My entryway!

So it's been several months since I finished a hallway table I found on the classified for $25!  This is the only picture I took of it, and yes, I realize it's not a very good one, but I need a before picture! You can kind of see (if you click on it) that the paint is missing in some spots and the corner is broken too. I decided to paint it black and distress the edges.

Anyway, I have spent months trying to figure out what to put on it. On the picture above, we were living in an apartment and could never figure out what to do with it. It took about 8 months and I finally just grabbed stuff from around my house (didn't buy anything purposely for it). We also moved in March to a bigger place (a town home). So this is what it looks like now:

The Jenson sign was given to me by my sis-in-law almost 5 Christmases ago! The wooden box was made by my hubby's uncle, sweet uncle Dan! The tile was given to me by my great friend Alicia, who I met while I was an army wife...she took care of me so well...miss you friend! The little blue base I got it months ago from a consignment store. It was like $7 and I didn't know what I was doing with it but I knew I wanted it! The stem in it is a 50% off stem from Hobby Lobby and I paid $1.50 for it! (Love Hobby Lobby). The lantern I also got a consignment store and that was my most expensive acquisition. I also got that one but had no idea but I was going to do with it (It was $20). The wreath it's a grapevine wreath that I have had for several months already and the stems I used for it were about $1.50 and used 4 which I also had for months! Pretty good, right? It's not a huge table but I love how it looks every time I open the door. It tells me "welcome home"! Maybe I'll add a couple of things later, like a family picture :). (Click on the pictures to see them larger)

It's official!

Today I was able to gather all of the requirements and cash for CNA school! It's official, in some point down the line, I will be a Nurse! Yay me! Now, I'm really not looking forward to changing adult diapers but hope I can get used to it. I'm still excited that I have a more a goal that is becoming reality and that I'm not taking steps to nowhere anymore. Do you have any stories of nursing school or about being a CNA? I would love to hear them because I really don't know what to expect! Wish me luck!

From old to fabulous!

The other day I went to my local thrift store looking for a diamond in the rough. Sometime I get out of there disappointed, and sometimes I find treasures. I think I need to start going to yard sales. Seems like many people have found treasures that way. So I found this frame:

I didn't love the gold (for those who don't know me, I tend to stay away from gold, it's a little too formal for me) but I loved the shape because of all the detail on it. I got it for $5! Not too bad, but not super cheap either. I came home and wanted something that made a big statement so I decided to spray paint it cherry red.With school and kids, it took me about a week to figure out what to do with it, and finally last night I decided to pull out my Silhouette SD, which has been sitting untouched for over 6 months! What a waste, I know! I spray-painted the back of it and cut a white birdie from my silhouette library. And this is my end result! I think it looks so much better, not perfect but I think it has brought some light into my kitchen. It's very cute...I think!

First I tried putting it on one of the dining room walls but later decided it belonged in the kitchen....

Now I can write notes, shopping lists and maybe even the menu of the week/day! I love that little white birdie! (By the way, the frame it's an 11x14). Love the blue and red combo; It's my new favorite!

A sofa that was crying for help!

A sofa that was crying for help!So today I decided I wanted to try to clean my sofa because it was looking disgusting. I remember that in an episode of an HGTV show, the designer machine-washed two microfiber pillow covers. I wanted to give it a try, after all, the worst that could happen is that it would look clean and not so new... . Style is a choice, clean is not! So I went ahead and googled "wash microfiber covers". I read several comments from women that had excellent results and I got some excellent tips. So this is what I did:


1) Remove the cushion covers and in my case, the filling is just huge rectangles of heavy foam so I didn't have to put tit in bags but if you do have lose filling, put it in separate garbage bags so you know the exact amount that is supposed to go in each cushion.

2) Use regular soap but let it get all diluted in the water before you put the covers in. Fill to large so the covers have space to move around. I washed the first cushion cover in the gentle cycle but then did a load of darks and set the washer to regular wash and forgot to put in back to gentle cycle, so the last two cushion covers were washed in the regular cycle and came out looking great. Your choice!

3)Dry in the lowest heat setting and don't let the cushion covers dry all the way; you want them a tad damp. They will come out looking wrinkly or bubbly so what you need to do is put the filling back in right away so the covers will not lose their shape and so you don't have to iron them out later on.

Your result, or at least mine was a awesome looking couch! It saved me from having to buy a new sofa because I was embarrassed of what mine used to look like. Dear Lay-Z-Boy, I'm sorry for thinking that you needed to be replaced, we still love you!

What do you think?

BEFORE

Yeah, I know gross! This time, I can blame it on my kids! Do you see that huge stain? There were several of those everywhere, maybe not as big, but just as noticeable and all those crumbs are probably chip crumbs. No more eating on the couch!

AFTER 

My kids enjoying the newly cleaned sofa!
HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!

Isabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/044867039670112759014

What is it like to be a Mormon?

First, I must say that "Mormon" is just a nickname because of the Book of Mormon which we believe in. Mormon was a prophet of God but in no way do we adore our prophets. We love them and follow their advise but ultimately, is God who we must "fear" and adore. You can call us LDS or Latter-Day Saints, after the name of the church: The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints.
So what is "mormon" you are wondering? First of all, I want to kill a myth and I want to tell you WE PRACTICE MONOGAMY! I don't know why it's so hard for people to understand. Whoever tells you that we are polygamists, is making a very uninformed statement. We are not perfect but we try to be the best we can. So please, give us a chance. Don't let ignorant people spread rumors which are not true. Moreover, here is a list of our Articles of Faith which are our basic believes:

The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
   
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
    
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith (source: http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,106-1-2-1,FF.html)

Tag, you're it!

Wow, it has been a long time since I got tagged! I think it's a  fun way to get to know more about people! Here it goes:

Four Times Four

Four Places I go:
1-College
2-Church
3-Wal-Mart
4-Home--I know, I am not very popular right now :(.

Four Favorite Smells:
1-Mexican food
2-Scentsy
3-A clean house
4-Clean laundry

Four Recommendations:
1- Laughter IS the best medicine!
2- The best things in life don't come with a price tag.
3- Spend your money in things that will create memories with your family!
4- Be grateful.

Four People to tag:
1-Amber
2-Delina
3-Nelly
4-Katelyn

Best and Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!

After almost six years of marriage, I haven't been able to bake a darn thing. Well, I guess I have baked but nothing ever turns out. It has been so frustrating, and I almost lost all faith that I could ever bake well without having the Pillsbury dough boy's help.

So like always, I vented my frustrations on Facebook, and my friend Amber gave me a recipe and some words of encouragement. I decided I would try once again. I'm so glad I tried because they turned so delicious, and they were not hard to make at all! They are the best tasting chocolate cookies, and I didn't have to spend all afternoon baking! So Amber, I know I said this before but thank you for restoring my faith in baking! I love these cookies so much!

 Don't they look just perfect?!? Pretty good for someone who wasn't given baking as a talent!

You want the recipe, you say??!? Here its goes! Check out Amber's other awesome recipes as well!

http://thischiccancook.blogspot.com/2010/06/aunt-kathys-cookies.html