time with my mama

my mom came to spend a few days with me

while rob was out of town. 

it was wonderful. 

we started our time together at the salon. we both got a cut.

and I got a color. 

it was loooong overdue. 

I was lookin' rough. 

then we shared some yummy Mexi food 

and headed back to my casa.
where we got busy working. 

here's something I realized this weekend:

I get more done when my mom is around. 

I think I already knew this. 

in high school I used to beg her 
to come sit on my bed and talk to me while I cleaned my room. 

which, by the time I got around to cleaning it, 
was usually a disaster.
my house cleaning skills have really improved since then. 
on most days any way. 

 

I just liked having her company while I cleaned. 
talking. laughing. 
and usually she could be talked into folding a few things while she sat there :)

 

she's beautiful, huh?
yep.
I've got a good mama.

so this weekend we painted the entire basement.
and filled in the cracks on the great wall of paneling. (this involved a lot of sanding!)
and sanded/primed the basement ceiling.
AND got caught up on all the laundry. Hallelujah!
AND we cooked a meal for the 3 college boys living in the basement.

oh, and for the record,
in case you ever hear my husband argue differently,
I did at LEAST 4 loads/sink-fulls of dishes this week. at least.

productivity at its finest, folks.
brought to you by my dearest mother.

mom-
thanks for coming to stay with me. 
I loved my 1on1 time with you.
it was good for my heart.
and my house. 
I am so incredibly thankful for you.

I miss you already. 
love, 
your O&O :)

let the countdown begin

Sarah and I met the weekend we moved into college. 

I still remember what she was wearing. 

(weird? creepy? still true. it was a blue sweater vest, by the way)  

We soon became the best of friends. 

We even planned our Spring Semester classes around watching the Young and Restless together each day. 

again, weird? pathetic?

who cares. it's true. 

   In the ten years since we met, 

we have walked through life together.

our friendship has always been a constant.

we have celebrated the highs and cried over the lows.

we have traveled together and traveled distances to see each other. 

we've enjoyed many a cup-o-coffee and a glass of wine. 

    

She is an incredible mother. daughter. sister. friend.

and in one year she's going to make one beautiful BRIDE.

(and, yes, ultimately that means she's going to make Ziya one lucky man, by becoming his WIFE!)

I'm so stoked for her.

not only because we have been praying for a long time that God would bring

a man into her life who would partner with her as she raises her

daughter and supports her as she pursues her dreams. 

I am also excited because I think that marriage can be pretty rad.  

read: difficult, frustrating, but oh-so-very worth it. 

This past weekend Sarah's bridal party threw them  a fall themed engagement party. 

I made this banner out of burlap and pom-poms. 

I wish I could say I painted the landscape above the mantel...but no.

         

Their wedding is set for November 3, 2013, 

so the theme of the party was a One Year Countdown.  

-- When Harry Met Sally

- See more at: http://www.romancestuck.com/quotes/movie-quotes.htm#sthash.szNrVHNH.dpuf

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

-- When Harry Met Sally

- See more at: http://www.romancestuck.com/quotes/movie-quotes.htm#sthash.szNrVHNH.dpuf

Here's the group of women who helped put 

 the party together. I'm excited to get to spend more time with them over the next 12 months. 

the celebrating has only begun. 

 

Sarah and Ziya-

I am so glad we live close to you guys now. We are honored to call you friends and get to witness your journey. We love you and can't wait until NEXT November. 

love, Rob and Erica  

 

"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together." - Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle

side note: I got a new camera (yipee!) but I am still figuring out how to use it, especially with indoor lighting. so be easy on the photo judgment. :) 

we've moved.

again.
we moved in April to a new apartment.
yes, April.
and I'm just now posting pics.

well, i'm just now posting ANYTHING. ha!

we've had a busy summer and i have lots of things to post.
and hopefully I will be more inspired
(I almost used "disciplined," but really I want to be INSPIRED) to blog.

here's to hoping.

anyway...for now, let me give you a tour of our home.

I decided that this time
(we've moved 4 times in 3 years of marriage)
I was going to paint.
no more white-washed world.

I need COLOR!

my incredible mother and grandmother came out the day before
to help us.
on their birthday weekend (their bdays are two days apart)
they helped me pack my entire kitchen.
choose paint colors.
paint the entire master bed/bathroom, dining/living room, and kitchen.

rockstars.

after working all day, rob jumped right in to help with the kitchen.

after 8 hours of painting, we were still smiling!

so thankful for them.
and for color on the walls!

now for the tour:

when you walk in the front door, the kitchen is immediately on your left.


and the dining table on your right.
i'm going to get these floating shelves from our new IKEA for the blue accent wall.
they were sold out when we went last week.

this great consignment store find (thanks, mom!) stylishly stores
all my crafting/scrapbooking goods.
it's hard to tell in the pics, but the walls are "celery green"

the dining/living area is one open (very large) space.
which we love.
I painted the mantel and fireplace edging black.
(it was white....like every.thing.else in the entire place.)
and the piece of furniture next to the TV is another great consignment store find.

I'm looking forward to using the fireplace when the snow comes.
cuddling on our cozy new couch.
yes, you read correctly. new.

we couldn't get our big, beautiful brown couch up to our 3rd floor apartment.
we tried everything short of cutting it in half or
rigging some sort of pulley system to hoist it over the balcony.
i was sad. very sad. it was our first big purchase after we got married.
but it went to a good home where we can visit it whenever we like. :)

and now we have this lovely sofa.


we got the light brown chair at the consignment store (are you noticing a theme here!)

and the funky leaf chair was a happy present/gift from my grandma.
she's so hip, huh? :)


the apartment has two beds & two baths.
which is the most space we've ever had.
and we've definitely used it this summer with our visitors.
the spare bedroom isn't really decorated yet, so I haven't taken pictures of it yet.

but here's our master bed/bath:

the walls are called "icy blue."
they almost look lavender, at times.
very soothing.

the dresser that we bought and refinished (well, ROB refinished!)

look at all that counter space!
we went from having NO counter space. literally none.
to ten feet of it. oh yeah.

and two walk-in closets.
the door on the far left leads into our shower/toilet.

and that is all for now.
The only thing I have left to show you is our guest bed/bath.
I'll be honest. i have no idea when that will happen,
but I'll put it on my list! :)