Home, Sweet Home

Mi casa es su casa. Or something like that.

My "new" house (as I like to call this house that I've

lived in for 6 months now) is in desperate need of something. That "something" is broken down into three categories: color, scheme, and continuity.

As a family, the MO Wilmoths have collect many pieces of furniture, art, and this & thats. The issue birthed from the marriage of new home and old things is this:

my house has a personality disorder. It dons matte,

texturized, brilliant white walls that are overwhelming like that of an insane asylum. It flashes its brilliant view through windows so tall they magnify sun rays so you must not look directly at them for fear of sight damage. Add to all this my mish-mosh of

thrift store & yard sale treasures, gifts, and clearance finds...it's enough to make this thrifty artsy-fartsy mom cry!

As a way to stack all of this craziness into a neat and organized "to do" file, I

am going to use an BHG article as my guide. I will list the "30 easy, high-impact

decorating ideas" by Jenny Komenda (littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com) from the March 2001 issue and then blog my way through them. A few will be not applicable to my situation, but many will be. I imagine most will take me all summer to finish.

My hope is that through it all, I will learn how to make the best of what I have and add to that what I am able to add. The icing on the cake? You take a few tips home with you, too!

Ready to start? Here is the first item on the list:

"1. Layers keep a room from being one-note. Prop framed pictures or mirrors against a wall, overlapping them slightly. Top a stack of books with a fun little something. Drape a throw over a chair arm. Now, you have depth."

I feel like I already do this, but maybe I'll experiment more. Heaven knows my bookshelf needs H-E-L-P in this area.

What's this? Do I sense a family

weekend

project??!!

...hmmph. Well *I* think it will be fun!

Our Angel...only on loan on earth.

It's been a long and emotional day. Today, my family joined our dear friends in mourning our loss of Momma Angel Winch. Angel, who mothered Josh and I, along with many other young adults, went to be with her Lord on March 22, 2011 after a brief battle with cancer.

Angel was a source of love, affection, warmth, and most importantly...unconditional love.

It was mentioned during her tribute that many of us called her, "Mom" and that,

"she loved her children, [whether they were] good or bad, right or wrong." True words.

After the funeral, a large group gathered at Angel's home church to eat and spend time together. The group collectedly celebrated Angel by laughing, sharing stories, hugging, taking pictures, enjoying the children in attendance...in short, the group followed Angel's example and we loved on one another.

Josh and I later reflected on the group that joined in love. There were people representing many different races, religions, backgrounds, political beliefs, sexual orientation, career paths, education, etc... And yet, all had joined as one...in love for this remarkable woman.

While doing just that, my friend Sherry and I spent some moments pondering on the kind of a person Angel was. Sherry stated simply, "That woman loved God. Oh, did she LOVE God!" And I quickly nodded in agreement.

Yet, I find myself wondering, when it's my time and my loved ones are celebrating me...what will my simple statement be? What few words describe all that I was on this earth. Did I love my neighbors...even the ones with loud cars and louder kids? Did my heart bleed when an enemy was hurt? Did I welcome all into my life? Did I give? Did I care? Did I love unconditionally? Did I love my God?

Tonight, my family went to church (as we do most Saturday nights) and the "talk" tonight was titled, "Why God?" As in, Why God? vs. No God/Different god. In short, it boils down to this: we all have hang-ups/barriers when it comes to being/becoming a Christian. Some of these would include: intellectual, emotional/psychological, and/or decision barriers. Pastor Tommy invited all to seek truth. Read the Bible. Ask questions. Write down your arguments/objects. Educate yourself! God gave you that grey matter between your ears...use it!

And then he closed with this statement: Christianity is not just the best way to die (a.k.a. hell insurance), it's the best way to live.

I'm honoring Angel by sharing this. She loved unconditionally. If you didn't feel her love, you didn't meet her. If you aren't sure if you met her or not...you didn't have the pleasure of meeting her. Meeting Angel meant you were now part of her family, nobody forgets that kind of acceptance. She loved you and you knew it. How? She told you. EVERY time she saw you. How do we know it was unconditional? Because she loved us all. Good or bad. Right or wrong. We were loved. And man, did she love her God.

PS If you would like more information on how to seek God, please message me. As a starter, grab the nearest Bible and read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for the biography of Jesus. Questions? Write 'em down. Concerns? Write 'em down. And then do one thing more...pray. Honestly and sincerely pray. Don't believe? Go ahead and tell it to God. He isn't offended, He won't be upset. God isn't mad because you have questions...He loves you. Unconditionally.

Smart Kids Rock

Whilest cleaning my house (avoiding sure death by drowning in piles of laundry) I found stacks of school paperwork. The last couple of weeks have wrecked havoc on the MO Wilmoths' routine so we are now getting back on track.

So, back to the stacks. The stacks included permission slips for trips already past, undone homework (complete with orange juice stains) and bragging rights.

Among these bragging rights was the Boyd Elementary School Newsletter which listed each classrooms' Citizen of the Month. *Allana's teacher is Mrs. Nottle - 1st grade*

In addition to the Newsletter, I found grades on Jamie's school work like this:

I see Allana suck her thumb and I sigh in frustration. I cringe as Jamie responds to my requests with, "UUUUH WHY??!!" instead of a sweet, "sure!" like he use to provide. But then there are moments like these.

These moments allow me to sit back and serenely smile.

I am proud, satisfied, and content. I am a mom of 2 beautiful, bright, AND boisterous Boyd Elementary kids. And I love them.

Your FACE!

So I was getting ready for bed last night and what happened in my bathroom led me to yell, "I'm going to the mall tomorrow for a new face!" To which, Josh replied, "But I like this one!"

My face is the definition of, "combination skin". My forehead, nose, chin and the apples of my cheeks are oily and prone to acne breakouts. My cheeks and the corners of my nose are dry 90% of the time. Lastly, I struggle with Rosacea which is defined as a skin disease that is, "marked by redness (erythema) of the face, flushing of the skin, and the presence of hard pimples (papules) or pus-filled pimples (pustules), and small visible spider-like veins called telangiectasias."

(a collective, "eww" is appropriate and expected)

SO all of this adds up to one single word...frustration.

Today, I went to Macy's in search of a facial and a new skin care regime that would attack my issues without attacking my comfort. The flare-ups I deal with after using many acne treatments rival birthing pains and deep moisturizing treatments immediately comfort but only for the night. By morning, an army of white-heads wait just beneath the surface of my supple epidermis. What's a thrifty gal to do?

I found myself enticed by a sandwich board by the Origins shop just inside Macy's entrance.

The chalkboard read, "free mini-facials!" to which, I replied, "yes, please!"

Origins has always been a favorite of mine but they do fall in the, "pricey" category IMHO. They are all-natural, all pure, and all-amazawondermous. (that last word is not supported by their website, nor is it part of their marketing campaign, but it should be)

The sole Origins sales lady was just finishing with her last customer and my timing was perfecto! She gave me the spa treatment I never knew I always wanted. My face felt refreshed, clean, supple, healthy, and beautiful...and all before a drop of make-up!

I took a gander in the mirror and saw exactly what I felt. My previously fevered skin was calmer, smoother,and free of blotchiness/redness.

The make-up was beautiful and who doesn't love to be pampered like that?! I also have to add, it's great to hear someone tell me how beautiful my eyelashes are. I've been told that since childhood and I never tire of it. (No worries, you will have your chance to compliment me in the comments below)

Here are the results of my Origins experience:

I am happy with the results and I look forward to washing my face tonight. I mean, how wonderful is that?

Below is what I purchased (all the following were from the Dr. Andrew Weil collection):

1. Face Wash: Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief face cleanser (washes off the grime without irritation)

2. Serum: Mega-Mushroom Advanced Face Serum (relief from redness, sensitivity, and reactivity especially for those suffering from Rosacea)

3. Lotion: Pantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Cream (optimizes skin's defenses)

For my patronage, I received everything in the box below for FREE! This included a Night Health bedtime spray, a Night Health bedtime face cream, a double lipgloss AND a ton of crinkled slices of brown paper.

Here is my whole collection and it costed approximately the same as a trip to the dermatologist. I'm pretty sure I feel more relaxed after taking this route.

I'll let you know more as the days go by...

Fix 'er up!

I decided this week that I am never going to love this shabby 900 square foot house if I don't put any of my heart in it to love! My idea is to fall in love with my home, project-by-project, and my first project was transforming these stained, mismatched pillows into whimsical, fun ones that my family loves!

Today, I am headed to the store and my mission is to buy sanding supplies and paint for my mismatched (but very functional) kitchen chairs. I'm inspired by Monica's kitchen chairs on "Friends".

I think the kids and I can do all

four chairs today and I'll buy a table cloth for the poor table. Pictures surely will follow our hard work!

And after this project is completed, I have so many more ideas to pursue! Starting with making "curtains" for our lower cabinets (which are

slowly falling apart before our eyes) and my inspiration is birthed from photos like these...

I also want to paint the kids' rooms (something I've wanted to do since we moved here 3 years ago!), repaint the kitchen (to match my "new" table, chairs, and cupboards) and somehow decorate my mudroom/laundry room/catch-all area. There has to be a inexpensive way to make the area as pretty as it is functional.

Ideas? Thoughts? Am I on the right track?

First Day of School

Back to school, back to school!

I'm pretty stoked about this year! I have a good feeling that the kids are going to have a fun and very productive 1st and 3rd grade.

I look at this picture and I'm in awe. Do you see what I see? Do you see that over 4' tall young man standing there with his sling-backpack and Avatar teeshirt? What about that little darling with the long, golden hair and the prettiest little smile you ever did see? You see that too? Oh man, am I ever going to have trouble with these two in a few years...

Speaking of that, this young

man is officially over 1/2 way through elementary school! In under 3 years, he will be a 6th grader/middle-schooler/pre-teen and all that those terms entail.

Don't I get a say in this?!

And what about this angel? She is no longer a frightened Kindergardener crying for Mommy on her first day of school. Today she lept from the vehicle and skipped her way down the sidewalk, shouting to all her friends (a.k.a. every child within a 2 block radius). She is vibrant and lovely and working on becoming the best 1st grader Boyd Elementary has ever had!

These two kids came home this afternoon with stories about friends with names like Imogen and De'Shawn and shared horror stories about homework assignments awaiting them in their backpacks. They giggled over jokes told by their new teachers and debated over who had recess first. Josh and I were held as a captive audience while these precious children grew up right before our eyes. How can it be that these children who can read and write, who have so many friends and are able to spend a whole day on their own facing spelling tests and gym class are the same children we held in our arms moments ago?

Time has taught me something valuable...don't take it for granted.

Internet Job Hunting For Dummies

I'm not going to pretend that I'm a job-hunting guru, but I have been a bit obsessed with finding the right job lately. Now that it appears I have the job(s) that I need/want, I would hate to think that my new-found internet-job-searching-agility would just go to waste! So here are some of my hints, tips and tricks for job hunting in the new millenium.

#1 Pump it up! (oh yes, you read that 80's reference alright) You think it's just a piece of paper, but it's really a florescent-lit marquee that displays, "Jane Doe, the next best thing for your company!" or screams, "delete this email and call that girl that emailed the pumped-up resume!"

#2 Surf the web. Don't stress about finding the perfect job right away, just take some time to familiarize yourself with the way that employers search for employees. Look up examples of good resumes, cover letters, and emails. Use this time to get a good handle on the job-hunting situation where you live and in your career field.

#3 Pick your top 3 websites. Or top 4. Just have a few that you are a comfortable using. Figure out how to make the best of all the tools the site(s) provide (including posting your resume, filling out education/skills forms, and setting up your email for job alerts). You will learn how to search using many different criteria (or maybe none at all) which can help you find that perfect job that you never knew you always wanted. Once familiarized with these top sites, you will be more confident and relaxed while job hunting. It will become a part of your daily life that you might even miss once you find your dream job...or not.

#4 Don't apply for everything. I know all the books and articles tell you to apply for it all because it takes 1,329,839 applications to get an interview...blah, blah, blah. Although I agree that it takes hundreds of applications to get a few interviews, I advocate NOT applying for everything. Even jobs that have the right pay and job description might be a no-no until you research them further. This is the world wide web, and with that comes an all-access pass to your personal information. When you are on a job-finder site, click on "All Jobs" or "All Postings" and scan through the listings. Do you see XYZ Company listed 456 times in a row for different jobs, everything from ChildCare to CEO? That's a scam, or at the very least, a bad idea. Make sure the company you are applying for is legit.

That being said, many legit companies don't post information for the same reason we don't want to send it out...so my next piece of advice is the most important of all...

#5 Trust your instinct. You're not a dummy (I know, because you are reading my blog), so use those God-given nudges for good.

So those are my top five pieces of advice for job searching 2010. If you have some tid-bits of wisdom, please share it so we can all benefit! I will post my favorite job hunting sites below in case you are interested.

Job finding sites:

#1 Craigslist

#2 Career Builder

#3 Monster