Watching History In Our House

I was moved to tears tonight during what I thought was a powerful and near perfect speech by Barack Obama. It truly made me feel proud to be a Democrat and citizen of this country. 

John and Duke on the other hand...

were inspired to nap. When I shook them both awake, Duke growled and John said "what? you know I'm voting for the guy" then went back to sleep.  

And there you have it.

This Is Nice to See

Philly residents were rated the highest tippers according to the 2009 Zagat Guide. 

Check it out here with some other interesting findings about eating out in the city.

Now if only area residents could just figure out how to drive correctly...

Ready, Set...You Bet

Just in time for football season and our upcoming housewarming party, my thoughtful sister Amy sent us this fun serving piece to help welcome us into our new home...

Thanks for thinking of us lil' sis! :)

Drive Me Wild

On Saturday night John and I took the train into Philadelphia for his best friend Rocco's 29th birthday dinner...

We thought this was an AWESOME idea as we now live just blocks from the train station and it's only a 45 min. ride. Plus, we can both have a few drinks with dinner and relax. This, however, turned out to be a TERRIBLE idea when the main course wasn't even served until 11:00 pm, the same time we had to leave to catch the last train home. I then became tired and miserable when a $60 cab ride would be inevitable. 

When Sunday rolled around we both didn't want to get up or do any house projects liked planned. That's when we remembered that John had received a gift card to Cabela's, an outdoor super store, and we decided to take the hour drive up to Hamburg, PA to check it out.

We have both never been there and I can kind of see why. It's like a hunter's dream and we all know how I feel about deer! 

They were stuffed and EVERYWHERE. John was dying as I shuttered with every step. Thankfully, there were so many other stuffed animals to gawk at that I could avert my eyes some of the time. Not to mention, games!

We did ultimately find a cool fire pit for the backyard so it was definitely worth the trip

and most importantly, it got us out of the house for a few hours. When John suggested in the car ride home that we maybe plan a camping trip I burst into laughter. Yeah! We'll take Blue Lightning!  Um, no. Shopping at an outdoor store is about as far as I go. Or maybe we can simply light up the fire pit, roast marshmallows and remember the trip to Cabela's. 

The Things We Do For Love

We all make sacrifices in life. A recent one for me was the other day when in order to get patio furniture for the deck, John said we'd have to take 'the truck' or as I refer to it, Blue Lightning. 

B.L. is my husband's work around the house, fixer-upper truck that he was dying to have. It's a 1989 Chevy with rust spots, tape on the seat and no A/C. A few months ago, he sold this idea to me by rightfully pointing out that we would need a truck to haul all the new items we will purchase for the house. This was our first time using it, though, as it sat in the shop for several weeks getting exhaust work done. I feel like a redneck when we are in it and it's about as smooth a ride as a horse and buggy, but I do love how happy it makes John to have a project vehicle and one he can do anything with. Lord knows he deserves it.

Sacrifices, people...

No Day Off At All

I've spent the first three hours of my days off between jobs running around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Seriously, I have already...

• Been woken up way too early by garbage truck
• Slipped on the bathroom floor 
  
• Almost hit the termite guy who is working in the garage with my car 
• Rushed Duke to a new vet and held him like the 50 lb. baby that he is while he got scary shots and a thermometer put up his butt
• Left vet without his medicine
• Was told my new company car is not really a car at all but a MINI-VAN
• Ran out of make-up so can't cover the three huge zits on my face
• Had one of the shelves John just hung for me in the kitchen last night, fall on me after placing one cookbook on it

I think I may need to go back to bed.

Arts and Crafts

I never know what to do with certain photographs that I like. You know when you take a bunch on a trip and they just sit in a box never to be looked at again? Well, since there were so many great scenic shots from our honeymoon in Hawaii, I decided to have some of them blown up and then frame them to hang in our family room. 

It turned out to be a tedious process, but overall I think I like the look. It's definitely a lot less costly then buying new artwork and something to help us remember our time there.

Short But Sweet

Over the weekend, John and I got to visit with his brother Andrew and sister-in-law Sue who were in town for the annual fantasy football draft that the boys take part in. While that isn't very exciting for all of us (i.e. Me) it gave us a chance to spend time with our favorite little person, our niece Victoria.

She is so adorable! It's the coolest thing, being an aunt even if it's just by marriage and I definitely want to be the best I can. Here she is playing with John and Duke. The dog followed her around with his toys and she kept telling him to "sit". I'm telling you, it's priceless.

You may note that these photos were taken in our newly painted dining room. I'll definitely be revealing more when it's completed.

Oldie But Goodie?

I'm trying to figure out if it is totally lame to be somewhat excited about the new 90210 or really cool. I can just see John perusing through the channels and happening upon the little red dot that says I'm recording the show on Fox and his reaction. That might just be worth it.

I actually only thought this might be a possibility today when I saw the promo featuring Kelly and Brenda in a scene together. I loved watching them in the original version when I was younger and think they were the best cast members to bring back. What do you think?

Pretty Paper

Not all house projects are glamourous but boy if I don't try to make them that way! The other night while pushing myself to finish unpacking, I decided to line the shelves of the hall closet with some fun paper that I picked up at Target. And yes, I do realize I said I would never go back there but it's hard to stay away from that place!

I loved the print so much that I was trying to find other uses for it around the house. Unfortunately, there wasn't much of it left so I just framed a piece of it.

I thought it turned out cute. Now I just have to find a spot for it not so near the hall closet...

You May Be Seated

Projects are moving along smoothly at the new house. This week we are starting the painting phase so I hope to do some before and after photos soon. One of my favorite updates, however, was finding these farmhouse style dining room chairs at Pier 1 Sunday for 25% off the clearance price they were already set at!

It's such a thrill to find a good deal and they go great with the warn, cream colored table we scored from the PB outlet last month. I only got four as I'm still hoping to do rattan or upholstered end chairs. At least now we can sit down to eat, though. What a concept!

Change, Change, Change

In a couple of weeks I will start a new sales job and say a fond farewell to windows and doors. I'll now be a rep for, hold out for it...power tools! I'm so butch. But the good news is it's a similar product to what I sold with a job I had in Seattle so I'm pretty excited and it comes with a company car and home office. Not to mention some very friendly co-workers which we all know is a plus.
I'm a little sad to leave my uncle's window company that I've been at for more than two years now, but with the economy being what it is, I needed something less commission driven and he totally understood that.

For any of you keeping track of ol' Jackie here, it's important to note that not only have I gotten married, bought/moved into a new home but now with the new job I'll be starting, that rounds out tackling three major life changing events in a 4 month time frame. It's a wonder I'm still standing! My mom says I never slow down. Just my nature I suppose...

Here's to new beginnings!

Anyone There?

Tonight was interesting to say the least. I don't know if I should feel annoyed or what. Here's what happened...earlier in the week I was contacted by the local Obama volunteer coordinators about a meeting this Thursday for people in my area regarding things we can do to help out with the campaign. I was really excited because I thought it would be a great way to meet some of my new 'neighbors' and I obviously believe in Obama's candidacy. I was given a time and location to meet at but when I arrived there tonight, right on schedule, nobody was there. I was so confused and felt like a dorky, lonely car in the parking lot where I waited for 20 minutes. Here I am taking the time to help and nobody is there to receive it! I called the guy to see if the location was moved and had to leave a message. He was probably conducting a meeting somewhere that I clearly wasn't.

We're In!

It has been a whirlwind couple of days, but we are finally settling in to the new house. It's definitely starting to look and feel more and more like home. Moving in was a bit of a nightmare, but who hasn't had that experience, right? It was all worth it, though, when we brought Duke over and he completely fell in love with his new fenced in yard!

And here is how you know that I'm in heaven. On our first night, my loving husband suggested that I have the entire master bedroom walk in closet to myself. It's a dream come true!

I hope to get some more pictures posted soon as we begin work on all the new projects :)