Decorating on a dime

So I'm stuck. Stuck in a room that screams out, an old woman lived here. With a boarder that was tan with brown geraniums and an assortment of flowers I would sit in my room of a some what stupid layout and would stare at the border. So one day I had it, I took a spray bottle of water and began spraying and scraping. So now, with a bare wall and blooming creativity i get a fresh start on a new room. So with me I will take you on my mission to create the ultimate oriental paradise, and due to unemployment and not being a hotel heiress, I will be attempting this under $100. So far I have spent...
12.00- Faux silk drapes (2, $4 each) (Jysk)
1.50- Oriental Candle holder (Goodwill)

Fortunately I have many things I have collected from the past, gifts from family and friends, and just simple crafts I have created on my own (which so far have not cost a cent.)I would be required by my own rules to include the dangling see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil fish bone monkeys I bartered(if you know me like I know me, thats a huge strech for my character!!) for in Mexico on a very recent vacation, but since I bought them for my boyfriend and he will not let me go back on my word and keep them I can't include them in the compilation. I wish you could see them hanging here now beside me on an unsightly massive hook sticking out of my wall. Oh how i love those monkeys...


Most of all what I love in my room...
1. My night stand drawer: My drawer is absolutely my night time survival kit (if necessary), the ultimate woman's drawer. Its got your body lotions, sleep mask, chap stick, note pad, pen, body mists, a current book i am reading at the moment, matches, and candles. Yes, I love my night stand drawer, though I love the convenience of the drawer, I did not say I love the night stand its self. I am pretty sure its one my grandpa got for me at an auction, like my dresser, which is an eye sore. Not saying I hate it, i just think it is a charming nightstand... for a preteen, no, I actually love it, but it could use some saving, which I will discuss later.




2. My window: Though my window is leaky and typically my room is 15 degrees warmer that outside, which isn't good in our cold Canadian winters. But it provides me with a beautiful view of our barn, fields and forests, but best of all in the summer a view of the soy beans in sunset that look like a blazing fire. breath taking. I hope to convince my dad to put in a larger window though, my room is big, but its a box, the closet sticks out weird, the ceiling droops weirder, and there is a nook where the door is which is frustrating since, the only thing that can go there without blocking me in my room is my over stuffed bookcase.
3. The art: I love the art in my bedroom. I love art, I love to make art!! just recently my (we will call her my Mother in law, my boyfriends Mum) gave me a beautiful painting of a (looks Himalayan) girl carrying her baby brother in a sack on her back. Another, which has been the building block of the design of my room is a Vietnamese painting my step grandma gave me from when she was a missionary in Vietnam. a beautiful red and gold painting of bamboo with the Vietnamese calligraphy. As far as paintings go, that's it, though I hope once i get the paint on my walls I can get some paintings of Geisha's from the ever reliable Jysk.

My mission for my room, much easier. The perfect way to let my creativity flow.
1. Create more storage and minimize clutter: Wouldn't you just die for some sort of wicker storage?
2. Create a mature, relaxing zen room with a romantic setting: yes i know romantic isn't something a room for an unmarried girl should be but, relax, a girl needs a palace. A private place where I can write, read, and be me. :)
3. Spend as little as possible: Yes, I am cheap, I'll give you that, but I am smart with money.
4. Some space: my room, a disaster, I love to work out to dvds, (Kathy Smiths Flex Appeal belly dancing, yoga, ect.) But it is next to the impossible, with my clingy cat and the indescribably DISGUSTING couch in my way, and you girls know how it is not wanting to work out in the living room where some one can see you, UGH!! Hate that!

I am not sure if anyone reads this, or cares, but the next blogs in this series I will provide you with ideas, tips I learn, and updates. Thanks for now, leave any comments or tips :) Blessings XX

What is happening to our church?

Christianity has turned into an ugly thing, hasn't it? From slave owners, to the stories we hear of sexual abuse by a catholic priest, intolerant people, commission Christians and the ever so frightening 'God Warriors'. But there is one man, one man most of us have heard of is Fred Phelps, pastor and founder of Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. If you have not heard of him, he is the poster boy of hate and intolerance. With a FIERCE and almost incomprehensible hate for homosexual men and women him and his followers protest funerals of homosexual men and women who have been taken by AIDS. But not only do they target homosexual peoples, they also go after American Soldiers and civilians displaying quotes such as..

"Well, we wish it were 33,000 killed, but we are thankful for 33." (In reference to the VTech shootings.)

"The Lord God Almighty killed [the people who died on 9/11], looked at them in the face, laughed and mocked at each one of them as he cast each one of them into hell."

"1.07 billion members of that monstrous machine called the Roman Catholic Church. Every last one of them going to hell."

And some of their infamous signs seen read...

Thank God for Dead Soldiers
AIDS is God's Gift
Heath in Hell (Heath Ledger)
God Hates Obama
God Hates America
God Sent the Shooter
Thank God for 9/11
Pray for More Dead Soldiers

On the churches website (www.godhatesfags.com) they have bible verses to "backup" their extreme hate for homosexuals. Upon researching their supporting evidence that God hates homosexuals, I found no evidence. Except verses saying God loves his children, gave his only son for us, God created man in his own image, his enduring love. Do I have the wrong version of the bible? Perhaps I missed the term God Hates Gays.... In fact there is no reference to the fact God hates anyone. He does state that homosexuality is immoral and not what he intended but in no way shape or form does he claim to hate homosexual men and women.

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" - Jesus Matthew 5:44

Yves Saint Laurent: A Timeless Fashion Icon

Yves Saint Laurent once said, “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity...” If still alive today Levi Strauss, (inventor of today’s copper rivet jeans), would be saying the exact same about Yves Saint Laurent. Said to be one of the greatest fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent has contributed to the fashion world some of the greatest and unforgettable designs. Behind his incredible talent and passion for fashion lays the incredible seldom told story of Yves Saint Laurent.
Born into a wealthy French family in 1936 Yves Saint Laurent grew up in a sheltered childhood remaining unaffected by the crushing war in Europe. Oldest of three children and only boy Yves inherited his mother’s fashion sense. As a child he enjoyed acting out plays for his family in an empty room and reading theatre reviews in the Paris version of Vogue magazine. In these magazines the costumes and descriptions captivated him. At the young age 17 in 1955, Yves submitted fashion sketches in a contest for young designers. Though he did not win first place only winning third he caught the attention of Michel de Brunhoff, editor in chief at Paris Vogue magazine. Since then de Brunhoff kept a close eye on the budding talent of Yves Saint Laurent.
It was quickly after his next contest entry that Yves received his first big break. After winning the second contest he took some sketches to de Brunhoff. Little did he know that Christian Dior, a famous haute couturier had sketched and shown similar sketches to Brunhoff that very morning. Brunhoff immediately contacted Dior and had the sketches promptly sent to him. Christian Dior hired young Yves immediately. The next year Yves found himself the head designer of Dior, following the unexpected death of Christian Dior. It was this young designer’s fresh outlook and designs that saved the house of Dior with his spring line in 1958. He was such a valuable part of Dior that the new owner Marcel Boussac fought the governments draft on Yves for two years. But once Yves 1960 line had failed greatly, he was no longer a valuable asset. Yves was drafted for the French army in 1960 but lasted only twenty days due to mental stress and hazing, he was shortly their after sent to a mental health facility in Val-de-Grace. Matters got worse when he discovered here that he had been let go from Dior. That November he filled a lawsuit against Dior claiming a breach of contract. He won the lawsuit, and shortly after his release from the hospital he and his lover Pierre Berge opened their own fashion house.
Through his great trials and triumph’s Yves Saint Ives pulled through and made fashion history. Next time you see a woman’s pant suit/ tuxedo, tight pants, tall thigh boots you will know more about the great man who thought up, designed and created that original idea, a man whose story still inspires all those who come across it.

Internet Dangers

The Internet… in just 1996 there was a reported 9.5 Million people on the internet; now just imagine how many people this year if 2008 have at home access to the internet daily. That would mean an estimated 55.4 Million people world wide. Now that’s a lot, you have instant access to those people anywhere in the world, and they have access to you. It’s pretty cool when you think about it, what they are doing on the internet wondering “are they on myspace right now?” “Are they looking at the recent stocks?” “Are the getting reacquainted with long lost friends?” “Are they just keeping contact with friends?” or “Are they watching videos on you-tube or playing games with friends?”
What ever it may be the internet is a highly dangerous tool if it is not used with caution. On http://www.fbi.gov it is estimated that 21 million teenagers have access and use the internet daily. Knowledge about the internet and how to be careful to not lead a predator to your house must be enforced to keep them all safe. Wikipedia an free online encyclapedia states that at any givin moment there can be 50,000 sexual predators online. That means of the 55.4 million of the internet users around the world 49,944 of them are sex-offenders.
I am a huge fan of degrassi and datelines to catch a predator. From these two fantastic shows I have gathered a lot of knowladge about internet saftey. So here are my tips to keep you and your family safe….
1. Don’t not post pictures of your self wearing a school t-shirt or anything else that may lead them to your where about.
2. Don’t give out any clues as to where you live (ex. I went down to the falls with my friends= would suggest that you live in Niagara Falls.)
3. Do not post your real name or give it out. Even just go by a nickname ex. Cutiepie32
4. Make all your myspace pages set to private
5. Do not post too personal information about your life on your pages, just because they are set to private doesn’t mean they are.
6. Just because some one you meet over the internet says, has pictures or acts your age doesn’t mean they are.
7. If you choose to go meet someone you met online bring an adult or a friend with you to a public place. If it does not go well and they aren’t who they say they are call the police.
8. Don’t talk about sex with strangers online…you don’t want to lead them on. If they keep bringing it up contact http://www.cybertipline.com.
9. Make your password and question something no one else would think off. Make sure there are no clues in any of you pictures either.
10. If they say something that makes you feel uncomfortable, block them or turn off the computer, tell someone.
11. Be polite to others.
12. Don’t post anything online that you wouldn’t want your parents to see… If you feel very secretive then it is probably not a good idea to have it posted.
13. Even if you’re a teenager give your parents your passwords.
14. Spend as little time as possible, its healthier to have a life out side of the internet.

Remember this: your kids may be smart, but not smart enough to out smart a predator. This following video is taken from Datelines to catch a predator just imagine the man in this video could have shown up at your house to meet you/ or your child. Millions of kids have actually dealt with this similar scenario except they did not have dateline there to protect them.