One Step Closer

I know I just blogged about this, but it's pretty much dominating a huge chunk of my life right now...but-I'm one step closer to fulfilling *one* of my dreams! Tonight is the first night of my last semester of classes for my Masters! Next semester will be spent doing my student teaching. I have officially turned in my letter of resignation to my supervisor! whoo hoo! That was a big relief! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Also-I've submitted my application for graduation. I belive this was the real "WOW" moment. I remember printing it off, looking at it, and reading "APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION." I still almost can't believe it. I'm so close!

Anyway-I love love love reading new blogs...I'm really into photography as *some* of you may know...and two blogs I'm loving right now are Jasmine Star and Ashley Ann. They are two completely different bloggers and photographers, but I'm so drawn to them. They are both beautiful, energetic, light, happy, and fun gals. I would love to have even an iota of their talent...they are amazing and for lack of better words, so inspirational. I highly recommend both if you are interested in photography or pretty things as well!

So glad it's finally Wednesday. Looking forward to the weekend. I think my little tiny sweet family will be taking a drive, searching out antique shops. I of course, will have my camera in tow. Maybe I'll get around to posting some pics!

Two months later, and the office project is basically complete!

We painted, moved furniture out, moved "new" furniture in, re-used window treatments that were originally used in a different room, and I tried to organize my books, school stuff, magazines, etc. I'm pretty pleased with how it all turned out! I still have a little left to do, but I am in love with the paint color and my curtains. I need to get some wall art up, but for the most part, it is a huge improvement from the "before." This room, as an office, suits our needs better than a guest bedroom. I'm in grad school currently, to become an elementary teacher, so this is where I take my night classes, do my homework, etc.

Outdoor Upgrades, Part II

Our Friday holiday was spent updating the front landscaping...I say the term "our" very loosely, as I was basically the ice water runner...LOL. Nick's BFF Matt came over to help, and baby girl and I watched from the side-lines. They started by ripping out the scraggly boxwoods that were barely hanging on...

The before-before: {This was before we installed the concrete curbing.}

In progress: the new yellow bushes are in the ground, and our weeping cherry white snowfall tree is hanging out on the corner... next up: more lava rock!

This was mine and Ava's view at one point...LOL:

{Just hangin' out with Mom...} I kinda <3> her!

Before:

After:



More pictures to come later! :)

Outdoor Upgrades...Part 1

In an effort to beautify our home, we decided to go with concrete curbing to add to our "curb appeal." LOL The man who owns this curbing company actually lives in the next subdivision over, so it was really convenient for the both of us! Here are some pics of the project in progress, after the curbing was complete. This weekend, we'll be filling in with more lava rock and hopefully some more greenery and pretty flowers! :)

This area needs the most help...the boxwoods need to be removed, as well as the unknown dark purple bush in the middle. The curb man suggested something taller, such as a weeping cherry tree, over there on the corner of the house where he brought the curb around. Any suggestions on what else we can put there in front of the big window?

This tree will also have some pretty lava rock put down around it as well.

I sense sore backs and blistered fingers this weekend! We'll have to be sure to slather on the sunscreen! Ouch!

Any big 4th of July plans for you all?

Weekend Warriors-Part I, cont'd

As promised...here are the before and afters of our little weekend landscaping project!


Wow, these are kind of embarassing! Last years mulch had faded soooo much!

The damn weeds had totally taken over the place...you can't get rid of 'em!

And...drum roll please...a few boxwoods, grass, and Zinnia's later...plus a couple Bobcat scoops of mulch...

Our edging needs a little "neatening" up, and we need some grass seed in places, as well as cleaning up *under* the top level of the deck, {hence the concrete blocks} but I think it's a big improvement from before! (As do my sunburnt and painful shoulders. *tear*)

Budget breakdown may or may not follow...lol.

Birthday goodies comin' up next! :) (I'm now officially 24!)

Weekend Warriors-Part I

This weekend was alllll about the landscaping in our backyard...

Last summer, the hubby built an addition onto our back deck, which extended it to a whole other level...so nice and roomy. We did minimal landscaping around it, basically just throwing down some mulch, a few stepping stones, a few azalea bushes and called it a day.

Not for long! We started by pulling out the old and dead bushes, and then putting down a fresh layer of landscaping paper over that old layer of mulch to further help keep the weeds out. We layed fresh black mulch bought from a local family owned landscaping company. (They only sell mulch and rock, so then we headed to rusty trusty Lowe's.) We bought several Winter Gem Boxwoods, some "grassy" plants, and two other bushes, can't remember their name right now! What a difference they make! I also bought several hot pink Zinnia plants to add some color to our predominately green color scheme. We then re-laid the stepping stones coming off the bottom of our deck...and let me tell you, this took 2 days! We both have the sunburn to prove it, even after SPF 50 applied several times over!

I'll have a list and a budget break down as well as before and after pictures in a later post, so stay tuned!

Hope ya'll had a great weekend!