Hotel Dunlap

The great thing about living in Atlanta is that it is a pass through city for many of our friends. Over the past two months, 6 different groups of visitors have stayed with us. I do not mind at all being a hotel, it actually motivated me to get my house in order. Also, made me put effort into the guestroom decor and to renovate our guest bathroom. The other great thing is you actually get to see your friends for longer than just dinner or lunch. So if you are ever passing through Atlanta, you have a free place to stay at Hotel Dunlap.

Our guestroom is painted in a bluish color and accessorized with white and crystal. There are a couple of touch ups still needed but its a start.

We took the guest bathroom all the way down to the stud and replaced the bathtub, toilet, vanity, mirror, and all fixtures. We retitled the floor and around the shower area and added an insert in the wall. We finished off the bathroom with a shade of green paint and brown and venetian bronze accessories and finally topped off with a "D." Here are pictures of the before and after bathroom renovation.

"I do"

This past Sunday, I said "I do" in front of a congregation and on the church altar but this time not for a wedding but for my baptism. Most people are baptized either as an infant or young child, I obviously never was. I used to be ashamed that I had not taken that step in my life but after going through it this past weekend I am glad I waited and it was another moment shared between Russ and I. I got to make the decision that I was ready and I truly understood what I had chosen to do.

I grew up going to church until late elementary school. I started going to a Church of Christ church (my mom and her family's faith) but told my mom I wanted to sing in a choir, not like I can actually sing, so we started going to a Presbyterian church and in the summers I went to Vacation Bible School at my Grandma's church which was Baptist. I was introduced to numerous denominations growing up but never felt comfortable at one. I got very involved in soccer which took up every day of the week with games and tournaments on the weekends. Needless to say besides holidays I wasn't going to church until Russ came into my life.

Church is a very important part of Russ's life and I knew it needed to be apart of mine if we were going to get married. I started to go to church with him while we were dating. We would go to his church back home and one summer I went to Sunday school there. I started to feel the connection. Once we got married, we started to search for a church that we both wanted to attend. We went to a couple of different churches and found the one that was perfect for us, Chamblee First United Methodist. Over the past year, I felt my connection with the church and God grow and grow and knew it was time for me to be baptized.

This past Sunday was another important day of our marriage. Russ stood by my side when I was baptized then he said the vows to transfer his membership to Chamblee. After the service, we were greeted by numerous members and really felt at home. I not only got baptized and joined a church, but also going to help with the Young Adult Ministry at the church. This time the "I DO" vows were said for another chapter in my life and I am so glad to have Russ there to guide me through it.

Chamblee First United Methodist Church

25 Random Things

Instead of posting on facebook for any random person to see I thought it would be better to put on my blog that way people who really want to read can!

1. I am obsessed with anything that has initials/monogramming stuff on it as well as polka dots!

2. I like the smell of sharpies, dry erase markers, rubber cement, weird things like that.

3. Before December 2008, only one person has cut and highlighted my hair. I then realized I was paying way too much money and found someone that does the same job for 1/2 the price but feel like I am cheating on Jerry (my hair dresser in Buckhead) now.

4. I have developed a fear of being diagnosed with cancer.

5. My wedding day was the happiest day of my life and I relive it in my head when I am feeling down.

6. I played soccer for over 12 years and lost random interest in it when I went off to college now when I drive by the soccer fields on Saturday I wish I was out there again.

7. I love to buy things for my friends and family and will randomly send gifts or go overboard for birthdays, Christmas, and/or weddings.

8. I have had a series of accidents in my life. I broke my leg before I was 1 year old. My 9th grade boyfriend broke my nose. I had 3 concussion in 6 months, separated shoulder, turf toe, torn meniscus, bursitis and jammed fingers numerous times, along with many more accidents all while playing soccer.

9. I have an email, facebook, and wedding registering stalking problem.....

10. I slept with my blankey all the way up until my wedding night. Now I only sleep with it when I go to my parents' house for the night.

11. My initials used to be BMW and I thought I was going to get one with I turned 16. I ended up getting a 1997 Ford Explorer when I was 16 1/2 and still do not have one.

12. I lived my freshman year in college to its full potential and do not regret most of it :)

13. Almost all of my family members are red heads and I have a high possibility of having one too...

14. I won 1st place at both, Collins Hill High School's and Gwinnett County's, science fair and placed 4th at state in 9th grade.

15. I droped my little sister, Kara, on the fire place when she was an infant and still has the scar on her forehead.

16. My family means the world to me. I love holidays and dinners with them even if they are a bit crazy at times.

17. My heart stops every time I see my Grandparents' phone number show up on caller id...

18. Allison pulled me out a horrible slump I went through in high school. She has always been the best friend a friend could ask for!

19. I love to travel and cannot wait for Russ to finish with law school so we can begin traveling around the country and world!

20. I am allergic to cats.

21. I wish I would be more of a sister to Kara than another mother and hope our relationship will only get better over the years.

22. I am extreme neat freak and love to be organized which in some people's eyes view me as having OCD.

23. I miss my friends so much and wish I could see them more often. Thank goodness for cell phones, gmail, and facebook! Also, very glad to have them come into my life.

24. I am so thankful for the way my life has turned out so far and only hopes it continues. I feel that I am in a dream and waiting to wake up from it.

25. Russ is the best thing that happened to me and I could not imagine a day without him. I am so thankful I met him. A kiss from Russ makes all the pain, sadness, aches, anything, go away. He just has that special touch I need.

That's What Friends Are For!

This past weekend I had a much needed weekend visiting friends and family. After work on Friday, Russ and I drove to Hermitage, TN to visit our newly wed friends, Melinda and Jonathan and of course Alfie. Melinda and I were close in college but it seems the distance has made us even closer, might have to do with us also going through life changing events at the same time as well. Anyways...we went out to dinner together and to a local bar. It may seem strange but just going out not only our friends but people our age was so nice. It made my bad mood over the past weeks go away so fast. We also met up with Paul, who Russ and I had not seen since May. It was a much needed night out with our friends!

Melinda and I at Flying Saucer

Saturday was another wonderful day. Russ went and had lunch with one of his lifetime buddies and I went Bridesmaids dress shopping with Sheryl and Melinda. I think I was more excited just seeing them rather than wedding planning (and we all know how much I love weddings!). We sat at Chili's for 2 hours just talking. I love when we get together we pick up where it left off. I am lost without my "girls." After hanging out with the friends, Russ and I finally spent time with the in-laws. Met up with everyone for dinner then went and saw Darren, Mary, and Alex all in the play, Bye Bye Birdie, Jill was directing and Steve was filming, it was a Dunlap production.

Sunday we went to church with Bobby, Russ's grandfather. Russ and I think it is ironic that we went to church at Hendersonville First United (Russ's membership is at this church right now) this past Sunday since we both will be joining a new church, Chamblee First United, this Sunday. To end our wonderful weekend in Tennessee, we had lunch with Darren and Alex and headed home. It was one of the best weekends I have had in a while, got out of the house and got to visit friends and family all in one trip. I am looking forward to visiting Rachel in Wilmington the first weekend in March!

Our house is always open for visitors, that's what friends are for! We now have two guestrooms and a sleeper sofa!

The Little Things In Life

It is true that the first year you are married you are in the "honeymoon state." I was told that the first couple of years will be the hardest, you have to get use to your husband/wife's weird tendencies and living habits. Russ and I have managed to make it one year, one month, and five days without a fight. Of course, you have the mood swings that will make the other one frustrated with you or the sporting event where the game didn't turn out the way your spouse wanted and they get really angry so you get mad at them but other than that we have made it through peacefully so far.

But once you get through that honeymoon state, you start to realize some odd tendencies each other have. On Sunday, Russ just noticed that I put the toilet paper in where it rolls from under where he prefers on top. Over the past year, I got annoyed with the toilet paper on top but didn't think anything of it until he mentioned it. So we compromised, who ever puts in the new toilet paper roll gets to have it the way they like and the other person can't change it until it is time for a new one and that is what marriage is about :)

Of course, there are tons of other little things. I like for the vacuum to go the closet with the handle facing the door and Russ puts it in the other way. Every night before I go to bed, I put the remotes in order and fold up the blankets. Russ has to go through the entire house and check all the doors, even if we didn't use it that day. I like for the gate to be closed to the backyard fence at all times, Russ forgets to close it when taking down the trash. Russ picks up the newspaper the same day it comes, I sometimes leave it for days. I like to dry off before stepping on the bath mat, Russ gets out then dries off. See we all have those little things and really you do not notice until you live together but that is part of building a marriage and making compromises, the little things do matter!