The Ugliest Window Contest - Dayton

The Ugliest Window Contest - Dayton
My cousin is in the final 2 to win new windows for her entire house! As someone constantly doing renovations, I know how much this would help them out!

Choose Dayton as your city. The red windows are theirs. It's listed under Brad V. from Hamilton.

Swimsuits, Swimswuits, Swimsuits!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
Spring break is here, and it has me thinking of the beach.  I have to wait until summer to actually see sand, but a girl has to start shopping for the perfect suit now, right?
Express has an awesome line up of  women's swimwear and most of them are on sale right now.  They have lots of options - monokinis, bikinis, great two piece options.  A fan of comfortable two pieces, I  really like this one:

It's hard to find a functional two piece, but this appears to be exactly that!  I like a suit that I can actually swim in, but still gets lots of sun (and good attention!)  What I like most is that the top and bottom are sold as separates.  When your top and bottom are different sizes, this is a lifesaver!  Even better, there is removable padding in case you don't need any help up top.  This top also comes in a beautiful purple.  I think if I were to go that route, I would get these bottoms.

I could totally rock these on the beach in June.  Florida, watch out - this girl is going to be styling!

To be fair, Express does also carry men's swim shorts.  Those just aren't what I'm looking for today :)
The best part?  If you sign up for Express e-mail, you are automatically signed up for a $200 gift card.  Who doesn't like free money?  Go look at the sweepstakes rules, but I don't think you really have to think about it. 

Spring Break

One of my favorite weeks of the year is finally here - Spring Break!  Sometimes I think I look forward to it more as a teacher than I did as a student, because it's the last long breath before the marathon to the musical, graduation, and the end of the year.

It's been busy though!  There was sister time in Indy

Then a visit (and productive wedding planning with Erin) in Fort Wayne, where I got to play with these little guys

And also to see something that got me VERY excited for next month (same exit as Erin's house!)

I saw this happen to my car who isn't yet 3 years old.

And, lest you think I have completely forgotten I am an employed professional, I found these for my Mike TV (Willy Wonka is my musical)

Cleaned carpet today, which meant I also rearranged my furniture.  When I had the baseboard heaters installed, I had to move my chair away from them, so I had re-done my furniture.  While I liked it (it put my couch closer to the heater!) I really liked my original set up.  I'm excited to have it back, even if only until next winter :)

How would you spend a week off with no planned major trip?  Would you ignore work, or continue to do the things you needed to?

New furniture!

I am on my second kitchen table, and I've been in my house less than a year!  They're both hand me downs, and I've been grateful that my parents have let me borrow them.  Sadly, the chairs with the current table have seen better days.  The one is only good for my schoolbag - I'm afraid that if I sit in it I will be dumped on the floor.  Knowing this, I have been eagerly awaiting my tax return in order to purchase a new table.

I'm an internet shopper/browser - it keeps from making as many impulse buys.  I have been drooling over this table for weeks now:

(Source: Furniture Fair)

I had called Furniture Fair a few weeks back to see if this table was in any of their showrooms.  I wanted to see it, touch it, sit in the chairs before I purchased it.  I was told they didn't have it in any of their showrooms, and it was backordered.

We went to another store, whose name I won't mention, because they advertised the same table for just $20 more.  I did not have a good feeling when we walked in the store - it felt just a little bit shady.  I saw the table, and liked the design, but the color was just enough off that I wasn't a big fan.  Combined with the bad feeling, I decided I wasn't interested.

Mom and I went on with our shopping, which involved driving right by Furniture Fair.  Mom convinced me to stop and look - what's the worst that could happen?  I told the salesman that I was looking for a kitchen table set that included a bench, and he took us back to show us what they carried.  Wouldn't you know, they had THIS table in a different color!!  I was so excited, and told him that he had brought us to what I had been dreaming of.  He told me it came in the color above, and I told him I wanted it.

He checked, and it IS backordered.  It should be in their warehouse in 4-6 weeks.  No instant gratification, but I am so happy I got the table I wanted!  I can't wait to put it in my kitchen - I think it will help finish that room.

What piece of furniture made a room for you?