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DIY 1: Painting

4 Apr by Leave a Comment

So the house is officially ours, and all of my Pinterest boards are about to come to life! I mean obviously I’m going to be the #nailedit type. The first thing I do when we get the keys to our home is take a ride over to Home Depot. I am completely giddy and over the top to take this first trip and buy as much as I can so that when Robby is off the next day we are ready to go. With my list in my hand, my first stop is paint – I am in charge of picking out all of the colors. We had originally discussed going with a greige (brown greige) for our modern farmhouse style we were going for. And since we weren’t replacing the floors, and have a stone fire place, we needed something to go with that feel. As I looked at all of the paint colors and all of the choices my heart started to beat really fast. I was getting so nervous! There are SO MANY CHOICES! I mean come on, how many colors do you really need? And how do you know which type of paint is going to be best for your space? After about 30 minutes of freak out I decide to move on to outlet covers, because that should (key word, should) be a no brainer.

Before I move on, let me remind you I have NEVER done this before. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever even been in a home improvement store by myself before. Robby had gone around the house and drew what we needed – single, double, outlets, or light switches – and the amount of what we needed. Then I saw how many different outlet covers there were, and I immediately drew a blank. Are the ones we have square or round? Are they with screws or without? Do we have the small light switch or the large rectangle? I mean how am I suppose to remember all of these things? Why didn’t Robby tell me there were 500 choices instead of just 1? Why don’t we learn these things in school?

Needless to say, I was in the store for almost 2 hours and didn’t buy a thing. This day was a wash. I could not do this by myself. Anxiety: 1 Tiffany: 0

The very next day, Robby and I go into Home Depot, and within 10 minutes we have chosen our color and have 5 gallons of paint. Well that was much easier. We run around, grab a few other items and head off to get started. We designate each room so of course, I start on the guest (currently storage) room as my first room to paint. I don’t want to mess up other main areas of the house first, I need to get all of my ahh moments in this room. super excited, I start painting. As I get half way through we realize we don’t like the color, you know, the color we bought 5 gallons of. Maybe its just the lighting in the room, so I finish painting and do a few samples around the house. Nope, still don’t like it, no matter what lighting its in. How did our perfect greige in the store become this purple gray on our walls?

I went ahead and finished the guest bedroom with the color we didn’t love, but we learned our lesson (kind of), paint samples going forward. I went back and forth to our new neighborhood Home Depot at least twice a day for a week. I was determined to find a paint that was perfect! Even after I had brought home books, swatches, and color wheels, and thought we had found the perfect colors they looked completely different! It really does not make any sense to me! How is finding the perfect paint color so hard?!

(Update: It took me 14 paint sample colors to find my perfect gray!) Who knew that finding a paint color would be so stressful? My perfect gray was finally Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

Once I got in the swing of things, I enjoyed painting. It took me way longer to paint the whole house than I originally thought, but I’m sure thats how most of this is going to go. Edging is the WORST! It takes so long, and most of the time that is where I had to do touchups. The painting tape didn’t really work for me, I won’t say the brands because it definitely could have been user error, but I stopped using it after the first room. If you happen to make it over you may see a few spots I need to touch up, but if you point them out I will hand you a paint brush 🤣.

I painted the whole house the same color – there was no way I was going through that again! With the exception of our bedroom and the 2 bathrooms. They are the same gray, just a few shades darker. The very nice men at Home Depot who saw me every day (sometimes two or three times) told me to bring in the 5 gallon paint and they would see what they could do. They did awesome! They put in a lot of effort in trying to make the greige I hated into a gray I loved. I felt so much better about not wasting so much paint. Eventually I may go back and repaint the guest (currently storage) room, but that is the last thing on my to-do list right now.

I have to say that going through and taking the time to pick out the exact color I wanted and painting the whole house was 100% worth it! I absolutely love the outcome and I get a huge sense of accomplishment when I look at it every day.

 

 

Our New Home

28 Mar by 1 Comment

New Home Owners! 🍾🎉

Ok, so I know I am about a month late on this, BUT.. there has been A LOT going on. We are currently moved in to our new home, but that doesn’t mean we are done renovating/decorating/DIYing the farm life. I started writing this and well, trying to get in our new home took precedence. I am now putting it all together, so you can follow our journey to the farm life, and all of the ups, downs, and learning experiences that come along with it. I’m currently running on a lot of coffee to get through the day, and cocktails to enjoy at night, where I can see every star in the sky!

Well it finally happened, after just short of 6 months of going through a crazy buying process, we closed on our first home! This process has been nothing short of an emotional roller coaster ride. There were times we thought we were closing in a few days and times we thought it was a lost cause. Robby found this house, went to see it, and secretly put an offer in before I had even seen it. He was a little nervous on what I would think because it was a manufactured home on 5 acres. (I think he forgot I lived in the front of a horse trailer on and off for 9 years when I worked with the circus 🤣).

We both really wanted to get something with land, but didn’t think it was going to be possible in our current price range. Everything we found that we liked was double or triple what we could currently afford. Our solution was just going to be to buy something in a neighborhood in our budget (we were running out of space in our 2 bedroom condo) and then sell it later when we could afford our dream home. When I went to see the property, I instantly fell in love. We saw all of the potential, and knew that we could make this plot of land our forever home. A place where we could grow our family, and eventually, build the home of our dreams. The mobile home needed some work, but nothing major, and we knew it would be worth it in the long run! The property was what stole our hearts. The whole plot is just under 5 acres, with about 2.5 of it cleared. There is an old run down barn on the side where I immediately envisioned my horses and whatever other farm animal I may come home with (I’m not really sure Robby knows what he’s gotten himself into here). All of this space for Dylan to play outside was exactly what we were looking for!

This also gives us the opportunity to try all of our DIY projects now – lets first practice on the mobile home! Robby gets to use all of his new tools, I get to paint, pick out the decor, and FINALLY get an office! I’ve made our current dining room table my work space and we are ALL ready to have a dining room table again.

Take a look at the inside:

 

Here’s whats on our to-do list: (Condensed version)

-Paint EVERYTHING

-New kitchen

-New showers/tubs

-Water filter and softener system (bye bye rotten egg smell!)

-Put up a fence

-Tear down old barn

-Build a new barn

-Fix porch overhang

-Buy rocking chairs for our new porch

If you have any suggestions for first time home buyers, new property owners, DIYers, bring ’em on! We are open to hearing anything and everything.

 

Bye Bye 2017 – A year in review

30 Dec by Leave a Comment

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Wow! 2017 is just days away from being over.I feel like this past year was a whirlwind, so many amazing things and changes have happened for our family this year, and I am so excited for what 2018 has to bring.

MILESTONE #1

One of my goals for 2017 was to find a new career doing what I love. It was one of the most difficult decisions to leave a comfortable job that I loved, but I knew that it wasn’t for me in the long run. I couldn’t be happier with the decision to start my own business and grow my blog. I officially left my full time, corporate job and the end of March. Even though I didn’t get where I wanted to with my blog this year, I hit new milestones, and grew my marketing business more then I could have imagined! Now don’t get me wrong, I have a slight anxiety attack about once a week wondering if I made the right choice, if I can manage it all, if I am good enough to do all of this. But then I give myself a motivational kick in the ass and get back to work.

MILESTONE #2

We got engaged! I have known for a long time that Robby is the person that I want to spend the rest of my life with, but formalities just aren’t that important to us. First comes love, then comes baby.. wait thats not right. On Mothers Day our little guy wore a shirt that said “Mommy, will you marry my Daddy?” By the time I read the shirt Robby was on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring. After 5 1/2 years I said about damn time! We popped champagne, and have decided that I will be in charge of all things wedding (I knew he was a keeper!). We have not done anything to plan the wedding, I have a few visions, but nothing planned so far. We decided that we wanted to buy a house first. I mean living in a 2 bedroom condo was perfect when we started dating, but throwing a toddler into the mix leaves us with a slide, basketball hoop, and more dinosaurs then I can count all in the living room.

MILESTONE #3

We have found an amazing home, that we are working on buying, but we have hit a few road blocks. At first the process was going so fast and almost too good to be true – it was. The original plan was to close late November, but we are currently working on some rezoning issues, an it doesn’t look like it will be happening for a minimum of another month. And even then, it is still a maybe. (Prayers are much appreciated with this). Currently I am just excited to have this process started, and at least be on the right path to move into a larger space sooner rather than later.

I have been able to spend more time with my little guy this year. Making my own schedule has given me the opportunity to take offa random Tuesday and go to the park, or pick him up early from day care to get ice cream and see a movie. I know I am working more, and there are many late nights (I’m writing this at 11:30 pm), but it is so worth being able to get up in the morning and make breakfast together or play dinosaurs before I start my day. My mornings that I spend with Dylan before I take him to day care set the tone for my day. My mom guilt drops (slightly) when I drop him off because I know that I was able to have an hour or two of uninterrupted quality time. It has become my favorite part of the day.

I am still working on my goals for 2018, but I am so excited for what God has planned for me and my family.

How do you feel about 2017?

What are some of your peaks of the year?

Friday Favorites – Halloween

3 Nov by Leave a Comment

It’s the first Friday of November, and my first Friday Favorites – Halloween edition. This week was filled with so much fun! Unfortunately, the little one was sick last weekend, so we missed the family Halloween party, but we were able to visit our local Church’s pumpkin patch and paint pumpkins with just 2 days until Halloween.Nothing like putting it off until the last minute, but hey – it was great! Dylan was so excited to pick out pumpkins and was even willing to take pictures – as long as he could wear his t-rex shirt and bring Butch the t-rex of course.

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Orlando Date Night Guide had their 10th anniversary party Sunday Night at Reyes Mezcaleria and it was great! If you aren’t familiar with the site, you have to check it out! There are so many amazing date night ideas for us local to Orlando, but if you aren’t make sure to visit their national site Date Night Guide. Tons of out of the box date nights for you and your special someone, or that much needed girls night out.

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Halloween was a blast this year! It was Dylan’s first year really dressing up, and getting excited about trick n treat (as he called it). He picked out his own costume this year; a T-Rex of course! He has been asking to wear his costume to school for weeks, and on Tuesday, I was finally able to say YES! Watching his face light us with excitement was priceless!

Our night was awesome! Dylan loved seeing most of the costumes (he’s still not a fan of the scary ones), and getting candy at every house. He tried so hard to keep up with  his older cousins yelling “hey wait for me kids” when they got to far. Eventually his legs gave up from his constant steady jog, and he was falling at every house. We ended the night with candy for dinner with cousins. Our best Halloween yet!

What fun things did you do for Halloween?

What festive plans do you have for November?

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Oh, Hello November!

2 Nov by Leave a Comment

With the cooler Florida weather there is no doubt that it is fall y’all! I feel that our life has been going on 100 mph the past month! We have had a lot of weekend trips, Halloween festivities, and potentially getting ready to close on our new home! The home buying process is a roller coaster. When we started we were so busy that I didn’t really notice. Now we feel that this is going at a snails pace since we are home and playing the waiting game.

We have so much to be thankful for regardless if the house comes through or not, and I think that it has really put me in a frustrated funk. We are living in a 2 bedroom condo that we outgrew, oh I don’t know, when our son was born 3 years ago! I mean, we have slides, basketball hoops, and more dinosaurs then I can count in our living room! But even though we outgrew it, we needed to do what was best for our family, and wait on buying something we loved, at at time that was financially right for us. Working from home and starting my business hasn’t helped the frustration either. I am home way more than ever before, and the accumulation of more items in our already tight space is difficult to keep organized. Not to mention the lighting at the desk in our room isn’t great, so I have made the dinning room table my office.

Hopefully soon, I will have great news regarding our new home, but until then.. I really wanted to participate in the #30daysofthanks. What a great way to start off the month of Thanksgiving by reflecting on each day what we have to be thankful for. During this time keep in mind it just doesn’t have to be the big things – but the little moments, or the things that keep you going – its ok to be thankful for coffee, or left over Halloween candy you steal from your kids (don’t judge me, you do it too!).

Make sure to share your photos by using #30daysofthanks – I can’t wait to see what you all are thankful for!

 

Mommy Moment #4

24 Oct by Leave a Comment

Dylan: Mommy, you are my mommy now because I am little, but when I grow up to the sky and turn into a T-Rex you aren’t my mom anymore.

Me: I will always be your mommy, no matter how big you are.

Dylan: Even when I grow to the sky like T-Rex?

Me: Of course, no matter what, I will always be your mommy!

Dylan: Wow, thats cool.

Cruising without the Kids

18 Oct by Leave a Comment

 

 

 

Once you have kids, vacationing is an entirely new ball game. It is so important to us to go on vacations as a family, but also sans little guy. Of course we love him so much, but we need our alone time too. A quick weekend cruise was the perfect way to do it! Living close to the cruise port makes it easy to hop on a ship for the weekend and be back to normal life the same day you dock – good and bad – but totally worth it!

This trip we went on Royal Caribbean‘s Majesty of the Sea. A Friday – Monday cruise with a stop in the Bahamas and their private island, Coco Kay. We actually did this exact cruise for my 30th birthday back in February, so we were super excited for flowing drinks, fun in the sun, snorkeling, and of course Señor Frogs!

We decided to go with the unlimited drink package this time around. For a total of $180 per person (gratuity included) it was all you can drink Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. At first you may think thats pricey, but let me tell you, that in February, we may have (shhh) snuck our own liquor on the ship, and still ended up spending over $300 on cocktails! The drink package was 100% worth it! Its not just the cocktails that are included, but premium coffee (you know your girl needs good coffee at least twice a day), and bottled water. If you drink more then 6 drinks per day (don’t judge me) go with the package! You can also use the drink package on their private island – oh hello floating bar!

This trip we participated in a lot of the activities on the ship and had a blast! Trivia, karaoke (after those unlimited drinks we sounded just like Rhianna!), name that lyric, and my ultimate fav – quest. If you go with a group you HAVE to do some of the games. If there is something going on during your dinner time just ask to change it.. they will work you in at a more convenient time, but definitely don’t miss dinner – and order as much as you want! 3 appetizers and 4 entrees? Go for it!

Every time Robby and I go on a trip together we learn more about each other, and I fall more in love with him. It is important that we don’t loose who we are as a couple outside of being parents. Dylan is our whole world, but we need to carve out time for ourselves to keep our relationship alive. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in work, school, finances, kids, and family events that you forget to just spend time together as a couple. Make sure to make that time and have “your thing”. Our thing is snorkeling – we absolutely love it and do it on every tropical vacay we take together.

What is your “thing” as a couple?

Do you try to take vacations without the kiddos?

What are your favorite spots for a quick getaway?

 

 

Mommy Moment #2

4 Oct by Leave a Comment

Dylan is one of those kids that has to have a toy with him everywhere he goes! Daycare is no exception. Usually, he brings a toy into school, as I take it once he goes into the classroom. This one day it was a little hectic as a little girl was throwing up all over the class, I took Dylan back out, and another teacher came out and took Dylan into another classroom, without realizing he had taken his toy dinosaur. I totally forgot the dinosaur when I went to pick him up, so we get in the car and head to Ice Skating lessons. After we have gotten on the highway (and are stuck in traffic) Dylan starts hysterical crying – I mean total meltdown – about his dinosaur he left at school. We have one million dinosaurs at home, and I even always keep an extra or two stacked away in my purse. I give him another dinosaur and tell him that he will get the other one tomorrow when I take him to school. After I got him to calm down (not my proudest moment) by yelling this is not how we act we cannot go back and get his dinosaur, he wipes his tears and says “But mommy, the dinosaur loves me, he needs me”. After that, how could I not go back and get the dinosaur? Once we picked it up he gave me the biggest hug and told me he loved me. Made it all worth it!

Hello October!

1 Oct by Leave a Comment

October is here! I love October, it is the start of the holidays and the time I say “Oh shit, the year is almost over!”.  I have been working really hard this year to meet my goals. I have done a lot to make sure that for the start of 2018 I am where I want to be both personally and professionally. Ultimately, I think at the beginning of the year I made a lot of goals without a plan on how to actually achieve them. I have been working throughout the year to really focus on what I want and how I am going to get there. It has been a lot of trial and error thats for sure!

Robby and I both had major career changes which has been a huge positive for our family, but at times can be a little overwhelming. I am finally feeling more settled in my new career venture. It has been a roller coaster ride for sure; I needed a steep learning curve, but I couldn’t be happier that I made the leap to leave my corporate 9-5 to work way more, but actually love what I do.

One of my goals this year was to create seasonal bucket lists to do with Dylan.This was important to start to make sure I was was handling a good work life balance. Dylan is at such a great age to enjoy holidays and look forward to events, I want to make sure I am soaking it all in. I have created our first bucket list for October! I am so excited to start crossing these off, it is already printed and hanging on the fridge.

What are you looking forward to this month? Do you have any plans to attend fun festivals or family parties?

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