Date Night :)

Old Navy Top

NY & Co. necklace

Target sweater

Boscov's (?) pants? Who knows.

Jessica Simpson shoes

Marshalls rug :)

With sweater...

Nightstand Transformed

When we first moved in, Jeff brought his nightstands from home. They are great nightstands! They have a drawer and a space for a basket. However, they just do not fit the decor of our bedroom. Since they're really functional and structured the way that I'd like them, I just decided to change their color. 

Here is the original nightstand:

A closer shot (and that candle smells divine, by the way):

And click "read more" to see what it looks like now that I painted it:

Office Inspiration and Fashion Sensation

I probably should have removed the phone for this picture, but hey, this is my office. Take it or leave it.  I really like this sign that a friend gave to me many years ago, and it needed a nice place. 

I feel like the window satisfies the criteria for being a nice place.

Click "read more" to see my outfit :)

Lovely Office Light Plates

Please excuse the following grainy images that my piece o' poop Droid took. I do not apologize for offending any Droid lovers. Mine would make a better brick than a phone. Not bitter at all.

Anyway, I digress. So, here's a preview of what our dual office is shaping up to be. Originally, we had two offices in adjoining rooms. Problem: I never used my office because I need company in the form of another human being or background noise from the TV. Solution: move in with Jeff and occupy his office. (Eventually, I will post "finished" photos of the office, but that's for another time.)

Today, let's check out my light plates, which were inspired by my sister-in-law's pinspiration. She made the cutest light plates for her baby's room!

After I painted the room yesterday, here was my train of thought (prepare yourself because I truly had an entire dialogue with myself):

"I hate my light plates."
"I usually spray paint them oil rubbed bronze, but it is as hot and humid as a dog's mouth out there. I also do not want to suffocate to death in the garage. Nope, no spray painting today."
"Oh, Jess used scrapbooking paper and Mod Podge to cover light plates."
"I don't feel like going to Michael's for scrapbook paper. What can I use instead?"
"I was planning to donate some really old books. What if I used pages from those?"

And then I had my lightbulb moment (pun intended).

So, I rummaged through the "to yardsale" piles and found a suitable book.

I didn't feel like scouring Jess's Pinterest for her tutorial, so I googled and found this one.

Inexpensive Kitchen Facelift

Alright, the finishing touches on our kitchen are not finished, but the big stuff is, which is why I decided I would post pictures for the lovely public. 

I'm even showing you some stunning frightening before shots.

Before Picture #1: Jeff sawed off the peninsula of our previous countertop. For the record, I'd like to state that, from the laundry room below, I could have sworn a helicopter was landing in our kitchen. I bolted upstairs to find out what was amiss, and there was Jeff sawing off the peninsula. No warning, nothing. Lunatic. 

After Picture #1: Look at that beautiful, clean edge now. Ahhhh. Oh, and we replaced the peninsula with an island from IKEA. The peninsula looked like it was one karate chop away from splintering into a million pieces, and it also had no storage underneath. I'm going to speak for every woman when I say that we love our storage space. Mine just needs a better organizational system. I'll figure it out. No worries.

                    

Note to Self

I find that I post my cleverest thoughts on Facebook, but I rarely chronicle them here. Now, be warned. These posts are truly notes to myself, but you're welcome to take a peek into my brain (as frightening as that might be). And, hey, maybe my notes to self will help your self.

Note to self...

If you find yourself in a group setting during which time everyone should be listening to a speaker but many people are talking disruptively, say something. It is simply not fair to you or the speaker when other people behave rudely while you're trying to learn.

If you find yourself haha-ing over a Facebook friend's updates, picture captions, and wall posts, make an attempt to see that person outside of Facebook. Life becomes far too impersonal if the best interactions happen on the interwebs rather than face-to-face.

Enjoy your curly hair. Many women pay lots of money to achieve the same look that Curls Rock and good genes help you achieve.

Spend as much time with your mom as possible. She is absolutely one of the raddest people you know. She also possesses an uncanny ability to coordinate the perfect jewelry for any outfit,  pick out the best-tasting watermelon, and help every sinew in your body relax. 

Pay attention to the fragments of time that remind you why you married your husband. Today, he hit himself in the face with Babybel Cheese while you simultaneously smashed your heel into the fridge (all a result of your terrible throw and all hysterically coincidental), helped you dry the dishes, sent you an "I love you text" just because, adorably ate Oreo cookies like a little boy, and helped you carry in the groceries. Always remember how wonderful he is. 

I cannot say that any of these notes are especially clever, but they seem important to me today. 

Any notes to self that you would like to add?