MIA Update & my BFF's Baby Shower!

So I made a decision about Miami - I decided not to go. Although it was painful (& believe me it was!), I think it is for the best...it was VERY last minute & I have a lot of other things I need to be saving for right now. The other day the hubbs and I had a convo about our debt & our 1 year plan to pay off some of it. We decided that our goal is to pay off 1 out of 4 of our collective credit cards (the one with the lowest balance), his car loan (only 5 months left, woot!), and our new bedroom furniture within 1 year. In addition, I want to start saving for a baby & get at least 3-6 months of my salary saved up for when I get pregnant and go on maternity leave (I don't have enough paid leave to cover the full 3 months). We also plan on purchasing a new "mommy vehicle" for me sometime early next year - around tax time. Although I was reading Modern Bride the other day (I still have a subscription for some reason) & saw that there is a new tax credit this year for taxes, tags, etc. for any car purchased that is under $49K before the end of the year. I kinda want to just buy it at the end of the year for the tax credit, but I need to talk to the hubbs about it first and see what he thinks. Honestly, I don't NEED a car right now, my 2000 Honda Civic is still chugging along, but I really, really WANT one & if we do have kids soon I will need something bigger to tote the little one around in. The top 3 SUVs I am thinking of getting are: Buick Enclave, a GMC Acadia or an Acura MDX, but I'm open to others. I am going to do lots of market research & test drive anything I am interested in before we make a decision.

In other news, I mentioned that I would post pics from one of my BFF's baby shower, which I helped host. All in all it turned out nice...it was co-ed shower and the theme was "N's Lovely in Lavender Baby Shower" - so everything was lavender or purple, including the hostess' & soon-to-be-parent's outfits! Here are a few shots from the day:

*My beautiful, very pregnant BFF*

*Me & N in our purple attire*
*The mommy & daddy to be opening their gifts*
*The couple & hostesses*
*The cake & favor tables*

They got soooo much stuff they needed & wanted! After the shower I helped take everything over to their house & we organized some of the baby stuff & also helped put up the baby's wall decal monogram in her lavender nursery (totally forgot to take a pic). Most importantly, my friend had a wonderful day & she deserved it...she's due in early September, so hopefully I will be posting pics of her beautiful baby girl soon!!

To Miami or not to Miami???

Ok, so one thing you should know about me is that I 'effing HEART South Beach Miami. It is seriously one of my favorite cities in the US! I have 3 girlfriends going next weekend & today at happy hour they invited me & said all I would have to pay for is my flight - hotel would be totally FREE! And the hotel is right on the main strip of South Beach!! If you have ever been to South Beach you know how great this offer is - drinks galore, amazing food & grown/sexy clubs! :o) I talked to the Hubbs & he said I deserve it...and we are now TTC & not preggo yet, so what better time than now?! At this point I'm going to sleep on it & decide in the morning...wdyt I should do?!

PS - stay tuned for pics from my BFF's baby shower this past weekend, it was lots 'o fun & she is just about ready to pop!

FINALLY - our Master Bed Makeover!

I'm so so sorry for the long wait - I blame it on my hubbs. :oD Seriously, he was taking his precious time helping me do the photo wall. This room is not completely done - I still need to incorporate my birdie theme into the room somehow - I plan on adding some apothecary jars with some natural fillings (flowers, bird nest, etc.), we also want to buy some table runners for the tops of the dressers before we put anything on them & scratch them up, and finally we need to add window treatments - something to block out the sunlight a bit more. Anyways, I hope you LOVE it as much as we do!

Here are the before's:
No coordinating furniture, old clunker TV & plain walls.

...And After:

Close ups of the decorative pillow storage basket & photo wall:

Paint color is Valspar Granite Dust, furniture is all from VCF except the bookshelf-turned TV stand, which is from Target, lamp bases are form Walmart, shades from Target, bedding from JCP, pillow basket from Pier One, honeycomb shades from Home Depot, frames for photo wall from Michaels, wall words from Etsy seller empressive designs.

What do you think? I'm so proud! I think it looks like an entirely different room! It's so cozy now too, I spend a lot more time in our room than I used to...which was the original point, so yay for that! More decor for this room with my DIY touches coming soon! Thanks for visiting :o)

I know, I know...I have been slacking

..on blogging that is. Well the truth is we have been slow to finish up our current DIY project - the Master Bedroom, but it's pretty much done & I'm soooo excited, b/c it looks AMAZ-ing!! DH just finished putting up the bookshelf/turned TV stand last night & the final thing we need to do before doing the unveiling is putting up the photo gallery on the wall over the bed. I also need to buy the birdie-related decor to finish up everything, but I can't wait that long to unveil our big MB makeover. I am hoping to have after pics posted tomorrow or Monday at the latest...believe me it's worth the wait!

In other news...the hubbs & I have decided to start TTC. This is our 1st cycle off BCP, so hopefully we won't have too many. Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers...and hopefully eventually this blog will be a mix of our DIY/home improvement projects & a baby blog - woot woot!

Anywho, stay turned for the MB pics soon & then on to the Master Bath updates, I'm really wanting to do a frame around the big mirror & paint the vanity black - here is my inspiration for this project from fellow Nestie's blog: The Proudfeet. LOVE it!

My current master bed obsessions...

I have been dreaming of FINALLY getting our Master Bed furniture so we can finally get the D&R of this room done. It's been over 2 years & I'm just ready to start already!! Not sure if I told you guys but I'm attempting to a birdies theme with the main colors being black & antique white - our walls will be gray (full name = "Granite Dust" by Valspar) & we will have some pale blue accenting, see my inspiration boards here. I think it'll turn out great once we get it underway!! I am going to work my powers of persuasion on the Hubbs & see if we can buy the set soon (like this week/weekend soon!)...here is a photo of it from the VCF website:

What do you think?

And here is the bedding I have selected from JCP & will probably buy this week sometime:


Hopefully we will FINALLY get around to painting this weekend if my Uncle would hurry up & get his booty back over to my house to help the Hubbs with the final prep work! Hopefully I will be able to post some in progress pics soon!

Front Yard Reveal!

I have been a bad blogger, my excuse - not much going on over here in the World of Dennifer. But now I'm back & *hopefully* in full D&R effect. One thing you may not know about me - I HATE any landscaping/yard work related chores (not very fond of dirt or bugs, lol) -uggh, so this makeover has been a long time coming. Our yard used to look like a forest - I even called it the forest...weeds & bushes all over! Poor Mr. tried to keep it under control, but it was just wild!! Here is the before:


...And, ::drum roll please:: here is the after:

I helped out a little with this project (pulled weeds by trees, moved one plant & put it in better location, planted a new little bush & picked out the solar lights), but Mr. did most of the work, so a little kiss for a job well done!

We are going shopping for our Master Bed furniture this weekend & I'm hoping to convince the hubbs to buy it - Room Store has a great financing offer going on right now & I desperately wanna get the bedroom done (or at least started) on the painting of our bedroom. PS - black furniture is EXPENSIVE, so I'll keep you updated!

Dining Room/Kitchen Makeover

It's finally done!! Woo hoo, well the preliminary stuff is anyways...I still want to get new vertical blinds for the sliding glass door & a valance or other window treatment. We also plan on re-staining the parts of the cabinets that are sun damaged & replace the two remaining light fixtures & all the brass hardware throughout. Anywho, I am very excited this is finally done..here are some before & afters:

*Before (w/ previous owner's stuff) & During*

And...ta-da -- here are the afters! Paint color is Duron "Orange Burst", balloon shade from JCP, *new* matching microwave is GE from Best Buy, DR art is from art.com (framed at Michaels), wall sconces from Kohls, DR hanging pendant from World Market with some DIY mods by yours truly, DR table pillar holders from both World Market & Pier One. Please excuse the mess on top of our fridge. Hope you guys like it!

We also finished the outside front of the house makeover, pics coming sometime this weekend....it looks AMAZ-ing!