EGGS!

Super Week!

We have had such an amazing week around here I just had to share…

WE GOT OUR FIRST EGG!!!!!

(Can I get a woop woop?)

 

Sis with our first egg!

I convinced The Handyman to get chickens in June.  We have been learning A LOT and have had a few fatalities, trials, and tribulations in the process, but it was all worth it when I opened their coop on Thursday and found our very first egg. Sis and I both looked at each other and laughed because it was definitely lacking in size. She said, “Well, I guess we won’t have an egg feast anytime soon.”  It was awesome to see the process and finally have a tiny sign of success.

         Last night I boiled up our (now 3) free range homegrown chicken eggs and 2 store bought eggs.  The whole family was seriously excited.  I never really believed that fresh, homegrown eggs were better, but you know what? I believe it now. It’s something I had to find out for myself.  It is true, the yolks are darker, prettier and the egg tastes richer. I’m in love!

I LOVE THIS LIFE!

Shared on the barn hop

We Can Do It- Double Blessings

We can do it!

Recently, the handyman and I decided to enlarge our brood.  I’m not talking livestock, either.  We discussed, time and time again, then decided that our two babies are wonderful, and honestly, we want another.  Now to most people, two is enough.  I am the only child and want a big family.  I was told very early on that I will never have children.  But I guess God knows no limits!  The handyman decided we could totally handle three little ones. 

After a positive test and much excited anticipation, we went to the doctor.  To our surprise, we are super excited to announce it’s not one baby, but TWO! 

Double Blessings

For the first time in my life, I can honestly say that I was speechless.  I am truly overjoyed! Fraternal twins run in both my mom and my dad’s families, and it seems that we will carry on the tradition.  I’m so thrilled, I cannot begin to describe it.

Then it hit me: what started out just adding one kid to our home to share the already cramped kids’ room will now be two.  OH. MY!!!

What’s the problem, you might ask? Well we have an itty-bitty 900 sq foot home.  It’s not our “ever after” home, but it is the house that we brought both kids home to.  We spent long and tedious hours renovating it when we found mold in the hallway and kitchen.  We did not hire or ask anyone to help (other than our parents’ labor or babysitting, of course).  We enlarged our kids’ room, put in new counters and an island in the kitchen, moved the laundry room onto the back deck that we enclosed.  Then we added a front porch.  It’s been a labor of love and honestly, it’s almost paid off and will be hard to leave once it is.  We try to live within our means and not have a ton of debt. So building a new home is out of the question.

So how will we make the space work? So many friends have asked that same question recently. While trying to stay positive and not allow the negativity into this pregnancy, we have concocted a plan.  We are going to use the rest of the back porch (which is currently where the handyman and I have our nightly talks and recaps) to furnish a larger, separate bathroom.  Meanwhile demolishing the bathroom in the house, ripping out the wall into the kids room, and making one super duper large kids room.  Our kids only use their room to sleep and occasionally play because we are mostly outside or in the living room.

This is my inspiration for the kids’ room.  We currently have one set of bunk beds and eventually will have to add more. 

Source

I honestly can’t wait.  I feel great- ridiculously exhausted with school, the Princess' dance and everything else starting out at full-steam.  But I am so excited.  Did I mention how excited I am? I believe kids are a blessing. I believe we can make this tiny home a place to educate, encourage, create bonds, inspire creativity, and nourish love and the young lives we are molding and shaping.  On top of it all, I can’t imagine another person who I’d rather tackle it with then my soul mate.  J 

Please subscribe and come back often as I will have a ton to write about in the coming months.

So what about you?  Ever have any real blessings that others view as challenges?  

Shared on the BarnHop

Forecasts, Warnings, and Paranoia

Outside my comfort zone        

          Being an educated adult who likes to stay abreast of all the things that are happening in the world today, I have a very unnerving gut feeling.  My parents believe that all this “stuff” in the news has been going on for decades- there’s always been protests, outrageous crimes, rumors of war, and economic distress- and there is no need to be alarmed.  However, somewhere deep down, I believe this time is different.  Watching my children coloring today, I realized that I don’t ever want to have to tell them, “Sorry Kiddos, but we are all out of food.”  At that moment, I don’t want to reflect and realize that I should have just trusted my instinct. I can't just be like laundry on the line, fluttering in the wind. 

 I have always been a planner and just can't get over how many of my friends can tell you what celebrity recently entered rehab or what so-in-so posted on Facebook. But they have absolutely no idea how to change a tire, make bread, cook from scratch or why in the world I would have a clothes line. It just makes me feel different or weird. They think I am crazy and they think I am paranoid,  but I honestly believe that there is something amiss. Some motherly instinct has me very worried recently and I just can’t seem to shake it. I can’t put my finger on what I think will happen, but I choose to trust my instincts. 

 “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” 

Proverbs 22:3 NLT

Just this week, there has been a number of things around the world that raise concern in my mind- just Google some of the following topics:

Racial tensions & looting, immigration & disease, Ebola & Malaria, economic analysts warning of distress, Russia & Ukraine, Hamas & Israel, drought, and so much more

You can’t control the future

I realize I am not a psychic and (although I wish I could) I cannot control everything. However, I can take steps to shelter my family from a list of emergencies. I am by no means building an underground bunker (we sit too low on the water table anyway). I am not storing tons of freeze dried foods or MREs. But what I am suggesting is simply that we live more prudently. 

Living nearly two hours from a city and a twenty minute ride from Wally World, I try very hard to never really “run out” of things we eat often. But now I am finding myself trying to stock up on those things. Imagine having only one store nearby, and for whatever reason, you cannot get what you need to feed your family.  Do you have enough food on hand to keep feeding your children/family? Do you have enough sanitary items to keep disease away? Do you make the 2 hour trek to the closest city with their situation unknown? Do you choose to put your children in danger?

Not me, I choose to plan now!

Here’s some things I am doing to provide for my family in an emergency or an unpredictable situation:

• We have a 60 gallon homemade water catchment system to help with watering plants or washing dishes/clothes if need be.
• We have supplies to make lotions, soaps, salves, shampoos and deodorants.
• We *almost always* cook homemade meals from scratch and have the staples to do so.
• We have chicken, cattle, two separate gardens, and fruit trees.
• We have canned veggies and a deep freezer full of venison. (My kids love Mama’s deer meat.)  
• We make our own laundry detergent and line dry our clothes. 
• We make our own bread.
• We are able to buy in bulk and store our extras.
• We have “hurricane supplies” like batteries, flashlights, water jugs, solar chargers, and candles all boxed up and ready to go.

Most of these things are just a normal part of my homesteading dreams... but do they make me more prudent? Is it that by learning to do all these things, I inevitably see where others who do not put forth the effort, and therefore live a self-sustaining lifestyle?
It is not my goal to be a fear-monger or Doomsday Prepper, but I can no longer sit idly by and just watch as my friends and family turn a blind eye to all the signs in our world today. I've heard so many times that “it’ll be OK, it always is.”  And I just don’t believe it. I have someone close to me who recently said that she just “couldn't afford” buying extra groceries or do the things that we do.  I was absolutely appalled to learn their family took a long, out-of-state trip “just because.” Well at least if something goes wrong in their city, they'll still have their memories. 

God will help those who help themselves. It reminds me of the joke:

 A man was in a great flood and against all the warnings, he stayed at home.  The water got so high he had to sit on his roof.  A man in a canoe comes by to help and the man tells him to go on, “God will provide”.  As the water gets higher,  a crew on a boat comes by to help and the man tells him to go on, “God will provide”.  Finally a helicopter comes by to help and the man tells him to go on, “God will provide”.  The water rises and the man drowns.  When he gets to Heaven, he asks God why he let him die.  God simply tells him that He sent a canoe, a boat, and a helicopter, what more did the man want?

So what do you think? How are you preparing? Are you heeding the warnings? Or is all

this just paranoia and I really am crazy?  Is there anything that I’m forgetting or should be doing? 

Thanks for stopping by, 

 

Grocery Store Challenge Update #2

Grocery Store Challenge Update #2

Hey there! I wanted to update (again) on the progress of my family’s grocery challenge update.  You can read the details about why we started here and the first update here.  It’s a rainy and rather dreary Friday night and I was reflecting about how much we have accomplished with this challenge.

How it’s going…

            First, I had to buy more milk.  Oh pooh! Since that was an easy fix, I ran up to the local drugstore and bought a couple of gallons.  The four gallons for a month (what was I thinking to begin with?) has proven to be seriously lacking. I knew that we needed at least two gallons a week, but only bought about half of what I needed. The good news is that the kiddos have NO idea that the milk was frozen.  We’ve only had one instance in which we did not thaw the milk early enough.  Did you know that milk will stay icy for two days in the fridge? Hmm, I didn’t know that.  The lil’ Cowboy was totally not happy with that notion and it made for a rough night.  But we learned from our mistake and My Handyman has been on the frozen milk case since.  (Smiling to myself… I couldn’t have planned that better.)

            Secondly, I have had absolutely NOT a single craving to go to Wally World.  I bought the milk from the drugstore and dog, cat, and chicken feed from the big red animal supply store. I am not stressing as much anymore, either.  I only went off the home cooking track once this week.  That was due to the sad but true fact that I returned to work this week for a professional development week.  I have been exhausted!

            Next, I’m running low on cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, and tomato sauce.  The good news is that I can make it until next week and make a quick run, hopefully. 

            Other than that, I’m taking away from this challenge a new and renewed sense of empowerment.  I will not be a slave of living paycheck to paycheck, be a creature of habit, or spend my evenings once a week in a crowed grocery store shopping for things that we do not TRULY need! Do you hear that? It sounds like angels singing.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be in control of my life and decide how and when I choose to spend my hard-earned money.

            I’d like to encourage those of you who are sitting on the fence to truly give it a try. It is so worth the planning time to sit down and figure it out.  It is actually very freeing.  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it feels AWESOME not going grocery shopping EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK!

What do you think?  Is this something you already do and want to send tips? Or are you just waiting for the right time to start? Let me know what you think.  I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Am I crunchy?

I must ask you a very serious question... 

AM I CRUNCHY? 

Nearly six years ago, I embarked on a journey that I had no idea would take me to places that I could never have imagined!

“Where’s that?” You might be thinking.  No, It’s not a far away white sandy beach with a million dollar view.  (A girl can dream, though, right?)  Ok, back to my point…

I took a journey into “Crunchy-Ville!”   And I haven’t look back. It seems to have taken hold and won't let go. 

For those of you unfamiliar with the slightly derogatory of “crunchy,” it’s simply a term to describe someone who lives a lot like a hippie.  The term should make you think you heard someone crunch on granola.  Now that that is out of the way…

Let me clarify- I don’t run around with a crown of flowers around my head and I still shave my legs and underarms.  To be honestly, I don’t like the term. It seems too judgmental. I try to leave the judgement for a much higher being.  And let’s be realistic, it just doesn't fit me.

At any given time, the two kids and I are in blue jeans and boots, my long braided hair pulled back through my University of Florida baseball cap, a camouflage backpack is thrown over my shoulder.  I count my chickens to make sure none have wondered off while the cows can be heard grazing on grass across the fence as we scramble in the front screen door. 

Does anything about this seem "crunchy"? 

I have decided that I will outlaw the term crunchy and replace it with NATURAL.

Ok, I am back on track now.  

I made the decision almost six years ago to live a NATURAL life. 

Here’s how:

• We no longer use bleach or chemical cleaners in the bathroom- only vinegar and citrus essential oils.
• We no longer eat ready-to-cook meals- only all-natural, from scratch foods for us.
• We no longer fill our pantry with pre-made box meals- only ingredients to cook a meal. 
• We no longer just pick up any bottle of shampoo- only paraben, phthalate, and sulfate-free shampoos for us.
• We no longer rush to the drug store for a tummy ache, or to the doctor for prescriptions for a cold- only essential oils as soon as someone mentions an upset tummy or hurting ear.                                                       (Please know that I do not ALWAYS stick to this.  I have some sense. My family won't suffer.)
• We no longer grab the OTC meds when we feel a cold coming- only put an essential oil mix on our feet at night. 
• We no longer buy lotion and deodorant- only homemade from coconut oil, beeswax, and other naturally found ingredients.
• We no longer spend a ton of money on fresh veggies- most are grown in my garden, pesticide-free.
• We no longer buy decorative ornamental plants- only ones that serve as nutritional food while looking pretty.
  

  

  A Barbados Cherry bush that grows well in our climate

• We no longer use baby wipes- only washcloths and water with a little lavender to ease irritations.
• We no longer use steroid eczema cream- only lemon balm spritzer and homemade itch-cream
• We no longer use aerosol sprays to make the house smell yummy- only diffuse essential oils.
• We no longer fill Saturdays pointlessly watching TV- only find outdoor projects (like my newest water collection system) to do as a family. 
• We no longer buy fragrance-laden detergent- only use the kind that I make here with vinegar if it's super stinky!   
• We no longer just live conveniently- we try to live with purpose, hope, health, and love! 

Those are just a few of the ways in which I think we live a NATURAL life. Call me crunchy, call me a health-nut, call me crazy, but just know that I aim to march my family into a healthy lifestyle. 

So what do you think? Am I "crunchy" or Natural? 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Grocery challenge update

Grocery Challenge Update 1

Recently, our family has set upon a real frugality journey- Once a month grocery shopping. You can read about it here.  No biggie, except for $350.  I’m accustomed to spending at least $200 a week for our growing, healthy-eating, from scratch-cooking family of four.  Let me tell you, I thought (naively) that this would be super easy. 

Huh, strike one.

So it’s time for my weekly shopping trip. And I’m fighting the loud voice in my head telling me that we are running low on juice, cat food, and ground beef.  Why is it that 3 things not being overabundant in my house makes me feel like I have to go to wally mart?  Don’t get me wrong, I still have three bottles of juice (and frozen fruit to make my own if need be) and another pound of ground beef.  But there’s something in my head from years of routine to go to the store once a week. I had no idea there would be more to this than just not spending money. 

This is my pantry!  It's full.  We salvaged that old door from a 1920s house that they were updating.  I LOVE that door. 

Thinking that staying out of the store would be easy, strike two.

Could we afford to go to the store today? Yes.  Would that hinder or help our living more deliberately journey? This once, no, it wouldn't hurt it, but it’s the breaking of the habit that must be done. 

My children and I have NEVER done without anything that we need.  And we, God willing, never will! 

Menu planning is super easy, strike three.

I imagined (again, naively) that once I planned out my menu- BOOM- it was done. We went swimming and therefore I forgot to take out frozen meat, so I changed around the menu and instead made chicken nuggets.  I know, I know, that’s not healthy at all.  It goes against everything I am trying to do to help my family be preservative-free. But oh my word,  it is really hard.  It’s so stinkin’ easy to just pop some nuggets on a cookie sheet and, check, supper’s done.

I have started this journey for several reasons:

1.  While we have less than the average amount (significantly less) of money in debt, I want my family to be FREE from all debt.
2. My children need a healthy, well-rounded meal from which they witnessed their mother making.  I want to show them a labor of love and I want them to look back thinking, “My mama always made a meal for us.” I know they won’t always like it, and they will often complain.  But they will learn to do so with an attitude of gratitude. (Well, at least that's my goal.)
3. I have seen too many children pick at their lunches at school, only to simply eat the sweets (cookies or bread) and throw the rest away. My mom always packed my lunch.  I would beg for broccoli and ranch. But she never gave me the option to eat spaghetti-os and such.  I am trying to instill this into my children as well, but taking it a step further by growing my own veggies.

Just one week and I have learned that :

•  I need to be more flexible.
•  I have to make my day’s schedule around something that I value as important.
•  It’s ok!  Ultimately, so what if my kids have nuggets (pre-made) and mashed potatoes with peas every once in a while? It’s not like they are living off fast food and microwave meals.  They are still getting the nutrients and home-cooking most of the time. 
•  This is a process.  I am an "all or nothing" person and this is going to take some time.  I need to practice patience. 

Final Word

I am really learning a lot about the different beliefs on “healthy-eating” and have seen many great concepts. But I firmly believe that my family will best benefit from a combination of all them.  I want to stick with a well-rounded meal of meat, dairy, vegetable, and a either rice, quinoa, or potatoes (in moderation, of course). And I am trying to do so with a smile on my face and completely from scratch. 

What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by, 

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This post is linked to Old-Fashioned Friday
This post is linked to Friday Favorites.
This post is linked to Freedom Fridays. 

Laundry Detergent

Pure Laundry Soap

       After we had our daughter, we learned all about eczema.  Not only did we learn all about it, but we lived it. After pinpointing her outbreaks to the laundry detergent, we tried EVERY type out there.  The super expensive to the super cheap.  Every free and clear and unfragranced, itchy type we could find.  We wouldn't stop until we found something that would work for us and keep my baby from breaking out.  (Oh, I don't miss those days of breakouts!)  So until recently, we used a "Free and clear" brand that kept her from breaking out.  It was bearable but still not quite what we needed.  Then I had a revelation... I'd make our own. 
BONUS:  It's super clean, green, and CHEAP!!!!!!

Ingredients-
Tap water
Dove Sensitive Soap
FelsNaptha Soap
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (at local stores in cleaning/laundry section)
Borax
Essential Oils 

Here's how I do it:
1. Add 4 cups water to a large pot. 
2. While the water is boiling, grate both bars of soap. 
3. Add the soap and boil on medium heat until the soap is dissolved.

4. Once the soap has dissolved, add 8 Cups water.

5. Return to a light boil then add 1/2 Cup Borax.

6. Stir until dissolved.

7. Add 2 Cups Washing Soda.

8. Continue to boil and stir until dissolved.

9. If desired, add Essential Oil.  I use Lavender.  20-ish drops. 

10.  Stir for a few more seconds then pour into containers.  I use old water jugs and vinegar jugs. 

11. Pour into container until it is half full (Not half empty :-))

12. Fill the rest of the jug with water. 

13. Last but not least is my favorite step...

Shake, shake, shake... The more you shake it, the better.  Work out those arms and get out some pent-up hostilities!

I usually spruce it up by adding some labels and tags just to make it cute.  But you don't have to. 

What's the final product?

Free and clear and perfectly lavender love!

When using it, keep in mind that this is a non-sudsing formula.  You won't get those suds you get in your store-bought laundry soap.  I don't add those chemicals. 
 I usually use a half cup and add it to my washer and let the water fill before adding the clothes. 
 I don't notice that my clothes are dingy or color-less.  I also shake it up a little bit before I add it to the wash. My husband loves the smell and I love my baby girl not breaking out in rashes.  All in all, I bought the ingredients and paid a whopping $5 and have made enough for the last 6 months and I still have some ingredients left.  Talk about cheap!
An added bonus:
My husband is a farmer and a tractor driver.  He usually gets stuff (stinky stinky stuff) on his work clothes.  I add 1 Cup white vinegar to his clothes.  I NEVER smell the gunk on his jeans.  He doesn't smell the vinegar.  It's a win-win situation. 

I hope you enjoy it!

Ahh-mazing cream

Ahh-mazing nighttime face cream

I absolutely love making my own bath and body products.  After recently learning about all the "bad stuff" we put on our bodies all day long, I decided it was time to make a change. (Just read this)

 I don't want to put things on my body's largest organ (my skin ;-)) that I cannot pronounce, much less have no idea what it's used for. But anything homemade isn't as good, right?
                        Wrong!    

So it had to be rich and creamy to meet my needs.This does it all! 

  Without further introduction, here it is:

Ahh-Mazing nighttime face cream

2 Tablespoons beeswax (I use little beadlets)

1/2 Cup hazelnut oil (I get mine here)

1/2 Cup warm tap water

6 drops lavender essential oil 

2 drops melaleuca essential oil 

2 drops frankincense essential oil

1. Melt (med low heat) beeswax and hazelnut oil until it's liquid.  I used a double broiler method.  (glass measuring cup with ingredients in a pot of boiling water)
   
2. Remove from heat. 
3. Add essential oils. 
4. Mix together using a submersible hand mixer. 
5. Drizzle in water until it's all mixed well. 
6. Place in a jar and Viola! 

ENJOY. 

A quick note about which essential oils I chose and why... 

 lavender- I am OBSESSED with the way it smells.  Plus it can help with tension and relaxation. 

 melaleuca- Has anti-bacterial properties which is perfect for my imperfect skin. 

 frankincense- Can help reduce the appearance of scars and imperfections. 

I ONLY use DoTerra oils.  They are the purest oils you can buy.  Click on the header if you are interested in buying some.

A HUGE PLUS:

My daughter has severe eczema and this really helps calm her skin!  It's a win-win.
Additionally, it's pennies on the dime to make and as long as I have a few simple products, it's easy to do!

Thanks for stopping by, 

and Thrifty Thursday

Grocery Challenge

And a challenge it is... 

THE BEGINNING OF MY ONCE A MONTH GROCERY PLAN:

The other day the "handyman" was looking at the bills and we were discussing future grocery runs.  Then it dawned on me... We have to make this better. 

At this time, I was currently spending $200+ each week on groceries.  That's over $800 a month.  WOW! That's two car payments. And yet I'd still stand in the pantry door wondering what I was going to make for lunch or supper.  HMMM... Where did that money go? 

Yes, I am fully aware that the prices of EVERYTHING has gone up (or serving sizes have gone down), especially in the last year. I maintain a fully-stocked pantry because I never want my kids to look up at me with hungry eyes and have empty shelves. But I never knew what to cook for supper. Then that magic little cartoon light bulb went on above my head. 

Enter menu planning

I sat at the table across from handyman and planned out for every. single. meal for the next month.  (No, not every meal was different.  The lil' cowboy loves hot dogs and Sis loves my spaghetti.  So those are repeated weekly. )  So I started figuring it out with a blank piece of paper in one hand, the weekly circular in the other,  and my menu to reference.  I concocted a plan.  A $350 plan.  Now, how to sell it to the money man (that's what I call my husband while he's working on the bills). 

We sat on the back deck for our nightly talk and I told him about it.  $350 was a lot upfront. But you know what?  He supported me, although he didn't fully believe that this would work.  Is that a challenge that I smell?  

The LIST:
4 lbs of lean ground beef (sloppy joes, nachos, spaghetti, and tacos)
4 ham steaks (we eat these with quinoa, black-eyed peas, and fruit)
4 lbs bacon   (breakfast & breakfast for supper)
8 lbs chicken (chicken fried rice, teriyaki, BBQ chicken sandwiches, baked, and oven-fried)
This was the bulk of my money.  WOW!  The price of beef has gone through the roof!
I also bought veggies, fruit, household items and little critter food (cat/dogs). 

The next day I went to wally world and loaded the cart down.  I bought everything on my list and only 1 thing that wasn't.  (Hey, that's pretty darn good for me.) ;-)

The GRAND TOTAL-  $342.67!  
I did it! YIPPEE!

Now I just have to make it last.  Can  I really do it?  Will my grand trip and plan to make $350/month work?  I'm not so sure... but the challenge is on. Can a family of 4 (with 4 & 5 year olds) make it on a grocery bill of only $350 each month while eating good, wholesome, preservative-free meals?  Well we will see.  I will keep you posted. 

Please note, I believe in a whole food diet for my growing kids & hardworking handyman.  I grow alot of our veggies and have canned and/or frozen extras. Not to mention, our community is awesome and we often have friends give us their extra veggies and/or fresh fish. 

Any advice? 

Thanks for stopping by, 

How to protect your outdoor furniture

Living in beautiful south Florida, we spend an extreme amount of time outside.   Three years ago, my handyman bought me a glider for our anniversary for on the back porch.  It was perfect.  I love anything made of natural materials (it’s a problem, really).  So I decided to let it “age” a little on the deck.  Well, of course life happened, lil’ cowboy was born, and it aged more than I had anticipated.  Living in this amazing climate, we get tons of sunshine, tons of rain, and our humidity is off the charts. With that comes mold, mildew, and rotting wood.  NOT GOOD for an anniversary gift. 

Given I only have a week left before I must pull myself back return to work, I decided to do what I had intended to do years ago- I was going to “water seal” it. 

What is this “water seal” nonsense and why should you care?

            First let me say that I am in no way affiliated with any of the brands or products I am using here.  (I am just a lowly, happy consumer.)  This is water sealer and it is Ahh-Mazing because it keeps mildew, mold, water, and elements off your furniture.  It makes the furniture last way longer than it would alone.

 

Here’s what I did:

1. I simply sanded down my bench with our sander. 
2.  I applied the water sealer. Using gloves and an old shirt.
3.  I admired!

That’s it.  It was super simple.  Took me a total of about 40 minutes. 

 (Including the time I had to stop and say things like, “don’t run over your sister” or “Be nice to your little brother, please.")

Here it is, the left side had not been sealed.  The right side has.

Here it is, COMPLETED!

And for those with a super keen eye, I totally sealed the railing on the porch and painted the walls.  I was on a roll, what can I say? I feel like a rock star.  Oh and if you come over, don't sit too long on the back deck, or I will "seal" you. ;-)

Now I have a happy little back porch again.  All I have to do is repaint the floor and get a cute outdoor rug. Can’t wait till my handyman and I enjoy our evening drinks talks together out there after the kids are asleep tonight! 

What do you think?  

Thanks for stopping by!