. So darn cute!

Nip Tuck is on....gotta go!

The Bachelor

So I'm so excited that Jason (not hubby) is The Bachelor! Hopefully he finds true love. He is the nice guy that got crapped on last season by Deanna. In the previews for the upcoming shows it looks like Deanna comes back and says she made a mistake by picking Jesse. If she gets to stick around on the show---or if he even CONSIDERS giving her a second chance, I'm done with this show!

Pathetic!

Yes, I am a little pathetic. I saw the movie Twilight AGAIN! Relax, I only spent $3 on it this time. It was playing at a little theater nearby, so a couple of girlfriends and I went to see it. I wasn't the only one who was seeing it for the second time! The low budget film is a bit on the cheesy side, but HE is totally worth it! I think I laughed more this time.....some of the scenes were hilarious---VERY bad acting and terrible special effects!!! I just finished reading the series and cannot wait to see New Moon in the theater! I'm sure I'll be watching Twilight again........maybe not in the theater, but perhaps this will be a MUST purchase when it comes out on DVD!!!

Saturday with Bubs

It is officially tax season. Jason started working Saturdays. Bubs and I hung out today and tried to put away some of the lingering Christmas decorations. It snowed quite a bit overnight and Grandpa B. is outside with his snow blower.....thank you Grandpa B! I didn't want to go out and scoop, and I'm sure Jason will be delighted when he gets home! Bubs is glued to the window watching Grandpa.

The best thing about tax season is I get to spend more alone time with the little man. We read books, played with his numerous musical instruments, played in his Thomas tunnel and tent, and had some good eats.

I wanted to show everyone my favorite item of 2009......it is my very own Dyson! This little sucker is amazing. I knew that my old vacuum wasn't doing the job well, but from the looks of what I've been sucking up, I don't think the old guys was doing ANYTHING!!

We have had the vacuum for about 11 days now......and I've used it probably 4 times. Look at all the junk this thing has accumulated. Seriously GROSS!!

Little man finally conked out for a bit, so I did some much needed rearranging of decor. I'm so in love with monograms. I now have about 7 "B"s in my house. I heart Bs!

I also heart Hobby Lobby! I found this little black pedestal for $13. I know that isn't a huge steal, but I haven't found one for under $20.

This area needs some serious work. After taking down all the glittery Christmas stuff, this looks bare! Speaking of glittery stuff, good think I have my Dyson, because that sparkly stuff left a huge mess! Nothing my super sucker can't handle!

Much better! I did a silhouette of Griffin. It turned out pretty good.....you can't tell that by looking at this picture though. Santa forgot to bring me a new camera, oh well, the big guy came through with the vacuum!

Feels good to put Christmas behind us and focus on Spring. Too bad we have a LOT of Winter to go! Happy Saturday everyone!

Happy New Year!!

We had a few of our closest friends over for dinner on New Year's Eve. The Schaefer's, Doehrman's, Driscoll's & Kleinmeyer's. Instead of talking about New Year's resolutions, we went around the table answering these three questions:

1) What was the best thing about 2008......I answered that even though we technically moved to Williamsburg in 2007, I think Jason and I realized in 2008 that we made the right decision and know that this is where we belong.

2) What was the most challenging thing about 2008.......I felt that the most challenging thing was dealing with Griffin's RSV illness all of January and part of February. Those were some tough days/weeks. To be honest, Jason and I are blessed because even though those times were hard, they were nothing compared to what a lot of other people had to endure in 2008.

3) What are you most looking forward to in 2009......I would like to think that 2009 will bring another baby for us....maybe not be born in 2009, but hopefully on the way!

It was nice to hear what everyone else at the table had to say. Of course Jason, the man of VERY few words, didn't like my activity much, but I think that the rest of the gang enjoyed it.

Darcy, Me, Amy, Ann & Jodie---some good looking women!

Chad, Brad, Ryan, Jason & Blake----the wonderful men in our lives.


After dinner we headed over to Keith & Rachel's house (Jason's brother & his wife). Rach did a great job opening the 8 bottles of champagne.

The hostess with the mostest. The theme was "little black dress" ---umm, I didn't follow the rules. There isn't anything "little" about any black dress I would be putting on. Rach looked cute in her dress though.

Here's a group picture of all the women at the party

.......and all of the men

Ringing in the new year with my bestest friend

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!