Metamorphasis of Me

Christmas Traditions...

2011-12-20T16:44:00.003-05:00

I was reading a blog the other day and the day's topic was family traditions at Christmas. Every family has them, sometimes there are several of them. Growing up we had 2 traditions that occured during the Christmas season.

1. The Pickle: the parent hides the pickle ornament in the tree and the children try to find the ornament. Whomever finds the pickle first gets a special present. This tradition started when my brother and I were younger. It seemed to always be a competition every year to see who would be the big winner. This is a tradition I definitely want to incorporate into Christmas years down the road when we have children.

2. Going out to eat as a family Christmas Eve. We did this every year either following Christmas Eve service or prior to it. The whole family would dress up and go to a nice dinner.

Now that I am married and a small family of my own, we have crafted several traditions of our own. However, one I am quite fond of. Every Christmas night we take a ride around several neighborhoods and enjoy the Christmas lights. It just adds some Christmas cheer to close out the holiday evening.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!

Major FAIL...

2011-10-07T16:18:00.000-04:00

I took these pictures within 5 minutes of each other. I was starting the beginning of my photo wall, when this happened. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Do you Birch Box?

2011-09-13T19:26:00.003-04:00

I was turned on to this AMAZING service/product called Birch Box. It's basically like a magazine subscription that comes to your home every single month, but it's a box filled with goodies such as hair products, makeup, perfume and more! The subscription is only $10 a month to try the latest beauty products on the market.

My first box should arrive October 10th! I will post an update as soon as my first box arrives.

Until then check out the website: http://www.birchbox.com

4 years?

2011-08-11T16:54:00.002-04:00

Yes, 4 years of marriage today! I am so lucky and blessed to be married to my best friend and such a wonderful man. He truly compliments me in every way. Things have not always been easy, but we make a great team.

We spent the day today having a picnic on the lake and walking trails, we then stopped at a local bakery and picked up some yummy sweets for tonight's dessert and we are now heading off to dinner.

I love you hubs! Thank you for making everyday with you special. I am looking forward to many more years of memories and love.

Newness here and there...

2011-08-02T19:19:00.005-04:00

Since I am notorious for not taking snapshots of new projects and happenings in my life, I figured I would post a few photos that I actually remembered to take and share with you guys!

This is right above my stove. I wanted something to fill in the empty space since I don't have a backsplash in the kitchen and I felt that the plates added some cuteness and pizzaz to the otherwise boring space above the stove.

I made this yummy meal Sunday afternoon! It consists of Edamame, baby portobellos, chicken and ramen noodles. Instead of using the "msg laden packet" that accompanies the ramen noodles I made my own soup base. I used fresh garlic and onion, a cup of water and a cup of chicken broth, cumin powder, sesame oil and soy sauce. It was so good!

This is my crazy cucumber! All of my cucumbers are growing such odd shapes, but they taste amazing. I am really happy with our garden this year. So far I have had several cucumbers, tons of cherry tomatoes and lots of banana peppers!

Fresh Veggies

2011-07-13T20:49:00.004-04:00

The hubs and I started a vegetable garden last summer and we had such great results that we decided to build another bed and do it again this year.

Last summer we had:

4 squash plants

1 zucchini plant

lettuce

radishes

This summer we planted:

Watermelon

2 cucumber plants

2 banana pepper plants

cherry tomatoes

Beef tomatoes

Squash

We have gotten a ton of cherry tomatoes and the peppers and cucumbers are just now producing a ton of veggies.

Here is the latest off of my plants:

Summer Front Porch Decor...

2011-07-02T01:11:00.003-04:00

Operation Summer Sprucing of Front Porch- Semi Complete!

Swept and washed down the porch.

Scrubbed the white banisters with soapy water (banisters are not seen in picture).

Bought the fern at Lowes for $7

Found the pot at Marshalls for $7 and this weekend I plan on finding a flowering plant to go in it.

The American Flag Star- I fell in love with the star! I found it at Kohls on clearance for $1.50....um what?! Yep...I really love it (did I say that already?) and I think I may keep it up most of the summer!

Here you go!

Hello..anyone there?!

2011-06-14T22:29:00.002-04:00

I am such a horrible blogger! It's been 2 months since my last post..deplorable! I have started a new job and career and it is keeping me very busy! I am loving every minute of my new job and all the new experiences, but the blogging is severely lacking.

I have a few posts in mind and hope to get some of those out soon.

Ikea Loving...

2011-03-30T20:55:00.003-04:00

I am totally diggin' these new finds at Ikea! I just love the little garden markers...they would go perfect in my vegetable garden. Good things Ikea is 1.5 hours away, otherwise I would be there tonight buying all of it.

Honey Do List...for Me

2011-02-02T15:27:00.003-05:00

I think I have home projects and decorating A.D.D. It seems that I always start a project and think of others to start before finishing the first project. Then I get completely overwhelmed and take a long break from the projects. So, I walk around the house and see all these half finished projects that need to be completed.

So, I made an action plan and the hubs has agreed to help me. We have dubbed February the "Home Organization and Project Finishing Month". We are designated our weekends to certain projects so we can get some things accomplished (and so I can finally put some photos on my blog).

Weekend Projects:

February 5-6th:

Finish the second coat of paint in the kitchen
Organize all kitchen drawers and shelves so they are functional
Fix the broken utensil drawer ( the bracket broke and it's a builder only bracket, so we have to buy new tracking to fix the drawer).
Buy a cute canister to store some every day cooking utensils in and donate to Goodwill the utensils we do not need or use every day.

February 12-13th

Clean and de-winterize the screened in porch
Organize all closets in the house
Add shelves to the coat closet for more functional use
Take extra "stuff" from closets and donate it to Goodwill or a Charity

February 19-21st (I have a three day weekend)

Finish painting the upper wall portion of the master bedroom wall and prep for the wainscotting
Clean the carpets in all 3 bedrooms
Hang Photo Wall in the Hallway

February 26-27th

Purchase fabric to make drapes for eat-in kitchen or find drapes
Prep the yard for spring
Spray the outdoors and indoors for bugs and pests
Clean all the windows

There you have it! Hopefully I can get some of these projects done so I can update my blog with photos!

Candle Loving...

2011-01-24T11:42:00.003-05:00

My love for candles has progressed through the years. I think my mom turned me on to loving candles as much as I do. I remember she would burn a beautiful candle in a lantern (way back before lanterns were the "in" thing) year round. It gave off the most light but beautiful scent. To this day, when I smell that particular candle it always brings back memories.

The fragrance was Red Currant by Votivo and to this day it is hands down my favorite candle and scent. Votivo is quite pricey, but back in my hometown we have a store that sells all the mishap candles for quite cheap. By mishap, I mean that the wick isn't dead centered, the jar may be missing the wax decal, it may not be in the box etc... But who cares when you are picking up a $25 candle for $2!!

The list of my favorite candles coincides with the pictures above:

Votiv0 Vanilla Bergamot Blossom
Votivo Red Currant
Anthropologie's Capri Blue Volcano Candle
Lume Luxe brand...I love them all, but my favorit is the Wild Herb Cassis. These can be found at Target as well.

Do you have a candle that you love? I am always looking for new brands and scents!!

Scrub Away the Winter Blues..Spa Style

2011-01-18T16:46:00.005-05:00

I don't know about ya'll...but I am SO over winter. I always feel chilled to the bone, my skin gets dry and flaky, I have crazy static not only in my hair but in my clothes and all I want to do is sleep.

So, I decided to have a spa day. But instead of going to the spa...I decided to do a spa day at Casa De Metamorphasis.

It included an epson salt bath and facial. Let me just tell you, it was relaxing and just what I needed to snap me out of my blues.

I decided to pass along the little joy that I felt to you ladies! Enjoy your spa day!

To get started you will need:

Epson Salt
Chamomille Tea Bags
1 Lemon
Coconut Oil or Mild Facial Cleanser
Organic Honey (regular will work too)
Granulated Sugar
Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream
Moisturizer
Washcloth or Facial Sponge
Hand Towel
Large Towel

Let's start with the Epson Salt Bath First:

Make your bath experience as peaceful and relaxing for you as possible. For some this may be a book and a glass of wine. For others it may be calm music and scented candles and for some it may be nothing at all. Heck, for some it may be rocking out to Metallica :) I chose scented candles and a cup of chamomille tea.

Before filling your bath, place about 4 cups of Epson salt into the bath and fill the bath with warm water. Let yourself relax and enjoy your bath!

Epson salt is believed to withdraw toxins from the body, relieve swelling and relax muscles. This is just a time for you to sit back and relax.

Once the bath is complete move on to the facial.

At home facial:

First start by cleansing the face. I prefer coconut oil (coconut oil is actually a solid and needs to be warmed in the microwave). Typically you fight an oily face with oil. If you have makeup on or have a naturally oily face- your typical mild cleanser will work. Rub oil or cleanser all over face and rinse with warm water/ you can use wash cloth to remove oil. Pat dry face with hand towel.
Take 3 cups of water and place in pot on stove with 3 chamomille tea bags. Cut the lemon and squeeze the juice into the tea and let it boil. Once water is boiling remove it from stove and let sit for about a minute. I placed the pot on a towel and sat at the kitchen table for the next step...
Taking the pot, sit at the table and place your face over the pot with the large towel over your head. Let the steam absorb into your face and breathe in the chamomille tea. Sit under the towel for about 10 minutes. (Yes, you will sweat...you want to sweat :).
This step can vary for some people....but after you dry your face from the steam take 2 of the wet teabags and place in the freezer, you can either move forward to step 5 or you can take a pimple extractor and extract the blackheads on your face. This works best freshly after the steam.
Next, time to exfoliate!! Take about 2 TBSP's of honey and about a teaspoon of sugar and make it into a paste. Take the paste and scrub it over your face sloughing off the dead skin cells. Use the washcloth or facial sponge to wipe away paste.
Now on to our mask! Take the yogurt or sour cream and place it all over your face, take the teabags out of the freezer, go lie down on your bed or couch and relax for about 5-10 minutes.
Come back, wet the washcloth with warm water and remove the yogurt or sour cream. Once your face is clean of the mask, pat dry with a towel.
Lastly, moisturize your face with your favorite moisturizer.

Your skin should feel as good as new!

Hopefully these 2 little things will relax you and make your skin feel much better! Good Bye winter blues!

Yay, for changing things up...

2011-01-12T21:31:00.001-05:00

I needed a new fresh look to the blog. It was getting so boring! Hope you like it!

Let it snow....

2011-01-11T15:15:00.003-05:00

This is what I woke up to Monday morning.... and today it is all ice!! We have been experiencing power outages all day. For now though the power seems to be staying on!

Hope all of you readers are experiencing a much warmer Tuesday!

2010...A year in review

2010-12-31T12:47:00.005-05:00

2010 has been a challenging and exciting year and I am not sad to see it go. I am looking forward to 2011 and emrbacing it with open arms! A few of the most memorable highs and lows this year"

My best friend's comin' to town"

This is Jackie, my best friend/sister in the whole world! She moved into my neighborhood when we were in 7th grade and have been best friends ever since. We grew up together, crushed on the same boys, saw each other graduate highschool, were college roomates, lived together after college, she was my maid of honor in my waiting and I saw her move to Phoenix, AZ. Even after her big move, we have remained the closest of friends. The distance has been a little hard on me, but when she said she was coming for a visit in September I was so excited! We had a great few days together and it remains one of the best moments of my year!

Making a new and special friend: I had the opportunity of becoming better friends with this wonderful lady...Heather! She has been one of the best people for me to have around in 2010. She helped me on my fitness goals, was a listening ear when I needed someone, she definitely pushes me to be the best "Jessica" I can be. She is funny, sweet, down to earth and all around amazing! I am very thankful for her and cannot wait to see where our friendship goes!

Couch to 5K: I hate exercising....but have always wanted to run. Weird, I know! So when I was introduced to a program to literally get me off the couch and running in a few months I was thrilled. The program started great and alongside help from the said friend above, I lost 14lbs this summer! Unfortunately, sickness derailed me. But in 2011 I plan on starting and finishing C25K and doing a 5k race.

Speaking of sickness, this summer was one of the roughest points of my life. I started having vision problems which led to almost complete double vision, I wasn't able to walk, had horrible muscle spasms, was severely fatigued and still am most days, was dizzy all the time and had tons of numbness and tingles all over my body. This lasted for 8 weeks and I had multiple tests, bloodwork, MRI's....the doctor's have unofficially diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I say unofficially because no lesions have been found on my brain or spine, but all my symptoms fit. I haven't talked much about it on my blog, but it definitely was a low point for me. I am now just trying to work with the doctors to get an answer.

Snow!!!: This is a BIG deal. I am sure all you Northerners are laughing at me, but down South, especially in my part of the state. It never snows and sticks. In fact, the last time it did that was in the 1920's. So, how suprised were we when it snowed 3x this year! One the day after Christmas! It was amazing!

Another low: My parents divorce. This was a toughie....technically it has been over a year, started in '09 but was finalized this year. Some of you know my family history, so this wasn't a complete shock. But it was still very hard to see people in pain and hurt, especially the one's you love. It's hard losing people as well.

Lastly, we celebrated owning our home for 1 year! There is a wonderful feeling about owning your own home. We have started many projects and I look to continue working on projects and making memories in this house!

Happy New Year to all of you readers! I hope 2011 is filled with much joy and happiness for you!

My Christmas Tree and Backyard Garland

2010-12-14T17:39:00.003-05:00

Christmas this year is different compared to Christmas' of the past and I am actually enjoying this one much more. With being sick and out of work for 8 weeks this summer and then having my hours cut back at the office- we are doing what we call a "Low Key Christmas".

We decided not to buy any unecessary gifts, treats and even decor. At first I was extremely bummed about the lack of funds for decor. I wanted new ornaments for the tree this year, and hearty garland and ribbon, but instead of letting the lack of funds get me down I decided to re-use my ornaments from when we first got married. Although, to my suprise I found a box with a few brand new ornaments and gold ribbon that I bought last year after Christmas. I was very excited and added those to the tree. I am very happy with the tree and it brought back memories of our first married Christmas together.

My garland...I was so upset about not having any garland for the mantle...it was sitting there looking so bare and naked and was craving attention. Once I stopped thinking about not having any money to go buy things for the mantel, I started thinking of ways to make something for free.

Alas- garland made from the backyard. We have a very green leafy bush that I cut many branches from (I am sure DH appreciated me pruning the bush so we wouldn't have to), used some floral wire to connect it and then just draped white lights, some ornament balls and took a clear vase with some water and added the branches with a few sticks and some gold starts. Voila- free garland! I added a few candles with some raffia around them and there you have it.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Christmas already...

2010-11-28T20:04:00.004-05:00

We will soon be entering December and Christmas will be here before we know it! I LOVE Christmas. Always have, always will. I love spending time with my family, buying presents for others and getting excited about watching them open the gifts, baking and making treats for friends and neighbors and making new traditions.

I have so many ideas for Christmas decor this year! The hubs and I put up our outdoor lights and wreath this afternoon and I plan on getting the tree up this week.

Above are some of my favorite Christmas inspiration pictures! They all vary- but they are all so beautiful!

Happy Thanksgiving...

2010-11-24T15:56:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving!

~Jessica

P90X...what am I thinking?!

2010-11-08T11:46:00.002-05:00

So today starts day 1 of my 90 day P90X journey. I am so terrified and excited all at the same time. I have a few friends who have done 1-3 rounds of P90X and look AMAZING! I really was working hard before I got sick this summer and lost 14lbs. My motivation really declined while sick and I have gained 9 of the 14 back. I really need something to keep me motivated and working hard!

Our contract on our gym membership expired, so we decided to conserve some of that money and do an at home exercise together. Plus this will give us something to do during the short evenings of winter rather than just watch tv and snack :)

I will let you know how it goes!!

Friday Fashions...

2010-11-05T13:09:00.006-04:00

So, I believe last week I did not do a post and I didn't snap a pic this morning either of my outfit.

I did however purchase some new jewelry and highlighted my hair by myself and wanted to post some pictures.

On to jewelry: I have wanted a skeleton key necklace for quite some time and I found one at TJMAXX the other day on clearance for $2.00! It's gold ( I do not wear much gold) but I love it, it's perfect for fall. Well I was just flabbergasted when I went into Target the other day and noticed a pair of earrings that would match it perfectly in their clearance bin for $.50!

Now to hair: I LOVE my hairdresser....did I mention that I love her?! She listens to exactly what I want and gives me her honest opinion. She colors my hair beautifully and I always feel fantastic after visiting her. However, with the horrible economy and crappy real estate market I do not have $85 to spend every 3 months on my hair.

Enter Sally beauty...I had 6 month roots going on and it wasn't pretty...I was desperate. They recommended Kaleidicolors Violet bleach and Loreal Volume 20 developer. I pulled my hair through the cap, heated it with my blow dryer and voila...beautiful blonde highlights. I was so happy and most of all it cost me less than $10 bucks!

My chin looks so weird...I think the neck of the sweater is making it look that way!

Have a great weekend!

Creating Faux Mercury Glass

2010-10-27T09:48:00.006-04:00

I love the look of mercury glass but hate the price tag. So I decided to try an attempt at creating my own mercury glass looking vases. They didn't come out really looking like mercury glass, but I actually LOVE the way they turned out and it was a simple project.

1st- start by covering the outside of your vases. You are going to be spraying the inside and do not want any extra paint on the outside of the vase.

Next, I used the Krylon brand "Looking Glass" spray paint. I picked it up at Hobby Lobby for around $7. I started spraying the inside of the vase in nice and even sprays.

This was after the first coat of paint!

And here is the final product! I love how they turned out! Now I need to get some flowers and put them in my newly painted vases!

Friday Fashions

2010-10-22T09:40:00.004-04:00

No Friday outfit today. I am feeling a bit under the weather and my blow dryer decided to die on me while getting ready this morning.

Today is my last full day as a full time employee with my current company (until I find a new job), so I am celebrating by wearing jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt, comfy shoes and hair in a pony tail. Not very fashionable, but we are pretty low key around here. In fact I dress up more than most people in the office...except the receptionist, she is our fashion queen! So today is my fashion day off!

But, I didn't want to leave you empty handed so I am adding 3 of my current wants for fall! I won't be getting them any time soon with being jobless and all, but I can still drool at the pics!

Enjoy!

Going into the closet...

2010-10-20T11:01:00.002-04:00

A girl can dream can't she? Oh, how I would love to have a large closet for all my clothes, baubles and accessories!

Do you have an awesome closet?!

Friday Fashions

2010-10-15T11:20:00.002-04:00

Outfit of the day!

TJ MAXX Jean Jacket

Daidy Fuentes Leggings from Kohl's

Target Tunic

Gold Flats from Target.

It was chilly this morning so I threw on the leggings and the jacket!

Friday Fashions

2010-10-08T10:25:00.003-04:00

It was beautiful this morning so I took a pic outside!

My outfit:

Boyfriend Jeans: Merano brand by Target (these are my favorite cropped jeans)

Top: TJ MAXX Find

Jacket: TJ MAXX Find

Shoes: I found my shoes in college and I LOVE them...no idea where I got them.

Jewelry: Silpada earrings and Wood & Chrome Necklace from TJ MAXX.

Have a great weekend!!

Have you felt your boobies?!

2010-10-06T10:55:00.003-04:00

Sounds silly- but in all sincerity...have you? Annual mammograms and monthly self breast exams can save your life! I get a mammogram every year, even as young as I am. My beautiful mother lost her life at the age of 34 in 1994 to breast cancer. I have several friends as I speak fighting this disease!

It's because of them, that I volunteer and donate to breast cancer research.

There are so many beautiful women effected by this horrible disease and who are fighting for their lives. Let's take a little of our time to help out this cause.

Here is a picture of me and my mom before cancer got the best of her.

Friday Fashions...

2010-10-01T10:53:00.005-04:00

Yay- it's here! I am hoping that this installment will help me keep up my blogging atleast once a week.

Over the past few months I have become more aware of fashions, makeup and jewelry and I love it! I am very much in the belief that everyone should feel happy with the way they look and wear what they want rather than becoming victims to every trend.

I am not liking the way I look at the moment, after getting ill for 8 weeks it really put a halt to my health and fitness goals. I feel so frumpy again, so I am hoping that by taking pictures of my Friday outfits and my growing wardrobe I can keep myself accountable to start to looking better and feeling better.

I will be posting pictures of my outfits occasionally and current fashions I am loving. Next week it will not be so wordy!!

Oh- and I will definitely find a better way to take the photo's.... I think I need a tripod.

Enjoy!

Pic 1: My new favorite necklace purchased at Target on clearance for $1.47. How can you go wrong with pearls and flowers ?!

Pic 2: (Horrible picture...sorry) I call this the Target outfit- everything is from Target.

Merano Boyfriend Jeans
Merano Cardigan & camisole
Target Flat Sandels

Thanks for looking! Next week will be less talk and more photos!

Seriously...I'm alive and nervous...

2010-09-30T15:45:00.004-04:00

I am sorry that I have not done a post in almost 2 months! Honestly though, for the past 2 months have felt so uninspired and felt like I had nothing to write about.

But- I have a new feature coming every Friday! I am very excited and a little nervous about the new Friday post. It is something that is going to challenge me to be the best me and for the world to see!

Can't wait to post tomorrow!! Thanks for those who have hung in there!!

The future...few months!

2010-08-13T17:25:00.004-04:00

I have so many things I am excited about coming up that I am giddy with excitement!

One of my closests friends and I are going to see GAGA in concert in Charlotte! I cannot wait to see Gaga's craziness in person.
The hubs and I are flying to Vegas in mid September for a little bit of vacation/work function and I am so thrilled.

Scarves!! It's to hot here in the south to even wear fashion scarves in the summer...but scarves are definitely part of my fall/winter wardrobe. They make any outfit look complete.

GAMECOCK football! Yes....us Carolina girls are diehard for our football team. I will proudly be wearing my garnet and black clothing for the next few months :)

Cool, beautiful fall weather, trips to the mountains, drinking cider and picking out a pumpkin. I am definitely an autumn lover and I cannot wait to see all the glorious colors on the leaves.

Have a lovely weekend!

3 Years...WOW

2010-08-11T17:06:00.003-04:00

On August 11, 2007 at 11am I married my best friend! Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary and we have had a great 3 years. It hasn't been all rainbows and gum drops...there have defintely been some hard times. With work issues, parents divorcing and serious illnesses we have really had to work at our relationship and remember we are teammates and we have to work together to make our marriage work.

We definitely have had our ups too! Buying our first home together was an amazing experience to share and working on home projects to better our house has been fun. Taking weekend getaways to get away from the world have given us great memories and photos. We have fantastic conversations discussing our goals, dreams, faith and accomplishments.

I defintely married my best friend and I am so happy with the life we have!

I love you very much hubs!

Drugstore must haves....

2010-07-19T22:19:00.006-04:00

I got an e-mail from a lady I met through my blog and we were discussing home decor, fashion and beauty products we have changed to or started using since the economy went southward.

To be honest...I have always been a drugstore junkie. I used to love going to CVS in college with my roommates and picking out new products to try on our skin, hair and face. Now don't get me wrong...I love my Aveda shampoo & Conditioner, Marc Jacobs perfume and some MAC makeup, but for the most part I have incorporated mostly drugstore items which are way more affordable than the department store products.

So without further ado, here are my latest favorites from the drugstore (I will be doing this in 2 posts )

Revlon's High Gloss nail polish. I LOVE this nail polish, I used to be an avid OPI wearer, but this Revlon formula provides great color coverage, is pretty chip resistant and it comes in an assortment of colors. This color is (not the color on my nails) #914 Tropical Tempation. It is my favorite summer color.

My name is Jessica and I am a teeth whiteningaholic...I used to work in a dentist office and whitened my teeth very regularly. Your teeth make a HUGE impact on your appearance, but this toothpaste is a miracle worker. Since using this Crest 3D White toothpaste, I have not whitened my teeth once. Plus it leaves my mouth minty fresh!

This stuff was bought by accident about 3 years ago. I sent DH out to run some errands and grab a few things for me at the drugstore while I was sick. I asked him to pick up the the BIG&SEXY brand hair spray and he came home with this...telling me it was on clearance for $.25 (I immediately thought there was a reason this was on clearance) but tried it anyway. I love it though! It's lightweight, smells great and keeps my hair pretty tame in this southern heat and humidity. Plus it costs like $5!!

I have naturally curly hair, but I straighten and blow dry my hair about 6 out of 7 days a week. That's a pretty harsh toll on my hair. I have tried some pricier heat sprays and they make my hair feel heavy and oily. This protects my hair and I cannot even tell I have any extra product in my hair. Plus, if you want to make waves with the curling iron this product really helps your hair hold the wave.

Lastly...I cannot go ANYWHERE without this product. I am from the south...hello big hair. Seriously, mine is not that big, I just like some body. This mousse does just that. Gives you the right amount of body in your hair and it really does last about 24 hours. I use it when I wear my hair naturally curly and when I straighten it. I love how it gives me just enough volume and helps prevent my hair from laying flat from all the humidity.

Well, there is part 1! I have about 6 more products that I swear by and will post for you on Wednesday!

Yes...I'm here...

2010-06-23T23:20:00.003-04:00

I have been having some serious medical problems that hopefully will be getting treated soon...so the blogging has been quite slack. I promise I have some fun updates and pictures to post once I am completely healthy and whole.

For now... I will leave you with some pictures of things I would love to have at the moment.

My favorite things...

2010-05-31T19:02:00.003-04:00

There are so many new things this month I have been using and loving, but I will pick the top 5 that have really helped me turn my fitness and weightloss around.

The Copco ColdCup is awesome! It's a refillable water glass with an awesome plastic straw that makes is so easy to bring water around. I was using so many water bottles and I really wanted to cut down on my consumption of plastic bottles. I purchased this cup from Bed, Bath and Beyond for $8 and I bring it everywhere. It makes drinking water much easier for me.

Couch to 5K has really been a beneficial tool in getting my lazy tush off of the couch and running. It's a slow program to motivate people to go from being lazy to being a runner in 2 months. The program stresses 3 weekly runs for about 30 minutes. It's just the right kind of exercise and gets me closer to my goal of running a 5k.

Protein powder....funny, I cut back calories to lose weight and at first that helped and I lost 9.5lbs, but after the initial weight loss I hit a plateau and didn't lose anymore weight. It was suggested by several health and fitness blogs that I up my calories by about 300 more a day with a protein shake. So far I have been doing this a week and am down 1lb. and gotten past the plateau!

My running shoes...I love Asics...they are perfect for my higharches and give me great support. Of course I cannot wait for the day to get professionally fitted for the right running shoe, but so far my shoes have worked great in aleviating shin splints and pain in my high arches.

These headbands are Goody stayput headbands. I am growning out my hair and all my layers are held back by these bands while I run, lift weights or sweat. They are a great and cheap accessory for me.

So there you have my favorite things this month. Sorry they are all fitness related....fitness has just become a huge part of my life and I am loving it.

Projects at Casa De Hendrix...

2010-05-10T13:28:00.002-04:00

2 posts in one day....I know, I have been so slack on blogging.

We have several projects going on in our home as we speak. We are trying to tackle them one weekend at a time so we don't overwhelm ourselves or our wallets.

Projects we are working on:

1. Photo Wall in the hallway with custom painted mats by me!

2. Mini patio outside of screened porch. We have no where for the hubs to put his grill or our recycling bins, so we are working on a mini-patio (8'x6') and retaining wall for his grill and our bins. I will post pictures this weekend.

3. Remove all "builder grade" bushes from the front yard and sod. This is done and I cannot wait to show before and afters. The box bushes were a PAIN! They were ugly for one, but they were full of wasps and bees and we wanted them gone. We leveled and sodded the yard and it looks so much better! I will post before and after photos tomorrow!

4. Master bedroom overhaul! This room is completely untouched! It looks the same since the day we moved in (I am so embarrassed to admit that). We have mix matched blankets, sanded down dressers that are getting stained and the ugly original paint color the owner chose. This is our biggest project and will take a lot of work and time but I cannot wait to show you the after.

This photo is our inspiration photo found on Rate My Space from HGTV:

Little Victory...and a shout out...

2010-05-10T13:13:00.004-04:00

I am so excited....I started couch to 5k two weeks ago and I have amped up my other workouts at the gym so that I am making the most of my exercise time. My goal is to be able to run a 5k in 6 months. I know most people can train for it in much shorter time than 6 months...but I need to lose some weight as well.

The hubs and I have changed our eating ways...BIG TIME! But nothing we can't stick to. More water and less diet soda or sweet tea (for the hubs), lean ground turkey instead of beef, more fresh fruits and veggies instead of processed snacks...that sort of thing.

My overall goal is 50-75lbs....and that is a HUGE number and when I think about it I get frustrated. So I set mini goals...1-2lbs a week. Well this week's weigh in I am down 4lbs! I am so excited and it gives me the motivation to continue pressing on.

Another motivation is this new blog I am reading: http://enduranceisntonlyphysical.blogspot.com/

Tricia is AWESOME! She has lost weight the healthy way, blogs about her running experiences, workout gear, food and is such an inspiration and motivator! I think you should check it out!

Couch to 5K....

2010-04-27T14:04:00.003-04:00

Have you heard of this program? The hubs and I are starting it tonight and I could not be more excited! One of my goals this year was to find an exercise program and stick with it (besides my normal gym routine). Sure, I go to the gym and lift weights and do the elliptical or the treadmill, but I wanted something extra and something that would give me true satisfaction in the exercise department.

For the past few months I have really wanted to start running. It just seems fun to me...to be able to run on the treadmill, out in the beautiful weather or competing in races.

A friend told me about the Couch to 5K program and sent me the link. This program is literally what the title states....it takes you from being a non runner to being able to run about 3.5 miles in 9 weeks...for me it may be a few months, but I don't care how long it takes as long as I can do it.

Here is the link:

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Stay tuned for my progression! I can't wait to start!

Cleanliness is next to impossible....

2010-04-25T21:21:00.002-04:00

I kid, but that is how I feel these days. The hubs and I are very busy people...often times we get home around 6pm from work then have errands to run or clients to meet after hours or have other appointments that take away from time being at home.

It seems that weekends are always taken up doing yard work, meeting clients or with family outings...and while I love doing all of that, it's really hard to keep a clean house and be a busy person. I LOVE a clean house and hate disorganization.

This weekend I started to work on a simple cleaning list of small things I could do to keep the house spic and span during the week. I am sure I will add on to this list over time as it is a simple list...but it is a start.

Here goes:

Sunday:

I wash my sheets and comforter as needed

Wipe down stove, countertops and dishwasher

Clean Frig

Clean microwave

Straighten pantry

Laundry

Monday:

Put weekly mail in appropriate place

Vacuum and sweep hardwoods

Dust livingroom surfaces

Tidy livingroom

Tuesday:

Vacuum all bedrooms with carpet

Clean guest bathroom (wipe down countertop, clean toilet and windex mirror)

Wednesday:

Tidy office and throw any unnecessary papers away

Disenfect kitchen sink

Put weekly mail in appropriate place

Laundry

Thursday:

Sweep and mop hardwood floors

Clean master bathroom (wipe down countertop, clean toilet and windex mirror)

Dust master bedroom

Friday: day off! Fridays are usually spent having dinner and drinks with friends.

Saturday:

Mop guest and master bathroom floors
Clean master bathroom tub and shower

2x a month I plan on cleaning the guest bathroom shower. It is rarely used so it does not need to be cleaned that often.

This is a new thing for me...usually I do all my cleaning in one day and end up spending the whole day cleaning. Hopefully this schedule will help me tackle my cleaning.

If you have a cleaning schedule and would like to share...I would love to hear from you!

Want $300 next month?

2010-04-19T21:54:00.007-04:00

I have become an avid user of coupons. Last month I saved the hubs and I over $300 on our grocery bill, just by checking sales and using coupons. It is becoming sort of like a game for me now...how much money can I save? Or how much money can I make...yea, I said make. I made $5 dollars at CVS the other day.

Today alone, between grocery shopping, a trip to CVS and Target I saved us $66 dollars, plus I got a free movie ticket. Now DH and I can go see a movie with our free ticket + using a gift card we received at Christmas...will cost us nothing to go!

I thought I would share a little bit of my Target shopping experience today:

I bought all of this for.....$12.17 dollars today!

Here is my breakdown before coupons:

Sparkle Papertowels: $3.49
Hefty Trashbags: $4.99
2 Candle holders for the screen porch: 2@ $2.50 for a total of $5
Tampax Tampons: $3.14
Nivea Body Wash: $ 5.49
ELF Makeup Brush: $1.00
ELF Bronzer: $1.00
Vaseline Infusion Lotion: $5.99

Total with tax: $32.20

After coupons and tax -I paid : $12.17

Total Savings at Target: $20.03

I went to CVS this evening and purchased:

By one get one free Dove Invisible Solid Deodorant $3.49
4 bags of Hershey candy ( 2dark chocolate kisses, york peppermint patties and reeses)
Jergens Healthy Glow Lotion

The total bill came out to $19.26, but after using (2) $1.00 off two bags of Hershey candy, $1.00 of Jergen's lotion, $3.00 off Dove Deodorant (it cost me $.49 for 2 Dove Deodorants/ Dove is $3.49 + $3 off coupon and BIGI= $.49) and around $5 in CVS extra care dollars I only spent around $7.00. Plus the 4 bags of Hershey candy gave me a free movie ticket after mail in rebate. You cannot buy a movie ticket + candy for what I paid today at CVS. On top of it...I made $5 extra care bucks to spend again next month.

It takes a little bit of planning and work ahead of time to get great deals....but for me and the hubs it is totally worth the extra money in our pockets!

Some of my best sources:

www.coupons.com clipcoupons virtually and print

www.redplum.com

www.southernsavers.com - this is a fantastic blog that started my journey in couponing

www.target.com - Target has tons of coupons of their website

www.publix.com I used to shop at Wal-Mart for cheap groceries...now I can shop at Publix, get better quality and pay less! Publix has great B1G1 items each week and have great coupon policies. Just check for your local policy on their website.

My favorite things...

2010-04-18T20:55:00.005-04:00

Getting down to business....my favorite things this month:

Ok, okay...so I am REALLY late on the whole Lost thing. In truth, I didn't really care for the show when it came out. I watched 2 episodes and completely gave up on it. Fast forward to this month and it is my favorite thing this month! The hubs and I watch it instantly on Netflix and we are seriously addicted to it. Do they have a Lost Anonymous class?! We only have a few episodes of the first season left and I cannot wait to see how this story plays out.

The hubs and I have Netflix and we love it. We gave up going to the movie theater ( have you seen how insanely expensive a ticket is these days?) to cut out a few expenses and get out of debt. We pay $15 a month for 2 movies that we can watch and return (so for us it ends up at about 8 movies a month) plus we get instant access on our PC and TV for tv shows and movies. Sure we don't get to see the newest releases right away....but we love the money we are saving!

My Blackberry Curve has become a time saver in the past month with business really picking up. It's my alarm clock, calendar and planner, has several apps that I have downloaded that gives me healthy nutrition options when I am needing to grab something fast on the road, it allows me to check my e-mail, surf the web and keep in contact with clients. Let's just say....it's a busy real estate agent's electronic best friend!

I was gifted a bottle of the Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio...and I must say it is fantastic. It's cool and crisp and is the perfect glass of wine to sip in the evenings on my screen porch.

So there you have it! My favorite things so far this month!

Lady Gaga + Ikea = One crazy weekend...

2010-04-12T15:10:00.003-04:00

I am giddy with excitment (like a schoolgirl who found out her favorite crush wants to take her to the dance) for girls weekend!

My friend and I scored tickets to the Lady GaGa concert in Charlotte, NC...we are going to be good little monsters (for all you gaga lovers:) and rock out Saturday night and totally enjoy the concert. Then, early Sunday we are hitting up Ikea for some great stuff.

I cannot wait to make my list for Ikea stuff and put together an awesome outfit for the concert!

Check it out...my 15 minutes of fame....

2010-03-29T19:06:00.003-04:00

Just kidding! But I was featured on an awesome nestie's blog (for those who don't know who the nesties are...they are a bunch of internet friends from thenest.com).

She did an article of finding treasures from thrift stores and turning them into pieces we can use now! My lamps were featured.

Check out the link and look at all the neat treasures that were posted! Take the time to look at her blog as well!

http://sunshineandwine.blogspot.com/

Pure Bliss...

2010-03-28T14:09:00.002-04:00

Don't you just love lazy Sundays with your favorite scented candle burning, windows wide open with a slight breeze, your most comfortable clothes on and cuddling with the one you love or your pet while reading a book and relaxing?

Today is that day for me....it's the little things in life that mean the most!

Posh Porches...

2010-03-19T14:21:00.003-04:00

In honor of warmer weather, clear blue skies and warm breezes, I bring you my all time favorite porches. Imagine just sitting relaxing, reading a book with a warm and sunny breeze. Lovely!

**All images are from Decorpad.com and Coastalliving.com**

My favorite things...

2010-03-17T18:46:00.008-04:00

It's that time of the month....the time where I dish on my newly discovered (and some oldies) favorite things! 1. Sandals from Target! They always have a great and affordable collection of casual and dressy sandals. I bought this pair last week in brown, but I must say I am really wanting a pair in this wine color!

2. My new favorite Spring/Summer nail polish for a great pedicure: Opi's Done Out in Deco! So fun and fresh! Great way to welcome Spring.

3. I LOVE Votivo candles....one candle burns forever and smells up the whole house. My all time favorite is Red Currant, it has a clean, warm, floral scent. My mom is a huge fan of these candles and sells them on E-bay.

4. Imperial Trellis Fabric....it's such a fun design and it comes in all different colors and textures. It makes a great throw pillow or wallpapering one wall as accent in this design would be fun as well!

5. Open by Andre Agassi. I remember watching Andre growing up playing in Slams and playing at Wimbledon. I remember his crazy hair and jean shorts, so I thought it fitting to pick up his new book and read it. I am nearly finished and have found it to be a good and honest read into his life.

Guest Bathroom Reveal....

2010-03-12T11:02:00.003-05:00

So, I am really bad at remembering to take before photos. I get halfway through my project or nearly complete with my project and a light goes off reminding me that it is now to late to take a before photo.

The guest bathroom before wasn't horrible...but the colors were horrendous. Every color the house was painted by the original owners had mustard undertones. The bathroom was green with mustard undertones...not calming or bathroom like to me at all.

We painted, added a few pictures and a new shower curtain and already it feels much better. Still to do: change the faucet, hardware and light fixture to an oil rubbed bronze and replace the baseboards. They are scratched and worn from 10 years of use so we will be replacing them.

Oh- and that hand towel is there for display and the picture only. It skeeves me out to have towels near the toilet.

More ideas for the bedroom...

2010-02-24T14:46:00.001-05:00

Ignore the blue bedding on the bed- We just want the frame.

Master Bedroom 1 by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
IKEA Edland canopy bed♥by taykay!, $300
Ikea Hemnes bedside table, white $129, $130
Standard Pillow Sham. Plum. 20"Wx26"L, $30
Three-Drawer Armoire Base., $500
The Gleason Ottoman Bench - Living Room at Modern Furniture

Playing with ideas for the master bedroom...

2010-02-24T14:44:00.001-05:00

Bedroom Idea 2 by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
IKEA Edland canopy bed♥by taykay!, $300
Pier 1 Imports - Serena Table Lamp, $125
Bethany Organic Bolster Pillow Cover | Pottery Barn, $29
Benjamin Moore Alexandria Beige HC-77
Charlotte Dresser | Pottery Barn, $900

Rug Love

2010-02-23T15:18:00.004-05:00

I swear, I change my mind about rugs like most people change underpants...I just bought a beautiful rug for our living room but now I want to move that rug into the dining area and repaint.

While looking at new rugs for the living room I came across the Dash&Albert website and I fell in love with their rugs. So many colors, styles and textures to choose from...go visit them at http://www.dashandalbert.com/ .

Enjoy a few of my favorite rugs!

Dated lamp has a new home...

2010-02-21T15:09:00.012-05:00

A few weeks ago I headed over to my favorite thrift store to scour for some great finds and came across some very ugly and dated lamps. Knowing that I was in search of some new lamps for our living room, I checked the price tag and noticed they were a cool $5.90 for the pair. Yes, I bought the ugly lamps and am now the proud owner of them. I know you are probably wondering why I would buy lamps I thought were ugly, I thought they had potential.

Fast forward to today, I bought the supplies needed for my lamp transformation and got to work.

1. Ugly lamps

2. Spray paint primer

3. Spray paint in the desired color
4. Extra fine grit sanding paper

5. Aluminum foil

I cleaned the lamps with a wet rag, sanded them lightly to allow the paint to stick better and then used aluminum foil to wrap up the cord and part of the lamp that hold the bulb (it's easier and way cheaper than tape).

The Final Product:

What the hay is all this white stuff?

2010-02-13T09:28:00.007-05:00

It's wet, cold and is taking over my entire neighborhood?! Yes, readers that is snow! I am sure you think I am completely insane for being this excited about snow....but you have to understand, every year the weatherman gets our hopes so high on the chances of snow and it NEVER happens.

So, when we heard this past Wednesday that we had a 60% chance of snow showers...not sleet or ice, but actual snow, we ignored the forcast and went our usual way and payed no mind to the weather.

Lo and behold, it happened! The first snow in this part of SC in years....and when I mean years I mean double digit years! I think we are at almost 6 inches in our part of SC. It is so beautiful and wonderful. We used to get these kind of snows in the northern part of SC where I grew up, so having this snow was such a treat.

Now I will wait anxiously for the next snow fall....20 or 30 years from now :)

Enjoy the pics!

My favorite Things

2010-02-11T15:40:00.009-05:00

This is way overdue! I had a very busy January and we are only 2 weeks into February, but I wanted to continue with the "My favorite Things" posts. I love when blogs I read post their favorite finds, it always encourages me to try new things, gadgets and ect...

So, without further adieu:

Burt's Bees + lip color= AMAZING! I love this pomegranite lip color. I usually swipe it on in place of lipstick. It's great.

I have this ruffled cashmere scarf in black and it is the perfect compliment to jeans and a longsleeve shirt. It jazz's up the whole outfit!

I LOVE jewelry and I LOVE Silpada Jewelry more! A lady at work turned me on to it and I am officially smitten. The pieces are a little on the pricier side, but they are great quality and have some really original pieces. I even threw a party for my friend and got some great jewelry out of it.

Yea, so I am addicted to this stuff. I think for a 1 1/2 cups it's 160 calories. Plus it's a great late night snack.

Country Living Magazine- They always have the greatest ideas and recipes, plus it's very much my style.

Question for my readers...which do you prefer?

2010-01-21T15:41:00.005-05:00

The hubs and myself have very different tastes in decor. I love farmhouse styles, shabby chic, slightly traditional decor. I like bright colors. Think, blues, yellows, greens, light oranges and reds, whites...that sort of thing. The hubs prefers modern looks or heavy traditional decor- dark rooms and gaudy furniture. SO NOT ME!

We are getting around to painting and decorating the master bedroom. We get a lot of light and it's a very big room. The hubs is leaning towards a chocolate brown paint and while I like bright colors, this color appeals to me. It will make the room feel warm and cozy and ready for sleep. But, I am still also toying around with greens, yellows and tans.

I have picked 3 inspirational photos that I love and was curious to get your opinions as to which room you prefer. Leave a comment or e-mail me! I am looking forward to hearing your opinions!

Mantel Mania...

2010-01-11T13:52:00.006-05:00

This weekend I got around to re-doing our mantel. It was pathetic before...seriously...it was embarassing. I felt like it was a bunch of little things cluttering up the space. But alas- an idea popped into my head and I went with it.

We have beautiful light blue walls (Pelican by Valspar) that I was using brown and whites with around the room. But it was oh so boring. We purchased a new rug with yellows, teals, reds, greens and oranges and it looks great now- it gave me the inspiration I needed for the mantel.

Simple teal vases with yellow wild flowers, silver candlesticks with white and cork pillar candles, an oval mirror and some glass vases that I plan on adding some moss to.

Old Mantel (Blah)

New Mantel and shot of rug

Happy New Year...a little late!

2010-01-04T14:44:00.003-05:00

Posts have been few and far between lately! I was taking a much needed break to celebrate holidays and my birthday and to prepare for the new year. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is looking forward to a new year as well.

This year is going to be bringing the blog alot of DIY updates and projects. The Mr. and I have so many projects to complete this year that I can't wait to show them off.

Talk soon!

Santa's Whiskers Cookie Recipe...

2009-12-15T17:35:00.003-05:00

This was my favorite cookie to make in the kitchen with my mom when I was a child. I remember sitting on the counter stirring with a spatula the ingredients. In hindsight, it would have been easier to use the mixer....but oh well.

Enough with the chit chat- here is the recipe:

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla or rum flavoring
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. red or green candied cherries, finely chopped ( I use both colors)
1/2 c. pecans, finely chopped
3/4 c. flaked coconut

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar; blend in milk and vanilla or rum flavoring. Stir in flour, chopped candied cherries and chopped pecans. Form dough into two (8-inch) rolls. Roll in flaked coconut to coat outside. Wrap in waxed paper or clear plastic wrap; chill thoroughly. Cut into 1/4-inch slices. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Makes about 60.

My favorite things this month....

2009-12-14T21:59:00.012-05:00

I have a variety of things this month that I love! Check them out!

1. Santa's Whisker Cookies

I used to make these with my mom as a kid around the holidays. They were a favorite cookie of mine and the smell just brings back so many good memories! I fully plan on baking a batch this year.

2. Girls Riding in Trucks- a novel by Katie Crouch.

Set in Charleston, SC the book tells the tales of 4 girls growing up in the socially proper Charleston era and Debutante Society. Only to realize they are making mistakes and bad decisions no Souther debutante would dare make.

3. My garden tub

So having a large tub to soak in was a HUGE priority when we were looking for houses. Now that I have one- I make the best use of it. Sometimes it's just soaking away the days stress and other times I just read with a glass of wine in hand an relax in my tub!

4. Yellow Tail's Sauvignon Blanc

Um- I love it! I am pretty sure it is a summer wine....but I don't care. I love the cool crisp taste of this wine!

5. Cold Weather

Down here in SC we don't get extremely cold weather....heck....in my part of SC we rarely see snow. But I am greatful and loving this 45 degree days! It makes it feel alot more like Christmas.

Thanksgiving table spread....

2009-11-27T10:09:00.007-05:00

Hope ya'll had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday and are not too deep into food coma! We had so much food leftover at our house I will be eating Thanksgiving dinner for days.

The creative bug bit me this past week regarding our tablescape for Thanksgiving. I had a few ideas in mind....but once I put them on the table (literally) I started to add a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

I thought I would share a few pictures with you guys:

Happy Thanksgiving...

2009-11-25T15:21:00.002-05:00

Hope every one has safe travels, a wonderful Thanksgiving, great time with family and friends and enjoys lots of yummy food.

I know I have a lot to be thankful for this year!

New Moon Countdown Official

2009-11-19T11:19:00.001-05:00

Sneak Peak...

2009-11-18T10:17:00.004-05:00

I have been really excited to start working on our guest bedroom. It's a tiny room....and when I say tiny, I mean it. It's a struggle to fit a queen size bed and one dresser in the room. But I had to make it work.

I didn't have much of a budget for the guest bedroom, just $55 is all I spent. I had an old dresser that needed some TLC- a coat of primer, a coat of paint and then I sprayed the knobs with oil rubbed bronze spray paint. Purchased the lamp for a steal at TJ MAXX on clearance for $12 , got the mirror off of Craigslist for $10, purchased the navy duvet cover brand new off of E-bay for $26 (shipping included), used a white bedskirt from a previous bedding collection I had and only paid $4 for both pillows at Burlington Coat Factory. I just used some accessories that I had in my decor box for things on the dresser.

Still to do:

A few more pillows for the bed

Iron piece headboard painted and hung

Purchase a few yellow accessories to liven up the room

Paint a wooden chair I have for the guest bedroom so guests can sit and put shoes on or place their luggage on the chair.

But withought further adieu here is a few sneak peaks:

Want to liven up your boring old pillar candles?

2009-11-02T22:40:00.006-05:00

I am getting into DIY home decor- your options are limitless. You can choose any fabric, design, styles, etc.

A favorite blog of mine- http://imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com/ does alot of DIY home decor. Go through her blog- it's awesome. She is really talented and crafty.

One of her projects inspired me and so this evening I spent all of 10 minutes completing the project.

All you need is a candle, some glue or Modge Podge and some fabric or ribbons (or whatever accessories you would like to add).

I started with this:

And ended up with this:

So simple and easy!

Top 5 Most Creative Carved Pumpkins...

2009-10-30T15:42:00.007-04:00

We didn't carve a pumpkin this year- but to get in on the Halloween fun, I found 5 pumpkins online that took some great skill and creativity to achieve. 1. Blowfish Pumpkin (used with candy corn)

2. Crazy looking guy ( but look at that detail)

3. Lovely Marilyn Monroe

4. Big pumpkin eats baby pumpkin!

5. Mario from Nintendo

Have a fun and Safe Halloween!

I am loving stripes right now...

2009-10-28T21:20:00.006-04:00

Want to add some pizazz to your drab (insert whatever room you want here)? These beautiful striped walls are sure to give you some inspiration!

I have big plans for our guest bedroom and they include brown and creme stripes! Can't wait for you to see the finished product.

For now, take a look at these beautiful rooms.

Beautiful Black and White Striped Wall Paper

One of my favorite blogger's bathroom (photo courtesy of G&D)

To die for entry way courtesy of blogger three men & a lady

Prayers and thoughts needed....

2009-10-14T20:44:00.003-04:00

I don't usually take to my blog for deep matters, I like to keep it lighthearted and fun. But today a friend from a decorating board that I frequent every day and have made some great friends with lost her child.

I remember the day she told us she was pregnant and then shortly after, she started having complications with the pregnancy. Through the whole pregnancy she shared her struggles, her faith, her joys and her happiness with us girls. Sadly this morning she informed us that sometime during the early morning hours her unborn child lost their life. Sadly, she was due this month.

She has been a powerhouse of strength and courage, Never letting her situation take her focus off of God and his ultimate plan for her and her husband and child's life. She faced challening circumstances her entire nine months of pregnancy, but she never waivered in her faith.

Today our friends mourn the loss of this precious little angel, who is in heaven today.

If interested- you can read her blog through this whole struggle- it will show truly what a strong woman she is.

http://www.whenoctoberfalls.blogspot.com/

Please keep her in your prayers.

Pumpkin Displays....

2009-10-12T09:05:00.011-04:00

In honor of fall, I thought I would share with you my growing collection of ways to display, decorate and dazzle your pumpkins.

Happy pumpkin picking! If you have a great pumpkin design you have used on your pumpkins this year, I would love to feature you on my blog! Just leave a comment that you are interested and I will e-mail you.

Fall my favorite time of year...

2009-09-27T13:13:00.004-04:00

I love to decorate...BUT, I am not a seasonal decorator. I really don't get into decorating for fall, winter and spring. Christmas is about the only holiday/season that I decorate for.

That being said, I found these cute beaded pumpkins and gourds and thought I would just put a few around the house.

Speaking of Fall- it is my absolutely favorite time of the year. I look forward to cooler weather, mums, opening the windows in the house and turning the off the AC, burning my Votivo Red Currant candles, anything and all things pumpkins, curling up with my favorite quilt and reading with the windows open, taking trips to the mountains and picking apples and looking at the leaves, college football and wearing sweaters.

What do you love about fall?

Dave's Man-Cave Idea

2009-08-31T21:59:00.001-04:00

Dave's Man Cave by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Latest Idea Board....

2009-08-31T00:22:00.001-04:00

Just playing around for fun :)

Beach1 by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Patio Project....

2009-08-30T11:08:00.017-04:00

While the hubs was away I worked hard on our patio...it was riddled with moving boxes and assorted furniture items while we were unpacking our new house. The whole project cost about $110 and I tried to use things I had in the house for accessorizing.

I sanded and painted all of our patio furniture
Purchased an outdoor rug, a few plants and some candles

And as of last night...I purchased a brand new table as well (the hubs broke our tabletop on our old set)
After sanding and spray painting all the furniture and letting it dry, I assembled the paper lanterns and went away with the rest of my decorating.

Here are pictures of the final project!

Project in the works....

2009-08-26T22:28:00.002-04:00

I worked for about 4 hours tonight on a project that I hope to post about in the next day! I am suprising my wonderful hubs with it and I don't want to reveal it until he sees it in person.

It was a project on a budget and I think it turned out great....stay tuned!

Today is the day.....

2009-08-13T15:38:00.004-04:00

The day where we become homeowners, where we go from renting a home to the responsibility of owning our own home. A home where years will be spent and memories will be made!

Here is our new home:

We will be painting this weekend- so I will make sure to post before and after's!

Blogger Spotlight....

2009-07-29T11:55:00.004-04:00

I am absolutely in love with the blog- Life in the fun lane. This lady has so much talent and every project and piece she works on completely blows me away. She has a beautiful home, creates gorgeous pieces and just has a fun blog!

Check out some of her work at: http://www.inthefunlane.com/

Here are a few snippets of her work! Go to her blog to see the complete before and after's.

Make my heart go pitter patter...

2009-07-28T13:16:00.007-04:00

These few pictures just make my heart jump for joy! The designs range from modern to french eclectic- but they are all so beautiful!

photo courtesy of Metropolitan Home

photo courtesy of Decor Trends

photo courtesy of point click home

photo courtesy of Decorpad.com

photo courtesy of Metropolitan Home

I stripped today...

2009-07-18T21:12:00.007-04:00

My furniture silly! Get your mind out of the gutter :).

I was given several pieces of furniture from my parents that had been passed down from the family. I am almost positive I remember them being my great grandmother's. They are a really good quality wood, but, were severely in need of some TLC. Back in highschool I painted them an antique green color and one dresser white and over time they have chipped, the paint has smudged, and there were stains on them. My goal is to stain them Jacobean color by Minwax.

So the hubs and myself decided to strip them and give them a good sanding. We made our trip to Lowe's and found this great spray can- paint stripper, 60 grit sandpaper, 220 grit sandpaper, gloves, masks and paint scrapers.

We got home and got busy! We are not completely finished with the first dresser....just a few minor places to sand, then a good wipe clean and we will be set for staining.

I never got a true before pic with the paint on, but I took some mid process photos.

Without further adieu here they are:

You can still see some of the white paint.

The hubs making an appearance

The wood has a great texture...it's going to look great stained.

(missing drawers)
The almost finished product...just a little sanding of the white paint on the bottom and we will be ready for stain!

Oh- and please remember to wear your mask when using paint stripper :)

Look for the after photos and the rest of the other pieces. Hopefully they will all be completed within the next few weeks!

Two Idea Boards for the New Living Room...

2009-07-12T23:02:00.001-04:00

Living Room Set 2 by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Living Room Set 1 by jber23 on Polyvore.com

Our Little Gem....

2009-07-01T18:29:00.008-04:00

So, we bought a house :) We are closing sometime in August and the little decorator in me is just itching to come out.

It's a cute 3 Bedroom / 2 Bath house with blonde hardwood floors, a garden tub and walk-in closet in the master and this beautiful screen porch that we will be using on a daily basis I am sure!

I think I have gotten all the paint colors picked out. We are definitely repainting the living room, hallway, kitchen and the master suite. The other rooms can stay the way they are for the time being until we have more time and $$$$ cash in our pockets.

Our colors so far:

Living Room and Hallway : Olympic Paint in Quill
Kitchen: Olympic Paint in Stormy Weather (the darker shade of Quill)
Bedroom: Valspar Paint in Woodlawn Silver
Master Bath: Valspar Paint in Azure Snow

All of the above I believe can be found online.

And now I will leave you with some pictures...... all are the MLS listing photos with the sellers belongings.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

2009-04-09T23:51:00.003-04:00

April 10th is a very special day. It is the day that my "little" brother was born 20 years ago. I cannot believe how time flies and how much he has grown.

I still remember when we were younger and would build tents together in the playroom, sleep in the twin beds in his room and tell stories and play rock, paper, scissors. Or the times we would play slapjack together, war and The Game of Life.

He always brings a smile to my face- whether it's him doing his Elmo impression, telling a funny joke or just being himself. He has the heart of gold and truly loves his family. He is so compassionate and caring when it comes to his siblings- be it playing and entertaining the little ones or just hanging out with his big sis.

We have been through alot together and I can say that it only made us closer. I am so thankful to God for allowing me the blessing of a caring, funny and fantastically awesome brother!!

I love you so much Buddy! Happy Birthday!!

Under Construction

2009-04-08T11:41:00.001-04:00

In effort to make my blog more reader friendly and for some cool new updates...my blog is currently undergoing some construction.

See you soon!

MIA....

2009-03-18T13:02:00.002-04:00

I have been horrible about updating my blog recently. I really love blogging about new finds, decor, recipes and what not- but it seems as if lately I haven't had much to blog about.

Let's see...some updates:

Currently, David and I are getting ready to purchase our first home! Yay! Our rent was up in February and my in-laws graciously offered to let us move in with them until we found a home. We wanted to buy a home in March- but have decided to put it off until atleast June so we could knock out some debt instead which would allow us to buy a larger home then the size we were previously looking at and affording it comfortably.

David was offered a raise this past month which was truly a blessing in disguise. His CEO also mentioned she loves how dedicated and hard he works at his job and would like to offer him a higher position that would pay substantially more within the next couple years. So that was very exciting.

I started reading a new book series- The Sookie Stackhouse Series. I made a resolution to read atleast 4 book series at the beginning of the year and I succesfully completed 1 series, now I am onto another. Looks like a great start to '09.

As of last week I just started a new exercise routine that I am really enjoying. I am hoping that with my better eating habits and my new routine I am going to be seeing better results.

I think that is it for now. I can't wait until we start house hunting and I can load some photos on here and then finally buying a home and posting me decor. Exciting!

Honesty is the best policy....

2009-02-03T14:05:00.004-05:00

The lovely Sarah over at Bruno and Lucy tagged me with my very first blogging award!

The rules are simple:
1) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
2) Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
3) List at least 10 honest things about yourself.

10 honest things you might not know about me:

1. I tend to fall in love or like very hard and get attached easily. I love my friends deeply, my family deeply, my husband extremely, my pets are my children. But also with movies and books... I get so involved in plots of movies and books that when characters are burdened or excited I tend to feel those emotions as well

2. I tend to see #'s and months in colors and and flavors example: The number 3 is green and so is January. When I think about February the color purple always comes to mind. When I think of the month August or the the number 5 I see them as orange which translate to me tasting oranges. I know it sounds so weird....I think I am wired funny.

3. I am absolutely and utterly terrified of cockroaches

4. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister : 2 yr. old sister, 5 yr. old brother and 20 yr. old brother

5. I am dramatic to no end...no matter how hard I try...I just am

6. I spent a few weeks in Paris and Amsterdam the summer before highschool

7. I love The Office....it is one of my favorite shows

8. My best friend and I are exact opposites on almost everything, yet somehow we get along greatly and our differences have really never been a problem for us.

9. I was the Varsity Captain of the ladies basketball team my Senior year of highschool

10. I wear my husbands old t-shirts to bed.

Ode to good and lasting friends...

2009-01-20T23:24:00.003-05:00

David and I are fortunate enough to have another couple who are very dear friends. David grew up with Tommy his best friend and bowling partner of many years. Tommy was and still is David's partner in crime, bowling buddy, golfing companion and cranium team member. Tommy started dating Heather and her and I clicked instantly. She is my shopping companion, cranium team member, someone I can laugh with and someone I trust wholeheartedly. I don't think she has a bad bone in her body.

David and I had dinner with them tonight (our usual $.35 wing night at Bogarts) and stayed for trivia at the restaurant. We had such a good time laughing, eating, playing trivia and drinking margarita's. It just made us realize how fortunate we are to be friends with such a great couple and good friends. Friends we can be ourselves with!

We love them to death and look forward to many more fun times together!

A New Year....A New Book

2009-01-15T22:42:00.005-05:00

I had only one resolution this year and it was to read a series of books. So for my birthday Dave bought me Twilight. I really had not heard much about the book(s) except for the fact that a movie had been recently made and they seemed to be popular books.

I have read the first three books in the series and I am working on the 4th. I just could not put them down and had to buy all of them. They are not the most well written books, but they have a great story line, hold your interest and take you through great adventures. After the first book I felt so close to all the characters and now as the saga ends I am a bit saddened. I truly encourage anyone looking for an easy and enjoyable read to pick these books up....you will be in love.

My 2009 goal was accomplished a lot quicker than I had anticipated, so I am looking for a new series of books to read. I would like to read 3 more series before the years end.

If any of you have suggestions I would love to hear from you!

My Bestest Friend...

2008-12-30T14:02:00.003-05:00

I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with my best friend over the Christmas Holidays.

She recently moved out to Phoeniz, AZ and this was the first time in 6 months that we had seen each other. It's crazy when you go from living with someone, to moving out and seeing them 1-2 a week to once every 6 months or more. I didn't realize how much I missed her company and her laughs and giggles until I saw her again last week.

We had a great lunch with cousin and my hubs, and then her sweet parents hosted us for the afternoon at their house. They filled us with tiramisu and rum balls, laughter, great conversation and lots of memories.

It was a great time together and I cannot wait to see her again.

Love you Jack!

The Holidays...

2008-12-30T13:55:00.006-05:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year. We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with my in-laws and went out to dinner and then opened presents together at our house. It was so wonderful to be with them.

Christmas morning Dave, Gizmo and myself enjoyed some time alone and had a tasty breakfast and then opened our own presents. It was then right up to Spartanburg to celebrate Christmas with my parents and siblings.

It truly was one of the nicest Christmases we have had.

Thanksgiving....

2008-12-02T15:35:00.006-05:00

Hope everyone had a truly wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving with family and loved ones. We had a nice day. I cooked and hosted my first Thanksgiving. It was just Dave, myself and the inlaws and it was a great day. Then Saturday we headed up to the upstate and visited my parents, siblings and grandparents. We watched several football games, one which I will not even mention :), ate lots of mom's delicious food and have an overall good time.

As cliche as it is to say we have so many reasons to be Thankful....we really do, we are blessed with much. Great family, some how we are making it through my new career change and this horrible economy, we have great friends and a roof over our heads. There are always things to be thankful for.

Lastly, I leave you with pictures of our Thanksgiving setup.

Very Important...TOMORROW

2008-11-03T20:59:00.003-05:00

Please Vote! No matter what political affiliation you are aligned with...go vote. Our country is in a dire situation and tomorrow is the day for you to voice your opinion. The lines will be long, but so many have sacrificed for us to have this opportunity...the least we can do is stand in line and voice our opinion.

So tomorrow November 4th....please go VOTE!

White pumpkins....unhealthy obsession

2008-10-23T23:48:00.005-04:00

Now that fall is in full swing I have been on a white pumpkin frenzy. They are a classic way to spruce up the dining room table, porch, mantle and any other place in the house for fall. Add some candles and some greenery....and beautiful.

Below are some of my favorite photos of white pumpkins in use:

courtesy of decorvillage

courtesy of libbylangdon.com

courtesy of marthastewart.com

Finally back to blogging- In the Fall mood...

2008-10-18T18:54:00.006-04:00

I have been MIA for awhile, I have just been so busy getting my real estate career going.
In the spirit of fall I decide to make a fall tablescape and update our mantle.

The picture is smaller than I thought, but you can see the cute little pumpkins as well as the new PB lantern with a cork candle inside.

All the flowers and vines came straight from our front yard, and the pumpkins and squash were bought at a pumpkin patch.

That is "fall" as I will get this year since I am so busy. But I just wanted to post my few updates.

Blog overhaul...

2008-09-24T15:04:00.002-04:00

I am going to be working really hard the next few weeks to overhaul my blog and make it more reader friendly and fun.

Be checking back for updates!

So this is love....

2008-09-12T14:29:00.002-04:00

David and I have some exciting news! We found out last night we were approved for a home loan! We are so excited....our lease ends in February so we will start the house hunt then, but until then I am feverishly trying to find inspiration for our home.

I came across this photo of a kitchen and I am in love. We have so many turquoise pieces that we got for the wedding that I would love to incorporate into our future kitchen and possibly add glass cabinet doors on several cabinets for the display.

My August accomplishment...

2008-09-06T10:36:00.002-04:00

I am down 10lbs!!! I know it's not much, but I have such a hard time losing the weight so I am very proud of this step. I started doing a mixture of low carb/South Beach on August 18th and I am down 10lbs...my goal is 30 by January 1st.
I am making a constant effort to work out atleast 4 times a week and eating super healthy....it can be challenging at times, but I feel a million times better already!

I am still here....anniversary...vacation & work

2008-08-22T14:21:00.006-04:00

Seems like things have been in such an uproar lately. David and I finally fixed my car- after almost a month of trying to figure out what was wrong with it. I am preparing to quit my 9-5 job September 30th to sell real estate full time, so I have been preparing for that. Then Wednesday we found my company is closing 2 of our 5 offices in our company and one of those offices happens to be mine. So I am trying to decide now which office to base myself with in October.

David and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary Monday August 11th and then headed up to Biltmore to enjoy the day and play some golf as well. It was a great getaway and ended way to quickly.

Here are some photos:

Both of us hot and tired from golf

My beautiful flowers my husband bought for our anniversary.

2008-08-22T14:20:00.001-04:00

My Newest Idea Board

2008-08-08T13:42:00.000-04:00

Canker sore....like a pebble in my shoe!

2008-08-06T14:19:00.002-04:00

I have had a canker sore several times this month in the same spot. On my lower lip right where my lip touches my teeth and gums. It is absolutely driving me insane, and quite painful at the same time.
Well I am fed up! I have been researching some remedies and found a few that I will trying this evening.
But for all you canker sore victims you may want to try these few, I know I will be this evening:

salt Salt water is another remedy you can use. Mix 2 tablespoons of salt in a 6 ounce glass of warm water and use as a mouth rinse 3-4 times a day. Both alum and salt help draw fluid from the canker and help it to heal.
Antacid formulas, such as Mylanta and Milk of Magnesia, used as a mouth rinse for a few minutes have been reported to relieve the pain and speed healing.
Baking soda is another time-honored remedy. It can either be used as a powder directly on the sore or made into a paste and applied. Use several times daily. It may sting a bit, but it works by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

I know this is a crazy post, but I am sure I am not the only one who suffers these painful nuisances so hopefully these remedies will work !

More Inspiration...

2008-08-05T15:14:00.005-04:00

I am just loving these following rooms! I believe most of them are from www.pointclickhome.com

Newest Idea Board

2008-08-02T20:46:00.003-04:00

I love doing idea boards so much, that I have decided to do them for every room of my house...future house. I have several ideas for the living room and this is the first one.

If you are interested in an idea board just contact me and I can make one for you.

Has it really almost been a year?...

2008-06-30T14:45:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine got married this weekend (I was not fortunate enough to go...darn work) but as I was looking at some pictures of her on facebook, I got to thinking about my own wedding. I cannot believe that Dave and I have been together for almost 1 year. August 11, 2007 to be exact.

He is such a wonderful husband and I am so happy that he is the one I will be spending the rest of my life with. Not only does he support me in all aspects of life, but he is one of the few that can get me giggling to no end. I love every minute with him!

I love you Dave.....looking forward to our 1 year mark and many more.

Another scrapblog creation...

2008-06-27T23:08:00.002-04:00

Scrapblog...how I love thee!

2008-06-27T11:15:00.002-04:00

Some of the girls on the nest.com have introduced me to scrapblog and I love it. Here is one example of a scrapbook page.