My Dream Home: Living Room Inspiration

I've officially been a homeowner for a month (say what?) and all I can think about is how I want to turn our beautiful, albeit plain house into our home. And while my Hubby definitely has some say in the design decisions, he's pretty much deferring to me on this particular task. First up, is the sitting room. Or what normal people call, "the living room." But when we discovered the potential of our partially finished basement to become a TV-dominated, dude den, I claimed our living room as my own and banned all technology. I want the main room of our house to give off a peaceful, tranquil, relaxing vibe. 

This was the realtor's shot of the living room:

As you can see, plain, but lots of potential. 

Here is the "sitting room" in it's current state (please excuse the grainy cell phone camera quality):

We've since put a standing lamp behind the armchair, but other than that, no real changes. Yes, I have yet to put curtains up. 

What I'd love to see? Something like this: 

Living Room Inspiration by kaity-best featuring a striped rug

Here's what's on my to-do list:

1. Paint. My color of choice is Turquoise Tint by Valspar.

2. Buy and hang curtains. We bought one set at Lowe's, but I don't know if I like them enough to buy more for the other windows. We'll see if they stay or go.

3. Paint fireplace. I don't have a huge issue with the brick, but I feel like white would go better with the overall feel of the room.

4. Spray paint and hang frame. Chuck's mom gave me this old frame that I was hoping to DIY into something like this, but I like the way the mirror looks over the fireplace more than I thought I would, so it might wind up staying.

5. Purchase decorative fire screen. I have my eye on this one from Ten Thousand Villages.

6. Replace sofa. Ugh. This is one that I know isn't 100% necessary, but both Chuck and I hate our couch. It's sunken in, not very comfortable, and just not our style at all. We got it because the doorway to our first Pittsburgh apartment only allowed the movers to deliver something that had a low back. Otherwise, we would've had a beautiful leather one like the sectional pictured above!

7. Buy a slipcover for the armchair. We were so thankful that some friends of ours were getting rid of that arm chair because it fits so perfectly in that corner of the house. I don't hate the current pattern, but I feel like a slipcover would spruce it up and add an extra splash of color to the room.

8. Buy macrame plant holder and hang up some greenery. I feel like this small touch will totally transform the room into my cozy, little hippie oasis. 

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Obviously, some of these updates are potentially years down the road, while others I could do this weekend, if I actually hunkered down and got to work! 

What do you think? Any design tips or comments for me?

This One's for the Girls

I've always been the kind of person that preferred a few, close best friends to a crown of good enough friends. Perhaps to my detriment, because I've passed up opportunities to draw closer to new friends, thinking that my existing friends were more than enough for me. Now add to that severe introversion and the inability to leave the house after 7pm with a sleeping little one and my social life...well, it just ain't happening. Or, at least not outwardly.

You see I've been putting up walls since I moved to my husband's hometown. My husband brought me into a great circle of friends, but none were people I deemed "best friend material," and so I just didn't put forth the effort. Choosing instead, to maintain my homebody status and get my friend fix via blog comments, group texts with my college besties, and phone calls with my sister. You can see how this might be problematic, right?

Meanwhile, a group of unassuming women were slowly weaseling their way into my heart. What started out as a "I love you because you're now family and I have to" relationship with my sister-in-law, has become a lifeline. I've dropped the "-in-law" and am just head over heels in love with my newly acquired sister. She is my bump buddy, my Charlie's Aunt Mommy and the person who understands what it's like to be married to these men of ours, better than anyone. 

My core group is made up of the most loving, passionate, caring ladies you'd ever wish to meet. These are the women I ran to when my Daddy was admitted to the hospital, when my Grandma passed away and when I just couldn't handle the panic that accompanied those two pink lines. They have prayed for me, encouraged me, and bestowed upon me more gifts than I can probably recall. A clean house postpartum, Sloppy Joe squares, an Ohio necklace when we left for Pittsburgh. They have given me so much love, grace, and support, and I don't know that they even know how much I value their presence in my life. 

It's a difficult thing: to maintain friendships as you get older. Work, family, moves...there are so many obstacles that can separate two people, which is perhaps why the friendships you establish in your post-college years are the ones that are so critical. They're the ones that, despite all of those life hurdles, will put Daddy on baby duty so they can come over to help you drink your sorrows. They're the ones who will excuse themselves from a business meeting to reply to an urgent text and make sure you're okay. They're the ones who will pick out a "just because" gift for your kid, because they love them like their own. 

I don't know what exactly I'm trying to say here except, this one's for the girls.

You know who you are. 

Our First Home (& 3rd Anniversary) Photoshoot

Every year that we've been married, I've had a professional photographer come to take our picture. It's been a tradition that I am so happy we initiated and I can't wait to have an enormous collection of our photos over the years. We have the opportunity to document our marriage and growing family, with the added perk of having photos to send out for Christmas cards!

This year, we closed on our house mere days before our third anniversary, so it seemed like fate that we have our photos taken in our beautiful new house to commemorate buying our first home together. Our good friend, Dani of Byrd Photography came by while my Mom was in town to watch Charlie so we could attend our friends' wedding. Dani truly outdid herself and I am so stinking happy to have these photos to document this amazing new chapter of our life together.

Home sweet home with the loves of my life. I could get used to this.

Oh, Hey Friday (of our Moving Weekend)

It's Friday. Which means I have approximately one day to get my shit together and pack up the rest of my house to move on Sunday. Sunday, folks. Because of this impending deadline, I have, of course, made the appropriate choice to blog and watch old episodes of Hollywood Game Night. Procrastination at its finest. Because it's Friday and TGIF and such, here's what's on my mind:

Soo...this just happened. Happy #8monthsold birthday, Charlie! :) #babypep #newhouse #homeowners #ohio

A photo posted by Kaity Stuckert (@beeautifulblessings) on Aug 26, 2015 at 2:21pm PDT

1// Reading - The Bridge Builder by Zev Chavets. I received this book to review and then completely missed the deadline because well, life. #bloggerfail However, I'm still going to do my own review because the premise of the book is a biography on Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein who is bridging the gap between Jews and Evangelical Christians. He is truly living out "why can't we all just get along?" And I think we could all use some of that in our lives.

2// Listening to - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on CD (Shout-out to my local library!). It's the only thing that makes my one-hour work commute manageable. But let me tell you- listening to Jim Dale narrate Dumbledore's death seconds before you walk in the door to your office is not ideal. I was seriously in mourning all day. 

3// Eating -  Dark Chocolate covered Superberries from Aldi and Bolthouse Farms juices. Some days they are the only fruits and veggies I get and I've been drinking one per day for about the last month. Soooo good.

4// Wearing - My "Get Fresh" shirt from work in honor of Hunger Action Month!

5// Thinking - About how in love I am with my sweet husband of three years. This past year has flown by and I feel like becoming parents has absolutely changed our relationship, and just us as people in general. But I can honestly say that I have never loved my husband more than I do right now at this very moment. It is such a blessing to walk through life with him.

To the man who has filled my life with love and laughter, happy anniversary ♡ #3years #ilovemyhubby

A photo posted by Kaity Stuckert (@beeautifulblessings) on Sep 2, 2015 at 5:55am PDT

6// Planning - All the fun things I want to buy to decorate our new house! It's so crazy to me that for the first time ever, I'm going to be able to actually paint the walls of our home. This home-ownership thing is sheer madness, I tell you!

7// Feeling - So blessed to have been able to celebrate the marriage of two of our wonderful friends this past weekend. Eric and Kelsey are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and truly two peas in a pod. I can't wait to see where life takes them because they are going to do amazing things.

8// Wanting - A few baby-free nights to catch up on sleep. Oh, how I miss sleeping past 7 AM (Says the mom whose baby has slept 12 hour stretches for the last 5ish months. Please don't hate me).

What Charlie's #8monthsold photoshoot actually looked like. Could this kid be any cuter?! #babypep #newmommy #boymom

A photo posted by Kaity Stuckert (@beeautifulblessings) on Sep 1, 2015 at 7:08pm PDT

9// Anticipating - Getting our pictures back from our anniversary/first home photoshoot! Eek- so excited!
10// Watching - Top Chef again with my hubby! We went through a phase where we made our way through nine seasons in rapid succession, but then kind of got burnt out. After our date night on Wednesday at a local fancy pants French restaurant (Rue Dumaine for my Ohio homies), we became totally inspired to start watching again. I actually specifically chose this restaurant after I found out that the chef was a 2015 Semifinalist for a James Beard award (which of course I only care about because of Top Chef). I was slightly disappointed with my chicken, but Chuck's duck confit and our charcuterie plate were thebomb.dom! 

The only picture I managed to take of our anniversary date night was this #thestruggleisreal moment @chuckstuck had while fighting the urge not to pick up his duck confit with his hands to pick all the meat off the bone at the fancy pants French restaurant we went to. I love doing life with him. ♡ #ilovemyhubby #weclassy #datenight #latergram

A photo posted by Kaity Stuckert (@beeautifulblessings) on Sep 3, 2015 at 12:21pm PDT

> > > So tell me, what are your exciting Labor Day plans?

3

3. The number of months we dated before making it Facebook official.

3. The number of pillows on our squishy, queen bed.

3. The number of times we've moved.

3. The number of eggs you make me on Saturday mornings.

3. The number of trips to Cape May we've taken together.

3. The number of times you've traveled up to NY to visit my family.

3. The number of people in our perfect little family.

3. The number of times we've changed jobs.

3. The number of cars we've said goodbye (and good riddance!) to.

3. The number of years since we first said "I do."

Three down, a lifetime more to go. Thanks for doing life with me, Boo. There's no one in the world better suited for the task ;)

Summer 2015 Book Challenge(s): August Check-In

Check out my Preliminary List here.

(August 9, 2015) 30 points: Read a book with an alliterative title. | Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (416 pages, ★★★★★) 

Sigh. I will never not love Judy Blume. She is everything I aspire to be as a writer.

PREVIOUS POINTS: 145
TOTAL POINTS: 175

July also kicked off Erin's Book Challenge! Although Erin is also a blogger and another self-described book challenge addict, her challenge format is Facebook-based and really interactive which I love. She also maintains albums of the all the different books picked so members of the group can go in at any point and see how books have been rated by other challenge participants. If you're interested in joining another book challenge, hers is a good one!

(August 4, 2015) 35 points: A banned/challenged book | The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (230 pages, ★★★★★) 

This book is one of those rare gems that transports you into the mind of someone you would otherwise not think twice about. It is equal parts funny and heartbreaking and so, so, so, so good.

(August 9, 2015) 20 points: A book that begins with the first letter of your last name | Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (416 pages, ★★★★★) 

PREVIOUS POINTS: 40
TOTAL POINTS: 95

Just when you thought I was done, I obviously have to include my reads for the Literary Ladies Book Challenge (Go here to see my Preliminary List):

(August 2, 2015) A book that was recommended by a blogger (or Instagrammer / YouTuber / Goodreads-er) | Little Bee by Chris Cleave (Amber @ Mr. Thomas and Me) (266 pages, ★★★★★) 

Had I known what this book was about, I may not have read it, but I'm so glad I did. I was surprised to find many lower rated reviews from those who thought the male author didn't do an adequate job of writing from a female viewpoint, but I didn't necessarily find that.  

This story is an important one and one that will stick with me for a long time. 

(August 7, 2015) A book with a one word title | Undeniable by Bill Nye (309 pages, ★★★★★)

I am not a science person, but I think everyone should read this book. Nye takes major topics surrounding the theory of evolution and breaks them down so that even a simpleton like me can understand. I found his chapters on altruism and race particularly fascinating, but there's something in it for everyone. I feel so much more informed on controversial issues like GMO's, cloning and extraterrestrial life.

I think my eyes would have glazed over at some points had I read the hard copy version, but Nye does an excellent job of narrating the audiobook. I felt like I was listening to one long episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy! 

(August 9, 2015) A book about Summer, with Summer in the title, or in any way related to Summer because this is a Summer challenge! | Summer Sisters by Judy Blume (416 pages, ★★★★★) 

(August 16, 2015) A book that is or will be a movie (or TV show) | Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (269 pages, ★★★★★)

I didn't actually know what this book was about before reading it, but I kept seeing Jojo Moyes floating around "Best Read" lists. I totally get why everyone loves her because this is one of my favorite recent reads. There are parts that are very much cliche, romantic, chick lit, but the ending is anything but cliche and demands that you meditate on the meaning of life. I would highly recommend and am totally planning to read more of Moyes in the near future! 

BOOKS COMPLETED: 8/10

Images courtesy of GoodReads.com