Could trash get me to Hawaii?

I have four amazing younger brothers.  My brother Matthew whom I adore lives in Hawaii.  I’ve written about him here and here.  He knows about my dreams and life goals; one of which is to visit to Hawaii.  Every time we talk he asks “When are you coming to visit me?”  I’ve blown it off in a sort of pitiful way.  When daily showers aren’t even an option, getting to Hawaii seems impossible.  Because of obligations, schedules and hungry mouths to feed, I think us mom’s have pushed the pause button on many of our dreams.  I mean really, how could I ever find time to go to Hawaii when my focus in life is kid's homework, chore charts and healthy meals?

Still, I’ve been dreaming about it.  The sunsets, the waves, the marine life!  I’d never been and have wanted to go so bad it's like an ache in my soul.  This may be because of my love for the sea, my desire to be a mermaid and my background in ocean conservation.  Either way, being with my brother in Hawaii would be something close to heaven.

And then, one day as Derek walked out the door I kissed him and said “I really want to go to Hawaii.”  And he smiled and said “Sounds like fun.  I think you should go.”

All day long, I kept thinking “I want to go to Hawaii.”  I’d had that thought a thousand times throughout my life, but on this particular day it kept popping back up inside my head.  I started brainstorming about how I could do it.  I felt like I was conspiring against my family, knowing Derek would have to stay behind and help watch the kids.  Still, I pushed ahead. 

My first goal was to earn money for the flight.  Could I do it?  Was Hawaii really within reach?  

Bring in the trash and paint.

Painting this dresser was the start of a busy week!

Here's another.

If I could do a few more, I just might earn the money.

White usually moves fast, so white was necessary. 

 And a Tiffany blue French dresser for good luck.

Off they went to Antique Plaza!

FYI, if you ever want to go check out my trash, I am in booth #52.
Just look for the My Dear Trash sign.

So, did I make it to Hawaii (wink, wink)?  More on that next week.  

Linking up to:

Dresser Love

Every once in a while I find a really, really big dresser at the thrift store.

A dresser that if I stood it up, would be taller then my 6’5 husband.

Every once in a while I find a really big dresser that looks like it’s been through a domestic violence dispute.  It’s scratched, dinged and bruised, but lived to tell. 

And every once in a while the drawers of this really big dresser weigh more then my five year-old son.  The large metal fixtures one each drawer could be removed and used as weapons of war.

Seems like a big project, like a humongous hairy dog sitting on the side of a busy road that needs a good home.  Everything points to the answer no, don’t do this, this won’t be worth it - so why is my heart swooning laps of love around the idea of taking this really, really big dresser home and taking care of it?

And then later that day, something interesting happens at Home Depot.

I find the color.

Every once in a while I find a paint color that actually puts me in a better mood.

A paint color that makes me want to redo my kitchen cabinets.

A paint color that I’m certain will be the next big thing and I have to have it.

But, normally -- maybe not ever -- have I found a really, really big dresser and a great can of oops! paint on the same day.

And then, like the moment you realize your best friend and your cousin (who happens to live in another state) would be the perfect couple and you make a mental note to set them up on a blind date next times he's in town, yes, just like that moment when you realize these two would compliment each other and you have to see them together. . . 

Look who ended up together?

Ok, so I have to apologize for going all Gillian Flynn on you, but I'm reading Gone Girl and I'm so taken by how this girl can write.

I mean the metaphors and descriptive writing literally blows my mind.  I've never read another author, ok, maybe Dan Brown, who has such a command of the English language.  It's like "Is this girl even trying?" because she makes masterful writing look so easy.  So, I'm all caught up in this world where it takes a page and a-half a page to describe the texture of a pink cashmere sweater and I wanted to try a bit of writing like that on my own.

Thanks for bearing with me.