What are you doing?

Today is that Holy Day when you are suppose to give up something for the next 40 days and not eat meat on Fridays. Will you be giving up anything? What have you given up in the past?

Part of me is torn on whether or not I should still participate in this holy idea of giving up something for 40days. Last year I gave up running because it was something that I was addicted to doing, but really it was a good reason to give my body a break from an injury I was ignoring.

I just got back from receiving ashes at church but nothing feels spiritually different, just emotionally. I normally go home to Richmond for Ash Wednesday with my family but due to lack of time (saving up my vacation days for the "unannounced trip") I wasn't able to go today which makes me sad.

Well for now I will still eat meat on Fridays and enjoy every aspect of what a wonderful life God has given me.

The sunny view outside my work window today and tomorrow it's suppose to be warm enough to ride my bike to work!!!! And yes, those are binoculars at the bottom of the picture.....

Would you follow?

Would you read this blog if I changed what I focused on? In 2008 I took a chance at rehabbing a house and now I'm ready for something new in 2009.

Have any suggestions for me?

What is one of the craziest things you ever took a chance at doing?
What do you want to find time to take a chance at in 2009?

I need a project..

It looks like the first quiet weekend in 2009 is ahead of me and I would like to do something to my house to make my roommate happy. So I am going to attempt to find the time to make the stairs presentable otherwise I will have to do things on my "to do"list that are outside.

In the future(once I find more money) I would like to replace the risers, treads, and railing but until then I need some suggestions. Should I paint the stairs black and hide all the imperfections or make a dusty mess and sand the stairs?

I like this banister for the top and bottom of the stairwell http://rowhousecreative.blogspot.com/2007/08/refurbishing-our-stairwell-banister.html

But I also like this more modern look.

Or this traditional look from a house two blocks over.

If I could replace my current iron railing with this one I would love my stairs.

Since storage space is lacking in my home, I thought this would be a neat idea.

Tis the Season

This photo is long over due but here is a picture of my Rivah Family at Thanksgiving! (missed you-trevor)

I finally got tired of looking at white walls...so I let my Little(Jen) pick out the new bathroom color. I like yellow but this yellow turned out to be the color of the rubber gloves you buy at the grocery store for cleaning.

before:
After:
after
Before

This was an empty recycling container before my holiday party this past weekend.

Well that's all for the christmas decor...this is a little snowman I made at work.

It's Here!

Christmas season is here once again....and the inside of my house looks like the christmas aisle at the store threw up inside my house! Here's a preview of the outside but you will have to wait till later on for the inside pictures.

Finishing touches..

The more I live at my house the shorter my "to do" list gets! This past weekend was full of fun with friends and my amazing parents who stayed longer just to help me with making my "to do" list shorter.

The kitchen all finished with beautiful curtains done by a superb family friend......thanks Bonnie!!

Bonnie made me some pillows for my family room

Here's the blue one

And a red one.

Then for my bedroom...Bonnie made all the pretty pillows,curtains,and dust ruffle.


I love me some paisley...especially in my three favorite colors!

Now my bathroom gets a little TLC with a matching shower curtain.

the to do list is getting shorter!

Well it's the 7th month of owning my shack...here's the latest! With more updates to come on Monday after I make my "To Do" list smaller.


this used to be the tacky window transom above my front door...gold numbers and all


This is the latest and greatest addition to my house...the new transom above the front door!

Last week I had the chance to go out to California to visit an old YCP/sorority sister...Erica.

The new red rug for the dining room.

Because I have amazing friends who like to help paint...Jen(Little) decided to join the group on day two-the painting of red and day one was painting the walls gray. THANK YOU TO ALL MY AMAZING FRIENDS WITH PAINTING!!! I owe you all a delicious baked good :-)

Taking a little break on the Santa Monica Pier!

The kitchen pre-painiting.

Hope everyone has a great weekend...stay warm!

p.s. this is proof that my garden is still alive.