I haven't forgotten Fall...

Since I have been the reminder for lots of folks that Christmas, is indeed, less than 2 months away I thought I might let everyone know that I haven't forgotten fall. Fall is actually my favorite season. I don't decorate for Halloween, but rather do a fall theme that carries me until Thanksgiving (which is then quickly switched out for Christmas!). To pump up the festiveness of the lights at my entry I just tied some gorgeous Indian Corn with a bow.
What is a door without a wreath?

Welcome Fall!
You can see my little mounds of pansies peeking out!
Dh and I got our corn stalks at Jaemor Farms and were very surprised to find they actually still had corn on them!

My boys were really thrilled that we did a display this year. I used to do one in the yard every year but not in the last few.

Notice there are 3 scarecrows....one girl and 2 boys...guess who is who?

2 MONTHS....

ARE YOU READY?
The countdown is on....

She's Seventeen!

Yes, we had a birthday week around here! IF you knew my DD then you would understand birthday WEEK. She loves birthdays (particularly her own) more than anyone I have ever known! Now, I just have to figure out how to cope with the concept that she is 17...

Fireproof

Have you seen it? During our date night last Saturday, DH and I and went to a rare movie (rare in that we rarely ever go to the theatre due to not many offerings interest us enough to pay upwards of $10 a ticket to see and rare in that this was a wonderful, Christian movie that was rooted in the reality of so many families today - Christian or not).

Marriage is hard. Whether a couple has big issues or small issues...marriage is hard. This movie focuses on the condition of the heart of each individual in a marriage and how THAT element plays such a huge part of the success or failure of a marriage. Now, don't get me wrong, this wasn't some sappy, romantic movie...it was deep and "uncomfortable" in lots of ways but that is balanced with a good dose of humor and I definately think both men and women will enjoy it. http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ I want to go back and see it again just to absorb some of the things I missed the 1st go round and it will definately be added to our video collection.

Go see it...for your marriage or just for yourself.

Walmart...

This is a post I never thought I would write…it combines one of my favorite past times (retail therapy) with one of my traditionally most hated retailers (Walmart). Yes, I said Walmart and retail therapy in the same sentence without screeching.

I have often prided myself on my hate of Walmart…give me a Target and I was happy…send me to Walmart and my teeth ached. My experience with Walmart over the years caused me to avoid, at all cost (which yes, generally meant paying more), their stores. The messy, clogged, over-stocked isles, paired with their less than inspired style selections and the long check out lines made me just choose to shop elsewhere. Yes, I know they were the best $ deal going but the hassle of going wasn’t worth the value. Oh, I would go in for things that I just had to get there but over all I avoided them.

Fast forward to the new and improved Walmart! I now have easy access to 2 new Walmart stores and amazingly enough… I love going! It seems the powers that be at Walmart figured out how to improve the shopping experience and still offer great $ deals! The new stores are open and clean and there is an eye for easy and appealing display as opposed to the Walmart of yester-year with loads of merchandise overwhelming the shopper as they walked through. The isles are more open and the layout of the store is more enticing. I swear I think the employees are even happier and more helpful (but I could just be projecting there!). I am completely taken by surprise at my new love of Walmart! Who would have imagined? I especially like their house wares department. The buyers at Walmart have also just recently added a new line of products from Better Homes & Gardens with are gorgeous and so, so reasonably priced.

These beautiful dishes are only $33.96 for a 16 piece set! They also have some pretty gorgeous fall leaf dishes and bowls that I would love, love, love to have for Thanksgiving. I don’t know if Walmart kidnapped some of the buyers from other organizations or they just received divine inspiration but either way I am loving it!

Updated bath!

Well, it took us almost 5 years but we got around to it! Yes, this is the same bathroom...see "Ugly Bathroom Photos" http://southerness.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-ugly-bathroom-photos.html#links. DH and I were on a strict budget with this face lift so I was extra pleased with how it came out. Although, the house is only 12 years old I wanted to add some character and was trying for a contemporary cottage feeling.
I removed those yicky shower doors and replace them with a nice curved chrome shower rod and white, waffle shower curtain (don't mind the wrinkles...I hadn't steamed them yet!).

We painted the cabinets, refronted them with bead board, removed the cabinet doors and replaced with white tiers on cafe rods, replaced all the cabinet hardware, lighting and accessories with new chrome fixtures (there was bizarre mix of chrome and polished brass originally), added a wall of bead board and new swivel mirrors, and painted 3 walls a yummy chocolate brown.In our last 2 homes our master bath was designed with a separate water closet but this house was not. Due to the limited budget, time and desire to not do real structural construction I devised a way to create the privacy and illusion of a separate water closet without the work and expense of actually building one.
The folding panels were part of 2 separate folding doors (or maybe a screen at one time) that DH and I found at Lakewood 400 Antique Market http://www.lakewoodantiques.com/. As you can see only 3 of the panels are actually used but they are hinged together so that it can pivot as needed and hinged to the corner to provide stability. I love it and do not miss seeing the toilet when I am enjoying a nice soak in the tub.

Real ugly bathroom photos!

Isn't this just lovely? This is the master bath right after we moved into this house almost 5 years ago. Can you say Mid 90s Waverly attack?
DS2 & DD exploring our new digs...behind those really gross shower doors.
After moving in, before unpacking...I promptly began peeling wallpaper off the walls...it was just more than I could imagine getting up to every morning. Living with plain Sheetrock was truly better, though I never realized it would take us almost 5 years to actually do something about it.