How do you....

Just wondering how you all pronounce Etsy. I say it with a short e, like Betsy without the B. I've talked to other who use a long E, like eat-see.

I had to look it up to see how others say it and came across a forum where others were asking the same question. There were quite a few variations on the forum. I finally came acroos the answer and according to Etsy itself, Etsy rhymes with the girls name Betsy.

Anyway, how do you say Etsy?

Shopping!

My mom and I went to Sioux Falls to do some shopping yesterday. Nothing like a little retail therapy to help get rid of the blahs! We went to some of our favorite stores - Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Dollar Tree, and Gordman's. I didn't spend a lot, but I came home with a lot. I love when that happens!

The short version of our trip:

I got some fun fabric at JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, and a local fabric store.

The white pumpkins are out at Dollar Tree!

They also had these cute little pumpkin and acorn jewels.

We visited Wild Whoopie Bakery and tried out some yummy whoopie pies.

We ended our shopping day by having supper with my uncle and aunt at Texas Roadhouse.

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Definitely the short version. We did a lot of shopping and I came home exhausted. But it was a happy exhausted :o)

50 Things That Make Me Happy

I've been struggling lately. I've been feeling really blah again and I can't seem to get away from it. I'm not depressed, just down. I'm working hard to get out of though. I've got a few things going that have ignited a little spark. I'll let you in on that in a week or so.

I figured the best way to get out of the dumps is to remind myself of the things that make me happy. It's also a good way to check off another goal on my 101 list. # 6 - Make a list of 50 things that make me happy.

So here it is....

50 Things That Make Me Happy

1. David
2. Autumn
3. Baking
4. Buying/making gifts
5. Crafting
6. Finding something really good at a really good price
7. Clean sheets
8. Finding items that remind me of my childhood
9. The feeling that Christmas time brings
10. Looking at old family pictures
11. Watching Christmas movies
12. Picking pumpkins
13. Autumn scents
14. Hobby Lobby (especially when the autumn items are out)
15. A new purse
16. A clean kitchen
17. Hearing a song that reminds me of high school
18. Hearing an owl “who”
19. The first snow fall of the season
20. Stepping on crunchy leaves in the fall
21. Driving around to look at Christmas lights
22. Spending time with my brother
23. Sleeping with the windows open on those first crisp fall nights
24. Campfires
25. Thunderstorms
26. Pretty paper
27. A clutter free table (mine, I don’t care if yours is :o) )
28. Decorating for holidays
29. Halloween
30. Having all the laundry done and put away
31. Getting real (good/fun) mail
32. School vacations!
33. Going through antique stores
34. The smell of coffee
35. Thanksgiving
36. New, cushy socks
37. Roads that have a tree canopy over the road
38. Easter candy (it just tastes better ;o) )
39. Magazines
40. Driving around to look at pretty houses
41. Comments left on my blog
42. Shopping on Black Friday with my mom
43. Reconnecting with an old friend
44. Hobo Days!
45. Making lots of Christmas goodies
46. Old, simple houses that have been long abandoned
47. Quotes. Funny quotes. Meaningful quotes. Girly quotes. Family quotes. Life quotes. Friendship quotes.
48. When things start to come alive after a long winter
49. My in-laws. I got really lucky.
50. Not feeling an ounce of worry, doubt or stress. Doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s so good.

When I looked at my completed list, I noticed how simple a lot of the items are. They don't cost anything or take a lot of time. I just need to remember to take the time to enjoy these things.

Rummage sale score!

I haven't been to many rummage sales this year. It seems like there are less sales in my area this year too. I did have a pretty good day a couple weekends ago with a few good finds though.

I got this old sheet set for 50 cents and the bag of faux cherries for a quarter. I want to try to make an apron so I thought the sheet set would be good fabric to practice on.

This little table was $2. I already painted it a shade of green.

The next item might be one of my favorite rummage sale finds ever. Last Christmas David and I saw this set in a local bookstore right after Christmas. I really wanted it but I didn't want to spend $25 on it. Well, as I was standing in line to pay for the table I spotted it sitting in a pile of books.

I got it for $1! I was so excited! The set includes the hardcover book, the CD, tap, and the bell.

Domestic Diva

The other day Carrie from Farming on Faith left me a comment saying that she had just run across my blog. I am so glad she found me! I went over to visit her blog and knew right away I'd found one of my new favorite bloggers!

I learned quite a lot during my visit. Like.....
how to make dishwasher detergent with these ingredients,
fabric softener using these items
and laundry detergent with these items.
Price break down -
about $1.86 for 30-40 (?) loads worth of dishwasher detergent
about $1.40 for about 65 loads worth of fabric softener
around $1.20 for 5 gallons of laundry detergent
I felt like such a domestic diva as I was mixing up all these money saving cleaner recipes. :o)
You need to check out Carrie's blog if you want to start saving money on cleaning products. It's also nice to know exactly what is going into all my cleaners now. Everything was so simple to make and it was quick too. And how else are you going to get 5 GALLONS of laundry detergent for under 2 dollars?

Just thought you should know...

Last night I had two dreams that there were snakes in my bed. I *hate* snakes. I can hardly handle seeing them on the road as I drive by or looking at pictures of them.

Anyway, both times I shot up and hauled butt into the living room before I realized that they were just dreams. I still patted down my side of the bed before getting back in though.

Ok. That's all. Just thought you should know.

After the Storm

We had a couple rounds of thunderstorms in my area this evening. There was a beautiful sunset due to the trailing clouds.

For Under a Dollar.........

My mom and I were shopping in a local craft store awhile back when I ran across these key chips. I couldn't pass them up since they were only $3.50 for 12 keys. I had no real plans for them, but I bought 'em anyway.A couple weeks ago my mom asked me if I wanted a bag of these wood panels. I had no idea what to do with them but who can pass up free stuff?

So I got bored the other night and decided I needed to do something crafty. I pulled out a couple panels and spray painted them black. I searched through my scrapbook paper as they dried and came across a half sheet of black & white paper. I thought my "keys" would work perfectly with this so I painted them with some Antique White craft paint. Threw it all together and this is what I got:

I put them up on our family wall and now it's a little closer to being finished.

Price breakdown --

Wood panels =FREE

1/2 sheet scrapbook paper =30 cents

2 "keys" = 64 cents

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TOTAL COST - 94 cents.

LOVE IT!!!

Photo Tag

I was tagged by Joanna from This Southern Girl's Nest for a photo tag.

Rules:


1) Go to your photo files…Select the 6th photo folder


2) Select the 6th photo in that folder


3) Post that photo along with the story behind it.


4) Then challenge 5 blog friends to do the same!





Ok, I haven't been on this computer very long so I don't have a whole lot of pictures saved on it yet. Let me go have a look.

Ok, this is a picture of my baby brother. Yeah, he's 26 years old but he's still my baby brother. He's usually not this dirty either. Well, ok maybe he is. He likes to "play" on 4 wheelers, work on trucks, and works as a geothermal heating/cooling installer type person (um, I dunno what ya'd really call it). But he cleans up nice :o).

Anyway, I took this picture last weekend while we were cleaning/packing/moving things from my grandma's house. I was trying to take his picture without being noticed but he happened to look over as I snapped it. Good thing I was quick or there might have been an obscene gesture in the pic. He was chatting with my mom (not that that would have stopped him) and was mid-word when I took the picture.

I'm tagging:

Nicolle at Boyd's Crazy Mama
Nichole at Heaven's Gift
Katie at My First Year as a Wallace
Annabelle at Simple Pleasures

Yeah, I'm only doing 4. It's Sunday and I'm being lazy. :o)

My Husband Rocks!

So I spent last weekend helping my mom, uncles, aunt, and brother pack up and move out everything in my grandma's house. Her house sold and the buyers want to be in on July 15. Anyway, it was an interesting weekend. My mom and I had some fun going through everything in the kitchen as we packed (you really have to wonder how many empty peanut butter jars one person needs). I was a little sad too. My brother and I spent a lot of time at that house with my grandma and grandpa while growing up. It was hard knowing that it would probably be the last time I would ever be in that house.

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David knew that I was a little sad and being the great guy he is, he had a rose, a magazine, and a card waiting for me on the table when I got home.

I don't think I could ask for a better husband!

If you want to find out more about MHR Fridays, visit Katy Lin.

Fun Mail!

I've gotten some really fun mail this past week. I love getting anything in the mail that isn't junk mail or a bill!!

First was a package from Nicolle. It was FULL of crafting items, so much stuff I was starting to think it was a bottomless box!

She had emailed me a week ago and said she was looking to get rid of some crafting supplies and wondered if I would want them. She's way too generous!! Thanks so much Nicolle!!

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The other fun package I received was from Shelly for Bunch of Scrap's mini Americana swap. Look at this cute stuff!

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th! See ya all next week :o)