Welcome to the Mane Event!

My sister has grown out and donated her hair to Locks of Love several times over the past several years. Last year, I thought that would be something neat to try. So, I let my hair grow and grow, getting a teeny trim every few months, but really just letting it grow.


I was nervous about getting it cut--mostly because I didn't want my neck and back so exposed. When I told a good friend of my "neck-a-phobia" she informed me that I have a beautiful neck and no back fat. We joked that I have such thick hair that they'd be able to make two wigs with my donation--ha, ha! Ah, friends....

Before I left, for my haircut, I weighed myself. When I got home I weighed myself again. I made sure not to go to the bathroom or eat or drink anything in between the two weigh-ins. Guess what--a 3 pound change!!

Here I am before. My hair looks scraggly
in this picture but it's just wind-tossed.

Here is the after! She cut off about 14-15" total.
First, she sectioned off 12"
for the donation to "Locks of Love."

I love this style! It's an inverted bob with way-textured ends. Fun, fun, fun! I think I'll wear it this way for a while. I will grow it out and donate again in the future, though--but I'm in no rush.

AND---what does my family think of it? 2 of my 4 kids' first words, upon seeing me, "Mom, you look weird." Another said, "I don't like it." And the other (and now my new favorite child), "Wow--you look like a rock star!" And the mister? "Wow," (but not in a "I LOVE YOUR HAIR" kind of tone).

Oh well...I like it and that's all that matters to me!!!

Master of....

With this award, I'm supposed to list 6 things I'm a MASTER at and then pass it on to SIX people.

So.....here you go! Things I'm a MASTER at.....
1. Making quick, mostly-nutritious dinners without recipes (it's amazing what adrenaline and deadlines can do)!
2. Growing hair (on my head and between my eyebrows--I love tweezers!!)
3. Backing my car into the garage.
4. Speed-reading.
5. Memorizing song lyrics, usually the first time around.
6. Signing up to do too many things at school, church, and within the community :).

I'm passing this award on to:
1. B is for Bobbins
2. Choate Family
3. P-burg Penningtons
4. Pettingill Crew
5. Starpansie
6. The Camacho House

The kids were not totally neglected....

The kids were not totally neglected this spring break. They have been real troopers during all this downstairs construction stuff. Still, last weekend they confided that they were not looking forward to spring break since a lot of their friends were going out on vacation and doing fun things. I haven't felt normal since we started tearing up the floor, but I tried to think of something we could do that would be fun for them. I talked with them and asked them if it would be okay if I took each of them out a different night of the week. They liked the sound of that!

Being the thrifty-wannabe that I am, I took them out using all the coupons and certificates they have accumulated over the past few years from all the summer and school reading programs, as well as a few won from running races. We also went to the stores of their choices to get things that they needed like supplies for science projects, a new pair of slippers, and such. But, to them (and me) shopping for ordinary things is quite fun and relaxing when it's just the two of you!

I enjoyed our little nights out. I discovered that all the kids will dance in their seats to whatever music is playing at the restaurant. We had some deep conversations--as deep as it gets for a child. But, it was fun.

We'll have to do that again some time soon!

We're so cultured.

It was spring break this week. School starts again tomorrow. Many families go on trips during spring break. They go to fun places like Disneyland or Disneyworld. Some travel to visit nearby countries like Canada or Mexico. Some just go to warm, sunny places like Hawaii or the Bahamas. Some wealthy friends of ours go on a European cruise every spring break. We opted for a different spring break experience--let the exotic come to you--in the form of exotic hardwood flooring that you install yourself! We're still putting the floors down, so I'll post final pictures in a few weeks when we're done. But, let me say--WOAH!

We've lived in our home for 15 months now. The downstairs foyer, hallway, and kitchen had a lovely cherry colored laminate flooring. I tried for months to find the same colored laminate so that we could rip out the living room carpet and put the same flooring in. We have a very open downstairs floor plan. Can't figure out why the previous owners didn't just put the same flooring in the living room (probably because of costs--but still!)

Anyway, to make a long story short---we decided to just do it--put hardwood floors in the ENTIRE downstairs (except bathroom and laundry room). It has been THE project!! We started about a month ago. My husband has done a fantastic job at ripping all the old flooring out, sanding and leveling the floorboards, fixing all the squeaks (all after putting in 10-12 hour days at work). And now, after letting the hardwood cure in the house for a couple of weeks--we began installation! Of course I'm not in any pictures, but trust me--I've been yanking nails and flooring staples and chiseling glued-down linoleum and the like! If all else fails, at least I know I could handle construction as a career!

Barren living room--I was waiting to start from the ground up for its transformation.





My hubby rolling up the old carpet, after having fun tearing it into strips.




Cherry-colored laminate flooring in hallway.




Dad and the boys taking out the cherry-colored laminate.




Sanding, sanding, sanding. It's been a dust bowl at our house for the last three weeks.
Not fun, but I kept telling myself it will all be worth it!



Underneath the laminate in the kitchen we found....



Linoleum (which was glued on top of press board that had been
stapled AND glued down to the floorboards).



Curse you, stupid linoleum/press board compound!!
Took us almost 6 days to get it all chiseled out!!
Can I just say, crow bars, I love you!




I wasn't sad to see this pile go to the dump!!



Might as well take out a wall while you're at it.




That's right kids--hide in the bathroom as Dad unleashes his fury!



Even the family room would soon fall victim.




The kids didn't help much, but they looked
really cute rolling out the felt paper
(still the family room--yes the carpet is gone).





Seeing if he missed a spot with the hammer stapler--
now one of my new favorite tools!






After the felt paper goes on the foam sound barrier stuff
(I forget what it's called--but it helps muffle noises).




Laying the first pieces of wood.




All I can keep saying is, "You're so pretty!!!"
Yes, I'm talking to a floor.

My husband and I have done this project ourselves. Whenever I ask him if he wants to have so-and-so come over and help him out with ______, his response is always, "You and I can do it." Well, the man has some great faith in me and my abilities. Seriously though, it's been so flattering that he wants my help and trusts me. I love working side-by-side on things. We've found common ground (no pun intended).

I'm loving the new floors!!