I have a loft in my house and I just adore it but really haven’t figured out how to USE it yet (that and it’s a disaster area). Right now there is a large corner desk for the computer, two book shelves, a smaller desk for Xander, another desk for “computer building” (read: crap), the top of another desk acting like a table and a futon. Oh and boxes. OH and the dog crate - folded. It’s on my “to do” list because I want to make it a more usable space. It would be nice to get some QUALITY home furniture up there - make it more pulled together perhaps? It’s a nice big space; just completely unorganized.

It’s half clean - I have a feeling that the other half will be finished once my hubby is home and he can help me. Or hinder the cleaning and just help me move furniture. It’s upstairs - so I’m at a loss. I’ve got a smallish roll-top desk (a $17 thrift store purchase) in my VAN (for a month now) that I would like to put upstairs - but I can’t get it out of the van much less into the house and up the stairs. I also have a treadmill (a $20 yard sale purchase) that I know we would both use if it was in the house and not the garage. I also want all my crafting stuff (scrapbooking & sewing) upstairs so it’s not in the guestroom /slash/ hopefullysomedaynewbaby room.

I guess I need some inexpensive (read: CHEAP) ideas for organizing. I wish I could steal some plastic milk crates - lol .. Those make nice shelves!!

So, my friend Amy and I are working on a virtual tour type website. For this, I’m trying out a bunch of different panorama softwares in order to see which one is easiest AND most professional. Take it from me, I’ve never stitched a photo in my life, so this is going to be an interesting process. Here is a lazy idiots review of photo stitching software!

Easypano Panoweaver: I judge ease of software by whether I can do a basic something even if I haven’t read the manual. This software I couldn’t figure out on my own. There are tons of different options making this software extremely powerful and professional. But, I can’t figure it out and I’m too lazy to read the instructions. So, moving on!

TO BE CONTINUED …

So, there is this website called Bills.com where you can learn how to pay down your bills and generally get a better hold of your money – be it with better budget planning or even some hardcore debt help. The website teaches you what plan would be best for your situation and provides articles to help you learn the best way to budget and successfully eliminate your debt. They even have a personal finance newsletter that you can subscribe to.

Some of the debt management information the website provides includes how to pay off your college loans, general budgeting and can even help provide you with a debt consolidation loan to help you along. The articles regarding finding a tax lawyer, settlement (bankruptcy), debt reduction, and even general terms are really informative and in plain English (even I understood them – and I’m not that bright when it comes to money management!)

Basically – you need to keep your money in check. I think if I had it to do all over again I think … okay, no, who am I kidding – I’d blow all the money the exact same way. But maybe I would’ve had a better budget? Or, maybe I would’ve gotten a real job? Either way, we’ve got a budget and we only use a single credit card and are making more than minimum (it’s the key here) on each card EACH MONTH. Someday, we will get some Debt relief.

Why am I so broke?
Because there are bills to pay.
Retail Therapy.

Hubby’s gone a lot.
I have lots of credit.
But little cash.

Bills are paid on time.
Someday we will pay it off.
Until then, we work.

I have a small (but growing) collection of “Americana” stuff. I always said “no” to having a country bumpkin home but as I get older I appreciate the handmade quality of things like quilts and knick knacks, so I’m accumulating more and more. I have a few small figures, a lamp and some flags that are patriotic - but I’m always on the hunt for more. Thanks to Etsy (how I adore Etsy) I came across a super adorably shoppe called “Jenny’s Bake Shoppe” and on it I found THE most adorable patriotic 4×4 sign that I simply must have for my collection!

It features patriotic cupcakes (I love them!) and red gingham and a blue jean looking border. It’s a-freaking-dorable!! It’s $19.00 and signed, sealed and delivered for $4.00 shipping. I want it. I will be buying it. Bask in it’s glory:

Seriously cute right? I saw it first!!! Oh, Jenny has a blog here also. It’s full of teh cute too.

Okay, speaking of television … have I told you of my naughty fascination for just about all the boys in the Harry Potter movies? I mean, especially Daniel Radcliffe. But, to be perfectly honest I wouldn’t mind all three of the younger Weasley boys – like, you know … at the same time. Boy, that would give me some severe case of Victory Hair.

Wait, what? You don’t know what Victory Hair is? Victory Hair my dear sweet sheltered darlings is hair that you’ve worked all night for! Hair that, while starting off looking very well put together in the latest style and flipped with a careless hand in order to flirt with that dashing young man (er, *coughwizardcough*) later … get’s pretty messy. It is hair that looks great when you get to dinner, get to flirting, get to his house and then … get your swerve on. That – THAT – is VICTORY HAIR! It’s the hair that gets you … some. It can be curly, straight, wavy, blonde, brown, black, red or even purple – it doesn’t matter. All that matters is you are hot and you know it.

Okay, there’s a point to all this smutty talk. There’s a contest in fact! It’s called the Ultimate Flirting Championship and it’s brought to you by V05 - like, I’m talking Extreme Style by VO5! It’s a cute game and you need to check it out. Okay? Go. Get your swerve game on!

Okay, so I’m a little bummed. I have been keeping up with Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International on Sci Fi these past few months and I finished my last DVR’d episode last night. Both shows are on a series hiatus for a couple weeks now and I have nothing to watch. I love these shows because they “ghost hunt” in a scientific way – not in a “feeling” way (which seriously, is so bogus most of the time). I say bogus because I’m sure that 90% of the “mediums” or “psychics” that do ghost hunting are so fake – SO fake – and I even say this as someone who gets those “feelings” and also have a good friend who REALLY gets those “feelings.” So, I love the real hardcore “let’s find some EVIDENCE” of supernatural beings instead of walking around flailing ones arms around going “I have a feeeellling!” KWIM?

So, I am kind of at a loss now as far as television goes. I’ve been watching the ABC Family showings of Harry Potter (of course) and am currently watching “Goblet of Fire” (for the second time in the past uh, 2 days). As far as DVR goes I’ve got a couple episodes of “Sordid Lives” recorded as well as 3 or 4 of “Queer as Folk” <3 I should be okay until I go on vacation.

It’s pretty obvious that I have baby fever; I mean, how many times have I mentioned babies on either blog? Err, just the other day? Well, walking through stores and such I’ve noticed some way cool color pairings for crib bedding. I mean, pink & brown, baby blue & brown, light “neon” greens, black …. It’s so modern and so chic and SO not the pepto bismol pink of baby animals of old.

When I decorated Xander’s room for his “baby” phase I did John Lennon Musical Parade which is now (and had been) discontinued. I bought it on ebay. The set is unisex more or less and has cute (but not bleh-cute) animals on it. The colors are NOT pastel and I love it! I’m just not into pastels I guess. For the next baby I’m sure I will do one of the brown and another color pairings. I’m sure if the next one is a girl I might have to do some brown and pink shabby chic look. Although black and pink rocker chic is way sweet also.

So what is your favorite way to decorate a baby’s room? Are you into colors or a theme?

I’m so excited! The weather is cool today - although it won’t last. Apparently, it doesn’t get cool here until October or November so I won’t be able to get some UGG boots and slip on my furry Eskimo-style jacket anytime soon. It’s not that I like it to be cold - I just don’t like to be hot! I love Autumn, I love the leaves and now that we are in Virginia I can actually see the leaves change colors! I love the smells of Autumn (and my Autumn Wreath candle from Yankee)!

September bring my trip to Florida for both business and pleasure, it also brings my birthday, my Daddy’s birthday and my hubby! I love that month! I’ve been trying to get organized for my trip, but I hate doing laundry and that’s what needs to be done. Trying to clean the house so I (and my husband) can come home to a sparkling house.  I’m ready to GO!

Barbara to W … “The fuh Dad?!”

Baby showers … There is one planned for when I am home in Florida. It’s here in Virginia so I can’t go - but of course I need to get something for the TWO girls who are being “showered” I guess. So, I’m on the look out for some unique baby gifts as usual; because you know, I like to be memorable

Usually I end up doing gift baskets - anything the parents might “need” that other people might not think to get. Diapers, travel wipes, some bath stuff and an outfit or two. I doll up the basket and make it pretty of course …

I like gift baskets … they are so easy to make and really are useful!