{create this} Man Cave Art Ideas

The man cave.  A sacred space for sports memorabilia and chest beating and pool tables and all varieties of manly TV watching.  For Super Bowl parties and draft watching and all the testosterone that will fit in a bean bag chair. 

We have a man room - not quite a cave since it is next to the laundry room and will probably always smell like fabric softener.  And for the time being, it also has to share a tiny corner with my scrapbooking supplies.  But, a manly man Man Room, nonetheless.  Insert caveman grunt of your choice here.

Since there is no Extreme Home Makeover team beating down our doors and our Man Room has some seriously blank walls, I need to put a little PDST flair in the Man Room.  (Since The Saint doesn't often read this blog, I think I'm safe!)  While sports memorabilia and taxidermied critters are fine and dandy, I am thinking a little out of the box.

Something more along these lines:

Forget the the one that got away!

Check out the rack on this thing! 

I've broken that and that and that...

I am going to print these out on card stock, rough them up a bit so they look old and worn and throw them in some black frames.  Funky, different and oh-so-manly, don'tcha think??  I'll update and post some pictures of the finished project soon!

And ohbytheway, the skeleton fish and the man/monster deer graphics are from one of my favorite blogs, The Graphics Fairy.  She has some really awesome retro/vintage graphic images that you can use for any thing crafty and she posts a new one every day...sweet!

While I would love to stay and blog some more, there is some fantastic pizza from the Mellow Mushroom calling my name and an aunt in town for the weekend.  Let me know what you think and stop in again!!

Lucky You - A Post about Postage!

Before I actually took the plunge and started a blog, I had a list of topics I wanted to write about and I squirreled away a few random pictures and whatnot for when I did have a blog.  I know, I know - we've already established I have dorky tendencies and a propensity for over planning.  Oh, but I have been dying to share this and today is your lucky day!

Let me set the scene...I work in an office at my 9-5 (well, technically 7:30 - 4:30, but that doesn't quite roll off the tongue) and I get a variety of mail.  Most of it is bulk and metered and not terribly exciting.  But one day, I received this little gem:



See my mad "spray paint" skills to get rid of the address so it's all anonymous?!

From a business, believe it or not!  I'm not sure if you can see all of the detail but the two fancy bobcat stamps and the snowflake stamp are actually carefully taped on.  I was trying to figure out how in the world this awesome display of postage insanity came to be...I can see it now:

It is Stan's first week on the job.  He finally found the letterhead and envelopes and figured out which way they had to face in the printer after just six test runs.  His heart starts to beat and his palms begin to sweat:  there is only .80 left on the postage machine and he knows it is not enough.  He can't remember who he is supposed to contact to replenish the postage and he doesn't want to ask another question.  So, he runs his letter through and uses the last .80.  Now what?  He wanders over to the desk next to his, "Do you happen to have a stamp or two I could buy from you?"  $4 and two bobcat stamps later...  He hits up the young receptionist.  Score - .13 more in postage!  Then, a guy in the accounting department carefully peels off a snowflake stamp from another piece of mail, "Look, the post office missed this one; you can still use it!"  Stan carefully aligns and adheres (with various methods) the stamps and pops his masterpiece in the mail.  And rummages for a cough drop in his desk drawer because now he doesn't have enough money for lunch.

So, there you have it, fictional Stan's first day and what I am sure will be the first of many completely random posts!  Come back next week and I can regale you with all the wacky names I have seen on various applications and such...oooo, the intrigue!

P.S.  Fin de Friday tomorrow!!
luxury.

Monday, Monday

I bet Monday has really low self-esteem.  I mean, it's not like it chose to be Monday; Friday was probably already taken, Wednesday went fast and the weekend was long gone!  The Bangles called it manic and Monday is blue and falls apart according to The Cure.  There are not many people I know who look forward to Monday.  Poor Monday.

So, in support of the 52 Mondays each year, in memory of the more than 1600 Mondays I have experienced thus far and because Mondays have feelings, too, I present... 

Reasons that I Don't Hate Mondays!

• Barring any unusual circumstances (like the over zealous gas pump that sprayed unleaded ALL OVER my jeans, shoes and sweater yesterday!!) or an abnormally messy lunch, I usually wear what I wore to church on Sunday to work on Monday.  Jeans to church, jeans to work - life is good! 
• I have done copious amounts of laundry on the weekend so everything is clean, there is an abundance of underwear and matched socks readily available and The Bugs know exactly where their jackets are.
• Due to my Friday evening grocery shopping, the fridge is full, packing lunches is easy and the options for dinners are plentiful.
• I can catch up on the blog reading that I didn't get a chance to do over the weekend.
• Instant conversation starter!  "So, how was your weekend?"  "Did you do anything fun?"  "Oh, we went...." 
• I love good ol' USPS mail and there is no mail on Sunday.  So yay!  Mail on Monday!
• SO.MUCH.DVR'd. over the weekend...the TV watching is fine indeed!
• Renewed resolve.  Monday is a great day to start over.  (Low carb, I'm talking to you!)
• New episodes of Gossip Girl, Hoarders and American Pickers.

Monday, I hope you feel the love!  So...what can you add to the list?!

{create this} seasonal trio of frames

When I decided to start "Fin de Friday" I didn't take into account that, with my renewed commitment to this blog, I've already told you about my week - or at least the points that are remotely interesting.  So a wrap up would basically just be regurgitating the week's posts.  (Never thought I'd use that word in a post!)   Since I am not good with bored readers or cleaning up after anyone, let's switch it up a bit.  Stay with me... 

'Fin de' = 'end of'. 
Friday = the last day of the work week, which = the beginning of the weekend.  
The weekend = free time. 
Free time = crafting. 
Crafting = a happy, creative, SANE mother and wife

So, I just figured as we ease into the weekend, I would share some crafty things that I've made, that I'd like to make, that I'll never make but maybe you can...you know, just a general craftapalooza!

Since this was a last minute fly by the seat of my pants well thought out and meticulously planned decision, let's start with something easy:



Owls, chickadees and lovebirds, oh my!

These three frames are in a skinny slice of wall between our front door and a big picture window.  The frames were $1 each and there are a super cheap and easy way to update for the next season or holiday.  See: 


Pearly papers and a cute Christmas saying

A sneaky mouse and BOO for Halloween

Supplies:  3 frames, 3 pieces of scrapbook paper/wrapping paper/or any other fun, funky found paper-y type stuff (I used corragated cardboard behind my bird coasters), ribbon, letters, assorted embellishments and about 5 minutes.

This project is so easy, I'm not even numbering the steps!  Just cut or crop (or heck, you can even rip it!) the paper to fit your frames, attach ribbons, letters, chipboard shapes, etc. and hang. 

The possibilities are endless:   3 initials for personalized art, a series of bugs or robots for a boy's room, ballet silhouettes for a girl's room, house numbers for your front porch, labels hung above a trio of hooks (think: names for backpacks, coats, etc.)...

And just for the record, even though I am the only woman in a house full of testosterone, not every project will be girly and prissy.  I actually have an AWESOME idea for some art for the still-evolving man cave/game room and The Bugs' rooms.  So, stayed tuned and let me know what you think!  

Two Things

Totally unrelated, equally important and with photos!!

So, as promised here, the before and after pictures of the Little Bug's broken tooth.  Or what I commonly refer to in hushed tons as dental magic!

(I feel like I need to clarify that the lower half of his face is not really disproportionately large; that visual illusion is thanks to my unparalleled photography ability.)  Five layers of filling material and resin later and we have a tooth!  When I asked our dentist if we needed to do anything special, the look on his face was classic.  "Honey," he said as he patted my shoulder and shook his head, "you have an eight year old boy." 

And in other news not requiring a $50 copay or anesthesia of any kind...It's heeeeeerrrrrrre!

But grandma, what empty pages you have!  GULP.


It's lovely and chic and the moleskin is soft as buttah and I love the bar code on the back with my name on it BUT OH GOOD LORD THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY PAGES IN THIS THING!!  What have I gotten myself into?

Today, "The Greatest Story Ever Told" begins to unfold ... stay tuned!

Tuesday is Brought to You by the Letter T

Because this blog is all about sharing stuff and I have committed to blogging more and who doesn't want to hear all about random things that I like (don't answer that), here is a calorie-free, no-spoon-needed helping of Alphabet Soup!  My finger is itching to click the 'numbered list' button, but I will refrain.

Tea
An ironic way to start a brief discussion on tea, but I am a coffee drinker.  That first sip in the morning from my favorite mug when everyone else is still asleep is divine.  'Caffeinated angels singing and twitching' kind of divine.  But, before I was all grown up and allowed to drink coffee, I drank tea.  Good ol' Lipton black tea with sugar and milk.  Lately, since I am low-carbing it, tea with Splenda is quite lovely around 10am for a snack.  (Though I don't know that a drink you don't chew can be classified as a snack...)  In my desk drawer right now:  Bigelow Chamomile & Mint and Tazo Wild Sweet Orange.  Side note:  Tazo's website is nifty and fun whether you drink tea or not!  Casual poll:  coffee or tea or neither?

Terrie's Tasty Roasted Broccoli  Really a 'B' but had to get it on the list!   So sneaky!
You might find it odd that I blog about this but I seriously can't get enough!  We had it at Terrie's house (hence the name) a couple weekends ago and I have made it no less than twice a week since then.  Here, you try:  Chop up a head of broccoli into florets.  Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Wrap into a cozy little foil packet and bake at 350* until tender.  Little squirt of lemon juice and that's it.  You'll thank me later.  You will.

The new Template  In case you're wondering, that 'N' is cancelled out by the 2 Ts because those are the rules.  Really.
I don't know that I've mentioned it before, but I like birds.  Allow me to clarify:  for home decor purposes.  Awesome would probably make quick work of any fluttery feathery thing.  He's already stalking the fish.  Anyway, my dining room is home to a little blue sculpted bird, chubby ceramic birds, a shiny silver bed knob sort of bird (that's the scientific name, I swear) and lots of 'B's since that is what our last name starts with.  Get it, "the birds and the Bs"?!  So, when I stumbled across this blog template, it was love at first sight.  I know I didn't design it or tweak it much, but it just seems to fit.  And I'm kind of digging the funky burnt orange and gray combo.  What do you think? 

So there, you have it:  a trio of T things on a Tuesday.  Care to share some of your own?   

If you just can't get enough, other servings of Alphabet Soup are here:  L, N and I.

Introducing...Fin de Friday

So, I blog for several reasons that I'm sure I've expounded on before.  Because I love to write.  One of these days, it might just be for real.  By real I mean full-time and paid :)  I scrapbook and this here blog records lots of Every Day things that I'm sure I would forget other wise.  There is a reason for a love of lists - it's the only way things get done.  Also?  The Bugs will be able to look back and have a real-time, honest recording of their childhood, their parents, their lives from an outside perspective and their mother's thoughts on, oh, everything and nothing.  (And lots and lots of exclamation points!)  I think that's pretty special.  And I write for me, too.  Just because.   

Which leads to the introduction of Fin de Friday!!  (Because I like alliterations.  And loosely interpreted Spanish.)  Whatever is Fin De Friday, you ask, with great anticipation?!  Quite simply, a wrap up of the week.  The week in review.  The Happenings in the PDST universe.  I know - you can't wait!  So without further ado...

Fin De Friday - First Edition

This week has been a study in opposites. 

Grief. 
Defined as:  Sad.  Sorrow.  Seriously sucks. 

Sunday marked the end of a dear friend's battle with leukemia.  He was a beautiful example of a father, husband, son, brother, neighbor and friend.  Evidenced by standing room only at his funeral service yesterday:  A testimony to his character, his remarkable coaching and teaching, his ability to carry on a sincere conversation with anyone and everyone and the amazing impact that his 51 years on this Earth made on those around him.  I was honored to be counted among them.    

Joy.
Adjectives:  shiny, happy, sparkly, glittery, sequiny, lovely and other words ending in 'y' 

Which I felt guilty about a few times this week.  But joy and guilt can co-exist and probably for good reason.  So...my Fiction Project book has shipped!  Yipppppppeeeeee!  It's on its way and I am just salivating to open our mailbox to see it waiting to be filled and altered and sent away only to return again in July. 

And the Little Bug has a wonderfully fixed tooth - before and after pictures forthcoming - and could not wait to show it off at school yesterday.  Dentists are magic!!

Anticipation.
See also:  WOO HOO, Yippee, Awwww Yeah 

My best friend is pregnant (it's a GIRL!!), my cousin is getting married, baseball season is right around the corner, the 2 week hard core first phase of my low carb torture diet healthy way of living ends on Monday, my own copy of Just Dance 2 for the Wii, tax return time, the exhibit in July, 11 years of marriage in 2011...there are just so many things that I am anticipating!

Apprehension. 
Synonyms:  Dread, Anticipate with Terror, Funk  (Funk made me laugh, so I had to through it in there. Sometimes the thesaurus is a funny, funny book.) 

The six loads of laundry calling me from the laundry room, SIGH, the hectic 4 or 5 months that is baseball season, the excruciating wait for W-2s, interest statements, charitable donation forms, etc. to file the afore-mentioned tax return and  The Bigger Bug in middle school (I am NOT prepared to discuss this yet!).  Short list.  Life is short.  These things should not take up too much room.   

And there you have it.  I'm sure I left something out or left something in.  But at least it's something :)  Weekend posts ahead... 

I did it!

Despite being nervous that I won't finish, I won't be able to come up with enough to write, I won't be able to execute the artsy things that I see in my head, that the stop in my hometown on the tour will be cancelled, oh any number of things ... I DID IT! 

I signed up for The Fiction Project! 

And, even better, once the tour is on the road, guess where I'll be July 29 - July 31?  (see below)

That's right - the tour stops right here in little ol' Winter Park, FL which is quite literally right down the street.  I'll even get to use my 'limited edition library card' as a contributor.  I am such a Dork.  

So here is where you come in!  Insert green Participant ribbon here with your name on it! 

I am writing a collection of short stories.  About people that we have brushed against, bumped into, saw in passing, interacted with briefly, watched without introduction or just simply remember for no good reason.  I need your people.  And a brief description of whatever stuck out in your mind about them.  No names and I don't need terribly specific details. 

Like the woman in the grocery store that always, always, always wore bright red lipstick and Chanel No. 5 with her yoga sweats.  Or the man who sang Italian opera in your apartment building at night.  Or the girl in third grade with six toes on each foot.

See?  Not so hard. 

They may or may not be used (so please, no getting huffy, this thing has to be signed, sealed & delivered by May!), but if so, they will be fictionized (word?) and I promise not to reference you at all.  You get to be all anonymous and mysterious...fun!  

Really?  I am just looking for a jumping off point.  And you just might be one.

And......GO!  Comment to your heart's desire!


P.S. Nothing too grisly or gross.  Oh, and we're keeping this thing all sorts of PG-13.
P.P.S.  And thanks!   

2011 Already? Seriously? Come. On. Oh well, grab your exclamation points because here we go...

Testing, testing...is this thing on?


Cobwebs dusted?  Check!
Finger exercises complete?  Check!
Familiarized with buttons, how to insert link, browsing new templates? Check!
Remembering just how much I heart blogging?  Check!
And away we go...

Hello 2011.  I welcomed you in with a terrible glass of Proseco (for the record:  cheap bubbly is never okay), some great Trini food, the best of friends (sorry about the Proseco), a new favorite Wii game (more to come), thirteen years with The Saint (muh-wah!), sugar-rushed Bugs and a kiss at midnight.  Oh, alright, you can stay.  But your resolutions?  Not so much.

Okay, so I really hate New Years resolutions.  I don't know that I have ever actually kept/finished/completed a resolution successfully.  Mine generally include lose weight, be more patient, scrapbook more, blah blah blah.  Then a Krispy Kreme derails me and my resolve crumbles.

So this year, my resolution is NO resolutions. I know, not a terribly novel concept, but at least I can keep this one, right?  Oh!  And I want to blog more.  Darn, I guess I do have a resolution.  But a rather unofficial one, so I'm moving on.

In traditional PDST fashion, I thought I would share some recent goings-ons (is that even a word?  Yep.) with you.  And while paragraphs suffice, a LIST is so much better!!

On the 7th day of 2011, 7 Things:

• Full-time hours for The Saint.  OH YEAH!!
• One week of low carb eating - so far, so good.  My chicken bento box with noodles for lunch has not arrived yet, but I will prevail! 
• Just Dance 2 for the Wii, where have you been all my life?  This game is totally "Add it to the 3 things I need on a deserted desert island" list.  I mean, who needs SPF or bug spray when you can shake it with with Katy Perry in your living room?!  Sold!  Hook, line and Wii remote.
• The Little Bug had a run in with another classmate.  No, literally.  The end result of two front teeth colliding with a friend's forehead (and the rest of him, too) in pursuit of a ball in P.E. is NOT good:  one broken (adult!) tooth, one wiggly adult tooth (eek!) , a cut bottom lip and stitches for the other kid.  Elementary school is not for wimps.
• Pondering doing something totally out of my comfort zone.  The Fiction Project.  I love to write.  Duh :)  But can I do this?  Not sure, but I just might try.  Stay tuned. 
• Researching a sort of business/hobby/thing.  It involves cupcakes.  And math.  That is all I can divulge right now.  But it just very well might be delicious.  Oooo, the mystery!
• Getting together with the BCF this weekend - can't wait to hear about their trip across the pond, share a low carb meal and perhaps, just perhaps, throw down some sweet moves ;)

How is your 2011 shaping up?  Anything you are pondering or researching?  Wanna dance?