Nella Vita di the Loo

I am notoriously horrible about finish projects that I start (I can't help it I'm a Gemini!). Late this spring I started working on redoing our guest bathroom. I always liked blue bathrooms so I picked a bright light sky blue. The molding and cabinet had been this ugly orangey wood that I really don't like that much (all the cabinets in our house are the same! It has grown on me in the kitchen luckily.), so painting the cabinets and molding was a must. I wanted it to be white, but Shane really didn't want white, so we decided on a soft creme. My overall inspiration were four postcards that I picked up from Yverdon, France. Overall, I'm so happy with how it turned out. The bright blue is still a bit of a shock when I go in there, but it is a very happy place to pass some time :) Eventually I'd like to replace the door knobs to be a bronze, get a new shower curtain, and get a nice black or dark wood toilet cabinet to store guest towels. My next plan of action is to organize and get the family room situated, and then move my way down the house: laundry room, hallway, finsih the living room, the kitchen, master bath and then master bedroom. The guest bedroom is pretty much done; I'm not planning on painting in there. The library and the office are the two rooms I'm going to be putting off because they are too scary and involve too much of Shane related stuff. Knowing me this will probably not all get done in the next few years that we plan on staying in the house :) but one can hope!

The guest bath before. An off-white pinky walls with ugly wood trim and cabinet.

A couple afters...the gold door knobs won't last long!

These were the postcards that served as my inspiration for the room. It's my bright, sunny, lakeside French retreat!

Nella Vita di Classics

Nella Vita di Birthday Bone

Molly's Bday was over two months ago, but I just found some pics of her birthday on one of our cameras. We gave her a bone filled with peanut butter, and I think Shane and I enjoyed teasing/watching her eat it more than she enjoyed eating it!

Nella Vita di Couchsurfin'

Nella Vita di Dangerous Shade

Luckily, before getting in my car and driving away I noticed JC napping under my car. The scary thing is he's so lazy he doesn't always when the engine starts!

Nella Vita Di Civic Preservation

Back in May, I applied for a seat on Albemarle County's Historic Preservation Committee. I had been feeling a bit disconnected from the pres world since I've been so engrossed in planning, affordable housing, and grants since grad school and work, so I was looking for a way to get back to my historic roots. Not at all to sound vain, but seeing as I was more than qualified (live beating heart and more than a fleeting interest in preservation) I was appointed to the Committee! I attended my first meeting yesterday. I admittedly was apprehensive about adding another government meeting to my plate, but this is for personal pleasure. It did take some getting used to though, I kept feeling like I should be taking minutes and did cringe when staff was asked to gather data before I remembered that for this committee, I am not staff. The main discussion for the evening was demolition, specifically how to know when they happen in rural areas, and how to record them before they are gone. I was mostly quiet, just hearing about the issue and trying to get a feel for the other members (ok, ok...I was silently judging the other members). Next month we're going to form subcommittee to tackle different issues and actions needed. I'll be sure to provide updates!

Nella Vita di Land-owning Gentry

This Wednesday, I gave myself an early B-day present…I bought a house! Well technically, I’ve already been living in the house and paying half the mortgage for a while now, but only recently has it become ‘mine.’ Shane and I refinanced his mortgage to a better rate, and in doing so my name was added to both the deed and the loan. I am now part of the elite class of land owning gentry! I’ve honestly felt that this was my home for almost two years, and have been working hard since that time to decorate and have it reflect both my and Shane’s personality. The greatest thing that I have gotten out of this is the sense of security that this is mine and no one can take it or make me leave. Except Shane that is, but if he tries I’m taking half of it with me!!