Embracing My Abode

This incredible room was designed by Roland Bello, and if you ask me it falls nothing less than pure bliss.  

Ahh...just enjoy it's magnificence for a moment.

Ok, now that you had your moment, here's what I did.  So, I could not stand not knowing who created this wonderful piece of bed art, so I took it upon myself to email the designer of the room.  Surprisingly I got a rather quick response!  The bedding is from Anthropologie, and sadly only 4 seasons ago I could have purchased it for $228 buckaroos.  If only I was a time travelers' wife.  That bedding, no matter how much, would be in my bedroom right now!   I absolutely love it!!

In somewhat of relation, I have decided to end my apartment in the city search.  "What!?" you ask.  Yes its true.  I will pardon my concrete jungle neighborhood in lieu of tree lined streets in the city and take delight in what large space I have in consideration to the much smaller apartments we viewed.  For at least the next year, Jason and I will make this our happy little home, and I have even considered sprucing up the place!  Maybe I'll be the next House Tour on Apartment Therapy.  Benjamin Moore, here I come!

Everyday Hiccups!

I feel like I am scrambling day-to-day with distractions all around me trying to interrupt and at times even take over the type of person God intends for me to be.  I like to think of these distractions as hiccups!  Some of my distractions are apartment searching, home design websites, shopping, and I'd be lying if I didn't include Facebook!!  At first the hiccups or distractions are  somewhat entertaining, but as time passes by they can become gruelling and lend nothing to my soul.  So I have come to the conclusion that I need a daily devotional to help contribute to keeping me on the right course.  Preferably, I'd like to find an online devotion for women.   I have found one that I am reading now, but I'd like to explore others as well.  Ideas?  Anyone?

Here is the one I'm just beginning to explore.   

On another note, I am trying to find what I have been referring to as a disc necklace.  Fashionistas may have another name for it.  Basically it would include a dainty gold chain, a disc charm with the word 'truth' or 'believe' etched into it's circle.  I'd also like to add a couple of other charms like a cross or one of those Jesus fishes.  They seem to be semi-popular right now, like this one at Private Gallery's store in Birmingham, AL.   

Aren't they cute... well, I think so.  It's hard to find meaningful jewelry that is also fashionable.  I would like for mine to have a little more color to it.  I've also seen similar products at Forever 21.  

Man, I keep stumbling upon one thing after another.  I must have the hiccups!  As I was scanning through Internet Cafe (my new devotional), I came across another cool website/blog called Wild Olive.  They're giving away $75 dollars worth of Christian hipster tees.  Go check 'em out!   

www.wildolivetees.com

Ramblings

I don't know how this girl does it, but I'm lovin' it! She definitely has a gift of mixing all kinds of different patterns and being able to make it look nothing less than fab! You can check out the entire house tour at Apartment Therapy.

Jason and I are looking into moving to another neighborhood in Philadelphia. Therefore, we have opted not to paint our current apartment until we know for a fact whether or not we will for sure be staying or getting the heck out of dodge. Its July, and we still haven't resigned our lease. I for one am excited, and I'm really looking forward to the possibility of living in the Art Museum district. Its where Jason originally wanted to live, and makes total sense that we live in an area which supports the arts. What was I thinking? I should have listened. Tree lined streets, the Schuylkill River, and Whole Foods... all awesome.

Also, they have some excellent cafes that we could simply walk to and parking is free!! On weekends you can find some fabulous flea markets, which I'm hoping to start going to.

We have an appointment on Tuesday to view a basement unit in a brownstone row home. Basement units kind of scare me... no windows, yikes! But the rent is actually cheaper than what we pay now! Who knew living in the city could actually be within our price range!!

In other happenings, Jason and I had the best date night in King of Prussia... long overdue. We started with drinks at Bahama Breeze, did some browsing in Nordstrom Rack, and finished the night with Toy Story 3, in 3D of course. Ahhh, how I miss the suburbs from time to time.

word!

Summatime Project... yes!?

I often find myself wandering around home decor stores that I can't quiet afford with my camera in my hand snapping shots of inspiration. The other day while in Pottery Barn I saw this piece and almost started drooling right there in the store.

Now, I may be getting ahead of myself, but I seriously think I have a chance of making this... well at least a replica. Craigslist post listings of wooden pallets in their free section all the time. And Jomar has awesome fabric sales. A little foam from Lowe's, a staple gun, and a little elbow grease should do the trick. I just don't know where to purchase legs?? I'll just google it.

Here's another fab item I fell in love with...

However, my pocket book couldn't afford this lovely $300 lamp, so I purchased this one instead at Home Goods (my love). Not as lovely as the one above, but it does the trick. That is if you can look past the horrible photo.

I know my husband loves me because THIS is what I got for my birthday in May!! Please ignore the tacky window unit and dorm like furniture. That's my next project.

My hope is to buy some tier tables like these which will also help store all of our books. I already bought three frames from Michael's to go over the bed. Props to Elle Decor for posting this on their website. I know I am a far stretch from here, but I'm getting there piece by piece.

Cardtastic!

"The deepest friendships have nothing to do with proximity; they aren't based on how long we've known each other but on how well we love each other." ~Paige Williams, Friendship Detox; O, The Oprah Magazine.

Lately I have been thinking about friendship. Being in a super big city away from family and knowing next to no one besides my co-workers, who rock by the way, will bring you to ask yourself, "Who really are my friends anyways?" Tackling this question most likely hurt some or my close friends and encouraged the others. I hope for the latter of the two. This questioning just so happened to occur around my mother's birthday. While shopping for a birthday card, I stumbled across a sweet friendship card, and thought of my dear friend Nicole. Inside was written, "Friends always see you as the person you long in your heart to be." Needless to say, I mailed it to her. My college roommate, and one of my closest friends to this day, Denika, taught me that some acts of impulsiveness are quiet necessary. The words in that card, for some reason or another, really touched my heart. I can only hope and pray that I have that type of friendship in others as well as give it. This lead me to really take into consideration writing letters to my friends more often. There is something about the act of writing that touches the heart deeper than a conversation over the phone. Even the surprise of receiving some unexpected mail makes it totally worth it.

Continuing my search for my mom's birthday card... reaching out for various kinds, having a difficult time finding the perfect one, a man standing beside me asked, "Are you looking for a good card? Find a blank one. No one can speak your truths better than you."

Stunned that someone in Philadelphia actually started a conversation with me, a friendly one at that, all I had to say in response was a genuine, "Thank you," as he walked away. I then chose my mother's birthday card, a blank one with Italian flair.

My Prayer

"What am I to you that you command me to love you, and that, if I fail to love you, you are angry with me and threaten me with vast miseries? If I do not love you,is that but a little misery? What a wretch I am! In your mercies, Lord God, tell me what you are to me."

~ Saint Augustine Confessions

"Say to my soul, I AM your salvation!" Psalm 35:3.

Current Obsessions

I haven't posted in quite a while. Here's why.....

1. Apartment Therapy
2. Elle Decor

3. Sweepstakes

4. My Amazon Wish List

and last but certainly not least...

5. Craigslist

I'm obsessed.

WWJD

Generally I try to keep my work life separate from my personal life, but lately I find the two merging together. It gets GRAY sometimes. Let me explain, Jason and I have been watching The Office for the past oh, I don't know...4 0r 5 days. It's HILARIOUS! We're up to Season 3. Right now the World Series is on, and I foresee it taking over my office time...Go Phillie's. Anyway, that's besides the point. Most of you know that I have a new job, and with a new job brings new drama. I consider myself pretty drama-free (people rarely get under my skin), however there are some things that will stir-up battles no matter how anti-dramatic one wishes to be. I can't get into any specifics since this it the Internet...who knows where it would end up. Jason is the unfortunate one who gets to hear my spill at the end of the day. He gave me some excellent advise! When work gives me problems I should ask one question, "What would Jim do?" WOW!! Best advise ever! It has actually motivated me! My husband is awesome!

What's for Dinner?

Meal Planning. This is my task, and so far this is what I've came up with...

* Smothered Pepperjack Chicken (Sounds like I'm off to a good start, but wait...)
* Spaghetti (boring)
* Poppy Seed Chicken
* Chicken Casserole
* Chili
* Tacos
* Seafood (fish, crabs, etc.)
* Pizza (for those nights that no one wants to cook)
* Vegetable Soup
* ....................And now I'm drawing a blank........

From the looks of it, Jason and I will be eating a lot of chicken and most likely will be morbidly obese by the end of the week. Maybe it would help if I threw in a salad. Meal planning "experts" say it's best to plan for at least two weeks. I'm still five meals shy! I need help people!

For Those Unaware

My life will be changing in approximately one week. I will be leaving my position as the Early Intervention Education Director at Northeast Growth & Development (NEGD) and accepting a new position at Elwyn in their Seedlings Program as a Service Coordinator. For those of you who don't know, as a Service Coordinator, in the Autism devision by the way, I will be in charge of assuring that children are receiving their individual services in whatever therapy: Special Instruction, Speech Therapy, Behavior Support, you get the idea. In some ways, I will also be acting as a social worker by providing families with a variety of Autism resources. When I went in for my interview, the job description sounded strangely similar to what I do now. Elwyn by the way is the funder for NEGD, so I feel like I am working for the same company. In a sense, I am. They regulate all the logistics that go into Early Intervention and we must abide by them. All this professional talk must sound extremely boring to the reader. Here's where it gets exciting!

About two weeks ago, I called all my staff in for one last meeting. Anytime I do this there is dread spread all over their faces. This time wasn't any different. I began my speech by expressing my understanding about how unjust the employees must feel on a daily basis. As their supervisor, my hands in many areas are surprisingly tied. However, also as their supervisor I am the one who is able to give them a voice to the higher authority within our agency. Therefore, I decided to give them all one last wish. I told them that I have two weeks left at this center, and I am going to fight for them! I am going to make it my priority to advocate for their needs and the unjustness that they all have experienced at our one time or another. Many of the employees are angry and rightly so. 

Here are some of their wishes:

*To Celebrate the Holidays once again

*To receive TSS/PCA (one-to-one aides) for children who need them

*Swings on the playground

*To receive certificates for the professional development courses they've taken

*To have a suggestion box for the administrators to review in management meetings

*To have a child's wardrobe/storage for dress-up clothing.

Some have been granted. Some have been shot down by higher administration.

I have one week. Say a prayer if you will.

On the Hunt for FURNITURE!!!

The red futon has about had it, and the free IKEA chair could go on the curb for all I care. Now I know most of you who are reading this have told me in the past that you do not know how to comment, but I am in desperate need of your opinion. I have had the chance to look at this piece in person, and I think that I might just be in love. 

 

 Before giving me your input keep in mind that it's made of microfiber (very easy to clean). I know the "oyster" as they call it, color may throw up a caution sign to some of you. Especially those of you who have or have had children. This is not the L-shape sectional that I have been looking for...nor the "butternut" color, but I'm thinking it may just be worth the buy.

The Latest of the Latest

• Still no bikes, but hopeful.
  
• Same old job, but hopeful. :)
  
• Really missing the familia.
  
• Already planning Christmas vacation in Alabama. 2 weeks to be precise. Save the dates: 12/22/09 - 01/06/10!!
  
• Ecstatic about all the hand-me down furniture. Awesome!
  
• Found some peeps to volunteer w/ me at Children's Hospital. Hopefully in the Childlife, Education and Creative Arts Therapy Department
  
• One step closer to an exciting new job (Special Instructor-Therapeutic Services for Birth to 3). FYI: Still will be Ed. Director at my present job while sub-contracting at Sunshine Therapy. Busy. Busy. Busy. I see it as a gateway.

Rain, rain, please don't stay

So Jason ran across a bike sale posted on Craigslist. I then of course google it and find this! A flea market....EVEN BETTER! Bringing lots of cash, hoping not to get mugged, and buying some eclectic goodies and two bikes of course. It seems that all the park related events that we try to make it to get rained out. I checked accuweather, and it is suppose to be clear skies. However, accuweather has been disappointingly inaccurate the past few times I've relied on it.

On a completely different subject, here is a picture that I stole from my little sister Brittany's facebook page of her and her "Aussie Hottie" Josh. I know some of you must be thinking, "Say whaaaa!?" I haven't even met the dude! She went to Austraila for a month, and now he is staying with my parents for two months. Crazy, I know! I'm trying with all my might to convince them to travel north to Philly. I even used New York City as a bribe, but I'm sad to say that I'm having very little luck with my attempts. Brittany's response, "Sure if you pay for our transportation." I mean come on....room and board aren't enough!!? My only hope is convincing my mother to let Josh drive her car....on the wrong side of the road...17 hours to Pennsylvania. That's all I ask!

Baby Showers Make Me Happy!

So the other day at work we threw a baby shower for one of our co-workers Megan (who's about to bust!).  I was able to give my first bow away...the yellow one.  Since then I have made two more bows, and I am quite proud of myself.  Anyone else having any babies?  Sorry mom and Karen no kids from me...not now anyway.

On another note, Jason and I are moving again!!  This will be our 3rd and hopefully final apartment in Philadelphia.  I do not recommend moving 4 times in your first year of marriage!!!  We moved into Philadelphia blindly and ended up in a sketchy part of town, but were stuck in a lease... hints all the moving around.  Were moving into a row home in East Falls, a quaint neighborhood a stone through away.  Still renting...blah.  I miss the south and its cheap beautiful houses.  :) 

Fireworks + Friends = FUN!

This weekend some of Jason's friends, that I have also claimed as my own, came to visit us all the way from Alabama!  The best part is that I didn't really have to plan anything special since Philly already had a 4th of July line-up established.  I did have to plan the New York trip...I mean really, if you are from Alabama you can't come all the way to Philadelphia without making a stop in the Big Apple.  We had a great time!  

I'm going to try to post a video of the massive firework show on my facebook.  I tried to put it on here, but it's being retarded.  There was also a free concert by Sheryl Crow...sweet!  I love a bargain!  Having company visit was such a blessing, but I have to say I feel like I was just in a triathlon.  I can't remember my body ever being this sore!!

On a completely different note, I'm a little hairbow crazy right now.  I don't know what has come over me.  I don't even have a cute little girl to dress-up, but I spent at least $30 on ribbon the other day.  I'm hoping to start selling these suckers to a cutesy children's boutique, but my madness hasn't reached that level yet.  Here is my first bow!

I'm Sticking To This One

This is the first of many blog attempts I have made over the years. Generally I never get past setting up my background (which is the best part, if I do say so myself). I have to say that I am doing a phenomenal job thus far! Just writing a post is progression for me. I do good at keeping up with my facebook alone, but don't fret I am determined to make this new blogspot work! I have had way too many complaints from family and friends back home that I must do something. I think its safe to say we are all agreeable that I pretty much stink at keeping in touch. To all who manage to read this, here goes yet another first attempt. Might I add, I'm actually pretty excited about this particular blog. I may even post tonight! Right now though I gotta keep it short.