Our New Sofa

We have a new sofa! I was just fretting last weekend about how bad our sofa looked. One of the cushions had a worn spot/hole in it so I flipped it over and saw the larger hole that I had forgotten about.

So, this week when we had an ad at work for a large garage/remodeling sale I decided to go before work on Friday to check out the two sofas that they had. Also, after I found out whose yard sale it was and how particular she is about her house I knew I had to go. She was Lainey's 7th grade English teacher.

Here is what I found.

It is Norwalk Furniture - J Raymond brand. No telling how much she paid for it. I'm not too sure about the extra two plaid pillows but they are just pillow forms with shams on them. So I can be on the look out for something to change them up. I got it for $200 and it looks like it has hardly been sat on. Tulip Tree carries this line of furniture and I've looked at it before. What I looked at would have been $800+.

Not really a fabric that I would personally pick if money was no object and I was ordering a J Raymond sofa but I am happy with it.

Lainey is sad that the "sofa of her youth" may be sold at a yard sale. She would rather me sell the "counseling sofa" and keep the old sofa for the basement. I'm dreading the thought of a yard sale right now so they may both be in the basement for a while.

I was afraid I would have to repaint the living room. I think the color looks ok. I was afraid the "peachy-ness" of the current paint would be more pronounced with the new sofa but it seems ok. The big problem is that the dye in the blue sofa has rubbed off on the walls and the new sofa does not cover it up. I am going to try Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and see if that does the trick. If not, looks like I'll have a big painting project soon.

New windows

They are so beautiful! The house already feels better...or that may just be my imagination.
Hopefully the electric and gas bills will show a change.

The living room front windows

Parker's room

Kitchen window from inside. This is the one that the stainglass hangs on.
I am going to have to reposition the hooks so I haven't hung it back yet.

The downstairs ones look the best. The biggest difference.

Parker's eight grade graduation

Didn't get very many pictures because I was sitting so far away.
This one is a little blurry but shows Parker getting his awards.

White cabinet - before

I am so excited about the cabinet. Looking at the photos it almost looks worse than in person.
Hopefully I'll get started on it today or tomorrow.

This shows the glass. This is the inside of the top door.

the missing spot for drawer

The outside of the door. Glass covered with paint.

Prom 2010

I look so short in this one.

The girls in Lainey's group.

The whole group.

Lake & Brianna

Kyle, Lake & Brianna

The entrance at Clay Hill

The red carpet

One of the food tables

Kyle by the Hollywood

View of the tent

The theme

View from the parking area

Parking area

Walk-in at the high school

My birthday lunch

The song

First Day of Spring

I decided to post the first daffodil from Kyle's yard in honor of the first day of Spring. Mine are not blooming yet and when I noticed his last night he picked it for me. It was so pretty this morning on the counter with the sun shining on it.

Well, I finally did it. Met my grocery budget/goal!!!!
My goal has been to get our groceries down to $75 every two weeks by using coupons and shopping the sales at Kroger.

My total at Kroger Thursday night was 75 even!!!
I could barely contain my excitement when the checker told me.
I saved $43.73 using Kroger savings plus and coupons.
I bought milk & yogurt for starter to make a batch for Kyle and he gave me $5 so I guess technically I could say I got it down to $70.

I did buy some Tyson chicken Anytizers that I would normally never buy. It was on sale and had coupons and Parker has friends over tonight so I planned that purchase as a treat for tonight.

Stocked up on meat that was on sale, got milk for a batch of yogurt for us, cheese on sale, crackers on sale, chips (for tonight) and other specials they had going. I think the only items not on sale were butter and kitchen garbage bags.

Now my next goal is to make a menu plan and stick to it. I am also going to do my own little pantry challenge and hopefully not have to get too many groceries with next paycheck.

Made a really good avocado salsa today.
2 avocados, chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 cup roma tomatoes, chopped
1 can corn, drained (I used half a bag of frozen that I microwaved to thaw a little)
juice of 2 limes
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
Combine all and serve with chips. Could probably cut back on the salt a little because of the salt on the chips. It called for a diced jalapeno but didn't have any that weren't frozen.
I'll try that when I have fresh ones. This was amazingly simple but so tasty!
Lainey and I both loved it.

Snow pictures

Here are some snow pictures that I had forgotten about. They downloaded with the shelf photos.
The camera date says it was January 8 but not sure if that is correct or not....but probably is.