The Housewife Tour - The Week in Review

OK - maybe I should say the catch-up entry....

I've kind of gotten into a rhythm and a funk at the same time.  I haven't really felt like doing anything out of the ordinary/special projects around the house.  No new cooking recipes.  Just the same stuff.

I have been shopping though - not good when you aren't working, but I guess I can say it is a project.  I have been trying to decorate.

We FINALLY painted our living room in June.  Esa had fun with Daddy-o running around with no furniture in the living room!

Part of the decorating was new curtains - all of which I got for free (saved $40) using Amazon gift cards that I got from Listia or trading in items to Amazon.



The fabric over the sofa table is new also - it's a pashmina from AC Moore that was $2.50.  I just wanted a little color.

We bought new end tables for the living room.  We lucked out and found 2 of these at HomeGoods for $100 each.  We got sucked in to applying for a credit card so that we could get an extra 10% off.

So, the living room is coming together.  I bought the pillows at Kohl's for $16 each (regularly $40 each).  I have ordered some (gray & black) throws too from Kohl's.

The pictures were in storage.  We had bought them on a cruise in 2003, took me 5 years to frame them and another couple of years to hang them.  The dog plaque was on clearance at HomeGoods.

With the painting, came moving around furniture.  Dan painted the ceiling in the living room & dining room (they are open to each other), so to prepare, I moved the dining room table into our breakfast nook.  I had thought about this before, but wasn't sure if Dan would like it.  But he does!

We also bought the 4 drawer end table at HomeGoods.  This replaced a larger white cabinet we had here that held dog supplies & recipe books.

So right now, our dining room is empty except for a hope chest, plants and china cabinet.  Not sure what I want to do in there.  I'm almost thinking of extending the living room into it.

I have been working on some scrapbooking.  I completed the challenge in June and got 2 albums done.  If it wasn't for the challenge, I'm sure I wouldn't have gotten them done.

Our camera gave out in June and I got an early anniversary present out of it.  A FANCY Nikon D3100.  So many buttons, I don't know what I'm doing, but I'll be learning!  I found a website/youtube channel from Fro Knows Photo that seems pretty good.

The Housewife Tour will be ending soon, so I've been starting to look to see what is out there job-wise.  I really want to be able to work from home, but we'll see.  I really don't know what I want to do so I think I need to figure that out first!

Oh, I did start volunteering a little more.  I've added a couple of hours doing admin work at the shelter in addition to the mobile adoption unit.  I'm enjoying see what happens at the shelter "behind the scenes".  Everyone is wonderful there.

Wordless Wednesday




 

 

Kitten that was on the Mobile Adoption Unit of Loudoun County Animal Services on July 6, 2013.

Adventures: Volunteering with a friend

My friend +Nancy Williams has her own business, The Dijitl Group, and does video & photo production.  She asked me to help her with a video production at Project Horse that she is doing pro bono. 

I figured what a great opportunity to see what she does, help a friend out, get some experience and learn about an organization!

Today (Tuesday, June 18), we met with the owner and assistant to figure out what the plan is for tomorrow.  The only bad part is that it will be an early morning shoot (starting at 5:30 am)!  I'm not used to getting up early (even when I was working).  I think tomorrow afternoon will be naptime since I'll have to get up around 4 am!

Thursday, June 20
Yesterday went well.  It was so much fun.  Nancy got a lot of good video and I got some good pictures on our phones for her.

It was great to learn about Project Horse and I even met someone who is volunteering that who used to volunteer at the Animal Shelter.

Chief, the Project Horse Ambassador and filming director of the day.

Nancy in action.

Chief in the director's chair at the end of the filming.

From Dijital Group's Facebook page.

 

At the end of the shoot, our adventures continued (I can say adventures, because Nance & I have had several through out the years!).  Nancy's car wouldn't start and she had to get a jump.  The back hatch was open the whole time and I was charging my phone in the car, so it was at ACC setting. WHOOPS!  Luckily, we ended early, so we had a buffer for when Nancy had to be home by.  Nancy picked up her son and the three of us went to brunch at Panera. 

 

The production assistant postion will continue since Nancy has two more shoots to do and some meetings with Project Horse! 

 

I am so grateful for this time that I can do what I want and help out friends and family.  I feel the best I have (mentally) since I was probably a teenager and my mom & dad were alive - before really becoming an adult and having the weight of the world on my shoulders.