{Chaos...}

So as you read this post, our floors are being re-done...

"Enter high-pitched squeal of excitement!}

This is one of the BIG things that is on our To-Do List for this year. 

As we have mentioned, we haven't done anything to our floors but steam it a few times, and with the previous owners being chain smokers, we felt like this was something we wanted to do before we have little bit's crawling around the house! 

Here was the problem...I like hardwood, and Wendel likes carpet. 

So we did a little compromise! 

Re-finish the hardwood underneath of the current carpet in living/dining/hallway. 

And carpet in the yellow bedroom, master bedroom, and office. 

Before taking up the carpet...everywhere, we had some researching to do. 

The main question being:  who was going to re-do the floors? 

At first, Wendel and I were being ambitious and thought we'd do them ourselves. Then, we decided that we didn't want to "mess up" something so big in our house. Especially with the stairs and closets being involved. 

So, we researched, and ended up hiring a family friend {and my wonderful assistant's husband!} Can't wait to see the amazing work he does! If you want his contact info, comment! 

Then, we needed to get some inspiration for the stain color of the hardwoods. 

As you can tell from our office desk, 

We like dark wood. But we also wanted a stain that was "sellable" just in case we sell our sweet home in a few years! 

So off I went to Pinterest for some Pinspiration...here's what we found! 

This is actually the exact color we JUST painted our living/dining/kitchen/hall/entry 

{Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore via Valspar in Satin} 

This color does look a tad grayer than ours though. 

But this gave us a good idea of what floor color would go well with this color wall. 

Source

We love the darker areas and how clean and stream-line it looks. 

Source

So, we will show "the floor guy" these and see what he says! We'll keep you updated! 

Then, we needed to check out carpets. I kind of let Wendel run with this one. 

I'm really not that picky of a person...shocking right? 

I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of girl! 

So when Wendel picked something he liked, I was all about it! 

The hard part was picking the right color! 

We took home this little ditty and moved it around to the other rooms to see what we liked/didn't like. 

We knew we wanted something neutral, and in the beige tones. 

But we ended up picking the color that was on the display at Lowe's...it was the perfect neutral shade! 

So...the moral of the story...

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday= Hardwood getting sanded, stained, and prettified. 

While our basement and kitchen look like this...

and this...

We'll be staying at the in-laws house for the week! 

Then, next Monday the carpet guys come. 

Then we are hosting Halloween trick-or treating {or trick-or-drinking if you're my father in law} at our house! 

Nothing like a party to get stuff done :) 

We're excited...thrilled...giddy...exhausted! 

I'll update as I can! 

Get ready for Wednesday, because I'm sharing a friend's {actually Alex's best friend to be exact} weight loss story! Prepare to be amazed and hopefully inspired! 

{A Public Proclamation}

I'm making a public proclamation that is going to make Wendel so very happy! 

No more clothes shopping for me until Christmas time! 

I know...shocking right? 

But I just got out all of my fall/winter clothes, and cannot believe how much I have! 

Like double the amount of my spring/summer clothes. 

So I don't need to buy anymore clothes for quite a while. 

I say until Christmas time for a reason, and I'll explain. 

Last year, I was so focused on making our first married Christmas amazing, that I didn't get anything special to wear for Christmas time...

First world problems right? 

But what this lead to was me trying to figure out what to wear for Christmas parties...ending in tears. 

So this year, I've vowed for this not to happen!

I'm going to get a few special things for the Christmas season so the tears are less don't exist. 

Now as I say this, I have a little bag from Old Navy because I wanted something fun for our Christmas card photo shoot this weekend...but after than nothing :)

It's the thought that counts, right?

Hope everyone has an amazing weekend!

We get to meet Young House Love tomorrow on their book tour...{enter high pitch squealing}

Happy Friday! 

{A Shady Situation}

So remember that time when we were going to touch up our bedroom and we couldn't find the paint can...like forever ago?

Yeah that was a bummer. But have no fear! The painting monster was here.

{Update...totally found the can...annoying!}

So as you can remember from this post {or not remember because it was wayyyy too long ago!} we were left with this messiness...

Gross...

So since we were having to re-paint the entire room, we decided to do the whole shebang... 

We touched up the molding and repainted the ceiling. 

The REAL reason we decided to repaint the ceiling is because we never actually have. 

When we moved in, the ceilings were pretty clean. And they still are. But we figure while we're painting now, we might as well paint the ceilings! Silly, I know...but I'd rather do it now {sans little one} than later with a child busy at our feet. 

So a few days later {due to work/school/other commitments} we started on the painting! 

Shale by Benjamin Moore was the choice...

As you can see, we were in the midst of doing all of the edging. 

Then while I was finishing the edging and top of the wall, Wendel started rolling. 

Here we were after our first coat...kind of splotchy...

And the other side...splotchy again. 

A few hours later and we could finally do the thing we wanted to do in the first place...put up the curtains! 

I love how funky and colorful they are! 

So as you can see, we got rid of our headboard. It is actually broken and was driving us crazy. So we're excited to DIY an inexpensive headboard until we buy the upholstered bed of our dreams! 

I also have plans of getting rid of the dark brown accents and making the bedding all white, grays, and greens.

We also got rid of the TV. We just weren't sleeping very well with it in the room, and we really need to be reading more. So far, we are loving having it gone!

Notice the carpet samples...Eeeeeeee....so excited for our big flooring upgrade! 

We have a LOT of accessorizing to do! NOTHING is on the walls as of now, so we need to get on that ASAP. 

Notice we still haven't put the electrical covers back on...yes...it's sad and ridiculous! 

Notice the headboard in the yellow room...need to get that in the basement! 

Here are the covers...just waiting to be used. I have a few that I need to replace, so hopefully we will knock those out this weekend. 

Obviously we've got more plans in the mix including a new headboard, some new art work, and a little furniture updating! 

It never ends right? And I love it! 

So, any updates ya'll are working on that are crawling along like a very tiny snail. Some projects fly by, and some just inch along. Oh well! 

{Living For The Weekend: A Day Of Fall Fun}

So after our evening of painting on Friday, we had a super fun and relaxing Saturday planned! 

We woke up leisurely, got ready and got on the road to Irons Fruit Farm for a day of fall fun! 

This gem is an apple orchard, pumpkin patch, petting zoo, and corn maze all in one! 

This year {and last year} they didn't have you-pick-apples because of the weather, but we still had a blast! 

Last year, we went to Irons specifically to pick apples and bake an apple pie...this is what we found when we got there...

Bummer...No U-Pick Apples...but Irons Fruit Farm did not disappoint! 

We got very lost in the corn maze, 

And I saw an alpaca in person...I was a little thrilled/terrified. 

So we decided to do a second annual trip up to one of our favorite places! 

We got to see the alpacas again...

They still terrified me! No clue why...but when they look at you, they're terrifying!  

The corn maze was Reds themed...so Mr. Red Legs was there! And I got a super award picture with him :) 

And Wendel got an even more awkward picture with him. 

Then it was time for the hay ride! Still get so excited for these things! Dorky...I know! 

Ready to get lost in the corn maze! 

Still trying to figure out how the heck they do this! 

My direction captain...that man knows his way through a corn maze! 

In the middle...and slightly lost! 

We got out...obviously! They also have a huge pumpkin patch, but we passed on it because we're heading to another pumpkin patch with all of the kids next week. 

After, we hit up their bakery for some homemade apple cider and a cider doughnut...so delicious! 

And Wendel got an apple fritter...apple themed fried goodness. Can't go wrong, right? 

Then we headed home so Wendel could get some homework done...while I did this...

Then Wendel planned SUCH a fun date night! 

We have quite a few local wineries here in Northern Kentucky...random I know! 

Sometimes, the wineries will do dinner with wine tasting. 

So we headed to Stone Brook Winery for dinner and wine tasting with Alex's parents! 

The tasting was in this cute little rustic house, and the inside was just like a little cabin. 

Sorry for the TERRIBLE picture, but it was a blast! 

Great food, wonderful wine, and even better company. 

We feel so blessed to both have families that we truly enjoy being with! 

What did ya'll do this weekend? Anything fun and exciting? 

{A Trip To Bham}

Wendel and I headed to Birmingham last weekend to see his best friend and head to an Auburn game. 

You know that saying "We now interrupt this marriage for football season...."

Yeah...that exists in our marriage. 

Wendel is an avid SEC and NFL football follower...so that means that Thursday-Monday is filled with football. 

Now it's not 24/7...he's not horrible, but it is kind of funny. It helps me get a lot of work done {while ooing and ahhing at the appropriate times} 

All of this to say, one of Wendel's favorite teams is Auburn...like crazy big fan! 

So, for his birthday {in March}, I got Wendel and I tickets to see an Auburn game in Auburn. The whole tail gating experience! 

So we headed down to Auburn with Alex's best friend, Theron {you'll head more about him next week...he's pretty awesome!} and his wife, Emily. 

We did some tailgating, experienced "Tiger Walk", got some Lemonade at Toomer's circle, and baked in the 1200 degree temperatures with 80,000 other people! 

It was a great experience...even though Auburn didn't show up and played terribly! 

Here are some snapshots of the day! 

The Tiger Walk! 

This is when the players walk into the stadium and everyone watches and freaks out. Pretty amazing to see some of the players Alex obsesses over in real life :) 

Toomer's Circle for the famous lemonade. So delicious and fresh...like hand-squeezed fresh! 

Slowly burning while watching Auburn screw up the entire game...still worth it to see his sweet face! 

Oh hey gazillions of people who are sitting on top of each other. Why must we all sit so close is my only question? 

So happy to be in an air conditioned house, showered, and relaxing! 

We headed back early Sunday to celebrate with Alex's family for his grandparent's 60 wedding anniversary...but that's for another day :) 

This picture doesn't pick up all of the amazing colors in the hills of Kentucky. Love our beautiful state! 

Sad I didn't get a picture of us in front of the stadium, and no pictures of Wendel and Theron...I guess that means we'll have to go again next year! 

Hope ya'll are having a fun fall! What are ya'll up to? 

{Fall Recipes}

Hey everyone...long time no post right? Sorry! I've been just keeping myself above water with all of the work/DIY planning! 

We have been researching {and researching some more} and working on getting things in order to do our big flooring re-do. 

It's happening this month...before Halloween...because we're hosting Halloween trick-or-treating this year!  

Nothing like a party to get your house in shape, right? 

So I'll be sharing details about that soon! 

I'll also be sharing photos of the master bedroom soon...all I have to do is snap the pictures {and pick up the clothes and randomness that is thrown about...}

But in the mean time, I wanted to share some of Wendel and mine's favorite fall recipes. 

I'll admit...I'm quite the cook. Love, love, love to be in the kitchen! 

We've been trying some new recipes this fall, and I have to share them with you! 

Obviously, these are all Pinterest finds...so you can check out my recipes boards, here! 

So...here are our recent favorites! Enjoy!

Lasagna Soup

Omiword...go and make this now! It is so beyond delicious! I made some homemade croutons to go on top and let me tell you...Wendel and I could have eaten the entire pot! 

I made the croutons by dicing a hot dog bun {yes...honestly} and tossing it with a tiny bit of olive oil. Then baked them at 350 for 15 minutes or so. DELICIOUS! 

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

This will be my go-to chicken noodle soup! So healthy, homey, and delicious! I made a huge batch and froze half of it for another day! 

Crock Pot Cheesy Chicken N' Rice

Chicken, rice, and cheesy goodness. Enough said right? 

Crock Pot Chicken N' Dumplings

Go make it...that's all. Just go make it! 

Super Easy Stuffed Shells

These are beyond amazing, and actually very easy! I'd never made stuffed shells, so I was amazed at how simple it was! This recipe makes a ton, so I end up making two casserole dishes and shipping them off to a family member! 

Enchilada Pasta

This is Wendel's all time favorite dish ever! If I know he's going to have a crazy or stressful week, I'll make this and he gets so excited! 

AMAZING White Chicken Enchiladas

I think these might be my all time favorite thing! The sauce is so amazing...it's the green chilies I think. So good! 

Zucchini and Mushroom Pasta

My go-to, super easy dinner. So healthy {vegetarian} and amazing. Sometimes I'll add shrimp to it, but this dish doesn't need anything! It's so good! 

Happy cooking!! 

{Passion For Fashion: Teacher Edition}

Oh hey...

Totally forgot to post this on Friday! Then Saturday. Then Sunday. So here it is on Monday!

Enjoy!

________________________________________________________________________

I think there is a common misconception about preschool teachers... 

You have to wear clothes "you're not afraid to get dirty in"...

I say bull honkey to that! {Yes...I just said bull honkey...I actually say it a lot in real life!} 

I have a huge passion for looking like a professional and truly being a professional in the educational world. 

I don't want to get on a full blown soap box, but I feel that educators don't view themselves as "professionals" as much as business people do. 

We need to! We are professionals...we went to school...we are qualified!

Act and dress like it! 

Okay...stepping off the soap box! 

So I'm aloud to wear jeans to school, so if you're not...sorry! Just add a pair of khakis or colored skinnies/pants to the bottom of these. 

I typically wear jeans/skirt with some sort of top and a sweater/jacket thrown on top. 

I wear a pair of flats or boots everyday and always have a fun necklace or earrings on! 

Here are a few of my recent favorite looks!

{Side Note: Total off photo taking day. Why is it that some days the pictures look great, and others I look like I rolled right out of bed? Oh well!}

A red polka dotted button up with a turquoise belt, flared jeans, and boots.

{Jeans: Loft; Button Up: Loft; Boots: Steve Madden; Belt: Target}

A  belted striped sweater with boots.

{Jeans: Loft; Sweater: J Crew Factory; White V-Neck T: Target; Boots: Steve Madden; Belt: Target}

This is by far the most casual you will ever me at school!  A checkered button up, skinny jeans, and brown flats. 

{Jeans: Loft; Checkered Button Up: J Crew Factory; Flats: Blow Fish}

Side note...our tree out back is flowering...it only flowers in the spring. I think it's confused!

I hope your Monday zips by!