We seem to have acquired another cat. We waited several days, trying to locate an owner for this little lump of skin and bones we found freezing on the front porch. Now he has been named: Hugo. He’s scared shitless of anything that moves, but drum practice didn’t faze him at all. He’s super cute, but literally skin and bones. I can feel each bone in his body. I’m afraid to rub his fur too hard in case it’s tender to have your bones poking out so.
He’s not the kitty I would have chosen for our last baby, but he must have known which porch was the best. He’s hit the jackpot here. Isn’t he cute? He better be, ’cause we aren’t getting any more kitties for a long, LONG time.
Today is my chicken baby girl’s birthday. She decided on a room makeover. Now, I don’t know how most people go about a room makeover, but I don’t have a few grand to throw at a 14 year old’s room, so we started small. I bought a few thrifted and clearance items to get us started – wall art, an ottoman and a set of letters that spell her name. With those things out of the way, I had to start thinking bigger. It will be up to her to decide on paint, so I didn’t tackle that for her. Instead I DIYed a bedspread.
As we were talking about how she wants her room to look, I directed her to Pinterest for some eye candy. Of course she found an amazing bedspread from Urban Outfitters that was completely and utterly out of the budget. (I didn’t even spend that much on my own bedding!)
Here’s the inspiration bedding:
Now, this puppy retails at over $150. Nuh-uh. No way, no how. So I set about to recreate this as best I could with thrifted materials. I knew that I would have to buy yards and yards of fabric, which wasn’t in the budget either, so I went a hunting for a blanket and sheets that I could dye. My girl asked for charcoal gray. Baby I tried my best, but apparently my fabric dying skills aren’t up to snuff.
Turns out that when you want dark gray or black fabric from white fabric, you don’t actually use black dye. I got a gorgeous purple. Three times. Then I started adding other color dye to see what I could come up with. Long story short, I ended up with a slightly green tinted gray! Success! (sort of!) The blanket and one sheet were the same color, and the other sheet came out light gray. And not a nice matchy combo. So, I ditched the light gray sheet in favor of coordinating the ruffles and blanket.
I bought a gathering foot for my machine and ruffled the heck outta those ripped strips! For a bit of interest, I added a trim of grosgrain ribbon to separate the ruffles from the rest of the blanket, and with the left over sheeting, made a pillowcase with ribbon trim! She likes it!
Here’s my handiwork, with some improvisation thrown in. It’s not a copy, but I kind of like that it isn’t exactly like what we could buy in a store.
We’ve got some work ahead of us, but I think we are off to a great bedroom makeover start! Stay tuned for more progress.
If I could rip out walls and windows and re-do my entire kitchen I would. But I can’t, so I won’t. The next best thing is messing around with what I have. So be it.
When we bought our house there was no hardware on any of the cabinets. Still isn’t. I’m going to change that with some cute DIY cabinet knobs in the kitchen!
I got started this weekend, so here’s a sneak peek of what I’ve been working on!
RANT: My friend, his partner and kids were denied a family gym membership (updated)
January 28, 2013*HAPPY HAPPY UPDATE: The Germantown has changed their membership policies effective immediately! All families are now included! *
I’m really angry this morning. I’ve been angry all night actually. A high school friend that I keep up with on facebook has been denied a GYM MEMBERSHIP because he, his partner and their children are not a “family” as defined by the membership application at Germantown Athletic Club (at least partially funded by taxpayer money.) Is this REALLY happening in 2013? I know lots of people who are not on board with gay marriage and legal status. Whatever. But a GYM MEMBERSHIP? Does. Not. Compute.
The worst of it is that the personnel informed my friend that they didn’t qualify for a family membership IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN. What a disgrace.
Last night Adam posted his frustration, offense and sadness on facebook. Many people have begun to cause a fuss on Germantown Athletic Club’s facebook page. Now the club wants to keep this quiet. What the WHAT?!?
Talk about a stupid move. Now I feel like shouting it from the rooftops that discrimination is alive and well in Germantown, TN. In addition, when I shared this information on my own facebook page, a different friend informed me that Bartlett Rec HAS THE SAME POLICY. What is wrong with people?
Please let the Germantown Athletic Club know how offensive and discriminatory their PRINTED policy on family is.
From the website
Family memberships are defined as husband, wife and children 18 years or younger for which they have custody. Additionally, full-time college students who are 24 years of age and younger may be added to a family or a couple membership at $25 per child. Verification of full-time college enrollment is required.
Samantha Boyd, Membership Sales Advisor at 901-757-7372 or sboyd@germantown-tn.gov.
Twitter: @GtownAthClub
But at least the snow is pretty. There is just something about unblemished snow that gives me a thrill.
I’ve all but given up my music photography since moving to Michigan. Luckily, I find shows here and there where I can drag my big camera (Canon Rebel) along. Most often lately, I only use my phone camera (iPhone 4S) because it’s so damn handy. When we were on vacation in November I took my big camera to the Norton Records wash- a -thon, but I chickened out at the last minute what with all the water and cleanser and fragile vinyl lying around.
In a fun turn of events my friend Twinkle needed some photos for a story she was doing on Norton and I was able to send her a few! It’s been a good while since I’ve had a photo published so I was happy to help!
You can find Twinkle here
and Norton Records here. Norton still needs lots of help. If any of you record lovers feel so inclined, I’m sure they can use some monetary help in addition to the volunteers needed for clean up efforts.
I have a love hate relationship with laundry. Often I find the rhythmic back and forth of sorting, transferring from washer to dryer soothing. Somehow the love doesn’t extend to my large collection of blankets. I’ve found that a weekly (or so) trip to the local laundromat is a nice break for me. In an awesome turn of fortune, my closest laundromat is next door to a Goodwill store!
Now, it’s no secret that I love finding a good deal, and that I have passed many a deal along through my eBay sales. Every time I go to the laundromat I pop in the Goodwill to see what I can see. Some of my most fun and amazing finds have come from this once a week or so pop in. All of that is to say: look what I found today!
Just phoning it in today to say how little there is going on around these parts. School is back in session, people are sick, Ski club started for the middle school, the cats are cute as hell and I’m still pinning more quilts than I will ever make or need in 4 lifetimes.
Being sick has been nice in regards to my current quilt project though. It’s a lot more relaxing to hand sew when you don’t feel like moving more than a foot or two from the bed or couch. I’ve wrapped up a book or two. My new coloring book and markers arrived so I have even managed to color. Aside from that being sick sucks. I can’t breathe well and my head hurts. Somebody call the wahmbulance.
Also, LuLu is getting too fat for the tower. My sweet fat bottomed girl.
Meghan Smith is the genius. I can take no credit, but she’s spot on.
I don’t make resolutions, but In the last couple of years I have posted what I have learned from the year previous — this year has been a fucking cake walk with 5 extra chairs.
Being true to yourself is great, unless you are an asshole.
If you find a lump or bump on your body — GET THAT SHIT CHECKED OUT!
If something keeps happening to you over and over again — you are the common element. You are the problem.
Cancer attitude is the best attitude you can have.
The most common injury is a bruised ego.
I am probably funnier than you — with the exception of Gerard Cosloy or Cheryl Botchick.
I almost daily miss people that are gone and folks that say time heals don’t (usually) know what the fuck they are talking about.
Don’t fuck up your relationship with the bullshit of your last one.
I can’t get my brain to work correctly most of the time and this has created a constant source of frustration.
I am not a patient person with children.
Sometimes having a conversation about something you don’t know is more interesting than looking it up on the internet.
Being the ultimate grudge holder takes a ton of energy.
I need to lean to stop trying to please everyone, you probably do too.
You have to make your own magic — you will be waiting a long time for it to occur naturally. You will be waiting forever for someone to make it for you.
This year hasn’t been the best for me with internal struggles and whatnot. However, some really good things have happened this year. Frankly I don’t have the energy to write up a big sappy end of the year review. Let’s just say I’m excited to put 2012 behind me and see what 2013 will bring. Thirteen is my lucky number, after all.
Happy New Year’s everybody! Have fun and be safe.
