Dexter

No, not the awesomeness that is the show, but my lovely little German Shepherd.

My poor little guy is so sick. He's been pretty sick now for around 2 months. The vet clinic I take him to has been having a pretty hard time pin pointing what exactly is wrong with him, and it doesnt help that every time I've taken him in the last few months he's seen a diffrent vet. So finally I was able to see the main vet yesterday. I wish so badly he could've seen Dexter from the get go, because I dont feel like all of this would still be going on. He gives you more information and really talks to you about your options and whats going on. So we still dont know the main reason for his sickness :-( but we do know that his sickness has caused something else. Poor guy has Perianal fistulas now also. Since it's not really in our budget right now to pay thousands of dollars to have him scoped and diagnosed and treated ect. we are doing a more trial and error go at it. They are currently treating Dexter for a small intestine bacterial infection right now (forgive me, I dont know the accurate name for it) I have my fingers crossed and I'm praying that this round of medicine helps and thats whats wrong with him. I know hes in pain and so uncomfortable (with a rearend that currently looks like his, how could you not be?!) but he still is able to have energy and play when I want to. He's such a good dog it just breaks my heart with what he's going through. I do feel better that I feel like we are heading in the right direction now, and getting more answers than what I was getting. I was told by the dr yesterday that he wants to be the only one seeing and treating Dex from here on out.

He's such a gentle boy and He's such a good dog. Especially with kids and our little (I use the word VERY loosely, shes a big girl with a big ol booty) chihuahua, Jasmine. Even though he has done a few things in the past to really piss me off............



old couch

I dont care about any of the ruined furniture or shoes or under garments (more on that later) as long as the little guy gets better. 1. I HATE him being sick and 2. ummm vets are NOT cheap!

Screen porch dreaming

Ever since I could remember I've always loved screened in porches. Not sun rooms or covered porches, but screened porches. You're still out side but it keeps the bugs away! Sitting on a screened porch during a rain/thunderstorm is one of my favorite things! All the homes my parents have owned all had screened porches and I have many memories of all of them. Growing up my aunt had a great screened porch that over looked her neighborhood lake. It had a big bench swing on it and it always seemed so huge and massive to me when I was so much younger. Now the house my parents live in is on a beautiful neighborhood lake, and you guessed it, has an awesome screened porch also. I love sitting out there in the spring-fall (no thanks winter, you can have it) When the hubs and I were looking for a new home, we both really wanted a home that had a screen porch or a spot that had good potential for one. Well we got it, and we got a good one! Our lot isn't the biggest of lots, probably about 3/4 of an acre, but its heavily wooded and it just adds to the awesomeness of a porch. Since we bought the house in November we havent had much of a use for the screen porch yet. Well warm weather is on my mind and I wanna get the screened porch all put together before warmer weather hits! Ive been toying with lots of ideas and looking at patio furniture, but I can't seem to find anything that tickles my fancy. There are 2 things I have always been obsessed with when it comes to outside porches: Hanging daybeds and Curtains. And I have decided these are going to be 2 things I WILL HAVE on the porch. I especially like the curtain idea because it not only blocks out sun if it gets too bright or hot, but we have a corner lot and one of those streets can be pretty busy with cars and walkers. I like a little privacy, who doesnt?

I think the curtains also help with the cozy aspect of it all. I know I want a nice light colored feel for the porch (our house is green and we are surrounded by brown and green from nature) I think some pretty light colored or white curtains will do just the trick.

And our screen porch is pretty long so I dont see us having any problems with adding one of these and still having a seating/dinning area! Ive done a lot of research and I think Ill end up making the platform that the mattress sits on. Ill post pictures as it gets going.

Something I NEED

These are two things I think I need....right now. Me likey, a lot.

I can already picture them on my feet with some cute jeans. Mmm Mmmmm. :-)

Financial Peace University

I know I'm normal and like a lot of people out there, Zach and I struggle with money a bit sometimes. I could never understand it. Where all of our money goes. We both have great jobs and besides our new mortgage we dont really have that much debt. Dont get me wrong we have our credit cards but I think we use them pretty wisely, most of the time ;-) Now part of my new years resolution is to get more financialy stable, and use smarter spending habits. Ive been saying I'm going to do this for a while now, but it never seems to last. I will say this tho, since January first we've been cooking and eating at home much MUCH more than ever. So I'm proud about that. But I knew we/I needed a little bit more of a push to get the ball really rolling this time. Lucky for me I have a wonderful daddy-o who loves me and looks out for me and my well being. So as soon as he found out his church was going to be hosting a Dave Ramsey FPU (financial peace university) course, he called me and asked if I'd be intrested. DUH. Of course. The first weeks class got canceled due to all the annoying lovely snow and ice, so the first class officially started this past wednesday. When I first learned it was going to take 2 hours every wednesday night for 13 weeks, I was a little unsure. I know my level of commitment to things and well, that was asking a lot! But I decided I needed to grow up, put my big girl panties on, and commit to ALL the classes. I can say this, after going to that first class, I think it will be VERY easy for me to be going to all the classes. I know a few people that have done the classes already and they loved it. They cant say enough good things about it. I will say this: I am really excited about what I have the potential to learn from FPU. Ill keep everyone updated on how things are going and if im continuing to stay positive about what im hearing and learning. But so far so good.



New purchases I'm L-O-V-I-N-G!

In my previous post I put together a little mood board for my dinning room. Well I havent gotten any further with any of it since then. If anything my dinning room is more of a cluster *bleep* now than it was before. 1 pluse: I did get the huge half painted mirror off the table (not that it matters, id prefer for that thing to stay covered) but then theres a minus. We have internet at the house now so of course I wanted to use my "laptop" (that battery is caput so it only works when its plugged it). Well, since our office is still quite the work in progress,  I had to make a little make shift desk/office to hang out at while computing around.

*make shift office*

Plus all of the other crap, junk, great buys that are scattered around the room and on the table aren't making things much better. So i've decided the rest of the dinning room is going to wait. Since I have to wait on a table and benches I might as well wait on making it look presentable. No? Bad idea? Crap Ill tiddy it up a bit but thats it!  BuuuUUUUT! Have I mentioned yet how much I'm in love with my new "Madis Gras" Chandelier?! Everyone that sees it say it looks like Madis gras and that panties and bras should be hanging from it. Hhhhmmmm....... Sounds classy I know right. She's much prettier in person and Im not so good at taking pictures of lights apparently.

Something else im obsessing over that I purchased is this table.

I got this thing 75% off!!! I knew I had to have it when I saw it. I debated on actually getting it for awhile and then my mom told me what I already knew, that I'd regret not getting it everyday if I dont buy it. Ok maybe not EVERYday but still, you get the idea. I have the perfect spot for it but I still need to get 2 great chairs to go with it but for now, I bought these cute wood fold up chairs. The pillows I have on the chairs ARE NOT STAYING! I just havent found any yet that I love. Partly though because I know my little mural of things on the wall is going to be changing slightly. Im taking a few pieces down and adding a few more.

The table still needs a little TLC, and I need to figure out what exactly to put on it, but Im happy with how its coming along :-)

First Mood Board

I know its rough!

but heres my mood board for my dinning room in a nutshell.

Theres a few things already in the room I cant get on here (i dont feel like taking pictures of every little thing thats already there)

Theres a few things on the mood board I already have, but I think its coming along nicely :-)

1. Cow Hide rug- I've wanted one of these bad boys for so long. I think it will go nice under my new dining room table.
2. White Lacquer candle holders- I love anything white and shiney! I already have these (9 of em) sitting in the middle of my current table.
3. New Table-This isn't the exact stain that I want but its very close. I like that beat up look for a table!
4. Bench(x2)- I want to put a bench on both sides of the table. Haven't settled on these benches but they work for this project!
5. White high gloss mirror- I have an awesome mirror I inherited from my grandmother. I'm in the process of painting it white, then gonna hang it on the wall.
6. Chandelier- Its awesome despite what you think! Its already up and looks A-MAZING.
7. Clear Acrylic Chair- For the 2 ends of the table(cheaper than some of the other ones I've found.
8. Wall/Ceiling color- The darker green is the ceiling and the lighter is the walls. There's amazing white molding around the edges of the ceiling (not crown molding, I'm no idiot) and white judges panels through out the room.

NOW

it still needs some work and will take patience, but its already coming together just how I have in my mind. I cant wait til the rooms all done! :-)

AND...

I cant wait until I get better at this whole mood board thing :-/



New year, New YOU...eerrr me

I know A LOT of people out there make new years resolutions. I make them every year and usually forget them with in a week. This year is going to be diffrent! I have put together what I think is a nice little, reasonable list for me. Here it is with a little explanation:

2011

1.)No Procrastinating/Being Lazy

   I'm queen procrastinater and lazier than shit, it needs to change

2.)Cook dinner at home @ least 3 nights a week

   3 nights may sound low to most people, but to me it's A LOT. I dont hate

   cooking, im just lazy and we both enjoy going out to eat. Eating out so much

    costs a lot of money. We are trying to be wiser with our spending!  

3.)Exercise @ least twice a week

   We have a home gym in our new house, I want to get healthy and in shape. I

    have no exscuse not to.

4.)Finish every project I start before moving on to a new one

   I start a lot of projects, and dont finish them

5.)Start AND finish all the projects I've been saying im going to

   I have a million things on my to do/wish list. I keep saying im going to do

    or make them, and I never get around to it. Im going to make time and make

    myself do it.

6.)Ride my bike around the neighborhood with Savannah

   We have a perfect bike riding/walking neighborhood. Savannahs got a cool new

    bike so I'll have a partner and wont be alone.

7.)Get a bike to ride around the neighborhood with Savannah

   I know the bike I want, just havent gotten it yet. I'm obviously not going to

    get my whiney ass out on a bike in the middle of winter. So we decided to wait

    closer to spring to purchase the bike, aka save up for it instead of using a

    credit card :-)

8.)Make @ least 4 new friends this year

   Already made 2! We are so lucky and our new next door neighbors are around our

    age and so cool.

9.)Go to more garage/estate sales

   Besides the fact im really cheap, I like redoing things. Refurbishing

    something thats not quite there anymore. Plus you can find some of the

    coolest things at those places!

10.)Become a healthier person

    Part of exercising and riding the bike. ALSO not eating as much greasy nasty

     food. All around healthier life style

11.)Do yard work so I'm not embarrassed of my front and back yard

    Firstly because its a snake pit it needs to change. Secondly more open space

     for the dogs to run around. Thirdly it looks like we dont go outside, yuck.

12.)Put more effort into looking "put together" in public

    I wear bare minimal makeup out in public and I look sloppy 95% of the time.

     Now that my hair is long enough for a real pony tail its usually in one.

     Carrie Bradshaw inspires this "resolution" every time I watch SATC.

13.)Make my mason jar chandelier

    Its awesome. I need it in my house. Im too cheap to buy it when I am fully

     capable of making it myself! :-)

WISH ME LUCK! and good luck to everyone else who make new years resolutions, Hope you can stick with them :-)