Under Construction...

I got the itch to change up the ole' blog. As in colors, layout and the name. I wasn't really blogging much about reno since moving up to the big house, so Renovation Rants just didn't suit my fancy anymore.

Not sure about anything on this page at this moment. Other than we are hustlin' on a daily basis. Everything else is TBD.

Here's a pic of Lola to keep it interesting:

Lola: 9 Months Old

Where did this big girl come from?! I know it's so cliche to say they grow up so fast, but, seriously, it's like a blink of an eye. 

Lola is very mobile now, making these pictures almost impossible. I even bribed her with a Sharpie and a rubber duck. Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Father's Day 2013

Why not talk about Father's Day a week and a half later?!

This year, Father's Day was a little bit more special since Shane was celebrating his first Father's Day! We got together with my dad and brother's for a low key lunch and some hang out time. 

As far as gifts, I wanted our gift(s) to Shane to be both useful and sentimental. So, that included a photo and a tie. 

I took this pic of Lola and framed it in a simple gray frame...I love that she hams it up for the camera. And that she can hold this makeshift sign like a champ at only 9 months old. 

And, Shane has been wearing ties to work on Mondays, and we call it tie Monday (because tie Tuesday is just too obvious), so we got him this new tie for his collection:

And a few shots from the day with the fam:

 My dad, my brothers, Lola and me

I'm really committed to the hand on the hip thing. I even do it during candid shots.

Happy Father's Day, Dad and Shane! Love you guys!

Wish You Were Here

Can I please live at the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island? I feel certain this is where I belong. 

Painted Kitchen Countertops - Yay or Nay?

I'm thinking about painting my kitchen countertops. They are currently white formica with a lovely oak trim along the edging. Typical 90s style. 

And it's the exact shade as the stain on the hardwood floor. Which is the exact stain as the seat part of the barstools. Oh, the 90s. 

Anywho, with us living on one income, the days of granite countertops 'because I want them and I want them now' are behind us. One day I will have those beauts...but that day is not today. So, I started searching Pinterest and 7 hours later am totally convinced that painting them could be a pretty sweet alternative. And if it doesn't work out, then we'll just replace them...eventually!

Here are some of my inspiration photos:

via Pinterest

via Pinterest

via 

via

These aren't painted countertops - just inspiration. And clearly, I'm leaning towards black countertops and more modern cabinet hardware. I know this isn't groundbreaking design here, but I just really want to make sure that black will work for me. I have been known to change my mind. Once or five times. 

As far as how I'm going to do it, I was considering the Rustoleum Countertop Transformations product but was looking here and there are terrible reviews. However, I also found this blog post that has a great tutorial - and you get to use a blow torch. 

Hmmmm.....

Get Your Scoot On

That's right, folks, she's on the move. In the past week, I've caught her A) eating rug lint (wool rugs that shed suck, btw) B) trying to crawl under her Pack-n-Play that we keep in the living room and C) trying to pull a lamp off of the table next to the couch by jerking on the cord. 

Let's just say that we're still getting used to her being ALL OVER THE PLACE!

A Laundry List...

Sigh. Hi, again. What's it been? Two months. K. Moving along. 

We've been busy the past two months so I'll just share the quick and dirty laundry list of what's been up!

Afternoon tea with Lola's Mimi and Aunt Katie:

Shane and I had some adult time at a friend's wedding:

After seeing this picture, I promptly cut all of my hair off. Ga-ross.

We built a new fence at the house. Thank god for this...our dogs were about this close to...well, we are just really happy to have it. 

Lola started teething (she now has three teeth). And who knew this process went on (off and on) for two years? Not this girl. 

We had the inside of the house painted. Not great pics but you get the point:

Lola turned seven months old!

Aunt Katie attended her Junior Prom so we went over to take some pictures. The experience kind of made me miss high school but then also made me so thankful that I'm not in high school. 

Had some play dates with Avery:

Went to Orlando for Aunt Katie's cheerleading competition. Apparently, it's a cheerleading thing to wear really big bows in your hair...so, since Lola has as much hair as a 16-year old girl, we threw one in!

Celebrated my first Mother's Day:

 Lola and her Grammy

Lola turned eight months old:

How's that for an update? And now I leave you with a bye-bye from Lola!