Empty Nesters

Today was a sad day.......Hooch went to COLLEGE. Brian took him this morning to a dog trainer and he is going to stay for a few months!!!! I'm soo sad, but it will be really good for him. He's training to be a hunting dog and learning to not attack people when they walk into our house, he's so hyper be a "more obedient" house dog. This is what our yard looked like when I got home last Wedneday...

That was the new phonebook

And that was my new doormat.....and he dug a giant hole. I mean really?
But that little sucker has me wrapped around his finger and I ordered him a new orthopedic bed.....HE IS ROTTEN!

IT'S HUGE

I think he likes it?

It so big even I can lay in it!!!!

We are really gonna miss this little guy (we had to give him an old shoe so we would stop tearing everything else up)
Here is a cute picture I snapped before he left this morning

Don't forget to call home Hooch.....we miss you!!!!!!!

Saturdays

Saturdays are the only days we can get anything done around here.  I usually have a pretty big to do list by the time Saturday rolls around.  Two weeks ago we crossed off a lot of items on that list.  This is how it started

watching dog training hunting videos.  i'm sure everyone's saturdays start out like this?  Hooch was actually watching so I guess it was worth it.  Hey Brian in your plaid robe! 

we FINALLY figured out what to do with nook where the charcoal grill was.  While in Atlanta one day, I stopped by Ikeat pick up something that i thought would be perfect for that space.  I've never been to Ikea and when I walked in, panic kicked in immediately.  That place is HUGE and I was soo overwhelmed!!!! But I found what I needed after about an hour and brought it back home.  Rememer what the nook looked like when we bought the house?

 We took out the grill and have been working on the space for months now.

  we had the chimmney inside capped off and then Brian added some wood inside to finish it off.

While he was doing that......I went around and put all the faceplates on the outlets and switches!  yikes what a task that was! remember when I had to figure out how many we needed here?

 where was Hooch during all this? oh don't worry, he was outside sun bathing

We've been trying to tell him that he has gotta pick up his weight around here if he wants to be a part of this family.....geezzz

 Here is what I got from Ikea, butcher block! I thought it was the perfect solution for this space! And here is what it looks like now....

pretty cool huh?  wood box and a desk kinda thing. so functional now!

Organizing and Hooch

If I'm not going to an engagement party or a wedding, my weekends are usually spent organizing different areas of the house.  There is so much to do and I have to just take it one space at a time.  This is what my laundry room looks like when you walk in the back door

TOTAL CHAOS!!!! Makes me sick.  I had to change it....

 There is this little nook in front of my washing machine that was kinda wasted space, but more importantly, it's hidden from site when you walk in back door.  So I stuck this little green side table that my mother in law painted for my last house right in the little nook.  I think it works.

Still in the works....but I like to keep Brian and I's bills separate because if I didn't...the bills would never get paid!!!!    

It will work for now, I might i have to come up with a better plan later.  At least you can't see the mess when you walk in!

Ever wondered what was behind these cabinet doors in the den???  Probably not

well besides all the tv wires...it's where we hide the movies, blankets, and computer lapdesks.  I got that cool cotton basket at an antique store and the little shelves are from target.  I  have another set in my closet and keep my jeans folded on there.  I like it because I can separate the different styles of jeans....just a thought.  

Our coat closet was a mess, but I got this basket at the dollar store to keep wet shoes off the floor

I like to put all our gloves, hats, and scarves in the drawers too.

I have a big mess of scarves and wraps that I used to keep on this scarf hanger (got that at bed bath and beyond) but it got too bulky and was taking up too much room in the closet

So I folded them all and separated by color

And now they are nice and neat in these drawers

I'm a sucker for a label maker, I use this thing every chance I get!!!!

The pantry was a little out of sorts (this is an after picture)

The magic bullet accessories were everywhere!!!

Not anymore!

Brian and I love these containers....he really does...he told me so.  They are great for cereal, pasta, and  crackers because they keep them so fresh! A box of cereal will last forever in these.  Mine are from bed bath and beyond, but I've seen them at Kroger.  

I tried another Pinterest recipe...lasagna rollups

They were delicious!!!  

Brian hung the mirror in the hallway...finally

Love it!!

and now to Hooch......he has taken over OUR house!!!! 

This is what i'm talking about.....he thinks he owns the place!!!! 

sleeping on my slipper

sleeping on Brian

HE'S everywhere! SPOILED ROTTEN!  

Here is Brian trying to fix the holes in the front yard where Hooch DESTROYS our new grass!!! terrible...

I've never shown you the dutch door that separates the laundry room and kitchen or maybe I have, I can't remember???  (we can't find the doorknobs by the way)

But it has been so great for us having a dog because we can just shut half the door and still keep an eye on the little devil. 

Next time you shred your bed.....

make sure the evidence isn't hanging out of your mouth!!!!!