Woohoo!

We have a date for the kitchen reno...September 22nd! It seems like forever away, especially since we have been working with the contractor since the beginning of the summer. But, between now and September 22nd, I will be going on vaction twice! That will certainly make the wait a little bit easier. I must say, planning renovation projects is not for an instant gratification girl like myself (i've probably said that before as well).

I also emailed the contractor who will hopefully be able to add the stamped cement patio to our backyard. I'm optimistic that that project maybe completed before the kitchen. Cirucci suggested holding my 30th birthday celebration in my backyard...and I started having visions. Visions of a beautiful patio with my dining table sitting on it. Visions of a fire bowl with chairs with comfy outdoor cushions scattered around it. Visions of all my close friends and family relaxing and chatting and just enjoying a crisp fall evening in my home. And now, I really want to make that a reality.

Finally, I have a couple of strong recommendations from my friends for a contracting service that hopefully will be able to fix our family room. I'm hoping all the renovations can be completed by my birthday. That would be awesome (and totally do-able since its still over 2 months away).

We're also hoping for some awesome labor day sales. We need to buy a full sized bed for our guest room (yay for targets back to school sale where we already were able to purchase a COMPLETE bedding set for $55 and to JCPennys where we were able to get some great room darkening blinds for a great price as well).

As for my honey-do list while I'm chilling at the beach (I'm such a spoiled wife), Carl will be installing the chair rail in the girlies room and begin hanging crown moulding throughout the house. Hopefully the bunkbed will be in, and he can get that all set up as well.

I'm feeling super sleepies today though. I stayed up super late last night (think 1 am) making brandy new pjs for the girlies. Its pj day at school today and I had been meaning to make more pjs anyway. Why not wait until the very last minute. But they look super cute! Laney chose a night gown with fabric that has lightening bugs on it. Alie has space ship pjs, a top and a bottom. Very cute!

So tonight, I'm hoping to maybe sew a summery dress from myself.

its that time again

for the fall countdown. I have confirmation from Carl that I can start decorating for my favorite season right after labor day. Guess what the girls and I will be doing that Monday?!

We're getting our end of the summer beach fix in this next week when the girls and I travel down with my parents. I'm excited to have some help keeing an eye on the girlies while on the beach...not that the ladies didn't do a fabulous job helping out in NC, but I'm hoping for a little reading time while relaxing in my beach chair. So this weekend, we will be enjoying a visit from my brother, running in a 5k and packing for the beach! Wish us good weather on our last summer hurrah (well other than our disney trip in a few weeks;) )

Sewing projects

So much sewing, so little time.

I decided on Saturday that I couldn't possibly get started on all of my sewing projects (yes, I have a problem with addicition to patterns/fabrics and continue to add projects to my to do list) with the mess that is my sewing space. This is not a mess I created, but I drastically need some organization in my sewing space/laundry room/storage room. So I spent most of the weekend (way longer than I anticipated) organizing that space. I sent Carl to Target on two separate occasions with orders to purchase bins and boxes. I dumped out boxes of old tax returns and important papers and found them all a new spot. So now, the room is ready. It's ready for improvement and I have my list.

But for tonight. I'm ready to start...I have to finish the end of Eat, Pray, Love since book club is tomorrow (yay!!!!) and then, I can sew. I just don't know which project to start with. Should it be the girls pirate dresses? My fun summer-y dress with the brand new polka dot fabric? The pillows for the living room...or should I work on the pillows for the family room? I'm so excited, for so many projects.

time to rest

My biggest project of the summer is almost over. I have been working/stressing over my virtual open house idea since May. In this past week I have worked a lot and slept a very little. I have been so stressed, I haven't even gone running. I spent yesterday afternoon putting final touches on videos and obsessing over transitions. Then, this morning, it was go time. I was up at 6 (not that I had been sleeping), hopping in the shower, getting the girlies dressed and eating breakfast. I was in the office by 8:15 (later than I had hoped but for some reason Delaney is having an aversion to me leaving her at camp again...a topic for another day). I was immediately logged into the Open House, prepping. It didn't go quite as well as I had hoped, but it wasn't terrible. There were a fair number of students that attended. I know what worked and what didn't and now, I'm excited to do it tomorrow afternoon. But today, I feel exhausted. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm thinkiing about calling it a day in a few and running home for a nap, or maybe some catch up reading time for book club on Wednesday.

big step up

We took a big step up in our marathon training this weekend...instead of continuously running the same 3-4 miles that we have been training on (perfect for the upcoming 5k) we decided to try our hand at our first official "long" run. We set our sites at 7 miles and much to my suprise, we made it and it was relatively painless (although we weren't running very quickly). I think we have 25 weeks to double the distance (well a little under double it) and hopefully quicken up our pace.

That's about all we did this weekend. Although we did stop by my favorite coffee store to grab some of my favorite coffee...pumpkin spice. We bought caff and decaff...I wait all year for this stuff!!!

So happy its the weekend...

yes. i just returned from vacation, but i desperately need the weekend. my four year olds are tired. i am tired. i'm anxious to continue on the home-improvement bandwagon. after a nice run and relaxing evening tonight (maybe relaxing, depending upon what i can convince carl to get started on) we are heading out lowes tomorrow morning to grab the chair rail for the little girls room. we need some paint for their furniture refinishing. we need to get some lumber to frame the office...hmm, perhaps this will be a two car trip. we'll be be busy this weekend, sawing, nailing, sanding, painting and moving.

the bummer of the situation, which in the scheme of things is not soo sooo bad is that the bunkbeds will not be available until we are on vacation in oc...which is two weeks away! that means that the little girls room will not be completed for two more weeks, which means that we can't finish the spare bedroom for two more weeks. i'll live of course, but my need for instant gratification rears its ugly head yet again. patience. perhaps my new mantra should be...breathe in. breathe out. enjoy.

in addition to home improvement, we hope to fit in a little daddy grilling/ mommy and girlies baking time. my freezer has begun to fill up with bananas...banana bread or banana muffins are definitely in my future! tomorrow morning, carl is making the girlies and me waffles. i bought this delicious bluberry jam to spread on top. my paper, coffee and comfy dining room chairs are calling my name!

i'm also banking on a little alone time. i am working on finishing my book club book (of course i elected to read two non-book club picks before reading this months book). i am loving the pick this month though: eat love pray. we're going to see the movie in lieu of our normal meeting! i'm excited.

so that's it. hopefully, i'll be ready for the work week when monday rolls around again.

Home again...

Vacation was just what I needed. I really enjoyed spending time with the bestests and the little girls. We generally spent our mornings at the beach and our afternoons napping and reading. We cooked, and laughed and talked and read. We played with the little girlies. We visited the aqaurium. We shopped. We ate and drank. We relaxed and it was great.

Yesterday, we drove home. It was a long drive. The girlies came home to a very pretty pink and green room. I came home to a bright red front door and a very clean house! Yay! Now to get through the next two weeks (which are a little scary professionally speaking) and then i'm off to OC!