Cheep Cheep Decor Find!

So for many, many months I've oohed and aah'd as I watched everyone jump on the white ceramic animal band-wagon. In particular, I've been keen on little birdies! However, with the purchase of the new home, and with my 2 month unemployment a few months back, we were focusing more on saving money than spending it!

But since we move into our new casa in a week, (Insert crazy smile and a squeal only small animals can hear), we headed out to some stores today to see what we can snag for the house with some of the gift cards I've been hanging onto for months now!!!

I had a Michael's gift card that I was intending on using to buy a nice vase and perhaps some bamboo sticks, or feathers or some sort of bloom for the pretty art shelf in our front entrance.

Unfortunately, there was nothing I loved....fortunately, that caused me to take a 2nd look, which resulted in my finding this little cutie, hiding, barely visible on the bottom shelf of an end cap:

At only $8.99, I couldn't resist snagging him up!! Unfortunately, he's going right back into his tissue paper and is already snagging a (temporary) home in a box full of dishes. But I can not wait to find him the perfect new home in our new nest!

I'm also pretty sure he's the first of many other white ceramic companions that will find their way into our casa.

Anyhow, hope you're as excited as me, to see where this little guy ends up!!

Taking shape

The reason for my absence this time? LIFE!

In addition to packing up everything we own, I've been working out with a trainer 3 times a week. We also had a wedding this weekend, I work part-time a couple nights a week, and oh yeah, I'm trying to have a couple " do nothing" nights, so that I don't get so stressed out, and freak big time!

I'm also really busy researching new stuff for the new house. We've yet to buy anything - I just started working again and my bank account is finally recovering, remember?
But here are some of the latest pics of the house, that will be ours in less than 30 days!!




Once the deck is built, there will be a concrete patio area here. We'll be able to walk out from the family room onto a little sitting area. I also think I might put a little potting bench here, so I can work some magic with my plants!!


While the framing for the deck is wood, I'm thankful that we'll have Trex decking. Which means? NO MAINTENANCE!! We don't have to worry about it rotting,or needing re-painting!!

It's really hard to tell, since these photos were all taken with my phone... but the place is starting to look beautiful inside. It's been painted and the color we chose (ICI's Antique Sterling) looks a lot lesss grey on the wall than the paint chip. It actually has a lot of blue tones in it - especially when paired with a bright white trim!!

This is just a peek at part of our cabinets and you can sorta see the china cabinet/bar built into the island!


The only thing I am not loving 100% about the house, is the exterior colors. Since we were the first ones to buy, they let us choose our colors. However, the selection was limited to 5 color boards they had pre-selected for us. Unfortunately, I listened to someone else's advice and didn't go with my first choice, as someone said the cream siding looked too yellow in the sun!
Unfortunately, that means, I am going to have to grow on the garage door and trim color - it's a redish brown that reminds me of hershey chocolate..... I'm not sure...