I caused CHANGE!

Remember this post about how I hate having a separate vacation/sick time policy? Well, I actually wrote about my feelings on this issue in my employee survey this year. This was a big step for me. Usually I don't write anything in my employee survey because I'm scared management will trace my comments back to me. And I don't want everyone to judge me as a whiny, complaining, annoying little girl. But this year, I was brave! I figured if I don't step up and explain how I feel about an issue, I have no right to complain about it. So I did! (Of course, I explained it in a nice, constructive, professional manner...not like the letter from my blog post. :-) )

Well a few weeks ago, we had a benefits meeting to explain the changes in the 2011 benefits plan. I almost decided not to sit in the meeting since I'm on my husband's health/dental/vision plan at his company. But I went anyway in case anyone in my department had a question regarding any of the benefits we offer.

And lo and behold...I caused CHANGE! No, we didn't switch to PTO. Boo. BUT, now we're allowed to use 3 of our sick days for "personal reasons." The HR manager explained that "personal reasons" can be anything from "taking a day off for a doctors appointment, taking a day off to care for a sick child, or taking a day off to attend you son's soccer game." I was still a little confused as to what we could use the days for, so I was very grateful when the new girl (who also doesn't have children) asked, "So basically, we can use these days for anything we want? Like if I wanted to go to the spa, I could use one of these days?" And the HR manager said YES! Woo hoo! I technically just scored 3 more vacation days!!!! Do you know what a difference that's going to make in my life? Now I'll be able to take a FULL week off in the summer for vacation, a FULL week off at Christmas to spend time with my family AND still have THREE days to use for weekend trips to see people graduate, attend weddings, and just take a day off now and then when I am BURNT OUT AND SO SICK OF MY JOB THAT I'M ABOUT TO EXPLODE!!!!

So yeah...

I'm pretty happy about the extra 3 days. :)

And I feel like I was the one that pushed upper management to make the change - which is totally cool!

So starting January 1st, 2011, I will no longer complain about how few vacation days I'm allowed. And if I do, you can totally call me out on it. :)

Kitchen Renovation Weekend #5

More progress!

Putting together the lazy susan:

Finished lazy susan:

Cabinets with the pulls! (We're still missing two drawers that Ikea didn't have in stock. Hope they come in soon!)















The granite guy came today to measure for the granite template. I've changed my mind 3 times already about the granite color...I just can't picture what it's going to look like...

I'm ready to be finished!

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for this year - my family, my friends, my husband, my wonderful in-laws, my health, my sweet puppies, my job, my co-workers, my house, my new kitchen, my financial stability, and so much more! God is great!

Exciting Weekend!!

So not only was this weekend awesome because of Thanksgiving and the extra 2 days off work, but it was also exciting because.....

ROBIN GOT ENGAGED!!!!! Congrats to my buddy Robin and her future hubby, Matt!

Kitchen Renovation - Weekend #4

We're getting there!!!

This weekend, Josh and his dad hung all the cabinet frames.

The first cabinet frame going up!

The plumber came on Friday and fixed the plumbing for the sink and installed the new plumbing for the washing machine. Have I explained the issue with the washer and dryer? When we moved in, the hook up for the washer and dryer were in the basement. And the basement freaked me out. So Hubby and I came up with a solution for that chore - he would take the laundry down to the basement, wash it and dry it, and bring it up. Then I would fold/hang and put away all the clothes. It was a good system...usually. Sometimes he'd wait until 9pm on Sunday to do the laundry. And there is no way I'm folding and hanging up 4 loads of clothes that late at night on a Sunday!! Or sometimes I wouldn't have anything to wear and I'd want to throw something in the washer but Josh wasn't home. And we figured once we decide to start a family, there's no way we would be able to do all the extra laundry with the washer and dryer in the basement. So, we built the walk-in pantry/laundry room off of the kitchen.

And last Saturday night, after Josh and his dad had brought up the washer and hooked it up, I did my first load of laundry in almost 2 years!!! Honestly, I almost didn't remember how to use the washing machine! :)

The electrician came out on Saturday to give me a quote to do the electric work for the dryer. Unfortunately, I didn't know that you have to have a heating and air specialist vent the dryer. Argh. Another contractor for me to deal with! Who knows when will be able to bring up the dryer. So even though we can wash our clothes upstairs, Josh will still have to take them down to the basement to dry them for the time being. Blah.

Next weekend, the boys will be hanging the doors and cover panels on the cabinet frames - see Josh modeling one of the frosted glass doors below - he's so cute! :-)

The granite company is coming next week to measure for the template. Unfortunately, they won't be able to install the granite until the 13th! :( Which means we won't have a sink in the kitchen until then either. Boo.

But it's so exciting to see the progress. And my father-in-law has been awesome. The hubs and I def want to get him something great for Christmas to thank him for helping us.

As for the rest of the weekend - Friday night I met some friends at Leon's in downtown Decatur. All I have to say is YUM! I can't wait to go back with Josh (he had to work late Friday night...boo).

We got the "Bacon in a Glass" with a side of peanut butter dipping sauce. (It was GOOD - don't knock it til you try it!)

Then I got some "pub frites" (which I've been dying to try!) with the garlic aioli and the goat cheese fondue dipping sauces - plus one more sauce that I didn't order and couldn't figure out what it was...but it was good! Mmmmm! And I got some meatballs. Which don't really go with fries...but they sounded so good that I had to get them. :)

Saturday evening, my friend Veena hosted a girly tea party - complete with a tea set, scones, and tea sandwiches! It was super fun!

I'm sooooo excited for Thanksgiving break - 2 days off from work! Woo hoo!

Brussels Sprouts?!

So despite my in-laws perception of me, I'm not really a city girl. Yes, I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta. But I've spent some time on the farm. I haven't milked a cow, but I HAVE fed goats and sheep. I haven't picked cotton, but I HAVE planted lots of vegetables. I haven't worked in a chicken house, but I HAVE spread manure in a garden. When I worked at the "unnamed attraction" I spent lots of hours in the farmyard (aka the petting zoo) and in the garden. I've dripped sweat while hoeing, I've broken my back planting seeds, and I've shoveled goat poo. It was hard work, but it was good work (well...except for shoveling the goat poo). Gardening is good for the soul!

Anyway, the point of all that is to explain that I'm not the kind of girl that thinks green beans come from a can and milk comes from Kroger.

But the other day at Trader Joes, I was surprised to see this:

Brussel sprouts!!! Who knew they grew like this?!

Crazy!! You learn something new every day. :)

Cutest Niece and Nephew Ever!

Seriously, aren't they adorable?!

A Few of My Favorite Things - Beauty Products Edition

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens...these are a few of my favorite things!

Bath and Body Works Cream Lotions
I don't use perfume, but I love me some lotion. Every day when I get out of the shower, I slather some of this stuff all over. My favorite scent is the Magnolia Blossom (duh - I'm a southern belle!) but of course BBW decided to discontinue this scent. Grrrrr... :-( I also like Sweet Pea and I'll branch out every now and then and try something new. But I still have a few almost-empty bottles of Magnolia Blossom that I'm hanging onto...stupid BBW...maybe one day they'll bring the magnolia back.

Loreal Bare Naturals Mineral Makeup

I suffered a long time in regular liquid foundation until I finally tried the mineral/power based stuff. And I have to say, that if you live in the south, or any other hot and humid area, you should be using mineral makeup. The liquid stuff used to just melt off my face, especially when I worked outside at the "unnamed attraction". Yeah, that whole "Southern ladies don't sweat, we glisten!" phrase is BS. I sweat in the summer. And the mineral makeup stays on my face much better than the liquid stuff. Plus my face doesn't feel as greasy and oily. 

Proactive

I really could be another spokesperson for Proactive. I have been using this stuff since high school. And at $50 every two months (EXPENSIVE!) you better believe that it works or I would not be spending that much money on it. (Although, sometimes I think the women who invented it worked the formula so that if you do stop using it, your face breaks out like crazy...so no one wants to ever stop using it...and they can continue to make a TON of money...)

Intuition Razors

Again, these are super expensive to me, so you know I really love them if I'm willing to spend the money. But these razors are really the only ones I can use and not end up having a hysterical itching fit after shaving. For some reason my skin is so sensitive that when I shave, I feel like I am having an allergic reaction. I've tried everything over the years - every type of cream, every type of lotion, every type of razor, every type of shaving cream. I've tried vaseline, baby oil, aftershave, shaving with lotion, shaving with conditioner, cortisone cream, benadryl cream - EVERYTHING! It got so bad at the beginning of this year that I would take a benadryl pill before I shaved. And even that didn't work!! But out of everything I've tried, these razors are the best. I still itch like crazy, but it's a bearable itch (no hysterical itching fit). Plus since you can skip on the shaving cream, it makes shaving quicker and easier...which makes me more likely to shave more often...which my hubby likes. :-)





Kitchen Renovation Weekend #3

We got a TON done this weekend! Josh and his dad put together all 11 cabinet frames in under 3 hours - I was impressed! Then they ripped out all the old cabinets except for one. (The old sink cabinet was built around the plumbing, so we need the plumber to come out and fix before we can take out that cabinet or install any of the new ones.) Now I'm on the hunt for an electrician. I wish someone I knew had a recommendation . Our plumber gave us a couple of names...so we'll see.

The entire house is a disaster right now...and I can't handle my house being a complete wreck! I made Josh help me clean up our bedroom and the living room (the 2 rooms we spend most of our time in) so I could stop having anxiety/a panic attack from the mess. I did have to laugh though when I was standing in the kitchen and realized I could see down to the basement - crazy!

Some progress photos: (And don't judge me - I haven't put up all the Halloween decorations yet. :-) )

More pics from my weekend in Columbus

 Fort Benning

I asked him to put it on and let me take a picture. He must really love me. :) 

 I had a mouth full of Hibachi shirmp. :)

My mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law!

The Cabinets are Here!

Now the "fun" begins...God help us! :)

Congrats to Jordan!

This past weekend I was down in Columbus, GA at Fort Benning watching my brother-in-law graduate from basic training. My husband and I are so proud of Jordan and I want to honor him today on my blog.

Jordan - I am so proud of the person you've become! I want to thank you for your dedication and sacrifice to serving our country and protecting our freedom. God bless you and keep your safe!

Honor Our Military

Let’s honor our military,
The men and women who serve,
Whose dedication to our country
Does not falter, halt or swerve.

Let’s respect them for their courage;
They’re ready to do what’s right
To keep America safe,
So we can sleep better at night.

Let’s support and defend our soldiers,
Whose hardships are brutal and cruel,
Whose discipline we can’t imagine,
Who follow each order and rule.

Here’s to those who choose to be warriors
And their helpers good and true;
They’re fighting for American values;
They’re fighting for me and you.

By Joanna Fuchs

OUCH!

We bought our cabinets and paid for the countertop on Sunday!!!

It was more money than I've ever spent at once...yikes!

When the total came up on the cash register, I just pointed at it and hubby and I just laughed.

That's all you can do in that kind of situation!

The charge posted today. I have to admit - I kind of hurt me to look at it.

But hopefully it'll all be worth it when the kitchen is done!

-Holly

Yard Work - Yuck!

A couple of weekends ago we filled up 9!!! refuse bags clearing out our flower bed in front of the house. It was back breaking work!

(The first few bags - we were about 1/2 way done at this point.)

Once we cleared out the flower bed, we laid bricks, planted pansies and put down some grass seed. (Unfortunately, I don't have a green thumb. :( About half of the pretty pansies you see here are now dead. RIP pansies!)



Too bad I didn't take a before pic!

Sometimes I think we should have bought a condo. Yard work is NOT fun!


But when I see this:

I remember why we bought a house with a yard. :)

Leftover meatloaf, 2 slices of white bread, and a shmear of Dukes mayo makes...

The BEST lunch ever! I LOVE meatloaf sandwiches...probably more than I like meatloaf itself! Sunday I made a tasty turkey meatloaf and the hubby and I have been enjoying the leftovers.

Here is my meatloaf "recipe" (a variation on the Kraft foods meatloaf recipe):
1 lb ground turkey
1 package Stove Top Stuffing (uncooked)
1 small yellow onion, chopped
Dump in any of the following: BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic power, grill seasoning, and anything else you have on hand that you think would taste good - This is why I called it my meatloaf "recipe" with quotes. ;) (all the liquid items should total up to about 1/2 a cup)
Smush together and bake for 30 mins on 375
Slather on some sauce (ketchup, mustard and brown sugar mixed togther)
Bake another 30-45 mins until done

Serve with mashed potatos. Or slice and put on white bread with Dukes mayo.

Yum! :)

Kitchen Renovation Weekend #2

This past week (while I was slaving away at work) my hubby and my father-in-law took care of a few more things for the kitchen. They installed the door in the new pantry/laundry room wall. (After an extra trip to Home Depot because they bought the wrong size the first time...hehe!)

Hubby was also home when the fridge was finally delivered...not on Tuesday like it was supposed to be...because the first set of delivery men were jerks...lazy...incompetent fools...not very nice men. The fridge wouldn't fit through the front or side door of our house (houses built in 1950 have smaller doors than newer houses I guess) and the first set of delivery men wouldn't bring the fridge up the steps to the back porch and in through the back door. *Sigh* So we rescheduled the delivery for Thursday and they were supposed to bring two extra men...and...well...they didn't! But the two men that did show up were very helpful and brought the fridge in through the back door anyway. So FINALLY we have our fridge in the house. But....they couldn't hook up the water line for the ice maker because ours is too old. Another item for the plumber to charge us for!

But I LOVE the fridge! It is BEAUTIFUL! And every time I see it, I just smile.

New fridge love!


We also bought our oven and new microwave...and they were delivered without any issues. :)

The plumber came back with a quote for moving the washer up to the new laundry room, but now we're thinking we need to wait until later on in the renovation in case we have more plumbing issues that we need to add on (just like the darn waterline for the fridge).

Saturday and Sunday we sanded, primed and painted the new wall...which you would think wouldn't have taken very long since it's a tiny wall...but of course it seemed like it took FOREVER! Glad it's done!

New wall! (Please ignore all the spilled paint on the floor. We're replacing the floor anyway.) We'll also move the white cabinet once we have the shelving up in the pantry. (The white cabinet served as our pantry for the past year and a half.)

We hit up Ikea on Sunday to talk to them about the 40% off the countertops sale. (Which is a GREAT sale, by the way. $19.99/foot of granite installed!!) Now I'm overwhelmed about the granite color - I can't make a decision! Ahhhh!!!

I think the kitchen already looks 100 times better - just with the new fridge and the walled off pantry area. I can't wait to see the entire thing finished!

I'll finish this post with a pic from Saturday night at Brick Store Pub - where I had some yummy baked brie and the tastiest cider that was served in the cutest little mug!!! I love downtown Decatur!

And we won't talk about the GA/FL game...ug! Oh well...there's always next year!


-Holly