inning room update...

Last week I went to Ikea for the very first time. I ended up with some great purchases and really cannot wait to go again. I have decided it is probably easiest to take on our home one room at a time. The dinning room was up today. Randy and I bought curtain rods, hemmed, and then hung new curtains from Ikea. They are lined and fabulous. I think I paid $59.00 per package and there were 2 in the package. We have talked about getting some green grosgrain ribbon to use as tie backs on these.

While at Ikea I also purchased 4 yards of green and white striped fabric. I originally thought I wanted to use it on our porch somehow but today it hit me that it matched the curtains perfectly. So it found a new home on our dinning room chairs. Now...what is left in the dinning room? I would like to buy a large rug of some sort and a large mirror for our empty wall.

Here are a couple of pictures after our mini makeover!!!

aye is here. Weighing in at 5 pounds 13 ounces...she made her arrival this afternoon.

For those of you who do not know, this is my friend Jenny's new little bundle of joy. I cannot put into words what I feel when I look at her. I have been happy for friends before for lots of things...jobs, scoring the perfect shoes, marriages, and such...but never have I felt this kind of happiness for a friend. Today, I have butterflies, giggles, tears, and smiles all for my sweet friend, her family, husband, and her precious little girl.

Faye will be surrounded with love from so many directions.

At the same time, I cannot help but feel like a chapter has closed and a new one has begun...a wonderful one that is sure to be filled with wonderful experiences. Any time a chapter in life closes...I get sentimental. Heck, I live in constant sentimentalism (I don't think that is a word...but now it is). Jenny has been through just about everything with me. She has held my hand through so much. She is one person I know I can go to with anything and when my heart is heavy. And now, all I can think of is how lucky her sweet little girl is to have a mother who is so fabulous.

So without further ado...meet Elizabeth Faye...

oy crazy? YES.

I was boy crazy as a 13 year old...a 20 year old...and 25 year old...and every year in between. Married? Yes. But still boy crazy. (Craziest for MY boy...of course).

Oh yeah...and I know I said this blog was dedicated to our home improvement stories but I simply couldn't help myself.

Glee...is my newest favorite. I am extremely enamored with Mr. S and Puck.





And while we are talking about tv shows with hot teachers...how about Mr. Mathews on 90210? Um hello.

itchen inspiration for our little space. We have a tiny kitchen...with a hot water heater in an awkward corner. No dishwasher, no microwave, no room for a toaster oven. But it is our kitchen and therefore I love it regardless. However, one of the perks of my life would be my fabulous contractor of a father. (FYI, he was voted people's choice contractor in our local newspaper...he is the best.) When he has a bit of downtime between his current jobs we plan on having a few things changed up a bit. So in the meantime I am collecting inspiration so that we can change our awkward little kitchen into a fabulous and functional little kitchen.


photo from: young house love


photo from: daisy pink cupcake


Obviously I am drawn to light color palettes. I was originally thinking that I wanted a black and white tile floor but I am slowly changing my mind. Now I am thinking possibly a solid white tiled floor or even maybe brick floor to warm the space up a bit (and we have large dogs so it would be durable). The space is very small so I think we could maybe splurge in the floor area...We have all of our appliances so that will not be money spent. I thought the brick flooring could eventually stretch to the back porch. The porch is slated to become a small mud room in the future.

oodness...I just cannot seem to make up my mind with this little space on the internet. I have decide to keep all personal trials and tribulations out of here from now on. I am an elementary school teacher and have absolutely no desire to be on the front page of the local newspaper because of by blog...or my Facebook page.

So, without further ado. Hello again. I am back. I am not feeling uber creative at the moment. And therefore cannot think of anything to take up this space...other than what seems to be consuming my time at the moment...our house.

The hubs and I bought our first house this summer. It is a charming brick cottage. But "charming" in the sense that it needs some tlc. So stay tuned for the saga of turning our first house into our first home. (And perhaps some random life stories/rants smooshed inbetween)