Free labor, free furniture, and robots

Cheap Labor Rules
My backyard truly is a sight to behold. It's so beautiful that I want to be able to see it all the time.


Clearly, the only way to accomplish that is to install landscape lighting! That's why you see that person bent over in the back - that's my manscaper, Matt. He installed the lights I bought but was too lazy to do anything with. He did the labor and we called it my Christmas gift (yes, this is another post about something that happened months ago).

Ok, ok. You caught me. My backyard is crap. But it's dark and scary back there at night. THAT'S why I wanted the lights. They light up the walkway and the back perimeter so I can keep my eyes peeled for boogie men.

Manscaper proudly finishes his light installation job (you can see two of them near the tree).

I actually will be getting a proper backyard. I met with my friend Krista (check out Krista Percival Landscape Design) to talk about the plan she drew up for my backyard living space. I'm pretty excited about it! It's going to be for relaxing and entertaining, with a firepit, and a cozy place for my hammock and string lights, and a cool wave pattern in the ground, and plants in bright pots. No grass. Now all I have to do is stay motivated and get the work done....

Living Room Updates
I bought an area rug for the living room after about 6 months of lusting over it. It's just about the sweetest thing you've ever seen. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it. Most of all from Jackson, who loves to use it as a horizontal scratch post. Boo.

Speaking of Boo...check out my Robot Kitten

Here's the view of my rug from above. I took a lot of pictures of it. It was like area rug porn.

I also got a new dining table set. Well, new to me. My buddy Joe and his wife Holly who used to live up here but moved to Costa Rica to run their surf camp were tired of storing stuff, so they gave it to me. For free. I have nice friends!

It looks a lot like the one I already had, but this one actually is adult sized, not dollhouse sized. Plus the leather chairs are really comfy. And just in case I ever actually decide to cook, invite people over, AND make them eat at the table, it has a leaf to make it longer. That's how I know I'm a grown up: my dining table has a leaf.

Guest Bedroom Goodness
Speaking of free, my entire guest bedroom, from the furniture, to the mattress, to the bedding, curtains and accessories was all given to me by friends as well. I must have been really nice in my last life.

This is THE most comfortable bed. I like to take my naps in here (so does Boo). Bedding courtesy of Joe and Holly. Bed and frame courtesy of Erika and Jerry.

Mirror, curtains, and candle holders courtesy of Joe and Holly. Dresser from Erika and Jerry. The stereo is mine. But I didn't even buy that. Christmas gift from my aunt and uncle about 9 years ago.

Another angle. Just trying to sell you on my guest bedroom so you'll come visit. I know when a lot of people say their "guest bedroom", they mean the office with their college futon and all the junk that doesn't fit anywhere else in the house. Not me!