And unfortunately, it has nothing to do with me getting into one.

(Although I do have an excuse with a killer sinus infection.) Okay, I did type this from bed, so there’s that.

Anyway, here’s the 411. I’ve always wanted to say that:

My toddler is 29 months old. She is fully potty trained (even at night!) and busy. 

And she is still in her crib.

She’s climbed out twice, but I put the fear of God into her, plus she thinks alligators will eat her toes if she does it again.

Her room is the largest room upstairs because it’s a remodeled game room.  We don’t have a guest room and I want to replace the crib with a full size bed. 

Follow me, this is where it gets confusing.

My oldest child has been begging for the larger room with a big bed her entire life (dramatic emphasis, all hers). I promised when her baby sister moved to a big girl bed, I’d switch the rooms.

So, basically, the two year old gets the yellow and pink room with the white twin bed and the 9 year old gets the old toddler nursery.

Whew!

Got it?

More info: Bedroom furniture is expensive, but I’ve been piecing together some marvelous pieces (we’re going black shabby chic) and my garage is my current workspace.

I’ve just got this piece to paint black, the bed:

The dilemma: I’m unmotivated to finish said bed because I don’t know when to make the switch to a big bed and a new room. And I don’t know how to do it without disturbing my toddler’s sleeping/potty-trained cycle. 

What do y’all think?

I’m afraid.

P.S. I’m linking this to The Inspired Room’s Procrastination Party because I need accountability.

And painters and movers. 

*******************************

I finished the bed! And I’ve spent the last two days moving furniture around.

But I love the results!

Remember the before (my garage sale find):

Frugal living is a big learning curve for this convenience-loving girl who is addicted to clearance shopping (whether I need it or not!)

(But don’t panic, if it’s more than 75% off and I can get my thrifty hands on it, I will be stockpiling my bargain finds. It’s hard to teach an old shopper new tricks. I’m also planning a new DIYP series called Dollar Store Decor, coming soon to a blog near you.)

But in these unstable days, I want something greater than the best bargain out there:

I want to gather my family around me and protect them from the world I cannot trust. I want to cocoon, to become more self-sufficient.

I don’t know how to make bread. I don’t know how to grow a garden. I don’t know how to can food or store it away for lean times. I don’t know how to sew. But I want to (especially after reading this amazing post). 

Every time I visit my in laws farm, I’m surprised at how self sufficient they are. They don’t rely heavily upon modern conveniences. They rely upon the land. I feel useless without the Internet or a Target. But in a way, I envy their simple life. 

While I don’t see myself packing up and turning this blog into We are THAT Family: The Green Acres Edition, I desire to simplify.

Will times get harder? Will I need to know how to survive on less because I must? Will the unstable job market knock on my door?  I don’t know.

But I want to turn my thrifty home into a little more of a frugal one.

Because I think it will feel really good to work together as a family and create and provide for each other. 

Want to join me?

Here are a few of my goals to become a little more frugal and a lot more self-sufficient:

• Cut back expenses and get out of debt-we owe on one car and our house, but have six months of living expenses tucked back. We are saving as much money as we can and trying to pay off our car by Christmas. My advice: get out of debt, don’t add more. Dave Ramsey has a workable plan.
• Eat at home
• Learn to bake bread
• Learn to grow food
• Learn to can food and create a stockpile
• Buy second hand (more than just kid’s clothes). I’m challenging myself to look for used instead of new (This one scares me!)
• Balance- I’m looking forward to learning new things with my family, but I want to remember balance is important.  I don’t think being an extremist will benefit my family. I want to be honest with myself and with you. For example, I will plan to drink Chick Fil A sweet tea regularly and go to Family Camp this summer (mainly because we finished paying for it in December!) and continue my life, but thru frugal-colored glasses.

I’m going to chronicle my journey and share what I learn along the way, pitfalls and all.]

I love getting a peek into other people’s nests, with permission. I am not a peeper, just so ya know. But I find it inspiring to see how other people live in their decorated world.

My perfect day would include a looksie at the newest model homes in my town (camera and

notepad in hand) and a drive through the country, picking out my next house.  Really, just ask my hubby. (He likes doing it too).

I enjoy hunting the multiple listings of homes all over the United States. I dream of moving to an old home or a new home on old land. It’s a hobby, And it’s free! Weird, huh?

But when the day turns to night. There is one place I love to be: HOME.  

Welcome to my spot of the world, where all my little people live. Today it is here, tomorrow? Who knows…..

{The Kitchen, It’s a nice place to heat up Take Out}

Here’s how I painted my kitchen cabinets black!

And here’s some other Do-It-Yourself projects.

{Breakfast Nook that opens to the Kitchen}

Laundry room

Master bedroom

Welcome to this weekend’s project!  I had several people ask me if we made our Family Camp tie-dye shirts and I’m hoping they asked because they liked them.

You know I just had the thought maybe they were asking because it’s not easy finding such hideous clothing at actual stores. 

If it’s the second one, don’t tell me, m’kay?

I’ll just proceed now.

Tie-dying at home has always invoked horrible visions, until my daughter brought home this idea from Science Camp. It’s super easy and basically mess-free!

Take a white t-shirt, rubber band and small cup. Place cup inside shirt and put the rubber band over the cloth.  Like so:

Grab some colorful permanent markers-I used Sharpies and draw about a quarter-size design.  You can get creative here.  My daughter did a lot of circles in different colors and my son did some unique shapes (I’m still not sure what to call them!)

Drop about 20 drops of Rubbing Alcohol onto the Sharpie drawings. (If you add too much, it will bleed thru to the back of the shirt-See hubby’s shirt).

Welcome to this weekend’s DIY project.

I applied a light coat of Decoupage over the letters to give them a finished look.

Here’s it all put together.  This is one of my favorite corners in my house.

I like old things. But I’m not really an antique collector.  

I’m not that refined.  I’m a collector of old stuff.

If I see an ancient metal bucket in one of my in-laws rickety barns or an old handmade bird house sitting on the side of the road. I know I could put them to use.

Oh, I’m so kidding about scrounging up free junk and then decorating my home with it.

I think there are people paid to do this.  They are called garbage collectors. 

Yep, I’m comfortable with that title.  Because the used shoe fits nicely.

My mom asked me once, “When you guys get some money, will you buy new things?”

Here are some of my favorite old things, I’ve found new uses for:

1. An old blanket chest that looks lovely wearing red, serving as a coffee table.

2. In my entryway, I have an old dresser without drawers.  I use the top to display seasonal stuff and the shelves as a shoe rack for my kids.

3. My hubby pulled these old window out of a condemned building in Miami.  All you have to do is ask!  The old screen costs $5 at a Flea Market.

4. An old shoe drying rack, I use as kitchen shelves.  I fell in love with this piece at a second hand store.  It came just like that with all the flaking paint!

5. I love my old $10 wagon!  It’s rusty and squeaky and the perfect planter!

6. I’ve had a small (albeit useless) collection of glass doorknobs for years.  How do you like them as a window covering in my bathroom?  The curtain is a single panel that I draped over the knobs. Do you think I would make The Nester proud with this window mistreatment?

7. I bought this little red metal medical table at a flea market for $15.00.  I cleaned it up and let the chipped paint add character to my bathroom.  It holds magazines, kleenex, and other bathroom incidentals. 

8. My battered front porch bench that I rescued from a garage sale for $25.  I love this old bench.  Someone put a cute tin skirt on it to cover up some damage.  Matilda, my rag doll, welcomes our guests and reminds people not to ring the door bell during nap time.

And yes, that would be a dirty diaper on the bench.  What can I say?  It was a doozy!  

So, the next time you come across something old and useless, turn it into something new and useful!

I was given some adorable marble magnets a few months ago and I love them.

I love magazines.  I always have a giant pile next to my bed that I’m making my way through.

Some of my best DIY projects are things I’ve seen in decor magazines.  I tear out my favorite pages and stick it into a folder for inspiration later.

[sheepish wave in progress]

I saw this idea in the latest Better Homes & Gardens “100 Decorating Ideas for Under $100″ Issue.

It’s by far one of my favorite quarterly publications.  

I love fresh flowers.  I wish I could have a gorgeous vase full in every room.  All the time.

But I’m not THAT family, unfortunately. 

Every once in a while, my hubby brings home flowers.  *Hint, Hint*

And after holidays, like Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, I buy the half price bundles.  But most of my fresh flowers come from my flower beds or when my kids bring me weeds flowers with the stems wrapped in wet paper towels.

Now, here’s what I do with them thanks to this great idea: I gather an empty toothbrush holder, a salt shaker or a cheese sprinkler.  

I can stick loose stems in the tiny holes.  These are perfect holders for little weeds or the fragrant Gardenias from my yard.

I just fell in love with this idea because I have these little containers on hand and they look so nice in the bathrooms and entryway.

So, go, pick a flower and grab an instant vase.

It’s sure to brighten your day!