The little table that could

It only had three of the eight little spindles at the bottom.  It was lightweight and cheap looking, dusty, and priced a little too high for my standards.  (Dust, ha, as if a little dust ever scared me!)  Then the Jackson Resale Factory came through again.  He saw me staring at it, and sighing.... and dropped the price so low I couldn't say no. 

I wasn't sure what I was going to do about this until I screwed it all apart....

laid the pieces out.........

and flipped that bad boy with all the holes over.  Wa la, nobody need ever know there were spindles in there!

It got a good coat of Bull's Eye primer (my new favorite) and then two coats of dark gray, ending with.....

a lovely white stencil on each side.  Man, I'm loving the dramatic before and after. And wow, that sure sounded like a good pattin' myself on the back.

   

Seasons: An Amish Girl's True Story Review and Giveaway

When I was contacted by Elizabeth Byler Younts to do a book review and giveaway on her new book, Seasons, I was thrilled but also a tad bit apprehensive. You see, I've never done anything of this nature, but I have always been intrigued with the Amish lifestyle, having visited many in their home as a child, and I agreed.  The story had me from the beginning.  For me, a story is always so much better when you know it is true.  Elizabeth had her grandmother recount her life growing up and was able to write this beautiful book in the first person.  It is heart wrenching, and it left me completely flabbergasted at my own selfishness and ungratefulness; how I can complain about not having the right color of shoes for an occasion, when this little girl (Liddy) often went without shoes.  How I'm annoyed if my meat isn't cooked to my liking at a restaurant, when Liddy never felt the satisfaction of a full tummy.  I'm going to stop right there before I give any more of the story away, but this story left me feeling so humbled and more appreciative for the little things in life.  Though it is a tear-jerker, I am happy to say you will close the book with a sigh of happiness.  If I could describe Seasons in one word, it would be beautiful.  It is a beautiful story, and beautifully written.

Read the five star reviews readers are giving Seasons on Amazon and purchase your own copy HERE.  Or, you can enter the giveaway to try your hand at winning a signed copy of Seasons!  This is a book you can share with your children.  I read a chapter aloud each day to my oldest son.  He was on the edge of his seat and I had to stop every other sentence to explain new concepts to him, but he would beg me to continue when the chapter was over.  (Depending on how sensitive your child is, you may want to skip over a few parts, as I did!)

Here are a few reviews I read on Amazon that I whole-heartedly agree with:


"This book is amazingly inspiring and at times heartwrenching! I laughed I cried but most of all I am in awe of this amazing woman who endured so much in life yet rejoices daily for all she has been given. I am inspired to be more thankful and grateful in my life as well. Elizabeth Byler Younts writes such a fluid storyline that really pulls you in and makes you not want to put it down."

"This book was such a joy to read! The story will warm your heart, and make you count your blessings. It is beautifully written and you connect so well with the characters, and the genius is, they aren't characters! This is the true story of a real, wonderful woman. You feel the struggle, experience the heartbreak, and are lifted up in moments of joy."
Here's how YOU can enter this wonderful giveaway!

Required:
1.) Leave a comment on why you would like to win this book.  YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR NAME!  I don't know who anonymous is, sorry!!

Extra Entries: (EACH ENTRY IS A SEPARATE COMMENT!!)
2.) Become a GFC follower of this blog and leave a separate comment telling me that you did this.
3.) Become a GFC follower of the author, Elizabeth BylerYounts' blog  and leave a separate comment that you did this.
4. "Like" Kammy's Korner on Facebook and leave a separate comment telling me you did this.
5. "Like" Elizabeth Byler Younts on Facebook and leave a separate comment stating you did this.
6. Blog about the giveaway and leave a comment with a link to the post.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

Rebekah's School Desk

I found this desk at our local Goodwill.  I wanted it, but they had $9 on it.  Were you aware that they will come down on their prices?  I wasn't, but I found out that day that they do! :)  A beautiful little girl over in the Windy City is going to be home schooled this year.  She needed a desk, and her favorite color is lime green.  I set to work.  First thing to do was clear the big mouse nest out!

I spray painted all the metal silver after sanding off the rusty spots, and found it was much easier when I removed the back support pieces. 

I finally bit the bullet and bought some Polycrylic.  That stuff is expensive, but I'm tired of risking my white furniture getting scratched up - especially knowing the wear-and-tear a desk will get - and we all know polyurethane turns white yellow and then you just want to scream, tear out some hair, and leave the country for awhile. You know, you've been there!  Or maybe you haven't, because you read Miss Mustard Seed's blog and would never do such a dumb thing.

Another obstacle: I didn't have an lime green paint.  I had a small crafter's acrylic paint of green, yellow, and white.  And I'm pretty sure you know now how I got the lime green paint. :)  I stenciled the white flowers on randomly.  I hope they don't distract Miss Rebekah from her studies.

Happy learning, Rebekah! :)

NOTE: You have until September 5th to enter to win a signed copy of "Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl" giveaway happening now! For details and how to enter, click HERE.

  

   

Laugh At My Garden

A few summers ago, I had my hubby build me a garden box.  We did it in the backyard around a small tree.  There were several reasons why people said this wouldn't work. For one, it was under a tree.  Two, it was under a tree and the tree would take all the nutrients needed for the garden.  Three, it was under a tree, therefore it would not get enough sun.  Four, it was too small and it was under a tree!  Well, I'm here to tell you that for the last few years I have crammed that baby with veggies (I plant my seeds waaaaay closer than the recommended spacing).  The previous home owners here had a horse.  So each spring, I take a few big scoops of horse poo and toss it into the dirt.  Great fertilizer.  It thrives.  Well, it did thrive.  This year, the spring was cool, and by the time I got around to buying seeds for my garden, the stores were sold out. So I've turned in into a strawberry patch this year.  I'm hoping by next year I'll have strawberries coming out of my ears.  Wishful thinking?  I dunno.... the last few years, all the garden pessimism has not stunted it's growth!  It seems to say, "I'll show them!"

So this spring, as most of you readers know, we were in the middle of a huge addition project.  The drywall guy told me that drywall was really good for gardens.  He said the gypsum in the drywall is good for the dirt.  I believed him (you can google it, he wasn't totally off his rocker) and spread it out like he said.  While I was doing this, the guy hooking up our LP gas was next to me and looked at me like I was losing my mind.  I told him the drywall guy made me do it.  He replied with "yeah, he's probably watching the gullible blond out the window right now and having a good laugh!"  But then it rained and I took a hoe and did the back-breaking word of breaking it up.  It didn't break up very well.  And it didn't look very pretty.  But now, it's all blended in.... and we'll report next summer on how the berries are! :)

Two Toned Coffee Table

Three dollars for this.  I read all the time on other people's blogs that they scored "an amazing deal".... and I'm always left thinking... $40 dollars was an amazing deal???  That's what I sell it for when I'm finished!!  Haha.  But maybe that just shows the state of the economy where I live...

The top is now black, and the bottom half is an off white with a little of:

watered down dark brown acrylic paint.  I read wear people use wax to make their piece have an aged look.  Well, since ya'll know I'm into "using what I got", I'm not about to go out and buy wax.  My mother once watered down brown paint and lightly brushed it onto some white antique frames to give them an aged look and I loved it!  So that's exactly what I did.

It was really thin - looked like coffee, without the awful smell.  (you read that right, I don't like coffee - not even the smell!!!)

I rubbed the drips in with my finger after brushing it on.  It's very subtle, and could've probably used a little more, but I like how it turned out. 

Showin' some leg.  If you are in love and live in the area, it's for sale!!!  Your living room doth call for it...

NOTE: Giveaway extended until September 9th for people unable to comment on the blog.  You may now also comment on my Facebook page to enter to win a signed copy of "Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl" giveaway happening now! For details and how to enter, click HERE.

Pink Petals Lampshade

I inherited this cute little lamp from my friend when she moved to *sniff, sniff* Texas.  The shade had a hole burned in it (having a late night stogie, Susan?  You can't hide your habits with evidence like this!  haha) so  after covering a lampshade with white flower petals and spraying it silver last week, I decided to use some of these hot pink flowers I yanked off from a cheap Hawaiian lei I bought at a flea market.  I hot glued them on and gave the lamp a quick new paint job.  Since I didn't have hot pink paint, I mixed together a little red, rose pink, and white to get my color.  And here's what we got:

I wish the shade was whiter... maybe I should cover it with a few more flowers so the off white doesn't show through at all.  Yup, probably should....  but probably won't.  Unless you want to buy it, and won't buy it any other way!!  $12 - come and get it! :)

Partying at: I Heart Nap Time

 
 

Refilling The Wet Jet Solution

A few years ago, my friend Rick introduced me to the Swiffer Wet Jet.  He has since moved on to bigger and better cleaning devices, but I still have my Wet Jet, which has been a Dry Jet since I refuse to pay the $ for the refill bottle.  Especially since my boys think cleaning with it is fun.  Then, a couple days ago I received the following question from Elaine:  Any idea how to refill the bottle of cleaning solution for the Swiffer Wet Jet? To which I answered that I was pretty sure it took a scientist to get the bottle open, and scientist I am not!   I didn't know the bottle was impossible to refill when I bought the cleaning mechanism.  HOWEVER, it's NOT impossible as I've just discovered!!!  Thanks to Elaine, for prompted me to search this out on the internet!  Thank goodness for YouTube!  I'm SO EXCITED to let you in on the  secret - I tried it yesterday, following this youtube video and it worked like a charm.  Okay, so my hubby got the lid off, since I had issues.  But it worked. :)

Okay yeah, so in a nutshell:  boil water on the stove, hold bottle (cap) upside down in boiling water for a few seconds, then using a towel, turn cap off and refill with your own - much cheaper - cleaning solution!!  
Partying at: I Heart Nap Time   

Easy Canvas Art

Always keep your eye out for canvas paintings at garage sales.  They're expensive to buy new!  My mom scored these six square canvases for me at a garage sale - WOW - almost better than a hunk of Mackinac Island fudge!!

I pulled out some left over gray paint from my office walls and painted them all gray.  Then I went to town.  Here is one of them.  It was so easy!  I used this stencil I had on hand, overlapping it to make three designs - two in yellow and one in white.  I've been really inspired as of late in the "gray and  yellow department" after staying in my friend Heather's amazing guest room!  (Check out Heather's creative blog HERE!)

Finished product will be for sale in Kammy's Korner Store!  Along with the rest of the upcycled canvases that have yet to revealed.....

 

Tori in a tuque

We're on a little mini vacation right now.  As I type, the boys are swimming and Tori is napping.  I've already dried off for the 3rd time and didn't feel like getting wet again, so here I sit poolside on the laptop, uploading pics and came across this one of Tori, posing in a Kammy's Korner hat and I had to share.  (okay, okay, she  really wasn't posing - I had to chase her all over the house to snap this pic!)

Your little girl can also have one of these cute hats - just head on over to Kammy's Korner Store and purchase one for only $5!!!  My hubby bought me a new camera and I haven't figured it all out yet.  (As if I ever will).  But this photo is a little fuzzy because I'm learning, so cut me a lil' slack!  I hate learning new things.  Like getting a new cell phone - I was just figuring out my old one when Tim says it's time for a new one.  Now I've had my "new" cell phone for over a year and still only know how to make calls and text!  Tori, however, has managed to download all kinds of expensive applications!  Thankfully, our provider graciously removes them along with the charge...
 

Trendy Mirror Makeover

50 cent garage sale mirror.  50 cent, homeboy, I'm sure you never been to a garage sale in yo life! 

After.  Calming gray with a pretty white bird stencil.  Ahhhh, relax.......

It. Isn't. Easy. stenciling in them there little grooves!

But birdie, we did it.