Walls Walls Walls

Just to give you an idea of what I meant in the post before.


This first one is a small snippet of my living room walls. Two walls are painted this barn red type color...and two walls are wood paneling ( which I hate but the Commander LOVES..@@)




































This is my front entry. The front door is to the right of this wall. This is my favortie area of the whole house. I LOVE this color.










This is my upstairs hallway. I couldn't quite capture the color. It's a light aqua, but looks brighter than this in real life.




















This is my Oldest son's room( the Genious..I'll have to explain that one of these days, I've never posted about it)
NO he didn't choose that color.... this was his little sisters room eons ago. When he moved back home this was his only option and he doesn't care enough to make us change it.







This is the Drama Teens room. Her favorite color is Purple. I should have taken pics of her furniture( which is all painted BRIGHT PINK) and her carpet(Leopard Print) . This room is too cool and the one room the Realtor said we should keep just for fun.













Here is my laundry room...I LOVE this color as well but the Commander thinks it's hideous! I told him, hey, "I'm" the one who has to spend my time in there doing laundry day in and day out, and "I" LIKE it . It makes it a nice 'cheery" room.
I think it's Green Apple.












This is the girls Bathroom. The color is Carnation Pink.They now share it with the Genious, but he didn't live here when we painted it. At that time it was just the girls who used this bathroom.

This is our Music/Computer room. I can't remember the name of this color ..but it looks like a nice blood red ..don't you think?

The Commander had this idea that he would make this room a sound studio and produce CD's for the Drama Teen..She's written a ton of her own songs and he has all the equipment to do it. Just hasn't found the time to actually sit down and mix a CD for her.

and this is a view in my older daughter's room ( the Co-ed) The red( almost the same blood red from the music room but not quite) is her main bedroom.... the Blue is a loft bed her father built for her over her walkin closet which is the green. That blue is the same blue from my entrance and the green is the green from the laundry room. I passed my love of color on to her.LOL

This is part of an addition the Commander added on to our house a couple years ago. He added on a 2 car Garage with living space above it. Half became the Co-ed's room and the other half is my crafting space right now.

Here is a shot of some of my yarn stash in the Craft room. This yellow room is not to be confused with the Yellow area you see right out side the Genious's room. That other room at the the other end of the house and is just a small sitting room where the kids play video games.

I took this to show the view from my craft room thru the music room,thru the hallway,where you can see the pale aqua of the hall and part of the entry which extends to the second floor...if you go thru the dark blue arch there. and turn left you will be in the other yellow video games room and if you turn right after that you'll be in Genious's room.

As you can see I am NOT afraid of COLOR!! At least that is what Our Realtor said when he did the Walk thru a while back. Most of this will all have to repainted in pale neutral colors for Operation House. At first I was upset...but then again I've actually been wanting to go to a more neutral calm decor. Just don't tell the Commander. I don't want him to know I actually LIKE these changes...I want him to think it's a real hardship for me so I can score some sympathy points from him...LOL...this way he 'might' let me have my way with other things...LOL

almost an after....

but not quite.....I still need to mop the floors and move the china Cabinet back into place and figure out how I'm going to arrange things in it again. I've gotten rid of some of the things I was displaying in it..and I've decided to start using some of it as my everyday stuff....so....now I need to come up with a whole new 'display" inside the cabinet, and don't know exactly what I want to do.

I had a hard time capturing the true color or should I say lack of color..LOL on these walls...if you look closely the bottom is slightly darker than the top....we are trying to go with pale neutral colors to appeal to buyer of all kinds. At first I kindof balked( ok sortof threw a fit) at going soooo pale.( although Dh wanted all WHITE and I finally talked him into a softer IVORY) You'd have to see the rest of my walls to understand.....but......now I'm kindof liking the pale and don't tell the Commander, but I had been secretly wanting to go pale for a while anyway...I think I just argued for the sake of arguing...LOL

The tile floor we did a LONG time ago when we first moved into the house.. it was our first real project .

meetmark. by Avon....my latest Aquisitions

Got my Order in yesterday! Woo Hoo....I LOVE getting mark. mail.......had a little bit of a snafu with the delivery though......I knew my package was set to arrive today....but it dawned on me that the doorbell never rang? they always ring the bell and leave the package ..walking off before I even get to the door. I went to check and sure enough there was my package...or so I thought...it was about the right size and looked like most of my other packages ..so I tore right into it....Right away something looked off.....mark. packing slips are always pink.....and this one wasn't ....upon closer inspection the packing slip was for some Microwave Plate co. hmmmnn no mark. isn't into microwaves......upon closer inspection that wasn't MY name on the invoice...but my neighbors.....

Now the other day I was expecting a mark. package and it was delivered to my neighbors by accident( same neighbor) ...so I start to wonder about MY package as it WAS supposed to be delivered yesterday as well....I check online and sure enough it shows my package as being 'delivered"....hmmnn I bet neighbor has mine.....so I tape hers back up....and head on over there and sure enough, there's MINE....so I switched and went on back home with mine( first I rang the bell though in case they were home and saw me take the package, thinking I might be walking off with a package of theirs) .......so ...anyway.......here's some of my new loot.....I got this Great Purse in the Pewter Color...it's HUGE...big enough to carry a LOT of stuff in....and I got the Wallet Below in the same Pewter color as the bag...I could only find a pic of it in Bronze. it's pretty cool...the inside has a place for a few IDs...a mirror...a spot for a lipgloss or lipstick....and a large zippered pouch.....the two sides open up to leopard lined pouches...one has more spaces for ID or Credit cards and maybe receipts....the other has a zippered space for change and room for Cash......I really LOVE this wallet I can fit so much in it and it's all very 'organized" ..I already switched out my old wallet....it's also pretty cute on it's own and can be used as a small evening clutch...I got this cute Thermal top for the Drama Teen....she was excited to see it on her bed after school yesterday.....That's what I do...I buy her stuff during the day while she's at school and leave it on her Bed for her to discover when she gets home.....I almost always manage to thrill her...she's so easy...LOL

and these cute Silver hoop Earrings....I bought them for myself Earlier and decided to get her a pair too.....they aren't bad....not the best I've seen from mark. Up close they kind of look cheesy...the material they used to make them looks cheap....but unless you're staring at them close-up ...like two inches away.....they look pretty cute....and who really is going to get THAT close to notice...other than maybe your significant other ..who probably wont care..LOL

And finally this ......I really LOVE these little make-up kits mark. has been putting together.....They call them Flip for Its....It's a little Mirrored Compact...the middle part with the make-up rotates or 'flips"..one side has two eyeshadows and a blush...the other side has two Lipsticks and two Lipglosses...

.they have two other one's in the magalog right now as well...but they are 'unavailable" which ticks me off, seeing as the magalog only went live like two days ago.....how the heck am I supposed to make my customers happy if they can't even order the cute stuff when it is supposed to come out...I was able to get my hands on the other two kits earlier this month...I kept this one and one of the others for myself and gave Drama Teen the third..then I tried to order the other two for her but was only able to get this one.

Oh BTW...Lauren ( as in Lauren's Fave up there) is Lauren Conrad from MTV's The Hills....I guess she's a spokesperson for meetmark. by Avon.

Ash Wednesday

So today was Ash Wednesday and as a Catholic so starts the Lenten season. We are supposed to Fast and Abstain today and on Fridays during Lent. I did fine today. Didn't forget and eat meat. I almost forgot but remembered just in time.

But...we are also supposed to 'give something up" ...and every year I just can never decide what? So here it is the first day of Lent and I haven't come up with anything. Every year I say magazines and every year I just can't hold to it, so I really don't want to say that this year, as I'm sure I'll fail.


I could give up chocolate or something( a common standby)...but I really don't eat it often enough for it to really be a sacrifice...yes I know....that's sacrilege.. a woman who doesn't eat much chocolate....LOL...

I could give up all unnecessary shopping ..but where do I draw the line on that..what exactly would be unnecessary...and how will I buy my really cute Easter Outfit if I can't shop for it during Lent. Or maybe I can make an exception? or buy it on Saturday since Lent supposedly officially ends at noon on the Saturday before Easter.

Or maybe soda...but I rarely drink it anymore anyway annnndddd...I just bought two liters of diet Sprite which no one else will drink..so it will get wasted...the only other family member who would drink it is the Drama Teen who gave up 'soda'..LOL...


I could give up arguing with the Commander..but I have a feeling I'll totally forget all about THAT one by tomorrow..LOL

I think I'm just a REALLY selfish person......oh well......I'll keep thinking about it and maybe by Easter I'll have come up with something.

7 Random Things

Ok...so I' ve been tagged by PonyKnit over at If Ponies could Knit...

Here are the rules, and they must be posted to your blog. Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (see above). List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!

1. I spoke French until I was 5 years old..I learned to speak English in school ....unfortunately I've completely lost my French :(

2. I got married ONE week after Graduating High School and am still married to him 25 years later.

3. I talk to myself...like I seriously carry on conversations...LOL

4. I've been to every state except Alaska and North Dakota

5. I LIKE my teen daughters and they LIKE me back( actually one of them isn't a 'teen' anymore ..she's now 20)...we've never had any of that Teen Hormone induced Angst....I can pick out their clothes for them and they actually LIKE them...LOL

6. I can't wink....

7. Until we moved here, 11 years ago....I had never lived anywhere longer 3 years ...the longest I'd ever lived in the same 'home' was 4 years and THAT was in two DIFFERENT states...LOL( it was a mobile home and we took it with us to a new state)My dad was in the AF and I married an AF man who later switched to the Navy...LOL

Ok so who doI tag?

Laura
Kerry
Ashley
Laurie
Elena
Veteran Military Wife
Kelly

Fallen Behind

I've gotten behind in my blogging I have so much that needs to be blogged....starting with.....Laura awarding me with this award:





Aw thanks Laura!!!!



Now I need to award it to my ten bloggers I feel are "Excellent"...Like Laura there are lot ..so let's see if I can Narrow it down....of course I'd award Laura if she hadn't already been awarded...

so here's my list in no particular order because I really like you all for all kinds of different reasons...



1. There's Laurie over at Romance and Roses I like to stop over there from time to time to see how the House is coming along...she lost her home to Katrina and is finally moving in to their newly built home! I have a soft spot for her as My family lives in the same area ( although luckily none lost their homes).



2.and BooMama, I love her blog and have been reading it for awhile....I enjoy her Tour of Homes.



3. Ashley over at Ashley's Closet this girl is HILARIOUS!! You have to go over and read her stuff....better than Dooce IMO. I'm sure she'll appreciate that compliment. LOL I'm sure she'll be excited over getting an AWARD( if you read her site you'll see what I mean) although she'll probably be pissed I didn't list her 1st..LOL



4.then there's Life With Hannah and Lily , I found this one right after the untimely death of her young daughter Hannah and it just tore at my heartstrings. She's come thru it with Strength and Faith and I just find her to be such an inspiration.



5. and also Nitty Gritty who also lost her young daughter in a horrible accident a few years ago..it's inspirational how she has kept her family together thru a crisis. and made it thru with her Faith in God intact.



6. Kerry over at More, More, More. I love her Style and wish I had her life..LOL



7. I've been Readin Posy Gets Cosy for quite a while and think it's awesome how 'famous' Alicia is getting ...I keep seeing her in all my favorite magazines...and think how cool is that...I already knew about her...LOL



8. Lately I've been really into French bloggers...I can't hardly understand most of what they write, but LOVE looking at their blogs and seeing their fashion and decor... this one is my favorite...Lao sur la Colline ....her kids are too adorable.



9. A recent find that I really like is Sustainable Style ..I like the way she thinks although I don't think I could do it..I kinda like my 'McMansion" thank you very much...LOL...I still like the way she thinks though.



10. and Last but not least, I think I've been reading this blogger the longest. and have always liked the way she thinks too. Lisa at Wordy Diva.. I started reading her way back when she was Madame Insane, then she switched to something else ..then seemed to drop off the face of the earth and just recently I found her again at Wordy Diva ....YEAH!!



Actually there are sooooo many more that I lOVE to read and if I have time later maybe I'll add a few Honorable mentions or something...it was so hard to decide which one's to award.



One thing I KNOW I need to do is update my sidebar...all of these bloggers should be over there and at least one should probably be removed...I've always like Homakerang....but as she went private a while back I can't read her anymore..and I have no idea how to contact her to even ask to be invited....last time I was able to read her she was expecting a baby...which she's probably had by now...hopefully everything went ok. If I were still able to read her she probably would have been one of my picks for the Excellence Award.

Senior Social-Drama Teen and her "Date"..LOL

This weekend was also Senior Social..Drama Teen hadn't planned on going...she was going to have a party here instead...but one of her Best Friends had her date back out at the last moment...so Drama Teen went with her instead( what a good friend she is don't you think) They decided to play it up and have Britt dress as the 'boy"....actually she was going to dress much more boyish but they decided to do this cute look instead.....afterwards they came over to the house to go along with the party she had origionally planned...they brought stragglers along...and few of the orgionally invited guests came as well....they ALL got a kick out of my Apron collection and it put them in the mood to bake..so I let them make Poineer Woman's Cookies------->.The Pioneer Woman Cooks! » Cookie Dough and Candy: What Could Possibly Be Wron

After all that , they retired to the LivingRoom for an exciting game of Apples to Apples...My two older sons even joined in and had a great time with the teens...

JMU Trip

Took the Drama Teen up to JMU this weekend for her Musical Theatre Audition...We wont find out until April wether she made it in or not. She's been accepted at two other Colleges but this is her first choice...It was a really nice drive ..about 3 1/2 hours from home...

the day was rather boring for the Commander and I though..her audition took all day and there was not much to do but sit in the theatre all day...luckily I brought a book ..poor Commander had nothing....LOL

Operation House

We've started on the Dining Room...this is not a true 'before". As usual I forgot to take a pic 'before' the wallpaper came down...but this is before the primer and before we repaint the bottom( blue part)

....we are using very light neutrals...the bottom has now been painted a light cream color...and top has now been primed and will be painted a lighter cream color...

Proud Momma Moment

My 22 year old son has Officially joined the AF.....he was sworn in earlier today...he has a delayed entry as they need to wait for an opening in his chosen job.....He's going to be an Airborne Linguist...he is soooooooo excited and I am so Proud of him!!! He can't wait to get started!

mark.

A loooong time ago I mentioned that I was a Rep. for a company named mark. I had a link to the company website on my old Blog layout...but when I switched to this one I lost it...I've updated by links and added my Store( I now have an actual Store to link to) I really like mark. It's a sister company to Avon...it's mainly geared towards the younger set but a lot of their stuff is really sophisticated and fashionable IMO...Personally Avon tends to be too 'matronly" , for me anyway. I've gotten more compliments from friends and strangers on my mark. items than with any other brand.

I wear two different mark. scents depending on my mood for the day.

My absolute favorite is Karmala, a peaceful exotic scent. I get compliments EVERY time I wear this. At $20 for a bottle it's a really great deal. I've worn some of the expensive 'designer" scents. And NEVER gotten the compliments I get with this one. People are always asking me what scent I'm wearing because I smell sooooo good. I almost hate to tell them they can buy it from me as it's really become my 'signature" scent.

The other scent I like is Bohista. I wear this one when I'm feeling more casual and bohemian. I also get a lot of compliments when wearing this one, although not as many as with the Karmala.

mark. also carries some of the cutest handbags. This one is my latest , and again I have gotten quite a few compliments. I have it in the bright blue and it is striking, and only $26 bucks! It looks WAY more expensive!

Every once in a while they have a really smart piece of Jewelry. I Necklace and it is one of my favorites and YES I get complimented on it( can you see why I like this company sooo much..LOL) . This would set one back $18.00.





The thing I like most about this company is that although the products are inexpensive , they don't 'look' it. They have a real 'designer" look to them. I live in a relatively affluent neighborhood with women who wouldn't think twice to spend thousands on a piece of jewelry and these same women are constantly complimenting me and asking where I buy my Jewelry.

Anyway if you're interested in seeing more head on over to my store: Maggii's mark. Store


edit: I forgot to mention ... with the necklace up there....the beaded sections actually detach and can be worn as two bracelets and you can still wear the necklace as a shorter version! How cool is that!

What I wore To Church On Sunday

We got snow overnight...so it was c-c-c-c-c-c-c-old.......

Red Ribbed Turtle- Walmart this winter

Grey Knit Pleated Skirt- SteinMart

Grey Cabled Sweater-Old Navy( I LOVE this sweater)

Black Wool tights_can't remember

Black Suede Boots-LEI three years ago

Later in the afternoon the Commander and I went to help set up for the Drama Queen's(ie.teenager's) High School Chorus's Pancake Breakfast. The Commander was put to work with another gentleman slicing frozen sausage. After about an hour of slicing, their hands were practically frost bitten. I spent most of my time there forming small sausages from the thawed sausage they also had. The kids( ie.teens) who came to help were put to work wrapping plastic silverware, and setting up tables with placemats and such.

The actual Breakfast was this morning. We always do this Breakfast on Martin Luther King , Jr. Day . It's a fundraiser for the Chorus Students going on Spring Trip(which the drama queen has decided to not to do this year...it will interfere with Sound of Music rehearsals). So we were all up Bright and Early( no sleeping in for us this morning). I spent the morning Serving guests with a cheerful smile and the Commander was on Pancake Patrol.

Hmmnn, the Commander weilding a spatula. Not something you see often.....at least not without a BBQ Grill in the vicinity..LOL

Here is the Drama Queen doing what one of the things she does best...

the Choral students Provide entertainment with your Pancake and Sausage Breakfast...it's well worth the $5.00 charge!

Saturday Night

The Commander and I had a Knights of Columbus Dinner to attend Saturday Night...it was a Potluck and we were supposed to make an entre.....I made this really Awesome Chicken /Broccoli Casserole....the Commander had a busy day though...He spent most of the day up at Poor Clares( a monestary up North) doing some construction handyman stuff for the Nuns...A few other men from Our church went with him....and then he had Civic Choir Practice after that.....sooo....we ended up being VERY late for the Dinner....like we MISSED Dinner....we had a little Dessert....and I brought my casserole back home....Dinner for Sunday..LOL



Here is what I wore to the Dinner:

Red Wool Jumper-Target-bought this last fall

Black Ribbed Turtle- Walmart last year

black wool tights-not sure...

Black Sandals-Walmart last summer

Update on Niece

She's been found Thank God! ....turns out she WAS at the boyfriend's...he knew but lied to police and my family...supposedly his mother didn't know but...when police tried to question them this evening she was very evasive...so we think she might have known...I guess she's been doing poorly a school and she was already on restriction for that...then on Friday she had a test that she thought she did bad on so was afraid she'd get in even more trouble...and then when SIL wouldn't let her see the boyfriend yesterday she got mad so she left...and went to his house and hid out...she gave everyone quite a scare....I'm just so glad she's home ...safe and sound!

The Worst News

I've just recieved a call from my mother...one of those calls you never want to get...it appears my 15 year old niece is missing... they think she was planning to run away....she had a bag packed but did not take it with her....she has been gone since yesterday afternoon and no one seems to have heard from her... they've talked to all of her friends and her boyfriend and so far no one is admitting to knowing where she is....we are sooooooo worried.....we hope that she is just hiding out with a friend...but worry that she may have hooked up with the wrong person...it was very cold last night in Biloxi MS and are worried what might have become of her overnight if she was on the streets..please say a prayer that this has a happy ending and that she comes home soon...

Another Before and After

In accordance with Operation " get the house ready to sell" ...we FINALLY gotten around to replacing our refridgerator....I have lived with this Dinosaur for 11 years...and it was JUST as UGLY then( serioously the pic doesn't do it justice it is WAY uglier in person..LOL) ....but hey...it worked and we aren't the type who replace perfectly fine appliances just for 'looks"......but..........in the spirit of wanting to sell our home we realize that things DO need to 'look' good so we decided to finally replace it ...so I'm the owner of a nice shiny new Black Indoor Beverage system Refridgerator!!! Yee Ha !

And Just for you nosy buggers who always have to see the INSIDE of people's fridges here you go...enjoy it now....it will never look this organized( not that I'm saying it's organized NOW or anything)again......

our next step in the kitchen will be replacing the countertops( probably a darker granite 'looking" countertop...I'd love actual granite, but I'm not willing to spend that much on something I'll only have for a few months possibly) and ripping the wallpaper down and painting the walls.

Oh and BTW we are keeping the old one..it will go in the garage for extra storage...or to use for parties and such.( store sodas and beer etc etc...)

VHSL

Last night Brittney and Josh performed in a "Night of One Acts" ...two short plays...Josh was in one ...Britt was in the other. Britt's is being performed today at the VHSLs ( Virginia High School League 0f Athletics and Academics) Her drama teacher is confident that they might actually have a chance of winning or at least placing this year.

Britt's is called Sargeant Peter Bests Lonely Hearts Club Band Syndrome. Peter Best was the origional drummer for the Beatles BEFORE they became the Beatles. He didn't think the band was 'going anywhere" so he quit right before they hit it BIG. The jist of the play is about taking opportunities when they present themselves so you don't regret it and kick yourself for missing out on success in the future.

A group of girls are competing for a scholarship from Seventeen Magazine. Then in walks a young man who has also chosen to apply. His dream is to be a writer and he doesn't want to miss out on an opportunity to realize that dream..even if it means entering a 'girls' contest. Most of the play is about the dynamics between 5 VERY different girls and 1 boy. Britt got to play the anti-social Emo misfit. The dynamics between her and the Southern Belle Pageant Queen are hilarious. Overall it was a really cute, funny play. They had us rolling in the Aisles.

Wednesday's Look

This is what I wore today.

White Top-New- from TJMaxx

White Tank-had forever

Jeans-Levi Signature -old

Shoes - silver metallic - Charlotte Russe- bought last fall

In my hair- a Jeweled Hair Clip from mark.

Puttered around the house then went to Dinner with the Neighbor Ladies. Every third Wednesday we all go out to Dinner to celebrate any Birthdays that month. One of the Birthday Girls gets to pick which Restaurant. We went to a Mediteranean Restaraunt this time. Dinner was Divine.

Silly Kitty

So Operation "get the house ready to sell" is in full swing. I am purging and clearing and decluttering like a mad woman. Yesterday I took about 10 bags of 'stuff' to the Salvation Army(and I only came back with ONE 'small" box...LOL) . Sooo anyway.....as I'm clearing out the cabinet in my china hutch Silly Kitty just HAS to get in there...I don't know what it is with her..any time I'm clearing something out, she HAS to climb into whatever it is I'm doing. The other day I was trying to get a drawer unstuck in one of my coffee tables, and I took the lower drawer out to try to have better access to the top one.Well she HAD to climb into the opening from the lower drawer and go hide in the table. Had a FUN time trying to get her back out so I could put the drawer back..LOL