Someday My Tile Will Come

These days I'm singing this version of the classic song, "Someday my prince tile will come..."  In the meantime I wait patiently for the money to change this square tile with rope trim...

to this simpler subway tile.

Because I'm weary of looking at this.

I'm also trying to decide between the oil-rubbed bronze hardware on the left or the brushed nickel

on the right.  What do you think?



Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is here!  I'm always glad for the change of seasons.  Here's what spring looks like at my house.



The mailbox bed I built all by myself five years ago.



And last but not least....

Play ball!

E-mealz Changed My Life

When it comes to meal planning, I've been stuck in a chili, spaghetti, Little Caesar's, Sonic, and McDonalds rut for years. For a special treat, we like Chick-fil A.  Every time I tried something new in the kitchen, my boys would turn up their noses.  I NEVER cooked dinner at home for seven days straight.

I subscribed to e-mealz.com three weeks ago and WOW!  I've cooked ALMOST every dinner at home for THREE WEEKS IN A ROW.  I can't believe it.  I work outside the home so I'm usually pretty tired at the end of the day, but I've actually been looking forward to getting home so I can cook!  Bizarre.

I know all you foodies out there are rolling your eyes.  You've been making stuff like Penne with Bacon and Spinach or Pecan Crusted Tilapia forever, but I just bought my first bottle of balsamic vinaigrette and I'm excited.




Jenny Cochran and Jane Delaney, the amazing e-mealz ladies

 The ladies at e-mealz.com do all the planning for me.  I just select a plan based on my favorite grocery store and for $1.50 a week I get a meal plan, shopping list, and recipes for seven meals.  They have plans for Walmart, Aldi, Publix, Kroger, and others.  We're doing the Walmart Weight Watchers Points Plus plan.  Yes...they will even count your points for you.  My boys have eaten vegetables, salads, and fresh fruit.  It's amazing.

We're saving money, too.  Dave Ramsey endorses the site.  We aren't going through the drive-through four or five times a week any more.  I still love my Chick-fil A, but now I don't feel so guilty about it.  It's a real treat and not a necessity just because I couldn't/wouldn't cook.

My Baby Built His Own Computer

This looks like Jim Halpert from The Office smiling smugly at the camera.

My baby turned 14 last month.  Like many last born children he is the funniest family member.  Another mom told me yesterday that her son comes home from school every day and says "Wait 'til you hear what he said today!"

He loves computers and wanted to upgrade our family computer.  He saved his money for over a year, researched all the components, ordered everything online, and with the guidance of a very smart adult (Mr. David J.), he assembled the thing himself.  Go ahead.  You can call him a genius.  I won't mind.

Homesick

I grew up at the base of this mountain not very far from where this photo was taken.  I love researching my family history, imagining what life was like 100 years ago or even 200 years ago.  My ancestors were already settled here when this area became a state in the 1790s.  My parents still live in the house they built here in 1966.  It's filled with creaky floors, several decades of paint colors, the pink ceramic tile bathroom of my childhood, and lots of wonderful memories.  I think I'm homesick.  Spring break's comin' soon, and I wanna go home.  I think there's a country song in there somewhere.