Sassy11's Blog

As many of you know, I enjoy working around the home on a few design projects.  Always wonder if anyone else is gaining any info from my DIY projects.  Always envision some young person with hardly no furniture, barely anything on the walls and thinking.... "Help, I need stuff or ideas to make my space look better."   Okay, here's a few low budget fixer uppers:

1.  Look for unique wallpaper that is on the clearance aisle.  Always love those low low prices that can jazz up a place in no time.   You can use them for trim around candle pillars.  Hodge Podge works wonders and it looks like a design with purpose.  Really neat to take those boring white shades, apply spray adhesive and your premeasured wall paper.  Viola!  Wondermous matching assessories with your wallpaper trim. 

2.  Boring coffee table that has a few dents and scratches.  Actually it was a candidate for the dumpster?  You salvaged it.  Cleaned it up, deodorized it.  Now you can get a few laminate tiles - lots of styles to choose from.  You can cut and tack down with the adhesive backing.  Really can brighten up a space. 

3.  Add pizzazz to your curtains.  You can buy beautiful trim - beaded or textured.  Lots of trim to choose from these days.  Actually, make it a challenge for yourself to stay under a specific price point.   You can add the trim to your bath towels if you sew.   For those that do not, you can use the iron on type that works fine.  Double sided tape is an excellent option for adding trim to your curtain. 

4.  Dress up those bar stools.  Get some foam, cut it out to the dimension of your stool seat.  Use a sturdy staple gun.  Select your favorite type of fabric.  Think of the colors that are within your room.  This always works great for those chairs that are mixed and matched.  A great design trick is to make each cushion match with each other.  This way it takes the eye away from the flaws.

5.  Think mosaic base for a tile project.  This one is for those of you who might have various tile and nothing seems to match.  Okay, now go outside and smash it.   Now, pick up the pieces.  You can use a glue gun to add them to a clay pot, then grout over it.  Nothing has to be perfect.  Another idea is to use the pieces on a small end table to dress it up.  Sketch out a design, then place the various pieces onto your design.   Which of course you have hopefully added to the wood surface. 

Share your ideas and thoughts.  Always enjoy the creativity of others.   Remember - Have fun and think outside of the creativity box.  It also helps to remember the saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day".  

Name your top 5 all time funny movies.  Tell us why they stand out from anything you've ever watched.

If you feel extra specially inclined, feel free to tell us your top 5 comedians.

Dose of humor anyone? 

Many of us know that the school districts need help in many areas.  There are programs for children to learn English.  At least that is what many of us have been told all of our lives.  Yet, I'm also wondering, why not have a trade off.  Many adults, children and the public need to be taught conversational Spanish.  Yes, conversational Spanish.   The formal Spanish that is taught is okay, but the real life skills is utilizing it with many.  Clearly it is evident that conversational Spanish would benefit many.  What about utilizing the skills that are apparent.  What about a trade off?  There could be more classes to teach conversational Spanish, by people who have learned English.  It could be a trade off of skills.  The people who want to learn Conversational Spanish could conduct free classes.  You never see this being offered.  Really think it would bridge the communication between many people.  I know there is a need for this area/skill to be developed.  The medical communities, business and laborers.  Really think this could be a win-win situation for everyone involved.  Wonder why this has never been tried before in the communities.  I've never heard of it.  Really think it would be innovative, thinking outside of the box and helping others. 

How could a community get one started?  Do we have a need for this?  Why are all free classes on language solely for English?  How come no one ever teaches something we need to learn, conversational Spanish?  Yes, how about free of charge.  Since ESL is free of charge.  Why not teach Spanish free of charge? 

Anyone who works in the service industry has to deal with the public.  The public however, can be downright horrible.  Yes, you the customer, the beloved Divas of shopping, the Kings of cargo pants, the gals who have nothing better to do with their day than to terrorize the postal clerks, utility companies or the food vendors.  At least the food industry folks can deal with you in various creative ways.  Other poor souls have to tolerant your rudeness divided by the highest power of crude.    No you are not always right.  Some of you think you, the customer are always right.  But, guess what you are not always right.  Many of you are just plain RUDE. 

Why is it that half the population can go about their business transactions without interference.  Then you meet up with a snarly customer who wants to curse out the employee for doing their job.  Feel free to chime in with your bad experiences if you have ever witnessed horrible customers.  Today's scenario unfolded with a diva in training.  The line was long in one store that was having a huge clearance sale.  Well, the store runs out of bags.  Wild I know, but it does happen.

This diva goofert gets livid with the cashier.  Tells her to go get a bag.  Guess what, there were no bags.....  Meanwhile, it was a workable situation.  Yet the Diva bully was making the situation far worse than anyone could imagine.  She proceeds to curse at the cashier, tells her that the customer is always right and for her to go get a bag for her merchandise.  Good grief people....LOL  Is it so wild out there in your offices that you have to bully the poor sales clerks and people who assist you in the service sector on a daily basis? 

Why would anyone find it necessary to curse at the sales clerk?  Seriously, didn't your Mom ever teach you any better?  In order to receive something, it helps if you have a good attitude.  The sour attitudes and snippy comments, just draw out the emotions in everyone and test nerves of Job himself.  Come on, get over your arrogance and spoiled brat behavior.  Things happen.  Some stores are understaffed and they cannot be your personal shopper.  Stop calling them to look up goofy stuff.  They are trying to assist the sane shoppers.  Sometimes everyone has no control over it.  Just do what you have to do and try to be pleasant in the process.  Oh, by the way:  The Customer IS NOT always right.  If you fail to be courteous to the people who assist you.  Guess what, you could be carted off the premises.  Most people don't have to resort to this, but if you push it far enough you can be escorted out of the building.  If you have to return merchandise and you have had it for an entire year. I guess you need to hold your tongue and refrain from cursing out the employees.  Most people have policies, some of you push it far beyond reason.  Some of you act like you are shopping on Rodeo Drive and clearly you are shopping inside Target, K-Mart or WalMart...LOL  Good grief, that is pathetic.

Is the Customer ALWAYS right?

One of my favorite past times as many of you know is gardening.  Really love the outdoors, planting something and watching it grow and flourish.  It is recylcing nature from the purest form of green as we know it.  Anyone who has children can identify with gardening.  The seedlings are like little toddlers.  You tend, care and feed them in order to make them grow.  You really are a proud gardener parent when your saplings or little seedlings grow into maturity. 

A great thing to do is to plant a victory garden.   Urge many of you to research the subject and learn about the history along the way.   The rising cost of groceries, many people are getting back to nature.  Since we are at war, really think it is something productive each of us can do.    Remember though, this is about gardening.  So let's keep the discussion connected to the topic at hand, gardening. 

Gardening is also good for the soul.   It is a proven fact that it helps relieve stress and anxiety.  So there you go, another super reason to get on board with the gardening tools.  You don't have time to focus on negative energy.  Those little hands are too busy tending to the weeds and taking care of the plants. 

Some of my garden club favorites are:  cucumbers, squash, sweet peppers, tomatoes, sage, fennel, dill, rosemary (this little plant is finicky and takes persistance), cantaloupes, mint in various varieties (these do well in containers and decorative planters).  Speaking of planters, you know those planters you see in the garden center that have various holes in them and they stand up tall?  Well, those make great herb gardens.  Fill it up and in each hole place specific herbs.   The mint really does well, they produce runners like ivy.  They look and smell yummy.  Especially when they flourish.  They do like moisture.  Know many of you have read some of my thoughts on mint. 

I've also spoken to a ton of friends about planting tomatoes and cucumbers in hanging containers.  Yes!  These are so cool.  You can eliminate a lot of pests.  I've got three friends who have grown these this way and wow you should see how they produce.  So hearty and lush.  Has anyone else tried this or heard of this?  Chime in with your skills, don't be bashful.  Are any of you planting any type of vegetables this year?  If so, tell us what you are planting.

Will the frugal shoppers among us please answer up.  Maybe on aisle 18 we can get a glimpse of a frugal shopper with cost saving tips.  Feel free to share your best and most ingeniously clever frugal explorations.  I liken this to an adventure of an unknown terrain.  Some people are totally clueless on this subject.  Some have never been subjected to cost savings, since their days in college.  But enough of that, gather round the frugal shopper stone and share those tales of lore.  I know many of you have some great ways to share.  

Since, I generally get a bit theatrical and have a tendency to expound on every aspect of the subject.  I've decided to let all of you answer first.  This way, you have to come back and see what type of tips I have to share.  Believe me, there are plenty.  Some totally unexpected.  So give it your best thoughts folks. 

With the price of gas, groceries and everything in between.  It is a smart and savvy shopper these days to maintain your household and supply food for your family. 

Frugal shoppers please answer up and share your wise ideas.  Many people are eager to know and learn from you.

Partial Shade Loving Plants

I gathered together a list of plants that do well in our Texas climate.  Shade loving plants that some of you might find useful.  As with all types of plants, some do require care.  To get you started, try your hand at growing one of these on the list.  Let me know your results, I'd love to see and hear how you progress on this endeavor.  I've tried to compile some interesting varieties for those that do not have a green thumb, time or energy to spend out in their yard.  Those of us who enjoy gardening, planting and tending the flowers, please feel free to add to the list.  I'm hoping that many of us who do have a green thumb can pass on that love to others.  Spread the joy this season by venturing out into your yards and sharing your cuttings with others.   Recently received a beautiful gift from one of my coworkers who loves various cactus.  He put together a wonderful assortment for me.  Truly a treasure when you receive something like a plant (for me anyway). 

Sassy's fun list of partial to full shade loving plants:

Begonia, impatiens, caladium, coleus, petunia, sweet alyssum, hosta lily, periwinkle, fern (some varieties, not all), dahlia, columbine, daylily, butterfly lily, lily of the valley, oak leaf hydrangea, hibiscus (various varieties can tolerate partial shade), rhododendrons, wild ginger, mint (various varieties - this is really good if you have an area/ground that receives a lot of moisture.  It does need some sunlight in order to thrive heartily.  Mint loves moist soil.  Plus on the up side, that side of your yard will be fragrant and you can add it to your tea or foods.  Fun and useful plant.)  African violets are wonderful indoor plants that enjoy partial shade. 

Come on folks, get those gardening rakes out and start planting.  Enlist your children too!  Pass on the love of flowers.  Who knows, maybe you might not have a green thumb, but one of your family members does. 

Happy gardening folks!