Dinner tonight was another hotel freebie.
I made myself a big plate of salad and topped lettuce with the two hot sides, roasted buttered corn and peas and then cut up chicken parmesan (the main entrée) and served it on top of the greens.
Not awesome. Not awful.
A cup of hot chocolate, made with two hot cocoa packets for extra creaminess, served as my dessert.
Hunt for Furniture
After dinner, Ryan and I headed out to three different furniture stores to do a “once over” to get a feel for their inventory.
It was quite a hilarious adventure. Apparently shopping for “adult” things in quiet environments brings out the giggly, immature side in both of us.
Ryan said we just had to have that Austin Powers bed.
I would like to meet someone who actually owns a circle bed. I bet they’d be a good time.
As we kept walking, Ryan asked me what color I had in mind for our living room couches. I said I wasn’t sure and that I was thinking some kind of a brown color, not too dark, not too light.
He then pointed to the piece of furniture toward the front of the picture below, asking, “Do you like the color of that futon?”
Hmmm.
Let’s just say Ryan learned what an ottoman is today! 
Another little gem that caught our eye was this panther.
We named him Paul.
Though we didn’t find any pieces of furniture that called to us on our adventure, we did have a good time.
I think decorating and furnishing a house is a very long and ongoing process, so we’re just hoping we can make a warm and cozy home overtime. First we have to actually move into our home. Baby steps!
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You should buy Paul when you.move in and taunt Ryan with it the way the ‘Blogees’ does with Beyonce 🙂
omg i literally said “i bet paul would be friends with beyonce” to ryan!!! 🙂
I’d LOVE to hear (and see) Sadie’s thoughts on Paul 😉
that austin powers bed is a WIN!! love that huge salad! ::)
I can honestly say I have never seen anyone I know own a circle bid, however..I do believe for some reason that Hugh Hefner has one in one of his “pads”. Not shocking, I know.
Where does one buy SHEETS for a circle bed? Can’t say I’ve ever seen THOSE at HomeGoods. I guess they’re probably sold the same place waterbed sheets are sold…
That statue reminds me of Sex Panther. They’ve done studies, you know. 60% of the time, it works every time.
i was totally going to say that it was a “sex panther!” but then i rememberd ryan’s grandma reads the blog and has likely never seen anchor man. 🙂
Haha, I think you should buy Paul the Sex Panther to go next to your incredible circle bed with a leopard print comforter. 😉 Thanks for making me crack up first thing in the morning…you and Ryan are hilarious!
I am so glad to see I am not the only one who names the statues they come across on occasion 😉
We tend to buy furniture randomly. First off, adult furniture is super spendy! So we pick pieces we know we will want for a long time and invest in great quality and long lasting things. It is fun though. I have a binder stuffed with magazine and printout inspiration! I’m still a pottery barn feel type of person, I love how comfy and cozy they make every room look!
I’d only like that circle bed if it spun around… and vibrated.
Do you think Sadie would enjoy the company of Paul, the panther? I get the sense that it might be treated like the unwanted little brother she tries to mail to the North Pole or something, a la Olsen twins.
Who would put such a creepy panther in their room!? However the circle bed is totally acceptable
My hubs is Chinese so we have a HUGE foo dog. I named him Charles Barkley.
Yes – furnishing and decorating a house is a long process. We’ve been in our house since mid-April and still aren’t finished (though we’ve made a lot of progress). We want to find the things to *our* home, and not just buy items to merely fill space.
That is the most hilarious bed I have ever seen!!
haha, I want a circle bed so badly.
Man, decorating is SUCH a long process. My boyfriend and I moved into our house three years ago and we are STILL not done decorating! At first I was all “we’re going to decorate everything right away and just get it done!” But then things inevitably fall to the back burner when your new house loses a bit of its excitement, and three years later you still have Home Depot temporary blinds in your master bathroom. Ah well.
It is definitely fun though!
We went to look for 2 nightstands and a bed frame yesterday. I mean geez, how hard is it to make a nice simple design that doesn’t look like straight fake wood? Don’t even get me started on some of these cheesy Vegas styles.
I think I’ve decided to wait and save for better pieces that will last a super long time. Pottery barn, crate and barrel, etc. Plus every time I look at a couch I think of the ways my dog can destroy it. Sigh. This is why we can’t have nice things.
My sisterhas a circle bed!! Ikea sold them and she persuaded my parents into letting her get one. It takes up most of her room but is really fun! You can just use kingsized sheets and tuck them in. The best part: you can sleep any direction you want ha
I love furniture shopping 🙂 haha nice salad too btw!
My hubby is the manager of a furniture store and he said the circle bed is very popular with a specific type of clientele. Hee.
I showed the picture to him (he was impressed with Ryan’s posing) and thought it might be the one they sell (but alas, his store does not sell it anymore).
Furniture shopping can be frustrating! You know exactly what you want in your head – but you can be SO limited to what’s available in the store.
ha! my best friend ordered a circle one for her new house off craigslist… which i told her was a horrible idea. we picked it up, hauled it back to her house, saw how gross (ie, STAINED!) it was… and torched it in her backyard. yipes.
Oh, furniture shopping, so much more fun than it should be. It seems strange that circle beds are even made, I mean who on earth would think to make a bed that is a circle? Crazy stuff…
Good luck on the furniture search!
I think you need that circle bed and then decorate the room with 5 of those panthers surrounding it, looking in of course. You want to be able to enjoy those babies from the bed.
Haha – Ryan on that circle bed is perhaps the best picture ever. I’m with you on wanting to meet someone that owns a circle bed. If nothing else I bet they are HIGHLY amusing!
Hot chocolate packets should really just come with twice as much mix. I don’t know anyone who stops at just one packet.
I feel like a circle bed would be weird to try and explain to any guests or family touring your new house…
Have you looked at west elm? They have the best stuff and it’s not crazy prices… Also the website apartment therapy has great inspiration even if you’re decorating a home not an apt!
I think Paul & Beyonce would make the best of friends. Although, he’s a little small for the full effect of the “knock knock mother….” part. Sometimes I just turn to my husband and say that and we both bust out laughing. I don’t think that will ever get old.
Ryan’s Austin Power’s impression is pretty good 😉
Furnishing a house can be fun, but also very stressful! At least you have some free hotel food to fuel you 🙂
hahaha Ryan’s expression is killing me in that bed picture~This sounds like such a fun activity! Eeeekkk
What fun!!!! I love adding some spice to an adventure like that! 🙂
Warming your house will take time but it’s worth the effort!
I freakin ADORE that you are making the most out of the free eats. I have been thinking it for a while but I must applaud you now because you may want to pat your own back. (post topic?)
In a world where the economy is trash and children are starving…I feel like a lot of the healthy living peoples may go ahead and forgo what is offered (for free kind of) in favor of packing (and paying) for “what we want” vs what is available.
I am not sure if I am wording this correctly but it is note-worthy that you are a shining example of SANE healthy living. You know what I mean?
It’s really refreshing. I love your compromises.
haha oh man that panther would be amazing in your new place!
Random to go along with the bow chicka bow wow of the Austin power bed..that panther than reminded me of Sex Panther Cologne is the most awesome cologne ever made in the history of the … 60% of the time, it works every time.
Ha!!! The husband of mine wanted a circle bed when we first got married!
Furniture shopping is stressful, we are also on the hunt!!
In fact Julie yes, I have slept in a circle bed. Many a times.
I’m moving across country at the end of the month, meaning I will have to invest in new furniture all over again. And before I move into my own apartment, I’ll be staying at my parents’ house. My mom has already roped me into making over my former childhood bedroom into a suitable guest room during that time. I guess my sister’s decision to paint the walls baby pink just don’t convey a welcoming (adult) guest room. Maybe a round bed will though?
lol! circle beds are too cool! i think i’d want one with just me but i just donno if its big enough for two! i would totally want it all to myself! hey if you can julie could you follow me on twitter? i wanted to DM you a question but can’t 🙁 its @AmandaMarie61 …. thanks chica!! Anywho, furniture shopping can be stressful – but fun at the same time 🙂
The first time we went shopping for furniture was a nightmare. The Husband wanted to have input, which made it difficult. Now he just lets me make all the decorating choices! 🙂
Paul the panther reminds me of Joey’s cheesy apartment on Friends and the panther he had that climbed up the wall 🙂
HAHAHAHA I love that episode!! Lovin “Paul” 😉 and I love furniture shopping! Looks like you guys had fun 🙂
That is a HOT bed, g-frand! And so is the dude laying down on it! Oh hey Ry 😉
As I’m getting closer to living on my own for the first time, I totally see what you’re saying. I’m planning on colors and themes for every room (except the kitchen, I can’t figure out what to do with that room). When things are streamlined and well decorated, it just feels more like a home!
I only go to Ikea to take funny pics, I am not an adult!
Circle beds are hilarious! I could never take anyone seriously if they had one. I totally get how excited you are to decorate, that’s my favorite part of moving!
I don’t know what the Craigslist situation is like in Oscala, but whenever I need new furniture I look there first. 1. Though there is a lot of crap that people are trying to sell (25 year old couch that has no place but the curb), there are also usually a lot of nice pieces (people who are moving etc.) and you can get a good deal on a nice, gently used piece of furniture. 2. It is like recycling.
I want a circle bed haha!
I love shopping for furniture and pickiing out decor. It’s so much fun!
Haha…my family has an ottoman and after a couple of years of dating, I found out that my boyfriend didn’t know what it was called..I had to tell him that it wasn’t a “foot rest” or a coffee table. Sheltered boys ;).
Looks like a fun adventure to pick out furniture! Haha. I don’t think I’d be able to sleep in a circle bed. Plus, I doubt my fiance would fit since he is 6’5″ haha 😉
I am also on the home decorating adventure. It’s so hard! I wish I could just hire a designer to come in, understand my tastes, and make everything perfect. Is that too much to ask? 🙂
My roommate has a circle bed! haha and she is a lot of fun! I show everyone new that comes in my house her bed cause it makes me laugh:) It totally fits her personality too
hahaha love the Austin Power’s bed! All it needs is flashing lights and a mirror on the ceiling.
hahaha thatbed cracked me up! It’s funny when you wrote futon, I was so confused! MEN!!
Have you looked to thriftydecorchick for inexpensive DIY ideas….? Could get you ‘in the mood’….
Also (creeper stalker alert!) hautelook.com…much like Ruelala. I found myself thinking yesterday, ‘that’s a cute Julie shirt’….feel free to block me lol!!!