- Chevron Canvases -

I dearly miss little Brian when he travels for work [literally for real, he was gone 75% of July], but also enjoy giving the guest bedroom a guest! 

...Who am I kidding, the guest bedroom remains untouched because my mom still sleeps in my bed.

I'm 20-something years old and God knows that's still not old enough to sleep alone. 

Anyway...

We did WORK on the house this week! 

We made progress in basically every room, but especially focused in on spare bedroom #2.  I've had this big glorious 3-chevron-canvas vision for a long time, and finally we made these visions a reality. Woot. Love.

[I put a mini-preview of this room on Facebook, and tons and tons and tons of people PM'ed asking how to make the canvases. Flattered! Sort of. I'm the worst teacher there ever ever was, but here is a half-@$$ attempt at showing you how we made them...]

Initial supplies needed:

• 3 canvases from Hobby Lobby. [They never go on sale apparently and we are total sale shoppers, but we each used a 40% off coupon so whatevs.]

• Gray and yellow chevron material from Jackman's Fabrics. [This is our favorite material store in the area! A huge semi-annual sale was going on when we bought the material which was totally a freak accident but an appreciated and celebrated event nonetheless.]

• Matching gray and yellow decor with some of my favorite lyrics from Kohl's. ...Added into the below picture for matchy cuteness, but no we did not hand make this! [Kohl's. Do not even get me going or I will never shut up. This wall art was 50% off already, but actually 80% off + $10 more off when I added in my savings from Kohl's charge cards and Kohl's Rewards. Not complaining. I like buying $50 things for $5.]

• Wine from Schnucks. [We prefer white zin or moscato! Or whatever is on sale!]

• Scissors from IKEA. [Yes, you have to buy them from IKEA.] 

Cut fabric to canvas size + a little [or a lot] extra to leave room for mistakeys. We make lots of mistakeys.

Iron, iron, and iron some more. Nobody wants to see a big wrinkle in the middle of the finished product! 

*pause in project*

We were disappointed to discover my mini-stapler from college wouldn't suffice. WHAT! Emergency trip across the street to Lowe's. "Do you have staple guns?" "Yes, yes we do, aisle 4!" K thanks. Two glasses of wine deep and not emburruseddd.

Extra [mid-project] supplies needed:

• Heavy duty staple gun from Lowe's. [$9 and some change. I can deal.]

So staple gun in hand, fold the material over the back of the canvas EVENLY and staple away.

Staple staple staple, cut cut cut. The back of the canvases look rough, buuuut who cares.

Finished before we knew it! 

Not so sure that several [an unknown uncounted number, to be exact] empty wine glasses signifies the perfect time to begin hanging the canvases, so we opted for a movie and beddy bed. Canvas hanging and room decorating commenced the next morning. :)

[No, those legs are no miscolored optical illusion...still recovering from 4th degree San Diego sunburn! Owie!!]

...And the infamous Facebook "sneak peek"... More pics and posts to come when the room has its finishing touches! :) 

How was that for a tutorial? 

I know, not so great.

I am the world's worst teacher.

But I am damn good at decorating! 

And maybe Brian will stop touring the country on business trips after he reviews the July's credit card bill... Just maybe.  

Until then: While the cat's away, the mouse will play!!!

- Landscaping...sort of... [Part II] -

[The ever-exciting Part I here!]

I am semi-sad to announce that a big huge dirty trench project has commenced, so our yard will be a big huge dirty [grass-less and shrub-less] mess for a long long long time. 

Damn those big huge dirty projects. 

After our basement flooded in June, Brian decided we needed a little de-flooding drain system installed in the yard. 

...And he's doing it himself.

Which is awesome.

But I do get a little exhausted just watching him work.

Sunday Funday, anyone? 

Yikessss.

After a while of being inside slugging away with dishes and laundry and miscellaneous cleaning [and also being inside with couch, TV, and internet], I decided to go out and accompany the project with my computer and a cotton-pickin' Pandora station.  I joined my loving husband intending mostly to give moral support but somehow got coerced into donating some physical support as well.

 Roped into raking [yet not without pausing for photo-ops] = just another day in the life...

Pipes installed and covered.  

Yard still grass-less. [Can't win 'em all.]

Husband is begging for a back rub x5, but we are ready for Glen Carbon's next hurricane!!!

- Vanity Mirrors -

Vanity mirrors/medicine cabinet thingys are in! [Actually, they were in mid-June, but I again am failing as a blogger.] 

*sigh sigh sigh of relief*

Definitely totally completely OVERRRR putting my make-up on blindly [or with a little handheld mirror when in severe desperation]...

Yay yay yay yay yayyyy.

Hello home! :) 

- Collage Obsession -

I'm obsessed with collages.

Maybe possibly totally definitely obsessed. I LOVE THEM.

At our wedding reception, I had this beautiful gorgeous wonderful mantle complete with our parents' and grandparents' professional wedding portraits. And when I was buying frames and collecting these portraits for the reception mantle, I was always secretly planning for a future collage [for our "future house," of course...].  

And now I have the "future house." 

So obvi, I had to bust out the future collage. 

I dug up the box that was nicely packed away, dusted off the frames, and put Brian to work. 

I am loving the way this looks! Still more work to do though, so more pics to come when the whole guest bedroom is decorated... [I promise.]

CLICK HERE to see our P's and G's wedding portraits more closely...

...and CLICK HERE to see the gist of the wedding mantle! 

- The Decorating Continues -

Master bathroom is gettin' a sprucin' up!

...Also, again, pics from May...

[Sorry, still not sorry.]

And master bedroom is in progress! [But all we really need is a bed, right? After all, we ARE still newlyweds... ;) Don't read, Mom!!]

Curtains and mirrors and all kinds of wall and table garnishings being added in...

There was so much house beautifying going on that my hair was starting to feel left out... Mom threw some chunky chunks of blonde in it tonight! 'Tis how we roll up in this joint. Booyah.

Hello home! :) 

- Faucets [Installed] -

These pics are really old.  But today, I re-discovered them.  So I'm just now posting.  Oopsie.

Cue bad blogger/housewife comments now.

[Sorry I'm not sorry.]

Our countertops were installed towards the end of May.  Then once we had a functioning kitchen, we re-unwrapped all our wedding gifts and washed all the dishes and stocked the cabinets! Best.day.ever. Exciting times! 

While I handled that excitement, Brian worked tirelessly to install our kitchen faucet and bathroom faucets! 

So as of May 29 [again, sorry I'm not sorry about the 2.5 month lateness], we officially have countertops. And dishes. And faucets. And my husband is the bomb for being uber handy! 

Oh, hello home. :)

- Antepartum Ann -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Ann's going to antepartum!!! 

No.

Nooo.

NOOOOO.

Yes. :(

It's an end of an era, and it's so hard to say goodbye to probs the greatest woman and mentor and nurse ever. I'm so lucky to call you my friend! I've only been in L&D for 2 years which isn't a drop in the hat compared to Ann's 30+, but in those meager years she has taught me so much about nursing and friendship and LIFE. 

What a saint of a woman.

Love you, Ann! I know you aren't going far, but you will still be missed! Our L&D family is already mourning the loss!

Other week highlights: 

-- Brian's in Pennsylvania this week! [<--- I put an exclamation point out of habit but am in fact not excitedly exclaiming anything. I've been missin' my hubby during July... Too much business traveling!!! Come home, baby!]

- San Diego -

A little work...

...and then a lot of pleasure! 

Brian had a work conference "work conference" in San Diego Monday-Thursday. [And I'm talking like TOUGH work.] When his working days of blood, sweat, and tears finished up, I hopped a plane to Cali and we had a little post-conference mini-vaca of our own. 

So fun!

Can I move to Cali and live there forever? 

The first two days were overcast and a little too chilly for the beach, so we hoofed ourselves around the city and did some exploring.  We toured the U.S.S. Midway and stopped by the Kissing Statue. [Note blue shirt Asian dude looking up sailor's wife's skirt for photo op. ...You're cool.]

We spent Friday night at the Strip Club grilling our own food! [...Like New York strips, not naked women. ...Yet observe naked women paintings in background all over the restaurant. Gross.]

A fun day on Mission Beach! Still too cold for our bones to be in bikinis, but we had fun walking the shore line, watching a beach volleyball tournament, and touching our toes in the sand.  We had lunch at the Wave House next to this enormously ginormous man-made wave that amateur surfers were attempting to conquer. #bustin@$$allday #freeentertainment 

Our hotel was in the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter. We were immersed in some of the city's buzzing night life with shops and restaurants and bars [and we especially loved viewing a 5-cop, 5 cop car, 1 cop motorcycle, 1 ambulance, and 1 fire truck assisted arrest right before our eyes. City thug life much?].

My very favorite day was our last day: warm and sunny and PERFECT for the beach! [At least I thought it was perfect pre-4th degree sunburn...] We hopped a cab across the bridge to Coronado Beach and had the best.day.ever. Did I mention I want to move to Cali???

 

And a ferry boat ride back home! What an awesome view of the skyline...

Hasta luego, San Diego! We will miss you dearly. Until next time...

- Let's Go, Cards! -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

You know you're having [a little too much] fun when you don't get a chance to look up to the scoreboard until the bottom of the 8th. 

...But we were winning! And we won. Yeah! Go Cards! 

No big deal, it's just super duper easy to get carried away chatting and laughing with these ladies. We had a great night at the ballpark! 

Other week highlights: 

-- We're jumpin' a plane to San Diego! Stay tuned! 

- Pat's Birthday -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Woke up one morning to this little event invite from Laura...

*****

Shhhh!!!!  My Mother is turning 60 on July 21st!!! She is always doing something kind for me and my family so wanted to help return the favor and help celebrate her 60th birthday uniquely!!!

Mom has prescription Reading glasses but seems like she sooo often uses the phrases.....
-Where are my Glasses?
-I Cant See, I need my Glasses
-I Can't tell what that is, I need my Glasses on
-I don't remember where I laid my glasses
-Laura, I left my glasses at your house (or at her own house)

Now she isn't forgetful all the time...but her glasses are usually a conversation piece at some point in a visit

When my nephew Kyle was about 2yrs old he pretended he was my mom and said "I can't see, I need my glasses!" So you know she says it often if a kiddo picks up on it!!!!

So Where is this all going.......

Let's SHOWER PAT WITH READING GLASSES!!!!

I've seen them before at the $1 bin at Target, I'm sure they're at the Dollar Tree, Deals....places for Cheap!

Let's see if we can get her a nice supply....and just a funny/fun way to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY (now put on your glasses!)

Pat turns 60 Sunday, July 21.....Let's Shower her with the Love of Vision!!!

*****

So what to do? Shower Pat with the love of vision, obvi. :) 

Happy happy birthday, Auntie Pat! Hope you had a wonderful day! We love you! :)

Other week highlights: 

-- Brian traveled to Green Bay for work...

-- ...and then came home and left the next day for Boston...

-- ...and came home to get clean laundry from his awesome wife and re-pack for San Diego! 

-- I was a single mouse just having the time of my life with the cat out of town! ;) Enjoyed an entire day with Alicia, had lunch with my Grandma and Grandpa, spent half of another day internet stalking and blogging at Starbucks, met up with Kevin, emceed the Miss Litchfield pageant, the list goes on and on. Ah! A day in the life...

- Alicia -

There are lots of kinds of friends.

Friends you grew up with, went to school with, worked with, share a zip code with, go to church with.

There are the kind of friends who share your same passions and interests and are the best.people.ever. to hang out with because they want to do all the same things you do.

Then the kind who is older and wiser; the one who teaches you good habits and self-discipline and the one your mom wants you to hang out with.

Sometimes there are the kinds that you laugh with and cry with and share all your life hopes and dreams and deepest darkest secrets with.

There are "friends" who you think are "friends" and then find out they were never even real "friends" in the first place.

And then, really really rarely, there are the friends who are truest true friends you've ever had, and you know no matter what they'll be one of your best friends for life.

^^That friend? 

That's this girl. :) 

Alicia. She's one of the most beautiful, genuine, and completely wonderful girls I've ever known. 

We met in July 2010 on the Christian County fair queen pageant stage. Holy moly, who knew what the next three years would bring?! A summer full of county fair lovin', a lot of slumber parties at U of I, and eventually her walking down the aisle and standing beside me as I said, "I do..."  And although we don't get to see each other nearly often enough, everything picks up right where it left off when we're together.

This weekend we were lucky enough to spend a WHOLE Friday together. Pizza, pedicures, and pageants... Seriously, who could ask for anything more?! We had an amazing time and I am so excited to see her again soon! :)

Love you, Lishy! Thanks for being that friend!

- Thirty-One [Delivered] -

Five days after clicking "submit" online, the Thirty-One shipment appeared on my doorstep!  [That HAS to be record timing for the FASTEST turn-around ever; we couldn't believe it!]  I was so excited to rip open the boxes and see my bags + look at everyone else's. Love them sooo much and can't wait to distribute them to all my friends! 

Two lucky winners are getting their bags delivered today! Woohoo! :) 

- Summer Salad -

Meet my very favorite summer salad: 

3 benefits: quick, healthy, and suuuper yummy!

[My mom actually introduced me to this recipe several years ago when she was trying to make me a skinny b*tch helping me lose my college weight, but we won't get into that...] 


All you need: 

• spinach leaves
• strawberries
• blueberries
• mandarin oranges -- [although not in the pictured salad]
• feta cheese
• pecans -- [or walnuts, or any kind of nuts, or no nuts if you don't like nuts]
• chicken -- [if desired?] 
• Girard's Raspberry dressing

Mmm! I could eat this for every single meal! 

Enjoy!! :) 

- Thirty-One -

What's better than hanging out with a great group of girls? 

...Hanging out with a great group of girls AND drinking wine AND buying purses!

My wonderful cousin is a brand new Thirty-One consultant, so I thought having a party for a bunch of my work girls would be a great way to 1) give her some business and 2) show off our new house!  Besides, what girl doesn't need a new lunch box or diaper bag or cute tote?!

Party prep included watching my crazy mother power wash the front of the house, throwing together some snacks, and helping Laura set up her bag display.  Before we knew it, the guests were arriving! 

She is such a superstar consultant! 

Lots of fun was had by all! And yes, we might all maaaaybe have a teeny tiny Thirty-One obsession!! ;) 

Thanks to all who attended and/or ordered and/or made my party a success! :)

- Cookies -

Our [across-the-street] neighbor brought over two plates of cookies tonight!  

Bring me chocolate and we're instant friends! 

Good move, lady... 

So excited to be a part of this sweet neighborhood! :) 

Mmmmmmmm yummy!

- Landscaping [Part I] -

...And the long-awaited landscaping project commences... 

Brian had hoped to start the project weeks and weeks ago, but our yard was a constant muddy marsh after days on end of thunderstorms.

Then one day...

...What is that noise? 

Oh, sh*t. 

We woke up last Saturday morning to a bulldozer digging in outside our bedroom window.  [We really aren't early risers at ALL if you haven't caught on by now.....]  Brian's dad sure knows how to keep us on our toes! 

Good morning, sunshines! ;) 

A WHOLE TREE cut down in the back yard?!? Whattttt? The hubby caught a little grief for this one. Goodbye privacy? There will [officially] be no more lying on the deck in my swimsuit... Cannot be scaring off the neighbors before we even meet them. Boo. :( 

The yard is a hot mess, but soon we will be planting some small bushes and landscaping trees and pretty flowers! Yay! :)

[Continue entertaining yourself with Part II here!]

- Goodbye, Nikki [Part II] -

The love of my life is leaving me for day shift...........

Wahhhhhhh! :( 

We lost her to the operating room fellowship last January. And then she came back to L&D nights. And now she's going to L&D days.  I'm totally crossing my fingers that it won't take her long to realize day shift is for the birds! 

What's that cake you see? Well, we're making her a "day shift problem." ;) 

Goodbye, Nurse Nikki! We'll welcome you back to the dark side anytime! 

- RCIA or NFP? -

I'm prettttty sure the two little visiting Mormon missionaries knocked on the wrong door last week...

But after a long, open-door chat letting at least 30 minutes of A/C out of my house, I'm also pretty sure they are Catholic wannabes. ;) 

By the end of our conversation, I had gained a Book of Mormon AND a DVD about "Finding Faith in Christ."  Hallelujah, amen! [Intrigued also by Catholicism,] they pulled out their planners and wanted to schedule a time to come back and chat more.  Of course there was only one appropriate response: "Absolutely! And what would you like to chat about next time??? NFP or RCIA?!"

Boom.

#AMDG

#catholicsforthewin

#happydoorknocking

#seeyoubabesintwoweeks

Now, for some popcorn and a movie night!!!

- Happy 4th! -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

My husband is an undiagnosed pyromaniac.

He loves to set things on fire and blow stuff up.

It's kind of crazy and highly unsafe.

But it does make for one hell of a July 4th.

Happy 4th of July!  Happy birthday, America!!!

If you didn't sit under any good firework displays this year, mark your calendars to come rock it with us in 2014! 

Other week highlights: 

-- Happy birthday, Nikki!

-- Happy birthday, Ellybean!