my new fixture!

As promised, here's a picture of my new BLACK light fixture...

I love, love, love it!

By Thursday I'll have a picture of the entire finished product!

Stay tuned...

Transformation.

Check out what I did today...

Front entrance of our home before:

Front entrance of our home post transformation:
PICTURE TO COME---it started raining just after I finished painting, before I could shoot a photo!
I'll hopefully get one tomorrow so you won't be kept in suspense too long.

The paint on our front porch railings has been slowly chipping off for some time now.
It's been driving me crazy, but yet neither Chris not I had any time to deal with it (plus, with it raining the last 5 weekends in a row we've not had nice weather for it either).

The sad state of affairs of our front porch paint-so sad, I know.

Well, today was the day to fix it up!

I cleaned the railings & banisters off with bleach & warm water.

While it dried, I ran to Lowe's for supplies.

Then, I painted away.

There's not a lot of surface to paint, but it's tedious because I had to use a small brush to get around each of the banisters.

For the last few months I've grown to simply despise the light fixtures on either side of our front door.

I never liked them much to begin with, but I was dealing with it.

Poor Chris, I knew if I asked him to change out one more light fixture for me that he might snap (he's so good to do it, but I don't want to push it too much!).

So, I took matters into my own hands...

It was mostly the gross, brass-color of the fixtures that I was so over. (can you blame me?)

So, I painted them BLACK!
NEW PICTURE TO COME!

AND, I LOVE THEM NOW!!!

I'm sad that I wasn't brave enough to paint them before now.

(Note about painting metal light fixtures: You must prime the metal surface first for the paint to stick to it.)

Luckily, I had read into this enough to know to prime first.

To top it all off, I bought a new WELCOME doormat at Bed Bath & Beyond.

Gotta' love it too-it was regularly $19.99-today it was on sale for $14.99-with my 20% off coupon it was less than $13 with tax!

Total cost for my project: $40

(brushes, paint, drop cloth, doormat)

And...I still have a ton of ivory and black paint left.

All I'm missing now is a big 'ol pumpkin!

(Picking one up at Sam's is on Thursday's to-do list...)

I'm so glad that this transformation is done...

there's nothing that a girl & some paint can't fix!

it's official (my 200th post!)

Wow...my 200th post!

I've definitely become addicted to the blogging world.

Well, the official news is that Chris' job search has begun.

He's been looking for a month or so, but now has 2 official applications out for post-doc positions (1 at Vanderbilt University & 1 at Emory University).

He's also corresponding with a private company here in the Triangle.

Now, the waiting game is on!

It's so hard to believe it's time for yet another transition in our lives.

It seems like just yesterday that we moved here as the start to our journey together.

I never thought I would like here as much as I do.

We still miss being 7 hours away from our families, but we do love it here!

Can't wait to see what's in store for us next!

new faves!

I have 2 new favorite craft sites to keep up all busy ( & nonproductive with school work & household chores) !

HELLOmynameis Heather

(I absolutely LOVE these fabric flowers she makes...must try my hand at them soon!)

&

Today's Creative Blog

(Showcases the best & most creative ideas out there)

Can't wait to get some more craft time in!

how adorable!

How adorable is this costume?

I love, love, love it.

The tutorial makes it seem fairly easy to make.

I'm adding it to my bank of things I might need/want to make one day!

Check UCreate for more fun Halloween costume ideas...

i love...

...days off from work, like today!
(even if it means doing laundry & school work all day)

...getting all of this for $17!

(there's an awesome sale at Kroger this week)

In case you can't tell, it's:

4 Lean Cuisines

2 packs of Kraft Singles cheese

2 bags of shredded Kraft cheese

2 bottles of Kraft salad dressing

2 apples (for baking)

bananas

a box of Sunbelt granola bars (Chris' fav)

2 Hallmark cards

...enjoying fresh brown eggs laid by my dad's chickens

...my sweet Sadie's face

...seeing laundry on the clothesline blowing in the breeze next door

...football season (GO DAWGS!)

...lazy weekends-that's what I'm hoping for this weekend!

"...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
-Philipians 4:8

another great giveaway...

Pink Nothings is sponsoring another great giveaway!

For all you moms, to-be moms, or hoping to soon-be-moms,

would you like a free MetroMamma bling wrap to carry your baby with you?

I don't have a baby, but these wraps look really cool & are normally fairly expensive.

Plus, who doesn't love a little bling???

Check out your choices for wraps at MetroMamma and

check out how to win at Pink Nothings' blog.

Gotta love free stuff!

blog makeover

Would you like a blog makeover?

How about a free blog makeover?

Pink Nothings is giving away a free blog makeover courtesy of
April Showers Blog Design.

The giveaway ends Sept. 12th so you still have time to head over & find out how you can be entered to win this awesome prize!

There are tons of ways to get entries so take advantage...

I'd so love to win this giveaway!

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a taste of fall...

The last few days have been absolutely lovely...

temperatures in the 70s, a cool breeze blowing...

I could almost feel fall in the air!

(even though I know there are many more hot days to come)

I love fall!

It's definitely my favorite time of year.

What's not to love...

I can't wait for---

the feel of fall in the air,

football season,

fall colors,

hot chocolate,

watching my beautiful blooming mums,

sweaters,

candy corn,

our apple tree blooming,

cool mornings & cold evenings,

a trip to the mountains with my girls,

yummy soups & stews for dinner,

the leaves changing colors,

long-sleved t-shirts,

Thanksgiving,

knowing that Christmas is coming (yes, I'm obsessed!).

Definitely can't wait for fall!