Spare bedroom..done and done on a budget.

So this past week I ventured to Lowes and decided I was going to get started on some painting around here. I couldn't find anything great and then I saw an inspiration board for blue and red without being too red, white, and blue. If that makes sense? I wanted like a preppy modern look, so here is what we went with.

Sparkling lake in eggshell. Kind of like a blue/green.
I painted the room in one night. Pretty impressed with myself and only one minor accident.

Backstory* we have an 8 foot ceiling and I am 5'2. While in lowes I was attempting to figure out if I could use a step stool or a ladder. Here I am standing on a step stool. Raising my arm and hand in the air to account for 8 feet. The guy who worked at lowes thought I had a question and was raising my hand. So I tell him what I am attempting to do and he's like, well why don't I just get you a tape measure? Genius!Then he was standing on the stool trying to measure 8 feet. Not getting the concept that I needed to stand on the stool and he needed to measure 8 from from the ground to see if I could reach from the stool. Duh??? Anyway we figured it was probably doable.

So back to the accident. While taping the damn stool slipped out from underneath me and I rolled my ankle while bashing my arm. Sigh, totally not graceful.

With the walls done I was on the hunt for furniture and accent pieces. We picked red lack tables from Ikea. They are low so I had to make sure the bed is low. Bonus**12.00; Red and Corkish lamps for the side tables 20.00 each and a black bed frame 169.00. Also picked out a canvas print from tj maxx 40.00 in those colors.

All that's left is the final touches. O yea and the last piece of the bed Ikea didn't include. Once we get that I plan on moving in our mattress and some pretty linens, moving in the old Ikea dresser from our bedroom and some curtains. Right now it feels bare so I'm hoping that will finish it off well. After that on to the master...picked up the wallpaper today.

I hated the color as we were painting. The streaking drove me crazy

What we were working with before we started

because who doesnt need a drink when putting together Ikea furniture

again noting but one frame on the wall thus far. I was thinking maybe a mirror centered over the dresser

Random

 

So first I want to start out by saying this post will cover multiple topics.

First: How do I make this blog neater? It is driving me insane the way it post pictures and makes the pages look like a total mess. Husband: if you read this, do you have computer skills to fix this problem? Love your OCD wife.

Second: I need to start reading more. I am impressed with how much I have read since we got married. Prior to that I wasn’t really reading anything. I am about 40% through the lucky one and can not wait until the bloggistas book comes out in April. Also, I saw the preview for Hunger Games and now I want to read the book. I don’t know why but I usually have a hard time reading anything too serious. As a matter of fact, I am not sure I ever read anything serious. Perhaps because my job is so Debbie downer (sorry mom, I know you hate that phrase), that I need some ridiculousness reads. 

Third: I made pulled pork for Matt for Valentines day. I am pretty impressed with a- how simple it was, even making my own sauce, and b- that I like it too. Not crazy about bbq pork. I also made lasagna flortine this week. Probably the best Lasagna I have ever made. Plus now that we are moved, I can use all those really great bridal shower gifts and no longer have to cook a lasagna in a circle pie dish. Awesome! Pinterst and Real Simple Mag are pretty handy. Now if only we were home more often. Then I could cook more than 2x per week….if that.

Lastly: I ran outside today. My pace outside sucks. I know they say the treadmill is bad, terrible, awful, for you but I have been using it for so long I forgot how to run outside. It has been too long since the police academy days…those were some outside runs.  Anyway trying to build  up my outside time for the March 5k and also signing up to do one in May with my cousin. Although, she says we are walking. Hey at least I can put it down in the books as 2 5k’s this year.  On the topic of fitness, Matt (while at the bar last night) said he would do tough mudder this Oct. I should sign him up now for no backies. And baby Eli has been here for a little over a week now, the vet weighed him in at 10 lbs. I have a feeling he will be another 5 when he goes back March 1. He loves to eat and I have been reinforcing potty training with treats galore!!!

Well its time to pick up the kindle and power down the computer. Eli is already asleep and I got back to day shift tomorrow. God I am not a morning person. O and I hope to hammer out some painting, master and spare, by the middle of March.  Pics to come!!

Getting acclimated.

Eli has been ours for 2 days now. He's doing well and adjusting. It's amazing how small he is right now. I broke down and let him on the sofa and then I broke down again and let him on the bed. I feel bad leaving the little guy in a cage that's too big for him. He's such a sweet puppy. Loves to cuddle and nuzzle right in your face while he sleeps. Apparently it's super comfortable for him, me not so much. I hope he takes a liking to his cage on his own and sleeps in there soon.

We are so happy we were able to rescue him from a kill shelter in VA. I'm looking forward to a long healthy life with him.

Puppy love!

The house is unpacked and clean. On to decorating but first we need to add to the house, making it a home. After all, we don't have a landlord anymore. First order of business: give a cuddly baby a home. I found him at 8 weeks old. He's from Virginia and was fostered in New Jersey. And as of tomorrow the black Labrador/ golden retriever named New York will become a New Yorker.

We are also renaming him. Eli. Matt picked it and I kind of like it. The entire litter was named after super bowlish things. So it's not New York anymore but close.

Shamrock scramble

I was super excited to find the orange county runners website yesterday. I would love go do a 5k called the shamrock scramble come March. I think it was on my list of 101, so I can cross that off I I complete it.
I asked my friend Chris, since she and I did my first 5k a few years back. This time I.will.run. the entire 5k. It's not that far really.
After not working out the entire week of moving I felt the itch to get back to the gym. That was probably my longest not-going-stint since I started going in dec 2010. Not too shabby!!!

Anyway to prepare for the 5k, I plan on running 6 days a week until the 5k, varying distances. This week I did 4 on the treadmill, a few outside (still need to map bc my computer is down for mapmyrun), and 30 min on the elliptical. I haven't ran outside in forever! I need to work that back in but I love the push from the treadmill.
I can't sustain much over 6 on pavement for very long. 6.6 on the belt. I'm hoping to build up to 5-6 mile a week outside.
Also need to start cross training because I'm getting super bored.

In an attempt to eat better I made this from real simple:

3/4 pasta
1lb ground turkey
2 cups broccoli
Olive oil
S and p to taste
1/2 crushed red pepper
2 cloves garlic.
It Was pretty simple, like they alleged, and only took 20 min. Not full of flavor but something healthy and quick on a weekend. Bonus: I actually cooked it. Pre made meals just have not been satisfying me lately.at.all!

Ta da!!! We own a home.

So all the anticipation and stress is over and I can finally post:: we are homeowners. Closing was indeed, jan 31st, 2012. On jan 30, 2012 we got some annoyingly bad news that we would need another 1,000-3,000 in less than 24 hrs in order to make this happen. I really don't know what happened the amounts went up-down-up down all day long. At 9:00 pm the night before we had our total and we had the money.

I was so anxious went we went in for closing. It was weird. I borrowed just as much money for school and didn't bat an eye at it then. This was different, but it went smooth, and it went fast. So without further delay so pics for my sept knotties. Bear in mind they are iPhone pics.

I need to take some of the outside still do I'll edit from a real computer later.
The kitchen rocks! Granite counters, an island/breakfast bar. Those awesome doors that don't slam shut, custom cabinets, and back splash of tiny tiles in brown, tan, and white.

The hardwood is gorgeous and so gleaming. We are going to paint the living room. I was thinking a gray/yellow color pallet. Get a bigger tv and a new media console. Hopefully from pottery barn. And maybe just maybe a sectional. Although I do like the arrangement now. Matt doesn't feel to move the tv on an angle (you drive me nuts) and you can fit the ottoman between the sofa and coffee table.

More to come later!