Living Room Plans

If you can believe it, we moved into our new house almost a year ago.  The beginning of November will mark the one year anniversary.  It definitely feels like home, and we've greatly enjoyed our backyard this summer!  I know everyone has been posting about fall, and yes, I guess I'll finally say that it will be nice to have cooler weather, and I am excited about all of the fun things ahead - football (only because we did our fantasy football draft Monday night!), tailgating, Halloween and the holiday season that follows.  I'm really excited to be in our home for trick-or-treaters this year to see all of the kids in our neighborhood decked out in their costumes and to also maybe have the opportunity to meet and chat with some of our neighbors. 

However, I now have to admit that I've really neglected decorating our new home.  I've had picture frames leaned up against the wall for months without hanging them.  Some decor accessories are just lined up as I haven't placed them into vignettes or found a place for them.  We still have an assortment of mismatched furniture in our living room as I haven't bought some of the new pieces I've had my eye on.  But with fall/winter approaching, we'll be spending less time out in the pool on weekends, and we'll want to get cozy in our living room, so I figured it was about time to get my living room plan together and actually make it look more inviting.  To help kick start this process, we just purchased a new TV and mounted it above the fireplace.  Now we've actually been spending time in our living room when we have company over and when we are hanging out on weeknights.  Yes, we are THAT couple that eats in front of the TV...almost every night.  I know it's embarrassing to confess.  And if you want to know the whole truth, we had been taking our plates into the bedroom and eating on the bed to watch TV while we ate dinner.  It had to STOP!  Yes, we do have another very large TV upstairs in the game room, but we are so lazy that we didn't go upstairs for that.  Nope, we just strolled right into our bedroom.  (I hang my head in shame.)  Well, now that we have a TV in the living room, that problem is fixed, and we no longer have to completely lower our heads in shame, just a little now.

So now that we are actually spending time in our living room, it is forcing me to face what the room actually looks like and what I want it to look like.  Here is my plan of how I'd like it to look!  I'm thinking tufted chairs, a grey slipcover for the neutral couch we already own, a new rug, a rustic coffee table (although I'd like a big square version of the table below), mercury glass accents and mirrored frames for a touch of glam. 

 

 

 

Oh, and this table below is the newest addition to the space.  It's the Everett Foyer Table from World Market.  We tested it out in the entryway, but it's currently residing behind the sofa, and I think it might just stay there.  It covers the back of the sofa and adds interest to the room with the accessories on it.  Much better already!

 

 

 

I will for sure keep you posted on how the room turns out after we make some purchases and well maybe even hang some frames and art on the walls.

 

XO,

Tara

Weekend Recap

This past weekend was the perfect long weekend. 

It started off with shopping with a friend Friday afternoon.  I got this new bookcase for our office!  The room is coming along slowly but surely.  I like the direction it's going.  Of course I still have to style the shelf, but I just had to share.

While shopping, we sure did work up a thirst...so that led us to have a drink.  We chatted for hours and then just went ahead and had our guys come meet us for dinner as we weren't leaving anytime soon.

 

Then on Saturday, we went out in the boat for a day of fishing.  Here's me and my hubby.  We had another couple with us, and it was a great day!  We didn't come off the water until right before dark, just in time to eat some delicious seafood at TopWater Grill.

Here's my big catch of the day!  I'm pretty sure it's the biggest trout I've caught.  It's going to make some good fish tacos for sure.

Then on Sunday, it was a pool day in our backyard.  We had friends over, drank margaritas, floated in the pool, grilled out, and topped the night off in the hot tub.

Yesterday, I may have repeated a day of lounging in the pool, and then the hubby and I got in bed early to watch this:

It was definitely just what we expected it to be - silly, crude and over the top.  It gave us some good laughs though as some of it is just life and what happens without all the glamour.

Hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.  We are so blessed to live in this country!  Thank you to my Dad and the many other women and men who have served our country.

XO,

Tara

Pool Time

Warm weather has finally arrived and seems to be here to stay for Summer now!  I finally was able to have a weekend full of pool time this past weekend.  I tell you since we moved into the house back in November, I've been longing for the days I could spend hours in our backyard reading and laying out poolside.  I finally was able to take full advantage.  We had no plans this past weekend, which is rare.  We did have some friends come visit us, but we took it easy, spending time in the hot tub after dinner and then hanging out in the pool the next day.  It was fabulous!  Just what a weekend should be - oh so relaxing. 

We recently purchased these two chaise lounges and side table at Target.  We also bought the beverage tub at Target as well, but I've used it for towels, sunscreen and other necessities.  We plan on adding cushions and pillows to make it look a little cozier, and we have an umbrella to put up when it's not so windy. 

So this is where I sat this weekend.

With these views. 

(Yes, and Gus roaming around the yard when he's not in the pool swimming.)

 

 

I was also reading this book.  I have the dvd's with the interview recordings, but it's fun to read the book with the footnotes too.   I recently read "Mrs. Kennedy and Me" as well and loved it.  She is so fascinating!

Hope you enjoyed the glimpse of our backyard.

I think this is what I'll be doing a lot this summer.  My view probably won't change too much from this picture above, well except for maybe a different nail polish color.  :)

XO,

Tara

Breakfast can be served...on a table now!

I kept meaning to also show you guys our breakfast table.  Remember my update of our white kitchen cabinets?  I also showed you this picture where I had four chairs, but no table.

Now we have this beauty!  And we can actually eat breakfast in our breakfast area.  What a concept!  :)

The table is from Restoration Hardware and the chairs are from World Market.  I love the finish of the table.  I was unsure of how it would go with the chairs as I had never seen it in person, but, luckily, it looks great.  The chairs are quite comfy too!

We've really been enjoying eating in this area and have already broken in the table with board games.  I'm sure many more long nights of game playing will be done in this space.

Here's another view at night just because I couldn't resist.

TGIF!!!

XO,

Tara

Easter Re-Cap

Wow, it's already been a week since Easter has passed, so now I'm really behind with posting a re-cap.  However, we had a wonderful weekend full of all of the fun Easter festivities to be expected.

We dyed eggs!  Well, we didn't get around doing this until later in the evening as you can see, so we didn't have good lighting, but it was still fun.  The guys had gone to a baseball game that afternoon, so we waited till we were all together.  I think dying eggs is one of my favorite memories as a child and it's always fun to re-live.  We had my sister and her family with my nieces and nephew along with my sister-in-law and her husband, and we all joined in on the fun.  I think my nephew now does these things to entertain us and please us, but he's getting over it.  :(

I didn't get a picture the next morning of what a big mess the Easter Bunny made in our living room, but there were baskets full of candy, eggs and treats.  Then we hunted all of the eggs he left for us in the house and in the yard.  Silly bunny. 

Here are the girls checking out their creations! 

We cheated and made easy cookies that were already cut into shapes!

We also finally heated our pool, and the weather was perfect on Easter, so the kids were able to take full advantage of it.  They swam the whole morning!  Well, I did too! :)  It was the first time I've gotten to swim in our pool since we moved into the house in November.  I'm so ready for Summer!

Oh and let's not forget that on Good Friday, I went to Canton, TX where Trade Days occur before the first Monday of every month.  It was my first time going, and I was definitely pleased.  They have antiques, boutiqes, craft shops and everything in between! 

I scored this table for a wonderful price. Seriously, we all agreed that one of us girls had to buy it and take it home.  It was too good of a deal to pass up.  This will now be the new desk in our office!  I'm thrilled with the direction of this room now.

XO,

Tara

Easter's on it's way...

We are having a pretty low key Easter weekend.  My sis and her family are coming to visit along with my mom and step-dad.  We plan on dying eggs, hunting eggs, baking and swimming.  Yes, we are hoping to heat our pool for the first time!  We'll see how this goes.  It's supposed to be warm and the weather has been beautiful, so we're crossing our fingers.  The guys are also going to go tak in a college baseball game on Saturday, which I heard my nephew is pretty pumped about.  At first, I thought he was just really excited about coming to visit me.....but it appears that he's 12, and I'm old news now.  :(  Big heart breaking news for me!  But moving on...

I threw up some decorations last night in a last minute attempt to add some Easter cheer to our home.  Here's what I wrote on our new chalkboard.

*quote and design source unknown*

I saved a picture and drew this from looking at the picture, but it was not my creation.

I went ahead and set the table although we're keeping our meals pretty simple.  We're going to have BBQ on Saturday, but I am going to try to at least make Easter breakfast a bit fancier.  So we're stepping it up and using real plates...with our paper napkins! hah  I figured I would keep it easy with the kiddos around, and I also thought I didn't want knives laying around with the little one running around, so I just put out the forks for now.

For the centerpiece, I used plastic eggs to fill around the inside of my Hurricane Vase, and then I used another glass to hold the tulips together inside.  I was inspired by Cassie's adorable centerpieces and tablescapes at Hi Sugarplum!.  I also have some peeps and wooden skewers on hand to add to the flowers if my nieces want to help!

I was inspired and made these "namecards" to put at each place setting.  I think I saw this on pinterest maybe?  It was really cheap and simple.

Of course we have to add a little candy to the mix.  I tied some ribbon with eggs around my glass jar and candle holders to add some color.

As for the mantle, it hasn't changed much.  I still have the mirror there until we get a new tv to mount, so for now I'm trying to cover the cable box and outlet.  I added more eggs, a framed prinout and a banner from Target.

HAPPY EASTER to all of you!!

I'm off to go on a small girl's trip tonight.  We are shopping in Canton, TX which is a big market/festival that is held once a month.  I hope I find some good stuff for the house, which of course I'll let you know if I do.  I'll be returning tomorrow night to start the Easter festivities.

XO,

Tara

What I've Been Up To

Happy Friday!!  So glad it's the final countdown till the weekend begins.  I have all kinds of things I want to share with you all.

Here in Houston, it's rodeo time.  It's kind of a big deal.  However, I don't usually make it to the rodeo but once or twice at most.  If you aren't familiar, for a few weeks there is a daily rodeo with a concert directly after.  In addition, while you are there, you can shop, visit the livestock show with a petting zoo for the kiddos, go to the carnival, and the whole thing begins with a big cookoff weekend full of all kinds of BBQ.  My sister brought my niece and nephew this week, and I was able to join them.  We saw Gary Allen, and the kids were amazed at how much there was going on, which was so fun to see their reactions.  I threw this together after I got off of work to try to join in on the "cowgirl" attire.  :)

What I'm wearing:  Black HUE jeggings, denim shirt, CAbi fur vest, and Old Navy Camel boots.

I've been LOVING my Michael Kors watch, and I like pairing it with the Renegade Stella and Dot bracelet. 

Also, I recently picked this chalkboard up for the house from HomeGoods.  I thought it would be perfect for writing menus on or making lists for groceries and errands and all sorts of other fun things.  The husband asked if I was going to be teaching class.  shake my head.  They just don't get it, do they?

I thought it was the perfect place to put it in between the kitchen and the laundry room in the hallway going to the office.  See it will be easily used and functional in this space.

Also, one last thing is that I purchased this tote recently, and I was a little hesitant at first if I would like carrying it as my everyday bag, but it's working out perfectly.  I've gotten use to the size as it's a little wider, which was a concern when wearing it on the shoulders, but I don't even notice that so much now.  The color is gorgeous too!  So, if perhaps you are in the market for a tote, this is a good choice for sure! Or even if you weren't, but want one now, I understand.  You should get one.

Have a wonderful weekend.

XO,

Tara

Our White Kitchen Revealed

Finally, here it is...only a couple of months after I had said I would show you guys this....In our new house, we immediately had the cabinets painted WHITE! and the walls painted gray.  I know, real original right?  But I love it!  My hubby even admitted that he liked it too.  I knew I loved white cabinets, and after so many other bloggers had the nerve to paint their cabinets, I felt it was worth it to take the risk and go for it. 

We kept the same hardware that the previous owners had.  We purchased a beautiful new refrigerator and in time, we'll replace the oven and microwave with stainless as well. 

 

 

 

Below is the breakfast area that soon will have a table.  But for now, we're pretending, okay?  Good, imagine a brown stained pedestal table in the middle of these pretty little chairs.

 

 

Here are some vignettes around our kitchen.

 

I like to keep some utensils, olive oil, salt and pepper easily accessible when cooking.

 

 

We are loving our Keurig that we received as a Christmas gift.

A tray helps to organize the mugs, k-cups and sugar .

 

 

 

Leftover from our Hot Chocolate Bar, I still have instant cocoa, marshmallows and candy canes out for those random cold nights we still get every so often.

 

 

So, that's our kitchen!  Let's look at the before and after shall we?

 

BEFORE:

 

AFTER:

 

Hope you like it as much as I do!

 

XO,

Tara