The master

Welcome to our private quarters...



Lemme just say, I love our room! The bedding {from Wal-mart!}, the lamps, the chair, our furniture. Believe me, I'm thankful, lucky, and extremely blessed.

Now that you know I appreciate it all, can we get onto the things I'd like to alter/add to the room without judgment? Thanks.

I'll just go ahead and pass on the side of guilt I usually feel about still wanting things when I know I have everything I'll ever need. Phew.



The ceiling is a little tall and though you can't see it so much here, that space above seems so empty... It's just crying out for something. I'm entertaining the idea of hanging a couple of the white lanterns from our wedding reception, or possibly, a BIRDCAGE.

Because I loooooove a good birdcage.

I know it sounds crazy, but you can't see the space where I'm talking about hanging these things in the pictures. Trust me, it be cool, dude.

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Hendrix may have this crate in our bedroom, but rarely does he ever sleep in it. You can see the king in his usual spot in the above. =) He doesn't care in the least to be put in the crate, but his momma {and daddy too!} miss all the cuddles when he's in there. And let's be real, who doesn't love to wake up to a million wet puppy kisses on your face to tell you the sun is out and someone wants to be walked?!

A look at the wall beside the bathroom door. You can catch the master bathroom back in this post or on the sidebar to the right of the page where I've put the rest of our house's links. {Check us out, y'all!}

The television needs a credenza below it to hold the cable box, some pretty little things and to hide all those ugly wires. We've been looking like crazy to find one we like. No such luck yet.

We've already bought the curtain rods, just haven't got in any hurry to put them up since we haven't picked out the curtains yet. {I may actually make them myself. Be sure if I do, they'll probably be a crazy post to come about THAT day.} Do these rods not look perfect with the bedding motif ?????????? Love 'em!

Still gathering curtain ideas. I likey:

The mirror's frame above my dresser, {Nick's dresser lives in the closet}, has a date with some very pretty paint in the near future.

Finally, the most important space in our room, the master closet.

Our closet space is fabulous. Not beautifully organized, nothing to wow you, but it is some great space. I a-l-w-a-y-s need my space. I'd love to paint it some crazy wall color that I would never choose for a real room. Black, perhaps. Also add some more jewelry organization and some closet art.

We'll get around to all that one day, when there's nothing else to do but paint closet walls for the heck of it ;)

Now get outta our room! How nosey of you people...

Just yankin' your leg, guys.

1st Birthday

Happy Birthday, little Hendrix!

How is it possible you're already a year old? It seems like it was only yesterday that I was searching PetFinder and begging your daddy to let me bring you home. You've grown so much, in cuteness and cleverness. You've learned so much, continue to impress us everyday, and have shown us great love we never knew possible for a dog. You are our first fur-child. Our funny little guy.

Thanks for all the love, cuddles, and kisses. You made our first year of marriage more fun than we thought possible. We hope you have a great 1st birthday!

{No matter what others may say, you are only one year old today. Not seven. Do not believe them. I will keep you as my baby as long as possible. I'm not worried about you really buying into the dog years though, I'm pretty sure you don't think you're a dog!}

Lots of love,
Momma and Daddy

P.S. Our boy is a designer mix, half poodle, half pomeranian. They're called pomapoos and are actually bred for big money, yet we found him at a shelter on PetFinder.com. If you're looking for ANY KIND of pet, any type of breed, check there first. I'd love to help put the puppy-mills out of business =)

Chi Town ~ Part Two

Anyone recognize this building? Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller?


It's the Sears Tower. Except now it's called something else since Sears had to sale out. Something like the SkyDeck. That's lame though. It use to be the tallest building in the world. That didn't last either. It will always be the Sears Tower to me.

Our view from the top.

Saturday morning, we started off with a trip to Navy Pier. It was cute, lots of little shops and lots of different places to eat. Yumm-O.

We rode the Ferris wheel. There wasn't really a choice. I don't think you've really visited Navy Pier unless you take a whirl.

The windy city from the top of the Ferris wheel. We had MUCH prettier weather on Saturday. Mother nature did a complete 180 from the day before.

Walking to our next destination, low and behold, we found a beach! Who knew? Not me! And since I had originally wanted this vacation to be at a beach, somewhere, anywhere, I actually got my wish! We took a picture to show we were there and moved on. Not much of a beach trip. =)

Onto the Hancock Tower! Fun place, visit the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor if you're in town. A great place to hang out, and ladies, even if you don't have to go, visit the powder room. Best trip to the restroom I've ever taken.

Two views from the ladies room. Nick also went to the men's room where there was NO VIEW.

Sorry fellas.

After a nap in the room to recuperate from lots of walking and too much sun, our tired footsies took us over to Millennium Park. This thing in the park reminds me of that one movie where the little boy is in the spaceship-like thing that flies him around, I think it was River Pheonix as the little boy... can't remember the title. Anyone know what I'm talking about???

Cool fountains. There were two of these, called the Crown Fountains. The faces changed and moved on the screen. Hundreds of kids were playing in the water. It was joyful to watch. I wanted to join them sooooooooooooo badly. It was sweltering. One day I'll have kids and use them as an excuse to do lots of things not appropriate for my age. This would be one of those things.

Saturday night, we got dressed up, had a great meal, and took the Rolls Royce to see Jersey Boys at The Bank of America Theatre.

Okay, we actually walked and took a picture of the Rolls Royce. I'm sure you already had that figured out.

If you ever have the chance to see Jersey Boys, do it. It was phenomenal. It's sort of a musical biography about Frankie Vally and The Four Seasons. So fun, such good writing, great sets, awesome voices on these guys; even Nick enjoyed it! I'd see it again in a heartbeat.

Okay, end of the Chi Town review. Wish you could have went with us. Maybe next time.

Much love!

Chi Town ~ Part One

There's no place like home!

Nick and I made it back late last night. After picking up the dog at my sis and bro-in-law's house, it was way past 10 before we drug all of our luggage through the door to our humble abode. Because of our late arrival and my lack of preparedness, I didn't get to wish my daddy {and the other fathers in my life} a happy father's day on the blog!

Don't worry... I did call him and send a gift/card, but I didn't get to see him :( so the least I could do was dedicate a few words to him on the internet!!

My dad is the best! That pretty much sums it up... seriously. I think I've seen him angry only about a handful of times in my life; always calm, understanding, and great to run to if Mom wasn't too happy with me =) He's a great example of how to live a Christian life and I have been so blessed to have him in mine. He's very wise, handy as all-get-out, Mr. Fix-it, and a hard worker who has always done his fair share to supply for our family. We girls have had him wrapped around our little finger since day one in this world. Could you ask for anything more?

I hope you had a great father's day, Dad!!!!

To the other dad's in my life.... my grand-dads. You'll be hard pressed to find happier-go-lucky guys to be around. To see either of them without a smile is RARE. As for their grandchildren, they left none of us un-spoiled! I was either getting ice-cream for breakfast, a glass of pop when I wasn't allowed to have any at home, or a 10 dollar bill slipped at anytime between these two. I love them to pieces.

And to the newest dad in my life, my father-in-law: you didn't have to be a dad to me, but you willingly took on the job and go above and beyond for Nick and I always. You're a great cook, a hard worker, and a fabulous father to us BOTH. I'm so lucky in the father-in-law department!

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Now for Part One of our trip to Chicago:

Upon arrival, we checked into Hotel 71, the bell-hop sat our luggage down, and we bean ooohing and awwwing over our bathroom. We're dorks.

We really enjoyed the double sinks with the flat screen over the sink I called dibs on first... I thought it only fair since I spend so much time there applying my war paint. Besides, when he sat on his thrown, he got to spend a fair amount of time watching it then as well ;0

We soon got cleaned up and took a picture in front of our view from the room.

The rest of the evening was spent eating pizza at the famous Gino's East and shopping on Michigan Avenue.

Newsflash: I DO NOT enjoy Chicago style deep dish pizza. Sorry Chicago! I did enjoy everything else you had to offer...

Nick in front of one of the graffiti walls in Gino's.

We started Friday morning off with a double decker bus tour to learn the area and hear the history. I recommend this to anyone going!

Can you see how our huge bus pales in comparison to the size of the skyscrapers? These were the small buildings!

First stop, the Chicago Field Museum. Fun stuff!

Meet Sue. The largest preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. She was pretty cool to hang out with.

I hate to say it though, but I'm glad you're up in dinosaur heaven, Sue. I don't think I would have thought you were as cool if you could have stepped off you're little platform.

We ran into some pirates and several huge totem pole monster people while at the museum as well.

The view from one of the museum's windows.

Debbie asked where we took the pic with the cityscape behind us in the last post. It was just outside between the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium. It's the only place you'll get this view of the city and coastline.

Okay, I promise Part Two {the finale} includes much more interesting tales and photos but I'm too pooped to put it all together today. I have to finish unpacking and pack back up again to head to a 2 day orientation in Ohio for CVS early tomorrow morning. Ugh. I'llhave Part Two ready for tomorrow!

I hope you all enjoyed =)