Very Big News!

Looking back at the last few times I've posted... I realized two things:

1. I clearly need to get better at updating the blog.
2. It's funny what I posted about last time, compared to what I'm about to say.

In case you haven't guessed it by now..... We're moving!

But this isn't just any other move, and boy have we moved a LOT. This move is so very, very different from all the others in one big way.....

We are now HOMEOWNERS!

Or we will be on Friday, anyway. All that's left is a few signatures and getting the keys!

We are beyond stoked for this. This will be the first home either of us have owned. I have dreamed of this for so long. My own place. No renting. No landlord. No sharing the outdoor space (or walls, or roofs) with other people who have no respect for peace and quiet.

No one telling me what I can do with my yard or what color I can paint or where to park. No worries of my guests being towed for accidentally parking in the wrong place. And SPACE, so much space!

Of course, while this is grand and exciting, it's also a bit terrifying. I mean..... there's no 24 maintenance crew. There's a 30 year mortgage looming before me.  We are solely responsible for keeping the house a well maintained home.

But we're up for the challenge. I have been ready for this for quite a while!

Anyway, enough blabbing! Time for the good stuff - Details and Pics!

The house has three bedrooms and 2 baths. The garage was remodeled and enclosed to make an extra room, which will be our craft/game room. The yard is 1.06 acres (and eeek I'm so happy about that!) My biggest fear was having to settle for a postage stamp sized yard! It's full of trees and open space. There is only ONE neighbor to the right. The lot to the left, behind and across the street are all empty, open and wooded space. I couldn't be happier!

I don't have many pics right now, but I will DEFINITELY get more this weekend!

Another Moving Day Is Upon Us

Moving day has snuck up on us, in much the same way a lumbering giant might sneak upon a village- loudly, with lots of forewarning, and maybe a little bellowing of fear- and yet we are completely, absolutely so far behind schedule it's actually funny.

Moving day is tomorrow. We are about, oh, 40% packed.  

Did I mention moving day is tomorrow?

I just haven't felt like packing. At all. 

I start and get one box done and then convince myself that I did enough. 

I think that this lack of desire to pack is directly related to my ambivalence toward this move. In my history, I've never been so..... meh.... about it all. I've either been so damn happy that I was just ready to get it done and be in the new place, or I was so pissed off that the anger fueled my packing abilities. 

This time, I'm neither.

In the past my moves have been either upward (happy) or downward (angry), but this is more of a lateral move, I guess you could say.  The new place, which I shall refer to as GG, has a lot of great features that I am really looking forward to, like a huge back porch which is facing  a tree-covered area that has a duck pond and is perfect for walking the dogs. But it also doesn't have some of the things I've come to love about our current apartment (which I shall call O51P). It doesn't have a huge garden tub, or crown moldings, or 9ft ceilings. 

GG has free cable with HBO and a cute little rock wall in the entry way. O51P has an elegance to it. 

But the biggest thing is O51P is in quiet, Alachua that I've come to love. And GG is in icky Gainesville, with horrid traffic. I am not looking forward to dealing with all that traffic. 

And to make everything infinitely more stressful, O51P is re-paving the parking lot this week. Our section was supposed to be done yesterday. Now they tell us they are doing it today. Let me just tell you, if they try to do our section tomorrow, I will not hold back my fury. They will see every last ounce of my ambivalence morphed into a fury they will never want to see again. If I have to park my Uhaul on the other side of the parking lot and carry heavy ass furniture to it, they will feel my wrath. 

They will wish they hadn't. 

But now I must stop procrastinating and get packing. Since there's still 55% to go. 

Sunday Roundup: 10 of My Favorite Free Crochet Patterns This Week

I see a LOT of fabulous, free crochet patterns during the course of my time spent on the internet in a day. And I've been sharing them on my Facebook page as I come across them (You should totally check it out!), but I thought it might be nice to round up a handful of them each week.

Because who doesn't love free? Let me tell you, I'm not a fan of buying patterns, unless it's for something truly unique, gorgeous, and/or I can't just figure out how to make something from looking at a picture.

But there truly are some fantastic gems out there are absolutely free. And it's those I'd like to share with you.

And for the record, I am not affiliated with any of people/sites that offer the patterns in any way at all, and I'm sure they have no idea I even exist. So that said, on with the list!

1. Bavarian Square by The Stitchin' Mommy

2. Jazlyn Baby Hat by Snappy Tots

3. Mahala Mandala Square by Yuli Handmade

4. Madly In Love Infinity Scarf/Cowl by Moogly (Part 2 is here)

5. Owl Hat by Repeat Crafter Me

6. Frozen's Olaf Amigurumi Doll by 1 Dog Woof

7. Granny Heart by Crochet Tea Party

8. Hippo Hat by Repeat Crafter Me

9. Blooming Flower Cushion by Attic24

10. Nubbie Scrubbies by Simple Sweet Yarns

February Ipsy Glambag

I am delighted with the February Glambag from Ipsy. Aside from the products being amazing this month, the value of what I received was positively insane! Of course, Ipsy always produces great value. For starters, the bag only costs $10 a month for deluxe samples of a wide variety of beauty products. But there is often at least one full size product in each bag. This month there are two full size products. And I redeemed my accumulated Ipsy points for an extra item, as well. (Psst, by the way, if you decide to join, use this link. It will give me points toward another future freebie)

In the bag:

Model Co Cosmetics blush in Cosmopolitan, 3.6g. Fullsize is $22 for 8g.

Emite Makeup Eyelash Curler, $25. with 2 refill pads, $3

City Color Cosmetics Creamy Lip Stain in Flirtini $4.99

Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Oil, Flora No. 1, 10ml. Fullsize is 20ml. £30/$46.20
Eva Nyc Up All Night Volumizing Spray, 1oz $10

Redeemed with Ipsy points:

Eva Nyc Mane Tamer Leave In Cream, 100ml. Fullsize is 250ml, $24 


Overall approximate value of bag, adjusted for sizes I received: $75.99 ($85.59 including the extra freebie)! Isn't that insane?!

Thoughts:

I have dry skin and fine hair, so I love the face oil and volumizing spray; the lip stain is the perfect color (though the packaging looks cheap and leaves a lot to be desired); it's time to replace my lash curler and I've never had a high end one before, so this is quite nice; and the leave in conditioner leaves my hair soft and not greasy - and it smells great! The blush is the only product I'm on the fence on, since my cheeks are red enough without help! 

Happy Valentine's Day! Plus a Wedding and Purses.

This has been one heck of an exciting week!

My darling fiance surprised me this Thursday with a wedding! It wasn't a complete surprise as we'd already gotten our marriage license, but it was indeed a surprise! 

The ceremony was small and intimate, with only the kids, Johhny's best friend, and my dad. A friend of his officiated and it was sweet, romantic, and perfect. And most importantly is what it was NOT: STRESSFUL. Not one single moment was stressful or nerve-wracking. I couldn't ask for more.

We enjoyed some yummy cake and delicious bubbly and some much welcomed relaxation. 

I know everyone is wanting wedding pics, but be patient! We plan to get some professional photos done soon!

So needless to say, it was quite lovely to celebrate Valentine's Day this year as a Mr. and Mrs.! We didn't do anything fancy, but I totally had to show you what he got me. 

Let me back up a bit here and say that I've recently developed an obsession with bows. So a couple months ago when I went into Burlington and saw this lovely Betsey Johnson purse, I knew I had to have it.

Bows? Check. Girly? Check. Gold? Check!

Of course that got me looking at all the other Betsey Johnson purses and fell in love with nearly all of them. 

So I was beyond delighted when I saw my Valentine's gift from Johnny.

It's from the Be Mine collection. How absolutely perfect is that?? And the fact that he combined it with beautiful rose that will never wilt and die just made my heart flutter. 

When a man completely understands that your desire for all things beautiful constantly competes with your reluctance to waste money on things that will die, you know he's a keeper!

This is by far the best Valentine's week ever. 

P.S. And speaking of beauty and frugality, I can't wait to show you the Ipsy Bag I got this month! This was a fantastic bag! (Ipsy subscription is $10/mo. Check it out here!)