New Years Resolutions

So when the clock hits 12, and a new year begins, we have the chance at a fresh start in life. Essentially anything that was holding you back in 2009 can no longer be your excuse.  I’ve been considering what my resolutions will be. I do enjoy my life, and I am very happy with what God has blessed me with, but this doesn’t mean I can’t continue to work on a few things, or just try a couple things out for the new year. I live in a new state, with a different work environment, etc. Not only will the blog hold me accountable for my tasks at hand, but continue to reflect my home design as promised.

I’m looking forward to the improvements in my life, and to see if I can actually keep them! Every other year in the past I have failed…epically. I’m grateful that I have support from my friends and family. Hopefully, as you read my new years resolutions, it will inspire you to come up with a few or your own, or even feel inspired to continue to support me.

*photo from vinfolio blog

• Stop buying fancy drinks from coffee shops. This will be very hard for me because I am rather addicted. As I  evaluate myself I find that the fancy drinks made from coffee shops are typically packed full of un-necessary fats and calories.
• Cardio workout 3 days a week. I eat great foods, but I lack the workout..
• Lose weight!
• Test out a more vegetarian diet.
• Move forward in the business my husband and I have started.
• Try not to pay full price for any home decor item, and when possible, make it my own.
• Start scrapbooking again, and only buy supplies when on sale.
• Spend more time reading books to influence my personality.

So I realize this post is a little early with Christmas coming first, but I thought it was a good idea to start thinking about it now. I can’t wait to post the pictures of my christmas wrapping job. Since I didn’t do any decorating at the apartment, I did a saucy job at the gift wrapping department. My husband bought one gift at a book store and they had gift wrapping for a donation. The volunteers did do great, but i took it off so it matched. Hey, at least they still got a donation!

1st attempt at the chicken wing

Chicken wing

Originally uploaded by amberfleming

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup garlic hot sauce
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

4 pounds of chicken wings.

We broiled the wings at about 500 degrees for 15-20 mins each side. This may be too long normally, but the wings were still pretty frozen. Mix all the other ingredients together and slowly microwave till butter is melted. After the chicken was done was tossed them with the sauce and served/ate immediately.

The recipe for the sauce said it was for 1 pound of wings, but plenty for 4 pounds. Maybe it was intended to soak for a while but we were hungry. The original recipe also called for a full TABLEspoon of cayenne pepper, but we opted for the teaspoon. It also called for Louisiana style hot sauce but we had garlic hot sauce, so used that. We broiled ours in a glass pan, not the best idea, needed some crunch. If we had a real broiler pan we would use that. I suggest using that pan.

All in all the taste was AWESOME!

White Christmas…

Picture 300

Originally uploaded by amberfleming

Not this year. Picture here is taken last year up in northern Michigan outside my work. You can’t tell but behind the trees is a 4 lane road and a mall! I’m going to miss having snow for Christmas. I never thought i would admit this, especially since this is only my first Christmas without the fluffy cold cotton.

25 days till Christmas

Christmas tree

Originally uploaded by amberfleming

With the countdown in gear, it is just that time to start decorating your home or workplace. Hey, yesturday I saw a truck covered in twinkle lights! All of the our Christmas decor is still in storage back home. Since we have no plans to visit the winder wonderland, well till after winter we settled for this little pine. Courtesy of the dollar section of Target we picked up our 6 inch Christmas tree. Though I am hoping the presents under the tree are not small! Enless jewelry, that it fine by me!

I must admit this morning while driving to physical therapy, I felt very foolish singing along to christmas. No snow in the near by tropics!

We’ve got the Keys!

Welcome package

Originally uploaded by amberfleming

It was Friday, November 5th 2009, around noon. The day was sunny, breezy, and perfect for moving into a new place. The apartment community even had a nice welcoming package for us! I mean who doesn’t need an extra roll of TP? I was most excited for the reusable grocery bag! I love those things! Now I just needs to remember to keep a couple in the trunk of my car .

My iHandy, iDandy iPhone…

It’s the one device that I have found that manages my life 100%. If only it could do the dishes, clean the litter, and put my laundry away, I would give it a 200%. I could go on for days how my phone has changed my life, but I’ll just touch(no pun intended) base on a few things. First, you are probably reading this thinking “changed my life?” “Are you serious?” Well yes actually, I am serious.

I start my day off by waking up to an alarm, that I pre-set for the week for each day. I customize each day with an alarm, or not. After my shower (no steam water damage for me) I take the phone to the bathroom and place on ledge.  I turn on an application called pandora which most people are familiar with. Depending on my mood I will chose a station, that I have already customized for personal taste. I double check my calendar,  that I already have synced with my mobileme account for any additional stops, meetings, or appointments I may have.  All my “sticky notes” are no long sticking but in an electronic form called notes. Now I realise I could go on for days about how my phone has changed my life. What it really comes down to is personalization to a device, to be all-in-0ne and fit YOUR needs. Rather it be fitness, budgeting, or just entertainment, an iphone can do it. My purse size has went down drastically, and my husband no longer needs a briefcase.  

If your ever questioning the purchase of the iPhone, or the monthly cost, it’s a good investment. Coming from a girl who likes the look of the riches, on a frugal budget… do it!

Current resource books

*Pictures credit: amazon.com*

*Books purchased at Barns & Noble*

The hubby let me pick these up as a sweetest day gift. He knows how excited I am about making this place our home too. We’ve moved around a lot in the past and never settled long enough to really make an apartment feel like home.  The apartment we picked out is on the third level with out door hall ways and steps to the apartments. (This is weird for me as I am originally from Michigan, this Florida trend is new to get used too.) We have the vaulted ceilings in the living room/dining room, as well as the master bedroom. I’m a closet hog, so its nice we have separate closet spaces in the master. The appliances are on the older side, but with a little TLC, I think I can create the contemporary modern feel we both crave.

flickr… I love you…work with me

I just added the flickr widget to my wordpress account to randomly show pictures that I take for the apartment. BUT none of them show up! If you happen to know how to fix this one up, let me know.

i finally figured it all out!

Lay out

The application fees have been paid, the security deposit and pro-rated rent is in hand, now we await for the move in date.  Moving from one state to another is not the easiest task at hand, but we manage. When we decided to move, we gave away things, or sold things on craigslist. We moved  across the country with only what would fit into our 2 vehicles.  For the past few months we have been living out of a furnish studio apartment on the beach. Now that our working locations have been confirmed, we found a nice apartment to call home. We don’t move in till November 6th, but since we are starting the journal fresh, I decided to make this blog dedicated to the decorating process. Hopefully I am able to help others in there path to creating a great home. Follow me on twitter, and check out my flickr page. Everything we take inspiration from will be there.

BTW: My name is Amber, I’m 23, married, and a self proclaimed interior decorator. I’m obsessed with DIY projects, the color pink, and rest and relaxation. I hope you enjoy my blog, and God Bless.