Fun Fact Friday 10.04.13

Hellooo Friday! This work week wasn't too crazy busy for me which was refreshing. Although I'm still exhausted by Friday, how does that work? I was able to have dinner with my longest group of girlfriends this week and I so cherish these times. We may not be able to get together all that often, but when we do we pick right back up where we left off. There's nothing like friends who have known you since elementary school, some even longer! Yikes.

So here's what we've got going on over here:

1. I've deemed this weekend, let's see how much we can get done without spending any money. Somehow weekends have been adding up too easily for us lately. I mean I know why, paint, lawn care, Home Depot trips, etc but it's time to start making do.

2. Except I am giving myself a small budget for mums, pumpkins, and the like. I must decorate our front porch. And I can't wait.

3. Goodbye remaining yellow kitchen! Here's a peak:

4. Last weekend the weather was so nice that I decided to open the double doors in our kitchen. During the summer it was SO hard to open but now that the weather has cooled off a touch, the lock on the left door is much more manageable. I only have so much strength in my fingers! I made Tucker be my model. It made such a difference having both doors open.

5. Oh, and good boy no longer. We left the doors open while we got things done. Tucker has been great about hanging in the yard and coming in when he wants to. Well apparently he got a little too bored, and I didn't check on him soon enough. Suddenly he was gone! Very thankful he does come when we call him. And he came strolling down the road! Ugh. You've lost your privileges Tucker.

Well, that's about all we've got going on around here lately. A bit boring. But tonight we are heading into the city to meet up with a group of high school friends. I can't wait.

What are you up to this weekend?

Will you be decorating for Fall too? Send me some inspiration!

Have a fantastic weekend!

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

Linking up with H54F, That Friday Blog Hop, Friday Favorites

Fun Fact Friday 09.27.13

This year seems to be flying by. I'm pretty sad next week is October. I kept thinking I still had time to go apple picking but that window closes quickly each year! I better go get my mums and pumpkins this weekend, next thing I know it's going to be mid-November!

Here are a few things we've got going on over here lately:

1. I've had my eye out for a new black bag for well over a year now. But either a) I haven't found something I love or b) I have found something I love but haven't wanted to spend that much money. I stumbled upon this bag at Target last weekend on clearance. And, I had a 20% off Mossimo bags in my Target cartwheel app (discussed here). So far, it has held up really well on my daily commute, I absolutely love it. Oh, and as I mentioned on instagram, I finally found a pair of black ankle pants that fit well! Thank you Cynthia Rowley via TJ Maxx. They fit so well I grabbed a pair in burgundy as well. Picture curtesy of a mirror in the doors aisle at Lowes. New homeowners/renovating homeowners issues...

2. While at Lowes, we picked out a toilet for our new bathroom. J's must have, an elongated seat. Mine, a no-slam lid. God, I hate that noise. In case you were curious, we went with thisone. It was the simplest and had the most modern flusher. It's the little things, right?

3. We are having the hardest time staying motivated for this half-marathon. I really didn't consider the combination of colder weather and dark mornings. It's pitch black here in the morning, I would never run by myself right now. But, I am loving our new Garminexcept when it takes too long to find our location. That has happened out here in the woods. This weekend we'll head out for an even longer run...and I've hardly exercised this week. Wish us luck!

4. Our neighbor stopped by the other day. Yes, that's the biggest tractor ever. Although they do have a farm, this tractor is just for fun.

5. Even though September has flown by, J did make sure to get our lawn care started. As you can kinda see from the pictures, we have a lot of clovers as "grass". That and moss. Hopefully by next year we'll have a nice green, grass lawn!

What are you up to this weekend?

We've got a few house projects on the schedule - painting trim (yuck), painting the kitchen (yay!), power washing the exterior. And I've scheduled myself a haircut - oh la la! 

Have a fantastic weekend!

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

Linking up with H54F, Friday Favorites, That Friday Blog Hop

Fun Fact Friday 09.13.13

Happy Friday!

It's a rainy Friday here in Boston and honestly, I don't hate it. I've been craving a sweatpants and couch kind of night for a while now and I think Im finally going to get it this weekend. You don't know how happy this makes me. Our weekend currently contains zero plans. Zero. And we're pretty pumped about it. 

Here's 5 things I'm currently loving:

1. Happy Anniversary to my parents! They've been married for 32 years now. 32! And I couldn't be happier for them. 

2. I've been on an app downloading binge recently. I am loving the Cartwheel app for Target! Every store needs something like this. It allows you to save coupons to your phone to redeem by barcode at checkout. 25% off Threshold, 25% off Nate Berkus just to name a few...thanks for the tip Lauren!

3. After borrowing some from a friend at one of the recent weddings (same Lauren mentioned in #2, she's a lifesaver!), I've finally purchased a pressed powder. I've been using it all week and just love the soft, smooth finished look it gives my skin. I went with Revlon Nearly Naked. No real reason why other than looking for something lightweight (and I liked the packaging) but it has worked out great.

4. I ordered prints for our dining room from this Etsy dealer last week - Belle Botanica - and just love them! The quality is even better than I expected and the current buy 3 get 1 free deal totally worked in my favor. We're making progress over here. House updates to come next week.

5. Do you think Tucker's new dog beds a little too big? Whoops! We'll be exchanging it. But I do love the material and quality of this bed. (Don't mind the ugly power cords, we're working on it...)

How about you, any weekend plans? Any good apps I should download? 

Have fantastic weekend!

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

Linking up with H54F, Friday Favorites, That Friday Blog Hop

Fun Fact Friday 9.06.13

Did anyone else feel like this was the longest short work week ever? No? Just me? Not that I should complain since I used to work crazy hours through the 9/15 corporate tax deadline but man this week went by slow. Very happy to see Friday roll around.

Even though I've already recapped our holiday weekend (minus the weddings), I have plenty to share. Don't you worry.

1. Tucker spent a few nights with my parents last weekend while J and I shuffled between weddings. And he just loves his bff Bruno's spare bed. It's a memory foam that my parents picked up at Petco and its plenty cushy. Heck I'd nap on it. I've been meaning to order Tucker a new bed since we moved. I promised him one. His size Medium, worn in bed just isn't cutting it anymore. This boy has gotten big in the last couple years! This is how I found him the other night. A bit dramatic no? I have never seen a dog kick their bed aside before.

Your new bed is on its way sir. Size XL. Now get off my Moroccan rug!

2. I found myself painting again the other night. Obviously with a glass of wine. I recently purchased some frames matted down to 5x7 that I'm planning to cut this down to fit (its on 9x12 paper). Maybe frame 2? Such an easy way to add a pop of color to a room.

3. I splurged...and I'm so excited to test this out tomorrow morning on our long run. Wednesday morning we decided to push our run a little bit and ended up running an extra 2 miles, thinking it was just an extra mile. We both felt great and I really wish I knew what our pace was. This (Garmin Forerunner 10) is certainly one of the more affordable options if you're looking, and the reviews are great. 

4. This week in the bathroom renovation decisions....it's granite time! We've been hoping to find a remnant large enough to cut a double sink vanity, bench seat, threshold to the shower, and two ledges which the shower glass will sit upon. Crazy, right? But it will look incredible. Here are a few options we have, given our requirements. And I think one just might work out perfectly...

5. And lastly, have I made you wait long enough? A glimpse at the bathroom space! (Here's what we started with)

Yes, that is plumbing for two shower heads. Bom chicka wah wah.  Haha I am so sorry, I had to.

And the grouted, dirty (sorry!) floor. 12x24" tiles laid in a running board pattern, perpendicular with the vanity & shower wall:

Unfortunately, our contractor is at a little bit of a standstill until we pick the granite, even though the vanity isn't in yet. The bench piece needs to go in before the walls are tiled, the walls need to be tiled before the shower floor gets tiled, and the batten board can't be properly measured until the granite ledges are installed on the half walls (so that the batten board is even with it). Oops. So ya, granite decision being made today!

Any weekend plans for you?

We are heading to the Cape for a friend's wedding! I cannot wait. 

Expect next week to be a wedding week extravaganza. I have so much to fill you in on.

Have a fantastic weekend!

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

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Fun Fact Friday 8.23.13

How in the world is it the end of August already?! Oh it makes me so sad. I do love fall, but could use a few more weekends out by the pool. This is our last plan-free weekend before we head back into wedding season so I fully intend to make the most of it, getting my tan on. There will be no weeding, no painting, no furniture hunting. Just chillaxing. 

Here's what we've been up to lately:

1. I haven't been the best blogger this summer, slacking on my documentation of events. A month ago, J and I, along with Dan & Meg, attended a MA wine festival. It was ok. Lets be honest, MA wines just aren't the same as west coast wines (which I prefer). But the BEST thing ever happened that day. I met a reader! This seriously made my day, my year! Hi L!

2. Have I told you that J and I signed up for a half-marathon? We started training 2 weeks ago and it's going pretty well. But we are starting at the bottom pretty much, so we needed some motivation to get our butts back into shape. Running has been a great way to tour the neighborhoods around us! Crossing #3 off in November! I'll share more of our training plans soon.

3. Vanity ordered! Phew. More details to come once it arrives. But I will say that the customer service at Wayfair was quite impressive. Hoping for a smooth delivery so that I can give them more of my business. 

4. What are your thoughts on blow-dry bars? J's brothers getting married next Friday!!! I think I've talked my sister-in-law and sister into it. I was originally planning to do my own hair (maybe something like this) but then decided I want to be lazy and let someone else do it. Can I book appts two days in a row? J and I have a wedding next Saturday too. It's going to be one hell of a great weekend. You know how I feel about weddings. :) 

5. I broke into my new paints the other night! J was out of town for the night and I just had no desire to put the TV on. It was so relaxing.

6. A week or two ago J and I attended BostonFest after work. I fully intend to do a write-up of it, but here's a sneak peak. I loved this chalkboard wall. Life is good because of....Tom Brady! Ha. What would you add to this wall?

6. A week or two ago J and I attended BostonFest after work. I fully intend to do a write-up of it, but here's a sneak peak. I loved this chalkboard wall. Life is good because of....Tom Brady! Ha. What would you add to this wall?

Have a fantastic weekend!

Linking up with H54F, Friday Favorites, That Friday Blog Hop

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!

101 in 1001

Ever since I first saw this idea, I knew it was something I wanted to participate in. While I love the 30 before 30 lists, I still have a ways to go before then. My goal was to coincide writing this list with 1001 days to go before I turned 30....but apparently my math is off. And once I realized I had less than 1001 days until I turned 30, I procrastinated making this list even more. Not all that surprised with myself there.

My 30th birthday is 954 days from today (today = August, 16, 2013 / 30th = March 28, 2016). Just over 2.5 years away. And while I'd like to do many of the following 101 items by my 30th birthday, the real end date is: May 13, 2016.

So here goes, here is my

101 in 1001

Health & Fitness

1. Run a 5k
2. Run a 10k
3. Run another half-marathon
4. Try cross-fit
5. Take power yoga monthly for at least 6 months
6. Try pilates
7. Enjoy green smoothies daily for an entire month
8. Join a gym

Food/Drink

9. Make pasta from scratch
10. Make [french] macaroons
11. Make mom’s tiramisu recipe
12. Maka J’s nana’s apple pie from scratch
13. Help make homemade raviolis for the holidays
14. Try 5 new foods
15. Try pho (this gets its own because I can't believe I still haven't had it)
16. Cook dinner every night for an entire month
17. Make homemade ice cream
18. Make a carrot cake
19. [Try to] enjoy a glass of bourbon on the rocks
20. Start up a Sunday dinner tradition with family

Entertaining

21. Host a holiday
22. Host a lobster boil
23. Host a wine tasting event
24. Brew beer
25. Throw a surprise party for someone
26. Host a housewarming/open house party
27. Host an annual cookout (4th of July perhaps?)

House & Home

28. Stencil a room or piece of furniture
29. Wallpaper a room
30. Build a new desk for our office (help J do it...)
31. Sew curtains & pillow covers
32. Paint all of the rooms in our house (they all need to be...)
33. Install hardwood floors in the family room (help J do it...)
34. Build a master bathroom (or hire someone else to do it)
35. Build a master closet space
36. Renovate the guest bathroom
37. Upgrade the back deck
38. Fix the pool area - jets, concrete, pavers
39. Paint the kitchen cabinets
40. Plant a vegetable garden
41. Plant flowers
42. And keep said flowers alive for more than one season
43. Print photos and actually get some frames on the walls/shelves
44. Refinish an old piece of furniture
45. Reupholster a piece of furniture
46. IKEA hack something (if you don’t know, now you know)
47. Clean out my closet, pare down to the staple pieces
48. Clean up the laundry area of the basement, make it pretty

Investments

49. Buy a car
50. Pay off (some) student loans
51. Increase my 401k payments
52. Purchase a DSLR camera
53. Invest in a tablet - IPad, Samsung...
54. Invest in a great, classic handbag
55. And maybe a great pair of shoes...

Travel

56. Travel to a state I haven’t visited yet
57. Travel to Washington DC
58. Plan a girls trip
59. Plan a trip with my mom and sister
60. Travel to Europe
61. Visit a National Park with J
62. Take a road trip with J and Tuck
63. Travel to Hawaii

Read/Watch/Do

64. Re-read the entire Harry Potter series
65. Read something nonfiction
66. Re-watch Titanic
67. Read/watch something that’s never really interested me - Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones
68. Get a library card, and use it
69. Go to the ballet
70. Go to the theatre
71. Go sailing/boating
72. Go camping
73. Go hiking
74. Get our Morocco trip photos into an album
75. Get our honeymoon photos into an album
76. Go to a jazz bar
77. Attend a music festival
78. Go to a Patriots game (can’t believe I still haven’t been)
79. Plan a staycation
80. Clean out my makeup bag
81. Find, and wear, the perfect red lipstick
82. Monogram something
83. Get a great pair of pajamas
84. Learn to make the perfect flower arrangements by vase shape/size
85. Find the perfect gift for someone
86. Send out greeting cards, just because

Personal [Improvement]

87. Go to a blogging conference
88. Learn more html coding
89. Organize my computer folders/pictures/documents
90. Take a photography class
91. Take a cooking class
92. Attend a speaking event
93. Get involved in the community
94. Renew my CPA license when needed
95. Get a promotion at work
96. Find a new church, and go more often than holidays
97. Find a hobby that helps decrease stress (and gray hairs)
98. Book a spa day
99. Learn something new
100. Be more patient
101. Have a baby

102....And one extra just because....inspire someone else to write their own 101 in 1001.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Linking up with H54F, Friday Favorites

If you like this post please let me know by leaving a comment or liking my Facebook page. You can also follow along on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Let's stay in touch!