Its HOT

Temperatures are supposed to reach 105 degrees today in our area. That's pretty darn hot, folks.

I'd like to remind everyone to please keep your pets indoors or in a very shaded area with plenty of water and a fan if possible. They, just like us can be harmed or killed by the heat!

Keep cool by staying indoors, in shady areas and make sure you are drinking lots of fluids around the clock! Its super easy to dehydrate in this heat when you are not constantly replacing what you've lost.

I've also seen some pretty nasty comments on Facebook and other social media sites today. For instance someone posted this on a similar comment:

Post: Its really really really hot today! I wish I was in a pool somewhere!

Comment: Just remember, while you are complaining about the heat there are thousands of soliders somewhere in a desert much hotter than it is here who are stuggling to fight a war and make it home safe to their families.

Now - don't get me wrong. I am sooo thankful for our military and all the sacrafices they and their families make in order to serve our country and fight for our freedom. But, I don't think that every comment about someone's opinion should be twisted and turned into a debate about civilian life and military life.

It is hot, and its not a "normal" hot for those of us in this area. In NC we actually have pretty mild seasons year round. So, naturally some of us are going to let out a little gripe. We're human, we all do it. I just wish once people could remember that everyone complains now and then. Its normal and its a way for us to express our concerns or disapoinments. I don't think anyone complains to hurt another's feelings so before we all go around fussing at each other just because of a small little complaint - stop and remember, we're all human and we all do it! (admitingly or not)

Budgeting 101 - The Basic Five

Its no secret that we MUST live by a budget in our house. It is simply not possible for us to live off of one income. Trust me, I'd be a SAHM in a heartbeat if two things existed, the first being that I had a child to actually be a "Mom" and the second would be my husbands huge paycheck.

While we aren't living in poverty and we are very blessed to have a home, running water, clothing and food we still don't live a life of luxury where we can ignore vicarious spending. And even having two incomes, we still have unavoidable expenses that take most of our money away as soon as we get it (house, truck, student loans, utilities, gas and grocery expenses and medical necessities).

I don't have budgeting down to a science and I still get off track sometimes, but knowing where your money goes is the most important thing to me when it comes to budgeting. Here are my basic "rules" for my budget and sticking to it. Keep in mind, these are the five basic rules to budgeting that help me, these may or may not work for you and your situation.

I may also need to add that I say "my budget" because my husband and I do not share bank accounts or money. I know that may seen super weird to some, but for us it just works. He likes to handle his finances a little differently than I, and as long as someone doesn't come knocking on my door to repossess something my hubs has forget to send the payment for, then we'll keep it that way. 

1. Log all expenses/debts from account. (I list EVERY purchase on a spreadsheet. Sort of like keeping up with a checkbook register, except I can categorize the purchases to adjust the budget accordingly)

2. Pay yourself first. Any money that I want to put into savings or hold onto for something specific happens the very minute my direct deposit hits the bank. I always "pay" my savings account first and then pull out any cash for specific purchases like birthday gifts. (Using only cash for specifics also keeps me from overspending or going over my spending limit. Since I only have the set amount of cash - I can't spend more than I have in my hand unlike my sweet, nifty, darling little debit card.)

3. All known expenses come next. Any bills/payments due within 2 weeks of pay day (I get paid bi-weekly) get paid after I pay myself. If I pay these before spending any money I know that I'm in the clear and don't have to worry about them.

4. I set limits. I limit myself to eating lunch out only once per week and take my lunch the other days. I limit eating dinner out to once per week as well and try to stick to wallet friendly restaurants.

5. The day before I'm paid I utilize what's left over. If I'm about to get paid again I take a moment to "use" up the money left in my checking account. This helps to fool me into thinking I have zero money, therefore, I can't spend what I don't have. (Of course, I leave a certain amount in there for unexpected things and such). I try to divide whats left between what is most important - for example; currently I'm putting any extra money that is left towards the balance on a credit card that we used for an emergency situation. The card doesn't charge interest until October, so my goal is to pay it off before its accrues any interest. I just make an extra payment with the left over or put extra into the savings account.

How I Spent My Birthday

Yep - that's right. I've officially been around for a quarter of a century. My birthday was Friday and I'm sure it was a birthday I'll not be forgetting anytime soon. At least not for 4-6 weeks!

*If you are faint, squeamish or don't like TMI then you should probably close this post now.* 

I spent most of the morning laying on a table in a room that looked something similar to this:

all because I'm a clumsy goof who can't focus long enough to chop a handful of mushrooms without partially amputating my thumb! Yes, you heard that right. AMPUTATED THUMB!

Okay, okay its not THAT bad, as in my thumb is not amputated.... Buts it is pretty bad cause that's what diagnosis was on my discharge paper. I know this because I code at work, so I looked it up. Got it? Moving on....

I'm very squeamish and I'm not sure how I even managed to tough it out the entire night on Thursday after the incident and make it to the doctor on Friday morning. It was still bleeding 12 hours later.

When I arrived at the doctor on Friday morning, I still wasn't sure the damage I had done because up until this point, I couldn't look at it for fear of passing out or vomiting. When the MD took the bandage off and began to clean my thumb I got brave and decided to take a look.....whoa!

This is the best example I can give as to what I did to my thumb, except in this photo the thumb was cut on the side and  is still pretty much in tact - mine, not so much. From the end of my (very short) finger nail and above are now missing from my left thumb. I didn't just cut them and need stitches, I CUT IT OFF, completely. (I wish this is what my thumb looked like - its a paper cut compared to the butcher job I've done to myself)

Not only could they not reattach what I have cut off, due to the angle of the cut but they also couldn't do anything for the wound to close it. The verdict - special dressing to cover the open wound and the bandage has to be changed twice daily due to the fact that the said open wound will continue to drain until the skin grows back. All of this was decided after the episode of giving me a nerve block to attempt to stop the bleeding with some black liquid that burned and stung like a youknowwhat! So there ya go... Yay - Happy freakin' Birthday to me!

Does it hurt? Ummm, HELLZ YES! It hurts like the devil constantly and even worse every time I move my hand!

This is my new style for the next few weeks - you like?

Oh, and any tips on functioning with one hand would be helpful! You have no idea how long it takes me to shower and get ready without a left thumb. While not impossible, it sure is time consuming.

Wordless Wednesday

<3 melts my heart <3

Toys for Dogs

Our lab, Bronx, is one tough pup. In return, his toys also have to be tough. A stuffed animal lasts all of about .564 seconds in our house. He can pull stuffing out of a bear quicker than you can say STOP!
We currently have a few favorite toys but I think his interest is dwindling. Labs are very smart dogs and require lots of exercise, which Bronx gets on a regular basis.
However, there are times I simply just can not give him my undivided attention and he needs to play with toys.

Our current favorite contender and longest lasting toy:
The Kong

Although Bronx still loves this toy and knows exactly what to do with it (it hold treats or "stuffin" inside and the dog has to chew in order to get the treats out) so its sort of boring to him now. He will still play with it, but the time it requires him to get the treats or stuffin' out is not as lengthy as it once was. 

We have a few varieties of the Kong toys (bone, ball, and two of the Kong shown above) and we have some rope toys for pulling and we have some outdoor balls for fetch.


Some choices I've found on my recent search are;

The Hurley - its durable and it floats which would be a plus when taking Bronx to the pond to swim and play.

These Nylabones are suppose to be very durable and with stand heavy chewers but I think I read somewhere they are made partially of plastic. I really don't want my dog eating plastic. I will have to research this more.

This "Peek and Seek" board seems very intricate and would probably keep Bronx busy for a while but is it too advanced? My dog is smart, but that looks like something for a 5 year old! It is still an option though, so we'll keep in on the list for now.

The "Bob-a-Lot" is pretty neat. However, I can see this toy sliding all over my kitchen floor as B slaps it silly with his paws trying to get treats out...he isn't the most gentle creature when play and food is involved! Ha!


What toys do you recommend? What are your dogs favorite toys? Comments and recommendations are very welcome!

Weekend Recap

Dave was suppose to have games all weekend. The game on Saturday was actually an early game that started at 1pm. They usually play at 7pm. It worked out so well in our favor because we had a couple's dinner to attend in honor of Dave's big cousin, who is getting married in September. Some ladies at our church threw this dinner party for them while they were in town visiting family. Ashley and Brad live in the Raleigh, NC area so we love to see them and catch up when they visit. I didn't take my camera with me but this is one of Ashley and Brad's engagement photos. Their sweet puppy's name is Bella. She and her cousin Bronx are going to have such a ball next time they visit because Bronx was finally released for full activity after his recent surgery.

 They got rained out on Sunday so we were able to hit the town with some good friends and grab a nice dinner. Tripper and Brittany are some of the sweetest people! They are both still in college and Trip was actually on David's team in years past before he became to old to play American Legion Baseball. :( 

We try to squeeze in some hang time when these two are in town as well!

We had seafood again (no complaints here) and I ordered.....drum roll please.....crab legs! Yes, again! I love them and I probably only get around 5 chances each year to eat them so if its on the menu at a good seafood restaurant - I'm probably ordering it.

 

David had the combination of swordfish and grilled tuna. The tuna was out of this world! Seriously, I almost traded dishes with him! 

We ordered a few beers and then laughed hysterically when Dave kept sliding his mug back onto the bar, as if it were falling off. After a few minutes we noticed it wasn't the bar that was leaning....the mug was! It almost looked as if the mug had been melted or was melting right then! We got the biggest kick of that glass! Its the little things that make life fun, huh?

 

What Would Your Shirt Say?

Monica over at Pixel Perfect  did this same post recently. Go check hers out!
She asked her readers what their shirt would say if they were to wear one that explained a repetitive question you get asked a lot by strangers (hypothetically speaking, of course). I'm answering in blog post form, cause this is too funny not to share!

I'd say these are some of the most repetitive questions that I am asked by strangers in public;
- Do you tan? Are you allergic to the sun? Are you always that pale?
- Is that dog walking you or are you walking that dog? Did you know your dog is bigger than you are?
- What grade are you in? (I get this one a lot when I wear one of hubby's school's t-shirts in public)
- Wow you are short, how tall are you really?

My shirt would say:

- Yes I know how pale I am. No, I'm not allergic to the sun!
- Yes, I do realize my dog is bigger than I am.
- I guess if secondary education had continued, I'd be in the 19th Grade.
- I'm tall enough to kick your ass! Is that tall enough?

Okay, so that last one may be a stretch....but its really how I feel sometimes when I get asked stupid questions! I have never had to guts to ask strangers questions, but apparently lots of other people do!

So, what would your shirt say?

Wardrobe Wish List

Someone has a birthday coming up really, really soon. As in like, this Friday! 

Hubs has been on me for weeks about giving him some ideas for a gift. 

We don't do Christmas or Anniversary gifts - so Birthday's are the only gift giving day we celebrate and we usually try to get really good gifts or do surprise gifts! :) 

Since hubs coaches ball during summer months and ALWAYS has a game on my birthday he usually aims high in the gift department so "make up" for not being able to spend the day/evening with me on my special day. He has never asked me before though, so I'm wondering if he is throwing me off or if he is really at a loss this year. 

I usually try to make it known when I find something that I love or that I want - I'll send him a email link or point it out to him when we are shopping together and he usually remembers what I chose, even if its months later! 

I couldn't come up with one single thing I wanted or needed this year (well, other than windshield wipers. I really need some of those but don't remember about needing them until it rains). I would love to add a few new items to my closet but I haven't been actual clothes shopping in months. So, whats a girl to do?  

Well, search Pinterest, of course! I knew if I couldn't come up with something I could always refer back to my pins for some assistance! Even though my husband does not read my blog, my Mom might send word of some of this to give him a nudge in the right direction. Ha! (Thanks, Mom)

I'm really into Maxi dresses right now. I feel comfortable wearing them just about anywhere. Its nice to be able to throw on a dress for comfort during the day and then add a few accessories or a pops of color to jazz it up for an evening out! 

I love the tank style maxi dress too! I'm not sure about the chunky horizontal stripes - but love the cut!

I'm not a fan of the length of this dress (its from Forever 21 though, so I'm not surprised at it) but I am loving the color navy right now and I like the cut of this dress and it can always be paired with cropped leggings. 

Aldo - Source 

    My cousin had on these shoes over the weekend and if we wore the same size I probably would have stolen them right off of her feet! Not sure how long I could walk in them, but they are so dreamy!

And just to top it all off this lovely handbag from Aldo - shown here in Cognac!

I'm not spoiled and we're not rich so the chances of me getting all of this are very slim. However, any item shown here would be a plus in the closet category!

















 

Random Facts about Charlee

Had lots of ideas this week about posts and lots of things I wanted to say. Now that I sit in front of the computer to put all those things into words - I've got nothing.
So here's some super random facts about me that you may or may not care to know.

- I had braces from 4th grade until 10th grade. That's roughly 6 years or so with a mouth full of metal. It actually felt like a part of me was missing when they took them off.

- I also had 18 total teeth pulled during that time frame of my 2 phases of braces. I also sported some head gear on the nightly and had one of those little key things in the roof of my mouth too. The kicker? I'm still not 100% happy with my teeth, but I'm so over the orthodontist!

- Another little girl got the main part in my second grade Christmas play. I dreamed of having that part for weeks and knew every single line when I tried out for it. I held that grudge my entire career in school and still do. Damn it, I wanted to be the "Littlest Christmas Tree!"

- I got my first and only speeding ticket exactly 10 days before I was scheduled to get my "no limitations Driver's License" when I was 16. I paid the ticket and hid it from my parents until after I got my full license so they would still take me to get them!

- To teach me a lesson about keeping up with my things my Mom made me walk our entire street until I found my new pair of Keds shoes that fell off the back of my Dad's truck going down the road. I had laid them there while playing outside and forgot about them. I had also pitched one hell of a fit in Belk the day before for my Mom to buy me those shoes. Life lesson learned. I keep up with all my belongings now!

- My baby brother was born 3 days after my 6th Birthday. My parents had to cancel my 6th birthday party because my Mom was in labor. I was so mad I never did go visit my brother in the hospital when he was born and didn't hold him until he was 1 month old! (See a pattern here? Hold grudges much? Ha!) 

- I'm a tough cookie, physically. Mentally, I'm a basket case. I would rather someone just go ahead and slap me vs. yelling at me. It hurts my feelings way worse for someone to raise their voice at me. I've always been this way and still am! 

- I once saved a chewed piece of gum from a boy I liked when I was in elementary school. He rode my bus and I saw him spit it in the wrapper, wad it up and throw it on the bus floor. When he wasn't looking I picked it up, took it home, put it in a plastic bag and kept it in my caboodle for months!

Okay, I've made a big fool out of myself with all this non-sense. Hopefully this will motivate me to write down my blog ideas when they pop into my mind instead of making posts about random facts!

Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder -Swim Suit Edition

This post was inspired by one of my recent tweets about bathing suit shopping. Which by the way should be a paid shopping trip because it is the most horrible, long, exhausting shopping trip I've ever made!

Swim Suit Issue - I'm short. I'm thick and frumpy. I'm short (just making sure you didn't miss that one). I'm a little wide in the back and a little hefty up top. Do you know how hard it is to find a swim suit for a body like that? Impossible! And, if you want to pay a reasonable price for said impossible to find suit, well, then it becomes even more impossible!

So, while on my recently impossible search for a new swim suit I was forced to publicly ask the following questions;


Question # 1 - Why is is so hard to find a bra style top that has large cups but small straps? Just because you have big boobs doesn't mean you're 6' 5" and weigh 225. Its a suit for a woman, not a line backer.

Question # 2 - Why do they still sell suits as a set? Is any woman the same size on bottom as she is on top?

Question # 3 - Did bathing suit manufacturers run out of material or are suit bottoms getting closer and closer to thongs each year?

Question # 4 - What in the hell happened to actually matching colors and patterns? I've seen suits with half zebra stripes mixed in with some plaid and neon.Seriously? It looks like the local high schools art class threw up on all the fabric in the world.

 Question # 5 - Why are all the tops for busty women halter style? Its obvious men designed these because if a woman with anything larger than a full C cup made a swim suit top I can assure you it wouldn't be of the halter variety. Do you know how quickly you give yourself a neck injury supporting those girls around the beach all day by just your halter top bikini? Hello Mr. Chiropractor

Question # 6 -What woman buying a large size top or a D size top needs padding? I understand the liners in a bathing suit, no one wants to show everyone how cold they are when they exit the pool. But the 3 inches of padding in a DD cup? Puh-lease!

SUYL - Our Kitchen

Today I am linking up at Kelly's Korner and her Show Us Your Life series. The time has come to release you into kitchen photo mania!

A little back ground on our kitchen - its connected to our living room, as in its one big giant open space. I like it and it allows me to entertain very easily, which we do often. I'll try my best to show you what the kitchen looks like and also get a feel for the layout in the photos by going in order around the room and then focusing on the details last.

If you missed last week's SUYL post on living rooms you can find mine - HERE

I cook 5-6 nights each week so it is a must that my kitchen be functional. It gets used, A LOT. The center island is my favorite part of the kitchen. It has built in cabinets on both sides (which I failed to take a photo of the detail of them) and is roughly the size of a twin bed, so it has lots of space.

Although the kitchen table doesn't get used much - I'm still so happy we went with the cafe height vs a regular height table. Maybe it has something to do with my height. hmmm.

Bronx, obviously wasn't interested in moving from his spot, so you'll have to over look him in this photo! This view is from the living room looking into the kitchen. The french doors lead out to our back porch/patio.

As you have probably noticed, there is no theme here. I like earthy tones and I like orange and green so I have little pops of those colors here and there. You can sort of see the cabinets hiding behind the bar stools on the island bar. On that particular side we keep all our bar glasses and wine glasses for entertaining.

I'm showing off my un-organized and messy pantry...why? Ha! In case you were wondering where we keep our food - the large pantry cabinet on the end has all of our goodies. We don't eat junk so we don't need a really large place to store our goods. And I'm a pretty good inventory keeper so I don't over buy and run out of storage room

This is a weird space for me. I really have no idea what in the heck I am doing when it comes to the top of a cabinet. Our ceiling are really high, which makes this an even harder space to decorate.

I recently scooped those chalk board labels for half off at Staples just for being a rewards card holder (its a free program) on a promotion they had going on! I love them - I have used them so many places. They are reusable too, which I love and it makes changing them out really easy. They are from the Martha Stewart collection by Avery and if you haven't seen all the new products on that line - go check them out!!

There you have it - our kitchen.

Thanks for stopping by and while you are here - go ahead and follow the blog!

Happy Friday!

Not Always and Option

 (source)

I'm sure by now everyone has heard about the wonderful news for this sweet couple. They are finally going to be parents thanks to a wonderful woman who is carrying the couple's child for them (I think they are calling her a gestational carrier. Since the baby was IVF and is the couples egg and sperm the carrier is not called a surrogate)

I have been following G and B since their fairy-tale wedding aired years ago. I knew this couple would be the one to 'show up' the rest of the celebrity world and have a respectable marriage that others can look up to, unlike other celebs these days. I'm pointing my finger at you, Kim K. 

Its such a wonderful blessing that after years and years of infertility this couple is finally able to live out their dreams and become parents. All the while this is a huge blessing to the Rancic's, I'm sure it is also a smack in the face to those suffering from infertility at this very moment.

G and B have the luxury to have the option to give it one more shot at becoming parents because they can afford it. I think this is something that is hidden in all the hype and I wish it were something that was discussed or addressed by the couple. I know that the struggle is the same for all couples as well as the desired outcome, no matter what their financial situation. It is very sad that fertility treatments are one of the most expensive medical procedures in the world because most of the people who suffer from infertility do not have the means to spend $20,000 or more trying to conceive a child with no guarantee the treatments/procedures will work. Infertility is also not a life threatening diagnosis, so I know that most insurance companies do not cover it. All of these set backs are not just speed bumps to couples trying to conceive without success, they are complete road blocks. Without the payment, these infertility services are out of reach for couples with no other options. It breaks my heart to know that there are couples who's biggest fear is that they won't be able to become parents and their fear is now their reality because they do not have the financial capability to spend the amount of money needed to forgo these treatments. Money should not be the reason a woman can not become a Mother and a man not become a Father. And sometimes I've heard of couples who are able to come up with they funding necessary to try the treatments, only to realize they wont have the funding to support themselves to raise a child.

I also breaks my heart to know that due to my past illness, diseases and diagnosis I may be one of these people one day. I may be walking in these infertile peoples shoe's and I'll be in the same situation. I am just a normal, ordinary middle class American. My husband and I both work and have good jobs, but we would never be able to support any type of fertility treatments financially without going into serious debt. I too would be one of those people sitting at that road block, stuck, abandoned, and hurt.

I hope that because of their journey, G and B will be able to start some sort of support group or program that will be able to help others suffering from infertility be able to choose surrogacy or a gestational carrier option for their pregnancy.
I'm sure based on their experience, they see that there are others out there suffering through these same issues and I can only pray that they will find it in their hearts to be leaders in this journey of helping others with infertility. Especially after all the support their fans and viewers of their show have given them through out this experience of infertility, as well as G's breast cancer. I love Giuliana and Bill and I will continue to follow their journey and wish them all the happiness in the world with their new addition arriving soon. I will continue to pray that this couple or SOMEONE out there will have the courage and the gumption to speak out on this matter and start a program to help those in need.

Health Scare Update

Blogger isn't always my best friend and since I'm still "new" to this whole shebang and I'm not the best person to be in control of technology and how it functions. Anyway, I posted a few months ago about my recent appointments and problems that have happened and now I don't see the post anywhere to refer back to. I don't save my posts elsewhere (I may need to start doing that) so I'll just have to wing it and give a little back ground.


December 2011
- Stopped BC due to adverse affects to a change in prescription. (thank you insurance company)
- Started new form of BC at the end of the month.

January 2012
- Still having side effects from new brand of BC.
- Call doctor. Doctor asks to stop BC until visit in office is made in Feb. to discuss options & research insurance coverage.
(I should add that I only have one ovary and it is sometimes hard to find right BC that has the correct combination of hormones that works with my body and doesn't give me crazy side effects. I had been on one specific type until my insurance changed and the price went from $20/month to $85/month)

February 2012
 - Annual physical and Gynecological exam.
-  Finds cysts on cervix. Suspects cysts are flaring up due to being off birth control. (I have had a history of minor cysts since my ovarian cancer in 2003)
- Schedules internal ultra sound to check ovary for cysts same day in office.
- B/P is also very high when checked at appointment. 
- Finds that ovary has several "clusters" of cysts.
- We were also planning to discuss getting pregnant and what we needed to do before we try, but those plans had to be put on hold.
- Back on BC to help with cysts.
- Follow up appointment later in the month showed some of  the cysts appeared to have dissolved on their own. Large cyst on cervix remains - drains cysts for testing of fluid.

March 2012
- Large cyst test came back fine. Wont worry unless it gets larger or causes pain.
- Ovarian cysts appear to be controlled on BC currently. Possible PCOS diagnosis in the future if symptoms continue to occur and further testing agrees. We will dive further into this if we do have trouble getting pregnant.
- Back on BC for at least 3 months. Schedules B/P screening and shortened stress test. Can't stay on BC safely with high blood pressure.
-Revisit pregnancy plan in July at next appointment.

May 2012
- Stress test and B/P screening done. All results are good. No high B/P diagnosis, just work on stress relief techniques (how in the hell am I suppose to do that with all this bad news, eh?)



Now, to current day. I recently had an appointment after my B/P screening. Everything is going as planned and the large cyst that we have been monitoring on my cervix appears to be shrinking. BC is doing its job so far to help control the ovarian cysts and I will need to remain on the BC until we have a definite plan on when to stop. For right now we haven't made a definite decision on when we will try to start our family, its something that we both feel we may need a little more time with before we take the plunge. With that being said, its also something we both feel like will happen if its suppose to happen and it will happen and the time in our lives that God sees fit. He knows our plan and we know we have to look to him for guidance with making these decisions and when the time comes for us to be parents, he'll give us the green light.

Wordless Wednesday - Pinterest Style

 

You didn't think I was going to do a WW post without a picture of my baby did you? Ha! 

Spontaneous Date Night

As stated before, it isn't often during the summer months that Dave and I get some quality time together. Last night just happened to be one of those rarities. So, for his last night off for the next 12 days we decided to spontaneously visit one of our favorite restaurants in a near by town.

Big Daddy's has the best seafood around to be 200+ miles away from the coast. They have the best oyster bar I've ever been to (and I grew up on the East Coast, so that's saying a lot) and on Monday's you can get a whole peck for the half peck price, which is a really good deal.

Source  - the restaurant's photos are not mine. I didn't take a single photo while we were there.

Sadly, we got there a little too late because they had just ran out of the fresh oysters. I was one sad gal until our waitress told us that we could have a nice discount on other menu items. Since crab is my second favorite seafood dish aside from oysters, I took her up on that offer and  ordered fresh steamed snow crab legs with lots of melted butter! Dave had crab stuffed flounder that he practically inhaled! We shared a few beers and laughed over good conversation.

I haven't had such a good night in a while. We really needed that fly by the seat of your pants trip out to dinner to mellow out our crazy stressful lives.
We sang to the top of our longs to old country tunes like "Callin' Baton Rouge" by Garth Brooks and oldies hits like "When a man loves a woman" by Percy Sledge and then busted out laughing at each other when we tried to hit the high notes. We went to be laughing and woke up laughing this morning. Its times like these that remind me how blessed I am to be spending and sharing my life with the man of my dreams.

This is a really fuzzy photo - but its the only one we took last night and I want to remember the smirk on our faces from trying not to laugh when I hit the shutter button!

If you haven't spontaneously jumped in the car and headed to your favorite dinner joint lately, do it. No plans, no changing clothes, no reservations, just go. You'll thank me later.

Our Living Room - SUYL

We built our home in 2009, soon after we were engaged. The plans were drawn from our chicken scratch sketches on notebook paper. Eight long and exhausting months later after doing roughly ¼ of the manual labor ourselves we got to walk through the front door and call our house, “home.”

It isn’t a large home, it’s small and cozy and it sits in the center of our family farm land surrounded by wheat fields (or soybeans, depending on the season). We love it, we’re proud of it, it fits our needs, and in roughly 27 more years it will be all ours! Ha!

Our living room and our ‘eat in’ kitchen are technically one huge combined room that is separated by a large center island. I hope I took the photos at the right angles to allow you to see how it is laid out. 

I am not Martha Stewart and I don’t have the slightest idea about what is in style, so our décor is just one of those thrown together things. Dave actually picked out our couches and his recliner. I chose our tables. Our coffee table was so large that it blocked the view of the TV so we turned it into a entry way table by adding a large mirror over the top of it. The drawers provide lots of good storage (more than a traditional entry or buffet table) and I love that! I don’t like window treatments/curtains/valances/whatever.the.hell.you.call.them. so you won’t see many of those ;) I’m just really simple. Everything else is just my little nick-naks and photos. I did try to move around the room in a counter-clockwise motion so that hopefully the layout would make more sense. And after doing the photos for this post, I am convinced I need a photography class!  Enjoy looking around and come on back now! Happy Friday!

PS: Prepare for picture overload!