17 August 2009
So Sad, yet still laughing!
Today is my last day of summer. Tomorrow I go back to school for my very last semester and I'm feeling a little mixed up about it. I'm excited to be done with school and a little overwhelmed by the "great beyond". Today I ended up working a while and then catching a "matinee" (still payed $8 b/c the movie wasn't before 12...LAME!) The Time Traveler's Wife. I read the book and really loved it, and watching the movie helped me remember just how sad it is. I really do recommend the book, as usual the book totally beats the movie, but I think they did a good job summing up the book, more or less. The movie left me feeling rather sad, as well as the thought of going BACK to school, but when I do I just remember how today I became that girl who walks out of the bathroom with her skirt tucked into her underwear....and this lightens my mood....I probably gave the poor old couple behind me a good laugh! Uhhh....these sorts of things seem to happen to me quite often, not the exposing myself part, but the part about being SUCH a humiliating nerd. Oh well!
06 August 2009
I don't know...
....how else to start this post other than by saying, I love our neighbor's kid, Kevin. Joe and I introduced ourselves to him and his mother a couple months back, Joe offered to throw a football with him "anytime", and the boy has taken the offer quite seriously! He is such a sweet kid, and I must say he's renewed my faith in the idea that there are GOOD KIDS out there: he has great manners, never takes the Lord's name in vain, and is always eager to learn. Any time Joe is out working in the yard he offers to help out and watches Joe and asks questions.
Joe's played Frisbee, thrown footballs, taught him how to manicure his lawn, and (Kevin's favorite) had him over to play Lego's. If our doorbell is ringing chances are it's Kevin, and I love that. He wants to grow up to be a football player, and more recently, a lawyer. I hope Joe and I can continue to be a part of Kevin's life and that the world doesn't change who he is.
Joe's played Frisbee, thrown footballs, taught him how to manicure his lawn, and (Kevin's favorite) had him over to play Lego's. If our doorbell is ringing chances are it's Kevin, and I love that. He wants to grow up to be a football player, and more recently, a lawyer. I hope Joe and I can continue to be a part of Kevin's life and that the world doesn't change who he is.
Sewing Projects
I feel as if my sewing machine is finally getting some good use between those pillows and now two more successes. My friend Stacee has been teaching me some of the basics of sewing and using patterns. It's been a test of patience for me but she says I'm doing great. Stacee really is a great teacher and I've really appreciated her encouragement and help in learning to sew. The first project we did was an Amy Butler pattern, and we both used Amy Butler Fabric. After we finished our husbands took us out in our new skirts: 
I feel as if I've learned to truly appreciate the difficulty of making clothing. All of a sudden Project Runway seems infinitely impossible for mere humans, but then again I am a beginner. The second project we made pajama pants. Stacee made hers out of bed sheets and I made mine out of an Ikea duvet cover that was $2 in the "As-Is" tub.
(Yea, I'm a nerd, I took this picture of myself and intentionally posed like that) I love my pajama pants! They are maybe a little too long, which I could fix, but being as tall as I am, most pajama pants only go to about my ankles leaving my feet cold. My pants are long enough and big enough around the feet to cover them up and keep them warm. After Stacee and I finished our pants our husbands took us out to dinner again, only this time we couldn't wear what we made.
I feel as if I've learned to truly appreciate the difficulty of making clothing. All of a sudden Project Runway seems infinitely impossible for mere humans, but then again I am a beginner. The second project we made pajama pants. Stacee made hers out of bed sheets and I made mine out of an Ikea duvet cover that was $2 in the "As-Is" tub.
(Yea, I'm a nerd, I took this picture of myself and intentionally posed like that) I love my pajama pants! They are maybe a little too long, which I could fix, but being as tall as I am, most pajama pants only go to about my ankles leaving my feet cold. My pants are long enough and big enough around the feet to cover them up and keep them warm. After Stacee and I finished our pants our husbands took us out to dinner again, only this time we couldn't wear what we made.
House Projects
So, I suppose it's been a long time coming, here are some of the house projects we've had going on around our house.
Before:
Notice the two slopes into the red barn doors? Well, any time it rained it left our basement wet because the grates in front of the door would fill with mud . Well, NOT anymore. 
It's obviously still a work in progress. We've got to get rid of all the extra mud and rock that has been dug out. Also the wall to the left is just a retaining wall, once we are done the rock will match the wall to the right. Joe has worked so hard on this, I've mostly been moral support and water girl (I had studying to do those weekends).
The next project I don't have before and after shots, just the after shots. We had decided to redo the molding and ceiling in our bathroom b/c it was old and chipping. It was a long weekend project AND the first time I discovered that Joe doesn't always have it all figured out haha!
I know this isn't all that exciting for you, but it is for me. The bathroom looks so much better!
Our room looks a lot more complete with those curtains I mentioned a while back. I couldn't believe the difference it made in cozying up the house. It also makes it easier to sleep in late.
We installed can lights into our living room as well. This is probably the project that excited me the most in the end because our living room is so dark at night, plus the chocolate brown walls don't really help. Here's a picture that shows you why my anxiety level rises when Joe decides on a whim to start a house project (notice the TWO holes in our ceiling)
Well, I think that wraps it up. Joe is an incredible handy man, and with his job as a project manager on a construction site, we get a lot of the supplies for this stuff FREE! Woohoo! All these house projects have taught me a lot about myself such as:
1. I do not have the creative vision that Joe has to see the beauty of the end result
2. Sometimes I need to trust his vision
3. Sometimes I need to challenge his creative process b/c it's not always 100% thought through
4. I enjoy house projects, but I don't like them every weekend
#4 has been a point of contention these past few weekends, but I'm working through it. I honestly can't think of a single weekend that we spent entirely at our house that did not involve some sort of project/fixing/touching up. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. How many girls can say that their husbands love to work around the house and come home from work only to work on the house? I would venture to say that there aren't many girls that can say that.
Before:
Notice the two slopes into the red barn doors? Well, any time it rained it left our basement wet because the grates in front of the door would fill with mud . Well, NOT anymore. 
It's obviously still a work in progress. We've got to get rid of all the extra mud and rock that has been dug out. Also the wall to the left is just a retaining wall, once we are done the rock will match the wall to the right. Joe has worked so hard on this, I've mostly been moral support and water girl (I had studying to do those weekends).The next project I don't have before and after shots, just the after shots. We had decided to redo the molding and ceiling in our bathroom b/c it was old and chipping. It was a long weekend project AND the first time I discovered that Joe doesn't always have it all figured out haha!
I know this isn't all that exciting for you, but it is for me. The bathroom looks so much better!Our room looks a lot more complete with those curtains I mentioned a while back. I couldn't believe the difference it made in cozying up the house. It also makes it easier to sleep in late.
We installed can lights into our living room as well. This is probably the project that excited me the most in the end because our living room is so dark at night, plus the chocolate brown walls don't really help. Here's a picture that shows you why my anxiety level rises when Joe decides on a whim to start a house project (notice the TWO holes in our ceiling)
Well, I think that wraps it up. Joe is an incredible handy man, and with his job as a project manager on a construction site, we get a lot of the supplies for this stuff FREE! Woohoo! All these house projects have taught me a lot about myself such as:1. I do not have the creative vision that Joe has to see the beauty of the end result
2. Sometimes I need to trust his vision
3. Sometimes I need to challenge his creative process b/c it's not always 100% thought through
4. I enjoy house projects, but I don't like them every weekend
#4 has been a point of contention these past few weekends, but I'm working through it. I honestly can't think of a single weekend that we spent entirely at our house that did not involve some sort of project/fixing/touching up. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. How many girls can say that their husbands love to work around the house and come home from work only to work on the house? I would venture to say that there aren't many girls that can say that.
29 July 2009
Photo Run Down of Life
Tomorrow I have a final and then I will have TWO whole weeks of vacation. I'm already starting to carefully plan my time. And instead of studying I thought I'd give you a little run down on what Joe and I have been up to the past few months, since I don't keep you updated. That Spring break trip I mentioned forever ago went fabulously. We stayed with my beautiful sister and her beautiful family in PA for a while:
After the 12 hour drive from GA to PA, we took a "quick" 6 hr. drive to NJ to stay with my cousin who was sweet enough to let us stay as we toured NYC:
Here's a pic of Joe and I in NYC, after we discovered a great market of emerging fashion designers, and bought our hats as a way to remember our trip . NYC is incredible! 
We will actually be heading back to NJ/NYC for my cousins wedding, so I'm SO excited to see more and experience it all again. I think if I could I would live in NYC for a period of my life. Speaking of weddings, Ray (my brother) got hitched in June. It was a perfect wedding and it was so much fun! Here's a few favorite shots:
Me with the other Bridesmaids and my new sister, Amanda. She looked SO CLASSIC! Her dress was perfect and she wore this beautiful head piece that her grandmother had worn on her own wedding day. I loved how she also picked two different complementing dresses for us girls. Here's me and the sis:
LOVED my flowers, I have them dried and in a vase in my kitchen now:
And of course the lovely couple. I'm so happy for them! I think Ray really married the perfect girl for him and she comes from such an incredible family and fits our family so well. They had this photo booth area set up with one of Ray's cameras so that all the guests could take pictures with the backdrop . It was fun 
Our summer has been quite fun. We've been to the zoo, we celebrated Joe's birthday with fondue at Dante's Down the Hatch, spent several weekends at the lake, and dressed like cows for free Chick-fil-A.
I mean, what more can you really ask for? Oh I KNOW.... a good number of our weekends have been spent (slave) laboring around the house doing projects. Up next...I'll share some of our home improvements.
After the 12 hour drive from GA to PA, we took a "quick" 6 hr. drive to NJ to stay with my cousin who was sweet enough to let us stay as we toured NYC:
Here's a pic of Joe and I in NYC, after we discovered a great market of emerging fashion designers, and bought our hats as a way to remember our trip . NYC is incredible! 
We will actually be heading back to NJ/NYC for my cousins wedding, so I'm SO excited to see more and experience it all again. I think if I could I would live in NYC for a period of my life. Speaking of weddings, Ray (my brother) got hitched in June. It was a perfect wedding and it was so much fun! Here's a few favorite shots:
Me with the other Bridesmaids and my new sister, Amanda. She looked SO CLASSIC! Her dress was perfect and she wore this beautiful head piece that her grandmother had worn on her own wedding day. I loved how she also picked two different complementing dresses for us girls. Here's me and the sis:
LOVED my flowers, I have them dried and in a vase in my kitchen now:
And of course the lovely couple. I'm so happy for them! I think Ray really married the perfect girl for him and she comes from such an incredible family and fits our family so well. They had this photo booth area set up with one of Ray's cameras so that all the guests could take pictures with the backdrop . It was fun 
Our summer has been quite fun. We've been to the zoo, we celebrated Joe's birthday with fondue at Dante's Down the Hatch, spent several weekends at the lake, and dressed like cows for free Chick-fil-A.
I mean, what more can you really ask for? Oh I KNOW.... a good number of our weekends have been spent (slave) laboring around the house doing projects. Up next...I'll share some of our home improvements.
29 May 2009
I love Pillows!
So, I'm finally doing some obvious catching up on blogging. I have some serious dry spells, and it's really because life is just so darn busy, I'm sure you know all about it. But I finally put that sewing machine (from Christmas) and that fabric (from a month ago) to good use!!! I know, many of you are thinking "It's about time!!" So, I started simple with pillows! Man do I love pillows too, I think that it may be my #1 home decoration item. You wouldn't know it by looking at my house, but it's true. I love pillows and I would buy different bunches of them for every season if I could afford it.
Before..
Not so bad, but the swirly fabric was just so bland, and we really need some color. Now, I was really trying to go for an Anthropologie type fabric (they have GREAT pillows!), but you'll have to let me know what you think. After:
I'm just excited about the added color, that it's something new, and that I was successful with my sewing machine.
Before..
Not so bad, but the swirly fabric was just so bland, and we really need some color. Now, I was really trying to go for an Anthropologie type fabric (they have GREAT pillows!), but you'll have to let me know what you think. After:
I'm just excited about the added color, that it's something new, and that I was successful with my sewing machine.
Ants!
One of the not so joyous things about having an old home is that it doesn't take much for little crawling critters to find some imperfection to crawl through. Winter was a nice break, and I had almost forgotten about the cockroaches, cricket spider things, spiders, and the most annoying, ANTS! As soon as it started getting warm Joe and I found large ant hills forming all around our yard. It didn't matter how clean I kept our kitchen, they STILL kept coming back. I was so fed up that I finally forced Joe to grab some caulk and seal them off. Maybe a month later they found their way through our door. We set out ant poison but it didn't work! I finally got fed up and I remembered some blog post I stored away with recommendations on getting rid of ants.
Now I wish I could take credit for the the way all of this turned out because I feel so handy and proud, but unfortunately I have to thank Apartment Therapy. I sprinkled some cinnamon along the doorway, as if I were using holy water to keep vampires out of our house, and it's worked WONDERS! I sprinkled it yesterday and I haven't seen an ant anywhere near our doorway since! VICTORY! Apparently the smell is just too potent for them and it causes them to suffocate. It may sound cruel but if you've ever had an ant problem you know it's difficult to conjure any pity for them. So, if you have the same problem as me check out Apartment Therapy's newest blog post on the subject. They aren't really a fan of the cinnamon trick (it DOES make your house smell yummy, but it ALSO get kind of messy!), but they had a few other handy hints.
Now I wish I could take credit for the the way all of this turned out because I feel so handy and proud, but unfortunately I have to thank Apartment Therapy. I sprinkled some cinnamon along the doorway, as if I were using holy water to keep vampires out of our house, and it's worked WONDERS! I sprinkled it yesterday and I haven't seen an ant anywhere near our doorway since! VICTORY! Apparently the smell is just too potent for them and it causes them to suffocate. It may sound cruel but if you've ever had an ant problem you know it's difficult to conjure any pity for them. So, if you have the same problem as me check out Apartment Therapy's newest blog post on the subject. They aren't really a fan of the cinnamon trick (it DOES make your house smell yummy, but it ALSO get kind of messy!), but they had a few other handy hints.
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