anyone have any suggestions?

I really, really, really, really want to put plantation shutters on the front/main windows of the house....in total it would be 13 windows and 1 double window. However, I know they are uber expensive. Lowes and Menards has them, as well as JC Penney. Does ANYONE have any suggestions on where to get a "deal" on them. Obviously at the end of the construction process there is little left in the budget for "decorating". We could wait to do the shutters after the first of the year, however I hate to "waste" money putting a temporary fix in them. So I am sending this out to all my bloggie friends.....please let me know if you all have any suggestions. Even if you never comment, now is the time!!

closer

these days at "the house" have been a lot of finish work...notice the trim that makes up the "feet" of the bathroom cabinets.......also please notice the fine layer of dust on EVERY drawer
our appliances were delivered..they are ALL here waiting to be installed

doors are being hung as well...and trimmed out (except this one), this one is waiting for the hardwood to be down before they trim it out (upstairs).

i (we) are getting so so so so ancy!

birthdays

So, not to bore you about my birthday, i will spare you all the details BUT ONE!! Sean had some cupcakes from our fun NYC trip sent in for my birthday. He had to order a dozen...so we froze 6 and have been picking at 6 now for almost a week. The Key Lime and the Coconut so far from the first 1/2 have been fan-tas-tic!!

there was a ton of dry ice in there...too bad I didn't have a Halloween party to go to...

"first day of school, first day of school"

So today was the first day of school...Braden is now a 1st grader and Finley started 3-4yr old Preschool. The preschool Fin attends is M-F from 830-11 so I am childless for a few hours every day and today was day 1. One would think I would be JUMPING for joy, but I was lost. My mom called to see what I was gonna do and I had NO idea. Mind you, today was a 1/2 day for the graders (9-1130) so I couldn't have planned much. I was a little teary, which surprised me too. We will see how tomorrow goes....HERE is the first day of school last year. The kids dont look like they have aged much.

Headin' in. He was a little hesitant, however came out smiling, so that is good....right?

yet another craft

so out of sheeeeeer boredom friday night, I whipped up a fluffy headband that I saw on another blog. what do you think?

might be kinda fluffy...but with a little tweaking, it just might be that fun thing to add to the outfit. definately need to make a mini one for finley and go that route!!

dragonfly

look what I found in the backyard..............

ta da....

pardon the mess.....


all the cabinets that can be set are set.
they are hanging lights/setting can lights/installing the oh so fancy fluorescent lights/setting switches and plug in thingys
notice the fab purple chandelier...yes that is my craft room!!

a glimpse of Sean and I's shower (not quite finished)

base moulding and window/door casement is being installed....as well as the doors!! All the upstairs doors are in. There aren't many downstairs doors so that wont take as long.

Appliances come next week, we meet with the landscaper tomorrow, the closet company is coming next week. The shutters and colums were delivered today and all the remainder of the lighting (except dining...I can't decide) was ordered today....lots of decisions made in the last 3 days....im exhausted.