Friday, February 24, 2012

three plus one



Yep, that's right. There's another Windle on the way! We are so thankful for this sweet little life and a brother or sister for Everett! Baby 2 will be here sometime in September! 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

2012 home shtuff

Just like last year, I'm getting around to my DIY house goals a month into the new year. whatever. This year I'm going to try to finish up all the rooms that are 3/4 finished, and have a few new projects.

1. Clean, organize, goodwill, throw out and organize our finished basement (already started).
2. Create a collage wall in the living room reading nook.
3. Paint vanity and frame out builder grade mirror in half bath.
4. Paint master bath, get new lighting, frame out builder grade mirror.
5. Get new lighting and frame out the builder grade mirror in the hall bath. 
6. Paint guest bedroom a lovely gray and paint ceiling, trim and closet doors white.
7. Move guest bed to the basement and somehow create a play room/guest bed area.
8. Make Everett a big boy bedroom!
9. Find a nice large piece of art for the dining room.
10. Clean up the walkout area below the deck.

Still to finish from last years list (whoops):
1. Get artwork for master bath and master bedroom.
2. Paint ceiling fan in master bedroom.


There you have it. Lots of little things and a few big jobs. Sorry husband- we've got work to do!

Friday, February 10, 2012

ALOHA baby!

A few weeks ago, we had dinner with our friends Steve and Helene. Aaron and Steve were best friends in high school and have been friends ever since. Steve was in our wedding and Aaron was in his. We try to hang out every time they're in PA and any time we are in the vicinity of their home in Richmond, Virginia. So anyway, we had dinner together a few weeks ago, and randomly Steve asked if we were going on vacation this summer. We said yes, probably the usual Canada and my parents cottage in Tionesta. And then Steve blurted out, "Do you want to go to Hawaii?" Umm ... is that really a question?! We just about fell off our chairs! You see, Aaron and I have been trying to plan a vacation to celebrate 5 years of marriage. Things kept coming up- 4 new tires, bonuses spent on health funds, and we were no closer to a second honeymoon than back in July. Enter proposed Hawaii trip. Steve and Helene are going in May, have a 2 bedroom timeshare and they invited us to come! Free place to stay with great friends = awesome! All we needed to do was figure out a way to pay for the plane tickets. Enter tax refund. Normally we'd spend it on something like paying off student loans or try to save it, but the chance to go to Hawaii may never come around again! Tonight we made it official. We sat on the couch, compared flights and then booked two tickets to Kauai, Hawaii in May! We are SO excited!!! Hawaii here we come!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

what a difference curtains make

So remember last year when I finally, one year late, revealed Everett's nursery? Yeah, well, another year after that, I feel like the space is finally finished. It only took 2+ years. When we started the nursery, I had a hard time deciding on window treatments. I decided I didn't want curtains because of the nice big windows and originally found these cute bamboo roll down blinds. I loved all of the light that streamed into the room and then quickly changed my mind when I realized it was waking Everett up with the sun. Insert faux wood blinds here. These were better at blocking out the sunlight, but I just kept thinking that something was missing.



Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I've been brainstorming ideas for Everett's big boy room. He's found his way out of his crib multiple times and it's making me think that we're going to need to switch his bed soon. I was randomly looking at west elm's website and found these amazing curtains! I'm going with gray and white in his room and so these looked like just the right fit. Best of all they were on a super sale, so I snatched them right up! Much to my surprise, when they showed up at my house they were not gray at all, but brown. It was quite a lucky surprise considering they looked perfect in the nursery (and the fact that I couldn't return them)! So here's Everett's room reveal- take two.

as you can tell i'm no photographer- stupid light

the curtains are closed pretty much all day because of nap time and night time

the actual design- love it!



And just for kicks- a quick before/after:


So there you have it. Another room reveal. I'm loving these curtains. I never realized what a huge difference curtains make until I started making them focal points in my house (here and here). I've also since decided that getting new curtains are like buying new clothes, but better.

Friday, February 3, 2012

so much to learn

As a parent, you think you have so much to teach your kid. I mean you do, really. What I didn't know is how much I would learn from him and how much Everett could teach me in two short years. I don't know what it is about life that somehow at 28 you can lose some perspective about little things in life and sometimes the important stuff in life.

Most days I am "busy" checking things off my list and sometimes am too busy for others. I didn't notice it until Everett really started talking and understanding the concept of hello. Everywhere we go, he says hello to the people we pass. In the grocery store, in the parking lot, out to dinner, at the playground. He makes eye contact and says hello to everyone he sees. He doesn't pay attention to age or gender or race. He doesn't mind if people are crabby or don't say hello back. He still continues to say hello to the people we meet. It's the sweetest and it's a lesson that I needed to learn. A lesson in loving people no matter who they are or if I even know them. Learning that sometimes giving someone a hello and a smile is what they needed right then, and evidence that someone cares.


Everett- you're such a good teacher. Thanks for helping me become a better mama and wife and person. I'm so glad you're mine.

Come on- don't you want to say hello to this?!