FRIDAY FAVORITES

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT YOU BUT THIS WAS A LONG WEEK FOR OUR HOUSEHOLD! IT WAS MOSTLY JUST A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED BUT I  SURE AM GLAD THE WEEKEND IS HERE! MOSTLY BECAUSE I GET TO START MY PROJECT ON THE BATHROOM!

WHEN WE MOVED TO GEORGIA, WE DECIDED TO RENT. NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT MADE SENSE FINANCIALLY FOR US BUT BECAUSE I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA! I DIDN'T WANT TO JUMP INTO BUYING A HOME IN ANOTHER STATE AND THEN CHANGE MY MIND ONCE WE WERE HERE. LUCKILY, I LOVE GEORIGA! BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO WAIT A BIT BEFORE BUYING. 

AS MUCH AS I LOVE OUR RENTAL, SOME AREAS OF THE HOUSE ARE SO BLAH. LIKE OUR MASTER BATH FOR INSTANCE. IT'S NOT TERRIBLE BUT DEFINITELY NOT GREAT LOL IT'S A HUGE BUT LACKS STORAGE AND PERSONALITY. WHEN WE FIRST MOVED IN I SOLVED THE STORAGE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BY ADDING A SHELVING UNIT  FROM IKEA (ALWAYS MY GO TO STORE!) BUT NOW, I NEED TO ADD SOME OTHER LITTLE DETAILS AND GIVE IT SOME PERSONALITY.

INSERT PINSPIRATION! I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW I DID ANYTHING BEFORE PINTEREST. I ALWAYS FIND THE GREATEST IDEAS ON THERE. I'VE EVEN FOUND A FEW OF THE BLOGGERS I FOLLOW ON THERE. THIS WEEK, IVE BEEN FOCUSED ON BATHROOM ORGANIZATION AND DECOR ON A BUDGET. I'VE FOUND SOME GREAT IDEAS AND CAN'T WAIT TO GET STARTED! IN THE MEAN TIME, HERE ARE SOME OF MY BATHROOM FAVORITES THAT AREN'T GOING TO BREAK THE BANK!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND ENJOY THIS WEEK'S FRIDAY FAVORITES!

FAVORITE BATHROOM INSPIRATION

AQUA LANE DESIGN

 

FAVORITE COLOR PALETTE 

DESIGN SEEDS

FAVORITE PAINTED BATHROOM SINK 

BOWER POWER

FAVORITE FRAMED MIRROR

HOUSE OF SMITHS

FAVORITE BATHROOM SHELVES

SHANTY2CHIC

FAVORITE BATHROOM DIY PROJECT

EIGHTEEN 25

FAVORITE STORAGE FOR MEDICATION

USEFUL BEAUTIFUL HOME

FAVORITE BATHROOM PRINT

DAWN NICOLE

-MANDI

 

IN THE NAME OF LOVE

I AM SUCH A LOVEY DOVEY PERSON AND I AM THE ROMANTIC ONE IN THE RELATIONSHIP. WHICH! I AM TOTALLY OKAY WITH BECAUSE I LOVE DOING ALL THE CUTESY THINGS AND DEEP DOWN CARL LOVES IT ;) HAHA SO IN HONOR OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOLIDAYS, LETS TALK DIY VALENTINES DAY CRAFTS AND WREATHS!

I HAVE SEEN SO MANY CUTE VALENTINES DAY WREATHS ON ETSY AND PINTEREST BUT MY FAVORITE WAS THE BURLAP WREATH IN THE SHAPE OF A HEART. SO OF COURSE YOU KNOW I HAD TO MAKE ONE!

I MADE THIS WREATH FOR A FRIEND OF MINE BUT I MAY HAVE TO MAKE ONE OF MY OWN!

I REALLY DO LOVE THE LOOK OF BURLAP WREATHS AND I'LL ADMIT THAT THEY CAN BE INTIMIDATING & A BIT MORE TIME CONSUMING THAN A GRAPEVINE WREATH BUT ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT, THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS!  THERE ARE A TON OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE IF YOU NEEDED SOME GUIDANCE AND I ALWAYS TURN TO PINTEREST FOR INSPIRATION.

BELOW IS WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN.


SUPPLIES & COST

• 12 ' HEART WIRE FRAME: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR $2.47 WITH 50% OFF OF VDAY ITEMS BRINGING THE COST TO $1.49
• RED BURLAP: PURCHASED FROM MICHAELS FOR $9.99 WITH A 40% OFF COUPON BRINGING THE COST TO $6
• CHEVRON BURLAP RIBBON: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR 4.99 WITH 50% OFF RIBBONS BRINGING THE COST TO $2.49
• NATURAL BURLAP: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR $5.99 WITH A 40% COUPON BRINGING THE COST TO $3.60
• PIPE CLEANERS : HAD THESE ON HAND BUT CAN BE PURCHASED AT ANY CRAFT STORE
• TOTAL COST: $13.58

*I USED PIPE CLEANERS TO ATTACH THE BURLAP AND THE BOW TO THE WREATH FRAME. USING PIPE CLEANERS ON THE BOW INSTEAD OF GLUING IT DOWN ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE THE BOW OUT AT A LATER TIME.

NOW, ONTO A LITTLE DIY! I HAD DONE SOME PINTEREST SURFING TO PREP AND GATHER MY IDEAS. I HAD PINNED THESE CUTE LITTLE FRAMES THAT SPELLED OUT THE WORD "LOVE". 

PINTEREST: A DIAMOND IN THE STUFF 

THE GREATEST PART ABOUT THIS LITTLE DIY PROJECT WAS THE FACT THAT I ALREADY HAD THESE FRAMES; BAD PART WAS THE FRAMES WERE PEACH AND GREEN. WOMP WOMP!

MY ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO PAINT THE FRAMES BUT WHEN I WENT INTO MICHAELS FOR THE PAINT, I FOUND THE FRAMES IN RED AND WHITE FOR $2 A PIECE! 

FINISHED PRODUCT

THESE WERE SO EASY AND COULD BE DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS AND OCCASIONS!

BELOW IS WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN.

SUPPLIES & COST

• SMALL FRAMES : PURCHASED FROM MICHAELS FOR $2 EACH WITH 30% OFF TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE BRINGING THE COST TO $5.60
• SCRAPBOOK PAPER : 1 SHEET PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR .60 CENTS WITH 1/2 OFF BRINGING THE COST TO .30 CENTS!
• SCRAPBOOK STICKER LETTERS : PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR $4.99 WITH 1/2 OFF BRINGING THE COST $2.49!
• TOTAL COST: $8.39

NEXT UP IS THE BANNER I'VE BEEN WANTING TO TRY. THERE ARE A TON OF VERSIONS OUT THERE BUT I KNEW THAT I WANTED A SIMPLE BURLAP BANNER WITH RED HEARTS SO I USED THE BELOW AS INSPIRATION WHEN I WENT SHOPPING.

PINTEREST: BURLAP BANNER

GOSH I LOVE HOBBY LOBBY! HAHA THEY MAKE LIFE EASIER WHEN I'M TRYING TO PLAN A DIY PROJECT. I ENDED UP FINDING THESE CUTE LITTLE RED BURLAP HEARTS IN THE VALENTINES SECTION AT HOBBY LOBBY; PAIRED THEM WITH THE BURLAP FLAG BANNER WITH GLUE AND VOILA! I POKED HOLES INTO THE CORNERS OF THE BANNER PIECES AND THREADED THE TWINE THROUGH THE BACK. I COULD HAVE SAVED EVEN MORE MONEY ON THIS PROJECT BY PAINTING HEARTS ON LIKE THE ABOVE PICTURE, BUT I REALLY LIKE THE LOOK OF THE BURLAP HEARTS.

FINISHED PRODUCT

SORRY FOR THE BAD LIGHTING BUT IT'S SO CUTE, RIGHT!? I REALLY LOVE THE WAY THE BANNER TURNED OUT. DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU SEE ONE OF THESE POP UP FOR EACH HOLIDAY :)

SUPPLIES & COST

• TWINE OR STRING (WHICHEVER YOU PREFER)
• BURLAP BANNER: PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR 5.99 WITH 50% OFF OF PAPER CRAFTING PRODUCTS BRINGING THE COST TO $3
• RED HEARTS (SIMILAR): PURCHASED FROM HOBBY LOBBY FOR 2.99 WITH  30% OFF OF VALENTINES DAY DECOR BRINGING THE COST TO $2.10
• GLUE
• TOTAL COST:  $5.10

LASTY! I PRINTED OUT THIS VALENTINES DAY PRINTABLE AND PUT IT IN A WHITE FRAME I HAD PREVIOUSLY PAINTED FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.

PINTEREST: FREE VALENTINES DAY PRINTABLE

I PULLED DECOR FROM OTHER PLACES IN THE HOUSE TO FINISH IT ALL UP BUT THE TOTAL COST OF MY VALENTINES DAY MANTLE DECOR CAME TO A WHOOPING $13.49, YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT!! AND SINCE I HAVE SOME LEFT OVER RED BURLAP I AM GOING TO MAKE MYSELF A HEART WREATH BECAUSE I CAN'T RESIST THE CUTENESS!!

FINISHED MANTLE :)

I'D HAVE TO SAY THAT FOR A QUICK VALENTINES DAY MANTLE, I'M PRETTY HAPPY WITH IT! I ALREADY STARTED PINNING IDEAS FOR ST PATRICKS DAY! 

ABBI AND I WILL BE WORKING ON SOME DIY VALENTINES DAY CRAFTS FOR GIFTS BUT SHE HAS A TENDENCY TO SPILL THE BEANS SO WE'LL BE DOING THOSE THE DAY BEFORE VDAY LOL :)

HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

-MANDI

FRIDAY FAVORITES

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

THIS WORK WEEK WAS SHORTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE MONDAY WAS A HOLIDAY (FOR SOME); BUT IT SURE FELT LONG! CARL GOES INTO WORK REALLY EARLY AND HE'S USUALLY TIRED BY THE TIME HE GETS HOME SO THE WEEKDAYS ARE PRETTY BORING FOR US. I DID HOWEVER GET TO MAKE A WEEKDAY TRIP TO HOBBY LOBBY BY MYSELF! IT WAS GLORIOUS! IF YOU RECALL IN MY LAST POST, I MENTIONED PLANNING YOUR TRIP OUT, TAKING COUPONS AND TAKING A SHOPPING BUDDY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHOPPING BUDDY THAT NORMALLY GOES WITH ME (MY MOM) WAS BABYSITTING MY DAUGHTER; SO FOR THIS TRIP I COULD ONLY GO WITH COUPONS. TO KEEP MY SPENDING UNDER CONTROL I ONLY TOOK 2 COUPONS TO MAKE 2 SEPARATE PURCHASES. WELLLLLLL, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE COUPONS WEREN'T EVEN NECESSARY BECAUSE EVERYTHING I BOUGHT WAS ON SALE!  I SPENT ALMOST 2 HOURS BROWSING AND CAME OUT SPENDING ONLY $12; SCORE! DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT'S NOT LIKE I WALKED OUT WITH  CART FULL BUT I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE WREATH SUPPLIES AND A FEW THINGS TO DO SOME DIY VALENTINE DECOR (WHICH I WILL BE BLOGGING ABOUT NEXT WEEK!). FOR ME, IT WAS DEFINITELY A SUCCESSFUL TRIP!

NOW, ON TO MY MY FRIDAY FAVORITES & THINGS THAT ARE INSPIRING ME THIS WEEK! I'LL ADMIT THAT I WATCH WAY TOO MANY DIY SHOWS AND THAT  90% OF THE TIME MY TV IS ON HGTV.  I REALLY THINK I MISSED MY CALLING AND SHOULD HAVE WENT TO SCHOOL FOR INTERIOR DESIGN. LATELY I'VE BEEN OBSESSING OVER WALLPAPER. I LOVE THE POP OF COLOR OR TEXTURED LOOK IT CAN GIVE TO A ROOM AND THE VERSATILITY IT HAS! TAKE A PEAK AT THIS WEEKS FAVORITES AND SEE HOW YOU CAN USE WALLPAPER IN YOUR HOME!


I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND ENJOY THIS WEEKS FAVORITES!!

FAVORITE BATHROOM 

FAVORITE KITCHEN PANTRY

FAVORITE KITCHEN CABINET

FAVORITE LAUNDRY ROOM

FAVORITE NURSERY

FAVORITE OFFICE CLOSET

FAVORITE BOOKSHELF

FAVORITE BEDROOM CLOSET

FAVORITE FRAMES

-MANDI

DIY GRAPEVINE WREATH

WEDNESDAY'S ARE MY FAVORITE DAY BECAUSE WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE WORK WEEK! HUMMMMMMP DAY!! RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU ARE REHEARSING ONE OF THOSE CAMEL COMMERCIALS IN YOUR HEAD RIGHT NOW.......GUILTY! LOL OKAY OKAY, MOVING ON :)

CURRENTLY, I'M A STAY AT HOME MOM (LOOKING TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKING WORLD) BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE. THE WEEKEND MEANS CARL IS HOME! WE'LL GET TO DO FAMILY STUFF, RELAX, SNUGGLE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY; SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME IS MAKING BREAKFAST & DINNER 2 DAYS IN A ROW! THOSE REASONS ARE ENOUGH TO JUMP FOR JOY; BUT THE WEEKEND ALSO MEANS THERE IS A CHANCE I'LL GET SOME QUIET TIME TO MYSELF. USUALLY, WHEN I GET TIME TO MYSELF I TAKE A TRIP TO HOBBY LOBBY, MICHAELS OR TARGET. SINCE OUR HOUSE IS A ONE INCOME HOUSEHOLD RIGHT NOW, MY TRIPS HAVE CONSISTED OF "WINDOW SHOPPING" AND DREAMING UP ALL THE THINGS I'M GOING TO DO WHEN WE HAVE THE EXTRA INCOME. I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS AND I CAN'T DO THEM ALL, SO I GET BEYOND EXCITED WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND COMES TO ME ASKING TO MAKE THEM A WREATH OR HELP WITH DIY PROJECTS.

I HAD BEEN ON A 2 MONTH HIATUS FROM CRAFTING SO I WAS ITCHING TO GET MY HANDS ON A GLUE GUN! LUCKILY, MY STEP-MOM CAME TO THE RESCUE AND ASKED ME IF I COULD MAKE HER A WREATH BEFORE WE LEFT FOR GEORGIA. MUSIC TO MY EARS!! I HAD BEEN EYEBALLING A FEW DIFFERENT FLOWERS DURING MY LAST HOBBY LOBBY TRIP AND I DESPERATELY NEEDED AN EXCUSE TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE CROSS COUNTRY MOVING INSANITY SO IT WAS PERFECT TIMING!

AFTER TALKING TO HER AND GETTING AN IDEA OF WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR, I IMMEDIATELY MADE MY TRIP TO HOBBY LOBBY. I CAME HOME & PUT MY DAUGHTER TO SLEEP, PLUGGED IN THE GLUE GUN AND STARTED BRAIN STORMING. IT TOOK ME ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES TO FINALLY FIGURE OUT AN ARRANGEMENT THAT I LIKED BEFORE I COULD START TYING AND GLUING. I USED FLORAL WIRE TO TIE DOWN THE GREEN FLOWERS AND A GLUE GUN TO ATTACH THE OTHER FLOWERS TO THE WREATH. 

CUTE RIGHT!?

THIS WREATH IS EASILY ONE OF MY FAVORITES. SO QUICK & EASY AND I LOVE THE COLORS TOGETHER. IF I WASN'T IN SUCH A TIME CRUNCH WHEN I MADE THIS, I WOULD HAVE MADE ONE FOR MYSELF!

I WASN'T PLANNING ON BLOGGING ABOUT THIS WREATH SINCE I MADE IT DURING THE MOVE SOOOOO, I DIDN'T TAKE ANY PICTURES OF THE PROCESS. OPPS! BUT HAVE NO FEAR! BELOW, I'VE LISTED EVERYTHING YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE ONE OF YOUR OWN!

SUPPLIES:

• GRAPEVINE WREATH (SIZE IS YOUR PREFERENCE and I PURCHASED MINE AT HOBBY LOBBY)
• FLOWER ASSORTMENT
• GLUE GUN & GLUE STICKS
• TWINE, WIRE OR PIPE CLEANERS
• WIRE CUTTERS OR SHARP SCISSORS

*YOU MAY HAVE SOME OF THESE SUPPLIES ALREADY LAYING AROUND THE HOUSE AND IF YOU ARE NOT IN A HURRY; PLAN YOUR SHOPPING TRIP OUT. MOST CRAFT STORES OFFER WEEKLY COUPONS AND ROTATE THE SALES ON THEIR SILK FLOWERS. HECK, IF YOU CAN, TAKE A SHOPPING BUDDY SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE MULTIPLE PURCHASES AND USE MORE THAN ONE COUPON IN ONE TRIP!


UNTIL NEXT TIME, HAPPY CRAFTING!

-MANDI

WITHOUT REASON...WITHOUT RHYME

WHILE MY FAMILY AND I ENJOYED THIS BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND, A FRIEND OF MINE AND HER FAMILY IS STRUGGLING IN WAYS I CAN NOT MAKE SENSE OF. 

HOLLY AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER SINCE THE 8TH GRADE. WE MOVED OUT OF OUR PARENTS HOUSE AND INTO OUR FIRST APARTMENT TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE 18. ONE DAY, THAT FRIENDSHIP NO LONGER EXISTED.  WE WERE YOUNG, BOTH MADE MISTAKES AND WERE STUBBORN. 

RECENTLY, HOLLY AND I RECONNECTED. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE PAST, DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD AND KEEP IN CONTACT. WE AREN'T CLOSE LIKE WE ONCE WERE BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THE MEMORIES OF OUR FRIENDSHIP ANY LESS MEANINGFUL. WHAT HAPPENED TO US AND OUR FRIENDSHIP IN THE PAST MADE US WHO WE ARE TODAY. LIKE "THEY" SAY EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS HOLLY'S SISTER SARA HAS BEEN BATTLING UTERINE CANCER. UNFORTUNATELY; THE CHEMOTHERAPY WAS TAKING IT'S TOLL AND LAST MONTH SARA WAS TAKEN OFF OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF HOME HEALTH. THIS PAST FRIDAY, SARA LOST HER BATTLE WITH THIS AWFUL DISEASE. IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS THE SADNESS I FEEL FOR MY FRIEND. LIFE'S TIMING IS IN GODS HANDS AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE OR SEEM FAIR; WE JUST HAVE TO BE BELIEVE IN HIS PLAN......

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ ABOUT SARA'S JOURNEY, PLEASE VISIT SARA'S SOLDIERS.

SARA'S FAMILY IS RAISING MONEY TO COVER THE FUNERAL COST, MEDICAL BILLS AND TO PUT ASIDE MONEY INTO A TRUST FOR HER CHILDREN. ANY LITTLE BIT HELPS SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO HELP; PLEASE VISIT GOFUNDME-SJV TO MAKE A DONATION OR HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

-MANDI

FRIDAY FAVORITES

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

WE'VE MADE IT ANOTHER WEEK! THIS WEEK WAS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME BUT I'M FIGHTIN' THROUGH IT!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE WAYS TO ZONE OUT AND RELIEVE SOME STRESS ISTO  BLOG SURF. I HAVE A FEW BLOGS THAT I'M SUBSCRIBED TO AND RELIGIOUSLY READ AND OTHER TIMES I JUST GOOGLE A KEYWORD AND START READING RANDOM BLOGS. I CAN SPEND HOURS JUST SCROLLING THROUGH PAGES AND PAGES OF PEOPLES IDEAS AND THOUGHTS. I LOVE TO GET INSIDE THE HEAD OF OTHER WOMEN, DIY'ERS AND BLOGGERS. 

RECENTLY; I'VE NOTICED THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THE BLOGS I'VE BEEN READING HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.....SOME DO IT ONCE A WEEK AND SOME DO IT VERY SPORADICALLY; BUT THEY ALL DO A FAVORITE "THING" BLOG. I THINK IT'S SUCH A GREAT IDEA SO OF COURSE I'M JUMPING ON THE TRAIN AND EVERY FRIDAY I'LL POST A PEAK INSIDE MY BRAIN!

SINCE WE'VE MOVED TO GEORGIA, CARL AND I HAVE BEEN EXPLORING CITIES NEARBY AND ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT REAL ESTATE IN THE AREA. WE ARE KIND OF OBSESSED LOL I CONSTANTLY DAY DREAM ABOUT MY DREAM HOME AND HOW I WOULD DESIGN/STYLE EVERY ROOM INSIDE OUR DREAM HOME. SERIOUSLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT PINTEREST! ANYWHO, HERE'S EVERYTHING I ((HEART)) THIS WEEK FOR THE HOME.

I HOPE YA'LL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND &  ENJOY MY FAVORITES!!

FAVORITE HOME 

FAVORITE KITCHEN

FAVORITE COFFEE BAR

FAVORITE DINING ROOM TABLE

FAVORITE PANTRY

FAVORITE BEDROOM

FAVORITE BATHROOM

FAVORITE DOORS

FAVORITE MUDROOM

FAVORITE PATIO DECOR

-MANDI

GEORGIA...ON MY MIND

HOWDY YA'LL!

I KNOW IT'S BEEN AWHILE BUT THINGS HAVE BEEN SO CRAZY! IF YOU'VE READ MY PREVIOUS POST, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ME MENTIONING THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO MOVE TO GEORGIA AND WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS IN FINDING JOBS IN GA INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON JOBS IN CA. WELL, SHORTLY AFTER MY FIRST POST, CARL (MY BOYFRIEND) RECEIVED A JOB OFFER FROM THE GOVERNMENT....IN GEORGIA!

WE WERE SOOOO EXCITED AND IT ALL HAPPENED VERY FAST CONSIDERING HOW LONG WE HAD BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR TOOSHES OUT OF CA.

CARL RECEIVED THE VERBAL OFFER IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER BUT WE COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR SAY ANYTHING UNTIL WE RECEIVED THE WRITTEN OFFER. THERE WAS PAPER WORK THAT HAD TO BE COMPLETED, BACK GROUND CHECKS AND TRANSCRIPTS THAT HAD TO BE SENT. I'M A CONTROL FREAK SO THIS WHOLE PROCESS FELT LIKE PURE MADNESS BECAUSE I LITERALLY COULD DO NOTHING UNTIL WE HAD A WRITTEN OFFER.   (( I NEVER COUNT MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH )) WELL, AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF WAITING, WE FINALLY RECEIVED THE OFFICIAL OFFER JUST BEFORE HALLOWEEN! AND! HE WAS SCHEDULED TO START WORK ON NOVEMBER 17TH. LUCKILY, I HAD STARTED LOOKING AT HOUSE THE DAY HE RECEIVED THE VERBAL OFFER SO I HAD A FEW PLACES LINED UP. I HAD ALSO STARTED TO PACK UP DECOR AND ANYTHING ELSE WE DIDN'T NEED ON A DAILY BASIS. WE FOUND AN ADORABLE HOUSE IN THE CITY OF AUSTELL, WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF ATLANTA. I WANTED A HOUSE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS OPPOSITE OF ANYTHING WE COULD GET IN CA AND I THINK WE SUCCEEDED. THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN THE 1930'S SO IT HAS A TON OF CHARM. IT HAS A HUGE YARD FOR ABBIGAIL TO PLAY IN AND HUGE TREES SO ONCE SPRING TIME COMES, IT'LL BE SO PRETTY! 

I KNEW WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME BEFORE WE NEEDED TO LEAVE BUT ABBI WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HALLOWEEN AND WE WANTED TO SPEND HALLOWEEN WITH FRIENDS. ON THE FLIP SIDE I WANTED TO BE IN GEORGIA SOONER RATHER THAN LATER SO THAT CARL COULD HAVE SOME DOWN TIME BEFORE STARTING HIS NEW JOB. IN THE END, WE DECIDED TO SPEND HALLOWEEN IN CALIFORNIA AND LEAVE ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 3RD TO START OUR DRIVE. OF COURSE THE ARRIVAL DATE WAS ALL DEPENDENT ON HOW OUR DRIVE WENT....10 STATES, 3 HOTELS, 2 MOMMY MELTDOWNS, 500 TODDLER MELTDOWNS, SNOW, RAIN, HAIL, TREES AND BUILDINGS DAMAGED FROM TORNADOES, LAUGHS, FIGHTS, GOOD FOOD, INTERSTATE SHUTDOWNS AND SHOTTY GPS',  WE FINALLY MADE IT TO GEORGIA ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 7TH! MOVING OUT OF STATE IS SO DIFFERENT THAN MOVING DOWN THE STREET AND I DON'T THINK I EVER WANT TO DO IT AGAIN! 

IT WAS THE MOST EXHAUSTING MONTH I HAVE EXPERIENCED IN A LONG TIME BUT I AM SO GLAD WE ARE HERE!

I KNOW IT'S CLICHE TO SAY BUT EVERYTHING DOES HAPPEN FOR A REASON AND I NOW KNOW THAT EVERYTHING I WAS EXPERIENCING AFTER I WAS LAID OFF IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR WAS PAVING A PATH FOR OUR TRANSITION TO GEORGIA. AND NOW THAT WE'RE HERE AND SETTLED, IT'S TIME TO GET MY BOOTY BACK TO CRAFTING!!

STAY TUNED!!!

-MANDI