Keeping busy

It's been a month since we've moved into our casa and we've gotten a lot accomplished but still so much more to do. I love Pinterest in fact I think I have a serious problem with pinning.

My latest pin transformation for a total of $25

I bought the rubber door may at Lowes for $21, the can of spray paint and a sander. I spray painted the mat twice since after my first run through it had soaked in and looked more gray than white. I did go through the whole can of spray paint though. I gave the mat a little sanding in random places to look weathered and then we hung it on the wall.

First art project complete!

Shedding light

I love that it stays lighter so much later every day. Just means we're getting closer and closer to warmer weather. But it also means time is flying by too quickly.

Birthday and Kitchen

Yesterday we celebrated my step moms birthday. My dad, Britt, Donna and myself met at Brio in Troy enjoying a couple glasses of wine and delicious food.

I order their Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto, it was amazing. I think Ive been having extreme success with picking meals lately probably cause I'm venturing out from my usual Chicken dishes.

It's also probably why I can't lose a single pound cause its heavier meals. It's so easy to put on the weight but its a pain in the ass to take it off, oh the joys of being a girl. Side note: I decided to jump up to Level 2 of the 30 day shred. Tuesday: Level 1 Wednesday: Walked Bear and did half of Level 1 Thursday: Walked Bear and Today: Level 2

Today we had our new coffee table delivered so Brian and I will spend tonight putting it together after dinner at The Lodge with the family. I ordered it from Wayfair after I saw a commercial on the TV about them. We wanted to have something with a shelf and some drawers on it for storage.

I also had Dan the Handyman come quote out was changes to my kitchen. I keep going back and forth on painting my cabinets White from the Oak color they currently are. I love the clean fresh look of the white cabinets but I'm afraid that after a certain amount of time it will scratch and chip and look like crap. Dan says I should leave them as is, Brian thinks so too and so does my dad. 3 people that I don't want saying "I told you so" once they get changed and I hate it. So I'll leave it as is....for now

Dan is going to create a pantry on the left side of the frig since currently we don't have one and its kind of driving me nuts. Well end up losing a countertop but I think it's one that I can live without.

He's also going to extend the 2 cabinets at the top of the frig to encase the frig so it actually won't look like it sticks out as much. I'm thinking that maybe I would have him create this nifty wine holder.

To add a little creature to the cabinets (since I'm not painting them) he's going to add some crown molding. I think I like the first one or last one the best

Hopefully he'll start in a couple of weeks then in the meantime we can work on our countertops and back splash.

3 things

Happy Tuesday

1. Just finished the second Hunger Games on the trip, I had probably read 70 pages before the trip but couldn't put it down until I finished it. I need to read the third one ASAP to finish off the trilogy, probably head to Barnes and Noble this weekend among all the other plans I have set for Saturday and Sunday

2. Started Jillian Michaels 30 day Shred today. No matter what I'm going to get a good work out from Jillian on any of her videos. Even tho it's just 20 minutes, she had my heart going the entire time so I'll be interested to see how I feel tomorrow. I hope to do this daily for 30 days with taking Sundays off if possible... Taking care of me

3. I made dinner last dinner Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole for Pinterest. Super easy and pretty good too. It felt like there was refried beans in it but I think it was the corn tortillas. I modified it slightly taking away one layer of the cheese, adding hot sauce and black beans to the chicken mixture. I don't think you need all of the corn tortillas either maybe it would make it less refried bean like.

A little FLO Rida

We are on a much needed vacation to Florida. It's been over a year since we've taken a trip due to the move, jobs and house last year. So starting this year off with a trip is a great way to start 2013. Brian's cousins have a 3bedroom condo in Anna Maria Island.

Highlights from the trip
-lunch on the beach
-renting a four person bike to ride around the island
-Sign of the Mermaid for dinner with the best salad and pasta
-renting bikes for all of us to travel around
-drinking a ton of wine
-breakfast on the pier
-80 degree weather nice temperature for a little sun on our skin
-3 mile run on the beach

Today we plan on doing a little shopping, sushi, laying out and a nice dinner. Sad today is our last full day but its been nice to get away

Lunch on the beach

Touring around the island

Our condo for the 4 days

Dinner at Sign of Mermaid = best dinner of the trip

Lunch on the Pier

Vacations

I feel so refreshed after having 4 days of vacation in Florida. Although Thursday and Friday were at times spent working, runs on the beach, laughing, drinking wine beat out the little work I had to do. Saturday night we ate at Eat Here, had the room all to ourselves and closed out the restaurant

New love

It's been over a year since I last posted and our life has completely changed since then.

February 2012- Moved to a different client with my company as we lost our business with the current one. I began commuting in public transportation to downtown Pittsburgh. Needless to say every evening I arrived home nauseous from the bus ride.

March 2012- Brian received word that there was an opportunity back in Michigan with his company and we begged jumped to move back

April 2012- After spending 2 years in Pittsburgh (a little less for me) we packed up our life in Pittsburgh and moved back to Michigan. Technically moved our stuff into storage and in with my mother-in-law. At the same time, my company asked me to continue to work in Pittsburgh with them, flying me out weekly to help with their new client. Since I didn't have a job, I took them up on the offer.

May-June 2012- Commuted back and forth Monday-Friday from Detroit to Pittsburgh. I began to get really good at traveling; packing everything in a carry-on, knowing where I needed to go in the airport, taking a taxi to the hotel, having the hotel staff know me by name. Unfortunately, eating out every meal 5 days a week led me to pack on the pounds that are still lingering today. You would think living in a hotel with a gym would make you want to work out but after a long day at work, all I wanted to do was lay in bed.

June 2012- Brian and I started looking for a house the minute we moved home. Unfortunately the pickings were slim. The housing market it great, almost too great and houses go off the market in a matter of minutes, sometimes before they even go on the market. Once we finally found our house, it went into short sale. We were told 90 days until move in...

End June 2012- I was approached by a start up company, interviewed and landed the job. I work downtown every so often and mostly from the house. I talk to clients all over the US and make sure they are left happy and satisfied with our company

Summer- This summer was filled with weddings, in total 8. We managed to make it to 6 of them, each beautiful in their own way.

December 2012- The end of the year was filled with so much happiness and joy. We officially took ownership of our house, celebrated my 27 birthday and moved in the day the world was going to end.

We were so blessed to be allowed to stay at my mother-in-laws for 9 months, save up money that we can spend on our new place, enjoy time with our nieces, family and friends whenever we want.  We felt fortunate enough to have spent 2 years in Pittsburgh, just the two of us and Bear; those experiences will forever be apart of our lives.

Welcome to 2013...