Iowa State Fair Spelling Bee

I just have to share a proud mommy moment ~ on Friday, DS competed in the 5th and 6th grade division of the Iowa State Fair Spelling Bee and placed 3rd!  A shiny trophy and new dictionary have found a place of honor on the fireplace mantle.  70 other students from across Iowa spelled their best that afternoon.

Some of you may be familiar with the national spelling bee and may have even watched when it has been televised.  The students involved with that are given a list containing every possible word for the bee.  DS was not so lucky with the state fair bee.  The words are totally random which makes studying nearly impossible.  Oh, he was provided with a sample list in the info packet but only a select few showed up during the actual bee.  I could not believe the difficult words these kids had to spell! 

We are so proud that he placed 3rd and he was happy as well.  He's already talking about next year and hoping that he can at least place 3rd if not 1st.  It will be his last chance to win as 6th grade is the last grade eligible. 

The 3rd place was great, but I think the best part of the day was watching (from the stands) him congratulate the 2nd and 1st place kids.  Must be doing something right.

Giveaway Update

I've decided to wait until the end of the month before I will draw for the winner of my giveaway.  So ~ KEEP THOSE ENTRIES COMING IN!  Please remember to share about the giveaway ~ I really would like to see a few more entries!  Check out this post to see how to enter.

75 Followers Giveaway!

Finally ~ I have some time to post up the details of the giveaway.  Since this is my first one, I'm going to keep it really simple.  To enter leave a comment (on this post) about your favorite Goodwill Goodie makeover featured on my blog ~ new followers are welcome to enter, the more the merrier!  For a bonus entry, share a post or photo about the giveaway with link to my blog on your blog ~ let me know if you do so I can get you entered twice.

I need to do some checking on shipping rates, so it may be limited to residents of the United States.  By chance, does anyone know how much more shipping to anywhere outside the U.S. costs?  I'm planning on researching it tomorrow and will let everyone know if I'm going to have to limit it.

Are you interested in what I'm giving away?  Everything included is a Goodwill Goodie!  Here you go ~

The shelf is a Goodwill Goodie makeover of mine ~ the house, star, candle tray are just goodies.  The candle is battery operated ~ oops!  that's a clearance find at Dollar General, but at $.50 a goodie as well!

Be sure to share for that extra entry!!

Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday

Due to some technical difficulties (I'm blaming this hot, hot weather we've been having), I was unable to get the Finish Friday post up or the giveaway post up.  It looks like everything is cooperating today.  Instead of a project ready for a makeover, I'll share last week's finished project.  If you remember it was the nice, round piece of wood that I just know everyone was envying ~ LOL!

Here's the finished makeover ~

I'm sooo happy with how it turned out.  This weekend I was in one of my favorite prim stores and there was a plate similar to this for $25!  Mine cost nothing near that ~ in fact I think I paid $1 for the plate!

Here's the display ~

Notice the courting candle holder ~ Goodwill find for $.50!  I did purchase the Scentsy warmer new ~ I just had to have it.

I've got the giveaway package narrowed down, now I just have to take the time and get the post ready.  Keep watching for the details, I'm hoping that everything continues to work today and that I have time to get it all posted!

75!!!

Okay ~ thanks Trish at The Boyd Homestead Farm!!  I now am up to 75 and that means GIVEAWAY TIME!  Tonight I will work out all the details of the prize and how I am going to determine the winner.  Should have it posted by tomorrow.  Watch for details!  Continue to share, please!

Giveaway Announcement!

So I have decided that as soon as I hit 75 followers I will be having a giveaway!  Stay tuned for more details ~ still working on what the prize package will include.  Just need 2 more ~ tell your friends, share on your blogs!

Goodwill Goodie Monday Makeover

So this week isn't looking to start much better than last week ended.  DS ran a temp between 101.7 and 103.3 for two days and then yesterday the blisters appeared in his mouth.  However, DD's blisters are starting to disappear.  Our pediatrician said that it's uncommon for kids this age to come down with hand, foot, mouth virus ~ usually it occurs in infants and toddlers, but somehow my 8 year DD and 11 year DS have had it within the last week.  I guess the good thing about them getting it now is that it is not as painful and doesn't last as long at their age.  Plus once you have it, your body develops antibodies to it and you can't get it again.  Mark another childhood illness had.

It has been so hot and humid here for the last few days, it hasn't been awful being confined to the house.  One step out the door and I have sweat running everywhere.  In fact, it's been so hot that even a trip to the pool hasn't sounded fun.  You almost literally can't breathe from the humidity in the air.  I'm so glad that I painted several goodies ahead of time a few weeks ago.  I've been able to work on a few in the basement instead of having to venture out to the shed to prep and paint.

I've been wanting to try my hand at one of these for awhile now, but just couldn't find the right one to makeover.  Well, I finally found one that I think will work wonderfully.  Several times I've had a finished one in my hand at a prim store and then put it back because I just can't pay $15-$30 for something that I know I can make myself for a fraction of that.  Here it is ~

That's right ~ a round piece of wood!  I mean, don't we all want a round piece of wood!  Okay, so maybe I'm joking around.  It's all prepped and ready to go, I just need to put the finishing touches on it this week ~ and it looks like I'll be in the house for a majority of it so why not prim away.