What's Cookin, Good Lookin?

Well...

We're pregnant!!!

Two year's ago, Hubs and I were told by a fertility specialist that we had a less than one percent chance of having kids.  This both confirmed our suspicions (after six years of no birth control) and broke our hearts.  

Yet, at the same time it became our catalyst to get healthy and revolutionize our lifestyles. 

I think Hubs and i would both agree that we wouldn't trade these past two years. I personally, love my new-found energy and enthusiasm. My entire demeanor and outlook on life changed alongside my body.

Now I am embarking on a whole new adventure... Motherhood.  My body is changing again and I have to admit, it had me a bit freaked out at first (and still whenever I look into a mirror). I don't want to revert back to who I was before. My greatest comfort is that I know I got fit once, so I know I am capable of doing it again.  And another huge plus is that this time around I will get to do it while pushing a jogging stroller with little Baby Case cheering me on.

Three cheers and a shout for our awesome God whose timing can sometimes be a bit confusing, but who is always faithful and loves us beyond compare.

This is what happens when I miss the train

So I missed the train tonight and was left with 30 minutes of blank time to spend sitting in Caribou Coffee. You know how Caribou's normally have a chalkboard wall posing a new question every week? This week's question in my local Caribou is "What are you looking forward to this Spring?"

Here are my thoughts on that question (reflected on while sipping a raspberry Northern Lite Latte):

I'm looking forward to learning the ins and outs of my new job as Events Coordinator.

I'm looking forward to traveling (for work and fun).

I'm looking forward to green grass and leaves.

I'm looking forward to not wearing tights everyday.

I'm looking forward to iced coffee season.

I'm looking forward to seeing my flowers, especially my newly planted lilacs.

I'm looking forward to painting the garage doors (because they look so bad in the dreary winter sludge).

I'm looking forward to running outside and not freezing.

And lastly...

I'm looking forward to riding my bike to work.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Hubs and I are going to celebrate our February 14th with Thai food from one of our favorite local spots. And maybe, just maybe- we'll grab some Starbucks on the drive home.  Sounds like a lovely evening to me.  

To help celebrate the occasion, enjoy these funny Heart Day poems. (They made me smile).

P.S. I love you, Honey!

There's someone I know

Who I really can't stand

I wish he would bury his

Head in the sand or

Move to the moon or

Deeper out of space

Whenever I see him

I make a weird face

Today during recess

Outside the yard

He suddenly gave me

A valentine card

I wish that he hadn't

It made me upset

It was the prettiest one

I could possible get

By Lily V. Tran

My love is like a cabbage

Divided into two,
The leaves I give to others,
The heart I give to you.

Author Unknown

You may not "carrot" all for me
The way I care for you.
You may "turnip" your nose
When I plead with you
But if your "heart" should "beet" with mine
Forever "lettuce" hope
There is no reason in the world
Why we two "Cantaloupe."

Author Unknown

I look at a tree,

And what do I see?

My Valentine's face

Smiling back at me.

I spot a cute rock,

But, oh what a shock,

For it reminds of you

And that is no crock.

Everywhere that I turn,

My feelings just burn

With thoughts about you,

My love please don’t spurn!

Each rock and each tree,

Each cloud and each bee,

The earth and the sea,

It all reminds me...

I love you awesomely!

By Karl Fuchs

Instagram Bam

I know.  I know.  I owe everyone a post (or twenty).  I promise that I'm working on a couple winners right now. Until I have them ready though, I thought ya'll might enjoy this post full of my latest Instagram pics.

Enjoy!

Home Updates

Although I've been slacking in my posts, I haven't been slacking in the home improvements arena.  Hubs and I have been hard at work fixing up our home.  Hubs has been focused on the master bedroom and our kitchen-- Both are in the market for a paint job.  I have been fixated on smaller, aesthetic changes such as new lamps, curtains, and shelving.

Here's what I've been doing:

I found an old lamp base in my basement yesterday.  I remember, Hubs and I bought it right after we were married 7 1/2 years ago.  I must have put the lamp down in the dungeon when we moved because the poor thing was missing it's shade.  During a quick trip to Target, I picked out this herringbone lamp shade-- $12 bucks on sale!  This lamp now makes it's home in our living room.

This just so happens to be our stairway window.  We've had a temporary paper shade in the window since we moved into our house, but not any more.  I found these fun, vintage panels at Pier 1 and was able to snag them on clearance for $7.48 each-- Down from $28 per panel.

I recently hung a basic blackboard in the craft room... You may remember it from my 30th birthday decorations.  I originally bought the chalkboard to direct party-goers to the wine, but now I use it to track my craft projects.  To add even more pizazz to the wall, I hung old silhouettes (that's Hubs on the right and me on the left) and our initials- cut out of scrapbook paper and framed in thrift store finds.

These pictures (there are actually three) also came from our local thrift store.  When I saw them, I immediately fell in love with their vintage feel.  I snatched this trio up, paid 99 cents for all three, took them home, and promptly hung them in the bathroom.  I think they add a warm, whimsical touch without being overtly feminine. 

Here I am- showing pride over my stairway picture gallery.  We used to have a blank, empty staircase--It was sad and depressing to say the least.  That all changed when I inherited some freebie black frames.   Now our staircase is being used to show off family wedding photos--That's my parents (seen to the left of my face) on their wedding day.  I love this picture in particular because Hubs and I have one that is very similar from our wedding day.

This ridiculous picture shows my "downstairs chalkboard".  This board/photo frame lives next to our front door.  We use it to house our keys and to send guests a holiday-specific greeting.  I love changing up my decor and this chalkboard offers an easy method for my I-love-change madness.

This is my favorite addition.  Hubs and I took some of our Christmas money and invested it in a new shelving unit from Costco.  We did a lot of searching for just the right unit.  We looked at Home Depot, Target, Menards, and Lowes.  By far, this unit was the most cost effective and sturdy (it can hold up to 1000 lbs per shelf!)  We put this monster on our back porch right across from our older, slightly smaller shelving unit.  We use the new one for food and canning supplies.  We use the older shelf for small kitchen appliances and tools.  We are so organized--I love it!

Yet another chalkboard... This one is in the kitchen.  Right before Christmas, I used chalkboard paint to coat the kitchen side of the basement door.  Right now, the door sports our new year's resolutions, but it is also used to entertain visiting kiddos, to offer up inspirational sayings, and to display favorite recipes (almost always from skinnytaste.com).

I love these changes because they represent progress-- Getting us one step closer to having a house that truly represents our style: Eclectic, comfortable, inviting, and fun.

Have a blessed rest of your MLK Day!

TIMES, they are a'changin

It's a new year.  Hubs and I are signed up for new races, we have new projects set for the house, we're looking into getting a new vehicle, and I have a new job as Events Coordinator at Wheaton.  

What hasn't changed are these two-- Grace and Judson.  They're as sweet and wonderful as always.