Super Cute Chair

Where'd it come from, you ask?

Well, it came from Goodwill and it looked like this:

Then, I spray painted the base to look like this:

 With Shelby's help, of course! :)

Then, I covered the seat and back of the chair:

Then, I put it all together:

Close-up of the fabric:

Did I mention that this chair cost me ONLY about $6?

The chair was $3 from Goodwill, the fabric was a major deal for only $2, and the spray paint was left over from other projects, but I am estimating I used only about $1 of it. I am so excited to put this in my classroom!

I just need to add some slidy things on the bottom so I don't scratch up the floor. Yay!!! 

If Someone Had Told Me

I'd marry that long haired, ugly shoe wearin' kid I met randomly... I'd have laughed in their faces.
If they'd told me I'd fall madly in love with him the first time I laid eyes on him... I promise I would have choked on my drink.
If they'd said that he would be my best friend, stick with me through thick and thin I'd have thought they were crazy.
That kid didn't have a care in the world.
But, they would have been right.
My world, as I knew it, changed forever the night I met Jake.
(And I'm betting his did, too.)

If someone told me years ago that another person could make me feel like I am floating on cloud nine- I really could have thought, "yeah, right." My little miss independent self would have never thought they would be right.
If someone told me years ago that I would build my entire world around another person I would have told them no.
But, I do. Every single day.
If someone told me years ago that I would still be thrilled to see Jake every night when he gets home from work I would have told them I doubt it.
But I am. Every single day.
If someone told me years ago that the same person who makes me the happiest I've ever been can also make me the maddest I've ever been... ok, I might would have believed it. lol
If someone told me years ago that the long haired, ugly shoe wearin' kid would be my husband, my best friend, my entire world... I would have never believed them.
But, really, he has always been a dream come true.

They say some people are meant to be together. We are truly meant for each other. He is not my other half... he is my WHOLE heart. He is the smile on my face. He is the twinkle in my eye. He is the every beat of my heart. I love him more than I ever thought I could... and every single day I love him more than the day before.

Happy Anniversary, Jake! Here's to another wonderful year of wedded bliss. ;)
I am so glad I found you- the person who is happy to share a seat on the bus.

My Heart

My heart is grateful today... and many days. I get up in a house. I eat food I purchased with our own money from our own fridge. I drive a nice car to and from where ever it is life is taking me that day. I share our home with two wonderful doxies that stole my heart even before I met them. I am a grateful person.

Last year I wrote a few times about being blessed to have a husband who supports my dreams. I am still so grateful for this. He is an amazing man. He puts me first time and time again. I am so grateful for him.

I love you, Jake. Thank you for always believing in me and for allowing me to follow my dreams.

Every Now and Then I Go Back...

Every now and then I go back in my mind.
I remember when times were tough. So so tough.
Just a little over one year ago we had only begun the process of getting our lives on track and really seeing that we were headed in the right direction.
It is so crazy to me how one year can really change your life.
For one whole year (and really a little more than that) we were without jobs.
We were struggling.
We were hardly getting by.
But, we did it.
Can I just say that I am so proud of us?
Because I am.
For one whole (school) year I taught in a school where I learned more in that time span than I ever learned in college.
I met people who gave me a chance.
They gave me the chance to live my dream.
In that year we also bought our first home.
Bought a house... and we're making it our home.
It helps me to go back and remember where we've come from.
Because it makes me forever grateful for where we are.
For who we are.
For how we got there.
I am so unbelievably proud of us.
Of me.
Of Jake.
Of what we have accomplished.
And I am thrilled to see where we are headed!

Thankful for...

I am thankful for many things in life. Mostly, I am thankful for the people who surround me every day. they are awesome. They bless my life.

Vintage Thingies Thursday

I LOVE Suzanne's Vintage Thingies Thursday and have always wanted to link up to it... however, I don't have anything vintage. That is, until my Mom bought me this AWESOME vintage table cloth.

I have always admired these at flea markets, but honestly just can't afford them. Well, my Mom bought me a few for our new house.

There's another view:

Let Me Tell You about The Man Who Raised Me

Now, for most people, the man who raised you is your Dad. And, this man is my Dad in almost every sense of the word... except the basic part. You see, this is my Dad who married my Mom after my real dad was killed in a car accident. This is my Dad who loved me as his own, wanted the best for me, and stepped up to the plate.
His name is Michael (and that's what I call him). He's a hard-worker and truly taught me the importance of hard work. He is generous and caring. He always does what he thinks is right. He loves his kids and my Mom more than anything on this earth.
To MilShelb, he is Gpa. They LOVE him! They get all wiggly and excited when he comes in the house. Milly loves to play ball with him and Shelby just loves to cuddle up in his lap.

So, to Michael, thank you for all you do for me. You are a good man and I am blessed that you are my Dad. Happy Father's Day!

My Dad is the one on the right. My father-in-law is the one on the left.

Now, I can't very well put up a picture with my father-in-law in it without saying "Happy Father's day, Tim!"