The Little Things

Good morning dear readers. Once again I have been remiss in keeping you all in the loop of the lives of the Buckeye Calerons. I will be back later with all that has been going on. I just wanted to bop in and say "hello" and to ask you to savor the little things today. Tell your family and friends you love and appreciate them. Cuddle your baby close. Read that book you have been wanting to. Call that friend you have not talked to in awhile. Make the most of every moment. Have joy in the journey. Lots of love from me to you all!

July Shut Down

As promised, I will update you my dear readers on Miguel's shutdown. He ended up being off for 16 days so we had the chance to get a lot of things done around the house. There was a small catch though, outside of one purchase that I shall show you later in this post, we challenged ourselves to make no non-essential purchases. This is was great though because it forced us to do the "little" things that we had the materials for but never got around to doing in light of the "bigger" things we are always working on.

Let's start with the fun thing we did on shut down...we went with Nicole, Mike, Micah and Jordan to the Toledo Zoo. I have not been there since I was a kid myself. They had a baby elephant that I could have watched all day. The kids had a great time even though it was pushing 100 degrees that day. I give Nicole a merit badge for being 9 months pregnant walking all over the zoo! After the zoo we went to The Elephant Bar, one of my favorite places.

Ok, now on the "things we got accomplished on shut down list". Miguel started with the loose ends in his man cave. He finished putting outlets in, completed the install of moulding, finished sprucing up the trim around the window, touched up the paint, and installed the door. Here is the finished product.

Right now nothing is in his man cave expect for his keyboard, an area rug, and his chair. We are going to put a futon/couch in so this can dub as a guest room as well. We haven't hung any pictures yet or decorated until we get the furniture all arranged.

Miguel also got the door hung that is in the living room that leads to the upstairs, finished the moulding in the guest bedroom and hallway, and worked in the guest bedroom closet. I will show you pictures of the guest bedroom when it is completely finished and then we will take numbers of people who wanna come stay with us. Seriously, I love to have company and entertain and I will be so excited to finally show guests to a guest room all set up for them instead of a half finished room or the couch.

It was so great to wrap up all these little things. I know just reading it it doesn't sound like much, but all the little stuff kept us busy during Miguel's shut down. It was also nice to make use of the materials that have just been sitting and waiting so now we have more room to work with upstairs.

We also did a lot of organizing to assess what materials and supplies we had and what we needed to finish things up upstairs. We tackle the utility room, AKA the room where you put everything that doesn't have a home. So, we made homes for everything. I had these clear Rubbermaid totes that I was using in various other places in the house. I empty them all out and sorted the items and put them in bins and labeled them.

Not as pretty as some of the really cool basket organizers I have seen online, but I'm trying to work with what we have. It makes me wanna do a happy dance every time I open the door and see everything nicely labeled and put in the correct place, oh and I can find things now.

Ok now on to the only project we spend money on in July. Look closely at this next picture of these plants.
They were dying at the beginning of this month. I can see you all wondering "Well, how do they look so nice now when we have been having record heat in my little slice of the world"? Well dear readers, let me introduce you to my new BFF......

The Mister Landscaper Drip and Irrigation System. It was taking me almost 2 hours every single day to water all my flowers and trees and berries and veggies. It was so not relaxing any more and even spending 2 hours watering the plants were struggling like they weren't getting enough water. We have talked about installing one of these systems before so we decided to go for it. I got online and this system had all 5 stars and glowing reviews. So, we set out to Lowes and picked up the starter kit which was around $33. We knew that would not be enough, but the great thing is they sell all of the pieces individually as well. All you do is hook up this black tubing to your outdoor spigot. We decided to get this little "t" piece to attach to the spigot so we could have this system going out one side and still have our hose attached to the other. You then have these stakes that you attach wherever you want along the black tube. There are then various misters that can spray in a fan shape, 180 degrees, and 90 degrees. There is also a tool that you can poke holes in the black tube to have it drip on various plants, trees or bushes. We then either buried the black tubing or put mulch over it so you couldn't see it. It is soooo wonderful. It seriously has been super hot here. I texted my brother in law one day in AZ and it was hotter here than there. Weird! In spite of all of that, my plants look better than ever. It was worth every penny. We don't have it installed to the veggies, herbs, berries, or trees yet. It is installed all the way around the house though and it only takes me under an hour to water now. Sorry for my less than technical description, but seriously people if you have a garden I completely recommend this.

Miguel also finished the last path in the veggie garden and sorted through the rest of the brick to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.

We have already canned and froze some of the veggies. My tomatoes are struggling, but hopefully when it cools off they will do better.

I also had the chance to do some garage sale'ing and I found some great stuff. I got 3 shepard hooks one day for 50 cents each and these great lanterns for 50 cents each as well. I love how they look and they create such a neat atmosphere when lit at night. (Please ignore the really big Internet satellite in this picture. It mars my view but its the only option for Internet out here.)

We were also blessed to have some of our friends from AZ over while they were back here visiting family and friends. It was so great to see Josh and Sarah again and Adaliah had great fun playing with their two girls.

Baby number one was born for this summer as well. Maria had a healthy, beautiful girl on July 7th. Her name is Jana Rene. Adaliah simply adores "the baby" and Micah is warming up to the idea of having a baby brother after being around her a bit.

Well, whew! That's our shut down adventures for the month of July. Anyone else been getting some things accomplished lately? Do tell! I will leave you with one of my all time favorite pictures of Adaliah. She loves bugs and Miguel caught this shot of her as she was coming down the stairs after a nap when she was yelling "Look! It's a bug". And yes she is wearing PJ's. She now insists on wearing PJ's for nap time, not just at night. lol God bless you all richly. Remember to have "Joy in the Journey" cause you will never have this moment again!

Hey all! This is a quick post but I will be back soon with lots we have accomplished while hubby was on a two week shutdown. I wanted to tell you all that I linked my last project to one of my very favorite blogs http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/. She does amazing things with her house and she doesn't fear power tools. If you are at all interested in home improvement/ decorating you should check out her blog. Once a month she does a before and after party that I linked up to. The projects people post on her blog are simply inspriring. Sometimes when I lack motivation, I get on and look at what everyone has done and it motivates me to get in gear and get things done. So, go check it out and stay tuned for what we have been accomplishing around the Calderon Abode!

Someone's Trash Became My Treasure

Hope everyone had a great week since I last updated. I had a very busy week, hence no updates in a week. I did some babysitting last week and I got some items marked off of my "to do" list. I am sooo excited to show you some of them. My staircase going to the upstairs has been a thorn in my side as far as decorating. I have been looking around for some ideas that aren't super expensive. Everything that I found that I thought would work was way out of the budget. All over decorating/do-it-yourself craft blogs people have been talking about and designing their own version of the sunburst mirror. I thought to my little self " I think I can do that and it would look great going upstairs!" I was determined that this was a project I was not going to involve poor old Miguel in. So, I pulled ideas from the various blogs and got started. I wanted to use what I had on hand so I had to improvise some. I used shims that I cut in various lengths with Miguel's miter saw and spray painted them varying colors of silver and gray. I then followed all of the blogs tutorials and cut a piece of cardboard and started to hot glue these babies to the cardboard. So far so good. Well let me tell you dear readers, all those blogs made it look easy...........it wasn't for me! I think the shims were too heavy so the glue wasn't holding them to the cardboard. Ok...plan B, I will nail them. Well, that didn't work either because the cardboard was too flimsy to hold all those nails. By this point dear hubby had awaken for the day (he is still on third shift) and wanted to know what I was doing. I became VERY emotional and starting blubbering about how all the people on the blogs make such cool things very thrifty like and its always so easy so them why can't I do anything right?!?!!? I think Miguel thought I was losing it and I'm sure he was praying we would just go out and buy something for the staircase because this meltdown was so not worth saving money for. We finally decided to cut the thinnest piece of board we could find into a circle with his jig-saw. I then could go to plan C. I used the nail gun and stapled the shims to the wood. Then I glued glass beads to it and glued the circle mirror to the board with Tacky Glue. And after a melt down and three tries......it didn't fit where I wouldn't it to. I did measure people, obviously not good enough though. So we put it on a different wall on the staircase and here is the result.....
The opposite wall has vinyl lettering that says "Joy in the Journey" and has pictures of the fam. (Please ignore the frame that has no picture in it. We were trying not to put a bunch of nail holes in the wall so we decided to use the 3D commander hanger things. Everyone else seems to love them, but alas they so did not work for us and all the pictures came crashing down. This is the only one that broke, but we nailed it up there anyways so I could work it in when I get a new frame.)

At the top of the staircase, I had pictured a skinny entryway table with some decorations. I have been looking and looking at garage sales and thrift stores and haven't found what I wanted. Well, one day after garage sale'en with the sisters, Nicole was taking me home and I saw two nightstands by the curb with someone's trash. We drove on and I was talking about them. Nicole wanted to know if I wanted to go back. I swallowed my pride and said I would like to. Of course I think every car in my hometown was driving by as I was taking trash and I was kind of embarrassed. Nicole gently pointed out she would rather someone get use out of her trash then it end up in a landfill and I felt better. So, home I went with my free find. This is what they looked like when I started.....

Yep, they were rough. Not sure why someone glued cork board to the one on the right. They had several things going for them though. They were solid and nicely built and they would be the right size for what I wanted. Here is a front shot. You can also get a lovely view of a room I have never shown before....the kitchen. I believe everyone can now understand my eagerness so make this kitchen nothing but a bad memory. shudder shudder

So, I picked the big pieces of cork off the one and began sanding to get the rest off and all the glue they used to glue the cork down with. Here are my helper for this project. The sanding alone took about 2 hours. The one helper is of course little Miss Addie and the other is the girl I was watching last week for Nicole as Nicole wanted to get the baby's room all set up. And before you all think I'm into child labor, they wanted to help. =)

After sanding, I put on four coats of my free white Menards paint. In between coats 2 and 3 I went to a garage sale and they had the coolest lion's head draw pulls and I knew they would be perfect for these tables. After the paint was dry I distressed one table. Miguel came and wanted to try his hand at distressing and he did a much better job than I, so he finished it up. And here are my tables that cost me $2 for the draw pulls and a bit of my time.

I love the way they turned out and I am so happy to have my hallway decorated. So, have you found any treasures yet? Ever picked up something from the curb? Do tell! Have a stupendous day and God bless you all!

Outdoor Projects 2011

Happy Monday everyone! I was outside trying to finish my compost pile that I am making out of bricks and it started storming. So.....what's a girl to do but come inside and show you what has been accomplished outside so far this year.

I was flipping through one of my free gardening magazines that I snagged at a garage sale (love it when I can find those for free!), when I saw something I knew would have to become part of the Calderons' backyard. It was a design for a formal English herb garden with brick pathways. Soon after I saw this article and asked dear hubby if he thought it was possible for him to squeeze this one little, tiny project onto his already full plate, I was driving in town and I saw a beautiful old brick house being torn down. I thought to myself "I wonder what they do with those bricks". I couldn't stop thinking of it so I called my uncle Vince who works for the city. He informed me that they throw them away. Well, dear friends...that didn't sit well with me. It seemed like such a waste. Dear uncle Vince knew the guy in charge of the demolition and gave him a call and he told me I could come get all I wanted after the crew was done for the day. So for three nights Miguel, Alex, Stephen, and myself gathered bricks and hauled them to my house. The bricks were porous so we had to buy block sealer and seal each one before we could even use them. So after lots of sealing, measuring, cutting and hauling this is the finish result......





I love it!! Miguel did such a fantastic job I think. Some day the whole thing will be filled it with herbs but we have to start somewhere so the blank spaces we laid newspaper to kill the weeds and then put black mulch over that. The middle part will have chamomile growing around the pillar whenever it decides to sprout. Ohh...and this little, tiny project took about one month. =/ (Sheepish smile) Between rain and it taking so long to seal and cut the brick it took a bit long than expected.

We also used the bricks to make path ways between my vegetable garden. Miguel has one more path to complete but I wanted to show you all so pretend it's completely finished. =)

Next Miguel is going to link the herb garden to the vegetable garden with a pathway and then next year we are going to construct an archway overhang over the pathway and grow grapes. We are also going to do some type of wall around the veggie garden and I am going to plant perennials all around it.

I also found something I have been waiting a long time for......

It's my dwarf lemon and lime trees. I was soooo sooo excited to see that Lowes did get some in so I don't have to pay $75 to have them shipped. They smell amazing and will look so awesome in my kitchen when it is finished. I love the pots they are in as well. I got those at a garage sale for $2 each and they screamed "Plant your lemon and lime trees in me!" So, I listened and did just that.

This is the view of my side garden that I put in just last year. It's doing great. If you look real close, I even have lettuce growing in it. Not quite sure how that happened, but it's good!

Everything took a little longer than expected this year but I feel like my dreams for the outside are starting to take shape. Now to just put in the stone patio, plant more trees, more flowers, etc. etc. But you know what, I love it! I don't even mind weeding most days. I love to grow things I have discovered. I sure don't garden by the book and I am sure I make lots of gardening no-no's but I am enjoying this process. So, how about you all. Did you enjoy gardening? Do you have flowers or a veggie garden? Any tips or hints for this amateur? And of course no post would be complete without my little girl. Here she is at a parade we had in town. She loved it and Miguel and I loved watching her having so much fun. God bless you all and make the most of today!

Easter and Baby Gifts

Happy gorgeous Tuesday! Hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day. I for one am so thankful for all the men and women that served and are serving our country. I have a nephew who recently got out of the Marines and one of my dearest friends is serving in the Navy. I know I could never do what they do to protect our country so God bless them!

Speaking of serving others...I would like to update you on our Easter. I know Easter is well passed but I thought I would share with you some pictures of Easter since I am playing catch up on posts. I always love Easter. It always seems to be a crying day for me. I simply am over-whelmed with God's love for me. I certainly do not deserve such unconditional love and I pray often that God would help me to love Him and others like that.

Adaliah was a good sport and let me sponge roll her hair the night before Easter.

And the finished result on Easter morning......


I thought she looked simply adorable. I had great fun dressing her up. Nicole bought her the dress at Goodwill and the hat and gloves at Target, Katie K. got her the sweater at a Mom2Mom sale, and I got her the purse at Target.

We can see where she gets her looks from....=)

My big girl and myself
After a time of remebrance of what the Lord has done for us we went over to Nicole's house and had a wonderful Easter dinner. Keb and Jaydn also came over with Jason's best friend Austin. We did a little candy hunt with all of the kids. Maria did a little lesson before hand talking about the reason Jesus came to earth was to find His lost treasures....His children. Then she told the kids that is what you guys are going to do...find some treasures. The kids were so cute and were finding the "treasures" and putting it in their cousins baskets. Warmed our hearts!

This is the best shot we could get of the 5 grandkids. Jaydn was not feeling well and wanted Keb to hold him and Micah wanted to take the picture not be in it. lol

As I am sure you are all aware of...my two sisters are due this summer. I finished the babies' presents this week. Maria is doing a zebra print with hot pink accents. So I took this......

I painted the inside white and I used the printed duct tape and covered the outside of it. Then I put a black and white ribbsons (with help from hubby since I didn't seem to have enough hands to hold it all straight) at the bottom. Around the silver part I put black "gemstones" and this is the finished product.

Maria can use it as a toy box or storage. When the decide on a name for baby girl I am going to put it around the middle in hot pink.

Nicole is doing baby boy Murray's room in a barn theme. So I took a steamer trunk that I had (I went through a phase and picked them up ALL the time at garage sales so I ended up with more than I needed) and I spray painted it red with metalic silver trim. Then I put decals and stickers I printed off the computer around of various farm scences and animals.

They certainly are not perfect but I hope my new neice and nephew will know I was thinking of them and loved them before they were even born.

Well there you have it. Another post trying to get you all caught up to the present. Hopefully my next post I can show you what we have been up to with our outside projects. I am sooooo excited. God bless you all!

Humbled

Well dear readers, you are in for a treat! Almost two months without an update and now you will get two in one day. You see, I am humbled to admit I was given a blogging award by my friend Lindsey from www.mrsbucks.blogspot.com and my sister Maria from www.nehemiahsmommy.blogspot.com. Also the little one is taking a nap so I thought I better seize this chance. Thanks guys for the award. Really appreciate it. So I now have to tell you seven facts about myself and list my favorite seven bloggers.

1. I am living my dream. I always wanted a loving husband and children with my own house and gardens and animals. =)


2. I love to travel! I have been to numerous states and to Scotland, Ireland, London, Paris, Canada, and Mexican. I still have many other places I want to go see.


3. I secretly dream of having some of my writings published some day. (Ok now it's not much of a secret) lol


4. I hate to put laundry away. It usually rivals Mount Everest before I MAKE myself fold it and put it all away.


5. I still dance around the house to music when I clean or work on projects


6. I love to browse around Forever 21 but I have only bought something there once when I was like 16. (Its the thrifter in me....I can't pay $25 for a shirt no matter how much I like it)


7. God is STILL working on me and showing me things that are not like our perfect example Jesus, so please be patient with me!

And now my 7 picks are in no particular order................

www.mrsbucks.blogspot.com Lindsey always has some interesting thought or some beautiful pictures

www.nehemiahsmommy.blogspot.com Maria is such a faithful updater and has great pics of beautiful people (my neice and nephew)

www.trippingoverflatsurfaces.blogspot.com Jeanie is always so down to earth

www.theagapetree.blogspot.com Jen makes me laugh out loud

www.missamericaandmisterbelgium.blogspot.com I love to see Leahs adventures overseas and get slightly jealous with all the countries she has visisted. =)

www.gensiscostner.blogspot.com Gen is always so uplifting

All the decorating/ home improvement blogs I follow that have like 10,000 followers so they won't even know I gave them this award. lol

Have a great day everyone!