Update

It has been three weeks.

Finally the plumber came.

The leak is fixed.

But the hole is still there.

Little bits of sheetrock keep falling down when we open the door...

You Get What You Pay For Part II

The whole is bigger.... but at least we found the leak. 

Hopefully our landlord will return our messages soon...

Valentines--Hearts and Ben Folds.

Last year on Valentines Day Lincoln surprised me by leaving hearts all over our apartment with memories of our relationship written on them. This year, he used the same hearts as last year, then cut out pictures of our first year of marriage in the shape of hearts

and left them around the house.

When I came home from teaching pilates, Lincoln was gone tutoring, and I found this:

It made me cry as I read the hearts from last year. They brought back so many memories!

The night before Valentines, Lincoln surprised me by getting tickets to the Ben Folds and Jason Mraz Concert at GW. I was SO EXCITED! I have wanted to see Ben Folds in concert for YEARS! I couldn't have asked for a better date.

Jason Mraz

Ben Folds

We met up with some friends at the concert.

It was so good to see Kristen while she was in town!

I love Valentines

So... Um... I chopped my hair off. All by myself.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

What do you think?

Valentines Decor!

About four weeks ago Lincoln found a Dollar Tree store that is pretty close to us. I was so excited! That next Saturday we drove over. While at the store, I called my all knowing-cheap decor finding-Mother. She gave me some good ideas of how I could decorate our apartment within our budget. Aren't moms so great?!

What would Valentines be without stick-on hearts?

In these frames are Valentines Cards that I found while cleaning out my room to move to DC. Aren't they fabulous?! I love how Vintage they are. 

These are my favorite cards. Barbie and Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles-which I think were given to me by my brothers years ago, because there was a girl in them. (I can't believe I actually saved these!)

Happy Valentines Day!

You Get What You Pay For

Lincoln and I have been living in a basement apartment since we were married. We have been so happy with our STEAL of a DEAL. We pay about HALF of what others in our area are forking out (especially so close to the metro), which shows just how expensive housing is in DC. However, today was one of those days where, for a second, I thought, "I can't wait to move into a nice apartment!"  I dream of the day when we will have an apartment that's at least as big as my in-laws' master bedroom suite, and that will include all the amenities: from an OVEN, ceilings taller than 6 1/2 feet, carpet, a kitchen sink that doesn't leak, and maybe, if I am really lucky, a dishwasher.

But after tonight, I have added one more to the list---- A ceiling without a gaping hole. 

Earlier today as I was walking over to the study area, I noticed some water leaking from the ceiling. As I examined the leak, I realized that it wasn't just a tiny leak---there was a huge pocket of water waiting to explode--with only a layer of paint holding it in.  SO I yelled for Lincoln, and he came to the rescue.  He took a towel and pressed it against the ceiling as the whole thing fell down to the ground.

Then Lincoln took a knife to it and cut the hole into a more manageable shape.

At least now it is a rectangular shape... I wonder if I watch enough HGTV, if I'll learn how I can decorate around the hole to give it a modern look with great curb appeal...

Early Valentines Gifts are the Best

If anyone knows me, they know that I LOVE jewelry. I get it from my Grandma Abegg--it is in my blood. So I was more than thrilled when Lincoln decided to give me my Valentines gift early (to cheer me up from a sad day). I am very lucky to have a thoughtful husband, who knows what I like!

I haven't stopped staring at this ring since I got it. I love it as my right hand ring. I feel like I just got engaged or something as I randomly stare at it while I type, or whenever the light hits it just right and it sparkles. And heaven knows I love things that sparkle! 

(I can almost hear my mom singing the song, "You're so Vain" right now... But it is true, I can't help it! I just LOVE jewelry!)