Blogging Blah...

So I feel like blogging has fallen by the way side...

I do however instagram 

Feel Free to follow me there

jengill

I'm also on Twitter...

Oh and of course Pinterest...
I L.O.V.E. Pinning...

Not such a Good time...

A week and a half before Thanksgiving our uncle passed away unexpectedly... It has been such a sad and hard time... The last two weeks have been filled with tears which I have now come to realize crying makes me physically sick, I have never had this happen before, but after crying I feel nauseous for an entire day, it's a weird and yucky feeling...

The week before Thanksgiving my mom had surgery

(everything went perfectly) Praise!

We hosted Thanksgiving at our home and that was wonderful, but looming in the back of my mind was the upcoming memorial service... We had the service on Saturday the 26th, it was rough. In the sorrow there was also beauty. His children, other family members, and friends came up and spoke of fond and funny memories, my husband made a celebration of life DVD of all of their home movies and pictures...

All that to say, I haven't felt like blogging, or even crafting for that matter, it's a dark place... By Saturday night I had body aches and a head cold... Not fun.

I did manage to take down and stack all of my Thanksgiving decorations on the counter, and go out to our shed to get our Christmas tree out, only to discover that mice had eaten holes through the bag and used our tree as a public restroom...

There is NO saving that tree to the dump it shall go...

So, this is real and this is life and I will get through it with prayer...

Please forgive my absence as I am going to take some time and regroup...

Vintage Crafty Supplies

Vintage lace and velvet ribbon.

Thread, thread, and more thread...

I went to my parents house this past weekend, their friends were there having a yard sale full of vintage craft supplies (most from the 1960's)

Glad I don't have to darn socks...

Here is some of the goodies

Vintage buttons, yarn, embroidery hoops, fabric...

Look cream crocheted circles (I think I will make a "snowflake" garland with them)

A craft cozy, I would love a purse made out of this daisy print...

And the mother lode was this awesome apron...

♥ the fabric...

Linking Up

Let's Talk Dirty Laundry

Just for kicks, I thought I'd try something, it all started with me disliking the way my front load washing machine would smell... With the tight seals they need, no air gets in... YUCK, I was buying washing machine cleaner at least once a month to get that musty smell out... I did some research and read something that said if you use powder laundry detergent (I was using liquid) it would stop you washing machine from smelling, liquid laundry soap causes a residue to build up and become musty smelling... I switched to GAIN powder and guess what I didn't even buy the H.E. that my washing machine recommends

(You can use regular soap, just not as much or the suds don't rinse.)

Anyway, I dated the day I opened my box May 16, 2011.

This box says it does 180 loads...

Notice the difference in their scoop and mine? I pour my soap from the box into this cute vintage enamel pot for the cuteness factor and use a protein powder scoop per load. Now it's time for the math...

I do a minimum of 24 loads a week (we are a family of 6)

Since May 16th (that's 17 weeks worth) we are at 408 loads of laundry.

I still to date, Sept 12 have an entire bucket full,

I was able to finally pour the rest of the box in.

Now, I am no math whiz but I have well exceed the 180 loads the box says it will do...

Our clothes our totally clean (not an easy task with 4 boys) smell awesome and it is cheaper than making my own laundry soap (which I have tried, I didn't like that they didn't smell fresh and our clothes looked dingy) Let's face it when I do this much laundry our clothes better be bright, clean, and smell AWESOME...

Senior Pictures...

On a warm Sunday evening we went out with our very good friend and photographer Jaime, for her to take Christopher's seniors pictures...

Over 300 were taken of the said 300 I LOVE 296...

I am thinking I should have them ALL printed and make wallpaper out of them...

I ♥ this guy...

He went from being our little inquisitive, talkative, curious, loving, smart, happy, easy baby...

To our God seeking, honorable, loving, generous, hard working, intelligent, polite, young man...

Let's Talk Arm Bumps Ladies...

Every year about this time I dread short sleeves and tanks tops... Why?

Arm bumps... um yeah what in the world... You know the ones I am speaking of... The permanent looking goose bumps on the upper arms... The unsightly bumps, I've heard called heat rash, it's not... Well I happened to be talking to a friend about arm bumps and she said, oh my goodness WE {the ladies at her work} were JUST talking about these... Guess what there is a product out there that will RID you of them...

Is it cheap, NO... Does it work, YES...

In fact I was going to take a before picture for you but, forgot and I have been using AmLactin lotion at night and in the morning and my bumps are GONE... So even though it's about $24.00 a bottle {Walgreens}

it is worth EVERY penny...

I Don't Wanna Make Lemonade...

I know when life hands you lemons you are supposed to make lemonade...

But I just don't wanna...

My Thursday went like this...

No sleep for the entire night until 5:30 am for the alarm

to go off at 6:15 am

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Find 3 fleas on my WHITE, just groomed dog...

I have a FEAR of bugs like some people fear snakes and mice...

Yes, it's that bad the mere thought of fleas has me breaking out in hives {no joke}

In fact my fear of bugs is so great I didn't agree to get a dog until 3 years ago only because I found out you could litter box train them...

YES, our dog is box trained and DOESN'T go outside period.

I found fleas in Feb. I use Frontline drops on the dog and our indoor cats.

In March I used Advantage drops on the dog and our indoor cats...

and NOW this...

What is going on I vacuum EVERYDAY, remember I ♥ vacuuming...

So yesterday I gave my dog a pill called Confortis...

THIS BETTER WORK

The fleas MUST have hitched a ride in on someones shoe or have come through the screen door there are a TON of outdoor cats that hang out around our yard... BOO

Anyone have any suggestions?

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Went to turn on my laptop, only to find that it had restored itself to the factory settings and ALL of my files, pictures, and documents were GONE...

My hubby after two hours was able to retrieve my stuff...

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My youngest, Tanner came home from school with a note from his teacher, saying that a little girl who sits next to him threw up on HIS back pack...

GREAT...

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Thanks for joining in on my pity party...

Here's to a better Friday!

ACTUALLY, I know today will be a good day it's our son

Jeffrey's 12th Birthday!

Messy Desk...

You might have to click on the pic to read the notations...

I am Jenny,

a pack rat sometimes my sister

and a couple of my sons refer to me

as a hoarder...

I am reaching that point where I have had enough of this clutter,

as a crafter I can find use for just about anything...

I guess my desk wouldn't seem too bad if it were in an office, it's not...

This MESS sits in my FAMILY room...

Somethings gotta change...

I guess it's time to start SPRING CLEANING...

I joined....

The GYM...
That right there reads
{it's blurry because I was actually walking and taking the picture}
11.0 incline at 3.6 speed...
I do the treadmill every day...

I pass the time by reading my nook and listening to music...

I follow the treadmill with the leg press, hip abduction machine, 2 different leg machines, arm weights, and 60 sit ups on the stability ball...

I've been going strong since the second week in March...

Random Monday Ramblings

Last weekend my hubby and I got to go his work convention...

We were put up in a gorgeous suite...

I mean a girl could get used to this...

I think the bathroom was my FAVORITE
We don't have dual sinks at home, nor do I have a vanity,
or a flat screen TV mounted to our bathroom wall...

I would also like to add, I now want a magnifying lighted mirror...

This HEAVENLY tub that could fit about 4 people was opposite the flat screen TV,
one night I watched part of Pride and Prejudice while soaking...
I am a BATH girl for sure.


At the convention center a flooring display was set up and this mannequin was wearing carpet clothing... hahaha

P.s. I got my lighted mirror yesterday...

Whoooo's Owl Party...

Anj's daughter Ride's party...

This woman can create an AWESOME party,

and I am jealous of her drawing skills!

She turned her table into a BED...

She made CUTE owl invitations...

LOOK at the party FAVORS...

CAKE...

Check out SnowyBliss Blog for ALL the party details.

While your there look at ALL of her birthday party ideas.

How about all her holiday decor...?

I have spent hours on her blog, such GREAT inspiration!

Thanks Anj

♥

A Few Good Men

A mother's joy...

This young man was woke up Monday morning at 5:00 am by 10 classmates, barging in his room with bull horns, silly string, whipped cream, and confetti to announce he made Home Coming Court!

SURPRISE Chris

This young man is a speedy cross country runner

leading his freshman team!

Go Johnny Go...

...and this young man is handsome police cadet!

Officer Matthew