I DIE

Honey, if you want to get a head-start on Christmas, I could TOTALLY rock this amazing cape from Rachel Zoe's new RTW collection.  Just click HERE to pre-order!

Oh, while you're there, you can get me this too!   I do love 1 shoulder dresses.  (And I need a pretty dress for all those weddings we have in October.)

Construction Zone: My Kitchen

When we bought our house (back in December), we knew we'd have to update the master bath and the kitchen.  Actually, we bought the house BECAUSE we'd get to do this.  We looked at several houses with updates, but I wanted to be able to make my kitchen and bath my (our) own.  He told me I'd have to wait 1 year before I could start re-doing these areas. 

Well, as I've spent the last 8 months going back and forth between whether to redo the bathroom or kitchen first.  I saw this article in my Southern Living magazine, and knew, then and there, that the kitchen would be our first construction zone!  My decision was further confirmed when I went to visit my husband's parents.  My M-I-L came in and said "Amelia, I ripped out some pages of a magazine.  I saw this kitchen and instantly thought that it was soooo you".  Yes, friends, it was indeed the exact same article!

I love love love the cabinet color!  I am a HUGE fan of white, but because I have dogs (who like to go counter surfing) that tend to get white dirty really easily, I am okay with painting my cabinets a grey tone.  I also love the apron sink.  I first saw this type of sink on our trip to Portland, Oregon right after we graduated college, and ever since then, I've promised myself that MY kitchen would have an apron sink!

I LOVE the stools she used!  Because our kitchen connects to our small living room, clear stools are a perfect solution.  He has already given me permission to buy them, but of course, I'm just waiting for a coupon.  (I may or may not have even created a registry in hopes of receiving a 10% off coupon.)  I also love the school pendant lights!  You can find them at great bargains on several lighting sights! 

Because my husband and I love to cook, we definitely need a chef's oven.  I'd probably get one with a larger range---and add a pot filler (because Italians love pasta.)  (PS- my husband is Italian.)  I also love how she added subtle color in the tile back splash!  It brings in just the right amount of POP.  Oh, and seeing her cabinets raised to the ceiling gave me great inspiration.  I love the open shelf she inserted to display decorative dinner wear! 

Finally, I love how she built a pantry next to the refrigerator.  It gives the fridge a nice home.  We currently have our pantry in our laudry room, so this inspired me to build out a space so that I don't have to fight the wet jeans (that I hang dry) just to get olive oil!  

So, now I will share a few pictures of how our kitchen USE to look.  These were taken during our inspection.  (I'll show you how the kitchen currently looks in a few days.)

Looking in from back door, kitchen on left, living room on right.  The repainted mirror I recently blogged about here hangs on the wall to the right of the cabinets.

See the lovely "fruity" backsplash tile?  He painted over that with white paint.  We used the "Gripper" primmer to help the paint stick on the tile.

 

Looking into the kitchen from the living room.



 We painted all the cabinets white and I replaced the gold hardware with sleek sliver handles.  He also took down the wine right (above the counter in the above picture).  And, those red curtains have found a new home---probably in the city dump.



Standing in front of the fridge, looking out into the garage.  The laundry room / pantry is on the right behind the fruity backsplash.



Laundry room / pantry.  We removed the bi-folding doors  to create more space for me to move around in there!

Now that my manditory 1 year holding pattern is thisclose to being over, I'm gearing up for some major changes to our kitchen!   

Gamer at Heart

I would TOTALLY buy this wall decal if I had a game room for myself my future kids.  PS- I really really really want a Wii so I can play Super Mario Bros--but He won't let me.  He thinks I'd play it too much. 
(He's probably right.)

Master Bath

If only we had 2 Master Baths.  One for me........

 And one for him.......

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

When my husband and I got married and started combining furniture, there were few pieces of his that made the cut.  Because I just can't get rid of perfectly good mirrors, this mirror, from his childhood, has been hanging in our living room. 

I wish I'd taken a better "before" picture, but as I'm new to documenting my  projects, I need some grace!  We needed to repaint it because, well, the dark wood color just wasn't fitting in to my design scheme, and it had chips from years of being moved around.  (Look in lower right-hand corner and you'll see some chip marks toward base of mirror.)

Anyway, this past Sunday, my husband decided I should paint it-----BLACK.  His suggestion intrigued me, and since we already had black paint on hand, I figured why not! 

So, you know how in this post I said that I've learned to ALWAYS sand before I paint?  Well, because the wood is rather thin on the mirror and the detail is very intricate, I decided to just use "Gripper", a primer we used to help us paint over the horrid tiles in our kitchen.  This primer is the bomb and will stick to any slippery surface!


Priming while drinking a Slurpee

After I primed it with 1 coat of Gripper, I painted on 2 coats of Glidden Onyx satin oil-based paint.  (I prefer oil-based paint when painting furniture because it hides brush strokes better than latex-based paint.) 

I let it sit to dry for a few hours (while we went swimming at my dad's house) and came home and hung it on the wall.  It turned out great and I think it adds the perfect balance to our living room! 

PS- I plan to give you all a full view of the living room (even a before and after tour, but I'm still waiting for my new rug and love seat to come in.  I'm also having a cushion made for the fireplace, but patience friends--there's plenty of time to show you what we've done with the place!)

Happy Birthday Sis!

Today, my adventurous sister turns 23.  Happy Birthday Tara!

In honor of her birthday, here are a few of our favorite inside jokes:

"And I'm Vanessa"...."Yes you Are".
"You don't eat no meat?"
"Feel the rhythm, feel the right, get on up, it's BOBSLED time..ahhhhhhhhh"
"The block was dead yo, so I continue to A1A, beach-front DETROIT avenue"

and finally...

"I know you are, but what am I?"

XOXO!

How to: Bring Morocco to my house

Intriguing and enchanting--all at the same time!

***SWOON***

via

Can I go even though I'm already married?  

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected

So, it's NO secret that I love to donate money to good causes---especially when it comes to college scholarships!  You see, I went to college (Texas A&M- WHOOP) on a full scholarship!  While I did have to work during my summer and winter breaks to pay for living expenses, I received a BBA in Finance for F-R-E-E!  Had it not been for some very generous contributors (and alumni), I would be in debt...but I'm not--and nothing is more freeing that that!  

I know that there are several deserving high school kids out there who are struggling to break free from poverty and who are working hard to get into college.  I hate that some kids think they can't go to college because they can't afford it.  That, my friends, is why I donate!  

My husband and I volunteer with the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club.  We help students with their homework, help them prepare for their SATs, and educate them in general about all of the vast resources they have for receiving funds to go to college.  

EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES THROW AT THEM! 

That being said, there is a great organization here in Dallas, Texas Youth Scholarship Organization (TYSO), (that also works with the Boys & Girls Club) who has made its mission to raise funds so kids can get higher education.  They have organized a pub crawl (September 10th, mark your calendars), with all money raised going directly to scholarships for kids! 

Join the DFW Back to School Bar Tour for a night of totally 80's bar hopping! Five school buses will tour some of Dallas' coolest watering holes before reaching the official after-party.  This year's theme is Back to School: Return to Ridgmemont High, so grab your best 80's gear and get ready to party like it's 1989!

For more information, click here!

I'm going, are you?  Let me know if you are interested---we can get on the same bus!

1 2 Many Shoes

I have a problem.  I'm addicted to shoes.  I have a bigger problem....  My closet is small and I can't fit my shoes in it.  I have to store my shoes in an armoire in these.  I've thought about asking my husband to install shelves like this

to display a few of my favorite pair (all that He bought me...or gave me permission to buy):



He gave me these after he proposed



He gave me these before he proposed





25th Birthday Present



Buys me these anytime they go on sale



Let me buy these last week. 



I'm having MAJOR buyer's remorse over the Valentino's.  I haven't even taken them out of the box.  He said I should pick out a more "classic" pair because the fun ones are what "rich people buy".  Should I keep them???? 

Happy Birthday to my Baby!

Yesterday was a big day for our youngest dog, Georgia.  She turned 1! 

Just a few days after my husband surprised me with her.

In honor of her birthday, both she and Sweden got raw-hide bones in the morning and then we took them swimming at my dad's house in the afternoon.  While she is bigger than Sweden now, in many ways, she's still a puppy.  We are teaching her to swim (she just uses her front legs and forgets to kick with her back legs), she still loves socks (the dirtier the better), and she still loves to snuggle.  Have you tried snuggling with a 50 pound German short-hair Pointer lately?  Challenging, but I wouldn't trade her for the world! 

Sweden  teaching Georgia the ropes at our old condo

After a long afternoon of swimming, they were both exhausted!

Heat Wave

Here in Texas, we are in our 1-billionth day of 100 degree weather.  It's hot out here!

Here are some images of my pups playing in the mounds of snow we got during Super Bowl week.  Hopefully, it will cool you off just a little bit......

 Georgia was looking for some water....

  Don't you just want to stick your face in some snow right now?

Hutch Makeover

During our engagement, His parents threw us a "Stock the Bar" shower.  It was a huge party and his parent's Southern-style home in Houston (complete with wrap-around patio and balcony) and everyone brought us alcohol.  We have a TON.  Before we bought this house, we lived in a 1,050 sq. ft condo and stored said alcohol behind our TV.  Since we've moved, we've had it stored in the kitchen on a counter and my husband decided it was HIGH time we got a bar. 

So the search on Craig's List began! 

After diligently searching, He came home with this hutch that was just begging for a makeover!  We figured it'd be a great way to store our liquor.

Forgive my IPhone Picture--he sent me this via text message



We wasted no time taking it apart and breaking out the sander.  (Well, He was a better sander than I was.  I was on "pick out paint color" duty during this time.)

What a handsome man

I know, we all hate sanding, but I've learned that it's the MOST important step in repainting furniture.  Sand it down now and avoid having to re-paint it later!

It was a lot of sanding--not for the faint of heart!

So, as we are now done with this project, I'll keep you in suspense until I take pictures of the finished liquor cabinet  so you'll come back tomorrow for the finished project.  The results amazed both of us!

HIM

Taken minutes after He proposed

It seems only fitting that I introduce you to my husband.  I love him!  This is one of my favorite pictures--taken minutes after he proposed to me.  He is my best friend and biggest supporter, so he deserves an introduction!

We recently bought a house (well, 8 months ago) and are super busy fixing it up.  We get going on several projects at a time and sometimes it's hard to finish them off.  He also takes care of our yard and is a landscape extraordinaire!  I'll be posting on several house projects---brace yourself!

I couldn't resist adding this one too -- taken during our first dance

Stage Fright

Years ago, back when I was in college (and had the time for it), I would post blogs on my Xanga regularly.  I loved being able to document what I was currently feeling or thinking about!  Sometimes, I go back to my Xanga and read my posts!

I've wanted to start back blogging for a while now, but I'd chicken out because I may not post enough, or my posts may not captivate you.  In advance, I'm sorry if I somehow let you down, but I am only letting myself down if I continue to let those thoughts prevail. 

As I journey through being a wife, mom (to 2 amazingly sweet pups), new home owner / interior designer and maid, fiancial analyst, and small business owner, my hope is to document all of the thoughts swirling in my head in real time.

Here goes nothin'.