Intermission

I generally like to keep this blog about inspiring my readers.

I like to jog your creativity.

Today isn't going to be one of those days.

For some of my readers that have been with me for a long time, you may remember that I had a scare about skin cancer.

Did you notice that I never did a follow-up?

My insurance was not covered by the dermatologist.

I had to find a place to would cover me.

That would be up in Marquette, Michigan.

I haven't been there in about 7 years, when my husband attended college at NMU.

It's probably nothing.

I'll probably laugh after this is all done.

Unfortunately, I'm an over-worrier.

In my head, I'm thinking:

"How will my family handle a serious medical condition?"

"How would my family fare if I die?"

"Would my husband remarry?"

"Would treatment hurt?"

"How much treatment am I willing to take on?"

"What would I look like with no hair?"

Hahaha, not good, to say in the least!

Okay, those aren't my ears. Those are the bald man's ears that I merged my photo with. Not that it justifies the horridness...

Anyways, as soon as I get the lab results back, I will be sure to let everyone know.

It's probably just an ugly mole. Okay, two ugly moles. My physician is probably just an over-worrier like me. I doubt it's anything serious.

I'm probably making a mountain out of a mole hill, but it makes me feel a little better not keeping my worries to myself.

;)

10 Projects in 10 Days Recap

It was really hard for me to power through this 10-in-10 challenge.

It seems like my boss knew I was going to have a life outside of work. More hours.

It seems like my professors knew, also. Harder exams.

BUT I don't think I did too poorly.

Let's recap:

1. Winterize the outside.

I got about half done. The cushions to the expensive Lloyd's wicker set are brought in and washed. The wicker still has to come down, though. We still haven't had a freeze here, but I shouldn't wait until it's too late.

I'll give myself 5% on this. (1/2 credit, lol)

2. Winterize the indoors.

Ick. I still haven't done it. Well....actually, I did fix our furnace's humidifier. They help make you feel warmer with the thermostat set lower.

Other than that.....nadda. No film on the windows yet. In the next few weeks I'm getting my entire house winterized. We are getting insulation in our attic and the living room addition. A new energy efficient door is being put on the kitchen. A bunch of windows are getting storm windows as well. One window is being replaced. (Our attic insulation is ceiling tiles! The old owners thought that would be adequate insulation....)

So maybe after the company comes over to do all that, I will put up the film.

I'll give myself 2% for the humidifier though.

3. Finish my Christmas wish list.

Done! Yay! I usually do a post about my Christmas list, but I'll put that up closer to Christmas. My in-laws just wanted to start Christmas shopping early, so I had to make up a list early.

10% (full credit! yay!)

4. Buy the kids' Halloween costumes.

Done!

Hailey's going as Snow White. She is OBSESSED with the Disney Princesses.

 

John is going as Mario.



Will originally wanted to be a crash test dummy. We couldn't find that at all. We ended up getting Chucky.

10%

5. Make a Halloween treat.

Done!

To check out how these are made, click here.

10% completed!

6. Clean both vehicles.

Done! Mine's getting pretty bad again, but that's because my van is the "family car." It gets dirty pretty fast. At one point, though, both the truck and van were sparkling clean!

10% completed

7. Sign the kids up for swimming lessons.

I'm still debating on whether or not to put Hailey in swimming lessons. I don't really think there's much more that a lifeguard can teach a baby that I wouldn't be able to. Just a waste of money, in my opinion. The boys, however, and all signed up and ready to go on November 2nd.

Not only that, but we are all signed up for a month family membership.

I love the YMCA. Hailey and I are actually going for a swim in about 2 hours =D

But now I'm sitting with two gym memberships....haha.

10% completed.

Can I give myself extra credit for the family membership? Just kidding ;)

8. Cut the trim for the insides of the kitchen cabinets.

Ooops. Completely forgot about that one. I didn't even buy the trim. Oh well.

0% completed

9. Finish taking the glue of the stairs.

I tried doing this every...single...day. Though I definitely made progress, it's still far from done.

I'll give myself 5% on that one.

10. Book a mother/daughter salon appointment.

Done! I booked two Express manicures and pedicures. That's the one where they do the works to you, haha. I couldn't get side-by-side ones until November 24th, though. It's going to be great having some mother-daughter time. They are so few are far between.   <3

10%

Let's tally that up......

72% completed.

Oh well.

I got more done than if I wouldn't have challenged myself, however.

So I think it was a success!

Thank you to Jenn for hosting this party!

Fall Mantle

It seems like everyone but me has a fireplace mantle to decorate for the holidays.

Actually, when me and the hubby were "house shopping," we almost bought a house with a fireplace.

And a large kitchen with a built-in island.

A living room the size of my house.

Unfortunately, the owners put renters into the house right before we were going to close on the house. Renters need 60 days of notice before kicking them out on the street in our state.

Would I buy a house only to have random people living in it for two months?

No...not a chance.

Anyways, back on track!

Since I have no fireplace in my house, I decided that my new entertainment center had a pretty good fireplace-type mantle on it.

That'll do.

;)

So I decorated my "mantle" for Autumn.

I also want to show you the subject of my next project:

Just a basket.

I'm going to turn this basket into something hugely functional.

If you're an organizing freak like me, come back to see what I did with an ordinary basket!

I'm also well aware that my house needs a good dusting. Holy wah, dust bunnies multiply faster than real bunnies.

;)

P.S. 10-in-10 recap will be coming as soon as a link-up is available from the host!

More Fall Kids Projects

I don't decorate for the seasons much.

I'll throw Christmas decor up a week before Christmas and take it down the day afterward.

But Fall....

...oh how I love Fall.

Here's a few more Fall-themed projects to do with your kids.

Stuffed Pumpkin

1. Cut out a circle in some orange felt.

2. Punch holes around the perimeter of the circle with a paper punch.

3. Weave some green ribbon through the holes.

4. Pull slightly on the ribbon until the felt makes a bowl shape.

5. Stuff the bowl with cotton.

6. Pull the ribbon tight and tie off.

Painted Pumpkin

 This one's pretty self-explanatory.

Just paint a pumpkin (or a mini-gourd, like we did).

My daughter chose purple.

<3

Fall Trees



This one is probably best for school-age children that are able to follow directions better......

Anyways, just trace your child's hand (you can use brown construction paper and cut it out like we did on the right).

Make Autumn leaves by either gluing on fake leaves, or using finger paint to paint them on.

Posts that I'm dreaming up for the future:

-A peek at some woodworking I've been doing (but won't be able to show you until after Christmas!)

-My Fall "mantle"

-A spinach recipe the kids will love!

-A 10-in-10 recap

10-in-10 Day 6 ; Ooey Gooey Witches

I'm rocking at this 10 projects in 10 days thing!

Today is Day 6: Clean both vehicles.

Check!

Yesterday was Make a Halloween Treat.

That's what I'm going to show you today.

Ooey Gooey Witches

Place caramel apples on a cookie sheet.

Place an ice cream cone upside down over the stick (I used the Oreo kind).

Use raisins for the eyes.

Candy corn for the nose.

Mini chocolate chips for the mouth.

Twizzlers Pull-N-Peel for the hair.

The kids love this treat so much! The hair take a long time to put on, but it's worth it!

Well, since I'm a bit ahead of my 10-in-10 list, and I have the day off work, I'm going to leap into tomorrow's task: sign the kids up for swimming lessons.