I find a hard time balancing time.

Long gone, are the days of being a stay at home mom.  I always told myself, that as a mother, it was the hardest job I had ever had. Prior to my children, I had worked full time in both a real estate office and nights at a local restaurant.  I remember being tired, but functioning on 5 hours of sleep and pulling my weight well with my employers.

Then, well, then I became a mother of one.  It was an unexpected pregnancy (I say that as thought I don't know what happens..). SCRATCH THAT - we do the deed, we can expect what happens next.

I remember so much going through my mind as a 21 year old girl (and I say girl because I was still learning so much at that age).  I became a mom for the first time and it was more than I had expected.  There was joy and there was nights of, to be blunt, "I hate my life".  And I say that only in that I was exhausted.  I did NOT know how to manage being a new mom, keeping up house and worrying 24/7 that I was doing something wrong.

BUT, alas, every joyful moment made it all worth that.  If you can survive the first couple of years of motherhood, the rest is seemingly smooth sailing.

By the time my daughter was 4, my second child came to be.  I absolutely adored everything about my children. Ethan had so many issues from the get go (I don't particularly care to into depth here, again), but he overcame a lot. A LOT.

By the time he was 3 I noticed he wasn't catching on like most children his age had.  I pushed relentlessly for speech therapy. Trying to get that under 5 year window when "the experts" say timing is crucial for development.

NOTHING.  I mean, fighting with pediatrician's here is like pulling teeth. It's hard - it's painful - it stinks.

When Ethan turned 4, I got under their skin enough that I finally was given a referral.

The first speech therapist couldn't get him to talk at all.

It was such a waste of time.

I absolutely don't judge her, I mean, kids like Ethan seem to only open up to certain people.  She just wasn't one of them. I kept pushing and he finally was assigned a new one.  She is absolutely amazing. She has done so much for my son that I can't even put into words how thankful I am for her.  She has a way with children (at least my son) and she has gotten him to improve so much from when he first started out.

But, back to the point of my blog - which I kind of missed entirely..

Time management...

I told myself once my son started school (last year) I would go back to work.

I did.

I enjoy my job, I enjoy the customers. I enjoy SOME of my co workers ;)

But, I tell you, I find it so hard to balance work, kids, house, home all at once.  It's like, they restarted school & suddenly I'm running from work to pick them up, running to speech therapy for my son, going back to work some nights, trying to cook, clean and pack lunchboxes and meal plan and homework, and ..and...and

And, where am I?  I seem to lose myself in the mix. I revert back to the 21 year old getting 5 hours of sleep and suddenly I am too old to function ;)

I mean, don't get me wrong, I function, but at best, I am utterly exhausted.

Then I come home on days off and I want to take the kids out to spoil them a little, I look around the house and think, "this would be a nice DIY project" or "that could use some fixing"  and "man I really want to add to my blog it's been months, it's not a daily blog anymore".

I believe at some point I'll find the time to add a new project.

So much has been going on though. SO MUCH.

The kids started back school.

I bought a new mattress. (It is the most comfortable thing ever). For reference it's a Gel foam memory mattress by Seally (Sealy?) Boca Breeze firm.  I typically don't want to plug things like this, but it's helped my back out A LOT. I finally get a decent nights rest. I bought it on sale for $499 for both the mattress and box spring during Labor Day weekend from A Goodnight Sleep Store in Fayetteville, NC.  I came in at the last minute and thankfully the associate that helped me wasn't mad about it (you know some people lack customers service these days).  She was above and beyond kind. I pretty much knew going in exactly what I wanted. She still pulled the model out and let me try it, can you say SOLD :)  When I went to pick it up later in the week the man who helped was also very professional and kind.  There was a mark on my mattress from where the plastic ripped during shipment, kind of a black scuff mark if you will..he informed me right away, but to be honest I didn't care, it wasn't a big deal because it wasn't cut, and I bought a mattress topper anyway. I'm not petty so it didn't bother me in the least. I LOVE THIS mattress:)

I'll pay it off over the course of a couple months, I decided to be fancy and get  a deferred interest loan on it.

I just wish I had more time to sleep on it (haha).

No, really...I lay on it and I'm typically out like a light.

What else is new?  Oh, my health.  One day at work a month or so ago my eye was red. I thought nothing of it, until the next morning I woke up and the white on half my eye was filled with bright red blood. I happened to be off the next couple of days so thought I'd wait it out, only every day it was worse. Eventually I sucked it up and went to the express care.

It was a conjunctival sub hemmorrage. (I'm sure I spelled that wrong, and I'm too lazy to fix it or look it up).
They did one read of my blood pressure and diagnosed me with hypertension.

One reading? I contributed it to stress, my blood pressure had been low after losing 50 lbs.

I was prescribed hydrochlorothiazide (a water pill) and sent along.

I have to tell you having your eye filled with BLOOD is so embarrassing to go to work with.  Customers didn't know how to react..I almost felt like a leper.  A few people asked if I was choked or hit.  Nope, just a dirty little bitty of hypertension.

Here is the progression of  and eventually healing of the conjunctival subhemmorrage :

BELOW: Day 1, looks almost like it was just irritated..

Day 2: You can see where the vein popped spread blood YUCK..

Day 3: Just kept getting worse...

 Day 4: Yep, it got that bad..

 Day 8: It was still there and reddish..THANKFULLY the white in my eye was showing at this point and I was able to put makeup on my peepers (I swear my eyes look so small with out eye makeup)..

Day 12: It was FINALLY absorbing and completely gone by day 13. THANK YOU LORD :)) haha!

I never realized how much water my body held onto until I started the water pill.

It's insane what our bodies stop doing for us eventually.  I always thought with such weight loss I'd be better..but I guess years of being a junk eater caught up to me.

I'm working on it.

I'm sure having a kidney problem doesn't help since blood pressure and kidneys go hand in hand.

In the meantime, this mama needs to sleep, figure a way to juggle work and parenting and find time for this blog, because truthfully, it had always been my little go to on the web.  A temporary escape from everything else that was at the time going down hill in my life.  Until next time, God bless <3 p="">

Random Updates..

I decided, I'd drop a few random updates. You know, my obligatory, "hey, folks, I rarely blog, despite the title of my blog", posting.

So let's do a recap, and since I haven't made this much a personal blogging (blog) of sorts, and my grammar and spelling, etc. aren't exactly on point, let's have a go at it, shall we? ;)

(Really, I need an editor, I'm sure someone much younger than I would do better at this).

Where to start? So, as many of you know I am now in the dirty 30's club.

My youth has escaped me through my 20's and years of being a "mom". Just mom, not much else, "Mom".  I feel I devoted my 20's to raising my two children (still raising), and it left me with no social life or much else. - I should clarify, that I am perfectly content with that.

So having only done side jobs in photography for the last 8 years of being "mom", I finally decided with BOTH children in school, it was high time for me to seek some form or employment other than photography.

Where does one start?

I'm all to sure my dry resume would look less than appealing to most employers. I mean, a smile and personality only gets you so far;) (shh, don't tell me that)!

Long story short, I've decided to partake in a part time job, while my kids are in school. Basically this means my only available hours are 9-2, and thankfully I was able to obtain a job that would allow me those hours (sometimes less). I couldn't be more thankful.

It's not much money, but it's money.

It allows me to regain a social surrounding by being upfront with customers daily.

And while it may not be the "best" job in the world, it's a JOB and even if I am 30 working a small part time job, I am PROUD, after all, the employment pool these days looks empty, it's almost erroneous to jump in with out water, however, I took the plunge.

It's kind of weird staring over at 30. Thirty, two children, starting from scratch.

With God on my side, I know we'll get by just fine :)

Ethan is in speech therapy now, and he's doing wonderful. He seems to enjoy Pre K, and that makes my heart smile. MiMi is struggling a little in math, but with the school system here not sending home math home work, and us parents not receiving news letters or updates on what they are learning, it's hard as a parent to teach and help. The few times she has gotten math home work, I have to admit, I've had to turn to youtube or google for a refresher. - It's crazy what you forget over the years.

Or how fast kids these days are made to learn and move on. It seemed we all did better when we were able to gradually grasp the concept of patterns and numbers to truly understand math before letting us swallow us whole with out fully comprehending exactly what was going on.

Math, you never were a friend of mine ;)

I pray I am able to find time to get some Halloween & Fall Crafts ready for my readers (all 41 of you).

Be blessed!

Just Randoms..

I haven't updated my blog in a while. (This seems to be a never ending story). :))

Mommy life keeps me busy. Well, life in general does that actually.

I'll have some new tutorials up soon. I've just been trying to find time between the chaos. So many changes this way that I haven't kept up with much.

Currently building the Tryde Coffee Table from Pottery Barn. Can't wait, it will look great!

My den still isn't complete, I am trying to gather stuff for a local consignment sale and all the while attempting to keep my sanity.

I've been budgeting like usual and money is tighter than ever.  I'll probably post some budget meals to make from scratch in the coming days. I've had my hands on a few here lately.

I hope everyone has been blessed :))

A Photo A Day??

I decided, in order to kill daily stresses, I'd take on a photo a day challenge. - I mean, why not?? Still having issues with my back, and dying to finish my den, but alas I will hold out until I feel 100% (or 80ish maybe?). Still have yet to settle with the insurance company :/ Maybe soon? In the meantime, here are some of my "photo a day" entries :) Maybe a bit of calm to the day! ENJOY :))

6 May 2012 - Super Moon

6 May 2012: Dandelion Puffs In My Yard

7 May 2012: Me, Ready To Paint Some Base Boards

8 May 2012: The Window To My Back Yard Shed

9 May 2012: The Sun Through Darkened Tree Leaves

9 May 2012: Gladiolus In My Flower Bed In Bloom

10 May 2012: Gladiolus In My Flower Bed in Full Bloom

11 May 2012: Mapple Tree Leaves in My Yard

So far, so good. Definatley something I plan to keep up with for the rest of the year.  The kids are doing well, MiMi's last day of school is June, 8th, and then she will be going onto 2nd grade.

WHAT?! I know, it makes me sad also. She is just growing far too fast for me...

Matter of fact, so is my little guy...

Hope everyone else in the blogosphere is doing alright. Be blessed :))

A little bit of spring..

Winter virtually never came this past year. We skipped fall and our winter was more of a fall and here we are entering what I like to refer to as "our fourth spring". I say fourth spring, only because the weather has been so random, that it would alternate between periods of cold and periods of extreme heat. As a result, the weather has tricked the plants into blooming early at least 4 times, and then consequentially killing them off with the nights cold breath.

The spring has finally come out of hiding to stay. This has been evidenced by the fact, I washed my car two days ago and the very next day it was covered in thick yellow dust (pollen). Today I sat staring out of my triple window, eyes wandering into a place of deep thought when the pine trees across the street kicked up a cloud of yellow pollen I've never seen before. It looked like a pollen tornado fell off all the trees and busied itself right into my car, porch, home, and even the dog.

The dog - once pitch black, was now dusted in pale yellow yuckiness. Bless his heart.

The bumble bees were out buzzing in the azalea bushes and the HUGE Bradford pear trees that line my neighbors and our adjoining fence were in full bloom.

They are so beautiful. God's painted pictures for me to enjoy. Only, if you have ever had a Bradford pear tree, you know they smell like FISH when they bloom. - It's pretty funny.

And so, with that thought in mind, I share with you some photos of the Bradford Pears outside my house. Natures eye candy.

Some Azalea's In My Yard:

K Mart vs. Gymboree: Gymboree knock off dress :)

I remember I used to love this line called "Ice Cream Social" by Gymboree. I never did get a chance to purchase one of the dresses I had my eye on though (it was always sold out or well beyond what I'd want to pay on eBay).

Today I went to K Mart and was pleasantly surprised at their collection of girl's Easter dresses. I liked them so much I could hardly narrow down what I wanted. I knew right away I was going to get the one that looked like a Gymboree dress.

Here is the Gymboree dress:

TOO cute, right? Well, here is the K Mart version for a $24 price tag:

The thing I like the most about this dress is it has tons of under layers, so when it is put on MiMi and tied in back it puffs out SO MUCH it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Sure, the K Mart Version has a bigger front bow, BUT it's precious beyond belief!

I let her pick out a sparkly pink dress also (for her birthday party dress). Whomever K Mart has purchasing the dresses (other clothing inventory) these days *high five* to you sir(s) / madam(s). YOU'VE out done yourselves!

Saturday Fun Day..

My Saturday certainly started off on the wrong foot.  I woke up feeling like someone kicked me in my lower back. This has been a common occurrence anytime I get more than 5 hours of sleep. I wake up and my lower back feels horrible. It is so hard to get up and deal with the pain. It takes about 30 minutes until it passes. I don't know if it is my mattress or just me.

A couple hours later I envision myself as Super Mom and throw some clothes in the dryer. When the dry cycle completed the clothing smelled like burned popcorn not my Sparkle Blue Snuggle Dryer Sheets (boo!) and I notice the inside heating element (grate/coils) have caught fire but self distinguished.

Oh my world! So I am thankful it went out on it's own, and I am thankful the clothing did not burn up, and I am thankful for a tax return that can purchase a new cheap dryer if need be. But we are personally going to just buy a replacement coil panel first to see if that helps. Wish me luck! I'd rather use the $300 plus bucks on flooring for my den.

After all this I told the kids to throw on their shoes and we would head to a local ranch to feed the animals. We go here every so often because the kids love the critters and it's cheap and Ethan gets in free.

And, let's face it - if they are happy - I am happy!

How about this picture of my Ethan with a horse?

He attempted to kiss it, but Mr. Horse wanted his bread instead. I always cherish these moments because they make me smile. The best photos aren't posed - they are the life that unfolds before you. The life that happens while you wait for other things to happen. Enjoy each and every moment. Have a great weekend, dear readers!
                                                                                           

Almost 7?!

On March 10th, my daughter will turn 7. It's hard for me to believe that time has come and gone so quickly. Initially I remember the trying times as a first time mom; how the first sleepless year drug on and on. My daugher literally never napped and I was just so exhausted it was hard to think straight most days. I had many a morning of pouring the wrong thing into the wrong cup, spilling things while in a rush and just being a constant worry wart of a mother. It wasn't until she was 3 and I was pregnant with my son, Ethan that the time just started to fly by. It was crazy!

One moment, she is a small baby who wants me to hold her and love her all the time or she'll cry. The next second, she's a beautiful girl about to turn 7 - who has impressed me more and more each year.

Many times I think, there are parents in this world that could give her more than I ever could.  I think how incredibly lucky I am to be blessed with this sweet, smart, loving and beautiful child!

That is one thing I will never take for granted. I want my daughter to know that as long as I am alive she will be told every single day how amazing she is and how much she has to offer this world with her kindness alone.

My arms (if not, my heart) often ache to hold that small baby girl with the baby lotion scent, bright blue eyes and the big round cherub cheeks once more. Rocking her to sleep, and then sleeping with her on my chest (because she wouldn't have it any other way). Then I realize, I am lucky to hold that memory captive for as long as I have a memory.

What's more? She still loves hugs from her mama, she loves to sit on my lap to read a book, she craves every ounce of my attention and yet still gives so much of her own to her little brother, Ethan. So I haven't lost much as she has aged, and have gained so much more. I've learned to love unconditionally for the first time in my life, I have learned to be selfless, I have learned that I will wear my heart on my sleeve forever now. And, I am okay with that because I have been blessed.

I pray that she will always want to be a part of my life, because she is the most important part of mine :) She has grown so much. Now I need to figure out planning a small birthday party and what to get her for her birthday. It shouldn't be hard ;)

My photo skills over the years have certainly improved:)

"Oh, time, you fly so fast, yet the blessing with time is photographs, for when our memory fails us in the bitter end, we still have the beauty of a photograph to remind us of what was, what can be, what will be and what inevitably always has been " - me :)
                                                                                             

Updates.

I haven't written in about a week (give or take).

Not that I am a daily blogger (as my blog suggests) oops!  ;) I did have intentions initially to do so, but as I had baby number 2 (Ethan), and as he got older, I found out real fast that time on the internet was few and far between.

The most internet action I get these days is when I check my facebook on my mobile. I rarely get comments or anything and my phone tends to time out when I try to leave a comment. I generally just browse the status feeds of whomever facebook puts on my top news feed for that moment and catch up that way.

Since my dad has been home from his heart attack, he has vowed to give up smoking. I am very proud of him (and my mom). In that my father has completely given it up and my mom respectfully smokes outside now.

This is a RELIEF. Not only for his health reasons, but it makes it SO MUCH easier for me to want to go visit and bring the kids. Before you'd get sick if you stayed too long because they smoked so much in their home.

As for my den? Well, I painted to my hearts content on the wood working until I ran out of paint.

While we did file our taxes, they have yet to come back and when they do I can purchase more paint and finish this room.

I told ya - my projects take FOREVER. :)) But, they are truly a labor of LOVE and BUDGETING:)

The kids are doing well, Ethan is finally speaking more (although he is not nearly as outspoken as other children his age). I am hoping he will pick up more, but I have learned my son is a child who works on his own pace and I can not force him or make a "great race" of my child's mile stones. When he is ready he will be ready. All I can do is encourage, use flashcards and read books and cross my fingers and pray for the best.  His pediatrician does not seem phased by it, so I hold onto positive thoughts.

MiMi is doing really well in school and received another accelerated reader award for the 2nd 9 weeks at her school's awards ceremony. She isn't so great at math (but neither am I). I have been stalking home school sites and printing math work sheets that correspond with her work in school and have been giving her the extra practice at home.

Kids these days do SO MUCH more than we ever did at an earlier age.

I suppose there isn't too much to type about at the moment, but I promise once the tax return hits us and some debts are paid off, I will update some photos of the den make over and other fixer uppers around the house on a tight budget.

I hope everyone has been well and has a blessed week! :))

MIA - But so far my Dad is okay..

Thursday night I had cozied up on the couch after a long day and was exhausted from mowing the lawn. I was thinking to myself, "I really need to get into shape, I am setting myself up for failure". As I could feel my headache induced from a spike in blood pressure.

I'd gotten into the shower, thought about taking an aspirin - but ultimately decided against it because it makes my face puffy and makes my stomach hurt.

I was diddly dallying around on face book mobile when my phone beeped once. - This usually means I have a voicemail and my phone decided not to ring on my end.

I think it's probably my sister in Cali. but I go and listen to it anyway and it's my mom, saying "Jenny, this is mom, call me as soon as you get this".

I knew something was wrong right off the bat because; 1.) my mom NEVER calls me and 2.) the tone in her voice followed by no "good bye".

I called her right back and she told me to come over and get her because Dad had a heart attack and was taken by ambulance and they had to go so quick they left her behind.

Doug was outside in his car fixing to head to wal mart and the kids were asleep (it was 1030 pm).

I ran outside in my pj's to stop him and then ran back inside to get dressed and ran out to get my mom. It was a long car ride and I was thinking and praying to God to let him be okay. My mom and I got to the hospital about 11 pm and the ER staff took our info and had us sit down. 2 minutes later a woman from patient relations calls us up and takes us to his ER doctor, who did confirm the heart attack.

He told us he was transferred to the cardiac unit and undergoing surgery.

From there we were taken to a waiting room and sat for 3 hours until a doctor came to bring us to the OR and wait outside.

When we heard my Dad talk it was a sign of relief.  The OR surgeon came out a bit later to let us know he had a 99% blockage in his right ventricle (spell) and they had gone in with a catheter and cleared it out and placed a stint.  He told us it was not a fatty related blockage but a smoker blockage (ick).

Then we saw my father for a quick second as he was being wheeled to surgical ICU. We waited in another lobby for 20 minutes before we could go into the room.

He was on heavy blood thinner and iv's. During the night he started to bleed and the placed a heavy sand bag on him to keep it from bleeding.

His blood pressure was insanely high but by morning it had gone down some. By Saturday it was fully normal but his heart beat was in the low 40's.  They took him off the blood thinners and by noon moved him into a regular room.

As much as I tend to dislike Cape Fear from my own personal HORRIBLE experiences, I have to say the Cardiac Center is ON POINT. It's nice to know that the entire hospital is not bad based on the many horror stories I and other's have encountered. VERY THANKFUL for answered prayers and a wonderful team of doctors, nurses and staff. 

My Dad should be home sometime Monday or Tuesday, but I will continue to pray that he keeps on the recovery path and does well.

I really hope at this point he will stay away from cigarettes for good and realize just how bad they really are.

Thank you to my friends and family for the prayers and well wishes. I appreciate everything!

..Enter 2012

This past year wasn't the worst of years, nor was it the best.

But in many ways, instead of thinking on the negative side of things (which I typically tend to do, despite being positive in person)..I'd like to thank God for all of his blessings in 2011.

I am thankful for all of our health, my children's smiling faces DAILY, having a roof over our heads, food in our bellies,and the basic things needed to provide for our two children.

I am perfectly content with my small house, or the fact I don't have money to splurge.

I am just thankful the Lord has given us the tools to support our children.  In 2011 I started to coupon in a big way (I was always a cheap coupon clipper but never really hit up sales and bulk shopped).

I noticed almost right away how much money we were saving by couponing and I am thankful to stores like CVS who offer rewards programs, so that families like ours, that live paycheck to paycheck can shop sales and roll the extra bucks.

I know it sounds like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I AM.

Because we have couponed for our needed items, we are able to comfortably pay bills, and buy down Doug's credit debt.

I am also thankful to have not lost anyone this past year. (As death of a loved one is my top fear).

I am also very blessed that the Lord has kept me healthy (as far as I know) because I don't have health insurance and haven't been to a doctor in a while.

My hopes are that 2012 brings continued HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND FINANCIAL STABILITY to all our family and friends (and us).

I pray that people find a little more compassion in others and offer time or donations to those in need when the time arises if they are able to help. So many families are struggling this year and one should always think "what if that were my loved ones or myself".

Let's all make 2012 about compassion and love for our fellow neighbors.

I don't have a New Years Resolution (or a typical one anyway). But I do intend to continue to give time to my daughter's school when I can, the kids in my neighborhood when they need someone to talk to and try to better myself in helping others. There is no greater joy than the joy of bringing joy to some one else.

God bless you all and may you prosper in 2012. ((hugs))

Long day + bargains

Today has been very long, so I'll keep this short & sweet.

First I went to Kohl's to spend my $10 kohl's cash I had earned last week. Being that it expired today, I decided to stop putting it off and go spend it before I lost it.

I found this barbie set that will be great for the handmade barbie house we are building for MiMi. Regularly $26 (and it's this price pretty much everywhere) on sale for $17.99 and a pair of shorts normally $26 marked down to $2.50 (great for summer for Mimi).

Total pre coupons was $20.49 - $10 Kohl's Cash and -15% off printable my total WITH taxes included was just $9.21 a savings of $44 off the sticker prices. GREAT :D

We later ventured to the mall to visit Santa, but Santa was on lunch break, so we took the kids to build a bear. Figured they could each build one for a Christmas activity. When we got there, the sales associate informed us that they had a deal, pick ANY pet, and ANY out fit for $24.99. AWESOME! MiMi picked out hello kitty & an fair isle sweater dress with hello kitty slippers & Ethan picked out a daschund with a snowflake sweater and jeans.

*Ignore my shoddy cell phone pics*

After Build a Bear, we went back and waited in line an hour to see Santa. MiMi had red eye, Ethan had high waters, and didn't smile, (the scan makes the colors bad) but the important thing is NOT the photo or how bad it might look, but the kids got to see Mr. Santa himself :)) and that was worth every penny! :)

By the way, I LOVE the use of REAL type Santa's with REAL beards. Way better than the ones we seen in the 80's who were skinny with a pillow in their suite and you could see their black 'staches peaking out of the tie on Santa beard lol :) Ya'll know what I am talking about haha!!

We went to CVS to get gift cards (since they are always so good to us with coupons, we figured we'd spend some real deal money there on gift cards). While there, we saw the zhu zhu pets were on sale for just $1 each, so picked one up for Ethan as a stocking stuffer.

That pretty much sums up my day and I am beyond exhausted and just want to crash out on the couch. Good night, dear readers :)

Hand Made Barbie House Progress

A little update on the home made Barbie house we are building MiMi.

We searched EVERYWHERE for cheap Barbie furniture. Goodwill was empty, craigslist yielded NO results, and EBay? Well.. Let's just say folks there are insanely expensive. I figured since we are saving so much NOT buying the Barbie Dream House we'd splurge on the furniture sets - NEW!

K Mart ended up being the cheapest.

Tonight we purchased:

Barbie Sister's Beauty Bathroom w/ Doll
For $26 ($1 cheaper on K Mart) everywhere else we checked wanted $30.

We also purchased:

Barbie Dream Kitchen with Doll
For $26 @ K Mart. As you can see from the link above it's right at $40 at amazon and other retailers.

The last thing I purchased tonight was:

Barbie Treats to TV Refridgerator
On Sale for $12 at K Mart. As you can see from the above link it is $26 at amazon & other retailers.

Earlier in the week I purchased both the bath tub w/ doll and kitchen set w/ doll for right at $6 each:

In total on furniture & dolls (included) We spent right at $76.

It sounds like a lot, BUT, hear me out..

These were the CHEAPEST prices I could find (even cheaper than used). PLUS they came with dolls.

The barbie dream house she wanted was $145 (cheapest) but usually $179 everywhere else. The Barbie Dream House had NO DOLLS, and flimsy cheap quality furniture.

So on average we save $100 or more AND her hand made Barbie house comes WITH barbies and NICE high quality Barbie furniture:)

I plan to sand and paint this weekend and then possibly do the reveal. (I won't add the furniture though as all the gift sets will be wrapped for MiMi for Christmas).

So you'll see the big picture on Christmas day:)

I am sooo sooo sooo EXCITED!! Going to Lowe's tomorrow to get the laminate wood flooring pieces and the back splash tile for the bathroom. This is going to be so fancy! :) Way better than a flimsy over priced piece of plastic.

CAN NOT WAIIIIT!