painting project

Spent about 7 hours of my day painting the powder room Plaza Green in suede faux finish. Was it worth it? 

YES!!!

Before

During (after first coat)

After (2nd coat)

 

The pictures don't really do the suede finish justice, but in person it looks pretty cool! Now I just need to go shopping for some accessories and then the bathroom will be completed.

CHANGE

Change of plans...

For months, Nate had been kind of hinting at the thought of us not going on our trip to Europe. Not that he didn't want to go, but that there were many other things that we could do with the money as it is very expensive to travel there. It's funny how he was being the practical one about money, as I am usually the frugal one. After a few discussions (and convincing) we've decided to put our trip to Europe on hold. We will go to Europe... someday. 

Some of the things that we will be doing instead of Europe...

* buy air conditioning for our house (a definite necessity after suffering through the heat wave last summer)

* buy curtains and blinds for the house (it's been over a year, I think it's time)

* start working on our debt snowball (yay! for Dave Ramsey)

and last but not least... a Royal Caribbean Cruise and trip to Florida!!!

We just booked our cruise yesterday for the end of April, and we can't wait! The plan is to fly into Miami and go on a 7 night cruise, then drive to Tampa and spend a week with Nate's extended family. Neither of us have been on a cruise, and we are really looking forward to the adventure. Although, I am a little sad we are not going to Italy and France, I know that we will go someday and I have that to look forward to.

In this case, CHANGE is not such a bad thing.teehehe.

(iFound another funny photo application for the iPhone)

the floor?!

I don't see the floor in Nate's office very often (unless I clean it, haha!), so I thought I should document it since it probably won't look like this for long. Spent some time this afternoon cleaning/organizing his office. I thought about taking a "before" picture, but I didn't want to embarrass Nate too bad. hehe.

the Halti

The Halti head collar is probably the best $12 we spent when we first got Charlie. It helps tremendously on our walks, and I don't end up with a sore arm after walking her. The nice part is that it doesn't choke her, it just pulls her head to the side if she tries to pull. Greatest invention!

spring tease

Yesterday and Today have been a big tease. It feels like spring outside, and I love it! Here is a picture of the sun shining through the clouds on my walk with Charlie this morning.

passion and priorities

Last week Pastor Randy started a new sermon series called "First" and I highly recommend listening to it. It can be downloaded on iTunes podcast by searching for Beaverton Foursquare Church, or can be found on the website: http://media.b4square.com/sermons.php.

It is such a great reminder of what the Bible says is most important in our lives and that we don't miss the most important thing. Seeking Jesus first and keeping him as the center of our lives. It is so easy for us to get wrapped up into the pressure and stress of life that this busyness ends up being a substitute for closeness with God and our relationships.

Both of these sermons "First Love" and "First Call" have really inspired me to be more passionate and to re-establish my priorities, and to try and spend more time in The Word. This statement from the sermon really stuck with me "If I'm too busy to seek time with The Maker of life then I'm never going to know what is most important or matters most". 

Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own."

Saturday with Mom

Spent this lovely Saturday afternoon with my Momma.

We started off at the Stampin' Up Event which included demonstrations, make & take cards, door prizes, and lots and lots of cool ideas.

Here are some of my favorite cards that were displayed that I want to try and make:

 

Some other projects that I want to try are the clipboard calendar and the stamped tile coasters. Fun!

 

After the Stampin' event, we went on a hunt to try and find my mirror for the bathroom. I found one at Cost Plus that is a perfect size for a great price!

Charlie's profile in the new mirror

 

I think it will look great with our new paint, and it even matches the oil rubbed bronze faucet!

faux suede

I did it! I finally decided on a paint color for the powder room downstairs. After looking at 185 pages of HGTV Rate My Space gallery for a couple of hours the other morning, I've finally found some inspiration!

I really liked this color and the suede paint, also loving the dark espresso brown wood accents

Then I found this bathroom, and decided I wanted to go for more of a sea green color.

Yesterday, I went to Home Depot and brought home about 10 different color swatches for the Ralph Lauren fuax finish in Suede. Looking online I thought I would love the color Cristo, but it turns out that color in real life is actually gray. Who knew?! So I had it narrowed down to Plaza Green or Tamayo Green, and Nate helped me decide. Tamayo green is pretty, but too olive-y and not exactly what I was going for.

Tonight, we went to pick up our paint and supplies.

Plaza Green it is!

This is the Plaza Green Suede next to our trim. Hoping the suede part isn't too tricky and turns out as awesome as I think it will!

Here is a picture of our "ticky-tacky" bathroom, that still has the builders beige and absolutely no decor in it.

Can't wait to spruce it up with a little color and some fun accents without breaking the budget. Some of the accents that I plan to add includes a new mirror with some kind of cool border, shelving for above the toilet, framed art or wall sconces.

I've been on the search for a new mirror, but it is appearing to be harder than I thought. However, I've only looked at Target, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx so far. I plan to go to Pier 1, Cost Plus, and Kohls this weekend. Otherwise... I may have to give in and buy this beauty at West Elm.

Love it! and it's the perfect size that I'm looking for.

I really wanted to paint this weekend, but we've got other plans. So next weekend it is! Will update on how it turns out.

The Office

I ♥ The Office! I was starting to have withdrawals as there hadn't been any new episodes since before the holidays. Tonights episode was great, and really made me want to watch the older seasons again. Can't get enough of these guys, I seriously laugh straight through the episodes.

french fries

French fries go green.

Don't get me wrong I love me some greesy french fries every once in a while, but this is a little healthier version. 

Step 1: give in and buy the ridiculously priced asparagus

Step 2: rinse under water, snap off the ends

Step 3: lay on tray or oven safe dish

Step 4: spritz of olive oil and a pinch of salt

Step 5: throw into fancy schmancy microwave and find "roasted asparagus" option, if you don't have said fancy schmancy microwave the oven will do just fine

Step 6: let cool, and Enjoy!

Perfection!!!

Pros: nutrient dense; good source of fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamin B6, A &C, and high in thiamin. No fat, No cholesterol, and low sodium. 

Cons: can make one's urine smell (about 50% of people) due to the sulfur containing amino acids in asparagus that break down in digestion and then are later excreted in the urine.

stages

This was the highlight of my day:

Went to my friend Corrine's baby shower today, and it felt like I was in baby land. There were 2 pregnant ladies, and these 4 handsome little babes. It was too cute! Starting at 1 wk old, 1 month old, 3 month old, and ending at the 6 month old. It's amazing the different stages infants go through, and how each one is so precious. This was just too funny that they were all boys, and the two preggers due soon are also having boys. What are the chances?! Definitely got my baby fix in today. :)

Christmas

Warning: long post

I know the holidays have come and gone, but I feel like I should at least post a few pics from Christmas.

Our Christmas holiday started at our house on the 23rd. We had most of Nate's Mom's extended family over to our house (except for a few live in Florida). This was the first time everyone had been together in years. I think there ended up being 19 of us! We had a great time, and we always love to host!

Jon and our nephew Calvin

We had to set up 3 tables, going out into the living room

Elephant exchange 

All of the cousins (and significant others)

Christmas Eve morning we went to Nate's parents house for brunch and gift opening.

Sharon made a delicious meal 

 

Then we went my Grandparent's house to have dinner and white elephant exchange with that side of the family.

someone brought 5 dozen eggs and an omelet maker for WE gift, I ended up trading the omelet maker so that Anna could have something to use with her eggs, haha!

Aren't my grandparents the cutest? Yes!

Nate stole the laser pen from Jessica, which is now Charlie's favorite toy 

Grandma bought all of the girls Snuggies. I ♥ my zebra print Snuggie!!!

Grandma was feeling a little left out, so she put her robe on backwards. Too cute!

Christmas morning we spent at my parents, and had dinner with my mom's side of the family. 

pretty tree

working on a puzzle we got from my parents. One of my favorite past times, not so much Nate's. haha.

Dad has a little more patience

Santa brought Grandma a flat screen tv! Yay!

Finished!

birthday girl

Our fun loving chocolate lab Charlie turns 1 today!

Playin' with her new toy.  

No, we will not be making cupcakes and blowing out candles, but Nate does want to buy her the FURminator (more of a present for us). She has  been shedding like crazy, even in this cold winter weather.

first snow

An unexpected snow storm hit on December 29th. We ended up accumulating about 3 inches that evening and by the next day it was melted. The news had said that this had been the worst traffic day in Portland history, and I believe it!!! It took Nate over 3 hours to get home from work. I had to work that night, and just walked to work (only 10 minute walk), but it took one of our physicians 6 hours to get to the hospital. Insane! People just get so stupid on the roads, and that's why I just avoided it.


Charlie, however, loved the snow! It was her first snow, and she was just too darn cute in it. 

 golf course? what golf course?

 

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland