De-Grinching Weekend + Holiday Home Decor

Well, a lot has come to pass in the living room since my post about being a bit Grinchy and not wanting to even decorate this year.  Since Em is here for a while now as my roomie she was pretty adamant that we get in the mood and decorate this house.  So Friday afternoon Em crawled through Michael's gathering craft supplies while I was at work and I came home this past weekend to drink wine, make anything and everything that involved glitter, and get some sort of a tree up.  All while eating leftover garlic rolls {thanks Jimmy James}.  

It was pretty darn fabulous.  We finally finished all of our project earlier this morning.  I am really pleased with how it turned out -- all thanks to Em's vision!  

I remembered I had a little Charlie Brown-eque tree in the garage that we toted out rather than dealing with the gigantic one.  Also, we painted two canvases with chalkboard paint.  This was a great idea of Em's as we can now erase them and use them for future parties/holiday decor.  So I guess we just have to plan all those 2013 parties now. 

Little Tree and "Santa, It's a long story..." chalkboard.

This is probably my favorite -- the bookshelf re-vamp.  Em looked at a lot of stuff on Pinterest and we were both really drawn to one pin where someone drew the outline of a stag on a canvas and covered it in glitter.  I think hers turned out beautifully and I love our tall and skinny chalkboard canvas where she drew a simple Christmas tree.  We just rearranged these items with some stuff already downstairs. 

Glitter stag + canvas with chalkboard paint for our skinny Christmas tree. 

This photo was a little off center and it's a bit grainy due to the Instagram filter but I don't have a fancy camera like The Housewife.  We put tons of glitter on letters we cut out from foam board to hang between our stockings and put up a spare strand of colored lights with some mercury glass candle holders. 

The "Merry" Mantle

I even managed to wrap those presents you see under the tree and I'm almost done Christmas shopping.  Even better -- I'm grateful for friends that do all they can to make my life better and cheer me up -- especially this time of year.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Out With the Old...In With the New

Again, this week has just been off.  New schedule.  New people.  Training on a new claims system. New problems. Tons of paperwork.  I am just not feeling on top of things -- I forgot to pay my student loan bill on the due date. For the first time in 6 years.  And probably the 4th time I have ever forgotten to pay a bill on time...EVER.  But shit happens I guess.  

Other major things happening this week -- our dear friend Em is uprooting her life {willingly!} and staying on Mackie's couch in NYC for a bit to start a big adventure and find a publishing job! I am going to have to live vicariously through her ability to just pick up and go somewhere new for a completely different life. The Housewife and I had dinner with her earlier this week as a "farewell for now" celebration at Nine Street Kitchen in Old Town Roswell.  We had great service, great wine, a million laughs, and a lots of nostalgia for dessert.  Em seemed so cool, calm and collected.  And here I am having a mini breakdown over a new job with a 15 minute commute. 

*not my photo*

I didn't get to see my handsome traveling business man this week like originally planned.  His trip got pushed back because of some client issues...or rescheduled...whatev.  I'm trying to put on my "big girl" panties and not make a big deal out of it, but being happy even when plans change is not my strong point. At all. {Seriously.  Ask The Housewife. It puts me over the edge.} I am working to get better at this.  It's really not a big deal.  And, it was probably best since I had so much going on this week with starting my job.  

On that note, I am jumping on the bandwagon for this Fifty Shades of Grey business.  All my friends are talking about it and all my internet friends are reading it, too! I feel left out. However, I am in the middle of two books right now so it will be sometime in May before I can get to this one. 

I am going to try to use the rest of this week and this weekend to get in some gym time, relax, and allow myself as many glasses of wine and trips for FroYo as I want.  What are you guys reading? What are you doing this weekend?

I originally sent 3 Putt some well wishes this week since he is playing in a Nationwide event {kinda a big deal} but I am thinking of taking them back since I haven't heard from him and its highly likely he has fallen deathly ill or is in a place where he has no cell service.  Why is 3 Putt are people so intent on pissing me off? In reality,  I am probably just tired and grumpy because I have been up so late texting with TDH -- you know, because I am apparently a teenage girl {one that forgets to pay her bills on time}. 

I'm not a playa I just crush a lot.

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~