Brit-Brit

I used to be a closeted Britney Spears fan...then she shaved her head, had her lil' meltdown, psychiatric hold for a few days...whatever, I quickly moved out of my closet (covered in Britney posters!) and rooted for her. Loudly.

Now even though I have never actually purchased a Britney Spears cd (or download, or whatever the kids are calling music these days...) I sing all her songs, watch her videos in awe and click on her face when a new article pops up on people.com.

So today her newest single "leaked"...

My head hasn't been popping this hard since Miley Cyrus released Party in the USA...

I'm such a teeny-bopper (and I love it!)

Valances

One of the many perks of my career is making friends with my clients. So when one of my clients had leftover fabric from her window treatments she offered it to me! I was so excited I couldn't wait to go home and make the first stitch.

Well, it took a little longer than I anticipated (just a few years)...but thankfully, this weekend with my mom driving the fabric train, we made valances!

Before we got to the actual train station though (I don't know why I'm using a train reference here, just go with me...haha) we had to grab supplies.

First stop of the day was at Home Depot (my home away from home!) and grabbed a staple gun. (Side note about Home Depot, my mom would rather have a root canal than go to Home Depot. She detests it. I have no idea why...I could spend a very long time there; but she was driving and I didn't want to be left 'cause it would have been a super cold walk back to the house...so our trip was about 7.5 minutes, that includes driving into the parking lot, finding a space, locating the staple gun isle, checking out and leaving the lot. Mom doesn't play.)

Second stop was at a store mom is more comfortable in, Joanns! We got a little side tracked with the food Cricut machine (they were doing demo's so of course we watched for a while...) then put the train back on its tracks, and went back home.

Mom is a pro at all things involving sewing. She taught Home Ec. for the longest time...and while we were at Joanns she bought me some needles and thread to add to my empty sewing kit. (My sewing kit might have been empty- but check out my tool box...that's all I'm sayin'...)

If I had a train conductors hat, I would have put it on moms head 'cause she knew exactly what she was doing. Most of the time I asked, "do you need help?" "what's that do?"

The only time I knew for sure what was going on was when I used the staple gun to adhere the fabric to the piece of wood...

So here's what the kitchen looked like before:
Here's me watching mom work:
Mom using her thinking cap:
And the after:
Close up on the window:

We did this project on Saturday and every time since then when I walk in the house, I smile (big) because I'm so happy with the way they came out!! WAHOO!

Follow the herd

When you have a driveway that's this long, How do you keep the interest of your guests that have to walk it on a cold February day?

Simple, you have someone make super cute signs to get your baby shower guests excited about what's ahead. My first idea was to cut out baby feet, attach them to signs and have the guests follow the path of feet to the front door. Then I thought, "why reinvent the wheel. The shower invites are a safari theme- what if I made safari themed signs?"

So then I put on my thinking cap. I'd need two sheets of paper, one with a saying on it, then a backside...and some room in between the two sheets so I could put a stick through them so we can put them in the ground...after a while, my brain started to hurt, so I took a step back and went to the craft store.

I found the PERFECT safari paper...and solid black paper to attach to the back- but then I hit the wall. How do I attach the two papers? Laminate them? I kept walking around, thinking, thinking, thinking...I stumbled upon St.Patrick's Day garden stakes that had holographic shamrocks or hats on them. 50% off. SCORE! (I could somehow attach the two papers, then stick the St.Patrick's Day piece inside...) This idea was actually starting to come together!

Then I realized in the scrap booking isle they have 12x12 sheet protectors with two open sides...so if I taped the one open side....EEK!

Then it was time to feel like an evil genius creating something spectacular (think of when the lightning went through Frankenstein...yeah- it was THAT exciting!)

So, to start I used the Cricut to cut the letters (Don Juan cartridge) and attached them to the safari paper with paper glue. Let 'em sit over night.

Then tape the two sheets together, slide the page protector over them, tape the top and insert the St.Patrick's Day garden stake:

Eureka! Next step was putting them in the ground to lead the way to the front door!The last two signs by the front door read

I had a difficult time trying to find safari themed quotes to use...I didn't remember that Mac's web browser is "safari"...so when I typed it in, all these Mac blogs were popping up...error messages...I felt like one of those Bing! commercials!

I ended up with 10 signs:
- Don't feed the animals (which was on the invitation!)
- Follow the herd
- Giraffe crossing
- Zimbabwe 3000 miles
- Passports required
- Rrrrrroaring good time ahead
- Swing on over
- Watch for monkeys
- Its a jungle out here
- Come inside

I was so excited at how well received they were by guests at the shower!

Lions, tigers and bears!

One of my clients asked me to plan a party she's hosting...and, while I'm not going to show and tell anything until after the party...I've got to say, its lookin' like a jungle in here!

...oh its going to be awesome!!

Photos sooooooon!

If you give Erin a chair....

For the past four years we have enjoyed a corner bookcase that showcases our Disney collectibles. We got the bookcase from the hubs great grandmother. When I first saw it I thought, "eek! This is perfect. Its so unique! We have a corner that will make a great home for it!" (I didn't even see that it was lime green with a gold crackle finish...I just saw the bones.)

I'm like, an x-ray machine.

It didn't get too far out of the truck before it was spray painted black. I have a trigger finger with black spray paint. That's just how I roll. (I tend to buy several cans of black spray paint to keep in the house, "just in case"...haha)

So the other day we are watching a movie with the fam...and it hits me. We need more seating in here. It was like a bolt of lighting struck me down. DUH!

Here's what the corner looks like now

Since I'm making my maiden voyage to IKEA this weekend (I know...I know...) I've got a list brewing in my head of what I want to look for...how much I want to spend. The requirement I have for a chair for this corner is simple- it must be comfortable. I intend to sit on it UH-LOT so comfy is a top priority.

I'm liking this chair. Its simple. Black. Price, HELLO?! Can you beat $79? I don't think so...but it will have to past the butt-test. I can't wait!
Then I'd also have to have a great side table to go with it...and probably a lamp...ooooooh- this is going to be like the kids book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"- ever read it? Yeah...I'm that mouse.

Inconsiderate

My business is being in peoples homes. Which means, when I enter, I take off my shoes. I'm respectful of the home owners items. Since I don't know if you have allergies or not, I don't wear perfume. I introduce myself, with a handshake, so if we don't know each other, now we have a formal beginning.

So, when we have a service provider come to our home, I expect the same type of service. (Not the whole, perfume thing...'specially if its a man) but you get my point.

We just had a service provider come to our home. He comes in, doesn't introduce himself, puts on the blue booties, asks, "where's this going?". Oh. Bubble burst. Immediately.

Then I see him outside doing work, for about half hour he's out there. When he comes back into the house, he reeks of smoke. My husband and I don't smoke. So it was painfully obvious that he just did.

Here's the thing. I don't care if you smoke; that's your business. But when you are on a service call, is it really the most professional thing to do? Why not smoke in between customers homes? So, by the time you get to your next call, the smell has dissipated a bit?

I know your asking, "so what did you do Erin?" Here's what I did. As soon as he walked back outside, I ran upstairs, opened the window, and FLEW back down to my computer. (I may or may not have been catching my breath when he came back into the house...)

Bottom line, if you're in the business of making house calls, do yourself a favor and be considerate that not everyone smokes, therefore doesn't appreciate you smelling up their home.

Ahhh, I feel much better now!

That didn't last long...

This morning I changed the blog, again.

Although, I feel I can honestly say this will keep me happy for a while.
(and yes, my fingers might be crossed behind my back...)