Granite

We chose our granite Monday. It is a lot lighter than I thought we would get. In my mind I envisioned mainly black, but we both really liked this one. It has a good mix of the colors we are using-black, cream, and dark brown. We haven't got our estimate yet because our bottom cabinets aren't ready, but the place seems real reasonable and they are a great company to work with. They hammered off a huge chunk of the granite for us to bring home so we can compare it to the cabinet colors, hardwood, paint colors, etc. I do pretty good visualizing, but I love having a sample to bring home with me. They said their turn around is about a week or two. I can't believe my kitchen will be ready in a few short weeks. I'm a little excited.

A Weekend of Non-Stop Work

These guys worked like crazy over the weekend! I think it has finally hit us all that we have a little over a month until Spring Break...our goal for moving in. Everyone is chipping in and we are so appreciative.

Showers got some tile, the kids' bathroom brick floor got sealer, the mudroom got brick floor laid, the doorbell was installed, the wallpaper was put up, several rooms got their final coat of paint, and the house was cleaned.






These guys deserve a trip up to the man theatre and a cold glass of sweet tea....coming soon....I promise!! :)

Splish Splashin' Fun!

A Step in the Right Direction

Our steps were built Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Finally, an easier way to get up and in the house. :)

These are the stairs in the garage going into the mudroom. I love how they turned out. I have to say I was the designer. Ha! I wanted to be able to walk up the stairs coming in from the single door of the garage or walk up them getting out from my car, not go around. I hope that made just a little bit of sense.

This is the step on the front porch. I am not in love with it because it was not what we planned for. We had this picture in mind and once Bob (the brick guy or Bob the Builder as we call him when he's not around) got there he said it wasn't going to work out. We have to put a lot of fill dirt in the front yard so that it will be level. Once that happens, the walkway will be almost up to that step. So this was plan 2 and it'll be fine. I'll put pretty urns on those post-like things.


Two more things to check off our ever growing list! ;)

Classic

If you have talked to me at all about the build of our home, you know the number one look I am going for- classic. Even though I know it is bound to happen, I do not want to remodel anything for a very, very long time.

I have always loved the look of brick floors. I knew early on in building that I wanted some- somewhere, anywhere. We went to a brick company months back when we were checking out brick for the exterior of our home and they had some sample brick on the floor. That sealed the deal. I walked on it and was able to see its beauty in person. I grabbed a pamphlet and was on my way. We didn't find exterior brick that day, but I was ecstatic about our find, our "brick tile."

J started calling companies about six weeks ago to order our brick tile. They kept giving us the run around....that the color we wanted was no longer in stock, couldn't find anywhere to ship it close to us, etc. It was quite an ordeal. J was persistent and kept making phone calls. (It's amazing that these companies stay in business, by the way. No one knows the answers to important questions. No one.) Anyhow, we got the brick tile ordered and picked it up a couple weeks ago.

J and our friend Ryan started laying it Sunday.


They almost finished laying in the kids' bathroom. The wood spacers are still in. We are thinking about using black grout.



I am lovin' this look. To me, you can't get any more classic than brick floors.

My Valentine

Our first Valentine's together....we were 15 and 16 years old. J was in 9th grade and I in 10th grade (Yes, I'm older. A year and two days older.) We had only been "going out" for four months. I really did like him a lot and thought God made us for each other, but little did I know we would be celebrating our 13th Valentines together in no time at all. Where has the time gone? And two precious babies later! God is good!!

I love you sweetie and pray for many more Valentine's Days with you!!


Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Matinee with Mommy!

G and I went on our first Mommy/Daughter date to the theatre! We had such a fun time watching Gnomeo and Juliet. It was super cute!!




G loved her movie theatre popcorn. There's just nothing like it. ;)

She was so cute....excited for the movie to begin!

I better snap the pictures of us together now before she is too embarrassed to be with her Momma at the movie theatre! Ha!

We aren't very tough critics, but we give the movie 5 stars!

Beauty Tips

Today over at Kelly's Korner, her readers are sharing beauty tips or secrets. I'd like to refer to them as beauty items I can't live without! In no particular order....here are the things that make me feel a little better about myself.



This is Shimmer Lights shampoo. I LOVE this shampoo. I don't use it daily, only twice a week. It gets rid of most of the gold color that my highlights try to pull toward. It also makes my color last longer.



Now, I have to thank my sister-in-law for giving me a squirt of this lotion about 2 1/2 years ago. I absolutely hate lotion. I despise the stickiness of normal lotion. I have dry skin, so I need lotion. I also have sensitive skin, so lotions with perfumes in them don't typically work for me. This lotion is like no other. Philosophy's Amazing Grace is the best smelling lotion and it keeps your skin soft all day. It is not sticky feeling when you put it on. The perfume is so soft. Before being introduced to this lotion, I would rub lotion on my freshly shaved legs and then cringe when the burn came. Amazing Grace doesn't burn! So- thank you Carrie for that squirt of lotion. ;)



I am a Mary Kay lover....have used the make-up and skin care line since I was 13. Over the years, the foundation has changed. I started with the liquid foundation and loose powder and a few years later MK came out with the cream-to-powder foundation. It is so much lighter and I love that it takes less time to put on. It is one of my most favorite things in my make-up bag.



I use this next item every morning before make-up and evening after I take my make-up off. It is Mary Kay's satin lips lip balm. It makes my lips so soft and especially helps those chapped, peeling lips that Winter brings.



About once a month, I use the Mary Kay satin lips lip mask before I apply the balm. I should use it more often, but I just don't. It really helps to exfoliate the lips.



And because I can't make it to get a pedicure on a regular basis, my Ped Egg comes in quite handy! I absolutely love it. It gets the dryness and dead skin (yuck, I know, but true) off the heels of your feet. If you follow up the Ped Egg with some vaseline and socks you will have pretty feet by morning! ;)

First Push Pop

B had his first push pop after lunch today and this is what he thought about it...

"Mom, you've been holding out on me for 19 1/2 months?"

"This is rather tasty...."

"and interesting to look at."

"BRAIN FREEZE!!!!!"

"Aaahhhh....that's better."

"I think I'm ready to try some more."

"Wait a minute....where did it go?"

"Mom, help please!"

"Mommy to the rescue!"

"Playing with the stick may be more fun than eating it........scratch that, definitely not more fun."

"I think I've had enough for today, Mom."