More Home Office updates.

So, as you can see here we decided to go with the Ethan office chair, a modern white chair, from World Market.  Before buying, I was still really undecided on what I wanted, so we decided to stop by the store to see it in person.  The minute I sat down, I knew it was the chair for us.  SO comfortable.  Seriously.  My visions of having something cushy to sink in to, just melted away.  I assumed the chair I wanted look wise, would not be the chair I wanted hiney wise.  Not true.  

They also had a banker's type chair that my husband was favoring, but after he tried out the Ethan chair, he was sold too. 

How come every gosh darn thing we buy is assemble it yourself?  LOL!

At least this item only took about 5 minutes.

I could go ON and ON about the frustrations we had with getting this desk.  Reminder to self: check reviews of local furniture stores before proceeding with purchase!  Apparently the specific store we dealt with is known for not delivering on time and just feeding you lies.  Of course, we didn't realize this until after we'd paid and placed our order, and waited over two weeks when we were told it would be 3 days.   BUT.. it finally came.

While we did have to attach the legs, it was pretty much in one piece.  Thank goodness.  ha!  Ignore our cords.  We need to replace this desktop with a laptop, but until then, I guess our cords will just show.  But hopefully not quite this badly.. sheesh!  I really need to do something about that!

:)  Courtney



Our new filing console.

So, a few weeks ago I posted THIS, sharing with you which filing console we ordered, along with the desk we picked out.

Well, the filing console arrived a few days after posting those photos, in two VERY large boxes.  (Too bad I can't say the same thing for the desk!  It did finally arrive, but two weeks late!)  Anyhoo...

As you can tell from the bottom, right of the above photo, the boxes were pretty badly damaged, but no fear.  Each and every item in the boxes were encased in about 2inch thick pieces of Styrofoam.  These boxes could have fallen off the truck, gotten ran over a few times, and I'm pretty sure the contents would still be in tip top shape.

After about 5 hours, (NO, I am NOT kidding... not a single part was assembled, not even the drawer handles), I finally had that sucker together.  Believe it or not, the hardest, most time consuming part was getting the darn drawers in!  Oh. My. Word.  I actually plan on writing a pretty detailed review of this item on their website, to help out future buyers, because after about an hour I finally figured out a trick to get them to go in.

Talk about a labor of love.

Look at these bums... I should have been down on the floor with them after all that!

Oh, and I have a secret...  that I guess I'm going to go ahead and tell you.. ha!   Those walls in the above photo don't look a thing like that anymore.  We've been busy the past few days! 

I'll probably post about that in a day or two. 

Oh, and here's another baby on the boxes photo, just because he is so darn cute.  :)

-Courtney

Why Home Matters to ME.

Go ahead and grab some coffee, because this is mighty long winded.  :)

Recently, my step-mom, who I love dearly, passed to me a beautiful set of Fostoria glassware.  She actually gave it to me almost a year ago, but we just recently purchased a new-to-us china cabinet and so I sat down with the Rubbermaid boxes full of the newspaper wrapped glasses and bowls and glee-fully went through it all. 

Rewind to a few days before...

My aunt sent me a picture text asking if I wanted a dual photo frame thing from my grandparent's house.

Rewind to a few weeks before that...   Am I confusing you yet? Perhaps I should have started at the beginning?  Oh well. 

A few weeks ago, my grandpa announced he was getting re-married.  My late grandmother passed away in early 2009.  I know I speak for the whole family when I say that we all miss my grandmother dearly.  She was such an important part of my family and such an important part of many of my memories growing up.  I'm also very happy that my grandpa has found someone to love and have companionship with again, I can only imagine how lonely it must be to go through losing someone so important after so many years together.

I guess now would be a good time for a disclaimer, for any family members that might read this.  Although this may mention my childhood, my parents did not short come me in any way..  They loved me, do love me, and I love them.  This may also mention other people, but it really isn't about the people at all.  Well, then, what is it about, you ask?

Home.

Thinking about it now, it may seem to be about things, but it really isn't about the things I mention either.  It's all about Home and the memories that are made there.

When I think of my childhood home, I draw a blank.  My parents worked for the prison system and when I was what you would consider a child, we lived in prison housing..  somewhat like army housing I guess, for those of you who aren't familiar.  When my parents divorced, we moved into an apartment with my mom for a few years.  She then transferred to a new prison, across the state, and we moved into a cute little rental house.  We lived there for a year or two until she purchased home in a town about 15 miles away.   It is a beautiful, older home, with a ton of character.. and I suppose I should consider it the house I grew up in, the house I put down roots, but I don't.  After all, we moved there when I was in 9th grade and I eventually grew up and moved out.    The one house that is a constant of my childhood, up until this point in my life, has been my grandparent's house.   Even with the moves, I could go there and it was still the same.  Even with the huge emptiness of my grandmother not being there in the recent visits, it has still been the same house, which is a huge comfort to me. 

I remember Summers there, riding four wheelers through the pastures and woods behind their house.  I remember Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings with all of my many, many cousins.  I remember the year they put in their pool, and my cousin Dana and I were allowed to get in while it filled, but only on the steps.  :)    I remember when my grandpa tried to get into the Emu business and there were emu cages with emu babies behind the house, and big green emu eggs.  I remember my grandmother cleaning out their travel trailer, getting it ready to go to the lake.   I remember helping her clean the house, when I was a bit older, during the summers when I would stay there.. and I remember my grandpa walking in from checking his cows and commenting how clean the house smelled, with a big smile; and, I would be so proud. A moment he may not remember, but a moment that meant a lot to a child seeking approval.  I even remember not being allowed in my grandmother's formal dining room when I was really young, and now, as an adult, it makes me smile.

I believe, deep down, my grandmother, and her house, is the reason that I insist on decorating like a crazy person at Christmas, because she did and I loved it.  I loved her.  I miss her.

Now here is a little insight into my psych, that I find a little disturbing, and you might too.  I don't really cry.  I guess I do when I'm really mad, or I'm really stressed; but overall, I'm not a big crier like most girls.

However, when I was pulling out those newspaper wrapped tea glasses and plates, I started sobbing as memory after memory of my grandmother and her house, came flooding back.  She owned a set of Fostoria just like my step-mom, and she never hesitated to bring it out and set her table with it.  She would claim any day a special occasion while we were there, which made me feel special. 

My grandfather's new bride to be is moving in her things (as expected) and part of me wonders what is moving out.  Family photos?  I know at least a few, since my aunt offered one to me.  I know when we go there for their wedding next month, the house will look completely different.  Actually, I've been warned and I'm okay with that.  After all, it isn't my house and I would do the same thing in their situation.  Still, part of me is grieving the house that has been my constant over the last 27 years. 

Which brings me to my point.  Finally, you say!  :)

Home is very important to me.  I'm slowly realizing why this house, and making it a place that my children will remember, is such a priority that I'm so fixated on.  New shoes?  No.  I need to buy paint.  NEED to.  NEED.  $50 for a dinner out?  Why on Earth would we do that when there are pillows to buy?  Pillows!  How insane is that?  Pretty gosh darn insane, I know.

So I guess this is my Public Service Announcement to those of you who are just as insane as I am.

Buy that pillow.  Roll on that paint.  Use the special dishes just to make your children feel special.  Do whatever it is, that you have to do, to create a home that will be a constant for your family.  It might end up meaning more to them one day, than you might think.

:)

Courtney

Picking a color for the Dining Room

Choices, Choices.   Looks like we're going with blue, doesn't it?  :)

I actually laid all of my swatches out on the floor, and put one of my blue and white pieces near them and automatically ruled out any that clashed with the china.  I have so much, and intend on collecting more, and it just doesn't make any sense to pick a color that won't go with my already established blue and white.

I narrowed it down to a handful and taped them to the wall, observing them in the yellow-y light from the ceiling fan, and also in the morning with natural sunlight from the window. 

I finally decided on Nautical Navy, a Valspar color from Lowe's.

To me, it isn't really a true Navy, but has more of a Peacock Blue quality to it.

Here is a Before picture of the wall and the space.  Like I've said before, it's been sort of a mish-mash of furniture, and basically a storage space.  You can see we've been using a dining buffet as a desk, our printer and router are on the floor, along with filing boxes; it's been one big ol' mess.

....and... Painted!

If you're having the same reaction I did, then you're probably thinking, "Whoa, now that is a lot of blue."  Actually, it has taken me quite a few days to get used to it, and quite a few reminders to myself that this is the wall with nothing on it.  My vision for the space includes several things hanging ON the wall, hopefully making the color become more of a pretty background.

Here is a wider angle.

I'm actually liking that it does seem to make the space feel like its own little room.  To me, it is much cozier and more intimate feeling.

We still have to get our Internet cable relocated, and change out the light to a dining fixture.. and ... and ...and.  But, we'll get there eventually.  Small steps.

On another note, our desk, which should have shipped in on Friday is in a store on the other side of Houston.  To drive and get it, or to wait another week for it to be delivered?   I have a feeling we'll be driving to Katy (wayyyy on the West side of Houston) today. 

:)  Courtney

Damask meets the 1970s.

If the 1970s and Damask were to meet and have a rug love child, it would be this.

Um.  Yeah.  That's not going to work for us.

At first I couldn't find the rug in the store, and then I finally saw what SORT of looked like it, but NO.... surely not.  Then I saw that a runner was available to spread out on the floor.

Yep.

What looked brown in the online photo, was actually gold in real life.  What looked like a compact weave, was actually a shag.

Yeah, baby, yeah.  ha!

Do you know how annoying it is to load three children into a car, and then into a racecar cart..

 only to leave empty handed?  Hate that.

After my husband got off of work that evening, we went to 4 different stores, with no rug luck, finally making a full circle back to Lowes. 

I showed him some of the rugs that peeked my interest earlier in the day...

but we ended up going with a tannish, yellowish rug with a very simple Berber like weave.  I didn't even notice it on my earlier trip, but we both liked it and a great bonus was that it was ultra cheap.  We scored TWO 8x10 rugs for under $200.

When we got home and unfurled them to see all of their glory, we both stood back and wondered if we measured the room correctly, ha! 

(Ignore the crazy looking, disorganized room... exactly WHY this room is getting work done.)

Despite the size fitting scare, they do both fit, and I'm thinking we made a very good choice going with something so neutral.

Meanwhile, I've painted a wall in here, and our new console arrived today...  in two big boxes, and in one million tinnnny little pieces.  :)

-Courtney

Home Office.. Coming together.

Maybe I shouldn't say coming together, lol.   In all honestly nothing is actually in the space, but things have been ordered, which is major progress in this ol' book!

Yesterday we bit the bullet and bought THIS filing console:

and this desk:

..which, the desk isn't as red looking in person, it is more of a walnut color.  If you've been around for my previous ponderings on the office, you'll remember that my husband wanted this style of desk.  Honestly, it is growing on me and I'm excited about seeing it in the room. 

We REALLY debated on the console since it is such a strong piece color wise, and part of me is regretting not getting it in black instead,

but it is on its way (in RED!)... so we shall see if it works!  lol.

I'll be headed to a Lowes in our area to check out this rug today..  LINK HERE.

The price is great for an 8x10, but I'm a little concerned the curvy ornate desk, with the Chinoiserie-style console, and then such a boldly patterned rug might be a little overkill.  Plus since this room is joined with the dining area, I want matching rugs for both.  Pattern Pattern Pattern.   I'm sure it will all come together, it's just making me nervous while we wait for everything to come in.

We're stuck on a chair though.  Modern desk chair, or more traditional cushy chair?  I love both, and I like the white in THIS chair,

but I want something I can really sink into also.  Maybe something like THIS..

Too executive looking?   We're also debating just finding a white slipped wingback and attaching casters the the bottom.   Decisions, Decisions.  What kind of chair would YOU go with?

-Courtney

Looking ahead to the Fall... installing a Pumpkin Patch.

Every year, around September, the pumpkins start hitting the supermarkets.  Every year, I want to buy about 50 of them to use around the house as decoration, or to carve with the kiddos.

I usually buy one or two, and then regret not having grown any myself.  This also happens every spring when the bluebonnets start popping up here in Texas.  You have to start those in the Fall, just like you have to start pumpkins in advance in the Spring.  I'm just, in general, not good at starting projects so far ahead of time.

Except for this year.   I was bound and determined to have my own little pumpkin patch this year.

I have read countless articles on how to grow pumpkins.  I have watched way too many youtube videos on how to grow pumpkins.  Finally, realizing I was reaching my deadline to get started if I wanted pumpkins by October, I knew I'd better get busy getting the bed ready.

I watched the yard for several days, watching the sun and the shade, trying to figure out a good, out of the way, place to build our planting bed.  Pumpkins need full sun, and our big tree in the back blocks out most of it from about 3 pm on.  Plus we have the t-ball field to work around.

Yes, that is my boys' GREAT Grandmother at bat.   LOL.

I finally decided on this area of the side yard.

It is tucked out of the way, receives at least 8 hours of sun daily, and with no large trees near by, I knew I wouldn't have to worry about digging into roots.

Now, this is probably not the best way to build a garden bed, but it works for us because it was inexpensive, and easy.  If it falls apart in a few years, we'll call it experience and rebuild in another fashion.

Supplies-  8 cedar fence pickets, 6 feet in length.    2 treated deck balusters, 42 inches in length.

Each picket was $1.98, each deck baluster was $0.98.  Cost for supplies - approximately $18.

The bed itself is approximately 18 feet long (actually a little shorter), by about 4 1/2 feet wide.  Ideally you would want a wider bed, but my husband wants to put a gate in on this side of the house, and we would need to reserve space for a path.  We may end up putting another thin planting bed along the house wall after our path is constructed.

I cut 15 inches from 2 of the cedar fence pickets to use for the border at the small widths of the bed, leaving the other 6 pickets to line the length, 3 per side.   I cut the dog ears from the pickets so they would fit flush together.

The 42 inch deck balusters, I cut into four pieces each, and then cut a wedge off of each end, making them into stakes.  This provided me with 8 stakes to use at the junction of each fence picket.  I used galvanized screws to hold the construction together.

The goal was not to make a complete raised bed, because then I would have to completely back fill with soil, which can get expensive.  Plus, our soil is actually in pretty good condition as is, it just need a bit of amending, not a complete overhaul.

Because of this, I sank the border down a bit.  We'll see how this works out in the long run.  I may have a rotting border in just a few months, but I'm hoping to get at least a few years out of it.

I finished the construction of the bed yesterday morning, and we amended the soil yesterday evening.  We'll let it rest for a day or so, and then start our planting.  I am so excited, and I'll share our progress as our plants fill in.

:)   Courtney