Year recap 2013-2014

Yes I know..It 's an impossible feet to cave on you guys about what happened in the last year and months! But as Audrey Hepburn says the word itself says I'm possible. So here goes: Last year I've met the nicest and kindest people at my work which was at a village for the mentally handicapped. All the guidance counselors were amendment about being familiar with each other and always saying what's on your mind. As a girl growing up in a household were I haven't been able to express myself this was a most freeing experience. I always left home with a smile to go to work and came home wishing it could have lasted longer. But alas my job was for the vacation periods and they had already stretched the months for me. I did not stay home long because the visits to schools and the endless job interviews had my stress levels rising!
In all this we have managed to have an amazing Christmas where Bo {my Mr.Charming} and I had our first ever Christmas with Lulu {our pup}
But the new year of 2014 had hardly knocked on the door when Bo his mother was taken to hospital and we got the news she had a tumor and wouldn't live long. To make a long story short we had to stay at his parents home to take care of dad and we have no clue if the tumor is harmful or not. We are just hoping and I am praying that every bad cell will be removed from her body and she can live to be with dad. Meanwhile our car decided to give up and my family decided they weren't crazy enough. All in all it was a bad start to a new year {understatement of the year too!} Hihi anyway having good friends and someone to lean on has gotten us trough. We are up and ready to remodel our home and garden but most of all we feel revived and refreshed because of prayer and good people that surround us. I feel so fortunate that people who in blood are not family at all still manage to make you feel like they wouldn't have it any other way then having you in their lives. I hope there is someone like that for everyone and I know that to whom I have given my friendship to they can count on me to be there.

Now to give my fellow diy-ers an idea of what the heck we are planning to do to our home.I leave you with these pretty pictures I found on Pinterest.

This is a diy plantbox I want to make for the entryway

We decided on a country feel for the home.We are re-purposing the old cabinets and doors with paint and new handles.

Our backyard is a total mess so we are diy-ing tables and benches and haven't figured out yet if tiles or a wooden deck is more cost efficient.

This is a little cheat picture cause Bo already made a home for the little hedgehog that comes  in our yard every autumn.

                         

Weekend in Ameland

Last weekend  Mr.Charming and I have taken a mini vacation. I had no idea the Netherlands had islands and charming to boot! I would highly recommend going to Ameland for it has endless beaches and tourist attractions, beautiful bicycle routes and the people are so nice.Upon arrival we received a welcome booklet with all the activities and because it varies every year and they put so much effort with their selection you just want to visit over and over again.If you love fruits of the sea or spare ribs it's all you can eat and you know I love that!
I'll leave you with some pictures and I hope you can feel the sand , the wind and feel the island ♥

Before I forget! Ameland has so many restaurants to choose from and all of them have great choices.This was the best salad ever.I want to replicate the dressing! So delish. See you soon ♥

Little Steps

 There are many ways relationships can go sour, but the most overlooked one is how you handle your finances. It's hard for a girl who is learning to be a woman to cope with fickle matters as finances between her and the man she loves. Yet this has to be done. It doesn't matter if you live with your spouse, your parents or a roommate. There are boundaries that need to be set and what you are responsible for.

What I know now (and thank you aunt and mum!) is a lady should have some savings set aside. In my opinion it's not for a bar of soap or a high end purse..no no it's for you as a lady to feel that you have something to fall back on. Make a list of what you and your spouse need to pay every month and what you have left..and most of all how you are going to spend that money. Who saves for what and if you both have a reasonable paycheck think about opening a savings account. Now I don't know if this should be a joint account or for medical emergencies etc. It is recommended to have some savings that you both have worked for and feel that you can both use when it's truly needed.

Well I have tried to think this trough and my Bo and I have started talking about this and we are implementing the strategies for a healthier financial relationship. We are lucky to do this prior to getting married because I know that will bring an extra set of stress to the matter how little people talk about their finances together. I hope we get more advise on the matter and that we are on the right path.
  

Spring Fever

I have been a bad blogger and I'm truly sorry for the lack of posts.I didnt make a schedule for myself for posting and frankly Pinterest has gotten all my attention!This post is gonna be very loooong just to make it up to you guys. I want to thank you for all the likes and the people that follow my boards. You guys are amazing and its really inspiring to see so many people and the things they love.
This year the garden has gotten a beating because of the long winter we've been having but we have cleaned all the rubbish left by previous home owners.
Its been a grueling 2 weeks of shoveling and hauling debris of past remodeling of the home.I wish we had known this earlier because we ended up spending a lot of money just removing other people's rubbish from our garden.So before you buy a house please do a land inspection and if there is something wrong ask them to lower the price or to remove whatever is not supposed to be there.

We still have a long way to go and the cold weather hasn't helped but I am hopeful and enjoying every bit of hard work.Mr charming is sooo Lucky I love gardening and decorating so much!

                         This is the bit behind what I call the kooi shed. My fiancee loves these fish and they are quite pretty.He wants to make their pond prettier before I post it.he's so cute.

 I am so happy with this gem!can't wait to grow my own peppers and stem ginger! My greenhouse is not ready yet.Its not where its supposed to be and doesnt have a roof yet.

   I have no words for this one...but I had to post a before picture because the after can NOT be worse than it's right now!

 The container before it got hauled out of here! SOOOO glad we got rid of everything. It felt like a home cleansing.

                               Our Lulu watching us clean house and enjoying some sun.


  These are some of the things I want to have in my garden.They are so pretty and everything already has a spot marked in the garden.

 

 

My dream veggie garden

 

Sooooo... I have to tell you about this little dog below.His name is Bob..Yes you read right..BOB..I didn't name him and I'm sure he doesnt like his name cause he doesnt react to it in any way!

Well Bob was seen by Mr.Charming on this website called marktplaats and he just had to have him!..We drove off to Assen and got him within the day.I must tell you I wasn't very keen on having him because 1: He's a guy dog and my Lulu is too young to have puppies. 2: Who knows what kind of peefs he had? Needless to say I tried not to love him..He didnt listen to his name.Did't know any tricks and not willing to learn ANY..and he didnt budge..The most lively I saw him was when I said cookies!!he ran up to me,got the cookie and drooped on the floor like puddy.You could make him sit up and then he would just slide off like he doesnt have legs..like a pile of mud...And Lulu was scared of the thing haha..He Always wanted her toys and didnt want to share and try to bite her.So Lulu ended up more on our heads then on the floor with Bobby.Oh yes and Bobby cries like a puppy whenever he thinks he's alone..evenif he was with Lulu he would cry just because I or MR.Charming weren't in sight... BUT and yes but when the time came for him to meet his new parents I felt very sad to see this pile of mud go away.He is the sweetest dog you could imagine.He would lick your face as if he thought you were the best thing since ice cream and he would just lay there by your feet..content that you are around.I am happy he is with a good family and they promised to send pictures every once and awhile.

                                                                Christmas flashback

 As you can see there is still a lot to do but in the meantime never forget what's important in life.The love and attention you give one another and how happy you can make someone else.
         May God bless this day and show you a path full of joy.