So, you know how we made 37 trips to IKEA to get shades for our den? Well, turns out our windows were too long for anything at IKEA. I was dying, thinking we’d have to deal with those ratty mini blinds forever or order custom shades that would cost as much as a car. Then…

My sister Sara is very creative. She has done the coolest thing with one of the walls in her family room. They framed out an area and she painted a white, high gloss matt. Then they used chalkboard paint to fill in the “picture”. So now she can change out the pictures any time she…

Jon’s parents came over today to watch the Panther game (we won- yay!) and to help install the new kitchen light. Plus, they had a hefty IKEA order to pick up. Jon’s mom brought eggnog pie for dessert. I’d never heard of egg nog pie, much less tried it. It was sooo good! While I…

We spent the day today over at Marc & Sara’s. Jon helped Marc install a ceiling fan in their master bedroom while I played with our nephews and watched movies with Sara. Joey is trying so hard to walk. He gets so excited after the first couple of steps though and falls down. So cute.…

We went to Atlanta today for yet another IKEA trip. We had ill fitting roman shades to return and a list a mile long from friends and family to fill. Jon loved the travellator (sort of a cross between escalator and people mover that locks in your buggy as you go downstairs to the parking…

In an attempt to fund this adoption, Jon and I are refinancing the house. It seems that quite a few houses on our street are selling for way more than we paid, so we’re hoping the house will appraise high and we can get enough cash out to pay the adoption bills. Plus, we’ll be…

Jon’s Dad is a judge, a chief justice, and in the state where he lives that is an elected official. He’s up for re-election this year and we just found out he has competition. So this fall me and Jon and the pugs will be hitting the campaign trail. Wish us luck! ** My FIL…

Jon and I saw this adorable play house at Sam’s. For only $1700 your little darlings can play in a cottage that includes a front and back porch, window boxes, a window seat in the bay window, 2 adult sized doors and vaulted ceilings. We had a cardboard box as our playhouse when I was…

We spent yesterday afternoon at Marsha and Larry’s house. Every year they pick a country and that’s the theme for the New Year’s meal. This year it was Germany. For good luck in the new year in Germany you are apparently supposed to eat a jelly doughnut. Marsha made some from scratch. Good eats. Danke.…

Last night Jon and I went to Big Daddy’s fireworks castle and loaded up. We made out like bandits cause they give you lots of free stuff and they are bad at math. Example- the video is of a firework that cost $13.99 but it was on the 30% off table. Well, the little dude…