A Suburban Mom's Survival Guide: July 2015

I've done it. I'm a-freaking-mazing. I am riding high and can't stop! This story is good, so settle in, get comfy, and get ready for the ride of your life.
It all started in June of 1979 when I was just a fetus in my mother's womb. I knew that place was pretty sweet, but wasn't a place for a mover and shaker like me, so in March of 1980 I broke out. I was born in a military hospital in Sicily, the first child, and went home, screaming, with my parents. Right from the beginning, I'm told that my head had to be held up so I could look around. I was destined for greatness.

#tbt to Christmas, 1980. It's me!!! Look at that flawless hair, Brown carpet and "wood"paneling! #toofabulousforyou #80sbaby #80schic. #nofilterneeded

A photo posted by @kristens6102 on May 21, 2015 at 5:41pm PDT

I grew up in a single parent home. My mom raised me and my sister alone stating shortly after my sister was born. Our mom was and still is a tough lady. When I think back on my childhood, I inevitably picture my mom looking at a product, thinking about fixing something, etc. and can hear her saying "I can do that!" There was never a question about it. She worked full time, took care of us, made Barbie clothes, made us poodle skirts, mowed the lawn, fixed the car...you name it, she did it. She did it out of necessity but she also did it because she could. I loved watching her start and complete projects. My inner feminist was awakened-and I still always hear that voice "Hey-I can do that!" when something needs to be done.

Happy Mother's day!!!

A photo posted by @kristens6102 on May 10, 2015 at 7:06am PDT

Over the years I've dabbled in fixin'. I mostly have left things to my husband but his schedule is prohibitive and I actually want him to spend time with our daughters when he's home. Some of it was out of financial need (like re-attaching my van's exhaust to the frame with a kit I bought at NAPA and a coat hanger) and some, like the tale I'm leading up to, were out of stubbornness, a will to DIY, and the availability of YouTube "how to" videos. Sorry for so much Clarkson-it was the first comparison my husband drew between how amazing I am at fixing things.

The first fix I attempted was our dishwasher. This was a few months ago and, when I'd try to start it the thing would make a weird sound then not turn on. I searched online and found that it was probably the disposer in the bottom of the dishwasher. I decided to find directions, take that sucker a apart, and fix it. And, you know what? I did it! It took me an hour or two, but I took the whole thing apart, found the offending bits, removed the pieces of bone from the disposer, and put it back together. The dishwasher worked. The dishwasher worked!!!! I was ELATED!

Now, just a few weeks ago, the washing machine stopped draining. After taking it all apart (and I mean all of it) I diagnosed the problem: the pump. This particular washing machine is amazing, 14 years old but works like a charm. I, however, didn't want to spend $300 to fix it, and didn't want to buy a newer, cheap machine, so I had to fix it, myself. I bought a pump on EBay, but it was the wrong one. So I returned it. Then I bought the right pump on EBay. I got it home. I installed it. No luck. The washer was not spinning, the pump was working, but something was wrong. I put everything back together (after I took it all apart, again) and started the washer, again. It sprayed water all over the entire bathroom. I asked for help, to whoever was listening, and quit for the night. In the morning, I had an idea of what exactly to search for and was able to find pictures of what the guts of the washer should look like. I found out that I had put a tiny plastic cog over something instead of under. I replaced everything. The WASHER WORKED!!!!!

Clearly, this incident is indicative of the fact that I am freaking amazing. But, not just me, all of us are! I don't have any special skills, but I do have YouTube, a give 'em Hell attitude, and that little voice in my head that says "Hey, I can do that!" Thanks, Mom!

Trying to complete a Doctor Who themed craft for my daughter's 10th birthday got weird. I'm not a naturally crafty person, but I'll try just about anything for a birthday party now that they're old enough to remember them.

First, I looked up different ways to create them. This blog seemed the easiest to follow and looked pretty cool.

We went to the Dollar Store and picked up two lovely 10"dolls. This is where it starts to get weird. Quick disclaimer about the messy kitchen: normally I would put away or at least move the mess out of frame but I was on a time crunch and it was late AND I wanted the girls to help so we HAD to get this done-on top of the party supplies.

First, I stripped the dolls and bent those ladies over. After a whispered apology I stuffed a skewer in through the uncomfortable parts and all the way up to the head. That is one BIG bonus to working with cheap, hollow dolls. They are very easy to skewer.

Next, we cut the arms at the elbow (the kids were especially gleeful about this part) and chopped off their hair.

Next, we hot glued the hands over the eyes, and the forearms to the elbows, and then started assembling the gown.

We had decided that our Angels would be clad in nothing but the best-Dollar Store Surgical Masks and Foam Board wings. So, we got to work! We shaped the dresses, hot glued them on the Angels, added the wings, tied a string around the waist, and were very pleasantly surprised with the results!

Finally, it was time to paint.

We did a base coat of Mineral Blue, then a top coat of an ivory. My daughter thinks they are AWESOME and has already declared this her best birthday ever. I'm pretty happy with them and SUPER happy with the price tag (about 2.50 each)