A Thrifting we will go….

It has been a while. Hmmm where did I leave off? Oh yes, Queen of the Grill. Well the weather has been pretty crappy out there since so I haven’t had much chance to get out and light up the grill but it is still my mission to cook outside more. Between the strong winds, rain and SNOW I haven’t been doing so well, but Mother Nature will not defeat me, I will grill more.

So two things happened in the madhouse involving “the teen”. A couple of weeks ago “the teen” decided to miss school two days in a row. Not cool, so off I went home to bring him to school. I discovered him locked in the bathroom when I finally got home. Ok, worked for me so off I went unhooking all the electronics in the house and proceeding to hide them all and sat down at my computer planning to wait him out. He couldn’t stay in the bathroom all day, or could he? Lesson learned: don’t call home first because it gives them a chance to grab supplies and being able to wait you out. That child is too smart for his own good.

I finally decided to unlock the bathroom door. Gotta love still having wire hangers kicking around. What do I discover on opening the door? “The teen” sitting crosslegged on the bathroom floor reading a book, with another book sitting beside him on the floor and a box of cereal. It seems he was planning on waiting me out instead. He had food, water, toilet and entertainment, what more would he need? I didn’t know if I should have scolded him or congratulated him *lol*

He did learn that I am not to be messed with. His little ploy land him with a loss of his xbox for 2 weeks and very LIMITED computer access due to the x-rated website on my computer.  Oh yes that was fun. I decided to check my history and discovered an adult cartoon game site. Momma was not impressed. I think he will be thinking twice about missing school or visiting one of those sites again. My oh my, I still have another 5 years before he is 18. How will I make it? *lol*

Well due to losing the electronic entertainment “the teen” accompanied me to the thrift store for the first time. He wasn’t too thrilled with the idea at first but he started to get into it. I think I have created a little thrifter.  There is a rush to thrift stores. Finding those treasures that you can use as is or turn them into something amazing. Using your imagination and decorating (and dressing) inexpensively.

I was on the hunt for things to decorate with. I thought it was about time I did something with the walls in my house. Due to it being a rental I am stuck and unable to paint it some outrageous colour like blood red. Oh yes I would love to have at least one red wall in my house, for now I have to settle for red curtains. I came across this amazing red fabric a while back in the free bin at work that would make awesome curtains, which I will make when I get my sewing machine working, but I digress.

I was on a hunt for things that caught my eye and brighten up our home. I was thinking creatively with each piece I looked at. Trying to see it differently and other uses. Of course to “the teen” I was just wasting time and acting weird. To me, I was in heaven. “The teen” ended up wandering off and finding his own treasures.

Here is what we came away with. I have some plans for a lot of it which I will share on here as I complete the projects. The controller is for “the teen”, why he wanted it I have no idea. The bottles are also his. He is doing a project in English and it involves making potions so these bottles are absolutely perfect. He has been bitten by the bug I tells ya. ^.~

I also got a lampshade but forgot to put it in the picture. Silly me. Doesn’t fit the lamp I brought it for but that is ok. I will make it work.

 

I really am on an Asian kick lately. Would love to have an Asian style room. Maybe one day.

Thrift stores are a great place to pick up books for cheap too. Just some of my book scores. Been wanting these books for a while now but couldn’t justify spending the money on new and the library always has a long wait list for the popular books.

I have big plans for some of my finds, can’t wait to get started.

So do you thrift? What are some of your fave finds from your thrifting trips? Feel free to comment and share.

Hugs and Smoochies from the Madhouse.

>Arawynn<

 

Technorati Tags: Parenting teen boys,Thrift stores,Frugal living,decorating,crafting,inexpensive books,creative rush

Queen of the Grill….

 

Oh yes, you read right. I have learned a new skill on my quest to become a strong, independent woman, and complete Mistress over my domain.

Now some of you might be thinking to yourselves “why didn’t she know how to use a barbecue, everyone knows how to use a barbecue, don’t they?” and to answer that I will have to admit that I have been terrified of barbecues from an early age. Mostly because my mother, bless her, instilled a fear in me and that girls  just don’t use barbecues because they are not safe. So that is how it was in our house as well, until now.

I got to thinking one night that the snow was finally gone and I was looking out at my backyard and wondering what I could possibly do with it. I noticed the barbecue in the far side covered up with a tarp to protect it through the cold Canadian winter, looking so lonely and neglected. What am I going to do with that?

So I mentioned my thought to a co-worker who, without hesitation said “Well barbecue of course!” to which I gave a horrified expression of confusion and terror. Of course this lead him to inquire to my expression and I had to admit my total terror small fear of the barbecue, which he found mildly amusing and then offered to come give me a lesson on barbecue basics and he promised to have me grilling like a pro in no time. To which I thought to myself “Yea right”. He also mentioned how it would save on electricity during the summer if I cooked outside as much as possible. Now of course I had to learn because what girl doesn’t want to save some $$$$$.

So I got a complete run down on barbecue do’s and don’ts and off he went, completely confident in my abilities to master the fearsome beast. I, on the other hand wasn’t so confident and it took me days to actually get up the courage to go out and grill something. So off I went with all my ingredients to the backyard, “the teen” peeking out the window probably waiting for something to explode…loved the vote of confidence there. *lol*

So I did everything my co-worker said to do. I admit I was damn nervous and was actually reciting the instructions out loud as I went to make sure I didn’t do something wrong. I am sure my neighbours must think I am completely mad. *lol*

There was a lot of sizzling and popping and at one point there was a small fire but I managed to cook four cheeseburgers and toast two buns (“the teen” doesn’t like his buns toasted) without doing damage to myself or the barbecue. I was pretty darn proud of my first grilling experience. Even more so when “the teen” devoured his cheeseburgers and said “You did a great job Mom, these cheeseburgers taste so much better than dad’s”  After hearing that my chest swelled up with pride.

 

 

I have gone out and barbecued a few times since and I have to say I am getting more comfortable with the idea. I have even moved up to steaks and OMG they were amazing. “The teen” is always asking what I am going to barbecue next. Guess I better get some barbecue recipes collected. *lol*

So I have learned a new skill, something I didn’t think I would ever have the guts to do and it has made me realize that I can do things I was scared of doing before. Next step….Power tools. OH YEA BABY!!!!

Hugs and Smoochies from the Madhouse

>Arawynn<

Shake my head…

As the mother of a teenage boy I have made it a mission of mine to raise him to not turn out like so many men I have met in my thirty some odd years. I have no idea what has happened to the male population but they all mostly seem to have been raised in a barn, with no manners to speak of.

I understand men have sex on their minds pretty much all the time. Don’t get me wrong I like sex too but unlike a man I am not able to see a naked man and get hot enough to stop whatever I am doing at the time to do it. Maybe I am a hopeless romantic and have read WAY TOO MANY romance novels in my time but I want a man to woo me. My idea of foreplay is not “Hey baby let’s get naked and f**k” I am sorry boys this just DOESN’T do it for me. Especially since at my age ( I know I am still considered young) but things just don’t rev up like they used to. Every fire starts off small and has to be fed to make it super hot. Yes I am a fire, I start of slow but with the right care and fuel, you are in for a bonfire.

It would be nice if fathers took their sons aside and told them that real life sex is not porn. Most women I know don’t get all made up and wear stilettos while having sex, I would be too scared of impaling my partner to enjoy it. Also most don’t think it is sexy to have your man juice sprayed all over their face and hair. Maybe some women are up for that (or paid to enjoy it) but I am not one of them so please keep your man juice away from my head. Call me old fashioned.

Why do men use porn for sex tips? Real women aren’t porn stars and will never look like porn stars so trying to make them into one will just leave you both feeling let down. Just my opinion of course.

“The husband”, I really should find another name for him now that we are separated, told me I was nothing more than “tits and ass” and that is all men would see me as. Well I am more than that, sure I may have a nice rack and booty but I have a mind too and I think it is totally sexy when a man sees beyond the body. I think I would be more likely to go for the guy that likes me for my mind than for my body. Because physical attraction can fade. If it is all sex, all the time, what happens when the sex is gone? Hmmmm I have an idea there.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a hater of sex. I’m actually quite the opposite, but I think there is more to life then sex. I am on a quest to find a real man that sees beyond just “tits and ass”. It might be a pretty tall order. All I seem to be finding are little boys obsessed with me being their personal porn star (without the porn star pay of course*lol* ) and nothing else really. You need more than just sex in a relationship and personally I think I deserve better than to be viewed as only “tits and ass”.

Oh I do love how so many men figure they can call you “so hot” and “so sexy” and you will be so grateful you will rip off all your clothes and say “take me now stud” I have had a few of these guys lately. I swear as soon as people found out “the husband” were no longer together the men came out of the woodwork  figuring I would just swoon and hop into bed with them, of course none wanted a relationship, just sex. Nice try guys, not going to happen. You want this bonfire to burn for you then you have to be single and want more than just my goodies. I spent 16 years with a man that only wanted me for my tits and ass and my bank account. I am not about to make that mistake again. HELLZ TO THE NO!!!!

Men….all I can do is just shake my head. Still on the search for my Prince Charming. Sometimes I wonder if fairy tales just set women up for disappointment *lol*

Hugs and Smoochies

>Arawynn<