Deck the Halls

{ Our lighted tree }

Since it was a cold and rainy day here, Mr. Grubbs and I decided to decorate for Christmas in hopes that it would cheer things up. He was in charge of the tree and he did an excellent job. I put around the nic-naks and hung the garland and stockings inside. Then I put out our mini-lighted trees on the front porch and our grapevine wreaths on the windows. I think things are definitely more cheery round here now.

{ I see you...}

© The Simple Wife

How 'bout them Dawgs...

{ www.campusexplorer.com }

Really guys? Georgia Tech? This is how you are going to leave us Stafford? 

Sadly, as we sat in the cold and rain in Sanford Stadium, our beloved Dawgs let our in-state rival Yellow Jackets take their last home game from them. It was an awful day to be in Athens for more than one reason. Now to more pressing issues, what bowl game are we going to???

© The Simple Wife

Update: Master Bedroom

{ www.midatlanticpaint.com }

Bright and early Friday, the painting began. I got up semi-early, grabbed some leftover Thanksgiving goodies for breakfast :) and got the paint out. I edged, rolled, then rolled again. Our room took almost the entire can of paint with a little to spare for touch ups. Then I caulked the trim for a nice clean line and waited to move the furniture back. It was so stinky in the room that Mr. Grubbs and I had to have a slumber party on the couch for the evening (yes, we forgot that we have a guest room.) But it was worth it because the color turned out AMAZING. It has a nice edgy-preppy style to it. Our gold Japanese tea table really pops. I also switched out our old paper lamp shades for these cool mustard yellow velvet ones from Ikea:

I also got all of my artwork and photos framed and hung on the Art wall. Our dresser is updated with more crystal candlesticks that are in need of some new candles. All I have left is to get the new pillows sewn. I'm waiting until then for the big reveal, so hold on for just a little bit longer!

© The Simple Wife

Thanksgiving with the Grubbs

I think I'm missing a few buttons... they probably flew off my trouser jeans after my second Thanksgiving feast of the day!! Yes, Mr. Grubbs and I had a full day of turkey eatin', and it began at 9am this morning. We had 2 dinners to attend, one with my family and one with his, mine was up first, so I had to get cooking early. I was in charge of desserts so I went traditional with pumpkin pie and not so traditional with S'more Cookie Bars. I began with the pie- this was my first attempt at baking the pie instead of relying on Kroger's freezer section. First I made the filling then I went to pour it in the graham cracker crust- wait, are you supposed to put pumpkin pie in graham cracker crust?! NO!!! Crap, I had picked up the wrong crust, and had ruined Thanksgiving. But wait, Mr. Grubbs saves the day by fearlessly heading to the grocery store to pick up a new crust! 

I ♡♡♡ him! 

Pumpkin Pie- check.

Now on to the chocolate. The S'more bars combine peanut butter cookies, chocolate frosting, marshmallows, and Golden Grahams cereal into one very scrumptious bar. They were a hit! But one of my most favorite cookies were waiting for me at mom's house, pumpkin cookies. These wonderful cookies are a chocolate chip cookie but made with pumpkin and topped with a brown sugar icing- they are quite possibly the most amazing cookies ever! 

{ S'more Cookie Bars, mmm...}

{ Pumpkin Cookies, MMMmmmm...}

After we were finished at my parents' house and before we fell into a food coma, we headed to my in-laws. We were greeted with even more turkey- this time deep-fried!- and some ham and lots o' fixings for another belly busting meal. It was nice to be able to hang out with so much family in one day, but I don't think my stomach has any room left for breakfast tomorrow. I hope you all had just as filling of a day as we did. Now back to the gym...

© The Simple Wife

Winterizing the Plants

Today I worked outside for a change. I planted new annuals in my whiskey barrel planter and I got my plants ready for the winter ahead and I even prepped for the Spring. I blew lots of leaves out of the landscaping beds and trimmed the shrubs one last time. New mulch will be laid soon to give them a warm cozy bed for the cold months.

I also purchased allium bulbs for the spring. These tall purple snowball blooms will be a whooping 3ft high! Doc really wanted to help me plant them.

{What's that?}

First you have to dig a hole for them,

then plant them pointed side up.

Then everyone got a good meal courtesy of Miracle Grow Shake and Feed, then it was washed down with a cold drink of water. Now they are ready for a warm, full-bellied winter!

But Wait!!!  Real Simple has some more wonderful tips for getting your garden ready for the winter:

Remove and discard annual plants — flowers, herbs, and vegetables — and clip green-stemmed perennials back to just above the soil. If you don’t, insects and disease can infest your garden, says Charlie Nardozzi, a senior horticulturist for the National Gardening Association.

Do one last sweep for any remaining weeds, and spread any type of compost (available at garden centers) over your beds to insulate them from winter’s freezing and thawing cycles.

Remove and discard plants and the potting soil from containers. Then stash the empty pots inside a garage, a basement, or a shed so they won’t crack during the winter cold. If you have perennials or evergreens in pots, move them to an unheated garage or shed.

Drain and unhook garden hoses. Roll them and store indoors to extend their life span.

© The Simple Wife

The Simple Mr. Grubbs

I love the fact that Mr. Grubbs always knows what he wants. Christmas gifts are no different. He knows exactly what he wants this year- shopping time. Yes, a man, who longs to shop. The only difficult part of the equation is that he is by far the most difficult person to shop for. Shirts must have cuffs, but no stripes, orange, yellow or single buttons. His hats must be low-profile, his jeans without pre-worn holes, and his t-shirts must not be too tight. So how do you shop for the man who wants anything, but specifically something...

{Photo courtesy of psychamerica.com}

Visa cash baby. He only requires a gift card. He has a list, checked it twice and only needs the money to make it work. No creativity needed, just a Visa Gift card. 

Simple, easy, perfect. Mr. Grubbs.

© The Simple Wife

The BEFORE:Master Bedroom

Mr. Grubbs and I love our bedroom. It is our nook, our cave, our home. We have enjoyed many lazy Saturday mornings in it. We were so excited when we moved to this house to have a bathroom in our room! It is a loved room, but it is about to get a mini-make over. 

Here are the before shots:

{ Our lovely and large king bed. The bedding will stay but I will be making new accent pillows. And the paper lamp shades will be replaced with velvet ones!! }

{ The dresser will stay pale green but I'm going to add some more of the crystal candlesticks. The wall behind the slipper chair is going to become an art wall with framed art and pictures. }

I am going to be working on it on Wednesday. So hopefully I will have some after shots after Thanksgiving. 

I also went back to Ikea today with my brother. He had to return and purchase some frames for his house- he too has the design bug and is re-doing his living room so I was lending my design brain to help. I picked up some frames for artwork for the bedroom and some new lamp shades. I'm so excited for a new look, it will be love all over again!

P.S. Here is the artwork for the bathroom. It is a piece of fabric that I am using for the new bed pillows. I love the modern, organic feel and the pop of bright orange!

© The Simple Wife

Green Stocking Stuffers

{ Stockings available at PotteryBarn.com }

Of course we are all trying to be more Green right? I'm trying to be a realist too, because I don't always remember my reusable bags when I go to the store, so I figured that I can replace some everyday things to help fight the cause. Here are some good things that I would be happy to find in my little stocking.

Method Cleaning Towels: These little towels can be reused over and over on your Granite, Stainless Steel and glass surfaces. One of each please! 

{ $4.99 }

EcoTools Make-Up Brushes: The handles are bamboo and the bristles are cruelty-free, plus they come in a little tote to carry them in.

{ 10.99 }

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss: Petroleum Free and they make your lips look fabulous! I like Sweet pink.

{ $6.99 }

Happy Green Holiday shopping!

{ All products featured are available at Target Stores }

© The Simple Wife

Master Bedroom ReDo

Yes it has happened again. Mr. Grubbs is going crazy because I have once again been bitten by the design bug. As I have explained before, I am easily bored when it comes to imagery. I like fresh new things to look at, and my master bedroom is the new culprit. After our bathroom was done I craved more change. Currently our room is painted dark brown- can you tell I am into brown?- with ivory bedding and hints of a pale teal. We have a lovely golden, velvet-tufted headboard that I feel is not getting the attention it so rightly deserves. The windows are adorned with ivory and golden yellow plaid curtains. Pretty much everything is going to stay untouched in the room except for the walls and a few accent pillows.

I have chosen a dark navy for the walls. I love the warmth that a saturated color gives and it is perfect for a cozy bedroom. I picked Ralph Lauren Paint in Modern Loft. At Ikea today I also scored this awesome fabric that I am going to make new accent pillows from.

{ It has hints of bright orange, olive green, and slate blue. }

I am also going to use these bath towels I picked up for more accent pillows. Strange, I know, but I am all about texture and who doesn't love terry cloth?

I will get a 'before' shot of our room up shortly- it is in disarray at the moment. I also grabbed this modern light for our tiny hallway that connects our office, guest bedroom and guest bathroom. There is no light there and it is very difficult to see into the linen closet that is also there. 

These projects are now officially added to my To Do list for my week off for the Thanksgiving holiday. Why I do this to myself I will never know, but it keeps me on my toes!

© The Simple Wife

Quoted.

"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."

Albert Pike

© The Simple Wife

The Simple Button

It's here! If you want to show your love for the Wife copy and paste the code to the left and have your very own 'Simple Wife Reader' button!

P.S. This is also my 100th post! I can't believe that I have done it. I love having a place to share my experiences and I appreciate all of you who care enough to stop by every once in a while! Much love, and more posts to come.

© The Simple Wife

Tap and The Soldiers

On Wednesday night, my sister Ashley and I went to the High museum for the educators night. Twice a year the High Museum of Art allows teachers to enjoy a night of refreshments and a free mozy 'round the museum. These special events usually occur when a special exhibition is at the museum so that teachers can preview the exhibit to see if they would like to book fieldtrips for their schools. There are two special exhibitions going on at the High currently, China's Terracotta Army, and Louvre Atlanta.

We started the night with dinner at Tap. This very hip, cool bar/restaurant is located on the corner of 14th and Peachtree in a beautiful highrise building. It is a brewery that actually has wine on tap! We had yummy burgers that were served on English muffins, go figure. But they also came with by far the best side ever- a milkshake!!! Yes, for some unknown reason they give you a milkshake shot with your burgers- I'm not complaining, but it is a little weird. Speaking of weird, I had to include a picture of their bathroom. I know it's strange but these were the most gorgeous bathrooms I have ever seen. They have stainless steel punched tin walls and beautifully ornate red painted mirrors that hang in front of the glass windows looking over 14th street. Amazing. After our yummy dinner we headed to the show. 

Quick back story: The first emperor of China was a wanted man during his reign- he was in constant fear for his life, so he decided that he needed protection for his afterlife as well. So he had 1,000 workers created an army of 7,000 terra cotta, life sized soldiers to protect his tomb. They were unearthed in 1974 by a Chinese farmer. There have been about 1,000 of the soldiers excavated so far, but the emperor's tomb still lies untouched. It is an amazing site to see the details of each piece and the dedication of the workers even when creating thousands of pieces. If you have some time during the holidays and are in Atlanta, take your family or friends and go visit, they are quite a sight!

{Images courtesy of Wikipedia.com}

© The Simple Wife

Go See: Role Models

This movie was a much needed comic relief. With all the drama and suspense movies out lately, Mr. Grubbs and I needed a laugh. We went on a date with our friends Brett and Erin. We had a delicious Italian meal at Ippolito's. I topped mine off with some yummy chocolate chip cheesecake! We then headed to the theaters. Role Models is about 2 twenty-thirty somethings guys who- due to bad life choices- end up having to do community service. They chose to work with a Big Brother type program with kids. Needless to say they end up having to deal with more than they bargained for. The one kid Ronnie is way more than I could handle- lets just say he puts a drunken sailor to shame when it comes to language! If you saw and enjoyed Superbad, then you will be happy to see McLovin' again. It is a riot, well worth $20 and a night out with the husband or friends.

Real Simple Workouts

Mr. Grubbs and I are kicking butt on our quest for a more healthy lifestyle. We are averaging 4 workouts days per week, with 2 days of strength training and 2 days of cycling + strength training. Our workouts last anywhere between 1 hr. - 1 1/2 hr. But I know that not everyone is as spoiled as us- living only 5 minutes from our gym, and having the extra time to get some sweating in, so Real Simple is here to help. They have a 5 minute workout routine that uses multi-tasking moves to get you going in 5, 10, and 15 minutes. Perfect for those who don't have a gym membership, or just can't peel themselves away from the day to go and sweat. They use minimal equipment that is easy to find. Try them out:

• 5 minute Workout: 

• 10 Minute Workout:

• 15 Minute Workout:

Even though we have a gym membership, we have also invested in some simple equipment to store at the house for the days we just can't to the gym:

Stability Ball:  Make sure that you get the right size for your body. They have a chart to help you. HINT: When you are seated on the ball, your legs should bend at a 90 degree angle.

{ $19.99 Target }

Resistance Tubes, or Bands: You can usually get these in sets, 1 low, 1 medium, and 1 high resistance so you can increase your resistance as you get stronger.

{ $15.39 Target }

{ $10.29 Target }

8-10 lbs. Dumbells: A good middle of the road weight for just about everyone.

{ $13.99 Target }

A Yoga Mat: I use mine just as a good surface to stand on with a little cushion so I'm not sliding on the hardwood floors.

{ $7.99 TJ Maxx }

I hope that this helps those of you who need an easy step to jump start your healthy life!

Drumroll Please.

Here it is in all its glory! My new and wonderfully chocolate brown porch! * Please excuse all the leaves, it's very windy today!

I'm so excited that it is finally done. There is no better feeling than the feeling of accomplishment. I have such a great sense of it on this project. I did everything by myself. I moved the furniture, pressure washed it, and stained it without any help. I love saying "I did that" and today is no different! Now on to the next project...updating the landscaping for the winter!

My Christmas Wishes

It's getting closer! As we reach Thanksgiving, the demand for Christmas lists has begun. I'm sure you are like me and would love to have all your shopping done early- and while you have the $$$. So I'm going to let you in on a couple of my wants for this year's gift giving:

CuisinArt Mini-Prep Food Processor: I love how small it is, and it is perfect for getting ingredients ready for dips, spreads, and toppings. (I'm very bad at chopping with a knife!)

{ Kohls }

A Stainless Steel Stock Pot: I'm in need of another so that I can make my spaghetti with meatballs with bothering my neighbor Lesley for her's! An 8 quart one will work well.

{ Target }

Iron Serving Rack: Perfect for serving fingers foods at all the football gatherings at the Grubbs house!

{ Target }

Drinkware: Our glasses are due for an update. I liked the modern shape of these at Kohls.

{ Kohls }

***This is the one I really want: Northface Windfall 1 Fleece (girls XL) in Brownie color. This fleece blocks the wind and cold!

{ NorthFace.com }

I think this about does it, for now :) I'll just be glad to survive the shopping season myself!

Must See

Going on the recommendations of several friends, Mr. Grubbs and I have started watching Showtime's original series Dexter. We are almost done with the first season and we were instantly hooked. The show follows Dexter, a forensic detective in Miami who specializes in blood spatters. The hitch is that he himself is a serial killer. But don't hate him, he only kills bad people. He first has to make sure that the person is indeed evil, then he stalks them, kills them, and finishes with a burial- often in pieces- at sea. It is very dark, but I actually feel for the crazy guy. Definitely Netflix worthy- only because we don't have Showtime.

OMG!

HALLELUJAH!!!! The porch is stained! The porch is stained. The porch is FINALLY FREAKIN' STAINED!!!

Pictures tomorrow. 

Wow, I feel 10 lbs lighter.

The List

Something, always something brewing To Do! I have a list that is my mission to complete before or during the Thanksgiving break. Here is my wish list:

1. FINISH staining the deck- I have to get a second can of stain, I ran out yesterday.
2. Update/Refresh landscaping for the cold months- shift a couple of shrubs and plant annuals, then refresh mulch.
3. Work on the painting for the master bath.
4. Find a delicious receipe for dinner when Katie and Cj come over for dinner while visiting from Omaha.
5. Find a suitable and cheap organization plan for our master closet

We'll see if I can get all of this done by Thanksgiving day. Then "Black Friday" is reserved for Christmas card writing and decorating!!

The Run Down

Thursday: Finally watched Sex and the City. It was awesome. I'm glad that they stuck to the feeling of the show. But I did cry a couple times.

Friday: Worked out, had a lovely dinner out - doesn't happen much anymore- with Mr. Grubbs, then we did some shopping. I found some adorable ramekin dishes for a new dessert I'm going to try! Then we came home and watched some shows on DVR and feel asleep on the couch, excellent Friday night if you ask me.

Saturday: Woke up early and had the usual breakfast on the Square with the husband. Then cleaned up the house for the guys to come over and watch football. I made the very delicious Buffalo Chicken Dip- very man's dream!! After all the games were over, Mr. Grubbs and I went solo to our usual drinking hole and hung out just the two of us, very fun!

Now: I'm cleaning up the house and doing laundry, while Mr. Grubbs is at the Falcon's game. We will meet again at mom and dad's for Sunday dinner tonight. There is always something going on 'round here. 

Stain- I hate you.

Day 5 on the porch. 

Bad news: may have to get another can of stain to finish. 

Bad news: still not done. 

Bad news: my back and legs are KILLING.

Good news: it looks awesome so far!!

Oh my aching Feet

{Image courtesy of djbuddha.org}

It's finally here. On the midst of this huge day in our country, I hope you beared the weather, long lines, obnoxious cellphone talkers, and aching feet to put your two cents in. My feet only had to endure 2 hours, but it was worth it!