~Where Oh Where is My Camera??? My find this week!

Okay, My husband swears he doesn't have my camera- but suddenly it is no where to be found. That has husband written all over it! So, I am sharing pics from my Blackberry (which explains the fuzzies!)

Anyway, my thrifty finds have been a bit dry lately... I have gone to the G-will three times in the past week and have walked out with nada- zip- zilch. I decided that enough was enough and got up early yesterday to go yard sailing- well thunderstorms killed that hope. So what is a girl to do?



I decided to try my local Salvation Army. A few years ago, it was a scary, small, overpriced place. As of late, they have really improved their store and seem to have a lot more inventory.

I ended up finding the following:





I didn't think it was a bad price for a real wood clock- $3.99 wasn't bad to me. The wood was a bit light for my taste. I popped off the glass (and gave it a good cleaning) and clock part, threw on a coat or two of brown, bronze, and orb- and here is my results.



What do you think? Will post a pic of it in my living room when I find my camera :)

Working on two new things in my house that I will share next week. One involves something unexpected, and the other involves a loved one who passed away about a year ago.

Linking to:

~How Did I Meet My Hubster???~

Well, this is a sort of long story... So I will try and keep it to the minimum :)

My hubby and I officially first met over 20 years ago. I was 8, and my hubby was almost 10. Our grandparents worked together, and the owner of the company had a huge 4th of July party each year. We were each brought to the party, and all I remember about him is that he is gross (remember, boys were icky then) because all he did was play the Nintendo in the basement, and he and a group of boys started throwing some rotten goose eggs they had found in the river at the girls. The icing on the icky boy cake was that he started throwing fire crackers at us on the tennis court. Needless to say, I didn't like him one bit. I never really "met" him- so that was the end of that.

Then, about 14 years ago, my friend at the time invited me over to spend the night at her house. My mom didn't really let me do that because she was a bit overprotective, but I convinced her to let me. When I got there, her brother had some of his friends over- and there was the cutest boy I had liked from afar since sixth grade. This young man was someone that I didn't know at all, but I just thought that he was really cute. We went to middle school together (but he was two years ahead of me). Now, here he is sitting at my friends house. Turns out, he is the cut up of the group that loves to make everyone laugh. They also all go to church together. I had never really been to church, but I went with my friends and ended up loving it. Several years go by and we were all really good friends who spend time together at church and at my best friend's house. In 1997, we both realized that we really liked each other, and my hubby wrote me a "will you be my girlfriend yes or no" letters. We went to his prom, then he joined the ARMY (at 17) when he graduated. I was a junior in high school.

That Christmas, he proposed to me. We were married two weeks after I graduated from high school. Everyone said it was a mistake, but almost 11 years later, we are still in love.

So, that is our story in a nutshell. Check out other awesome stories at Kelly's Korner!

~Teacher Gifts~

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while- Between finishing my master's degree (just a week and 2 days until I am done!!!) and getting ready for the "super important state tests", I have had NO time.

So, I saw a post on Kelly's Korner for Show Us Your Life: Teacher Gifts. I have been teaching for 6 years now and have gotten quite a few gifts... Honestly, I have loved everything that my students have gotten me. There are some things that I have really liked though, and others that I feel bad about (because they gather dust).

Things that I have tons of:

-teacher anything (mugs, shirts, picture frames, doo-dads, knick-nacks, you name it, I have it)- There are only so many things I can use/dust!

-mugs period- I have a whole cabinet full and don't drink coffee.

-lotions, sprays, etc- I have allergies and sensitive skin.

I would honestly love or have loved any of the following:

-Personalized anything- my favorite was a clipboard, but notepads, pens/pencils. I use these things all the time.
-Volunteer time- I ALWAYS have things I need done or students that would love to be worked with. I LOVE it when parents volunteer their time.

-Gift cards/certificates- nuff said. Not expected, just appreciated. Even for $5-$10

-Anything the child made (letters, pictures, etc)

-Plants or things for the classroom. Parents have sent in books for my classroom library, even if they are just ones that your child has outgrown. I have a friend who had a parent that got the entire class to chip in for a big gift for her (new comfy office chair for her to work with the kids in). I think that is a good idea too. Even letters from parents are appreciated!

Now, I love homemade goodies, but I know that some people are a bit more put off by eating things that came from other people's homes. I loved it last year when a parent I had gotten to know made dinner for parent conference night and brought it in for me to take home for us to have for dinner. How thoughtful was that??? I loved it!

So, I hope that this helps someone out... Let me know if it did (or maybe didn't). Thanks!!!