Mama Rae's got her tools and is ready to go!

thanks to Ana, at Knock Off Wood's blog, I've decided to delve into the world of wood working, mainly furniture. I have always been pretty good with tools and am generally good at figuring out how stuff goes together, and I am a HUGGGGEEEE bargain hunter. So it only makes sense that I would combine and decide to play with some big girl toys and make my own furniture instead of throwing my money down the drain.

I may be an avid "Wally World" shopper, but there are just some things they do not have, and one of them is quality furniture (or good produce but that's a blog for a different day lol). I love antique styles of furniture, not so much rustic or country, but definitely not modern. Give me a dry sink any day over a fancy console table :) Speaking of dry sinks, if I ever have another kid I totally need anew one of those. They make awesome changing tables - the changing pad fits perfectly and the kid won't fall out and there are drawers and cabinets for supplies. Needless to say I'm a firm believer in creating new uses for old stuff. This is why I stalk yard sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops as often as possible, even when it's freezing cold up here in NH. My last dry sink actually came from a thrift store - was $10 and it lasted about 3 years up til we moved and I ripped the leg off in the doorway (oops!). now ya know why I need a new one, even though my baby girl is no longer a baby and is a self-proclaimed "big girl" :o).

If you are reading this for the first time and don't know me, here's a little bio. I'm Rae, 31, married to Lawrence, and have a beautiful and fiesty little 4 yr old named Alyssa, who we also call "baby girl". I'm also a step-mom to Lawrence's daughter who is 17. We are fur parents as well, although I'm much more of a furball lover then hubby is. We have Midnight, our 6 yr old lab, and Candie, my 10 yr old kitty. We would have more but currently live in apartment and can only have 2. I volunteer with a pit bull rescue based in NY and before you even think it - no they are not bad dogs. They are awesome dogs with a bad rap and have been known for many years as being incredible family dogs, they were even called "nanny dogs" many years back. People decided they wanted to fight them against each other an because of their loyal nature to their owner, they obliged, launching a sad history of dog fighting that still exists today. I won't go on and on with details but just know that I love the little buggers :). Now I'm not a fan of all animals, sorry. Rodents are gross, especially field mice who sneak in during the winter lol. Hamsters and gerbils are cute, at other people's houses. Not mine. Snakes, spiders, lizards - not for me. Fish are ok, hubby has an obsession with fish. One day maybe I'll build him a new tank stand :).

Anyway, I am a work at home mom, and work as a Dispatcher for an internet company. Basically i tell a group of guys what to do and where to go all day to install and repair business' internet and phone service. I know, exciting stuff. But it works for me for now. I'm also in college online with not a clue what I want to be when I grow up. Hubby is a school bus driver. He hates it but it's a paycheck and it works until he gets into and finishes school to be an electrician.

That's about it, thanks for viewing :)

PS: I cannot spell, lol. I type much too fast for my brain to comprehend and type the right letters. My keyboard is also possessed and doesn't like to capitalize anything and I only sometimes catch the mistakes.