...And I just can't hide it!!!

Happy Monday folks! Hope you had a great weekend. What's that you say? How was my weekend?! Well, I'm soo glad you asked... My weekend was simply marvelous. It started with my hubby, T, getting off work early and being able to spend a few extra hours with us. We made it a movie night and watched a kid movie with our oldest and then when it was time for bed we watched a movie for us. Saturday we woke up early and headed out to do some things that were on our list.

We officially started looking for a bunk bed to go in the boy's room. The only requirement was that we wanted a twin over full or a twin over twin with trundle; but when we started looking I added another requirement, and that was for it to have stairs instead of the ladder. I feel much safer having the staircase as opposed to the ladder especially since both of my children are under the age of 6. I feel the staircase is more kid-friendly. Our oldest was so excited to be in the furniture store looking for his big boy bed.

And now for the reason I'm so excited...

I got paint for the kid's dresser! I know, I know super exciting huh? Well here's the best part... it was free. Ah, so you've decided to join in on my excitement, huh? Yes it's true, ACE hardware was giving away free quart samples of Clark+Kensington paint and primer in one. All you had to do was pick your poison, I mean color choice, and then fill out a simple form. That's it!

I chose a pretty blue color called Sapphire. It's like a midnight blue shade. I'm kinda crushing on that color pretty hard. It's been a long time favorite of mine. It was a pretty decent collection of choices so it was hard picking the color I wanted; but once I saw Sapphire, it just spoke to me. But just to be sure that we really do like it I will be re-painting a stool/chair that goes to his desk. This way if we aren't as crazy for it once it's lived on the furniture, we haven't committed a whole dresser to the color.

This is my first major DIY project in the room and I can't wait to get it started. I will definitely be posting up pictures.

What projects do you have going on around the house?

I struggled with my thoughts of blogging about this topic because it's such a new and private part of my life. However, I have found that there is not enough talk about this cruel disease. So it is here that I will lend my voice....

My story with Lupus began this past summer ('12) about 3 weeks after I had our second son, Chipmunk. During my pregnancy, I had symptoms of what my doctors thought was Pre-eclampisa; and I was hospitalized on bed rest from 26 weeks until I had my son at 34 weeks. After giving birth my symptoms seemed to go away until about 3 weeks later when I developed a rash on my arm. I thought nothing of it because my skin is sensitive and I thought that I had touched something I was allergic to. After it became itchy and other symptoms began to occur like swollen joints, my husband and I decided to go back to the Dr's office.

 At first the only thing they were concerned about was my BP which was still higher than normal they attributed my symptoms to my bout with pre-eclampsia. They gave me some Benadryl and Tylenol and assured me my symptoms would soon go away. However, they had only just begun. Eventually, my symptoms were so painfully unbearable that I could barely hold my son to nurse him. It was then that I had my husband bring me back to the doctor, this time we went to the ER.

 My visit to the ER got me a room up on the 3rd floor as a resident patient. What followed were tests of all kind from blood draws and X-rays, to a bronchoscopy and kidney biopsy. My relief came when they started treating me for the preliminary diagnosis that reduced the painful swelling and rash on my arms and legs; and my sorrow came when I was positively diagnosed with stage 4 Lupus Nephritis and kidney failure. Which, because of the meds I have to take, basically ended my ability to nurse my son; something that after not being with him for 3 weeks, I was heartbroken to hear.

This disease, like many, is a very difficult thing to live with. I typically have more good days than bad; but I have to remember that even though I may be having a good day, this disease is constantly ravaging my body. I feel so blessed to have the great team of doctors that I do. From my nephrologist to my dermatologist and everyone in between. So while I know this is a lifetime disease that keps me at the doctor's office every 2-3 weeks, and could possibly kill me; I am optimistic that my doctors will work hard to ensure my quality of life stays as close to normal as possible

I am also immensely grateful that we had Chipmunk when we did. Who knows what status my health would have been in before it was caught. He saved my life. Literally.

Do you know anyone with Lupus? Do you have Lupus?

For more information on Lupus and how you can help find a cure click here

Today everyone here in Northern VA got the day off due to severe inclimate weather. My husband and I had big plans for today. He was going to study for his promotion and help me move around and arrange the big furniture, and I was gonna continue on my quest to decrapify my home with White House Black Shutters' declutter challenge (more on that here). But out of the ten things we wanted to do today we only got through three of them before a bad case of the lazys came upon us and we were out for the count. We did manage to take our son, outside to play in the snow; but the rest will just have to be done on another day.

What did you do on this snow day?

If you're interested in doing the White House Black Shutters' declutter challenge click here

Happy Monday Peeps!!!!!!

After much meditation and conversation, I have narrowed down the projects I'd like to take on in our home this year. The first one you already know about and that's decorating the boy's room. This is a pretty big project as this room will serve multiple purposes: sleeping, playing, and learning; so it has to be multi-functional and easy to keep organized. I don't want to overthink or overbuy on this project. Or any other project for that matter....

We want to take time and figure out our style; because that is something we have never been able to do in our whole 6 almost 7 years of marriage. Being a young couple having family and friends wanting to help, our home is full of items from other people's homes and styles. While we purchased a few decorative or small items here or there, we have yet to buy a significant piece of furniture ourselves. Which was a great blessing that saved us a ton of money; and I'm grateful. But I'm ready to look at OUR home and see OUR taste.

So we are taking our time doing research and getting advise from where ever we can.

In the meantime... here is my list:

House Projects:

Kitchen:

• organize and declutter pantry
• organize and declutter cabinets
• organize and declutter fridge and freezer
• purchase bar stools for breakfast counter
• purchase deep freezer
• install shelf under cabinets for microwave
• add decorative accents

Dining Room:

• get chairs reupholstered and fixed
• add decorative accents/wall art
• purchase table linens (protective/decorative)
• purchase storage furniture piece (buffet)
• create office nook

Living Room:

• get couch slip covered/reupholstered (Mom sponsored)
• purchase a large rug
• purchase ottoman (replace coffee table)
• mount our 60" TV
• purchase new lighting
• update decorative accents
• purchase small chair for secretary desk

Boy's Room:

• purchase bunk bed
• make cushions for storage bench
• paint/varnish furniture
• purchase bedding and decorative accents
• organize closet
• create play space
• make/buy window treatments
• create reading corner (get or make small bookcase)

Kid's/Guest Bedroom:

• find shower curtain or towel pattern I like
• purchase guest towels
• organize storage
• add decorative accents

Master Bedroom:

• paint/purchase new furniture
• storage for vanity
• seating for vanity
• add casual seating
• organize closet

Laundry Room:

• purchase iron and ironing board
• install drying rack
• organize storage

 I crossed out the decluttering tasks on my list because it is my intention that after the 40 bags challenge I will not need to declutter anything else in my home. This list is by no means all inclusive or written in stone. It is just a spring board to get me started and who knows what may be added to it.

What projects will you be tackling this year?

Yesterday turned out to be a great family day. We got up early and headed over to Falls Church, Va for the NVPOM Spring Consignment Sale. It was our first time going to this event and I must say that I was very impressed. The event was organized from event security all the way down to checkout. It was clear that they had been doing this for quite some time. Most of the items were in good condition and priced fairly reasonably.

We didn't find a bed or a baby walker which were the two big things we wanted to get from this sale. There were several vendors who were selling jewelry, cupcakes and cookies, etc; and there were other vendors providing valuable information and free samples. We got 2 containers of Chipmunk's soy formula, thanks Gerber :).

We ended the day a one of my favorite places... Joe's Crab Shack. My son had a blast playing with the other kids in the play area and I had a blast sinking my teeth into one of their delicious steam pot, yummy. One interesting thing I learned is that while my husband and I can share almost any dish, we CANNOT share a steam pot. Or should I say we can't share and my husband live to talk about it. He devoured all of the snow crabs and other goodies. His excuse was that he thought I didn't want any. Here I was thinking he was the sweetest thing for giving me his share of the lobster (the pot came with two); but what he was really doing was keeping me preoccupied from his devouring ways lol.

Going to Joe's really made me wish Spring would hurry and get here. I can't wait for warm weather activities and attire. Cue flip-flops and tank tops.


What did you do this weekend?