Crazy Nesting Syndrome

New Wives, New Home-owners... beware. Beware of Crazy Nesting Syndrome. What are the signs of Crazy Nesting Syndrome? Contemplating throw pillows for days at a time. Negotiating buying food and paper towels for a new bedspread. Obsessive compulsive decorating. Reoccurring dreams about dinner parties that include menus, centerpieces, play lists, themes and atmosphere. Although, no real health risks result from Crazy Nesting Syndrome, side effects may include: reduced pedicures, increased cooking at home, decreased fashion trendiness, increased ponytails, mild panic attacks when you realize you have to spring for a destination wedding after you just paid the biggest bill of your life and redecorated your house.

Nickel slots, here we come! We wouldn't miss it for the world.

RENT

Over spicy salmon dinner:

Melanie says, " Don't forget, tomorrow we are going to see RENT! I am so excited!"

Neil says, "Babe, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if you took a girlfriend to RENT instead of me."

Hmm. My love is a man a carefully chosen words. I couldn't help but laugh before I called to invite Alex who excitedly agreed citing she herself had been dying to go, but her hubby hadn't the slightest desire either. As our husbands settled in to watch the game in true testosterone style. Alex and I gabbed away at the Blue Dahlia Bistro over chilled Pinot Grigio, Tuna Tar Tar, and seared Scallops... aka divine.

We drove over to our pre-paid parking spot and dashed in to our orchestra section seats. The show was fantastic - a true NY energy, polished and shiny performances, and I'm still singing. God bless thoughtful mother-in-laws. God bless honest husbands. But most of all... God bless good girlfriends! What a blast!

It is possible to forget how alive we are. We can become dry, tired, busy, cranky, just exsisting and going through the motions. We need to remind oursleves daily- how blessed, how rich, how lucky we all are to live another day. Find a reason everyday to jump for joy.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a busy day. Neil and I woke bright and early, well Neil woke bright and early. I prefer to draw a sleepy morning out as long as possible at every given opportunity- which seem fewer and fewer with each passing month.

Neil had a fire in him to clean out our boxes piled high garage. For my car to park in there? NO- the cart was coming to it's new home- from the race track- to our garage. Nevertheless- we were up and at 'em- piling boxes into the truck to haul off to an undisclosed dumpster. Then came the old water heater from the backyard, the old baseboards the workers didn't clean up, paint cans, a folding gazebo screen and more, much, much, much, more.

After all that hard work- it was time to prepare a lovey dinner for my and Neil's mother's. I planned a special menu:
Mexican Style Tilapia
Oregano Cheesy Potatoes
Savory Beets
Organic Spinach Salad
Lemon Berry Cheesecake

Sallie brought the awesome wine and margaritas. Steve and Barbara brought the homemade salsa and pico de gallo. Dinner was served on heirloom china and silver, drinks in new Waterford crystal. Many meals had been served by mothers, grandmothers, and great grand mothers and great great grandmothers on those dishes and silver. From the place settings, to the entrees to the drinks- it was delicious!

I am thankful to have such lovely ladies in my life and planned very carefully to make sure they felt special and appreciated. There really are not words enough for a child to tell their mother just how much they love them and appreciate them. So I've found simple, heartfelt expressions to be the best. They each left with a jasmine yankee candle and these simple words- Thank you for helping to make our house a home. We love you.

My new vacuum SUCKS!

I have to admit I was less than eager to pay the price tag on this futuristic looking household helper. BUT- when it arrived on my doorstep I raced to open it, assemble it and vacuum my whole house with it! It's AMAZING! It really never loses suction! The ends of the vacuum head are just as powerful at the middle! It doesn't put the dust back into the air! It doesn't clog with pet hair. My new Dyson Ball Animal DC25 is the best vacuum I have ever used. With a 5 year warranty it is the only vacuum I will ever use! I sucked up all the dust, dog hair and dirt in my house in no time flat. As my bff Michele says... Every domestic superstar has to have her tools! This one is my new favorite! :)

The Peices are Coming Together...

Our niece, B turned six this weekend. We celebrated at her parents' house with pizza and pokemon. B has only small bits of teeth poking through the front of her mouth- but she managed to eat her yummy pizza in no time... as did her newest aunt. ;) Grandmudder brought wine (thank you! because it was Friday night). And there were puppies and tots running around with birthday party cheer. B's friend L and and me made pokemon characters from Styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, and a new found joy... glue dots. (Super-sticky gel dots that work the same a glue but without the mess or hot-glue gun blisters- sweet!)

Neil had fun bowling with B the following day. My new furniture was delivered, Sallie and I spent the afternoon cleaning, arranging and playing with dishes, furniture and other home decor items.... it was pure joy! The end result will surely receive more editing... but this house is really starting to come together as a home... OUR home. Joy, Joy, Joy Jumping up and down JOY!!

My mom and I spent Sunday picking up a few more necessities at Barton Creek mall. I had gift cards burning a hole in my purse as we passed a jewelry counter full of diamonds, pearls, sapphires, blue topaz, aquamarine and then some... marked 70% OFF! We looked, we coveted, we walked away. A new vacuum had been placed on the top of the list by my husband, rightly so, ours stinks- literally.

We bought new candles from a long time favorite spot- yankee candle. If you have never had the joy of these brightly colored, sweet smelling jar- you're missing out. It's $25 bucks to fill your whole house with the tantalizing scent of your choice for 350 hours. And, the new found delight- jar toppers. These metal wreaths top the jar to prevent the black soot from accumulating at the top of the jar, as well as encourage the candle to burn down evenly. Something about the air circulation. The find of the day was a beautiful green candle holder to sit atop my new sideboard.
Home is not just a perfect arrangement of furniture and accessories suited for appeal as well as function... home is soothing sounds of Westminster bells from my repaired seth thomas and sweet smells of yankee candle's featured fragrance- Lemon Lavender. All these come together to make a place you want to be, a place full of love, peace, and spirit.

A new space for a new marriage...

It's finally finished! Six weeks ago, as I prepared for my bachelorette party, Neil rolled in with a stack of tile samples. "We're going to re-model our master bathroom!" he surprises me, "Pick out the tiles you want to use!" Our master bath was in need of a total re-do. We love the layout of our house, and appreciate our awesome location on a daily basis... but the 30 year old bathrooms left a little to be desired! With the wedding on the approaching horizon- I never thought this would be added to our mix. But it was. And we finally moved in, in spite of exhaustion, last night!

GLORY! We are so thrilled to be back where we belong! The bathroom quickly turned into the bedroom, bathroom, and closet; and then we like the knotty alder baseboards so much- we continued them throughout the house. One more step in this little spot becoming our home.

So here are the pictures... A beautiful shower, heritage bronze fixtures, peacock granite, travertine, and natural stone tiles, knotty alder baseboards, custom vanity and hand trough texture. All comes together to create a fresh space for a fresh marriage. A place free of the world's distractions, deadlines and tasks. A place for Neil and me to rejuvenate, rest and re-connect.