Snow Day!

Yep, that's right. A week ago I was wearing shorts and today it looks like this outside...



I opened the back door to take pictures and there was a nice ice "frame" around most of the door.



We've been hanging out inside, staying warm and cleaning up around the house. It has been nice to have a good excuse to stay home and not do much since we took Lily to the vet Friday to get spayed. She was supposed to stay over night but she did so well and with the weather getting bad, the vet called and said we could get her last night. She's still out of it but is so cute curled up sleeping, even if it is on the clean laundry I'm trying to fold..



Thursday was my birthday, we stayed in and watched basketball - it was perfect. Mike got me a great little Vera Bradley wristlet wallet (he had a little help with that one from yours truly) and surprised me with a pot of tulips. He also got chocolate mousse mice from a place that was my FAVORITE as a little girl.

For Such a Time As This

When I talked to my Mom this morning on my way to work, I mentioned this precious baby. I don't know him, his mom, his dad or anyone in his family but stumbled across his mom's blog several months ago and am in awe of her faith, love, and patience (she has 4 children, 4ish-years old and younger. Her youngest child, she was told, was going to be born with major heart problems and probably wouldn't survive. He was born and only through the power of prayer and God's amazing hand, he was healthy.

Now, he's fighting for his life for the same heart issues he was supposed to be born with.

Again, I don't know this family but can't help but think that this blogging world is a wonderful gift from God (if used, carefully and appropriately, as with all things) that helps us connect to family, friends and more prayer warriors than we ever knew.

It seems I wasn't the only one with the same general idea today. I also stumbled on this blog a few weeks ago and am amazed at this girl's faith. Her blog today was so much what I was thinking.

So, pray for Stellan, and as his mom has said in her blog, let HIS will be done. For those of you reading this and who have a blog, like Caroline's blog said, maybe we were given this venue for times such as these.

BBQ sandwiches (and 100th post)

This is what we had for dinner tonight - crock pot BBQ sandwiches and they were great. I did, however, make them a tad too hot and I'm surprised Mike didn't have steam blowing out his ears. Next time I'll have to remember to not put a whole can of chipotle peppers in... :-)

Home Improvement Wish List

I have a great time working on our house. There are lots of little things to do on a daily basis but there are still a few fairly significant "projects" that Mike and I want to do. Since we're on a budget and have to stay in the budget - I'm making a sky-is-the-limit wish list on here to tide me over. :-)

1. Wood floors - I want to put them in the kitchen/dining/living area.



2. Once we get wood floors I want to get a rug for the living area and one for the under the dining table.

This is what I want for the dining room (it's from Ballard Designs):



This is my favorite for the living room so far - it's from Pottery Barn. I've been watching for the right rug at the right price for awhile:



3. Eventually, I'd also like to get some nice chairs for the living area. I kinda like these:



4. Tile in all three bathrooms - there's linoleum with a tile pattern on there now.

5. (this one is actually at the top of the list) Find something for over the couch - yep, still looking. My plan was to take some great pictures during our trip we were hoping to take to Europe this fall and have them blown up and hang those over the couch but since that trip isn't looking too good because of the economy, not knowing if our company will have furloughs, etc., I'm looking for a new option.




Other little things I want to do:
- find a little table to put in the upstairs guest room
- find a more wall decor for: over our bed, our bathroom, the upstairs guest room, and the downstairs bathroom

I'm sure there's more but what we have here is a ton of work and I'm very excited about it!

Spring Cleaning

After a great weekend with my brother in town, I spent most of the afternoon cleaning up and FINALLY touching up places on the ceiling that I bumped when we painted after we moved in (almost 1 year ago!) 

While I was inside, Mike was outside working in the yard. He spread fresh mulch in the flower beds (we still have more to go but I have to actually plant flowers before we finish), filling a few mini-ditches in our yard, spreading fresh seed and washing cars.

Since no post is any fun without pictures. Mike's parents sent me flowers for my birthday - it's not until Thursday but I'm so glad I got to enjoy them over the weekend before I go back to work and they look so pretty on our mantle!

The Luck of the Irish

Happy St. Pat's Day! I really wish I could have been in Ireland today - I haven't been there on St. Patty's day but was there almost 5 years ago (way too long ago in my opinion) and can't wait until I have the opportunity to go back. 

As if St. Patrick's Day isn't fun enough, it's also special because Mike and I got engaged two years ago today. I can't believe how blessed I am and while it's fun to say the luck of the Irish was on my side that day, I think it was more God's blessings. :-)

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

Shopping Cart Pet Peeve

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are too lazy to put their shopping carts in the cart bins (or whatever they're called) in the parking lot or take the cart back to the store. Seriously, it's not that hard. The most frustrating part is that those same people are probably the same ones who get really ticked if their car is the one that the wind blows a cart into. 

So seriously, the next time you go grocery shopping. Walk your cart to where you're supposed to if for no reason other than to be thankful that God blessed you with the ability to actually walk to do so.

Yum!

I can't wait to make this cake on Saturday!

I'll let you know how it turns out... and thanks to the guy who blogged the recipe for the picture and to Erin for sharing the blog with me! :-)

Spring Was in the Air

We had a beautiful weekend here - we even got a little rain even though we need a lot more! 

Today, the high was supposed to be 54. It was actually 33. It. Was. Cold!

I'm ready for the warm weather to be back. Especially after making a trip to Home Depot yesterday.

From the Mouths of Babes

I met our 5-year-old neighbor Friday afternoon. She ran over to say hi when she saw Lily. I asked what her name was and after she told me, she added that she was going to have a baby brother but that he was still in her mommy's tummy and that they are going to call him Mr. Pickles. I wonder if her parents know about that last part...

A Busy Week

This week I:

• FINALLY got to take pictures of my friend's foster daughter. I wish I could share but a) they're a work in progress and the more important b) as she is a foster daughter, I don't want to put her picture up on the internet but it was so fun getting her to blow kisses and hug her 'Pretty Bear'.
• got to tag along on a test flight to Dallas. Way cool and praise the Lord that I didn't get sick and completely embarass myself in front of a bunch of people I don't know very well, if at all.
• had a wonderful evening catch up with a dear college friend and HUF travel companion over coffee and brownies. Sara - it was so good to see you!

Ok, now that it's in writing - it doesn't seem so busy but oh well. I guess work makes it all feel a lot busier. :-) I'm ready to power wash and, if the rain holds off until evening, spray paint our patio set. Hmmm... red, black or both?

No more Skin Milk

In college, I discovered this awesome facial moisturizer and have enjoyed using it ever since:



I haven't been able to find it here in Wichita but found it at drugstore.com (they're not paying me, neither is Skin Milk) and yesterday I found out that Skin Milk has discontinued it! Needless to say, I'm bummed. So, if you have any non-oily facial moisturizers to recommend, let me know! :-)

(and if anyone who works for Skin Milk happens to read this - bring it back!)