i may not have time to update everyone about our family... but i DO have time to post a blog entry for a give away!
(i know, im so lame)
the link is here
Id LOVE to do what she did, a morrocan themed stencil behind my bed!
Ok ok, update on the fam... Kai walks, but doesnt talk... cept hi and bye. hes a work in progress. speaking of works in progress, zeke is TRYING to potty train. argh. seriously, why can the come out the womb POTTY TRAINED!? School is going fantastic for me, challeging, but im still managing a 4.0 (hallelujah) and spencer is just trucking along at nTelos... my moms countdown to her big Temple day is 6 months and I am SO excited! YAY for her!!!
-Sky
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Yard Saling... (sp?) is that even a word? Well it is in our house!
So its Saturday. And what does that mean? That the alarm is set for 6:15. :D and im HAPPY about that! Its time for our FAVORITE family activity, Yard saling. We wake up the kids, get them semi dressed, (usually its PJS and actual shoes...) and grab some food and a sippy cup/ bottle of milk, and in the car we go!
Now, the previous night, I am on the computer with 4 tabs open, Facebook on our local towns yard sale page, gsalr.com, the newspaper's list of sales in their classifieds, and google maps. I then take all the sales I can find (gsalr searches craigslist among a few other places) and put them together on google maps then re-arrange in a route that make sense based on the sales that start at 7 vs 8, kid stuff vs just good ol yard sale, distance from the house/ to the next sale etc. So this is my GAME PLAN. I need to create an algorithm really. It usually takes about 1 hr to do this, but I wouldnt find near the amount of stuff i do with out planning it out. ITs not like california where there were so many yard sales off of one st (Wardlow in LB) it took you 3 hours to go 6 or 7 miles.
So this morning, the yard sales were scattered. The good ones I like to hit first of course, cause as the Master of all Yard saling has shared with me, my FIL Galen, the early bird gets the worm and that is SO true. The golden hour is 7-8. But alot of ppl out here dont start til 8 so that makes things tricky. So lie I was saying, this morning the 7 am good ones were very spread out. some were in stuarts draft, which is about 7-10 miles south of me. some were her in my town, and others were about 5 miles north! I hate that. caus ehten you have to choose where to strike first bassed on their ads. Sometimes you choose right and sometimes you dont. this morning, unfortunately, I didn't choose right.
WE headed out and the first couple of sales were bombs. then I hit one sale that I wasnt even going to but saw a sign for ( another rule of yard saleing you ALWAYS stop whe you see a sign. you can never be too far for a u turn. but you have to make quick judgement, if this sale is worth it to make you late for the sale you were already heading to. in this case that was a yes. I got some clothes for me (Kohls and target brand) for 1$ each. that is a great price. (always compare to thrift stores. at good will, those clothes would have been 3.50 each, and proabbly would have been snagged cause they were cute.)
at the same yard sale though one of those very typical things happened to spencer that sucks. He saw something he wanted, barely touches it, and a mean customer snaps "i just bought that" then he picks up something next to it, and again" i just bought that too." spencers response "is there anything you DIDNT buy?" haha. that part was funny, but the next part is not. When this happens, and it was something you actually kind of wanted, walk tot eh other side of the yard or you'll regret it if you dont. Spencer stayed, and found out that one of the things she just purchased, that retails for 50$ in the store (it was one of those car battery jumper cable things that has its own battery to you can jump yourself) and the price the lady paid? 3$. yeah its hurts. thats why i saw your better to have never knwn the steal that person took your item away for.
So after all was said and done, the sales actually got better the later in the day. And think if i would have hit them up FIRST. but you learn from these things, next time that area has sales, thats where ill be at 7am sharp, not at 830. But we got alot of cool stuff:
-My Rainbows for 2$
-brown Target flats (ive been looking for for awhile): 2$
-a deep glass lasangna dish: 3$
-a dora/diego dvd (which i had been wanting but didnt think to really look for til spencer mentioned it and im like yeah, i DO need that): 3$
-a rug for the boys room, the one with the roads and buildings: 5$
-an AWESOME inflatable ball pit with a bajillion balls : was 5$ (and that was a deal, but it was 830 and it hadnt sold by then, gives you automatic permission to haggle) i got it for 3$
-(another) train that has a track and is battery powered: 1$
-20 pairs of socks (which my mother will shot for joy that i got) 10 cents each
-4 handmade silk ties brand new they wanted 3 each but when you are getting more than 1 you say (since im buying more than one, will you do 2$ each? and yeah, they were 2$ each
-2 bucket hats for zeke and kai, 1$ each (Childrens place and Janie and Jack brand)
-2 gas cans for 50 cents each
-a tunnel to connect play tents we have 1$
-my shirts, 4 for 1$ each
im sure theres a few more small things im forgetting, but thats most of it. and on a scale from one to ten, id rate that bounty about a 6 or 7. and remember, even if its a stinking good deal already, like the ball pit and the ties, you can STILL haggle and get an even better deal! the worst they say is no, and you still get it for the original deal.
So yeah, thats how we afford almost everything in our home. I plan to update more as the summer continues, and let you know about how we make money (a lot sometimes) flipping our yard sale purchases. Hope you had fun reading this, and remember buying used makes COMPLETE since, its easy on your pocket, since its a fraction of Retail, and its easy on the environment, since technically, you're recycling!
I have a special post tomorrow. something AMAZING is happening in just a few hours! I can't wait to share it with you all!
Love,
Sky
Now, the previous night, I am on the computer with 4 tabs open, Facebook on our local towns yard sale page, gsalr.com, the newspaper's list of sales in their classifieds, and google maps. I then take all the sales I can find (gsalr searches craigslist among a few other places) and put them together on google maps then re-arrange in a route that make sense based on the sales that start at 7 vs 8, kid stuff vs just good ol yard sale, distance from the house/ to the next sale etc. So this is my GAME PLAN. I need to create an algorithm really. It usually takes about 1 hr to do this, but I wouldnt find near the amount of stuff i do with out planning it out. ITs not like california where there were so many yard sales off of one st (Wardlow in LB) it took you 3 hours to go 6 or 7 miles.
So this morning, the yard sales were scattered. The good ones I like to hit first of course, cause as the Master of all Yard saling has shared with me, my FIL Galen, the early bird gets the worm and that is SO true. The golden hour is 7-8. But alot of ppl out here dont start til 8 so that makes things tricky. So lie I was saying, this morning the 7 am good ones were very spread out. some were in stuarts draft, which is about 7-10 miles south of me. some were her in my town, and others were about 5 miles north! I hate that. caus ehten you have to choose where to strike first bassed on their ads. Sometimes you choose right and sometimes you dont. this morning, unfortunately, I didn't choose right.
WE headed out and the first couple of sales were bombs. then I hit one sale that I wasnt even going to but saw a sign for ( another rule of yard saleing you ALWAYS stop whe you see a sign. you can never be too far for a u turn. but you have to make quick judgement, if this sale is worth it to make you late for the sale you were already heading to. in this case that was a yes. I got some clothes for me (Kohls and target brand) for 1$ each. that is a great price. (always compare to thrift stores. at good will, those clothes would have been 3.50 each, and proabbly would have been snagged cause they were cute.)
at the same yard sale though one of those very typical things happened to spencer that sucks. He saw something he wanted, barely touches it, and a mean customer snaps "i just bought that" then he picks up something next to it, and again" i just bought that too." spencers response "is there anything you DIDNT buy?" haha. that part was funny, but the next part is not. When this happens, and it was something you actually kind of wanted, walk tot eh other side of the yard or you'll regret it if you dont. Spencer stayed, and found out that one of the things she just purchased, that retails for 50$ in the store (it was one of those car battery jumper cable things that has its own battery to you can jump yourself) and the price the lady paid? 3$. yeah its hurts. thats why i saw your better to have never knwn the steal that person took your item away for.
So after all was said and done, the sales actually got better the later in the day. And think if i would have hit them up FIRST. but you learn from these things, next time that area has sales, thats where ill be at 7am sharp, not at 830. But we got alot of cool stuff:
-My Rainbows for 2$
-brown Target flats (ive been looking for for awhile): 2$
-a deep glass lasangna dish: 3$
-a dora/diego dvd (which i had been wanting but didnt think to really look for til spencer mentioned it and im like yeah, i DO need that): 3$
-a rug for the boys room, the one with the roads and buildings: 5$
-an AWESOME inflatable ball pit with a bajillion balls : was 5$ (and that was a deal, but it was 830 and it hadnt sold by then, gives you automatic permission to haggle) i got it for 3$
-(another) train that has a track and is battery powered: 1$
-20 pairs of socks (which my mother will shot for joy that i got) 10 cents each
-4 handmade silk ties brand new they wanted 3 each but when you are getting more than 1 you say (since im buying more than one, will you do 2$ each? and yeah, they were 2$ each
-2 bucket hats for zeke and kai, 1$ each (Childrens place and Janie and Jack brand)
-2 gas cans for 50 cents each
-a tunnel to connect play tents we have 1$
-my shirts, 4 for 1$ each
im sure theres a few more small things im forgetting, but thats most of it. and on a scale from one to ten, id rate that bounty about a 6 or 7. and remember, even if its a stinking good deal already, like the ball pit and the ties, you can STILL haggle and get an even better deal! the worst they say is no, and you still get it for the original deal.
So yeah, thats how we afford almost everything in our home. I plan to update more as the summer continues, and let you know about how we make money (a lot sometimes) flipping our yard sale purchases. Hope you had fun reading this, and remember buying used makes COMPLETE since, its easy on your pocket, since its a fraction of Retail, and its easy on the environment, since technically, you're recycling!
I have a special post tomorrow. something AMAZING is happening in just a few hours! I can't wait to share it with you all!
Love,
Sky
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Crafty and obsessed...
Haha. Im crafty. Have been for a little while now. Its an addiction I'm working on. We're in step 5 of the 12 step program (juuuuust kidding, you think im quitting crafting? hahahaha.) But seriously. Here are a few things I've been making lately: (the etsy shop my quilts are featured on is docedaisy.etsy.com.)
My Purple Dandelion Quilt
My Ottoman I recovered all by myself! (I even used power tools!)
And last but not least a pillow I made for my bed to liven things up a bit.
As far as the obsessed part (well of course it references the previous subject matter as well...) Im more talking about the Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday party that just went on recently for my 2 boys. I made a TON of decorations for it, including tissue balls, a 6 foot tall arch, a stand up hill, all the party hats and even shirts for all our family! Obsessed was probably an understatement. Bah. Whatever. I had fun and I put my skills to use. and Thats all that matters. =] Heres a few pics but you can see them all here if you are interested: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=6347081008/a=55243946_55243946/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
The AWESOME cake my Great Friend Lesley made. Look at the inside! (you can find her at www.serialcakers.com)
The outfit I made Spencer (Dj Lance Rock)
...and the bunting! Cant have a party without one!
(The ottoman is on this cute blog!)
My Purple Dandelion Quilt
My Ottoman I recovered all by myself! (I even used power tools!)
And last but not least a pillow I made for my bed to liven things up a bit.
As far as the obsessed part (well of course it references the previous subject matter as well...) Im more talking about the Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday party that just went on recently for my 2 boys. I made a TON of decorations for it, including tissue balls, a 6 foot tall arch, a stand up hill, all the party hats and even shirts for all our family! Obsessed was probably an understatement. Bah. Whatever. I had fun and I put my skills to use. and Thats all that matters. =] Heres a few pics but you can see them all here if you are interested: http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=6347081008/a=55243946_55243946/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
The AWESOME cake my Great Friend Lesley made. Look at the inside! (you can find her at www.serialcakers.com)
The outfit I made Spencer (Dj Lance Rock)
...and the bunting! Cant have a party without one!
(The ottoman is on this cute blog!)
Monday, December 27, 2010
God answers prayers... even if you forgot you prayed about it because it took so long to get answered...
So. As for the title of this post, I'll get to that in a moment.
To start off, let me preface. I love our new home. I'ts perfect for us, and Spencer and his father put in so much hard work to make it "ours". I have beautiful dark espresso stained hardwood, after hours of sanding and staining on their parts, a beautiful color palette of paint colors throughout the house, my GORGEOUS and MODERN glass mosaic tile back splash in the kitchen, and the list goes on. But it has KILLED me that my house has been such a mess that you cant see much less appreciate the hardwork and beauty my home has. And it pained me. It really did.
I was NEVER a clean person, I honestly didn't have time. Growing up, I was HARDLY ever home, and if I was home, it was only for a moment so things were strewn about due to the hurry I was in, and there was never time to clean it up. Eventually, my mom got to the point where she banished me to the basement (it was finished... lol) and I could make that as much of a mess as I pleased, which of course enabled my problem, not helped fix it.
So all that being said, being clean is soooo very hard for me. Like seriously, it's something I fight everyday. And honestly I feel its just as hard as someone that is fighting an addiction, except mine is in the opposite way, where I couldn't force myself to clean. And then it piled up. And piled up. Literally.
Then it became a wedge in my relationship. Spencer expected some sort of cleaning from me, and I just wasn't doing it. I had no desire to clean, and at that point, I wouldn't even do it to make him Happy. I just didn't care. I resented him, for resenting me because I wouldn't clean.
I knew this was becoming a SERIOUS problem, for obvious reasons. The kids need a clean space to grow up in and anything less is unfair to them as they don't have a say in it. its also unfair to Spencer as he is at work all day making money for our family, and I'm at home not doing my part.
So I decided to pray about it. and pray some more. Nightly prayers, morning prayers. And nothing. I asked to have a desire to clean. Not to just wake up one day and clean. But have the desire to have a clean house and actually act upon it. Still nothing. Then I took this prayer to the temple. Twice. During my prayer, I balled my eyes out, part from frustration that i had to go to the House of the Lord to ask this seemingly insignificant thing, as I'm sure everyone else there were praying for things much more important. And crying also, because of the fact that I had to come to the Temple to pray about this, because it didn't come naturally to me. I hated that part of me, that I wasn't a clean person.
And still nothing. I felt that I had done all I could and Heavenly Father just wasn't listening. or Just really wanted me to have this challenge. Either one sucked. I had gone to the temple once since then, and I thought about that prayer for cleanliness, but I didn't pray for it again. I had other things on my mind.
Then, on Christmas Eve, my dad was coming over. And that meant i needed to clean. Now my father wasn't there that much growing up, but for some weird reason (that I bet alot of you can relate to) I feel the need to pleas him more than my mom, who was the parent that was ALWAYS there. (a subject for another time, but i really wonder why that is...) Anyways, we cleaned, Spencer and I. And I scrubbed. More than I had since we moved in. And I felt good.
Then my dad didn't show up. I was not happy. I felt all that cleaning had gone to waste. But then I remembered the feeling I felt looking at the clean house. (mind you, not all of it was clean, but it was a definite improvement) and I liked the way I felt.
Then the next morning we opened gifts. And the house got a little messy. And this was the turning point. Normally, I would have just left it. But I knew my dad had rescheduled for the next day, so I knew I had to clean. And I did. And I got it back to what it was the day before. And he came. And he thought it was so nice. And I felt validated.
Then this morning rolled around. And the realization hit me after I had cleaned the dining room table, did the dishes, and just cleaned a little bit to maintain the cleanliness that I had achieved the day before. I realized, I had just cleaned for myself. And that I liked it. I did it because it looked nice for ME. Not because anyone else was coming over. And AS I washed the dish that I had been washing in a trance for a few minutes now, I began to cry. (like I am now... big baby) Because I realized the biggest realization of all. My prayer had been answered. The prayer I had forgot that I had prayed, was finally answered.
No one knows why Heavenly Father does things in His time frame. But he does. And I am so thankful that it was answered. My house isn't spotless, its far from it. But my mentality has changed. Even if its jsut a little bit. I have a long way to go, but that's all I wanted. To want a clean house that makes me have a happy hubby. And its gonna be a journey to get there, but I'm just so thankful that my Heavenly Father loves me and blesses me with answered prayers.
Love, Sky
To start off, let me preface. I love our new home. I'ts perfect for us, and Spencer and his father put in so much hard work to make it "ours". I have beautiful dark espresso stained hardwood, after hours of sanding and staining on their parts, a beautiful color palette of paint colors throughout the house, my GORGEOUS and MODERN glass mosaic tile back splash in the kitchen, and the list goes on. But it has KILLED me that my house has been such a mess that you cant see much less appreciate the hardwork and beauty my home has. And it pained me. It really did.
I was NEVER a clean person, I honestly didn't have time. Growing up, I was HARDLY ever home, and if I was home, it was only for a moment so things were strewn about due to the hurry I was in, and there was never time to clean it up. Eventually, my mom got to the point where she banished me to the basement (it was finished... lol) and I could make that as much of a mess as I pleased, which of course enabled my problem, not helped fix it.
So all that being said, being clean is soooo very hard for me. Like seriously, it's something I fight everyday. And honestly I feel its just as hard as someone that is fighting an addiction, except mine is in the opposite way, where I couldn't force myself to clean. And then it piled up. And piled up. Literally.
Then it became a wedge in my relationship. Spencer expected some sort of cleaning from me, and I just wasn't doing it. I had no desire to clean, and at that point, I wouldn't even do it to make him Happy. I just didn't care. I resented him, for resenting me because I wouldn't clean.
I knew this was becoming a SERIOUS problem, for obvious reasons. The kids need a clean space to grow up in and anything less is unfair to them as they don't have a say in it. its also unfair to Spencer as he is at work all day making money for our family, and I'm at home not doing my part.
So I decided to pray about it. and pray some more. Nightly prayers, morning prayers. And nothing. I asked to have a desire to clean. Not to just wake up one day and clean. But have the desire to have a clean house and actually act upon it. Still nothing. Then I took this prayer to the temple. Twice. During my prayer, I balled my eyes out, part from frustration that i had to go to the House of the Lord to ask this seemingly insignificant thing, as I'm sure everyone else there were praying for things much more important. And crying also, because of the fact that I had to come to the Temple to pray about this, because it didn't come naturally to me. I hated that part of me, that I wasn't a clean person.
And still nothing. I felt that I had done all I could and Heavenly Father just wasn't listening. or Just really wanted me to have this challenge. Either one sucked. I had gone to the temple once since then, and I thought about that prayer for cleanliness, but I didn't pray for it again. I had other things on my mind.
Then, on Christmas Eve, my dad was coming over. And that meant i needed to clean. Now my father wasn't there that much growing up, but for some weird reason (that I bet alot of you can relate to) I feel the need to pleas him more than my mom, who was the parent that was ALWAYS there. (a subject for another time, but i really wonder why that is...) Anyways, we cleaned, Spencer and I. And I scrubbed. More than I had since we moved in. And I felt good.
Then my dad didn't show up. I was not happy. I felt all that cleaning had gone to waste. But then I remembered the feeling I felt looking at the clean house. (mind you, not all of it was clean, but it was a definite improvement) and I liked the way I felt.
Then the next morning we opened gifts. And the house got a little messy. And this was the turning point. Normally, I would have just left it. But I knew my dad had rescheduled for the next day, so I knew I had to clean. And I did. And I got it back to what it was the day before. And he came. And he thought it was so nice. And I felt validated.
Then this morning rolled around. And the realization hit me after I had cleaned the dining room table, did the dishes, and just cleaned a little bit to maintain the cleanliness that I had achieved the day before. I realized, I had just cleaned for myself. And that I liked it. I did it because it looked nice for ME. Not because anyone else was coming over. And AS I washed the dish that I had been washing in a trance for a few minutes now, I began to cry. (like I am now... big baby) Because I realized the biggest realization of all. My prayer had been answered. The prayer I had forgot that I had prayed, was finally answered.
No one knows why Heavenly Father does things in His time frame. But he does. And I am so thankful that it was answered. My house isn't spotless, its far from it. But my mentality has changed. Even if its jsut a little bit. I have a long way to go, but that's all I wanted. To want a clean house that makes me have a happy hubby. And its gonna be a journey to get there, but I'm just so thankful that my Heavenly Father loves me and blesses me with answered prayers.
Love, Sky
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas 2010! (in December, where it should be... lol)
Hey all!
So today is Christmas! It was snowing little tiny flakies this morning when we awoke. The Kids weren't up yet, which wored out for me since I wanted to make Monkey Bread (tradition). So Spencer stayed asleep with them as I slaved in the kitchen... lol. Then the boys woke up and my Mom and Grandma (great-Grandma to the kids and called Mammie) came over to watch them open their presents from us, as we were going to my moms house later to open her presents to us. Zeke got things like a doggy sleeping bag and a pop up tent to match, Kai got bows to chew on (which was what he has been asking for all year... lol) I got the mustard colored cardigan that Ive been wanting all year (but seriously) and Spencer got himself some sweet blue and white checked vans. Those are the highlights. Then we went over to my moms, and she over did it, as usual, and we got a TON of awesome stuff from her. I got green crocs, zeke got little baby black crocs, and we both got Jibits to go with them. Daddy got this horribly amazing camo coat (spencer is still wrestling with whether he hates it or loves it, hahaha)and Kai baby got more bows. haha. He was in bow and tissue paper heaven. Then we had a yummy "Italian Christmas Dinner" with lasagna and a peperoni spaghetti bake. Now we are home, ready to get on Skype with Marcy and Galen and open their stockings! We were very blessed this year! And not just by gifts! I hope you all remembered the reason for the Season, our saviors birth!
Love, Skylar
So today is Christmas! It was snowing little tiny flakies this morning when we awoke. The Kids weren't up yet, which wored out for me since I wanted to make Monkey Bread (tradition). So Spencer stayed asleep with them as I slaved in the kitchen... lol. Then the boys woke up and my Mom and Grandma (great-Grandma to the kids and called Mammie) came over to watch them open their presents from us, as we were going to my moms house later to open her presents to us. Zeke got things like a doggy sleeping bag and a pop up tent to match, Kai got bows to chew on (which was what he has been asking for all year... lol) I got the mustard colored cardigan that Ive been wanting all year (but seriously) and Spencer got himself some sweet blue and white checked vans. Those are the highlights. Then we went over to my moms, and she over did it, as usual, and we got a TON of awesome stuff from her. I got green crocs, zeke got little baby black crocs, and we both got Jibits to go with them. Daddy got this horribly amazing camo coat (spencer is still wrestling with whether he hates it or loves it, hahaha)and Kai baby got more bows. haha. He was in bow and tissue paper heaven. Then we had a yummy "Italian Christmas Dinner" with lasagna and a peperoni spaghetti bake. Now we are home, ready to get on Skype with Marcy and Galen and open their stockings! We were very blessed this year! And not just by gifts! I hope you all remembered the reason for the Season, our saviors birth!
Love, Skylar
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Christmas in July (2009)
-This is Spencer
To start out i am going to post some videos of Christmas.
The Tree
Sky looks like "poop" (Hey she said it, not me.)
Presents from Grandma and Grandpa (and siblings) Saunders
Sweet Christmas hat!
The other half of the box
Zeke at Mammie's
Zeke + Biscuit = Confusion
Food with Mammie
GIFTS!!
Bow Butt
The awaited gift
SHAM-WOW
The Tree in January
To start out i am going to post some videos of Christmas.
The Tree
Sky looks like "poop" (Hey she said it, not me.)
Presents from Grandma and Grandpa (and siblings) Saunders
Sweet Christmas hat!
The other half of the box
Zeke at Mammie's
Zeke + Biscuit = Confusion
Food with Mammie
GIFTS!!
Bow Butt
The awaited gift
SHAM-WOW
The Tree in January
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