Wednesday, October 27, 2010

It's All in the Details:

I'm a very detail-oriented person. I think a home is made by the details and adds so much charm. Maybe I feel this way because I grew up in a home built during the era of WW2 that had many of the charming details I still love today.

I think my design style is a little on the more eclectic, contemporary, but warm and cozy side. I don't think of myself as loving the traditional, antique, or country style of decorating. So, some might think my design ideal conflicts with the details I love, but I think there can be a happy medium.

So, without further ado, I give you some of the details that I love:
Transom Windows:
Glass Doorknobs:

Farmhouse Sinks:
Beadboard:
Coffered Ceilings:

So, stay tuned because there's more details where these came from :)

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Dark, Dark, and more Dark

In finding picture of details and things I love for houses I'm coming across a trend:

I like dark wood furniture
I like dark oil rubbed bronze fixtures
I like dark wood floors
I like dark cabinets
I like warm, earthy tones & colors (which can tend to be dark)

I need to find a balance somewhere.

I do like more neutral, lighter (but not pale, blah, boring) paint colors
I do like white/cream moldings and wainscoting (beadboard)

Is that enough balance? And, why am I even worrying? It's not like we're even thinking about building a house. Of course we've discussed it and both want to. But, let's face it folks, right now I'm only dreaming of what I want my house to look like.

A girl can dream, right? And, dreams do change...

Stay tuned for a later post (maybe tomorrow) about the little details I love in homes!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Living Room- Tones

I've been looking at Rate My Space on HGTV's website the past few days (all photos taken from this website). I've compiled some pictures of living rooms that I enjoy. These photos speak to me because of the colors & patterns of accessories (but not necessarily the style or type), usually a neutral furniture, dark wood tones, and neutral walls. I'm not afraid of using color, except I do see the practicality of using neutrals on large pieces of furniture. And, despite calling attention to dust, I am drawn to dark wood tones. So, don't pay much attention to layout or furniture style of these as I was paying most attention to the colors.
Exposed brick wall, drum shade/chandelier

Darker, yet still neutral, accent wall - it almost looks like a linen texture to me, which I LOVE!

Shape/color of the couch and dark wood floors. There's almost not enouch punch of color in this room to me, especially with the lighter walls

Although they're hard to see in this picture, I liked this room because of the accent chairs and the rug

Love the built-ins, RUG!, and the accent chairs

Love the rug, accent pillows, and shape of the lampshades. But, this room is almost too light and airy for me, especially with the (cringe) glass top table.
Side note: I don't hate on those who have metal glass top tables, but it's just not my preference

I LOVE the patterned drapes that contrast against the neutral wall

I really like the shape of this sofa with the accent pillows and large dark wooden coffee table

I really enjoy this room as a whole with the exception of the oriental rug and oval shaped coffee table
I really enjoy the overall look and feel of this room, too. Especially the drapes & shades combo
Of course, this room drew me in immediately with all of the green accents :)

Menu Plan Monday

I'll try to start making this a regular post, as well. Sometimes, though, like you've seen before, I start making menus and don't continue after a few weeks in. When I do make a menu, though, I'm usually pretty good at sticking to what's on it but I may just alternate the days we have each dish. I will admit, however, most of my dishes aren't always homemade and are, instead, usually quick and easy. Most of my side dishes are out of a box or can :) Mondays and Wednesdays are especially easy because I'm in class til 7:30 on both of those nights.

Nonetheless, enjoy!

Sunday (last night):
Salmon Patties
Black Eyed Peas
Cornbread

Monday:
Spaghetti
Garlic Bread

Tuesday:
Red Beans and Rice

Wednesday:
Chicken Fettucini Alfredo (yes, this is from a box-sorry to disappoint)

Thursday:
At a conference, getting back too late to cook

Friday & Saturday:
At the in-laws for the Halloween Holiday

Have a great week, everyone!

I linked in with: Org Junkie @ http://orgjunkie.com/2010/10/menu-plan-monday-oct-25th-giveaway.html

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Agenda

So, I think I've finally come up with a purpose for my blog. Since I started this blog over a year ago I've made random posts on lots of different things. I think I've made a decision about what I want to devote my blog to.

I don't think I've mentioned it yet on my blog but, I know I did on facebook. I recently met a woman who has started her own wedding & event planning company. She's eventually going to make this her full time job. Right now she hires day of assistants from event to event but, eventually wants to hire a permanent assistant who is on staff, listed on the website, and can be in charge of day of execution in case two events are scheduled for the same day. I'm hoping this permanent assistant will eventually be me. For right now, I'm scheduled to assist her with a wedding on Nov. 6th.

So, how does this relate to my purpose for my blog? Well, I'm hoping to blog about my experiences with this (anonymous) company while changing the names of the brides, etc. because for right now, I don't have permission to give out that information.

I also want to use this blog as a journal for my "dream home." I love looking at HGTV and hope to post pictures of rooms I love from various websites. This will serve me later when Kenny & I build a house, which we both are really looking foward to.

And, I'll also continue to post pictures of things Kenny & I do, too!

Hopefully, I'll post my first "dream" room blog this week as I've already started compiling pictures so stay tuned...

Coming to an End

Well, October is coming to an end and is not going how I planned. We didn't make it to the GA National Fair in Perry, GA. We didn't make it to the pumpkin farm/corn maze in Odum, GA. Nor did we make it to Cumberland Island to go camping.

I did, however, make it successfully to my neice's wedding in Florida, but didn't have quite as successful a trip coming back. Here are a few pictures from that weekend:

Then this past weekend we went to a fair in Statesboro with some friends. Here's pictures from this too:


We're going up to PTC this next weekend for Halloween and to do some pumpkin carving- woohoo! Stay tuned for pumpkin pictures!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Starting October on the Right Track - Productive Overdrive

Man, I got on a roll today. I think I felt guilty for the day I had yesterday. Kenny left to go study and I began sitting around the house feeling sorry for myself, so I watched Lifetime Movie Network all day. I guess after having a very unproductive day yesterday I figured I better make up for it, which, honestly, isn't like me. Normally, I don't feel guilty for sitting around and doing nothing because I work full time and go to class two nights a week, so I feel like I deserve my downtime. Well, I guess today I didn't feel like my downtime was well deserved because I got a lot done.

I did sleep in a little, but once I woke up I didn't stop to sit down until about 30 minutes ago.

I got up and unloaded the dishwasher, reloaded the dishwasher, and washed all the pots and pans that were in the sink. Then, I swept all the floors twice (once with a Swiffer duster thing, then with the broom), and swiffered/mopped the floors. And, I scrubbed both bathrooms clean. After that, I began the 2 loads of laundry and 2 loads to clean our bedsheets. Next, I put away all of last weekend's laundry that never got hung up or put away. I showered and then headed to Sam's with Kenny to get some grocery items, brought him back home, then headed back out to Target for an errand and then to Publix to finish the grocery shopping. After that I came home, put away today's laundry and began cooking dinner.

Now, I've sat down and I don't know if I'll get up again. And, I've still got homework to do and some other things to, hopefully, get done on Shutterfly.

So, October is off to a great start! October is by far one of my favorite months because it's when fall weather really begins to set in. We've got a month full of fun I hope.

Next weekend we are hoping to go to the Georgia National Fair with some of Kenny's pharmacy friends & their girlfriends up in Perry, GA. The following weekend I'm flying to Santa Rosa Beach, FL., for my niece's wedding. Kenny & I are also hoping to get to Odum, GA., for a pumpkin patch & corn maze so we'll have pumpkins to do our annual Halloween Pumpkin carvings. Then, the last weekend is HALLOWEEN! I'm hoping we'll be able to do something big around the house like we did last year... we'll see...

So, stay tuned to see if we make another big-to-do out of this year's Halloween!

Far from Perfect

As sorry as I am to admit it, I've been trying to think of how the "The Disease Called Perfection" post applies to my life. Now, I'm not saying I'm perfect, because as Single Dad Laughing pointed out, we aren't perfect. I realize that I am not. I try to realize that no one else is either but that they give off a persona of being perfect.

The reason that I can't pinpoint how it applies to my life is because I don't want to admit it to myself.

I posted earlier "I'm Just Full of Contradictions," which begins to delve into the surface of my insecurities and imperfections. My life is hypocritical. My life is imperfect.

I don't have the perfect body.
I don't have a job that I love.
I don't have a perfect marriage.
I have bad habits.
I mold myself to those I'm around.

This all boils down to the fact that I'm insecure about who I am as a person. I fear rejection.

Whenever anyone asks, "How are you?" how do you react? Typically, most answer with something along the lines of "I'm good" and that is exactly how I always answer, even when I'm not "good."

The thing I learned most from Single Dad Laughing's post is I need to admit, not only to myself, but to others when things aren't perfect. We all need to stop putting up a front of perfection, but admit when things aren't going perfectly.

Right now, my life isn't perfect. It won't ever be perfect, but it can eventually get as close to perfect as I hope it will be. But, for right now, it's not. In hindsight, I think that's what all of my posts, unknowingly, have been trying to capture.

My life isn't close to perfect right now. There are lots of things I would change about how it's going, how I'm doing, and who I am. For right now, I need to admit to myself and accept that my life is far from perfect. Only then can it begin moving toward being as close to perfect as I hope it can be...

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Savannah Staple

If you're looking for a quick, easy recipe that's different from the norm of what is usually fixed around your house, then I suggest trying this:

Low Country Boil
Ingredients:
  • 2 lbs uncooked shrimp
  • 12 petite new red potatoes, halved
  • 1 smoked sausage link, sliced into 4 inch pieces
  • 4 or so pieces of corn on the cob (I leave this out)
  • Zattaran's Crab Boil seasoning
  • Old Bay Blackened seasoning
Steps:
  • Fill large pot with water enough so that all ingredients will be covered
  • Add Zattaran's Crab Boil (around 2 tsp. per quart of water, or more depending on your liking)
  • Bring to a boil
  • Add potatoes and sausage and boil for 20 minutes (30 minutes if you leave out the corn)
  • (while all this is boiling coat your shrimp in as little or as much of the Old Bay Blackened seasoning as you desire & refrigerate until time to add to the pot)
  • Add corn and boil for additional 10 minutes
  • Add shrimp and cook for no more than 3-4 more minutes
  • Drain and serve
The best part is, it makes enough for 2 dinners for me & Kenny!