Waterlox Rocks and My 100th Post!

My 100th blog post!

How great is that?
When I began blogging last summer, I didn't know what to expect.
Could I keep up?  Would people bother checking it out?
However, it was always my intention to write the blog for me.
It's my virtual photo book and my personal diary. 
I get to go back and see how far we've come.
And what a year it's been!  We've come far, babe.

We are working very hard on this kitchen.
We need to touch up the cabinets and caulk in areas.
We need to add stone to the island.
We ordered a pair of pendant lights.  We'll see how we like them.
We need to build the refrigerator in and add the plate rack.
Sounds like a lot, no?

One thing that's officially done...
The butcher block perimeter countertops.
And boy do we love them.

Can I shout from a mountain top...?
waterlox rocks!
If you plan on using ikea's butcher block or any butcher block for that matter,
go ahead and put on a few coats of this stuff.
I promise you'll be satisfied.

The color is a bit off.  i-phone quality isn't the best.

I just couldn't wait to show you!

So much to do, so little time.

Will you join me for 100 more?

Marvelous Mommies!

happy mother's day moms!

Even though my little guy is still growing in my bell,

I sorta feel like a mom today.

I have a new found appreciation for moms.  Motherhood is beautiful.

I've already sacrificed for Carlo and will continue to each and every day.

That's what mommies do, right?

That's what my mom does.

Thank you for being you.  Thank you for working so hard.

Thank you for being so selfless.

I love you beyond words.

Due to some more health concerns,

the doctor has me on a specific mommy meal plan.

Chef Rob to the rescue.

Receiving this special treatment won't stop after mother's day.

Look at the goodies he brings me.  He'll kill me.

Sorry...I just think he's too fabulous.  Best husband award.

Enjoy your day.  Put your feet up.  You deserve it!

*photos courtesy of modern hepburn, mediacache4



I Feel Summer Creepin' In...

We have 4 weeks left of school. 

Can you believe it?  I sure can't.

I'm looking forward to some me time, but I'll miss all of my co-workers.

They have been my cheerleaders throughout this pregnancy.

Once schools out, reality will truly set in.

We're going to meet our little man very soon!

This weekend gave me the taste of summer.

While I wish I could jump on a plane and get out of this town,

the scenery was absolutely beautiful.

Most moms tell me to enjoy this alone time before the baby comes,

but I'm ready.

My body aches horribly and I still get sick from time to time.

Plus, all of this renovation and updating has me in a tizzy.

Over the weekend Rob and I were out and about when we spotted

window panels that we felt would look great in the nursery.

And they were reasonably priced.

I love you World Market.

I'd sleep in this room.  I hope Carlo likes it too!

There is more to do, but now we can check one more thing off of our list!

Curtains.

Feels good!

The kitchen seems to be moving along too.

The backsplash is being installed today and

the plumbing will hopefully be completed by tomorrow.

Then we'll add sealer to the countertops!

We're still waiting on the delivery of the hardware, 

which is what excites me most! 

Now we need to start our search for the island countertop.

Honed granite or marble? Why do people seem so shocked by honed stone?

They look at me like I'm on another planet.

It must not be common around here?

Anyway, I thought I could wait.

But with so much progress,

 it's hard to leave the center of our kitchen unfinished.

I know, honey.  You told me so.

I'll stop rambling and touch base later.

Be back in a flash!

*photo courtesy of tiny white daisies

A Mess of Ideas and a Mess of Renovation!

Lately, I've been impatient.

Pregnancy hormones have me feeling like a complete lunatic.

I need things done. Like yesterday.

The kitchen continues to come along slowly.

When you think you have a time frame for the work to be completed,

add a month {or two}.

In all honesty, if most of the work is completed by June,

I'll be just fine.  If it goes on much longer, call the police. Ha!

We had a little hiccup with the cabinet hardware.

Since we already have pre-drilled holes in our cabinetry

{and because I didn't want to add more holes or fill the old ones in}

the restoration hardware gilmore pulls that I had in mind were a no go.

We needed to find something with a 3 inch boring that was still substantial and

not so tiny.

After looking high and low we came across the Martha Stewart line of hardware

at good ol' Home Depot.

We decided to order 1 cabinet bin pull and 1 knob

 to see how they would look in our kitchen.

The knob is up top and the bin pull is down below {left side}.

We love it.  A very classic look for almost half of the price

of some of the other hardware that we were considering.

I went ahead and made the big order last night.

Rob's got a lot of unscrewing and screwing ahead of him.

We've got a lot {and I mean a lot} of hardware.

I'm still on the hunt for some longer pulls for some of the larger cabinets.

I'm sure that will occupy my time for hours.

As I posted in my last blog entry, I've been on the hunt

for curtains and window hardware.

I'm still a bit up in the air. 

I'm even considering some cherry wood curtain rods

to compliment our Jenny Lind crib.

We'll see.

My mind is currently occupied by art work and how

I'd like to decorate the wall on each side of the crib. 

 Hmmm.  Too many decisions lately.

But I do know, I'm loving these prints.

I'm thinking vintagey gold frames.

{The Young Hare by Albrecht Durer}

{Guardian Angel by Heilige Schutzengel}

I told you I'm a mess of ideas.

That was a warning.

By the way, how lovely is this nursery designed by Tammy Connor?

She's sort of my new favorite.

I'm loving all of the crosses behind the iron crib.  Simply gorgeous.

And how adorable is Chester the Raccoon?

and Henry the Fox

These little creations can be found at the Walnut Animal Society.

All our handmade in the good ol' USA!

I'm sure {no it's a fact} that I'll be back with more ideas and inspiration later.

I'm going to go enjoy a sunny day with my hubs!

Hope you do the same!

*photos courtesy of art.com, art.com, tammy connor interior design, walnut animal society, walnut animal society

With May Flowers Comes Blooming Progress!

Today wasn't a "great" day.

I figured a little blogging could improve the evening.

The flowers around the cottage are beginning to bloom.

Of course they make me smile.

The smell of the flowers remind me of last year when we signed the papers.

pure bliss.

Our backyard. A lot of lovely green.

We can't wait to spend more time outside.

The weather has been up and down.

80's, rain, then snow.  Really?

This week sunshine is in the forecast. 

The yard has loads of potential.  We wish we could dig right in.

For now, the inside remains our priority.

Speaking of the inside, here is part of the grouted back splash.

I'm happy with my decision to stick with white grout.

While the tiles don't "pop" as they would with darker grout,

it doesn't take away from the rest of the kitchen.

We're continuing our work on the nursery.

Can someone explain to me why window treatments are so expensive?

It drives me bonkers.  Literally.

Here's a reminder of how the nursery looks.

Here are some window treatments that we're considering.

what do you think?

I hope you have a sunny week!



*photos courtesy of restoration hardware baby and child, restoration hardware baby and child, pottery barn

Tiling and Profiling

I wasn't kidding when I said we were ready to follow up our talk with some walk.

Things are moving quickly {yet slowly} around Hickory.

One side of the kitchen is almost done. 

 I didn't fool you, did I?

The other side of the kitchen where the sink and the main cooking space is located

is on hold until Monday.

Those farmhouse sinks are a doosey to install!

Here is how the one side of the kitchen that we have been working on is looking.

I'm pretty pleased so far!

We haven't grouted yet and boy has grout color been on my mind.

I've been mixed on whether or not to go white or gray.

I used gray in a past bathroom and loved the historic vibe that it gave.

Gray does make the tile pop.

I stood in the aisle for over 20 minutes...contemplating.

Rob fuming.

Fire engine red probably contemplating why I'm so annoying!

gray. white. gray it is. nope white with the butcher block.

In the end, I went ahead and purchased the white. 

I'm shocked by my decision.

I feel that the white will be beautiful yet subtle and won't

compete with our woody countertops.

We shall see.

The fireplace has finally been coated in a lovely shade of creamy white.

Things are surely coming along.

Pregnant lady nesting may have been what I needed to

give me necessary shove.

have a happy weekend!



The Beauty of Butcher Block

Rob took on the wall and won!

You go babe!

What a mess!  Kitchen reno is the absolute pits.

I can't imagine gutting the entire thing.

I have a new found respect for those who take their kitchen down to the studs.

We've done bathrooms, but something about your main living area being

under construction, is well, not ideal.

Despite the dust, I can't help but be optimistic and excited.

I know it will be be worth the hassle.

Here is a snap shot of the wood counters.

The counters are still missing the Waterlox, which we will eventually apply.

yay

Let's rewind.

yikes

I'm a happy camper.



Now, the satin nickel hardware has got to go.

It's not jiving.

We'll be purchasing the Restoration Hardware gilmore bin pulls.

We haven't decided on the knobs quite yet.

I've juggled the idea of glass vs. polished nickel.

what do you think?

We'd also love to add pendants over our island

{which is screaming for some honed stone}

I originally wanted an antique brass look.

Now I'm leaning towards good ol' school house pendants

or

some of this milky goodness!

The lights may come a bit later, but I can't help but envision the entire space.

With your help, I think we decided on subway tile.

thank you.

It's coming along...finally!

Glad your sticking around despite the few months of down time.

*photos courtesy of restoration hardware