{rooms with a view}

Thought I would share some beautiful rooms on such a dreary day. Isn't this bedroom so tranquil? Looove the floor in the second pic...so retro. The all white dining room is super soothing, and I love the botanical prints in this last one. Looking at photos like this give me so much inspiration for my own home!

{fancy}

I just made a banner for my etsy shop...whatcha think?? It cut off part of the top and bottom, but I'm pretty happy with it...now my shop is all fancy-shmancy! :)

{inspiration}

First of all...congrats to my fave girl group, the Dixie Chicks! 5 Grammies last night!! They are proof that you can come back from anything and be succesful. I love the CD and this was so well deserved.


Button rings!! How cute are these?! I've just found a favorite new online shop...Inspire Company carries these adorable rings and all sorts of whimsical finds.




Look at these adorable shadowboxes from Curious Bird...the colors and prints are mesmerizing!





I just loooove this cabinet...the pink and brown combo is just so beautiful...if I have a little girl she won't be able to escape this color palette!

xoxo

{new}

I made these two art canvases today for my etsy shop and they were so much fun to put together. I used vintage family photos (my mom and grandmother) and some fun, quirky sayings. Here's to hoping someone will want to take them home!

Not much else going on this weekend...wish it wasn't almost over. We went shopping yesterday and I got some great finds...a pair of dress pants and a skirt for work, plus THE most adorable olive green dress...it is too dressy for work but Dan promised we would create an occassion for me to wear it. :) I got all of it for less than one of the items was originally...gotta love that!

I'm looking forward to Valentine's Day...not sure if Dan has anything up his sleeve or not. Last year he surprised me with a gift, even though he says he hates "hallmark" holidays. We'll see what happens...I guess I should get him something just in case!

Guess that's about it for today...xoxo

{fun}

I just ordered this adorable hat for my co-worker's baby shower gift. I want to buy one myself, but unfortunately I don't have a baby to put it on...yet. ;)

TGIF!!! I'm so looking forward to the weekend. I have tons of stuff around the house I want to do...#1 being the staircase. I at least need to start working on sanding this weekend.

{melodies}

I'm loving new music right now...I go through spurts where I just want something new and fresh to listen to. I got two new CD's today:

Regina Spektor "Begin to Hope"

and

Corinne Bailey Rae's self titled album

Both are amazing! Check them out :)

{pretty}

My new pretty living room...I love the new rug and curtains with the chocolate brown sofa.

{more inspiration}

Check out these cool buttons! I want one of every design...but what would I do with them?

I want these adorable birds from Ballard Designs...they would look so cute on our mantle!

Loooove this bracket from Anthropologie. Wish I could afford a bunch for the kitchen shelving we are planning.

{my salvation}

#1: This Burt's Bees lotion is my savior with the cold and dry weather we are having...I have one at work and one at home so I can slather it on after washing my hands and whenever I'm feeling really dry.

#2 is barrettes...my hair is growing out a little and pulling the top back is the only way to keep my sanity at work.

3rd thing I can't live without...My mother-in-law who helped me with my first major home renovation project yesterday...tearing out the stairway carpet! Here is a before and after shot...still need to stain them and finish painting the trim.

#4...my cats. They are so cozy and warm and keep me endlessly entertained.

My fifth favorite thing right now is kiwi...I've been eating one with a banana in the morning and it is oh so yummy! Plus I get two of my fruits out of the way by 8:30 am!

On to #6: the living room rug we are getting tonight. I hate when things don't match, and for over a month I've been living with a new sofa and old rug that grossly clashed. Tonight, I will be able to breath easy as I sit on my chocolate brown couch and look at my brown, green and blue matching rug....ahhhh.

#7 which should be #1...my new office space. I finally have my own private office space and I'm in heaven!! This week I get to move again to a space with a window...this is just too much for one girl to handle! ;)

Hmmm...#8...feeling healthy! I am back to a normal eating routine, drinking coffee and feeling great! After being so sick, this is like a miracle (I had an intestinal infection that kept me sick for a month).

The 9th reason I'm a happy camper: My hubby is coaching baseball again! Our high school has a new coach and he asked him to be the pitching coach!! He is so excited and I can't wait to see him out on the field again.

And....drumroll please...

The #10 thing that has me giddy with excitement...fun new blogs! Here are a few I just discovered that are so inspiring:

Print + Pattern
Oh Joy!
Etsypickoftheday
decor8
Another Shade of Grey
Scrappy Girl Decorates

What's your salvation?

{so relaxed}

I'm having such a great day today. I'm finally in my new office space, and it feels so good to have my privacy and a place to decorate and make my own. In a week or so I'll be moving to the space next door to me which has.....a window! :) Thanks to Carol who is leaving for giving me her corner window space!

I'm so excited that it is Friday night. I have some projects I want to do tonight....finish painting my kitchen shelf and get it hung, do some scrapbooking, keep looking online for a living room rug. I really want to continue my painting job in the hallway, but that requires ripping up the carpet from the stairs, and I don't know what is lurking underneath them. I guess a Friday is the best time to start though...gives me the whole weekend to work on it. I want to finish painting the trim and do the faces of the stairs in white, with the treads stained a dark brown.

I made some super cute V-day cards the other night....cut out felt hearts in chocolate brown, pink and white and sewed coordinating buttons on them, added some lace and voila! I can't wait to send them to our friends and family.

I'm so excited to get my hands on Elsie Flannigan's new scrapbook line from KI Memories...yummy stuff!! Check out her blog for pictures!

Guess that's all my chatter for today. I really need to get a fun banner for my page...if you have any suggestions or helpful tips...please share!

xoxo

{so many}

There are so many house projects I want to do right now...I'm going crazy because I want to do them all now and it just isn't possible (unless I had 100 hands and a ton more $$). Here's the rundown...

1. paint and hang new shelf for the kitchen
2. finish painting hallway trim (which requires me to rip up the carpet on the stairs and refinish them as well)
3. paint the hallway
4. paint the walls and trim in my scrapbook room
5. new floor, counter and sink in kitchen
6. find shades for living room windows...they are so expensive!!
7. find a new rug for the living room

I'm sure there are more...but these are the ones that are floating around in my mind and taking up every single brain cell. I'm really obsessed...I think a lot of it has to do with all the time I spent sick over the past month and couldn't do anything. I just need to prioritize...do the realistic things first and think about one thing at a time. I did get our new living room curtains today and put up the pair on the single window...the white is so bright and fresh, I love it! I also got the cutest pink pressed glass candle holders for the sconces in our downstairs bathroom...they are the perfect finishing touch in there.

I really wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow so I could just work on home stuff all day!

{productive}

I don't remember the last time I had a day quite so productive. I got up at 8:00, had a healthy breakfast, then proceeded to clean both of the bathrooms. Not only did I clean both of them, I even took off the shower knob and got all the yucky soap scum out of it...who knew that sucker was supposed to be clear?! Then, after my shower, I finished cleaning the kitchen and vacuumed the stairs...one of my least favorite chores. I cleaned and organized my scrapbook room and hung up my new french-inspired clock from my Mom. I got the cutest bulletin board from Hobby Lobby the other day on clearance for $10...I'm going to put it in my new office at work. The only problem with it was that the pale green color of the stripes just wasn't doing it for me. So...I painted them a darker green and I love how it turned out. Here are a few pics...

I just can't believe how much I got done today...yay for me! :)

{going to the chapel}

My friend Liz got married on Saturday and it was such a beautiful ceremony. Since it was a December wedding, she had a Christmas theme with red and touches of green. Our bridesmaid dresses were red halter gowns with an embroidered overlay down the back...so pretty. Liz's dress was gorgeous...tons of beading and sparklies...she was GLOWING. :) We carried white fur muffs with mistletoe attached to the front and the guys wore little pine wreaths in place of the typical flower on the lapel. Liz and Eric served everyone communion, which was the highlight of the ceremony. We all walked out to Carol of the Bells...the perfect ending. I'm so happy for them and wish them all the best in their life together. Here are a few pics from the special day...more to come when she gets the professional ones! :)

{celebration}

Yesterday I went to Liz's bridal shower..it was a lot of fun to see her so excited. I gave her a wedding scrapbook for her to put their pictures in and was so happy that she liked it. I don't know how she is holding it together...she has planned her wedding in a month's time, finals week is this week and the wedding is this Saturday! I know she will be relieved when it is all over, although her soon-to-be-husband will be leaving for Africa for a year soon afterward (he's in the National Guard). Hopefully the time apart will just make their relationship stronger. Here are a few photos from the shower. :)

{a perfect Saturday}

Today was such a nice day. Dan and I had our favorite lunch...tomato basil soup and grilled cheese at our local coffee shop, Sacred Grounds. After that we went to the mall and did some shopping. I found black shoes to wear with my dress for the wedding next weekend and a cute sweater and denim skirt. Tonight we actually went to the movies...and not the dollar theatre, the full price one! hee hee :) We saw "Casino Royale" and it was awesome...the new Bond is, well, HOT! He definitely made the movie extra fun to watch. :) I'm going to Liz's wedding shower tomorrow and I can't wait to give her the scrapbook I made...I hope she likes it!

{fun surprises}

I participated in the secret santa ornament exchange over on the nest (love those girls)...and look what I got in the mail today!! The boxes were so pretty I didn't want to open them...I was like a kid at Christmas. :) The ornaments are soooo adorable...like little pixies...and she filled the box with all sorts of chocolate mint candy...my favorite! So this is a big shout-out to my secret santa...she *ROCKS*! :)

{where's my motivation?}

I'm soooo unmotivated about my job right now. I don't care if I go to bed early or if I get up in time to get there at 8 am. My work load is really light right now so the days are just dragging. I'm getting soooo impatient for my new workspace. Having my back to the door is so uncomfortable...bad feng shui I think...I never know who is coming in the door or watching me from behind...yuck. There isn't anything about my job that gets me excited...writing letters, supervising ungrateful students, it isn't fun for me. I just don't know what to do...I know I can't stay in this field for very long...my creativity is being suffocated. It is a great place to work...good benefits, decent salary, nice people...but if it doesn't push my buttons...does all that stuff make up for it?? I'm beginning to think it doesn't. I don't want to be one of those people who just goes to work because she has to, because it pays the bills...I feel bad for those people...no one should have to live like that. Dan and I are both living like that right now and it sucks. I want the dream...but I don't know if I have the guts to go after it.

{Thanksgiving Weekend Recap}

So Thanksgiving break was so nice and relaxing, although it went by too fast. We accomplished quite a bit in those 5 days. Spent Thursday with Dan's family at his Mom's house. Everyone from her side was there and it was a fun day with a lot of great food. The guys played football in the street and they were all sore afterward...they're not young enough to do that stuff anymore...LOL

On Friday I got to see Mom, Dad, Carrie and Matt for coffee at Sacred Grounds. That afternoon Dan and I went to HH Gregg and got a new TV... very exciting! Its a 32" LCD for the mantle. :) Friday night was spent at Joyce's with her family...most of them played poker...it was a marathon game that lasted over 5 hours!! Needless to say I was ready to go home by 2 am!

On Saturday we went to Huber Heights and ordered a new sofa...yeah, it was a big purchase weekend for us....but things that we really needed so we're excited. The sofa will be here in time for Christmas so that will be nice. Later that day, Mom and Dad came over and helped us decorate the tree. We also watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...our yearly tradition.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at Pete and Faith's...Faith and I chatted about baby stuff while the guys played cards and football. I also finished the hallway trim that I had been painting (although there are still miles and miles left to paint...I'm trying to break it down into chunks so I don't get too overwhelmed).

It was a busy, but fun break and I hate that its back to work as usual. Christmas will be here before we know it though! I'm hoping next year for the holidays, Dan and I will be able to share it with a son or daughter (or at least have one on the way :))

Here are a few pics of our tree trimming party and other holiday decor...enjoy!

{2peas T-day 20}

This was the Tuesday challenge over at 2peas about Thanksgiving...

Do you cook all or part of the meal? I bring a dish - this year I'm making a pecan pie and broccoli casserole
How much do you spend buying groceries for the meal? probably about $15-$20
Do you eat at home or go to someone else’s? Someone else - either my parent's or hubby's Mom's house
Describe your perfect bite? a little turkey and a big bite of my Mom's stuffing with gravy
White meat or dark? white
Stuffing with giblets or without? Huh? I don't think I want to eat a giblet
Anything you won’t eat at the Thanksgiving meal? cranberry sauce
Carve Mr. Gobble at the table or serve on a platter? on a platter
Favorite pie? toss up between pecan and pumpkin
Formal table or Chinet? formal at parents, chinet at MIL's
Your menu? not sure until we get there, but I know we'll have turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes
Favorite leftover? my Mom's stuffing
Extended family, friends, both or just the immediate family for dinner? extended family on hubby's side, immediate family on my side
After dinner, do you go to the latest movie or football on TV? watch football, chat with the other ladies
Do you watch the Macy’s Parade? bits and pieces
Christmas decorations up before or after? this year I may start putting up some before, but the tree will be decorated on Saturday
Black Friday shopping or sleep in? Sleep in!
Any special Thanksgiving tradition? not really, just enjoy time with family
Favorite thing about Thanksgiving? My Mom's stuffing and broccoli casserole
Favorite Thanksgiving memory? Just the warm feeling of spending time with family and eating good food

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

{just a good day}

Even though I was dreading going to work today (being Thanksgiving week at a college it is sooo slow), it has been a nice, relaxing day. I've had the office to myself and had a fun project to work on, so that has made the day go by fairly quickly. Dan and I went to lunch at Mancino's...that was a nice break in the day.

I'm reeeeaaaaally excited to decorate for Christmas...I may have to break my rule and start before Thanskgiving. :) We don't spend T-day at home anyway, so that's my excuse for why I can start early.

Been having a lot of fun with Chloe lately. She is really starting to form a personality and has become quite the lap cat (much to Melvin's dismay). She loves to get underneath blankets...so cute. Here are a couple pictures of her recent cuteness :)

{it was time for a change

Say hello to the new me!! I cut it yesterday and loooove it...feels so good to have it off of my neck! Next up is new frames for my glasses. :)

Enjoying a nice, relaxing Sunday. Had breakfast with Mom and Dad at Cracker Barrel and I think Dan and I are going to do some shopping this afternoon...I need a new winter coat for work desperately. Hopefully we'll find some good sales!

Happy Sunday everyone!!

{long time no blog}

Geez, it has been forever since I blogged. I think it was mostly because I didn't feel like I had anything too exciting or important to share. Life has been rough the past month...Dan was going through a lot of stress at work and I was as well. Luckily things are a little better now.

I did my first scrapbooking related project yesterday in over two weeks and it felt sooo good! I made a calendar for my sister for Christmas and I'm really proud of how it turned out. I couldn't believe that I finished it in one day! (well, I do still have to add a photo to each month, but that's it). I think she's really going to like it. I'm also going to make one for my sister-in-law, Dan's Mom and I have another one I haven't assigned to anyone yet.

My friend Liz is getting married on Dec. 9th and I'm in the wedding! It is fun to be helping with wedding stuff again. We got our dresses last weekend at David's Bridal and they are really pretty...they are red, full length, with a halter top and embroidered overlay in the back. I helped her make the invitations and it was so fun...makes me want to try my hand at the stationery business again.

I'm getting my hair done tomorrow and I'm going to make a big change...I'm cutting it shorter, probably mid-neck length. I just can't take it this long anymore...I'm always pulling it back so what's the point? I'll definitely post an after pic. :)

I'm sooo excited to decorate for Christmas this year! I've gotten a bunch of new decor items and we got a new tree...pre-lit! I'm very happy about not having to put the lights on it this year...and the branches are hinged so I don't even have to put it together! (yeah...I'm lazy...so what?? ;)

That's about all from me for today...cheers!

{3 years}

We had our 3 year wedding anniversary on Wednesday...so hard to believe that much time has passed since we said I Do. We had a nice relaxing day at home (the weather was pretty yucky...windy and cold). I got Dan a CD and hat he had been wanting and he got me some peridot earrings (my birthstone) and a pashmina in the same shade of green...my favorite color. :) I made him a fun card in the shape of a "3"...took forever to make but was totally worth it.

We had dinner at Red Lobster...I wish we had better eating out choices here but shrimp and a strawberry dacquiri did make me happy. Today we're going to Indy to see The Fray and Aqualung in concert...really excited about that. We're going to eat at PF Chang's before the concert...mmmm. I have the day off of work today...haven't even changed out of my PJ's yet...love days like this. Here are a couple pics from Wednesday...now on to #4! :)

{happy}

So I'm having one of those days where I just feel very content and happy for so many reasons...

• The weather is GORGEOUS today...about 80 degrees with a cool breeze
• Dan is on vacation from work...right now he is camped out on the couch with a cold beer and chips, watching the baseball playoffs
• I had a good outfit and hair day today...that has not happened much lately
• I found a new scrapbooking kit club that is TO DIE FOR...they are having a design team search and I'm pretty sure I'm going to go for it...**fingers crossed***
• We're having Dan's Mom and Grandma over for dinner tonight...Dan is making chili....mmmmm!
• I think I'm finally getting my scrapbooking mojo back...its about time!!!
• I got 3rd place in an online scrapbook page contest...how fun!
• I can finally post this layout I did for my design team...

Life is good and I feel very blessed!