Swan White Curtain

A New Day

2011-06-20T22:39:00.000-07:00

After a year and a half of a depressing, rejection-filled job search, I can proudly announce that it has come to an end! I am now a legal secretary for the State of Texas! Today was my first day and it was a fantastic day. I am just in awe of how things have turned around for me. I'd love to elaborate and hope to more in the near future but right now I have to sleep. Time to get on the clock of a normal 9-5er and not the crazy night owl that I naturally am!

Pier 1 Giveaway!

2011-05-03T16:53:00.000-07:00

Enter a Pier 1 Giveaway here!

We Need To Have A Talk: Anthropology of an American Girl

2011-03-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Anthropology of an American Girl,

After reaching page 372 out of your nearly 600 page length, I think we need to have a talk.

I've struggled with putting you down and not picking you back up for quite some time now. The combination of my hope that some change as far as content goes will occur and my feelings of failure for not completing you have kept me going this long. But I'm sorry to inform you that the struggle is not worth it. There are rows of books waiting to be discovered by me so I must move on.

While your words are poetic and gracefully written, they do not mask that your plot is dull and your narrator and main character of Eveline is thoroughly unlikeable. This is what an American girl is to you? A girl who detests her family, whose talents and potential are overshadowed by her addiction to dysfunctional relationships? A girl who falls so "in love" with a man she says little to nothing to, who is likely a criminal, who is jealous and possessive? A girl who then uses that twisted relationship as a measuring stick for all future romantic entanglements? I'm kind of offended. I know, I know. I'm a woman who does not believe in love at first sight, who uses logic as my primary guide, and who does not believe that romantic love defines one's life. Call me crazy.

After reading this article about quitting books and a few reviews about you (in particular this one) I can safely say we are done. At least for now.

A Fashion Question: Hot Pink Cowboy Boot Edition

2011-03-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

My birthday is just around the corner and I have been brainstorming some presents to request from the hubs. These have peaked my interest:

They are bright and flashy, and pretty much me. :o) But obviously I don't want to spend much on something I won't be able to wear much. So I went back to Polyvore and tried to create some outfits. Take a looksie!

Pink Boots 7 by ButterflyLiv featuring leather shoes

Pink Boots 4 by ButterflyLiv featuring destroyed jeans

Pink Boots 3 by ButterflyLiv featuring destroyed skinny jeans

Pink Boots 2 by ButterflyLiv featuring hot pink boots

Pink Boots by ButterflyLiv featuring cubic zirconia jewelry

pink boots 6 by ButterflyLiv featuring hot pink tops

Pink Boots 8 by ButterflyLiv featuring butterfly rings

Obviously the boots are adorable, but do they seem versatile enough that I could get quite a bit of wear from them? Are these effortless and cute, or too costume-y? What are your favorite looks? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Go see Beth's Tips and Tutorials Tuesday!

From Goodwill to Goodie-- End Table Edition

2011-03-10T14:59:00.000-08:00

This post has been a long time coming! I ran into this mini dresser at the local Goodwill for $25 all the way back in October. I had been wanting a new end table for next to the lounge in our living room and this was just tall and wide enough and provides a lot of storage. So I scooped it up and crammed it into my teeny weeny car all by myself. As you can see, the cats took to it right away. Oh, and is this their blog debut? Meet Inara and Kaylee. (Yes, they are named after Firefly characters.)

I decided to go crazy with it since it's all mine to use. (Josh has his manly section of the living room which consists of a LaZBoy recliner and a lamp/shelf tower from Target, and the rest of it is up for me and our animal menagerie to fight over.) First I visited Hobby Lobby while their hardware was 50% off and picked some pretty baubles for the drawers. I love funky jewelry and knew the dresser would too. I know that mismatching is not for everyone, but I liked the eclectic, unpredictable look.

I took her (yes, I assigned the dresser a gender) outside and removed her hardware, including the weird fake plastic keyhole-ish things, and then sanded her down by hand with sanding sponge. From the above picture, she looks to be in good shape, but up close she was really chippy and the paint job had a lot of drips. And it smelled kind of like a nursing home.

Then I began painting her. I picked out a bright orange (looks a bit Nickelodeon to me, but I think it works) and gave her thin coat after coat after coat till she was completely covered. I at first painted her body and drawers orange, but at the finish I thought that the orange was just too much, like a giant cheese block dresser or something. As much as I like cheese, this would not do. I decided to break it up and let the sparkly hardware stand out by painting the three drawer fronts cream. I just used spray paint for this. Here she is today.

I also picked up a roll of funky elephant gift wrap for about $5 at World Market to line her drawers with, so there is a pretty surprise inside, too. I love it!

Now I have ample space for magazines, books, paperwork, electronic stuff, and whatever needs hiding at the last minute.

The top displays a funky Target lamp stacked on antique flea market books (bought for their funny titles or bright colors), a little teal Goodwill dish that I throw my jewelry in at the end of the day, and another Goodwill tray that hold some pictures I love.

What I learned:

Taking time on projects is so worth it!
I should invest in an electric sander of some sort. I worked really hard to smooth this dresser out, but I think it would look and function even better if I had completely stripped it. Next time.
I think I'd also like to try spray adhesive next time I line something. I just used Elmer's glue along the paper's edges this time, which works fine, but I think a spray adhesive might be more durable and the paper would have laid down smoother.

Shared with:
Just A Girl's SAS Day
Thrifty Decor Chick's Before and After Party
Elements Interiors: Whassup Wednesday
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday
Finding Fabulous' Frugalicious Friday
Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party

A Fashion Question--Cowboy Boot Edition

2011-02-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

I think most people assume that in Texas, we all wear boots, at least every once in awhile. I finally got my first pair of boots at 21 years old. I know, it took me long enough, right? If I wasn't a Texan before, I am now.

Here they are, in all their glory and splendor! They are vintage Justin boots with red uppers and greenish and yellow stitching. They are so cute and comfy. But the problem is, I'm not really sure how to wear them.

I'm a Texan, but I don't consider myself "country," so I'd like to find a way to wear them that seems like me, as opposed to stocking up on pearl-snap shirts and what not. Another issue was that the boots are red. How do I wear them without wearing plain white or matchy red? Can they be more versatile than that?

I went on Polyvore tonight to make a bunch of outfits up. What do you guys think?

Red boots by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

Red Boots by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

Red Boots 3 by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

Red Boots by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

Red Boots 5 by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

Red Boots 6 by ButterflyLiv on Polyvore.com

I think if I get a few good accessories --a blingy belt (who can resist that bling?), some turquoise and somewhat western jewelry (Lucky Brand seems to do this well without being cheesy), it seems I can get away with quite a bit with the red boots I at first thought were restrictive. Any thoughts or input? Favorites from what I put together? How do you wear your cowboy boots?

What would Emma Pillsbury Wear? --- Holiday Fashion Challenge

2010-12-07T13:24:00.000-08:00

Any Glee fan (and especially any Glee fan who loves adorable clothes) probably knows about the What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear blog. From time to time followers are given the chance to create outfits for special occasions Emma might hypothetically find herself in. This time, we are given a chance to create a holiday look for Emma. This is what I came up with:

Emma's Holiday Look by ButterflyLiv featuring kg shoes

Firewing Blouse
$198 - anthropologie.com
Anthropologie tops »

Old Navy Womens Mohair Blend Cardigans
$30 - oldnavy.gap.com
Old navy tops »

Moschino Cheap and Chic Lam
$495 - net-a-porter.com
Pencil skirt »

JASMINE
100 GBP - kurtgeiger.com
Kg shoes »

Betsey Johnson - Snow Angel Snowflakes Necklace (Blue Multi) - Jewelry
$129 - zappos.com
Blue jewelry »

LARGE SNOWFLAKE RING - Betsey Johnson
$45 - betseyjohnson.com
Snowflake jewelry »

Women's accessories - belts - Superskinny glitter belt - J.Crew
$25 - jcrew.com
J Crew belts »

Sparkly Glitter Large Snowflake Ornament
$3.95 - crateandbarrel.com

Sparkly Glitter Small Snowflake Ornament | Crate&Barrel
$2.95 - crateandbarrel.com

Midnight Clear Acrylic Snowflake Ornament- Jaclyn Smith Today-Outdoor...
$2.24 - kmart.com

Wheee! Polyvore is fun!

This Year's Christmas Mantle

2010-12-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

For your viewing pleasure, here is my holiday mantle!

If you know anything about me, you know traditional is not really my thing. Don't get me wrong; Green and red can be beautifully done, but these blue and purple jewel tones just make my heart flutter!

I filled my favorite accessory--the apothecary jars-- to the brim with snow, ornaments, and pine cones. I like all the different textures together. Rough and natural, smooth and shiny, light and sparkly...

This year I added the feathery garland (originally used around my wedding cake stand) and sprinkled it with fake snow.

I also scattered these blue glass ornaments for some sparkle.

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that I'm getting better at this whole mantle decorating thing. Below I'm showing you the difference between last year's mantle and this year's. I've learned that the apothecaries look best* packed from top to bottom, side to side, without much empty space left. And the shelf itself looks more luxurious when layered with fabric, feathers or foliage, as opposed to empty.

And I didn't spend a dime on it! Off to see what else I can throw feathers and glitter on! (I'd be a drag queen's best friend!)

*- at least in my opinion!

Linked up to:

All Thingz Related's Christmas Party

Halloween Weekend Recap

2010-11-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

What a busy and fun Halloween weekend!

Friday night I stayed in with my tiny animal farm and watched The Third Man and The Man Who Knew Too Much. I was looking for some good, creepy classics and those were just two of the options I found through Netflix Instant Streaming (which is a godsend in case you are not in the know).

Saturday evening I went with my family and a few friends to a local dive bar to watch a Beatles cover band we are especially fond of.

The Group

We were kind of a trio as Harley Quinn, Batman, and Poison Ivy. I may do a post just for my Halloween costume later...

These two look awful cozy for enemies...

Italian Spiderman made an appearance. Go here if you don't know who he is!

Mom and Dad as a flower child and pirate cut a rug to some Beatles' tunes.

At one point we were all out there to dance to Twist and Shout. I promise, the dancing was much more innocent than it looks!

There was a costume competition and I won for the singles category! This is who Batman and Poison Ivy were up against. The high class call girl and Mickey Mouse club guy won. Your guess is as good as mine...

The girls!

Sunday afternoon was time for my friend Tabitha's bridal shower! It was football themed, so we had tailgate appropriate snacks and all suited up in our favorite teams' gear. There are so many fun pictures, I think I'll create a separate post for it too!

When I came home from the shower, I pretty much immediately started preparing for the trick-or-treaters. I suited up in my Harley Quinn gear and my mom and I handed out a TON of candy to neighborhood kids. I had originally planned to hand out candy at someone else's house, but that plan fell through. Next year I'll be sure to decorate my house some more, although I did get plenty of compliments on my garage bats. :o)

This year's wreath

Garage bats!

And now it's time to take the garage bats down, box up the potion bottles, and lay all the witch-y decor to rest. See you next year Halloween; You will be missed!

Halloween is in the House!

2010-10-07T13:44:00.000-07:00

It literally is in my house (she says in her best Rachel Zoe voice).

It's the first time I've decorated my mantle for something besides Christmas and I love it! I probably went a tad overboard but I tend to not show restraint when it comes to seasonal decor and since the mantle is the only place my dog and cats can't get to, I went all out. **giggles**

The best part was, I already owned close to everything I used on the mantle so it wasn't an expensive project.

I got the sparkly leaves on clearance at WalMart last year and the pine cones from Target's Dollar Spot this year.

I had the frame from TJ Maxx and the Halloween pin-up by Gil Elvgren was from an old calendar.

I made a few potion bottles too! Empty containers of salsa, trail mix, and liquor never looked so cute.

You can't see them, but the Petrified Butterflies jar has little feather butterflies in it.

The peacock feathered butterflies were a old purchase from Pier 1 and the big purple witch hat on the end was from an old costume (but I couldn't get a good photo of the hat).
It was really fun to do!

Credit given where credit is due: The print out labels I used for the potion jars are from Love Manor. You will find so many great Halloween ideas there and they have a ton of labels posted on Flickr for free! I also used A Fanciful Twist's art and decor as inspiration, her potion post in particular. Check them out!

Linked up to:
Finding Fabulous' Frugalicious Friday Party
Just A Girl's Show and Share Day

Stella and Dot Giveaway

2010-07-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

Go to Fabulous K's blog to enter her giveaway for a $50 Stella and Dot credit!

Crafty Giveaway!

2010-06-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

Tatertots and Jello is having a giveaway for a free Silhouette Craft Cutter.

Go here to enter!

Guest Bedroom Reveal, Finally!

2010-05-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been a terrible blogger. :o/ You would think in the ample amount of free time I have while I revel in unemployment that I would be blogging up a storm. Hmph.

I believe I left off by sharing my ideas for my guest bedroom with you, and today I can show you photos of my finished-ish product.

(FYI- For some reasons my photos seem grainy and blurred and there are quite a few orbs floating around. I'm wondering if my camera is sick...)

Here is the view of the bed upon entering the room. I made the headboard myself by stapling batting and a khaki sailcloth fabric (that I salvaged from some old curtains) over a piece of MDF. I planned on adding some nailhead trim to add some interest, but I'm saving it for later. I got the anchor wall hanging from Hobby Lobby (50% off!). It still looks to me like it could use a frame around it, but we'll see.

One of my favorite purchases were these two white pillows (clearance at Marshall's!) to add to the oblong pillow I already had (a Pier 1 thrift store find). I love that the khaki dots mimic sand while the ruffle pillow looks like rolls of waves. Coastal without being too literal.

Here is the gallery wall off to one side of the room. I printed a bunch of my photography (amateur, but I love it nonetheless) to frame and arrange. I put our engagement photo in the center and then focused on arranging the frames by size because my idea was at first to paint ALL the frames white. I thought that would make it harmonious and would lend the coastal feel I wanted.

I asked the hubby for his thoughts on the arrangement and he, in his decorating wisdom, pointed out how much he liked the eclectic colors. After waiting a day to let it grow on me, I'm glad I didn't paint them! All frames are from the Dollar Tree except the orange center one and blue one (75% off at Target), one found in the garage, and the large beautiful white one I painted that cost a quarter at a yard sale. The prints cost more than the frames!

For the other blank wall, I really wanted some shelving as we are lacking that in our home. I got these three book cases and Walmart for I think $20 each. They fit the wall perfectly, and for being so inexpensive, I think they look pretty nice. One day I would like to add some beadboard and trim to make it look more like a custom unit, but for now this is good.

I used some glass insulators I got dirt cheap at a thrift store, and all other things I didn't already own were purchased from Ross or Marshall's. There is still plenty of space for photos and decor available.

There is still one totally blank wall that I would love to have a desk or dresser for, but that's another "eventually" project. Oh, and nightstands, too! A girl's work is never done... I wish I had the "before" photos just to show how far it's come since its builder-beige prison days, but you'll just have to use your imagination. I challenged myself to keep the budget low, and I think including paint, shelving, art, bedding, and accessories, it came up to about $200 I actually spent. Pretty good, right?!

Linked up to Tatertots and Jello's Weekend Wrap Up Party

A Coastal Giveaway

2010-02-11T04:34:00.000-08:00

If you are enjoying coastal decor as much as I am right now, go to Completely Coastal's blog to enter a giveaway for a $40 gift certificate from Beach Grass Cottage's Etsy shop.

I have my eye on this in particular...
Go HERE to see how to enter. Giveaway ends February 17th!

How Now Brown... Guest Room!

2010-02-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Ah, the painting is complete. I love it!

Chocolate Coco. Not a black-brown, not a red-brown. Juuuuuust right. At Home Depot, I became overwhelmed with the brown paint swatches. So I found a name I liked and went with it. It was a very scientific process, I tell you. It was difficult for me to get a picture of the shade accurately, but you get it. :o)

What's next? Filling the room with furniture. I originally wanted a dresser but thought, would that be a waste of furniture in here? Most people won't unpack their suitcases into it since they won't be staying TOO long. So would a desk and some bookshelves be a more appropriate use of the space? A reading chair? Josh and I both have rooms designated for our hobby-ness, but of course those rooms have no furniture in them either. Any ideas on what to fill the rest of the space with?

No matter what, there will definitely need to be a headboard. Right now I'm thinking nail head trimmed... with burlap fabric...

And I'll leave you with this: another coastal inspiration pic I came across at House of Turquoise yesterday. Look at that pretty blue glass...

Linked up to Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special and

Another Giveaway!

2010-02-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

Over at Make It and Love It, there is a giveaway by Alicia Alee Designs where you can choose from a few selected hair bows for your little one, or a pretty watchband and face for yourself!

Go here to see the selection and find out how to enter to win!

A Decision Has Been Made

2010-02-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

I finally picked a color for the guest room. Drum roll please...

Chocolate Coco by Behr!

I hope to start painting tomorrow!

"Just Another" Giveaway

2010-01-28T20:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, the title of this post makes it seem like this giveaway isn't special, but it is-- promise!

Suzanne from Just Another Hang Up is giving away one of her Etsy creations, this cute purple wristlet. See, the title was a play on words, people. I'm clever that way!

I'm not personally much of a wristlet carrier, especially since I got a fancy-pants purse for Christmas (thanks Josh!) but I thought if I won, I could use it as a makeup bag, a pencil/pen case, or something. The possibilities are endless!

Find the simple instructions for entering here and visit her Etsy here.

P.S. Suzanne sent me a tutorial to create the cutesy flowers she put on her wristlets. Wasn't that sweet of her? I haven't tried it yet, but plan on it. Thanks, Suzanne!

Some Guest Room Ponderings...

2010-01-24T22:31:00.000-08:00

I posted a while ago about our guest bath and the ideas I have been tossing around. You know, somewhat coastal but not over the top. All in all, it is a fairly good looking room and has the things it needs: towels, hardware, soap dispenser, etc. Our guest bedroom on the other hand is... **crickets chirping**

I won't even show you the guest room right now. The bed has junk all over it, there are comic book boxes all over and a hodge podge of furniture. All the sudden a fire has been lit under my tail because I found out Josh's brother and his wife (the lovely Lauren) are coming to visit us so the boys can watch March Madness together. I have to do something to get this room into shape!
I have this Pier 1 bedding from when I lived in my apartment that I still love and it fits the bed in the room, so I want to use that as a starting point. I think I will take the semi-coastal vibe from the bathroom and lead it into this room as well.

I have to do this on the CHEAP though. I still have not found a job after graduation and I don't want to make Josh foot the bill. The little list-maker in me is going to work. Things I need before our guests arrive:

Headboard
Nightstands
Lamps
Dresser
Wall paint
Curtains
Accessories

I'm not looking to complete the room. I just would like it to be at least functional and comfortable at this point. So far, I like this for inspiration:

It has an overall coastal vibe, but still has funky touches like an unexpected color choice, a floral pillow, and animal print throw.

If anyone has extremely thrifty ideas on how to quickly transform a room, I'm listening!

P.S. With that bedding I showed above, what paint color would you choose? I don't want it to be too matchy, and this striping (at least as a focal point for one wall) is what I am thinking so far.

The Lettered Cottage

* Edit (1/28/10)- Never mind on the stripes. They are beautiful but I remember that I'm not a big fan of pastels. I change my mind every five seconds anyway. :o)

House or Home?

2010-01-21T11:00:00.000-08:00

I read Centsational Girl's blog everyday, and today was one of my favorite posts of hers yet. (Check it out here.)

Ideal Home

She talks about how we all drool over designer rooms in home decor magazines and yearn for that perfection but perfection and the concept of home doesn't really match up.

Home is where you put on your PJs even though it is only 6:00. Home is where your dog's stuffed animals are ripped limb from limb and their stuffing litters the carpet. Home is where there is always a dish in the sink and a Sonic cup on the bar. Not quite the pristine, sparkling scene that ends up in magazines. But it is home. Warm and cozy. And an ENDLESS MESS. :o) Are there any kindred perfectionist spirits out there who have as hard a time as I sometimes do accepting that?

Home is for moments like this:

And this:

Moments that fancy decor and spotlessness just can't make.

Procrastination

2010-01-04T21:18:00.000-08:00

Has everyone taken their Christmas decor down?

I haven't.

I know, scold me, scold me. Tsk, tsk. The boxes that my Christmas decorations belong in are blocked off by a wall of crap in my garage. I can't easily get to them and it is friggin' cold in the garage to be rooting around in there. If you saw my garage, you would understand why I am in no hurry to fetch them. **Horror movie music plays as I picture the garage in disarray**

I know my Christmas tree and the stockings have to go (and should have a few days ago), but what about the rest? Everything will look so blank when I take it all down. My mantle decor will go back to being just a mirror on the wall. If I had the forethought, I would have decorated with winter being my focus, instead of Christmas -- that way I could have kept it up all season. I'll keep my entry decorations up, I think since it is just pine and snow, not ornaments. But the rest will sadly be gone soon... As soon as I get to the garage...

Ok. So maybe not that soon. :oP

Our Christmas

2009-12-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

Our first Christmas as a married couple was busy, busy, busy!

Josh had to go to his office for a few days before we went to his parents' house, so we stayed in the luxurious Peabody hotel! Their tree was gorgeous and about two stories tall.

When Josh was at the office I hung around the hotel. What is so special about the Peabody is their duckies. They stay in a posh pond somewhere in the hotel and at 11:00 AM they walk to the elevator and come down to the lobby where they march to music on a red carpet, leading them to the lobby fountain where they will bathe all day. CUTE. Then they march back to their quarters at five-ish.

We headed to his childhood home for early Christmas and had a good time. He comes from a family of wonderful cooks and my too-tight jeans show for it. **pout** We woke up early to look in our stockings and open our presents!

I didn't grow up with boys around, so I'm not used to all this rough-housing. I do however enjoy taking pictures of them, looking as homoerotic as possible. Mwahahaha....

A highlight was when my sister-in-law received the pink Snuggie she had been wishing for. I told her that her sex life as she knows it is now over. Her response: That's why the back is open. **shudder**

Please take notice of her husband to the right, already inching away from her.

When we got back home to have Christmas Eve with my family, an unexpected blizzard came in! (Blizzard, Texas, what?!) We made it to my grandma's for lunch but were not able to have Christmas Eve dinner with my parents like normal because of road conditions. Josh and I still had a fun night though! We ~~kidnapped~~ baby-sat our neighbors dog, A. Czar, and he and Millie had a fantastic time.
It was a peaceful Christmas Eve. I did some cleaning, played in the snow...

Enjoyed some snow ice cream (I went a little overboard with the sugar though).

Christmas morning! I don't like mornings, but I can do it for presents. We both ended up getting each other the movie "Up" as a stocking stuffer. Oops.

As usual my husband spoiled me. I love my necklace! It's gaudy and reminds me of something that came out of a pirate's treasure chest!

And he loved his sweater vest, of course.

And we spoiled our puppy. We gave her a chew bone about as big as she is and a stuffed animal that looks like her husky friend. I think I interrupted a private moment here:

Then off to my parents' house for our Christmas lunch! I convinced my mom this year that it would be awesome if she got a white Christmas tree. And by convince I mean simply saying, "Hey, your ornaments would look super cute on a white tree." I didn't have to twist her arm.

Josh and I looked on as the family opened presents. There is no telling what made our faces do this:
One of my favorite gifts was my Anthropologie apron!

Crazy-eyed sis got Beatles Rockband...

And somehow Christmas day deteriorated into, well, this:

I would tell the story, but I think I'll just let you come up with your own for it.

On that note, hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! Happy New Year as well!

Linked up to Funky Junk Interiors Christmas Story Party.

2009-12-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

Millie wishes you all a merry Christmas!

Deck the Halls!

2009-12-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay. So I promised I would post my Christmas decoration pictures and I've put it off repeatedly. For the life of me, I've tried so hard to take good pictures around here, but the natural light through the windows is just not enough for my digital camera. It looks a lot better here in person, but without further ado, I show you my Christmas decorations!

My peacock Christmas tree! Last year I got the tree skirt and blue mesh at Hobby Lobby. This year I added the green ribbon and the feather sprays next to the tree topper. Here are some of my favorite ornaments...

Then there's my mantle....

Sparkling ornaments in apothecary jars....

Glittering candlesticks....

And my stocking that match the tree skirt...

And this year I tried something out in the little display nook in the foyer. I put some stems from Hobby Lobby that had feathers, pine branches, and other glittery things with some gold beaded ting in a vase of faux snow...

And that's about it this year. I made an ornament wreath, but it didn't turn out so well. I think it's because I used a bunch of different sizes and it made arranging them really complicated. I am still contemplating dismantling it, but we'll see!

Linked up to Funky Junk Interiors, Nesting Place, and Thrifty Decor Chick's Christmas posts.

A Christmas Preview

2009-12-01T18:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived Thanksgiving, but just barely! Something really got to my allergies while visiting the family and I'm still recuperating. Ugh. I'll share more about the Thanksgiving extravaganza later-- Josh is out of town and has some loot I need to take pictures of!

Since I've been back, I've been spreading myself between school work and Christmas decorating. Mainly the decorating though. (Does that tell you anything about my priorities?) I haven't completed the decorating yet as there are some final touches to be done in here, but I will give you a peek!

I like how it's shaping up! Can't wait to finish!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-22T16:39:00.000-08:00

It may be a little while before I post again because there will be a lot going on these next few weeks! This whole week coming up will be completely devoted to family and we're going where -- gasp -- there is NO Internet access! Whatever will I do?!

Our puppy's uncle will be house- and puppy-sitting while we are in Kentucky at my husband's grandparent's home. I'm looking forward to a lot of goofing off with family and eating some yummy food! Seriously, his family is full of such wonderful cooks!

The week after that is finals week for me-- the last finals week of my college career! I really have to put the pedal to the metal and finish my senior year right! So that's going to involve five or six big tests and projects coming up. Though I should devote all of my time to that, I probably will set aside some special time to decorate for Christmas and show you what I have going on! I can't wait!

What are you thankful for this year? I don't spend enough time thanking God for the special things I have going on in my life. This year, I'm thankful for...

my wonderful husband, Josh

my incredibly supportive family

my puppy-love, Millie

our wonderful home we've lived in for a year now
a lot of financial assistance to get through college
the beautiful wedding and honeymoon we had that I'll never forget

moving in next to neighbors who have become my best friends

the power God gives me to keep going when things get tough

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Spend time with your family (and if there's anything I've learned in life, it's that "family" does not have to be related to you.) Eat yummy food, and be thankful for the blessings you have!

A Fall Wreath and a Feature

2009-11-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

In case you all didn't already know: I'm important. Okay, I'll wait for you to stop laughing... Still waiting...

I say that ~~halfway~~ in jest because Funky Junk Interiors featured my post about Plate Wall Art! Thanks Donna!

And now, with little time to spare before we bid our beloved fall decorations farewell, I present to you my first fall wreath! I bought it on Wal-Mart clearance (go check your aisle, there's some cool stuff) for $15.

I took it home and cut off some of the berries and things that didn't survive the wreath flying off the top of my car and across the parking lot while I opened the car door. Take a moment to picture me scurrying across a parking lot after a renegade airborne wreath.

Done? Okay, let's move on. :o)

And then I added a few flowers I had at the house, some peacock feathers (because they go with everything), and painted the plastic pumpkins and gourds with a light metallic, just to take the hard plastic look away. I was going to add bows and such, but I thought enough was going on already.

Ta-daah!

Bedroom Blah

2009-11-02T14:59:00.000-08:00

Our bedroom so far has been pretty neglected. As you can see we have no headboard, no bed frame, our nightstands are end tables from my mom. (FYI: Not proud of these pics, but I'm keepin' it real, people.)

The lamps are hand-me-downs as well.

The curtains are ones I bought from a thrift store when we moved in just to keep the light out so we can sleep. They aren't quite long enough to cover the window!

I'm also toying with the pillow configuration and have yet to begin adding my little touches of orange. I originally started with a blue and gray color scheme, but it quickly became boring to me. :o/

Up to this point, I've had my heart set on a metal bed frame. You know, an antique-looking one with scrolly metal work? Even on Craigslist the cheapest I have found is still a couple hundred dollars. Hmph. I can see I will not be getting this anywhere in the near future.

Both Pottery Barn

I know there are many DIY headboards that are beautiful, but I wonder how functional they actually are. The last thing I want is to have something fall on my head in my sleep.

Like this for example. This is adorable, and you could display any art collection. But can you lean against it with your pillows while you read? If you stretch in the night, will your hand go through a piece of glass?

Vintage hankie headboard and drum nightstands? How sweet! (BHG)

BHG

And this one would lend us some much needed display/storage space. But I can just picture pillows knocking our books and picture frames behind our bed or waking up with seashell imprints on my face from them falling on the bed in the night.

BHG

I can see a variation of this being a little more sensible (even though the comments on Apartment Therapy were surprisingly harsh-- ouch!). Instead of hanging the fabric on a curtain rod where it can be pulled down, it can be hooked up very well where the ceiling and wall meet and the frame can be hung just high enough that when sitting up, it doesn't touch your head.

Apartment Therapy

And probably the most sensible of all is the fabric upholstered headboard. This seems easy enough, but I don't have a vehicle that is big enough to carry a king-sized piece of MDF or plywood back to the house, or the tools to cut the board to size.

Um, ca-ute!!! (CandiMandi)

BHG

So what is a headboard-less girl to do? Are there any solutions I'm not seeing? Any ideas on how to add some beauty this blank slate of a bedroom?

Some Color Theory

2009-10-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

We have been in this house for nearly a year and I am sad to say that I still have not yet taken a paintbrush to a single wall! The beige--is driving--me crazy. I don't exactly have plans to run to the paint department any time soon, but I was trying to think of what colors I would use and where. Like I said earlier, pretty much everything in this house so far is blue. The couches, dishes, curtains, etc. I know blue paint is out of the question because I want to make the blue around the house pop. Hmm...

Did I go to art school for two years to have this difficult of a time picking a color for the walls? (Yes, yours truly is an art school dropout.) Trying to remember what I learned about color theory, I pulled up a hand-dandy color chart to help!

Orange is blue's complement and as I picture my kitchen walls painted a terra cotta pot orange, I actually like what I imagine. My living room curtains use this complementary color set:

Ah, looooooove my peacock curtains...

Nature uses blue and orange as complements:

And finally here are some pictures of blue and orange used in the home. I picture the living/dining area using the complements in a bold way, and the master bedroom and bath using pale blue with little touches of orange throughout.

I actually have that bud vase!

I think I must have these curtains for the bedroom!

I can't wait to start adding some orange accents around here!

Yummy Fall Food

2009-10-28T08:09:00.001-07:00

I made my first ever fall-themed meal this past weekend (with the much needed help of my sister.) I had to do something to take my mind off of the Chocolate Covered Raisin Incident of 2009. (Our pup is fine now, just to let you know.) The next night my husband and I had the leftovers for dinner and it was still delicious!

The extent of my fall decor is that fall colored bow with the hurricane and candle. But say hello to Pork Chops with Sweet Potato Chutney and Gingered Pumpkin Soup!

I found the recipes on Better Homes and Gardens' website. Mmmm, it was good! I preferred my soup a bit sweeter than the recipe made it, but adding more brown sugar was an easy fix. You can't go wrong with brown sugar! And I got a little fancy with my pumpkin seed garnish. **insert giggle here**

Try the recipes out if you'd like. If someone as special needs as I am when it comes to cooking can do it fairly easily, I promise you can too. (Ask my sister or husband about watching me cook. It's painful. I have a stab wound scar on my index finger to prove it.)

Pork Chops with Sweet Potato Chutney
Gingered Pumpkin Soup

A Success at Last

2009-10-25T00:47:00.001-07:00

As I told you earlier, the bat project I set out to do was kind of a catastrophe. (See my bright idea here, and my subsequent epic fail here.) But I worked out a Plan B and ta-dah! The bats aren't going anywhere!

All I did was make a big stitch with black thread in the middle of the bats, sewing the duck tape to the bat. And just so I didn't have to knot the thread on each bat, I just taped the ends of the thread together. Yay!

I also got a few yard of gauze to hang up in the entryway. It was really easy to rip holes in and tatter. I'd love to have more next year to drape over bushes and trees.

Oh, the gauze was also fun to play in. :o) Am I cute, or am I cute? You like it.

Today, I added my last Halloween touch for the year, the scaredy-cat:

Hmm... a mosaic would really add some "oomph" to the front porch. All in good time...

It's not a lot, but pretty good and budget-friendly for our first Halloween here. Only a few days till Halloween! What are YOU going to dress up as?

I linked this post of to A Soft Place to Land's DIY day and at Posh Pieces. Check it out!

My Sweet Millie

2009-10-24T22:41:00.000-07:00

My heart is just breaking right now for my puppy, Millie. Like a fool, I left my purse on our lounge, unzipped with candy inside. Not just any candy-- chocolate covered raisins to be specific. It may sound like no biggie, but raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. There's no way to tell how much will be deadly. I read that as few as seven raisins can cause serious damage if not caught.

Celebrating her one year birthday.

We rushed Millie to the emergency vet tonight. We got her there within 15 minutes of her eating them. They induced vomiting and are keeping her for two days to monitor her. I wonder if she is scared as they hook her up to IV fluids and draw blood from her...

They said the prognosis was good and that she would probably be fine. I don't know what I will do if she isn't though. Even a few hours in this house without her is unsettling to me. I find myself peeking my head up from what I'm doing, just to see where she is, what she's doing, and she's not there. I expect to hear her collar tags jingle behind me as I move room to room, but nothing. I love her so much and I failed her. It was my job to keep her safe.

My Millie is a spot-stealer...

A trouble-maker...

And a constant companion.

And I love you so.

Epic Fail

2009-10-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

Let me just say: **sigh**

My bat project did not go as planned. And things rarely do around here. I got up today and carried all my supplies to the front yard. I taped all the bats and arranged them in an aesthetically pleasing fashion across the garage door. But today, as Winnie the Pooh would call it, is a very blustery day. The wind was whipping the bats' wings all around and I could faintly hear the felt and tape separating. This was not good. So on the bigger bats that I cut, I put some more tape on the wings to minimize the flapping. In a matter of minutes bats were flying off of my garage door and into the driveway or bushes. Ugh. So I threw a little fit and took the bats off the door and went inside to pout. It DID look like this:

But now it is blank again. I'm not sure what to do. The problem is that the garage door is so exposed to the elements. The project would do fabulously in an entry way that was somewhat enclosed, and ours is, but it's too small for something like this. Hmph. The gears are grinding and I'm trying to come up with a Plan B, but I don't know how much work the project is worth just one week before Halloween. :o(

I may be being a baby, but I was really discouraged with how this went. Do you ever feel like everything you attempt goes wrong? I have all these big plans for our home, but if everything I try ends up falling apart...

It's just felt bats, Olivia. Just felt bats.

Just Plain Batty!

2009-10-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been working my tush off to get this Halloween project done so that I can at least enjoy it for a little over a week before Halloween bids us farewell. I am afraid though since it is raining today that I may not be able to put it up for display just yet. I'm so excited about it anyway that I just can't wait to show it to you!

I saw this picture on Country Living's website and loved it! Then I saw Karla do it for her home and was comforted that someone could actually pull this off-- it's not just magazine photo magic. So I decided to try my hand at it.

All you need is heavy, stiffened felt, and duct tape (if you are doing it outdoors like me). This project would have cost me about $8 if I had had duct tape beforehand. Most people have duct tape in their toolbox already; I however did not.

Country Living has a bat template available to print on their site so that you can use a photocopier to size it up or down. I'm ~~lazy~~ artistic so I just looked at it and drew three different sized bats freehand. They recommended using chalk to trace the template onto the felt. I don't have chalk so I planned on using my silver Sharpie. Well, it wouldn't be a day if I couldn't find something I needed, so naturally my Sharpie was MIA. I just used pencil and looked closely for the faint pencil lines.

After that, I just started cutting and didn't stop till I was out of felt! It was so easy, I'm pretty sure a child could do it.

So there is a swarm of bats folded in half with their wings popping up, just waiting to take flight! Hopefully the weather will calm down and my garage door will be dry long enough for me to introduce them to the neighborhood!

Tara's Vintage Kitchen Giveaway!

2009-10-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Karla at It's The Little Things That Make A House A Home is doing a sweet giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to Tara's Vintage Kitchen shop on Etsy. If you stop by her shop, you will find beauties like this:

How pretty! And her photography is amazing. Lord knows these things would not look near as gorgeous on a dusty thrift store shelf as they do in her photos. Here's how to enter:

1. Visit Tara's Vintage Kitchen.

2. Leave a comment letting Karla know
which item you would love to call your own
if you were the winner of the $25 Gift Certificate.

There is also a way to get your name entered into the drawing a second and third time! Go here to find out how! Have fun!

A Bathing Beauty Bathroom?

2009-10-11T18:49:00.001-07:00

Okay, I've never been a huge fan of beach-themed bathrooms. When I think of beach-themed rooms, I think of pastel peach and blue, seashell wallpaper and cheapy seashell graphics in frames, embroidered on towels, etc.

Yikes. But I saw the below picture on Pottery Barn's website and now I'm thinking that maybe beach-themes don't have to be this way. I love that old glass buoy and the pieces of driftwood below the sink!

We got most of the basics of our guest bathroom when we registered for gifts, but there still isn't much as far as decorations and personality goes. So here is what I'm thinking...

Bouys

I love the colored glass and the old frayed rope. They could hang from towel hooks, sit in bowls like orbs, or hang from the ceiling. I saw a TON at an antique mall once and I am kicking myself for not grabbing a few!

Bathing Beauties

Between eBay and Etsy, there are a ton of precious 1920/30s bathing beauty postcards. I picture a few hung in some weathered frames. How beautiful are they?!

Ah, back when beauty was pure and natural. What happened?

Other Randomness

Sprinklings of seashells and sand, seaglass, corals, seasponge...

I have hope that beachy decor can be pulled off without the room just screaming "Put on your wetsuit and explore the faux coral reef!!!" upon someone entering it. But I do wonder, can you pull off beachy elements in one room while having a house that is not beachy anywhere else? Can you have seashells in one room, peacock curtains in another and these awesome froggy drawer pulls in another? (I don't actually own them yet but I think they would be sweet as my kitchen cabinet knobs! Totally off topic, but I wanted to share them.) Is that what the art of eclectic style is? What do you think?

Fancy Faucet Giveaway!

2009-10-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

Over at Centsational Girl, a really awesome home decor blog, Kate is doing a giveaway for a FREE Price Pfister faucet! I am debating between these two:

But there are plenty more to pick from and also kitchen faucets! Here's how to enter to win:

Go to CG's post. Simply leave a comment telling her which on you would want and where you would use it.
For a second chance to win, write up this giveaway on your blog, and leave a second comment with the link to your post.

The giveaway ends on Monday, October 12th at 8 PM PST. Go give it a try!

I also noticed that Price Pfister is doing their own giveaway of a full suite of their Treviso Velvet Aged Bronze products. Go here to enter. Giveaway ends December 31, 2009!

Woo-hoo! Free stuff!

Halloween Door Decoration

2009-10-08T23:34:00.001-07:00

I made an attempt at my own Halloween door decoration. I don't know if I like it though. **grumblegrumblegrumble** I've been in some kind of funk lately. Normally, I can't get enough of myself and the wondrous things I do, but lately I've felt yucky. Anyway, enough of my baggage! Here it is:

I took a Dollar Tree broom decoration and spray painted it glossy black. My finger hurt BAD afterward. :o(

Then I took my mix of Halloween decorations. Most of it was Dollar Tree, but the ribbon was from Hobby Lobby. By the way, only buy from Hobby Lobby when it's 50% off. It gets expensive! Most of this stuff was cheap looking orange and gross so I painted everything metallic since I was so in love with the guilded pumpkin look.

My hot glue gun is hiding in my disaster area of a room, so everything was either floral wired or craft glued on. This is the product:

Did you notice my little peacock feather? I guess I just can't make anything without one! I like how spindly and creepy it looked after I painted it silver.

I was hoping to accomplish a slightly spooky look. Not anything campy like googly-eyed spiders and jack-o-lanterns, but not anything really morbid or bloody either. How did I do?

That entry could seriously use some fake spiderwebbage. And the door is begging me to painted...

So Maybe I can Embrace White Somewhere...

2009-10-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know what spurred it, but as I was watching Millie play outside through the window I thought, how cute would our back fences look painted white? I know, I know, I said I wasn't a fan of white, but how "American Dream" and picturesque is bright white fence? White fences also remind me of how much I used to watch this cartoon video of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

I picture vines crawling up the fence, hanging baskets of flowers every few feet and party lights strung across it.

Green grass would look so lush next to it. We should go Brady Bunch on neighborhood and get Astroturf. Don't think I wouldn't do it!

I don't know when this project will begin, but the weather is perfect for it. Maybe I will buy myself fence paint as a reward for finishing a paper for school that I've needed to complete for - um- months now. I think I might be able to score some cheap outdoor paint from the Goodwill ReStore. Here is a look at our backyard in its current state:

Is this a white trash seating area? Or a Millie-Mudpit blockade? Hmmm...

The extent of our lawn decor. Hello David!

I have some big ideas for this space. Of course I would like a deck or patio with a dining area and a living area. I'd like to have four posts up around one of those areas to hang a fabric canopy from to make it more intimate and enclosed.

I LOVE how window boxes and shutters look. These are a must!

And I'd like to find some random flea-market type decor for flowerbeds, like using an antique headboard or wire dress form as a trellis. I love how this furniture-turned-planter looks like an art installation:

I love this one. It looks almost enchanted, like it came out of a fairy tale:

And who would have thought of taking an out of commission piano and creating a waterfall?!

I know these ideas are not suitable for everyone's likings and I do tend to gravitate towards all things tacky (I prefer "unconventional") but brace yourself my friend. You haven't seen tacky till you have seen these:

So, on that note... Any thoughts? How often do you spend time in your backyard?

P.S. I added this blog to Hooked on Fridays! See what everyone else is hooked on!

Plates as Wall Art!

2009-09-25T00:07:00.001-07:00

I've seen pretty plates at thrift stores and plates on crazy clearance from being missing from a set and have always wondered what could be done with them. Look no further!

Here they are layered in one grouping:

And I think this is my favorite way of displaying them. The plates in these pictures climb up the walls like bubbles floating:

This one cracks me up. A school of fish plates!

Cute, huh?

Style A.D.D.

2009-09-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Lately I have felt a tad frustrated while dreaming up possibilities for our home. I don't like that something I should enjoy can leave me feeling, well, blah. It bothers me that I don't have a "style." It is evident that I have a color scheme -- blue, green, and brown as my neutral -- but what is my style? Cottage? Global? Contemporary? Modern? Or is it that wonderful word "eclectic," a fancy way of saying that you just throw it all together and hopefully it somehow meshes?

What don't I like? LET'S MAKE A LIST! (Don't worry, I'm limiting the list to home decor-related dislikes.)

1. Black. Nothing in this house is black. I don't usually go for pink, orange, peach, or yellow either. I definitely gravitate toward blue and green. Like seaglass. Or peacock feathers...

2. Delicate, dainty things. In most cases, I'm not into lace and ruffles or delicate glass vases. I enjoy feeling like I'm home, not in a museum, or worse, a Martha Stewart-esque home. You know, those houses that say, "You wrinkle my bedspread, you DIE!" or "Don't DARE bring your coffee cup near my white pillows, white carpets, white furniture, white curtains, and various other white textiles." (Oh yeah, did I mention that sometimes I have issues with white? Evidently I should have been a mermaid since blue and green are it for me. More to come on my issue with white later. Bet you just can't wait.)

3. Sloppiness and disorganization. I hate sloppiness, but I do know I contribute a fair amount to the mess around the house. I tend to throw laundry, shoes, and jewelry anywhere and everywhere, and I dread doing dishes so there is almost always something in the sink, just waiting for me. Oh, and don't EVEN watch me cook. You will cry. But I would like to have a place for everything. If things are messy, I don't really feel at peace.

So that doesn't say much about style. What DO I like, you ask? I don't know that I can list it all out. Some things "click" and other things don't. I do love vintage things that find a new purpose. Here are some examples.

Old flatware and serveware that now serve as hooks, storage, and memo holders:

Vintage screen doors, iron scroll gates, and coat racks that are now pot racks:

A vintage blue enamel kettle that is now a vase:

The end of an old rake that now holds jewelry:

Urns that have now become towel or magazine holders:

A dollhouse that is now laundry room storage: (I don't think I could handle this in my house now though. Thanks, Betty Ren Wright.)

Like the nerd that I am, I looked up "eclectic" in some online dictionaries. My favorite definition explained "eclectic in this way:

"Not following any one system... but selecting and using what are considered the best elements of all systems."

I think that pretty well sums me up. I suppose I'll just continue like this, grabbing ideas from all sources, no matter how different (from Pier 1 to Pottery Barn to thrift stores and yard sales) and just hope it all goes together!

No-Carve Pumpkins!

2009-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the gloomy, rainy fall weather we are having right now! The only downside to it is this:

Millie the Mud-Puddle-Loving Dog

But Lauren got me pumped up for fall! Though I will not be doing much seasonal decorating since we're pretty strapped, I can't wait to put some of these inspiration pics into action!

Since sharp knives + Olivia= a trip to the hospital, I bring you No-Carve Pumpkins!

Funny Argyle Pumpkins:

Black and White Pumpkins:

More traditional Halloween-colored pumpkins:

And my favorite... Gilded pumpkins!

How gorgeous is that entry!? I love that they are sparkly and metallic but not gaudy (at least no to me anyway.) They are also neutral to go with any color scheme and just seem like a beautiful, grown-up way to decorate for fall. I love all the shiny doodles that some of the pumpkins have. Imagine a garland of them intertwined with twinkle lights! **Sigh**

Here are some instructions I found on how to get that look:

Project Info, How to Guild a Pumpkin, and How to Guild Video. (The video is annoying, but informative.)

How do you decorate for fall? And no one better post a pumpkin butt picture!

A Night of Accomplishments (At least a few...)

2009-09-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

So the past few weeks or months -- who knows? -- my house has been a wreck. I was in school full time this summer, just as I am this semester, and I was planning and organizing a wedding on top of that! Well everyone, I finally took back possession of my kitchen/dining room! After the explosion of peacock feather wedding decor, the graveyard of wedding gift boxes and bags, and the week-and-a-half long demonstration against my sanity that the ants held, my kitchen is finally mine again! I will now reveal to you my kitchen area. It's nothing fancy-- we've not been here for even a year-- but I will hash out some plans I have for it with you!

The view from the laundry room:

The view from the living room:

The view from the bar:

The view from the hall:

And up close and personal with the dining room:

This area really is the heart of our home. I find that I spend most of my time ~~awake~~ in there and it is literally at the center and can be seen from every angle.
What do I plan to do, you ask?! I will tell you in LIST form! ("If you don't like it, you can shove it. But you don't like it, you love it.")

1. Paint the cabinets, and remove the doors from at least a few. Add shelving, customize...

Layla at the Lettered Cottage has done some amazing things to her kitchen. Just like mine it began as a normal builder-grade kitchen and she transformed it into what looks like high-end custom cabinetry. I think this is a good link to show her Before and After...
I LOVE the look of open, organized shelves showing off pretty dishes and baskets! Here are a few examples:

And I LOVE my dishes, so I would enjoy having them out in the open: (Best WalMart purchase I ever made!)

But then, what color do I paint them? A pale, dusty blue? White so that the dishes will pop? Espresso brown to coordinate with all my furniture? A later blog will discuss this further...

2. Re-tile the floors and backsplash and put granite on the counter tops.

Our white counter tops are disgusting and stain so easily. And our tiles are okay, but I want slate (or imitation slate).

3. Add an island to the middle! I want something quirky like a vintage library card catalog.

4. Accessorize!

As of now the kitchen lacks some personality. I do love my vintage tins, one of which is serving as a utensil holder, my bookends from New Mexico, my recipe box.

And I love that the tins are both of chocolate related products. The fatty inside smiles. :o)

And I need to hang my Pier 1 curtains up! And display by pretty Pier 1 glassware!

I also have a neat plan for the empty wall for our dining area, but I've packed this post FULL. Tell me whatcha think? Any ideas?

Honeymoon!

2009-09-08T01:14:00.001-07:00

Josh and I have been back from our honeymoon for about two weeks now and I still haven't posted any pictures, so here they are!

We went to Puerto Morelos (basically Cancun) and stayed at an excellent all inclusive resort. It was beautiful, had so many restaurants and bars, we had a swim-up room right next to the pool. We did NOT want to come home!

Our room was beautiful! When we came in, they had rose petals out and kissy swan towels and some champagne chilling for us.

This was the view from our patio:

We ordered room service after a much needed nap, and it is probably the best meal I have ever had. Josh nearly cried because he couldn't finish his chicken fajitas. We pretty much did nothing but eat, swim, and lounge all week. This is a view of the beach our resort was on:

I got to meet Mexican Michael Jackson and the Thriller zombies. He performed an array of MJ music and he was actually really good! The Free Willy song took me way back....

And what is a honeymoon without arts and crafts time?! Okay, maybe most people don't see that as a priority... So while I did this:

Josh (Cute sleeping pool bandito) did this :

A man on the beach made us yummy coconut head drinks!

On our last night there (and yes, we're THAT couple):

It was a much needed break after a crazy summer of school, wedding planning, and various other unexpected happenings. We hated to go, but I hope we can return for an anniversary!

And one day soon I will post wedding pics!

This stuff better friggin' work!

2009-08-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

Ants are taking over the world. And by the world, I mean my house.

When we returned from our honeymoon, I found an army of ants coming from a hole in a baseboard in our bathroom. I patched the hole up, killed the ants (which had made a cozy home out of the laundry I had done) and thought that was done with. The next day, they were coming out of a hole in the baseboard on the opposite side of the bathroom! Now our house was built within the last 10 years so I don't know why there are holes all over the baseboards, but whatever. So I did the same thing I did the day before. And this is where I think the ants are playing a cruel trick on me. Of course I have never liked ants, but I never had a strong hatred for them. Now, they are public enemy no. 1. I have seriously had nightmares about them-- crawling on me, my dog, my bed, my food. Sometimes now even just at the sight of one, it's like I feel them crawling on me. They are getting in my head! I'm fantasizing cruel and unusual ways to kill them. Luring them with sugar, spraying hairspray and lighting them on fire. Or luring them to the microwave and letting radiation do it's job. No, I'm not crazy...

But today, TODAY, I nearly lost it. I woke up and Millie was laying next to me all curled up on the pillow and I thought, how cute! I need to get a picture of this. So I go to the kitchen to start coffee and get my camera from my purse which is on my kitchen counter. And *insert screeching horror movie music here* there are ants POURING from the phone jack and plug outlet on the wall. So I am there for 40 minutes scooping them into the sink, shaking them off of our papers and dishes, smashing them, spraying them with kitchen cleaner (I don't have bug spray). By the time the situation was semi-under control, I had to leave for school. No shower, no makeup, no coffee, just utter defeat. So I sprinkled coffee grounds in front of the outlets and in front of the door to Millie's room so they won't carry her away while I'm gone (FYI: coffee grounds are an ant repellent). Josh sent me some online reviews of this product, Terro Liquid Ant Killer. It is said to be amazing. You put a few drops on some cardboard next to where the ants are entering and they take some as food back to their home. It eventually kills the ant and since they brought it to their home, it kills even the ones you can't see. I picked some at Ace Hardware on the way home for $5. This stuff better friggin' work. I'm pretty sure the builders of this home just plopped it right on top of a massive ant hill. Ah, the adventures of home ownership.

I was going to post something more pleasant, but alas, this has been my day.

Beginnings

2009-08-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

So, I've never really blogged before, but I've become addicted to reading them and thought that perhaps my own would be fun! I'm not really sure what I will write about-- some personal stuff, decorating ideas and things I do to the house, adventures in my new marriage, etc. I don't have my own income at this point so I won't be doing much as far as decorating goes, but I can dream, right? I'll share pictures and ideas of things I'm tossing around.

Photo by Lindsey Cordsen

I guess I should tell everyone a little about myself. My name is Olivia. I just married my husband Josh about two weeks ago. We have a house together and a beautiful puppy, Millie. I'm a senior in college pursuing my paralegal studies degree. It's kind of a crazy time for me as there are many new things going on in my life, but it's exciting and I'm blessed with the best friends and family anyone could have!

There's plenty more to come!