Love Bug

How adorable is this little ladybug?  I love little Amanda.  She's a sweetheart and I could have eatten her up on Halloween.  (My favorite holiday of all time)



Thankful Thursday Part II

Thankful Thursday is harder than I thought it would be.  Don't get me wrong. I have PLENTY to be thankful for.  But narrowing them down is hard.  There isn't one that is more important than another.  Heck, I could do a blog on its own for all I am thankful for.  But back to this week. 

This week I am thankful for:

1-My health.  My grandma has always said, "If you have your health, you have everything."  She's so right.  Never doubt your grandma.  Especially when she's this darn cute.

Her 80th surprise bday 2005



2-My friends.  I have a great group of friends.  There isn't one type of person that I am friends with.  Each one of my friends has their own unique thing/personality that they bring to our friendship.  And how lucky am I that I have friends all over the country?  California, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Nevada, New York, etc.  I am blessed.

3-I have a roof over my head.  And I have owned two of them in the last 6.5 years.   I read an article recently on people in Las Vegas who live in the underground tunnel/water system below the strip.   Most of them are homeless b/c of the economy and that makes me sad.  We were lucky that after Chad lost his job; we were able to hang on until things took a turn. 

Our first home

4-I live near the beach.  How cool is that?  I grew up being 2 and a half hours from the beach which meant beach trips were few and far between.  (Especially b/c my mom hates the beach-sorry mom to call you out-but you do)  Now it is practically in my back yard.  Funny thing though about things being that close-you tend to take them for granted.  I am going to try and not do that from now on.

5-Last but certainly not least.  My cousin Tara.  She's a mom of four, my nurse, advice go to woman, my "sister" the person I talk to on my way into work most mornings and she knows waaaaaay more intimitate details of my life than probably anyone else.  I don't know if that's "lucky her or unlucky her"  ha ha.  She's given me the four most beautiful babies to love and if I had only one wish, it was that she lived down here.  (B/c it is way too cold up in PA for me to ever live there!)  Love you Tara!

Baby #4 was to make her appearance a month later!

Jan 2009-Quick trip to PA

Five star vacation!

Christmas 2009



Scooby Doo.....Caught!

This is one determined dog.  He WANTS that bacon on the countertop.  Perhaps he is thinking he can make it levitate off the plate into his mouth.....Love this dog.

"I do believe I smell....."

"B-A-C-O-N!!!!"

"Oh-Hi Mom....Um, can I have some bacon? Please?"



House Divided

Let me first start off by saying that the likelihood of this happening is like a snowball surviving in hell.......but......
If by some freak of nature Clemson pulls out a win next weekend, VT wins its game and Maryland loses, the Hammonds might be headed toward divorce the ACC Championship.



So everyone, pray to the football gods that this happens.  I'd love to have another showdown between the HOKIES and the TIGERS.  And yes, I'd be outnumbered by most of Chad's friends, but I am sure I could find some of my college friends who would travel to Charlotte.  (AHEM-JEN CHEN & RACHEL CHIEPPA)  Something tells me that this kid would be there too-only dressed in HOKIE garb and not Clemson Tiger gear.



Thankful Thursday

My dear college roommate Rachel has a great blog on which she blogs on "Thankful Thursdays."  It got me thinking, "What am I thankful for?"  So since this is November and the day of giving thanks takes place soon, I thought, "Each Thursday I will say a few things of what I am thankful for."   So thanks, Rachel/Angelica/Queenie for the idea...Hope you don't mind me blogging on it.  (See Rachel's great blogsite here: http://dirtdivadynamo.blogspot.com/)

Today I am thankful for:
A loving husband, who puts up with all my b/s, crazy ideas, and my strong type A personality.   He really a sweet guy-what the heck is he doing with me?

My parents-they are always there for me no matter what.  If I called them tonight and said I needed them-they'd jump in the car and drive the 6 hours (well 8 if my dad is driving) without asking why.

My "little" brother, Andy.  He's a fun guy and loves me even though I haven't liked any of his girlfriends in the past.  (Current girlfriend is the exception)  I always tell him how he should live his life, what he should and shouldn't do, and how to better manage his money.  And even though I am overbearing, he continues to call.  I guess he does love me.  :) 

And lastly, (for this week) I am thankful for my two wonderful puppies.  Who would have ever thought that a Jack Russell Terrier and a yellow Lab would be best friends.  I guess it has something to do with one being a type A and one being a laid back doggie.  Guess they are identical to their owners.  :)  Love you Savannah & Cooper.

So on this first Thursday of November, what are four things you are thankful for?

So what's next?

The kitchen was quite the project for us.  Probably one of the more expensive projects we've done in this house.  The back patio was a good project.  Maybe I'll post some before and afters of that. 

My list of new projects is:

• Paint the upstairs (easy but time consuming)
• Spruce up the dining room-I want a great table runner and a better centerpiece for the holidays.  A new buffet and something in the corner by my china cabinet.  (I've got ideas-just need the green)
• Shutters for the house.  This is a biggy.  I keep asking for it, and Chad keeps moving it to the bottom of the list. 
• Rip out our master bathroom and put in a walk in shower
• Find a cool antique piece of furniture and put this cool copper vessell sink from CO on it for our downstairs half bath
• Put wall tiles in the 1/2 bath
• New vanity tops (granite or traverntine) for our other two bathrooms

I better get a second job. And a third......

The new kitchen

Super excited about the new kitchen.  Chad said, "Even a wine bottle looks better on these new counter tops!"  ha ha....

Before kitchen:

New Kitchen:

Granite Close Up