...because home doesn't happen overnight.
02.01.16 / Liked & Linked

mild winter

kid free target shopping

How was your weekend? The highlights for me included some epic kite flying at the park (sixty degrees in January?!) and a date night with Steve that ended with toilet paper shopping at Target. #sohot I had the absolute best meal of my entire life at Hawthorn Grill, a local chef-owned restaurant. If you’re ever in Dayton, Ohio, you must give their pan-seared walleye a try. It’s to die for.

Mine and Steve’s only resolution this year was to go on more date nights. We’re actually following through with it! We found a great sitter (one of the many advantages of living in a college town) at the beginning of the year, and she’s watched the kids TWICE for us in the last month. The kids adore her. Last week when we told them she was coming Saturday evening they were all, “WHAT?! You guys just went on a date!” They aren’t used to seeing us do the date night thing more than a few times per year so twice in one month is pure craziness. But it’s awesome. Our motto for 2016 is date nights > divorce ;) Seriously, they’re cheaper. Toilet paper included.

A few more awesome things…

*The leather teardrop earrings I wore for date night. They’re oversize but super lightweight!

*My favorite $5 carafe with cork stopper.

*I’m trying not to want this leather + kilim laptop bag but…

*A vintage rug in a killer kitchen.

lived in home

lived in home

lived in home

*Loving the lived-in vibe of this family home.

*A dreamy kitchen makeover featuring IKEA cabinets. (Bravo, Anna!)

*Triple bunk beds and some very honest words on parenting.

*I finished reading this magical book over the weekend and I think it deserves an entire blog post. To be continued…

Happy one month closer to spring!

images: 1 & 2) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 3-5) Lauren Kolyn for Apartment Therapy

01.25.16 / Liked & Linked

layne makes pancakes

jackie chan films

house stalking

I was grateful for a rare slow weekend with nothing much on our schedule. Layne made pancakes for breakfast. Steve introduced the kids to Jackie Chan films and, afterwards, when all three were throwing roundhouse kicks and karate-chopping the air like martial arts maniacs, I said to him, “You realize what you’ve done, right?”

We visited with good friends/neighbors from our old ‘hood. We ate, drank and played Cards Against Humanity (Steve had never played!) while the kids ran rampant in the basement. It was a little strange driving past our previous house, but as we talked on the way home we agreed that we don’t miss the house or area (still being developed and spreading like wildfire). We most definitely miss the people though and walking out the front door and into a cul-de-sac buzzing with young families. It doesn’t help that our next-door neighbors in our current neighborhood moved yesterday. Our kids played together so well…and always outside, no matter the weather. We’ll miss them.

Curiosity got the best of me and I started perusing real estate listings. I get these itches from time to time, usually in the winter. I want to save all the houses. Poor Steve ;)

A few links…

*We wish we could pick up this midcentury modern house and move it to our kids’ school district. It has great bones but needs updated…our kind of project.

*I made the mistake of showing this Star Wars bed to the boys.

*Epic winter spool party! (spa + pool = spool)

IKEA kitchen brass

IKEA kitchen brass 2

*An IKEA kitchen with brass details and clever hidden storage.

*An oldie but goodie home tour.

*When was the last time you felt caught up?

*If you’re still thinking about your answer to the question above, give this book a read.

*Cute sneakers for little girls.

Anyone else feeling restless and pining for a new project?

images: 1-3) Dana Miller for House*Tweaking 4 & 5) NW Homeworks