We Are Growing Up

Yes. Let's face it. We are growing older, making grown-up decisions, and fully into the "real" world.

My friends are all entering this new phase with me and I am excited to have others who understand. We are getting married, buying houses, having kids, establishing big-time careers, finding grown-up interests like wine/book/social clubs. We are decorating our homes for the holidays, planning holiday parties, talking about savings plans and financial goals, raising puppies on our own, and so much more.

It's crazy how we all have blossomed in the past year. Graduating college does that to you. It makes your dreams realities, makes your long-term goals attainable, and really makes you feel good. I love being surrounded by so much growth and positivity.

Getting Things Done at Work This Week

Birthday weekend was so much fun and very relaxing. It made me feel rejuvinated and ready to get back to work.

Things at work are changing. We added a new employee (my boss's wife) and I love her! But she is changing things so I'm having to do quite a bit of work to keep on top of things. Plus, last week was a busy out-of-office week. Therefore, I am working pretty hard this week.

It's exciting getting things done but exhausting at the end of the day. I am having to put on several "hats" with different roles. Tomorrow, I am an accountant. Today, I was data entry. Lots to get done...

Birthday Weekend is Coming

I have my last of the six screenings for a school district up here this afternoon. I have spent all week with the lovely students and athletic trainers. It was great getting to see them again and they are always a joy to work with. But I am nonetheless excited so I will in fact be taking tomorrow off.

So tonight, when I finish this last screening, I will begin my birthday weekend! Tonight I plan on relaxing with an easy dinner, bath, and early bed time. Tomorrow I will wake up to a big cup of coffee, I will make birthday pancakes for myself for breakfast - complete with sprinkles. Then for lunch I will make a roasted red pepper goat cheese alfredo. Doesn't that just sound like something I would enjoy? And for dinner, Phillip will be making me a mystery dinner while I relax and watch him on our new bar stools with a glass of wine in-hand. Sounds so relaxing, huh?

Saturday, my family is having a little get together since Heather and I are celebrating in the same city once again - that hasn't happened since high school. It'll be a good reason to have good food with good family.

Sunday's plans are still up in the air. It might just be a regular Sunday.

Today I Love You Because...

The other day, I made something similar to what is pictured above. I purchased a frame and wrote "Today I love you because..." on scrapbook paper to be placed inside the frame.

I got this idea off of Pinterest and it is already such a great thing for us! Each time the mood strikes, we write a message for the other to see. It helps us appreciate each other for the little things we do - and is a way to communicate that appreciation. It could be for washing the dishes, cooking dinner, taking the dog for a walk, calling the cable guy, or anything.

I challenge you to try this with your significant other. It is a great activity!

Another Man's Trash

... is our treasure!!!

Today, I did one of my frequent thrift/consignment store tours. We have 3 consignment and 4 thrift stores within blocks of each other. So I like to take an afternoon to peruse the selection. In the past I have found GREAT things. Between this area and the numerous local shops near our parents' houses, our place is practically dripping with second-hand items. But the best part is, you can't tell!

I don't mean to brag, but I consider myself a top-notch thrifter. I am able to see the potential in everything and I do not like to spend exuberate amounts of money on senseless items. I love finding second homes for things. I love refinishing and/or finding new uses for previous despised things. The thrill of the hunt makes me not want to buy anything brand new ever again. It's so much more rewarding to find a "needle in a haystack" than to buy some item that is stocked in bulk at a major retailer.

Today I happend across the mother of all finds. To most, it looked like two boxes. No photos on the outside of the box. No identification. Just a price tag on each.

But not to me. You see, I noticed the things normal thrift shoppers don't see. I saw two boxes that were unopened. Sealed too well to have been resealed. Yes. These boxes were practically untouched since their journey from the mystery manufacturer.

I also noticed on the side an item number and a color. The color is what got me curious. The color is what made me stop to look at these on the bottom two shelves of the picture frame section. Espresso. If you know us and/or have seen our place, you know we kind of really have an obsession with the color. Some would even venture to say we have entirely too much brown in our decorating color palette. I have even found myself saying this before. So how could I possible pass up on two mystery boxes that contained items in the espresso color group?

Being the technologically savvy thrift shopper that I am, I instantly pulled out my nifty iPhone to search for what might be in the box. This was after seeing if I could find some way inside. But alas, it was wrapped really well. Like I said, too well to have ever been opened or resealed.

So what did I find??? What made me instantly shell out the $20 for each box??? Well, after I returned home with them and assembled them, this is what came out of the box!!!

* Plus an additional stool around the corner of the bar. *

Hello great find!!! Four Target barstools that were brand new and in-box for a total of $40!! Did I tell you I was a thrift store goddess or what!?!? We have been looking at these exact stools since we signed our lease back in May. We were eventually going to spend the money on them when other priorities were paid for, but this opportunity was too good to pass up!!

I don't mean to brag. But man I'm good at thrift store shopping!!!