THIS IS MY LIFE...

I thought I would post a few photos of what my kitchen looks like.  There used to be a wall in the middle of this room. It is gone now.

So this is my kitchen. There is no cabinets, no sink, counters, flooring, etc. We had to take out a window and close the space up, so that I could have cabinets where the window was. Then I had a larger 4x4 window put in to allow greater light.

This is my kitchen now-

I know, it's pretty scary.

We are grilling out on our grill, eating too much cereal and convenience food. It has made me very crabby and weepy. I admit it, a major kitchen-home remodel is taking it's tole on me. I am finalizing CHA S and leaving for Scrap A Ganza in two short weeks. (BTW- my class at Windy City Scrap booking is going to be posted for sign ups I believe-- TODAY. It is July 16th in Chicago. The class is already over half full- so CALL if your interested. I have some BIG surprises in store for this class!!!)

So last week, McKay had her year end choir concert.

I can't believe she is now 14 and will be in 9th GRADE next year. (3rd from left). LOVE her!!!

I have a little problem- it's my son Ty. He is just the funniest kid you will ever meet. He loves to be unique and likes to do his own hair.

This is what he did yesterday before Taylors seminary church program. Granted it is TOO long, but he loves it.

I worry- should I let him do his crazy hair ways? He looks really darling, but I do worry if people will judge me or him. I am fairly strict in mothering and sometimes I feel I need to let my kids have a bit more freedom. I try to pick my battles. He wanted to dye his hair RED and BLUE before which was a big NO WAY EVER!!!!

Today for school, he went with his normal everyday hair style...

Similar to this...photo taken at his baseball game on Thursday. He likes to wear his baseball hats!!!

Anyway, I took photos- I want to remember how he took 30 minutes to do his hair "special" yesterday.

Last, a few projects to share-

a class designed by Laura Vigliarol using the Damask line-it's a book for prom. LOVE it!

Now a few projects using the Damask Collection at the Stationery Show. I am not sure who did the creations, but they are beautiful. The perfect wedding collection-

Have a great day!!!!

Comments

[kris]

my daughter is only 15 and i am seriously thinking of buying mass quantities of the damask and bella line to do her wedding in...just about 10 years to wait, right! they make darling wedding deco.

[andrea]

You hit the nail on the head when you said "pick your battles"...it's only hair, and he needs to express himself some way - wouldn't you rather have that than some face piercing?! Besides...the hair-do looks awesome on him! He's a cutie!

[Laura Vigliarolo]

LOVE the stationary done with this line. Sorry about the kitchen, I love the hair, but then again you should see how my see how my son is dressed on my blog.

[jill]

i agree with andea in that it is only hair. there are by far worse things that he could be into to express himself. i look at it this way, if he is a good kid, and if he loves the lord, everything else is just for fun. i even would say yes to the red and blue hair. how fun is that for a kid his age. and who cares about what people think? you won't be able to please everybody all of the time. and that is a great lesson to teach ty (but i bet he already knows it). plus think of the photo ops! and if you really hate it, shave it or have him wear a hat.

just my two cents
jill

[Becky Olsen]

Wow, that kitchen is crazy.
Hair is a dillema, how much is too much?
And those projects are gorgeous, how cool!
B-

[Debbie]

I agree...pick your battles! I do draw the line at crazy colors for my kids. They have to look ok for doing their church duties. :-)

[Candi Tardio]

CRAZY kitchen! can't wait to see the final pic's!!! {but you can't either!!!}
can't wait to meet you at windy city in july! i am signed up with my friend sarah and we can't wait!!!!!!!!! plus that is our fave scrapbook store!!!!

[Harriet Herrington]

Wow!!!! What a surprise......I took Laura's class at Paper Tales in East Pointe, Michigan ...A Night to Remember. It was great. Laura is a good teacher and I loved your paper. My book includes photographs of me, my daughter and my son....all dances. So neat. Thank you for designing the paper, thank you Laura for your great class. Harriet

[LoriKaye]

my mom always said hair is hair, if thats the only thing you have to worry about your kid doing you have a good kid. i kind of have followed her advice on that. he looks adorable though and that style is totally in, the coloring???maybe if its like the spray in kind for something fun but not everyday...

[Dawn]

I totally understand the house being in disarray. Growing up, my dad & mom were always working on a house project. It sure does get crazy!
Those Damask projects are absolutely stunning! WOW!!!

[christie]

Love your sons hair...totally adorable.
So sorry about your kitchen, I would go mad (of course it seems that you're headed that way soon if they don't finish up).
I love the wedding invites, so pretty!

http://prettypaperbook.com/blog

[catherine]

Remodeling is always trying, but so worth it in the end. I think your son's hair is adorable. Don't worry about what other people think. They aren't important but your family is. Your son (and the rest of your kids) will think you are the coolest mom ever if you let him play around with his hair. All that stuff is temporary and it's so worth it to let him have that freedom. Good luck with everything, Teresa.

[echo]

Those are beautiful! Love the book....such a good idea for prom! My son is the same age, 10 and wants to do the "fo-hawk" every now again. I say let him, cuz when it dries, they just end up with a fuzzy thing in the middle of their head! Also, we bought colored hair gel and he only gets to use it on "crazy" dress up days at school or on the weekends. Hope that helps! :)

[Alexandra Hobson]

I think you are being a smart parent by picking your battles - there are far worse things he could be doing - and he is a cutie! If people want to judge your parenting because of this, they need to look harder at themselves!

This paper line is incredible, just beautiful and these projects take my breath away! Wonderful!

Just keep reminding yourself that you will have a beautiful kitchen when this is all over - this too shall pass!

*STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

[Lynda Volz]

I would let him where his hairstyle the way he wants. I am so appreciative of my mother, she always allowed me to be creative....I think I painted and redecorated my room at least a dozen times while living at home. I always had a different style of hair and my clothes were always different. I am so happy that she allowed me to be me and allowed me to create!! I believe that her allowing me to be creative and explore my creativity is the reason why I love to create to this day!

P.S. I signed up for your Windy City class in July...SO EXCITED TO FINALLY MEET YOU!!!!

[Melodie-Belle]

OMG your kitchen looks just like my DD's right down to the shop vac! They are in the midst of same project. Sheet rock dust totally sucks by the way..........Hope yours goes more quickly and smoothly!! I know you will love it when it is done.

The damask line is gorgeous, I especially love the invitation on the bottom of the photos. Positively gorgeous. I adore black and white.

I think your son is adoreable and he did his hair pretty darned well for a 10 year old. He's just expressing himself LOL!!! Very cool. Gettin a little of the attention from his big sisters I think!! Oh I do miss my kids being that age, what fun memories.

[gina h]

You don't know me, but I came across your blog. Your hair story hit a soft place with me. Your son looks quite a bit like mine and he really wants a mohawk. That will never happen, but I let him fohawk it sometimes. I always feel people are so judgemental and I want to scream it is just hair ladies. He has spiky cute hair anyways and so his hair is usually spiked, which brings out the comments like crazy. He is getting baptized in a few weeks and when I got his hair cut today for picts, he again ask for a mohawk. I laughed hard and kindly told him no, not the right time for sure. Imagine the looks that would bring. I guess I am trying to say I totally understand...from one slightly conservative mom to another.

[Lynn]

Can't wait to see your finished kitchen! Your son is adorable....love the hair! All your pics are awesome! Have a great day!
Lynn

[Rebecca W]

I feel your "remodel" pain. I am currently living in my living room, waiting to find a 2 month rental for the repairs to get started. We had tornadoes come through Lafayette, LA on 5/15/08 and a tree speared our house..in all three bedrooms and hallway. Thanks the LORD for Insurance.

[Patti Smith]

I had to post when I saw your son's hair..it brought a smile to my face...My 12 yrs old grandson "texted" me this week to show me his hair and it looks much like Ty's...I told him it was awesome and I loved it and it made him so happy. I reminded his father (my son who is 31 and my other son who is 33) of all the wild, crazy haircuts they had at that age....It is only hair....I love Ty's he is just precious...good luck with the kitchen remodel I know it will be beautiful..I love your blog..

[kim harter]

love the new line of papers!how about that american idol last night??? kh

[sandie mallon]

i love the hair do.. he look older with it spiked and the kitchen you poor thing that must be hard to live with at times .. gorgeous stationary pics thanks for sharing

sandie
wa

[Judi]

Teresa-as someone in the hair profession for many years, I will tell you that I agree with all the above ladies who say it is only hair and if that is the only 'crazy' thing Ty wants to do-more power to him and to you for raising a good kid. You would not believe the family fights I have witnessed in the salon with a kid in my chair and the mom or dad YELLING at the kid about their haircut. I have seen kids crying because of the tension and hurt feelings that hairstyle can bring, so if it isn't going against school rules or church rules, I say let them be kids and express their individuality. What is more expressive for an 11 year-old?
They feel it is one last thing they have 'control' over in their world!! Of course I can say all this with ease as my 2 older boys just asked me to 'buzz' them--so they DON'T have to comb their hair :0) Hope that helps alittle.
Have a great day!

[Alexandra simon]

Ok, I finally know someone in PEOPLE magazine. At least I think it was you Theresa. I was thumbing thru it the one with the two David's and in the background and little blurry, it was you or your daughter. LEt me know what you think

[maryellencarlise]

Hi T---SORRY about your kitchen! I can just "see" that drywall dust settling on every flat surface in your house. One year we had a remodel at Christmas time, and I didnt decorate the tree! I was weepy too--total sympathy for you :(....
About the hair thing...this is WAY BIGGER than HAIR...by letting him express himself you are showing him that you LOVE him NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS THINK! It is so hard to be judged....but don't you think he sees that too, and thinks, "WOW, my Mom loves me so much she will even love me when I do crazy things that others don't like!" I'd even go a step further, and if someone hints at his hair being "odd", I'd say "I couldn't care less if he plays with his hair, it's his heart I care about!" It is also preparing YOU for loving him when he does really BIG things that others might not understand--like getting an entire SLEEVE TATTOO! (Yes, my son did that!)and even though I am not crazy about it, I totally love him and hug and kiss him when people are around who I know think he is a bad kid, because he ISNT! BTW, CONTROL, is just an illusion! When we have little kids we can control them on the outside, but they still THINK what they want on the inside, but when they grow up, you can't even control them on the outside!----and if they know you love and accept them no matter what they do, they will grow to be healthy loving adults! (Probably should have email this, huh?!) Love you T--You know I do--hope I am not offending you!--just my thoughts as a Mom of 6 with "Big Kids"....
Love ya girlfriend, ME

[Cindy]

WOW, I LOVE that line !!

[Suezi]

Love the hair and I love that he cares about the way he looks. Pick your battles is a great expression. In my book this one is not a battle to go to the mat over. It could be worse...tattoos!

[Fiona]

I woudnt worry about your Son's hair - its cute!! He could want to do a LOT worse.
So sorry to hear about your friends husband. Cancer is a awful thing for the WHOLE family. 3 of my friends at work have close relatives, (2 their husbands and the other her daughter)with cancer at the moment, Its not a big place either! I wish I could do more too. Hopefully just knowing you care will help them.

[JustRite Stampers]

Hi Teresa, I accidentally came across these samples on your blog and recognized them right away because they were at the JustRite booth! Our very talented Kellie Fortin made these samples. I must say the Damask Monogram Accessories go well with your line of papers. Thanks for sharing these with your blog readers. We have added your post to our Google Reader shared items. Thanks, Denise