The Move

No, we are not moving! Our realtor agent called this week to check in on us. He's a very sweet guy who every so often will call to check in on us, make sure everything is going well, and see if we need anything. Highly recommend him. We are friends on Facebook, and he had said that he thought we were doing some nice updates to our home and enjoyed seeing where it has come from. But, like I said - no we are not moving. It would take quite a bit to get me to move.

The move that I'm referencing is in our house! Our house is set up as a side split - common in the area we are in, but not as common in other areas. Think of a split level house, but with the "split" of the house all to the side. Google it perhaps. Anyway, you walk into our hallway from the front door and have three semi-open rooms - kitchen, formal living room, and dining room. 

The formal living room was a place in which it had two nice chairs that I had picked out from Overstock shortly after moving in, our china cabinet, and a rug that was too good of a price to pass up. Oh, the days of not having an IKEA in our neighborhood.... :)

It was suggested by my Mom a while back, to consider moving the dining room to the formal living room. At first, I didn't buy into this idea. We had a dining room. Sure, the backdoor was a little bit of a nuisance, but only slightly. And, the table was small. It fit! Oh, and don't forget about the golden 1970s glass lighting that hung from there. (For a house warming present, she bought us a new light fixture for that room.)

Now, after living in our house for a couple of years, I was starting to see the potential of that formal living room, especially after hosting some of Z's office over for a holiday dinner. I could see a dining room table in the formal living room. And, the picture didn't look so bad! The question was, what would happen to the dedicated dining room?

Formal Living Room - Before

Formal Living Room - Before

Formal Living Room - Before

Formal Living Room After - Now Dining Room

We took the space, and ripped out the breakfast bar to begin. We expanded the width of the counter, allowing for ample space to eat and serve food. Even by doing that and getting some chairs for the bar area, we had a nice pathway of space. We took the once formal living room chairs and table, and moved in there! I found a rug at Target that fit the space nicely. (Hint: Target has lovely rugs! Check online for their pricing - it's sometimes cheaper! And, they will match in stores.) We bought a retro-looking TV at Target, and are now using that space as a sitting area -- one that we are using much more now! It is like we have gained another room! 

Former Dining Room, Now "Sitting Room"

Former Dining Room, Now "Sitting Room"

I am really enjoying watching our house have more of our touches on it. My best piece of home advice is to do what you want to do. Create rooms that you love. Sure, it may not get the "resale" factor, but it's your place. Make it yours.

What is one of your rooms you love in your house, or dream of wanting? I would love to have a craft room, but, the bedroom I would like to put it in, I also have dreams of making that a master suite retreat... Battle of the ideas! 

Young House Love ... Missing You.

While Z was traveling for work, I tend to listen to music or podcasts more at night. I was scrolling through Bloglovin' and stumbled upon a saved post featuring Young House Love. Have any of you listened to it yet? After multiple attempts, and predicted, falling asleep before it is over, I am slowly getting through it. I think subconsciously part of me does not want this podcast to end! 

My take aways from it....

• I really rely on Z to help with house projects. Like, a lot. I don't mind doing that, but it puts it in perspective just how much I rely on him for those things. I may have the ideas and inspiration, but he has the ability. 
• The purpose of this informal blog was to share what all we were doing on our house. While I still haven't updated regularly, I do enjoy this being an outlet and way to share, aside from social media websites. 
• I would love to get my hands on the newest Young House Love book.

I'd love to hear what you think after listening to this podcast! Happy listening! 

It's Fall Y'all

I don't know where that saying originated, but it seems like in the last few years, it has become a thing. Regardless, I like it. And, with Fall officially beginning on this past Wednesday, why not?

Today we pulled out our minimal Halloween decorations and hung them up. We also spruced up the house with a few more Halloween and Fall decorations we had bought. We decided to focus on getting some more fall things this year, since we focused on sprucing up our house with Christmas decorations this past year. And, I must admit... I loved the way our house looked this past year!

Anyway, we started decorating for Fall and Halloween today. I have more ideas of what else I will do around the house. Z begins his week long travel for work on Wednesday, so I am going to try my best to stay busy with projects like that. Plus, I am quite anxious for Fall... deep cleaning, decorating, all of it.

How do you get your home ready for Fall?

Many Mason Jars

Mason jars. 

They have become such a trendy, shabby chic accessory to home decor or parties. When I was a kid, I never would have imagined that all of my Grandma's mason jars would make such a statement and I would be asking my Mom if she had any to spare. Who knew?! I obviously didn't a number of years ago.

Luckily, my Mom had salvaged some of those mason jars. I wasn't expecting to hear that she located twelve of them and that they were all mine, despite me telling her that I would be perfectly content with only taking a few. Regardless..... When I was at my parent's house last time, I opened up a closet to find one of the shelves adorned with mason jars. It looks like I'm taking them one way or another. Due to them being made of glass and not having a proper box, I cautiously brought back two on this past trip. Next, ten more to go... ( I know Z is *so* excited.)

I have a few ideas of how I may want to use the jars. I already have used one as a vase when I cut flowers from our garden. I have pinned many Pinterest ideas with mason jar ideas. But, I would love to know, what would you do with them? What ideas are there that I should know about?? One can only have so many flower vases.

Let me know what you would do with them, and I'll keep you updated.... I'm thinking Fall and the holidays could use some mason jars.

What Happened ... What Didn't Happen ...

Hello, end of August. 

Sort of nice to see you. As usual, summer went by too quickly, and I am now dreaming of three day weekends over Labor Day and the approach of Fall. Sometime back, I wrote a post midway(?) or early(?) summer outlining some thoughts. For whatever the reason may have been, it was never posted. So here I am drinking a glass of red wine and looking at it on a Saturday evening in our dining room as Z runs wires behind a wall. He has so much more patience for that sort of thing than I would. I went back through the post and put my current thoughts in italics. It was fun to look back at this! It appears as if I go through phases of not posting for a while, but that doesn't mean that things aren't happening around our house. Pardon my blogging absence, and enjoy the thoughts of summer.....

-E-

Garden

• I am so thrilled with the way our backyard is turning out. We had been so spoiled in the earlier months of summer to spend so much time outside with the mild weather!  Our hosta collection has grown (got to love a good plant nursery and sale), and we have added more to it. I have nicknamed our backyard "the retreat@ because it feels that way. Grab your bottle of wine (Sauvingon Blanc from New Zealand, Shiraz from Australia.....) & head out for a relaxing evening.  Many evenings have been spent outside and many more to come, especially with Fall creeping up on us!
• Hot tub..... Didn't happen. :( Long story short, the motor gave out and the company has poor customer service. I loved that thing! If you are looking around for a pool or inflatable hot tub, I strongly advise you avoid INTEX. (I've heard people have better luck with the pools....) Still quite sad about this.... Discovered our local neighborhood pool, though, with Z's sister which was quite fun!
• Raised bed hasn't happened yet, but to our delight the veggies on one of the sides of our house is doing well despite the endless amounts of shade! Still no raised bed, but the veggies have continued to do well! Putting it on the side of the house and expanding it along that way was a great idea.
• Our compost pile is still a work in progress, but there is composting taking place already! I can't wait to get more involved in it. Still a work in progress.... :) Thinking Fall with all of our leaves will bring more time doing this activity. 
• I bought roughly 5-6 pepper plants this year and 2 types of basil plants. Happy with what we have been able to get from it! Next with basil is homemade pesto! Pepper plants are still producing! Made 2 types of homemade pesto and put it in the freezer.... Can't wait to try it!

House

• Organizing!!!! I tend to go through purges when I really examine things to determine if I need to hold onto it or not. The 4th bedroom in our house is top priority this summer. While it won't be done in time for the neighborhood garage sale, I predict trips to Goodwill this summer. Unfortunately, the 4th bedroom did not happen, but just about every other room did! Donations to Goodwill are piling up. 
• Organizing more. That is my biggest goal for the house... Can you tell? Continual purges... 

City + State

• I want to get to know my state and surrounding city more. I dream of frequenting local farmer's markets, local shops, sites in my state, charming towns, and getting to know my area better. Still exploring! Went to a few nearby towns but can't wait to dive more into it. I think that Fall will be a beautiful time to do so with the leaves changing.
• Speaking of getting to know my area better.... We have been here for 4 years as of this coming October. I want to get to know my area even better. I can't believe we are approaching 4 years. I remember the day Z told me we were moving from Chicago! 

Etc.

• With no concrete commitments aside for a few things throughout the summer, I am also looking forward to making trips to visit with family + friends. Mission accomplished.