Check this out Y'ALL...

Last weekend was the first weekend in four weeks (UPDATE: Nick thinks it has been closer to six weeks!) where we weren't traveling and didn't have visitors. Our list of things that we really wanted to do got long quick, but whatevs, we got some of it done. :) So in honor of my and my friend Liz's dream to quit our jobs, win Craft Wars and make millions via Etsy, here is what I've been up to lately. 


Project 1: Refinish Table


My dad bought me this table in high school.  It came with a little stool (stand-by, that's next on my list!) and I used it as a desk/vanity in high school and college. Now it sits at our front door and really needed some love.  You can see that one knob was missing.

I took it all apart and sanded every inch, wiped it down and put it back together. Then used an all-purpose primer and gave it three really thin coats.

I think this was after coat two...

Then I started with the paint! I used Martha Stewart's Punch in a semi-gloss latex. What I like about the latex is that when you use it with a primer, it dries quickly. What I don't like about the latex is that it doesn't have the "self-leveling" of the oil-based paints. I did two coats of paint and lightly sanded the top between coats.

After the paint dried, I did three coats of a semi-gloss polyurethane (with another light sand before the last coat). And then hardware....TADA!

Project 2: Jewelry Holder

This is a pinterest-inspired-desperately-need jewelry holder. Until last weekend, all of my jewelry was either piled on my night stand or pilled in a box.  Nick and I went to the Habitat ReStore and we picked up a bunch of wood flooring (spoiler alert for Project 4-ish due soon). I used three wide plank pieces and glued the tongue-and-groove joints together and nailed paint sticks to the back to keep it together. The under-side of the wood planks were the top of the jewelry holder. 

Juno was a big help :)

I used Minwax Jacobean stain to stain the wood. I thought I'd need more than one coat, but NOPE! Gotta love it when that happens.

Now, this is where I cannot take the credit. In the piece I saw on pinterest, they used cabinet hardware as the jewelry holder and I thought it was GENIUS! I only bought just what I needed for now, but there is definitely room to grow for more!

The cup pulls hold stud earrings and rings

Project 3: BIKE RACK!!

Nick was also busy finally getting my one and his three bikes off the floor in our office (which has really just been a storage room). He did such a great job and I am so excited that we are slowly getting this room back in order!

Project 4+: Here's on the menu for what I'll be doing soon/eventually

• Wall art for bedroom
• Stool to ottoman? I'm not making any promises...
• Homemade tiki torches for backyard (we finally got outdoor furniture and naturally its rained everyday)
• Other painted furniture I have yet to find on craigslist
• AND...my Etsy goldmine that Nick and I came up with (I just need a sewing machine)

I'll see you soon blog friends. :)

Oh, Hey There.

Hello adoring fans! I am back and ready to blog again! This post was requested weeks ago by my dear friend (and crazy talented musician) Sarah Tollerson.  You should listen to her song "Love You All the Time". I have a particular soft spot for that one. Sarah, I know I broke my promise, but here you are. I hope it satisfies. ;-) 

It has been three and one half months since I have written to you all.  Coincidentally it has also been three and one half months since I started my job.  Which, by the way, I love.  I have had so many great experiences and have learned so much while having a lot of fun in the process.  Also, I got promoted! whatwhat. :) It feels so good that all of the hard work and extra years I put into getting my degree payed off and is being recognized.

Gone are the days where I sat on the futon Google searching random things, writing blog posts, listening to the entire Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on my iPod (twice...) and spending way too much money at Target. Well, maybe the Target thing hasn't really changed. Also, gone are the days where I woke up and cried on Saturdays and Sundays because I didn't want to be here.  Things are definitely different from our life in Georgia, but I think we have adjusted.  It has helped that we have a few friends to do things with on the weekends, Nick plays soccer and climbs a couple days a week, and I FINALLY joined the gym. I just need to find where I packed all that motivation. Anyone have any they can spare? It also helps that I have something to do during the day, You know, like a job.

I am really looking forward to Helen and baby David moving up here in May/June!! Jesse is already here and living with us. That's another thing to add to the adjustment list. I don't think it is any secret that having your brother-in-law (i.e. your husband's sister's husband) move in with you is hard for everyone involved. However, I do enjoy coming downstairs to fresh brewed coffee on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Thanks bro. :)

Here is a quick list of "Things That I Probably Would Have Blogged About But Didn't":

1. We bought a couch! The futon is still our TV room couch, but at least we have one piece of furniture that is new and not something we inherited while in college (or picked up off the side of the road).
2. Juno now goes to Doggie Daycare once a week. While she was there over Thanksgiving she made a friend named Aurora. They played all day and the owners had to make them stop paying at night to go to bed. They usually see each other every Wednesday. So sweet.
3. Community is the funniest show. Ever.
4. My iPhone is in the mail! I am finally getting caught up in the phone-technology arena.
5. We drove up to Syracuse NY last weekend to visit Malory! We had a great time and even went up to Ithaca, which reminded us of Athens a made us all a little homesick. And it was snowing while we were there!
6. Also last weekend, Helen and David came up to visit Jesse. I was blown away by how much that little monster grew since Christmas. I cannot wait to see those two again (and for longer than a meal).
7. Thank you Virginia for giving us a wimpy winter (no sarcasm intended). As much as I want to know what its like to have snow not melt the day after it falls, I was not actually ready.

Okay. That should be good for now.  I swear you will hear from me again soon.

Where you at?

There are FOUR spots left in the Craft It Forward project!  To quote Allison, "I thought you liked getting cool stuff in the mail?"

I might just start calling people out...

Who wants it?!

Two for One

Craft it Forward was so good to me!  From Ally Built I got some beautiful handmade magnets, which I was telling my self that day that I needed to get more. Also, the necklace I got from her for my birthday is kickass.  Jordan, you should look into her new home-brew selections for your hubby and friends.

Cupcakes - so cute!

These are no wimpy magnets either, they're awesome, just like those kiddos

I also got some holiday-inspired knitted (or crocheted, I can never tell) pot holders from the talented Helen at Creative Normaltown.  I opened these and I laughed, in a good way, because great minds think alike.

I have 5 gifts ready-to-go for those of you who want to Craft it Forward!  I am so excited about them and cannot wait to continue to make more.  Just comment on this post or Facebook (I don't know that many people so I think I need to branch out, social-media-wise) then message me our address and I'll send you my handmade goodie.  Then you post what I sent to you and make a homemade gift for 5 people that comment on your post.  It doesn't have to be professional grade or sell-able, let's just continue to brighten and inspire.

Real Life with Paychecks Lane

I am employed!!!  Thanks to everyone for the good vibes they were sending my way!

After my first interview, I went in the following week for my second interview. I needed to bring in my portfolio (which wasn't nearly ready) so I worked for about 2 days to get it done then I sent it to FedEx Office to get printed. They have a great online printing service where you can customize and get it just the way you want it. So I sent it and waited for my confirmation email. I've had tons of portfolios just like this printed so I know how long it should take to make. At 8am the morning of my interview, when I still hadn't gotten my confirmation email, I just decided to drive to pick it up, because they must have just forgotten to send it, right? When I got to FedEx, all the lights are off (its open 24 hours!!) and there is a sign on the door: "We have lost power and will reopen soon. Sorry for the inconvenience." All nonchalantly like that. Like they had no idea what I was supposed to be doing in two and a half hours... "Sorry, my bad" says the FedEx.

I went home, got my phone ('cause I forget it, of course), and called the location that was farther away. The lady was nice and said she would reprint my portfolio. So I got ready, drove to pick it up, and I made it to my interview with 10 minutes to spare. Ugh. Never again.

Anyways, I met with the head of the design department and we talked for about an hour and a half.  He gave me a tour of the office and I met a lot of the people I would be working with.  At the end of our interview, I asked what the next step would be, and low and behold, a third interview. Bleh.  I think I'm getting really good at these.

At that one (which was basically 3 mini interviews), I met with 3 sets of people from the design team.  The first time I met with two Senior Interior Designers, then I met with two architects, then I met with the Design Manager and the Selections Designer.  It took about 2 hours and was a little bit exhausting, but fun. About a day and a half later I got my offer letter, which made it seem so much more real.  I start on November 7th and I am excited and nervous.  More nervous than I was in the interviews. Is that weird?

Nick and I feel like we are at a crazy point in our lives.  Like we've been traveling on this one road for so long, I call it Poor College Student Drive, and now were about to make a sharp left turn onto Real Life With Paychecks Lane.  It's exciting. :)

Keep your fingers crossed!

Speaking of not having a job, I had an interview yesterday.  There is a company I have been keeping my eyes on for a while now.  I actually applied for a job opening they had listed on their website the night before Nick and I left Georgia.  I called about once a week (and emailed) until I got a hold of Bob, the guy I needed to talk to, last week.  He told me they had filled that position but he thinks there will be an open position that I would be more suited for.  He told me to call him back early this week.  So I called about twice a day until I got him on the phone and he asked me in for an interview the next day!

It went really well.  Bob was very nice, funny, and super chatty.  I got some really great vibes while I was there and was really impressed with everything he told me about their business model and how they all work together.

We talked for about an hour and towards the end he said, "well, I already know I want you to come back for a second interview". That sounds promising, right?!  I'll know Monday or Tuesday when my second interview will be and hopefully it will go just as well.  I'll meet with the design team and show my portfolio (which now I have to get together........).

I heard once that this guy really wanted to work for this company so what he did was basically bother them until he got an interview.  That was definitely my strategy here.  I know a lot of people don't want to seem like a bother or feel like they might be getting on someone's nerves, but you know what, it shows persistence and determination.  Those are qualities employers are looking for, not someone who just waits around.  And in my case, the only person I may have been bothering was the receptionist.

Two posts in one day? Holy shit - I need a job.

I just met with Jazma.  She is an investigator with with Federal government. She is working on Nick's security clearance and is making sure that everything Nick has said about himself is true.  If you are one of the lucky ones Nick has put as a reference don't worry, it was easy and not scary (not like that Mad Men episode).  No men in suits, she wore flip flops.

Jazma is from Atlanta. We started talking about Georgia and she asked me how I liked it here. I've been asked that a few times and I never knew what to say, so I'd normally respond "Um, well, it's...different". So when she asked me what I thought about Virginia I started with my usual response, but she completed my sentence for me, "it's different" she said. It was nice knowing that I'm not the only one who doesn't know how to respond to that. We started talking about all things we both miss about Georgia and all the things that we also like about living here in Virginia.  It's weird.  I like it here, but I miss Georgia (and my people) so much.

So here is what I am going to do:  I am going to pretend that I am back in Georgia and what I would do if I was there.  Below are my sisters/sisters-in-law (and nieces, of course) whom I miss terribly and what we would do together if I were still in Georgia/Athens. Carol, you don't count in this because I get to see you in a week and a half!!!

Kelly: I think both of us would just be back in Disney World.
Colleen: sorting through all our baby pictures and laughing about all the memories (and the fights).
Allison: just chatting in your kitchen while drinking delicious coffee and doing something crafty.
Helen: boot-camp at the Y with the one-and-only Brad and then walking with David in the stroller, we're probably heading to Ike & Jane's.
Kate: eating take-out and watching Eastbound and Down, and since this is pretend, we ran together earlier and I kept up with you.
Stephanie: hanging out at your house after a party you and Peter just had, then going to Aqua Linda for Mexican food. yum.
Sarah + Josey: painting each others finger nails and playing a silly game Sarah has invented.

Don't get me wrong, I am not sad, I just miss home and can't wait to see everyone (hopefully) at Thanksgiving!