How 'bout A Little Five For Friday Acción

UNO. I worked on my new Secretarial paperwork all week, and come to find out, the President didn't need any of it until next week. I got to email her back and say "Well actually, it's all finished already ;)". What can I say, I'm the best secretary EVER. Volunteer secretary, that is.

DOS. Father's Day is RIGHT around the corner. I already got my dad a combination Ladderball/Cornhole game because who doesn't want one of those, and then, THEN, I stumbled on these Sticky9 Instagram Refrigerator Magnets. My dad LOVES things like that, so I couldn't pass it up or the free shipping. If you need a Father's Day gift or just want your own, you could even use my code for 15% off: FRIENDWV2F. You're welcome.

TRES. Today, I find out if I'm pregnant. I don't actually think I'm pregnant, but my doc made me pee in a cup anyways. Like for real, I know I'm not pregnant, and to be clear- STILL NOT READY to be pregnant, but I did have a few butterflies in my tummy at the thought of being pregnant. I know you are all saying "Told ya so!", but I promise, the 'thought' is as far as I'm willing to go at this point. This too shall pass... if the test is negative.

CUATRO. It's really good that I'll get the test results today, because we are going to be drinking heavily while tubing down the river on Saturday! I haven't been tubing in far too long, so I am BEYOND excited. Like BEYOND...Totally going white girl on ya, because I "Like can't even".

CINCO. Since you asked (Well, Nicole asked), here is the floor lamp I made!

Long story short, my dad has learned to give me anything he has lying around, so I took this metal stand home, literally tied fabric on it {Pinspiration here}, tore apart an old table lamp, combined the two, and voila...I saved $100 smackers.

I may even pick up another lamp kit to light up the bottom too. Heck, before you know it, I'll just have random lamps all over my house.  As Buck and Will say, I'll totally be your Pinterest for hire! Peace out kids, I'm going tubin'!

My Latest Masterpiece: Dresser Repurpose

If you don't care about this tutorial, just scroll on down to see the finished product and tell me it's pretty. I spent a whole week on this thing, so I want confirmation that it was worth my time. Not that I don't get giddy every time I look at it, but you know what I'm sayin'.
Perhaps you remember this old dresser...

We actually bought that dresser for half off at Salvation Army, and it was meant to be a stand in until we decided on an entertainment console. Fast forward three years later, and we still haven't decided on new furniture. Well, I got tired of looking at it, so now that I have the 'spare time' to take on new projects it was time to revamp the eyesore.

The problem, was that this isn't even a real wood dresser, as in it's basically a step above Ikea. I knew there had to be a way to paint this god-awful mixture of laminate and particle board, so off to Pinterest I went. Yep, that means that I'm actually using the pins on my boards and not just pretending anymore! Really all you need to know, is that Primer is your friend, and it will allow you to paint anything your little heart desires. A lot of paint is made with Primer nowadays, but when we are talking about laminate and un-sanded surfaces, the real stuff is the way to go. Save yourself the freakout later when your paint starts bubbling up.

PRIMER || PAINT IN IVORY LACE || PROTECTIVE FINISH
**I also recommend going with water based products, because if you've ever tried to clean your brushes and pans, oil-based is a biatch to deal with. Along with those supplies, don't forget to pick up a little Paintbrush & Roller Kit. Mainly, you need a paint tray and a decent brush, but having a couple different sizes of foam rollers won't hurt either.**

Step #1
After you've laid down cardboard or tarp, remove the drawers/ hardware, clean all the surfaces, and get to priming. 

Oh hey, look...it's dark outside.
Time to pack it up and let it dry over night. Don't get scared, it only took less than an hour.

Step #2
Day two and three are for laying the color with drying time in between, and that's when you really feel like you are making the magic happen. If you are feeling froggy, you can even take a piece of sandpaper to the edges to distress them before putting on your Polycrilic. Just don't get too froggy or you will have to paint over your mistakes. Sidenote: You can also use the sand paper to get rid of any drips or mistakes along the way.

Step #3
Protect all your hard work with the Polycrilic finish. You have to be really careful with the water based version of this {and you may even want to try oil based}, but if you take your time, it turns out beautifully. It adds to the finish without discoloration or the heavy lacquered look.

Step #4
Decide what to do about the hardware, because the drawer pulls are the key to creating a full update. Surprisingly, this was the hardest part. The extra ones I had were the wrong size, I went to Lowe's and their selection was meh, and I searched Etsy but the prices were ridic, so finally, I realized I'd just have to make do with the originals. I decided that a little  Periwinkle Spray Paint would do the trick, especially since I already had another 'piece of crap art' that I desired to have Periwinkle. Inspired by this pin.

Gotta love killing two birds with one stone can of paint. So now we have some wall art, and I get giddy everytime I watch tv with my new entertainment center.

Whoops, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Step #...I forget, is putting the whole shebang back together.

And BAM...it's like a whole new dresser! Or shall I say Console?...Yeah, that sounds fancier.

I wanna pat myself on the shoulder, and say 'Git down wit yo bad self!'

Now, ask me about the Floor lamp I made. I'd love to tell ya about that one too ;).

Last but not least, I'm happy to announce that Jamie from Handling With Grace won The Coffee Doge giveaway, so let's give her a hand! This lil momma of two and fellow military spouse deserves a sweet treat, but thanks to everyone that participated!

I Wish I Knew These K9 Tips Years Ago

I always want to recap the weekend on Monday, but I don't have time between Sunday night and Monday morning to get it done, especially since I had a puppy with a tummy ache keeping me up all night. Between the fact that he's part Weimaraner (they have very sensitive stomachs) and mild levels of anxiety from being a rescue, it's no surprise that he has tummy problems, but finding new food after the move has proven trying. No one around here stocks anything that isn't full of fillers, so thank goodness for Amazon Prime sending some our way. I'm not even plugging them. I'm paying all $53.99 for the 24 lb bag, and I'm just relieved that I can get food that won't upset his stomach.

But let me just confess...I'm not a pet person. Please don't stone me, but I wouldn't have a dog if Will didn't demand one. Before you judge me, know that I had my very own dog when I was little. Precious followed me everywhere, protected me with the ferocity of a lamb, and was my best friend all the way up until the day that she was DOGNAPPED. Gasp! Can you imagine being a six year old girl, and your grandma has to tell you that some bad man stole your best friend? In case you can't, it scarred me for life and ever since then, I've never wanted another pet. What about Weiser you say? Well, he's kind of the best dog ever and if I have to have a dog, he's the only one I want. Plus, even though he's 'Will's dog', Sir William is always gone between deployment and training, leaving moi to play dog-mom and dad. This is why I have learned a TON about taking care of this little nugget. It's sad really, I think I'm better with him than people. Now I'll share my knowledge with you, you're welcome.

Food

Food is actually a tricky thing, because what works for one dog, may not work for another. #1 make sure you are feeding your dog the right amount. Too much and you will have a fatty, too little and they are like a baby in Uganda. Check with your vet or use this cool Food Calcuculator I found. #2 The crappier the food you feed them, the crappier they will be. Literally. If you feed them better quality food, their bodies will use more of it, and poop less. Not to mention, if the food doesn't agree with their stomach, it's going to come out of both ends. It may be more expensive to get good food, but I'd rather not clean up that nastiness, if you know what I'm sayin'.

Deodorizing

None of us want to give our dogs a bath every day, so you have to find ways to combat odor. Your best bet, is to brush them daily and use baby wipes to get rid of dead skin and hair, but you can also sprinkle Baking Soda or Baby Powder on them to soak up the oil too. While you are at it, mix Baking Soda or Vinegar with water in a spray bottle to spray on beds, furniture, and other pet areas. Just don't mix the Baking Soda and Vinegar or you'll get a volcano.
Don't say I didn't warn you.

For Unruly Fur-Children

 Make sure they have lots of exercise and toys to keep them entertained. If you think your dog is 'dumb' and doesn't need to be stimulated then a) you probably have a lot of chewed up chews/furniture or b) you should question your desire for a pet. Anyhow, fetch will keep them healthy and get them tuckered out, walking them will keep their nails filed down (just make sure the ground isn't too hot. If it would burn your feet, theirs will too), and if all else fails, a spritz of water to the face or coins in an empty water bottle are great deterrents for bad habits. Keep some cheese or treats on hand to reward them when they make improvements. Punishment doesn't actually work, but distraction and rewarding good behavior does.

For Allergies

Luckily, we are almost past allergy season, but this year was a killer. What you may not realize, is that your pets get allergies too. I noticed that Weiser was shaking his head more and sneezing, so the vet told me to put him on people Benadryl (not Benadryl D and not if your dog has a heart condition). You may think that those little sneezes are cute, but if your dog gets a Hematoma or has an ear infection, it ain't cute. I only give him two pills one or two times on the days he has problems, and he's all better.

Disclosure: I'm not a vet {duh}, so before you do anything with your dog, use your OWN common sense and/or consult with YOUR vet. I'm not responsible, and if you are going to have a pet, then you BETTER be responsible for your own little nugget.

Have you guys tried any of these or have any more tips?

The Dog Isn't A Big Talker, But He Can Hold A Paintbrush

Just kidding, I wish I had a video of Weiser painting, but other than stealing a paintbrush off the table, I don't believe he's the next blind-painting dog. However, he is a great listener. I talk to him every time Will is gone, he just doesn't usually talk back. Usually. That's what's good about blogging, even though I'm technically talking to myself, you all leave sweet little comments and inspiration to keep me sane. In case I don't say it enough...thanks for that, and thanks to Shanna for allowing me to be random on Wednesdays.

+ We still haven't fully unpacked {go figure}, and I keep taking on new tasks before finishing others. I assured Will that I would have the house together before he graduates since all the family will be in town, but I'm going to have to buckle down and quit taking on new projects before I finish the last. I did finish the following, though. I decided I hated having these gorgeous photos of our loved ones stuck randomly all over the fridge, so I painted some frames, added magnets, and voila...

I already had the paint, so I just bought some cheap frames from Big Lots and Goodwill, and now I have a lovely de-cluttered fridge. Just call me Miss Crafty.

+ I've been writing A LOT. I joined a 30 Day Writing Challenge, and it's been quite inspirational. I've been a writer all my life, including having a poem published when I was twelve, and now I actually have time to do it. So far it's mostly been a journal {because I have no one to talk to}, but it's been sprinkled with some pretty deep stuff. I actually chose to do the challenge, because I wanted to create a habit of writing every day. Obviously, I'm creating content for the blog everyday, but I want to make sure I write for myself too. I think it's very important we remember to write for US.

+I mowed with a gas mower all by myself! Do you know how hard it is to hold the handle down and toggle the gas by the engine when you have short arms? Let me tell you, someone should have recorded me using cement blocks and practically pulling my arm out of socket. For a mere $45 smackers, I could have avoided this situation, but we all know I will take that $45 to my grave. HashtagI'mcheap. We actually entertained the idea of paying someone to do pest control, lawn care, yadda yadda, but I just can't bring myself to do it. We are young, able-bodied, and not lazy, so I think we should keep doing these things ourselves. Plus, I'd much rather have all that mon-ay chilling in the bank than in someone else's pocket. In two years, we will have saved ourselves about $2,000 on top of all the other stuff we do. Cha-ching. We've gotten our savings to where I want it to be, and I'll be damned to take money out for superfluous things.

I really need to write up a post about how we've been saving money, and how I've been making extra money. I'm feeling pretty good about how we've started out this adventure of me not 'working'. The World is my oyster, and I want to share my pearls.
Would you like some of my pearls?

From The Congress Plaza To The W...We Fancy

When I was young I traveled with family and school, when I was in college I would travel alone or with friends even on a whim, and now with my husband, I am learning a new form of travel. As anyone that is in a long-term relationship knows, traveling with a partner must be a compromise. He doesn't want to do trivial sightseeing, she wants to take too many pictures, and everyone has a different idea of what is 'must do'.

For example, Will hates trying on clothes. Compromise: I didn't need anything so we only went shopping for him, which cut the shopping time by at least a third, and I only asked him to try on things that he liked. Well...other than the green pants. Surprisingly, he didn't pick those. Wonder why?

He's got skills, I tell ya. Just look at that ass...

I am happy to say that this trip was the first time that we were on the same page. We have learned to compromise, focus on each other, and most importantly- not stress ourselves out by over-planning. Very important on a ten day road trip, I must say.

I was very thankful for all the suggestions we got from friends, family, and bloggers as to what we should do in Chicago, and I'm happy to share what worked for us. I want everyone to have access to the secrets the city holds, and most importantly- I don't want anyone to be scared to go to Chicago! I can't tell you how many people tried to dissuade us from visiting, and I want to make sure that others can feel confident visiting this amazing city.

~To Do List Prior To A Trip To Chicago~

#1 Check the weather.

Chicago has extremes, and each season can bring problems. I knew that Spring and Summer were the best options, but we had to gamble on August due to our vacation schedule. I heard that there can be bad thunderstorms in August, but we had great weather up until the last day. However, if you do have bad weather, just embrace it. We went to Flattop Grill for the second time, Will offered to take me shopping again, and we visited Garrett Popcorn to get fresh made Chicago Style popcorn to feed my popcorn addiction.

#2 Check out local events.

Sites like Choose Chicago and MetroMix could give you insight that the average tourist won't have. For example, in the summertime they have fireworks at the Navy Pier every Wednesday, and Millennium Park has FREE concerts in a state of the art amphitheater.

#3 Purchase Discount Packages for the Main Attractions!

Sightseeing can get expensive, so don't pass up these deals. Through Smart Destinations you can buy a full pass or create your own pass to see the city at a discount. As I mentioned, we didn't want to over-plan, so we purchased the Skydeck, Navy Pier, and an Architectural Cruise for $55 a person. Not only did we save money, we also had instant access to tickets through our phones, and had flexibility to fit the attractions into our schedule with zero constraints. *If you are Military, check with the USO before you purchase because some things are already free! You can also visit the USO on the Navy Pier.

#4 Book Hotels in The Loop.

I kept hearing that it was such a "Big City" and hard to maneuver, so I took out the middle man and decided to stay in The Loop. It was more expensive than staying outside the city, but if you figure in the drive time and stress, then I think it's totally worth it.

We booked a deal through a travel site for The Congress Plaza Hotel, which was the cheapest and also had the cheapest parking rate at $39/night. I never thought I would be okay with $39 dollars a night for parking, but it was still better than the $100 that others charged. The Congress was an older hotel, but had loads of charm and was well maintained. It is directly across from the Buckingham Fountain, so it was the perfect location and had a great view. I actually couldn't believe that we could see the lake from our room.
Pretty badass. 

As sad as we were to leave that view, I had also looked into staying at the W Chicago. It is one of my favorite hotel chains, and since I usually stay there with work, Will had yet to experience it. At $300/night and $60 for parking it is pricey, but sometimes the splurge is totally worth it...But guess what? If you are Military or a member of a Travel Club, then you should definitely check for discounts. We were able to get HALF OFF for our last night in Chicago! That is simply unheard of, but I'll take it.

Just so you know, those lamps are taller than the first floor of the hotel. I realize that they could look like I just used a strange camera angle, but nope, they are that big!

Life isn't about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself.

So yes, it is expensive, but the Holiday Inn Express doesn't open every door for you, there are no granny smith apples and cocktails in the lobby, and there definitely isn't a full gym with touch screen tv's on every treadmill.

Let me tell ya, when you know you are about to eat Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, an extra workout in the gym seems like the best idea EVER. Then we were prepped and ready to round out our trip with a visit to Giordano's, which is arguably the best Deep Dish in town.

The one thing you need to know is that the pizza takes 45 minutes to cook. If you go in there starving you will not be a happy camper. Your best bet is to Pre-order online or Pre-order while you wait for a table. You could also order an appetizer to tide you over, but all I wanted was pizza, so there was no room in my stomach for anything but. All I can say, is that it is DEFINITELY worth the wait. So much so, that I ate myself into a food coma, and I would do it all over again.

To be honest, I could do Chicago all over again. There is so much more that the city has to offer, and I'd even be willing to knock this checklist out aaaaaall over again.

I think it's safe to say that we dominated Chicago and can officially cross it off the bucket list. With that being said, it also means that the vacation recaps have come to an end. I hope you found them enjoyable because I sure did, and thank you for following along.

Everyone have a Tiggerific weekend.

For more reading pleasure, read about our first day at the Skydeck, the second day seeing the city from a different persepective , and don't forget about our Reunion or our time in Ohio. Personally, I think they are enthralling ;)

The Bogerts 'Do' Chicago, Day Two

On our second day in Chicago, we got an early start and headed to the famous Navy Pier.

The pier is pretty much just a tourist mall with lots of fun family-oriented things to do, but it's free to visit, and we had the Go Select Deal that got us tickets for the rides and attractions.

I'll have you know, I dominated at Put Put. I guess my Wii Golf skills are finally paying off or perhaps I was a master of distraction.

Obviously where there is a pier, there are boats, and that's where we set sail  for our Architecture River Cruise. It may sound boring, but there is no way you could have a bad time out on the Chicago River. You feel so small as you glide past the massive buildings, and the history is quite humbling.

At this point, you can bet that our feet were ready for a break, and Divvy Bikes came to the rescue. They have stations all over the city where you can access bikes for 24 hours at only $7. We were seriously ridin' in style. Even if it took me a minute to catch my balance.

Then it was time to get ready for Date Night! It was time to dress up, check out a swanky restaurant, and stay out past dark.

Will found an awesome place called The Gage that advertised "upscale comfort food", and they definitely delivered on that. We loved the ambiance, the service was great, and the food was scrumptious. If you are into "American food with Global influences" {anything from fresh made sausages, fish & chips, and lots of Brie}, then you will be quite impressed.

From there it was a hunt to find the best night skyline view in the city. Everyone had a different suggestion, so we narrowed it down to two. The first was the Roof at The Wit, which Travel and Leisure calls "One of three top rooftop lounges in the world". We agreed that the place seemed fabulous and could see why it turns into a hot spot on the weekends, but short of getting a table on the perimeter, you couldn't see as much as we'd hoped.

 The second suggestion we actually received from our River Tour Guide, and she was on the money. I would never have thought to go hang out in a Holiday Inn lounge, but it was perfect. The aptly named Cityscape Bar sits right on the Chicago River, and gives you a much wider range of view than any other building. Plus the drink specials were a helluva lot cheaper than anywhere else we had been.

We stayed up sufficiently past our bed time, so it was back to the hotel. I may have been wearing a dress, but we still used our bike passes!

Chicago is a magical city, but after seeing it at night, we had a whole new appreciation for it. I can also say that we were comfortable enough to get around at night without feeling like we were going to get jumped. When people try to talk you out of going to Chicago because it's 'dangerous', don't listen to them. Don't miss out on an amazing part of our country because of some misguided fears, which I will follow up with tomorrow.

Ciao for now!

The Bogerts 'Do' Chicago, Day One

Six days into the trip, we finally made it to the REAL vacation!
We loved the time with friends and family, going down memory lane was touching, and we were very thankful that everyone insisted on putting us up, but we were ready for ALONE time, if you know what I'm sayin'...and it was time to let the Chi-Town fun begin.

We made it to Chicago around noon on Tuesday and we hit the ground runnin'. We checked into our hotel early, ditched the car, and off we went. The weather was nice, so we figured that we should  head to the Skydeck while the view was guaranteed.

Let me tell ya, it's an incredible view to kick off a trip to Chicago, and it really gets you into the spirit of things. It also helped us work up an appetite, so we asked the locals where to go for a Chicago Dog. The consensus was America's Dog, and they weren't lyin'.

Then it was time to hit 'The Bean', since Millennium Park was just down the street. It was just as cool as I thought it would be, and the park around it was even more breathtaking. It is right next to the Art Institute of Chicago and the talent of the student body is spread throughout that area.

The only real predicament for the day was where to go to dinner. 

We were saving the deep dish pizza for the last night, so we just wanted something yummy and off the beaten path. We scoped out a few places on the way back to the hotel, consulted the Urbanspoon App, and then headed to Flattop Grill. Come to find out it is a chain, but it ended up blowing our minds so much that we ate there TWICE.

Great food, and I got to have this guy as my date. 

I was one happy girl.

We ended the night with a romantic walk around Buckingham Fountain. 

All you need to know, is that as we walked around that Fountain, I was so happy that I thought my heart was going to burst. I couldn't believe how good for the soul this trip had been already, and yet we still had two more days of this wonderful city!

 According to the Checklist, I have a lot to share tomorrow too, so let's leave off for now. If you have been to Chicago, what is your favorite pastime?

{Read Parts one and two of our 2013 Road trip too}