Well....that was quick!

Operation: Coffee Table has been completed...


My husband surprised me when I got home from work today with a brand new, fabulously-beautiful coffee table. It was set-up and on display in all it's glory! He is so sweet! :) Can I just say, that's so much better than flowers! He scored major points in my book.

{click on the photo to see it up close!}

coffee tables galore

did you know there's an entire website devoted to just coffee tables and end tables? with free shipping! :)

i've decided i'm buying us a "happy 1st anniversary" gift in the form of a coffee table. we have had the same rickety $15 coffee table from goodwill since our sophomore year in college (it was in kevin's house with 4 boys!). now, it's so unstable and missing so many screws/pieces of wood, i won't even let my 2 year old niece lean on it for fears of it collapsing! considering the coffee table is our primary table for eating dinner (and other meals on the weekends), it only makes sense that we have one that doesn't sway from the wind coming through the sliding glass door. however, we are really watching our spending so now begins the shopping for good deals. i'm going to check out home goods, target, mor furniture, ashley furniture and some consignment shops. ikea is already out - last time we opened this can of worms, nothing ikea had would work for us. either the wrong size or wrong materials. don't get me wrong, they have some nice coffee tables, but we're very picky. no glass (i'm obsessive compulsive about finger prints and would clean it 10 times per day) and the size has to be just right (we have a small apartment). ideally, i'd like a coffee table with two levels, to house all my magazines, books and or laptops on the bottom shelf. and finally, if we're going to spend money on piece of furniture, i want it to last for longer than a month. so, this begins operation: coffee table. oh boy!

operation: budget.

i made myself a very strict budget to work from for the rest of 2010. that gives me 5 months to get all our finances in order and to save as much money as possible. i am determined to buy what-we-so-lovingly-call "our condo" so saving money is crucial. i have never set such a tight budget before, as i like to shop (what girl doesn't?), but know that it's the best plan in the long run. kevin and i are thirsty to move forward. buying a house is one of the only ways to quench that thirst. after almost 7 years, i am so ready to stop paying rent and start investing.

god help us.

we're back!

we ate.
we drank.
we danced.
we relaxed.
we celebrated.

we had the best time.
more to come.

ready to set sail.

our shuttle to the airport arrives in 5 hours. FIVE hours! what am i still doing up!?! we are leaving tomorrow aboard the mariner of the seas (royal caribbean) headed towards a week of bliss and sunshine in the mexican riviera. thank god. this vacation couldn't have come at a better time. bring on the mai tai's, the lava flows, the days soaking up the sun and dancing the night away. there will be pictures, my friends.

oh yeah, and happy fourth of july! yay to being an american! :)