Porch Progress & a Few Fun Finds

Hello friends! Happy 2017! 

I hope this finds you well and happy and enjoying the new year.

Oh my...there's been so much going on around here. I'll fill you in as we go.

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 If you are a regular reader (friend), then you might remember that I have been waiting to begin my front porch project for quite some time. I mentioned in December that we were finally starting on it. It's not a fast project but that's ok. We just work on it as time permits and I am good with that. I'm a kindergqarten teacher so patience is one of my strongest virtues. LOL!

Here's a picture of the deck boards...it took two carts to load them all and talk about a workout trying to push one!

The deck portion of the porch is complete! It is so nice...and so big! It's 10' wide and 32' long. I am beyond thrilled with it! Next up will be the roof which we hope to begin soon. We would have started it this weekend but rain and freezing temps permitted us from doing so. Also, Joey's mom was admitted into the hospital for some tests. We are waiting for pathology reports to come back next week so we know exactly what we are dealing with. Thoughts and prayers are welcomed and appreciated. Some of you may remember we lost his dad to cancer just over 5 years ago. This is hitting him very hard and we are just praying it is not cancer.

I thoroughly enjoyed my two weeks off for winter break. I actually returned to work this past Thursday for two teacher workdays. I worked Thursday but ended up taking Friday off to stay with my mother-in-law in the hospital. She had just been told she most likely has cancer and I could not leave her alone. Joey or her boyfriend couldn't stay since she was in a semi-private room, so I stayed with her Thursday and Friday nights. She (we) got to come home yesterday and I am enjoying being home until I have to go to work in the morning. I am exctied to see my kinder babies. I missed them!

I did some shopping over the break...mostly clearance shopping. I found some great deals!

At Michael's I bought mostly scrapbooking supplies. I have been working on a December Daily album and am also doing Project Life this year. I have been enjoying it so much. I have been using an app called Collect and it makes it so easy to document a special memory from each day. I can share more about that in a future post if anyone is interested. Just leave me a comment and let me know.

I order from Peachy Cheap occasionally and love this kit! Isn't is fun? The colors make me happy!

Of course we have made several trips to Lowe's to purchase porch suipplies and I had to check out their Christmas clearance as well. I got the Allen & Roth copper colored mercury glass balls there and the hooks. The galvanized and copper wire snowflakes came from Michael's, I am LOVING copper these days and I especially love galvanized and copper mixed. They will be used to decorate in my kitchen next Christmas.

I ran into Pier 1 to look at this tray last week. I want it for my coffee cart (which we have yet to build) but I didn't buy it because it is too big. I might go back and buy it anyway though because I love it! Copper trimmed galvanized metal....gorgeous!

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 Anywho, while I was there, I of course spotted the Christmas clearance and found these things. 

Copper colored jingle bells!!!

And this ornament is trimmed in copper paint too.

That same day, I ran into Target to use a gift card and purchased a few Valentine's Day items in the dollar spot as well as some planner stickers and some kraft cards.

Yesterday after we left the hospital, I needed to stop by JoAnne's to look for something and of course hit up their Christmas clearance. They had a lot left but I only purchased some sticker books for my class as well as a couple large bottle brush trees and some thick baker's twine.

This is what I went in for though. It was on sale and I got an additional 20% off for being a teacher. It ended up costing less than $9. It was originally $30! I was so happy about that. I have been wanting one for a while now. It is a fuse tool and will be used for scrapbooking.

I also received an order from Amazon containing my album for my December Daily and several packs of pages, as well as some tabs and Gelly Roll pens to write directly on top of photos. 

And here's a little snapshot of my desk where I have been working on it. I have a few pages done and will share when I finish it. It has been a fun project!

So, what have you been up to? 

Have a wonderful day!