Peachtree and Patios

Earlier this month I went to Atlanta with 2 of my friends. We had a grand old time (but we usually do wherever we are). I had been meaning to get the pictures off my phone, but I've been SO TIRED this month, and can't seem to get anything done. Here's my trip in a nutshell:


The McD's south of Chattanooga has weird ref-killing pictures. I don't understand it, but then again I'm not an art critic. There wasn't even an in memory of plaque.


Outside the lovely World of Coca-Cola downtown. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day


We stayed at a Hyatt hotel on Peachtree Street NE in Buckhead, and the restaurant next door was SO GOOD with some of the biggest asparagus I've ever seen in my life!!!


Our last stop was IKEA, and we had to rearrange the car to make room for our purchases. Next time, we are taking a Uhaul!

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I posted a picture before of the patio I was obsessed with. I was looking for the cheapest option (because building a 450 sq ft patio was going to be expensive no matter what. My local Lowes has these hideously plain concrete pavers for $1.27 each, and that was the cheapest place around (Walmart was 1.33!).

After taxes that would be $627.22!!!!! Holy crap, that's a lot of money for a plain patio.

I reasoned with myself that since I really wanted flagstone and was going to be shelling out big bucks anyway, I might as well get what I wanted and just shell out really big bucks! Luckily I was able to get an amazing deal on a pallet of flagstone from Out of Eden Garden Center, and it was exactly what I wanted. Bonus: it ended up costing less than the pavers!



I relayed my ideas to Mr. Fix It, and while I was at Bible study last Friday night, he came over with Fix It Jr. and laid down the entire thing!


I don't know what made them decide to do this for me, but...


I am so grateful! That was a lot of work I missed out on!

Now all I need to do is fill in the cracks with pea gravel (which was given to me for free by an acquaintance that was moving)


Once I put an edging around it, it'll be perfect!!! Now I just need more time to spend on it. Hmmm...

All the things I'm obsessed with right this minute

If you know me personally, you probably know that I get on these kicks where I become fascinated with an idea or object and can't get enough. If you don't know me personally then let me put it to you this way: I have OCD. I am both obsessive and compulsive. Luckily it's mostly charming (I hope) and very rarely disruptive.

Here are my obsessions of the moment:

1. Halloween! Well, yeah it's October. That makes sense. But as some people have to get in the Christmas spirit (Mom, this means you), I have to get in the Halloween spirit by watching movies and doing fun activities. I have a few things left on my list to do in the next week including: watching Hocus Pocus and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, going to a corn maze, and completing my costume. This is a preview:


2. Vegetables. I'm trying to eat more veggies because a) I love them and b) they are good for me. I've been doing a personal challenge where I try not to eat potatoes and I limit my bread quite a bit. Since I started I've been enjoying many more salads for lunch (rather than sandwiches) and veggies on the side instead of fries or chips. I had the chicken Caesar salad from Walmart for lunch today, and it was delicious. I highly recommend it!


3. Patios. This time of year makes me want to get outside more than any other time. Recently I took out my swimming pool, and now I have a big backyard just begging for me to do something with it. My idea is a flagstone patio. It's going to be back-breaking work, but I am OBSESSED with the idea. This is pretty much what I want with the exception of the tree in the middle.


4. Studying the Bible. Obviously this list is in no particular order or God would be at the top. Very top. Above the title. In September Jen started a new small group through Faith Promise that I've become a member of. It is for women ages 25-35. I adore all the ladies, and we've been having some good studies so far. I've been going to my family's Bible study too, and currently we are in the book of Revelation, which is deep and heavy but so interesting. And I've also found a home church at Rio Revolution. If you are looking for a church to attend, I invite you to visit it.

All of the studying and fellowship has really made a difference in my relationship with God, and I'm so glad for that. I'm excited and hungry for it for the first time in a long time.

5. Travel. Like always, I crave travel. I need it! I recently got back from Atlanta with Jennifer and Brad, and we had a great time. I got on TripAdvisor to post my reviews of the places we went, and BOOM! The need to travel hit me again. TripAdvisor has this new thing where it shows you how much of the world you've seen. I'm at 4%. Are you joking? Four measly percent?! I've got to remedy that immediately!

This is me with the Coca-Cola bear in Atlanta. He was so cute, I wanted to take him home!