The Nest.

TheNest.com is one of my favorite sites for all things newlywed - even if I'm no longer as much of a newlywed as I like to believe.

The site offers advice about everything from what to do on Saturday night to how to become debt free. They also profile "Real Couples" from all around the country and "Real Homes" which is a great source for decor ideas. Will and I were actually featured in their Summer 2008 magazine as a "Real Couple" - which happened to be the same issue John and Sherry from YoungHouseLove were on the cover debuting the total transformation of their ranch house!

I was perusing their site the other day and came across a ton of fun Valentine's Day Date Ideas - actual DAY date ideas since V-day is on a Sunday this year. I thought I'd share some of my favorites and some we plan to do ourselves!

1. Book a hot reservation (at home). While cooking together might be something you do every day, there's no reason it can't be special. The twist: Devise a unique menu that you'll make together every year on Valentine's Day (think: all seafood, or an aphrodisiac theme). Start the tradition now and you'll never have to worry about making last-minute plans in the future.

2. Make it a double header. You’ve got all day, so why not take in two events? Hate basketball and your main squeeze is addicted to it? Get tickets to a game. Despise musicals? Surprise your spouse with tickets to a show. Sucking it up just this once will win you major brownie points.

3. Create your own movie star moniker. Think Brangelina and TomKat -- make your own by combining your two names. The funnier, the better.

4. Go on a gift mission. Hit a bookstore or music store together, then split up. Your mission: Buy something you know your sweetie will love. Then wrap and exchange.

5. Dance, dance, dance. So you’ve seen Dancing With the Stars and secretly wish you could twirl like Mario Lopez? It’s time to test your own skills by taking a couples dance class.

6. Build a fort. You remember how to do it -- construct it out of couch cushions, blankets, and pillows in your living room. Then, turn that fort into a love cave.

7. Stay in bed all day. It’s Sunday, so why get out from beneath the covers? Prepare breakfast in bed, cue up an all-day lounge-a-thon, and order in for dinner.

8. Recreate your first V-Day together. Who said there’s no such thing as a do-over? Do it the same way you did back then. The only things you’ll miss are the nerves and overblown expectations.

9. MYOV -- as in Make Your Own Valentines. Back in the day, you gave a valentine to all of your BFFs. Grab construction paper, markers, glue, and glitter and make a valentine for your sweetie.

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1. Will and I plan to cook at home on V-day this year. Will attempted to start a tradition of cooking me a delicious Valentine's dinner 3 years ago, but we abandoned the idea last year when it kept going horribly wrong (thanks to me). We're bringing it back this year and I'm really excited about it! He's going to make dinner and I'm going to make this for dessert.

2. You have all day so why not? We don't have any day plans solidified yet, but I'm thinking maybe a double-header movie that we each pick, shopping at each of our favorite stores, or breakfast of my choice, lunch of his choice - the options are endless.

3. Ok, so this isn't really a date per se, but it's hilarious and I've already been brainstorming.

Which is better - Wilyndsey or Lylliam? haha :-)

4. We don't usually give each other gifts, but I love the simplicity of this gift giving idea. I love the idea of roaming around Barnes & Noble searching for the perfect travel, cooking, or non-fiction novel for my hubby. Maybe even a book about home-made beer brewing?

5. Unfortunately this idea isn't in the cards for us thanks to Will's seriously left feet and overall lack of rhythm, but it's a great idea for any couple who likes to break it down!

6. Not on our v-day list for 2010, but we have actually done this. The night before we moved out of our apartment and had very minimal furniture we constructed a little tent to sleep under. Not the most comfortable, but not the least either. And a fun memory to boot.

7. I don't physically think I could do this thanks to my ADD tendencies, but I love the idea of it.

8. We definitely will NOT be doing this - did you catch that part about our first two Valentines' being complete and utter failures?? But we are recreating parts of it. Will made steak then, he's making steak now. Only this time it wont be three hours old and dried out thanks to me and my rehearsal schedule. But for those of you who attempted to make your first V-day with your significant other extra special and it actually worked, then this is perfect for you!

9. Will and I always get each other two Valentine's day cards - one sweet, one funny. This year I may opt to make one home-made because isn't everything sweeter with construction paper hearts and crayola i♥u's?

irresistible.

P.S. Thank you all for your great ideas about my end-of-year school project! I am excited to look into all of the different suggestions!

Random.

I have fallen in love... with the photo books you can make on a mac.

I have roughly a million I want to make.

1. College Book - sorority pictures, roommates, spring breaks, random shenanigans, etc.

2. Will & I - the "dating" years (or rather, year)

3. I am making an intense wedding scrapbook, but I may make a photo book just because I like it that much.

4. Honeymoon

5. First year of marriage - first married birthdays, holidays, vacations, etc.

6. Maybe a small one about building our house; the lovely, grueling process that it was.

And many, many more!

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And finally....farewell J.D. Salinger.

"What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it." — J.D. Salinger

Houston With The Bui's!

Will and I had a great time spending the weekend with our friends in The Woodlands.

Jon and Jo were wonderful hosts and we loved getting to stay in their new house!

Will & I at PF Changs.

Jon & Joanna

The highlight of the trip for me was Saturday afternoon spent in Old Town Spring. It's this cute little area with tons of antique shops and boutiques. Right up my alley. I immediately feel in love with this store and proceeded to surreptitiously take photos of all the eye candy.

Enjoy...

Welcome to Thad's.

I want to make this.

mice in a matchbox? sure, why not.

Most of the stuff was pretty expensive, but we couldn't walk away completed empty handed. We ended up with a little plate and three large prints. I'm going to put the NY and Paris print in my craft room, and I'm not really sure what we're going to do with the head but it's just fun so I had to have it.

We can't wait to visit Houston again. And we planned like a dozen vacations we want to take together so hopefully one or two will happen soon!

Girls Night

Today after school a group of us ladies went out to dinner to say goodbye to our friend Evie. She is actually only going about 500 feet down the road to another school because she is the art teacher and switches schools at semester, but it will be sad not seeing her everyday. There is a small group of us that hang out during our breaks throughout the day, and I seriously would not be as sane as I am if it weren't for them! It's hilarious because our ages range from 23 (me) to like mid-50's but we just have the best time together. As stressed as I can get with the pressures of being a teacher, they always know how to talk me down off the ledge, ha! We made Evie a big basket of goodies to take with her and a "memory book" of funny inside jokes, sayings, etc. to remind her of the good times.

These are some iphone pictures of Evie with her goodie basket, and of her precious baby girl, Pippa. I always tell her I'm going to steal Pippa, and I might just have to now that I won't see her as often!

Evie

Miss Pippa - look at those chipmunk cheeks!

I love baby belly

Tomorrow is a half day with the kids, picture day, UIL prep day (our school is hosting it), and then off to Houston for the weekend! I'm excited for a fun weekend with friends!

Will's DIY

Will's DIY project:

He made it from scratch!

Not the labels - the beer inside. The labels he ordered online.

The Lofland Brewing Co. is currently located in the closet of our guest bedroom.

I'm not an IPA fan, but many friends and family have given it GREAT reviews!

Prost!

Dog Days

Well we didn't sleep in and we didn't bum around (yet), but we did go to the dog park!

Rowdy and Toula had a great time...

exploring

sniffing

pointing

gettin some love

making friends

getting filthy

and playing in the water!

We're all still recovering from post-dog park bath time.

Craft Room Transformation

Phase One: Blah, Boring, Bland. Used mainly for storage.

Phase Two: Bought some furniture

Phase Three: Did some painting.

Very subtle color change, but it really made a difference in the final product.

Phase Four: Voila!

This wall still needs some major decor TLC, but I think it's going to be my inspiration wall where I'll just hang up anything and everything I love as I come across it!

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After scouring the city of Dallas today for the perfect desk, I found nothing and am starting to like the one I already have even more. If only it wasn't so small - I can't even push a chair under it! That's really my only problem with it. Sigh.

We did get a lot of great knick-knacks at IKEA today - hence the empty picture frames on the wall - and Will took me out to dinner and to see the ridiculously cliche yet adorable movie Leap Year so I feel fairly accomplished nonetheless.

Tomorrow we will be sleeping in and bumming around the house all day. Yay for government holidays!

Desks

Will said I can get a new desk for the craft/guest room.

My inspiration

I love all things white.

I also love the upholstered chairs - much more chic than the traditional "desk chair."

And does anyone know where I can get the stacked books painting in the 3rd picture?

It's a couples thing

What are your middle names?

Lyndsey Nicole and William Christopher

How long have you been together?

Married for 1 year and 7 months (holy cow!) and we have been together since 2006.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?

That's debatable - technically we met Halloween of 2005 and starting dating Feb. of 2006 - but we sort of hated each other during those months in between, ha.

Who asked who out?

We just sort of starting talking one night and never stopped. But I guess the first *date* we had was initiated by Will - via text. Seriously. And then I forced him to join Facebook so I didn't have to be "in a relationship" with "anonymous."

How old were each of you when you met?

I was 19 and he was 21

How old are each of you now?

I'm 23 and he is 25

How tall are each of you?

I'm 5'4" and he's 6'3" - we look awkward in pictures...

Whose siblings do you see the most?

We see both of our siblings a lot since they live near. And we each just have one so that makes it easier.

Do you have any children together?

Not yet!

What about pets?

Of course, Toules and the Rowdster.

Did you go to the same school?

Both graduates of Baylor.

Are you from the same hometown?

No, he's from Rockwall, I'm from Southlake. Both are in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area though.

Who is the smartest?

Definitely Will.

Who is the most sensitive?

Definitely me.

Where do you eat out most as a couple?

Zanata's - local pizza place

Henk's - German restaurant in Dallas

La Madeline - one of our favorite weekend lunch spots

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

Petit St. Vincent for our honeymoon. If all goes as planned, that will be changing though :)

Who has the worst temper?

Me, I'm the most emotional overall. Will is really laid back - I don't know if I've ever heard him raise his voice. My voice is naturally raised, ha.

Who does the cooking?

Will, but I have been making more of an effort!

Who is more social?

We are both home-bodies but I need my girl time so I'd say me.

Who is the neat-freak?

Will, hands down. I could care less unless company is coming over.

Who hogs the bed?

Me...I like to sleep diagonally! Poor Will has to deal with some part of my body thrown over his throughout most of the night!

Who wakes up earlier?

Me, unfortunately. 5:30am is the worst time of the day.

Who has the bigger family?

As previously stated, we each only have one sibling but I have a much larger extended family.

How do you spend the holidays?

We split every Holiday because our families only live about 45 min. apart.

Who is more jealous?

Me, probably. Although Will hates hearing about old boyfriends - it's easy for me because he only had like 2 other girlfriends ever :)

Do you have little pet names for each other?

Yes, but they are silly so I'm going to refrain.

How long did it take to get serious?

Not long at all. We met in February and he was a graduating senior so there was really no point unless we were going to become serious.

Who eats more?

Let's hope him! Although some days who knows...

Who sings better?

Definitely Will. Although I sing louder and more often.

Who’s older?

Will.

Who does the dishes?

The dishwasher. We both load and unload though.

Who snores?

Will, occasionally.

He's going to be so mad I wrote that, tee hee :)

Who’s better with the computer?

Will - he's my little computer nerd.

Who drives when you are together?

Will - I hate driving! I'm a much better DJ.

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?

Will.

Who kissed who first?

Him of course!

Who has more tattoos?

Neither.

Who eats more sweets?

That is tough - I eat more now that I am surrounded by it at school! But he likes more kinds than me.

"Tag" to anyone who is a couple because it's fun!

(and let me know so I can stop by and read yours!)

♥

Personal Day

Around 10:30 last night I finally gave in and got a sub for today. I wasn't sure I was going to feel any better and didn't want to risk it.

So I decided to try and make the most of my sick day.

First I cleaned, and I mean cleaned the house.

Then my mom came over and we ran some errands, ate lunch, and did some crafting. She got a sewing machine for Christmas and has been experimenting with it for a while. She's really good! These wont get used for at least two more years, but its never too early to start practicing right??

Baby blanket! I love the fabric!

Matching burp cloth!

Then she took the scraps and made a whole set of burp cloths. Aren't they so cute?!

Here's a picture of my updated craft room - we rearranged the bed and it totally changed the feel of the whole room. And I added a bunch of cute pillows - I love how it is turning out! The desk is in a new spot and I want to add a bookshelf. I'm still working on wall decor, but that will have to wait until after the weekend because we are painting!

I finally got some more glue sticks and finished the craft I started this weekend. What do you think?

Book Wreath!

I got the tutorial here. Really easy but it took some time.

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In other news: Today will forever be remembered as the day Rowdy killed a skunk in our backyard. Toula happened to be out there when it occurred, which also happened to be right before I had to leave for class. So Will got the unfortunate task of smothering them both in tomato sauce and then bathing them in the shower because it was too cold outside. He was not happy. He did a good job though - they are skunk-scent free and the house smells better thanks to a few scented candles. Oy.