Furry Children

Well, I guess I should fill you in a little bit more about me.  If you're the person who does math-you've figured out I'm 25.  My amazing husband and I have been married for 10 months.  He is perfect, and everything I could ever hope for...and I'm not just saying that because we're newly-weds, but he really is.  His Mother raised him right.  Since we are so early on in our marriage, we do not have children, nor have we really considered the thought.  I brought in a cat and a dog to this relationship, and he brought in his dog. 

This is Brinkley (my baby boy)

This is Waylon (my husband's dog)

 

This is Miss Kitty (aka Belle)

So those are our children.  With that being said, two of my dear friends also have furry children.  They both just adopted brother black labs-and one of my friends is new to the world of dogs as she has only had cats in the past.  We were doing some shopping on Etsy last week.  I saw some really cute handmade wall hooks for leashes.  That was all the inspiration I needed. 

I found this piece of wood at the thrift store for $0.50! 

 

 

 I sanded, primed and painted it with some left over paint from our kitchen cabinets.

(The best primer I have EVER used is Porter Paints BlankIt...not cheap but AMAZING)

 

I printed out "Hampton" from Word, using "Typewriter" or something-just big enough to fit. Colored the back of it with graphite pencil and then copied the front...it left a stencil to follow on the wood. Then I painted it with black paint and added a little decoration. 

I sealed it with a glossy sealer, and attached hooks I had purchased from Lowes. Two hooks for $3 and change. 

  

I added a picture hanger on the back for easy hanging. 

That is all I have for today-I have a big project tomorrow!  Chairs...

-Jess

P.S. I'm linked up to:

School

So I've mentioned I am a professional student.  I like to think of this as my job...or a VERY expensive hobby.  I've basically been in school since I was about 3.  Which makes 22 years of education.  Its not too bad, I have two degrees to show for it.  I'm currently back in school working on my Associates Degree in Nursing.  My first two degrees (BS & MBA) are in business.  I hated it.  I hated the business world.  There was no fulfillment.  It was all about the bottom line.  I needed something more....  My wonderful husband suggest I get my RN since I always talked about wanting to be a nurse.  Let me tell you, I'm in my second semester, and it is HARD.  But...I LOVE IT!  It is amazing to work with so many people and have the ability to touch so many people's lives.  I really feel like this is my calling.

Right  now I am doing my Med-Surg rotation at the VA hospital here in town.  It has really been a blessing.  These patients are some of the best people I've ever met, and their families are just as great.  They have touched my life in ways I'll never forget.

So, the first bit of decoration for my living room I've worked on was a wreath.  It was given to me by my Mother-In-Law.  Its was just a plain wooden wreath-and I had it suck in the closet for almost 9 months!  I didn't know what to do with it.  I decided we need a little spring time inside, since we had 6-8 inches of snow outside at the time.  My husband took me to my favorite hobby store, and I purchased a ivy garland for $5, two birdies $2, and a spool of really pretty floral ribbon $5.  Total $12.

 

A little closer...

That's it for now.  I have a dozen other things to add this weekend though.  I don't have the opportunity to write as I would like because of class and clinicals.  

-Jess

Hello!

Hey Ya'll.  I'm Jessica.  Most people call me Jess-either way really works.  I'm a 20-something, newly married, southern gal.  I was born and raised in Kentucky, and its all I really know-I'd pretty much consider it God's country (I'm sure he does as well).

When my husband and I married last year, we sold my lovely older house (it needed a lot of TLC), and I moved into his newer home (its about 25 years old as opposed to mine which was 70 or so).  I really love this house-especially after we updated the kitchen!  However, he was a bachelor and lived with his brother, and the house showed that.  Absolutely no decorations.

Now, I have to break from this story a bit and explain my secret obsession.  It all started with my mother when I was in middle school.  She started to scrapbook.  She would take me to these crop parties where a bunch of women would sit and scrapbook ALL day.  It was awesome.  I loved it!  I found my secret obsession.  This, coupled with my undying love for thrift stores and flea malls...and today you have my crafting habit.  It hasn't really been a habit over the last 5 years because I worked full-time in several VERY demanding jobs.  I just didn't have the time or energy.

Well, I quit my job in November of 2008, and  my sweetheart and I married in April 2009.  With his encouragement, I started nursing school in August.  Since I've been back in school (I have two other degrees), I've needed an outlet.  Something I enjoy that can take my mind of the stress of school.  It started in October with a scarf.  Innocently enough.  Then I started to follow a sorority sister's blog (here), and my desire to refurbish, craft, and decorate has come to a head.

In the last week I have visited every thrift store in my town (total count is up to 7 I believe).  I have begun to redecorate our house with every project as I go.  It has been an awesome week, and I'm looking forward to updating with projects I'm working on as time goes by--and maybe some other fun things about life, and what I've learned along the way!!

-Jess