Drum Roll......

YES!!!!!!! We Have a HOUSE!!!! We (Clayton) signed the papers on Tuesday and it is ours! We have somewhere to live!  I am so excited about this little house!  I have been decorating it in my head for about 2 weeks.  It is the exact floor plan, but with an added garage (!), corner lot, better/brand new appliances (!), brand new carpet (!), fresh paint (!), and a better exterior color (!).  Did I mention it was 5,000 less in asking price? Yep!  Looks like we got the better deal! There is totally a reason the first house/offer didn't work out! We are so lucky!  I can't wait to move in!

Feelin' Crafty part 2

In my last post, I described my Goodwill transformations.  And, I have finally gotten around to uploading pics, so here they are!

Before:

After:

I am very happy with the results! I can't wait to put the items to use in our new house! (details coming!!!)

Feelin' Crafty...

Clayton and I have made an offer on a house... we should know very soon whether or not we will have a home to live in after the wedding. And, in anticipation of home-ownership I have been mentally decorating the house we made an offer on. I came across this great idea on a "decorating for less" blog and I couldn't wait to get started on my own projects. The very next day I headed out to Goodwill in search of old lamps and such to re-vamp. I came away with 2 lamps, 2 platters, 2 candle holders, 2 bowls (1 wooden, 1 brass), a beat up bread box, and 2 vases...all for 37 bucks! Then it was off to Wal-mart for some Krylon Oil-rubbed Bronze spray paint, and of course the go to satin finish black. I came home, prepared the surfaces, and painted away. And I love the results if i do say so myself! I am so excited to paint and "remodel" a bunch of stuff I had in college that doesn't match the color schemes we (I!) picked out! Yay for cheap decor! And finally getting out of a creative slump!

Happy Birthday Clayton!!!

Today Clayton turns 24!  When we met, we were 20, so it kinda puts it into perspective how long we have actually known each other(and how fast time flies!!!!) WOW! I remember his 21st birthday like it was yesterday (he doesn't!) His 22nd birthday was my UNC graduation, and his 23rd was the day after his graduation. This is the first birthday I have missed :( But, next year, we will be married! YAY!  So, in honor of Clayton's birthday, here are 24 random things about him!

1. He loves basketball.  He played in High School, at Junior College, and is now a Varsity HS coach. His passion for basketball (and coaching) is evident the minute you see him coach!

2. He is the biggest Carolina fan I know!  His blood truly is Carolina Blue.  He knows so much about UNC sports and attends any football/basketball/baseball game possible!

3. He likes ranch with everything. I only have one word for this-YUCK! (and i guess i will have to start buying it at the store!)

4. He is a people person.  Everyone likes him and he brings the party. 

5. He makes me smile. And he makes me mad.  But most of the time, he makes me smile.

6. He is very tall.  Like 6'6'' tall.  I sometimes forget how much taller he is than me until i see a picture of us where I am not on my tiptoes. :)

7. He loves football.  High School football, UNC football, Redskins football... If it is fall, then I promise, he has Friday, Saturday, and Sunday blocked off for football.

8. 95% of the clothing he owns is Carolina Blue. 90% of those clothes are Carolina T-Shirts. You can never show your school pride too much!

9. His most annoying habit (to me!) is his love of a particular video game-Call of Duty.  For some reason he and his buddies love to play those games... but to me, the sound of gunfire means that I am going to be very bored for the next, oh, 3 hours.

10. All of his pets have been named after Carolina some how--Smith, Roy, Ramses...

11. He always lets me choose to eat at Chile Verde in MA even though he still hasn't found an item on the menu he really likes.

11.  He is one of the most generous people I know.  He will buy your drinks, pay for your dinner, etc., etc., even if he just met you.  Sometimes i feel like people take advantage of it though.

12. Clayton is the "King of the Grill".  And the "Shrimp Man". :)

13. He can't stand to sit there (unless, of course, a sport is on!), so he is always up moving or doing something.  

14. His first name is "Fredric".  I always say "Ready Freddy?" and laugh at myself.  He is no longer amused. :)

15. His only request about the wedding stuff has been NO RED.  Yep, he hates State that much.

16. For his college graduation dinner he choose to eat at IP3's... Pizza and a pitcher are all he needs for a celebratory meal.

17. HE HATES DUKE. 'Nough said.

18. He likes many different kinds of beer... but cheap beer (aka PBR) is his favorite.

19. The only music we really agree on is Corey Smith. (And Kenny Chesney concerts)

20. He does not like desserts. Weird.

21. He likes history/social studies. He teaches it.

22. He is very competitive. He DOES NOT like to loose. In anything.

23. He takes a bath everyday. For hours.

24. He is my favorite person. And he loves me! :)

I love you babe! Have a great birthday! 

Big, Fun, Weekend!

This past weekend was a fun one!  My little brother graduated from college! Not just any ol' college, but the best University on the Planet--The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill! It was good to be back in Chapel Hill for the graduation festivities. It was the 3rd UNC graduation i have attended in a row.  First my gradation, May 13th, 2007, then Clayton's graduation on May 12, 2008, and last, McKenzie's graduation on May 10th, 2009. The speaker was Archbishop Desmond Tutu.  He was interesting to say the least! Yay UNC grads!

McKenzie and his girlfriend Melissa! :) So cute!

The family at the Old Well! I <3>

Sunday was also Mother's Day!  Mom, I love you! Thank you for everything you do for me! You are amazing! I don't tell you that enough!

Rain, Rain go away...

I am so tired of the rain.  It seems like it has been raining for 5 days straight... Oh, wait. It has. I am going through Vitamin-D withdrawal! I need some sunlight!  

Yesterday, it was pouring. And thundering and lightening. And a Pre-K kid pulled the Fire Alarm.  So, my 20 kindergartners and I rushed out the door to stand in the rain for 10 minutes while things were getting sorted out.  Yeah, that was fun.  Oh, and said kids haven't gotten to play outside all week. Poor things, i know they are going crazy. I am going crazy.  

Sunshine! Please come back!

YES OR NO? (apparently I like these Q/A things...)

Yes or No Share
1. You can ONLY answer Yes or No.
2. You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and asks. -- and believe me, the temptation to explain some of these will be overwhelming nothing is exactly as it seems.
Now, here's what you're supposed to do. . . Copy and paste this into your notes, delete my answers, type in your answers and tag as many of your friends as you'd like to.
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? --- yes
Been arrested? --- no
Kissed someone you didn't like? --- yes
Slept in until 5 PM? --- no
Fallen asleep at work/school? --- yes
Held a snake? --- yes
Ran a red light? --- Yes
Been suspended from school? --- no
Experienced love at first sight? ---no
Totaled your car in an accident? ---no
Been fired from a job? --- No
Fired somebody? --- No
Sang karaoke? --- yes
Pointed a gun at someone? --- no
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? --- Yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? --- no
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? --- yes
Kissed in the rain? --- yes
Had a close brush with death --- no
Seen someone die? --- no
Played spin-the-bottle? --- no
Sang in the shower? --- Yes
Smoked a cigar? --- no
Sat on a rooftop? --- yes
Smuggled something into another country? ---no
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? --- Yes
Broken a bone? ---no
Skipped school? --- yes
Eaten a bug? ---no
Sleepwalked? --- no
Walked a moonlit beach? --- yes
Rode a motorcycle? ---yes
Dumped someone? --- Yes
Forgotten your anniversary? --- no
Lied to avoid a ticket? --- no
Ridden on a helicopter? --- yes
Shaved your head? ---no
Played a prank on someone? --- Yes
Hit a home run? -- no
Felt like killing someone? --- no
Cross-dressed? --- No
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? --- Yes
Eaten snake? --- no
Marched/Protested? --- no
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? --- no
Puked on amusement ride? --- no
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? ---no
Been in a band? ---no
Knitted? --No
Been on TV? --- yes
Shot a gun? --- yes
Skinny-dipped? --- Yes
Gave someone stitches? --no
Eaten a whole habanera pepper? --- No
Ridden a surfboard? --- yes
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? --- yes
Had surgery? --- no
Streaked? -- no
Taken by ambulance to hospital? ---no
Passed out when not drinking? --- no
Peed on a bush? --- no
Donated Blood? --- yes
Grabbed an electric fence? --- no
Eaten alligator meat? --- no
Eaten cheesecake? --- Yes
Eaten your kids' Halloween candy? --- no
Killed an animal when not hunting? --- yes
Peed your pants in public? --- no
Snuck into a movie without paying? --- no
Written graffiti? --- no
Still love someone you shouldn't? --- no
Think about the future? --- Yes
Been in handcuffs? --- no
Believe in love? --- Yes
Sleep on a certain side of the bed? --- Yes

What Have You Done???

Directions: Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
30. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Wow! I have actually done a lot of these things.  I have been really blessed in my relatively short 24 years of life to have visited so many places in God's great earth.  Hopefully I will be able to add more to this list in the years to come! (Of course there are some i'd rather leave alone!)

Date Night Friday!

On Friday night Clayton and I had a great home-cooked dinner, complete with candles and Duplin Wine.  We made grilled chicken toped with sauteed mushrooms and onions, bacon, and cheese, baked potato chips, and steamed asparagus.  Clayton grilled the chicken while I prepared the rest of the food and we had a great meal!  It was really nice to have some alone time right before the busy wedding festivities begin in the next few weeks! 

Yay for a romantic dinner. After dinner we watched Hurricanes hockey on the couch.  Oh well. :)