I love this little print so much, and I think it has the potential to become the inspiration for our maybe-in-the-near-future dining room/kitchen remodel. There’s something about dark teal and burnt orange that makes my little heart go BOOM! BOOM!
[Image via FFFFound!]
Sorry for the long absence, my Dear Readers, I am here. I’m just buried in lots of boxes, unassembled furniture, and happiness. I love being in our new house. From the moment we set the first box down in the living room, I felt like I was home. And gosh darnit, that’s the way it should be. There’s still a lot of projects to be done, but it is a joy to work on this little space for our little family. I will post some pictures soon, I promise!
I’m not updating this blog so regularly because I’m busy painting. Actually, that’s not true. I’m not painting at all because Jacob won’t let me because I suck at it. He said he loves me anyway.
In the meanwhile I keep myself busy by yelling at Jacob for dripping paint on the carpet and doing silly dances for him while he paints.
This is why I still only have 0.5 boxes packed so far…
Allison Serrell’s book Nest For Two, Creating a Harmonious Home has been an amazing inspiration this week as Jacob and I dream up our new home together. I realize that we are actually a nest of three, but for the sake of our sanity, Jacob and I still get to have sanctuaries throughout the house to call our own. Poppy gets the entire basement, alright? Muhahaha.
Anyway, just wanted to review this book for you in case you also are interested in some cozy, comfortable, beautiful ideas for you and your SNUGGLY WUGGLY LOVE BUNNY. [Hi Honey!]
Let’s start with the table of contents page.
Can you say nice? This book is organized like my brain, in color-coded chapters containing few words and LOTS of stunning photography that is both artistic and inspiring. It’s hard to look at interior decorating books without feeling like most of the furniture/artwork/architecture is completely unattainable for the common Midwestern girl. Nest for Two is NOT like that. Little details as simple as the lovely placement of a bowl of eggs makes me stop and say “Hmmm, I could totally do that.”
This double workspace is one of my favorite ideas in the last chapter on office space.
Jacob and I have been struggling for the last three years to come up with an Here’s-Where-We-Pile-The-Bills-And-Cry-About-The-Bills solution that we like, that works for us, and that looks good. After seeing this photo in Nest for Two, I am convinced that this is the best solution for a double desk that I have ever seen. A desk facing out the window? Made out of old, recycled wood? YES! We are actually considering mounting the desk directly to the wall under the window sill and getting rid of the legs. That’s for another day and another post entirely.
The style throughout the book is relaxed and welcoming. Warm colors, light colors, and lots of different textures makes this book a definite read for the home-maker who wants a house that is a home and not just an artistic statement. And, look, I’m not the only one who likes this book.
Happy Nesting!
[PS. Buy Nest for Two at Amazon or just raid your local library like I did]
I’ve really been wanting to update this blog today, but instead my mind is wrapped up around the fact that we are moving a few weeks and I JUST started processing this.
Perhaps a photo can illustrate the interior-decorating-stir-fry that is my brain right now.
No, this photo isn’t staged. I am actually surrounded by house/moving stuff right now. Poppy has yet to eat any of the paint cards! [PS. Why do babies love to eat paper?]
I will resurface soon with something good and juicy for you. Like maybe the Google search terms that have been used to get to this site. Two words for you – Cursive Poop.
Isn’t this a sweet little image? I’m planning on using it soon for a “Hooray! We’ve Moved! Here’s Our New Address For Those Of You Who Still Keep Address Books And Use Snail Mail!” digital postcard.
Hello, little birdie.
It’s 1:05 AM, I need to go to bed and stop this insanity. Just one more YouTube video…
I have a video of Poppy playing her now-favorite game of “Where’s The Baby?” It’s the standard children’s classic “Peek-a-Boo,” except that Poppy has no idea what Peek-a-Boo means. Somehow though, she understands that if you ask her “Where’s the baby?” that she should cover one eye, look down at her belly and then SHOCK and AMAZE you with the reveal of that one eye and a loud AHHHHHH! It’s the best. I need to get unlazy and upload that video.
In other news, things with our new house are moving along well. We are *this close* to owning a home. The closing date is November 20th, which means that the moving process will happen in that little space of holiday crazy-ass, chaotic cheer between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It should be a blast. If I live through all that and still manage to buy (and wrap!) some presents, then you will give me a free neck massage, right?
We drove by the new house again last night and I just can’t believe it. A little corner of the city for us. A garden to plant, a yard to play in, a new neighborhood to explore. I am so excited. Jacob is still able to bicycle to work, thank the Lord. Remaining a one-car family is good for us. Here’s a little glimpse of what next summer will look like for me and Poppy: Restore Tremont. Oh, and Tremont is home to The Christmas Story House and Museum. The movie was filmed here, so Cleveland doesn’t completely suck, haterz.
I wish I had a picture of the view from our new front porch. You can seriously see the entire Cleveland skyline from our front yard. It’s amazing. I love this city and I am excited to plant our family here.
All the house speak this week makes me feel like this Little House – small and trembling in a big, bad world.
I’m blogging from the bathroom, if that gives you any indication of not only my love for you, dear Readers, but of the insanely busy-crazy week we are having over here. Let me give you a little run down.
On Tuesday, we looked at a house. On Wednesday, we met with a mortgage lender, an accountant, and a real estate agent. On Thursday, we bid on said house. On Friday, we found out said bid was accepted. On Saturday, we filed our mortgage application, signed our offer contract, and scheduled the home inspection. In five days flat, we went from “Hey, what’s a house?” to “Whoa, that’s our house!”
I wish I could explain to you how I am feeling right now. Aside from the obvious “What the hell?” moments, I am a smoothie of blended emotions. The truth is, I can’t explain it very well. This whole house thing has just happened so fast. Our new home is still in the city that we love, in a wonderful neighborhood full of old houses, city parks, coffee shops, art galleries and the like. It is cozy and warm and ready to be made a home. We are moving in December.
I am so grateful that this shot in the dark of ours has turned out so well. So much we don’t deserve is happening right now in front of our faces. We don’t deserve to find a house that is the same monthly cost as our current rent. We don’t deserve to get chosen in a multiple-offer bidding session. We most certainly don’t deserve to be approved for a loan. A loan from a bank. A big, fat loan from a big, fat bank.
We are going back to see the house later this week, so I will try to remember to take pictures. After, of course, I stop running around the yard screaming, “This is OUR HOUSE!”
[Number flashcards from A Little Hut found via Ohdeedoh]
[The recently released cover of Britney Spears's new single]
There is a specific pillow from this ThrowBoy collection that I am going to NEED to have. Five bucks to the first person who guesses which one.*
*You’re not actually getting five bucks.
I’ve been looking online for a baby doll for Poppy. There are a ton of customizable treasures listed on Etsy, but these Babushka dolls have really caught my eye.
I’m going to have to teach Poppy how to bat her lashes at Daddy.
One of these days, I am going to make like Megan Deal and sell all our crap to the Internet for $.01. Oh to live freely.
[Found via Unpluggd]
