The wisdom of Jen Solomen

So the first Bible story that stuck in my head as a kid was the story of king solomen and how he could tell which was the real mamma cause she wouldn't want the baby cut in half... kind of a wierd story really, but let me tell you a funny on about Adri and Mo

So Morganne and Adrienne are really THE best of friends...most of the time. But after a long afternoon of celebrating Fathers day, they were pretty much done with each other. One particulary ugly battle was over a Barbie bike helmet that Momo insists she left here and Adri insists is hers. Niether Jaque or I could for sure say it beloned to us (toys have offspring when you arn't looking) so the battle raged on.

I finally said to the girls, helmet in hand, here is what we are going to do, I am going to cut this helmet in half and give half to each of you. Long pause... then Adri bursts into tears, no it will be broken! Morgan tilts her head to the side and says, I want the part with the Barbie picture on it.

So there you have it : ) (sent it home to Jq's house anyway)

Mmmmm cookies

I cannot stand store bought frosting. I just think it tastes gross, so I'm pretty good at homeade frosting, but what I can't ever get right is the amount! I keep adding more and more powdered sugar to get the consistancy right, and suddenly I have a giant bowel of frosting!

I love it when you rediscover a recipie you used to make a lot, but havn't made for years. That's what happened with the home made "oreo" cookies I made for young womens today. I only had one chocolate cake mix so I made some with a white cake mix too, and got a little inventive trying to make a fruity frosting for the middle...

Adrienne was helping me and randomly started singing "Frosting the snowman" that girl cracks me up!

Now they are gone, and I'm sad.

Maple Valley Days

Friday night we went to "Maple Valley Days" which is held at Lake Wilderness, just down the street from us. They close down Witte road for several hours for a parade on Saturday, someday we will have to see that, but the past 2 years we've just felt trapped by it! Both James and I had to work so we had to get out before 9am and couldn't get back home until after 1pm. There has also been a lot of people parking down our street and police directed traffic. We are told they will be constructing a round about right there soon, and re-building the elementary school that is down the street at some point. So more hassels to come probably. I do love that we seem to be in the heart of everything though, I love that we could walk Adrienne to Lake Wilderness, the library, the community center, school, and the grocery store pretty easily. Here are some highlights, my favorite moment was when Adrienne attempted to untie her pony, probably to lead him on a more exciting ride then the circle! Least favorite moment- cotton candy puking after going down the slide 50 times. Of course she wanted her cotton candy right back after that.

I LOVE Garage sales!

I love garage sales! Of course I like shopping in all it's forms, but garage sales have a particular attraction. Recently my mom and sister and I actually left a family vacation early to make it back for an annual neighborhood sale. And week after week I get up super early on my only day to sleep to drive around in search of the sight that gets my heart palpitating... the yard sale sign! I think it is the thrill of the hunt for me... the unknown. Am I following arrows that will lead me to a mecca of Restoration Hardware/Ballard designs/Potterybarn furniture and housewares being sold for pennies on the dollar? Or will it be another lady selling scary porcelin collectables, native american plates and the left overs from her Mary Kay days. (I swear I've been to that sale over and over again), and some garage sale tips and ediquitte.

-bring change, no one wants to break large bills

-ask don't tell. I ALWAYS barter, but I try to do so politely. Say "would you take $2.00?" Not "I'll give ya 2 bucks" and I never ask for more than 1/2 off on small stuff and 30% off big stuff. Also if you think your going to buy a lot, (like me and clothes for Adri) you can say, will you make me a deal if I buy a lot? I have found 98% of people having a garage sale expect and are fine with bartering. The other 2%... well, I'll do a posting about how to appropriatly conduct a garage sale at a later time : )

-Keep things as you found them, some people have piles of stuff you dig through, others are very orderly, don't mess up peoples order.

***Big one*** I've been burned on this one, if you see something you may want don't stand admiring and appraising and deciding were it would go, someone else will snatch up that area rug right under your nose! Immediatly engage the seller in conversation about the piece and get it in hand as soon as possible.

- If you come to a good garage sale and the wife has made the bad decision of putting her husband in charge, buy everything quickley before she returns!

My favorite finds lately (things blend in to my house so quickly I forget, but here are a few!

See Kai run shoes 50cents! (I don't have a boy to put them in, but couldn't pass them up!)

An awesome coffee table (not the one pictured, but same look) for $22 (husband in charge)

The kitchen table of my dreams $60

Two great looking dress shirts for James from Banana Republic $1 each

I can always find DVD's for 1 or 2 dollars, hardly touched childrens books for 25cents to $1, clothing and shoes for cheap, vintagey knick knacks, expensive linins, frames, mirrors, for seriously cheap.

Aaaahhhhh I just love garage sales!

Our house is getting a makeover, finally we are implamenting some ideas we've had kicking around for a long time, I should have taken before picks, but I'll definitely post some afters!