Living Room Makeover...PART 1

This is something I don't often like to admit, but here goes. I have hardly any furniture in my house! There I said it, I feel better now. So here is a little background. When hubs and I met he had his own home and I lived with my parents. Therefore, we had his furniture (also known as whatever my mom picked out) for the first few years. When we left Texas and headed for California a few years ago we took everything with us, thanks to Hubs company moving us I didn't think twice about it. While we lived in California we purchased a new bed {why we bought ANOTHER full size bed, I'll never know!}. When it was time to move back to Texas we knew that we would be staying with my parents for a while until we found a house, seemed like a good time to get rid of a few things to avoid storage room cost.  Mind you all that stuff we let the company move for us sat in storage for the majority of the nearly 2 years we were in California. For some reason we never figured out how to get a pool table into our apartment, who would have thought?! 

So we cleaned out the storage room, sold the pool table, refrigerator, wash and dryer and so much more! We moved ourselves back to Texas and into a store room...again. The short time we were to live with my awesome parents turned into a year. It was a really good year though. We made offers on a few houses, something always came up and we would pull out of negotiations. Then it happened....Hubs got a call about a job offer. Something big, and when something is big there are nerves involved. Lets just say that California was a long way for me to be away from my family, I really struggled with it and visited once a month. That is the main reason we came back to Texas. This new job would have taken us really far....as in Saudi Arabia! We talked about it, we prayed about it, we talked to our parents about it, we made lists. Then when we thought, why not lets give it a go we'll have 3-6 months to get geared up for it while we get papers together {we are married now and staying behind wasn't an option for me}. So that last phone call Hubs made to discuss with the company, we find out that there is no 3-6 months. They can expedite out papers and we will have them within a week! A WEEK to move across the world!! I don't think so, to say the least we turned the job down and know to this day is was the right decision for us. A week later we were interviewing for his current job in Austin and within the month we were here. We love it and are super happy about our decision. 

Turned it down cause it was just too much too quick...

YES!! SO happy to still be in Texas!

  

Now back to the furniture, we got ride of everything, then we didn't need anything and then we moved again...to a 3rd floor walk up apartment. We knew we would only be there a year and decided that the idea of moving everything down those stairs was less than appealing and we would wait to make those purchases till we were settled in a house. Fast forward... we've been in our house almost a year and a half and my living room is serving as Hubs office.  Why you ask does he not use the 3rd bedroom upstairs as his office as was intended? Because he loves his desk, his $25 garage sale, old school teachers desk that has students names written in the desk draw and has some sticker from a Janis Joplin concert on it.  Said desk refuses to make it up the stairs and around the corners into the office. But I am Jonesing for a cute Living Room! We have saved and put the money aside to buy a new Living Room with CASH! Always makes a girl happy. It's the end of September and Hubs says that over the Christmas break we can make the purchases and figure out the layout. 

WOW! That was a lot of background on the reasoning behind my lack of seating. I have been surfing the web and looking for ideas to put this room together. Here's a little bit of what I have so far. Tell me what you think.... I love suggestions!

Pin It

Friday Letters

Dear Hubs,

You are amazing! Thank you for being my rock. 

Dear Jen,

Can't believe it had been so long since we got to visit. Glad you came to town.

Dear Erin Condren,

You did it again! Another year to plan and no disappointments on your part:)

Dear iPhone 5,

Sorry I just got your older no so cool sibling a few months back, looks like I'll have to admire you from a far.

Dear Fall TV,

YAY! Sweeps week, can't wait for the weekend to watch all of my fav shows from this week.

Dear Paypal,

I would really like to print my own international postage labels from home, can we work on that please?

Dear March,

Can you hurry I have 2 awesome trips scheduled and I'm ready!

Dear Private Practice,

I have to say, I never would have guessed! but I loved all of it!

Pin It

Thankful Thursday

So many things to be thankful for...

I'm thankful for my amazing husband, without him I'm not sure what I would do. I thank God everyday for putting us together. 

I'm thankful for my parents, no matter how often I talk to them (sadly weekly now) They are excited to hear from me and listen to my silly jokes. 

I'm thankful for my church, The Austin Stone is amazing and every time I'm there I feel His presence. The music moves my heart and God speaks.

I'm thankful for my job, in a time when some many are without. I have a job I enjoy, oh and I get paid to snuggle babies. 

I'm thankful for all of the amazing friends I have made through blogging. I can't wait to meet some of you @ Refresh in March.

Linking up with:

Pin It

Friday Letters

Dear Elle Dee Designs,

I'm so happy that you are keeping my busy! I think its time to get us some help. I promise I'll work on it.

Dear Blog,

I can't say that I am sorry enough, I hate that you are so neglected. 

Dear Tisa,

You are working too hard at your new job and I miss our daily emails. 

Dear Rachel, My hair stylist,

You rock! I love my cut and I love my new color. Thanks for making my day.

Dear Crystal Light,

What would I do without you. 

Dear Gym,

I think we can agree that our relationship is best when we met during lunch and after work. This 0600 meet up seems to end up in my forgetting my bra, and going to work with my bikini top under my scrubs. Just isn't going to work out for me. 

Dear Dino Hoodie,
Who would have thought you would ever be so popular?

Dear Mom and Dad,
I miss you!

Dear Hubs,
I'm very proud of you for working so hard, dedicating your free time to school. Thanks for still making time for me.

Pin It

Friday Letter

I'm back! I hope for good. Probably not everyday, but maybe a few times a week. I just have so many things on my mind and I need somewhere to get them all out! Fridays are my favorite post. Its the one post that starts early in the week and is added to all week long as inspiration finds me. 

Dear Tisa,
I have had too much fun these past two weekends hanging out. So glad you are my bestie. 

Dear Hubs,
I wish I could make it all better. Being sick on top of stressed is no good. Boo! I'm very proud of you!

Dear Snacks,
i love you, but you gotta go.

Dear Jen,
Good Luck today on your Boards! You can do this!!

Dear Groceries, 
How did you get so expensive? $220 on 1 shopping trip? That's straight up crazy.

Dear Gym,
Why does my favorite call have to be right before lunch and right before I get off of work. Move it down back 30 minutes and I'd be there everyday!

Dear Mom and Dad,
I miss you! 

Dear Sewing Machine,
We have a serious date for this weekend. You know what I'm talking about, 4-0 Dino hoodies  to make!

Pin It

Craftcation anyone?

I know that sounds funny, Craftcation, as in Craft/Vacation? Yes it is and so much more too! We did it, the bestie and I have bought tickets, booked hotels and would be packing our bags if it wasn't still 6 long months away. I am really hoping that time flies by.

To get the full skinny click {HERE}

I am so excited that I am having a "girl's weekend" away from home to craft and learn tons of insights on how to grow my business into something even more amazing! The full line up of workshops won't be out for a few more weeks, but I spent some time yesterday looking through the workshops from last year and trying to get a feel for what I would like to attend. 

Each morning they have Deep Stretching or Yoga, I'm totally there, but my bestie/roomie has already told me she will be drinking her coffee on the beach until I am finished...Maybe I can talk her into it, I do have 6 months. 

Workshops vary from Business Accounting {totally there} to Canning and Preserves {probably not my thing so much}.  Tons of Social Media for your Business, Website Building, Sewing and don't forget about the 80's Dance Party Social. All in all I have been looking for something like this for a while and I couldn't be more excited. 

The icing on my cake...It's on the BEACH! That's right Ventura California here I come. 4 days at a beach front hotel in the Spring. I can't think of a better conference to go to. I better start working on my outfit for that 80's party now so I can get it just right;)

Pin It

Sweet Words to My Ears

My husband has a friend, a coworker that he has gotten to know over the years we've been here in Austin. He is a nice man with a lovely wife. We have had dinner with them a few times and Hubs has spent some time with his coworker socially. 

For some background, My husband has grown amazingly in his personal walk with Christ in the past years. He amazes me daily with his love, dedication and steadfastness to focus on Christ. He is open with his faith at work and in his daily life. He enjoys conversations where he can share a sermon topic or a scripture with his friends. Recently the men he works with have asked questions, some have started to read their Bibles more regularly. There is one that stands out...

via pinterest

Back to that special couple, My Husband recently received the follow text message:

It's a new day and I am a new man in a different place than when you last saw me brother. I thanked God for placing you in my life when I prayed last night and this morning he told me to honor him by letting you know this. He wants you to know that you lead by example in the way you live your life and that your example has been noticed and is a blessing to me. I want you to know this and to know that I am now "all in" thanks to people like you. Keep doing what you are doing because it works. God bless you and Lani.

Wow! As you can imagine Hubs and I were not expecting this! I cried, I was so happy for this man. A phone conversation soon followed this text and Hubs came to find out that recently the wife of this sweet man had also declared her faith in Christ and chosen to live for Him. She was overseas undergoing IVF and leaned of Christ in her time of weakness. Sadly it was not successful and no baby was to come of the treatment. Yet she did not turn away, she continued to read her Bible and reach for Christ.

 I am happy to say that months later, both this husband and wife are now living for Christ and soon will have a beautiful child coming that they will be able to share this love with. 

So the lesson of this story is that your everyday actions matter, your language, your attitude, the love you show a stranger, everything! you never know what impressionable person is watching and listening. Don't you want to influence them in a positive way?

via pinterest

Pin It