Sorry for the absence, but after The Husband's health scare and my (unexpected) 6 day vacation from work, it was hard to get back into the swing of things.
*Work seriously kicked my butt last week. On Thursday, my computer got a nasty virus and wouldn't let me get online, which I need to do for some of my job responsibilties.
*The virus got fixed on Friday morning, but I still had quite a few issues that needed to get ironed out. Computer issues + the half day we got on Friday due to Good Friday (that I had forgotten about) = this girl working a full day anyway (but scoring three hours of overtime - YAHOO!). It was a long week!
*Our first party went smashingly well back on 4/16. It was great to have everyone over and actually still have room to move about. Our old condo was so small and it was difficult to have more then four people over at a time, especially if they have kids.
*It has been raining non-stop (at least that's how it feels) forever! I know I should count myself lucky since it seems as if the rest of the United States is being bombarded by tornado after tornado lately, but I just really wish the rain would stop! I am ready to work on the outside of our house. Plus, I just really want our yard to get a chance to DRY OUT!
*The Husband got me a Pandora bracelet for my birthday. Before I received it, I wasn't sure if it was my taste, but I think I will love it the more beads I add. They have beautiful glass beads that I LOVE and that will help make it more my style. The only problem now is that my two measly beads keep sliding all over and end up next to the clasp :)
*As previously mentioned, there have been tornados and other forms of devastation all over the world lately. Seriously, what is going on?!?! I feel like the world is getting back at us for slowly killing it. You know what I mean? All the hurricanes and tsunamis and earthquakes...and now tornados? I am in disbelief that 13 people lost their lives in Tuscaloosa yesterday. I feel so saddened and helpless.
*I really, really want to go back to Disney World! My parents took our family last April and it was the first time I had been since visiting back in 1999. It was The Husband's FIRST visit and he LOVED it! Seriously, he wanted to buy into the vacation club! Anyway, I am trying to find a way for us to go back, on our own. I am hoping they will offer free dining again over the holidays, because I would love to show him what the World looks like all decked out for Christmas!
*It is almost the weekend and I couldn't be happier! The sun is supposed to be out and in full effect on Saturday so we might actually get to do some outdoor work. Rain until Friday morning, though, so we'll see how much everything dries up!
Hope you are having a great week!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Scare of my life!
Last Thursday, I had been at work for about an hour and a half when I received a phone call from The Husband. He called to tell me that everything was fine, but that he was on his way to the emergency room. He had had a stress test that morning and while the test went fine, afterward when he was getting a second EKG, his heart rate shot up to 242 for no reason. It got to the point where they had the paddles out in case they needed to shock his heart to slow down. They consider 250 a heart attack, so we were very happy that it suddenly stopped on its own a few minutes later. Either way, they sent him on his way to the E.R.
I pretty much started freaking out when he called me. He didn't have time to tell me everything that happened at that point, so I was imagining the worst. My poor boss! I was literally shaking and dropped a water bottle filled with water all over the floor in my cubicle. After calming myself down for a few minutes, I left the office and began the entirely-way-too-long trip from the city where I work to the city where the hospital is. I had to seriously control my urge to drive 100 MPH, even though I had the tears and snot to show off to any cop who might stop me. I was mostly calm, until my MIL called to make sure I was doing okay (at the request of The Husband - always thinking of me, even in his time of need. Love him.) The trip seemed to take forever and I was so upset that I couldn't be there with him.
When I finally got to the E.R., he was all hooked up to the heart monitor and had to have some blood drawn. We waited for hours, it seems, until we were finally moved into an E.R. observation room, where he would stay for the night.
We found out that The Husband was born with a heart defect and had something called Supraventrical Tachycardia. They are still unsure of what caused it to happen the way it did and he is now on medication to keep his blood pressure and heart rate low. He heads back to the cardiologist next Friday for another EKG and hopefully some answers.
Needless to say, I was pretty much a mess for a couple days. We debated about cancelling the party for my birthday on Saturday night, but since he was released from the hospital on Friday with no real strict orders, we decided to party on! Our first gathering at the new house was a success and everyone really liked the dining room transformation!
Hope everyone is having a good week!
P.S. - Blogger says I have 7 followers on my dashboard page, but they aren't showing up on the right side of the blog, or when I click on the word "Followers." Did they all disappear? If so, then me asking this question will probably fall on deaf ears.
I pretty much started freaking out when he called me. He didn't have time to tell me everything that happened at that point, so I was imagining the worst. My poor boss! I was literally shaking and dropped a water bottle filled with water all over the floor in my cubicle. After calming myself down for a few minutes, I left the office and began the entirely-way-too-long trip from the city where I work to the city where the hospital is. I had to seriously control my urge to drive 100 MPH, even though I had the tears and snot to show off to any cop who might stop me. I was mostly calm, until my MIL called to make sure I was doing okay (at the request of The Husband - always thinking of me, even in his time of need. Love him.) The trip seemed to take forever and I was so upset that I couldn't be there with him.
When I finally got to the E.R., he was all hooked up to the heart monitor and had to have some blood drawn. We waited for hours, it seems, until we were finally moved into an E.R. observation room, where he would stay for the night.
We found out that The Husband was born with a heart defect and had something called Supraventrical Tachycardia. They are still unsure of what caused it to happen the way it did and he is now on medication to keep his blood pressure and heart rate low. He heads back to the cardiologist next Friday for another EKG and hopefully some answers.
Needless to say, I was pretty much a mess for a couple days. We debated about cancelling the party for my birthday on Saturday night, but since he was released from the hospital on Friday with no real strict orders, we decided to party on! Our first gathering at the new house was a success and everyone really liked the dining room transformation!
Hope everyone is having a good week!
P.S. - Blogger says I have 7 followers on my dashboard page, but they aren't showing up on the right side of the blog, or when I click on the word "Followers." Did they all disappear? If so, then me asking this question will probably fall on deaf ears.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Wish list
It's my birthday week! I can't believe I've been so quiet about it this year. I absolutely love my birthday and usually torment The Husband for weeks leading up to it. I am that girl who is always saying "Guess what? Only four more weeks until my birthday!" I'm sure it's annoying to everyone but me :) I definitely have some unrealistic wishes on my list this year, but don't we all? Also, as I get older, I find that the things I would like are (mostly) gifts for the house - like the new patio table and chairs my parents helped me purchase this year.
Here is my birthday wish list:
Kate Spade Seersucker Patent Treesh:
Love this bag! I saw it in the store and it is beautiful and so fun for summer!
Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash:
Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask:
I read about both these product's on Erin's blog over at Blue-Eyed Bride and I am really anxious to try them. I also would like to try the Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk.
A Sterling Silver Namenecklace:
I had one of these back in high school (and I still have it) but it's gold and I am not a gold fan at all now that I'm older. I think about getting mine replated in silver because I love it so (and they are back in style...I think?).
Tickets to the DMB Caravan this summer:
This sounds like it's going to be an amazing time! With some of my favorite artists - David Gray (by the far one of the most talented singer/songwriters EVER!), DMB, O.A.R., Ray Lamontagne (Beautiful lyrics and powerful voice) and Guster - I would do anything to partake in this experience.
A trip to Ireland, England and Australia:
(picture courtesy of www.terragalleria.com)
I am lucky enough to have travled quite a bit in my life. I have already been to Ireland and England, but would love to go back and see more. The Husband hasn't traveled much at all and I would really love to show him these beautiful countries I have fallen in love with. Both of us are dying to go to Australia, so I figured why not make it one big trip - HAHA!!
A new deck, with either a firepit area or fireplace and a hot tub:
(picture courtesy of www.luckymountainhome.com)
The Husband and I would really, really like to own a hot tub. His job is very physically demanding and it would be so great to relax after a long day at work with him and a adult beverage. Having a fireplace nearby and TV and stereo to go along with it would be the icing on the cake :)
Here is my birthday wish list:
Kate Spade Seersucker Patent Treesh:
Love this bag! I saw it in the store and it is beautiful and so fun for summer!
Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash:
Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask:
I read about both these product's on Erin's blog over at Blue-Eyed Bride and I am really anxious to try them. I also would like to try the Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk.
A Sterling Silver Namenecklace:
I had one of these back in high school (and I still have it) but it's gold and I am not a gold fan at all now that I'm older. I think about getting mine replated in silver because I love it so (and they are back in style...I think?).
Tickets to the DMB Caravan this summer:
This sounds like it's going to be an amazing time! With some of my favorite artists - David Gray (by the far one of the most talented singer/songwriters EVER!), DMB, O.A.R., Ray Lamontagne (Beautiful lyrics and powerful voice) and Guster - I would do anything to partake in this experience.
A trip to Ireland, England and Australia:
(picture courtesy of www.terragalleria.com) I am lucky enough to have travled quite a bit in my life. I have already been to Ireland and England, but would love to go back and see more. The Husband hasn't traveled much at all and I would really love to show him these beautiful countries I have fallen in love with. Both of us are dying to go to Australia, so I figured why not make it one big trip - HAHA!!
A new deck, with either a firepit area or fireplace and a hot tub:
(picture courtesy of www.luckymountainhome.com) The Husband and I would really, really like to own a hot tub. His job is very physically demanding and it would be so great to relax after a long day at work with him and a adult beverage. Having a fireplace nearby and TV and stereo to go along with it would be the icing on the cake :)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Surprise! You are having a dining room instead!
It has been a busy April so far! While the weather is still decidedly winter-ish, The Husband and I are prepping for our first spring and summer in our home. A few weeks ago, he says to me "I have something I want to do, but I don't know how to pull it off without telling you about it." Uh, okay... He then proceeds to tell me he wanted to THROW ME A SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY!!! Such a sweetheart...but he's right. There really is no way for him to pull it off without me knowing. You see, The Husband is a blue-collar worker. He doesn't sit at a desk, in front of a computer all day, like me and honestly, he can't even remember his username and password for the iTunes account he set up. He really is not computer savvy at all. Needless to say, I pay all the bills online and both our checks are directly deposited. So, I would see the money being withdrawn in large amounts and grow suspicious and ask millions of questions (which I am known to do around birthday and holiday time - LOL!). Anyway, we decide that we will continue on with the party, even though I am well aware of it, and figure it's good motivation to finally get the family room painted.
In order to get started on painting this past weekend, I needed to finalize the paint color for the rest of the room. I figured I would do a tan/beig/sand color, because it's neutral and easy to change up with accessories. However, I did not want a tan with red or pink in it. Since The Husband is colorblind, I enlisted the help of a high school friend with whom I have similar taste in home decoratin. We had breakfast plans the following morning anyway, so she just came over to help choose a color. (Funny sidestory: When we first moved in, she came over to help paint one of our bedrooms and saw all the colors we had picked and painted so far. THREE of our colors are colors she already had in HER house! So, when I say we have similar taste, I mean we REALLY have similar taste).
My friend comes over the next morning and she is really not a fan of the layout of the family room. It is an awkward space, I'll give you that. Everything seems to be off center. The fireplace and doorwall placement make it difficult to fit any decent size couch in there, so we had a loveseat and oversized chair. Our favorite couch was placed in the living room/dining room combination just on the other side of the family room fireplace. The space in there just didn't flow, though, and we barely spent any time in there so it was also wasted. My friend starts to talk about how the family room would make a great dining room and that the recently acquired 50" TV we have would fit so much better in the living room. After some questions, solutions and chosen paint colors, we are now turning the family room into a dining room and the dining/living room into the family room. Holy hot mess! To be fair, we considered this option when we first bought the house, but I always thought it would be cozy and fun to spend most of our time in the fireplace room, especially in the winter. But after our first gas bill (!!!) the fireplace stayed off for the rest of the winter (minus one night). There was also no cable outlet in the living room, but since The Husband is super handy, that was easily fixable.
So now here we are, five days later. The room was a B***H and a half to paint (the entire room took one coat of primer, the lower half of the walls took three coats and all of the trim took three coats), but we are finally (mostly) finished. I am still unsure of how I feel about it. It's difficult for me to accept it as a dining room and I'm not sure why. The ceiling fan was replaced with a chandelier last night, so that definitely helps. Once it's accessoried and curtains are added, maybe I will be more used to it. Either way, I don't think my husband will ever want to paint it again. We have had quite a few VERY long days and after all his hard work and lack of sleep, The Husband now has a case of acute bronchitis and has been ordered to lay around until Monday. Lucky guy! :)
Here are a few before and after shots. The top half of the walls are a chocolate brown, the bottom half and fireplace wall are all a semi-gloss white. These pictuers were taken before the chandelier and some accessories were added, and the doors still need to be painted white. I will hopefully share more once the curtains are up and some accessories are out and up on the walls.
Before (and obviously decorated for the holidays):
After:
So, what do you think? Still lots to do... The party is set for Saturday, April 16th (my actual birthday) and we are slowly getting the house ready for it's first bash! I got a lovely patio table and chairs from my parents as a birthday gift and we have scored some great deals on other outdoor accessories/furniture to really help us enjoy our first spring and summer here!
In order to get started on painting this past weekend, I needed to finalize the paint color for the rest of the room. I figured I would do a tan/beig/sand color, because it's neutral and easy to change up with accessories. However, I did not want a tan with red or pink in it. Since The Husband is colorblind, I enlisted the help of a high school friend with whom I have similar taste in home decoratin. We had breakfast plans the following morning anyway, so she just came over to help choose a color. (Funny sidestory: When we first moved in, she came over to help paint one of our bedrooms and saw all the colors we had picked and painted so far. THREE of our colors are colors she already had in HER house! So, when I say we have similar taste, I mean we REALLY have similar taste).
My friend comes over the next morning and she is really not a fan of the layout of the family room. It is an awkward space, I'll give you that. Everything seems to be off center. The fireplace and doorwall placement make it difficult to fit any decent size couch in there, so we had a loveseat and oversized chair. Our favorite couch was placed in the living room/dining room combination just on the other side of the family room fireplace. The space in there just didn't flow, though, and we barely spent any time in there so it was also wasted. My friend starts to talk about how the family room would make a great dining room and that the recently acquired 50" TV we have would fit so much better in the living room. After some questions, solutions and chosen paint colors, we are now turning the family room into a dining room and the dining/living room into the family room. Holy hot mess! To be fair, we considered this option when we first bought the house, but I always thought it would be cozy and fun to spend most of our time in the fireplace room, especially in the winter. But after our first gas bill (!!!) the fireplace stayed off for the rest of the winter (minus one night). There was also no cable outlet in the living room, but since The Husband is super handy, that was easily fixable.
So now here we are, five days later. The room was a B***H and a half to paint (the entire room took one coat of primer, the lower half of the walls took three coats and all of the trim took three coats), but we are finally (mostly) finished. I am still unsure of how I feel about it. It's difficult for me to accept it as a dining room and I'm not sure why. The ceiling fan was replaced with a chandelier last night, so that definitely helps. Once it's accessoried and curtains are added, maybe I will be more used to it. Either way, I don't think my husband will ever want to paint it again. We have had quite a few VERY long days and after all his hard work and lack of sleep, The Husband now has a case of acute bronchitis and has been ordered to lay around until Monday. Lucky guy! :)
Here are a few before and after shots. The top half of the walls are a chocolate brown, the bottom half and fireplace wall are all a semi-gloss white. These pictuers were taken before the chandelier and some accessories were added, and the doors still need to be painted white. I will hopefully share more once the curtains are up and some accessories are out and up on the walls.
Before (and obviously decorated for the holidays):
After:
So, what do you think? Still lots to do... The party is set for Saturday, April 16th (my actual birthday) and we are slowly getting the house ready for it's first bash! I got a lovely patio table and chairs from my parents as a birthday gift and we have scored some great deals on other outdoor accessories/furniture to really help us enjoy our first spring and summer here!
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