Smash and Grab!

Have you heard of the new trend in Christmas gift getting?

All you need is a crow bar, a little knowledge, and quick fingers.  Before anyone knows what's happening, you can have yourself a stereo, sub woofer or anything else that would merit money from the local pawn shop! 

Leave the scene as quickly as you can.  You don't want to see the owner of the vehicle take the time to clean out the broken glass, call the police, (knowing it will do no good) then begin his cold, dark, hour long commute back home, with no window...or music!  

From now on, we're leaving the doors unlocked! Instead of "smash and grab", it will be just grab!  It's less messy and less expensive! 

A New Honda

We take care of a widow's yard in the neighborhood.  Last Saturday my hubs and son went to mow and trim her lawn. 

Ten minutes later my husband stood at the front door and announced, "The lawn mower isn't working." 

"Oh, OK", I said and continued with my vacuuming thinking that was the end of the conversation and that he was going to clean the spark plugs, or change the oil, or work some kind of magic on our 20 year old mower so it would run. 

I looked up and he was still standing at the door, looking at me. 
"What?" I asked.  He just stood there. 
Weird, I thought. 
 Then it dawned on me. 
 "Are you wanting permission to go buy a new mower?" 
Before he could answer I said, "Go ahead!", knowing that he'd go with or without permission. 
He and Jordan left.  I thought I sensed a smirk on their faces. 
An hour later, they returned with a new Honda mower.

The hubs took it out of the truck, tightened the handle, wondered to himself if he should read the instructions, shrugged, then started it up! 

It sounded like a champ. 

At that point, I saw our old mower at the side of the driveway. I primed it, pulled the rope and it too started right up! 

Jordan let out a laugh, Hubby stood there looking surprised. 

Jordan said, "Oh boy, we're in trouble now!" 

Unlike our old mower, the new mower is self propelled, mulches and starts on the first pull.

(google image only because there was no one to take the picture today!)

Thanks, honey!  You've made my job much easier!

IDES OF MARCH...37 years ago

Today is our 37th anniversary! 

A quick history of how we met.  Andy was my brother's missionary companion. I had heard about Elder Langston but hadn't met him. When my brother, Gerald, came home from his mission in May, Andy came to  the airport.  This picture was taken the day I first saw Andy. This was the second picture that I took of the two of them with my Polaroid camera.  The first picture had their heads cut off.  I'm sure Andy's thinking how dang cute I am!  My brother is thinking, "She hasn't changed a bit, just take the picture!"

We dated, then got engaged.  (I told you it was a quick history)

We were married March 15th in the Salt Lake Temple. I was 19!

We had our reception that night. This photo shows us looking at my ring - that I'll lose several years later!  No wonder we appear so serious.

Look how old we are! 

Robert Browning penned,

"Grow old with me.  The best is yet to come."

I'm thankful I have my best friend to accompany me in growing old!

Little did we know, 37 years ago, how much we'd grow!  We are now 24 strong! And we've only just begun!

Julius Caesar was told to "Beware the Ides of March!"  I'm glad we paid no attention to that warning!

"Yup, I got him!" (That's a wink)

DOLLAR STORE FIND!

I had to go to the dollar store to buy one of these. It only cost a dollar.

Before I left, I checked out a couple blogs and found some creative things that you can make from buying things at the dollar store. These two pictures are from Dollar Store Crafts and they're so cute.

Sticky Note Clipboards

Cute Handbag from Placemat

I also checked Sandra's blog just before I left and saw pictures of adorable candles that she bought at the dollar store. I was excited to go and find something fun, creative, and cute.
.
I grabbed my dollars and away I went. I found the bucket and looked around to find something that would pique my interest. Before we go on, I need to let you know that I am NOT creative, not one tiny bit! I marvel at the gift of creativity that many of you have and wish I had even the ability to copy your ideas!

Back to the dollar store. I found this little honey. You may wonder what it is.

It's a back support for a car or office chair. I immediately thought of my husband, who uses a small, worn, pillow to put behind his back for support as he drives an hour to and an hour from work. I bought it. After I got it home, I felt ashamed and embarrassed that, once again, I found something that was only practical and not adorable.

Then it hit me! There's no reason I can't be-dazzle and be-jewel this thing. I went to work to make it cute, knowing my husband would greatly appreciate it. I have posted pictures of each step so that you, too, can be as creative as me.
I started with sewing some lovely beads around the outside of the back supporter.

I was hoping to have an informative video, as a tutorial, to show each step but my photographer went out for ice cream!
I then laced ribbon through the mesh.

What would be better than attaching a picture of the love-of-his-life to his back support. Here's a picture of some dark-haired woman!

Now, add some plastic flowers and...

VOILA! A lovely back support made especially for my husband.

And that, my friends, is my Dollar Store find! (I hope he likes it!)

Before I get emails and phone calls, asking me to come to your church and community to teach my skill, I need to let you know - I'm too busy! I'll be writing and publishing craft books!