Christmas is Coming (and a Winner!)

Did you know Christmas is less than 4 months away?  Okay, still seems like awhile, but I am all about preparing early for this holiday, especially this year because with added adoption expenses that will be due around the same time, I just can't be spending a lot of money all at once in December.  I have literally had some presents ready to give since Target's toy clearance in January ~ it pays to plan ahead!
Maybe you aren't a planner and you need some help.....well, I have some great sites for you to check out!  Beginning tomorrow and lasting for the entire month of September, there will be a "holiday trifecta" devoted to preparing you for the upcoming holidays.  Bake, Craft, and Sew along with the ladies at A Southern Fairytale, Skip to My Lou, and According to Kelly....and plan ahead this year.

You'll especially want to check out According to Kelly on September 25 when I'll be showing up and sharing some of my favorite Christmas crafts and decorating ideas!  I'm super excited to be in the company of some of my favorite bloggers and can't wait to be inspired by all the great ideas!

In other news, the winner of the Uprinting.com giveaway is #2 ~ The Activity Mom!  I'll be getting in touch with you!!  Thanks to all who entered!

Have a great day!

The Cellar Door Stories Meets Facebook

Just a quick note to say The Cellar Door Stories now has it's own Facebook page!  I was procrastinating with this for quite some time, but I've had a few requests recently so today I decided to take the plunge.  I'm still trying to figure everything out, but feel free to connect with me on Facebook!  (You can click on this link or the one on my sidebar, or just do a search on Facebook!)

See you there!

2 Random Tidbits

1:  I learned over the weekend that yes, it is possible to hem curtains while they are still hanging.  I don't exactly recommend it, but now the curtains in my master bedroom are an appropriate length, and it also means I can cross of #69 on my 101 in 1001 list! 

2:  Remember this yard sale find?  (You can see the original post here).

Well, I was looking through the latest Pottery Barn Teen catalog, and lookee here what I found....

See it?  On the left?  2nd "drawer" down?  Clearly, someone from Pottery Barn must have seen my blog and was immediately inspired.  I'm expecting a big fat bonus check any day now.

Ok, obviously kidding.  But it was pretty cool to see my lucky $3 yard sale find in a Pottery Barn catalog :)

One last random tidbit....have you entered my Uprinting.com giveaway yet?  Free letterhead up for grabs!  Ends tomorrow!

UPrinting.com Giveaway

I was recently contacted by UPrinting.com to host a giveaway - and who doesn't like a giveaway?!  I love to pass along great deals....so here's the lowdown....
The winner will receive:  500 pieces of letterhead (5.5"x8.5", 70lb offset, front only printing, 4 business days print turnaround time, and free shipping!)  I was checking out their website and this package is valued at almost $90!!

Ok, so I really have no idea what 70lb offset means....although I feel like a Dunder Mifflin employee talking about it!  But free letterhead could be pretty cool right?  It would be perfect for someone with a store or etsy shop or another home business!  I was also brainstorming....anyone can use some personalized "From the Desk of...." stationary, right?  How about using it as a gift for someone?  So many possibilities, and if you need some help, Uprinting.com has some great examples for inspiration.  Along with letterhead printing, the company also offers many other services, including letterhead design, brochures, magnets, canvas prints, wedding envelopes, banners, stickers....and so much more!!

Potential winners must be 18 years or older and may not have won another UPrinting.com giveaway within the past 6 months.

Want to win??  Just leave a comment on this post!

Want more chances to win?
For additional entries, you can...
1)  become a public follower via Google Friend connect, and leave a comment telling me you did (or you already are!)
2)  share this giveaway via Facebook, your blog, twitter, banner pulled by airplane...it's your choice!  Leave one comment for each.

This is a quick one.....comments will be closed at noon on 8/31 and a winner will be chosen using Random.org.

Disclaimer:  This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive letterhead printing service by hosting. Letterhead design inspiration and wedding envelopes is also available. Please visit UPrinting.com for more details.

Good luck!  Hope all you East Coasters are staying safe from Irene!!  We are supposed to get wind and rain here, but nothing too bad hopefully!

Use Your Leftovers: Corn Fritters

One food that we love to eat this time of year is corn on the cob.  I love getting fresh locally grown corn!!  Jackson is a huge fan of corn on the cob too and requested it as part of his Back-to-School dinner earlier this week - hamloaf, corn on the cob, and watermelon - how's that for a Lancaster County summertime meal!  Anyway, I tend to cook too much (blaming it on my Italian grandmother) and always have leftovers.  Luckily I love leftovers, but leftover corn on the cob?  Not too tempting.  I cut all the corn off the cobs, and saved it with plans to reheat it as a side.  Boring!

I changed my mind and decided to make corn fritters - another Lancaster County favorite!  I had never even heard of them before moving here and this was my first time making them.  I combined several recipes and came up with a winner that we all loved!

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh corn* (approximately)
1 cup flour
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon oil + additional for frying
syrup for dipping

Mix all ingredients together.  I used a small cookie scoop to drop into a little hot oil (you could also make these larger, like pancakes).  Fry on one side until golden brown and then flip and do the same to the other side.  Put on plate lined with paper towels.  Best served warm with syrup!


*You could probably use canned or frozen corn as well, but I haven't tried it!

Linking to a few of my favorites ~ check them out!

Come back later for a UPrinting.com giveaway!!

Beautiful (FREE) Hydrangea Wreath

At the end of July, I forced myself to take down my patriotic wreath and since then my front door has been looking mighty empty.  With saving for an adoption, I have been trying to be very conscious about the amount of money I spend on non-necessities...and a new wreath, or materials to make one, doesn't really fit under the "needs" category!  Nikki from Thrifty Decorating to the rescue!  She made a beautiful hydrangea wreath and inspired me to do the same.

Mine was slightly different because I had a wire wreath form to use (left over from my Christmas greenery wreath).  After picking the best blooms from my hydrangeas, I used some florist wire to attach them to the wreath.

I just kept going until the wreath was filled!  (Yeah, I switched to working on the living room floor halfway through like always!)

My hydrangeas aren't too big, so the blooms were a bit limited, which made the wreath lack some fullness....so I added a raffia bow to try and make the lack of bloomage less noticeable.

Here's the finished product on the front door ~ I like how it turned out, and of course the best part is that it was totally FREE!  Thanks for the inspiration, Nikki!

Linking to a few of my favorites ~ check them out!!

It's always exciting to be featured ~ thanks so much!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Sigh.  Is summer really over??  I mean, technically it's not.  But school has begun, and that ends summer in my book.  Don't get me wrong, I am excited for the cooler fall temperatures, falling leaves, and especially being able to get my most favorite drink in the world (pumpkin spice iced coffee) at Dunkin' Donuts!  Mixed feelings though...cause today I had to send my best little guy off to Kindergarten!

Thankfully, it wasn't a huge adjustment ~ Jackson already attended our school's K4 program last year 2 days each week, and this year he's only going to Kindergarten 3 days per week (love that option!)  No trauma or tears involved, but I sure do miss my guy when he's not here!

And now for some pics....

 Jon is always up and out of the house for work long before the rest of us are up...but he likes to leave Jack a little present for the first day of school!

 Cutie pie with the uggo screen door....which reminds me...that's going on the "to do" list!

 Nearly impossible to get a picture of Carly standing still!

One last hug before Jack heads in to school!

He had a great first day....although my little scholar was sad to report that he did not learn any math today.  Here's to another great year!

PS - We survived our first earthquake yesterday!  It was pretty crazy!  Not bad enough for any damage, but our whole house was shaking!  Did you feel it where you live?

Adoption: Why Does It Cost So Much?

We're in the thick of it now.  Paperwork aplenty, but starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  One of the questions I've been getting a lot lately is the simple - "How much does it cost?"  so I thought I'd expand a little on that today.
First of all, cost varies by agency, country program, and even the state you live in.  For AWAA's Ethiopia program, and for us living in PA, here's the breakdown of our costs....

Application & Dossier Building
   Application Fee                                      $250
   1st Installment of Program Fee                $1500
   Home Study (varies by state)                  $1800
   Home Study travel fees                           $78
   Adoptive Parent Training                        $175
   Document Collecting, etc                        $100-$500
   USCIS/Fingerprinting                             $890
   Notarization/Certification/Authentication  $400

Dossier Submission & Waiting
   Courier Service                                       $150
   2nd Installment of Program Fee               $2000
   Post Adoption Report Deposit                $1000
   Dossier Service & Translation                 $800
   1/2 International Program Fee                 $3750

Referral & Travel
   International Specialist Consultation         $100-$400
   3rd Installment of Program Fee               $1500
   Post Adoption Administrative Fee           $385
   1/2 International Program Fee                 $3750
   Trip 1 Airfare                                         $2400-$4000
   Trip 1 In Country Package                     $1400-$2500
   Trip 1 Visas                                           $40
   Trip 2 Airfare                                         $2400-$4000
   Trip 2 Airfare (child)                               $250-$1000
   Trip 2 In Country Package                     $1000-$2000
   Trip 2 Visas                                           $40
   Visa/Embassy Fee (child)                       $404

Post Adoption
   Post Adoption Visits                              $600-$1300
   Post Adoption Visit travel fees               $0-$300
   Post Adoption Report REFUND           ($1000)
   Other costs (doctors, etc)                      $100-$1000

TOTAL:   $27,762-$34,912

Readoption in the United States is optional, but recommended, and varies by state - $300-$1500.  Another thing to consider is this is the estimated costs for one child.  If we would receive a referral for two children, some of the costs would increase.

Ok, I'm feeling overwhelmed.  How about you?  The next question I have gotten is, "Are you independently wealthy?"  And the answer to that is a big fat NO.  (I'm a stay at home mom, and have you seen my mad couponing skillz?)

It means we are stepping out in faith.  We believe so strongly that adoption is God's plan for our family that we will do it.....even if we don't necessarily know how.  Yes, we do have some of the money saved.  Yes, we could take out a loan, and we will if we need to (there are places who will sometimes grant interest-free loans for the purpose of adoption).  Yes, we will begin applying for grants as soon as our home study is finalized.  Yes, we will be putting house plans on the backburner (my hideous kitchen will remain hideous for a few more years!)  And yes, we are so so thankful for people who have given to us through various ways so far (our coffee fundraiser, through a PayPal donation, items for our upcoming yard sale, or a friend who has donated her notary services!)  We have a few more fundraisers coming up and we are so thankful for the friends behind them!! 

It is expensive.  But God is God.  He can provide us with that money in whatever way He sees fit.  Personally, I vote for a basket of bills floating down from heaven :)  We are trusting in Him and also doing everything we can to save and raise the money.  It will be worth it.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you wear.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  -Matthew 6:25-27

Operation Organized Bathroom Cabinet

I am the first to admit it - organizing and cleaning are NOT my strong points.  I love to cook, bake, etc....but cleaning?  Ugh.  No thank you.  That being said, I've come to realize lately that I need to get on the ball.  Maybe it's partially because of an impending home study, maybe because I know life will be easier when it's organized, or maybe it's just time.
My first project?  The "linen closet" in our master bathroom.  We don't have an actual linen closet - so when we moved in we added one of our cabinets.  It doesn't fit well in the space, but it works.
Ready for the "before?"  Please keep in mind that we haven't done anything as far as painting in this room....so please don't think the blue trim was my idea!.....

 

Yikes, pretty bad right?  Not a lot of linens in the linen closet, because I had already taken step one awhile ago - storing our sheets in an under-the-bed box.  It's handy and saves room - love it!  (Oh, and I also picked up that tip about folding the sheets and storing each set in a matching pillowcase - love that too!)

I cleaned out the cabinet, threw away all the expired medicines (what?  I shouldn't drink Nyquil from 6 years ago?!) and things we don't use, rolled the towels, and organized like items in little plastic bins, and here's what I ended up with....

Much improved, right?  Look at all that extra space!!  I was even able to move a bunch of things from our counter, and it's looking amazing too...

Of course I had to add some labels.  I thought of labeling each container with its contents, but couldn't get it to look how I wanted it to, and plus, the containers are already see-through, so I just labeled each one with an alphabet sticker.

Here's the cabinet with the containers labeled (a little hard to see because of our terrible lighting).....

In case you were wondering....here's the rundown on what goes where:  a=razors (one of my stockpile items...you can almost always find them free or super cheap....so why not get them in advance and never pay full price!), b=first aid stuff, c=medicines (all of these are safely out of the reach of little hands!)  1st Big Basket=daily stuff like hairbrushes, deodorant, contact solution, etc.  The blue thing in front of the basket?  Oh yeah, that's for my mouth guard.  Cause I'm cool like that.
2nd shelf from the top:  2nd big basket includes random stuff we don't use daily, like lotions, aloe gel, etc.  D=hair stuff like headbands, ponytail holders.  Everything else in that little cubby is also hair-related, like my hairdryer and the clippers I use to cut Jon's hair.
3rd shelf:  E=makeup, chapsticks; F=toothbrushes & floss (other stockpile items!)  The old wipes container (ran out of the clear plastic tubs!) currently has pantyhose, and the jar next to it has little flower pins and accessories.  And of course you can see the bottom shelf is filled with towels.  Amazing how much room it saves to roll them!

I'll keep you updated as I continue my quest for a more organized home!  What are your best organizing tips?

Linking up to some of my favorites - check them out!

Old Crate + Old Casters = New Table

Yippee for another great yard sale find...this delightful old crate...

Rope handles...

Worn letters on the front.... (5 B J 5 ......any ideas?)

The best part?  Only $6!

My hubby added some casters he had found, and turned the crate into a cute little table on wheels!

So, this space that needed a table earlier this summer....

now has one!  (And I'm loving that it can be moved super easily for when I get the urge to rearrange!)

Gotta love old stuff that can be turned into something new!

Linking to a few of my favorites ~ check them out!

It is always an honor to be featured ~ THANKS so much!

Friday Favorites #3

So many favorites, so little time!  I've been working on a million different things lately, so I haven't had much time go exploring over the blogosphere.  So instead of showcasing some of my favorite blogged-about projects, I'm going to share some of my other favorite things!  I may be doing this from time to time, but I'll attempt to stick with a theme.  This week's theme:  board games!

I have always loooooved playing games, and lucky for me, I married in to a family that loves it too!  Here's a few of my favorites....

#1:  Ticket to Ride ~ one of my newest faves....someone may actually need to host an intervention to get us to stop playing this game.  We have the European version, but there's also one from the turn of the century United States, Nordic Countries, and Germany.  I love that this game takes some strategy, but at the same time, it's easy to catch on to - even our 5 year old understands the basic idea of the game.

#2:  The Settlers of Catan ~ our previous favorite, before we were introduced to Ticket to Ride.  Collecting resources, building settlements....there's definitely strategy, but there's some luck involved too!  This game is a little different each time you play, so you never get tired of it!  There's also expansion packs and other variations available, but you always have to start with the basic game board.

#3:  Boxers Or Briefs? ~ Hilarious!  I have literally come close to peeing my pants while playing this game.  Players describe you using one of the 2000+ funny and unique statements written on cards, and you choose a true statement and a funny statement.  With phrases like "....is the hairiest beast in the room" there is definitely a lot of laughter with this one.  **A few of the statements are a smidge risque, so you might want to take that into account when you play!**

#4:  Dutch Blitz ~ not exactly a board game, but the fastest and most fun card game you will ever play.  EVER.  And just so you know, you haven't really played until you have played with Mennonites.  I have many many fond memories of crazy youth group nights playing this game for hours!

 

#5:  Last but not least, Apples to Apples, another fun party game. You can play this with a big crowd and it's easy to understand.  Not quite as hilarious as Boxers or Briefs, but very funny!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my Top 5 favorite games!  Are you a game player?  I'm always looking for more fun games to play ~ what are your suggestions?