Oh Christmas Tree...

Yesterday Joe and I put a live, 11-foot Fraser Fir Christmas tree in our living room. Yes, we are crazy for Christmas!! We actually got it at Home Depot. What? You didn't know they had Christmas trees? Neither did we, we were there for light bulbs and our local tree farm was closed for the day. They had a great selection!

Loading her up

When we got home we remembered that you're supposed to cut an inch or so from the bottom of the stump so it will live through the month.

One year we forgot to trim the stump, and got the tree in and fully decorated before we remembered. And we actually tried (out of desperation) to lift the tree from the base (ornaments still on) and saw off the bottom. In the middle of the living room. There were needles everywhere. And the stress. OH the stress.

To think we almost forgot again this year.

So we got the hand saw out while she was still strapped to the roof. We quickly realized that wasn't the best angle to saw through a tree.

So we sawed. And sawed. Not. Cutting. Arm. Sore.

Maybe we can pry the end off with a shovel?

Step away from the shovel! Let me have a crack at it...

Success!!

Every year I come up with a different color scheme for our tree. This year we did red, purple and gold.

I'm a big believer in putting things in your tree OTHER than ornaments. This year I did birds, peacock feathers, pearls, flowers and bows. Every angle of the tree has something different and special to look at.

Another Bathroom Post

Since I posted pictures of my guest room downstairs, I figured I would also show you my bathroom that goes with it. I don't like it as well as my upstairs bathroom, but then again, this is in the BASEMENT.
Shower curtain and bathmat are from TJMaxx.

The bird picture I found at Hobby Lobby and framed it in a Walmart $5 frame and a mat I had lying around.
My go-to decorating tip. Use vacation souvenirs! We always collect sand/shells/rocks and put them in a Mason Jar and label the top. These puppies are FREE decorations and it's a great reminder of your past trips.

Yellow Desk

When push came to shove and my friends were hosting my birthday party at my house, I knew it was NOW OR NEVER to finish my little desk. I didn't have a nightstand for the guest room downstairs and I needed something to sit the lamp on.

I had bought this at a yard sale for $15 and honestly, it was in pretty good condition to begin with. One of the legs was wobbly and there were some stains on the top, but otherwise it was pretty solid.

Joe sturdied up the leg with some wood glue and I sanded her down with an automatic sander and then hand sanded the curved edges on the drawers. I thought about pulling off those motifs on the front of the drawers, but decided against it because it was already late enough the day before the guests were supposed to show up.

I wanted the perfect yellow paint. Not too loud, but definitely "cheery" because it was going to be sitting in the basement. I picked "Joyful Yellow" from Better Homes and Gardens at Walmart.


I primed some of the bad areas and then gave her two coats of paint. Voila!


And pictures of the room it now belongs in - our downstairs guest room.

Thankful

I woke up this morning here

This is the Call Room at the hospital. Joe was on call last night and I couldn't imagine waking up in our house alone on Thanksgiving morning.

So I stayed the night with him.

In a tiny cot.

Waking up with him each time he got paged in the night for a new admission to the hospital.

It's not exactly the ideal way to spend Thanksgiving morning.

But regardless...

I'm so thankful for the life we have.

Our marriage.

Our health.

Our family and friends.

The opportunities we've been given.

Even for the trials we've had. Because they make us stronger.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

Florence & Pisa

Here's what I have done the last few days...

Got a rental car in Venice.

Drove 3.5 hours to Florence (in the Tuscan region).



Saw the Duomo Cathederal.


Saw Michelangelo's David (world's most famous statue).

this is the only picture I was able to take
("Study of Form" sculpture) before I got busted for having a camera. Whoops!!

The real David. SO AWESOME in real life.

Got on a train.

view from the train

Rode the train to Pisa, Italy.

Saw the Leaning Tower.


Climbed the tower. The stairs are crazy slanted!!



Gasped for air!

Enjoyed the sunset from the top.



Shopped at the street market in Florence.


Bought scarves and a leather handbag and souvie's for friends.

Venice, Italy

St. Marks Square

Leavin' On A Jet Plane...

26 years ago today... I was born!

Today is my birthday!

And I'm getting on a jet with my mom and aunt for TEN HOURS.

Destination: Italy!

Reason: Work. Well.. I'm working. My mom and aunt will probably goof off!

Does this scare you??