Life's great journey is made up of day by day delights.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Look at what I found!

Ok, so this is a frivolous knick-knack but I am kind of in love with it. This would look really cool in our living room or entry way. Tell me your thoughts....

http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/HomeAccentsD%C3%A9cor/tabid/508/List/0/CategoryID/132/level/a/ProductID/7841/ProductName/Turquoise-Ceramic-Balls/Default.aspx

Check out the home page. That is where I spotted these little orbs of awesomeness!

200 SMACK-A-ROO'S!!!

A little before Eric and I headed into a world of marital bliss he promised me he would give me money to decorate the house as I saw fit. I've said it before and I'll say it again...he knows me all too well. What girl wouldn't love having free reign in a house that is in dire need of some sprucing up??
Ever since we said "I do" he's been saying "I don't" to forking over the cash. haha I always tease him about it....ok, I might do a little more than teasing. I might....ahem....nag. *GASP*
But ladies and gentleman, the day finally came!! On Wednesday he told me to hold out my hand. I obeyed like any good wife would do ;-) and there it was! The green stuff. 200 SMACK-A-ROO's!!! I'm quite excited about finally getting to change some things in the house. I'm thrilled about having $200 however the reality has suck in that $200 isn't really that much money. Now, please don't call me ungrateful. I'm very blessed to have a husband that trusts my judgement and decorating sense enough to let me change the house he's lived in for nearly 10 years as a bachelor. But let's be honest, $200 isn't as much money as it used to be. I have to beautify the majority of our home for only $200. I'm beginning to feel faint just thinking of it. I'm terrified and enthralled at the same time! This will be a fun challenge and a hard challenge at the same time! I have a few ideas of what I want to do and where I want to shop but I am going to be documenting this experience step-by-step, asking for your assistance along the way. I really want to stretch my money as far as I can without making my home look obviously decorated on a budget, you know what I mean? Price comparison and couponing seems to be in my very near future!

STEP#1=Stores of Consideration:
Target, Kohls, Pier 1, Kirklands, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, Old Time Pottery, T.J. Maxx

Here is where you come in: Where have you gone to find some great deals? What are some ways that you've made your money stretch in the area of home decor?

STEP#2=Rooms to Reform (Normally there will not be this many steps but I want you, my loyal readers...ahem...Ashley....to know what I'm working with.)
Some of my living room, guest room, master bedroom, office, and a few other random areas

Also, keep this in mind, my house is small and is limited in storage. Here is another question: What are some creative ways that you have found to save space but not sacrifice style in your home?

Thank you for going on this home adorning and budget-conscious adventure with me! I can't wait to read your input! TEASER ALERT: Pictures of home to follow so you have an idea of my dilemma! These photo's will serve as my "before's" haha

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Sports: A Husband's Addiction and a Wife's Obligation

Let me preface this post with first saying that I am athletically challenged. Very serious condition with symptoms of moderate to excessive pudge, mockery from classmates in gym class, injuries to challenged person when attempting a sport, and a complete lack of interest in anything sport related.

As promised, I am following up my previous blog with explaining my husband's unique passion for sports.  Not just any sports, though. Really only two catch his interest. They don't catch his interest randomly. They catch his interest because his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio has two of those sports teams: A baseball team named the Cincinnati Reds (formerly know as the Red Legs due to the red stockings they wore in years gone by) and a football team named the Cincinnati Bengals (ya' know...like the tigers.) Now I've heard of hometown pride but I truly believe my husband has perfected that type of adoration. He loves EVERYTHING Cincinnati oriented whether it be the viaducts to the Queen City bologna to the Skyline chili to the hometown hero's,etc. but nothing compares to this man's love for the Reds and the Bengals. I'm going to be honest with you......before I met Eric, if someone had mentioned the "Reds" team to me I would have never known what city they were from. The only reason I knew of the Bengals was because my brother had some trading cards of different football teams. I remember looking through his book of cards and liking the Bengals because of the team name and colors. When I did meet Eric he said right off the bat (no pun intended) that he was obsessed with sports. I. Had. No. Idea. He never misses watching a game. Ever. The annoying cute thing is that he assumes I want to watch and cheer alongside him. I am honestly ok with that but do you know how many games baseball teams play a week??? They play almost everyday. So nearly every evening I am watching these games. I can't believe I am about to say this but thank goodness for football. At least they only play once a week!!! Although, his obsession/addiction can be a tad annoying I love it at the same time. He gets so excited when he learns something new about his teams (historical or current information)! He gets even more excited when they win! Those wins often make his day. He looks so cute when he gets that enthralled! How could I try to make him stop? How could I take that away from him? Part of this addiction includes shopping, believe it or not! He owns more than 30 hats. All but possibly 5 are sports related. He owns several jerseys. Eric also has a Reds bracelet and for the wedding I even bought him Reds cufflinks. He buys everything authentic. If it's not authentic and "what the players wear", as he often says, then count him out! His obsession even gets to his mouth. No, I don't mean by cheering for them. When he goes to the ortho to get his bands changed he requests to have them red for baseball seaon and orange & black for football season. His groom's cake that we had served at the rehearsal dinner was half Reds and half Bengals. In January he dragged me to the Redsfest in down town Cincy. Talk about a fan's dream come true! During football season he wears a jersey every chance he gets and will randomly shout the team's slogan of "WHO DEY!!!" Example of randomness: In church he has actually made a point to look at me and mouth said slogan. Good to know he is paying attention to the sermon. haha

I often tease him by saying he gets more excited about his teams than he does me. He always denies it (I've trained him well) but deep down I think it still might be true. ;-) I try really hard to get into the games and convo about "his" teams. Sometimes I find I actually enjoy myself and through my time of knowing him I have learned a lot about the sports which definitely makes them more enjoyable. Even though he knows I am not a die hard fan he always wants to include me. As I've implied it can be a tad annoying but I always have to stop and think to myself, "At least he wants me with him. That makes the experience much better for him. Most men are all too happy to shoo their wives away but mine wants me ever at his side. He could be obsessed with so many other things...so many things that are much worse. And he's dedicated to these teams no matter what. I have to admire his faithfulness."  So though I may grumble from time to time and though I may not fully understand his addiction, I love that he LOVES sports. I used to count it as my obligation to be involved in this area but I'm learning to count it as my enjoyment because it's just another area in which we can grow close. Yes, sports play every day but now they are becoming a (small) day to day delight!

                                        He likes the Colts too!....but he loves the Bengals!
The ginormo jersey reads, "AUTHENTIC" thus the point and grin from my man.
Even on a regular, non-game day he is decked out!
Our first Reds game together. Sat out in 95 degree weather with the sun facing us. I must really love him!
At the Redsfest. See the glimmer in his eye? haha
                                                                                                     Our first Bengals game together!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

I did it! I did it!..well......kind of.....

As you can see, I have finally started to figure out how to beautify my blog! I have only taken baby steps, mind you, but at least it's something. However small it may be I am still counting it as an accomplishment for the day. Gold star for me! The sad thing is that I thought making the banner was hard.....if that was hard then the rest of this might be nearly impossible. So what now? Mission Impossible, I say. Mission Impossible. Sure, I may not have some cool secret agent type gadgets or balls of fire blowing up behind me in the far distance but I do have one thing that Tom Cruise never had...color coordination. Ok, who am I kidding? The man probably has that too. haha

Moving on to some quickie updates:
*Eric and I seem to be more in love every single day! He makes my heart go "thump, thump....thump, thump." He's so dreamy! ;-)
*We had a crazy weekend in Cincinnati that involved long car rides, barbecued bologna, major allergies, Fritsch's Big Boy, and goetta.
*Eric's birthday is today and my man is 29! I got him an authentic Reds jersey which made him so happy which in turn makes me so happy. I just realized that I have yet to discuss what a sports nut my husband is. Hmmm, that post soon to follow. To celebrate he went to Cincy (where else?) last night and saw the premiere of the Pete Rose movie, "4192." He loved it of course and got to see the man himself, Pete Rose. Always a thrill for my Honey!
*We just celebrated 3 months of marriage on July 10th. Woohoo!

That's all for now. I just received a mental letter saying, "Here's your mission if you choose to accept it." I've chosen the mission....this blog will self destruct in 5.......4..........3.........2...........**BOOM**

Friday, July 9, 2010

UPDATE: HAIR IS ABOUT TO BE PULLED OUT!

When I last wrote I was already quite frustrated but I only had just begun. I am now at home and am slowly sinking deeper into madness. Maybe tonight was NOT the night to try this out? Maybe I should take a break? I truly believe I need someone to come over and hold my hand so that I don't use said hand to rip my hair out!..........someone.....ANYONE.....tell me it will be ok and that the computer will not beat me. It won't....will it? (sigh) Off to try AGAIN!

Is this really a good idea??

Well, today is the day! I woke up and decided that I would FINALLY decorate and design my blog. I might as well since I pledged my faithfulness to blogging, right? I  mean why shouldn't I provide my countless ....ahem...one reader some eye candy? So today I went to a wonderfully delightful blogging design site and downloaded the fonts, banners, etc. For that act I felt amazingly successful....but then the gut-wrenching reality set in....."I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING." What a rollercoaster of emotions I have gone through already! I've gone from determined to accomplished to absolutely horrifed which is turning into utter disbelief (shout out to Lacy, co-worker, for providing the word "disbelief".....that just shows how jarred I am by this whole process.....apparently I do not need to blog!)  I had to print out a 17 page tutorial guide for Pete's sake! But don't dismay! Yes, I may be a little shaken by this project, but I will continue to move ahead. I will not let technology (and really big words) shoo me away! Let's just hope this weekend affords me a little extra time to take this on and arise (cue "Rocky" theme song) VICTORIOUS!!!...........potentially cute blog soon to follow. :-)