Home Updates, Sweet Home Updates

A friend of mine tagged me in a post on my Pinterest account of a sign that says, "There are Four Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Football."

 It makes me laugh when I think about how much my life has changed in the last two years, because I would have never thought that'd fit my future family so well! 

As an Indiana girl, I am grateful for each of those seasons. Sure, winter tends to overstay her welcome, but there's not a whole lot prettier than a fresh coat of snow. And I don't know what it is about Spring that makes me want to change everything in our home. It's the season when I stock up on home decor and repaint things I already have. And don't even get me started on deep cleaning...the thought of scrubbing every square inch of the place down makes my heart flutter like the first time a boy calls after the first date. It's practically magical.


So here are a few things I've done/am doing/hope to do sometime in the near future!

Let's start with the bird cage. I've looked for the perfect birdcage for years. I've stumbled across about a thousand of them, but they were never in my budget. So this year when we were on vacation, I found her. I wish I could tell  you I found her at some quaint antique store or an off the road flea market, because I think you would believe it was cool. But no, lo and behold, she was sitting on a shelf at Ross Dress for Less. And she was only $13. Hunter green was not my color, but she was nothing a little spray paint couldn't handle. 


I can't wait to bring her in and find her perfect place. It saddens me a little because she looks awesome out in the woods...I think the birds would really like her! But, it must be done!

Next is our bedroom. There is no "before" picture...just imagine the bed with nothing else. That's what it was.  This picture is just to show you the paint colors we (as if Brett had ANYTHING to do with this! ha!) picked out. The green shelf was originally just a piece of plywood from an old barn (aka Lowes...see, barns sound cooler than Lowes!). We painted it and I let Brett do the hanging of it...which was quite the story in and of itself. 


Then it was off to collect the perfect items to place on the shelf. The finalists were: the bottle of champagne from our wedding reception, a piece of art created by my sweet friend, Brooke, with our wedding date, a little globe that's so teeny and cute I just wanna tickle it, and a few other random belongings.

I DID, believe it or not, manage to find one precious canister from a thrift store! I love the colors, I love the content, and I love peanuts, so it had to be mine! As of now, it stays on the fireplace mantle, but I have high hopes for this piece.

My last two finds are both from Goodwill. The globe (courtesy of my sister, Kortney) stands next to Mr. Peanut on the mantle for now. I love the color intensity on this little guy! I may still spray paint the base, just because the muted silver is a little too predictable for me. Any color suggestions? I was thinking peacock blue or crayola red...we shall see. 

Last but certainly not least, this may be my favorite. I found this Tinplate Toy Company clock. This little guy contains images of vintage toy trucks, horse drawn carriage, airplanes, boats, and the list goes on. I don't know what I like most about him. Is it the colors? Is it because it's a clock (which I LOVE!)? Or is it because I could see this in a little boys nursery one day down the road? Who knows? Regardless, I'm glad he's mine.

The Proposal

One year ago the boy surprised me when he got down on one knee, offered me a pretty ring and the rest of his life. ONE YEAR! I can't believe it, I feel like I just met him, but then again I feel like I've known him forever. Praising God today for gracing me with a man so godly, so ridiculous, so handsome, and so funny. My life will forever be sweeter because Brett's in my life.

A Little Background...

Brett and I met on a Tuesday. We actually met through eHarmony (another story, another day) but actually saw each other face to face for the first time on December 14, 2010. It wasn't long before I realized he was the rock to my roll...the cheese to my macaroni...the fruit to my loom. I'll stop there. What I'm trying to say is, he was quite wonderful and won my heart. 

My family goes on an annual trip to Siesta Key, Florida every year. That March, Brett went along. Keep in mind, it was just a mere few weeks before we left for vacation that Brett first told me he loved me. We both agreed we wanted to marry each other one day, but we both concluded we were in no hurry and wanted to take our time.

The Twist...

While in Florida, we were blessed to be able to take long, long walks on the beach. Hand in hand, taking in the sounds of the ocean and talking more and more about our future. Naturally the questions began to rise in both of our minds: if we're confident now we want to get married, why are we waiting so long to do so? We lived an hour away from each other, and football season would be here before we knew it. Did we really want to go through the fall being that far apart AND that busy?

As a girl, of course, I was giddy with excitement, but totally suave. The boy had no clue I was listening to songs on my iPod, planning which one I would walk down the aisle to. I just knew. I didn't know when, exactly, but I finally knew the boy at the end of that long church aisle would be Brett. As thrilled as that made me, I played it cool and let him bring it up and do the talking. I just agreed excessively when he mentioned marrying me sooner.

The Days Prior...

As the Florida trip ended, Brett concluded, "I think I need to talk to your dad." We had busy schedules the next couple of days making it difficult to spend time together, but our conversations continued. One Saturday morning (who remembers that cartoon, btw!?), I had to go to work, but Brett had a paper he had to work on, so he decided to come up to my house while I was at work to work on his homework. When I came home from work, Brett and I were talking casually, when he asked, "So, do you want to go ring shopping tomorrow?" My heart said, "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" but my mouth whispered, "I'd like that." Again, so suave.

I walked to the refrigerator and found a box of leftovers from Applebees. I yelled into the living room, "Babe, what's with the Applebees box?" He said, "Mind your own dang business!!" Aha! He had lunch with my dad. I love him.

Long story short, we looked at a few different stores for rings. I liked the ones that shined, and he liked the ones that made me smile more. To this day, I won't allow him to tell me how much he spent, because I would just want to return it and get something cheaper. I hate spending money. However, knowing my husband, he got a killer deal.  Another reason why I love him.

The Proposal...

It was a Thursday night. I worked all day and was exhausted. Brett text me while I was at work, asking me when I would be done so that he would know when to call. I told him what time. He text again: Text me when you leave so I know when to call you. I thought, Good Grief! I just told you! And then it hit me...I always hear stories about how guys act shady right before they propose. Could he be up to something? I rushed out of work like a bullet from a gun and headed home. The whole way home, I talked myself out of it. I didn't want to be disappointed, especially since he didn't do anything wrong. It's a silly thing girls do, and are good at. By the time I pulled in my driveway, it was totally out of my mind.

Then I noticed his car in my garage. I ran inside, fully expecting him to be down on one knee, with soft music playing and candles lit and rose petals everywhere! I opened the door, and, instead, found him making pork chops and messing with Sophie. I said, "Well hey, what's going on?" Brett said, "I knew you had a long day, wanted to surprise you with dinner!" Suspicious, I asked, "Umm, is that it?" He smiled a smart mouthed grin and said, "YEP!" I wasn't convinced, but at that point I knew he was gonna milk my anticipation for all it was worth.

We ate a nice dinner and went on a walk. Halfway through the walk, I realized, the faster we walked, the faster we'd be back home, and the faster I'd (likely) get engaged! I was bookin' it, and the boy knew it. He was all like, "Oh babe, slow down, it's such a nice night out!" Punk. We finally made it back home after walking at the pace of a snail. We went out back to chill out on the porch, and that's when it happened.

He set up all of the patio furniture, and had flowers and candles everywhere. The white and colored lights were strung throughout the porch...it was seriously perfect. I sat down beside him, quiet, letting him lead the conversation. I didn't want to delay his speech about how much he loves me and wants to spend the rest of his life with me. But again, I should have known. This is Brett we're talking about. Ornery, mischievous, Brett. He asks me if I liked the lights. I told him they were awesome and I was excited about them. He said, "Yea, I thought I remembered you saying you liked these. They had these other lights that..." And on and on he went. 

Seriously, a good half hour went by as he was talking about these dang lights. I finally zoned out. He was loving every moment. He knew he was killing me. After what seemed like light years, he finally said, "So, there's a reason I did all of this tonight." That was my cue. Boom, I was paying attention. Tell me more. He said, "I wanted you to get a glimpse tonight of what life could be like if we spent the rest of our lives together..." I'll spare you the sappy stuff, but trust me, he said sweet things that would have made any girl say yes. It was lovely and his words I'll cherish in my heart forever. At the end, as you may have guessed, he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Without hesitation, I said, "YES!"

And boom. Less than four months later, I became his wife. I'm a lucky lady. I cannot thank God enough for Brett and I would continue telling you how grateful I am, but instead, I'm going to wrap it up because Brett just offered to take me out for dinner at Biaggis, and I've gotten in the habit of telling him, "YES!"

Preach It!

"Yet when I preach the Gospel, I cannot boast; 

for I am compelled to preach. 

Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" 

1 Corinthians 9:16

As believers, we have NO choice. When we come to accept the fact that we are sinners and cannot save ourselves...when we discover God's great love for us, that while we were still sinners, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us...when our hearts have been changed by this Truth, we have NO choice. We MUST preach the Gospel. With our whole lives, with our every word, with our every breath. It's the least we can do to bring Glory to His Name.

There are many "gospels" out there in the world. The only way to test and see if its true is to see what they say about Jesus. Because if they're preaching a different Jesus, then they're preaching a different gospel, and a different gospel does not save. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He and God and the Holy Spirit are one. He was sent to earth to live a perfect life and teach us. He was nailed to a cross where He received beatings to the point where He was unrecognizable, where He died and was buried in a tomb. Then, three days later He rose again! The ONLY way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ.

Most of the world is preaching the message that we can save ourselves. They preach that there is a power within, and if we can unlock it, we are capable of great things. Some of them even tie in the name of God into this twisted message. My friends, do not be fooled. Do not be mislead! We constantly hear that we deserve greatness, that God wants us to be successful, or that we have the power to create life and death with our words. Friends, the only One capable of creating life with His Words is God. WE ARE NOT GOD! We are dust, we are dirty, we are sinners who deserve nothing less than death! But our God, who is mighty and compassionate and who is LOVE, He loved us enough to give us the opportunity to be saved! Apart from Him, we can do nothing!

We must be bold. We must speak the truth in love. We must pray for those who hearts are hardened. And we must warn those who are being mislead to come back to the Truth. There are many popular "teachers" out there that are leading even Christians astray. Joyce Meyer, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, Oprah, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, and Creflo Dollar are just a few of the first that come to mind.  They use Truth, mix in a little bit of blasphemy, and sell it on national television.  To quote Justin Peters, "If you take a perfectly good glass of water, and mix in just a drop of poison, it is no longer good to drink." Please join me in praying for those who have been fooled by their teachings, as well as for them, that their hearts may be softened to the Truth, and that they would turn from their ways and run to Jesus.

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who brought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping...." 2 Peter 2:1-3

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what is accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:6-10

H to the IzAir

(that's "Hair" for those of you who lack ghetto vocabulary)

With Spring beginning way sooner than we expected it to (not a complaint, btw), so many of us are rushing in to get our hair highlighted and cut. As a cosmetologist, I thank you :) Your boredom with your hair or desire for something new keeps food on our table. Your split ends keep our lights on.

I'm not a saleswoman. I'm frugal and hate spending money when I don't have to. Stretching the truth to put a few extra bucks in my pocket is not something I'm a fan of. But here's the truth: good hair products really do make all the difference. You can't bring me a picture of Jennifer Aniston's hair, have me color it like hers, then expect it to look like hers in the weeks to come when you don't treat it like she does hers. It's like looking at a painting on a canvas, and LOVING the painting! So you come to me and I give you the perfect canvas, but no paint. It's a great starting point, but it's nothing like the original you fell in love with to begin with. 

Again, I'm not a saleswoman. So today, I'm not selling you anything. Today is simply a day for me to tell you some of the best of the best products out there that won't make you break bank. They truly make a difference. If you try them and use them correctly, you will not be disappointed. So, in no particular order, here we go!

#1 It's a 10! Miracle Leave-In

 This stuff is worth every penny. It's a leave-in conditioner that doesn't weigh 

your hair down. Trust me, my hair is super thin, and every conditioner makes 

my hair look oily and keeps me from styling the way I want to. This is so different. 

You see, your hair is made up of keratin. This bottle is loaded with that protein

 and coats your hair with it, detangling it and strengthening every strand. I've 

seen dead hair come back to life with this stuff. W O R T H it.

#2 Redken Guts

If you want volume, Guts will be your new best friend. It looks like mousse,
but you spray it like silly string. What's not to love? Great volume
without that gunky, sticky feeling at your roots. Must have.
 

#3 Joico Violet Shampoo and Conditioner

 

For all my blonde sisters out there. Tired of the brassy tones your blonde 

locks get over time? Whether it's from the lack of sunshine or poor water at 

home, this shampoo is crazy awesome. It's super dark violet, so if you're familiar 

\with the color wheel, you'll know that this will kill the brassy, yellowish tones and polish your blonde after just a few uses. Can't go a summer without this.

#4 Paul Mitchell Thicken Up

Confession: I have crazy thin hair. People will tell me they wish they had thick hair like
me, and I laugh because they have no idea. I owe it all to Thicken Up. It's pretty self 
explanatory, so I won't go into much detail. I'll just say it's lighter than a mousse
and less greasy than most hair oils. It's the perfect serum that will leave you oh so satisfied.

#5 Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo

For the mornings you wake up with perfectly cute second day hair, except for 
those oily bangs. Or frankly, all the hair next to my face just feels greasy. You 
simply spray the product, and comb out after two minutes, and Voila! You 
saved yourself a good 20 minutes...the perfect amount of time to poke around on Pinterest before work! Coincidence? I think not.

#6 Redken Dandruff Control Shampoo

With all these crazy weather changes we in the midwest experience, our scalp tends to pay the highest price. And it didn't do anything wrong. Treat it well by using this Dandruff Control Shampoo! Using every other time you shampoo your hair will make a difference. It heals and repairs your scalp, but still allows your hair to be easy to style and maintain afterwards.

These six favorite products are just scratching the surface of all my favorite products. However, when it comes to the good, professional hair products, a little bit goes a long way. Find the two or three that work best for you. There's no need for your bathroom to look like the backbar of a salon. Disclaimer: my bathroom looks worse than my salon. I'm a product junkie and am not even a little bit ashamed. Thank you for not judging me.

Chronicles of Sophie

A few years ago, I was just a simple 22 year old taking on the world. I had started my own business when I was just 19, and bought my first home three years later. Scary? Yes. You wouldn't think I was that nervous, considering the fact that I had only looked at one house, and placed an offer that night. If the shoe fits, right?

Living on my own was so fun, but I needed something to go home to. My thumbs aren't green, and there was no relationship in my life at the time going down the road to marriage, so plants and a husband were out of the question. The only logical solution of course was a dog. I looked online at shelter puppies for two days until I finally saw this face (right). I had to have her.

Sophie had been in a kill-shelter for some time. She could only stay there for so long before they'd put her down. Her time was coming soon, so another organization that fosters puppies like Sophie took her in. Just a week later, she was mine.

Incredibly timid at 10 months old, we took her home. She had unlikely behavior, like hiding behind me on walks when she heard a noise, or running behind the couch or under the bed when I'd do laundry. (She no longer hides, but she'll sit behind me with her head down like she's ducking from getting hit.) Slowly Sophie began to feel safe. I was thrilled that she no longer feared everything in the world, and it was fun to watch the puppy in her come out. (Click here to see a video of that sweet puppy)

The girl was cute, but she was a monster. Evidence:

All things considered, I have one sweet puppy. She's my ragamuffin, and our house is more like a home because of her. Her adjusting to Brett living here took some time, and the two still have a love/hate relationship. (Can you believe I married someone who didn't like dogs? What was I thinking?) Anyway, the three of us really do love each other and every day is a little more adventurous because of that sweet, hairy face. (Sophie's, not Brett's)

Leap Day!

I'm usually a natural with words, but there are no words to describe how happy my heart is that it is February 29, 2012 and it's over 60 degrees outside! I have no way to adequately explain what an open sunroof this afternoon has done for my soul. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I took a few pictures of my favorite summertime lunch I made this afternoon...it won't do the day justice, but it's as close as I can get!

 Fresh Spinach leaves, Mandarin Oranges, Strawberries, Blueberries, 

Raspberries, and Raspberry Cabernet Vinaigrette

First, cut strawberries, then clean them, along with the blueberries

and raspberries.

Add a few mandarin oranges to the mix; do not rinse.

Place spinach on plate, then top with fruit.

I dropped a blueberry. Sophie loved it.

Next, a heaping teaspoon of the dressing. A little bit goes a long way.

In the words of Joey Tribbiani, this looks, "like summer in a bowl!"

If you really want to go nuts, add chopped pecans (get it?) I may move this to the back patio...such a pretty day. Enjoy it!!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired

Friday night after work, I hurried home because I knew Brett wanted to hurry out to a basketball game. I called him to tell him I was on my way. No answer. Sometimes he just doesn't hear it. A few minutes later, I called again. Notta. I finally pulled in to our home and saw him sound asleep in bed. Within hours, his voice became more and more raspy and he would get really hot then really cold...


I turned to him and said, "I'm sorry you're sick." Being a man, he sharply responds, "Oh I'm not sick." Right. What is it with men and denying they're sick? Does it really make them feel vulnerable? I, on the other hand, always view it as a time to finally rest. And I won't lie, I milk it.


Brett fell back asleep for a few hours, so I spent my evening on Pinterest (an evening well spent, might I add.) When he woke up, he turned to me and said, "Baby, this is what I'm thinking for my funeral..." The boy went from extreme denial to extreme drama in no time. I love living with this guy...never a dull moment.


Needless to say, the rest of the weekend was spent getting him meds and water and watching him wither away due to his lack of appetite. It's sad and a little lonely when your other half is down for the count. I just wanted to talk to him and watch movies but his head hurt so bad, he wasn't up for anything.


This is the first time I've been around him when he's sick. Weird, considering that we're a married couple, but it's true. He's seen me sick soooo many times, and he has always taken such great care of me. Last summer, he hooked his arms under my armpits and used his hands to hold my head up so I could throw up for 24 hours. He deserves a medal, really.


Anyway, he is finally better and back to work, so this nurse can finally kick her feet up (now that she's done disinfecting every square inch of the house). Ahhh...