reads of late

I recently finished The Art of Eating In written by Cathy Erway. And now I'm knee deep in Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine. Both authors had experimented with giving up consuming--one eating out and one shopping. Although, I'm not up for either challenge, I am re-thinking every meal out and every shopping excursion. I drive my kids crazy with all my shopping hang-ups...I really have a hard time spending money on something that is not useful in some way...the more useful or longer it will last the more I am willing to fork over. Tonight we had to exchange a pair of shoes that I ordered online for Andi in the wrong size. They were on sale for $19.99 and I had a $20 rewards card so the shoes only cost $4.54 (tax and shipping). At the store socks were buy one get one half off. So I picked up some Puma socks for Cole (they wash up softer and last longer than Hanes) and Andi picked up socks. Both needed, but then Ara had to have socks. Long story short I spent $45 on socks. I put Cole's aside for Christmas, because it just wouldn't be Christmas if I didn't get at least one un-fun thing to open. I hate that I spent so much on socks. Tonight we were eating diner in almost complete darkness. Ara made fun of me because all but two of the light fixture's bulbs are burned out...I just know I will find a good deal on light bulbs soon. Besides it gives the illusion of romance if the dining room is dimly lit.

Room Refresher

Ara got two walls in the bedroom painted...not the high ones. I think the Thanksgiving break is reserved for that. Andi now wants to paint her room leaving only one orange wall. I told her she has to wait since her room was the most recent room to get paint. We've only been here 4 1/2 years and I can't believe how yucky the walls are already. We're just doing antique white and getting rid of the green wall in our room. It's weird right now with the curtains down. Wish I was getting new bedding and curtains, but I'm just making do with what we got. I am moving a double curtain rod that used to be in the dining room and is now in the breakfast nook up to our room and hanging a double layer of curtains. The tops of all the furniture is in bad shape and I'd like to refinish the tops if possible. I'd like a lot of things, but getting around to it is another story.

We made a list of all the little projects we can do with the existing supplies we have in the garage. Mostly painting stuff. And then we made a list of all the things that need fixed and hopefully will have all that tackled by the end of Spring or Summer. The honey do list has something like 38 things on it. Lists overwhelm Ara so I had to stop.