I decided it would be fun to make a little drink station to prepare for the cooler weather.  I researched different ideas, cleared a space on my kitchen counter, and started to assemble everything.  It was looking too cluttered, and I needed something to corral it all together. Well, in walks Joe after work, (having had no idea what I was up to)--and he presents me with a little wrought iron caddy he'd found by the dumpster (we regularly visit our apartment dumpster to look for treasures).  I cleaned and disinfected it, and found it was perfect for the little drink station!  

We both love it--and have already used it a bunch of times.

COFFEE: (French press, creamer, sugar)

TEA: (Tea bags, honey, Joe's favorite tea cup)

HOT CHOCOLATE: (Homemade chocolate sauce, sugar, creamer)

MISC: (Carnation instant breakfast, Emergen-C)

We decided that we needed to stock up different flavors of tea to add to the station.  You think eight varieties is a good enough start?

What am I missing?  What would you add to your drink station?

I found this beat up metal locker at the thrift store over the weekend.  I called Joe over to look at it and he shrugged and said it didn't seem like that great of a deal. The price tag said $12.99.  I talked about the "millions" of ways we could use it (bookshelf, tool storage, pantry, craft supplies....)  

In fact, I almost called my mom to see if she wanted it, since she likes beat up, rust spotted, turquoise-y things.  Then--Joe reminded me of the 50 percent off sign we'd seen when we walked in.  So we agreed that if it was 50 percent off, we'd get it.  About $7 later and I was standing by clapping happily while Joe tried to figure out how to fit the thing in the car. (We're not very good at thinking ahead, sometimes)

Ta-da!  

I excitedly told Joe about my plans the whole way home, and he said "I can't really see it....but if you're excited then super!"  As soon as we got home I scraped and brushed, and cleaned, and disinfected the locker.  Joe couldn't believe how excited I was, so he offered to paint it for me that night!  I decided on pink with a chalkboard door.  Ready?

Yay! 

My cookbooks are on top, along with dry erase markers and chalk.  I put my daily/weekly/month/quarterly cleaning chores in frames so I can use dry erase to mark them off.  The metal basket on the side holds all of my kitchen towels.

Oh, and the next morning I went in there and discovered that Khloe had made her mark on it. I made sure the got the credit. 

What a punk!  ;)

There are rainstorms in the forecast for the rest of the week!  There's also a predicted drop in temperature (we've been hovering around 100 degrees). It's supposed to be 56 degrees on Thursday!  We got a small taste of rain a few weeks ago and I took these:

The dry, cracked earth needs a drink!  I'm in need of a break from squinting my eyes into the sun! Bring on the rain!  

There's no denying that this comic perfectly portrays my life with you.

Your avoidance of eye contact speaks volumes.

Wait.....are you eyeing my cursor AGAIN.....?

My mom blogged a while back about all of the work that Joe has done for her around the ranch. I want to show you some other pictures of what Joe has been busy making lately! 

Pink Single Stem Rose

Purple Calla Lily

He is having so much fun--and honestly I am too, I even get to help with the creative process sometimes!

I'm hoping to win a giveaway on Kate's Irrelevant for a free sponsor spot on her blog!  We've participated in a couple of her giveaways, and she is really sweet and very inspiring when it comes to going confidently after her dreams and making her side business actually happen! I've bookmarked so many of her posts to go back and read later as encouragement!

You can find more pictures of Joe's work on Facebook and Etsy if you want to take a peek!  

I  ate a giant slice of this watermelon while standing over my kitchen sink.  It was NOT ladylike, but it was delicious.  There was juice all the way to my elbows!  *slurp*

Joe used one these hot peppers on his burrito tonight.  I think I saw steam coming from his ears but he didn't even flinch. 

Thank you for sharing, mom!  :)

Me: *Gets up to go to the bathroom* 
Joe: *jumps out of bed and grabs me by the arm* 
Me: "What are you doing?" 
Joe: *nods* 
Me: "You're still sleeping, Joe. Let go of me." 
Joe: "We're going to make it out okay, but you HAVE to go that way NOW!!" 
Me: "Um, okay. I'm just going to the bathroom. Go back to bed." 
Joe: *follows me into the bathroom* 
Me: "Seriously, babe?!" 
Joe: "You're just going to the bathroom?" 
Me: "Yep." 
Joe: "Okay, bye."

He later told me that he thought that the bedroom window had blown in on top of us, shattering glass everywhere. He wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not, but when I got out of bed he thought I saw it happen too. He was being a hero, haha.  I love him. 

Raise your hand if someone who loves you bought you something perfectly suited to your taste!

No, no. Not you.

Joe bought me this travel kit for my birthday back in July, just in time for me to take on my trip to VA to the wedding.  I guess he realized how many times I use and reuse ziploc baggies and plastic grocery bags to travel.  This is much nicer, I love it! 

Although there's still some confusion as to whether or not it was meant to double as a privacy screen for personal grooming....thank you Joey, we both love it!  ;)