tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62387317973523792482024-03-13T06:14:58.475-04:00Front Porch Sittin' with the FentonsLesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-79247741058691557662013-10-29T12:45:00.000-04:002014-12-13T09:25:34.799-05:00Closing Down the Porch<br />
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Well, friends, I am sadly here to tell you the inevitable. At first, I took a blogging hiatus because I wanted to do a simple blog redesign, which then turned into me thinking if I even wanted to keep up with this thing anymore. As you can tell from my extended absence, the answer is a resounding <b>no</b>. My inspiration for this blog has been MIA for quite some time now, and I don't think it's coming back.<br />
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When I first started Front Porch Sittin', I was so excited and passionate about it. I blogged about the stupidest stuff. We had peaches for breakfast? We went on a walk this weekend? I bought my first ever panel of curtains? Blogged about it ALL. And then I started finding other newlywed bloggers just like me, which was wonderful, but then the ugly comparison game began to creep in. I pretended like it didn't bother me, but there I was nonetheless, comparing my number of followers and comments to everyone else. To everyone I had no business comparing myself to. I always said my blog was about keeping up with my writing, but slowly, comparison stole away the joy I originally found in it.<br />
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Then the comparison eventually morphed into self-induced guilt. I was a 'lifestyle' blogger, and if I didn't blog about everything Kyle and I did, I felt this huge burden on my shoulders...like I had an unmet deadline or something. And where is the fun in that? While I did get much better about not thinking that way, sometimes there would still be this nagging voice in the back of my head saying, "You need to blog about this! Why haven't you blogged about this yet?!" -- and all I really wanted to do was punch that voice in the face.<br />
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So what will happen to this little corner of the internet? Well, as of today, this is the last post you will see on Front Porch Sittin'. Sad face, I know. While it's a bit of a bummer to type that, at the same time I don't feel sad at all! I think God has been preparing me to let go of this blog for a long time now. I'm not planning on deleting it, so it will still be here if you ever need to search the archive for a post. And you can always keep up with our day-to-day shenanigans on <a href="http://instagram.com/lesleyannef">Instagram</a> if that's your kind of thing.<br />
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But seriously, am I really going to stay away from blogging <i>forever</i>? If that thought popped into your head, then you know me all too well! This girl will always have something to write about. And the truth is, I've been working on a side project this whole time that I am hoping to launch very soon. I honestly can't wait to share it with you guys! So the answer is...you are not through with me yet. Stay tuned! (How's that for ambiguity?!)<br />
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Finally, I can't write a farewell post without mentioning you guys, my awesome readers! Thank you SO MUCH for reading and following my blog, whether you've been with me since the beginning or just recently joined in. Some people say they only blog for themselves and not for their readers, but I'm calling bull on that. I think every blogger has their audience in mind when they are writing, and it has been no different for me. You guys have made every step of the way worth it, and I hope you know I will still continue reading your blogs and leaving some comment love. :)<br />
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I love you all and can't thank you enough for hanging out with me on the Front Porch all these years. LA, out! <!-------->Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-64287719909820487592013-07-30T13:45:00.000-04:002013-07-30T13:45:27.056-04:00Heap of Ashes That I Am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6131164-clockwork-princess?ac=1">Clockwork Princess</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150038.Cassandra_Clare">Cassandra Clare</a><br />
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<b>Release Date</b>: March 19, 2013<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 570<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Fantasy/Supernatural<br />
<b>Series</b>: The Infernal Devices #3<br />
-<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-clockwork-angel.html">Clockwork Angel</a> (2010)<br />
-<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-clockwork-prince.html">Clockwork Prince</a> (2011)<br />
-Clockwork Princess (2013)<br />
<b>Source and Format</b>: Library; Hardcover <br />
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<b>Summary (From Goodreads)</b><br />
A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa Gray.<br />
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Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her.<br />
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As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?<br />
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Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.<br />
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<b>Thoughts on <i>Clockwork Princess</i></b><br />
Honestly, I was so scared to start this book. I knew I was in for a heartbreaking read, and wasn't sure if I was ready for it. This series is loosely based on <i>A Tale of Two Cities</i>, and we all know how tragically that story ends. Basically, my feelings going in to this book can be summarized by this one quote:<br />
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<i>"You know that feeling...when you are reading a book, and you know that it is going to be a tragedy; you can feel the cold and darkness coming, see the net drawing close around the characters who live and breathe on the pages. But you are tied to the story as if being dragged behind a carriage, and you cannot let go or turn the course aside." </i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
It's almost as if Cassandra Clare knew what she was doing to her readers and wanted to express her sympathy. Being dragged behind a carriage perfectly describes how I felt while reading this book. I know that probably makes <i>Clockwork Princess</i> sound like the worst book ever, but it actually has been my favorite read of the year so far. All in all, this was the best conclusion to a series I've read in a long, long time.<br />
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At the heart of the story is the love triangle between Jem, Will, and Tessa. For me, one of the things that makes this love triangle so tricky is the relationship between Jem and Will. I have never seen a friendship portrayed in a more beautiful, symbolic way. Jem and Will are not just best friends, they are parabatai, and I love the connection Clare makes between parabatai and the covenant made by Jonathan and David in the Bible. This story wouldn't be nearly as heartbreaking without Jem's selfless love for Will, and Will's selfless love for Jem in return.<br />
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The whole time I was
reading this series, it wasn't blatantly obvious to me where Tessa's heart
lied...until this book. <i>Clockwork Princess</i> basically centers around two of the main characters, while also giving us a glimpse into the relationships developing among the secondary characters. Beyond the love story is a breathtaking adventure in which the characters face many life and death situations. The pacing of this book was relentless. Additionally, all of the big questions were answered and loose ends tied up. <br />
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Which brings me to the epilogue. I can't write this review without mentioning the ever-controversial epilogue! I have to admit it jerked
me back to reality a little too soon,
but overall I am glad Clare included it. I think my feelings for this
series would be completely different if it wasn't there. There needed to
be a little more closure for one character in particular, and that's
exactly what we got. I saw in <a href="http://www.hello-chelly.com/2013/04/latest-read-clockwork-princess.html">Rachel's review</a> that Clare wrote a post
explaining why she included it, and I think it would be a good read for
anyone who has read this series and feels kind of meh about the
epilogue (you can find it <a href="http://cassandraclare.tumblr.com/post/46238458552/clockwork-princess-spoiler-questions-and-answers">here</a> - DON'T READ if you haven't finished <i>Clockwork Princess, </i>though!).<br />
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Overall, just wow. I absolutely loved this series. Well-written, fantastic
story. These characters will stay with me for a long time to come.<br />
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<b>Memorable Quotes</b><br />
"Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read. I would read them together with you, as many as I can, before I die-"<div>
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"And now I need you to do for me what I cannot do for myself. For you to be my eyes when I do not have them. For you to be my hands when I cannot use my own. For you to be my heart when mine is done beating."<div>
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"Our hearts, they need a mirror, Tessa. We see our better selves in the eyes of those who love us. And there is a beauty that brevity alone provides."Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-62984286376332320392013-07-24T15:15:00.000-04:002013-07-24T15:19:36.668-04:00Book Review: Clockwork Prince<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince">Clockwork Prince</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150038.Cassandra_Clare">Cassandra Clare</a></div>
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<b>Release Date</b>: December 6, 2011<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 510<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Fantasy/Supernatural<br />
<b>Series</b>: Yes! The Infernal Devices #2<br />
-<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-clockwork-angel.html">Clockwork Angel</a> (2010)<br />
-Clockwork Prince (2011)<br />
-Clockwork Princess (2013)<br />
<b>Source and Format</b>: Library; Hardcover<br />
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<div>
<b>Summary (From Barnes & Noble)</b></div>
<div>
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when it becomes clear that the mysterious Magister will stop at nothing to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.<br />
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With the help of the handsome, tortured Will and the devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal and fueled by revenge. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.<br />
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Tessa is drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa answers about who she really is? As their search leads to deadly peril, Tessa learns that secrets and lies can corrupt even the purest heart.<br />
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<b>Thoughts on <i>Clockwork Prince</i></b><br />
<div>
Something I think worth pointing out that I did not include in my review of <i><a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-clockwork-angel.html">Clockwork Angel</a></i> is that while I really loved this series, these books are probably not for everyone. I think it's one of those series that you either love or hate. If reading about half-angels fighting demons in a Victorian London setting doesn't sound like your thing, you might want to take my gushing over these books with a grain of salt. ;)<br />
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With that said, I enjoyed this book even more than the first! Sometimes the middle book in a trilogy sort of falls flat and nothing really happens, but that is not the case with <i>Clockwork Prince</i>. There were plenty of adventures to be had and we find out a great deal about pretty much every character <i>except</i> Tessa. We still don't know exactly what she is and why she can do what she does. I expected a little more development on this front, but instead Clare focused on exploring the secondary characters and their stories, which still made for a compelling read.</div>
<div>
<br />
On that note, one of the things I loved about these books is the different POVs. The story is told in third person omniscient - not just from Tessa's limited perspective - which allows us to see how the other characters develop relationships and deal with their own struggles. All of these interconnecting story lines played out just like a movie in my head!</div>
<div>
<br />
If I had to point out one thing that bothers me about this series, it would be that some of the major conflicts were resolved a little too easily for me. I found myself thinking "That's it?!" quite a few times, but perhaps that was Cassandra Clare's purpose all along? Either way, I found myself disappointed with the resolution of a few plot lines in this one.</div>
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And don't worry, I am still sticking by my man Jem. Even though Will says some pretty amazing things to Tessa and the ending was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever read -- drama drama drama! Without spoiling anything, I need to say this about the ending too -- it definitely read like a season finale for a TV show. Cassandra Clare just hits you with one shocker after another. I'm glad I was able to go straight into reading <i>Clockwork Princess</i> so I didn't have to hang out on that cliff too long.</div>
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Basically I feel like I didn't say much of anything in this review, but if you do get one thing out of it, it's that you need to READ THIS SERIES NOW. Like yesterday. And then be on Team Jem with me. Yay! That's all. :)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Memorable Quotes</b></div>
"We live and breathe words...It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted--and then I realized that truly I just wanted you."<br />
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<br /></div>
"When two people are at one in their inmost hearts, they shatter even the strength of iron or bronze."</div>
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-17629486505809634042013-07-09T11:00:00.000-04:002013-07-09T11:00:02.331-04:00Books In My Beach Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Y'all. Vacation is SO CLOSE, I can almost smell that glorious salty air already! My plan for the week is to post up in my beach chair and just read a ton of books. I know everybody's definition of a good beach read is different, and for me, I just want a legit good book. It doesn't necessarily have to be light and fun, I just want a story that draws me in. I'm planning on bringing at least 6 different choices with me, so we'll see what ends up tickling my fancy! Here's what you can find in my beach bag this summer: </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11071466-second-chance-summer?ac=1">Second Chance Summer</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3351454.Morgan_Matson">Morgan Matson</a>: Ok, I'm not just bringing this because the cover is pretty. I've heard the story inside is just as beautiful (and a bit of a tearjerker). But isn't it one of the prettiest covers you've ever seen? I love the peachy tones and the watercolor feel to the font treatment. It looks like a painting that belongs at a lake house. </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11281852-kisses-from-katie?ac=1">Kisses From Katie</a> by <a href="http://www.amazima.org/index.html">Katie Davis</a>: Kyle gave me this book for my birthday, and I've been waiting to read it when I had time to really sit down and soak it all in (perfect for the beach). I know this book has the potential to be life-changing, and I can't wait to see what I learn from it. </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8664353-unbroken?ac=1">Unbroken</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/30913.Laura_Hillenbrand">Laura Hillenbrand</a>: Every person who has read this book says it is one of the best books they have ever read. And that they are a better person for having read it. I usually don't bring non-fiction with me to the beach, but this one has me so intrigued that I can't wait to dive in and see what this story is all about.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345627.Vampire_Academy?ac=1">Vampire Academy</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/137902.Richelle_Mead">Richelle Mead</a>: I know, I know. Vampires, really? Can we just not anymore? I totally understand that sentiment. My best friend and I were texting a few months ago that we wish we could unread the Twilight series. But I have heard Vampire Academy completely blows Twilight out of the water, and after reading <a href="http://soobsessedwith.blogspot.com/2012/07/bite-fight-or-flight.html">Hannah's review</a> of the series, I decided to try the first book and see what the fuss is all about.</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7541858-city-of-bones?ac=1">City of Bones</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150038.Cassandra_Clare">Cassandra Clare</a>: I am in the midst of reading the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/series/54144-the-infernal-devices">prequel series</a> to this book right now, and Cassandra Clare has solidly won a place on my all-time favorite authors list. I love her writing so much. There is a lot of hype surrounding this book with the movie coming out in August, but I trust that Clare's writing will live up to it! </div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone?ac=1">Shadow and Bone</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4575289.Leigh_Bardugo">Leigh Bardugo</a>: This is another beautiful cover that immediately drew my attention, it is so refreshing and different. Plus, it's just fun to get lost in a fantasy world while you are at the beach (hello, there is a map at the beginning!). And I've heard this one is absolutely <a href="http://www.paperiot.com/2013/03/review-shadow-and-bone.html">made of awesome</a>, y'all. </div>
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So there you go! The books I may or may not be reading at the beach this summer. I say may not, because my favorite thing to do is make a list and completely not stick to it, plus I'm bringing my Nook with me that has a bunch of other books I want to read on it too (like <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10756656-under-the-never-sky">Under the Never Sky</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2999475-jellicoe-road">Jellicoe Road</a>). So what books will you be reading at the beach this summer? Or are you more of a play in the water and build sandcastles kind of person? Trust me, there will be a lot of that going on during our vacation too! :) </div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-68419318874103051582013-07-03T00:00:00.000-04:002013-07-03T09:35:26.726-04:00Have a Happy 4th!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93731235966707399/">via</a></i></div>
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Are you excited about the 4th coming up tomorrow?! I sure am, since it means an extra long weekend this year! The 4th has always been one of my favorite holidays, with the grilling out and playing all day on the lake. We'll be spending the holiday at my parents' lake house again this year, which is great because we have a pretty good view of the local fireworks show from their dock.<br />
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What are some of your 4th of July traditions? When it comes to food, a few recipes you can usually find around our table are <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2008/05/grilled-pineapple-2-pts.html">grilled pineapple</a>, <a href="http://acooksconnection.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-your-average-slaw.html">Asian slaw</a>, and <a href="http://www.momsmenuplanner.com/seasons/item/211-american_flag_cake">American flag cake</a>. I can vouch for the yumminess of each of these dishes--if you are still looking for ideas, your family will love you for adding them to your menu this year. ;)<br />
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Whatever you end up doing, I hope all of you have a safe and happy 4th!Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-565494697522748142013-06-28T11:17:00.000-04:002013-06-28T11:17:01.764-04:00It's been real, Google Reader. I apologize in advance if this is the one thousand millionth post you've read about Google Reader shutting down on Monday. I'm going to contribute to the broken record anyway, so if you didn't already know...<br />
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<b>Google Reader is going away this Monday, July 1. </b><br />
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What does that mean for you? If you follow Front Porch Sittin' through Google Friend Connect or Google Reader, you will need to use an alternative RSS feed to continue receiving updates from this here ol' blog. The most popular RSS feed bloggers and readers are using now is called <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/">Bloglovin'</a>, and you can follow me there simply by clicking this button:<br />
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If you are unfamiliar at all with Bloglovin (which was definitely me when I first started using it a few months ago), I found a helpful tutorial for you <a href="http://bitinglife.com/2013/03/26/bloglovin-tutorial/">here</a>. And <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/import/reader">here's</a> a simple way to import your Google Reader subscriptions into Bloglovin'.<br />
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If RSS Readers aren't your jam, you can also get new post notifications through <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/FrontPorchSittinWithTheFentons">email subscription</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/lesleyfenton">Twitter</a>, or Facebook. Whichever you way you decide to slice the cake, I just wanted to thank you for being such awesome readers, no matter if you've been around since day one or just started following yesterday. Let's keep this party going come Monday! :) <br />
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Have a GREAT weekend!Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-30820550278925362892013-06-26T11:30:00.000-04:002013-06-27T10:57:13.685-04:00Book Review: Clockwork Angel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7171637-clockwork-angel?ac=1">Clockwork Angel</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/150038.Cassandra_Clare">Cassandra Clare</a><br />
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<b>Release Date</b>: August 31, 2010<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 478<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Fantasy/Supernatural<br />
<b>Series</b>: Yes! The Infernal Devices #1<br />
-Clockwork Angel (2010)<br />
-Clockwork Prince (2011)<br />
-Clockwork Princess (2013)<br />
<b>Source and Format</b>: Library; Hardcover</div>
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<b>Summary (From Goodreads)</b></div>
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.<br />
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Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.<br />
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Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.<br />
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<b>Thoughts on <i>Clockwork Angel</i></b><br />
HOLY CRAP, this book! I originally gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought it deserved a 5, so I went back and changed it. Yep, this one is a new favorite! I don’t know what it was about this book, maybe I was just in the perfect mood for this genre and it was a right place at the right time kind of thing, but I LOVED it!<br />
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Because I like being mean to myself, I started reading this the weekend before we closed on our house, which resulted in some major book guilt. I needed to spend my free time packing, and then once we moved, <i>un</i>packing. But all I really wanted to do was READ THIS BOOK. I finally finished it 15 days later, but that certainly isn’t a reflection on my feelings for this novel. If I had been able to, I would have gobbled this thing up in one day!<br />
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I went into <i>Clockwork Angel</i> having not read <i>The Mortal Instruments</i> series, so one advantage of being late to the party is reading all of these books “in order” and not knowing what will eventually happen in the future. I at least want to finish this series and book one of <i>The Mortal Instruments</i> before <a href="http://www.themortalinstrumentsmovie.com/">the movie</a> comes out in August (yes, there's a movie). I think I can make that happen! Ok so before I get away from myself and gush all over the place with this review, here are the top three things I loved about <i>Clockwork Angel</i>:<br />
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<b>The characters: </b><br />
From the moment I met each of the characters in this book, I was fully engrossed in their story and wanted to know more about them. Even the servants had me intrigued! What happened in their past to make them the way they are today? What are their motivations? Cassandra Clare does an outstanding job of slowly peeling back the curtain to reveal important pieces to the puzzle, and how those pieces fit together. I just can't get enough of Will, Jem, and Tessa! My only complaint is that I wanted to know more. But this is the first novel in the series, so of course we can't know everything yet!<br />
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<b>The world-building:</b><br />
This book was kind of an instant win for me because it combined two of my favorite genres: historical fiction and fantasy. If historical fiction is not your jam, don't worry. There were times I often forgot this book was set in the 1800s because it was so character driven. Which leads to why I loved the world-building. Cassandra Clare has woven such an intricate and compelling world that I absolutely loved to get lost in, mainly because the Shadowhunter world relied on the identity of the characters. Downworlders, Shadowhunters, mundanes, parabatai--what does it all mean?! You'll have to read to find out! <br />
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<b>TWO swoonworthy boys:</b><br />
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Ok, ladies. Cassandra Clare has given us a dilemma here. First we have Jem, the fair-skinned but handsome gentleman who shows nothing but the utmost respect for Tessa.<i> </i>He is dealing with a mysterious illness, but maybe Tessa will be the one to find his cure? And then we have Will Herondale. Prepare yourself for some major swooning! He is dark, mysterious, and confuses the heck out of Tessa with the way he treats her. He gives off a bad boy vibe, but I'm thinking there is a tender side underneath that hard shell. He likes to talk books with our leading lady, which hints that in fact there is a soft side to him. I am so torn between these two, but at the end of the day I think I am gonna have to go with Team Jem. That little stunt you know who pulls on the rooftop is just not gonna cut it! I am hoping there is a hidden reason behind that revealed sometime in the next two books. In the meantime, here's to hoping nice guy Jem doesn't finish last. :)<br />
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<b>Memorable Quote</b><br />
"Sometimes," Jem said, "our lives can change so fast that the change outpaces our minds and hearts. It's those times, I think, when our lives have altered but we still long for the time before everything was altered-- that is when we feel the greatest pain. I can tell you, though, from experience, you grow accustomed to it. You learn to live your new life, and you can't imagine, or even really remember, how things were before."</div>
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-15673463576771912852013-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:002013-06-22T00:00:04.073-04:00Cable Cars, Chocolate, and a Crooked Street, Oh My!And now for the main event! For the next two weeks or so, this blog will be getting some MAJOR California love. I hope you are ready! If I were a good blogger, these posts would've happened weeks ago, but a good blogger I am not. And that's ok. To sum it up, we spent the first part of our trip exploring San Francisco, then drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey and Big Sur, and then finished things up in Wine Country. Today I will be blogging about our first day in good ole San Fran.<br />
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Our travel day started on the Sunday morning after <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/06/kyles-graduation-from-physical-therapy.html">Kyle's graduation</a>, and our first stop from Atlanta was a layover in Dallas. On the way to Dallas, our pilot pointed out the Mississippi River, which was really cool to see since I had never seen it before. It would be neat to see in person one day as opposed to 30,000+ feet in the air, but I'll take it!<br />
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We quickly grabbed lunch at the Dallas airport and before we knew it it was time for the last leg of our flight to San Francisco. On the way out to California, we saw Lake Powell in Utah and even got a glimpse of Half Dome in Yosemite (Kyle was freaking out!). I originally planned to read a book or sleep on the flight out there, but I couldn't keep my eyes away from the window, taking in the beautiful landscapes. What a gorgeous view!<br />
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We arrived safe and sound at the San Francisco airport around 1:30 in the afternoon and immediately called our moms to wish them a Happy Mother's Day (yes, that's how long ago we took this trip). Our next mission was to figure out how the heck we were going to get to our hotel from the airport. One thing people always complain about in Atlanta is the lack of public transportation options, and I think San Francisco is the complete opposite. There are too many! Or at least too many for these car-driving Atlanta natives. We finally decided to take the BART (aka the San Francisco MARTA equivalent and cheapest option). The BART took us within walking distance of our hotel, and we felt a little silly walking around downtown with our rolly bags behind us, but thankfully we weren't the only ones. Eventually we found our hotel (<a href="http://www.hotelunionsquare.com/">Hotel Union Square</a>), freshened up, and came back out ready to explore the city. Here is the view of Union Square from our hotel room:<br />
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The first thing we decided to do was take a cable car ride--a quintessential thing to do in San Francisco. Our hotel was really close to one of the stops, so we bought some tickets and waited in line for a pretty good bit. <br />
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Eventually we were off up the hills of San Francisco! One thing that surprised me about the cable cars was that they weren't just a tourist attraction, the locals actually used them to get around. In a city where practically no one drives, I guess it makes sense to take advantage of any mode of transportation you can get!<br />
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Near the end of our cable car ride, we passed by a section of Lombard Street. We knew Lombard was a place we wanted to check out, so when we got off the cable car we turned around and made the trek over to it. And man, it was a hike! Check out this hill (one of many we climbed to get there):</div>
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Our little hike was worth it in the end, though. Lombard Street is known as the crookedest street in the world with its 8 hairpin turns (you might recognize it from the movie Love Bug). For some reason I thought that this little section alone was Lombard Street, but it actually runs all throughout the city. It's funny how you have preconceived notions of a place in your head, but in reality it's totally different. And in real life this was a pretty neat sight to see!<br />
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If you turn around from where I was standing in the picture above, this is the rest of Lombard Street continuing down the hill.<br />
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After taking pictures at the bottom, we decided to climb the staircase and take more pictures at the top. We had buns of steel after this trip, for real!<br />
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I loved all the hydrangeas in the landscape design. So pretty!</div>
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The view of the Bay from the top of Lombard Street. </div>
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From Lombard we walked back over to the area around Ghirardelli Square. And yes, we found a stationary cable car to take some touristy pictures with. I couldn't resist!<br />
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Next we explored around Ghirardelli Square, where the original Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory is housed. When you walk in one of the Ghirardelli stores, they hand you free chocolate samples. My kind of place! We may or may not have walked in several different times (different doors everytime, duh).<br />
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There was a neat green space in front of Ghirardelli Square with a small beach. This is where we had our first sighting of the Golden Gate Bridge!<br />
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You can barely see it through the afternoon haze, but the Golden Gate Bridge is right to the left of my head over that pier in the background. I will save my gushing over the Golden Gate Bridge for the next post, but y'all, it is seriously one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.<br />
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After walking around some more, we found a sushi place for dinner (don't remember the name) and then it was off to bed for these jet-lagged geezers. We needed to get some beauty rest for our big bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge the next day. Which will be coming next on the blog--YAY! Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-22951248174014424182013-06-14T01:08:00.000-04:002013-06-14T01:15:43.128-04:00Summer Series Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh, sweet summertime! The time when I get the most reading done! Y'all know I like to post <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/p/book-reviews.html">book reviews</a> here occasionally, and even though I'm (SUPER) late to the party, I've decided to join the <a href="http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/2013/04/introducing-summer-series-challenge.html">Summer Series Challenge</a> hosted by Asheley at <a href="http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/">Into the Hall of Books</a>, Heather at <a href="http://www.flyleafreview.com/">The Flyleaf Review</a>, and Lauren at <a href="http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/">Love Is Not A Triangle</a>. I'm so excited! This is exactly the sort of kick in the pants I need to get reading this summer. </div>
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The point of this challenge is to finally finish a series you've already started, or start reading a fully published series in its entirety. Sounds like pretty much everything on my TBR! If you are interested in joining and have a place to post book reviews (there's still time to sign up!), go <a href="http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/2013/04/introducing-summer-series-challenge.html">here</a> to read Lauren's introductory post and join in the fun.</div>
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So herein lies my problem. I want to read ALL THE SERIES. Why are there so stinkin' many?! And why are there so many GOOD ones?! You will probably laugh at me as I list out all the series I want to read, but don't get too impressed. I will probably only read one or two of these during this challenge. I am just a fan of making long lists that I never stick to. :)</div>
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<b><u>Series I Want to Finish:</u> </b> </div>
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<b><u>Series I Want To Start and Finish:</u></b> </div>
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Ah! Where to begin?! Again, NOT gonna read all of these series by the end of August. A girl's just gotta have her choices. :) So what about you? What series would you like to start or finally finish?<br />
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-64052657162921919762013-06-12T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-12T06:00:10.281-04:00Kyle's Graduation From Physical Therapy School<br />
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Even though I'm writing this about a month after the fact, I don't think I could call this blog a journal of our life if I didn't include a post about Kyle's graduation from Physical Therapy School back in May. This was a pretty exciting couple of days for us and our families, so you can bet lots of pictures were taken. Consider this your fair warning, there are a lot of pictures ahead!<br />
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Kyle made his way over to Augusta the Monday night before graduation, and I joined him two days later on Wednesday afternoon. When I walked out of the office after a half-day of work on Wednesday, I couldn't help but smile because I was about to have ELEVEN days off straight (we left for California two days after graduation). Nothing like that much time off work to make you feel like a kid on the first day of summer break! Wednesday evening we went to visit some friends, including Jason and his daughter Lucy (we missed you, <a href="http://www.thebaaremans.com/">Laura</a>!), and <a href="http://thewarechronicles.blogspot.com/">Karen</a>, Ryan, and their daughter Madi. I also got to catch up with my former boss, Holly, over lunch on Thursday, and before I knew it it was time to get ready for the hooding ceremony Thursday night. <br />
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The hooding ceremony included undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Allied Health Sciences, so majors were along the lines of Dental Hygiene, Respiratory Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and of course Physical Therapy. I am going to have to agree with <a href="http://amgreavu.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-graduate.html">Amanda</a> and say that this particular event almost bored me to tears. They could have just invited the PAs to the first hour and half of it (they won pretty much all the awards under the sun), and then invited everyone else to the last 15 minutes for the hooding. The hooding was pretty entertaining since they had each department chair stand on a box so they could better reach over the students to hood them. Unfortunately my camera crapped out on me while Kyle was on stage, but we did get plenty of pictures afterwards, as you can see. :)<br />
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After our photoshoot in the gardens at First Pres, we headed downtown for a late-night dinner at our favorite restaurant in Augusta, <a href="http://www.froghollowtavern.com/home.php">Frog Hollow Tavern</a>. While we were waiting for our table (which should have been ready since we had RESERVATIONS, ahem), Kyle's sister gave him his graduation present. It was pretty hilarious:<br />
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Even though we had a pretty long wait (we didn't get our food until 9:30 PM...yikes!) I think everyone was really impressed with their meal. Frog Hollow has yet to disappoint in that area. And from there it was off to bed to get some beauty rest for another day full of festivities.<br />
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Friday morning before the big school-wide graduation was the PT class brunch. This event was my favorite because food was involved, of course. Just kidding. Kind of. It was also my favorite because it was a way for Kyle's class to celebrate their accomplishments just as PTs, and also reflect back on the past three years together. We loved catching up with everyone and wished we could have had more time together!<br />
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It's tradition at the end of the brunch to have a candlelight ceremony, but apparently you can't count on Justin and Kyle to take things seriously. ;) </div>
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After brunch we grabbed a few photos with friends on the terrace, and then walked down to the greenway to get some family pictures with Kyle wearing his full regalia (yes, I'm pretty sure in the Augusta heat and humidity Kyle hated me for this). <br />
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And then it was time to head over to the James Brown Arena for the big <a href="http://www.gru.edu/">Georgia Regents University</a> graduation. As you might remember, when Kyle started Physical Therapy School his school was still known as the Medical College of Georgia. Then the name changed in February 2011 to Georgia Health Sciences University. And as of January 1 of this year, Georgia Health Sciences University and Augusta State University <a href="http://www.usg.edu/consolidation/georgia_regents_university">consolidated</a> to form Georgia Regents University. It's really confusing, I know, but the important thing is that Kyle still got a Medical College of Georgia diploma (since he matriculated as an MCG student) and that will be the diploma hanging on the wall in our house. Speaking of diplomas, here he is crossing the stage to get his placeholder diploma (they had to wait until the end of the ceremony to pick up the real deal backstage). It was a special moment to hear him introduced as Dr. Kyle Fenton for the first time.<br />
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After they were done calling the names for the College of Allied Health Sciences, my family and Kyle's family bailed like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride. No shame in our game! We were graduation festivitied-out. But the fun wasn't over yet! We wrapped things up at my parents' lake house on Lake Oconee with a bbq dinner from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaButtsBBQ">Georgia Butts</a> and key lime cake for dessert.</div>
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Overall it was a really fun weekend celebrating three years of hard work for Kyle. I am just so unbelievably proud of him. His work ethic and his faith throughout it all has been a huge example for me. Also, thank you does not say enough for our family and friends who supported us during that time. We truly would not have made it without you. What a journey it has been, and what a journey it will continue to be! </div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-71142729816220874102013-06-11T05:30:00.000-04:002013-06-11T05:30:05.578-04:00The Story of our HouseHow do you even start a post like this?! Two weeks ago today, Kyle and I became homeowners! We put on our best business attire and drove to the attorney's office, signed all the closing papers, and moved in to our beautiful home three days later. Of course there was a LOT that happened before that, but I'll get to that in a sec. We love love LOVE our house and can't wait to show you all the prettiness inside (I filmed an empty house tour a la <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2013/05/the-new-digs-2/">Young House Love</a> that will hopefully be ready soon!). To say that life has been hectic since we got back from <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/05/san-francisco-in-snap.html">our trip to California</a> would be an understatement. I really want to get back in the groove of blogging and share everything that's been going on lately, so today I'll start with the story of our house. First of all, here she is. :) <br />
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As I mentioned in <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-so-house-search-begins.html">this post</a>, Kyle and I have been looking for houses for a little more than a year now. We watched online listings closely and drove by a few houses that we really liked, even when we weren't in the financial position to buy yet. In February of this year, Kyle found a new construction home in the area we knew would be a future possibility, and we both really liked the house just from looking at the online listing. Add in the fact that it was listed UNDER our budget, and we had to drive by and check it out. We both loved it even more "in person" (aka peeking in the windows) and absolutely loved the neighborhood it was in. It was seriously the cutest neighborhood I have ever seen--very small with all craftsman style homes. We both crossed our fingers and prayed it would still be on the market by the time we were able to buy several months down the road.<br />
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Well, that was not the case. We did our fair share of wishful thinking, but with the market the way it is right now, we shouldn't have been surprised it went under contract pretty soon after we checked it out. We were really disappointed, but I think Kyle was even more disappointed than me. We weren't just bummed we missed out on the house, but also that we missed out on the neighborhood. It was a fairly new neighborhood and that was the next to last lot to be sold, so the likelihood that another house would go on the market was slim to none. Or so we thought.<br />
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Fast forward to the night before we were scheduled to go house hunting with our realtor, and Kyle was looking over the new listing email he got every Friday from Keller Williams. He excitedly told me that another house in that same neighborhood had just been listed! Within reach of our price range! What are the odds?! So we immediately called/emailed our realtor so we could get an appointment the next day. We did, and we also went to see quite a few other houses that day. I went in with an open mind and tried to think as unemotionally as I could (yeah, right!) about each house that we saw. So here's a quick rundown of the houses we looked at (saving ours for last):<br />
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The first house we went to see was about ten years old in a well established neighborhood. I fell in love with the exterior of this house - I loved the paint color and the prominent stacked stone chimney. The interior didn't give me butterflies or anything, but it did confirm my love for wainscoting detail. Apparently wainscoting (or beadboard?) is my jam, y'all! This house already had a fenced-in backyard which was a major plus, but it also had a full basement which did not give us much wiggle room on the price. In the end, this house was really charming, it just wasn't the one for us.<br />
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Next, we looked at a five-bedroom cul-de-sac home that was much more reasonable for our price range. The exterior of this house looked promising, but I have to be honest and say the overall experience at this house was just awkward. The owners were still there when we arrived and had to scramble to get out so we could look at the house in private, but apparently the lady's uncle lived with them and was sick so he was still lying in bed while we were in the house. I felt like I really couldn't say what I was thinking to Kyle while we were looking around. On top of it being too much house for what we would currently need, the final straw was when we asked to take a quick look at the bedroom the sick uncle was staying in and there was a DISGUSTINGLY HUGE cat hanging out in the closet. Nope. I just can't. Scratched that one off the list pronto.<br />
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After that, we drove over to a new construction neighborhood and found the house we wanted to look at didn't look like the online listing photo at all. Not that it was a huge problem, we were able to get an explanation from the lady at the sales office fairly quickly. The photo on the listing was just a generic exterior photo for that type of floor plan, so the exterior in real life would look a little bit different. Since that house was still in the framing stages, we were able to look at the finished model with the same floor plan, and it really was a lovely layout. The only thing that was weird to me was that it had two master bedrooms, one downstairs and one up, with the master bedroom upstairs being the BIGGEST room I have EVER seen. Like for real. Our entire South Carolina split level home could fit in there. It was really odd and felt more like wasted space than a luxury. We looked at two model homes in this neighborhood, and Kyle and I had to talk about whether we were open to buying a lot and building on it as opposed to buying a move-in ready house. I think it was this point in the day where my head started to spin. Only four houses in. House hunting wimp I definitely am. Sadly I didn't take any photos of the two houses we looked at here. I think this whole situation just caught me off guard.<br />
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Next, we drove over to this beauty in a neighborhood we liked just as much as the neighborhood we ended up in. This one was listed a bit above our price range and still had a few finishing touches that needed to be made, but we wanted to look at it anyway and see what kind of offer we could put on it. When we walked up to the front door though, we noticed the lockbox was missing. We checked to see if there was one on the back door, and no dice. Bummed, our realtor looked at her printout for the house to try and find a number to call, and noticed the house was listed as a contingent with a kick out. Basically meaning there was already an offer on the house, pending the sale of the buyer's home. We were a little miffed the lockbox was removed because technically we could still put an offer on the house and "kick out" the other buyers, but obviously it would have to be a better offer for the sellers to even consider it, and we didn't think we were in a financial position to make a reasonably competitive offer. So, sadly, we had to drive away from this one.<br />
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After that we went to look at a house that was actually in my sister's neighborhood. It was fun to think about the possibility of living so close together! This house was by far the most expensive one we looked at, but it was bank-owned and had been sitting empty for a while, so we thought a low-ball offer wouldn't hurt if we liked it. We could tell this one was well-built and had a lot going for it, but again it was just too much house for what we would need right now, and possibly too much for what we would need in the future. Not only did it have an upstairs and a main level, but it also had a fully finished basement. It would take us F-O-R-E-V-E-R to furnish that house, and we weren't necessarily looking for our forever home (though I would totally be OK if we never moved again). So we didn't pursue anything with this house.<br />
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And then. :)<br />
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THE ONE came along. We walked in, and I just knew. This was it. I loved everything about the house, and it was in the neighborhood we initially fell in love with. The craftmanship, the details--it had me at hello. I tried not to let my feelings gush all over the place as we were walking around, but the minute Kyle and I walked out, we looked at each other and simultaneously agreed we were putting an offer on this one. We talked and prayed that night about what our offer would look like, and the next day our realtor officially submitted the offer to the sellers. After about a week of counteroffers, we finally went under contract on April 7. We were so excited that we were that couple, driving by the house to see if Under Contract was on the sign yet. Sure enough, it was! And we took a picture!<br />
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It was a long, stressful process between our contract binding date and closing date, and I am honestly so glad that part is behind us now. This house is far more than Kyle and I could ever ask or imagine, and I can't believe we are here, navigating our way through a sea of cardboard boxes as we start a new chapter in our life making our first house our home. I am so in awe of how God went before us and worked out every detail. We're pretty excited about all that's to come, and can't wait to have you guys over!<br />
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P.S. To give you a sneak peek inside the house, here's a video of Doc checking out his new digs for the first time. It's pretty cute.<br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/68106931">Doc Checking Out the New House</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user6962678">Lesley Anne Fenton</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-55751251761428010192013-05-21T16:03:00.000-04:002013-05-21T16:03:11.902-04:00San Francisco in a SnapWell, we made it back from our trip to California! And I have to say, it was REALLY hard to go back to work yesterday. We didn't get home until 11 p.m. on Sunday night, and that Monday morning alarm clock came just a liiiiittle too soon.<br />
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In short, Kyle and I pretty much fell in love with the city of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area while we were out in California. It was so beautiful and unlike any other part of the country I've seen. Which probably explains the memory card full of pictures currently waiting to be uploaded to my computer and edited (yikes!). Thinking about editing that many pictures makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little, so I'll just take it one baby step at a time. For now, here's a sneaky peek at our fast times in Cali via <a href="http://instagram.com/lesleyannef/">Instagram</a> (and yes, we were that annoying couple with a vacation hashtag. Don't hate, it's a great way to organize all your vacation photos in one place!).<br />
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I really can't wait to blog all about our trip, but sadly, I just don't know when that's going to happen. This week commences Operation-Pack-All-Our-Crap. We are scheduled to close on our house one week from today (YAY!), but that week includes a Memorial Day Weekend trip to the beach and the lake. So we really don't have that much time to pack between now and closing (and I've accepted the fact that I'll be living out of a suitcase for the next 2-3 weeks). Life is CRAZY, but it is crazy good. I do want to write about everything before I forget it all, so hang in there with me y'all! And come back tomorrow for a sneak peek of our house...I can't wait to show y'all the whole thing! :)Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-1131684935399637432013-05-08T00:00:00.000-04:002013-05-08T00:00:02.081-04:00The Spouse's Guide to Surviving Physical Therapy School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Y'all are in for a special treat today! It's graduation week, which means it's time for a little reflection. One thing I've been thinking about lately is what advice I would give to a married couple about to go through Physical Therapy school. Is there anything Kyle and I did that particularly kept our marriage sane over the past three years? Is there anything we wished we did differently? I remember moving to Augusta three years ago with these rose-colored glasses on and ZERO idea of what to expect, and I think Kyle and I would have benefited from talking with someone who had been there, done that.<br />
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So instead of hearing just my thoughts on the subject, I extended these questions to my fellow PT wives and boy did they have lots to say! I think their advice is great advice for ANY marriage, whether your better half is going through professional school or not. I think these are timely words of wisdom even for seriously dating and engaged couples to tuck away for the future. I definitely learned a few things myself! So without further ado...<br />
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<i>First up, we have the lovely <a href="http://amgreavu.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a>. Amanda and her husband Sam were (and still are) some of our closest friends throughout PT school. They are fellow Georgia grads (and <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2012/10/3rd-annual-camping-trip.html">hiking buddies</a>!) and have a Weimaraner named Sterling, so naturally we hit it off with them right away. Amanda blogs over at <a href="http://amgreavu.blogspot.com/">Genuine Greavu</a>, so be sure to stop by and <a href="http://amgreavu.blogspot.com/">say hi</a>! Take it away, Amanda!</i><br />
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If I could sit down with a newly married or engaged wife of an incoming PT student I would tell her to R-U-N while she still can. Just kidding. It wasn't that bad. I'll admit there are some definite sacrifices for getting married and then putting a spouse through grad school or med school. The biggest of course is finances. While other young couples have two incomes, you're more than likely acquiring more and more debt. You'll watch your friends buy houses and start families while you support your spouse both mentally, emotionally and financially. It's tough sometimes to delay for someone else's career or dreams, but it's kind of a first lesson in marriage. So what are some quick things I'd recommend to keep you both sane? Glad you asked. Here you go:<br />
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Try not to be jealous of classmates, school work, study time, etc that take time away from you.<br />
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Establish clear expectations for when study sessions, group projects, etc should take place (i.e. not during dinner). But remember to be flexible and offer grace. Classmates are more than likely not in the same situation and not everyone is sensitive to a married couple's commitments.<br />
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Discover ways that the spouse in school can unwind or de-stress WITH you. You'll be looking for time together. If you can make yourself a calming presence or fun escape, you'll find that you spend more quality time together.<br />
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Make an effort to get to know other engaged or married couples. You'll appreciate someone who "understands."<br />
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Show as much interest in the current subjects as you can muster. It will help for a few reasons. One, it's often all the spouse in school will want to talk about. Two, it will help you know pronunciation and have a general idea when you help study. And lastly, it will allow you to nod in the correct moments and prevent embarrassing comments when you get together as a group, because believe me, that's ALL they'll talk about.<br />
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<i>Next we have the hilarious and beautiful Courtney. Courtney and her husband, Nolton, are what you might call the marriage dream team. They have huge hearts for the Lord, they are super hilarious, and are just so darn cute together. I don't think we had a time hanging out with them where we weren't cracking up. So here's what Courtney had to say about being married during PT school.</i><br />
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I'm not sure how much advice I have to offer but my first thought is just that it's good to hang out with everyone from school or other friends when you want to, but always be comfortable just spending time together and turning down an invitation if life has been too busy. Also get involved with a good church that supports newlyweds - it helped us so much!</div>
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<i>Next we have sweet Hannah. Hannah actually got married about halfway through PT school, so major props to her for being able to juggle the stress of school and wedding planning at the same time! If anyone knows what it's like to be a true newlywed during PT school, it's this gal. So here's Hannah's advice on navigating those first few years of marriage.</i><br />
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The number one tip Brandon and I both would give to a couple about to go through PT school is to spend as much free time as you can together. It was a lot harder for Brandon and I, simply because he works night shift. So we basically never saw each other except when we was off rotation. Every off rotation, whether it be during the week or on the weekend, we would find something to do together (go to the movies, go to the park, ride our bikes)...whatever it may be. Honestly, the whole night shift thing was probably a blessing in disguise because every day/night that he was off, I would completely put off any school work that I had. Oops. So the nights he was working, I was able to completely devote my time to school. As stressful and terrible as I thought our messed up schedules were, it all worked out in the end.<br />
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And of course you should always worship TOGETHER. I wish that Brandon and I were able to do this on a regular basis, but unfortunately it's very rare. I would have LOVED to join a bible study group together while we were here. Now we are just praying that we can both find jobs with normal schedules. </div>
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<i>Finally, we have the beautiful and wise <a href="http://www.thebaaremans.com/">Laura</a>. Laura's husband, Jason, actually graduated PT school a year ahead of Kyle, so they have been a great resource of support and advice for us throughout our time in Augusta. Laura and Jason are the type of people who will go above and beyond what you ask of them, and are all around GREAT friends. Their daughter, Lucy, is about to have her first birthday in June (I can't believe it!!), and Laura blogs about her experience as a mother <a href="http://www.thebaaremans.com/">here</a>. Be sure to stop by and <a href="http://www.thebaaremans.com/">say hi</a> to her too! Take it away, Laura!</i><br />
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Share the workload - we quickly realized that we both needed to pitch in when it came to work around the house in order to stay at peace with each other. To make things easier, we each chose certain chores that were our responsibility. I did the laundry and put clutter away and Jason always did the dishes. For the less often chores, Jason did most of the yard work and I cleaned the bathrooms and deep cleaned. This really helped us week in, week out. For us, Jason actually ended up with more free time than me. So he took on more than half of the work around the house. He used some of the free time that school gave him (such as extra weeks off) to do bigger home projects like staining the deck, raking the yard, etc.<br />
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One is not more important than another and vice versa - It is easy sometimes for the working person to feel like their job is more important because they are making money, however this is simply not true. The working person needs to realize that the PT Student is working just as hard at school as they would at a job (hopefully this is true!), and that school is a necessary first step to get to a job/career that they love and will make money in the future. The PT Student needs to realize that work is not the same as school and sometimes there is that extra level of pressure on the working person to keep a job, do well, deal with work stress, bosses, etc. It is super important for each of you to value what the other one is doing and realize how hard your spouse is working, and thank them for it.<br />
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The PT student needs to treat school as a job - this was really important for our time together. During school, 99% of the time, Jason would finish his homework and studying before 5 pm so that we could spend evenings and weekends together. Of course there are exceptions to this, like when he was studying for his board exam.<br />
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Realize it is not going to last forever and the end goal is something your spouse will love as a career - sometimes it feels like 3 years is an eternity and will never end. It is tempting sometimes to compare your lives to other couples where both of them work. However, just keep remembering that the 3 years will fly by, it will be a 3 years that you will remember forever. For us it is the 3 years where it was just the two of us, without any kids. It is a special time, so enjoy it! <br />
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Be thankful you're not in medical school - this is just a funny one, but true. Sometimes when I felt sorry for myself that my husband had to study on the weekends (which he did sometimes do for large tests) I would remind myself that it is a lot harder for medical school students and their spouses. At least we don't have to go through residency. Just take a moment and be thankful - that helped me!<br />
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<i>Amen to not having a husband in med school! Did these ladies do an AMAZING job of bringing the advice or what?! I don't think I need to add anything in that department, but I do have a piece of advice of a different sort...</i></div>
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I want to encourage anyone thinking about PT school to seriously consider it. It will be one of the hardest things you ever do since it is a doctoral level degree, but it will also be one of the best decisions you ever make. The reward far outweighs the hard work, as the demand for Physical Therapists is really high right now and will only continue to grow. Kyle accepted a job back in March and he will not start working until after he takes the board exam in August. Talk about demand and return for your investment! My cousin and my little brother are both following in Kyle's footsteps in going to PT school, and we couldn't be more excited for them. </div>
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So with all of that said, thank you for sticking around for this novel of a post! I hope it was enlightening for all you lovely readers, no matter what stage of life you are in. And speaking of stages, the graduation festivities begin tomorrow with the hooding ceremony, then continue on Friday with the class brunch and big school-wide graduation. Lots of pomp and circumstance, but I think Kyle and his classmates deserve it! Congratulations DPT Class of 2013! </div>
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-69486071053172327152013-05-01T06:00:00.000-04:002013-05-01T06:00:01.599-04:00When Are You Going to Have Babies?!?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that Kyle is about to have his degree in hand and we're under contract for our first house, the inevitable next question is....when are you going to have BABIES?!?! We were asked this a lot before, but recently I feel like the pressure has especially been on.<br />
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And I have to be honest, while we were living in Augusta and around a TON of babies, I started to get that itch. I was pinning cute nursery photos to my <a href="http://pinterest.com/lesleyanne/future-little-fentons/">Future Little Fentons</a> Pinterest board all the time. I was taking maternity, newborn, and growing baby photos for friends. I was volunteering in the nursery at church. It wasn't an all-consuming desire or anything, it was just something that danced in the forefront of my mind a little more often.<br />
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Now, I feel like I've experienced this huge shift in my thinking. I am NOT ready to have kids anytime soon. If I got pregnant tomorrow, I would probably (selfishly) cry. I don't know what happened that made my attitude change so drastically (maybe because these past few months I haven't been around that many babies?) but that baby fever has just kinda vanished. On one hand, it worries me a little bit, but on the other, I think God is giving me grace for this next season in life, where we are going to settle down in our first home and will probably be around a lot of young couples with children.<br />
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So with that said, it will probably be a few years until we have a little Kyle or little Lesley Anne running around. There are some things Kyle and I would like to do before we start a family, and I think we still need a few years where it is just the two of us before we are ready to make that step. Sure, it has been just the two of us for the past three years, but those three years have been a little different since one of us was a full-time student the entire time. We weren't able to give each other our undivided attention. Not that we will EVER be able to give each other our undivided attention, because life will always pull us in a million different directions, but having a baby in the mix definitely changes things. And we just aren't ready for that yet.<br />
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Of course, one thing I've learned is that my plans and God's plans are usually two different things, and it is prideful to tell God how my life is going to go. So God could have a completely different plan in mind for us, and ultimately that is what we are going to follow. He could surprise me with a positive pregnancy test tomorrow, and though initially I would freak out, I know God would be faithful in preparing my heart for motherhood sooner than planned. Or we could get a medical curveball that slows down our current timetable, or we may find out that adoption is going to be the only option for us. All I know is that whatever God has in store for us, He is going to bless us with a child in HIS timing. And we can't wait to see what the future holds. :)Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-14919892122949295912013-04-27T09:25:00.000-04:002013-04-27T09:25:24.361-04:00BloglovinJust doing some blog housekeeping and claiming FPS on Bloglovin! Follow me over there if you like. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2551216/?claim=6yqw7hcth3v">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-25288330203458873982013-04-26T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-26T06:00:11.479-04:00IT'S HERE.<div style="text-align: center;">
Y'ALLLL!!!<br />
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Guess what today is?</div>
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The LAST day of Physical Therapy School.<br />
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Like for real. The LASTY LAST day. <br />
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And this is how we feel about it...<br />
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Everyone in Kyle's class will be finishing up their electives today, and then it's 12 hard-earned days off until the graduation festivities begin. I can't even begin to say how proud I am of Kyle and his classmates. Thanks belongs to Jesus alone for getting us through the past three years. We can't wait to get back to Augusta and celebrate with everyone.<br />
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Lots of big life events ahead...and we are EXCITED!!! </div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-57377534335769063052013-04-24T06:00:00.001-04:002013-04-24T06:00:07.075-04:00Oh, you know, just Anchorman 2 filming in our office parking lot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Unless you currently live in Georgia or know people that live in Georgia, you might not know that Hollywood has basically taken over the city of Atlanta. There are movies, TV shows, and commercials being filmed EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/">42</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2083383/?ref_=sr_1">Trouble With the Curve</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/?ref_=sr_1">Catching Fire</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1586265/?ref_=sr_1">What To Expect When You're Expecting</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520211/?ref_=sr_1">Walking Dead</a>, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405406/?ref_=sr_1">The Vampire Diaries</a> are just a few recent movies and TV shows that filmed here in Georgia. Sometimes my coworkers and I will take a "walk" during lunch just to sneak a peek at what's being filmed over at the Capitol, but lately I haven't had to go that far to get an up-close look at a movie set...</div>
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Yep, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229340/">Anchorman 2</a> is currently filming in my office parking lot! One Friday I noticed some sort of scaffolding going up around the building next to my parking lot, and I didn't think much about it. Then I came back to work on Monday to all of this. A full-blown movie set. </div>
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I did some Googling and found out it was Anchorman 2 from trusty ol <a href="https://twitter.com/Peachyscoop">PeachyScoop</a>. Later that week it was confirmed when I noticed a lady rolling around a wardrobe rack of seventies-style clothing, and I saw a few extras jump out of a van sporting afros, mustaches and bell bottoms. I haven't spotted any big names like Will Ferrell or Steve Carrell yet, but if I do, trust me, I will FREAK. I will have to channel my inner <a href="http://www.thesmittenmintons.com/2013/02/that-time-i-met-pretty-little-liar.html">Julie Minton</a> to get enough nerve to approach them! ;) </div>
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So to all my Georgia readers, have you had any celebrity sightings since filming has become more popular around Atlanta? Have you been an extra in anything? I am DYING to be an extra in one of the Hunger Games films! Good thing <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/07/10/mockingjay-split-release-dates/">Mockingjay is being split into two parts</a> so my chances have doubled now! (And yes, I recognize the irony in both of those last two statements, lol).</div>
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-30742282618231064642013-04-23T12:15:00.002-04:002013-04-23T12:15:18.130-04:00A Silly String Gender Reveal Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When our UGA BFFs Andy and Jami told us they were pregnant back in February, I just about DIED from surprise and excitement!! I think Kyle was really excited too, since the first thing out of his mouth was "I'm going to be an Uncle"! We are just thrilled to pieces for them as they prepare for this next chapter in life, and needless to say, were super excited to find out if Baby Homrich was a Little Man or a Little Miss at their gender reveal party a couple of weeks ago. </div>
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Andy and Jami live in the cutest little Midtown home with an awesome view of the Atlanta skyline, so their charming backyard was the perfect place to host the party on a warm April afternoon. When the guests first walked out to the backyard, Andy and Jami had a table setup for everyone to cast their vote. Depending on your pick, you either grabbed a mustache or pink lips just for fun and to be used later as a photo prop. (In case you were wondering, I voted boy and Kyle voted girl. You'll see who guessed right in a sec!). </div>
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For the food, the deck was divided into two sections--the left side had a table full of typical boy cravings and the right had typical girl cravings. It was a really cute setup!</div>
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Now for the fun part, the big reveal! We took a quick group photo with everyone's picks before it was time to go crazy with the silly string.</div>
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This was actually my first time going to a gender reveal party, but from all the different blogs I've read and ideas I've seen on Pinterest, this is by far the most fun idea I've seen. It's a great way to get everyone involved and isn't anticlimactic. </div>
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Andy and Jami already knew the gender since they wanted a few days of just the two of them knowing, but nobody else, not even Jami's parents, knew. So they purchased a bunch of cans of silly string from the dollar store and wrapped them in kraft paper so nobody could see the color, either blue for boy or pink for girl. </div>
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And then, at the count of three, everyone went crazy with the silly string and found out it's a...</div>
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GIRL!!!</div>
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Since I was the official photographer I didn't participate in the silly string chaos, but it was a lot of fun to see everyone's reaction. And the hugs afterward. Those were the sweetest. You can tell their family is really excited!</div>
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I cannot even handle this picture. There were SIX future mamas at the party! </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Andy and Jami, </i></div>
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<i>We are just so happy for y'all! We can't WAIT to meet little miss Homrich. In the meantime, I'm going to avoid the baby clothes section at Target like the plague, lest I buy EVERYTHING I see for baby girl!</i></div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-56695932963488004212013-04-11T16:37:00.000-04:002013-04-11T16:42:51.656-04:00Our South Carolina House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEj5B96hHD2oHPWV9a0udR_tf8ycMGwSikDXFhYewqoI1Dh0aDvRvq0qu1nqNnes_N3chDXj8qDFskr9xM69uay_AT9PUaGXJpNIxkdBhGCF2u6vjiJgqhSj0ftCfj4WXlswpNYTS5kUgM/s1600/front-of-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEj5B96hHD2oHPWV9a0udR_tf8ycMGwSikDXFhYewqoI1Dh0aDvRvq0qu1nqNnes_N3chDXj8qDFskr9xM69uay_AT9PUaGXJpNIxkdBhGCF2u6vjiJgqhSj0ftCfj4WXlswpNYTS5kUgM/s1600/front-of-house.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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All this talk about <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-so-house-search-begins.html">house hunting</a> and <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/04/house-hunting-wishlist.html">mention of missing Augusta</a> gave me an idea for the perfect post today...a photo tour of our old rental house! You might remember a few photos from <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2011/05/life-in-transition.html">when we first moved in April 2011</a>, but I never posted pictures once we settled in. We're going to fix that today, people! </div>
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The rental house was actually across the Savannah River in North Augusta, so yes, we were residents of South Carolina. A lot of people don't realize how close Augusta is to the state line. Naturally, there were WAY too many Gamecock fans in that area for my taste, but considering how close Columbia was (aka the <a href="http://www.thesmittenmintons.com/2010/09/worst-game-ever.html">armpit of America</a>), it made sense. Living in North Augusta was a really good situation for us, and we didn't have to pay out of state tuition either. We loved it. </div>
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So without further ado, the house tour! </div>
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This is the view of the living room when you walk in the front door. The bamboo blinds were already there, and I loved how well they fit in with the neutral palette of our living area. Looking at pictures of our living area now, I think it's a little <i>too</i> neutral, so I'm looking forward to adding pops of color in the future!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_oyaLbpFyoOBwAUd0BnT_RMfvDNBBevVRaGULgbnx5KxDuOP5msC_Z8RZF0wXnK7RaQxuQxnFEzjrHx9bs7TKjnrHR7nxsya8mFQuOXu77uwLJzUP1O3fVsemV5hYBIjO3z_gK_02Lbk/s1600/IMG_3803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_oyaLbpFyoOBwAUd0BnT_RMfvDNBBevVRaGULgbnx5KxDuOP5msC_Z8RZF0wXnK7RaQxuQxnFEzjrHx9bs7TKjnrHR7nxsya8mFQuOXu77uwLJzUP1O3fVsemV5hYBIjO3z_gK_02Lbk/s1600/IMG_3803.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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This was our entertainment center set up. Not ideal for the window shining directly on the TV, but if we put it on any of the other walls it would have been backlit by the windows. That wall ended up being the lesser of three evils. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yAcXaNWq0-fVT0OCrdOkhb7wJKREIlPu0FsX1O3cAdaLrKb6noCl_ZTFQAJx3YKbPVALdiXLzsHTAnGV2DLUwfq79_ZHAi2WePby7ElPMAa9-h5jkxPRigIcasG05Pq3x3pW4f6_i193/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yAcXaNWq0-fVT0OCrdOkhb7wJKREIlPu0FsX1O3cAdaLrKb6noCl_ZTFQAJx3YKbPVALdiXLzsHTAnGV2DLUwfq79_ZHAi2WePby7ElPMAa9-h5jkxPRigIcasG05Pq3x3pW4f6_i193/s1600/IMG_3805.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the view of the front door from the loveseat in the living room. As you can see, the house had a split level floor plan, which made the downstairs really really cold, and the upstairs really really hot. It was amazing the difference just walking up and down the stairs. Sometimes in the summer we would sleep downstairs in the guest bedroom so we didn't feel like we were sleeping in a sauna. Fun times! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX4HoLTxrgKn1JDcl9nOeZKeom0k8GNIBQ6YYXEJsXJGOAb9gGEOF3O_gVcnODfTe3oEHBUpU2AM-9yyqORWgREhNl_mDJymbW2vGQHeCZ7KPakYRCiyErX3jM7C9lKvwc3g3vtlBZiS-/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX4HoLTxrgKn1JDcl9nOeZKeom0k8GNIBQ6YYXEJsXJGOAb9gGEOF3O_gVcnODfTe3oEHBUpU2AM-9yyqORWgREhNl_mDJymbW2vGQHeCZ7KPakYRCiyErX3jM7C9lKvwc3g3vtlBZiS-/s1600/IMG_3807.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here we have the view of the living room from the top of the stairs upstairs. That big picture window was my fave.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphO5XqF708vnE5W5FDR9EPNF_JQWVZdkz5EtOpchLUR0oEZlLEnvxhJ1s5tOye4B12jTpcfMWtyasHxYnbuvh8jaYM8qQ-FXy8a2CQPUe5YbP14VUW_1peJVkCLbShMBY15F31L-T9pzy/s1600/IMG_3810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphO5XqF708vnE5W5FDR9EPNF_JQWVZdkz5EtOpchLUR0oEZlLEnvxhJ1s5tOye4B12jTpcfMWtyasHxYnbuvh8jaYM8qQ-FXy8a2CQPUe5YbP14VUW_1peJVkCLbShMBY15F31L-T9pzy/s1600/IMG_3810.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of our side table vignettes. My dried bridal bouquet is in the vase, in addition to our wedding album and framed wedding picture - clearly I like to decorate with our wedding stuff! What can I say? It was a special day. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnFed5wPWman_LGwWbqJBIKSmD4h4N5kr3ONwHbME317ASIYU2Lyqawwvsu6L5aDxjNkIpQbrxbSPoH2ywvN31PVBJTUVPZZVDl8bCt9dvxolvppaU5XwU3Zw60y5cvyebvLXs0mq0_nK/s1600/IMG_3811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnFed5wPWman_LGwWbqJBIKSmD4h4N5kr3ONwHbME317ASIYU2Lyqawwvsu6L5aDxjNkIpQbrxbSPoH2ywvN31PVBJTUVPZZVDl8bCt9dvxolvppaU5XwU3Zw60y5cvyebvLXs0mq0_nK/s1600/IMG_3811.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Y'all have seen this picture before in our <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-we-aka-kyle-refinished-our.html">table refinishing post</a>. This is actually the only picture I have of the kitchen area. For some reason I didn't turn around and take a picture of the actual kitchen? Maybe there were dishes stacked to high heaven in the sink? We'll go with that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ve7bzv2g750GG5gOwu1KOLkO_OjZCyAmI9P6ngu96y7S1aWlbMnzG18L2vtB_jOl4JqoTSuGPxZrwyrCHP0IGVwffUPof03JCjo7s019zsJyw6sh6crQX-DYIEIeZxdul7pWhZJbnZgU/s1600/IMG_3798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ve7bzv2g750GG5gOwu1KOLkO_OjZCyAmI9P6ngu96y7S1aWlbMnzG18L2vtB_jOl4JqoTSuGPxZrwyrCHP0IGVwffUPof03JCjo7s019zsJyw6sh6crQX-DYIEIeZxdul7pWhZJbnZgU/s1600/IMG_3798.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKqyl-9SpBZFVMBOIJKOyf3OFC4frrdXtZHQaBNRq_Gh9Cu6kAWkJjaNhI1B2oeTyY2MRYh7PM_mKalVXWSwXl5i4j7Mk9ftvn3O8S33Bag1cFQIhAzld8RbE1bzdaUVXFj9B7HBw4Lv_/s1600/IMG_3812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKqyl-9SpBZFVMBOIJKOyf3OFC4frrdXtZHQaBNRq_Gh9Cu6kAWkJjaNhI1B2oeTyY2MRYh7PM_mKalVXWSwXl5i4j7Mk9ftvn3O8S33Bag1cFQIhAzld8RbE1bzdaUVXFj9B7HBw4Lv_/s1600/IMG_3812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Moving downstairs, you'll see the guest bathroom straight ahead. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrdbZOXEIvetyikn4zS5T_uk2rb9FAXOcMWDD0LaJ1iTwsAmjBLXEBI-yfbcfkadx26q4c0G5OpOYtPieHSlw6WMRgsPqsAwyrB5UQ7AjnzZfuBCcBxCYPa9Hn0ZC6eMKpcUBuEgC-Oyo/s1600/IMG_3782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBrdbZOXEIvetyikn4zS5T_uk2rb9FAXOcMWDD0LaJ1iTwsAmjBLXEBI-yfbcfkadx26q4c0G5OpOYtPieHSlw6WMRgsPqsAwyrB5UQ7AjnzZfuBCcBxCYPa9Hn0ZC6eMKpcUBuEgC-Oyo/s1600/IMG_3782.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And to the right is the guest bedroom (with my Pottery Barn duvet and shams that I love so so much! <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2011/06/23rd-birthday-weekend.html">Best birthday present ever</a>).</div>
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Moving back up the stairs...</div>
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You'll go through the kitchen and out into the backyard.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLahnGtPVJze_Pz8bqL65gYw0HFH-iuBi1ilODLrgfOS-uwmC3Y2Y4LLMvFYLsZpKcN7MPL59YNTc4m4Y1zAeFkjrHe3BkqdLukFlgZU9tFKhTaVagcFc4CAeg9czww62XZ99pPtGO_Bw/s1600/IMG_3742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLahnGtPVJze_Pz8bqL65gYw0HFH-iuBi1ilODLrgfOS-uwmC3Y2Y4LLMvFYLsZpKcN7MPL59YNTc4m4Y1zAeFkjrHe3BkqdLukFlgZU9tFKhTaVagcFc4CAeg9czww62XZ99pPtGO_Bw/s1600/IMG_3742.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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The backyard was definitely Doc's domain. He loved going out there and eating stuff he wasn't supposed to and socializing with the neighbors, hoping to solicit a treat. He was successful most of the time. ;)</div>
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And for the final photo of the tour, here is the back of the house from one of the corners in the backyard. I loved the azalea bushes (I've yet to see a house in the Augusta area that <i>doesn't</i> have azalea bushes).</div>
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So you probably noticed I don't have any pictures of the master bedroom or bathroom, or the other two guest rooms in the house. Oops. The other two guest rooms weren't exactly eye candy, as one served as Doc's "room" and the other as a makeshift attic. So that's probably why I don't have pictures of them. But for the rest of the house, I'll never know. They'll just have to live on in my memory, I guess!</div>
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Hope you enjoyed the brief tour of our former rental house!</div>
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Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-63772851431978688752013-04-10T13:53:00.000-04:002013-04-10T13:53:52.658-04:00Easter Weekend Recap<div style="text-align: center;">
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{A cherry tree in my dad's yard. One of my favorite parts of Spring!}</div>
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I love Easter weekend. After Christmas, it's probably my favorite holiday. This year was full of time with extended family, eating some pretty darn good food, <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/04/and-so-house-search-begins.html">house hunting</a>, and celebrating that our Savior is alive. It was a great weekend.<br />
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Since my mom was hosting two different Easter meals, she wanted to do centerpieces for the tables. This is what she and my sister came up with after a quick trip to Hobby Lobby. They did a great job! </div>
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I don't know where my mom got the idea for this cake, but it's actually coconut cake with the coconut dyed green and jellybeans sprinkled on top to give it some Easter flair. Very cute!</div>
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We took some family photos in front of the little chapel outside our church on Easter Sunday (thanks for being our photographer, Jenny!). We missed getting a couples photo for Ashley and Alan though since they ran off to brunch too quickly. Oh well!</div>
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And that's all I got! I didn't take as many pictures as I thought, so I guess a short post will do. Have a happy Wednesday! </div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-508763686410291682013-04-09T10:47:00.000-04:002013-04-09T10:47:10.755-04:00House Hunting WishlistYesterday Kyle and I were watching the Masters coverage while I was getting dinner ready, and as crazy as it sounds, it made us really miss Augusta. Like REALLY miss it. Not necessarily because we want to be at the tournament (though that would be amazing!), but because Augusta is such a beautiful place in the spring (if you can ignore all the pollen/allergens). What we would give to take Doc on a walk down the Greenway or visit the Canal in this beautiful spring weather! It just made us feel a little nostalgic, and also reminded Kyle that everyone else at MCG is on Spring Break this week except for his class, since they are still on rotations. But I guess no Spring Break is a good trade-off for only being a month away from graduation (holla!). :)<br />
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So even though we have our moments like yesterday where we really miss Augusta, we have no doubt that where we are hoping to settle very soon is the exact place God wants us to be for this next season of life. Which brings me to the point of this post. Something I wanted to write about during our house search is the importance of having a list of must-haves and being on the same page about it if you are purchasing a home with your spouse. Buying a home is a huge financial investment, and you want to make sure you both are going to be happy with it before you sign on the dotted line. Get all of your expectations out there, and then over time you can identify what is a need vs. a want.<br />
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We actually didn't make a physical list of our must-haves before we started looking at houses, but Kyle and I talked about our wish list several times before the process began. As you start to look at houses too, some new things will make it on the list that you didn't know were important to you before, like in our case with Kyle wanting the Master Bedroom to be on the main floor. With that in mind, our list is still pretty fluid, but here is what Kyle and I have been looking for in potential future houses. <br />
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So what is on your wish list for your future home? I'd be interested to see if we have any of the same must-haves! P.S. I know the house we buy will not look like any of those pictures, but a good blogger has to have pretty pictures with her post, right? ;) We also know some items on our list are needs vs. it-would-be-nice-to-have, but we actually found a house that has ALL of these things and more. Yes, a house like this exists! In our price range! We are thrilled and can't wait to share more on how things are going for us. Soon. Very soon, friends!Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-69906142093631851372013-04-03T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-03T06:00:08.524-04:00And So the House Search Begins...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kyle and I officially started the house hunting process this past weekend! <br />
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I have so many thoughts and feelings about this, I don't even know where to begin. Owning a home is something we've been praying and dreaming about for years, and here we are, finally in a position to make it happen. <br />
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Before I go into details about our adventures so far, a little background info: Kyle and I have been looking at online listings for houses for a little over a year now. We had a pretty good idea of where we wanted to settle after Physical Therapy school, and we watched the market to see what was available at different price points and to see if the prices fluctuated at all. We did a lot of research on different types of loans and what would be required for down payments, interest rates, insurance, etc. We started saving money for those things, and then found our real estate agent in August of last year. Fast forward to March of this year, and we finally had a concrete answer on where we were going to live. A job offer came in for Kyle with Atlanta Rehabilitation and Performance Center at one of their Gwinnett locations, and he accepted! We could not be more thrilled. <br />
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So with all of the required documents in hand and the knowledge of our future combined incomes, we met with a loan officer this past Friday and got our pre-approval letter. From there, we looked at about 5-6 houses on Saturday with our real estate agent. This was fun and exhausting at the same time. I'm pretty sure my head was spinning by the end of the day. I'm planning on writing about our top choices once we close on a home so I can remember what our journey was like, but I'm probably not going to share any pictures before then. After looking at houses, we spent the entire Easter weekend with extended family, and everyone was so supportive and excited for us, saying they remember how fun it was to go house hunting with their spouses.<br />
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Now about five days in, I'm not sure fun is the word I would use to describe this process. It is definitely a roller coaster ride, which admittedly can be fun at times, but there are a lot of highs and lows. In Georgia, and I'm sure in other parts of the country as well, this is actually a really frustrating time to be a buyer. Inventory is getting low (aka there aren't as many houses for sale), and prices are starting to trend upward. While this is good news for the overall economy, it isn't the best news for buyers like Kyle and me. If we see a house we like, we have to act quickly if we want to make an offer. Which goes against every instinct I have when it comes to spending money. If you've ever gone shopping with me, you know that I like to look at the ENTIRE store before I decide to try something on and maybe purchase it later. I like to know all of my options before I make a decision. And that's not how this current housing market works. The newer houses are especially going fast, sometimes even selling over list price. We can no longer put in a low offer and expect it to be accepted, and in most cases we're going up against multiple offers on the same home. It's frustrating.<br />
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But despite the frustration, I know the Lord has the <i>perfect</i> home waiting for us out there somewhere. The one where we will hopefully start a family and continue to build our marriage in, and also pour into the lives of others through ministry. We might have to experience a few disappointments and wait a little longer to find it, but in the end I don't want to settle for anything less. :)<br />
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<b>So let's talk:</b> If you are a homeowner, what was your house hunting experience like? Was it an overall enjoyable experience? Or kinda frustrating and stressful? Maybe somewhere in between? If you have any advice for these first-time homebuyers, feel free to send it our way. We are all ears! Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-80414064339648417692013-03-29T00:00:00.000-04:002013-03-29T00:00:05.035-04:00Book Review: Insurgent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent">Insurgent</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4039811.Veronica_Roth">Veronica Roth</a><br />
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<b>Release Date</b>: May 1, 2012<br />
<b>Pages</b>: 525<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Dystopian<br />
<b>Series:</b> Yes!<br />
<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-divergent.html">Divergent</a> (2011)<br />
Insurgent (2012)<br />
Untitled (2013)<br />
<b>Source and Format</b>: Library; Hardcover<br />
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<b>Summary (From Goodreads)</b><br />
One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.<br />
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Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.<br />
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"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.<br />
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<b>Thoughts on <i>Insurgent</i></b><br />
It's probably a good thing I waited so long after reading <i>Insurgent</i> to write this review, because I think my initial review would have consisted of one word: WOW.<br />
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<i>Insurgent</i> picked up right where <i>Divergent</i> left off, and did not stop for 525 exhilarating pages. If you thought <i>Divergent</i> was full of action, <i>Insurgent</i> kind of makes it seem like a Sunday afternoon nap. And I don't mean that to discredit the awesomeness of <i>Divergent </i>in any way<i>, </i>I just mean <i>Insurgent</i> really steps up the game when it comes to action. Like <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/2012/12/end-of-the-year-book-survey.html">Kristi</a> said, "What <i>didn't</i> happen in this book?!"<br />
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On top of all the action, Tris is dealing with several internal struggles. She's coming to terms with choices made in the first book, and she's also trying to figure out where she fits in this newly turned upside down world. These struggles cause some friction in a few relationships (including her relationship with Four...sad face!), and they also cause her to make even more ridiculous decisions that made me want to shake her a few times! But thankfully her self-conflict didn't make her any less of a tough chick. If anything, it made her even more determined to kick everybody's butt. I wouldn't want to be on homegirl's bad side! <br />
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I was also pleasantly surprised at the number of religious references in both <i>Divergent</i> and <i>Insurgent</i>. Subtle as they are, I am impressed an author actually acknowledged God in a dystopian book. Most dystopians do not even mention God, or if they do reference religion, it is some sort of perverted version of it. I like how Roth holds on to the notion of religion in this post-apocalyptic society, despite the personal struggles Tris has with it (like in the <a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/03/words-vol-4-veronica-roth.html">quote I shared yesterday</a>). I think it adds an interesting element, and I'm interested to see how it plays out in the third installment.<br />
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And I can't write a review about this book without mentioning the ending. OMG THE ENDING. Let's just say that book three is going to be all kinds of amazing. Basically, if you're living under a rock and haven't picked up this series yet, put it on your to-do list for this weekend (or at least before October 22 when the third book comes out!). You can come back and thank me later. ;)<br />
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P.S. The Divergent movie is set to release in March 2014! Have you seen all the casting news coming out for it lately? <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/03/21/kate-winslet-confirmed-divergent/">Kate Winslet</a> is slated to play Jeanine (perfection!), and <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/03/15/divergent-four-theo-james/">Theo James</a> landed the role of Four. For all you Downton fans, Theo is the guy who died in Mary Crawley's bed. Yep, that guy!<br />
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<b>Memorable Quotes</b><br />
"People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them."<br />
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"I am his, and he is mine, and it has been that way all along."</div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-89050455957579922222013-03-28T07:00:00.000-04:002013-03-28T07:00:12.991-04:00Words, Vol. 4: Veronica Roth<div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/234468724321610056/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://media-cache-ec3.pinterest.com/736x/bf/5d/e4/bf5de4d39e949ea6e046508bcb70095d.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/234468724321610056/">source</a></div>
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"May the peace of God be with you," she says, her voice low, "even in the midst of trouble."<br />"Why would it?" I say softly, so no one else can hear. "After all I've done..."<br />"It isn't about you," she says. "It is a gift. You cannot earn it, or it ceases to be a gift." </div>
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-Veronica Roth, <i>Insurgent</i></div>
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Book Review for <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent">Insurgent</a></i> coming tomorrow!</div>
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<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/01/words-vol-1-jennifer-e-smith.html">Words, Vol. 1: Jennifer E. Smith</a></div>
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<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/02/words-vol-2-jk-rowling.html">Words, Vol. 2: J.K. Rowling</a></div>
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<a href="http://fentonfever.blogspot.com/2013/02/words-vol-3-victor-hugo.html">Words, Vol. 3: Victor Hugo</a></div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238731797352379248.post-2134287938375297632013-03-21T10:32:00.000-04:002013-03-21T10:32:59.604-04:00How We (aka Kyle) Refinished Our Breakfast Room Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcV7GwVK0cpNk7jwnVqdsz671Khf_JRf0Dky6XfN8SpYOtT5g_vl7i11k9WYK1Jj5c6Z1kxToa-YYwy81fzijyXnlYLyZfgjC-zBQv57YFDn6Cr70Fxsu-XorrhrmGs6OF_3Mwoqcj34/s1600/IMG_8823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcV7GwVK0cpNk7jwnVqdsz671Khf_JRf0Dky6XfN8SpYOtT5g_vl7i11k9WYK1Jj5c6Z1kxToa-YYwy81fzijyXnlYLyZfgjC-zBQv57YFDn6Cr70Fxsu-XorrhrmGs6OF_3Mwoqcj34/s1600/IMG_8823.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I hope you are in the mood for a mammoth DIY post today! If not, feel free to just scroll through the pictures instead, it should have the same effect. :) </div>
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Ever since Kyle posted a photo of our newly refinished breakfast room table on Facebook, we received several questions about how we did it. So today I am spilling all the beans on how we gave our breakfast room table a new look, though I may have been slacking a little in the documentation department. This may not be a perfect step-by-step tutorial, but it comes pretty close. If you are planning a similar project, no matter what color paint or stain you want to use, hopefully this post will be helpful for you!</div>
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First, how our table looked before:</div>
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We received this table as a gift from Kyle's parents when we got married. It had been used for several years before we got it, but our poor newlywed selves really didn't care. We just needed something to eat on. And I have to say that I wasn't totally against the look of the table in the first place. It had that cottage charm that I really love, and just a few touch ups from the previous wear and tear would have been improvement enough for me. But like most men, Kyle wanted to do something radical, and since we won't have the table forever, I figured there would be no harm in going for it. </div>
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So with <a href="http://michaelanoelledesigns.blogspot.com/2012/09/before-after-kitchen-nook-update.html">this</a> as our inspiration, we set out for Lowe's to get our supplies: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG14oChMtgQG_6FtWn0TBl-G1hewF0YI8hkDoFz2qxljmjpUGz6QWuMzoju5v2l-sYjLWnLZ-z-lhclQVhYrF8jFh31VFAOe80we35CYrEdI3MJ19qrqfVkNcE_lxHBS-46HV9r1gR8Q/s1600/IMG_7299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG14oChMtgQG_6FtWn0TBl-G1hewF0YI8hkDoFz2qxljmjpUGz6QWuMzoju5v2l-sYjLWnLZ-z-lhclQVhYrF8jFh31VFAOe80we35CYrEdI3MJ19qrqfVkNcE_lxHBS-46HV9r1gR8Q/s1600/IMG_7299.JPG" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>
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And we got to work on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in October. Yes, that's how long ago we started. And yes, that is how October looks in Georgia. Like summer. And by <i>we</i> got to work, I mean Kyle did all the work and I took the pictures. Win-win. :) </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">First, Kyle applied the stripper to the finished surface of the table (he used </span><a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_206487-34228-CR.HSLQ.M.41_0__?productId=3024042" style="text-align: center;">this brand</a><span style="text-align: center;"> from Lowe's). After waiting about 10 minutes to let the stripper set in, he then scraped it off with a metal scraper and wiped the table down with mineral spirits. </span></div>
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Next came the sanding. He sanded the large surface area of the table with an electric sander using 5 different grits of sandpaper (80, 100, 120, 150, and 220), and sanded the edges by hand. </div>
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When sanding, make sure you have the appropriate protective gear on, like eyewear and a mask. Or in our redneck case, aviators and a bandana. :)</div>
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Kyle continued to sand the surface of the table with the power sander until everything was nice and unfinished again.</div>
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Then it was time to paint! To prep for paint, Kyle sanded down the table legs and the slats under the table with some 220 grit sandpaper. We painted the slats under the table first and sealed off the edges of the table with a little bit of painter's tape. We used blue tape for this part of the project, but by the end of everything we were definite <a href="http://www.frogtape.com/">Frog Tape</a> converts. Frog Tape works SO much better, y'all! But that's another post for another day. </div>
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It only took two coats of paint for the table legs to start looking fabulous again! #howyoudoin </div>
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If you have a young and curious puppy like we do, be sure to let them supervise from the safety of a window inside the house. Doc was insistent on "helping" Kyle the entire time. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAlaZ1pjvKNvDNFTQYUtdantZ_vThXjlDKtRqR-O2_d6J1xWmgnqKYJny572ZkZpQ1FAHw0W2sReAeUvfG0VAy81vn_hyVw8T5KiYIozRTQl67AM7VmX0zzEoBy_YnbWMZK9JRtIUJpA/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVAlaZ1pjvKNvDNFTQYUtdantZ_vThXjlDKtRqR-O2_d6J1xWmgnqKYJny572ZkZpQ1FAHw0W2sReAeUvfG0VAy81vn_hyVw8T5KiYIozRTQl67AM7VmX0zzEoBy_YnbWMZK9JRtIUJpA/s1600/IMG_7326.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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After giving the paint a few hours to dry, Kyle flipped the table back over to start staining the top. We used Minwax Wood Finish in Gunstock for our stain. To apply the stain, Kyle smoothed it on with a paintbrush and then wiped it down with a cloth. You can repeat as many times as necessary to get your desired look, but since we didn't want it too dark, Kyle only did two coats of stain.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLQUgiyDMrfDL5nHAi-myA3t6q5bHp6Ks7WPfUVO2BIOX25rOOSqAQQkbr_k9phRelDWeS4KDcnQjvFKfOflC0c0FamvxbHOlN3rfGsIeDJCYhUi46Hma8sM2Y6LxEplx_pnnC5MsxDs/s1600/IMG_7329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLQUgiyDMrfDL5nHAi-myA3t6q5bHp6Ks7WPfUVO2BIOX25rOOSqAQQkbr_k9phRelDWeS4KDcnQjvFKfOflC0c0FamvxbHOlN3rfGsIeDJCYhUi46Hma8sM2Y6LxEplx_pnnC5MsxDs/s1600/IMG_7329.JPG" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb35uBTNsDct0W1CvZezZZLaK5M5TZil-A0QrtvHTj3AqHFCqv12wDJC1zk5sy54xEaULctATah75aOyC7G8VeIW-7CNW4QDgiB-DMehoUJzGAeKXgyaicJ6z0wl32jR_3gjR5-3GFEGk/s1600/IMG_7330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb35uBTNsDct0W1CvZezZZLaK5M5TZil-A0QrtvHTj3AqHFCqv12wDJC1zk5sy54xEaULctATah75aOyC7G8VeIW-7CNW4QDgiB-DMehoUJzGAeKXgyaicJ6z0wl32jR_3gjR5-3GFEGk/s1600/IMG_7330.JPG" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
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While we were letting the stain set in, we took a break for the night and drove to Hampton, where Kyle and I worked together as summer camp counselors, to attend a send-off party for our former boss (I wanted to include this bit since I didn't blog about it before and I want to remember it). Paul and his wife, Robin, were about to move to New Zealand and wanted to say goodbye to everyone. It was so much fun going back and catching up with those crazy people! When you spend an entire summer 24/7 together, you definitely start to feel like family. Below I think Robin was telling us how they were going to get their Blue Weimaraner, Kora, over to New Zealand via plane. Poor thing was going to be stuck in quarantine for a few days once she got to NZ (hence my wide eyes and open mouth)! I can't imagine Doc having to do that. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeWsdpjdK0evCdPT_1-N8RXLD_NE_tpQ1RuiAgdVdR9PjxvvULozA9IVTKNhadDmRB8a6-qQw44BmERHoMUDUA7jY0i3xvoDgYq79UxCtJ9okXgVP6YVR_VgjLOL1a90i7qUGPm_59ig/s1600/IMG_7332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeWsdpjdK0evCdPT_1-N8RXLD_NE_tpQ1RuiAgdVdR9PjxvvULozA9IVTKNhadDmRB8a6-qQw44BmERHoMUDUA7jY0i3xvoDgYq79UxCtJ9okXgVP6YVR_VgjLOL1a90i7qUGPm_59ig/s1600/IMG_7332.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z300NgiPwgeoth6W7ir9xozbZ7a3f_HReHDRBR6Lcj2nzUcitkTH_0VftqXOcFkVNgM5kwWF9ccDuKl9HDEay0TxuNLafGSOhBdKPR93p_Mxzb-kNeM3ZJNhIaqfiD1qdwWurTqlCOM/s1600/IMG_7335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z300NgiPwgeoth6W7ir9xozbZ7a3f_HReHDRBR6Lcj2nzUcitkTH_0VftqXOcFkVNgM5kwWF9ccDuKl9HDEay0TxuNLafGSOhBdKPR93p_Mxzb-kNeM3ZJNhIaqfiD1qdwWurTqlCOM/s1600/IMG_7335.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Here we are with Paul and Robin, our former bosses and great friends. They have been living it up in New Zealand for a few months now and we sure are missing them! </div>
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Ok so after this day, I kind of fell off the picture-taking bandwagon for the project. Blogger fail. But thankfully, the process for refinishing the chairs was pretty much the same as the process for the table. Just the taping off for painting part took much longer to get around all of those chair backs (that's when we started using Frog Tape). As for sealing everything, Kyle used Rustoleum satin spray-on poly to get a nice even, protective coat on the wood surfaces. </div>
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So to make up for the lack of picture-taking during the process, here a few more pictures of the entire finished product:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlACy96LrcBvRkvfq7YlWVrMzsnh8C7C9-8FVmHDDOFJ0uk0Tx248ERvuHoUmTkYhL-7zbzP4nf40__Fs7S-J1Fa42bw0HCUKF4YsbB6A1OkmSiMQbPp-hMVSCqna65Yx256ZBYEVa8E4/s1600/IMG_8810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlACy96LrcBvRkvfq7YlWVrMzsnh8C7C9-8FVmHDDOFJ0uk0Tx248ERvuHoUmTkYhL-7zbzP4nf40__Fs7S-J1Fa42bw0HCUKF4YsbB6A1OkmSiMQbPp-hMVSCqna65Yx256ZBYEVa8E4/s1600/IMG_8810.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMzJi0kvrofzZzpXElVbgqQEiXijBDE4Zp8QEc5wA-i_7wRKIVoU7aLwUW16weG5wmQiKohdppHAo20xsZG1hWMYAWK3rom1xkw2V2LyvRHBE_iJkDTiDQQlsxYzF7bJHcxHyHh0bYVg/s1600/IMG_8815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMzJi0kvrofzZzpXElVbgqQEiXijBDE4Zp8QEc5wA-i_7wRKIVoU7aLwUW16weG5wmQiKohdppHAo20xsZG1hWMYAWK3rom1xkw2V2LyvRHBE_iJkDTiDQQlsxYzF7bJHcxHyHh0bYVg/s1600/IMG_8815.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmJ5nP2HbZtwfA1WwD9TjJRSZ1ZbxcRICZLeToq_18v8tpW7Ma4p0HcNG_DF8QghvO7n6V3h21ktINGE2vP0cOonAanXyboOVqdV91oDorlMejvQYkWonP5PyQaGxjo0eIvxNqCHXZDw/s1600/IMG_8821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmJ5nP2HbZtwfA1WwD9TjJRSZ1ZbxcRICZLeToq_18v8tpW7Ma4p0HcNG_DF8QghvO7n6V3h21ktINGE2vP0cOonAanXyboOVqdV91oDorlMejvQYkWonP5PyQaGxjo0eIvxNqCHXZDw/s1600/IMG_8821.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFFgp7Di717hWEHy21ahDRPgjnd7sSnNB6uj6b8qEc61U_WbHgErgAK-Db3mIXFzJCCoHPxhTrHG3kZCY5t_r6yfvj5wzxni6gTbE-6ltcn-UfD9oQSGETA94Rtfv7IPoZ40mG9dAlGY/s1600/IMG_8834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFFgp7Di717hWEHy21ahDRPgjnd7sSnNB6uj6b8qEc61U_WbHgErgAK-Db3mIXFzJCCoHPxhTrHG3kZCY5t_r6yfvj5wzxni6gTbE-6ltcn-UfD9oQSGETA94Rtfv7IPoZ40mG9dAlGY/s1600/IMG_8834.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Overall we are really pleased with the way it looks, though we are having some trouble with the paint chipping on the chairs and table legs. We probably need to seal them with something as well. Other than that, we think she's a beauty! Now to plan curtains, accessories, and a better rug to make the room come together. Any ideas are welcome!</div>
Lesley Annehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995454507471721239noreply@blogger.com1