Mary Garven's Cents and Sensibility

Crazy Crafting

2011-11-21T18:47:00.000-05:00

Ryan has said that my blog is just a bragging spot for me to talk about all my projects. He's only half right. I do like to "share" what I have been working on, but the other purpose of my blog is to share encouraging parenting stories. Like the other day when the boys were playing football out front and they called me outside because Ryan got hurt. As I walked out, I noticed Ryan laying on the ground and our neighbors back windshield completely smashed. Apparently catching a football was so important that he needed to crash through the window. See Ryan, my blog is not only about bragging!!!

So, back to my crafts - it's been a busy couple of weeks - I tend to get a little obsessed when I craft. Once I start with one good idea, they just keep coming!

This table base I've had for years and it was natural wood. I painted it cream color and plopped a window frame on top.

I tacked an old quilt onto the back of the window.

I saw this picture in my Dr. office and snapped a few pictures. (I am a great copy-cat) It is all felt that I hand sewed on - I like that it looks a little lopsided and old. The frame started white, then black and ended up gray.

These are architecture stars that they used on buildings. I bought a bunch of these years ago at a flea market in Florida. I hot glued them onto the back of a fabric covered board and put it in a black frame.

This is my favorite - it was an unfinished wooden bowl I had laying around. I painted it and then started writing Bible verses interspersed with hearts in a circular pattern. Each verse has to do with love. When it was dry I put a coat of stain on it. I LOVE how it turned out - I am on the search now for wooden bowls to make more of these as wedding gifts - why didn't I think of this last summer when we had 7 weddings to go to!

Dylan has a recording/band/ catch-all spot in the basement. Under this table he stores an old turn table, albums and speakers. It always bugged me when I would look over and see the "mess". He told me just not to look - but instead I took a bunch of old rulers and lightly painted them. I then hot glued them to an old wooden box. He now has storage underneath and I have a nice hiding spot I look forward to looking at.

JORIE ALERT - stop reading now because this is one of your Christmas gifts!!

We love Scrabble and Banannagrams in our family so I made this pillow to look like scrabble letters. I ended up stuffing it with pieces of leftover fleece and Cam says it is the perfect weight for sleeping on!

I've had this star hanging in my bedroom for a while but it looked a little blah! So I took an old window (I find them in the trash every once in a while) painted it blue and tacked material onto the back. Then I hung it up and popped a nail in to hang the star. I added the berries to complete the look.

According to Cam you can buy potholders at the store, but why bother when you can easily cover your old, burned ones with material and stitch on some felt stars using a blanket stitch. See Cam, they don't sell these at any store I've gone to :)

I have one more project I just completed with the left over rulers, but unfortunately I don't have a camera, so you will just have to wait on that. Hope you don't think this is bragging, Ryan - it makes much more cents and sensibility than flying through a windshield!!

Happy Birthday To Me!

2011-11-13T18:04:00.000-05:00

Today is my birthday - as Cam so "nicely" announced to our entire church - both services - "thanks honey!"

So I decided I wanted to start a new tradition between Cam and I. Every year we buy each other cards and write sweet, encouraging words to each other. (The past two years my kids have each written me letters on my birthday telling me how much I mean to them - when I say those are the best gifts I have EVER received, I am not exagerating!) So when Cam and I write birthday cards to each other I keep the card out for a while, then tuck it into my desk vowing to hold onto it since his words are so special to me. But eventually it gets tossed to make room for more invaluable keepsakes. I had been brainstorming a better way to hold onto these cards - plastic sheets in binders was one idea, cardboard keepsake boxes was another, but I knew I could do better.

Here in comes the new tradition. I took an old hard cover book and tore out the pages, then I covered it in material and sewed together some blank pieces of paper. Then I hot glued that to the spine of the book. Thereby creating "the birthday book". I warned Cam that I wanted him to write in this book for my birthday instead of buying me a card. (I copied what I had written to him for his October birthday since I hadn't thought of this idea sooner.) This way our sweet, encouraging words to each other are in one place to be reread whenever we want. I think this tradition will make a lot of cents and sensibility in our house!

Trash Fairies Strikes Again!

2011-11-01T07:43:00.002-04:00

I was reading one of my favorite blogs - besides Aislin's, Shay's, Janet's and Kate's. It's called "The Real Housewives of Bucks County" and unlike the name portrays - they are two super crafty friends who talk about all the projects they do. They were showing a dresser they had just refinished and like I mentioned the other day - we had just trash picked a "new" dresser for Dylan that left me with 2 slightly wobbly totally usable dressers.

I had just gotten my winter clothes out of boxes in my closet and was trying to figure out how I was going to fit all those bulky sweaters into my dresser. I have visions of being a minimalist that owns just 7 outfits that I rotate week after week, but in reality I am a thrift shop addict that has a hard time passing by the Ann Taylor sweater set for $1. So another dresser in our bedroom would be perfect.

On Saturday we got to work - I was simultaneously working on the canvas and the dressers and loving every minute of it. When the kids were little I had a small crafting business that I miss every day I drive to work. I would wake up, put on the same pair of overalls I had worn the day before, slap on a baseball hat and merrily get to crafting - it was heaven - but benefits and year round salary won out over crafts.

Back to my project - I took the knobs off, cut out a hole in each drawer with a hand saw, sanded and got to painting - my favorite part! After painting the color I wanted, I went back with a dry brush and did accents with black paint.

After it dried, I stenciled on the numbers (using the same stencils from the canvas project) It turned out perfectly! Now I have "new" dresser in the bedroom and one for our basement bedroom all for the price of a stencil!

I came, I saw, I copied!

2011-10-30T18:14:00.000-04:00

So the "trash fairies" have been good to me - yes, for a long time now, I have believed in the "miracle of the trash can". I will mention to Cam that Dylan could use a new dresser and like magic a perfectly good dresser will appear in the trash - free for the picking!

I was browsing at one of my favorite country stores when a huge canvas caught my eye - It was creative, different and very expensive. I tucked that information in my head and moved on. That night Dylan and I were out for a walk and in the trash was a canvas - 4 feet by 4 feet - the same as the one I saw in the store. We hightailed it home, drove back and loaded it into the car.

This project required 36 wooden circles, so since good friends of ours were due for a visit and he just happened to be a retired shop teacher, I put my order in.

Ryan helped me paint the canvas - which had huge, textured flowers on it - as we painted, it was a little too "textury" for me, so I went over it with black shoe polish (which I interchange with stain on many projects) the look was perfect, it appeared like old paper. Next we painted the circles black and took a bowl that was slightly smaller than the circles, I dipped it in white paint on the rim and placed it on the circles - this gave the effect of a slightly off circle - perfect (this was a new trick for me, so I was really excited)

Next I stenciled the alphabet and numbers. I am slightly obsessed with the alphabet which fits in nicely with being a teacher. Then I positioned the letters on the canvas and double checked to make sure positioning was good. Cam stood on a chair and I moved letters - this took about 15 minutes and after he left I took one last look and realized "u" was upside down - yeah, funny story, but so glad I caught that! I glued everything down and let it sit over night.

Tada...

This turned out just like the one I saw at the store, minus the price tag. Everything was free except for the stencil - which I got for 50% off at AC Moore.

I had 6 extra circles, so I was determined to do something with them - here is what I came up with:

Thermostat vs. Thermometer

2011-10-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

A mother is only as happy as her most unhappy child.

I've never heard a truer statement. The older my kids have gotten the more effected I am by their moods - it's worse than living with a mood ring.

But feelings are a fickle fellow - I'm not sure what exactly that means but it's fun to say - try it...... ten times fast...

Anyway

I can't live my life on the emotions of those around me, let alone my own ups and downs. It got me thinking about a thermostat and a thermometer. The later responds to it's environment. It has no control over how high or low it goes, it's subject to the whims of the temperature.

But a thermostats sets the temperature. If it wants to be hot, it's hot, if it wants to be cold, it's cold. It is not ruled by the environment - it rules it.

I think our emotions should be the same way - don't get me wrong - emotions are not evil. It's when we let them rule our lives that we get into trouble.

God tells us in Proverbs 17:27 " A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

I am striving to be "even-tempered". I must admit as a young mom that was not a word that would describe me. I was a little high strung and "quick-tempered". God is teaching me the importance of the "pause". Taking a breath, hearing another person out, focusing on what really matters and looking at the big picture. Being even tempered takes work and practice. It may not come naturally but it is defiantly something I can achieve.

This has also effected the way I respond to my kids emotions. Instead of getting sucked into their feelings I am praying first and responding second. Many times by the time I get to responding the "crisis" is over.

So here's to being Thermostats. They are much more stable, reliable and easier to live with - just ask my family.

I Double Dog Dare You!

2011-10-06T20:59:00.000-04:00

I make this awesome smoothie every morning, but I made the mistake of telling Cam what was in it before he tried it and now he refuses to drink it - what a baby!!

Anyway I dare you to make it with an open mind and closed eyes and let me know if it isn't the best drink ever.

Start with 1 cup milk - I use skim milk.
Add 1 cup of frozen fruit - banana, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. etc.
Top Secret Ingredient - 1 cup of raw spinach.

Blend and enjoy - you get a super healthy drink and it tastes great - if it isn't sweet enough for you, you could add a little sweetener.

I guarantee you can not taste the spinach - it defiantly looks green-speckled but who doesn't like fun colors first thing in the morning - if they only made clear spinach, maybe I could get Cam to drink it.

"I'm Teaching Naked"

2011-08-17T17:17:00.000-04:00

Wait, let me explain... as Megan was packing all her school supplies to start her first year as a "real" teacher she realized it would be far easier to teach naked than to try to cram ALL her supplies into her 2 suitcases! At the last minute I told her to pack a 3rd suitcase and just pay the fee, but when we got to the airport there was a 2 week embargo limit on luggage (guess which 2 weeks?) So she could take ONE suitcase and we paid for a 2nd one and shoved the contents of her 3rd suitcase into pockets, a backpack and a pillowcase. Sorry to say, the pillowcase didn't make it... moment of silence!

So today is her first day as a 3rd grade teacher. Someone stopped me at church and lamented the fact that we had kids with adult jobs - how could this be. When Cam announced the fact that she had accepted this job in the Dominican Republic he said "I guess this is what happens when you take your kids on missions trips" And he is so right.

As we drove to the airport with our good friend Janet, I realized Megan was more prepared at her age, than I had ever been. We passed the parking garage once, entered the airport at the wrong entrance and when I turned to Janet to make sure she had remembered where we parked she looked at me with the same blank look I had on my face. It was Megan that directed us to the garage, calmly reentered the correct location and reminded us it was P4 - or something like that! I'm sure she was worried Janet and I would never make it home!

Yes, she is ready. All her exposure to new situations has given her a confidence beyond her years. I was reading Bill Hybels book "Whispers" where he tells the story of his Dad buying him a plane ticket when he was 15 years old to travel the world - Yikes! But his Dad knew him and knew that would be a good life lesson for his son - today he is the pastor of one of the largest churches in America and he credits his Dad with helping him think beyond his years.

Pushing our kids beyond their comfort zone is an excellent way to prepare them for life. Letting them struggle and problem solve on their own, will only make them stronger adults. And isn't that what we want for our kids? As sad as I was to drop Megan at the airport, I couldn't help thinking about the alternative - a lazy adult living in my basement, too worried about failure to try something new.

So as she starts her first day teaching (with clothes on) I pray that she will continue to grow in all aspects of her life - not just ones that make cents and sensibility!

Wedded Bliss

2011-08-14T16:57:00.000-04:00

A couple of months ago I got a phone call from my friend Laureen. She was getting married and wanted to know if I could help with the wedding - a.k.a. be the wedding planner. I immediatly accepted because I knew that Laureen and I were of the same thinking - plan a marriage, not a wedding!!

She is in her last year of nursing school and her fiance Jon has been working at a Christian School - so the budget was low, but the creativity was high!! And since her secret goal has been to make my blog, I share with you their special day!

So here is the beautiful couple - Jon and Laureen

And that is my beautiful daughter Megan to the left - there is love in the air!

First stop Trader Joe's to pick up 7 boxes of sunflowers - they had the best price and the flowers were beautiful. We found that any room looks better with flowers and the more flowers, the better so I was glad that we had more than enough and could be creative with them. They came in black buckets which we used to put the extra flowers and arranged them outside the church on cement pilons.

We lined the walkway from the church to the reception with mason jars filled with sunflowers - this looked so beautiful and really made a statement. I would definatly do this idea again. We put them outside right before the wedding began to save on wilting.

The flowers were arranged at Jon's house (in his bedroom with the air conditioner set on high) Laureen had bought 30 clear vases of various shapes at the thrift shop. We then transported them over to the church. Laureen's dad volunteered to help us and as we loaded his van he commented that he probably wasn't the best person for this job, since he is allergic to flowers. Suck it up Mike :)

Guests were invited to take a vase of flowers home with them.

On each table were prayer rocks with the bride and grooms initials. Guests were invited to take a rock home to remember to pray for this couple.

These were the bouquets the girls carried. They are wrapped with twine to compliment the burlap theme.

At the bottom of the picture you can see a sunflower pinned onto the chair. We pinned one on 4 of the rows so the ushers knew where to seat the family. This looked pretty and held up well.

This is Laureen's sister Jeanie walking down her sister Sophie and Jon's nephew - JJ. He was carrying a pillow made out of burlap - that pillow set the theme for the rest of the wedding!

Laureen and her dad - they were so sweet waiting to walk down together. Part of my job was standing in the back and telling people when to walk and in what order and if they should bring both feet together - no on should have that much power!

The stage at the church had a screen to hide at the worship band instruments. We strung a garland of flowers across the front and hung mason jars with candles in them (it's a little hard to see but it looked great) We had stools covered with burlap on either side and put a vase of sunflowers on them. In the center is the unity candle.

There were 16 round tables and 4 long tables. We put on beige table clothes and runners made out of burlap. In each flower I stuck a table number. We had a banner flag theme going so I bought skewers and used pretty paper to cut triangles, poked two holes in them and slid the skewer in place. We wrote on the flag with a puffy paint. There were no table assignments, but the DJ called tables to get food.

This is in front of the kitchen - it is a metal slide down door - ugly - so we hung up burlap and then decided to collect some wedding photos from some of the guests (this was done on Tuesday!) We then made a game of guessing who the pictures were - that was fun and funny! We strung a set of lights right above the pictures so you see better.

Another window opening that we covered and decorated.

Between the wedding and the reception the guests were invited to play yard games - croquet, wiffle ball, bocce,etc. We had these coolers outside and I had sewn these covers to hide the "orange". Then we strung the flags to let the guests know what was inside. Guest could also help themselves to soft pretzels. We could have used 2 more coolers since it was pretty hot that day.

The gift table - there is a wooden trunk to collect cards.

The buffet table - they had chalkboards to let you know what food there was and flags were in the hoagies to let you know what kind you were taking. A long burlap runner went down the middle.

The dessert table was a personal favorite. Laureen's mom and aunts baked and baked - everything was delicious. They had a cake that they cut, but the homebaked goodies went quickly. We filled 2 big jars with cookies. Strung along the front of the table is a flag that says desserts.

Here I am taking a little break and enjoying the moment.

The "dance floor" needed to be set apart, so Jon strung bristro lights from the ceiling - it looked really cool and made a fun place to dance. At the end of the night, we just cut the twine and wrapped the lights up. They plan to hang them in their apartment.

They also had a photo booth that doubled as their guest book. After you received your picture, you could tape it into their book and add your personal message. Included on the table were scissors, markers and stickers to make your page special. This was a great idea and the line to get in was always long!!

This wonderful couple met their goal - they had a meaningful, beautiful, unique wedding without "breaking the bank".
And we all know that makes cents and sensibility!

Missing My Man

2011-08-02T12:26:00.000-04:00

Of course I am missing Cam, for all the obvious reasons, but there is a surprising reason why I am missing him - My bed in not being made - no, this is not code for anything, simply put my bed sheets are in shambles.

Sometime ago we fell into a comfortable routine - Cam would make the bed every morning. Knowing what a neat freak I am, this may surprise some of you but since I am also an early riser it has made more sense. Cam kind of frowned upon me waking him up at 6am so I could make the bed. So he took over that household chore.

He has always said that I could fall asleep on a pile of dirty rags, but secretly I just like when HE straightens out the covers and makes the bed look nice! Everybody needs a job!

So this brings me to another story - so many of you enjoyed the story about the repair man folding the laundry (see "One of Those People" post) that I thought I would tell you another story about this incredible lady! She once told me that her kids had to keep their rooms clean, but they didn't have to make their beds - this peaked my interest - no bed making? Why? Everyday she would make their beds and spends that time praying over them - that they would make good choices, be pleasing to God in all they do, safety, etc.

Isn't that a great idea!

I can't say that I totally adopted it, but I have from time to time gone into my kids rooms and done just that - instead of mumbling under my breath, I take the time to thank God for the children He has given me while I straighten up their beds.

So maybe that is why I am missing my man so much - that care and attention he takes to make our room look nice reminds me of how much he loves and cares for me!

Well, it's almost noon - better go make my bed!! And instead of missing him, I will pray for him and the ministry he is doing in Montenegro.

If You Don't Ask, The Answer Is Always NO!

2011-07-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

Cam and the "little" boys - yes, we still call Ryan and Dylan that - maybe when they hit 6' 5" I'll stop, but until then...
Anyway, they are in Montenegro on a missions trip - usually these trips are a family affair, but the trip coincides with a family wedding and "our" baby leaving to teach in D.R. So someone had to stay home to pack, plan and pin the bra strap to the dress - guess who was nominated??

Our dear friend Laureen is getting married this Friday night! Megan is the maid of honor and Laureen asked me to help with some of the details - don't worry, I am not going to give anything away - you will just have to attend to find out.

Laureen told me months ago that she had high hopes of "making" my blog and since she has been totally thrifty in the planning of her wedding - here it is!

I will give a more detailed run down after the wedding along with pictures, but I do have one story to share.

At her wedding she is having "lawn games". While pictures are being taken and before dinner, guests are invited to play outside and mingle. So we have been collecting games for this. While at the thrift shop last night Megan spotted a bean bag toss game - retail about $50.
We both squealed in delight - literally, we squealed, but then we were informed that someone else had set it there to buy - that is the problem with the thrift shop - you must be quick - there is no back room to pull from.
Anyway, I asked who was buying it and a lady announced it was her - that's when the appeal started. I asked if she really wanted it, since we were looking for games for an upcoming wedding, she assured me she did and I left it at that. But I kept my eye on her, in case she changed her mind. When she went up to pay for it, she noticed that on the tag it said that one bean bag was missing. Now you and I know how easy it would be to make another bean bag, but for her it was a deal breaker. I made sure I was standing within eye contact, ok, I was creeepin' hard and when she said she didn't want it, I jumped on it!

Score!

The point of the story is, if I hadn't asked, the answer would have been no. It always pays to be bold, ask for a better price, longer warranty, extra options. A friend of mine had a repair man come to her house. He charged her his full hourly rate but the job only took 30 minutes, when she inquired about a discount, he told her he had to charge the full amount, she then told him he could spend the extra half hour helping her fold her laundry since she would be paying him anyway - which he did! - see, if you don't ask, the answer is no - and that makes cents and sensibility!

One of Those People

2011-07-29T10:23:00.001-04:00

Well, I am officially "one of those people" - you know the ones - not really handy, like their toilets to flush... you know - "those people".

I broke down yesterday and called the plumber to "look at" our toilet (who says some jobs don't come with perks)

This call came after about 4 months of hearing it "run", telling 75 people they couldn't use it during a party, manually filling the tank back up and 2 repair trips to Lowes.

I always envision myself as a "repair girl" you know the MacGirlver - get it? I could look at a problem and find a way to fix it. But when it comes to appliances, I am at a loss. Maybe it is the fear of electrocution or that I will take something apart and never be able to put it back together or worse, put it back together and have a pile of spare parts laying on the ground (I wonder if they are important?). One of these days, I am going to take a "home repair" class at Bucks just so I can be a little more handy around the house.

My Dad was the type of dad who could fix anything - broken water heater - fixed, snow blower - fixed and he only lived 10 minutes from me, so my brokenness, was his fixedness! Maybe I should have been paying closer attention to what he was doing. One of my favorite memories is of my dad putting in a ceiling fan and one of my kids coming up behind him with a screwdriver and poking him in the butt - we all learned some new words that day!!

You know how people say, you marry your father - not so much.
I think I specifically loved Cam because he had different traits, but in instances like the toilet, I secretly wish I had married a plumber - Don't get me wrong, Cam can fix 75% of the things that break in our house and that is 100% more than me but we both know when it is time to call in the professionals!

Since Cam is out of the country, I thought I would surprise him with a fixed toilet - not to mention washer too (last week our washer water pump broke)! I figured it is OK to be one of "those people" that calls on the professionals - sometimes it makes more cents and sensibility.

Follow Up

2011-07-13T17:33:00.000-04:00

So many of you (ok, three of you) have asked how Creation went - especially the food!! No one was poisoned, sickened or constipated (actually our youth pastor has a contest every year where he puts the kids name on the white board and when they poop they are out of the contest - needless to say that is one contest I am happy to lose)
Everything went great. First of all the weather was fantastic with the last day (Saturday) being the only day that was unbearably hot and it eventually rained that night for about 20 minutes but it felt great. That is always an answer to prayer - the first year we went to creation it rained the whole time - people were mud sliding down the side of the hill - which is fun, but terribly messy!! And cooking in the rain is NEVER fun! So I am so happy for that.
I was especially happy how all the meals worked out and were super healthy. I got a card from one mom who is into healthy eating (no Anne, it isn't you) and she was happy for the good food and said "Man does not live by twinkie alone" haha.
The funny thing was, most of the kids gravitated to the fruit and veggies - I guess they wanted out of the contest too!
And Colin and Jorie drove up Friday nite to surprize the boys -the look on Ryan's face was priceless!

After heading out Sat. nite, we did a quick load of wash, rented an Expedition (we figured it's cheaper to rent a vehicle for a week than replace our worn out van which we don't need all that room on a daily basis) And head up to Vermont for a week of vacation - yes - honest to goodness family time! Friends of ours have a house on the side of the mountain and our sooooo gracious to let us use it! There is no TV, internet, phone service, it is heaven!!

We fish, hike, swim, read, jump off cliffs (not Jorie and I) visit the country store, roast marshmellows, watch fireworks, set off fireworks, visit Ben and Jerry's, shoot guns (not me) play volleyball, oh, did I say play volleyball and generally relax. It is one of my favorite vacation spots.

One thing we like to do is spend some time praying for each other. As we sat in our little circle and prayed for the person on our right I realized this would be our last time together for a while. I am so thankful for the fam. that God has given me and that each one seeking God in all they do - what more could a mom ask for!

So now we are in the midst of Vacation Bible School - and as I hold a little one in my lap I am reminded how quickly the time goes and to make the most of every moment - the good, the bad, the ugly.

Blind men shouldn't rearrange furniture

2011-07-12T18:03:00.000-04:00

I love to rearrange! Furniture is my favorite. Cam will often wake up and walk into a completly different layout - if he ever loses his eyesight, he may be in trouble!

This works because most of my rooms have complementary colors so they will work in any room - and because my house is "Primitive Country" which basically means whatever I can pick out of the trash, clean up and reuse - works for me!

With summer here, we've been eating out back on our porch most nights. As we sat there we all were saying how nice it would be to have a ceiling fan out there. Well, two trips to Lowes and 3 hours later our dream became a reality!

Now the back porch is like another room, and a room needs to be decorated. I started by putting a table cloth on the nasty picnic table. Next I potted a flat of basil and marigolds I had bought from the school next store to ours (their students planted and grew them from seed and then stood outside and sold them! - love it!)

I brought out 2 tables from inside and set to "accessorizing" them. Like I said, I pulled from the house to make it work! I also decided it would be nice to have utensils and napkins outside so I put them inside a big jar I use for punch at parites, but sits in my closet all the other days of the year.

I finished with a few accessories, such as a ladder, rubber boots, an outdoor clock and an old rusty star.

Outdoor room complete and best of all - it cost me nothing but the cost of the fan (and installation - still waiting for Cam's bill to come!)

Making a usable outdoor space make Cents and Sensibility!

Nap Time

2011-07-11T15:54:00.000-04:00

Just had my first nap of the day - after "babysitting" oopps I mean "teaching" 67 preschoolers! Our Vacation Bible School started today and I am exhausted!!
I came "late" to Bible School - since I didn't start coming to church until I was in 9th grade, I never experienced the thrill of signing in, wearing an itchy name tage, listening to the little old ladies teach about Jesus and eat my juice and cookie.
Instead when I was in high school I used to take a week of vacation from my job and volunteer to help that week. Usually I would help with 8 or 9 year olds.
When I eventually married the guy who would be in charge of Vacation Bible School I got pretty good at volunteering! I would usually teach whatever class my kids were in and as they "graduated" to 6th grade, they would help me.
A few years ago, we took over pre-school. Call it insanity, or poor memory, but every year I anticipate a meaningful interaction with each 4year old. NOT! With so many little ones and a tight rotation schedule, I'm lucky to make eye contact with each child. Being the head teacher means putting out fires, emergency bathroom breaks and calmling anxious parents - yes, parents - usually a screaming child will calm down within 5 minutes of mom leaving, but when Mom stands in the back of the room, right in her child's line of vision, the crying may never cease!
What I do love about doing this is watching the teenage helpers lead out! I have always known that given the chance, teens will rise to the occassion and outshine any adult when they care for kids - they remember what it is like and they have endless energy! So with so many preschoolers, I get to encourage my teen helpers to step up and soothe a crying child, sit with a nervous newcomer or talk to a child about Christ for the first time!
It is so exciting to see them grow up before my eyes and take the lead! Over the years, my own kids have worked with me and now they lead their own departments - one is in charge of teaching and the other is running games (and one is in school in Florida and the other is on vacation with his friend! - VBS isn't for everyone!!)
I always think of this as the reward of parenting - after all those reprimands, instruction, teachable moments, you get to sit back and watch them put it into practice. I encourage you to include your kids in your service, teaching them what it is to help others - by doing so, you are teaching them that the world is bigger than themselves and that sure does make sense to me.

graduations!!

2011-06-23T18:53:00.000-04:00

Our Ryan Graduating from High School

Our Megan graduating from College

As I look over these two pictures an old but true saying comes to mind - "where has the time gone???" When the kids were little - the days were soooooo looonnnngggg!!

But it seems like the day Cam and I watched all 4 of them jump out of the minivan on their own accord (it was stopped - honest!) The time has just flown by!

There are so many things I wish I could relive with them - long walks, missions trips, baptisms, ice cream cones, night time prayers, last days of school, first day of school, bon fires, friends, text messages, dinner time,crafting, notes in lunch boxes (even in mine). The list could go on and on.

I just hope I enjoyed the moment! Cam and I are both working at this. We have the type of brains that are always one step ahead - preparing for the next "thing". And we are learning to "be right where we are".

And that also means not living in the past. It is easy (believe me) to get all senitimental and want to put each kid back in diapers and a playpen - but just imagine how ridiculous that would be. I want them to grow and be who God has them to be. And they don't need two parents holding them back!

So if you have little ones, big ones or middle sized ones (kids that is) - enjoy where you are. Every day is a gift - open it, look at it, use it, savor it - doing so makes sensibility to me!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

2011-06-22T09:28:00.000-04:00

School is done, two graduations and parties have been thrown and we are in full on summer mode!! I love Summer - not just because I don't have to go to work every day (score one for the teachers!!) But I am one of those crazy parents that likes having my kids home. I like the pace, the fresh food, outdoor living and most of all, I like the trips!!

Cam is leaving today for a missions trip to Peru - he is visiting the church we went to last summer. When he gets home next week we leave with our youth group and 3 kids to go to Creation Festival.

3 years ago or maybe it was 4, I volunteered to cook for this event. My dear friend Janet sat me down and gave me all her insight into how to succeed at feeding 40 teenagers and not poisoning anyone - at least not seriously poisoning them!

We came up with menu plans, shopping lists and checklist. I then laminated them and tucked them into my "Creation Folder". Everyone summer, I whip out this folder, call my friend Anne and go shopping. We have followed the same meal plan every year - with a few tweaks. This year I got a late start - I only pulled out the folder yesterday, but you know what, it was fine since everything was all there for me - I scanned over the meals, looked at the checklist and looked through the bins of cooking supplies to see what I needed to restock.

Now, don't get me wrong, it is work, but it is "known" work. I know just what to expect, how to expect it and when. If I reworked this trip every year I would only create more work for myself - and lets face it - all a kid wants to do is shove some food down them and get to the next concert!

I got to thinking how sometimes I make things harder than they have to be - change is good, but the tried and true is good too. If something is working, why mess with it. We eat basically the same 14 meals, over and over. We have a little cleaning routine in the house. There is a place for most items so everyone knows where to put something back. At school we follow a schedule everyday and if it is going to be different, we go over the changes so the kids know what to expect. Why should home be any different. Getting into a pattern is not a bad thing and the time and energy you save make cents and sensibility!

Parents of the YEAR

2011-05-11T16:42:00.001-04:00

There is an award at PBU that honors parents for their involvement in the PBU community and their child's life. I have entered my parents every year since freshman year. They finally won this year! This is the letter of nomination that I wrote:

A long time ago when the only dorms were in Penndel, when guys could not have facial hair, and when there was no walkway from chapel to the cafeteria, there was a skinny white boy from New York and a pretty girl from Pennsylvania. They were both youth group leaders at Davisville church, where one night the girl gave the boy a ride home to PBU. The boy was a gentleman and offered to carry the girl’s laundry up to her room. The rest is history. Twenty-two years later their first born and only girl is about to graduate from their alma mater to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a teacher.

Cameron and Mary Garven have been married for almost twenty- four years, modeling the love of Christ through their marriage. They have put God first, their marriage second, and their children third. Their philosophy of parenting is to raise holy children, not happy children. Their four children, three boys and a girl, agree that as they got older the more independence they received. They were allowed to make choices and always knew that Mom and Dad were there to talk about the choices that did not go well. As they ventured through public school, becoming exposed to the sins of the world, their parents were right alongside of them to talk, encourage, and love each child. The eldest and only girl definitely had it the hardest being the guinea pig.

There were many different rules, but one thing that I really appreciated is that we were never forced to go to church. My dad was the youth pastor at Bible Fellowship Church for fifteen years, and I thought it was so cool to hangout with teenagers, so I loved going to church. My parents wanted us to discover that going to church, kids clubs, and youth group were enjoyable and beneficial. I made some great friends, mentors, and memories from being involved in our church. Another thing my parents promoted was serving together as a family. We have traveled all around the world on different missions trips to serve together as a family. It is an unforgettable experience when you can see your whole family put aside their selfish desires to come together for a week to serve others. The last rule that I was not so fond of in high school, but greatly appreciate now is no dating until college. As I look back I am so thankful that I did not give a piece of my heart away to some boy. All of these “rules” were very helpful in preparing me to become a student at PBU.

As I entered into PBU, I was presented with the first opportunity to live away from my parents and put into practice all they have taught me. I am so glad that my parents had encouraged me to get involved in youth group, sports, and school clubs during my teen years. It helped to prepare me as a leader. I was editor-in-chief of PBU’s yearbook, Milestone, for three years. I participated in soccer, softball, Alpha Chi Epsilon, tutoring, and teaching Sunday school. The independence that my parents allowed me to develop in my teen years was key in helping to developing me as a young adult at PBU. I had to learn how to manage my time, money, and friendships. Serving with my family helped me to appreciate all that God has blessed me with. It taught me to turn around and serve down in Philadelphia, to my friends, and in my student teaching placement in the Dominican Republic. I now feel even more prepared to graduate from PBU and enter into the real world.

I have had the privilege of living close to PBU. This has given my family the chance to get involved in the lives of many of my friends. My parents have graciously opened our home to students for dinner, provided a place to have birthday parties, and offered a place to stay during J-term or summer classes. A friend who stayed over last summer ended up eating dinner with just my parents one night and still talks about how much fun she had chatting with them. My parents have also gotten to know students who have attended or served at our church. I am glad that my house has become my friend’s home away from home.

Cam and Mary Garven have transitioned from my parents into my friends, who I can laugh with, talk to, and hangout with. I am so thankful that they diligently sought God’s help as they parented my brothers and I.

I am so thankful for your investment in my life as I prepare to go invest into my future student's life. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!

-Megan

Outsourced!

2011-05-10T07:32:00.001-04:00

As you know, I am not a big "couponer" but my friend Deb is and has a lot of success with it. I asked her to write a piece about it - yes, I am that BIG now that I have writers :) Enjoy and thanks Deb!!! Once you read it make sure you leave some awesome comments since that is the only payment Deb is getting

Couponing

I am a fan of clipping coupons. I am a fan of finding things on sale and getting the lowest price possible. I currently only receive one Sunday newspaper subscription, but do see the value in getting more than one solely for coupons. I have not seen the Extreme Couponing show, but I would probably be intimidated by it. I have, however, found a way that using coupons fits into my schedule and makes sense. For example, this week at CVS I bought a razor with 5 refills (regularly priced $9.99), and a razor with 3 refills (regularly priced $8.99). I paid $1.50! On the bottom of my CVS receipt this week, it showed that so far this year I have saved $240 and spent $29. At RiteAid this week, I bought 2 boxes (8 count) of Pop-Tarts, two Glade Air fresheners, and two bags of M and M’s. I paid $3.60 and left with $1.80 to spend next week. So, I will try to briefly explain my plan of attack.

1. I do my usual food shopping at Wal-Mart. So, I have a list printed out of the items that I regularly like to have. Over time, I have recorded the prices at Wal-Mart for those foods. So, when I look at the CVS and Rite-Aid weekly advertisements, I know what the Wal-mart price is.

2. I have chosen to shop at Rite-Aid and CVS because they are located close to each other and it is manageable for me to be able to figure out the sales at these two stores. I know that more “extreme” couponers will go to more stores (Target, Walgreens, etc.) but, two additional stores works for me. Both of these stores have a free “card” which allows me to receive the sale prices. Also, the advertisements will mention getting “bucks” back. This comes in the form of a code on the receipt and can be used for my purchases in the next couple of weeks. They do have an expiration date, so I am careful to watch so that the “free” money isn’t wasted. Each week when I go to these stores, I use the “bucks” from the previous week and so I am paying very little cash now.

3. When I am deciding what to buy, I consider the sale price, the “bucks” back and the coupons that I have. All three must factor into a great sale price.

3. I do look at a website, thekrazycouponlady.com. This website lists all the great sales at each store each week. (Some of the prices can be regional, but I rarely have a problem.) Also, it will tell what coupons to use from the paper and where to find more coupons online. It did take me several weeks to figure out how to sift through for the information I could use, but I do believe it is a very useful website. I check it out regularly for the coupons and sales.

I don’t have a huge stockpile, but I have slowly built enough of a stash of certain items (mostly hygiene and cleaning items) that I now wait for the great sales and pay very little, or get things for free. I have learned that I can get toothpaste, deodorant, razors, toothbrushes, and body wash for under a dollar or free. For me, that makes sense!

You Are Just Like Your Mother... and other things I wish were true!

2011-05-08T20:57:00.000-04:00

Maybe you read my title and got the wrong idea - people say that phrase as an insult, but in reality there is no other person I would want to be like.

Before I tell you why, I want to tell you a little bit about my mother - in - law.

Eileen did not have an easy life, a difficult father, mentally challenged sister who had to be institutionalized and an older sister who was killed by a drunk driver when she was 18. When her dad died, she was only in High School but attended school and worked a job to help support her mom and sister. She became a Christian during this time, but found it hard to share her faith with her Mom. She longed to be a wife and mother but didn't get married until she was 33. After her three sons were born (the middle one being the best!) and she was busy raising them while caring for an aging mother, her husband developed diabetes and had many complications from it. She was married just 20 years when she woke to her husband dead in their bed. Cam was just 16 years old. She had 3 boys, no husband, a high school diploma - jobs were hard to come by. But work she did - cleaning schools, selling pizzas, cashier at a bookstore - anything to provide for her family. And by doing all this she raised 3 sons who are responsible, loving, Christian men. I loved my mother-in-law!

But no one can replace your own Mom. I tell myself that all the time with 3 boys, I am glad I have a daughter!!!

My Mom was the most practical, patient, tender-hearted, giving person I have ever known - any good trait I have, it is because of my Mom. I always wanted to be just like her. One day she dropped me off at Kindergarten, I entered the school and quickly walked down the hall and out the side door - so as she was pulling out of the parking lot, there I was ready to go back home with her! She had 4 kids (the 2nd one being the best!), worked full time as a nurse, kept a beautiful house, was a tremendous cook and crafter, a great friend and wife - but I remember her most as a mom. She made you feel like you were the most important person alive and that you could do anything. Her selflessness is a great reminder to me how God wants us to be. And speaking of God - she became a Christian at the age of 55 - she was the perfect example of how you can't be good enough to get to heaven - if Sallie wasn't going to heaven without Jesus, then nobody was!

Years ago my sister-in-law asked her to speak at MOPS about her secret to being a good wife and mother - today I share with you some of her notes:

"Dinner - important to have dinner together. Time to regroup and share what has happen in your day. It should be a pleasant time - don't tell Dad all the bad news of the day. Encourage your kids to invite their friends. Try not to feed the kids before husband gets home. Have kids eat a little of everything. Have the baby sit at the table - grind up dinner to feed to him - that will lead into table food. Take turns saying the blessing - we like to hold hands.

Table - make an attractive table - centerpiece, tablecloth, candles, don't be afraid to use your good dishes. Use serving bowls - don't serve from your pots and pans. Come to the table dressed - boys should wear shirts. This is a good time to teach table manners - thank yous, please, ask to be excused.

Morning Person - decide on dinner while cleaning up the breakfast dishes. The longer you wait the fewer choices you have and eating out is expensive. Casseroles are easy and allow you to have a break before dinner - since it is in the oven cooking. Clean up as you go - empty the dishwasher as soon as it is done. Make sure it is empty before a dinner party. Making lists help you accomplish more in your day.

Cleaning - I don't have a spotless house, I just keep it picked up and everything has a place. - remember - keeping up is easier than catching up. As soon as dinner is done, clean up the dishes, then you have the rest of the evening to relax.

Children - get children involved in housework - you don't do them any favors by doing everything for them. At times I felt guilty for working, but I raised children who can cook and clean for themselves. Praise children as they work.

Grocery Shopping - Keep a running list, check the ads, shop on a full stomach. I use coupons, but a bargain isn't a bargain unless you need it. Buy in bulk if you have a place to store it. When making a meal double it and freeze the 2nd one. Have a leftover night - have everyone make up their own plate and microwave it.

Dinner Parties - make lists, make things ahead of time. If friends offer to make something, let them. If you take a dish to a friends hosue, make sure it is ready to serve. Set out dishes before a party and put a label as to what will be in it - makes set up easier. Include children in setting up, name cards, etc.

Parting words - Hope some of these tips have helped you. Remember, it should be a family time, a sharing time, and a time your children will remember when they have children of their own."

Just typing up my Mom's words make me miss her all the more - her words were tried and true. I am so blessed to have had such a wonderful example - I hope when people see me, they think - "you are just like your mother "- she was the first one to make cents and sensibility!!

Royal Wedding/Loyal Marriage

2011-05-02T06:38:00.000-04:00

I knew the "big" wedding was coming but I was only mildly interested. I remembered watching Charles and Diana's wedding with my mom when I was in high school, but like everyone else was disappointed with the demise of their relationship. The new wedding became a hot topic at school with TiVo parties, early morning viewing and a request for us to wear tiaras to Goodie Day. So as I got ready that morning I tuned in - I was hooked immediately! The pomp, the circumstances, it was beautiful!! Then when I got to school, we streamed it on the computer before the kids arrived - one of our only male teachers walked by and asked if it was the NFL draft - silly man!!

By the time I got home from school, I was checking any TV station that was replaying the big event as well as watching Kate and Will's background stories.

Who doesn't love a good love story.... get ready for another....

It's my anniversary - 24 years! And as beautiful as my wedding was, anyone who has been married longer than 10 minutes will tell you it's not about the wedding but about the marriage. My dear friend Laureen is planning her wedding - but more importantly she keeps telling me, she is planning her marriage - smart girl! You can hire a wedding planner for the special day, but you and your spouse need to do the hard work of living out those marriage vows.

One thing that Kate and I had in common (besides all the obvious things) is that we had the same passage from 1 Corinthians 13 read at our weddings. Those words have been the backbone of our marriage. Read along with me.

Love is patient - I chose Cam for who he is, not for who I can turn him into.

Love is kind - I need to treat Cam better than I treat a friend, a child or myself

Love is not jealous - Cam needs time to do his own things and I need to give him that freedom and you know what, he is much more interesting when we come back together

Love does not brag - It's not a competition between us - try to be the first to give the compliment, not expecting anything in return

Love is not arrogant - I chose him, he chose me and respect for each other speaks volumes!

Love does not act unbecomingly - we try never to fight in public - if something is wrong, we save it for when we are alone

Love does not seek its own - we are partners, not a solo act. I owe it to Cam to include him in any decision, opportunity, adventure

Love is not provoked - there is a little bit of truth in every jest. I need to build Cam up whenever I have the chance, not make him the butt of my jokes

Love does not take into account a wrong suffered - I must forgive and try my best to forget. If I keep a scorecard in my back pocket I will never fully love Cam

Love rejoices in the truth - Speaking the hard things to each other in love can be a blessing

Love bears all things - life is not always easy, but if we know we are there to uphold each other, it makes the hard times easier

Love believes all things - having the same faith has been the biggest strength of our marriage

Love hopes all things - letting each other talk, dream, plan without judgement builds each other up

Love endures all things - we make mistakes, we are rude, we yell,we disagree, we get mad, but at the end of the day, we come back together and remember why we got married in the first place

Love never fails - weddings fail, but marriages built on selfless love will hold strong and the best example of a selfless love is God's example to the world

Thanks for rejoicing with me today - I may not have had a Royal Wedding, but with God's grace, I am enjoying a Loyal Marriage.

p.s. and if you haven't found that special someone - remember - it is better to be single, than wish you were :)

Bad News

2011-04-30T20:16:00.003-04:00

Well, I think blogging might be a little bit like knitting - it is best done in the winter!!

With the nice weather, all four kids at home and a week off of school, the last thing I was interested in doing was sitting at a computer (plus, there wasn't a lot of "savings" going on in the Garven household). We just dropped Colin off at the airport, so here I am!

Here are a few highlights from the past couple of weeks!

* Colin's girlfriend Jorie came for a visit from Canada! We have prayed for our kids since they were little to marry Christians who are committed to their faith and also prayed selfishly that we would love them too - Jackpot on all requests! We love her almost as much as Colin does - thank you God - 1 down, 3 to go!

* Spent a few days with my brother and family at their cabin - great time with them doing all those fun outdoor stuff (yes, that is a gun in Cam's hand) - until we came home early with two sinus infections and one headache. Our Dr. is loving us!!

* Ryan's volleyball team is in first place in their league - is there a better sport than volleyball - it's indoors, fast moving and done within an hour - perfect! He also had college orientation at PBU where he will be going in the Fall - Health and PE Major. And he turned 18 on Earth Day - yes, an Earth Day Birthday!!

*Dylan is playing in the worship band at church for Youth Sunday - go Dylan!! He is amazing us with his music - mostly self taught and now he is giving lessons - he even has Megan as one of his students - he said she's not too bad!!

* Cam and I drove a group of ladies from Cornerstone Church to see Joseph at Sight and Sound - they had just finished studying this in their Bible Study that a couple women from our church teach - they were so excited to see the Bible come to life, get out of the city and eat at Cracker Barrel - great day!

* Colin and Jorie got free tickets to the Flyers Game 7 - it's not what you know, but who you know! -Thanks Rick!

* Had a meaningful worship time at church - Seder Demonstration on Good Friday, a phenomenal worship service on Easter and a great dinner with our dear friends the Murrays (minus one favorite - missed you Laureen) We ate outside, had intense volleyball games and a lackluster Easter Egg Hunt - let's kick it up a notch Michael and Sophie!!

* The kids surprised us with an Anniversary/Mother's Day Dinner and a Movie - planned and paid for by the four of them - finally - those diaper changes are paying off! If you have little ones, don't give up - they grow up and bless your socks off!

* And our biggest news was Megan accepting a 3rd grade teaching position in the Dominican Republic! We are thrilled and missing her already - keep reminding me that I want her in God's Will :)

I feel really "full" right now - It's wonderful when all the kids are back home and we are sitting around the table laughing and reminiscing - it's amazing how quickly the time has gone by - we have young adults! My encouragement to you today is to enjoy the time, moment, activity - it will never come this way again. I'm trying to be in the present - not longing for the past, wishing for the future, but living right now - in that way I can make better cents and sensibility!

Some Saved Cents!

2011-04-21T09:53:00.000-04:00

So with Colin coming home, Jorie coming for a visit and a week off of school I decided to try a new supermarket - Anne and Janet have been raving about Bottom Dollar Supermarket - with a name like that, it must be good! They compared it to Aldies but with a more consistent selection and a cleaner appearance. You know that I am all about saving money - especially on food, but at this point in my life (that makes me sound wise, doesn't it) saving time is more of a priority.

Thus the reluctance - this new store is not on my normal travel schedule and it requires going down 413 which at the wrong time of day can be a congestion nightmare!

But with Easter, a house guest and birthday party this week, I made the venture. I pulled into the parking lot and got a spot right in front of the store - actually there were 6 open spots - this seemed promising! As I entered the store, it had a good "feel" to it - you know what I mean - when we lived in Dallas, we shopped at a grocery store that when you entered you were greeted with a man being led out in handcuffs for stealing ground beef - oh, I miss those days!

They had a nice produce selection - all in a refrigerated room - nice touch! The spiral ham was on sale for 99 cents a pound and there were plenty to choose from. The aisles weren't crammed with needless display items and knickknacks - liked that! And as you walked down an aisle that was unoccupied, the lights would automatically turn on -nice touch (I actually found that kind of endearing and thought little kids would get a kick out of that!) I found everything I was shopping for at great prices - there were a few things that would be cheaper at Giant, but overall their selection and store brands were great.

When it was time to check out there was no waiting and the cashier couldn't have been nicer - I told her I needed a store card and she said she would scan it now and I could fill out the application after I "arranged" my food how I wanted it on the conveyor belt.

OOOPPPPSSSS! That's when I remembered - both Anne and Janet had told me this info, but I must have tucked it away in that part of my brain where childbirth and dentist appointments go to be forgotten.

They don't provide bags- Let me repeat - THEY DON'T PROVIDE BAGS!! So all my groceries were transferred from my cart, to the belt, to another cart, to my trunk, to my kitchen table and then to my shelves - my bad!

But the cashier gave me 2 coupons for $2 off each that she used right then and then handed me a coupon for $10 off my next purchase.

Yes, there will be a next purchase - I definitely found it worth the drive to shop there - I figured I saved over $50 on the food I would normally buy (with no coupons) Thanks Anne and Janet for your great recommendation - saving me some cents!!!

The Play Is The Thing

2011-04-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

In our elementary school they do a play involving the 5th and 6th graders. They start practicing after Christmas and perform 3-4 months later. It's a big deal, a lot of fun and overall a great experience. All of my kids have participated - some in the chorus, one held a sign, another pushed a laundry cart and one was Daddy Warbucks (go Dylan). I was recruited years ago to help out - they placed me on the spot light - being that the kids got any acting talent from Cam - it fit me perfect!

When Megan performed we gave her the traditional bouquet of flowers. But with 3 boys I knew flowers would be a waste of money (or a really nice gift for me:)

So I got creative - for Colin, I made cut out cookies in the shape of a star - I inserted a skinny dowel before cooking them. When they were cool, I iced them and then wrapped them all in a clear flower sleeve. I made extra and put them in a vase and placed them in the faculty room with a thank you note - needless to say they were gobbled up quickly. This would also work well with rice crispy treats.

For Ryan, I bought a bunch of AirHeads, Snickers and Gum and attached the skinny dowel and put them in the clear flower sleeve - you can pick the sleeve up for free at the grocery store where they sell the flowers.

Last, but not least - our star - Dlyan! I bought Rita's coupons and folded them into "butterflies" = accordion fold back and forth and then held it together with a pipe cleaner - making the two ends into antennas. Attach to dowel. Then I took small Rita's cups and poked a hole in the bottom - I slid a skinny dowel into each cup and placed colorful tissue paper in each. I took the butterflies and "flower" cups and put it into a clear flower sleeve - again!

So if you are looking for a creative way to show people you love them - think outside the box - oh, and I did the Rita's bouquet for a grad party gift and put it inside a long flower box - didn't see that one coming!

The "Bouquets" were a big hit and more importantly the boys knew how proud we were of them - it takes a lot of guts to get up on stage! But the show must go on and I will be there to shine the light!! Keep making cents and sensibility!

Why Didn't I Think Of This Sooner!

2011-04-16T16:10:00.000-04:00

For years I have kept a pad of paper on my fridge, but it always bugged me that I had to walk the 2 feet to my hutch to grab a pen to write on it. So this year, I took an old pencil box from school, cut off the top and stuck a flat magnet on the back. Yipee - no more extra steps to grab a pen!

It kind of bothered me that I had two different sets of kitchen chairs - the same design but a different stain - so after seeing my sister-in-laws beautiful dining room table complete with black chairs, I bought 4 cans of black spray paint - semi-gloss from Walmart - 98 cents a can and spray painted the chairs. I then took a steel wool pad and sanded them - showing wear in the seat, and around the curved top - finish with a coat of spray polyurethane - "new" "matching" kitchen chairs for under $5!

Just read an article that said that grocery stores rotate sale items about every 3 months. Now I know how much to stock up on items. Before I would guess how much spaghetti I should buy at the bottom price and hope it went on sale again before I needed it. Now I have a good gauge on how much to buy.

Speaking of buying - I got 2 phone calls and many shouts "Mom, come here" last week - there was a new show on TLC" called Extreme Couponing. I was a bit excited to watch, even though I don't use a lot of coupons. By the end of the show I was completely turned off. It should have been called Extreme Hoarding - I am sure there are completely respectable people that do an awesome job with their coupons, but I felt like this showcased stockpiling for the sake of the deal. I never brag about how much I "saved" it is more about what I didn't spend in the first place. If I don't need 30 bottles of antacids, why would I be excited to get 30 bottles for a penny. I am not discouraging coupon use, but be wise, don't mistake "saving" with wasting your time and money on items you don't need in the first place. We live in a world that tells us more is better, well, more is just more.

So there you have it - 3 good ideas and 1 idea I will be skipping - not bad for making cents and sensibility!! Let me know what good ideas you've come up with lately!

Just Do It Already!

2011-04-13T19:03:00.000-04:00

Usually before I end up doing something, I talk about it for a long time! I want to make sure it is worth my time, energy and expense! My kitchen cabinets were no different! They are standard cabinets, none descript and perfectly acceptable - but quite frankly a little blah! So for years I talked about painting them. But what color, would the paint stay on, how long would it take, etc. I had a friend who had spray painted the doors of her cabinets, it looked, well, spray painted. And since there would be no hope in replacing them if I screwed up, I took my time.

But over Christmas my boys were looking for "work" and I had decided on a color - barn red. I had painted my kitchen table 2 summers ago that color and LOVED it and it has held up really well. Black was my 2nd choice - I had already painted my kitchen chairs that color, but wasn't sure if Goth was a decorating style.

So after toying around with the color black for the cabinets, I settled on the red. The boys did all the hard work of scrubbing and removing all the hardware and then we went to work.

First I put on a coat of primer. I wanted black so I could distress it, but it only came in grey. Next we put on 2 coats of red paint. After letting it dry, I got to work making it look "old". I took steel wool and sanded it, but it still looked a little flat, so I did my favorite trick - I took a dry paint brush, put A LITTLE bit of black paint on it and then dry brushed the cabinets. This takes a light touch. Try to emphasis the corners and anyplace that would naturally look worn. I have had a lot of practice with this technique, so if you want to try it, I recommend you practice before attempting it.

I also took the handles and spray painted them black.

I love it!! It turned out just how I pictured it. It was well worth the effort and the price was under $40 - not bad (oh, plus labor ) I went ahead a repainted my kitchen table just so it matched exactly to the cabinets. I feel like I got a kitchen make over - just by making cents and sensibility!