Our Office Fish Likes Ellen!

Thought you all could use some humor this Thursday afternoon...

Meet, Nate!  Nate enjoys long swims in his bowl, and of course, Ellen Degeneres!  We named him Nate because he absolutely HATES anything other than green in his bowl.  He is very particular about the color scheme in his environment, thus, "deeming" him worthy of being named after our favorite designer, Nate Berkus!  Here he is, enjoying some Ellen TV!!!  Oh yes, we almost forgot...he LOVES watching finding Nemo too...maybe that's why he is so hooked on Ellen?

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!

I'm NOT Sorry! I LOVE America!

I have to write this post today because I think it's important!  Initially when I read through the comments of my post from September 11-about a review of Obama's America 2016-I was taken back!  Here's the comment...

AND-I'd written a very long response to the now "Anonymous" (now) un-follower....but I thought since they don't follow anymore, they might not get it.  SO-please read the comments under that post...you'll find it...there are only two.  LOL....here's what I say to you...."Anonymous"...


Actually-the article was written by Scott Paulson, who happens to write political news and commentary for CBS Local and Examiner.com and teaches English at a community college in Chicago...typical very liberal.  It didn't come from Fox News.  I apologize if I've offended you.  I'm simply exercising Freedom of Speech, which just so happens to be protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  And, you're exercising yours, which is why I'm leaving it up here.
It's a great film, and I thought the commentary was very well written, and non-partisan.  AND-if you must know, I'm a fiscal Conservative, and social Liberal...much like a Libertarian.

HOWEVER, I see why you think I'm a right-wing extremist-I have a different opinion of President Obama than you-(which, lemme guess-makes me a racist too?) I think Obama's policies are bologna,  his supercilious demeanor actually makes me cringe, and he's an embarrassment to our Great Country!

I see you've changed your name to Anonymous-well, I'm not hiding behind anything.  This is my blog and I'm not afraid to stand up for what I believe in.  I want my kids to have a better life than I did-I want them to live in the land of opportunity.  I want them to recognize that they, just like you and me, were created equal, endowed by their Creator-given rights such as Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness-and also just like you and me, they have freedoms that my Great-Grandfather fought for in WWII-and my cousin -and a few friends of mine whose husbands fight for every day.  Certainly you, and everyone else can appreciate that-that's why we can agree to disagree right?  Isn't that what our Great Country is all about in the first place?

I appreciate your opinion.  There's nothing like sparring first thing in the morning-  I'm not going to call you names, rather-I'll just disagree with you.  It's too bad you can't do the same because all of my projects, DIY's, tutorials and such-well, they're non-partisan.  I'm not going to apologize for for being an American, and having an opinion of my own because too much blood has been shed so I can have this Freedom-to have my own opinion!

Happy Friday!

So there you have it!  If you're still a reader-I'm happy to have you here.  And if you're political views are different than mine-I'm still happy to have you here.

Laters Baby!

So...oddly the room is done, and I'm editing the photos for the reveal...BUT, I've read 50 Shades of Grey, Darker, and Freed.... and I have a lot to tell you...  but I'm out of time today so I'll just say this; I've read all of the books...TWICE!   And I purchased them the 21st of August.

PB Knockoff...except the Nakedness

It's almost been a year since I began blogging- primarily to keep myself busier than I ever thought possible, and partly to share creations/obstacles/epic failures with all of you.  When I wanted to make some upgrades to the house, I researched a lot of ideas online...then I stumbled across a few honest blogs, and TONS of perfectly fake blogs.  They made me feel bad, like....hello, my "playground" of a house is never going to be that clean...even on its best day.  So, I felt it was necessary to start my blog.

Why am I telling you this?!?  Welp, remember that welcome back to me message from Monday?  You know, the one where I said I was going to share a PB knockoff with you yesterday?!?  Ok...NOW you're following me.  Well, guess what?!?!  No shade = No reveal.  But then I got thinking...look out right?!?  DANGEROUS... Who cares if it's not totally done...it's as done as it's going to get...especially since I'm not really sure where it's going anyway.  I have some great fabric, but until I figure out just how I'm going to do the shade part...you'll just hafta enjoy the nakedness.  And maybe if you go junkin this weekend-you'll remember to look for an old tripod that you can put a lamp kit on and have some nakedness for yourself...for a fraction of Pottery Barn's!

Here she is...Naked Nancy!!

 No shade....just Nancy.  In all her versatile nakedness.  She can be "Tall"

Or...she can be "short and stout".

Either way, she is fun, and I love her.  I'd been wanting one of these since who knows when, but since I've not been junkin' in a while I haven't had the chance to find a tripod.  I went to Target today and bought a plain white lamp shade to cover.  Hopefully, the monsters will allow me some time to get it finished tonight.  If not, so what?!?  I have a "junk" desk and chair to paint up tonight too.  Who wants to start placing bets that neither gets finished tonight?!?  AND...I cropped out so much of the photos because I'm saving it for the big reveal for the 25th.  Sorry!

Getting Ready....

Dearest Lovelies-
I'm alive...just gearing up for YOUR best week ever?  What?  Did she say my best week ever?  Yep...I did.  You probably know I've been sick the past couple of weeks...yes, no good-and you may know that I'm leaving on Vaca!-Yes, good (assuming I start feeling better this century)-which leads me to why this is YOUR best week ever... okay, so month ever....Giveaway the last week of March....but before that, I have been working with some amazing bloggers and have quite the lineup scheduled for you while I'm gone.  So, hold tight.  Tomorrow, I'm revealing the "last project" before vaca....and the schedule for all your lovely guests!

Good Juice and Some Bad Juice...and FORT HARD KNOCKS!

Two nights ago, Little Monster #1 looked very sternly up at Mr. A2B and while violently waiving his pointer finger said; "Dad, I got some good juice an some bad juice, which one eww wont?"  I was sleeping...WAS sleeping, but was woken up by Mr. A2B's hysterical, almost snorting laughter...so, he came in and I asked what could possibly have been that funny, he shared the experience, and I was laughing so hard I couldn't breathe, and had tears streaming down my face.  The joys of parenthood.  WOW~!  Then last night, the good and bad "juice" was asked about again.  This time, I was home with the Monsters by myself because Mr. A2B was bowling.  So, the "bad juice" was Little Monster #1 had a pee in his pants, the "good juice" was, "it jus ahaxident"...AWESOMENESS!  I couldn't even be mad. Instead, we built Fort Hard Knocks!  BTW- neither Mr. A2B nor myself have the first clue as to where the good and bad news came from.  We can only imagine where he picked it up!

I've got lots in the works...so I'll leave you with this...because sometimes it's fun to be a kid!

Yep...having the playhouse under the stairs, is like we built a room addition to our "Forts".  We usually build one every week or so...sometimes like everyday....but having the playhouse is an extra bonus...

Now, this may not look like a great fort- but I assure you it was.  In all its glory, Fort Hard Knocks was immaculate.  Unfortunately, I forgot to snap pics before we started dismantling it.  It was complete with three rooms....two sleeping bags, 16 bed pillows, an overweight black lab, one Tater cat, Mom, and Little Monsters 1&2!  Oh yes, and a basketball hoop.  We no longer have clean bedding...anywhere because it was all ironically covered in pet hair...hmmm...how'd that happen?  How was bowling honey?!? :)  Good...never mind that mountain pile of linens...we can work on that over the weekend.  I decided we needed to "sanitize" the place, so tonight we're just going to sleep with sheets.  mmmmmmkkkk???!?  k...night honey!

NOT a Stair Renovation update...but a Pintrest Rant....Hate Mail? Hate Pinning?

Ok, so I'm new here...you already knew that, but by reiterating that fact, you'll further understand where I'm coming from.  If you're just now joining, go back 43 posts ago...get to know me a little and then read this.  Otherwise, you'll just think I'm some Nuts-O-Crazy person.  Which, I totally am, but you can't call me that....until you get to know me, and appreciate the nuts-o-crazy-person-awesomeness!  You'll also find I prefer to make-up words.  No worries.  It's fun.  You should try it.  Okay, so back to the rant.  I'm new here in bloggieland, and for the most part, the world-wide web has been very kind to me.  I posted a special thank you to all of my readers before Christmas.  (so if you're catching up...it's to you as well.  k? k.)  I posted the Thank You because I'm sincere, and have learned so much from all of my readers, and fellow bloggers here in bloggieland.  NOW, with that being said, you can imagine the confusion when I stumble upon blogs such as

My Favorite Hate Mail; Where Mean Comments go to Die!   

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!~  People wouldn't do such a thing?!?!

WRONG!!!  WRONG!!!  BIG. FAT. WRONG!

Today, I am a Pintrest Victim!  Actually, not so much because I understand that just as in texts, emails, and "pins"......you can't interpret the "tone/reasoning" behind it...and, Hey, it's my fault for putting it out there.  However I'm new....when I have a project that's pinned....I get butterflies in my tummy!  Every morning I JUMP out of bed....run upstairs....and check my email for new comments.  Literally, because I personally find it rewarding when someone likes something I do.  As far as rude comments on blog posts....I'm still a virgin.  Thank goodness.

HOWEVER....not on Pintrest.  Here's what happened....I was so excited to see so many visitors to my teensy-tiny space here in bloggieland....from Pintrest.  So, I took a gander through to see what's been repined.  WOW!!!  My Bears Lamp.  (That. Was. A. Gift. For. My. Little. Bears-loving. Nephew!!!!!!)  He loved it!  When I saw his little face light up at Christmas when he opened it, I felt the most rewarding feeling!  I can't even explain it.  It's not like he only liked it because he's a little kid that doesn't know better, he loved it because I MADE it for him.  I thought it was cool.  I'm going to do a Steelers one if I come across another helmet.  My brothers both liked it, Mr. A2B liked it, and my parents liked it.  That's all that should matter.  I guess I'm not so disheartened because someone didn't like it.  I think I'm more taken-back because someone went out of their way to pin it to one of their boards titled....Uh, No!

It's one thing to dislike something...but do you have to go out of your way to tell everyone that you DO. NOT. LIKE. SOMETHING.???  I'm not 100% sure, but I can almost bet that you've never visited my blog.  I can almost bet you don't know me, and I can almost bet you have no idea how I made this, how much time I put into it, or how excited I was when I finished it, but most importantly, I KNOW without a doubt that if you could have seen the expression on the little boy's face when he opened this lamp on Christmas, it would have brought a smile to your face, and much needed warmth in your heart.  Even if you're not a Bears fan...fine, why don't you say that?  I'd also like to say that I expect honest CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM....from my family, and FRIENDS.  You.....are not my friend.  I wouldn't be friends with you, because you're not nice.  Grandma taught me long ago...you are the company you keep.  And, I'm NOT. KEEPING. YOU.

I have stairs to finish so I can sit back and enjoy my latest accomplishment!  Enjoy your day Ms. Littlejohn Wallace!