Ever since I quit my full-time job to pursue blogging and freelance writing, I’ve been very good about working full days. To be quite honest, I’ve worked far more than 8 hours a day many, many times, but I’m doing something I love, so it often doesn’t feel like work. Well, the techy side of blogging, correspondence and many freelance assignments feel like work, but it’s all in the name of the game.
Today, however, I gave myself a day off from everything except my daily blog posts.
If you worked from home, could you work with billions of boxes surrounding you?
I felt like the boxes in our house were screaming “unpack meeee!”
I’m pretty sure Sadie was saying the same thing.
Locate her Chuck-It, I did. Once I uncovered the Chuck-It, I played with Sadie in our new ginormous backyard for about 20 minutes. I must say it is awfully nice to be able to throw a ball for Sadie in my own backyard without having to drive a good five to 10 minutes to a dog park.
Ten points for Ocala! 
Though I did want to spend time unpacking, I also gave myself the day off because our internet is not working just yet. I find it quite humorous that I am publishing this blog post in a Burger King parking lot. They have free wi-fi! Who knew!?
Unpacking
I feel really good about the progress I made on the unpacking front this morning…
(Hooray for no more heinous anus cabinets!)
I’m kind of obsessed with the Ball jars in the above picture. My mom and I bought them a couple of weeks ago when I filled a few with granola to send to some fundraiser winners. I used the remaining jars to store grains, lentils and some veggie soup mix. I think they add a little pizazz to our kitchen!
Lunch
After unpacking 10 boxes of stuff (yes, I counted), I took a break for lunch.
I made myself a chopped salad with tomatoes, sweet corn, romaine lettuce, carrots and rotisserie chicken leftover from yesterday’s floor picnic.
Topped with some kind of Newman’s Own dressing… I think a ginger/Asian flavor? Like I said, I’m in the Burger King parking lot, so I can’t double check, but trust me when I say it was delicious.
Someone was quite intrigued by the smell of chicken.
You know I gave her some scraps. I’m such a sucker.
And now I gotta hurry home. The internet guy is due at our place between 3 and 5 p.m. and I don’t want to miss him!
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One of the best Sadie captions ever. Dog’s have little patience sometimes! 😉 Good luck with the unpacking!
Good for you for taking a day off! Everyone needs a mental health day.
ps: I love the Ball Jars, they fit your kitchen well and give it the extra pizzaz!
pps: I love that you published this post from Burger King. 🙂
i kind of feel bad not buying anything! thanks for the wi-fi, BK!
I’ve used the McD free wi-fi from the parking lot, too 😉
Where do you get those big Ball jars? I want some for my kitchen but have only seen the smaller ones.
we got them at ACE hardware! i saw some at target the other day, too.
Thanks so much! I’m on a mission now…
I looove Ball jars! I buy at least a dozen every year.
I love Sadie’s close up on her nose… she is definitely looks like shes giving you some puppy eyes and trying to look extra cute!
Looks like your off to a great start! And those jars look great!
Unpacking is so satisfying! Soon you’ll have a proper home 🙂
Love the photo of Sadie’s nose!
now we just need furniture!
i seriously cracked up knowing you were blogging from “the BK lounge”. What we do for our readers right 😉 and AMEN to free Wifi! Hope you get yours fixed in your humble home! looks fabulous already!
Your Sadie kind of reminds me of my friend Sadie (who is a person)….in a good way! All the captions you put are totally how my Sadie talks lol.
Good luck with the unpacking 🙂
The Newmans low fat sesame ginger is my faaaave salad dressing! And also super good as a marinade!
oh that’s a great idea!!
The kitchen looks great!! Your pictures are making me so excited to decorate my new apartment (!!) this coming weekend. 🙂 🙂
All those boxes would be quite distracting! Can’t wait to read your upcoming freelancing post!
-Nicole
I’ve become obsessed with ball jars, too. They look great on your new shelves!
I think jars make everything look so cute and make me feel like a ‘real’ cook 🙂
i agree! i think they add so much character.
Julie – You deserve a day to unpack! No worries there. And if the BK wi-fi goes out, there is always Starbucks. Or Barnes and Nobles.
I work from home full-time and I can’t even work if there are dirty dishes in the sink. Which can be frustrating when DH comes home for lunch and leaves his dishes. So the boxes would definitely be a priority.
Well, back to it!
What is a chuck-it? Sadie is so beautiful!
The Kidless Kronicles
Wag More, Bark….
I’m a pushover too. My cats get nibbles any time I open a can of tuna, which was about every day last week!
When the internet at my apt was down, I totally drove up the street to McDonalds to heist their free wi-fi…I wrote a few of my own posts in their parking lot. So ironic, but so hilarious!
haha glad we’re in the same boat!
Your new house looks adorable. I love the bell jars. I am so with you on kitchen cabinets. I am SO picky about the atmosphere in my kitchen–I want rich wood (no white), granite countertops, black appliances…the list goes on and on. My BF thinks I nuts. 🙂 But I’m all about the Feng Shui!
a beautiful kitchen does SO much for a house. i feel ya!
Love the magnetic knife holder!!
Love the ball jars! Hooray for FINALLY being home 🙂 Congrats.
I sometimes have to blog from a McDonald’s at the beach–convenient, but the smell of the fake meat is nauseating!
did i miss something? you moved early???? yay!
yes! thankfully! we were able to move in yesterday, but we won’t be able to move our furniture until this weekend. it’s great to finally all be in the same place!
Yay for moving early!! Your kitchen looks great and I love the jar idea!
Burger King has wi-fi ? Interesting to know! Good work on the unpacking so far!
The baby shower I was at this weekend was handing out free mason jars! Needless to say I came home with about 5 🙂
I must agree. This photo os Sadie is priceless. Too good. 😀
Our pup also loves the Chuck It! I have to unpack everything as soon as possible too. Having things out just drives me crazy. Can’t wait to see how the place comes together!
I agree – I never. stop. working!
Where did you get those mason jars?! I need some for a shower and cant seem to find them!
ace hardware. i saw some at target, too!
yay for unpacking! and that picture of Sadie is adorable! My brother and sister-in-law can’t wait until their puppy is old enough to play fetch, they’re dying to get a chuck-it!
Your story is so inspiring! I’m stuck on a path that I enjoy and am good at but am not passionate about. Blogging has been a fantastic way to escape. I love it, and I enjoy seeing myself improve as time goes on!!
Love mason jars. I can only ever find the ones with two-piece lids! Now I just need a nice shelf to store mine on.
Hey.. you did not really have a day off when you spent it packing! 😉 Definitely does not count as a day off. Looks like a productive day! 🙂 And your salad looks great!
Ooh, love the mason jars! Thanks for the idea on sprucing up my kitchen…we have shelves like that, too, that I’m always struggling to fill attractively. Welcome to your new home! 🙂
That’s too funny you’re in the BK parking lot!! You are one dedicated blogger 🙂 love it!
Haha I love that you posted in a fast-food parking lot 🙂 today, I had to tether my phone’s 3G wireless into a hot-spot to get Internet on my laptop because our Internet was down. Yay for iPhones, boo for crappy Internet.
I’m happy Sadie gets a big backyard to play in now, she must be really happy out there ( has she checked out the pool yet??)
she’s scared of our big pool, but we bought her a kiddie pool yesterday! we can’t wait to fill it up and get her in it!
hang out on the side of the pool by the steps with your feet in, and give her lots of love and cuddles! she’ll slowly but surely get used to the pool as you move further and further in.
we had to do this with our husky when we moved back to FL last year. she hated the pool at first, but once she got used to it, we couldn’t keep her out of it! she even does laps with me 🙂
Ugh, unpacking is the worst, but seeing it all come together is exciting! I can’t wait to see the transformation in your new home.
I really like your kitchen! I think the ball jars look really nice! 🙂 I can’t wait to see how you decorate the rest of your house.
I just bought mason jars myself (which also hold granola) – they’re the absolute best.
Do you like your Cuisinart Griddler Combo….I was so close to buying one.
it’s brand new! i haven’t even used it yet! i hope it’s as good as i’ve heard!
My internet is coming today too…yahoo! I have forgotten the luxury of sitting at my table and blogging while I eat. I am PRETTY impressed that you are doing this from the car and eating, bravo!
Isn’t unpacking just like Christmas?! I love the unpacking part of a move….but detest the packing part.
Over the next several days, my husband and I are moving for the second time in the past 9 month (barf), so I’ll be feelin’ ya! Thank the Lord that his new company is paying for professional movers… that’s the way to go!
Have fun setting up your new home and making it YOURS!
ooooh how i WISH we had professional movers! moving is seriously the worstttt.
Beautiful Sadie and your new home is beautiful.
Congratulations to you and your family. Have a great time setting up your new home. I cannot wait to see your home all furnished. You have great taste!! 🙂
Have a beautiful day.
Cute jars! I am a fan of storing things that way.
SUper cute place, Julie!
Sounds like a very productive day!!! 😀
Storing things in jars is my new favorite “decorating” idea. It makes things so much more accessible—and it’s cute!
I just came across your blog recently and am really enjoying it! I’m from Ocala, too! 🙂
yay for ocala!!
I like the new layout (is it new or is it just me?)!! and I love Sadie’s close up shots!! My dog seems a bit camera shy and likes to turn away from the camera..the close up shots always remind me of “THE DOG” pictures..so cute! 🙂
thank you!! it just went live this afternoon!
I love the ball jar look. I took home a centerpiece at a bridal shower the other week and discovered it was a ball jar. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the top so I can’t use it for storing things but, it does make a pretty vase 🙂 The kitchen is looking great!
I love that you posted this post from a burger king parking lot! So funny! Glad Sadie got some scraps! I’m also a sucker for my dog especially when he looks at me with his big brown eyes trying to be as cute as he possibly can be!
i loooooooooove mason jars too! so fun!
He’s coming between three and five eh…in cable guy terms that means….ill get to you today if I feel like it 😉 good luck!
Okay this may be a stupid question….but what camera do you use to get those phenomenal shots of Miss Sadie…?
She’ll get over her fear of the pool once you guys are in it all the time…trust me! I suggest having the hubs hold her as you encourage and sweet talk her….but never let go till she’s especially itchy to swim to you….
It took my pup a long time to love the water, and he’s a Golden Retriever…yes, weird. He doesn’t retrieve either….but I love him! Lol