My Little Loves in the Leaves

Okay, I got some of the most adorable shots of my kiddos in the beautiful Michigan leaves yesterday and I just can't help but share a few!  Yes, my son has some wild hair going on, and my little girls looks slightly like a boy without her hairbow in, but hey.  You get what you can get!  And I do believe Tori's new favorite food is dried maple leaves.  What do you think, add a little water to some in the blender and make some fall flavored babyfood?  Coming to a Wal-Mart shelf near you.....

4 years old, 6 months, 2 years

bashful statues

I would hide my face too if I looked like this.  Can we say, Kitschy?!  (Maran, am I using this word properly?)

 White spray paint covered up those interesting colors, and then a good spray of stone-look textured spray paint gave them a "you belong in my flower garden" look.  Someone tell them they can uncover their faces now!   

a coffe table B/A

A paint brush + white paint + garage sale coffee table =

Yup, no need for a calculator.  A sleek looking, nice coffee table is definitely the answer.  I was at a wedding rehearsal tonight for the wedding I am in tomorrow and I need to go get some beauty sleep, hence the extremely unexciting blog post tonight!  I will try to make it up to you in the near future.  Hmmmm, maybe how we played with the last rodent we caught in the house.  Just kidding.......  maybe.....

Glam up your Girl!

Now selling headbands on the blog!  Click on the "Headbands for Sale" button to the right of this page to see the selection! These are not limited to babies, ohhhhh no.  Tori and I fight over who gets to wear the pink and brown one. :)  These make great baby gifts!  Shoot me an email at kammyhayes@hotmail.com.  If you require shipping, your entire order will ship for just $2.50.  If you live in Iowa, I can always send them home with my mom who burns up the highway between here and Michigan quite often!

Schoolmarm Charm

Before - antique school desk where someone's Granny learned to do arithmetic.

Remember a few posts back when I discussed with you the wonders of a Goodwill As Is store??  Well here is one of the "wonders" I found chilling in said store one day.  This calls for a drum roll..... it cost me 79 cents!!!  It needed a good scrub down, and then some, and a little paint....  This is now Tobin's desk, so he can quietly color next to me while I make cards.  How often does that scenario actually happen?  I think it did once.... last year maybe....  haha.

After

Spider Table

I don't know what possessed me to paint a spider on this little table.  I have a fear larger than Hercules of spiders.  Could it be because Halloween is right around the corner?

 Not that celebrating the devil is something we uhhh celebrate (goodness, my poor deprived children haven't even experienced trick or treating!).  Seriously though, give me a mouse any day.  I catch the mice in our house and kill 'em, as long as hubby gets the spiders.  That's how we worked it out 10 years ago.

Our house seems to have many more mice than spiders, however!  But as you can see, they can provide great entertainment.

I did finally quit tormenting this mouse if you must know, and it met an untimely death outside....I will spare you the details.  Afterall, I have a hunch my audience is largely female....

The old, tired desk is revived!!

Introducing the infamous "BEFORE" photo. If "before photos" had feelings, I would really feel bad for posting how awful they look.  It's kind of like when women go in for a makeover and they feature the before and after shots in a magazine.  You know they make them look as frumpy as possible in the "before" picture.  I mean come on, I'm sure she didn't go out in public with frizzy hair, dark circles under her eyes, wax balls in her ears, you get the point.....  But let's see this desk with it's "hair styled, ears cleaned, and make up on, baby"!

All.  Snazzed. Up.  And would you believe this is the desk my neighbor picked up for me at an auction for five smackin' bucks?  That's right!!  Mmmmm how I wish I had a place in my home for this.

side table before n' after

Thanks for this about-to-be-awesome little table, Mel!!

Do you recognize it?  Want it back? :)

Yeah, WHAT HE SAID!!! toilet training...

I am a laid-back but cut-the-crap type of parent.  At least I think I am.  If I see them licking the peanut butter off the knife I say "hey dude, be careful, you might slice off yer tongue!".  And sometimes they do.  Okay, so they've never cut their tongue, but Tobin learned at a young age not to mess around with scissors when I told him it would hurt if he cut himself and sure enough...  I watched him out of the corner of my eye when he closed the scissors on the chubby little skin of his palm but he didn't cry nor did he want me to see since I had warned him!  Oh, the pride of a two year old.  So if you're familiar with  John Rosemond's parenting articles, you won't be surprised that I think he's the bomb.com!  (most of the time).  And you MUST READ this short little article that my mom sent me once in the mail.

The modern parent 'thinks' too much

John Rosemond

I came across an interesting question the other day while reading my email.  The mother of a 30-month-old was asking for some direction concerning a fairly routine toilet training matter.  She ended her correspondence by saying, "over all else, we want to avoid anything that might result in her developing a negative attitude toward her bodily functions."

That's the modern parent talking.  Can you imagine a mom in, say, 1955 saying something like that?  No, you can't because until recently, parents didn't think every single child-rearing issue was fruaght with psychological implications. 

Pre-modern parents were straightforward with children (ie., they acted like leaders of their children).  The pre-modern mom didn't view herself as Keeper of the Most Fragile Vessel of Self Esteem, her child's Psychological Protectress.  As a consequence, she didn't dance around issues.  When she felt it was time for her child to learn to use the toilet, for example, she simply said, "You're not going to wear diapers anymore.  Today, we're going to begin learning how to use the potty.  Come with me."

And that was that.

The contemporary brouhaha over toilet training is a prime example of modern, psychological thinking when it comes to children.  The modern parent, as exemplified by the above-mentioned mom, thinks that teaching a child to use the toilet is a delicate psychological enterprise.  That if she makes one misstep --- starts too early, doesn't read "readiness signs" properly, says the wrong thing, etc. --- that her child is going to be warped for life, that she might grow up with a "negative attitude toward her bodily functions."

My little hunbun, doin' his business! :)

The modern mom thinks this because she has swallowed propaganda from the likes of eminent pediatricians who deliver somber cautions along these lines.  In fact, teaching a toddler to use the toilet is no more "psychological" an enterprise than teaching a toddler to eat with a spoon.  In both cases, during the learning process, the child makes messes.  In both cases, a patient approach is going to produce the best results.  

Is there reason to agonize over whether a child is or isn't psychologically "ready" to be taught to use a spoon?  Is there reason to believe that if one does not approach the teaching of self-feeding with great caution that the child is going to be warped for life, that she is going to grow up with "negative feelings about swallowing" or something equally ridiculous?  Of course not!  And neither is there reason to agonize over toilet training.

The pre-modern (pre-1960's) mom did not agonize over any of this stuff.  When she wanted her child to do something, she told him to do it.  When she said "no," she meant "no."  She toilet trained her child in less than a week by simply saying, 'You are going to begin putting your business in the toilet" and responding patiently but with firm reminders when he had an accident. 

Okay so there was another paragraph in this article but when it got scanned it chopped off the side and I can't quite get it word-for-word but to paraphrase it says something like: The rate of child and teen depression has tripled since 1965 (which is a conservative estimate) and ironic to note, that ever since American parents began worrying about psychological issues, American children began having psychological problems.  Think there might be a connection?

And all that to say, Thanks mom, for pretty much potty training my 2 oldest while they visit you out of state.  Haha. (In just a few days, I might add.) 



***UPDATE!!  Just finished potty training my 21 month old girl.  She was definitely the most difficult and literally threw her tiny self backwards trying to get off the potty chair while yelling "nooooo".  but I clamped my hands down over her little thighs, looked her in the eyes and said "MOMMY IS THE BOSS.  You ARE going to go potty in the toilet now.  The diapers are bye bye, you have big girl panties now and you better not pee in them!"  Sometimes I even set the potty chair up on the end of a bench so she couldn't get off.  In 7 days, she was trained.  She still loves me and is very proud of herself!  As of 2/14/2012, it's been two weeks and she is accident free!!!  Get rid of the diapers, parents, and DON'T LOOK BACK!***

Marie's Fabulous Find

She was just going to drop off a load of donations to Goodwill.  "Don't look, don't look, no time for shopping, drop it off and go..." she kept telling herself.  But right beside her, as she's waiting for Pokey Pete to take care of her, her gaze accidentally falls on this nasty chalkboard easel.  Good thing she isn't good at listening to her inner voices.  She scooped it up faster than her MAN can pace.  Just another reminder not to overlook "junk".

Before

Painted and ready for action in her office. One magnetic side, one blackboard side.

Kam's Kards

My smallest money maker, yet my favorite hobby, is making cards!!  For Christmas and birthdays, not much quite matches my excitement when I open a present and it's full of fun cardstock, scrapbooking skickers, and brads!  Unless of course it's a new pair of boots from my husband.  Then I'm over-the-moon.  I'm obsessed with boots.  Boots are the only positive thing winter has going for it.  Back to cards.  My hubby has a cousin (which has resulted in her being my pal) who sends a birthday card to everyone and their brother.  And their brother's grandma, and aunt, and electrician....  well maybe not their electrician but seriously, she goes through a lot of cards.  It's a super sweet thing to do and it keeps me in business since she orders her cards from me!  Here's the spread from yesterday.  If you'd ever like to order cards, shoot me an email - kamskards@gmail.com.  $1.10 each is what I charge.  I just decided that.  Plus $2 for shipping and handling, if your order requires that.

Purple Polka Dots

While leaving the only town pizza joint one day (which sadly closed it's doors a couple weeks ago), I glanced across the street which resulted in me snatching this up at a garage sale for $1.

So after stashing above end table in my chicken house for about a year, I decide it would look great with polka dots.  Now listen.  Don't go running to the closest craft store and buy a circle stencil if you get the polka dot urge.  After all, one of the ideas of this blog is living on a shoestring!  I searched around the house and found a laminated something-or-other that wasn't the style of my decor any more and cut a circle in it.  Hello, free stencil.

And here it is, about a year after I found it!! Yes, sometimes it takes me that long to get to something!  I love painting furniture fun and girly!  Ironic coming from me, I know!

A polka dot shelf......

A dresser BEFORE, similar to the one below......

And this old wood dresser that once painted, sold faster than I could say "craigslist".

Maran's Window

I'm in Chicago where my super creative friend lives and low and behold, look at what adorns this girl's dining room wall!  So same idea as the last window post, but with a little twist.  I like how she can easily update her photos with the clothespins!  Pretty slick, eh?

You know you're Frugal when....

You go to the Goodwill "AS IS" store and you're bummed to see they've raised their prices on kids clothes from 29 cents to 49 cents, and adults from 79 cents to $1!! 

This is from my trip to the Goodwill As Is store in Charlotte, MI

If you like thrift shopping and have never been to or even heard of a Goodwill as is store (or Goodwill Outlet) well by George this is your lucky day!!  Ohhhh wow are they great.  First of all, you need to have time on your side.  And be prepared to dig.  I'm not talking dig as in sort through rows and rows of clothes, I'm talking tables piled high with clothes, none of which are folded!  You will have a blast laughing at the doozies in there, but also ooo and ahhhh over the things others failed to find first!!  I took home a HUGE stack of clothes, mostly for my baby girl and some for myself and boys.  But also a large mirror, end table which you just wait - will be adorable painted up - and a chair, which will also turn into something beautimous.  Of course odds and ends also made it into my sack like a candle warmer, an awesome soup bowl set, etc.  All of this totaled up to $22.  Thirty three things, furniture included, and it totaled $22.  Woo hoo!!! By the way, ignore the price tags on everything.  There are big signs posted up on the walls that go something like this:
originally: $1.99 and under............now .79
originally:  1.99 - 2.99....................now .99
originally: 2.99-4.99.......................now1.29
I'm just guessing on these prices, it is something like that!!!  I got Tobin's desk there for just 79 cents once! But they've since raised their prices........  Someday I will post a pic of it.

Adding to the stash

While eating Sunday dinner on the patio in the brilliant sunshine with my family a few weeks ago, a vehicle pulls up in my driveway and I scratch my head wondering who would be dropping in on this fine afternoon.  I'm not used to seeing my next door neighbor's jeep in my driveway since we live so close that it would be odd not to just walk over.  She loves to go to auctions.  Hooray!  She has won three desks, including one with a large round mirror, for $5 each!  She has to make two trips to get everything (also some really cool doll-size furniture for $1).  I give her $16 and a huge thank you.  Didn't I tell you once on this blog that my neighbors are better than yours??  Wow, I owe her big-time.  Watch in the next few days for some furniture make overs featuring these pieces!  I was out in the barn with the bats and other nocturnal critters last night until way past my bedtime.  Kind of creepy.  I've always been afraid of the dark.  Hey, they say confession is good for the soul!  But anyways, easier to work with them (critters) than a baby in a bumbo seat and 4 year old who both like to grab things they shouldn't (wet paint brushes for example....) like I did earlier in the day!

It's another old window!

Since everyone knows I'm a junk collector, I get everyone's junk.  No complaints here! Well from me anyway.  The Hubby has made a few grunts of disapproval now and then but he has learned to cope quite well with his hoarding wife.  Send up a prayer for him now and then though, will ya?  So last week I inherited this old window from a man who cannot see potential in things like beautiful old windows.  Then again, he won't even let the word casserole into his home so how would you expect him to see the beauty in an old window? Send up a prayer for casserole-hating, non-appreciating-junk-man's wife while you're at it too, kay?  They really are a lovely couple.  Really.  So Here's where the old window ended up.  Looking at it now, I wish I had done all black and white prints, but I'm too lazy to change it now and so this is how it will stay.  Each photo is attached with double sided tape.  Need an old window?  I have plenty!  If you are within driving distance to Parma and I like you, then send me a request at kammyhayes@hotmail.com. 

Painted Kitchen Counter Tops?!

We're going to go from THIS: The ugly, cheap looking peachy pink cream whatever you want to call them counter tops BEFORE, to....... THIS!

At last.  The painted counter tops.  Usually I'm met with a look of "Kammy, you have totally lost it with your thriftiness if you think painted counter tops are going to look even remotely classy" when I mention the idea.  Well, only time will tell how well these hold up.  But I'm here to tell you, that for now it has worked, looks classy, and I LOVE IT!!!  Here's how it all went down.

We bought Rustoleum Countertop Paint from Lowes.  Didn’t know they made such a thing, did you??  I bought two and had one tinted granite, and the other tinted pewter.  It was $20 each.  I used about half the granite color, and hardly any of the pewter.

Scared to be doing such a scary thing!  NOTE: Must use a FOAM ROLLER to apply.

Beware.  This stuff smells so bad you'd be thankful if a skunk would spray you so you could have a fresher aroma to sniff.

After applying the darker ganite color, I put on a glove and dipped a plastic grocery bag in the pewter color, tapping off the excessive paint on a cool whip lid.  Make sure the bottom coat is almost dry, but still slightly tacky.

Lightly press the crumpled up sack randomly on the counter top.

Wait THREE DAYS before putting anything on it, and then have all the little cousins over to test it's durability!

My big mistake during this project:  I used too much pressure when rolling on the paint and should have rolled in one continuous long motion all the way to the end of the counter.  When the light shines on the countertop the right way, you can see my roller marks!  OOPS!

****Read about my updated paint job - My "big mistake" bothered me enough to redo them and add lots more color - HERE.