Fireplace = CHECK :)

So remember that the fireplace was one project on our list.. 

There were a lot of steps to complete, to mark this one off : Rock, Mantel, Crown, Base, Paint, TV

Well it is all DONE! As of yesterday we have a fireplace with a nice brand new 46" TV above it. 

Merry Christmas to us. lol That is our gift to each other!

SO here are a few pictures of the process/progress.

1. sheetrock keeping our nice ac/heat inside the house

2. Jon ripped the sheetrock off so Derrick could make the mount for the huge mantel

3. Jon putting plywood and "frame" up

4. LATH ouch this stuff always cuts him up...but it holds the rock on lol

5. Jon is spraying rock on 

6. Big David handing Jon the hopper with rock in it. (Iphone pictures)

7. Big David carving out the rock pattern.

TAAADAAAA!

It got to late yesterday and the paint was still wet on the base board so I didn't get to sweep and mop the floor. The surround needs to be cleaned as well. 

And here is the sample TILES I went and chose my tile from for the shower last week. 

I'm waiting on the tile guy to come by and measure so I can get the tile ordered!

Job check! & House update!

Jon got hired on full time! This is such a big deal....for the last 2 weeks people at Trinity Bay have been raising hell about Jon working under big David. At first I got angry and then I just decided to pray that these people would see what a hard worker he is. There was one jealous employee that started this (we think) because Jon and Cory make him look bad because he's a slacker when it comes to working all day and not be lazy. WELL enough about that today was hiring day and his Dad called before Jon did lol. We were very stressed about this and its a huge burden lifted off our shoulders. Now Jon has BENEFITS. Never in his life has he had a permanent job.  Full time job CHECK,  Medical insurance CHECK, Retirement CHECK.

Also this past weekend Derrick Leblanc (you all know the "boys") came and hung my... MANTEL. It looks so crazy having a mantel hug above our fireplace. The goal for Jon boy is to put the rock up before Thanksgiving. That's scary since that is exactly one week away.

Bunch of Randomness

Weird looking huh? WELL it is the coolest thing ever. It's a vacuum sealer that I got at HEB on the meal deal probably a year or so ago lol. Yes we are still moving in. So all I had to do was buy the ziplock bags (prob like $3-$6) and get the sealer FREE. So I figured I'd give it a try.  It works so good. I haven't seen the sealer in stores in a long time but they have a new manual one that probably works just as well. So I use this a lot because the larger amount of meat you buy at our local market the more $ you save. It's just me and Jon boy anyways so I split all meats up in freezer bags. I put 2-3 chicken breast in each bag and the same for pork-chops.

Here's a little pic of what dad did a few weeks or maybe a month ago lol. I have to texture a spot next to the tub and touch up the paint AND put the clear over the beadboard ...then I'll show the final picture. I want the tile done so bad but we're still saving for that one. 

And here is a sneak peak of a DIY project I made! I'll show a picture with a shoe on soon. That is my hand in there but it's made for your boots. BOOTS WITH THA FURRRR lol

<3 Andie

THE closet

When I do retail therapy I usually head straight to the shoe department :) YES shoes are my weakness. I also love a good bargain on clothes. SO with that being said my favorite room in our house is the CLOSET!!! :) I'm smiling thinking about it. (except for it's a disaster right now)
Here is half of my shoe shelf/wall! Thanks dad for making this bad a$$ shelf for me :) Of course I have filled it up and bought a hanging shoe organizer for Jon's shoes lol.

On the other side of the closet next to my washer and dryer...yes they are in the master closet and I love it...there was space I was wanting more shelf room for linens. And here is what dad built for that space!

And here is him installing it. Excuse the bra hanging there lol. You don't notice these things until you look at a picture.

 I will put a finished picture of the closet when it is 100% complete :/ grr seams like nothing is finished in that house.

<3 Andie

FOOD

What I love most! lol

It's sad that I love food that much. Well I love to cook and bake.

Here is a recent new fav around our miniature mansion...

Mini Meatloaf's!

So you take your favorite meatloaf recipe and bake it in the muffin pans. It saves a ton of time. On this particular one I used a Mexican Meatloaf recipe. I DID not line the pan with muffin cups/liners. 

<3 Andie

My everyday workout!

So I've been meaning to show you all my very sophisticated workout area :)

So here it is...

 Pretty intense huh? lol 

Ok let me just explain my exercises..

1st you notice the blow dryer right? Well that is my main work out :)

I sit right there where the blow dryer is with my legs hanging down (so my back would be to the camera right now) and I lean back as far as I can and start drying my hair. Sounds easy huh? WRONG It works your abs like none other. I will hold that position for a while then I'll start pulsating?....that word always makes me cringe but whatever.  If I get tired I use this opportunity to flip my hair over and do the other side while I sit up and relax a min.

NEXT you see the yoga mat? Thank you Ross for having el cheapo stuff!

Anywho I'll also squat for a while, while I dry my hair. 

(I have that much hair that I can have a very good ab and leg/butt workout)

On the Yoga mat beside cushioning my feet while I squat OR lundge, I do the plank move.

Get on your toes and elbows and make your body as straight as possible.
(On nights I don't wash my hair I'll do the Core Plank move for like 50 counts) OUCH 

I'll also lay on my back and do regular crunches to the front and to both sides. Around 25-50 each position. Depending on how much time I have.

These are my basic everyday moves like jager! 

I will post on another day with my other workout exercises.

In the mean time here are my must have daily drugssss.

Self explanatory I believe. 

Vitamin D & B12

Here are some of my diet tips/routines

WATER - yes I know everyone says "drink more water"

Well, that is ALL I drink. No lie. I drink orange juice when I splurge and buy some but literally all day at work I keep filling my glass up with water and drink it constantly. When I get home I drink that with dinner as well.

Eat often. It sounds like a oxymoron I know. I want to loose weight so I should eat more often?

Yes small meals/snacks.

I have to eat every 3 hours or I feel very sick. 

Snacks - almond YUMMMM brain food as my Nana says.

Rice Cakes - there really is some good ones out there. Try the white cheddar flavor.

Peanut butter - I eat it alone or on some almonds. Great protein. I keep peanut butter crackers in my truck and in my purse/camera bag.

Celery (burns more calories then it has in it)

Ok one more tip for tonight. Tighten your abs all the time. It's like a crunch while you are standing up. 

I tighten mine while I'm pumping diesel, waiting to pay for groceries, talking to a customer, even while I drive. 

Thanks for stopping by!

<3 Andie