I was horrified of what I might find at the IKEA sale today.  I knew they had a queen mattress set on sale for only $399 (reg $799).  I had my younger brother come with me in case they were very heavy, plus he has a large truck that would allow me to get them home.  I knew I would need to get there early, but the store does not open until 10 am.  I was pleasantly surprised by how organized IKEA was about all the sale items today.  Since many of there were big ticket items, they handed out wrist bands.  I only had to wait in line before entering the store so that I could claim my mattress then I was free to shop.  

I had feared that my brother and I would be making a mad dash to the warehouse to claim the mattress set, fighting with other customers who were after the same thing.  Instead, we were able to leisurely shop and then show my wrist band before checking were I could claim my (already placed on a cart) mattresses.  I am just amazed at the high level of customer service!  Maybe it's a sign of the times, but it's hard to find good customer service these days.

It's been a long day of moving bedroom furniture and setting up the new bed.  I'm so pleased with the way the my 1st guest room has turned out.  It's now decorated and has my old, full-sized bed in it.  If anyone is ever in Atlanta and needs a place to crash, I now have a room I'm not ashamed of to put you in!  

Tonight, Ashe and I are going to eat with wintersallen and her hubby.  Is it bad I've already made a margarita for my own preparty?

Now I just need to install the lighting and the knobs.  Very pleased with the outcome!

I was up until almost 4am painting...now I am up again to finish.  That is all.

While I was away this last week, my poor dad was busy building some additional cabinets for my kitchen.  I'll be honest, the extra storage makes me jizz a little.

There certainly is no place like home.  Chicago was a blast and I can't wait to go back...just never again in the winter.  Ashe and I had a great time touring the city and eating eating eating.  I hope everyone had a very happy new year!  Some more pictures are in my scrapbook, as well as on facebook. 

Ashe and I are headed to Chicago tomorrow to spend almost a full week with Tiff.  Should be a lot of fun and I am in total need of some time off.  I'll be sure to take tons of photos:-)

Have a great and safe week everyone!

Today is my family's annual progressive dinner.  It's pretty much an excuse to just eat all day - as if us southerners need one.

I had some friends over last night for dinner.  The event was part me wanting to try new recipes and part catch up time between old friends.  I made some homemade mac and cheese that actually turned out really really good.  If it did not involve using fancy/expensive cheeses from France, I'd probably make it a lot more often.  I wish I had pictures of Ashe but it turns out that he took all the photos (I know there are a few that Sara took, I'll see if I can get my hands on them).

On a side note, stay classy - don't drink wine with a straw!
( Do you really want to see me being trashy? )

Maybe it's just me, but I hate elections and could think of at least a trillion better ways to spend this kind of money. 

I don't know what I would do without Fridays!  This week was billing at work and it pretty much runs me into the ground every month.  Don't hate, but I am still laying in bed - I even just took a conference call from my bed.  I'm really looking forward to spending Saturday with my friend from Chicago and Sunday with wintersallen .  Adult beverages anyone?

I am also trying to prep for Ashe and I to go to Chicago over New Years.  I haven't been on vacation in almost a year so I am excited at the thought of getting out of Atlanta for a week.  Ashe has no idea how cold it is going to be.  He loves snow but hates the cold.  I guess I would hate the cold too if I had no body fat.