Oh Happy Days Are Here Again!

Internet the big day is October 22! Do you want me to start my married life happy as a clam, eating insane amounts of cheese, croisants and drinking gallons of champagne? If so, don't enter the Paris giveaway going on at Oh Happy Day.

 If you don't give a flying rat's ass about my marital happiness then enter here!

* Photo from here

Flipping Out

Until today, Ryan Brown was known to me only as Jeff's ex on Flipping Out. Well internet, it turns out he's nabed his own show on TLC and I stumbled upon these photos of his house from a story the LA Times ran in 2009.

I love his mix of different styles. His house looks comfortable and lived in. Something I aspire for in my own home. I love the elevated dinning room and the nautical touches throughout. The use of textures... (his daughter would go perfectly in my house too!)

The bead board ceilings... the dark hardwoods... sigh...

It's perfect.

You can visit his online store here
and his professional design company here

You can see the rest of his home here.

ummmmm.... Busy much?

*Photos via LA Times

TGIF: Blogger Sucks/ Mother's Day Table Setting

Awesome. Blogger deleted my inspirational (to me) post from Wednesaday.

I am really over blogger right now but equally ready for the weekend.

We plan on working on our front yard, hooray! I'll post photos as soon as that yard is worthy of them.

For now, enjoy a few poorly taken pictures of my table setting for the mother's day lunch we hosted on Sunday. I made the runners with outdoor fabric that was on sale at Joanns (a HUGE accomplishment for me as I'm not only left-handed and unable to cut in a straight line but I also can't sew and apparently I have a hard time ironing), the sea stars, shells, driftwood and capiz I've collected over the years, the iceberg roses are from our front yard and the hanging paper flowers are Martha Stewart (they were my favorite part of the day.) Btw, the table and benches were made by Bryan the day before- we still need to distress them a bit and apply a light stain/poly and they'll be all set to go!

Happy Friday!

* Photos via Bryan's iPhone

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today I posted this: (You can see that post here)

I am happy to report that there are a lot of great changes and things I have done that I am glad I did. I am happier and healthier. I have allowed my creative juices to flow, through this blog and in life. I changed carriers and have allowed myself the oportunity to want yet a different one. I am engaged to an amazing man that grills the best steaks I've ever eaten and knows just how to turn my frowns into smiles. We've purchased our first house, which is slowly turning into our lovely home. We will be getting married this year and embarking on the next stages of our lives together. It's been great.

 So, the question remains: A year from now what will I wish I had done today?

Slacker Much?

Forgive me internet for the neglect to my little blog. With all of the work on the new house, hosting little get-togethers with our friends and family and continued procrastination on our upcoming wedding things have just been a little out of hand. But... I'm back! Ooohhh... before I forget, I'm planning on going to design school. It's a little tough because I have to hold a fulltime job to be able to do the aforementioned things but I couldn't be more excited! This has always been a dream of mine... well, dream no more! :) More info on that as soon as I stop that procrastinating too!

Ta ta until tomorrow!

TGIF: Time for Family

It's forecasted to be 80 degrees + in San Clemente this weekend so... we will be having our first little family BBQ on Sunday. Our parents and Bryan's grandpa will be in the house and we're super excited. Saturday will be spent finishing the ceiling paint in the master and installing crown moulding throughout the house (we [read: Bryan] will be installing it himself... positive thoughts his way please!) I am really excited for everyone to see how far we've come in three short weeks.

Happy sunny weekend internet!

* Gratuitous photo of my beasties via my iPhone

A Kitchen in Progress

We've been hard at work on our house for about three weeks and we're slowly but surely seeing it transform into our home. Remember this photo from this post?

With a little time (2 weeks) and a little paint (1 million gallons) we've gone from the above to the below. We primed and painted the cabinets ( Killz Latex Primer and Valspar Bistro White), we installed new hardware and hinges, we removed the drop down flourescent lighting that used to be in the center of the kitchen and installed recessed lighting, we added the pendant over the sink. We've also painted the walls in the house (not pictured... I'll post an updated photo soon!)

We still have a ways to go, we'd like to pour cement counters in the near future, and change out the white appliances for stainless steel and in the more distant future we'll install hardwood floors throughout. But for now... this kitchen really makes me smile. Btw, how awesome is our fridge?!?!