Upgrade

I've got Beyonce's song "Upgrade U" in my head as I write this. Feel free to listen to it here while you read on.

What does a single chick do to furnish her home at the age of 24? She accepts hand-me-downs, scopes out garage sales, and carries on with her college-bought K-mart pieces. Well, she does if she's me anyway.
Fast forward 6 years and this chick is ready for some serious upgrades. Last summer, I had saved enough of my lil' teacher salary and upgraded my dining room table (with the help of Ikea and Value City Furniture).

This summer's focus was the living room. I bought my TV stand for $25 a few years ago from a coworker. I refinished it and painted it black. I decided to upgrade my TV and bought a new stand from Ikea. I simultaneously changed cable providers and had to switch my TV to the opposite wall, which turned out to be a happy accident because all of my black & white furniture looks fabulous on the red wall.

Plus now I always get to look at my favorite feature of the house: my grandparents' and parents' black & white wedding photos!

I decided to keep the old TV stand and upgrade it with a new shelf so I could use it for my books. Here's the before pic:

Shout out to my dad and uncle Mike for helping me make the shelf! I painted it up and Dad helped me install it. After much trial and error, I found an arrangement of books that I liked and voila! Bookshelf upgrade complete:

And yes, that is my niece's pic nestled next to the Twilight series.

So I showed y'all the desk that I ordered via Overstock in a previous post, along with the chair I ordered for it from Ikea (can you tell I like Ikea?). My poor printer has been resting on an antique vanity table in my bedroom for years (and by 'resting' I mean hanging off the front of the table). I'm happy to say that now the printer has an actual desk on which to sit, cozied in the corner of my living room.

I'm in love with the lamp I got from Target! I also like how the desk highlights my pics from Ireland. I'm in the market for a new pot (maybe yellow?) for my plant. Any ideas where I should look?

On the horizon for my living room is a couch upgrade, and after that, it's time to get the pretty Pottery Barn mirrored dressers for my bedroom. 

Can't. Wait.

Happy "F"ing Birthday

As hard as it is for me to believe, on Sunday I turned 31. Which also means that my lil' blog turned 1! I mean seriously, where did those 365 days go?

I have thoroughly enjoyed my tiny writing hobby this past year, and I want to thank all of my followers for taking the time to read my words! Whether you've been around since the first post, or this is your first visit, I hope that my blog has been helpful, maybe even inspirational, and above all, entertaining.

In the past year, I've crossed 2 items off my "Thirty Things in Thirty Years" bucket list (see numbers 19 and 20 here). So it looks like I've got 29 years to accomplish the remaining 28 things - no sweat.

Now, it hasn't been a perfect year by any means. I didn't get a job I interviewed for, I didn't get in shape, and I didn't meet Justin Timberlake. But I'd rather focus on the GOOD stuff that happened this year...

Suffice it to say, it may not have been a perfect year, but it sure was wonderful. If I get to experience half the things I did this year by the time I'm 32, I will be happy. The "F" in 'Happy "F"ing Birthday' isn't meant to be negative; it stands for Family, Friends, and Fun - all the things this birthday, blog, and past year have been about. 

So. Blessed.

Here's to the next year, y'all!

Summer Part 3: The Final Installment

Ain't that the truth? Even though we had the longest summer due to no snow days for the first time in my 9 years of teaching, I still feel like it flew by! It was a productive, busy, and fun summer for sure. But in these last few weeks, I tried to slow down and savor my days ...doing absolutely nothing.

Okay well, not nothing. I would add one thing to that list: visit with my niece!

I swear if Micah and Kate would let me, I would move in! I am so so grateful to have had these past three weeks off work to spend with her.

I did manage to squeeze in some pool time as well as some dinners with  friends.

Angie & Eli keepin' it cool

Joey having some fun at Lynn's Paradise Cafe

Showing off the romance novels that held our checks at The Village Anchor

And in the spirit of the Olympics, my main man Anderson came over and showed off his couch-climbing skills.

I've spent the last two weeks back in my classroom. While I'd be lying if I said that I haven't felt the rush from newly laminated name tags and rainbow-licious packs of pens, as well as the excitement from being with my work peeps again, I am sad to see Summer go.

I'm already looking forward to next Summer when we can take Emerson to the zoo, the pool, baseball games, and the lake! In the meantime, I have 23 students to meet, a birthday party to plan, UofL football games to soon watch, and many McNugget firsts to witness.

Thank you, Summer. You were blazin' hot, but you were good to me!

1 Week

It's hard to believe, but 1 week ago today, my McNugget came into the world. 

In these past 7 days,  Miss Emerson has changed my life in ways I never realized possible. I thought I knew what love was...and then I met my niece.

What I believed love to be, was merely a drop in the bucket compared to the feelings I have for this little girl. 1 week later, and I still tear up every time I look at her. She is a miracle.

It has been a privilege to watch my brother become a father, my sister-in-law become a mother. They have naturally stepped into their new roles as parents and I thank God that Emerson has them.

I have loved seeing Mom & Dad become "Grandma & Grandpa."  

And I know that Jill shares the joy & awe that I feel to be Emerson's aunt.

My aunt Terry said to me this week, "Now you know how easy it was for me to love you like you were my own." 

Oh how right she is.

This week has gone by way too quickly, but what a wonderful week it has been.

I look forward to the many, many, many more weeks to come with my sweet niece.