and then there were two

For months we've been talking about getting a companion for Mr. Rudy, and yesterday we took the plunge! We've found tons of perfect pups only to find they are gone within just a few days. This time, we asked just in time!

Meet Chaz... a boxer / St. Bernard mix who is sure going to be a really large pup. 

We knew Rudy was in need of a little brother (or sister) to keep him company while we're at work and to also just give him another pup to play with anytime. It's proven to be a worthwhile choice, as Rudy and him are already the best of friends. They snuggle. They play. They eat together. They go outside together. 

It'll be a bit of work these next few weeks, but it'll be worth it after some training sessions. Rudy and Chaz are in good hands!

Ruff, ruff.

taming the beast: my favorite curly hair products

As spring approaches and humidty beings to rise, I am reminding how difficult it can be to manage my hair. I've learned over the years to embrace the curls and let the fro go, but it took some time. My guess is that I've tried hundreds of products at some point hoping I'd discover the perfect one for my hair and its makeup. Trust me, each strand seems to have a mind of its own.

In addition to dealing with frizzy, dry and extra curly hair day to day, I've also been working on ways to help my hair grow faster while staying healthy at the same time. (Note: Not getting your hair cut by a pro for a few years is certainly not the answer!) Last year, I finally found the perfect hairdresser who not only knew what she was doing with this "mess," but also introduced me to a few fine products to help me manage my locks. 

1. Moroccan Oil (appx. $45 for large bottle): In place of Moroccan Oil, I've tried a few drug-store brands. However, they don't even come close to measuring up to the Moroccan Oil brand. From the second  I put the drug store products in my hair I could tell they were absorbing, which defeats the purpose of the product all together. Pay up. It lasts several months and is so worth it.

2. Aquage Defining Gel (appx. $27 for large bottle): Previously I used a wide range of mousse products. Prior to this gel, I'd use at least three cans a month less-than-par results. Switching to this gel helps me keep the control and use less product - a win/win for my wallet and the health of my hair. A bonus is that it doesn't make your hair crunchy.

3. Moroccan Oil Curling Creme (appx. $30 for large bottle): I use this curling creme when I need really long-lasting results - think things like a night out, all-day work event, etc. It helps define curls and  hold them in place. I've also noticed my hair dry longer in length when I use it because it helps weigh them down a bit (but not flatten!). 

4. Tresemme Extra Firm Holding Spray (appx. $4 for XL bottle): Hairspray is something that can be drug-store quality. I've used Tresemme for years and never switched. It doesn't leave residue in my hair, and it does its job day in and day out. Can't beat it.

I'm all about saving money and doing this on a dime, but trust me, products 1 through 3 are worth the splurge. Each bottle usually lasts several months, too, because I don't need to use more than a few pumps to get the hold my hair needs.  Prior to these, I'd spend just as much or more because I used three-times as much product as I do now.

You don't have to have curly hair like mine to use these. The Oil helps with hair growth and keeping hair shiny and strong, while the gel is a great alternative for beach hair. 

calming down the living room

Our biggest project right now has several steps to it. After tearing down the built-ins and patching the wall, we were ready to give the family/living room another upgrade with a fresh coat of paint - from a not-so-mellow yellow to a calming gray ("Simple Gray" by Valspa Signature, #WV37006 at Lowe's).

Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, we had four sets of hands to knock out the painting project. It was a tremendous help because this room is not small.

Here is a before shot (room has already been torn apart at this point) to really show the mustard yellow from the previous owners.

After our little helpers left, Sam and I finished out the ceiling portion of the room. I'd say we did a pretty nice job without using tape since we only had a few paint spots on the ceiling. We'll touch those up later.

Here is a fuller shot of the color. It lightens and darkens with natural light, which I love. When the trim turns white, the room will really pop!

Up next... priming and painting the trim! Yippee. I seriously can't contain my excitement. 

let there be light!

Warning: There will likely be a huge influx of home project posts coming your way! I'm not even mad about it. Sam and I are ON A ROLL.

With some wedding gift cards we bought a clearance light fixture from Macy's (Pacific Coast brand) to replace our outdated (and ugly) fixture in the dining room. Due to the fact that we aren't electricians (and perhaps, we were being too lazy), the fixture sat in its box for a solid six months collecting dust.

Perhaps the mold issue was a blessing in disguise? The contractor we hired to patch our moldy drywall in the family room was able to install the light while he was here, which really brightened up my day (get it?)!

From drab to fab, if you will. The new light not only looks better cosmetically, it also gives up much brighter light. The light covers are more white than cream (like the previous), so it totally transforms the room. 

With that, I say... let there be light!

when i dip, you dip, we dip

I'm a self-proclaimed ranch expert. I'd put ranch dressing on about anything and dip about anything in it too. I know it's not the best condiment to fall in love with, but frankly, I don't care. 

However, I have discovered a wonderful alternative to the fattening ranch dip I usually love to eat in mass quantities. Two ingredients and nearly identical taste. Yes, I'm serious. 

1 cup Greek yogurt + 1 tbsp ranch seasoning mix = delicious ranch dip!

via Google images... because I ate all mine!

I've dipped carrots in it nonstop since the first time I made it. The best part? It's healthy, and I don't have to feel guilty about my obsession for ranch. 

No question that this has earned a spot as a staple snack for me! 

bye bye built-ins!

Maybe it's the nice weather, but we have FINALLY taken on another big home project. I've had an idea to paint the family room for months now, but just haven't gotten to that yet. And then, it happened. Sam shared an amazing idea.

The amazing idea means waiting longer on the painting fiesta, but I'm OK with that because it was... errr, an AMAZING idea. We have (or should I say had?) large built-ins in our family room that took up an entire wall and were bulky in size.

Family room built-ins before...

Even with the room being quite large, the built-ins always felt like a little too much. My plan originally was to just paint them and all the trim white to match the rest of the house (and ultimately brighten the space), but instead, we're going one step further by removing the top of them.

We love the storage the bottom cabinets offer, and we also love the window seat, so we kept the part we liked and said goodbye to the rest. We skipped purchasing an expensive tool and just hand-sawed each side off. While it wasn't the easiest approach, it worked just fine. Sam sawed, and I held the pieces to help keep them from moving around (again, it was cheap wood AND poorly put together, so it could be done without a fancy tool).

So, without further ado ... bye bye built-ins!

Built-ins no more!

You'll notice some deconstruction on the left wall there. We ran into a mold issue. Yikes!

At one point some water got trapped between the built-ins and the drywall. It obviously wasn't ideal, but I'm glad we found it. It was only behind the wood, so we would have never known otherwise. It hadn't gotten through the drywall or into the floor, so that was a sigh of relief.

Sam and his dad cut out the wall with the mold, and we're going to have a professional fix the drywall this week. Cannot wait to close that back up! Once the wall is done we can move on to our next step, which is painting the walls, the remaining built-ins and the room's trim. Following a good paint job, we'll add floating shelves to replace the bulky top of the built-ins.

One step at a time. More to come on this room transformation!

inspiration and "aha!" moments

Lately, I've been feeling inspired. I'm not sure what led to some "aha" moments, but I found the inspiration and am acting on it. 

via http://favim.com/image/55225/

A few weeks ago, I started realizing how off I seemed to be with all sorts of things -- budgets, exercise, eating right, and the list goes on. I was forgetting what activities and needs helped reduce the probability of having "one of those days" and was indulging in unnecessary things while also avoiding the necessary. Things like retail therapy made me feel better (this might be a whole other issue...) or eating out too much because I just didn't have the energy to make my own sandwich. I was even choosing no workout at all over a short, quick vent session on the treadmill. The overspending and lack of concentration on healthy habits only stressed me out more.

I was at a crossroads and needed to figure out how to refocus priorities to knock out the overwhelmed feeling.

It has left me inspired to make some changes for the better. Inspired to seek out the best in myself and in others. Inspired to put the crap aside and think about what's important. 

Let's translate that into real-life items, shall we? 

For three weeks, I haven't eaten lunch out... ONCE. For two months (moving forward), I'm making a vow to not shop... AT ALL (exception: a trunk show I'm hosting!). I'm working on releasing negative energy through exercise, and yes, it really, REALLY works. I'm decluttering (from clothes to miscellaneous items) to help feel organized and put together. I'm finally starting some home projects that have been "on the list" for what feels like years. I'm saying no to things that aren't worth it but also saying yes to more things that I know will bring happiness in the end (more friend and family time!).

The list goes on.

All these things will fuel happiness and leave stress out to fend for itself in no-man's land. It will help me share the love more often. It will help me focus.

Lately, I've been feeling inspired, and it's time to reboot!

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feelin' the love

You know what's happy? When you feel the love. 

Just the other day, I was having "one of those days." The kind that just wasn't going your way. 

When I opened up our mailbox, I found a handmade card with a handwritten note from one of my closest friends. It was full of "just because" notes. It was just to say hello and tell me she appreciates our friendship. For no other reason than to send one "just because."

Feeling the love is a blessing. Giving the love back is also a blessing. 

These kind of things are the perfect reminders. It's true that you get what you give - in relationships and in life itself. Showing you care can be a simple text, a surprise gift, a phone call or visit. It can be small or large, short or long. The important thing is that it's shown. 

Today, I'm thankful for feeling the love. Not just through this card, but every day. From my husband. From my friends. From my family. From my coworkers and even clients.

You get what you give. When I give a little more, I know my heart will be full from giving... and almost always, it will be even fuller from getting it back.