Now that is RED!

We started a new project this week: The Fireplace. It's brick, but has been painted at least twice before. When we moved in, the brick was a pink-y, beige-y color. Not my taste at all. I had painted the wall above the mantle in our old condo a burnt red and really loved it. All of our decor went with it and I just love red as an accent color. So we decided to try it again in the new house.

Here's the fireplace right as we started painting:



Samson watches over us and isn't really sure what to make of it all:



And here's the fireplace after the first coat - Wowsa!



It's showing up a bit brighter in the photos then it really is (I was going for a more burnt, brown-y red), but it is still pretty bright. The Husband put a second coat on last night so it's a little darker/better, but I am just not sure. He also painted the mantle white, so I don't know if that makes the red even brighter or not. Either way, the red really makes the fireplace stand out and look bigger. Before, when it was that pink-y beige, it just kind of blended into the room, because the walls/wallpaper were all beige. Now...not so much.

What do you think?

First of the new year

I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! It's already been a busy year for me and The Husband.

*Our holidays were amazing, as usual. We both have very giving and generous families and this year was no different. The Husband got a grill from my parents for christmas and his birthday (in January) and then a few smaller things. I received a beautiful Kate Spade ring, an art piece I really wanted, some clothes, ornaments and a lot of other really great things! The Husband gifted me with a Kate Spade bag (which I knew about since I purchased it myself when it went on sale 2 months ago - HA!) and he completely surprised me with a Kindle, especially since I told him the bag was enough. He is so awesome!

*We went up north to spend NYE with my Aunt and Uncle at their lake cottage, along with my cousin and her husband and young son. It was so fun to be up there in the winter (we usually go in the summer) and so relaxing! Cousin and I got a little too tipsy on NYE and there are videos and pictures of us floating around. YIKES! :)

*I was off of work for over two weeks and am just starting to get back into the swing of things. I was supposed to return on 1/4/11, but I had some major pain in my back and, on the morning of 1/4/11 when my husband had to come and help me out of the shower because I was crying in pain, he insisted on taking me to urgent care. So they gave me two shots in the hip and 5 minutes later I was feeling wonderfully better and my body finally stopped clenching in pain and started to relax. I returned to work 2 days later, but still have a little bit of pain on the left side of my back. It's awfully stiff and sore when I wake up in the mornings, but tends to loosen up as I start to move around. I hope it goes away soon.

*The Husband and I are going to the Kid Rock 40th Birthday show this Saturday in Detroit. We tried to get tickets back in Novemeber, but couldn't get them as they sold out in less then 19 minutes. However, The Husband wanted to go so very badly, so I got together with my MIL and we surprised him with two tickets on Christmas day (from StubHub - YUCK! Normally I would never fall prey to such evilness as StubHub, but it was for The Husband and I hate to deny him something he wants so badly. He is such a giver to me and I wanted to give back). Anyway, after weeks of us talking about how we could never pay over 2x the amount of the original ticket price and how he was just getting over the fact that he wasn't going, he opened up 3 boxes to find 2 tickets for him and I and he was FLOORED!! First thing he said to me "I am not very happy with you. You have been lying to me for 3 weeks!" I said "Actually, it's been longer then 3 weeks. I've had the tickets since the Monday after Thanksgiving!" :) Needless to say, he has forgiven me and is super excited!

*I just purchased tickets to see my favorite artist, David Gray, at the Detroit Opera House next month. We got great seats and this show promises to be something completely different then past tours. Mr. Gray wants to make it more intimate, more like a recording session, and I am all for it! I have seen him at least 10 times now, possibly more, and have met him on a few occasions. I have to say, he is brilliant, unique and completely awesome. Check him out if you haven't already!

*The Husband's work is always slow this time of year, so yesterday he found time to rip down the wallpaper that's in our family room so we can hopefully start painting soon. I received a txt from him that read: "I got all the wallpaper down, but found a surprise waiting for me underneath." A minute later, I got another txt from him with a picture of MORE WALLPAPER!!! He was so angry and cursing the inventor of wallpaper. Luckily it came off pretty easily and we now have bare walls waiting to be painted!

I guess that's about all that's been happening in my life. Pretty exciting, no? :)