simple.just.practical.

We finally made it into the new place after much packing and cleaning at the old place. I knew it would take a bit of time to get settled but I wish I could snap my fingers and have it done immediately. How quickly you forget how much time it took to get a place looking the way you want it... So far we've: - put up a wire fence along the split rail fence to keep the dogs and kid in - installed new dishwasher (nice stainless one we found on clearance) - hung curtains (albeit all temporary until I figure out a decor) - installed faux wood blinds in our bathroom (I mostly did this one) - assembled patio set (really just pulling the chairs out of the box and assembling the table) - installed unfinished cabinetry in laundry room One the list: - install new faucet and garbage disposal (they are in boxes waiting their turn) - assemble new natural gas grill for patio - assemble remaining two patio chairs buried in the garage - baby gates at top of stairs (to corral the kid)...

I love it when a plan comes together! We scored my dream sectional (see post below) off Craigslist for half off! The old owners bought the couch in December then moved. The sectional didn't fit well in their new (small) space so it needed to go. It's a sleeper too, bonus! We managed to grab a second truck and DH's dad to help with the move.  I cannot wait until we get it into the new house. It's living in the garage of the new house for now. I would have bought the sofa full price from the store but getting it half off can't be beat. With a kid (and another on the way) and two dogs, it's going to get more than a little beat up. I won't feel guilty for buying a new piece of furniture.

Our 10+ yr old dishes have met their end. That and the other half hates the dishes I picked out before we were married (let alone living together). We finally have a reason to chuck the stuff and try to agree on a new set. Wants: - inexpensive (what with a toddler who likes to break stuff) - modern (but not the funky shaped plates) - non bulky (i.e. fits in the dishwasher nicely) - generous bowls for cereal and soups (hate those shallow "bowls") - lightweight-ish So far I like these based solely on their good looks and cheap price but I've yet to hold them in real life. Each 16 piece set is only about $30 from Walmart. 

The new house has an awesome feature. The rec room (in the basement) has a wet bar area. The current owners didn't take advantage of it. They just installed a counter and a sink, no cabinets above or below. Eventually I would like to make this a nice swanky area for the adults. The other half would like a big tv and a beer fridge...we'll see about the beer fridge. I found a few pictures online of what I'd like to do with the small space. I'd like to do either a light colored slab granite top or tile granite top paired with dark wood cabinets. A mini fridge or wine fridge would be a nice touch as well.  The color of the cabinets are right on as is the layout.  I adore the glass tile back splash on this one.

The new house has laminate flooring installed on the main and basement floors. I'm not opposed to laminate but the laminate in the house looks cheap. We installed laminate in our current home in a cherry color and it looks much more rich and less like laminate. Not wanting to do the laminate thing again we are opting for wood floors. We're pretty sure we'll be doing the new flooring within a short amount of time after moving in. Just the other day I came across another flooring option. Not wood and not laminate. Something supposedly more durable, water proof, and less expensive than wood. Reviews are decent for this new product and we're intrigued. I'm leery of this new product since we thought laminate was more durable than wood. I'm also afraid the look won't look like wood. It's vinyl plank flooring. The product we've heard rave reviews on is by Traffic Master called Allure. We'd like the wood installed in the bathrooms but we're wor...

Another cute little feature in the home is a small front porch. We've always envisioned having a front porch. After all is said and done it will be the last space we'll furnish. That didn't stop me from shopping for things to place there. We figured a rattan set would work because the area is covered. We wanted seating for 2 (the space won't accommodate more than that). We'd love to be able to work in a small table too. The prices for these outdoor sets are astronomical.  Target's Rolston Loveseat $239 on sale The love seat fits us well and is super comfortable. I'm hoping it will be even cheaper at the end of the summer or during a summer sale.

A huge selling point for us was the backyard view and deck. The backyard is a decent size compared to the other homes we'd seen. I have no idea why the newer construction homes were put on lots so small. We were thrilled to find a nice sized yard backing to permanent open space with a play area to boot! Now we don't have to install a play area in our yard. Our current patio is ity-bity. We can fit a small table, 2 chairs, and a grill out there. You can imagine with our new space we'd need something a bit more substantial. Now I know it's still winter time but I couldn't help but start looking for furnishings for the newest room in our house. I searched online and was appalled by the price of outdoor dining sets. This stuff sits outside all year why would you spend so much? I figured we needed at least a 4 seater but preferably a 6 seater. I set an arbitrary budget of $500. I found a few options within the price range. I wanted a low maintenance set. The seating ...