Dorm living...ON STEROIDS

The title says it all.  Since I have lived in the same house from the age of 3, the only experience I have with moving is moving into a dorm.  I thought I had a lot then, but moving my little family of 2 into this new apartment was much much bigger than a little dorm.  We were so blessed to have so much help.  Moving all the stuff in happened in no time.  Unpacking boxes...well that's another story.  Our awesome family helped put many big things together for us that required a lot of work, but time still slipped by ever so quickly.  I never quite understood how people could live in one place for months and say, "I just finished unpacking the last box".  I was way too quick to judge!  Now, will it be months...no.  But we are very lucky not to have anything to do right away other than unpack.  So, it will probably take longer than I expected but it will get done. :)  Obviously I have to leave you with some an insane amount of pictures that say it all....

GPS on...Chicago here we come! 

Only 358.1 miles to go.

One ticket to Chicago please...we'll keep going straight

Welcome to Illinois!...Finally 

Oh no those toll signs again...

Have no fear, IPASS is here!!! Oh IPASS how we love you so! 

It was clearly hazy and about to storm and there were many cars, but how can you not appreciate this beautiful never ending skyline.

Piles of boxes. They were everywhere but this specific pile was in the kitchen corner.

Garbage...this was also everywhere.  My sweet mother-in-law kept filling bags upon bags of trash.  

Oh no way...more garbage and cardboard...I warned you, it's everywhere.

Yes it is true, we can't even walk into our closet right now.  I said I would fix this tonight.  It's 8:30 and I'm blogging...it may have to wait till tomorrow...UGH

Can someone please come clear our bed so we can sleep?  Thanks.  (Once again 8:30 and blogging...I think I better clean this immediately to keep my hubby happy!)

Our first dinner in the new apartment...I know how sad it was only pizza.  But it was quick since we spent most of dinner at the grocery store and it actually was pretty darn good!

So that is all.  I can't wait to be blogging pictures of the place done up all cute.  Since I took these pictures we have actually found the living room and the kitchen is all put together and thanks to my mom Saturday she got the bathroom done for us right away.  The living room isn't quite done yet because we are having problems with some outlets, but we can see glimpses of how it will become a place to come HOME to.  

It's quite overwhelming moving out and being on our complete own for the very first time.  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't crying over my pizza for no reason.  Thank goodness Patrick already said those vows!  It's just a lot to soak in, but we are so thankful and excited for our very first place:)

Tomorrow we might begin some more exploring and hop on the L (train).  Hopefully it will turn out better than our search for a Target Saturday night (we ended up finding the Target in a pretty sketchy place). Maybe searching for a non-sketchy Target will be at the top of the list :)

Goodbye MN...Hello Chicago

Well it was bound to happen sometime...my last post before we become Chicago residents.  It's weird and exciting and bittersweet and we pack all the final things into any last bit of space we can find in a car.  Hmm am I concerned about getting everything to fit in that tiny apartment?  Not a bit. Yes.  Hopefully all my space saving ideas will help us out : / 

Well mom and dad don't know where your
overnight luggage will go, but the van is full :)

Waiting to go in the truck

Dad's super duper awesome trailer
packing job.  The stuff is going nowhere!

Putting the boys to work

Truck is full too!!

Now that everything is packed up it has left a very empty bedroom.  Do as you wish now mom, but we will all remember the beautiful painting work done by Lauren and myself.

So as one door closes another opens...I hope this is true for my job situation as well!!  We hit the road early.  Many hands make light work.  We are thankful to be able to say this. I just hope many hands don't make too many choice words!!!  Here We Go!

You can call me miss crafty

I have heard that a mother-to-be will go through a nesting stage when the baby is going to be along soon.  Well I sure don't think I'm expecting so I don't know what the stage would be called, but I think it might be something like "about-to-have-our-first-place" type stage. Because restoring a table is just not enough work, I have been trying some last minute things for our new home.  Most of these may be found on my addiction website PINTEREST (may I remind you Sara Jaeger...you got me started so it's all your fault :). So here is my latest one.

This was the picture and idea...seemed fairly simple to me

My Goal

This is what I came up with

I cannot tell a lie...I like how mine turned out even better!

I was so proud of my little pinterest project!  It was so easy and turned out so great that I would encourage everyone to try.  I found my frame (14x18 without the matting) at Michaels on clearance for $9 and all the paint samples were free.  Forever Calendar for just $9...now that sounds like a newlywed budget!!!

Good Luck!!  Hope I helped you capture your inner miss crafty as well!!!

New Hobby?

Hmmm so what has Mrs. Sullivan been up to?  I have been restoring my great grandmother's kitchen table.  Unfortunately I didn't get a complete before picture, but the transformation has been pretty incredible.

Legs after being sanded....so much work!! 

Pieces of the table top all sanded

Patrick rolling on the primer

Our plethora of sanding equipment 

Legs all primed and ready for the color!

Beautiful black legs

Pieces of the table top all decked out in black

All the black finished...now just waiting for the
 stenciling 

Start of the stenciling...I was so nervous about
messing this part up!!

My painting equipment

All finished!!

Finished shot of the whole table.

So as my first restoration project I think it went pretty well.  I realized restoring something is a ton of work, but can be worth it in the end.  My new hobby?  Well maybe, but for now I can't wait to get this baby in our new apartment!!  The blue flowers matches the dishes and my Rachel Ray pots and pans that will be on hanging hooks in the kitchen...This is all my attempt at trying to coordinate our home!


As this table came to an end so did Patrick's time at Fleet Farm...He came home to this cake.  The stars are a marshmallow fondant.  An idea I got from my dear friend Lauren.  Have I perfected as much as her? Not a chance, but for my first go around it went pretty well and I thought the cake came out pretty cute.

Tiny purple toes in total girl shoes?
 Yes little one I think you are a princess indeed

Also I have had many precious days to watch dear Lakin Jaeger.  Patrick and I are blessed to spend so much time with this little one before we have to leave.  I love you sweet girl. You will be missed. And, as hard as I'm praying for a little sister for you....I hope you can be happy with a little brother too.   





Well that's all for now.  I have to go continue to pack like mad.  I can't imagine being someone that moves all the time.  This is so much work.  Unfortunately I have a feeling we have a lot of moving in our future for a little while...Guess it will just give me chances to perfect it!

Best Quotes

From my favorite 2 year old

After painting her nails..."Now I'm a princess"...if only it was that easy

While a Dora video is on..."I want to lay with you Manda"

After coming into my room..."WooHoo.  This is so much fun"

During her entire lunch..."Do you want to share it with me?"

There how is that for my first post that isn't all mushy about being a newlywed?  If you just spent the day with this little one you would understand how easy it is to melt at her every word.

P.S. While coloring with her she would only let us color with the pink crayons.  Do we share a deep connection?  I think there is a possibility...

WooHoo

ONE MONTH! 

Need I say more?
Oh yeah....

I love you to pieces babe!!!!!

The stuff they don't tell you

So usually I have something happen during the week that makes me go, "that's blog deserving" in my head.  Lately, I haven't really had one of those...until now ;)

I was thinking I would share my thoughts on this new married life in honor of our three week anniversary of being married tomorrow (I know...gag gag gag).

1. I don't really care what they say...I would take being married vs being single any day.  I was seriously missing out!
2. I am no longer a morning person, but I'm still not really a night owl either...I could seriously stay snuggled up to that man all day and all night long!
3. Challenges just don't seem as bad or scary when you have someone to face them with.

I know my look on married life will eventually change.  But, right now I am simply a newly married woman who is madly in love more than ever before with her new husband.

I love you babe!  Happy 3 weeks!