Downstairs Bath

We have a smaller, full bath off of our family room on the lower floor of our new split. Wait until you see the before pictures when I post them...simply amazing.

We are painting the walls a sage green and although the shower stall is tiny, we are taking out the crappy door on it and putting up a curtain. No one will really be using the shower, so it is really for just "decorative" purposes.

Here is the rug I bought from Kohl's, as well as the oatmeal-colored waffle print shower curtain:

Living room tables

I am super picky when it comes to furniture (okay, most of us are). But I can never seem to find anything I like. Today, when wandering in Target, I came across their Avington collection and fell in love. The reviews online are great and they look awesome in the store! I bought the coffee table:

One side table (I have to go to another location to get the other one):
And the console table:

The TV stand is just a little short on depth for our TV; I may hold off and just try to find something that will match the dark wood.

Exhausted

In the middle of my first year teaching, I was given the opportunity to take over the drama club at the high school I teach at. I was ecstatic; it was a dream of mine. Four and a half years later, I was getting married, in grad school, and had a 12-year old living with me. It was time to put my family first and set my priorities straight, so I decided to step down as a director.

I didn't realize how much it stressed me out until I realized how much better I was sleeping this year.

Until recently.

This house thing made me a lunatic. Now my internship is making me a lunatic. Not to mention keeping up on my grades and my other grad school stuff (because, you know, interning isn't enough, so we have to take an additional class). My apartment has gone to shit because I just don't care and need to start packing since we may be closing in two weeks. Currently, shit is just piled in my kitchen (we have free space from when we moved the table). Currently, shit is just PILED EVERYWHERE. I do not do well with clutter, so this needs to end this weekend. We have both the girls so we are starting to pack.

I need a vacation. July can't get here soon enough.

But shit...that means I have to put on a bathing suit.

One year

Menu Plan Monday: Back on Track

OK, a weekend full of craptastic eating and dining out, I have realized I need to cut it out and refocus...and I am fairly certain I said that last week as well.  Ok, fine, I am giving it another shot, ok?

Monday: Dijon porkchops, cous cous, green beans

Tuesday: Chicken tortilla soup

Wednesday: Pasta (Ash Wednesday, so meatless is a must for me)

Thursday: Chili and some sort of homemade bread

Friday: Probably going to a local fish fry

Saturday: I wrote it down but it is in the other room and I can't remember right at the moment.

For more menu ideas, visit OrgJunkie's blog!

What a weekend!

We had a crazy weekend and it was jam-packed with lots of running around.

Friday night I went to our boys basketball game at one of our cross-town rivals (they won!) and then to Target (the first of numerous trips this weekend).  C was already sleeping when I came home so I watched some DVRd 90210s (old school style) before heading to bed.  

Saturday morning we met C's best friend and his girlfriend for lunch before our home inspection.  Thankfully, we passed with flying colors!  We then went to our favorite hibachi restaurant, Shinto, for our anniversary dinner.  They brought us a glass of strawberry champagne and the couple sitting next to us bought us dessert, which they brought to us before we left.  We then headed to a friend's surprise 30th birthday party.  

Today we went to Sears to check out some appliances (I am refusing to budge on stainless steel!).  Came home and was a grading madwoman at Borders before another Target run and then home to make dinner.

Tomorrow is our first anniversary.  Chuck gave me tickets to see Spamalot in April when it comes to town and I am super excited!!  

The Girls' Room

J and A finally get to debunk their bunk beds in their new, larger room, so we felt that the time was right to get them new bedding (even though their current bedding is a year old). J's favorite color is blue and A's favorite color is lime green. I mean, what the heck am I supposed to do with THAT?? I was wandering through Target today, looking for inspiration, and found these sets:
The colors look more muted here, but it incorporates both the blue and green for the girls and the darker circles are brown. Then we bought them these blankets in a fuzzy microplush:



And when we got home, I found these sheer curtains with the same type of polka dots!





The curtains are sheer because I plan on painting the room a few different colors. Brown on the bottom with a green stripe or chair rail in the middle, and a lighter blue on top. The white curtains will break it up a little and we are going to get the girls each a new white chest of drawers.

J was REALLY excited about the sets and I can't wait to show A in two weeks when we have her again! Jamie was NOT happy, however, when I said they were not allowed to use them until we moved!!

The next step

Home inspection on Saturday!  We are going to take some measurements and things like while we are there as well.  I need to count the cabinet handles so I can purchase replacement ones and I want to start pondering what the hell colors I am going to paint my walls.

Who am I kidding...I have already been pondering!

The wait is over!

Our realtor called today...

...they accepted our bid!

Chuck took the girls to see the house on Sunday, since A had not seen it.  They were really excited, even though they have to share a room still.  It is nice because their room is a good size and they will each have their own closet.  They were the only people that were at the open house because the realtor had not intended on having it, so it was not advertised.

I have no real details now, other than we sign the papers for the final approval for the loan and need to get a home inspection done ASAP.  Our lease is up at the end of March, so we need to get a move on!

Should I or shouldn't I?

I am really thinking about getting a massage on Saturday.

Should I spend the money and indulge, when I have done literally nothing for myself? It is our one year anniversary, and I want to pamper before dinner.

Menu Plan Monday: Back on Track!

I have been a terrible Weight Watcher the last two weeks. I have let stress get the best of me and I have not been to a meeting in about three weeks, when I gained .8 pounds. I will face the scale this week, even if I think I still am not back down the few pounds I have let myself gain back. I am also gearing up to start working out; our bridesmaid dresses came in for my friend's wedding and I have two months to not be such a lard-ass.

Monday: Turkey sausage sandwiches with green peppers and onions; new potatoes with parsley; salad
Tuesday: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Wednesday: Dijon pork chops, broccoli, cous cous
Thursday: Oven-fried chicken; mashed potatoes; corn
Friday: Not sure; we usually eat out or grab something quick
Saturday: One year anniversary dinner!

Less than 24 hours

That is how long the owners of the house have to either accept or counter on our bid.  We gave them a new and higher number we were willing to go with and our realtor put on the offer that they have 24 hours.  This was at 2 PM.

I am not mentally built for this.  We need to find a house and buy it so I can sleep again at night.

More kitchen inspiration

Bathroom Ideas

This is the shower curtain I have:

From Kohl's

It is new, so I will be keeping it. I need to get the trashcan.

I really like the look of this, with the bathroom painted a light blue. I love the clean look of the white and stainless steel as well.

Kitchen Ideas

Since we are in the process of buying a house (STILL WAITING!), I will be posting some ideas of things I love and that inspire me. So, let us begin with the kitchen, shall we?

Stone bread basket, Williams Sonoma


Never thought I would want blue in my house, but I love the look of these Provence serving pieces from Williams Sonoma

These towels were next to the dutch ovens (see below) at Williams Sonoma, which became my inspiration for my new ktichen

Lemon Trees, Williams Sonoma

Le Creuset Dutch Ovens in Lemongrass and Citron, Williams Sonoma

Menu Plan Monday: Week 6

Sunday: THanksgiving in February at Mom and Dad's.  Mom had a turkey in her freezer and invited us over.  We had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and salad.  I made a yummy chocolate mint layer cake (I will be posting pictures later).

Monday: Beef stroganoff (6) served over egg noodles (4)

Tuesday: I am having dinner at grad school for an event we are having.  C and J are having frozen pizza

Wednesday: Taco junk (3), served over lettuce for me and in tortillas for C and J

Thursday: Dijon pork chops (4), broccoli, some sort of side dish (3)

Friday: Pancakes and hashbrowns (movie night with the kids!)

Saturday: Valentine's Dinner with my hubby and the kids.  I am making homemade pasta with a salad and garlic knots.  I am also going to make some sort of yummy cake for us and plan on using our fancy china and everything.

For more menu ideas, check out OrgJunkie's blog and join in!

Still waiting...

No news on the house yet.  The seller's realtor is still waiting to talk to the son of the owner, who has power of attorney.  The rest of the family members want to move on it, but still no word from the son.

I am frustrated.  And annoyed.  And want to either move on or be thrilled that we have a damn house.

Here we go again...

Our bid on the last house was rejected, after bringing three bids to the table.  Our last one was extremely reasonable, and the seller seems to be set on his price.  And apparently, if he does not get the price he wants he is going to rent it out.  Idiot.

I went to look at a house with our realtor on Monday and hubby and I went to look tonight.  Both sets of our parents met us there, and we ended up putting a bid down.  There were random signs that this was meant to be our house throughout the house, such as:

-the cabinets were the same as they were in another house we were really interested in, then decided it was just too tiny

-there was a plaque about Leos on the wall in the garage.  My husband is a Leo.  As is Lex, his youngest daughter.

-in the basement bathroom on the ugly-ass, metallic, Abe Lincoln wall paper (I will post pics), MY NAME was on it.  Totally bizarre.

So, keep your fingers crossed for us and say a little prayer.

Wilton II Final Cake

Most of the Wilton II courses were spent working on royal icing flowers. We only had to make one actual cake for this class, which was a nice change from the three cakes for Wilton I. I was dissatisfied with some of the flowers, such as my daisies and tulips. I really want to work on teh daisies though, because I think you could make some adorable cakes with that design! I am super excited for my fondant class, which starts on Monday. I only hope they actually have it!

For this cake, I used a plain old box mix of chocolate.

Menu Plan Monday: Week 5

So I had a not-so-good WI last week. I am determined to get back OP as of today (what a stupid day to choose to do this...it is the Superbowl!)

Sunday: Yummies at Sara's for the Superbowl. 
Monday: Pork chops (3), cous cous (4), green beans (0)
Tuesday: Spaghetti (5), salad (2 for dressing)
Wednesday:Boca chik'n patties (3) and fries (4)
Thursday:Beef stroganoff
Friday: Not sure
Saturday: Not sure

Sunday: Still not sure

This weekend we do not have the kids, and usually when that happens, we eat out one night or get together with friends.  So we shall see!  For more menus, visit OrgJunkie's blog!

Sunday's To Do List

-Make cake for final Wilton II class (and frost)
-Clean bathroom
-Type up notes on the Process of Communication for my speech class for Monday
-Decide WTF I am going to be making for dinner this week (because I literally have no idea)
-Vacuum living room
-Sweep and mop kitchen floor