Addiction to Weddings

Yes, I said it. I am addicted to weddings. Everything from planning them to going to them. I used to work for Robertson's Flowers in Chestnut Hill and that's where I got the wedding bug. I blame them for my obsession.

It isn't a terrible thing though I could look at wedding photos ALL DAY LONG and I have, my own, my friends and people I don't even know.

I am fascinated with people's creativity, the way they use space and inspiration. Here are a few of my favorite table settings:

Robertson's Flowers Website (photos by various photographers):

Big Apple Florist (Photographer unknown):

I'll continue to post more as I try to remember where they come from.

Summer Entertaining Ideas

Everyone loves a good BBQ. Sitting around with family and friends, catching up on what's going on in our lives, and oh yeah...eating really delicious food!

I came across this article (slide show) on msn.com the other day and thought there were some really creative summer entertaining tips in here that could be useful. So here they are:

This is a really cute way to display your beverages (and keep kids busy). Let your kids take the wagon around and offer to refill beverages - they'll think they are hosting the party and helping you out.

This is a really cute table that would work perfectly for a picnic or if you are lounging around in beach chairs by the pool.

What a great way to keep sorbet cold on a hot day. Simply a citrus fruit in half, scoop out the middle and freeze. Cut a thin slice off the bottom to keep it from rolling around!

I love this one. Ever notice how once an ice cube starts to melt, all the ice in the bucket melts?It's because the ice cubes are sitting in water. Using a stylish colander, keep the ice away from the water so it will stay frozen longer.

This is another one I love. Imagine dozens of these guys around your backyard on a summer night. Fill them with small citronella candles to keep the bugs away at the same time! You can also put sand in the bottom to keep the candle wax from sticking to the sides so you can reuse them again without much cleaning.

I'm having a BBQ themed Pampered Chef Party this weekend so stay tuned for more great entertaining ideas.

A formal Introduction

So I just realized I never formally introduced THE love of my life to date, Ruger. He is our rescue furbaby who I can't imagine living without.

Let me tell you a little out this bundle of joy and how he became ours.

Ever since DH and I moved in together (December, 2006) I wanted a dog to keep me company while he was at work. As luck would have it every apartment we lived in did not allow pets, until... we moved into our house in December of 2008. As soon as I walked in the door I started looking for a dog. I knew I wanted a rescue for many reasons. I wanted to do the right thing (obvious, I know) but I just kept imagining all those poor dogs in a shelter and I knew I couldn't help all of them but I could help one.

December came and went, DH and I got engaged and soon it was January and I FINALLY got DH to look at a few dogs I was interested in. Believe it or not, he found one he really liked at Last Chance Ranch and told me I could look into adopting this dog. Well after just 24 hrs, the dog was adopted. However, I still went ahead with the application process in case we saw another dog we liked.

A few days went by and we didn't find a dog that caught our eye until we saw Nubby (see his "baby" photo here). Immediately we wanted to see him. So on Saturday, January 17th, I went to the shelter to "look" at Nubby without DH.

When I got to the rescue I was a bit overwhelmed, I wanted to take them all home with me. Thankfully, there is a list and you cannot look at a dog if someone else has an appointment to see that dog the same day. So they went in the back and got Nubby for me. He was adorable, loving, and wanted to kiss, and kiss and kiss. He was well behaved, no biting, growling and very friendly. I loved him. It was at that time one of the volunteers, knowing my situation of DH not being with me, told me there were 5 week old puppies that would be ready to go home in 3 - 4 weeks, perfect! DH could see them and we'd have enough time to puppy proof the house. So I went to look at them. They were adorable and I wanted to eat them up! (Sorry I can't find their photo). I need to have one of these adorable little creatures, I went to the office, filled out the paperwork and paid.

It was then I had buyers remorse (as usual) and thought about Nubby, he was older, well behaved, easy to house train, pretty much done the chewing part of his puppy years (new furniture flashing in my mind) and I could take him home now, right now, this very second. WAIT! I told the lady. I changed my mind, Nubby was the dog for us. They changed the paperwork, took Nubby out to go to the bathroom and got him ready for me.

I then had to make the call to DH (who at this point had NO CLUE what I was doing) giggle, giggle. I simply called him and told him the morning was going well and I had a surprise for him and asked if he was onsite at work, he said yes.

I got Nubby loaded up in the car all set with a new collar & leash (I purchased 3 different sizes before I got to the rescue knowing I'd be leaving with a dog, just not knowing which one) and drove to see DH.

We got out of the car and DH met us at the door. Surprised I didn't bring him lunch, but a new puppy instead he was happy and loved Nubby just as much as I did.

Later that night we named him Ruger and it was the first day of him becoming a totally spoiled furbaby.

A year and half later, here are some photos:

Don't try to steal my rope Mom!

The neighborhood watch dog

His latest trick (sunbathing on the couch)

He leans on sofa pillows just like we do.

Moo Tows are the Best

This past weekend my sister in-law and I took my niece to a local farm by their house to see "Moo Tows" aka Cows. She was so excited to see "Moo Tows" that as soon as we pulled into the parking lot she started screaming "Moo Tows! Moo Tows!" and pointing out the window to them. My sister in-law and I laughed so hard at her because she was so excited. Needless to say - it was REALLY cute.

Here are some pictures from the day.

Our latest accomplishment

Well it finally happened - our bathroom is complete (just about). After almost 2 weeks and a dozen trips to Home Depot and Lowes we did it. We gutted a bathroom from ceiling to floor and redesigned it from the ground up.

This project taught me a lot about renovations:

1. Set a budget BEFORE you start - not in the middle
2. Know exactly what you want, make a list and buy it ALL TOGETHER
3. Tile can not be completed in a day
4. Unless you and the person you live with is the same height as you, DO NOT let them hang a mirror without you.
5. Nothing will EVER go as planned.

The demo of the old bathroom went great. DH (Darling Husband) and his friend were able to get everything out (including tile) in just a few hours. The wallpaper trim was a little difficult but not nearly as bad as I expected. Here are some before pictures:

The tile install went well and thanks to my FIL (Father In-Law) it was all completed in one day! (They even got 1/2 the hallway done too).

Painting the walls and the bead board came next. Walls were easy (Behr Premium Cloudy Day). However, the bead board was a different story. Much like our paint color (Cloudy Day), I had to paint the bead board in the garage while it was raining. I had nowhere to put the trim after I painted it so I made make shift "horses" all over the garage - it was truly an obstacle course.

But finally everything was painted and we (meaning DH and FIL) started to install the bead board and put the bathroom back together.

Well once everything was back together (or so we thought), the toilet leaked, the sink leaked, the mirror was hung WAY too high (I'm 5ft tall and could only see my eye) and we had more holes in the wall to patch. So round two, fix the problems and now everything is right. No leaks, no holes and I can see myself in the mirror...YEAH!

Here are some pictures of the final product!

Our biggest splurge was the faucet. DH really wanted a faucet where you could see the water come out and since we aren't going to do this bathroom again for a LONG time, we figured why not? And it was worth the money.

Here are some details about the room:

Paint Colors (both Behr Premium): Wall - Premium Cloudy Day, Bead Board - Polar Bear

Vanity & Mirror: Allen + Roth Wynn Collection

Faucet: Price Pfister Ashfield in Brushed Nickle

The Art of Learning to Tile

When doing DIY projects at our house, my husband tries really hard to explain what he's doing and why so I can learn as we go. Sometimes it goes well and some times it doesn't. This was one of those times where it went well and I even added some sanity to a project of chaos.

Ok, when we first decided we were removing the 1980's slate floor in the foyer and hallway I knew I was in for some work. Watching DIY I thought, "Hey that looks easy" and "I could do that". Boy was I wrong.

My father in law came down to get us started on the project so we could finish up the next day. All started well until it came time to tile the closet and make cuts. It was at that time, we discovered the blade of the tile saw had a kink in it and all the tiles we coming out on a diagonal. This is where the chaos began. A few hours (and a half dozen tiles) later, we finally finished.

Then came grouting. I never knew it could take so long. Needless to say we had help (no thanks to me) and all I had to do was wipe up the grout after it was set - at 11 pm! It took about an hour to do but when I got done I was really proud because I did it all myself.

Here are some before and after pictures for you.

Before:

After:

Project Manager

I had to post this because it was just too cute.

This weekend we were installing new tile in our downstairs 1/2 bath, our foyer and hallway. While all of this was being done, our Project Manger was SLEEPING ON THE JOB!

Needless to say, we completed the project without him.

Amazing Photographer!

It seems like everyone we know is either pregnant or just had a baby. So with all the "baby fever" going around I find myself drawn to Melanie Rose Photography out of NY. (I have to admit, I've known Mel since grade school and her talent is AMAZING!) I check out her blog whenever I need to see really cute pictures of babies and/or kids and my fix is complete.

I keep trying to convince my husband to go to New York City for our One Year Anniversary just so we can do a photo session with her, but sadly he's not going easily.

I don't want to put her pictures up but I encourage everyone to check out her site for all your baby "fixes".

Here's her websites:
www.melanierosephotos.com
www.mellyroseblogspot.com

And I'll keep you posted on getting the husband to NYC for a One Year Anniversary Photo Session - It's considered paper if we get them printed, right?

The great outdoors!

My husband is very passionate about the outside of the house, whereas I really couldn't be bothered. I am more of an indoor girl. He always has great ideas and I never doubt anything he does when it comes to the yard, the inside of the house is a totally different story.

All the neighbors adore him because someone is finally taking care of the outside and making it look nice, which is fun to watch because he doesn't take compliments well and always ends up blushing.

This year the yard has been quite an adventure, starting of with not 1 but 2 nests of baby bunnies at our little furbaby, Ruger, found. Then the adult rabbits decided to eat all of the black eyed susan's, a bearded dragon (something?) and most of the annuals we planted in the ground. Needless to say, it's been quite a spring & early summer.

As the summer progresses and the annuals (the ones that are left) get bigger - I'll post more along with my husband's solution to getting rid of the rascally rabbits!

Our dining room

I kind of love this room since it looks like nothing else in our house. The rest of our house (what we're renovated so far) is neutral tones, creams, tans, greens, blues but this room is the exact opposite!

The hutch was a gift from my husband for Valentine's Day. We found it at a used/antique dealer in Kutztown. He sanded it down, restained it and put new glass in! I love it!


I should mention now that I'm OBSESSED with table settings. Working for a florist for a few years I have learned tricks to make any table look great! Keep an eye out for some things I have coming up for the summer! In case your wondering the napkins & placemats are Vera Bradley and the table cloth & napkin rings are from Bed, Bath & Beyond.