Extreme Home Makeover Season Premiere!

Last week I was offered a special opportunity, one that I am excited to share with you! I was asked if I'd like to watch the season premiere of Extreme Home Makeover: Season 9 before it aired!

I don't think I have ever watched a full episode of the show, but with 4 kids, I have not really watched a full episode of any show in the past eight years if it didn't involve a Golden Girl or a well-drawn Mouse.

When I was told what this particular episode's focus was, I was anxious to jump on board.

I am fairly certain everyone knows what Extreme Home Makeover is all about, and you all know the miracles they work on these structures in under a week. Not only do they restore these homes to blow-you-away condition, they restore peoples sense of hope, of community and of good will in others. More of that, please, world!

Can I just tell you....Season 9 takes all of those good things, and blows them out of the water! I watched the last two-thirds of the show with glassy, tear-filled eyes and a swell in my throat. The show. Is. BEAUTIFUL.

You know I have a special place in my heart for the men and women of our armed forces-- especially our Sailors! So when I heard that the season premiere was going to rebuild the home of a former Naval officer, I couldn't wait to see the story play out. Not only did this woman give over a decade of her life to the Navy, she is now on a mission to ensure that no former servicewoman gets left behind or forgotten.

I don't want to give too much away, but this woman's story is so inspiring and uplifting and she brings light to a subject that not enough people are aware of. Seeing how she continues to dedicate her life to other's and so generously gives all she can, when she truly has very little left to give, it is just amazing. Then to see this large stadium-wide size team of builders, designers, electricians, carpenters and volunteers bless this woman with a beautifully made-over home- it is the very best of who we all can be.

How can watching a television show so renew my hope in the human spirit and my faith in people's goodness?

Simple. It reminded me, it focused in on, the notion that there are people- LOTS of them- who are still willing to stop what they are doing, go without, and be inconvenienced, to help others in need. That people see someone doing good, and it makes them want to be a part of it. Tapping into that goodness makes you want to pass it on and join in.

Oh, and did I mention one Very Important Person who joined in on this makeover?!?!

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, jumps in to help out! How many shows push the First Lady herself to join in, rolls up her sleeves and make herself a part of the mission to give this former Sailor a beautifully redone home? It's incredible!

You guys have to check it out! It premieres on Sunday, September 25th on ABC. You can watch the trailer below to get a little peek at what's in store!



I'm honored to have been chosen to see the premiere early and be part of the excitement surrounding the show's new season! Enjoy the show, folks......and you might want to have some tissues ready and get your clappin' hands revved up!

.....oh, I am seeing someone about the excessive exclamation point use, but for this post, the exclamations were all that would do :)

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to watch this show before it aired, but in no way am I being compensated for this review. The opinions shared here are my own and are not a reflection of any political view. I only share and discuss things I feel strongly about and feel would benefit my readers.

wordless wednesday one day late

what I REALLY look like. (my sister, too)

I don't have a lot of pictures of me. Mostly because I am the one usually taking the pictures. 

And the pictures I do have, I am covered in children.

Actually, the only current photos I have of myself are the ones I took for my husband using the photo booth thingamajig on my laptop, or the cell phone shots I took of myself in the mirror so I could ask my friends for approval on outfits or to show them a spiffy new article of clothing. They certainly aren't pictures I'd put out there for all to see on the internet....heh heh heh.

Rather than do a solo photo shoot, I commissioned two local artists to render my portrait. And whaddaya know, I just got the finished products back this afternoon!

For those of you I have yet to meet in real life, this is EXACTLY what I look like. EXACTLY.

The one on the left was drawn by Kaiti. I believed she used a colored wax medium. I love that the double wide stroller made into my portrait. Oh, how I wished the ends of my hair did that cute little flip thing.

And the one on the right was done by my sweet Tyler, who primarily used lead. He got my 80s perm and candy corn nose so precise, it's frightening. 

Then there is my sister. We come from good stock, folks. If you don't believe me, just take a gander at her portrait.

My niece Olivia has a talent that far transcends age and experience. (I really mean that.) The accuracy with which she draws....it's astounding. The detail with which Olivia drew Kelley's three thick eyelashes, it blows me away. And the right-sided chin-- that is Kelley's trademark! 

When Kelley isn't wearing her purple toe shoes and hot pink skirt, this is what she looks like. Just like her portrait!

The artist, Olivia, is the adorable little girl on the left.

There you have it. That's me, up above. (and my sister, too.) If you happen across a tired looking woman with crazy tight curls, pushing a double wide, with glasses perched atop her candy corn nose, please.....stop and say hello. And maybe offer me a curl-relaxing treatment. :)

Plan C...She's (a tiny bit) Crafty!

For a while now, I've been wanting to make a chalk board wall in my kitchen to designate responsibilities for the kids. The start of the school year further necessitated some type of management board because when my kids come through the door, they literally are kicking shoes off and flinging back packs, as if they just conquered Everest and want free of all their imposing gear. It's a mess and we need some mandated organization around here.

I have a pretty frame that I had in mind for the chalk board section, and was thinking a fresh coat of bright paint, mount that sucker to the wall to frame the chalk board paint and I'd be all set. What's more, the project would not cost me a penny because I have everything I need.

But my husband does not like the idea of a chalkboard wall. He sees the potential for a big mess and doesn't think it's a great idea to paint a section of a wall with chalkboard paint when we know we will be moving in the next 6 months.

Booooooo.

So I needed a plan B. I thought about it and had all but decided to get a piece of a thin board and spray paint that with my chalk board paint and then mount the board to the back of the frame, and I'd have a little (11x14) portable chalk board with a livened up frame (by way of some fresh, vibrant paint.) That was the plan.

Until I came across this POST (clicky clicky). Enter plan C. And you know why I love plan C more than plan B? Because it gives each child their own space, their own individual board that sets them apart from their siblings. So here they are!

Yes, I even included Evie in this, and let me tell you, she has filled each responsibility every single day.

These boards were super duper simple. I made a quick trip to Michael's for the little chalk boards. Each board was on sale for $2. I purchased a letter for each child, which was $1.49 each. The paint, chalk and paint pen I already had. So out of pocket, this cost about $14. Not too terribly bad.

I painted each board's frame, then painted their little letters and dabbed on some little polka dots with my paint pen. Then I hot glued their first initial letter to a corner of each board. I wrote with paint pen on the boards the tasks that will not change. Now, when they get home from school, they take care of their "responsibilities" and proudly return to check off the box. I add different things every day, too. And on the bottom, I write if someone has something coming up or if there is something that needs remembering....like fall dance permission slips or baseball practice that night. 

When the paint dried, I stuck those little velcro tabs to the backs, and mounted them to the wall. The nice thing about that is no nails (yay for less holes to fill later!) and I can easily pull them down from the wall and put them back up!

Oh, I took a cue from Katy, the lovely innovator behind no big dill, and drew pictures (or attempted to draw pictures) of things that are expected from Jack. In case you cannot decipher the amazing pictorials scrawled across Jack's board, his tasks include:

-washing his hands (yes, that is a sink)

-putting his shoes in his closet (a croc would have been more explanatory)

-putting toys away (blocks, balls, and cars go in the basket, son!)

-be happy and listen (as I told my friend Dabni, we outlaw all emotions other than happiness up in here, so get your smile out, because we don't have time for sadness, anticipation, or frustration. sorry. smile smile :))

Since these boards are right next to the fridge, they get seen A LOT :) The space is not done just yet. I got a little bulletin board strip that I want to run down the center, I just want to mod podge some cute little scrapbook paper to it first. And there is some pretty washi tape I've had my eye on that I might use to frame the space with. Not sure on that one yet.

That's all for now folks! Enjoy your Tuesday!

I am linking up to I {heart} naptime's Sundae Scoop HERE!!!
(lots and lots of great projects so go check it out!)