Happy Monday!

We bought a house! Well, we have a contract on one and the inspection is scheduled for tomorrow. I'm super excited! It needs a lot of updating but it is on a street (cove actually) that I can see us on for a long time to come. We are the smallest house on the cove so we can always add on.

In preparation for this move, we have been cutting back our expenses. Especially since the second we move I know I am going to want the house "updated", like, immediately. :) I know this isn't possible but just keeping it real. Anyway, so I was going to cancel my gym membership that I DON'T use. The owner comes back with an offer to personal train me for two months FOR FREE. He is getting his license and wants a guinea pig. I thought about it and why not? I went to get measured today. My body fat percentage was at 29% and he said he wants to get it below 25%. He wants me to aim for only a ten pound weight loss in these two months...I told him ONLY?? It took me 7 months to lose 20. I'm all for 10 in 2! So tomorrow begins my journey....I will let you know if I can still walk.

I'm going to post a pic of the outside of the house but remember...it needs updating! We are going to remove the rodiron and put a wooden post. The second pic is of the exact same house floor plan but updated. We're not going to use the same color scheme though. I want to paint the brick a light brown, shutters a dark brown and trim an off white. See the last picture for the color scheme I'm talking about...and if its your house...sorry, take it as a compliment! ha!

Have a great week!

Friday Fun

Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life is on best teacher gifts today. Since number 1, I'm not a teacher and number 2, I don't have any kids...I decided to contact an expert. Meet Teacher Emily (well now technically a technology mentor type person for the school system but was a teacher for a long time..and my sister in law). Say Hi Emily. She's the one in the pink, you  know, in case you were wondering. ha!

So Emily's picks are great.

1. Lunch brought to school

I'm not sure if every school can have this but I can see the plus in having some Chickfila instead of cafeteria mystery meat!

2. Gift cards to favorite restaurants

Emily, I'm seeing a theme here...I knew you fit into our family well! ha! I know one of her favorites is Carrabbas's!

3. Gift cards to favorite stores

Ann Taylor Loft anyone?

4. Gift cards for spa services

I'm sure every teacher could use a massage!! I'm sure everyone I know could use a massage!

5. Finally, personalized notepads and stationery

Speaking of notepads, did you guys hear Swoozie's is closing???

Bet you could get some great deals right now!!

Thanks Emily for the great tips! Head over to Kelly's Korner if you wanna see more!

All over the place

First Top Three Thursday is on the top three restaurants you like to eat....can I only pick three???

I'm going to have to do four. Cheater. I know. My all time favorite chain restaurant, On the Border, I'm not going to really count. I love to try local restaurants but this chain brings me in again and again and I don't understand why!!!! Could it be the cheese, chips and more cheese??

So, on to my top three...if you aren't from Memphis, this may not be much fun.

1. High Point Pizza

There is a small neighborhood in Memphis called High Point. It is actually where my husband grew up his whole life and where we are looking to move to. Within high point there is a small old strip center that holds a grocery store, cleaner, a cute gift shop, etc. It also holds High Point Pizza. I LOVE it. I love the atmosphere, the ranch dressing, the BBQ pizza, the chef salad, did I mention the ranch dressing? I can't wait to one day walk our children up there to enjoy.

2. Swanky's Taco Shop

Back to mexican, I know. Its my weakness. That and homemade ranch dressing, that is. I'm not sure if this is a national chain or not but I really don't care! You stand in line and order what you want fresh. Kinda a Mexican Subway, if you will. The salads are the best but everything I have had there has been good.

3. Buckley's

You may remember this is who catered our rehearsal dinner. It is a locally owned steak house. They also have a small lunch location for the "work" crowd. I love the steaks, the creamed spinach, the stuffed mushrooms...man, this post is making me hungry!!! The wife of one of the owner's also is the one that does the paint parties that are sooo much fun.

Lots of stress in our world right now trying to find a house...to buy smaller on a GREAT street or a little bigger on an OK street? Everyone always says location, location, location but I just don't know. What are ya'lls thoughts?

 

For Thoughtless Thursday, I decided to throw in an engagement picture from last year...just cause I like it :).

Wednesday Quiz on LOVE!

First picture ever taken together, October 2007

Who is your man? Tom

How long have you been together? Together since October 2007, married since August 2009

How long did you date? Oops, guess I jumped the gun on that one above
How old is your man? 37!!! :)

Who eats more? sadly, its probably a tie!

Who said "I love you" first? I really don't know....I think I loved first though.

Who is taller? He is...6'1 versus 5'7

Who sings better? I really don't think he can sing but since I KNOW how bad I am, I'm going with him!

Who is smarter? Me :) at least, that's what I am going to keep telling myself!

Whose temper is worse? His, but only on very rare occasions

Who does the laundry? He does it all. Yes, I am quite aware how lucky I am!

Who takes out the garbage? he does

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? me

Who pays the bills? Me

Who is better with the computer? Me

Who mows the lawn? definitely him, however I think I shocked him when i did one day. I did live alone before him!!

Who cooks dinner? Him usually

Who drives when you are together? Usually him.

Who pays when you go out? same account, we do joke about who "pays" though

Who is most stubborn? HIM

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? neither! ha!

Whose parents do you see the most? both

Who asked who out? He asked me for a happy hour and then I stalked him, true story :)

Who proposed? him!

Who wears the pants in the family? I'd say we are equals!

Top Two Tuesday...beauty secrets

I tried to think of the first two things right off the top of my head so these might be a little random.

1. Everyone probably already knows this but I just realized how true it is! There IS a difference in cheaper drugstore mascara and the more pricey department store. I was a tried and true "there is no difference" believer UNTIL my best friend left her lancome mascara at my house...(yes, a little gross to use someone else's mascara but she is my best friend!)

Lancome was SOO much better than my normal cover girl. I wear contacts so sometimes my eyes get irritated. They were irritated MUCH less than when I wore the cover girl also! The wand was better, the quality was better, IT IS JUST BETTER. And no, I don't work for Lancome :).

2. Do you love the long wear lipsticks but hate how they dry out your lips? Just put vaseline on them everynight before bed. Common sense, but it works wonders!

Head over to the Undomestic Mama to get more tips!

Favorite Fridays...Dramatic Book

Friday Faves is on favorite book, category drama. This is right up my alley! I LOVE to read. We are getting ready to move and I never realized HOW MANY books I have but I'm still not ready to give away. So my favorite drama book that comes to mind is a pretty recent one by Wally Lamb.

Now this is a GREAT book but its not exactly a beach read. At least it wasn't for me; I think it would be better if it had your full attention and I know sometimes that isn't easy! But if you find time, it's definitely worth it.

Thoughtless Thursday...Rehearsal Dinner

Since I never posted pics of our rehearsal dinner, I thought I would post some on thoughtless thursday so I don't have to explain much! These aren't the professional ones but I thought they were pretty good (aside from my sweaty face and being 18 pounds heavier!!! :)