A home improvement post with a few bedroom updates

So I had some big plans for this weekend. I wanted to knock-out a majority of the big stuff in our bedroom and cross out a few things on our very long to-do list. I also wanted to spend some much needed quality time with Mr. R.

So in short, we accomplished A LOT, but compromised here and there so we could still enjoy our holiday weekend.

Goals:

1. Finish painting the bedroom. We needed to finish the closet wall, the sink area, and the window wall. After lots of taping, edging, and rolling I can finally say good-bye to our Himalayan Mist paint cans. The bedroom walls are done!

2. Finish stenciling the two walls in the bedroom. Let me begin my saying the stencil I chose for the bedroom is crazy labor intensive and our bedroom is really big!

In retrospect I should have chosen a stencil that required less paint and time, but I do love it and I think the walls look amazing!

3. Buy curtains rods and hang our curtains. We did buy the rods, thanks Target! But my grandparents actually own the drill we use and they are on vacation. The curtains will have to wait until next weekend.

4. The gallery wall!

I love collages and I love pictures so it makes sense that I love me some gallery wall. I grabbed a bunch of white Ikea frames, plus this amazing black one (that may get a coat if yellow spray paint soon) and made my own photo wall. There was lots of leveling and nailing done by Mr. R and lots of styling and back-seat nailing done by me. Pictures will soon be installed in those frames, I promise!

We always plan out the arrangement on the floor first. It's sort of our version of measure twice, cut once.

Mr. R is the level master. I pick the design of the gallery and choose pictures, but he is in charge of making sure they hang straight!

This is my absolute favorite ETSY find!

5. The closet door. It is super old and a hideous grey-green color. I chose to attack it with spray paint. The spray paint just bubbled up. We are tabling the door project.

6. A trip to Marshalls. Mr. R was in need of a nightstand. Currently I hog the only nightstand in the room with my water cups, glasses, books, and laptop. I found a nightstand that I LOVED for him at Pier 1, but couldn't handle the $100 price tag. So we settled for this beauty at Marshalls.

I found the lamp there too. The lamp shade actually matched the lamp base that currently sits on my nightstand. (Yay for matchy-matchy!) And the London phonebooth is a little nod to our last vacation. I love it!

7. Lastly... I am now the proud owner of a belt sander! (Thank you Home Depot!) I can't wait to tackle my vanity and our super old dresser next weekend!

Date Night: Take One!

The weekly date night challenge is going. One down... 16 more to go. I am sticking to my guns about scheduling quality time with Mr. R this fall.

With election season heating up and a few new things on my social and work plates, it would be very easy for us to throw romance out the window and settle for quality time accumulated only while sleeping in the same bed for 7 hours.

This weeks date night was a really easy one to pull off. Dinner reservations, a fun dress, and dessert & wine back at home.

We had dinner at Yamato, a local Japanese steakhouse in our parts. We opted for sushi over habachi and tried to be daring in our choices.

I fell hard for the baby scallop roll and Mr. R. loved something called the bagel roll. I think it had smoked salmon, cream cheese, green onion, and wasabi. We also ordered a spicy roll that was so hot it made my eyes water. (Or maybe I am just a spice wimp).

And after we stuffed ourselves... this was all that was left.

Talk is cheap...

and Mr. R and I have been doing A LOT of talking. We have been making lists and making plans, but not following through. Sure we are busy, we have commitments and obligations, but we need to follow through. And we need to make sure we are taking time to make memories as well as finish our todo lists. This was a very long winded way of saying... the Republicans are going to be do-ers not talkers and hopefully this blog will be a lot more exciting soon.

On to Saturday:

1. Yard sales! My favorite thing about Labor Day weekend is the endless amount of yard sales and my last chance to wear as much white as possible. At today's yard sale we found this beauty! I can see it painted sunshine yellow with scrapbook paper attached to the walls and either books or Ken & Barbie taking up residence. Or... if we are not blessed with a little girl, it can hold my scrapbook supplies. Either way a win.

2. Farmer's Market @ the Amphitheater. I love this farmer's market. Great coffee, fresh organic eggs and produce, the amazing bread ladies and there cinnamon rolls. Also Simon and Sophie love all the people! They love all the pets and hugs from the children and older ladies. And Simon is a total ladies man.

3. Smoothies! Have you tried the new ones from McDonalds? I know to some of you the golden arches are the equivalent of a dirty word... but I am in love with the mixed berry smoothie. And Jeff loves the strawberry banana one.

4. Stencils! And the final wall is getting painted!

5. More painting! I am the edger and Mr. R rolls it on thick... just like a politician.

6. Pizza, wine, really good salad and an old movie. (The 1960's version of the heartbreak kid...much better than the 2005 remake).

Happy Saturday!

Labor Day Weekend To-do List:

• Paint the bedroom hallway
• Stencil the bedroom hallway
• Hang the new mirror, Audrey, the pups portrait, & a few other art prints
• Start scrapbooking London (2 pages at least!)
• Remove bathroom cabinet
• Fix bathroom tile
• Pick out paint for the bathroom
• Paint the bathroom

Maybe I am being overly ambitious... but I am super excited to get a jump start on this weekend and get our house in order. Hope you have a great holiday weekend!

And I am down for the count...

Peeps, I am tired. Like way tired. I have NO energy. Totally zapped. I need to sleep for hours, watch DVRed TV, and eat homemade mexican pizzas. (Thank you Pioneer Woman)

The good news: I had lots of quality time with Mr. R this week. We get an A in making time for one another. I also am on a running streak (except for tonight!) and have managed to leave school before 4PM everyday. I am feeling amazing. Also Mr. R had a great zoning meeting today and managed to make an important decision that is both Republican and environmentally friendly. Yeah, he is awesome :)

The bad news: The laundry is piling up, the dishes have taken over my sink, and I really need to clean the bathrooms... but I am content to blog, relax, walk the dogs, and eat really fattening mexican food while watching Psych.

Happy Thursday!

Thank God tomorrow is the weekend!

And I am serious...when you are saying your prayers tonight don't forget to thank God for the little breaks we get every Saturday and Sunday :)

Livin' like the Jetsons!

So we have joined the DVR crowd. After Hulu disappointed us with sound quality and really bad digital picture we gave up and surrendered to the evil power called COMCAST. However we are now the proud owners of a DVR cable box that is quickly filling up with episodes of Psych, White Collar, and Covert Affairs. (Yes, the only channel I actually watch is USA. With exception of GLEE.)

Mr. R was a rockstar in setting it up and in return I didn't complain about doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

We are one step closer to living like George and Jane... But seriously, please do not let me name our son Elroy!

Welcome September!

Please tell me you will bring some cooler weather. This Jersey girl misses fall!

I can't believe it's September! I am excited for the fall season (even if I live in Florida where fall temperatures do not exist) and the fun holidays that are right around the corner. But it also means there are only 4 months left in 2010. Isn't that crazy I feel like 2010 just got started.

I am stealing an idea from Ali Edwards and making four goals to end my year. I have loved 2010. (I think 28 has been the best age yet!) And I want to make sure I end this year on a high note.

So without further adieu here are my 4 goals:

1. Commit to date night. Weekly dates with your hubs are all the rage now and I will not be left out. :)

2. Experiment with my clothes. I will wear more than jeans and a tee on weekends. I will try find a style that works for me.

3. I will drink less coffee and more water.

4. I will get messy and crafty and finish the media room.