Help me redo this dresser!

So I have a new adventure.  I love shopping.  I love deals.  I love finding awesome stuff.  But I'm scared to death that one day my house will be filled with boxes full of junk and someone will nominate me to be on Hoarders.  So I try to keep the junk out of my house.  And one day it hit me.  Sell it!  Buy it.  Sell it.  Make a little cash.  What's not to love?  So we have officially gotten a booth at an indoor flea market. 

Which means...I have to go thrifting.  I have to go to garage sales.  And I have to go to the auctions.

Which is where I found this beauty.

Do you love the scallop bottom?  I do.  But wait.  Check this out.

The drawer folds down into a desk!  Awesome right?!?

Pretty sweet huh?  I paid $12 for this at an auction the other week.  I'll admit.  It's rough.  There are 3 layers of paint - black,  (a really cool shade of) yellow and white.  It needs new hardware.  There is candle wax all over the front.  But the wood is good - it's solid.  And I really like it.

So I've been sanding away.  I've got about half of it done.  Sanded all the way to the wood. 

And I need your help in re-doing this dresser (or is it a desk?).  I need to finish it and get it up for sale!  (Because I already have the next furniture project purchased....)

So help me make the decisions!  First question:

Should I paint...

Or stain! 

Leave a comment with your vote -- I should be done with the sanding in the next couple days.  And then I will either get started painting...or staining!  :) Help make the dresser (desk) beautiful!  And help me get it sold quick! :) :)

The Mom Challenge: Week 7

Hello ladies!  I've got so much to share with you all this week!  I've been so busy lately, but you know hard work pays off!  {Or it is supposed to anyways right?!?!}

If you are new to the mom challenge visit here.  It's a list of ALL the past challenges.  Also make sure to login to The Blog Frog.  It's free to join!  And I was thinking of starting a live chat on Saturday night?  Thoughts? 

 

Alright this week's challenge is for us.  The short order cooks, the chauffeurs, the accountants, the cheerleaders, teachers, maids, and doctors otherwise known simple as Mom.  Being a mom is hard work!  We are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  For life. 

 

But you know what.  Even supermoms need a break.  I was talking to my mom the other day and I told her "You need a hobby."  Her response: "I don't have time for a hobby." (My mom still has 2 kids in elementary school!  My youngest brother and I are 20 years apart! WOWSERS!)

I realized that there are probably lots of women like my mom.  Work, come home, clean up, make dinner, run kids to this place and that place, come home, clean up some more, sleep.  Repeat.

 

(No that is not my mom. LoL) (source)

Us moms need to take care of ourselves!  How can we expect to be re-charged and on top of our game if we don't get 15 minutes to ourselves!  My mom claims she does stuff for herself.  She does yard work (In my opinion it's only called yard work if it's a chore.  If you like to do it you call it gardening...but whatever.)  And sometimes she reads (aka falls asleep in her chair with her book in her hands). 

So this week's challenge is to set up a date.  A date with yourself.  Tell the hubby (or find a sitter) to come watch the kids (or take the kids out!) and do your own thing.  This does NOT include:  running errands, cleaning up the house, surfing Pinterest looking for dinner ideas, or doing laundry.  This time is just FOR you.  And YOU only.  Go get your nails done.  Meet up with a girlfriend for appetizers (and a margarita), go shopping (for yourself!!),  go see that chick flick, head to the flea market, take a nap!  Do something for yourself!  You deserve it!!

The Mom Challenge: Week 6

 Yesterday my blog was being beautified so here is this week's challenge!

(You can find past challenges here and don't forget to join us on Blog Frog!  It's free to join and lots of fun to chat!)

(Source)

This week I want to focus on our hopes and dreams for our children.  What exactly do you hope that your children learn from you?  What do you want to pass on?  What kind of person do you want your child to grow up to be?

I think that taking just a few minutes of reflection is such a wonderful way to make sure that each day counts! 

Here is mine: I want my son to grow up happy, confident and healthy.  I want him to be responsible and respectful.  I want to make sure that he loves the Lord.  I want him to always remember to put family first.  I want him to be successful - but remember that money isn't everything .

Sure I want EVERYTHING under the sun for my child - but there it is in a (small) nutshell.  And knowing my (small) nutshell goals for my son I can see on the things that I really need to focus on when it comes to my parenting. 

(Source)

Makes for a in a (small) nutshell mission statement for myself as a parent.  What are your goals as a mom?

Money Maker at Walgreens!

First of all...do you like my blog?  I mean, isn't it pretty!?! I want to say a HUGE thank you to Kim from Seven thirty three for making it completely awesome!!

This week's Mom Challenge will be up tonight so stay tuned! 

I've taken a little bit of a break from couponing lately.  I really want to try to get my family off of processed foods and we honestly have tons of beauty products/cleaning items.  But today I found myself wandering into Walgreens and I found this super great deal on Right Gaurd deodorant for men!

Right now Walgreens has them on sale buy 1 get 1 free with some kinds on clearance for only $2.29!  Match that with a coupon and you have a money making deal!

Buy 4 Right Gaurd deodorants (clearance) for $2.29 each

Use 2 $2.00/2 coupons from coupons.com

Final Price: $0.58 each and get back $4 Register Rewards

$3.42 money maker!!

Remember to print this coupon off twice to do the above deal!

It's the little moments

(Source)

The Mom Challenge: Week 5

** Sorry this is late - I set it up for auto post.  And accidentally put the wrong day! It was one of those duh moments!**

Week 5 - I can't believe it! :) Did you miss a week?  It's ok!  Start in now or start from the beginning - here is a link to all of the Mom Challenge posts. 

Make sure to join in on the discussion over at the Blog Frog - it's free to join! 

And I love comments - BUT please, please, please be nice.  Every mom who has clicked their way here has come because they love their children.  I know to some these challenges are probably silly or are things you already do.  If you already do them - awesome - if you do them sometimes - great - if you have a desire to do some - wonderful.  I think even if you actively do some of the challenges then this should just be a big kudos to you!   I think that everyone of us is a great mom - after all we are all here because we love our kids and are trying our hardest right?!?  Let's build ourselves up - encourage one another!  And if you do something at your house and it works let us know!  I hate deleting comments - I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion but I hate the thought of someone coming to the Mom Challenge to try to learn something new and be an awesome mom just to feel in adequate.  Long story short: Be nice.  Please. 

Anywho

Week 5: Short and sweet.  We've talked about realistic expectations.  And being positive. 

(Source)

This week's challenge is to find something that your child does that makes you proud - and celebrate.  It doesn't have to be a giant party but do something a little more than just telling them!  I think this can be such a fun challenge and one that is unexpected!  You don't have to spend a lot of money or even a lot of time.  The point is for the child to be acknowledged for something and for you to go out of your way to tell them awesome job - you rock!  It feels so good to be appreciated and acknowledged.  Show them that the little things matter!

Here are some examples:

Learning to tie their own shoes - get a fun colored pair of shoelaces

Doing their homework - surprise them with their favorite dinner

Putting away their toys - rent a movie from Red Box

Waking up on time for school (perfect for those of you with kids who either don't like to get up or high school kids!) - make a cake and write awesome job for waking up!

Spot your child reading - pick up a few new books

Paint an awesome picture at preschool - frame it and put it up

Write a note, bake something, take them to a movie, rent a movie, post a picture, pick up a favorite candy bar, let them have a Sprite with dinner (this is a big deal at our house!!) do something! 

I am going to make a cake for Josh I think.  A green one - that's his favorite color.  And have pizza on Friday.  He's being doing I step this week.  And I want him to know I'm proud of him for doing his best!  Pick something that your child does - even if it's small and something you expect them to do anyways - point it out.  Recognize!  I'm expected to cook dinner every night - but it feels good to get a pat on the back, hey mom that was great!  Well do the same for your kids!  Show them that you appreciate all that they do - even the small stuff!

Children learn what they live

Source

Leprechaun Pillow

So I've been so excited about decorating for St. Patrick's Day this year.  Our house has been re-painted.  We've gotten new furniture. Woah. Scratch that.  The furniture that I ordered was supposed to get here yesterday.  And here's the shocker - it's not even scheduled to be in the warehouse until March 23!! WHAT!?! So they are sending us a couch to borrow until ours gets in.  I'm not going to lie.  I'm bummed.  The borrow couch isn't gray.  It's green.  But then I thought - let's think positive (remember this week's challenge?) at least it is a green couch for St.Patrick's Day.  So yeah buddy we are going ALL out this year - green couch and all for the month of March.

Anyways.  That cute pillow up there.  I made it.  I love it.  While I was out on my hunt for cute St. Patrick's Day stuff I came up with practically nothing.  Bummer.  So I came up with this project to make a leprechaun silhouette pillow. 

This was such a SUPER easy project to do.  The part that takes the most time is cutting out the leprechauns.  Because you have to cut them out 3 times. 

First print the image.  I just typed in leprechaun silhouette into google images. Here is a link to the image I used.  I made mine black and white to save ink (in Picasa make it like a coloring book).  Then I printed it to fit the page.  Make sure the size works for your pillow.

Go ahead and cut it out.  Then I traced it onto Steam-A-Seam.  And you guessed it cut it out.

Next, iron it onto the fabric (in my case I chose green).  And - yup - one more time.  Cut it out.

Position them onto your pillow case.  And iron them on.  Easy peasy.

Do you need a pillow case?  How about making one.  It's super fast - and super easy.  I made just a basic envelope pillowcase.  That way after the holiday is over I can switch on a different pillowcase. 

Here is a good tutorial for making envelope back pillow cases. (It takes about 10 minutes - and only 4 straight lines to sew.  You will never look at pillow cases the same again.  I promise!)

Linking up here.