Oh loverly weekends....!!

So this weekend was amazing. I have done..... nothing. Okay, so maybe I did some laundry. But beyond that- absolutely nothing!! I loved it. It wasn't the wisest thing to do, but I needed it. I have been sick with some wacky allergy for about 3 weeks and can finally see myself getting over it.

We had to get a new television this week because ours just stopped turning on! Even my dad, who knows tv's inside out, said it was dead. So we went a few days without one (which was fine, just not fun when we got a new Netflix dvd), but finally got one this weekend thanks to the sale at Target. Now Russell and I are back to our Sunday night routine of watching HGTV and DIY network together.

So not wanting to go back to work tomorrow, but alas. There are only 8 more Mondays of work, so I can handle it ;) This is actually my last year as a teacher, which is inSANE, and is really starting to freak me out. The graduate program I'm in requires me to work as a SLPA (speech pathology assistant) while in the program and be sponsored by a school district. Well, I got sponsored, but am still looking for the work. We are definitely praying about this, but I'm trusting that God has everything worked out. So many of the students in the program are concerned about this, because I don't think one of us has been "hired". If you can keep me in your prayers as I seek a job with pay, I would appreciate it.

Not much else is going on! We're getting a deck soon! So exciting. We hope to have our official "house warming" party after that.... two years in the making!!

Cleaning woes

So my husband is currently sleeping. He caved and the pugs are now in my spot in the bed. Good grief, they are spoiled! :-)

Today I was thinking about my 2 final exams, how much I have to do, the fact that school begins very soon, and how I feel behind! I feel behind mainly in the fact that I want my house to be a little more organized. This probably sounds like something ridiculous to blog about, and mom, if you're reading this, I am merely confessing this to gain some form of help ;-)

I need a system! I tried setting up a "daily chore" list to keep the house consistently clean, but that didn't work. It still seemed like the bulk of my free time went to cleaning. I want to be able to do minor cleaning gradually to keep a consistently clean home. Now, I know, am I in my own world? :-) I understand that this is perfect world I am picturing, but any tips from my dear blogging friends would be of great benefit. Now, I don't live in mess, but I would like to develop a schedule that I can balance with being a grad student and a teacher. Any suggestions? What type of system do you use in your home? :-)

Fun Wall Art

So I love home decor websites, but one thing I love MORE than those are home decor sites that emphasize being thrifty and saving some money! So of course I enjoy Thrifty Decor Chick. Something I read about and have been wanting to do for a LONG time was the wall art project she did with a sheet of MDF and some scrapbook paper. You can find tutorials on her blog post.

Russell's office was looking kind of plain, so this is what we did together today:

I LOVE it! I absolutely love it. Total cost of this art: $18!!!

We were going to buy MDF, but a sheet of MDF at our Lowe's is $30! So we decided to browse through the aisles and found 4 ft. sheets of particle board for about $2 each, so we bought 3. $6 for the "wood"!! So happy about that. I spent quite a long time at Hobby Lobby picking the exact sheets of scrapbook paper that I wanted, but it was worth it.

I think I may just be becoming a tad bit addicted to fun art projects like this! Be prepared to see more :-)

Mi casa!!

So, I need your help!! I bought a house last year, and now, Russell and I are trying to get it to be more "us" for when we get married. We plan to stay here quite a while (as long as we can) and think that we could definitely make it ours with a few changes. So far, we've added laminate wood flooring, ceramic tile, and new landscaping for our front yard. This summer, Russell plans to paint the outside of our house so we can really change the look and raise the curb appeal a little. Right now, our house has a dark feeling to it because of an icky brown color. Here is a pic of the house on closing day:

It doesn't look bad, but it definitely doesn't fit with my vision for it. After doing some tweaking to the picture on the Sherwin Williams website, this is what we both agree on for exterior paint:

I know the image is a little off with the paint lines, but this gives you an idea. My question is.... what do you think? I've always wanted a red door and I'm scared that it might be too much. So please let me know your opinion!!! :) Thanks friends.

Lovin' life

So I have been all about cleaning and getting my house into order lately!! Tonight I went out to eat with my parents, came home and vacuumed, mopped, and am now watching the Spurs win the playoffs! I never get too into basketball until the very end when everyone is talking about it... But it's still fun!

Anyways, that was quite the tangent. Sorry. Back to the casa. I have been all about keeping it clean and making it nice, especially since Russell and I are getting married in 31 days! I guess you can say I'm getting my wifely duties on. I only have one thing against this whole "keeping the house looking great" thing... Seymour and Franny, the pugs, are not happy with me. They have been staring at me from the backyard screen door with those big eyes, asking "Mommy, why can't I be in there with you?" It really breaks my heart. I love them, so I think one of my big plans for this summer is to get a gazebo and nicer landscaping in the back for them. They have plenty of shade now, but I still hate letting them out into a barely grassy backyard. So I'm excited to get that project started.

Now my house smells like lavender pine sol, my couches are free of any pet hair, and my floors are sooo clean! I'm a happy girl.

House Remodeling Progress :)

So Russell and I recently bought flooring for our home! The house should be completely remodeled by the time we are married, making it perfect for settling in and making it "our home". I'm so excited!!

Here is a picture of the living room. Russell installed the flooring all by himself! I just decorated :-)



I loooove the living room! I can't wait until the rest of the house is finished :)

Sunday

So this morning I was soooo excited to go to Journey Fellowship!! We went to the church and saw an empty parking lot... we asked each other if it was already daylight savings time, but concluded that it wasn't. We pulled up to the front of the church and there was a police officer and a friendly man who told us that it was their day of the quarter to go into the community and distribute food and water, but to please come back next Sunday. How cool is that?? We are definitely going to be going this upcoming Sunday!! I can't wait for this week to go by. I was a little disappointed that we couldn't go and see what it was like, but we ended up going to I-Hop and eating yummy breakfast. 7 days!!

Russell has been sick all week and I feel so bad for him. I think he is getting the flu... :( Unless he already has it. :-/ I thought he was getting better, but later today he got nauseous and had a horrible headache. I hope a good night of sleep helps him tonight!! That's also why we haven't met our nephew!! Rhys Edward Conklin :) I can't wait to meet the little guy. Hopefully we will see him next Sunday.

Today we did a lot to the house. Russell painted our dining room and now our house is beginning to feel more like a home!! And there's nothing like the fresh smell of paint on the walls... I know it's weird, but to me, it makes a house smell more clean. I tidied up the dining room after it dried, and then I rearranged the furniture in the master bedroom. I've been trying to decide which desk I want for my "office" (which will be located in the master bedroom) and Russell said he could probably make me one. This is what I've decided on:

Is that not the coolest thing ever? It's a "floating" desk. I think I'm going to ask him to make some "floating" shelves also. But this will be perfect for lesson planning and storing teacher manuals and binders.... and also for the future when I'm studying for big SLP exams... eeeek! I can't wait to have my own space.

Well, I'd better get to bed. Long week ahead of me!! Oh, and I'm turning 23!!! crazy.