Life in the Middle Age Lane

Happy New Year! This past year has been full of extremes.  What I mean by that is that I had days full of adventure and travels and days of boredom and melancholy.  I started the year with health issues that affected my workouts.  I spent way too much time on social media instead of enjoying my surroundings.  I really felt like I lost a year when it came to daily productivity.  Which then affected how I viewed my world. My gratitude was skewed for lack of a better word.  I was like a three-year-old, knowing what the right thing to do is and deciding to do the opposite, just because I could.  The whole year flew by and I felt I had nothing to show for it. To recharge my battery, I finally decided to take those pesky vitamin supplements that I always avoided despite taking the time to fill up the weekly pill boxes.  I eliminated sodas completely. I continue to eat clean and exercise. I completed my annual checkup with...

I enjoy keeping busy and learning new things.  I read a few blogs which showcase their projects and craft ideas.  One in particular looked like fun and I felt fairly confident that I could pull it off.  I found the finished result at Dixie Delights .  She has a fabulous home and does various projects throughout, room by room.  I then found the tutorial on Pinterest with step by step instructions at Pretty Handy Girl Blogspot . I was very happy with the end result: Original built in China Cabinet I chose this fabric to use as for the back. Here is my end result once I placed all my knick knacks on the shelves.  John did have to help with the glass shelves.  They were very heavy!! My father in law gave me some beautiful crystal from Germany. Instead of placing all the pieces out I only chose 4 of everything to display.  The beautiful little blue chevron bowl under the plant is a handmade gift given to my daughter by one...

To save a few hundred dollars (was going to buy an accent chair)  I decided to make a seat cover for one of my kitchen chairs that I keep in the guest room. I love this pattern I found at Joanne's and regardless of the bright colors not matching completely with the comforter, I liked it and thought it just made the paint on the ceiling and walls pop. My mother gave me a sewing machine years ago when she worked at Wal-Mart.  Back in the day, when she was in better health.  Since then I have made small projects around the house using YouTube tutorials or the internet. One big project was Emilio's school quilt that you can read about by clicking here .  I have never had much patience.  I have half-a** wallpapered a bathroom, started projects that I could not finish and painted rooms that should have been torched with better results.    But with time I have slowed down to learn the lessons I was missing before.   I have taught mysel...

A good friend of mine is hosting a huge Halloween party at her home tonight.  She has over 90 guest planning to attend.  Because of Pinterest and my ability with a hot glue gun I set to work on these really cute costume contest trophies for her. You can check them out on this blog  here . I had the misfortune of not finding the three dimensional skeletons (I went to 4 different dollar stores)  so I had to do with the 2 dimensional ones and use some creativity in making them stay upright. I'm not crazy about my belt buckle but I think at this point, I was tired. Tell me what you think.  I wish I could have posed them but that would have required cutting them up and was too worried that it would look awful.  Also, I was able to get 4 skeletons in a package for a $1.  I think the entire project cost me $20.00 I have a craft room full of paper and ribbons from our early days in Girl Scouts, being a Room Mom and PTO. ...