Swedish Styling in Central Louisiana: Ikea in our House!

When Holly and I went to our friend Katie's wedding in Northern Virginia, a big part of the weekend had to do with visiting Ikea. Since I was about to move, I couldn't really buy anything but I took some pictures and got some ideas for what I wanted to do once I did get to my new house.

Cute netural living room. I like light and dark stuff mixed together

This is Ikea's bedroom. I like all of the pillows and the gallery over the bed. Too busy? I kind of want something but I don't want to over do my bedroom!

Our current bedroom. Kind of plain but it's relaxing and clean!

This is what our kitchen looks like now. There's a funny space between the cabinets. I made this "picture". It's okay but I want something more interesting

This is kind of what I was thinking. Stainless steel to match the appliances. I don't want wood because I think that it would be too hard to match.

What are some of your favorite Ikea finds? 
Please be really, really, really excited that I finally got pictures to upload to Blogger!! Maybe I got to wait later on in the evening when all of the locals are asleep to upload my pictures!

Success and misc catching up!

As per Holly's urging, I am back to playing on my blog! I have done a lot of fun stuff but I haven't blogged about it! Part of the issue is that the desktop computer here doesn't want to cooperate with me when I want to upload pictures! I can't stand blogs without pictures! So here's a couple of pictures. Lame but they are pictures! Here's some highlights of what's going on with me:

1. I have a job! It's Media on the Battlefield. From what I understand, I am a role player who pretends to be a reporter and helps the soldiers who are getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan, learn about how to work with the media. I start that on Monday. They already told me that they don't have any work for me Sept or Oct. Awesome! That's my kind of job!
2. I just finished my receptionist training for Weight Watchers and I should be going to Leader training some time this fall when I am not working my "real job". For those who don't speak Weight Watchers, it's the person who weighs in people and takes the money. It's a lot harder than it looks. It has really made me appreciate the people who have worked at my meetings
3. I am in the beginning stages of getting some crafts together to sell at a local craft/gift store. I have always wanted to do something like that and now I have the time!

I promise to get my act together with this blog! Thanks for sticking around! I did lose one follower while I was gone!

Hose reel that's made for a 100 foot hose, I got a 150 foot!

My little container garden. I threw away a lot of plants because they died off in the 100+ degree weather. Since this picture was taking, the fern has gotten really crunchy!

Somewhat Couture's photostream

Somewhat Couture's photostream on Flickr.

Playing with Flickr

pictures from June 16 and before 770, a photo by Somewhat Couture on Flickr.

I am about to throw the computer across the room! Holly said that I could upload pics easier with Flickr. Not so sure!

Im here!

In case you forgot what I looked like! Here's some pictures from Jon and Sarah's OBX wedding. Josh and I got to spend some time with our friends from VT.

The other day I logged into blogger and saw that I lost a follower! They probably figured I was never going to come back! But here I am!
Here's what happened, just the highlights!

• I had my final defense, and got my MS degree!
• Josh and I were reunited and went to a wedding in the OBX
• In transit from Virginia to Lousiana my car, that I wanted to live for another 2 years, had to be sold for scrap! First the ABS brakes went out and then the transmissions started to lose it about 30 min outside of Birmingham, AL. I got $302 for my car and the rental car came out to over $500.
• Cats and Dogs aren't intergrating that well! It's manageable with the spray collars and a shock collar but it's not ideal!
• So I'm here and getting adjusted to being in Louisiana! Darn it's hot! I need to blog more with all of my time off!

Tre snuggling in the clean laundry the night before we left VA

House Progress: More living room fun

I spent most of my time unpacking boxes and putting things in the right room or pile. I haven't figured out what I want on the walls yet. I like meaningful, interesting art. I don't like mass produced art work from Bed, Bath and Beyond. So I will continue to think about that. We also need new pillows for the living room. I am not sure what color to go with. The rest of the room is really neutral. Ideas?

Before I messed with anything

Big living room 

We are working on making this a wine bar area. The lamp got a little broken in transit but I can just glue it back. 

Little arrangement that's not too over done.

Love this little arrangement. Josh got the Muqtada al Sadr picture in Iraq. I think that it's really funny.  It adds an interesting punch to any arrangement don't you think?

I lined up all of my animal figurines so I could see what I had. Darkness was fascinated with the line up. Josh was nervous that this was their destination! They have been distributed around the house. 

Living room in progress: Crappy curtains

We made some progress in the living room. I really trying hard not to have too much clutter and junk in the house. I usually like tables topped with tons of knick-knacks. I want our new house to much more serene and airy. We are going to get a new couch and bookcases this summer. 

Heres some pictures of the progress so far and some window covering drama!

So much wrong with this picture! I spray painted a plastic pvc pipe for a curtain rod, it was okay expect for how it bowed once it was up. This would work much better for a small window. 

I thought that white sheets would look great as curtains. The white didn't look good at all, Josh told me they wouldn't but he was sweet enough to let me try it. He was also handy and put up the rods for me and didn't laugh at the crappy curtains!

I hate buying curtains because they are usually overpriced and use cheap-o fabric. I found these faux suede curtains with the grommets at Walmart for cheaper than I could have made them. Much, much better than the white meth house curtains.

Snotty Bride

I caught something while I was in Louisiana last week. I am still feeling gross. My nose is stuffed up and my throat is killing me. I was laying on the couch stalking other blogs and found this wedding post. It's pretty much exactly what I want for my wedding: simple, pretty, casual. Check out the wedding at Cherry Hill Cottage:

Spring Break Update

Hey! I always say that I don't update my blog because I don't have anything to take pictures of at my apartment (everything is now here in Louisiana). I have been unpacking, spray painting, rearranging and loving being here with Josh!
I have pretty much everything out of the boxes and now trying to figure out where everything goes. Josh and I bought several totes this week! So here's what's going on so far!

One thing that is done, the bedding on our bedding. It's Ralph Lauren and really plush. I have enjoyed watching TV in bed in the morning.

A big corner with NOTHING there. I want this house to be open and not cluttered but the corner needs something.

Walk in that became really small after I put most of our stuff in it

Uniforms!

Uniform Closet- All for Josh!

My sink with misc clutter

More pictures to come!

Little Updates

Hi! My life hasn't been that crafty or exciting recently. I work, go to school and workout. I joined Weight Watchers for the 2nd time, 3 weeks ago. I have been really working the plan and I am only down 4.2 lbs. It's really bugging me. My goal this week is just to relax and go with the plan. I am making healthy changes, it's just that I want to be skinny again NOW! :)

Josh and I have been doing some online shopping together. We bought a clock for the living room on ebay. I have no clue what it looks like but Josh said that he liked it in person. Josh has been working on the house and sends me update pics periodically! I can't wait till next month to go back to Louisiana and spend time with him and set up the house.
Here's what Josh has done with the place thus far:

The house didn't have towel bars or toilet paper holders.  Josh had to install these.

Towel bars and sweet Asher. I am sure that the cats were a huge help

Livingroom with the new clock on the wall. It's supposed to be 24" wide.

Josh's totally iced over truck. This is when a garage is nice to have. The other car was nice and ice free in the garage.

I am going to go pickup Girl Scout cookies today! Terrific! I am only going to eat one a day! My cookie of choice.. Carmel Delites!!

Picture remake continued......

Blogger was not being my friend last night. I wanted to show off the the new name sign I made first but blogger wanted to put my thrift store finds first. So.. I found a hand towel holder that I think could be cute as a necklace holder. I am going to spray paint it black later on. I wish it was a little taller. I might actually use this for a towel holder.

This is some kind of wrought iron-thingie. I thought that it could hold toliet paper but I forgot that the cats like to destroy toilet paper. 

This is the rack with dishtowels rolled up inside because Josh always asks "What are you going to do with it?"

Finished product. I pulled out the old angel picture and turned into a name sign. 

Closer view of the letters. I cut them with the Cricut.

Supplies: houndstooth scrapbook paper, modge podge and brown wrapping paper. I thought I was going to use the triple thick but I didn't need to seal it because it was behind glass.