Mini Jetlag

So I promise I haven't abandoned my blog! I've just been gallivanting around in Houston, Texas with my best friend for the past couple of days!

I'm back and way tired, but promise to get back in the swing of things tomorrow! : )

Plant One On Me

I have not been known to have the most green thumb of all people out there. But, I do try and bring in fresh green plants every chance I get! I've killed off as many as half of what I've bought...but who's counting? ; )

For the longest time, I have adored these plants from the moment I saw them in Teresa's former home. I absolutely had to have these plants. Teresa didn't remember the name, but knew she got them at Home Depot.

I stalked Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and Lowe's for months until finally one day, I spotted the fabulous white bird of paradise plant!

I brought it home, happy to have it, and then you guessed it...it died! Boo!

I then took a break and decided to wait awhile until I bought another one{after all they weren't exactly the cheapest plants, even at their starter size}. Well, that time has come and a sweet new one came home with me two weeks ago! And, I am happy to report that at this time, she is alive and well. Cross your fingers for our little birdie and hope that it grows big and tall like Teresa's!

Not All Four Letter Words Are Bad

It's a word I can't help but get giddy over. It really is the best four letter word-promise!

It's the word: FREE! You love it too, right? I know I do, and most of the time it's too good to be true!

The other Saturday, David and I were in our hometown to visit our families & for Spanish lessons. While we were driving down my grandparent's street I saw 3 chairs with that beloved four letter word taped on them! I had to have them!

Three FREE chairs with so much potential had me weak in the knees...who cares that I had no plans or ideas for them at that moment! They have the potential for greatness...thank God for my sweet husband and his go-with-the-flow attitude. That sweet man lifted two chairs into our SUV and then walked the third one down to my grandparent's home since it wouldn't fit! He may not understand my love for old furniture finds, but deals with it anyway.

I'm really pumped to paint this bad boy a glossy black and reupholster with some punchy fabric! My chair recovering skills are getting pretty good, if I can toot my own horn a little {check here and here for proof}. The other two freebies are housed in the basement til I can figure out what to do with them.

And, I guess I can take the 'Free' sign off of it now, but what can I say, I was proud of my bargain!

¡Yo Gané!

I won!!! Thanks to the lovely Tam over at Get it Girl Style and her fabulous giveaway, I am now the proud winner of a Home Goods gift card! If you haven't checked her out before, swing on by and stop in for a visit.

And, since I won, be prepared for a pay it forward giveaway in the very near future! : )

Whirlwind

My life feels pretty hectic right now, but somehow I'm remaining eerily calm--so unlike the Joi I used to know!

Lemme break it down:

I'm...
- teaching three different levels of Spanish with all new books and new materials that I basically have developed from scratch this year= a buttload of work every.single.day
- heading to Texas in a week {yay for my bestie, shopping, girl time, and BRITNEY!}
- planning a field trip for two weeks from now {my students and I so derserve this break!}
- dealing with issues {not bad!} regarding the student Spain trip this summer {Eeek-so excited!}
- taking a master's class
- helping plan my 10 year high school reunion
- organizing/planning a senior trip for 2010 with my Junior girls to California

And, I...
-just agreed to take on 2 more after school homebound student sessions for a total of 4 per week!
-teach Spanish, on the side, to my adorable cousin every other weekend!

Whew! I'm tired just typing that list, but amazingly I'm feeling good, really good. David would like to credit himself and his no-stress philosophy about life that seems to be rubbing off on me! I think I'll agree : )

My life on paper seems so busy, but I am enjoying the craziness! How's your life these days??

March Madness Makeover

My march madness isn't so much about basketball, but rather a bedroom makeover! I did not intend on this makeover at all, but when I walked into Target last weekend and saw these pillows, I was drawn like a magnet to them, seriously, I couldn't put them down, ask Dave!

Then I spotted the West Elm pin tuck bedding knock off {which I own, mind you-don't judge ;-) } in a pure crisp white and have to have that, too!

Then the wheels started turning! I couldn't possibly keep the old paint color, and well--the curtains weren't going to look good anymore, and what about those mirrors at that antique shop I had been dreaming about??? My train of thought was basically as ADD as you could get.

I was inspired by the drapes and paint color in Suzie's wonderful office {friend from Decor Pad-the best online site for decor chat and advice!} and immediately went on a mini-shopping excursion to pick these things up.

We, I mean I, settled on the perfect shade of blue gray {Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray} and went to town painting! David rolled and I cut in...it's a match made in paint heaven!

Then I purchased the aforementioned mirrors from my favorite local antique mall on sale for $40 total!!!! I was so afraid they would be gone since they've been hanging there for months! I wasted no time spray painting those babies a glossy white, in Dave's words, "If it ain't right, paint it white!" So true in this household! : )

I'm still searching for the perfect throw to put at the end of the bed and some other additions will be made later, and explained in future posts!

As always, thanks for reading! ♥

Pillow Thief

Those with sweet little doggies may encounter this same problem that I did the other night. Our little man, who is a third party in our bed at night, was none too pleased with the new bedding purchase and tried to make himself comfortable on my pillow.

The image was way too cute to not take a picture. He was so sleepy that he wasn't even mad that I had that big ol' camera in his face.

I know he's mine, and a bit scraggily at the present time, but he is just the cutest thing ever. : ) That sweet little pup has definitely captured the hearts of David and me-no questions asked!

Random Acts Of Kindness

I can't help but get a little teary eyed when I see this commercial. With the way people are struggling in our current state of the nation, it helps to see what a little kindness can do.



Our whole community needs a pick me up after Sunday's fatal shooting in the metro east. Please pray for or keep the family and church of Pastor Fred Winters in your thoughts.

Here We Go "Loop"y Loo

Here we go Loopy Light. Here we go Loopy Loo, all on a Saturday night! Ha! Some friends along with David and I, met at St. Louis' University City Loop today for some good food and good company! For those out-of-towners, it's a 6 city block food and entertainment section of St. Louis that is super trendy and perfect for people watching. : )

We had previously decided on lunch at a fabulous little Pizza joint, Pi. Melissa and Jeannie have been raving about this place for awhile now, so I'm excited we finally got to try it out!

The restaurant is situated right across the street from The Pageant Theater, where David and I got to see Lewis Black and Mitch Hedberg many years ago {hilarious!}.

David and I split a thick, cornmeal crust pizza that is similar in flavor and shape to the famed Chicago style kind. It was delish! And not a bite was spared.

Next we headed down to a place that serves Chinese bubble tea! Um, I was totally unaware such a thing existed. {Am I living under a rock, please tell me you all haven't heard of this???}

There are like a billion flavors that you can get and you are also able to have these little edible boba beads in the bottom that are gummy and black. I know it sounds gross, but it was actually rather unique! Thanks to Jeannie, Lauren, and Ben for introducing me to this new type of drink.

I didn't get too adventurous and stayed with a regular black boba tea, but Melissa's student teacher Ben, had a pretty intense green apple snow boba drink {say that three times fast!}. Too much flavor for this girl!

My safe boba black tea drink!

Ben's drink

And you can bet that David was none too adventurous for this sort of thing! But he was still cute enough for a photo op.

On our way back I snapped some fun pictures of random things, like this sweet pink bike!

Also, the old Tivoli theatre:

And a place that mimics the super trendy Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop that I must try asap!

We had a spectacular day spent with great people and super nice weather! Ahhh, how I love weekends. Hope you guys are having a nice one, too! : )

Baby Buys

We're not pregnant and don't plan on being that way for awhile...but I could not resist a particular purchase at GC's Goodwill the other day for future baby S. I have been loving all things mid century modern lately and just happened to find the perfect little dresser/changing table. It's the perfect height, solid wood, and has the lines I'm loving. Even with it's wear and tear, I think it will clean up quite nice. How could I not get it?!?

Right now it's being housed in our guest room that we lovingly refer to as Niko's room! That same room will become the future nursery someday!

David thought it was perfect too, especially after viewing the $30 price tag! I think I want to paint it white {go figure!} but I am also inspired by Making It Lovely's gorgeous pink painted dresser, too. If you haven't visited her blog, you must go now. She has such a great eye for design and I think she's kinda like my decor role model...hehe!

Here's her masterpiece...I told you it was amazing!

Berry Good

I've been pretty much obsessed with blackberries and raspberries as of late. Can you believe that I just recently had my first taste of fresh raspberries? Where have these sweet little things been all of my 26 years???

This image has been like heaven to me for the last couple of weeks! So tasty and good even with their not-so-cheap price tag! : )

Have any fruits that you adore? Share them here!