joette

Today is joette's birthday.

I learn so much from Joette each day.

She is kind of different from me in a lot of ways.

She doesn't like confrontation. She likes to cook. She likes to take pictures of train graffiti. She can play the piano perfectly. She doesn't like to debate. Every person she meets she will trust until they hurt her. She is always kind to people no matter how hard her day is. It is usually her family who really knows how hard of a day she is having :)



My greatest memories of Joette are probably our long car rides together. Everything in a healthy sisterhood gets accomplished on our car rides. We talk about life, God, trials, and family. We listen to really really good music and snack on almonds.

We grew up sharing a room off and on...and sometimes the same bed. We were either fighting or laughing. Typical. Joette was a neat freak. I was a slob. But we have always laughed about the same thing. Joette and I get each other's humor and so...it is so entertaining to be with her. Being with Joette is the best "home" feeling there is.



Joette is so dynamic. She has so many twists and turns to her that she must be confusing to some. She is overly talented in so many areas that sometimes people label her too quickly and never get the chance to really enter into the real Joette- and see who she really is.



On her facebook page Joette posted this video. It really reflects her testimony. And it really just reflects Joette - a person who is full of hope and is full of love for her Savior Jesus Christ. I love this video. I love you Joette. Happy Birthday my best friend.

food is love

ok ya'll.

Do you want some easy good delicious recipes? I never do. Ok sometimes I do. I really don't like to cook. I do sort of. I don't know. It depends. Sometimes I really enjoy it. I really like to eat what other people cook. My cooking spurts come and go.

anyway when I do cook, it usually turns out really good and tasty (probably because the majority of my recipes are my mom's)...and when my sister-n-laws cook- WATCH OUT! AMAZING.

Here is a recipe blog we (me and the sister-n-laws I inherited marrying Chay)have been keeping for a long time. If you like simple good tasting recipes that aren't too fancy or have funky ingredients than...well here you GO. LET'S GATHER IN THE KITCHEN DANG IT!



I am really trying to meal plan to save time and money...so this blog is a great place to start.

freegan finds fence

A freegan so I am.

So a while back ago I said to Chay, "I want a fence...a big tall one with lots of privacy. I want a 6 foot tall wood fence...for free."

Chay, "ok...good luck"

I am so grateful to be living in a formica neighborhood. Dave Ramsey calls neighborhoods like mine, "Formica neighborhoods" because you can upgrade your formica counter top with a new formica counter top without ever feeling it should be replaced with granite. Granite counter tops would look silly in a house like mine- plus they would cost more to install than to replace the roof.

This is not a picture of my kitchen...although close, very close.

My formica house doesn't live too far from some "granite" houses. Granite houses also like to upgrade from wood fences to nice shiny vinyl fences.

I thankfully live in a "wood fence" neighborhood too.

My thoughts one day to Chay, "there must be a lot of granite homes around here who are wanting to get rid of their wood fence for a vinyl fence...I am going to get a wood fence for free."

I posted an add on KSL. 2 weeks later a granite house lady called and was very appreciative that we would take down and haul away her wood fence.

Chay did an amazing job taking down the fence and putting it back up. We both did an amazing job stripping off the old paint- and I did an amazing job staining the whole thing on Saturday.

This whole fence business has taken us about a year to get it finally finished and done...but now I can finally say it..."It is done"! I love it! So worth the work. Right Chay???



Also, being that it is Sunday. I need to share some words that came at the perfect time for me. I spent the afternoon listening and reading conference talks. This TALK which is called "The Love of God", by Elder Uchtdorf was an answer to my prayers...I needed these words so much today. I've been sort of bummed lately and so these words were comforting to say the least. I know Elder Uchtdorf is an apostle of the Lord.

"Think of the purest, most all-consuming love you can imagine. Now multiply that love by an infinite amount—that is the measure of God’s love for you.

God does not look on the outward appearance. I believe that He doesn’t care one bit if we live in a castle or a cottage, if we are handsome or homely, if we are famous or forgotten. Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely.

He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God’s love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.

What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us." ~Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, conference report Oct. 2009

war on religion

Fight For Freedom Friday...on Saturday. I started to write this yesterday...oh and by the way, you know, I am so glad I am writing about this stuff. It is history as I am seeing it. I want the generations that follow me to know this about me: I was concerned, I saw detrimental steps in American History unfold before my eyes and that I fought for the founding principles of this country the best way I could.

I want your feedback and your thoughts...and tell me what you thought of Elder Oaks Devotional talk, "Religious Freedom". (link provided below)

....ok, Although I am quick to debate politics, I still believe the majority of us are missing the point- including me most of the time. Our fight for freedom in this country needs to start with GOD. Start with THE FAMILY. Start with teaching the FAMILY about GOD and about our precious freedom of RELIGION.

The real war that is destroying our country and it's freedoms is the Adversary's influence on us to subtly forget about God and subtly annihilate the family unit.

We can't solve the world's problems without God.

So maybe the 'fight for freedom' should be over God, morals, religion, and virtue rather than policies and politicians.

But when a politician stands firm on God-less policies, we must speak up and armour up.

Now the real question we must ask? What are God-less policies?

A couple weeks ago President Obama spoke at a Human Rights Campaign Dinner. His speech at this event is found HERE at the White House website. I really fear the words of this speech, although they sounded nice and comforting to the gay and lesbian community, they were ultimately wrong and God-less.

President Obama said,

"You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman. (Applause.) You will see a nation that's valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union -- a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I am committed to these goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.

There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones -- good and decent people -- who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that's painful and it's heartbreaking. (Applause.) And yet you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make, and by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and church members, as advocates and leaders in your communities. And you're making a difference.
Are we a nation that can transcend old attitudes and worn divides?
I've required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender) families as the current law allows. And I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.

That's the promise we're called to fulfill. (Applause.) Day by day, law by law, changing mind by mind, that is the promise we are fulfilling."

"law by law"?

I believe gay couples should have the same tax benefits as anyone else. They should have the same rights as me and you- But I don't think they should get married only because the word "marriage" means a religious and/or legal union between a man and a woman. That is the definition. So it's like holding up a gallon of milk and calling it peanut butter.

What does President Obama's speech have anything to do with religious freedom?

Three days after the Human Rights Campaign Dinner, Elder Oaks, an apostle of the Lord, spoke to the world about religious freedoms and how they are in jeopardy. Read the talk HERE.

Elder Oaks said,

"The greatest infringements of religious freedom occur when the exercise of religion collides with other powerful forces in society. Among the most threatening collisions in the United States today are (1) the rising strength of those who seek to silence religious voices in public debates, and (2) perceived conflicts between religious freedom and the popular appeal of newly alleged civil rights... I invite your careful attention to what I say on these subjects, because I am describing conditions you will face and challenges you must confront.

During my lifetime I have seen a significant deterioration in the respect accorded to religion in our public life, and I believe that the vitality of religious freedom is in danger of being weakened accordingly.

Religious belief is obviously protected against government action. The practice of that belief must have some limits, as I suggested earlier. But unless the guarantee of free exercise of religion gives a religious actor greater protection against government prohibitions than are already guaranteed to all actors by other provisions of the constitution (like freedom of speech), what is the special value of religious freedom? "

When President Obama pushes for gay rights laws we must pay attention to the bigger picture. (everything progressives push, we need to pay attention to- always the bigger picture, the long term outcome.)

Elder Oaks continues with this:

"Religious freedom needs defending against the claims of newly asserted human rights. The so-called “Yogyakarta Principles,” published by an international human rights group, call for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity.[xiv] This apparently proposes that governments require church practices and their doctrines to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines or practices should be resisted by all believers. At the same time, all who conduct such resistance should frame their advocacy and their personal relations so that they are never seen as being doctrinaire opponents of the very real civil rights (such as free speech) of their adversaries or any other disadvantaged group."

Can you imagine the day when Government decides to override the Freedom of Religion by interpreting our sacred doctrines and forcing religions to accept homosexuality as a way to protect so called "civil rights"? If any right is being violated during the whole Prop 8 ordeal, it was the first Right, the First Amendment: Freedom of Religion.

President Hinckley wrote in his book "Standing for Something":

"In too many ways, we have substituted human sophistry for the wisdom of the Almighty."

skate or die

So what first comes to your mind when you think of a skate park?

pretty cool... great place for all those skater dudes to hone in on their skills...

Do you imagine in your mind a skate park to look like this?



Or a place like this???



So I have a cool picture of a skate park in my head...it's the one in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho- it is downtown on a busy street next to the huge Coeur d'Alene park. When I drive past it I always think, "oh that is cool" or I mean "that's wicked" or I mean "that's so sick". I can understand 'wicked' -but 'sick'?...really?...'sick'???

The city/town I live in has plans on building a skate park...about 150-200 yards from my house...and suddenly I wasn't all too fond of wicked cool sick skate parks...

I can picture myself going for walks with my two little toddler girls (who happen to like dolls and dandelions). And as I near the skate park, I see too many cars parked along the street, I see kids with pants down to their knees, I see some bad habits in the young skater dudes, I see my quiet street not being so quiet anymore...I see myself getting really really mad...

I am a mommy. I am a concerned citizen....oh great here April goes again.

So I called City Hall. I told them to build the skate park next to the City Hall building and not in my neighborhood. I was a little upset. I told them it was silly to put a skate park in a residential neighborhood.

I then called the mayor. I asked him how he would feel if there was a skate park going up next to his house? I told him nicely, "Do you even know the demographics of our neighborhood? We are all either young first time home buyers with little children or older folks passed retirement age. Not too many families with skaters live here, but the park will bring more kids, cars, traffic, and punks from outside the city boundaries than within."

Election time is nearing. I told the mayor I wouldn't vote for him unless he promised he wouldn't build a skate park next to my house. I reassured him I could easily get 1000 signatures to protest the park.

2 weeks later I get a call from the mayor. He told me he is deciding to go against the skate park!!!!!! He said it would be expensive to build and not a good environment for a residential area despite what other members of the city council believe. Hello? My words exactly. He then said, "Why don't you come to the next town hall meeting with some ideas of what the city should do with the property instead?"

"What?"

What did I get myself into now?

ok so if you live near me- please don't laugh at the campaign sign in my front yard...but I am voting for our current mayor this coming election...because he really does listen to the city members...and if you don't want a skate park either you might want to vote for him too...

I wonder if the mayor even has a clue that I am the dorky girl who delivers his paper every morning. oh that makes me laugh...shhhhh

it's that time again

it's that time again to rake up those wretched leaves from our wretched tree...

shhhhh don't let the girls know that we actually don't like to rake leaves until our backs break....shhhhhhh...leaves are cool....leaves are so fun to play in and take great pictures with...oohhhh how I love leaves...falling leaves.....

ok- since it is only once a year I guess I sort of do look forward to raking leaves- it is a nice change up to the outside chores...and the girls really do love it...so we do too. Don't we Chay?

It really is a great time of the year...

one year

one year ago today Mom died...Thursday October 16th, 2008 2:30ish in the afternoon

Am I dealing with it ok? oh sort of I suppose. I just can't believe how time has passed so quickly. Pretty soon she will be dead for 5 years and then 10...and then 20. She will only be a memory to so many- including my girls.

My dad is going to get married to a wonderful lady. She is the perfect pick for my Dad- a little scary how nicely they go together. I would say it is divine intervention.

She will be a lovely Grandma to my girls. I am happy for my Dad. I am so glad he will live his days out with a beautiful companion.

I don't want to forget Mom. Sometimes it feels so good to have those heartbreaking missing mom days- because with that pain she becomes alive again- a flood of memories come back, she almost feels tangible- I can almost hear her laugh. Even though it is hard, I'd rather have the pain of missing her, than to never know what it was like to have her as my mother. I would take this pain any day.

I am so grateful she was a part of my life. I am pretty sure I will live more days without her than with her- which is hard to imagine right now.

For my birthday I wondered what she was doing up there in heaven...and if she'd be around somehow to wish me a happy birthday. Later that day I went down to my laundry room and I found her gratitude journal. I bought the journal for Mom about 3-4 years ago--right around the time she was diagnosed the second time with stage 4 cancer. We still had a ton of hope at this time and so the words written on the cover of the journal were so fitting for this time in her life:

"just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."



Now those words seem even more fitting...she did become a butterfly...she is finally free from sickness and on she goes to her next step of life-

I opened up the journal to a random page to read what my mom was grateful for that day. The date on top of the page was October 13th. (my birthday) It read:

"Grateful that it is April's birthday and what a light she is in our lives."



She wrote that about 3 years ago. I knew this was her way of wishing me a happy birthday. It was a special moment for me...

and a huge lesson: ALWAYS WRITE IN YOUR JOURNAL!!!! You never know when someone is going to desperately need your words.



Love you Mom.

thirty

this little girl has turned 30...

mrs. hammond

on the 12th day of thirty I have decided to finally write my 5th grade teacher and tell her thank you. I have wanted to find Mrs. Hammond for some time now. I think about her a lot and the influence she had in my life. Well ironically enough when I was home last year saying good bye to Mom, I ran into Mrs. Hammond at Ross in the parking lot. It was wonderful. And she remembered me! But we only talked for a minute and so I felt like I still needed to write to her and tell her thank you. So you don't have to read the letter...BORING!!! But for the record here it is. Do you think I should email her the letter or write it out in good old fashion penmanship? What do you think?

This is a picture of her now!!! I wish I could find a 5th grade picture and scan it...somewhere in a big box downstairs...20 years later she is just as classy as ever.


Dear Mrs. Hammond,

What an honor it is to write you.

I am so grateful for our little encounter at the Ross parking lot in Coeur d' Alene one year ago. As I think about my life as a whole and about those certain people in my life who have made the biggest impact, my thoughts always lead to you. Now that I am grown and have children myself, I am starting to realize how precious and vital the childhood years are. I was only 10 when I was your student--just a little 5th grader and yet that year with you as my teacher has never left my memory. I believe your little time of influence played a significant part in the shaping and moulding of who I am today. I knew as a 5th grader that you sincerely believed in me and your students. We knew we were important to you. You cared about our education, you cared that we made good choices, and you cared that we knew how to believe in ourselves.

I think I told you at Ross that it was a goal of mine to find you and thank you for everything you did for me as a teacher. Our conversation was short that day and I left feeling there was still more to say.

I remember 5th grade to be a hard year. I remember feeling worried about school and having friends. My mom always taught me to pray and to have faith that Heavenly Father would comfort me when times became hard. I went into the year feeling confident yet apprehensive. For some reason you looked passed my doubts and saw my true potential. I think you saw it more than I ever could at the time. I was awarded the "East Farms Optimism Award" by you and other teachers. I think something stirred inside me that gave me the idea that I was special and deserving of such an award.

Soon after, you implemented a great idea into the classroom where as students we would run and operate the class as a mock city. You appointed me to be the first president of the city. I felt important and capable. Around this time I decided I would run for secretary of the school. I remember coming into class early one morning to show you the campaign posters my mom and I had made the night before. You looked me right in the eye and said something I will never forget, "I don't think you should run for secretary April, I think you should run for president." That small moment with you has stuck with me through the years. That year as your student I felt like I could do and accomplish anything. You trusted me and the rest of the class with hard tasks and challenges that always made us grow and feel more confident. You expanded my learning process by teaching me to ask the real questions. You didn't teach with an agenda in mind, you taught us how to teach ourselves.

At the end of the year I was sort of lost with peer pressure. I had made some "not so good" friends and for some reason their acceptance was more important than my strengthening and maintaining of my self esteem and my education. I didn't really know what was happening at the time, I was only 10 or 11, but as I look back, it is more clear to me how life started to make some changes at this time. I remember you were either interning, doing some extra credit hours- I'm not sure, but you took the place of the principal for several weeks. I remember I was in music class with Mrs. Brown when she stopped the class and told me that you wanted to see me. I came into your office thinking I was in trouble. I was not in trouble. You were kind and concerned. You expressed your faith in me as a person. You knew I was going through a difficult time with friends and you gently warned me, "April, you don't have to save everyone, you don't have to be friends with everyone, especially with those who tend to make poor choices." I wished I would have listened to your kind advice that day. But despite the rocky road that lay ahead that I could have avoided, I'm still amazed at your willingness to manifest to me that you genuinely cared about me.

Life's up and downs come and go and they teach us great things. Now that I look at my elementary years with a greater perspective, I am so honored and blessed to have a teacher like you. Whenever I want to doubt the public school system, I think of Mrs. Hammond and how amazing you were. You taught Bryon and Joette also. We have sat together and praised you more than once these past many many years. My mom absolutely loved you.

I know most of these memories of mine are probably non existent to you after being a teacher to so many hundreds of students throughout the years, but they are prized memories of mine that I will cherish forever. You definitely have made a mark in my life. Thank you for being the person you are. I know teaching was more than just a job for you. I felt it as a 10 year old and I felt it when I saw you at Ross (that is a great store by the way).

Thank you thank you. There, I did it. I found you and I have thanked you- the pressure is off my shoulders now- I just had to make sure you knew how much you have affected my life for the better. Your teaching skills are embedded in my mind as how I want to teach my children. I loved how most subjects were taught 'hands-on' and how they related to real life scenarios. You made stories come alive. A wonderful teacher. Thank you.

And one more thing--I turned out great. Your advice finally made more sense to me some years later! I also stopped depending on my parent's faith and found my own in God. I started to realize my divinity as a child of God and it has been my anchor for most of my life. After high school I served a mission for my church in Brazil and then graduated with my bachelors at BYU-Idaho. I have now been married for almost 6 years and I'm a stay at home Mommy to two beautiful girls and to hopefully more on the way.

Thank you Mrs. Hammond. I know you told me to call you Cyndie, but you will always be Mrs. Hammond to me.

Yours Truly,

April Tomblin Clark

gift of love

ok so my 13 days of thirty are all messed up- today is supposed to be the 11th day of thirty- oh who really cares...

I am so grateful for church.

Today I taught Gospel Doctrine. I didn't do very well. I could feel it.

I asked Chay today during Sacrament Meeting what I could do to be a better teacher. He responded, "Scratch my back for at least 20 minutes and you'll be filled with all sorts of inspiration." very funny

While I was sulking about my calling, I quickly discovered that a young man in our ward who left a week and 1/2 ago for his 2 year mission was sitting in the chapel with his family. This young man was sent home for reasons no one needs to know. But to serve a mission, you must be clean and pure before the Lord.

It was fast and testimony meeting today. This young man got up and bore his testimony. His mom then got up after him and bore her testimony. She said, "2 weeks ago our son was dressed in the armour of God ready to serve the Lord and little did we know he was already wounded." She then continued to bear witness that through the power of the atonement her son will be stronger and more faithful. She expressed her love for him and expressed gratitude for the heartache they were going through- she knew God's love was infinite and great lessons were being taught at this time in their life.

After she was done bearing her testimony she walked down and gave her son the biggest hug. It was so beautiful to feel this mother's love for her boy. I was so touched. I was convinced at that very moment that Love heals all...it has to. I don't know this young man very well but I got up and bore testimony that we've all been wounded- we all need Christ. We all need each other to get back to our Father in Heaven. The rest of the testimony meeting was so powerful. Members in the ward embraced this young man with love. I was witnessing a miracle. United we joined in this young man's healing adventure. There was no room in our hearts to judge. The spirit was so strong. It felt good to be surrounded by those who are trying their best to serve God and who love this young man the way he should be loved by a ward family.

In a world where we fall so easily to judge and belittle those around us, I experienced a true miracle of love today. By far the best gift yet.

11th day

today was a nice relaxing day...

it was Souper Saturday for our ward's Relief Society and so I made some fun magnets for the girls...but it was mainly just nice to talk to women face to face. The soup was good too.

Chay went riding today...again. :)

Chay Chay Chay...he is like a dream boy for most girls I'd say...not overly romantic or talkative but he's tough you know...and a little mysterious...and smiley. Great smile. He is a big strong hands type of guy. And those hands...are scarred from riding and fixing 4 wheelers and dirt bikes his whole life. If I wasn't married and I met Chay on a day like today- where he was wearing his fox riding shirt while loading up his motorcycle on to the trailer and he happened to flash a smile my way, I'd be after him in a second.

I remember my Family Counseling Teacher at school told the class once that women tend to marry men who resemble certain traits their father and big brothers have. Sometimes these traits women don't necessarily love or relate to, but it gives the woman a sense of protectiveness and a home bound feeling.

I wonder why I fell in love with Chay...


This is me and my big brother Bryon...

I do enjoy riding dirt bikes and 4 wheelers...I have to, it is a part of my blood. I really love seeing how excited Chay gets when he gets to go riding.

So on the 11th day of 30, after Chay got home from spending the afternoon with his second love, He made his first love (that would be me) wear an old tie as a blindfold.



We got in the car. He told me we were going somewhere special. I told him I have a really good sense of direction. He didn't believe me. When he finally stopped the car I said, "We aren't at McGrath's Fish House are we?" We were.

There is nothing meaningful about this restaurant...nor was it a big surprise...but now it means something to me- this random restaurant will always make me smile and giggle when I drive past it. Thanks Chay for making the night special...and thanks for telling the waitress it was my birthday...so I could wear the fish hat.









I'm not sure why we keep bringing the children to restaurants. We always promise ourselves never again...

and they still ate all my birthday ice cream.

13 days of thirty are going fast....

on the eighth day of thirty my true love gave to me...

um...a front porch with cool pumpkin fall stuff.



I decided to support the community and get some pumpkins at a local farmer's market downtown...but then again, this farmer's market also sells papayas...so maybe not so local...

anyway so while Kenzie and Gage (my nephew) were going buck wild running up and down the rows of pumpkins and throwing straw into their hair and Julia with her head wedged between two hay bails, I shopped around for the perfect pumpkins.
...and you know, the traditional orange jack-o-latern pumpkins just didn't do it for me this year...unless I spray paint them white...maybe I will do that??? Does anybody know the name or type of these cool red pumpkins??? I'm planting them next year for sure.



And then I couldn't pass up the all the cute little pumpkin squash thingies- so I bought a bunch and threw them in my hanging flower baskets...



and of course my mums are in full swing and spreading like crazy...love mums.



I like my little front porch...

On the 9th day of thirty...I'd say my greatest gift was reading a C.S. Lewis journal that I purchased on clearance a couple weeks ago. I am still thinking about this quote:

"No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting against it, not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by trying to talk against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later...We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it. ~from Mere Christianity

I have fallen for temptation before and I always wonder about that God-given strength that was waiting right around the corner if I would have just held true to my principles...I love this quote. A great gift. A great reminder to keep holding on.

On the 10th day of 30...

THRIFT STORE TREASURES!!!!! I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with this stuff...but it will all fit in somewhere at sometime-







Janna, you secretly want this lamp. I thought of you and your all white house when I saw it.






happy birthday to me...

entertainment centers

Slowly fading away...35MM film, handwritten letters, VHS, tape cassette, antennas, incandescent light bulbs, and entertainment centers.

Yes, entertainment centers, those big chunky pieces of furniture that were made to hold a smaller TV, VHS player, CD players and huge speakers...

I always see those poor entertainment centers sitting at garage sales...they are huge and useless. I often see them on the side of the road with a "FREE" sign stuck to them.

The plasma is chasing them out of existence. But since we don't have an enormous flat screen up on the wall, we still have an entertainment center. It eats up half the basement.

Well look what some amazing lady from Sutton Grace is doing with these once no longer needed pieces of furniture. These pictures are taken from her blog.







what an awesome good resourceful idea!...I'm already thinking about how I could maybe finally have my dream kitchen... only in a much much smaller scale...

well actually- the size of these kitchens are somewhat comparable to mine...the counter space anyway...

love these play kitchens!!!