Homearama Take Two!

Remember last year when Hubby and I ventured out to Homearama with my sister and mom? Well, of course, we HAD to go again this year! Here's a bit of (unedited) eye candy from our little trip.

This year’s houses were built right by the ocean in Virginia Beach and BOY did they have nice views.

   I just love built-ins. There is just something so homey and classy about them. Even better, this built-in is right at the stair landing, making it perfect for a space-saving library or office (if you replaced the bench for a desk and slide in chair). How clever!

 What was more clever was the uses of this old stain glass window in the hallway (sorry this is the best photo I got of it Q.Q) to add the feeling of a window in a space that might feel too constricted or otherwise wouldn't be possible structurally. I think it adds a feeling of an extension to the space or "breathing" room.

 You could even add lighting behind it to cause the feeling of sunlight!

I super fell in love with this tile. It’s a little blurry of a photo but it has the texture or wood or burlap with the smoothness of sandstone! Sometimes it’s the small things that get me excited. Ha-ha.

 Hubby wasn't quite a fan of this idea but I just LOVE the cohesive look these books have thanks to a simple DIY slipcover curtsy of simple paper. I also think they would look great with brown baker’s paper or making a statement with some bright, bold, printed, craft paper.

 I found this rather clever. I'm sure it’s been done before but how beachy chic is this! These were tying back a bath curtain but it would be just as cute in a room to add that little vibe without overdoing it I think.

 THIS is how you work in a loud color. I love how they kept it simple with the white and didn't overdo it with the accent colors. It keeps the whole room feeling lights and breezy without feeling dizzy. Note to self, WHITE IS O.K... lol

 I wasn't actually a big fan of the chair itself but there is just something clever about using an old cane chair, adding a cute burlap (cheap) cushion, and some paint. BAM, awesome.

 Here's a closer look at that amazing texture. This pulls my heartstrings. <3

 This table was one solid HUGE slab-oh-wood; it also had a $4,000 dollar price tag. But, how great would this be to DIY with some distressed planks instead, for the cheeps?!

 (Sorry for all the blurry photos... not having a photo editor on our apartment’s office computer is really getting to me) Though my Darling was not a fan, I loved this wall to wall rag rug. Even better, you can make the same look by sewing together like-colored rag rugs to make one giant one. This one was big enough to fit wall to fall under a queen size bed!

Okay, so I know wall maps are being WAY overdone in houses nowadays, but I just love this wallpaper. Even better, it was used sparingly, just on one wall, to make it look like one big map instead of wallpaper. Cleaver.

 If anyone knows where to get this mirror, I NEED IT IN MY LIFE! that's it...

 And this one too. I actually really like this photo even unedited. Something about the lighting and the white on white. I could do without the "this way" sign though. :P

This vase is amazing. I had to share. No little tidbits. Just love.

 I actually really like this photo too. Even more, I love the floor to ceiling scalped tile. It almost reads as wallpaper but classier. It says "beachy" without overwhelming this small half bath. The frame-less, curvy mirror help to make things feel light also.

This was such a clever idea. I'm not sure how accessible it would be, but using the space on the side of the hood range, instead of just blocking it off, is so genius to me. I'm sure it’s been done before but how cool is that?!

   Well, that's it for now. I hope you all enjoyed the mini-tour.

Counting Blessings

So much is going on right now and there is just so much I want to tell you all about and share. At the moment, our Internet is not up due to a slight issue with the previous renters and the office's computers are so behind on download updates that I am unable to use the online photo editor that I normally use. *sigh* but hopefully within the next week, I should have a couple of new shiny posts with lots of shiny eye candy! I want to make a post about the new place, a few updates on the Button, a craft post (eeww yummy!), and a surprise post. But unfortunately, we will all (me included) have to be a bit patient on things.

Though there is a lot going on and life is a little crazy right now, I am soaking in each small blessing as if it’s the best thing in the world right now because I know I will never have this time again. Its short, this life, and I don't want to forget even the most minute things. At the moment our new place is stuffed full of unpacked boxes even after a full day of unpacking, and as I said before, the office center has much to be desired of but all around, we are so happy here, I cannot even begin to explain how excited and happy I am to have a dishwasher and laundry machine and dryer in our new place! Or, the fact that we now have a dog park and playground and pool for our soon to come little one. That's not even touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how amazing it is to live in the city again and only 12 min for the Hubbies work and how we managed to pack our entire house within 24 hours with the help of my amazing, sweet parents. Yes, we are truly blessed beyond measures and though life can be a little stressful and budgets are pushed to the limits, at the end of each day it is so nice to lay in a warm house, after a hot shower, and dwell on the good and relaxes knowing that God is keeping us safe and continues to shine blessings and goodness into our lives.

Moving Along

No photos this time around. Just filling in. Hubby and I are moving! Moving from this dark, heatless, log cabin in the middle of nowhere to Charlottesville, VA! Woot! Boy am I happy to have things like a dishwasher and laundry machine, and civilization again! A part of me will always miss looking up at all the stars at night and waking to the smell of fresh dew and birds calling and the views of the mountains but these are the things you give up when necessity come knocking at the door. Not only are we moving to a nice townhouse apartment (can I get an amen for no people above or below me!) we are also going to be only 12 minutes from Johns new office, about an hour from family, and 15 minutes from the birthing center!
 The only downside is the actual moving part. So, in the meantime, we are making the drive back and forth from one place to the other for midwife appointments and going to work and packing. It's a little stressful but totally worth it.

On a completely other note, John and I got to hear our little Buttons heartbeat and even got a CD of it to listen to over, and over, and over again. So here it is for you all to listen to... if you care.

I thought it sounded like a horse running. Things like this make me feel a little better about the downsides of being an expecting mommy. Like embarrassing myself with nervous tears when the nurse did the breast exam or passing gas in the store aisle when it's just you and another lady. Or, embarrassingly squeeze-hugging a babies onesie and tearing up in the middle of Target. Yep. totally worth it. 

Welcoming the Fall

During the move from our former apartment to our current rental last years fall leaf wreath got smashed in a box by a careless mover *coughHubbycough* so, of course, I had to make a new one. Plus, their fun to make.

The only downfall was that this was by far the most expensive wreath I have ever made! It cost me a grand total of $35 buck-a-roos! Though I must admit that the ALL the pre-made wreaths at Michel’s were $40- $55 so I guess by making one just as nice myself, and using cheaper materials, I did save a few bucks and ended up with a wreath that I LOVE instead of just like; because it’s exactly how I wanted it! 

So that's how I'm welcoming in our guests and the fall. How are you all taking in the colder weather? Hot coffees or apple cider anyone? how about a trip to the pumpkin patch or a haunted house? I'd love to hear.