Lost the Appetite

My aunt sent this picture- something they actually saw while eating lunch- look closely- you'll know exactly what I am talking about...

New Roommate

We took a trip to the farm a couple of weekends ago and came back with this little guy...  

Meet Jackson.

Will got Jackson when he turned 21, but he has been living at the farm so that he would have a place to run around.  Now that we have a yard, he is living with us and we are loving it.  We like to think he is loving it too... 

He loves sticks/the longest branches he can find...  

And baths...

And sleeping, and chasing balls, and everything else dogs like... so I guess that means it is working out!

Then, my mom and Lucas came in town and we recovered the dining chairs.  They went from this...

                                                                      To this...

                              

And I added the rest of the silver trays so the "dining room" now looks like this...

                                            

And if anyone cares, my Heels.com purchase from my previous post has been another success!  The shoes came the NEXT day and they are really comfortable!  It seems the way the straps fit, they "hug" the foot and make it more comfortable to wear, so if anyone wants a good pair of neutral wedges, I recommend those!

Website Love

I have two websites that I am highly fond of- and after making two successful purchases on each, I figured I would share. Folica.com is a great resource for beauty supplies. I have bought a hairdryer and straightener- two essentials that I am willing to spend a little money on and have gotten great deals on both. Not only do they seem to have the largest assortment and best prices, this website has very thorough customer and product reviews, so I always feel well informed when making my product decision. They also always have deals on shipping so it is either cheap or free and it gets to you fast! I had mine on my doorstep two days after I ordered online!

My latest purchase is the straightener pictured above. My CHI finally died after about 8 years, so after reading reviews and comparing a new CHI to this Solia, I followed everyone's advice on the website and got the Solia... the added bonus- it is pink and came with a free travel pouch! I have had it for about a month now and like it a lot better than the CHI, which I didn't think was possible.

Heels.com is my other favorite. They have come through two different times in providing the shoe I am looking for at a better price than anywhere else. My first time I was searching EVERYWHERE for a shoe for our honeymoon- a fun sandal. I couldn't find the exact one anywhere, but heels.com stepped up to the plate. Currently, I have been looking for a new wedge that can become my "go with anything" shoe and found the above for $50 less than Zappos price... really Zappos? AND shipping with them is free 2day! whoo hoo. Now I am just crossing my fingers that these are comfortable... and that the husband approves since I am making this purchase while he is out of town... sometime's you just can't hesitate on a great deal on a great find!

For those of you in Atlanta...

Restaurant.com has gift cards to restaurants that are all on sale! Some of them have minimum limit purchase restrictions, but they seem to be a great deal- one example- Flying Biscuit is a $25 gift card for $10- you have to spend $35 on your visit, but it still saves some! I think my husband might get addicted to this...

Update by Pictures...

*flowers from the yard*

Since we moved in things have been really busy but really fun!  My middle brother graduated from high school...

                                Brittan, Stephen, and Channing came to visit...

And we made some progress on the house!  I'll post some "befores" (the previous owners furnishings) and afters to give you a better idea.  There are still plenty of things to do and things we are waiting on to come in... draperies, a pair of chairs for the den, light fixtures, hanging stuff on the walls, etc. but it will just continue to be a work in progress for a while. Here are a couple of pictures of the den/dining room, kitchen, and living room (room off the kitchen).

Den/Dining Before:

     

Den/Dining After:

The colorful chair will be replaced as soon as our pair of chairs come in... i. can't. wait!  I am waiting on some draperies to come in, we need a light fixture above the table, blah, blah, blah. 

       

I was so excited to get to use the gray chest as my buffet- my find at Angel's that I posted about here.  The table and concrete brackets were my grandmother's, the monogrammed linen chairs are antiques that mom had upholstered and were a wedding present from my parents as was the mirror, and the silver pieces I have collected over the years.  We haven't really eaten at the table yet, so please come for dinner so I can set the table!

 

The maps above the sofa became a collection before Will and I were dating and he asked me to help him "decorate" his bachelor pad.  I jumped at the opportunity seeing it as a prime flirting opportunity ;) and suggested he do a wall of maps above his sofa.  I didn't know at the time that he was a history major and loved maps, or that they would one day end up in my home too, so I am glad it was an idea with some longevity.  He had two of the maps already, then I gave him the world map as a gift, and later we bought a Georgia and Alabama map being they are our home states... is that cheesy?  I just loved that they meant something.  To complete this wall, I would love to get more small maps, and maybe something else with a round shape (maybe bullet mirrors)- I really just want to fill up the wall.  I feel like "go big or go home" applies here :).  I also need some pillows for the sofa.  I haven't fallen in love with anything yet and love the neutrals going on in the room, but could enjoy a fun pop of color too- y'all let me know if you have any ideas.  The chairs we are getting are a cream and brown print, so they will stay with the neutral theme.

       

Kitchen Before:

     

Kitchen After:

We haven't done any "work" on the kitchen... Just replaced two appliances and the light fixture, tore down wallpaper and repainted.  We also added the "island" (an old table that was glossy black and I repainted) and the china cabinet (another repaint project- it was from my aunt and uncle's lake house and no one wanted it... score!).  Please ignore the cardboard box and trash can in picture #2.  

      

Decorating our first home has been really fun and really challenging so far.  It took me 25 trips to the paint store, 10 paint sample pots (none of which were used), 2 purchased fan decks, and 15 conversations with friends and mom to finally pick out paint colors- that just about killed me, but in the process I realized how much I love paint colors and how much I learned, so I secretly loved the process.  BTW, the final paint color for the den/dining room is Benjamin Moore Dry Sage in case you are wondering. (i love when people share their paint colors)  I have seen it used in many different places and always love it, so I figured I couldn't go wrong after I tried every other color made and didn't fall in love.  It just works really well in this room and in general is one of my favorite paint colors.  

Finding things while on a budget has also been fun and challenging.  I have always loved the search for "hidden treasures", so that has somewhat helped me stay in budget.  In most cases, it really is a lot more thrilling, for me, to find things that are great deals that I can make "better" or breathe new life into.  I also love things with a story and coziness is my goal.  A lot of our furniture is from family, and that is something I consider a huge blessing!  It means so much to us to have furniture that is given with love- we treasure those pieces.  I also love having them in our house as it is a reminder of those precious people in our lives every time we look at them.  I know I have said this before, but it is just such a blessing to have a home that we can enjoy and share together.  God has been so good and I only hope to glorify His name in the way he so desires throughout everything this new home involves.  

I will have to post more pictures later, because this post is already too long, my husband is home from his softball game, and I feel like I am developing carpal tunnel...

"New" Beatitudes

I just received this email from a sweet friend, Lauren, who leads my Bible study. It is The Message's version of the Beatitudes. For those of you not familiar with The Message (a more recent discovery for myself) it is a more modern day, simple translation of the Bible. A great source for a new/better understanding of biblical truths. I bought an NIV/Message combination Bible and love being about to read verses in both translations- I highly recommend it!

This is from her email:
The Beautitudes is where Jesus shares on the Sermon on the Mount about the abundance that comes from His Kingdom--not based on circumstances of the condition we are in. Beautitudes means--blessed, or happiness.

Matthew 5:1-8- The Message
3 You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4 You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be - embraced by the One most dear to you.
5 You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6 You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7 You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8 You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

And now the NIV version- for comparison

Matthew 5:1-8
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Moving On

This past weekend was the big weekend and we are finally in the house! Everything is in, but definitely not organized. Our carport is 1/4 full of boxes, trash, and old light fixtures- quite a lovely sight :).
Work...
We immediately took down all of the old, frosty glass and brass fixtures and installed new fans and lights, along with new toilets. You could say our priorities are off, since my clothes are still in suitcases from moving, but that for some reason just made us feel more accomplished. We also got to buy a refrigerator and dishwasher last night! Considering the old refrigerator has shelves taped to stay up and it took me about ten minutes to figure out how to rig the dishwasher door to stay shut, I am really excited about those purchases. I also have torn down most of the wallpaper, and I will just say, that I never realized how much fun that could be! We are having an electrician come do some work so we can actually plug in the tv and the dryer, the painters come paint, and the appliances delivered all this week, so soon it will feel more like progress.
Neighborhood...
Sunday, the neighbors across the street had a fish fry, so we got to meet a few neighbors and hang out with them more. One couple, in particular, (both Auburn grads!!) have been great reaching out to us- and Will and I really enjoy them, so we are excited about those new friends. Everyone else is really sweet and welcoming, informing us on the inside scoop of our nieghborhood. So far, there is a chiropractor, a homemade candy lady, a landscape designer, and a couple jack of all trades in the mix... and apparently there is a garden club and bible study that girls do, so I can't wait to meet even more people.

The move and actually being in the house now all seems somewhat surreal. I am so thankful for a great house to make our home. Looking back to this time 5 months ago, Will's house was still up for sale and I was dreading what would be my hour and 15 minute commute to work. Now, it takes me about 20 minutes to get to work and I really can tell my whole attitude is different. Our quality of life has changed, in a sense, because we are so much closer to friends, church, and work and it is such a refreshing feeling. God was so good to allow us to sale Will's house and now be where we are- what a blessing!

*** A note on the appliances: We have been looking at refrigerators for the past month at many different places- Lowe's had the best price on the Kitchen Aid that we got.- and that was compared to two different "deep discount" stores. It was the floor model on clearance and has some scratches on the handles, but we are going to replace those and with that replacement the refrigerator still ended up being a good $200 less than the "best discount" scratch and dent store and about $850 off the original price. Also, we will get a rebate from Kitchen Aid itself- all of this making it an extremely great deal. Same with the dishwasher, there were discounts from Kitchen Aid set in the purchase- about $200 off, plus mail in rebates, so it was a great deal too. All that to say, if you need appliances, I really do think Lowe's has the best prices and options- definitely better than Home Depot. You have to hit the sales right, but it is worth waiting on the sales- plus, they have the ability to throw in those extra 10% offs and the manufacturers rebates- and not to mention the delivery and install fees are all rebated too. I know I am later in the remodel/upgrade game, but if any of you are looking, I figured I would give my two cents.