Dropping pounds.

My back has been spasming off and on all day, so I wasn't able to do much today.

I did at least finish up the painting projects that needed a little touch up done. It's nice to have it out of the way. I still have some paint in the tray that's fresh, and I'd totally forgotten about some mirrors I'd gotten to paint for the girls' rooms a year or so ago. They've got oak frames, but I wanted to paint them when I bought them, so I might just use the last of the paint in the tray on them. I'd love to etch something on the mirror to personalize them for the girls.

We got them for a great price - $6 each. But they're nice and heavy duty. They're much nicer than the typical cheap mirrors you can find for the back of your bedroom door. They're wider. They've got thicker glass. They're pretty nice. But I don't care for the oak. It doesn't look clean enough. They'd been used in motels and were put up on Craigslist by someone who bought all the things the motels got rid of when they remodeled. So I'm thinking that painting them will seal the wood and any germs, so there's no way the girls can get sick from them, and it will make it easier to keep them clean.

I'd planned on doing one for Bugster, but she told me she didn't need a mirror for the back of her bedroom door. There was one in the house when they bought it. It's too bad. I'd planned on etching ladybugs all around the edge ... or maybe just at the bottom. I hadn't decided yet. I'll be using it for our room now.

For Scooter, I want to eventually make butterfly wings to go on either side of the mirror. She's crazy over butterflies. And I thought it might be sort of cool to put some wooden wings up on the sides of the mirror, so she can look like a butterfly when she checks herself out in the mirror. Then on the wings, I'll put hooks, so she can hang her jewelry. She has a lot of necklaces and bracelets, and I think she'd love to be able to have a place to hang them that would make it fun for her to put them away when she's done using them. And I'd have to etch a butterfly or two on the mirror for her, of course.

I'm not sure what I'd do with Hopper's mirror. She has some flowers and polka dots in her bedroom. It might be fun to cut circles or flowers out of wood and attach them here and there around the frame. They would show up well and look cute on a bright white background. I might etch a flower with a bee flying away on it or something. Just not sure yet. At any rate, I should probably use the rest of the paint in the trays for the mirrors rather than let it go to waste. Plus there's plenty of room on the makeshift workbenches on the porch, so they'd be safe from breakage. Just seems like the timing is right.

Worked on laundry and in the kitchen today. It was about all my back could handle. We're hoping to close on the refinance tomorrow. It will be nice to have it out of the way. Plus I'll be able to get more laundry done or rearrange the living room furniture or something.

Seems as though every little thing that gets done takes a little more weight off our shoulders.

That's the best weight loss ever.

Of pinatas and electricians.

The electrician made it by today. The outlets are installed, but they're not 'hot' just yet. He couldn't hook them up to the electrical panel, because our panel is so outdated that you can't just find a replacement breaker for them anywhere. He has to try to find one on Monday. Thankfully, it's still supposed to be nice and cool on Monday.

The outlets look really nice, even though they had to be put up by the windows, instead of down below like typical outlets are. If they weren't being installed on an outside wall, it would be no big deal, but it would have been a lot more work to have them lower than it was worth, so we'll just deal with it. And like I said. They look nice. And it's going to be super nice to have the air conditioners each on their own dedicated outlet, so they're not popping the breaker every few minutes when it gets hot out!

I finished my meese today! Well, except that I can't post pictures just yet, because I do still have to finish the groom's hat. But it turned out really cute. I think they'll like it. It's full of 7.5 pounds of candy, and it feels like it weighs about 30 pounds tonight. Amazing how heavy things feel when you're tired.

I did etch a cookie jar for Mom's upcoming birthday. It's a 2.5 gallon clear glass canister. It's hard to see in this picture, but there are two ladybugs below the flower*. I'll be doing what I can to bake a bunch of cookies to fill it.

First on the agenda are Spice Drop Cookies. We always had them at Christmas time when we were little. There's something so good about biting into that chewy spice drop goodness in the middle of a cookie. The spice drops have already been sliced and are just waiting to be used.

This gives a bit better view of the ladybugs. It's funny how silver the etching looks in the pictures, because it's not silver at all. Just etched glass.

I realized my great need for bifocals while trying to cut the pattern out for this design. Getting old just isn't all it's cracked up to be. Not that I'd like to be getting younger. There are just certain years I'd never like to live over again. Life just seems to get better and better!

I've got to go to bed. I have to bake tomorrow. And hopefully make caramels that are to die for. It's going to be another really long day, but it will be good.

*Now for the small print. Please do not copy, reprint or reproduce this design in any way, shape, or form, as it is my own personal design, and I'd really rather not see it anywhere else. Thanks!

One tired mother...in-law.

I am SO exhausted. What a long few days!

I'll write more about it tomorrow, probably, but I'll tease you a little about upcoming posts...

1. The wedding and details-including a sweet surprise from our daughter first thing in the morning!

2. The first surprise of the weekend for dd...my mom flying in a a surprise! It was a complete surprise!

3. The second surprise of the weekend...I attempted my first ever fondant cake for their wedding. Shoot. I think I'd only done one other layer cake in my life. So it was pretty much a first all around. All in all, I was pleased.

4. My sister's little ladybug miracle. It's pretty neat. :)

Right now...I'm beyond exhausted. I'm going to bed now, and I will write as I have time in the next few days. I'll post pictures, too. I promise. :)

Ramblings

I got absolutely nothing done toward dehoarding today, but I had a lot of fun! We went shopping for last minute stuff our younger girls need to wear for the wedding. Found exactly what we were looking for, which is good.

I got the skirts they're wearing ironed tonight. Our oldest loves, loves, loves ladybugs, and she's thrilled about the skirts. They're red satin w/black polka dots and a little bit of black crinoline sticking out from the bottom of the skirt. They'll wear black blouses w/white tank tops underneath and black leggings.

Our oldest will be wearing ladybug shoes when she ties the knot. Yep. Ladybug shoes. I'll post pictures eventually. It ought to be fun!

I thought of something I'll be doing for the big day, but I won't be writing about it until after the fact. If I write about it now, she'll probably read about it, and I don't want that to happen! (So, #1, if you're reading this...you're outta luck! :D)

I'll hopefully have more to write tomorrow and will get caught up on reading the blogs I haven't had time to read today.

I've got to get up at 5:15 to get the girls ready for school.

Don't you think that time should be illegal? It's entirely too early!!