More Guest Room Fabulousness

As it turns out I'm one of those people who just can't leave well enough alone because I'm still tinkering with our guest room. See, that's more fun than doing something practical like mopping the floor or fitting in a workout. I just go with it. So, I convinced Joe to let me buy a set of nightstands because you know what? I stay in A LOT of hotels because I travel for a living and I like the idea of having nightstands next to the bed like all the fancy hotels do.


Y'all, these nightstands are from Bed, Bath & Beyond and they were only $35 apiece. You can't beat that with a stick, and really Joe couldn't argue with a deal like that! ;-) Well, then he had to assemble both of them (immediately when we got them home) but that actually wasn't too bad either. Except for when he was cursing because they forgot to include a piece. But I digress.

I also did a little project with some frames I got for $0.85 for the set of three. I don't even remember where the heck I got them. I painted them a pretty ivory color and then printed out some butterfly images from the internet. I actually used resume paper to print them out on because that made it look fancier and all. I hung them in the hall - voila!


I've also been hard at work determining the perfect cupcake combinations to serve at the upcoming engagement party I'm hosting. That means I have to make a whole bunch of cupcakes and do a very thorough taste-test of each one. Hey, it's a hard job but someone's got to do it. I started with "Pink Lemonade" which is basically lemon cake out of a box and then whipped up a homemade pink lemonade icing.

And finally, can I just post a cute picture on here? I told you Joe and I went away last weekend to help our friends move and here they are with their new pad! I SOO BADLY wanted a picture like this when we moved into our first house in June but we never even had a real estate sign in our yard we hopped on this house so fast! They weren't too thrilled to have their picture made but I told Jill I had to vicariously live through her. And her grandchildren will want to see this picture one day. Ha!! Also, when Joe and I got to their house on Saturday we pulled up RIGHT when they were carrying the last piece of furniture off of the UHaul. Don't we have great timing?? ;-)

My Wildly Important Day

I hope you realize that title is a complete bunch of sarcasm. The biggest thing I did today was re-organize my recipe box. The world is back in order now. Yesterday I cleaned the house from top to bottom, did laundry, ran errands and put a healthy and steaming meal on the table when Joe got off work. I did a lot today, except not so much.

Yes, I'm still working but we are so slow now my next assignment isn't until September 20. All I can say is thank God I'm salaried.

Complete switch of stories but that reminded me of a HILarious story. About a year ago Joe and I were at my parents house hanging out with my nice and nephew. We were playing some completely useless board game where you have to write down the name of 8 people on a dry-erase board and then you do something with the characteristics of those people. Game not so much fun, but when we were asking the kids for ideas on who to put on our board, my niece Ellie kept insisting we put "DEE-OH-GEE" on there. A who A what?? I kept asking her to repeat it and even resorted to asking Trent, my nephew, "What is she saying??". He said the same thing, "DEE-OH-GEE". I was bewildered. Was this some weird kid she knew from school? Finally, Trent says it's the name of a dog in his neighborhood. Okay, it's a weird name but to each his own. Then, Joe bursts up laughing. I'm trying to figure out how to spell the name to put it on our board. Obviously, the joke is on me. Joe goes, "Babe. d-o-g." Haha!! No one ever accused me of being clever. And who would name their dog that!?

Going Bananas

I'm baking some banana bread right now so I have time to whip up a quick post! My reeeeally good friend Jill and her hubs just bought a house so I'm baking some banana bread as part of her housewarming present. I make a MEAN banana bread (secret ingredient: buttermilk *wink*).

Friday is usually Joe and my "date night" but we usually have to plan for him to be about falling asleep around 9:30pm! Ha! But tonight I made dinner at home and we spontaneously decided to take a drive afterwards with Boomer. I think he can die happy now ;-)

Are you looking for a good deal on table linens? I found a GREAT sale today at Dillards and I just have to share. A LOT of their table runners, tablecloths, placemats and cloth napkins were on sale + 40% off today. I think tables look kind of lonely when they're not set - so I got some goodies today. Joe called this my "table scape" (you have to watch Sandra Lee from the Cooking Network to get the joke). I gotta find some old silverware to put out now...

Those plates are just old English china I found at thrift stores and garage sales. Seriously, for a buck or two and I've got white china coming out of my ears!

We are going up "north" a couple hours to help Jill and Michael move. I can't wait to see their new nest! Don't you hate moving? Having friends help you makes it bearable.

Oh, and please watch this video. I love cool old people and I want to be like this when I'm old:

We Have A WINNER!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! We have a winner for the book-chocolate-starbucks giveaway. See for yourself...

Congrats Annie from "Annie's Tales From Virginia"!!!
Please email me at brittany-engineer@ou.edu and I'll get your winnings to you asap :)

I have a little consolation prize for those of you who didn't win: go HERE to enter a giveaway for some awesome Pottery Barn plates. Muuust have!!! :)

Award

I am SO excited because Melissa just gave me a blogger award! You'd think I had just won an Oscar or the Nobel, but this blog award is my very first! Thank you Melissa!! I still can't believe anyone besides my best friends and my husband read this blog. Haha! So, here it is. Smashing, huh?
Now I get to pass it on!

First, I would love to bestow this award onto ANNIE. I *just* found her blog, like, 2 days ago but I am completely UB-sessed with her. (please don't think I'm a stalker!). She's hilarious and her hubby is a resident too. Oh, and she's from Oklahoma. See.. I love her!

Also, KRISTEN, I noticed you have just about every award but this one ;-) She is the cutest person and she just celebrated her 1 year wedding anniversary - woo hoo!!

Finally, ERIN, who I've known since we were "Knot buddies" in 2006 when we were both getting married. Erin graduated Med School the year before Joe and I think she is just such an inspirational person. Go, now. Read her blog. You'll be hooked on her journey like I am.

Now... can I summarize my life in bullet points? It feels like a bullet point kinda day...

• I almost burnt our house down today trying to make a fabulous dinner. AND, have you ever had to take the skin off of raw chicken parts for a recipe? I was dry-heaving over the sink and Joe just about died laughing. We ended up having dinner at Mr. Goodcents. (oops)
• I submitted my resume for a new job today. If you haven't noticed, I travel A LOT for work now and I'm thinking eventually I'd like to put away the suitcases and be more settled. I love my job now though, so a new one would have to be even cooler. And I don't know if that's possible...
  
• Joe has never seen Father of the Bride II - yes I KNOW, crazy! So, we Netflixed and watched it before bed tonight. It's a classic :)
  

Please go visit Melissa's blog - she is in Ireland right now (are you sure you don't need any company over there?!) and her life is anything but ordinary - and all around extraordinary.

Fall

Joe just got home from a 28 hour shift. That is, 28 hours without a break (besides bathroom!) and without sleeping. It ain't all glamorous, folks!

Are you ready for Fall to come? Because I am SO ready. Yesterday, I found all my "Fall Decorating" tubs in the garage. Oh Holy Goodness Mother of Mary! I don't know how much longer I can wait to get everything out. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday to decorate for. Do you decorate for Halloween or just the big holidays like Christmas?? Last year Joe used a power tool to carve our pumpkin.

This year, I think we'll do something like this instead...
Isn't that awesome??

Maybe I'll make some of these (we couldn't get through a whole blog post without food could we??)


As always, don't forget to go HERE to sign up for my bloggy giveaway :)

Weekend Wrap-up

The weekend is over. *sad face*

The best thing I did this weekend was go to Hobby Lobby. Do you know (and can you imagine) I used to hate Hobby Lobby? Boy has that changed! I could spend a fortune in there now! While I was there I made sure to get some plate hangers. I've been meaning to do something with this sliver of a wall I have between the windows in my dining room. It's too skinny for a picture, but I think you'd agree it needs something.

Antique Johnson & Bros. plates

Then, I made a little treat for Joe to take to work and sit in the Physician's Lounge to share with his co-workers.

Almond Bark about to start melting...

I made the mistake of letting Joe choose the pretzels at the store and he somehow found FOOTBALL pretzels! Haha!

My apprentice - look at that mess!!!

The finished product.

I have a little project this week that I found over at Martha Stewart. Now, ordinarily, I'm not a big fan of Martha. Is she not just TOO perfect (and a little snooty??). BUT, I think these necklaces are fabulous.
And they look really simple!! Click HERE to go straight to the directions on her site if you want to make some too.

Joe and I watched The Reader this weekend. I thought Kate Winslet did a great job and I actually loved the movie! Did you see it?

If you haven't already, don't forget to go HERE to sign up for my giveaway. Winner will be chosen Thursday!!