Hello Friends! I miss everyone!!!

School is off to a screaming start this semester. I'm finding out that I'm really a nerd. Who knew?!?! But I'm having fun.

It's freezing here, -9 this morning. Wow weeee that's cold.

Anyone's kids have Webkinz? My little 7 year old friend and I have each adopted two online. It's a great way for us to connect over the miles. They're really a ton of fun. I'm sort of addicted. You have to take care of them ~ feed, bathe, play, put them to bed, take them to the vet, go to school, get jobs if you want any money, go shopping ~ all kinds of fun stuff to do. It's too funny. If you want money you can play in the arcade and win some (future gambler's anonymous members?) but if you want big money, you go to school and answer all kinds of questions about math, science, art, music, social studies, language. That's kinda cool.....

Okay, you all know the old saying about things happening in threes? Well, #3 came to my family this morning. First it was the dryer making horrible sounds last fall, then right before Christmas the TV died, and this morning hubby's car decided to retire. He has been procrastinating forever on getting new one, so hopefully this will push him to do it. Of course, this little event throws a monkey wrench into all my plans for this afternoon because I now have to be HIS taxi driver too.

I have a very negative attitude today. I need to go home and cook.

I'm going to expand my garden too, Silver. With grocery prices as high as they are and no relief in sight, I figure it will be a smart thing. Something for the kids to do this summer too.

More snow here and cold. It is sunny, which at least makes it seem more cheerful. I think our city has forgotten how to clean streets though. They are a mess this morning.

Vol & Luv you may want to look at PotteryBarn Kids. If nothing else get the free catalog for ideas. They have a whole section of dorm style decor that looks pretty 'industrial/locker room' and may give you additional inspiration/ideas.
We have been kickin it up a notch here with the decorating as well. Our kitchen is currently getting all the attention - Tuscan. If its done before spring I may tackle another room but expanding the garden is higher on the list.
FREEZING here - literally! I am praying for an early Spring.

The redecorating stuff is fun. I can't wait for the spring, so I can throw open the windows and paint. I also have some paint and wallpaper to do a little something with our staircase. It was one of those things that snowballed: I thought of the wallpaper to make the very tall wall at the top of the landing be a focal point(and a little prettier than a big white wall), then I thought of painting the wall coming down the stairs a darker color to hide finger prints, and now I'm to new carpet and woodwork to run up the stairs and down the hall. Contractor's bid made me choke, so I'm trying to figure out if hubby and I can do it.

The Jaffa blocks sound like a neat idea, but my son would probably try to hang off them and pull the drywall down. I've seriously thought of using a big rolling tool chest with drawers for a dresser and make his room more industrial looking. I'm thinking more of the cleaning aspects-some Windex and papertowels and voile!

Wow, was it cold here this weekend!!! Anyone else get that arctic blast? I swear the furnace never shut off. Can't wait to see that bill! It's snowing here now-Yuck!

One thing I added to my oldest's room is a wall with a peg board square on it. You often see them in workshops to hang tools and stuff on. It is REALLY handy for baseball hats, belts, loose jackets etc. Costs virtually nothing to do and really helps a lot with space...

For easy and relatively cheap shelves I took those Jaffa Blocks (the plastic stacking ones you see around a lot for dorm rooms) and hung those on the walls sideways by putting nails in the studs. They come in various colors and are terrific for tropies, books etc.

Good luck -- sounds like fun stuff!!!
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