Adding some texture!

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767430265348162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSQLOFKrx5Qi2-lWwsP56JjRKHmEL8pt2zGVIgdpZk9X1WajDBWuxZQb_GsYkgaHEOrA8GC3F8CG2THS5SyQG_LO0DbsTEv9fzl_sGHlDu5A4EfUBLFZJFssjkkZRONE2rMQ7D4u4tBwf/s400/DSC07423.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br />Yes, I am still here!! I felt so much better after reading that you are all (most of you) obsessed with Twilight and Facebook too. Crackbook is still fun but it's already wearing off just a bit.<br /><br />I'm totally lying. Every time I get a new friend request, I get all giggly and I'm obsessed again.<br /><br />You all have scared the crap outta me about Twilight though. I need to make plans for my family because it sounds like I'll have my nose in a book 24/7 for a week. I'll be ready...soon. I have about 105 things I want to get done first. I'm sceeeeered to start reading!! :)<br /><br />But I told you I wouldn't let you down...here's a project I've been thinking about doing for a couple weeks now. Remember these walls in my bathroom that I molded-up?? (That doesn't sound good, huh?)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl_tLSegyITXEqSxpVQHC-lW-EGEl94PfWlllX6ryMi3_HW0CEsUtMGQtNhEJ_pwawvr8jWFtiSfcGiTf6_eEnJZ9Lh-A5yEQS626mEwiouly_A0HUnS-ZNUy9WpqZgZmuFQFjYCJWCy4/s1600-h/DSC07410.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768113914238578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKl_tLSegyITXEqSxpVQHC-lW-EGEl94PfWlllX6ryMi3_HW0CEsUtMGQtNhEJ_pwawvr8jWFtiSfcGiTf6_eEnJZ9Lh-A5yEQS626mEwiouly_A0HUnS-ZNUy9WpqZgZmuFQFjYCJWCy4/s400/DSC07410.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I've enjoyed how clean and simple these were but in the back of my mind, something was always bugging me. I mean...they are frames...meant to frame something...so I had to do it.<br /><br />Remember these raised jobbies that I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/11/tour-of-pot-tay.html">here</a>?<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288775573076495410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxw4_CHvcADrItOQOMl3bNqH6oKXAVK3Eh_LZokdMxyazy_fdJd4-nm8LFzfjgXLMdnKH_AylxB_-IRmMhjqGlEBEedG19OL0eAX7LtgV2lA8j0Ys0HfyDDZh7pqGF1F_BkK4DLo240Xq/s400/cropped.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br />Well it's time to show you how to do it yourself!! You will need spackle, a putty knife and a stencil:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288775577539207938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mx8wiCK3UFCi0djYof3JXfWywtRPazOodL0ySdmjK8Mr1xkui9yD12by7IE4sHMemZqDJcoW1uW_yvykjQPyPQzmmPD_UTrVv0cMyHzaxFCsHo9qtiZN5kWhzpDgjz-8W3ciwaoOiFve/s400/DSC07441.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />I got one of these at Hob Lob for 40 percent off:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766363155978210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTLqGp2u3eSqAIlXy0PpUfhdAaO7xapIWVp3V1ASxYHp-nEsL7h4Af6Nqs-k0lqgvV1lqSy3MHeBpH-ATKecn1rhmuAHkHHTnIPrWZyiA5a8KGe2HaaUKQ9RaMnvqkT8B69fLd0GT8p4jL/s400/DSC07433.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />I love these stencils...they have so many options and they are LARGE.<br /><br />Then I found the center of my "frames":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PsI9lb06UrCAGvn3vIizpaVu484dCSzPldtqXZPdjFMXcF2iF_FkzheWCsbjgF_wKd8IReD9MzbYJ61KZ9khA2-4V6jizRAEpfI5QiQH2VBUN_cHvEcNjeBUrcVUKBQ9JqlMHBM7qbpM/s1600-h/DSC07413.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768105642526562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PsI9lb06UrCAGvn3vIizpaVu484dCSzPldtqXZPdjFMXcF2iF_FkzheWCsbjgF_wKd8IReD9MzbYJ61KZ9khA2-4V6jizRAEpfI5QiQH2VBUN_cHvEcNjeBUrcVUKBQ9JqlMHBM7qbpM/s400/DSC07413.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I taped the stencil up, making sure it was level. Then I taped off the spots I didn't want to be included:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCVH9QILMIEt9aOjSCLa0SRh2AT3rsNBF7hKivtGcx5PHo4r-CxKY9sCNgSVhHELaU9g6JbxsNwjwgJt5t0ecuVDemzNRpFQLXN6nQoMW6YhfeOh5lCc7ceAFMeh4vWUAFlHRwccZrGaT/s1600-h/DSC07414.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768100729161682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCVH9QILMIEt9aOjSCLa0SRh2AT3rsNBF7hKivtGcx5PHo4r-CxKY9sCNgSVhHELaU9g6JbxsNwjwgJt5t0ecuVDemzNRpFQLXN6nQoMW6YhfeOh5lCc7ceAFMeh4vWUAFlHRwccZrGaT/s400/DSC07414.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />If you are using the whole stencil, obviously, you can skip this. Now, here's where I make this take twice as long as it should...</div><br /><div>If you are doing these in white, skip this. But if you want color, like I did (I used extra paint from that room), you just mix the paint and the spackle together:<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0abnPORZhGOMJROb11C_3GCSY5YnuMINtkeV8c4ROAHuGKahWv4edzRmwjvcgediwetv8ODhatonG08BYRB0t5qXGhzF8YULJRo_VT5Z_x3s4QWuHvD1DhtWmz1KS6IYgpl2tjLlchVFy/s1600-h/DSC07415.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768088570042610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0abnPORZhGOMJROb11C_3GCSY5YnuMINtkeV8c4ROAHuGKahWv4edzRmwjvcgediwetv8ODhatonG08BYRB0t5qXGhzF8YULJRo_VT5Z_x3s4QWuHvD1DhtWmz1KS6IYgpl2tjLlchVFy/s400/DSC07415.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />When I say "just mix them together" -- I mean it. It's easy. Just make sure there's not too much paint. You will need VERY little paint. You want the spackle to have it's spackle consistency. It will end up like frosting and you will want to eat it:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnpT16mfjf4SjnS-vhzswnMoDRz0eF7Kjhbf2uRExbvhCUYtA7AuZu_TcHr1-g2JV1OF0x0rhbqcmMB0idhPWBn41OIywJnQXYW-xZtPMDCWyPLVRhVz0P-bR_N7XtOr_Veow9s-7rIs1/s1600-h/DSC07416.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767447282509666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnpT16mfjf4SjnS-vhzswnMoDRz0eF7Kjhbf2uRExbvhCUYtA7AuZu_TcHr1-g2JV1OF0x0rhbqcmMB0idhPWBn41OIywJnQXYW-xZtPMDCWyPLVRhVz0P-bR_N7XtOr_Veow9s-7rIs1/s400/DSC07416.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Get some on your putty knife: </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDpyNbQqrB_0_G3e-xt-mUcLb412cmyiOUp5n-T-Z0OYvuGZx_peP-Lh27PFTOIIWmk3SNQE3FAFE2eI4QiRA0g7wtyy1SxYmiL6BkDVGTE5Nx4AZDU7rM7w0A2DUI56rQs0uKP9-4nEo/s1600-h/DSC07419.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767442551586386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDpyNbQqrB_0_G3e-xt-mUcLb412cmyiOUp5n-T-Z0OYvuGZx_peP-Lh27PFTOIIWmk3SNQE3FAFE2eI4QiRA0g7wtyy1SxYmiL6BkDVGTE5Nx4AZDU7rM7w0A2DUI56rQs0uKP9-4nEo/s400/DSC07419.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> See, don't you want to take a lick???? </div><div></div><div>Then putty away on the stencil:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm04AoHv03C3SIkTStIBU77IYao1_ngF9l0TpGqwMuv7_XdE0SHpjTioM67Y2ecy8BcVpOCoVNPgx1O-wNNdxXUj2q38eVcGMoapU_ejegfp9U9EThqab8lnufnmEYfPHeAB9cycHhqJ_/s1600-h/DSC07420.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767440365875122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrm04AoHv03C3SIkTStIBU77IYao1_ngF9l0TpGqwMuv7_XdE0SHpjTioM67Y2ecy8BcVpOCoVNPgx1O-wNNdxXUj2q38eVcGMoapU_ejegfp9U9EThqab8lnufnmEYfPHeAB9cycHhqJ_/s400/DSC07420.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><br /><div>I like a real textured look, so I just kind of slap it everywhere. What I love about this stuff is you can also make it really smoooooth and pretty too. It just depends on what you want. </div><br /><div>Then pull off the stencil slowly and carefully. If some of your spackle gets under the stencil:<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIITMryxWP0-yrxl9eFAgMUdPn19kswoa0oWXtb9mbC1fqwkx7ub9Erp9DnSRn6NoXEOTpgXQ2VgOK1hbLNAs0DSTsdMWNfZDi1NDMVVVfvmez4AnwNfCS9QI0imOyf0uB7FU80HqTPrg/s1600-h/DSC07421.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767431147235346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIITMryxWP0-yrxl9eFAgMUdPn19kswoa0oWXtb9mbC1fqwkx7ub9Erp9DnSRn6NoXEOTpgXQ2VgOK1hbLNAs0DSTsdMWNfZDi1NDMVVVfvmez4AnwNfCS9QI0imOyf0uB7FU80HqTPrg/s400/DSC07421.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><div>Just wipe it off! It's like butta people, it will come right off. I just use a paper towel and my finger nail to wipe off the excess. If you really mess up, you can wipe off sections or the whole thing, I swear! Just do it within a couple minutes or so. <div><br /><div>This is the result:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N6kwlVmXL8FFcpfwwhn6Qlp-rBvO7O0zEyjd-EtTrhLTwGayctNoNERGVBVHPhddktPAU3IeC5hpBlelKfdIMR73d4eIDL6YJBbRS3fe6Xx4vn9wLZsA664HW0dfR5PmX95kg1aJPltC/s1600-h/DSC07430.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766359334855858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N6kwlVmXL8FFcpfwwhn6Qlp-rBvO7O0zEyjd-EtTrhLTwGayctNoNERGVBVHPhddktPAU3IeC5hpBlelKfdIMR73d4eIDL6YJBbRS3fe6Xx4vn9wLZsA664HW0dfR5PmX95kg1aJPltC/s400/DSC07430.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgn2IqNCunBkiB_4GIcMd66wHa0239hLaOGVMBfFr3C_IpNvjJVyUfwMXDoG4o5F_wvgXDzYyqBGkgJIv6LCWGYOeRqS1v_Kg_Mx-rAfWrzDtt2PREYmhmdibTjoqeMyDX_phnXExojH0/s1600-h/DSC07436.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766345726227410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgn2IqNCunBkiB_4GIcMd66wHa0239hLaOGVMBfFr3C_IpNvjJVyUfwMXDoG4o5F_wvgXDzYyqBGkgJIv6LCWGYOeRqS1v_Kg_Mx-rAfWrzDtt2PREYmhmdibTjoqeMyDX_phnXExojH0/s400/DSC07436.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklAJkG0zE4zMaK3ndbjxkQHvy48u02dTt9kzmJKrfX_HcDFGzx41Rgr3P6NFoCHKJajYIQbmBTX_lRDqMgWH9jVvWkXjPGDXR5ULhGwmStNHpZm8FvnFaHzXf9sc5xr63Y9xE-ywkDdHh/s1600-h/DSC07435.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766341799889634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklAJkG0zE4zMaK3ndbjxkQHvy48u02dTt9kzmJKrfX_HcDFGzx41Rgr3P6NFoCHKJajYIQbmBTX_lRDqMgWH9jVvWkXjPGDXR5ULhGwmStNHpZm8FvnFaHzXf9sc5xr63Y9xE-ywkDdHh/s400/DSC07435.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Ummmm... I LOVE IT!! I was going to keep going with them but decided I like just one per frame...any more would be overkill. (But in a bigger room, that would be GORG!)</div><br /><div>Total cost for this project was $9 for the stencil. Serious. Ask your hubby, I bet you have spackle in your house. I like using the lightweight spackle, but I bet any would be fine. And you don't need much! The amount in the bowl I showed you did all but one of these!</div><br /><div>Best part is, you can paint over them. Or make them the same color as your walls...use word stencils...the possibilities are endless!! I LOVE this stuff. (And yes...they can be removed, it would be a bit of a PITA but you can do it.)</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>This project took about 2.5 hours for the whole thing...obviously, the smaller the stencil, the easier and quicker it will be. My powder room stencils took maybe ten minutes. Also, PLEASE experiment first, on a piece of paper, cardboard, whatever. See what you like and see how hard you will have to press, etc. </div><br /><div>I have another small project in this room I hope to finish tomorrow, and then I'll show you better pics! </div><br /><div>Off to check my Wall. I mean...go to bed....<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>**Edited to add...for the most part, you will want these were small hands cannot pick at them. They will be tempted. :) The thicker stencils, like my power room, would be harder to pick at than these. But you will be surprised at how strong the spackle is when it dries. If you are worried about kids or people in general bumping into them -- put them high. Professionals space them out around the top of rooms all of the time, for a little detail. </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Adding some texture!

Yes, I am still here!! I felt so much better after reading that you are all (most of you) obsessed with Twilight and Facebook too. Crackbook...

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Twilight and Facebook

<div align="center">First of all...to all my girlfriends who have been <strike>harassing</strike> encouraging me for months to create a Facebook account...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I seriously hate you. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I had two things I was waiting purposely till after the New Year to start -- Facebook and Twilight. I was going to wait till every trace of Christmas was gone from the house and I could take a breather and just relax. (Buuuwwaaahhhahahhhaaa!! Funny.)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />You all might as well just give up on this blog. I am serious. I will not have time to do anything else, ever again, in my entire life, because of this stinkin' site:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287933567972372178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkM4Zh-ZgY42P7Cwdg0w86UtgK7aHCHlNnNS_hGVfeuPC3HElsP1z1EAl9N3kbj5I7CgWYeBOJ8ELjyQ9sK_tEHqZ62WBhKzOqEDip7gRNspR3orG4RHCgwaEOcoJb15cO2YJISpKYz-h/s400/facebook.png" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 217px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 289px;" /><br />Plan for last night:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Put the Bub to bed.</div><div align="center">Check blog.</div><div align="center">Fold some laundry.</div><div align="center">Take tree down.</div><div align="center">Pick up.</div><div align="center">Take every last bit of Xmas to the basement.</div><div align="center">Take a bath.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br />What that plan turned into:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Put the Bub to bed. </div><div align="center">Check e-mail, get another request to "join."</div><div align="center">Spend every waking minute till 12:30 a.m. on <strike>CRACKBOOK</strike> FACEBOOK.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I hate you. I do. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />What I hate more is I LOVE THIS SITE. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Gah. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Next, I plan to read this book. Which in turn will make me want to read the next three, IMMEDIATELY, like go-to-Borders-at-10 p.m.-when-I-finish-each-one kind of immediately: </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287933573675846434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8Lq8SGTlVAea2JeJEezPMC0ogwyn70qfScYv_p0ayaRNqm3FVQfHVvCDMU8w-fupj2Ey6Cz09VTRbwv5_TUAfn3Xv1Td6ElLeCj35vtqMhOx1Wo9Iq3It8YcWkXGvwdIdlX06jC6Pyhm/s400/twilight_book_cover.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I have heard all about this series and then Sister bought them...and was obsessed. I don't want to get obsessed! I just want to read a good book! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Is there any hope for me? Is there any way that I will really still love my husband after I am done, and not want a vampire to come sweep me away? Really, I love my husband a lot and would like to keep it that way. </div><br /><div align="center">So do you Facebook?? Have you read Twilight?? I am making a promise that I will not abandon my home, my projects, and you...I will figure out to make time to do my fun stuff, even it it means I get two hours of sleep a night. It is my pledge to you.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Now, I must go see who has written on my wall. See ya.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>

Twilight and Facebook

First of all...to all my girlfriends who have been harassing encouraging me for months to create a Facebook account... I seriously hate you...

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100.

<div><div><div>Whooooooty Who!! One hundred posts <em>BAY-BEE</em>.</div><div> </div><div><br />So to celebrate, I am giving away one of these cutie-patoot "Santa Rocks" carafes you were all googly over:<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279542566386402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLoOg6TAYLO8bL0X1vEWcjFkLumKEbomAL24B-of0PG_4GJL_nx_pu6Vp5cFyiq8liLmX-H-pEoEwVwyHruVTfbOuqNkjxXrjOtHJ4LiEytIv7XLV7NsviF68cnAxT79rLBy39k6GnqUH/s400/DSC07225.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><div>I know, it's stinkin' cute. Do any of you have a Flower Factory? We used to have one nearby. When they offered free memberships my girlfriend and I nearly passed out from the magnificence of it. Then our location closed...and this week we made the trek about 30 minutes away to check out one on the other side of town. It was even MORE glorious than our old one.<br /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><br />Clean. Massive. Cheap.</div><br /><div align="center">TROUBLE. </div><div align="center"></div><br /><div>Good thing is half an hour away. We're already dying to go back. Anyhoo, I found more of these, so that's the fun giveaway for the 100th post. Just leave a comment and you are entered. We'll give it a couple days...say Monday evening?<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Check out the other finds from Flower Factory and other places (just a sampling):</div><div><br />Three bucks people:<br /></div><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280406206125090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUXvnunVMwScZlsPJqDMv8RLUIDOiUtops9Kafu_SON7HHzbaGXcs3bJ5nfIjwEnRvKsI66i-mfSC4vYUBdMP-5lUG68mJzpk6tyeQfqc9A6vp6Sxsh-Zc8bCEzkP-oRwnKRGp3i-w-Pj/s400/DSC07395.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><div>Less than $5:</div><br /><br /><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280398505721634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaShXBH5v-5ux8_Rfjq-HRYa4yM9oyT5HXBJI15eWuXG_HiWN_Onb1Ji2s5a2BPcMOtfk-dP5URYRLTI-930L_zpK1cTQSNSpOMQcgk9f3PnHGSkEjfzl0734y8jTx-1OuC7T_1rOpsusP/s400/DSC07394.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div><div>Can't beat the Dollar Store at half off, really:</div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287281537628853282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar9MYacMfIdZyebkMWDr_DdIGSA53SqO4Qv9X-2HItyRUpYPSE8c3QC6OtUxoDhSGkS3l2YSZPcYyUghDuMw0rY6GJctUJtwhlJY5tzC28jFQV1A2tu9U4YyHkbO76zDdCHW43OZ2TdKm/s400/DSC07369.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287281546176416610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifp4yxBD5lNMQVIwGKvQyp52aQoFV7Eb6r8uaroeTj1fq-ozKvnqdAEf2ou43MoJ1n6S_NwS0IevBKFWppEDa5zHni7XwEOSshIND6Ndi4P7AiRosbRmKYw_nk_PAFX6LDfTXOJFM1QlPj/s400/DSC07368.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>And all kinds of goodies from Micheal's to candy cane up the kitchen next year:</div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pNxAnzBBqjwuWRGYx8X1_BE-FwG0fmZPpgsdAYNq4D45WpGJP7qhWwwd8pTyPV9b78EsPkgFQXIOBzKheWWev1h6EnrqQ9i-h5SSj9d4WHwEX0F0eGxASq24cZwz2pF-EUV0DyD5hwmA/s1600-h/DSC07367.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280424524602034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pNxAnzBBqjwuWRGYx8X1_BE-FwG0fmZPpgsdAYNq4D45WpGJP7qhWwwd8pTyPV9b78EsPkgFQXIOBzKheWWev1h6EnrqQ9i-h5SSj9d4WHwEX0F0eGxASq24cZwz2pF-EUV0DyD5hwmA/s400/DSC07367.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><div align="left">STEAL OF THE CENTURY! I wanted a skinny little kitchen tree...walked into Micheal's, saw this, originally $70... on sale for $27 but it was the last one. Asked if I could buy it off the floor and he said yep, for <em>TEN DOLLARS</em>!!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P0p7VGdawWxBgmmUP4OFCdYYIK8si6rPWW8RuJWf1x3m8-gLtz3mk-yn4_hwAt4ZdcUZOQNuUCigT14T3-hSVuQIaVdYIp1uo41Y_Xj845ZyoP3vlyahQU0MW6Riiw8gfhNvGmMV9Owi/s1600-h/DSC07363.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280420370785666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P0p7VGdawWxBgmmUP4OFCdYYIK8si6rPWW8RuJWf1x3m8-gLtz3mk-yn4_hwAt4ZdcUZOQNuUCigT14T3-hSVuQIaVdYIp1uo41Y_Xj845ZyoP3vlyahQU0MW6Riiw8gfhNvGmMV9Owi/s400/DSC07363.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />The pic doesn't do her justice. She's perfect -- all glittery and fun. I <em>very</em> <em>nearly</em> skipped out of the store with it.<br /></div><div> </div><div><br />And I am always on the lookout for things I can use all year in the clearance stuff. I usually find some good deals and did again this year. One example are the gold chargers for the dining room:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrrFr8MTjV81rG1_UHljXGXgJSqbvzIdGlmTHqdujMoTtyeJUajhdVakaB3Sk_5gmnZJlIX0mEIHr8i6GdWkt7eH5QByERjULQWLZ6dIltERVyn07yIc8nO4nUBQ6QWjU1nN5kzXH6G6Q/s1600-h/DSC07364.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280411435314498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrrFr8MTjV81rG1_UHljXGXgJSqbvzIdGlmTHqdujMoTtyeJUajhdVakaB3Sk_5gmnZJlIX0mEIHr8i6GdWkt7eH5QByERjULQWLZ6dIltERVyn07yIc8nO4nUBQ6QWjU1nN5kzXH6G6Q/s400/DSC07364.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />The cheapest I've seen them is $1.87 each at Hob Lob...I kept holding off because I think even $2 each is a bit ridiculous for plastic. These were $7 for eight at Target. Whew-Who.<br /><br /><div><div><div>And finally, to prepare us for the GLORY that is <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/10/mission-declutter-and-organize.html">decluttering and organizing</a> on January 12, I thought I'd share my tips for packing up Christmas. </div><br /><div>I pack up one room at a time, and have specific bins for each room. I always have baggies, shopping bags and a Sharpie with me. </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaWDOnpsMcowL4JX-LyXao-1aTT6hHwAEwaV9JxmZ7A6SJD2CfGH0xFpu6jlfC5Oiw8MQaYuQtKF-DWlCk1EEEmsKjcL-7olrC4FQX2DN1clsYG4LHFaoEA1-DnE2n3GrQPGeS4fkQZPe/s1600-h/DSC07393.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279564342572962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaWDOnpsMcowL4JX-LyXao-1aTT6hHwAEwaV9JxmZ7A6SJD2CfGH0xFpu6jlfC5Oiw8MQaYuQtKF-DWlCk1EEEmsKjcL-7olrC4FQX2DN1clsYG4LHFaoEA1-DnE2n3GrQPGeS4fkQZPe/s400/DSC07393.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvAaGI28YHyHYxvbDUpT9hjYZnvQ7NebB2h1iuvs5y_w6EHlalzZlCYSeIwqN5WipmQ9VPXaghP5X-MhItEAj0c0AQPC07wiBT2tO_ZydfeyawvNXKQNsQKifiM3RmYRICH4-yNwxtKr6/s1600-h/DSC07392.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279562758159346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvAaGI28YHyHYxvbDUpT9hjYZnvQ7NebB2h1iuvs5y_w6EHlalzZlCYSeIwqN5WipmQ9VPXaghP5X-MhItEAj0c0AQPC07wiBT2tO_ZydfeyawvNXKQNsQKifiM3RmYRICH4-yNwxtKr6/s400/DSC07392.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I don't use any more than these bags to protect things. The bins don't have far to go, just down to the basement. (God Bless you who have to lug those things to an attic!!!) I try to only work with one bin at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed. </div><br /><div></div><div>This year, I've been <em>really</em> particular about everything, I even vacuumed out the bins before packing them back up:<br /><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279551353797650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfimZfdEB_C7mIEQLN7hoExwUxkTsHjiALSfaMK8MYZNDo9Fgd7Fd1lDHVAkUm-OskLjtE7y4c40SqK_GYvYlWHUwXYPdMn_WwEYiH-53cJl2iINtPp-N4acVGLpi2YqoEKEfKYvd-UcKc/s400/DSC07390.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Told you.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_u2d3ZH1x6FjrJJGOCjiHaN2GNJyFfdRLVQSZVnB3PNthKEhzczXyBYOQL4QElMg4pYUNM_FwRO68lR2qKhu6cTnpk3wwif21VM8LiK_NZOEj4K5HgTU4KbTvZKsgm3fDe_h7s7fs4Lv/s1600-h/DSC07391.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279555926371906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_u2d3ZH1x6FjrJJGOCjiHaN2GNJyFfdRLVQSZVnB3PNthKEhzczXyBYOQL4QElMg4pYUNM_FwRO68lR2qKhu6cTnpk3wwif21VM8LiK_NZOEj4K5HgTU4KbTvZKsgm3fDe_h7s7fs4Lv/s400/DSC07391.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><div>Then I write on the top with Sharpie what room the bin is for, and then use my Dymo to label the sides so I don't have to unstack everything to get what I want:</div><div> </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287284702222039890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-9-dpmJ1uzkyC7WsTtGnW7xalI_czAyCG5KZAKN4cripO5omN9rDhb5nABtyBOngUG6_Oklq8q2wYhEmXBbQqSHQ0NYFGEKqfb6IZE51-7El2tnQO1185LR-rgSVLgQzF9v0aVQyBQ3j/s400/DSC07396.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Finally, I used to always take pictures of things I had done every year and would keep them in a file on the computer so I could see exactly how I had decorated. This year, I just have to look here, so I won't have to worry about that. ;) </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>I've got one more room to pack up and the tree tomorrow. Now that it's mostly packed up, I realize how much I will miss it all, and can already hardly wait for ten months from now!</p><p>I have SO many projects running through my head right now, and I can't wait to get started. Thanks for making my first 100 posts so fun! Hope you'll join me for 100 more!</p><p> </p>

100.

Whooooooty Who!! One hundred posts BAY-BEE . So to celebrate, I am giving away one of these cutie-patoot "Santa Rocks" carafes yo...

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