Traveling

This weekend I drove down to Houston for my sweet friend Gracie's baby shower.  I love and miss my friends from college and it was so good to see 2 of the three of the group, even for just a few hours.

I typically enjoy driving.  My commute to work is about 5 min (I'm sorry), and I love having hours of open road to think, (sometimes) see beautiful scenery, and let's be honest, sing my little heart out.  Here's a pretty good representation of a road trip with me.

I realized that I never wrote about two trips I took this year, one with this group of friends.

I had the opportunity to tag along with a group of lovely girls from church to LA, and then planned a reunion trip with college friends to San Diego.  Prior to this year, I had never been to California, but it was definitely on my list.  The weather is beautiful, and despite getting a tad (read lobster status) sunburned, the beach is pretty fun.

I'll just leave you with some pictures.  It's starting to get cold here in Texas and I'm pretty excited about it, but some of you may need some sunshine in your life.

LA March 2013

San Diego June 2013

27

Twice in one month. On a roll!

My friend Katie blogged about the quarter life crisis this week and pretty much summed up my life. Even if my quarter life crisis is 2 years late (or two years running strong?) :) I'm so thankful for sweet friends who speak truth as we walk through life together. You should give it a read, and also the article she talks about from Relevant. I especially loved this part

"One day you’re jogging along with as upbeat music confirms with every step that you can take on the world. The next day, you’re sprawled out on the couch wishing you could live in a ‘90s sitcom, Death Cab for Cutie in the background confirming with every melody that you can’t even take on your laundry, let alone the world."

I've been at the same job for 3.5 years now, with nothing really changing the whole time. I mean, my life changed- I bought a house, made some great friends, gained a sister-in-law, but at work- same chair, same customers, same parking lot view.

I found out this week things will change a little. New coworkers, new chair, new customers, new parking lot view. Why when things actually change do I suddenly want everything to stay the same? I'm excited about this change, but still hesitant. Fear is a beast. An ugly one. One I struggle with almost daily. But like Katie, I'm trying to gage whether or not I let things pass me by because I don't want to or because of fear. I feel like I'm becoming more aware of this lately, and trying to be more brave.

I've also tried to be more mindful of my attitude. I'm quick to complain, which helps no one. I saw this poster on pinterest (of course) and it's definitely on my short list of things I need for my house.

It's so true. We all have a choice as to how we will react to whatever life brings us. For now I'm choosing not only happiness, but JOY. I've had a little paper with a handwritten 1 Peter 1:8 propped up on the cutest little bird at work.

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious JOY."

I feel like maybe this is coming off that I'm unhappy, I'm not! Just too often I forget why I'm here- to glorify the Lord. When I feel like I'm stagnant, I'm not joyful. When I'm fearful, I'm certainly not joyful. When I wake up at 4:15 to go work out, I am not joyful. But that's a choice. I could be joyful- probably not ever before 6 am - but I can try?

So maybe 27 is the year for big change, bravery, and joy. Here's hoping, right twenty somethings?

The New Jacobs

Oh heeeeey guys.  Remember me?

Oopsie.

Anyway, there's been a lot of projects happening lately, the most extravagant and exciting being little BoBo's wedding!

He finally put a ring on it in February after 6? 7? years of dating. side note-they don't know when their first date was.  It was that long ago.

Rehearsal Dinner

I've been so proud of Jennifer and her planning/organizing skills.  February - August really isn't much time to plan for the biggest party of your life. For all she talks about being paralyzed by decisions, she's made so many choices one right after the other. Everything was so beautiful. I know we've all asked this before, but what did we do without Pinterest? As essential as the internet itself.  Or pizza.

I'm pretty sure Bobby had zero idea what he got himself into.  Marriage he was ready for.  Wedding planning? Threw him for a loop.  At dinner about two weeks before the wedding after a long day of cutting burlap, measuring lace, and picking out songs, he asked, "Are we done talking about the wedding for today?" We all just looked at him like he was the last little pitiful puppy for sale at the pet store.  But he made it!

One of the things I remember about the day was how HAPPY they both were.  The pictures prove it, and I can't wait to see what the videographer caught from the day.  I have all my fingers crossed that he got Bobby's impressive dance moves in the dance circle.  That's definitely replay through the years worthy.

This was the most fun I've had at a wedding in a long time. Maybe because I knew a lot of people there, or because I was happy to be a part of the start of a new family, but it was probably because of the photo booth.

I have had more fun looking at these pictures.  The rest of Saturday into Sunday I kept looking at the ones I brought home and could not stop laughing.  Then  I found out they were all posted on facebook through the photobooth's website.  Hilarious.  No one surprised me more than my cousin Mimi.  I have NEVER seen this many facial expressions for one person in my life.  She's a rockstar.  Maybe she takes lots of selfies for practice.  :) Love you!

This is definitely a day for the books, and one I pray the details won't easily be forgotten.

I loved being a part of this wedding, and love that I now have a sister-in-law. I know this means life will be a little different, but if I was a betting (wo)man, I'd say it's a change for the better.

New Year, New Bathroom.

So about those Christmas posts I promised...Sorry about that.

I didn't even take many pictures this Christmas! There was too much unwrapping, singing, laughing with friends and family, party planning, and real life I suppose.

Anyway,

Seeing as it's been more than a month, (almost 2!) there's some house stuff to catch you up on.

The biggest thing happened this last weekend.  I bought a new shower curtain and some paint, happy to give the room the desperate love it needed.  Seriously, holes in in the walls, a random washing machine and beige, beige, beige.  My washing machine is in the bathroom while my dryer is in the garage. It's sad.  And weird.  They are lonesome for each other and I can't wait for them to be together again.  Doesn't it sound lovely? 

In a perfect world, I would have all new walls, beautiful sparkling tile instead of the nasty plastic walls around the tub, and state of the art washer and dryer with beautiful open shelving instead of the weird closed in cabinet that is there now.  One out of three's not bad, right? (sorry about the pictures, they're from the trusty iphone.)

My mom was going to meet me Saturday morning to start painting.  When she got here she said "I brought your Dad to look at the cabinet" and here we go jumping from a small paint job to a demolition project. Poor Dad. 

So we talked about it for awhile, laid out the Dexter tools, and just started prying things off the wall.  Underneath the layer of drywall was some beautiful wallpaper. 

Well, beautiful for the 1950s.

I cut out a big piece to save and will probably frame it somewhere.  It's nice to let the house remember where it came from. 

After lots more prying and sawing, the thing was down! 

Hallelujah!

So. Much. Space!

I love the wood paneling! I'm planning to just leave it open and go over it with some sort of sealant.

My poor roommate.  With little warning, she had to live for a weekend with a washing machine in the middle of the kitchen, a light switch hanging precariously from the ceiling, and a crazy roommate.  Sorry about that!
                                                                                      

Here's a picture of the old cabinet.  See how the light switch was nestled nicely in there? Ya, it's still just swinging from the rafters at the moment. (Go home light switch, you're drunk.)

I have plans though, good ones!

I think my mom and I spent 3974 hours painting the bathroom this weekend and 3847 of those were spent on the gem of a cabinet.  I love the scrolling and the character, but that pink counter has got to go.  Someday.  And todays is not that day.  Maybe it will grow on me?  Actually with the new paint color, it doens't seem to stand out quite as much.  We'll see. 

Hopefully I'll be back soon with a grand reveal, but I've still got a ways to go.  Painting touch ups, trimming the wood section that I ripped apart, and building the open shelving. 

I am loving the new bathroom-even in the chaos!

And since what's a blog, without a picture of Thurs...

You're welcome.

Lately

Since I only blog once in a blue moon this one's going to just be a big blog dump.

Not much has changed since last month but I finally did two "Dude Get On That, Already" projects.

I bought a dresser at a garage sale a few months ago for $15 that I knew would look great with a little love.

I borrowed my dad's sander and got to work.  My neighbor came home and told me he had a more powerful one if I wanted to use it.  I figured he knew more than I did, so I gave it a try.  I went from a little hand sander that I was just barely getting the hang of to a belt sander.  Guys.  It is powerful.  I had no idea.It almost got away from me the first time.  Good things my new neighbors weren't moving in across the street and don't think I'm a crazy person.  Whoops.  Anyway, I finally got the thing sanded down.

Don't laugh at me if you know anything about sanding furniture and think it looks wonky.

Also please disregard my mess of a garage.  

I was thinking of doing a gradient effect, and then saw it in the YHL book- so I took the plunge.  It was pretty easy, just took some time to paint.  It would have been faster if I was a little smarter and bought more paint brushes.  Washing the paint out after each coat was the worst part. 

I spent Veteran's day painting.  There really isn't a better feeling than being productive doing something you want to do on a day off.  Love it.

And final product.

I had also bought a door at an estate sale a few months back.  My poor dad.  I think every time he finishes a project I have a new one for him.  He may be rethinking encouraging me to buy a house.  I think he misses the handyman that rental properties come with.  Thanks, Dad!

Here's the original.  I really liked the color, but it was a really weird paint.  If it was even paint at all.  It was almost like someone had just rubbed an insane amount of chalk all over.  If you ran your hand over, your hand would be green.  It even puzzled the paint guys at Sherwin Williams.

This is after several "coats" of paint thinner trying to wash it off.  In the end, water was the best thing.  Weird, right?

He came over last weekend and we hung the door.  When I bought it, I really thought "I can just take the old one off the hinges and throw this one up there.  No big deal."

Well, turns out I know nothing about doors.  Whoops.

There was a lot of sawing, chiseling, and trial and error.

But, fast forward a couple of hours and it's hanging! And beautiful!

Well, not quite beautiful yet, I'm still trying to get paint stragglers off.  It's been a process.

It might be weird that there's a window, but I'm a little weird.  I have plans for a little curtain when I need there to not be a window into my bedroom.

And speaking of "Dude Get On That, Already" projects, I also took a little trip down to Dallas to meet John and Sherry Petersik. I know, you're jealous.

There are several of us at work who religiously read their blog.  I can't remember who read it first, but it spread quickly and we generally talk about them like we're family.  Is that weird?

Only two of us were able to go to their book signing at West Elm.  One of the downsides of working at a bank is having to work on Saturdays.  Sorry Heather!

Jordan and I drove down there thinking we were pretty early, but the line was already snaking through the store and then around the corner outside.  We ended up pretty much in the middle of the line when the doors opened.  I felt a little silly waiting so long to see people for a total of 2 minutes.  I kept telling myself, they're just people, just like you.  (because our blogs are so similar.  They have millions (!) of blog hits a month, I might have 5.  Thanks Mom!)

But despite my inner pep talk, I got totally flustered when it was our turn.  I rambled (about paramedics and firemen?) as I tend to do because I'm awkward in most situations.  Hopefully I wasn't much worse than everyone else.

Maybe I'll have a few Christmas posts a little later. I know, more than one post a month? We'll wait and see. I love Christmas so much, but it's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when it was in the eighties just a few days ago.  It's just in the seventies today. We're getting there slowly but surely!

This one's excited.