And the idiots made the overgrown arborvitae bush look like crap…

So grandpa and 16 year old boy decided to finally trim back the bushes along our driveway that I asked them to do. But it was more than trim, they disfigured the bushes. Instead of taking off a few inches around the outside they cut it back to the trunk. Well now I have ugly bushes. Don’t get me wrong they were ugly before but now they have been completely maimed. So after researching the plant, yup they may have permanently damaged it and it may not grow back. So I had ugly shrubs and now I have uglier shrubs. My choice was to get rid of the shrubs, but the neighbor made a valid point, it keeps their basketball from hitting our car and the roots are probably tangled up with the cable lines. So we kept the ugly damn tree. And now have an uglier damn tree. L idiots. Research first! YES NOW IT LOOKS STOOOOOOOPPPPPIDD.

Yes, now we have two of these that look like this. I asked them to trim it. And this is like me asking for a trim when I walk into the hair salon and getting my head shaved. 

Maybe they should have read these instructions:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7428675_trim-overgrown-arborvitae.html

*Read under tips and warnings*

I'm so mad, a nice trim is all it needed. And the two of them are hacking back. I kept telling Steve to tell them to stop. I had to walk away. I told them too much! But nooooo they didn't listen. 

Me and my cup of Joe

I've been up nearly an hour. Steve is off to work after about 7 weeks of being home. I've made a pot of coffee, Steve gave me the newspaper on his way out the door. I have done a load of laundry, watered the front plants, gotten ready.... except I find myself not ready. Not ready for the kids to wake up and the chaos to begin. The living room stereo quietly plays Pandora radio. I have it set to the Spa Radio, so it's so nice and peaceful right now.
The last of the troop arrived in late last night after I was already well off to bed,  3 kids and Grandpa. So now I think to wake them or not wake them. I think I will sit here a little while longer and enjoy my clean house. It's the last I will see of it for awhile so I make a mental note. Listen to the birds and someone who decided to start weed whacking bright and early. Enjoy my coffee and read the newspaper.
No plans for today, I know that clothes must be sorted out for school, shoes need to be purchased, errands need to be run.... but for now.... just enjoy this last silence. 5 kids will rise soon.

Turn your regular jeans into skinny jeans.

I don't know about everyone else, but I have 3 girls ages 11, 9 and 9. They have a ton of clothes and we especially love the hand me downs and thrift store shopping and even garage sales (thanks JP and Desiree for this obsession). Not only do we get more for our money, but we also find great brand names and gently used clothes....and man these girls have a crazy full closet. The downside.... old trends aren't necessarily new trends. The flair and bootcut jeans that look like new... just aren't the skinny style the girls want to wear. So after a little research we've decided to try it ourselves and see if we can transform some on a budget. Fair and bootcut to skinny jeans!!! Besides.. that means more $$ to spend on other things like SHOES!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I'm a beginning sewer, time for me 1 hour.

Items Needed:
1 pair of jeans
Stick pins
Straight edge (ruler)
Marker
Thread
Sewing machine (or by hand if you are able)
Heavy Duty Needle if you are sewing thru denim
Scissors

Step 1:
Find a pair of jeans you like, flair, bootcut, etc. Old, new, etc.. the best are 25 cents at garage sales SCORE. The pair today are a pair from last year with a bootcut.

Step 2:
Turn the jeans inside out and put them on.

Step 3:

Pull the outside seam of the jean, Pin down the outside of the legs so that the jeans fit snuggly but not to snug to wear. Carefully (very carefully, my daughter stuck herself) take them off.

Step 4:

Using a straight edge, draw a line down the side with a pen, using the pins as a guideline.

Step 5:
Realign pins, so that a pin is used to hold the bottom seam in place to keep it even.

Step 6:

Start sewing from hem up, remember to back stitch. Sew from the bottom seam up the leg along the line you drew and into existing seam on the inner side. Secure both ends with a back stitch.

Step 7:
Turn Jeans right side out and try on. If jeans are still too wide (which mine were a little this time) Run a new stitch down to make a little skinnier. This allows for adjustments before you cut.
If they are good continue to the next step.

Step 8:
Turn them inside out again.
Cut off the excess material, leaving a 5/8" seam.

Step 9:
Do a zig zag stich from the bottom up covering the raw edge of the fabric.
Cut off excess string.

Step 10: Final fitting- as long as you are happy with the fit, you are done!
My daughter came out smiling so I am assuming I was successful.

~Fin~

My next pairs will be a little tighter.