Busy, Busy, Busy

It's been a while since my last post and man have we been busy.  I started playing softball on a women's league out of Northeast GA.  While we haven't won a game yet, I am having a lot of fun.  After our first scrimmage game and first real game, I could barely walk up and down the stairs, I was in so much pain.  This definitely makes me want to keep playing to stay in shape and keep my muscles moving.  It doesn't help that I am sitting pretty much all day at work!

Cody has been going into work any where from 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM these past few weeks.  It seems like he is always telling me he has to go in early, but hey, that's overtime!  I guess people have been spending their tax refunds on extras for their vehicles.  It's amazing what people will spend on their trucks to get them lifted with new tires and rims and spray in bedliners.

Well, we have started on our stair makeover.  We have removed the carpet and the 1,000s of staples.  Let me tell you, that has to be the worst part!  It absolutely sucked!

Here are some pictures from our progress.

 

    We were going to do a section at a time, but then after realizing how much of a pain in my ass it was just to rip up the carpet, I wanted the worst part over with.  Not enough cuts and blood stopped me this time!  I can't tell you how happy I am just to have the carpet gone!
 
Right now we are waiting to buy the actual treads to stain until all the pollen is gone.  We will be staining in the garage with the doors open and we don't want to stain and then the pollen stick to it.  It would be a wasted effort and money!

This past weekend was absolutely beautiful!  Cody cut the grass and the flowers are starting to make their way out of the ground.  I love seeing flowers come back year after year!

Unfortunately, after today's rain, most of the blooms on this tree have fallen off.
 

See the blue in the bottom right corner?  That's spray paint for a little project I am working on.  That will be another post for sure so keep your eye out for that.  I hope to have that completed this weekend.

Buford Hwy Farmers Market

A few weeks ago, mom and I headed over to the Buford Hwy Farmers Market.  If you have never been, it is definitely something you need to check out. 

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They have any and every fruit or vegetable you are looking for, plus a great variety of meat and seafood.  The best part is the price is great!  With grocery prices on the rise, this our go to place to buy our meats.

The best part is coming home and dividing everything up to see exactly how many meals we got for our money.  Our bang for our buck!!

This is what I started with - $28.22 before taxes.

Ground beef, ground pork, pork chops, rib eyes, and chicken tenderloins!

   By the time I was done dividing everything up, I got 12 meals out of everything for $2.35 per meal + taxes.  Not bad at all if you ask me!  

And guess what, no coupons were involved!  Even better! 

If you have a chance one weekend, check it out, but beware, it's gets crowded!

Winter Pinterest Challenge

We all pin, pin, pin and pin some more.  I see some great ideas all the time and think I can do that or oh that is a great idea!  So I decided I would jump on the band wagon and participate in

hosted by

Megan

Katie

Sherry

Michelle

After living in our house for a little over 3 years, I (actually Cody) hung up curtains in the living room.  It's amazing what curtains do to a room!  Then I started thinking about what I could do next in the living room.  And then I had a lightbulb moment!

I have pinned fabric covered lampshades and see tutorials all the time.  It adds color, textures and patterns to a room for little money. 

Here was my inspiration and the tutorial I followed.

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I headed out the thrift store in search for a lamp base and found one for $2.  Can't beat that in my book!  Then it was time to start hunting for fabric.  I thought this part was going to be a little more harder than I had imagined, but I was able to find some for a reasonable price - $9.95 per yard.  I didn't think that was too bad considering it is indoor / outdoor fabric.  I figured this would hold up very well, especially since I want mom's help making matching pillows for the couch.  

Here's what I started with.

And here is the finished product!

The base was already white, just had to touch it up a little bit.  Of course, I already had white spray paint on hand.  Can't beat free!

Here is a closeup!

Little by little, this room is slowly coming together.

Next project - making matching pillows for the couch, with mom's help of course! 

50 Years, Now That's True Love

My mom's aunt and uncle celebrated 50 years of marriage.  Of course, their children wanted to throw them a nice party to celebrate their 50 years of love for each other.  From first communions to graduations to surprise birthday parties, they have always come to celebrate with us for any special occasion that we have had going on in our lives.  Unfortunately, mom's side of the family lives in Indiana and couldn't make it down, but mom, Melissa and I went to join in on the celebration for their special occasion.  

During dinner, mom's uncle made the comment that they got married on $100.  The $100 was spent to buy the rings, pay the priest, her wedding dress and 2 Greyhound tickets to Indiana.  Wow is all I can say!  A tank of gas and some groceries for the night and there goes $100.

 Here are some pictures celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Of course, 3 events have to be going on in Atlanta at the same time and we have to be on the south side of Atlanta.  Who loves Atlanta traffic?!?!

Sitting in traffic, we see this character.  This is why a college education is important.

Had to move the flowers.  Aunt Jane was hidden behind there.

Vicky gave a toast and thanked everyone for coming.

Cynthia wrote a poem and read it aloud.  Aunt Lora, you would have been proud!

The couple and their children.

Time to open the gifts.

Family friends showed up they haven't seen in several years.  They used to ride motorcycles together and put together a collage of some of their trips together.

Mom made a beautiful quilt for their anniversary gift!

Cousins

Mom with her aunt and uncle. 

We had a great time and I think they really enjoyed their time.

Congratulations!

Stair Makeover Inspiration

I walk up and down the stairs every day and every day I get more aggravated at the stairs.  I have probably said a few bad words under my breath as I walk up and down them that's how bad they are getting on my nerves.

When I first bought the house over 3 years ago, everything seemed perfect.  Then I discovered Pinterest!  I have started seeing all these stair makeovers and I knew from the get go, this would be Cody and mine's first big project.

The carpet must go!!

Here are a few inspiration pictures to see what we are planning on doing.

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All 3 of the above homes had carpet, but not anymore.  I love these transformations!  I can't wait to get this project started and get the carpet ripped up.

We know this project is not going to happen over night, but the transformation will be huge.

Can't wait to post back with our before and after transformation!

Gallery Wall Inspiration

Gallery walls are something I see everyday on Pinterest.  After creating Melissa's Christmas presents for a gallery wall in her bedroom, I have really been thinking about creating one for our house.  My biggest dilemna has been where am I going to create this gallery wall.  I have finally found a wall so now it is time to get creative, but first I need some inspiration!

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Just from my pictures I have chosen as inspiration, I would assume you have guessed right that I will transforming our staircase wall.  From different blogs I have read, this is a process that doesn't happen over night.  It will take me a few months, if not more, to create our gallery wall. 

So I guess you know what this means for me - it's time to start hitting up the thrift stores! Frames, frames & more frames!