just FYI

I have been keeping this darn fortune in my wallet on top of my drivers license for 3 months now.

The 3 month mark was Saturday.

Nothing happened.

The end.

His/Hers

This was an easy makeover on a key rack I got at my bridal shower over 3 years ago. I didn't want to put pictures in it mainly because I felt like our faces were all over the house, so I did this:

It was cute, I guess (and dusty). I freshened it up the other day with this:

More fun, simpler. Super easy. Just print it out and mount on scrapbook paper!

I love little projects like this where it takes no time at all to make you feel like you have something new!

House Colors

So heres the breakdown of our house colors. Mainly the kitchen/great room. Same as the last house, with the exception of the wall color. This home is already painted a lovely warm neutral beige that I love. I do not love that it is flat paint, but I will take it.

I am getting tired of red, but I have so much of it that I will still use it anyway. I would like to bring more of the teal and white into the house to break it up. I love the combo of that bluish teal and red!

I think the only thing I am leaving out is the kitchen cabinet color and countertop. The cabinets are Maple (we also have a Maple dining set) and the countertops are a neutral granite. I flows well.

This is a good way for me to lay out ground 'rules' for the house then go from there. I feel like if I get things sorted out in my head, I will be able to get some things done around here!

Any thoughts? Thanks to those who gave me awesome links last post!

Decor Block

Soon I will post some photos of the house.

Its only been a week since we moved in, but I feel like I am very behind on making this place a 'home'. The only room to have decor hung on the walls is the spare full bath. That room will be rarely used.

I just went to hang up a photo in the hallway and saw it required two nails so I put it down. Those confuse me. Hang up one nail, mark exactly where the parallel one should be, put a hole in the wall, repeat, repeat :) I am challenged at these things.

Also I have no clue where to hang anything. I want to avoid putting the same things in the same rooms as our last home. Thats where my biggest challenge is, seeing a piece and thinking, 'oh, this goes in the dining room', when really it can go anywhere!

The other day I went to Hobby Lobby for help and walked out with a paintbrush. How that was the only thing I bought I have no clue. I usually could go crazy in there but I feel so uninspired! I feel like it should be the opposite when moving into a new place and having a blank slate to work with, but I have hit a wall!

So, does anyone have any good, inspiring blogs or sites for home decor?

I'd appreciate it!

Moving Weekend

So we are in! In the house, pretty settled, only a few more boxes to go through. We also have to still hang our decorations on the wall, but it all comes with time.

We moved small loads on Thursday but the big furtniture was being moved on Friday, which left us bedless THursday night. We could've slept at the other place, but we were too excited!

Here is a photo I snapped as I left for work (these are all from my phone, hence the quality).

We were so tired that night we slept like babies on the floor!

Yesterday a friend and I went down to The Dump. Its this furniture store that sells supposed "good deals", but we didn't find any. It was actually a very expensive store.

While unpacking yesterday, Delilah escaped. I should really start answering unknown numbers because half the time its someone with our dogs. I know we are terrible. She is just so small she can fit through almost any small opening. I found her at our neighbors, all tied up. I thought it was hilarious. A good way to introduce ourselves! not!

Last night my mom and sister helped me unpack. We found my old hair extensions and put them in my moms hair...oh my goodness we were laughing so hard. Mullet mom!

Ode to Queen Creek

Last night was my last night in our Queen Creek home.

It was definitely bittersweet. We are so excited to be moving, but it will be weird to call somewhere else 'home'.

I know I will not be far away from QC, and I know I will be back often, but here are some things I will totally miss.

Bahama Bucks shaved ice. Down the Street. YUMMMM. My favorite is Jamaican Punch and Coconut with cream. We went with my mother in law the other night and she said I should try the Bahama Rama Mama (ice cream on the bottom), but I didn't because I was afraid I would love it too much and then miss it even more.

Costa Vida. Also down the street. I have to say I didn't take advantage of this as much as I should've. There's only two in the valley and one was less than a mile away from me...why didn't I eat their like everyday!?!?! Their salads are so yummy. And they have crushed ice (I would remember that).

Peace and quiet. What a small serene town this is. There was of course the train that'd go by and rattle the whole house every now and then, but it was mostly quiet. We will be living closer to the freeway, which is convenient but also loud.

Family! Our family lives super close to us now. Its easy to take advantage of that fact. I will miss being so close to them.

Queen Creek you never did me wrong! I am so grateful to have spent the last 3 years here. I will have so many memories of that house, especially with it being the first house after we were married and the house we learned everything there is to know about 'co-existing'. Our 'early marriage' years were spent here and we will have those memories forever. We lost a very special Chloe dog there, and brought home two other puppies. It holds a very special place in our hearts and we will love it forever!

Pine, AZ

This past weekend we went up to Pine, AZ with our friends, John and Mistie. Johns family has a sweet cabin up there and we were so thankful we got to stay there and have a relaxing, COOL weekend. We did a lot of eating, movie watching and chatting.

Mistie and I went an checked out the local antique shops.

√
An old make-up set...check out that orange!


We saw a few things from back in "our day"

Then cabin over looked a small lake and valley...so gorgeous!

The dogs got to play. Delilah and Bear thoroughly enjoy each other. Samson hides.

Delilah Post

Bath time for Delilah looks like this.

Wondering why she was crying so bad to get in the tub. GULP.

Regretting this.

Shaking. Es muy cold out here.

When did these ears get so big???

My hubby the Dancer

My husband sure likes to tear up the dance floor. He has been known to do this at many of weddings. Its too bad we didn't have dancing at our own!!

Here he is, dancing the electric slide.

I stay out of this one. I never caught on to the moves.

"I'll teach you, teach you, teach you, I'll teach you the electric slide"

That'll be in your head all day. You're welcome.

Yep, thats the DJ he is dancing with. Poor guy was up there doing it alone.

I had to steal my husband back. All the older women (dare I say "cougars"??) were stealing him away to dance.

That is MY MAN thank you very much.

TIME

How is it that Glee premiered over a year ago and that seems like yesterday,

but things like cruising to the Bahamas and meeting some of our now best friends seem like forever ago?

Time is so strange. Plays games with me.

Blessed

God is working. Whether we know it, or feel like it, He is. If we doubt it, we must trust He is behind the scenes, rooting for us. He is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31).

I have testimony to this. A couple months ago my job at the salon was going down the drain. I wasn't making money like I had been (its a commission job) and the management there was getting very unstable. I had an opportunity to leave the industry and take an hourly job at a surgery center. I was afraid, uncertain, and I was praying about it. I took the hourly job. I was heartbroken at the idea that I would not currently be an 'esthetician', but times are tough and I knew I wouldn't have another opportunity.

I regretted it at first. I wanted to return to the salon. I missed everyone and I had clients who were NOT happy that I was no longer practicing.

Two weeks ago the salon locked its doors and closed for business.

Praise God that I was not out of work unexpectedly and that I 'moved' when He urged me to.

I know this may seem like a 'small' praise report, but I will give praise where it is needed!

God is good!

I hope in the hard times to come I remember this and continue to praise Him before prayer gets answered. He is always working for us.

Busy Busy!

Whew! I can finally take a breather from photo editing! I had a lot of shoots this month,and its not over! Here is (some of) what I did in the month of May:

San Diego

We had a little road trip last week to San Diego and Irvine, CA.
We did not go on the best circumstances as Chris' sweet dear Aunt Adrienne had just past away. Her memorial was really beautiful and special. Although it was sad and super fast we still managed to have a little fun!
It was a great time seeing family and bonding with my in-laws. I really love them all!

Here are some photos of the family and enjoying beach time!

3 Years

Today we celebrate 3 years of marriage.

WOW, I can't believe its been 3 years.

Some days it feels longer, some days it feels shorter.

Most days it feels perfect.

I can honestly say I love him more today than I did the day we wed.

So cliche, but very true.

Marriage thus far has been hard, rewarding, bliss, challenging, fun, an adventure, romantic, grounding, comfortable...

...and I can't wait to see what the rest of our lives hold!