Welcome to Macy's

Holy smokes we bought a couch!!!

This marks the end of the fully Ikea furnished household period for us.

We only bought once a brand-new couch and that was 12 years ago at, where else, Ikea of course. 

It served its purpose for a long time but didn't stand a chance against two babies, a dog, two cats and 2 moves. After it disintegrated slowly but surely we moved onto second hand items from Craigslist, which has been our go-to-place for furniture ever since. 

It was fine, worked well and did the job. It didn't matter if the cats and dogs chewed/scratched it up or if cranberry juice mixed with Nutella was smeared all over it. 

BUT lately we have been getting tired of our "shabby chic" look and wildly decided that we are all grown up enough to have a piece of real furniture in the house. 

Something new and nice, that looks as nice as it feels. 

So we went couch testing the other day :)

All three, Pat and the Ls went straight to the recliner section while I oohed and ahhed at the fancy, modern white leather sectionals, the sleek  and modern look, straight lines, clean and no fuzz. 

Meanwhile the other CZ family members pushed every button on every recliner, taking joy rides in every moveable piece of furniture they had on the floor. I swear Disneyland was nothing compared to the joyful screams I heard coming from them in the back of the showroom.

We left with completely different ideas of what we would purchase and were sure we'd convince the other person that we would be most happy if we go with "this" or "that" choice.

Well believe it it or not, we agreed upon a model and Pat went and officially purchased it today.

WOW!!! 

This is BIG for us. 

I have issues with commitments and making a commitment that large (for our price scale and pocket at least) is pretty big. I am sure by tomorrow I am ready to cancel the order, buyers remorse is my middle name, but for now we are the proud owners of a brand-spanking-new sectional WITH buttons but WITHOUT cup-holders (there, compromise made :)...to be delivered next week. 

We are hoping to add a few more new pieces to the collection, like a real, new, unbroken and unscratched dining table and a real bed for Mama and Papa (as supposed to the cool pallet bed my hubby built us). We truly are growing up, are we?!

But all good things will come in time, for now we can hardly await the delivery of our new "baby" and I am sure I'll be guarding this baby with all my might (no food, no drinks, no pets, no kids and no sitting on it...that should keep it clean and healthy looking :P

Here are a few pics of our furniture adventure tour...

Perfect size for the itty one :)

Addendum #1: As I am writing this Pat just spilled a full glass of water onto the old couch and floor...OMG what the hell were we thinking???

Welcome 2015!!!!

After vegetating for a week at home, no travels, no packing and unpacking, no appointments, places to go or to be, not even the day of the week nor the time mattered and we are all de-stressed, de-toxed, rested and fully charged to head full frontal into the new year.
May it bring us more of what we are currently enjoying surrounded by love, rest, family time, laughter and joy.

As Patrick leaves his steady place at KT, which has held his mind and heart for over 15 years now and trades it in for a new place in a new company with a new title and new adventures
 the Ls and I will try to keep the pace steady here at the CZ fort.
2015 will bring many changes for us.
No more art classes for mama. As painful as the decision and the severing of ties may have been it now shines a new light onto the new year and the days and weeks to come, offering me time to take care of my family, my precious girls, my busy husband, the pups, cats, house (with all that comes with a house full of kids and pets) and last but not least more time for myself.
I am looking forward to spending more time as a mom, keeper of the house, the peace and hopefully our sanity :)
And maybe I will spend more time doing this...writing, blogging, capturing our family life once more in this little space of mine.

2014 has been a LONG year, full of many things, from up to down and back up and down again.
We were eager to send it off last night, with a big BOOM or so we thought.
Turns out that even if they ID you for buying Party Poppers at Target it still does NOT mean that they are fireworks and will, when lit on fire, rise up into the sky with a million sparkles and sounds.
No, they will in fact not light up, even if you try over and over again.
Once you figure out that all you need to do is to pull the string a tiny bit of confetti will come out you can finally enjoy the small token of the party spirit coming out of these itty plastic party bottles.
So now it's 2015 and so far its been going well. Granted it's only January 1st but let's celebrate anyways :)

We are leaving 2014 and welcome 2015 with a few pictures of the last, happy and very relaxing days of the CZ family.

Welcome 2015! 

May you be good and prosperous to us and may you remind us ALWAYS of whats most important, family & friends, health and love for each other.

And a Happy Birthday to my Papa in heaven. We haven't forgotten you! <3