Thirty-One is in the House!

If you haven't yet been to a Thirty-One bag party, you are so missing out.  They have all the fun patterns, solids and styles you could ask for.  I especially love the Organizing Utility Tote for going to work.  Just pop in a Zipper Pouch and you're all set!  Anyways, I am in love with one of the newer prints, Black Parisian Pop, and decided it would look great in my scrap room and to help me organize all of my Stampin Up goodies! I love the way they turned out! 

My frequently used supplies!

A bunch of Stampin' Up sets

Amazing Surprise! Good Friends are Hard to Find!

     What an awesome weekend!  The first thing you should know is that I LOVE surprises!  It all began with one of our visitors....one of my best friends, Nikki, was coming down to visit for a quick girls weekend.  It's pretty ridiculous how much she and I are alike (right down to a dislike for tomatoes, an unhealthy ability to talk, and thinking of the same person although we are totally calling them by the wrong name..ala Marilyn Manson for Charles...amongst others) so, I was obviously pumped to spend the weekend with her.  When Steve and I met her at the airport, we were all giddy excited (Maybe not Steve as much, lol)!
     The best part though was that suddenly, during our giddiness, the passenger door to her rent a car pops open and out comes one of my other besties,  Moni (no blog for her though!)  This was probably one of the biggest surprises anyone has ever gotten over on me.  I had wishful thoughts that the third member of our trifecta would decide to come, but was more realistic.  Woooo hooooo for dreams coming true!  Seriously, I LOVE these girls! Even though I saw them a couple of days when I flew home to PA for a bridal shower and on another trip for my sister-friend's wedding, it was all a whirlwhind!  I was getting these girls to myself for 4 days!!!  (Imagine how excited my hubby was, lol!)
   Anyways, our time was awesome sauce, but way too short!  Our first night was super scandalous-we went to Bojangles (yummy bicuits!), Walmart and Winn-Dixie!  ha ha!  We did return home to have Mudslides, however!  I must say, I am a pretty good bartender!

Moni!  Plus, one of the many candy items purchased!

  The night ended with Nikki falling asleep during Bridesmaids!  When Moni and I woke her up, we thought she might kill us!  Seriously, if only we videotaped it, it coulda won some type of prize on America's Funniest Home Videos!
   The next day was a Disney marathon!  We started at Animal Kingdom.  If you've never been there, it is amazing!  The safari alone is worth a trip!   Here are a few  a bunch of shots

Moni getting ready for our two week journey

A Rare Shot! 

Lions are only active about 6 hours a day

Pretty cool beadwork to make this elephant!

   After Animal Kingdom, we headed over to Hollywood Studios, where I apparently took zero pictures!   The good news is that, we did eat at an amazing restaurant...Mama Melrose has to be my favorite place to eat at Disney.  It's Italian and the  Chicken Campanelle is to die for....it's like true love for your taste buds!  I highly suggest eating here on your next Disney trip.  Advance reservation recommended, it's a popular place! mmmm..... lol
  Our third leg of the Disney trip took us to Magic Kingdom for fireworks!  Their "Wishes" fireworks show is my favorite, though this is widely debated (some like Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, others prefer Epcot's illuminations).  Maybe I'm a little jaded since Steve proposed at the castle following the fireworks and it was all dreamy...lol.  Anyways, we got some good shots after the show.  I also took a video of the fireworks, but that would spoil all the fun! 

   It was a great, very tiring day that wasn't over yet!  Moni lost her wallet in our travels!  Thankfully, it was found and we were able to pick it up the next day.  Otherwise, she'd just have to stay in Florida....fine with me, lol.  Anywho, the trip went by in a whirlwind, and ended too soon with me getting all teary as they drove off to the airport...until next time though gals! 
   So, I'm pretty proud of our three park wonderment, Disney is a pretty big place, lol!  Have you conquered four?  I just love that we were able to have a girls weekend!  It's amazing to have friends who love me! 

See you real soon!

Catching Up: Family Visitors & DIY

   Hey Hey Hey!  So, it's been a week or so since I've last blogged (I totally typed blooged and laughed out loud)-time for a few updates!  I didn't realize how busy we were going to be over the last week, whew! I'm worn out!  We did four days of Disney, a day at Melbourne Beach (FL), and had a grand time!  Here are some photos of the beach and a rainy day at MK!

 

     Also exciting, our bedroom furniture that we ordered from Rooms-to-Go finally arrived.  We knew it wouldn't be in until this late, it wasn't poor delivery service.  We were pretty happy with the results!  I am so excited to have the bedroom set, I feel like such a big girl!!!!!  ha ha, We still need major decorations going on like lamps, a area rug, art, art, art, lol. But those things will come!

I'm so in love with the bedroom!

Two very similar photos, one major difference...can you spot it, lol!

   Now, the only real work we've gotten done (aside from painting most of the master bath, has been these DIY fabric covered cork boards.  And by we, I mean me, lol.  Hubby isn't all about the crafty fun that I am.  The main reason I wanted to cover them was b/c the darned cork board that I bought (being the cheap frugal shopper that I am), kept flaking off, ALL OVER everything. I googled strategies for getting the fabric onto the cork and settled upon spray adhesive.  I bought a few "Fabric Quarters" from Joann's (I so wish there was a JoAnn's closer, b/c I love them so much!) and got down to business.  Here's my supplies:

     I decided to spray the glue on in the garage.  There was a time I used it for scrapbooking and I knew how tacky it could make everything.  So, I got a big piece of cardboard and went to town.  For me, instead of measuring and cutting and stapling, as suggested on many blogs, I went the lazy less difficult route~I just wrapped the edges like a present and glued onto the back.  I did this b/c, well, I am lazy, and I didn't want any of the darn brown stuff flaking from the back either, lol.  Here's my final product, what do you think?  I haven't hung them yet b/c I keep worrying I'm going to want to move them.  I am so indecisive!

Explanation for "Hey Ya'll" note: I had this song stuck in my head ;)

Visitors!!!!

   July is going to be one busy rammer jammer (or is it ramma jamma, I researched and could not find a conclusive answer, so, here we are, lol)!  I am so excited!  This weekend, hubby's parents and our nephew will be coming down to spend the week with us!   The following weekend, one of my besties will be joining me (who I will no doubt spend many hours giggling, getting lost, gossiping, and talking with), then, the last week of July will bring my sister friend-my best friend since like fifth grade-love this girl!  I am so excited for this month!!!
     This past week we have been working on guest room updates, painting purple people eating bathrooms (photos will be in an upcoming blog!), and beginning to class up the laundry room...we've been in "crap -people are going to see the stuff we've been putting off because there's no rush" mode.  Ha ha, no big deal, but of course, since I had to commit us to starting these projects...now they have to be finished.  Sometimes I just go overboard, lol!  Anyways, we're still very excited about our visitors, and appreciate my {unnecessary} need to get things all prettified because I put a fire under our butts!  Mind you, there's still plenty of areas left wanting!  But, we'll get to those things in good time...like say when money is flowing a little easier!  lol
    So,  How do you handle visitors?  Are you like me and try to pretty things up?  Do you let it all hang out (I reserve this for my closest friends, lol)!

Moving into the guest room!

  No, Steve and I didn't have a fight....we are both just so jealous that the guest room has seen so much transformation!  It looks sooooo awesome!  Well, to us anyways, lol!  What do you think????  Let's take a little tour through history before I show you:
  When we moved in, here is what the guest room looked like (Apparently I don't have any photos of the guest room empty on this computer, but check back for updates, they're around here somewhere!).

Pineapples and palm trees abound!  While I love both, they just weren't really our style!  Green walls, and beige carpets had to go, too!  You can read about those here-flooring and whatnot :)
   Next, we got our sleeper sofa from Rooms to Go.  It's made by Cindy Crawford Home, great quality!  We also added a rug that used to reside in our Master (right now the floor is still bare in there ): And then I hemmed up some curtains from IKEA (they turned out much better than the ones in the kitchen

But now, the whole reason for this guest room love fest............we have a gorgeous dresser!  Seriously, it really classes things up!  I feel like I'm entering a hotel!  I also added a few odds and ends, also picked up at IKEA (I swear we have an IKEA house!)  Check out this gorgeosity!

Ignore the smudge on the mirror...apparently my Windex skills are subpar!

My attempt at an artsy shot

We are~for real~ in love with this room!  ha ha! 

Currently we are working on:

• Removing wire shelving from laundry room; paint; replace with cupboards ($$)
• Paint master bathroom; remove builder towel bar/fill/sand/repaint; hang ledge 
• continue making/purchasing art/locating decor for house

What are you working on?   Anyone ever removed those builder towel bars/toilet paper holders.  Word has it they are glued down and leave a nasty gash!