My tiny little house is for sale

Well, our house is officially on the market. The realtor came by last night to have me sign the papers, take measurements, pictures, etc. It's so bittersweet. I bought this house in December of 2007-right before the economy took a plunge. The market was high, prices were high, interest rates were high...but I felt like that was the next-right-step to take. If only I had waited even 3 more months! I paid way too much for not very much house. And since I was laid off in July and even though I got a new job, I still don't make enough to make a mortgage payment. So through a lot of sadness and tears, this house will be sold in a shortsale. Someone already came to look at it today! I guess that is good. Since I might be moving soon, I thought I should show you some pictures of my little house before it isn't mine anymore.Here is the front. This really is the nicest house on our street. The rocks on thse side of the garage as well as the landscaping give it really nice curb appeal.

The view of the living room. This is where my husband proposed to me. Makes me sad to think I won't be living here very soon.

This is the view into the dining room. You can see the little sewing desk that my husband refinished for me-it is where I do all my blogging and a lot of crafting. We custom painted the whole house and I absolutely love the colors!

My sweet little kitchen. We just painted the cupboards white this winter. I was in the process of getting rid of my coffee decorations and changing over to a shabby chic tea theme. This is where I cook and bake and do so many things I love.

Another view of the kitchen. That clock on the little wall was a steal for 50 cents at a garage sale. This is the perfect little spot for reading!

Here is our party patio. We never got the chance to finish it. My plants and flowers are finally starting to really bloom and now I won't be able to see them grow anymore. We never got to have that party we wanted to have out here.

The view of our attached patio that houses our hot tub. That is coming with us!

And our tiny little master bedroom. So tiny that only a double bed will fit. And the summer's here get so warm, you can barely sleep with a little thin blanket on you. I have never had a matching bedroom set with matching linens to go on it. Maybe someday that will change. Many sweet dreams have been dreamt in this tiny little bedroom.

I have cried many tears over this house. Somedays I hated how small it was but then I would see the coziness of it and love it once more. If only there was a way to have the tiny little house have a tiny little payment to match, we could stay...but life doesn't work that way. I know someday I will have the house of my dreams, but that may take a long time to happen. Hopefully something will go our way very soon. I really wanted to be able to say that I made it through this recession without having to sacrifice my credit, my pride or my well being. Unfortunately, I have no control over this and I didn't make it through. I am sad. I am sick. I am heartbroken. I hope no one thinks that I am taking the easy way out because I can tell you that this is the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.

A telephone pole for an anniversary gift?

My parents will be celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary on September 11th. This weekend, my mom gave my dad his anniversary gift...a telephone pole! Why would anyone want a telephone pole and who would give that to someone? Well, let me tell you the story!

Dad going to see his gift, a little bit in shock but very happy!

My dad is a phone guy. He was in the Air Force, working in telecommunications and currently works for a telephone company as the installation and repair manager. If you ever want to learn how exactly a phone call works, just ask him and he will be happy to tell you! When he first started in the industry, he worked for a telephone company in Midvale, Idaho and loved his boss, a guy named Verde. Back then, my dad would have to climb telephone poles to repair them, wire them, etc.

Mom telling dad how she got the pole.

Most telephone poles from back then have been taken down and replaced with newer ones. But there is a place still in Midvale where the poles are still standing-they have no wires on them, they just never got taken down. Everytime my dad drives by these poles, he tells my mom about how he used to climb THOSE poles when he worked for the telephone company and how much he would love to get one.

Dad checking out his new telephone pole.

After you have been married for so long, you probably run out of ideas as to what to get your spouse for a gift. My mom really wanted to get her hand on one of these telephone poles since my dad so clearly wanted one! She found out who owned the property where the poles were located and gave them a call. She told them the story and how much my dad wanted one and the lady said of course she could have one if she was able to cut it down herself.

So this weekend, while the boys went fishing, us girls found a way to get that telephone pole cut down and brought it home to surprise my dad. We told him we had a surprise for him, put a towel over his head and walked him over to it. Mom told him she knew how much he wanted it and he was shocked when he saw it. He couldn't believe that she was able to get one for him!

He was so funny, he told us all the story of how he climbed this pole many years ago and showed us where the climbing spurs on his boots had made marks. He has big plans to put it across the creek in his yard and maybe add some more to it!

I not only love the look of this old telephone pole and the antique insulators on it, I love the story that comes with it. I love that my dad has fond memories of working and climbing these telephone poles, but I also love the story of how my mom did her research and was able to get this for my dad. I love that we were all there to be a part of the surprise!

Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

Linking up to:
ColoradoLady:Vintage Thingie Thursday

Hurry up September!

September is only 1 short day away and I can hardly wait! Like so many of you I absolutely love fall! Not just because my Birthday is on September 20th, but because of so many more things. Here are a few things I love about fall:

*The leaves changing color*

*The air getting cooler*

*Wearing sweaters, jackets and boots*

*Crisp, cool mornings*

*The smell of apples, cinnamon and cider*

*Time for kids to go back to school*

*Baking yummy treats*

*Football games and marching band*

*Harvesting the last of the summer goodies*

*Hunting season*

*Lot's of apples, squash and pumpkins*

This is a picture of the building where I am now working. This is the first building that was built when the college opened in 1891. The college campus that I work on is very small so you walk everywhere. It is a beautiful campus with so many trees. I cannot wait for the leaves to start changing color and falling to the ground. I will definitely have to start bringing my camera to work so I can take some beautiful pictures!

One thing about working at a private college that is no fun-you have to work on Labor Day. Sad face. But you get other days off that others don't, like the day after Thanksgiving-that is my favorite day to have off anyway. Since everyone will be at work on Labor Day, I think I am going to bake them an apple treat this weekend. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Doesn't this look so delicious? It is Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars and I can't wait to make it...better yet, I can't wait to eat it! I will be sharing the recipe and some pictures with you later!

What is your favorite thing about Fall?

Have a wonderful week!

*Photos courtesy Google Images*

Very Vintage Toys

Most people have 2 grandma's, but I am lucky and have 3! Of course there is my mom's mom and my dad's mom, but my Grandma Red is a very special grandma. She was the secretary at my dad's office long before I was born. She had red hair and so she has always been and will always be Grandma Red to me and my brother and sister. She was probably a better grandma to us than my real grandma's in all reality! We loved going to her turn of the century home. We would run up the stairs to the playroom and play with all of her amazing toys. She had a whole bunch of Fischer-Price toys. A barn, a house and a hospital, as well as all he little people, cars and accessories that went with them. I have some of the best memories of playing with them. My Grandma Red's husband passed away about 3 years ago and she finally made the decision to sell her home and move in with her daughter. It was sad news to my ears-I loved her house and all the AMAZING antiques that she had. She had one room called the "Pink Room" that was floor to ceiling Pink Depression Glass. I so wish I would have made it over there to take pictures-truly swoon worthy! Grandma Red decided to get rid of her toys since all of her grandchildren are grown up, so I jumped and asked if I could buy her Fischer-Price toys. She gave them all to me! The first thing I did when I got home was set them up just like I was a little kid. It's amazing how the memories came flooding back to me!

Here is the inside of the barn, complete with sheep, rooster and tractor. When you open the barn doors, it moos!

This is the back, complete with a poster advertising a circus!

The front of the barn...picture perfect!

This is the inside of the house. Lot's of beds and other furniture, as well as cars, playground equipment and the family dogs!

The back of the house, perfectly landscaped...don't you love the shutters!

And the front of the house. You can even ring the doorbell!

Here is the inside of the hospital. My favorite pieces are the X-Ray machine and the scale. You can also go up and down the elevator!

Back side of the hospital with a cute little pup playing by the bird bath.

The front of the hospital full of lot's of happy kids!

Here they are all set up in a row. I am so glad that I got these toys from my Grandma Red. They are in such great condition. The earliest one is the barn-1967, the house is 1969, and the hospital is 1976. I plan on keeping these things forever and maybe when I have my own kids, and maybe if they are lucky, they can play with them too and make their own memories with some real toys!

Linking up with:

It's a Very Cherry World:Rednesday

I got a job!

I have some very good news to share with you all...I got a job! I will be working in the College Relations department at my alma mater, The College of Idaho. Although the job pays about $15,000 less a year than what I was making, it will be so much better in the long run! I know this is a step in the right direction, even though we may struggle for a bit in the beginning. I am totally starting over in a new career, but I am confident that this is the place that I am meant to be. We will probably be short selling our house because there is no way we can make a payment now, but I think everything will work out the way it is supposed to and we will be happier and a lot better off! Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers. I truly believe that every little one counts! Your friendship amazes me all the time!! My first day is August 25th, so that means I have a week and a half left of my "vacation"...maybe I should get some things done that I need to so that I can share it all with you!!

Tiffany & Co. Inspired Cookies

Today I am meeting my best friend Kyla for lunch in honor of her Birthday! There is nothing Kyla loves more than a frosted sugar cookie, so I made her some very classy cookies!

I found a recipe for Sugar Butter Cookies that is super simple and very yummy. Here it is in case you want to give it a try!

Sugar Butter Cookies
*2 cups flour sifted
*1 cup softened butter
*1 cup sugar
*1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla together.
3. Slowly add sifted flour to butter mixture.
4. Using a cookie scoop, drop balls of cookie dough into sugar and place on a cookie sheet. Before putting in the oven, smash the cookies just a bit with the bottom of a glass.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting.
Now Kyla may not LOVE Tiffany & Co. as much as I do, but I know she will love these cookies! I love Tiffany Blue so much, I don't even have to look at anything to get my color just right...and I think it is perfect. I piped on some pretty white ribbons and they are totally Tiffany & Co. worthy!

I placed them on a plate, wrapped them in cellophane and tied it up with a Tiffany Blue bow. I kinda want to keep these for myself because they are just too pretty!

Perfection! I just had to show you these adorable cookies before they get all gobbled up! I better be going, I don't want to be late for lunch!

Linking with
Sweetology: Tea Party Tuesday
A Texas Mom Blogs
Jam Hands: Recipe Sharing Monday

Lot's of time on my hands and lot's to do!

Thank you to everyone who left such warm, heartfelt comments on my last post, as well as all the emails to check in on me. I am doing pretty good, still a little stressed and a tad bit depressed, but good. I have had several job interviews and have met with lot's of people to help steer me in the right direction. Next week I have a final interview for a position that I am in the top 3 to get it. Wish me luck!


With all this free time I have on my hands, you would think I would be busy crafting, creating, decorating, thrifting, etc. But to be honest with you, I haven't really been myself lately and haven't done much in those areas. I think I am finally coming around because I have recently had the itch to get back into the game! I have gone to a few yard sales, some thrift stores and been browsing things on Craigslist. Here are a few of my recent finds!

I have had my eye on this gate for years. I drive by it everyday and was just waiting to see someone taking it down so I could ask if I could buy it. Apparently they did it this weekend when I was out of town. Lucky for me, I saw it at a thrift store last night and told myself that I would go check it out and if it was still there, I would buy it. It was there today and I snatched it up! I just love it!

It has some great patina to it and doesn't need anything done to it. It is very solid and sturdy. Now if I could just make my mind up as to what to do with it! Any suggestions??

My next great find was found on Craigslist. This cute little shadowbox was only $10. It is perfect just the way it is and it even came with some pearl head pins to tack things up with. Can't wait to hang it in my craft room and start filling it with treasures!

When I found this travel case at a yard sale, my hands were so full that I couldn't unlock it. So I blindly bought it hoping the inside was in good of shape as the outside. The inside is like brand new! It even has the original tags. Two dollars was more than a steal for this American Tourister Tiara travel case!

My brother in law gave me this neat little vintage-looking wine carrier. The one side is insulated and holds a bottle of wine. The other side holds 2 wine glasses, the wine opener and a napkin. I can't wait to go on a little wine picnic with my handsome hubby!

This little foot stool holds all your sewing needs! I didn't oringally plan on buying it when I saw it, but in order to get the old and very cool aqua mason jar full of vintage buttons that was in it, I had to buy the whole thing. When the lady told me she wanted $10 for it, I said yes as fast as I could in case anyone else was around!

It is full of spools of thread in every color imaginable, even some vintage wood spools. There are beads, tape measures, patterns-I am finding new things as I go through it! The outside has a very gawdy gold vinyl that I am definitely going to redo...but other than that, it's perfect!

So you see, I have lot's of things I could be working on. There are many things not shown here even! I just need to get the motivation to do them and I better hurry. I have a feeling that I will be employed again very soon!!