This Post Brought to You By...

I want to tell you a lovely story that goes along with yesterday's post about painting the dining room shelves.

It took me probably 2.5 hours to trim out and paint these stupid shelves (probably why I never finished before...) so I was just about done and Jason asked for a paintbrush to work on cutting in for the rest of the room with the different paint color. So I said, let me wash it out first (since it had white paint on it) and you can use it. I go to the sink and start using both hands to squeeze the paint out and run water on it.

Fast forward 30 seconds to when I remember that this paint is oil based and won't wash off with water.

Fast forward 10 seconds to when I look at my white mime-hands.

Fast forward 5 more seconds to when I say, "Do we still have the mineral spirits your mom let us borrow?" "No, why?"

Great.

The other great thing is that this stuff won't dry! If I could get them dry, then I could probably scrape it off. But no, sitting in front of the air conditioning vent for 15 minutes didn't work. So I used Dawn. Then I tried rubbing alcohol. Then Windex (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, anyone?). Then I tried to coerce my wonderful husband to go to Walmart and BUY some mineral spirits since I couldn't do anything/touch anything/eat anything/drink anything/go anywhere... you get the picture. So he did.

And I sat on the couch with my hands out, trying not to touch anything, for 20 minutes while he got the magic potion to remove the mess. And poor Dash... he was very upset as to why I wouldn't pet him.

Within seconds of rubbing the mineral spirits on my hands, they were clean. And all was right in the world.

This post brought to you by MINERAL SPIRITS!!!

Peas and Cabinets

This weekend we kicked it into gear on our kitchen remodel! Friday we got the call that Tommy, who's helping us with everything, would be able to start today(!) so we worked hard to get as much done as possible to get ready for him. This included finally painting the shelves in the dining room area that have only had primer on them for over a year now... That's embarassing. But now they are beautfiul, white, and shiney!

(I will probably get your opinions on how to arrange things on this shelf once I get that far.)

Kitchen Remodel Checklist

*Paint the walls - finishing tonight!

*Paint the cabinets white - almost done...

*Paint the dining room shelves - whoo hoo! FINALLY

*Add shaker style trim to the cabinet doors

*New silver hardware for doors

*New stove/oven - will be installed tomorrow

*New lighting - buying tonight

*New granite countertops

*New sink, faucet, and garbage disposal

...We're getting there, friends. We're getting there.

~*~

In other news.... I HAVE PEAS!!!!!!! Look at those babies! Out of NOWHERE!!!! (Can anyone tell I'm excited? I actually squealed when I noticed them last night.)

Ahhh, summer.

Riverbend: Alison Krauss!

Last night we went to Riverbend! It's a Chattanooga tradition and we try to make it to at least 1-2 nights every summer.

Basically you walk around with a bazillion other people, until you find an act you want to listen to, then you listen, then you walk around some more (check out this cool sand sculpture showing the main acts for each night!)...

...eat some grub (like chicken-on-a-stick), drink some drinks (strawberry lemonade, be still my heart), keep walking, and finally once it gets dark, it's time for the main event.

Saturday night was Alison Krauss and Union Station! They were amazing - she truly has one of the most beautiful, pure, sweet voices I've ever heard - FABULOUS live! :)

And we ran into my mom and dad! They had a special table at a nearby restaurant where you could hang out and watch the performances, so we joined them for a while.

(I wuv my daddy!)

We had a great time! (By the way, if you ever go to Blue Plate - get the "Loaded Potato Chips". Whoa BABY!)

Todaaaaay

This is what I'm doing todaaaaaaay...

(Please excuse the lovely "cell-phone-doesn't-take-good-pictures-in-the-basement" picture.)

:-D

The End of the Chronicles

Just a quick note to say that I finished the Chronicles of Narnia series! YAY!!

Now on to a somewhat busy weekend prepping our kitchen... AHHH!!!

Sleepin' With Da Fishes

We are the proud new owners of a saltwater aquarium!

Jason has wanted one for a long time, so we decided to go ahead and give it a try.

Here's the hubster putting the fish in...

And here's our little fishy family so far: 2 clownfish (aka Nemos - they are so cute and colorful!) and a flame scallop (hiding in the rocks on the left). No one has names yet, and we're still planning to get 2-3 more small fish.

Anyone else have an aquarium or any advice for us on this new adventure?

Bonnie and Ben's Wedding

Saturday, June 5th was Bonnie and Ben's wedding! We were so afraid it was going to rain on them, but it turned out to be a beautiful (and hot) afternoon!

The anxious groom, Ben, and his hilarious dad.

(I didn't get pictures of the groomsmen coming up, but as each one came down the aisle, they handed Ben a live goldfish as they shook his hand!! He immediately passed them off to his dad who put them in his pocket!!)

You may now kiss the bride!

Now announcing Mr. and Mrs.!!!

Bonnie was radiant... she looked amazing.

Ben was so funny because as they toasted, cut cake, fed cake, etc. he would say, "Okay, what's next?"

The reception was outside as well - we got to dance the night away!

One big happy family!!

From left to right: Jessica, Ben, Patricia (Jason's parents and sister), Grandmother and Granddaddy Cox (Patricia and Cindy's parents), Cindy (Patricia's sister, Bonnie's mom), Bonnie, Ben, Bob (Cindy's hubby), Wes (Bonnie's brother), Hunter (Jason's bro), Elizabeth (Hunter's fiance), Jason, and yours truly.

We are so excited to have Ben as an official part of the family and can't wait to spend all the future family holidays together!!