Decisions...Decisions...

I've become a slacker...but with good reason...I've been having some problems with my ears...constantly feels like I'm in an airplane...but anyways...let's talk about my other decisions...decisions...

No secret "I'M MOVING"...And, we are downsizing from a 2400 sq ft house to a 1300-1400 sq ft house...I am excited to downsize now that I only have one kid left at home...well for 2 more years (woo hoo and woo hoo..again) can you hear the excitement in my voice...if not I will say it again (WOO HOO)...

Ok back to the decision making...I have a dining room and all though I am over the oak look...I'm afraid to attempt to sand and stain my dining room set...I had it Amish made and although I never really use it...I don't know if I want to put it in the new dining room or take the leaf (it has 3 leafs...not sure what I was thinking I never feed that many people..lol) out of it and put it in the kitchen...but I do have a high top kitchen set...

Let's take a look...here's the dining room now...Borinngggg....(and YES...I take the dishes off once a month and run them through the dishwasher) CRAAAAZEEEE....

 and here's my kitchen set...

Here's the kitchen in the new house...

And, here's the new dining room...

The dining room opens into the living room and I was thinking that I might like to turn it into an office cause I kind of like this look (I'm talking the placement...not the furniture...)...

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Ughh!! I already have a headache from my ear problems and now trying to squeeze in my decisions...decisions...(headslap) well not really that would hurt...LOL

I have about 5 weeks to decide...Dining room or "NO" Dining room...I could always put the office in the 3rd bedroom (that's were it is now)...Use the dining room set in the kitchen or the high-top set??? How does one decide (Are you confused yet?? I AM)...If I only had about 50 grand I could just go buy all new and start all over...Haha...Wouldn't that be nice ;-)

Thanks for listening to me ramble!!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS???...PLEASE & THANK YOU ;-)





Let's get this move on the road...

First truck has been loaded... and delivered...Bad news...:( it took 2 storage units and that was only half of our belongings....I was just standing there in awe that I actually have that much "CRAP" ...Now I know that someone needs to stop me...It took a 26ft truck...that took a whole lot of $$$ to move a whole bunch of who knows what....(meds time)

 

We have so much going on that we decided to haul my car back to NC and store it at a friends house...this will be easier on us when it comes time for the "real" moving day...My hubby is looking a bit confused..."Yes, dear that's where the car goes"...LOL (Poor guy is running on 3 hrs sleep and has to drive 9 hrs)..

Better him then me...I don't think me driving this down the interstate would have been a good idea...but it sure would have been entertaining....

We finally arrived 8.5 hours later...through 8 hrs of rain....and lots of $$$ in gas.... (and more anxiety meds)...lol...oh crap I should of been drinking the wine I brought the whole time...but than again the way I bounced around in that truck I would have been bouncing more than my back out of place...(glad you guys came with me...wasn't a bad ride for you was it??? ;-)

Oh I didn't mention it was also our "Anniversary" Friday...my hubby provides me with such adventure...but we did manage to get a nice little dinner in (we dressed for the occasion...not)...neither one of us lasted very long...The glass of wine about knocked me out...

So, lets move on to some fun stuff...House hunting...and I'm about to take you on the fun ride...NOTE TO SELF...When a realtor sends you pics be prepared for those houses to look noting like it..."Photoshop" should not be allowed...ha ha (the grass is never that green and lush)

Well, let's go...House #1...Not a fan of all that hardwood but that's just me...But just to point out a few things...look at the HEIGHT of the kitchen island...I'm only 5'1"...I would never be able to see over the top....lol!!! The master bedroom has blue stained carpet and would fit a queen bed but you might as well toss your night stands and dresser because they are not fitting...Oh the wallpaper (self explanatory)...love the deck and yard....

HOUSE #2...I have to REMEMBER we are DOWNSIZING....so I have to be open to smaller space living...Good thing I have my friend Roberta over at Contain it to help me with living large in smaller spaces...

 I have black appliances which would go perfect in this kitchen...guess I would have to store them in the garage...but otherwise there was nothing too wrong with this 3 bedroom house...Well when you are downsizing you have to take the good with the bad...

House #3...It is a very nice house with lots of rooms...family room...living room, sitting room...kitchen and 4 bedrooms...not much of a back yard and a cement slab....TOO BIG FOR ME!!! (My therapist would be so proud of me)...ha ha

House #4....LOVING THE VIEW AREN'T YOU????

Well who wouldn't ...But I couldn't even go in the house to take pics....I smelled the mold as soon as the front door was opened...and had to PASS!!!

House #5...Someone really liked wallpaper and border....I was going cross eyed in that kitchen....It would be a good place to diet...you would lose your appetite sitting in there...(do people still use wallpaper??) maybe I'm missing something...Oh I left out the best parts....the chewed corners of the cabinets and the holes in the carpet due to all the CATS with CLAWS!!! (that made for a bad allergy attack and house hunting was over) ...

Thanks for spending the day with me...and I'm sure all my creative friends are having some great  ideas brewing they would like to share and are ready to give me some advice & in-site on House #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5...

This was a quick summed up "Crazy" journey...Thanks for sharing it with me ;-)

THURSDAY is Delightfully Inspiring...

It's a DELIGHTFULLY INSPIRING Thursday...

Stop on over and visit DaNita at Delightful Order and join the party!!!

Flower Power...

Not what you think...REALLY it's not...you don't believe me??? Here take a look....

Now don't be GASPINGGGG!!! It does belong to me...No seriously it does...Ok!! You can gasp if you want...I know..WHAT was I thinking???  LOOK at all them FLOWERS....Well the year was 2000...Yep that furniture is 11 yrs old and has always been in a formal living room or sitting room...There is a lot to be said about the quality of furniture....(or maybe no one was allowed to sit on it...~snickering~) I'm sure my daughter will chime in...

You want to see it up close don't you???

This furniture has been through quite a bit of moves since 2000...Here's it's first home for 5 yrs...

Floral and Oak that is a classic "Victorian" early 2000's style...Yikes!! And what's funny is looking at this photo I still have every single thing in that room...Oh good grief!! ~bowing my head in shame~ (Big Sigh)

Now where was I?? Oh yeah!! So in 2005 we (me & my furniture that is) traveled from Erie, Pa to Fort Mill, SC and set up shop in my cute lil condo...It was perfect for just me!!!

Now here comes the CRAZINESS!!! I met my husband and moved in with him that summer...yep..do the math 6 MONTHS...

In 2007 we moved to the northside of Charlotte and bought our house...and I set up a sitting room...

In 2010 we sold our home (long...loonngggg...llloooonnngggg...story) anyways we moved into a townhome...

And in December 2010 my husband took a job in Maryland...Are you laughing yet or crying...cause I was doing both...so now here we are in Maryland...

No matter how you look at it...it's all the same...flowers-flowers & more flowers....Oh I left part of this journey out...there were 2 more moves in there....(OK...all I can do is laugh) and NO my hubby is not military (he was but not since 1999)



Want an even BETTER LAUGH!!!

WE ARE MOVING AGAIN...back to NC ...

Where the heck was I going with this story??? Oh I know my "Flower Power" furniture...I'm ready for a change but I can't afford really good quality furniture at this time...(you know with my 8th move in 6 yrs) Ok...Now I'm Crying and yes I invite you to cry with me...

Happy thoughts!!! Since I can't afford new furniture and mine is in such good condition I was thinking of getting it covered...Getting it reupholstered is going to be wayyyy too expensive...and "no' I would never attempt that one on my own (and I've done some crazy things)...like dyed my carpet one time (another story and one word DISASTER)...So I was thinking slipcovers (when I think slipcovers I think how my mom covered furniture with sheets...Holy Moly)...and this is what else comes to mind "stretch pants" for the couch...

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I can't even describe how that makes me feel...so hand me my anxiety medicine...that is awful...well maybe not awful but I just can't do it...

So I was looking around..there has to be a way to cover my furniture without breaking the bank and making it look like it wasn't covered in "spandex"...Look what I found...

It's perfect!!!...Don't you just love Pottery Barn...and for the low low price of $1698.00 + shipping I can have a new look..One word "CRAZY"....(I guess we are staying with flower power for a while longer)

I AM ACCEPTING HELP...DONATIONS OR JUST IDEAS!!!!

Join the WEDNESDAY Party!!!

I got a make-over....

As you can see I got a MAKE-OVER...woot woot doing a happy dance and I can only credit one person and that is Jenn @

  My expectations have been exceeded and I can't say enough about what a fantastic job she did...And was quick and efficient...When she said she was going to do something she did...YES!! I'm singing her praises and NO she didn't ask me to and Yes I "CRAZY" love it...   Well I'm going to take me and my smile and "Thank-God" for the wonderful people I have met in cyberland...It makes it all worth what I do!!!   (If you need a GREAT Blog Designer...PPPSSTTTTT...I know where you can find one)   Thanks again, Jenn!!!   I would love to here what everyone thinks...truth please (just take it easy on me it's been a long day...lol)

Organize: The beginning

I really don't like talking about the chaos of packing and moving ALL THE TIME...unfortunately it has consumed my life!!! ...Just stick around the unpacking, organizing, and decorating will be more fun...promise!!!

So, I figured just cause I can't get organized doesn't me YOU can't...I think the hardest part of starting to get organized is getting started.. Just think of all the times you tore your house apart looking for something (if your like me) it was right in front of you the whole time... ;-) I read in one of my many Organizing & Home Decor' books that "Organizing is the act of giving yourself more time and peace of mind"...So so true!!

When you look at all your belonging, try to understand the role they play in your life. Are they collectibles??? and if they are, are they full of dust (they really are not collectibles...they are dust collectors)?? I learned if it's a collectible it's precious to you or in value and they should be cared for and proud to show off.... Memories?? Gifts?? What ever you call your belongings you need to organize in the way that is best for you...

Some things that don't work is digging through your closet to find something to wear, planning dinner, taking "Me" time...Maybe you want to be able to pay bills on time...or just spend more time with family...

Choose the area or room you would like to start...Start small because purging can be overwhelming...A good place to start might be a drawer or cabinet...Get a timer and give yourself 20 min and don't stop until you've reached your set goal...

Pull everything out from your target area and begin to sort into bins, boxes, bags...what ever works for you...I use my recycled bags because they are sturdy with handles and easy for me to carry from room to room...SEE aren't they cute???

Ask yourself...Do you LOVE it?? Do you really NEED it??? Can someone else USE it???

Once you have sorted everything...PUT them where they belong...Discard garbage...Put your "Donate" bag in your car (if you leave it sit around something is bound to come out of that bag) ~Not like I would know or anything~...hehe

Another good TIP is too put anything you don't use in a box and tape it up and put it in the trunk of your vehicle...If you haven't touched it in 3 months...drive by goodwill and drop it off...You probably will forgot what was in it anyways...

Now that you completed the first area of your home...try and make it a routine...

Remember: it takes 21 days to turn it into a habit and it takes the rest of your life to continue that habit ;-)

DO YOU HAVE A PURGING HABIT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE???

Enter with Caution...

It I say it's going to fit "IT'S GONNA FIT"...and I have the proof right here...

YEPPERS!!! This is the closet under the stairs in the basement...As soon as you open the door "HOLY CRAP" and crap is right...I'm thinking what the hell is in there and the closet is not that big...(Good place for the medicine ball...lol) Like I said before I'm going to use it ~I really am~...(OK ~ laugh I am)..

I guess one way to find out exactly what is in there is to start pulling it all out...I'm skeeerrred (if something moves I'm out of there) it can all stay...;-)

Well I can tell you that this is not even funny not even a little bit...who the heck has all this stuff crammed into a little closet...you know if you shove it in there you are not going to see 1/2 of it EVER again!! Just look at it and I'm not even done pulling IT ALL OUT!!!

I see treeeessss (and I'm not talking broccoli)...Now come on, Denyse!!! (Yes I am talking to myself) "Why do I need 2 (two) Christmas Trees"??? And, NO I never put them both up...that's too much work on Christmas...I barely put up 1 (one) and besides the other one is HUGE...

Let me spare you my agony and make this quick...the closet is now empty...Ready for the shocker??...Look how small it really is...(I'm still scratching my head that it all fit)

I did one heck of a job packing that closet look at all the shit crap I pulled out of there (except the patio chair pads)...How the heck did I EVER fit it in there is one question and the second question is what is all this stuff...I bet I don't need 3/4's of it!!!

Well you saw the empty storage space now let's have a GOOOOD look at what was in there....LOL!!

Two rows...Two deep...means too much unnecessary junk, crap, things, clutter (however you want to say it) it's still useless...I bet I haven't seen most the holiday items in 3 yrs...I'm shaking my head just looking at the pictures...(I really am an organized person...NO REALLY I AM) ;-)

There is a positive to this...Good thing we are moving or that stuff would have stayed hidden in that closet for who knows how long...Out of site out of mind, right? I would have got to it EVENTUALLY!! Now is a good time to say buh-bye...and from the look of what is piled here I will not have any anxiety saying toodles!!!

I KNOW YOU HAVE A CORNER OF YOUR HOUSE YOU "ENTER WITH CAUTION"!!! ;)

TAA (Totes Addiction Anonymous)

I just made that up and if there was such an organization I would have to check myself in…I just couldn’t help myself…Isn’t it beautiful???

NOPE…Not a Vera Bradley …But, I bet you thought it was and you were thinking I’ve never seen that pattern before (loving the black & red pattern) …Liking it aren’t you???…LOL!!

It’s from the Marie Osmond Collection… I really need to stay off her website…It is going to get me in so much trouble…It’s like keeping a drink from an alcoholic……That is some rough stuff..alcohol is cheaper…I need to rethink my addictions.. ha-ha

I “CRAZY” love my new computer bag…it’s perfect when I go sit in Barnes & Noble…It has a cute lil cell phone holder that hooks on the side…

I’m not a fan of “Animal Print” patterns like some people I know (uh hum …Roberta)…but I do like it in MY NEW TOTE..It’s the perfect touch to the pocket in front…It’s big enough for a tablet or some folders…(especially when I’m toting around school crap ~rolling eyes~)…

Look at all the cute compartments it has on the inside…and enough room for more tablets, folders or books…~still rolling eyes~

My “red” computer matches and looks great in there…doesn’t it??? …See it was all meant to be (yep!! I keep telling myself that)..

COME ON TELL ME…I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE ADDICTED TO TOTES….