This is Embarrassing.

I really contemplated not showing you the "before" pictures of my room.

"Before" as in before fresh paint, before new bedding, before curtains to hide the closet...

But especially before cleaning.

I will warn you now that I am not the neatest person in the world. And that tendency is often reflected in the state of my bedroom.

So when you see these pictures, please don't judge me too much.

(And don't look too closely, either.)

Oh yes. It was really bad.

Fortunately, spending a Saturday cleaning did wonders for it. As did a fresh coat of paint and new "room stuff". I'm still working on a few minor finishing details, but guess what?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow you get to see the new-and-improved bedroom. Is anyone excited yet? =)

'Cause She's My Mom

October 20th is a pretty special day. Mainly because a special baby was born on that day a long time ago.

A baby that grew up to be my mama.

We don't always get along. It does bother me when she forgets something important or sings off-key. But I'll always love her a whole lot.

'Cause she's my mom.

Thanks, Mom, for everything you do for me. And have a very happy birthday.

{*This picture is actually about 2 years old. Neither have a love for having our pictures taken. =)}

Not Me Monday {10/19 edition}

Not Me Monday is certainly not one of the most fun blog carnivals around. MckMama is the amazing hostess of this weekly event, so please go visit her to see what the hoopla is all about.

This weekend, I was not up to my ears in a painting project. When I started out, it seemed an easy task. It did not take me much longer to clean and prep for the paint then to actually paint. My room would never be in that much need of a good scrubbing. Never.

However, I did not finish my painting in it's entirety on Sunday afternoon. And then the great furniture rearranging did not begin.

My piano is not shoved into an echoey corner, by the way. It is not so loud that it makes me not want to play. I am a sincerely devoted musician, and the thought of not playing would never cross my mind.

My bedroom does not look a million times better in it's Dinner Mint and Green River glory as opposed to it's former pink, purple and orange. I really won't be showing you pictures until later this week. There are not still pictures to be hung, beds to be made, piles of "stuff" to go through...

On Sunday, my sweetheart did not point out to me all the places where I did not properly blend my foundation. Never. I always do my makeup perfectly, if I wear any at all.

One of my good friends has not been waiting for an email for 3 weeks. My friend skills are not lacking. At all.

What have you not done this week?

Oh, Paint.

via

Ah, weekend projects. I don't often plan a big weekend project, but today? Totally different story.

My younger sister and I are giving our room some TLC. It needed to be painted. SO badly! I've had the paint picked out for a few weeks, and yesterday we got everything we'd need.

This morning, I fought the urge to sleep in. I dragged myself out of bed and started cleaning.

I thought the big project would be the painting. However, I think it took about 3 hours to get everything cleaned up and taken out...And like an hour to paint 3 walls. =)

I'm not going to show you the colors yet. But Dinner Mint is going on 3 walls, with an accent wall painted Green River. I think it will look great, especially since the color of our walls before was a weird, cream-ish yellow. Not so nice.

Happily, it's a beautiful day outside, so all the windows are open. I'm just waiting for the paint to dry now. And then I'll be painting again later!

I'm planning on "revealing" the redo sometime this week, so be sure to come back soon!

What are you planning for the rest of this weekend?

Random News

I had plans for a different post today.

And then yesterday was super hectic, so I didn't take any of the pictures

I would have needed to post about the blanket I finished crocheting this week.

Oh well.

I was super excited when I opened my email yesterday and saw that

I made a sale from my Etsy shop!

Each and every sale is so exciting to me! Especially considering the fact that this is only like the 3rd sale I've made. Sometimes I get a little discouraged because I work so hard on the cards in my shop, and sometimes they end up just sitting there for a long time. And then each sale I make encourages me to keep going. =)

Also, if you click on over to Gussy's blog and scroll down a bit, you might see some

familiar cards. Can you spot me?

Today I'm planning on going to a fabric store. I've never been there, but my mom actually bought material for her wedding dress there like 20 years ago!

That being said, I have some sewing projects in mind...

I'd love to open a shop just for my sewing if I turn out to be any good at it.

I'll definitely keep you posted. =)

What have you all been up to this week?

This Kid Cracks Me Up...

Katheryn, the youngest of my 4 sisters, is only 5 years old.

And boy, does she crack me up!

She went to her swimming lessons yesterday, so of course, when she came back, she practically reeked of chlorine. When I told her so, she said she didn't think it was so bad. Another sister came over to say that she couldn't smell anything at all. Katheryn had the answer to this:

"She must be deaf in her nose."

(my mom has been reading to her from a book about Helen Keller, so maybe

there's a connection there?)

Yesterday she also decided that checkers was her favorite game. She begged me to play with her...but she hates to lose. It borders on ridiculous. As I jumped her second to last piece, she started getting upset. When I jumped her last piece, she started bawling.

And then she wanted to play again.

She's quite funny for being only 5.

{Bloggy Love}

I love blogging. Therefore, I also love reading other's blogs! And even though you're not supposed to play favorites, I have some.

{MckMama}

MckMama is actually one of the first blogs I started reading, before I even started my own blogging adventure. I think she is really funny at times, but she is also passionate about what she loves, honest, a great photographer, and she has 4 adorable kiddos. =)

{Jack and Mandy - The Blog}

I think I actually found Mandy's blog from MckMama's...and I think Mandy and I would probably be friends in real life if we ever met. She's a lot of fun.

And she shares my dislike of geckos.

{Erica's Bloggity Blog}

I always enjoy reading Erica's blog. From her Yays & Boos to Modge Podge Monday, it's always good. She is (also) a great photographer, and she has a pair of absolutely precious little girls. It makes me happy. =)

{Gussy has a lot to say.}

Gussy is one of my more recent bloggy finds, but I love it. Gussy (aka Maggie) is funny, sweet and caring, and I always look forward to her posts. AND, if that's not enough, she also sews some fabulous things, so you have GOT to check out her shop while you're there.

{Natalie's Sentiments}Natalie is one of the reasons I love yellow so much. I guess you could say she introduced me to it? She always has something pretty to see on her blog. And her "currently" sidebar makes me happy. =)

Now, I know there are other fabulous blogs out there that I have yet to discover. So you tell me. What are your favorite bloggy reads? Who inspires you?