Running thru life.... IT IS COMING

November has hit-

The holiday are upon us. 

This means besides the normal Christmas shopping a couple things must take place. 

1) Annual trip to Trader Joe's

Normally in November I make a run to Trader Joe's to stock up on some extra wine for parties we are invited to or gifts.  I like Trader Joe's because they have a decent selection. 

So I went last week during my day off and stocked up our wine cellar!

2) Annual Clemson/Univ of SC Game party at our house!!!

This is a tradition we are starting this year primarily because this one of the first Thanksgiving Weekends that we will be home and are not crazy busy. 

 I actually have a couple things to do to get ready for this but that will come later. 

3) Order Christmas Cards

I like ordering our Christmas cards in early November which means we received them by mid Nov and have them out around Thanksgiving time.  I tend to either order them from Snapfish or Kodak depending the design I like the best.  This year will be Snapfish because I have a credit that I need to use. 

I finished the proof and had Joe look at it. 

I ordered them this last Monday once their sale hit for buy one set get one set free- 

50% off- can not beat that!

4) Update our calendars

The holiday season is a particular busy time for us with multiple parties, friends, and family in town.  So at the beginning of November I sit down and go over it with Joe just to make sure everything is on the calendar and to also plan out.   

5) Gift for Co-workers

I have never been a big gift giver at work primarily because it can get expensive. 

So each year I just have to come up with some to give a number of my co-workers something small. 

This year- I WILL BE BAKING. 

Thanks to my Holiday  "Family Circle" Magazine that I recieved for free-  I already have two recipes. 

6) Survive the holidays- while this might seem obvious, I find the holiday particular stressful and have learned that I must run and must sleep. 

But above all- I must laugh even at myself!

7) Get stuff ready for London-

we will be traveling after the holiday season to London to visit one of my besties and her husband.  She has given me a couple things to pick up for her back in the states that are not available in the UK.  I will plan on picking these up as we go.  It is an understatement to say that I am excited about leaving the US- mostly because my husband's blackberry wont work and work can't bother him!!!

I am jumping for excitement- of course picture me in warmer clothes because it is going to be freezing in London!

8) Christmas decorating- I have decided this year I am going with the less is more approach. 

I plan on putting everything up the Sunday after Thanksgiving so I can fully enjoy our Christmas tree- also because I have a 5 day weekend with Monday off!

 I will put up the Christmas tree and decorate, place out the wreath and lights on the front door, and place out some Christmas candles but that is all I am doing.   

 I am not buying anything new because we really don't need anything. 

What do you have on your list? 

Running thru life... A lession in Staining....

A couple months ago Joe and I were walking around in the store and we saw a beautiful "H"artwork,
 Joe immediately commented that he would love to get an "H" for the house.
H is the first letter of his last name..
(I have not changed my name yet and probably wont for professional reasons.)
Unfortunately, the one in the store was too expensive and did not fit our artwork in our house. 

So I went on a mission to find an "H".

I was fortunate to find a vendor on Etsy called Simply Sawdust.

After emailing back and forth and telling him what I was looking for, what size, etc-  we came to a conclusion that I would order a 20 inch H in Edwardian Script. 

This way the first part of the "H" looked like a J for Joe and the second part looked like an L for Laura

It arrived last week......

After thinking about it I decided Staining it would work the best.  

Joe and I decided to go with a dark stain called Bombay Mahogany Satin Stain because it would match our dining room the best. 

 

 We picked it up at Walmart while we were in NC. 

Walmarts in the south are so nice!

Fairfax, VA - not so much.

 I fortunately already had a brush.  

I laid out the Sunday paper on our kitchen table and went to work. 

 

After one coat!

After three coats.  

The only thing that I would do in the future in bring some plastic gloves home from the office so that my hands do not get stain on them.
Also of note I threw the brush that I used away because the stain is so hard to clean- lucky for me my in-laws have given up about 15 brushes so I am not at a loss.  

Finished Product!

Running thru life.... Lets try again

We were a no go with our first rug try for the entry way. 

The colors were not as advertised on the internet so after many long phone calls I got the ok to return it for free- it was painful.  That being said I was not going to order another rug unless I was absolutely sure it was what I wanted.  

I looked at multiple stores and could just not find anything I wanted or that fit the price I had in my head.  

So I continued to look over the internet for two months.  

I wanted something in the brown hues and I wanted something with flowers

I found one that i found myself coming back to over and over again on Wayfair.  

NuLoom Elegance France Taupe Rug

However at 322.90 for a 5 x 7 it was way out of my price range.  

So I waited and waited.... 

and then in November I got an email stating they were have a 50% off sale. 

Sold!

So I ordered it with Free Shipping and it arrived while we were in NC-

thank god for great friends to who do not mind running by your house to put it in your garage!

I love it- the dark brown matches the furniture and frames perfect!

View from above!

Even Clemson loves it!

Running thru life..... Happy 2 Year!!!!

Clemson Puppy is now officially 2 years old!

 We brought him home almost 22 months ago. 

This is crazy for me to wrap my head around. 

Primarily because when I first started dating Joe I had a fear of dogs!

Yes I know this seems silly but we did not have pets growing up (unless you count my turtles that I had when we were stationed in Japan).   But now, you would never know that I use to have a fear of dogs.  

Over the past two years, Joe and I have been on a roller coaster with Clemson. 

He has been a joy and at times a PD (pyscho dog) who still gets calls from the dog planet- normally when I am ready to go to bed.   

We are so happy that he is leaving puppy phase and entering man dog phase.

Happy Birthday Clemson!