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!

Keeping My Home Clean With BISSELL

This post brought to you by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

I think it's a well known fact here on this blog that I'm kind of a neat freak.  I don't like clutter.  I don't like junk laying around.  I like the place neat and tidy.  You can imagine how giddy I got when I was offered the opportunity to try out the new BISSELL PowerGlide Vacuum with Lift-Off Technology (PGLO).  

It's a neat freak's dream come true. 

Now here's where I come clean.  For someone that is a self-proclaimed neat person,  I'm not really into deep cleaning.  I'm all about surface cleaning.  Wipe some counters.  Dust some shelves. Run a vacuum over some carpet.  Done!  

Deep cleaning is time consuming.  Who really looks at baseboards?  Or nook and crannies?  Or the cobwebs hanging from my bathroom chandelier?   Not this girl.  Maybe it's because I'm more a big picture person but those little details slip by me.  

In the past I have moved every few years and the need to deep clean disappeared. We plan to stay in this house for a very long time which means I need to get my act together.

Before winter comes (which could be in a few weeks here in Iowa), I would like to make a fall cleaning checklist (which I will share with you all soon)!  That list is going to include things like cleaning out cabinets and drawers.  Our carpets need cleaned.  Along with our couches.  

Oh, the things that are probably living in our upholstery.  (Thanks, Ike!)

I also need to give the carpet on our stairs a good cleaning.  Our previous vacuums have either been so heavy that I pull something in my old lady back trying to lug them up and down or they are light but have no suction. I live with a man and a dog.   My vacuum needs to be lightweight and able to handle messes!

My new buddy, Mr. BISSELL PowerGlide, will come in handy.  It has a long-stretch hose along with a lift-off pod and crevice tool that makes cleaning in touch places easy.  It's lightweight making it easy to carry up and down stairs and from room to room.  My heart is happy just typing this.  I can't wait to get start writing the fall cleaning checklist!

I've recently been browsing BISSELL's site to gather some great cleaning tips.  On that site, I saw that BISSELL is currently running a "Celebrate Everyday Messes" contest.  Something I'm sure all of us can relate to!   Be sure to visit their facebook page to enter to win! 

Use coupon code POWERGLIDE to get $20 Off Plus Free Shipping for the following products: PowerGlide Pet Vacuum with Lift-Off Technology, PowerGlide Pet Bagged Rewind Vacuum or PowerGlide Pet Vacuum!

Do you prefer to surface or deep clean?  What's your least favorite cleaning chore?