What a year 2011 has been. Personally, professionally, physically {creating a human}, etc. Here are some of the highlights from our little home here at the Dream Book. we’ve tackled so many little renovation project inside and outside the house! From finding fencing solutions with the help of a fence company in Atlanta to redesigning our kitchen, it has been quite the year for us!
January:
Ohh January. You were by far one of the most crazy and dirty months of this past year. This was the month we started our kitchen makeover. We had many days of demo, and times where our whole house was covered in dust. Honestly, our house must have been covered in dust for at least two weeks before we finally found about a dust extractor and then thought about looking at purchasing one from somewhere online such as Stonex. I didn’t even know those things existed, I would have been there hoovering and wiping it all up with wet cloths! It’s safe to say that this quickly transformed our apartment from a dust mites heaven, to ours. But then there were also fun days where we got to show you the plans for the space, what faucet and sink we were getting, and how to install brick walls..
February:
I started this month by telling y’all a little more about myself, sharing with you how we made our awesome Driftwood Art, and how I save money clothes shopping. We also let you in on our little secret of how we save money at Home Depot and Lowes, just don’t tell anyone else;) On the kitchen front a lot was going on. We gave you tips on how to choose a paint color, and tips on how to actually paint your space. And before it was all over we showed you how to install kitchen cabinets, then left off with the BIG reveal!
March was a great month! After so many of y’all asking about our chandeliers, we finally spilled the beans on where are go-to spots are for them. We also shared our hilarious DIY plumbing gone BAD with you guys, and I know you got a good laugh out of it!! But I think it’s fair to say that this taught us an invaluable and life changing lesson – that looking for a plumber is something you should always do before undertaking a plumbing project, even if you think you can do it. WE thought we could do it, and look how it turned out for us, even though it was quite funny. In the end we ended up having to look for a professional company to sort out our mess and it cost us a lot more than if we had went to one in the first place. Luckily we were recommended a few companies like American Eagle Plumbing (https://americaneagleplumbing.net/services/water-heater-repair/) to turn to the next time we need something fixed in the bathroom. Who knew the end result would’ve been that bad? So yes, the moral of the story is if you don’t 1000% know what you’re doing, get help before you DIY your house down. Good thing that were sevearl things we did that we were confident in. We even shared a whole lot of tutorials with you. Everything from how to install hardwood floors, to installing wainscoting, and building a vintage scale turned clock. We told you about three awesome finds, one being our best friends store Modern Manor, one being a great deal we scored on our oven wall unit, and the other…our sweet little post office box find from an auction.
April:
April is a month of love for J and I. We celebrated our 3 year anniversary this year! I also let you in on a little secret love of mine, my cooking club. Yummmy! I shared with y’all a little girly project I did, my very own printer drawer jewlery holder. And since I had gotten my printer drawer from a thrift store, I only thought it appropriate to share some more thrift store finds of the month. And because I can’t seem to go a month without asking for you genius’ help, I reached out and asked if we should DIY or buy a new rug, thanks for the help friends! We went through a quick list of fun Easter projects to start working on, and finished the month off with a detailed tutorial of How to paint stripes.
Started the month off by taking you all on our trips to San Fran and Napa, so much fun! Because J is the best hubby in the world, he built me a sink cabinet for the laundry room, and because he loves you guys THIS much, he wrote up a tutorial of how he made it AND how he painted it! We also had the honor this month to be in the magazine issue of This Old House. It was surreal seeing us and our story in print! Thanks TOH! We finished the month by giving some 4th of July inspiration!
July:
July is gross and HOT here, but at least its my birthday month and a time I can make the flag cake. On my birthday morning this year J also made me a new planter {with my help..at 7am..on my bday! But I was still so grateful}. I introduced you to our new antler friends being framed in fabric, and to my most favorite fabric store ever, SAS. We got a new office chair this month, hooray, and make a new miners cart! I finished the month off by asking a very important question, to DIY or buy pillows.
We kick started Sept. with the laundry room makeover, which I still smile at when I walk in there every day! Found out that the Arizona Republic article on our home finally came out {SUCH a cool experience} and celebrated with our most favorite recipe of Chocolate chip cookies, duh! With fall coming up, I went through some of my favorite fall projects, and make my own wine cork wreath. We had the pleasure of helping our friends stage a home {and by me helping I mean I just mocked the photos there}. We also turned a great Anthro tablecloth in to a rug for our office, and finished off the month by showing you a full list of our homes paint colors! This was also the month we found out we were pregnant, but y’all didn’t know it yet..sneaky sneaky!
October:
This month was started off with a beautiful nursery done by our great friends. I hesitantly showed you a million photos of myself wearing a DIY scarf. We tackled the dreaded project of painting our white picket fence out front, with many mishaps, but the end result being worth it! Cooking club got spooky with a Halloween themed dinner, that was freaking delicious by the way. We made a wooden herringbone table runner, but weren’t all that pleased with the outcome. Projects like that are always such a bummer! BUT we finished off the month on a great note of giving away two $25 Home Depot gift cards! Go HD!
November:
Started off poisonous, by making cute wreaths with my mom! Just the perfect way to start a month;) We then showed off some fun finds at one of our favorite auctions, and actually showed you what will be our nursery rocker- just didn’t fill you in on that detail yet;) All together we celebrated the birth of my most favorite man evvvveer, and continued that celebration when we finally announced that we were pregnant!!! It was so fun seeing all of our sweet reactions that I just had to share the story of how we told our families as well. This month I also showed y’all the pregnancy series I had been secretly working on, which is already so fun to look back and see just how much has changed from week 5-to now almost week 20! Oh flat tummy, please come back someday;) Aside from all things baby boy, I also showed y’all how to easily make homemade vanilla extract, a great gift, and a cork trivet. It was also the awesome month of Thanksgiving, our first time hosting. We went through all the steps with you guys, from making name place cards, to silverware napkin rings, and finishing off with showing all of the final details of the great day. So thankful for this month..and year for that matter.
December:
To start off this month we showed a different card catalog that the genius J had made. Not gonna lie, its really fun being married to such a talented {hoTT} man! We sold that baby in 2 seconds at Modern Manor, where they sell these incredible Bears From Chairs. I asked for y’alls advice on cribs, a big shocker there- since I never ask for advice;) Then came all things Christmas. We made our antler friends get in the spirit of the season with us, showed off the decor around our home, and talked about how we manage to wrap our gifts for super cheap. This month finished off with a huge blessing of finding out that our little babe growing is indeed a BOY!
We just have so much to be thankful for this year. Its crazy to see how much God has worked in our lives and our friends and families lives as well..I cannot even imagine how much greater next year will be. Hopefully it will be full of some GREAT DIY projects, lots of baby giggles, and maybe even some relaxing down time for J since he will be finished with his MBA program here shortly. Whatever the 2012 year holds for us, were ready. I hope you feel the same way about your upcoming year. Heres to 2012! Thanks for taking this journey with us friends:)
Wow, such a busy year!! I had no idea you were in TOH, we are huge fans of them, I think I still have that issue around somewhere! 🙂 Someone else also told us about the HD coupons, of course hubby always makes me go in and ask for them! 🙂 Oh and we also put our new kitchen in last Jan. I hope 2012 is every bit as exciting for you! Happy New Year!!
Wowzer! I thought you guys were busy and crafting all the time, but when you put it all down in a timeline like that I realized you guys were CRAZY BUSY! Haha. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how 2012 goes 🙂
Wow so much can happen in a year huh? I love everything in your home. It’s amazing 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you guys do in the new year!
Wow, such a busy year!! I had no idea you were in TOH, we are huge fans of them, I think I still have that issue around somewhere! 🙂 Someone else also told us about the HD coupons, of course hubby always makes me go in and ask for them! 🙂 Oh and we also put our new kitchen in last Jan. I hope 2012 is every bit as exciting for you! Happy New Year!!
I love all of it!!!
Looks like a great year! Your blog is so beautiful and a great source of inspiration; thank you 🙂 Have a Happy New Year!
Love the year in review. You are so talented!
what a great year. I’ve loved reading all of it!
Wowzer! I thought you guys were busy and crafting all the time, but when you put it all down in a timeline like that I realized you guys were CRAZY BUSY! Haha. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how 2012 goes 🙂
I so love your style! Thank you for sharing so much of your talents. Hope 2012 is treating you well.