Redecorating for Less!

I was recently surfing the world wide web of blogs and came across Hostest with the Mostest blog. I was inspired by the redecorating of a porch for a party. Our porch was definitely less then glamorous with everything just thrown out there as a holding area before our trash visit.


I was able to redecorate the porch for under $40!! See below for the changes!

Our Newly Organized Porch!

I got this table and the chase lounge for free from work!!

(look at my beautiful basil plant!!)

Found this table at Big Lots for $15!

the free chase lounge

Got this idea from the above blog. Knock off of a fire pit, but I have candles in it instead.

Found the rocks in the backyard... I also put some citronella candles in there with different size pillar candles. Hopefully the citronella candles will keep the mosquitos away!

Myself...

We are always working on ourselves... and I am definitely working on me... Sorry for acting a fool.

I guess I get rapped up in my company and I can't control my happy volume...

Blogging just for the hect of it!

So, I am not the type to just blog without any motivation. However, there have been some life changing things occurring throughout the last month. Now that summer school is over, I have the time to catch update you on them...

1. I have handed in my letter of resignation at my full time job.

• This means that as of August 31st, I will be without out a full time job, for the first time since high school. I have been able to get some loans and scholarships, but have not received enough to support the lifestyle I have built up.
• I am looking to sell the Pontiac for $11,500 so I can downgrade to something a little more affordable. $340 monthly payments will not cut it on 12k a year!
• Another fear or worry is Jake. I feel bad that I have to cut back on my extra activities and by that he is affected. He is almost 30 years old and should not have to live the life of a college student. He already lived this life. It is something I need to just let go and know that if we are meant to be, both of us will learn to sacrifice for the long haul.

2. I received my first "C" in school ever this past summer session.

• I am actually in the process of fight my research paper grade. If this will even go up a letter grade I will have a "B" in the class.
• The instructor gave me a 60. I have no clue what was wrong, but I know I followed the instructions and made sure to type all 8 pages.
• A 60% on anything means that you have turned in crap. My work is not crap...

3. Jake and I reached our 3 year mark.

• We celebrated by going to Orlando to watch the game 6 playoffs between the Magic and the Celtics. It was amazing.
• For the first time in our 3 year history, I will be making my first visit to Wyomissing. Jake insures me I have never seen anything like it. I re-assured him with a reminder that I was born in St. Cloud FL... a place that gets Rodeo Day off from high school...
• We are still on track for saving for our trip this winter... If anyone wants to go skiing with us... let me know! I could really use the 1k giveaway from wink96.9!

4. This past weekend we enjoyed ourselves at another wedding.

• It is always exciting when friends close to you get married. Jake and I got to witness the joining in marriage of Jen and Kev.
• The ceremony was awesome and the reception was a blast.
• So many friends and family... you could not go wrong!

I think that is pretty much it... I have started my book reading!! wooo hoo! I am also excited about sewing and scrapbooking. I am sure to keep myself busy this summer, and of course keep you my blogging world updated!

Father's Day Blog

I have had many men in my life try to be a father to me. Most of fallen short. I thank God everyday for John, my step-dad. He has stepped to the plate and not only been a father to his own daughter Emily, but a father to me and my sister.

I was flipping through the internet today and read an article from President Obama, on his reflections of being a father. He talks about his childhood and the feeling it left him with, not having that father their.

In one part of the article he says:

"That is why we need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception; that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one" (Obama, 2009)

This is so true. So many men give up after the birth. The most courages thing in life is being the father...

It is a great article to read. It can be found at: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31437363/ns/fathers_day_guide//


Happy Father's Day to all of the men who have stepped up to the plate within their own families!