a little bit of THIS and a little BIT of that

After some very LONG hours we finally bought a couch (it was seriously worse than purchasing a car)  How many different ways can we tell you that we don't want the EXTRA protection plan PEOPLE!?!!?!!?!  We should be able to pick it up this Saturday.  It will be so nice to have something to sit on after two weeks of sitting on a pile of blankets. 

FYI...hardwoods are H A R D on your tushie no matter how many blankets you pile up! 

We also scored several pieces at the antique market.  [We love this antique market, if you are ever in the area you should check it out.  There are two buildings and the one across from the Home Depot is the good one! The other building is a bit like a museum, you can look but can't really touch that table for EIGHT grand...heheee] 

We finally got our beloved coffee table. 

LOVE it! 

 We got this one for a real deal! After being quoted six hundred for the first one we found; we scooped this one up for $185 at the booth right around the corner...That my dear is one of the joys of the antique market!  You can compare prices without ever leaving the building! 

Next up we have our lovely end table. 

This was hand made by Southbend Millworks.  We have been stalking admiring their stuff since we found them WAY back when we thought this was going to be our front door.  Since that didn't work out (and we are SO glad it didn't) we had to postpone our furniture buying!  We were so happy to finally make a purchase from them.  They are going to be doing a custom piece for us for the living room as well! More details on that to come.

The finds didn't stop there.  The dream daughter also found a few things she couldn't live without.  This chair is PERFECT for school

 and this will help put a dent in some of the thousands many bags laying on her bedroom floor! 

Plus this is the color scheme (minus the hideous blanket in the background) I would like to do in her room after I find her a vintage armoire and dresser!!

This weekend we will be attending another antique market.  We haven't been to this one in a while so we are stoked.  I am really hoping to score a very LARGE vintage sign for my living room wall.  Preferably metal, rusty and a little dirty.  Hopefully next week we can do a big reveal!

Party Time Favorites

So, since my last cooking extravaganza I kind of quit.  I mean, let's get serious...it's just not for me.  BUT, with that being said...I did want to share a couple of recipe's that I've used recently for parties that I've hosted and gone too.  All of them are simple and tasty.  Simple by my terms.  Rants and raves by all.

We're about to have a pack full of men at my house for a "football party"....whatever that means.  So, I whipped these up as well as some hotdogs and chips. 

CHEESE DIP

1 can of Rotel Tomatoes
The small block of Velvetta cheese
1 lb of Jimmy Dean Sausage

Brown the sausage in a pan.  Melt the cheese in the microwave.  Mix those with the tomatoes.  I put it in one of those teeny crock pots and serve with the dip style Tostitos.  YUM. 


APPLE DIP

8 oz Philly Cream Cheese (softened)
3/4 cup of light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cushed peanuts

Combine ingredients and refrigerate for an hour.  I serve with sliced Granny Smith Apples juiced with a tiny bit of lemon. 

That's it!  Our first guest just got here, so I guess I have to go sit in front of the TV and let my eyes glaze over while football plays....

-jd

drum roll PLEASE

Finally we have rid ourselves of our TYP furniture that is all matchy matchy.  I am super excited and can't wait to piece an entire living space together piece by piece!  We already have several things in mind but for now I just want to share my new living room...

Those blankets are from our picnic dinner tonight!

 I love the existing color and I already have fabric picked out for new panels for the windows.

On the wish list

• railroad cart table
• sectional
• random crate end tables
• lamps (industrial influence)
• pictures ON THE WALL (hello pictures where are you!)

So this is the next extreme makeover!  We are really wanting to create a nice comfy space for entertaining, hanging out, watching American Pickers (if you don't watch this you are seriously missing out).  What we don't want to end up with is another rooms to boredom space because we gave up on the hunt.  That will not happen this time...the hunt is under way my friends!  I will keep you posted along the way.

Before I go I want to share with you my one true love, the inspiration behind the entire living room, the piece I have searched my entire life for...not really but I really do love it!  It makes my heart feel super happy!

It's going on the mantel!

And when plan b comes to life this will be my work van...in PINK of course!

Extreme MakeOVER

SO for the first time ever, against my better judgement...I purchased something from ROSS.  I try to steer clear of any stores like this because I don't like the chaos.  I like for stores to look pretty and everything to be in it's place.  This so DOES NOT fall into either of those categories.  But apparently those things it lacks allow items to be CHEAP!  And seeing as how I am in PLAN B mode, CHEAP means more mullah for said plan!! YIPEEE!! 

SO at the above mentioned locale I was able to purchase a few things.  One is my new love, one is for organization and the final is for the dream daughter herself. 

I purchased this

because every dream daughter needs one of these for accessories (as if this is going to hold a fraction of her collection)

However, BLACK is not in her color vocab.  Hence the makeover...

Okay it wasn't extreme but we like to be dramatic.

But seriously some paint and a tutu later, it's the best thing to hit Davis Place in a hot minute! 

Next to my new love which deserves its own post (of course it doesn't need a make over), it is perfect just the way it is!
-fd

Christmas REVIEW

I haven't blogged very much about Christmas, but we had a fabulous time.  So I thought I would share a few of my favorite pictures from the HOLIDAYS!

2011 is looking to be a wonderful year!!

A look back...

With tomorrow being the 1st day of the new year Two Thousand and Eleven, I wanted to take a look back on the past year because what a year it has been.  In '09, I was living in this 1 bedroom, 800 square foot apartment with my "boyfriend", Drew.  We were happy, but had big dreams that were about to come true.

 On June 10th 2009, my boyfriend--best friend--love of my life proposed to me in the top level of the parking garage at work.  I said "hell yea" and was off to plan a wedding.

We decided to look for a home of our own.  We were able to save a little bit of money from living in our little apartment for over two years and felt the time was right.  After almost a year of searching, we finally signed a contract to built our very first home!

Which brings me to

2010!

We rung in the new year with construction on our lot!  We visited our lot weekly to check out the house progress.

Trying to plan a wedding and built a house all at the same time was a wee bit stressful, but I did it and we had a great time!

My grandmother held a wonderful couples bridal shower for us.

Mother's Day was awesome this year with both of our families together.  I sure am a lucky girl with the best in-laws.

Christy hosted our rehearsal dinner and so many of our friends and family were there.  Perfect!

On April 3rd, we got hitched!

Some other highlights of this year include:

- My baby sister graduating  high school and leaving for college {on a scholarship!}

-Drew and I both turned 28 years old

-I got a new car {RIP silver bullet}

-Last, but not least...

We conceived a child! 

Whew, what a year.  I am so thankful for everything and everyone in my life.  I am looking forward to a bigger and better 2011.  You've got some stiff competition New Year!

Go out and Celebrate tonight!

-jd

Nesting #1

On my "to do" list before Baby comes is to get organized and I want to start tomorrow!  We moved into our brand new house in April and there is room for every single item we own, but right now, most of our drawers and closets are a mess. 
First, I want to make a home office with a file cabinet, space for a printer and my craft supplies.  I don't have an extra room for this, so I'm going to convert our guest closet into an office space of sorts.  I am on the hunt for organization ideas for my bathroom, kitchen, and every closet, drawer, and cabinet in this house!

Here's a few I found tonight...

I like the framed tack board with nail head, the antique lamp and the shelf for goodies which also doubles as mail and paper storage.


I'm not down with this color scheme or finished product, but there are a few ideas I might steal.  I'm going back and forth on whether to use a furniture desk or a built in desk, but I like this idea of putting a top on two mobile pedestal files.  The doors to my closet open similar to this one.  At one point, I wanted to take them off, but now I'm contemplating leaving them on and using them as another storage surface like this photos.  The peg board could provide a super functional place for all of my stuff.

If you have an endless budget and tons of time on your hands, there are some super cute ideas in this one.  I personally can't even go there.  I mean...look at those doors???

I think my version may be a tad bit more "down and dirty".  I want it to be stylish while staying budget friendly.  Check out this great DIY idea to take a metal pedestal and cover the front doors with wallpaper.

 

I'm going to clean out the closet tomorrow and get it ready.  Stay tuned for progress and final shots.  I need to figure out the furniture vs. built in dilemma as well as how to power the closet.  I thought I was smart and actually had an electrical outlet installed in one of my closets when we built the house so I could make this very space....too bad that room ended up being the better room for the nursery.  Oh well, baby will have a cute closet as well and I'm sure I'll make good use out of that outlet somehow.

Do any of you have any good organization tips or products you can share?  Comment or e-mail me; we love hearing from our readers!

-jd