blue baby bash

I hosted a baby shower for one of my best friends earlier on this month. Actually, it was the Saturday before we started demo. (Genius timing, I know.) It was a great time and all of the details came together as planned. This usually happens when you are a completely obsessive planner. Because many people are out-of-town, we had a group of about 8, which was perfect for the house in its then-state. I was able to have a sit-down lunch and everyone had a place to sit. I forgot to take photographs of the invitation, so I'll do that ... when I have a new camera ... and our house is in order enough for me to set the invitation down .... Our dining table:

The bar-top:

 

I completely forgot to take a photo of the banner I designed with his name, "Evan Andrew" BUT, wait! There's evidence. You see that string in the upper left of the above photo? Yup, there it hung!

The game and favor table:

The most important part, THE FOOD: What? You thought it was the mom-to-be? You silly, silly person. (I kid, I kid. Holly, I love you!)

You're probably looking at this thinking, "only greek salad and cupcakes?!?" That's right ... Those and the vodka slush created the most hopped-up baby shower EVER. Really, we did have a couple entrees, but suffice it to say, I am NO food photographer.

Anywayy, here's some other details:

the curse of the best frenemy

Somewhere around the beginning of our final obedience class at beginner level, Duncan decided that he simply did not want any extra awards. No sir, he did not want "Most Improved" or even to allow us the opportunity to be "Best Handler." He was perfectly content with "Perfect Attendance" (8/8: what a feat!) and "Rescue Dog." (No, he can't rescue you. We rescued him.) Anyway, I believe the the exact point that he decided to throw it all out the window was when he spotted a look-alike (not hard in the dog world) of his best frenemy, George. I like to imagine he was rather confused about why George's impostor did not want to play. Er, I mean, try to beat living daylights out of each other. Maybe he was trying to remind him of how much fun they have together. Oh, yes! That's it! That's why he started growling, barking and, then finally, trying to bite this poor, unsuspecting woman's dog during a routine "sit, stay, by me (don't ask)" exercise! I'm surprised we he still got our his diploma and "passed go" onto Intermediate! THEN WE WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE TO RETURN THE ICE CREAM WE'D BOUGHT THE DAY BEFORE. Does that ever happen?? Obviously, that's another story entirely. Vacation seems so far, far away...

image: Coastal Living

picky, picky

Well. If you ever decide to renovate, know that your house and belongings may retaliate via retirement. So many things are breaking, in not so great timing. Our current running is one 50" television, our vacuum cleaner, our lawn mower, Duncan's bed and a fan (both through the fault of the pup, himself), and, most recently, my digital camera. Yes, we might have new floors, but no, we can't vacuum them. Do they have some sort of "poor timing, you poor thing" appliance discount at HH Gregg? Didn't know you were invited to a pity party, did you? I bring this up because yesterday we took home seven paint samples and did a little evaluating. I would LOVE to hear everyone's opinion, but have no way to show you a photo! Harumph! I'll be picking up five MORE samples tomorrow to test them out.

I'm trying to remind myself that its good to go bold! I originally wanted to do a deep, steel blue-gray in the dining and family rooms, with green accents and a corresponding green in the kitchen to tie it together. We haven't yet found a green that is accepted by both parties (wink, wink)

If we end up green-less, I think we will do this: still paint the walls in the dining room and family room that wonderful (but still pending - yikes) steel gray-blue, with the ceiling a lighter gray shade. Then, we will paint the kitchen the gray that we selected for the ceiling.

But right now, our kitchen is rather colorless. We will have dark brown (almost black) cabinetry, black (with some brown) counter tops, a white backsplash and brown, gray and white flooring. Do we need to spice it up?

Or would a nice light gray paint complete the package in a sleek and sophisticated way?

I've been trying to tell myself that IT IS OKAY if we choose a color that we decide we can't live with. We've been very sure about all other decisions and it would surely be more expensive if we decided that we don't like that nice granite counter after all!

Nonetheless, someone else IS painting for us this round, so what paint to pick? (and see why I need that camera?)

images: Canadian House & Home, Home Sweet Home, Point Click Home

my how things change : reno : week one

I seriously can't believe how quickly things change in a house (when you have a team of professionals coming in from 8-5 every day.) Actually, in a house, as well as with a dog. In our house Duncan is always some sort of goose. Chris and I are only occasionally some type of goose. Yes, I know this is weird. No, I don't know how we came upon this. Anyway, at the beginning of the week, Duncan was the sleepy-goose and the good boy. Hm, we never call him a good goose. Currently, as in while I am typing, Duncan is the whiny-goose, which then makes him the annoying-goose. With all these people in and out of the house, I think he is contemplating surrendering his title as "House Protector" (sometimes I call him the Pocket Protector.) He really doesn't deserve half of his lame nicknames; however, WHINY-GOOSE IS WELL DESERVED RIGHT NOW. Here he is, adorably feeling defeated:

Okay. Done with Love Fest Number One, my love of Duncan. Now for Love Fest Number Two, my love of how quickly and how much the house is changing AND how exciting all of the possibilities are. A display of the week's progress, and do remember, THIS DOESN'T EVEN INCLUDE TODAY. Hooray! (I'm basically a poet; if you didn't know it.)

View one, in a progression:

And view number two:

This week they knocked out lots of walls and built the necessary support, ripped up the flooring, framed and added the french doors and the bar top and began the basement. (Among many other things that my non-contractor mind isn't privy to.) Can't wait to show you all of the progress! I'm keeping the very beginning photos for the before-after reveal. Have a wonderful weekend!

happy hump day

Hello all! It's been a wonderful morning, so far. It looks absolutely gorgeous outside and I feel well-rested! Well-rested, even though last night was week seven (out of eight) of beginner obedience for the D. Besides the fact that I'm going into work an hour later than usual, I didn't need to walk or tend do Duncan much this morning. I got up at 6 to feed him his breakfast and send him off with our friend (and his sister) for Doggie Day Camp with a check and a signed permission slip. Hello motherhood! Okay, okay; I know mothering an actual human being is much different, but this is the closest I've been! Happy Hump Day!

image: Lovely Clusters

demo day!

It's begun! Our makeshift kitchen...

 And our disaster of a living room:

Wish us sanity and minimal weight gain due to all the take-out we're sure to eat!

vacation recap

I hope everyone has had a great week. Its absolutely gorgeous here. To wrap it up, here is a photo play-by-play of vacation (which already seems so long ago!)

I absolutely loved the AVIA, which I think I made clear. One room that they don't share on their website (how dare they!) Is the lobby restroom. I decided everyone just needs to see it and, in extreme tourist fashion, took some photos. Gorgeous, no? No, no, not the photography, the bathroom!

Chocolate covered caramel apples galore! I LOVE them. If you know one thing about me, know this. Okay, if you know ten things about me, know this.

The view from our room at the AVIA

This is one of the only pics of the two of us in Savannah and I cannot remember where it was! A basement bar maybe? I blame the plastic cup in front of me.

We took lots more of us in Charleston, like this one, where Chris kept saying that we should move away from the yellow power line. I had already set the camera timer up on a windowsill next to some animal droppings for this and wasn't about to try again. (sick)

And this... on our way to dinner at Sermets Corner. Delicious! We loved it and absolutely recommend it.

And the standard pineapple fountain shot that I just had to have, but, oh no, my eyes are almost closed!

Let's try again! It'll be great.

Hm, it must just be too bright. And hot. So hot. I'm going to pass out! Back to the hotel room we go. We did go on a trolley tour on our first day and loved it, but again, SO HOT. I took plenty of pictures, but these are definitely the best ones.

A little wine bar was just around the corner from our hotel. Maybe our lack of photos in Savannah was because I hate asking people to take our picture. So I try this

 and then I ask someone.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I think Savannah might be one of my favorite cities!

The worst part of the trip was definitely leaving this

And the best part of the trip was coming back to the same good boy!

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll be a busy bee, hosting a baby shower for one of my good friend's and getting ready for demo-day on Monday!

AVIA hotel = love

Hello all of you, lovelies. We're back! Truth be told, we've been back since Saturday evening. I guess I should say "'I'm back!" Anyway, I'll start with a swoon-fest over the Avia Hotel. Have you ever been? There's only four, one of them being in Savannah. And Oh. My. Goodness. I am OBSESSED. I seriously loved this hotel and everything about it. The service was truly exceptional, the modern design totally suited my taste and everything was so comfortable! I think comfort can be overlooked and isn't always something you realize until you are actually UNcomfortable, but wow. This place was awesome. I had the best nights sleep in the plush bed. The pillows were so fluffy and comfortable. The bar stools, the restaurant chairs, the pool loungers. Awesome. I highly recommend visiting if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of their hotels. I do not highly recommend going to such a rockin' hotel, THEN going to another awesome city, but staying in a not-so-rockin' hotel. Do the best one last! Check it out...

Our room was like this one:

(Yes, the food was really as good as it looks!)

Go ahead, book a room. (And no, I don't get commission. Maybe I should ask.)

images: AVIA