Fall Mantel 2013

I was over at the Woodward's last night.  Kim was all making meatloaf, teaching me how to quilt, and decorating her fall mantel.  All at once.  Seriously.  It's pretty impressive to watch her in action.   

And then I was like.  Man, I don't want to miss out on the "It's Fall Y'all" link party.  Because I am clearly a party animal.  So this morning I whipped up my fall mantel. That's what normal people do before they work an 8+ hour shift in a crazy pharmacy, right?

It looks a lot like my mantel from 2012 but sometimes you need to stick with a good thing.  At least I think it's a good thing. 

It's not super fall-ish but it's cozy.  I think that's what fall is all about. Being cozy.  What's more cozy than books?  Add a cup of tea and a snuggling in a blanket with your dog. Bam.  It's fall y'all. 

I'm still super jealous of all of you with mantels without a television above them.  I just have to remember that television brings Mad Men into my life.  I then want to pretend I never spoke bad about my poor beautiful television. 

Ike tells me that owls are so 2012 and the fox is where it's at in 2013.  He's so very trendy. 

What's your fall mantel looking like?  Is your dog trendier than you are?  It's cool. 

Linking up to: Thrifty Decor Chick

If you're bored, we'd love for you to vote for our craft room over at Apartment Therapy! 

New Kitchen Stools

I'd like you to meet some new members of our household. 

Aren't they handsome?  They are Target's Threshold Lewiston stool.

I have had my eye on them since they were released.  Nate, on the other hand, hates all things awesome and denied my stool request.  Rude.  

Actually, I'm trying really hard to include him on home purchases.  We have very similar taste but we differ on "needing" things.  I had previously made over some thrift store stools.  I liked them but they just weren't right spatially.  I needed four.  The thrift store only had three. There weren't the most sturdy things ever. The area just never looked finished.  Nate thought "finished" meant "we have a place to sit".  I, on the other hand considered those thrift store stools as more of placeholders until the right stools came along.

I remained patient.  (That's a lie.) I asked Nate nicely (okay, I pestered) if I could buy the stools every time we went into Target.  DENIED.  Being a good wife is hard.

And then one day (this is like a fairy tale), my lovely internet friend, Caitlin, let me know about an amazing deal on these precious stools.  (She has them in her kitchen, too.)  They were on sale for $59.  There was a 25% Cartwheel for Threshold stools.  And I get 5% off with my Target Red card.  I told Nate about the deal of a lifetime.   I was expecting him to swoop me up and take me to Target in a horse-drawn carriage to buy them.

His response.  "Eh.  You're going to do what you want anyways."   Which I took as, "I love you beautiful wife.  Please do not miss this amazing stool opportunity." 

 Three Target stores later, I brought my beautiful stool babies home.  (In my 2006 Jeep.  Not a horse drawn-carriage.  Just to make sure this story is clear.)  Funny thing, Nate didn't feel sorry for me when I had a horrible time tracking these lovelies down.  No sympathy at all.  Rude. 

Nate can now rest easily because our kitchen is done.  I said it.  Stick a fork in it. Done.  

Now onto the one hundred other rooms that need to be completed.  I'm looking at you ugly office...

Life Lately

Phew.  Am I glad it's Friday.  And I only worked 3 days this week.  It's almost a full moon though which always makes my days in the pharmacy seem twice as long. 

Today I'd like to share with you some of my favorite moments from the past week.  I'll be back next week with an update to our kitchen plus info on hosting a Pinteresting party!  Get. Excited.

Nate, Ike and I went to visit my parents last week.  Ike made himself right at home in my parents recently updated guest bedroom.  I should have snapped some pictures before we destroyed it. 

It was the big Iowa Hawkeyes versus Iowa State Cyclones football game last Saturday.  It's the one football game I actually enjoy watching.  Watch the video to see who Ike was voting for.  

The dog kills me.  He does everything in life with such passion. 

My dad and I agree on many things in life.  I was skeptical about his lastest food creation though.  Fruit salad with Butterfinger Bits.  He insists me the Butterfinger Bits are the croutons of the salad.  I was really having a hard time believing it was good until I ate it. 

I will never doubt my dad again.  

Wait. I still doubt him when it comes to home decor.  He misread the latest trends memo.  Faux taxidermy is trendy, not the real stuff.  I kept feeling like someone was watching me when I would sit on the their couch.  Always trust your instinct. 

Next random subject: I highly recommend you make this one pot pasta from Martha Stewart.  Nate and I aren't big tomato fans but we both loved this.  (Except we'd cut back on the red pepper because we're weenies.) 

Okay, time to head to work.  Speaking of work, I was recognized at our staff appreciation day for 5 years of service.  This is what happens to pharmacists after 5 years of working. 

True story.  Happy weekend!