Curb Appeal

Our exterior has always needed some sprucing. It seems that year by year, we get to a bit of it. One year roofing and gutters, one year landscaping on the sides of the house, one year the new deck on the back, etc. This year, we will be finishing it up. Finally getting the exterior up to par completely.

Last fall, our driveway was re-done and this spring, we fixed up the turf that got messed up. This summer/fall, we'll be re-painting.

Hopefully by next spring, we'll just have to pull out our patio furniture and wash our windows and the house will look great. Hopefully!

For our new paint job, we know we want gray with white trim and a big contrast door. Think bright yellow, mint green, red, etc. I'm thinking I may just paint my front door every season for awhile. Mr Tech Guy does not like this idea. We'll see, right?

But, gray. Gray means a lot of things and we are having a hard time nailing down what type of gray we want. I'm thinking a charcoal/blue gray, a sage/green gray, a taupe/tan gray or a true/light gray. See our dilemma? Here's my pinterest board... full of all of my indecision.

What are you opinions on the matter? I'm hoping to narrow it down to a few great shades and paint a little section of our house to make the final decision. Any favorites out there?

Coming and Going

I feel like I'm meeting myself at the corner of coming and going this week. I mean, it's already Thursday?? What?? 

We are in therapy a lot. Sometimes I'm with him, sometimes I'm not. When I'm not, I'm checking my email, working on UHP or MOMS Club stuff or planning my SILs baby shower. 

Yesterday, I caught up on some magazines. Here are some exciting tidbits that caught my attention. 

The disgusting dresser I found on the curb awhile ago is almost done... Here's a sneak...

I pick it up Friday! That's tomorrow. Woot! Big, fun weekend ahead. I hope Daredevil can stay awake for it. He's been falling asleep and missing out on fun lately. :( He got fun at a pool party yesterday but tuckered out before we got to Concerts on the Square. Boo. Next week! 

Playroom Reveal

The playroom is finished. Daredevil loves it. He's loved it since his toys got moved in there, but he really loves it now that there are places to play, explore and learn.

I thought I'd share some pictures of our new space. 

Welcome to Daredevil's favorite space!

Daredevil's measuring stick growth chart is tucked in there as well. 

The room has a large magnetic chalkboard wall. I'm sure it will get more use in the future. Right now we pick out animals and look at letters on the wall. I'm hoping to do some chalk art up there sometime but it has yet to happen. 

There's actually a felt numbers banner up there now, but this is largely what the back wall looks like. 

Daredevil's art paper is attached to the bookshelf so we can easily get to it.

Daredevil loves to play on the magnetic "road" on the wall. He vrooms, booms and beeps his way along the road.  There is a lot of traffic right now. 

More storage for all those toys. Gee-whiz... And I'm certain my pregnant self said he would have few few few toys. As in a few. Like a handful. Not two rooms full. Oy! 

And a tiny space to hang up anything as needed. 

All in all we love the space- especially that it's basically done. Daredevil wants to play in there for hours a day. The other day he was down there playing with Twin for nearly two hours. I thought I'd hit the lottery! 

Catching Up

I missed another week... that's what happens when Gammy's here. You'd think I'd have more time to do things like blog post when she's here, but I have less.

We are 80% done with the projects we set out to complete while my parents were here. Overall, we're really happy to have everything that got done done.

Here's the run down...

The downstairs ceiling. It's 98% in but it still needs to have some finish work done.

The cave. New ceiling, light and bedding. Done.

Master bedroom. New paint, new bedding. Done.

Guest room. New paint, new bedding. Still need a few new accessories.

Bedroom and front door. Repainted. Done.

Playroom. Shelving in, walls painted. A few details need finished - the road divider and some hooks.

The downstairs sliding door won't be put in for a few weeks, but its coming, as is the backsplash in the kitchen (after three years)! The only thing we really just didn't get to was the floor of the balcony. We wanted to use the new deck-over product on it and see if it would spruce it up even more. We'll get there, just maybe next spring.

Decluttering. Always a work in progress but seriously, a lot got done. The basement, the garage, the guest closet... you know all those cluttered spots I try to avoid. I was at goodwill, the dump, half price books and posting on Craigslist everyday. It feels so good to purge.

Now you see why we were busy? I should be back to regular programming! I'll post more pictures soon, my computer is being grumpy about syncing my pictures today.

The Time-Out Chair

I've been looking for some no nonsense chair for a time-out chair. About a month ago, I found these beauties in someone's gardbage. I circled back and snagged them for our time-out chairs. One man's trash is another's treasure.

Plain, small, collapsible, easy to move (downstairs, out back, etc) and kind of cute, too. And, free. What?? Perfect for us.

I know, I know. Surely Daredevil doesn't ever need a time-out chair. I'll admit, it is fairly rare but he does occasionally need it.

However, since Gammy and Grandpa arrived I think he's forgotten what the time-out chair is actually for.

Oh boy! This kid is something else.

Here are some of the things we've been working on this week....

Sweets

Cuteness

Independence

Crispidity

Brights

More to come. Have a great weekend!

Purge Paint Organize Repeat

When the parents come to town, we work. Well I ask them for help and they work me.

I mentioned how I needed to dig out A FEW gifts and this was the result... a full on dump, purge and organize. My mom is truly a machine.

I actually can't believe I showed you that photo! Ugh. It's all picked up but just in time for the master to be emptied, purged, donated, sorted and organized. Well, and painted.

Daredevil liked to help us, too. He was cracking us all up when he'd jump on the pile of bedding.

The master got fairly put back together just in time for us to clean out the downstairs play area, work area and spare bedroom. Work starts tomorrow down there. How can projects can you undertake in a two week period? Well, we're attempting projects in 1) the kitchen, 2) the master, 3) the playroom, 4) the downstairs living area, 5) the entryway, 6) the upstairs guest room, 7) the downstairs guest room, 8) the downstairs work space, 9) the master balcony, .... umm, ok, maybe that's all. In two weeks? What?? We're crazy. And there are still projects that we won't complete. I'm sure of it.

We're done painting the two doors that needed painted, a tabletop that needed painting, some toy dinosaurs that needed painting, painting the master bedroom, deep cleaning the master bedroom and bathroom. The mud is drying in the playroom and it's on the agenda to be painted tomorrow. Pictures soon.

Decorating Game

Colors and patterns have been swishing around in this head of mine for months - ever since I decided to re-decorate a few rooms and re-purpose another.

I've finally decided on the color scheme of the playroom. Here's the only hint you get...

The best part is that I'd already established my plan when I found that and it fit perfectly! Mr Tech Guy saw it and gave me the stink eye as he said "it looks expensive." But it wasn't! Score 1 for me!

I haven't actually decided on the other color schemes yet... I have another week. The more I get firm in my decision, the more I find something that changes my mind. See?

Decisions, decisions...

Small Projects

Right now, small projects are all I can manage around this house. We have plates up in the dining room for decor. I like them but from afar you can't see the pattern because the colors are so close together.

See what I mean? Not enough color variation.

When I was at Target the other day, I saw these colorful, patterned plates that would look fabulous for an update in the dining room.  I'm leaning toward getting the turquoise ones... I like the square shape and the color that will tie into the colors of the globes in the room. I may opt for two and two but I'm not sure.

Thank goodness for quick and easy returns. Which ones do you like? I'm hoping to work on this sometime this week.

And just because he is the cutest thing ever...

Bathroom Update

Sorry this is late, doctor's appointment this morning and lunch with my main squeeze held me up. I should've set this to publish early, but I forgot! Sorry!

Our bathroom redo is still in progress, but here are some updated pictures!

I still need some ideas of what to put on the shelf. There is one thing I want to put up there, but I can't justify spending any more money... dilemma! Oh well, hopefully you all have some ideas for me!

I think it looks a lot brighter in there... I'm ready for spring!

Our New Office

I know I've already posted about the office transformation here, but now that it is officially finished (except for the cradle sitting on the floor), I figured I could show it to you again but in more detail!

So, here we go. This space used to be a grungy, dark and dingy hallway with studs and shelves and clutter...not much else and really no usable space.

Now, when you first walk in you'll see our IKEA spice rack book shelves for visitors and eventually for our little one. You'll also notice the deer antlers and some artwork I made last year displayed.

 As you turn to the right, you'll notice the real "office" area.

I love having my sewing machine at the ready and plenty of space in that top drawer for sewing items in one and office items in the other. I also have some of my favorite pictures displayed here... wedding photo, art from Norway, BFF pictures, my "praying dog" Goodwill find of a lifetime and the sheep with a wool hat on. It's so fun to be working and see your favorites right in front of you.

And, speaking of favorites, my wooden shoes from Holland have been tucked away in a tupperware box since 2001... yes, 2001!!!! That is a DECADE!!! I decided that I needed to display them for all to see, or at least for me to see, so I did! I let J drill holes in them and screw them to the wall. Since I've only ever worn them in Amsterdam, I doubt I will really ever miss wearing them but I do really love seeing them all the time. What history!

Since this office is really just for J and I, I decided to fill it with things I love. Not only is the space now functional and practical, it also holds a lot of treasures. I love that everything has its place and there is a place for everything!

Now if I could only finish organizing the laundry area!! We all can dream, right??