Friday, June 28, 2013

Flooding Basements

I was exhausted yesterday. I blame my allergies, the heat, a tough workout and lack of sleep. Since I was falling asleep in the shower I decided to go to bed early. 10pm actually. Usually I don't get to bed until closer to 11:30 so 10 is amazing. I was all snuggled up and was in a dreamland by 10:15. For the second time in a month I was jolted from bed to the sound of my security system going off. I tripped down the stairs knowing already that the torrential downpour outside was the source of my problem. 

My sump pump was overflowing into my basement. 

With all the rain it couldn't keep up and now it was slowly spilling over. Between the incessantly annoying beeps of the pump, and the water sloshing in, I called my husband (two states away) to say, "what do I do?" 

Our basement is finished except for the little back room that houses the sump pump, water heater and furnace. And like all other basement rooms that house those things, it's creepy. Spider webs, open ceiling beams, and lots of dust. Not to mention the fear that I will see a mouse which causes me sheer terror. I obviously couldn't let the water continue to flood into the finished part of the basement so I did what my husband suggested. Hating it the whole time. 

I climbed the stairs out of my basement and headed out to the garage to grab the little pump that my husband so conveniently happened to have. Seriously, lifesaver. Traipsed out into the rain to unhook the muddy hose from the side of the house and drag both it and the pump down into the basement. I hooked the hose up to the pump and dropped it into the sump pump hole. I stuck the other end of the hose out the window. Then I had to drag my happy ass back outside into the downpour to pull the end of the hose away from the house and re-hook up a pipe that my loving puppy so thoughtfully knocked down which created extra water into the basement. Keep in mind that this whole time I'm in a pajama shirt, boots and mud smeared across my arms from the stupid hose. I'm sure if the neighbors had looked outside they would have called the cops on the creeper stealing things from my basement. 

Fortunately the rain started to subside and the sump pump was able to keep up on it's own so I could finally go back to bed. Furious and fuming that my precious sleep had been interrupted.

I'm so over being the man of the house.

Dear Husband, Please finish up your out of town job so you can come home! 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Wedding Photos

1 year, 8 months and 11 days after my wedding I FINALLY have a wedding photo on my wall! 
It's a freakin' miracle!
That's right, it's bigger than my head.
Obviously you are thinking to yourself that surely, I AM, the master of procrastination? You would be right young grasshopper, I AM.

Because of my knowledge and deep interest in the subject I have decided to share with you all the tips to being a Procrastinator. That's right, all aboard the lazy train because we are taking a ride to the Procrastination Station!

Step 1: Be Lazy.
Lounge on your couch for as many hours a day as possible. Only get up to go the fridge, or the junk food cabinet. Make sure if you have to use the bathroom you make it worth your while and hit the fridge again on the way back to your butt indented couch. And yes, a butt indented couch is a real thing. I have one.

Step 2: Be indecisive.
Whenever you have a million things to do, spend hours deciding what you should do first, and what you should put off 'til later. By the time you're done deciding it will be too late to accomplish anything. 

Step 3: I'll figure this out later.

Three steps will obviously suffice at the Procrastination Station. Now get out there and procrastinate people! After a couple days that is. If you want to. 

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Growing a Garden

Remember when my garden looked like this? All sweet and innocent in nice pretty rows?
Barely sprouting out of the ground?

Well, it's been a month and we have had lots of rain. Which means, my garden grows right along with the weeds. So, it turned into a jungle. 

Literally, a jungle. 

Monday, I busted out the tiller, my garden gloves and an empty wheelbarrow and went to work. After about two hours I had a pile of weeds, muddy knees and some satisfaction.

This picture doesn't even do the amount of weeds justice. It was A LOT.
My jungle is starting to resemble a garden again.

Thank goodness. I was about to spray it all with roundup and say, "let's try again next year."



So far, I have been able to pick, and eat, some lettuce, spinach, onions and my husband had a few Serrano peppers. It's coming along slowly but surely. Not that slow really but it sure seems like it.

We have lots of tomatoes that are waiting to turn red and I'm pretty sure I planted too many green beans. Oh well, I guess I will have some to share since Seth doesn't seem too excited about them. 

Fresh food from your own garden is by far the best. I guarantee it!

Monday, June 24, 2013

Weekend Recap and Lobsters

It's the most dreaded day of the week again, Monday! Actually my Monday's aren't too terrible. The work load is usually pretty light which is convenient since I'm always sleepy. Today is no exception. 

Seth was home for the weekend so I knew I was in for some type of manual labor. I'm pretty sure he has forgotten what it means to take it easy or relax on the weekends since that is the only time he is home to get anything done. Luckily, he didn't have anything too crazy in mind. 

I managed to sleep in until 9:30 Saturday which hardly ever happens anymore, so that was pretty nice. I woke up just in time to throw on some old clothes and ride into town, with Seth, to get some diesel for the skid loader and a cookie for breakfast. I know, healthy choices people! 

We came home and I decided, with a friendly nudge from my adorable husband, to finally stain our beck deck. It has only been two years-ish since we power-washed and bought the stain so I don't see what the big rush is, but it was a sunny day so I happily obliged. Happily only because I knew I could get my tan on at the same time. Plus I could jam out to Pandora. 

About an hour in to the staining, I decided that sunblock would probably be a good idea. Apparently an hour was a little too long to wait or else year old sunblock is not a good idea. Either way, my back is a lobster. A bright red, freshly boiled, lobster. 

See, I look like a lobster

But doesn't my deck look great?!
Quite the upgrade, if I may say so.



My husband decided to reward all my hard work/tan burn time with dinner and a movie. Steak and potatoes. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson in The Internship, good stuff I tell ya. (I should probably note that my husband did yard work will I stained the deck. Don't want anyone to freak that my husband makes me do work while he does nothing.)

Sunday was uneventful and included a nap, my husband staying home an extra night and some buttery popcorn. A good day in my books. 

Heading home after work to take an apple cider vinegar bath. Supposedly it helps keeps your sunburn from peeling?? Not too optimistic over here. 

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans

Friday, June 21, 2013

7 Quick Takes {7} and Wedding Photos!

(If you just want to see the Wedding Photos, scroll to #7)

1. I had a heart attack thirty minutes ago when I went to wash my apple and realized only my wedding band was on my finger. No engagement ring. You know the expensive one with the big diamond?! Never has this happened to me and I freaked. (I have been wearing my rings on my pinky finger for the last week or so, because with the humidity my fingers swell up first thing in the morning and I can't put my rings on my ring finger.) I now understand the saying of "my knees were weak" because they were. They were shaking and my heart was racing and I was praying that I would find it. I dropped my apple on the counter, looked in my lunch bag that I had just set in the fridge, and then raced back to my desk where my ring was sitting right inside of my work bag where it had fallen off probably 3 minutes before. Thank you Jesus! 
You can see why I was freaking out. Gorgeousness.  

2. Seth is getting closer to being done working out of state and I can't wait for him to move home. After being in a relationship for almost 12 1/2 years this will be the first time we live together for more than a weekend at a time. Things might get interesting:)

3. I finished Season 3 of Downton Abbey so I will probably shut up about it for a while but holy bananas! They definitely ended Season 3 with a cliffhanger and I googled and Season 4 doesn't even air until January 2014! Is that a joke?!!! Why so long??? Okay, I'm done now. 

4. I don't know what Google Reader is but apparently it's going away because every blog I read is freaking out about it. Apparently BlogLovin is the new cool thing to have though so I guess that's where you can find me. Or using the reader that's in blogger since it's so conveniently located. 

5. I'm considering switching from Blogger to Wordpress but I don't know if I want to go for it or not. I have noticed that a lot of blogs I read are using Wordpress but then I stumble on a bigger blog and they are still using Blogger. Ugh. I don't know what to do. Feel free to argue your case for either in the comments section because I'm sick of researching. 

6. Yesterday morning I wake up this adorable innocence outside my window.
Precious, I know. 
I arrive home to this lovely un-innocent-ness in my mail box. Face palm. 
This isn't the first time we have had a note from a neighbor in our mailbox. 
Lucky for us our neighbors are all great and this little old lady just wanted to tell me that, there has been more traffic on our road lately, and, she is worried about our dog crossing the road and getting hit by a car. She was sweet as could be and didn't care about the old muddy boot or shoe and I think she just wants a friend. After talking to her on the phone for over 30 minutes I have promised to come visit her at some point. And Gunnar was locked in his pen today:(

7. Apparently people enjoyed my engagement photos last week because they have been pinned quite a few times. Because of the enthusiasm I decided to give you some wedding photos for your viewing pleasure this week! (and because I just love to look at them:)

The guys.
My gals.  
The most gorgeous flowers ever. 
My groom. 
LOVE our smiles in this picture. 
:)
Same church my Grandparents got married in over 60 years ago. 

The farm my mom grew up on.

All wedding photos taken by Leigh Miller Photography. She is amazing talented and so sweet:)
Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary.





Thursday, June 20, 2013

How to be more productive


I've figured out how to make your life more productive and I'm sharing the secret!

Start a blog. 

Yep, that's all you have to do. (Well you have to write in it too, obviously.)

Seriously, since I have started blogging, my life has gotten way more productive. Everytime I see, do, or think something, I think to myself, "hmm, I wonder if this would make a good blog post?" or "wow, this would make a good blog post." 

Is that pathetic? Is that what all bloggers do? As I've said, I'm new to the blog world, but I can't help but think that I'm not the only one thinking these thoughts. 

I also don't think I'm the only one that does things around my house or in my life so that I have good blogging material. Honestly, if I wasn't productive my life blog would look something like this. 

Woke up.
Went to work.
Came home.
Watched tv Downton Abbey.
Went to bed. 

As wonderful a blog as that would make, I like to think that my 3 readers deserve a little more. 

So now that blogging has entered my life... 

I craft.
Here

I bake. 
Here

Sometimes decorate or DIY some type of upcycled randomness. 
I look for bargains. 
Here

I garden. 
Here
I clean. 
This room is in the process of being cleaned/organized. Here
I organize. (See above)
And, I document. (See above)

That's right, I take pictures of anything and everything that I'm doing, eating, visiting. Then, when I'm inspired to post, I have some lovely little photos to go right around with the writings. 

I would like to point out that I did (and still do) all the things listed above before blogging. And, I don't just do those things because I have a blog. However, I do some of the items more frequently than I use to. I don't procrastinate nearly as much and I get excited about doing some of the items that I might otherwise dread. Overall, blogging has, so far, been a positive influence in my life and I hope the productiveness continues. 

Since my husband benefits from some of the items above, I would say that he enjoys my productive blog life as well:) 

xoxo,
Julie

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

4th of July Printable

The 4th of July is just around the corner and I'm so excited that I decided to make you all a little treat! Click here to download my Free 4th of July printable! 


And because I'm really nice, I didn't even watermark it! If you use it, I would love for you to tell me in the comments, or please link back to my site if you post it somewhere:)

What's your favorite thing about the 4th of July? Free printable's maybe? Haha. Mine would have to be the huge reunion we have every year with my ginormous family. Tons of food, fireworks, and freedom! Plus we are getting these super sweet shirts this year....

fun right?!
Check back soon for more 4th of July fun!

xoxo


Monday, June 17, 2013

The Most Exciting Weekend EVER

It's Monday and my little brain is not in the mood to function today. It's cloudy and rainy outside and I really want to just crawl back in bed and nap all day. Maybe mix in a few more Downton Abbey episodes.

Instead, I'm stuck at work, patiently waiting for 5 o'clock.

Since I'm feeling such a lack of inspiration today I will bore EXCITE you with my weekend happenings.

Friday evening I watched a coach pitch baseball game of a little boy I used to babysit. He's 8 and adorable and turns out he's a pretty good little first baseman.

Went home to be my normal exciting self and make popcorn for dinner which I ate with my butt planted firmly in it's dented couch cushion position while watching approximately 3 episodes of Downton Abbey. Thrilling, I know.


Slept in on Saturday instead of spending money thrifting at garage sales. I'm sure my husband was proud.

Decided that Dad's are absolutely impossible to shop for because if they want it, or need it, they buy it. Since the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, I baked pies. Apple pies actually. With homemade crust. I know what you're thinking...woah there Betty Crocker, don't hurt yourself. I promise you I didn't. Unless you count the fact that I didn't get to eat the pies. That hurt.



My lovely father wanted to go out to eat Saturday night for Father's Day so that's what we did. He got to choose the place so obviously he chose Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Who am I to argue with a greasy cheeseburger and brown paper bags filled with hot fries? If you have never eaten  at one of these fine establishments I encourage you to jump on it. Oh, and share the fries. I promise, you don't need two unless you want a career as a contestant on The Biggest Loser.

Big Bob loved his pie. Well, I think, he hadn't tasted it yet when we left.
All 6'7" of Big Bob and me.
My little brother Joe wanted in on the picture taking action.
As I previously mentioned, I live a life of excitement so I did the most exciting thing I could think of after dinner. Went home, put on pj's, and watched Downton Abbey.

Gunnar prefers licking my ankle to watching DA.
(I promise my ankles aren't as huge as they appear in this pic.)
Are you sensing a theme? If not, let me help you. I'm boring exciting and I watch a lot of tv, especially Downton Abbey.

Sunday morning I drug myself from bed to go to church where I set with my grandparents. I would like to point out here that I always set with my grandparents which I think makes me the favorite grandchild. Or at least one of two favorites. The other one is little and cute and the youngest of all 34 of us grandkids (yep, 34) so I feel like he has a little bit of an edge but he'll grow out of the little and cute stage so I'm not worried.

After church I delivered my second homemade-pie-crusted pie to my Stepdad, Dave. Him and my mom got married when I was 8 and I was more than lucky to have this guy in my life. He was busy doing some electrical work for a family friend so we didn't get to hang out much but we are going to go to dinner next weekend when Seth's in town so it's all good.

Hung out with one of my bff's/cousins, Jacqueline, and her family for awhile and perused the aisles of Target.

Made it home in time to lay on my back deck to soak up some sun, for about 3 minutes, before I was drenched in sweat. Thank you Kansas humidity. Decided, I'm going to be the weirdo that goes to the pool on my own so that's what I did. And it was lovely. Nice and hot but a little bit breezy and cool from the water. Took a mini nap and read some magazines. That, right there, is summer my friends.

Pure perfection.
At this point it's 7:00pm on Sunday and I have done absolutely zero productive things so I decided to go for a run. With my dog. While I can't say that Gunnar is an amazing running partner, he is way better to take when off a leash than when he is on a leash. Something to work on I suppose.

Wrapped up the weekend with a frozen, it's not delivery, it's Digiorno pizza, some Kardashians and Downton Abbey.

And there you have it folks. Too much excitement to handle. Maybe I should have warned you at the beginning.


Linking up with Sami's Weekend Shenanigans.

Friday, June 14, 2013

7 Quick Takes {6} (and a few past engagement photos!)

1. It's the weekend. Ohhh YEAH! Let's just say I'm super pumped for the weekend. I really have no idea why I'm this excited because I have no big plans but I'm just excited. Oh, and Downton Abbey Season 3 came in, sooooo... it's safe to say this will most likely be an unproductive weekend:)

No, I don't live in Ottawa, inter-library loan is a lovely thing:)
2. How cute is my littlest (age, not size) brother? I mean seriously I just love that boy (even when he's a butt head). 
He's in the army and currently stationed at Ft. Hood right now so I don't get to see him much. 
Super old, really bad photo of both of us from the day before his bootcamp graduation in 2009.
It's hard to take updated photos when I never get to see him:(

3. There are approximately 7, give or take 12, craft projects cluttering up my house and garage right now. I should be ashamed, but I'm not. 

4. I recently introduced my mom to blogs (and the copy/paste feature) and obviously she hasn't read many because she thinks I'm just HILARIOUS. To prove that my hilarious-ness is a figment of her imagination I sent her over to read Grace's blog Camp Patton. That women is truly hilarious. Oh, and Hi Mom!! 

5. Does anyone else ever get overwhelmed by all the things they want/need to do that they end up doing none of them? Yep, I have that problem and I have it bad. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that my list of favorite tv shoes is longer than my list of to-do's, right? That's what I thought. 

6. This Pinterest chicken recipe is so good that I have made it twice this week. Twice in the past 3 days really. Go. Make it. Enjoy. You're welcome. (p.s. use less vinegar)

Who needs a side dish when you have chicken this good?

7. It's so hard to think up a #7 and I have no idea why since I have a million ideas but they all seem lame. So, I leave you with this...avoid poison ivy. It sucks and is itchy:( If you insist on getting poison ivy, I advise this: Scrub with a loofah or something similar to open up the little bubbles of poison and wash it with Dawn dish soap to get the oils out of your skin. While I'm not a doctor I was given this information from a pharmacist once, so I trust it, but you don't have to. It will save you from clawing the skin of your arms and legs though. Fortunately I have only gotten it twice but the first time was during engagement photos (2nd time right now hence the reason for this #7) so it was totally worth it:)






Most likely poison ivy culprit right here. 

See? Totally worth it! (Photographer here)


Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease!



Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary. 


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Thursday, June 13, 2013

Pinterest Project

It's time for a Pinterest Project!

That's right people, I'm co-hosting a little Pinterest Project with the awesome Kala at My Breezy Room!

We are super pumped you stopped by to check out the awesomeness:)

Here's what I made...


...scroll down to read how to make your own:)

Here's what Kayla made (read about it here)....



Here's the simple little steps so you can make your own...

Burlap Monogram Wall Art

Okay, this was a super easy project. I found the frame at a garage sale for $2! I loved the shape of the frame but the art just wasn't my thang. 

Gather your supplies


Remove the screws and take apart your frame


Trace the size of your opening and cut out. Cut out your burlap. 
Staple burlap to the cardboard. Admire and smooth out any bumps. 

Paint your frame. I painted mine and decided to change the color so there's no photo. 
You can figure it out though. I trust ya!

Reassemble your frame with the burlap in it.

Trace your monogram onto scrapbook paper. Cut out.
Mod Podge your paper onto your letter. Let Dry.
Put glue dots onto the back of you letter. Attach to burlap.

Flip it over and Ta-freakin-da! 
Easy peasy!

Pin me!

Feel free to share any of your projects in my comments section below. I love checking out new blogs:)

Linked up with No Minimalist Here.
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