Things that make me smile...

This staircase is gorgeous! I also love the paneled walls and that sheepskin rug looks like the perfect place to hang out :)

Elizabeth Kimberly

Happy Birthday Dad!!

Yup, this is the week of birthdays at our house :)

Happy Birthday Dad!! Hope you get to ride the Harley :) I love you! More than I could ever put into words!

Happy Birthday Bubba!!

Today is my "little" brothers 19th birthday! Isn't he the cutest? He is seriously a wonderful young man and has a heart of gold. I can't imagine my life without him. I love you Kurt!

I'm in love...

And no, grandma, its not with a boy so you can put down the save the date cards and hang up the phone. Sorry, its just this kitchen...

I seriously cannot stop staring! I found it on this site today and my jaw dropped. I started drooling. literally. I had to get a paper towel and wipe my desk. I suppose thats disgusting, but I didn't even care, I was so enthralled.

I think the main reason it knocked me back more than most is because its actually possible. Its a normal sized kitchen with a pretty typical layout, I mean I could actually do this! And boy is it perfection! That gray wall...LOVE! The glass mosaic back splash is totally awesome (yes, sometimes I still talk like I'm in high school. I apologize). And on top of the gray, I love the rich counter tops (I'm gonna call them black, but they could very well be charcoal or espresso) mixed with the cream cabinets. And that light hardwood floor! It all works together so well! Add in a splash of green with the plants and towel and you've won me over!

I'm also digging the glass-front cabinets and the narrow open shelving. It breaks up all those cabinets and adds a fun place to display cookbooks and bottles. And as if I needed another reason to love this kitchen...how bout that faucet and undermount sink?

Really, the only thing I'm not feeling is those light fixtures...although maybe the rest of the room works so well because they don't steal the attention.

Things that make me smile...

What's not to like in this beautiful dining room? And that Chandelier!? Swoon...

Censational Girl

Cinderelly, Cinderelly...

...Wash the dishes, do the mopping!

I am currently dishwasher shopping :/ Not exactly a "fun" way to drop a few hundred dollars. But I guess its better than being the dish-washer myself!

I learned yesterday that my current one has been leaking (yeah not good!) and so is now out of commission.

Anyone have any dishwashers to recommend? I keep hearing Bosch is the best...!?

Music City

I spent the first week of January down in Tennessee. And although one would think it would be warmer than Idaho...let me tell you, it is not! I got stuck in the Denver airport on my way home because of weather in Alabama & Georgia! Weird. And actually the very first time I've ever stayed in hotel on my own. Which might be even weirder.

It was a great trip, and I have never seen so much live music in my life!! Crazy and fun! Let me just say its a good thing I like country music :) And I guess I didn't really take many pictures...

But here they are...probably not the typical pictures of Nashville :)

All those are INSIDE the Opryland Hotel. Which is Beautiful!

And Union Station

Tucked in...

Poor Camaro, stuck hanging out in the garage thanks to all this crazy weather! But that doesn't mean she can't get some updates :)

I installed these door sills myself :)

Things that make me smile...

I love this room...the colors, the textures, the statement the bed makes. And check out the light fixture! I love the crown molding and especially that rug! It looks soft enough to sleep on :)

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Things that make me smile...

How awesome is this home office? I'm pretty sure if mine looked like this I'd get so much more staring out the windows work done!

Inspiration for Decoration

Another list

So its time for New Years Resolutions, no? Nah...forget about those! This year I'm way more concerned about the things I want to accomplish before I turn 25. Which actually brings me a whole 58 days short of New Years to accomplish this list! Hmm, maybe we should talk about resolutions instead...

Things I plan on doing this year (yes, some of them are for sure already happening...as in plane tickets purchased! But I've gotta give myself a few of those. That way even if nothing else gets done like I planned, I can still cross something off my list!)

• Attend a professional football game
• Visit the city of music
• Try a new recipe every month
• Find a great pair of jeans
• Stencil a wall, or at least something
• Take a spontaneous road trip
• Lose ten pounds
• Explore NYC
• Purchase the perfect heels
• Draw the designs for a house
• Learn how to sew
• Catch up my scrapbook
• Learn how to care for my lawn

Anyone have any tips on learning how to sew? Cause seriously that part scares me the most! Oh, and the whole lawn situation...definitely the worst part of home ownership (in my opinion!)

A New Year?! Again!

Seriously, how does this happen so often? Where does the time go! 2010 flew by!

It has been a great year and a very hard year. But all those trials just make us stronger, right? That's what I tell myself. And most of the time I even believe it.

Lots of things changed in my life this year:

• I am now a European traveler!! And thanks to volcano Eyjafjallajökull I saw much more of Europe than originally planned.
• I said good-bye to one roommate, and welcomed another!
• My Grandpa said good-bye to us here on Earth & went to be with the Lord.
• I became a two car household...loving every minute of driving Cami!
• My grandparents became great-grandparents for the first time! And she's amazing! And any day now #2 will arrive!
• I became a brunette...that might not last for long though :)
• My dad discovered a cancerous mass & praise the Lord had it removed and is doing great

Just like anything, I had no idea what 2010 would hold but am thankful and eagerly awaiting the changes 2011 will bring!