I just realized that I had completely flopped out on my aspirations for starting a blog and encouraging myself to write once again. It has been a year since I checked in...and what a year that has been. Good, bad, very ugly, full of joys and despairs...I suppose just like every one's life pretty much.

Now I am just feeling the bug to get some of it out. I am in the middle of renovating my 37ish year old ranch home in the suburbs on a shoestring budget, working hard, and proud of some of my accomplishments. I don't have the money to pay anyone for labor, but I have time. I am still a SAHM, even though my one and only started Kindergarten. Like I could even attempt to find a job now, with the economy in the tanker and 6 years out of the job market. So I have put myself to work. I never imagined I would be doing construction when I was slaving away in college (okay, so I was partying with occasional bouts of studying) but I still was bound to be a white-collar girl. Instead I must get creative, get dirty, and get working. If no one from my previous life could see me as a SAHM in the suburbs, they certainly could never fathom me slinging concrete.

I blame it all on HGTV and DIY Network. They make everything look SO easy. Anyone should be able to build a bookshelf, paint a mural, sew slipcovers, tile a shower. Yeah. No problem. They make you forget you are afraid of saws and don't own a nail gun. I have discovered that every "easy" project takes at least three times the amount of time you have estimated, a coat of paint is not always the answer, and nothing ever works like the directions say. And I truly believe whoever writes instruction manuals (in six languages no less) has a very warped sense of humor and is completely disassociated from our reality.

I am slowly learning, and making progress. I am not sure if I should star in Design on a Dime or Ten Grand in Your Hand, but I have gotten more accomplished on a $30,000 budget than most people could dream of.



I have seen this on so many people's blogs, and I know it is nothing new or special, or even anything anyone should care about, but it seems to be a great way to focus at the end of the day on what really counts.

What I'm grateful for today:

1. I have health insurance and am able to take my kiddo for a check-up, and that he is healthy and growing strong.
2. I picked up several new best-sellers at the library. I can engage in my passion and hobby for free--thank you public libraries!
3. Another beautiful day with windows open and no a.c.--no sweating while working and maybe the electric bill will go down.

And now, I hear my glass of vino calling...