Mini Guest Bath Update

Patience isn't one of my strengths.  I know it, and I own it.  Sometimes though, I just.cant.wait. That's sort of what has happened with our guest bath. I don't think I shared any of our bathroom pictures, because, why go there? We're lucky both bathrooms have white tubs and tile surround. So, that's a plus. Everything else in each bathroom is borderline unacceptable  It's funny because when we looked at the house, I didn't shutter the way first time buyers or snobs do, on HGTV when they're house hunting. However, once we were in the house, and these are the bathrooms you have to use every day, it's a totally different story. We can't do any major renovations right now, so it has to wait, and I have to deal.

My mom, the wallpaper stripping queen, graciously offered to strip the wallpaper in the guest bath, which already helped immensely. Then, after a successful outing at Mohegan Sun a few weeks ago, I literally twisted Brian's arm, and we stopped to buy 1 new toilet on our way home. So that at least is a start and makes using the bathroom, a little easier.  Then, I decided some paint and new hardware might be the trick to holding me over for a little while :)

So, last weekend I went to good 'ole Home Depot, picked out some hardware and got to work. I painted the window, door and vanity, and just tonight we finished putting all the new hardware on. I am thrilled with the little update! I think I am good now.... for a month or two ;)

Pretty big difference right?

BEFORE

 

AFTER

Favorite decade?

I started thinking about all of this, this afternoon.  While eavesdropping on two co-workers conversation, my thoughts quickly drifted off.  One of my co-workers, who is a curious -27, was on one of her daily tangents with random quesitons. She was asking a woman on our team, who is 55, what her favorite decade was - 20's, 30's, 40's? I didn't listen to her answer, because my thoughts went right to a baby picture of Madelyn on my desk. Granted my 30's are just barely underway, but so far this is definitely my favorite decade.

My 20's were all about discovery.  Most importantly, I was forced outside of my comfort zone, into a new environment and I started to become my own person.  Most who know me, know my college days, were not your typical college days. They weren't fun.  So, on to bigger and better and the first few years following college, were all about F-U-N, FUN! I essentially did whatever I wanted, when I wanted, and I really enjoyed my independence.  In a nutshell, my 20's were all about me, and having fun. I loved my 20's and I'm so happy I had all of the opportunities I did, that allowed me to make some awesome memories!

I kicked off my 30th year, pregnant. I was looking ahead at the end of the pregnancy and thinking, this is it... just a few more months of being so carefree, spontaneous and selfish.  I wont lie, I was nervous. I mean, there was a point in my early 20's where I swore I'd (maybe get married and) live on a farm with lots of dogs! So, I knew a lot was going to change.  But as I peer down my 32nd birthday next month, I can't be more excited and thankful for where I am, right now. Yes, I know it's still early, but I guess since having Madelyn so closely coincides with turning 30, the impact of this new decade is strong!

So far, my 30's have taught me about perspective and made me not take myself, too seriously.  So far, my 30's have been filled with JOY.  Plain and simple, pure and real, lots and lots of joy. I was lucky to have a great 1st pregnancy, a great 1st birth experience and an easy-going baby in Madelyn.  I have to give myself a little credit though, because (even I can't believe) the natural born stress-er in me, took it all in stride. I was calm and rolled with the punches, and I like to think, I still am.  I don't know what I'm doing, but I also don't read anything, not one thing about what we should be doing, or not doing.  In our house, we simply live.  Maybe that's why almost each and every day I'm awe-struck with joy. I really am one of those women who wishes there house was cleaner, life maybe a little more organized, etc, but I'm too busy living! I linger on Madelyn's laugh with a thread, I cherish when she tells me she loves me and gives me kisses, I beam when she asks me for cuddles before bed, and right now I'm crying because just thinking about all of this makes my heart so full.

Becoming and being a mom, is the best.thing.ever.  Hopefully down the road we'll be lucky enough to expand our family, but I don't want to think ahead or plan too much.... then I wont be cherishing the joy of right now!

Hope you all are well ~ XO

Oh Mmmm Geee - 20 months!!

Numerous times every month, over the last 20 months, I have thought - this is the best, and it can't get any better, but really, I mean it! While M has gotten a jump start on her "terrible 2's" and tantrums are a plenty, I am loving this age :)

Brian calls me a smother-mother, and quite honestly, he's right. I could hug and kiss Madelyn all.day.long, and I try. She's not shy though, so when she's had enough, she gives me a stiff-hand to the face :)  I just can't help it, I love her to pieces! I love her laugh, I love her expressions, I love how she says Mommy and Daddy, I love her spunky personality, and I even love when she throws a tantrum, trying to exert her independence.

In familiar settings, Madelyn is not shy. She loves to have fun, learn new things and play, play, play!  She does really well playing on her own, and exploring but she also loves company. She knows her friends by name, ones that she sees often, and others she many not see as frequently, she really loves her friends! In new surroundings with new people, Miss M is definitely shy.  I haven't gotten the full report about Brian as a child, but my mom tells me, that's just how I was.

Madelyn is in constant motion.  I guess I sort of expected it with this age, and sure she has her moments where she'll sit and hang (for like 30 seconds) but otherwise, we are on the GO! M LOVES being outside and playing in the water - ocean, pool, bath, you name it, she's a water bug. It'll be a fun summer outside for all of us, trying to keep up with her!

Here are some recent pictures of our little girl, looking so much older.  Another month, and lots more changes, we love you so much, pretty girl!!

There's just something about this place...

Martha's Vineyard, that is. Maybe it's because you have to get on a ferry to get there, maybe it's because I don't get great cell service so I'm usually "off the grid" when we're there, or maybe it's just that special. Whatever it is, there is something about the Vineyard, it is literally like heaven on Earth, for me. If you have never been, you have to go.  If I could, I'd bring all of you with me each time we went. See.... isn't she so pretty?!

 

 

 

 

We went up for our first visit of the summer, last weekend, and it was awesome! It takes 5 - 6 hours, on a good day to get up there, so I feel a little bit of pressure to make the most of it whenever we're there. Seeing as it's hard for me to take time off, our visits this summer, will be short ones. However, last weekend was proof that even a short visit (48 hours) can be a great one! The ferry ride over was one of the roughest I have ever had, we were thrown all over the place for the full hour ride. Once we were there, it was smooth sailing. We had fun catching up with family, catching up with friends, and hanging as a family! Madelyn even slept in one day, until 9:30am - a first! We came home, so happy from a fun weekend, and feeling refreshed! There's just something about that place....

 

 Island time  - its good for the soul :)

Here are some pictures from our weekend!

Honey, I'm home!

We closed on our new house 2 weeks ago and it's been a whirlwind ever since. Not really surprising, since we tried to cram a lot into a 10 days, but I'm happy to say everything went smoothly.

We got the keys on Wednesday evening, after some last minute issues with our closing (and added stress, ahhh!) and then Brian, Madelyn and I went right to the house for a tour as a family. This is when I snapped the "before" pictures below. After our visit through the home and showing Madelyn around, my family came over and we got right to work :) 

We started the painting in the living room, the real focal point of the house. We did a few coats of trim on the wall of bookcases, and then my Dad and Brian painted the cathedral walls. It was an instant WOW! The entire house is outdated, which we'll live with for a while, but it screamed "tired" with the coffee colored trim and doors throughout. Pictures can't even really capture how ugly it was, not to mention a total pain to paint!!  I made my own little project the front entry and main hallway - wall color and trim, while my (poor) Mom spent the better part of the week scraping the wallpaper out of Madelyn's room, and then painting it. She asked for that to be her project, and she saw it through from start to finish - such a rock star! I'm really proud of the work I did too, but even more excited about the change and how well the colors work!

Over the first week, we had the carpet ripped out in the dining room and hardwood floors put in, a fence put in around the yard, and we painted, painted, painted (and striped wallpaper) as much as we could. The fence was in, floors were done and painting was complete (for now) by last Friday night. Just in time to bring everything in and put away. As Brian brought boxes in, I opened and emptied them and put things away. It was a great system!

There is still lots to do and little things to get organized, but we can't believe this is our home. We can see past the rest of the old details and remaining wallpaper, because we really love it! Hopefully we'll be able to host lots of gatherings here with friends in the near future!

Great Room - BEFORE

 

AFTER:

Madelyn's Room - BEFORE

AFTER

 

Guest Room - BEFORE

AFTER

 

MBR - BEFORE

 

AFTER

 

Dining Room - BEFORE

 

AFTER

Great Room Mantle -BEFORE

 AFTER

 

Entry Way - BEFORE

 

AFTER



42 hours, 45 minutes and 12 seconds

Until we close on our new house.... but really, I'm not counting ;) I remember being crazy-excited to be home owners for the first time, but for some reason this time around its all magnified. Maybe it's because we are very proud of our purchase and all the hard work it took to get this house? Maybe it's because it's not really about us anymore.  The decision to buy this house was driven so much by our little girl, and the future of our family.  Maybe it's because this house has a lot of reno possibilities and ways that we can make it really us. At least that gets me really excited :) Lastly, I think it's the space, the flow and the character of the new house, and that fact that it soon will all be ours! I can (still) hardly believe that we are moving into this house. So with all the excitement, jitters and anxiety that I am feeling, I'm feeling even more blessed.

Since it's so close to the highway and not really out of the way, I have made numerous drivebys over the last few weeks. So many so, the neighbors might be ready to call the police to report the grey Acadia creeping up the street :) The trees have grown in a little and the house looks so cute, nestled along the street.

 

Brian and I have both have Friday off, so once we get the keys on Wednesday night, it is on! Those that know me well, know that I am planning on painting most of the rooms, all the trim, ripping out the wallpaper, moving in and decorating fully over this long weekend, and next weekend. So weeknights, early mornings, and these weekends will be very busy. In my head, it seems doable, but I realize I'm probably being too optimistic. I'm not good at waiting, taking time to see if I like it, sleeping on it, or anything like that. Since its been someone elses home for more than 40 years, I want to jump and make it smell like us, look like us and feel like us as soon as we can. Not for anyone else but us, because then it'll feel like home sweet home and we can relax and enjoy.

 

Stay tuned for pictures and wish us luck! Hope you all have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Recent steals

Since we've been living in New Canaan over the last 5 weeks, I have hit up 2 different tag sale type events in town and scored big! The first, was our first weekend in town. I was going to grab coffee early Saturday morning when I saw our church was having a tag sale. I normally would just drive by, especially since Q was along for the ride, but I decided to stop in.  The tag sale was for a local Boy Scout troop and it was taking place in the church gymnasium. The gym was mostly filled to the brim with knick knacks and chotchkis.  There were a few lamps, rugs and kitchen chairs.  But I hardly noticed these things because as soon as I walked in, I saw this chair:

I didn't even think it was for sale because it was so nice, and the only really nice piece in the room. I'm not wild about the print, but it is super comfy and we have the perfect corner just calling for it, in our new house. For $50, it was a no-brainer! So my coffee run, cost me a little more than the normal $6 but I'd say it was worth it :) 

Last weekend was New Canaan's Annual May Fair. They bring in probably 10 - 15 different large carnival rides for kids of all ages, have lots of food tents and in the church gymnasium, yet again, another tag sale! My mom and I got up there first thing in the morning to check it out. We don't really need much for the new house, but I was hoping I might find a new dresser for our MBR. Instead, I found this huge, beautiful craftsman style hutch, and I fell in love...

It was the day before Mother's Day, and this was the LAST thing I should be spending money on before moving into our new house. But, she was just too pretty to pass up. So I basically begged and pleaded with Brian through texts (while he was at the gym!) - please?! please?! And he agreed. What do you think would be a steal for a huge hutch like this?? It was marked for $550 but I asked what they'd take for it. $400? Uh, YES, DEAL!  I am SO excited to move in and put this in our dining room - it is beyond PERFECT!

This is the overstuffed chair and we got along with our new sofas for our living room. 

Doesn't it just scream, get cozy and lay down, or what?! LOVE!