one down...

So I finished a project I'd been procrastinating on for my niece's 7th birthday... just.in.time. Like literally painting the final coat of chalkboard on it the morning of the party... bad auntie! BUT I got it done! and it was a hit!

and the finished product a magnetic chalkboard in the brightest pink! I wish I had the before downloaded... it was an old mirror that was my grandmom's! she loved it!!!

We also spent saturday night at the Nat's/O's game (Go O's!!!). It was gorgeous outside with some great company & an O's win!!!

Now, how is it ALREADY monday?!?! at least it's a 4 day week for me then a 4 day weekend!!! Celebrating a college besties wedding... Can't wait!!!



I feel like I'm watching myself...

Do any of you watch New Girl with Zooey Deschanel? I.am.obsessed. We had DVR'd the first episode, because I so desperately wanted to see it, and we weren't going to be home. We sat down during dinner one night (terrible I know) and with B's reservation turned it on. We both loved it. At one point about halfway through, I turned to B and said... "for some strange reason I feel like"... and before I could finish he jumped in with "you're watching yourself" YES! YES! I did. Although I can be pretty reserved in most public situations, when we are at home... in my comfort... I let loose. I make songs up, I talk weirdly to my pups, I do silly little dances and so on...so which makes me absolutely in love with this hilarious show! And the fact that B loves it to is just a perk. So if you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. We laugh out loud...and recite lines from it...all.the.time.

Here are some of my favorite lines:

Jess: Well I guess I can't hide my crazy

Nick: I don't think you're trying that hard

Jess: I just saw Nick's pipi. And his bubbles

Jess: I have to go out tonight, cause I'm feeling pretty twirly.

Schmidt: Twirly? Is that like horny?

Jess: I've got the dirty twirlies, Schmitdy!

There are so so many others that are hilarious. The one liners are just amazing, and I love Zooey, but Schmidt for reals cracks me up!

tomorrow is often the busiest...

I am terrible at this, or more so at making time for things. You see, I'm a procrastinator... there I said it. I let other things get in the way, and then I'm scrambling to get them done! One of my goals this year, is to get better at that. I figure any bit of improvement is a step in the right direction.  So step one... realizing it...check!

One thing that aids in said procrastination is Pinterest. I could peruse it all day, everyday. For Reals. There is just so much, from fashion inspiration, to party planning, delicious recipes, and so much more.

Here are some things I've recently made:

homemade potato chips & avocado ranch dressing

via

Grape Tomato, Chickpea, & Basil salad

via

Guinness Stout Brownies!

via

 Sweet & Spicy Honey Shrimp

via

Everything has come out amazingly delicious... except for the potato chips... those were tough. but I'll try again. I think I had an issue with the timing in my oven. Since it's new, I'm still trying to get used to it.

The shrimp, I changed up a little bit due to not finding all the ingredients. I get a little leery about doing that, but I'm glad I experimented, they turned out incredible and there wasn't one left after the party.

Next up getting to some of the DIY stuff I've been putting off!!!





Getting it together...

I have been slaaaa- acking lately. Sad but true. I need to get it together. We've been in our house for over a year now (CRAZY!)... and we have done tons to update it. Our little townhouse wasn't a "fixer upper", it actually was fairly recently updated in some areas, and was well taken care of. But there is always things that you want to do to make it yours, make it better.

So far we've done:

• Ripped up the old carpet in the downstairs and put in pergo floors
• Pulled up the mis-matched marble tiles in the entry way & put down a nice new clean tile.
• Painted the Master, kitchen, LL Living Room & UL Living Room, including trim & doors
• Put a new screen door up & painted the front door
• Cleared out the front flowerbed, and replanted new shrubs, flowers, & ornamental grasses
• Cleared alllll the mis-matched rocks/stones/pavers from our backyard & got a new paver patio & sod put down
• Put new slate tile down in front of the fireplace
• Replaced the bar top with a butcher block counter top, new sink & faucet
• Re-did the guest bath, which was a night-MARE!
• Got all new stainless steel appliances for the kitchen, UM HELLO double oven! i'm in lurveee!
• New light fixture over the dining table, and two hallways
• Started a gallery wall up the first staircase
• Planted new grass in the back

Things still need to do/want to do:

• Paint the guest room
• Fill the empty frames in the gallery wall
• Hang the microwave over the stove
• Paint the Bar Cabinets
• Paint the Kitchen Cabinets
• re-finish the dresser we use as a media cabinet
• Get new washer & dryer
• Re-do the laundry room area
• New spring landscaping front & back
• re-finish the old roll top desk that was my grandmothers
• re-do the master bathroom
• Paint the office & make built in book shelves 

I know that I'm probably seriously missing some things that we want to do...but this is a pretty good starting point. It's been tough this year so far with engagements that we've had but once june hits things will slow up some, and hopefully we can knock some of this off our list and then spend some good R&R at the pool!

I guess it is true what they say when you become a homeowner.... there is always something to do!