Resolutions 2011

I know a lot of people make and break resolutions.  Not me!  I love resolutions and the past few years have done really well with them.  It wasn't home related but my only resolution last year was to get off the couch and try something new.  One year later, I dance 3 days a week, started running, eating better and I'm probably the healthiest I've ever been in my life.  Not home-related, but that was big for me in 2010.

On to 2011.

I have a longer list of resolutions this year but I'll stick with those that are home-related.

• The shed project continues.  We finished the exterior in 2010.  Interior is on the list for 2011.  I don't plan to buy paint.  Since I already have enough paint to fill a paint store, I'm going to use the random gallons I already have.

• Since its become a yearly task, I'll be doing something with my kitchen table again.  I like the chairs, but the table-top is chipped and shabby but not in a good way so I'm going to do the entire set.  Not sure on colors yet.

• I have lots of paper constantly coming into the house especially kids projects and pictures.  Time to organize! 

• I also have a bunch of aluminum blinds that came with our house when we bought it.  I hate them and plan to replace those this year.

• MAJOR PROJECT:  Our house needs new siding.  Every spring carpenter bees have a field day with the wood siding and its not in the best shape.  We had it painted a few years ago as a temporary fix  but its time is expiring.  We also need a new roof, but the siding will likely be first.

That's it for the list.  I think that's plenty.

Happy New Year! 

Year in Review - 2010

Happy New Years Eve! 

When I started this post, I didn't think I'd have much to share.  My girls are growing up and kept me busy this year so I didn't do as much at home this year as I did last year.  Rather than the projects and decorating I've done at home, what stuck in my mind were things like the major snow storms last winter, the Victorian Tea on Mother's Day with my mom, our trips to The Biltmore house and gardens and our drive through Smoky Mountain State Park, New England, our time at the beach, and simply the daily hustle and bustle of life with friends, family and little ones.  Truly, the things that mattered most.

However, as I looked back, I realized that I had accomplished more than I realized, so here it goes.

Office Makeover ...


Painted my Kitchen  and the chairs.

Shed Exterior Makeover and Bistro Set sprucing.

Baby to Little Girl Room ...

Crib turned bench ...

Hallway Makeover ...

Chalkboard tray ...


Dropcloth drapes ...

My trip to the Martha Stewart blogger show was also a major highlight of my year ...

I also did quite a bit of decorating, but I have a confession to make.  I did a major make-over on my Laundry Room, but abandoned the project when I was 80% finished because that was a "winter project" and spring fever hit me before I finished.  Even in its unfinished state, its a major improvement over how it looked a year ago, but I need to go back to it and finish up for good. 

As for our plans tonight .... My husband and I are celebrating 10 years together tonight and we're spending the night (child-free!) in the same place we were 10 years ago - Annapolis.  We're staying in a historic hotel and I'm pretty excited about our plans since we haven't been out on New Years Eve since before our girls entered the scene and we've never spent a night away from them.  Thank goodness for grandparents who babysit.  Maybe I'll even get lucky with a midnight kiss.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Here's to a memorable 2011! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Happy New Year!

This is a vintage post card that I picked up at a flea market sometime last year.

Best Wishes for a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

New Years Eve

We'll be opening this tiny bottle of bubbly that is actually a year (or two?) old. The past few years I've been too pathetically sleep deprived caring for babies to even care about New Years Eve. I was glad for any precious sleep I could get. However, I really, really love to watch the ball drop and I've been so disappointed that I couldn't manage to rouse from my coma just for a few minutes the past couple of years. No sleeping this year! The champagne is on ice ...



Tonight Mr. T and I actually celebrate 9 years together so I think that deserves a toast. Happy New Year!

Year in Review

The year is coming to a close. This post brings me to exactly 300 for the year! Not bad. I started this blog in January and it helped me stay motivated ... and busy!

So, 2009. What was my resolution? Unfinished projects in my house and to organize my photo disaster. The little ones were growing and I was coming out of my sleep deprived fog. I had tired of the dark colors I'd used for years and wanted a change. Light and bright is more reflective of our life now with 2 little girls.

There have been a lot of projects this year. I've accomplished far more than I ever thought I possibly could. Here is a small sample of some of the biggest projects:

Dining Room makeover ...
Before:


Now - After paint and a table refinished to match the sideboard:


Master Bedroom makeover ...
Before ... Check out the can of primer on the nightstand.


After:




Main Bath makeover ...
Before:


After paint, a new sink and toilet, new marble flooring and a reglazed tub:


Half Bath makeover ...
Before ... Not bad, but also not "me".


After:


Fireplace makeover ...
Before:

After a little white paint, adding a vintage mantle and decorating for fall:


Craft closet ...
A cringe-worthy before ...

After ...


Then there was the potting bench that started like this ...


And, ended up like this ...


And, that's not counting all the little projects. As far as organizing mypictures, I put it off all year. Well, wouldn't you know that I filled up my memory card for my camera just last week, so I ended up having no choice but to do it today. The last day of 2009. Better late than never, right?
So 2010 will be here tomorrow. Resolutions ... We have a laundry room and an office in desperate need of attention. I will most definitely be focusing more on my garden this year. I've worked a lot in my garden in past years so its pretty well established and I have very little space left to plant. However, this past year I carved out a little space for a tiny herb garden that flourished.

Here it is in spring ...

And growing like mad in Fall ...


I don't have much resolutions, but somehow I think this is a good thing. It means that I'm pretty satisfied with where things are. Bring on 2010. I'm ready!

Cindy at My Romantic Home is having a Year in Review Party and The Shabby Chic Cottage is having a Transformation Thursday. Time for me to check out the other participants.