For Jen....Remodeling Updates

The Back Yard

It started off as what I called "the overgrown jungle" and now with A LOT of hard work it's in the process of becoming tame. We still have a TON of mulching and flowers to plant and some new outdoor furniture to come. But it's definitely looking more like the relaxing place I dreamed of. Before..... And After....same fence just a lot of blood, sweat and tears for Geoff who painted this!

These are my "pom poms" they took about 20 years to grow into the shape they are in.

Before......

After... We cut all the trees down and planted new ones. No more leaves in the pool, squirrels in the attic, pine cones falling on our heads. We're still working on it...but I love the pavers.

The Front Yard

Before.....

After....We have one more set of shutters coming for the bay window.

My favorite part!!

The Kitchen

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But it's not coming fast enough. 2 months on this kitchen. UGH! I am told by Wednesday it will be done. (that's what he said 3 weeks ago). Please notice the THINK coat of dust. 2nd time I've had my entire house covered in dust thanks to the remodel.

Before......notice the wall

In progress...We took out the wall. Now bar seating for 2 at the island not in a corner somewhere! And there will be no black and white material in the bottom cabinet.

Before....like the curtains? And that floor was laminate and After: Pardon the dust

Just cause...Ellie doing what she does best.

Reason #2,625,455 I love Savannah

What a great weekend! The weather was perfect. And on Monday a group of us went to Tybee and kayaked to Little Tybee Island. It was beautiful. You can't get on the island by car, only by boat/kayak. The water was warm (in places) and the breeze was wonderful. I must admit, I don't kayak. Thank God I rode a tandem with Geoff or else I would have been stuck in the middle of the ocean. I have absolutely no upper body strength and when the boats would ride right by us...well let's just say my arms felt like jello. So next time, when people wanna go out and camp there...I will be in a boat where I don't have to worry if my cooler will fly off if a wave hits.

Oh and why may you ask is there so few pictures if this was such a beautiful place. Well I've learned a few lessons already. 1.) Always make sure your camera has a memory stick 2.) Sand and cameras don't mix. Live and learn.

Great Weekend...

This week has been so jam packed I have had no time to post. We've had workers still in the kitchen finishing tiling, central air unit installed, windows and shutters installed, new sod in the back yard...well you name it.

But the real reason I have not been on is we have had our wonderful guests Laura and Jared in from NC . They came in on Thursday afternoon and the weather has been wonderful! We spent many hours in the pool (Jake and Ellie got in too....OK pushed in with their little life jackets ...but they did swim). Saturday we had a BBQ with our neighbors James and Joe and our friends Brianne and Jarrod (who brought YUMMY chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting)

Today was PERFECT! We rented a boat for 4 hours and had a wonderful time with all our friends! And the icing on the cake???!!! DOLPHINS!!!! Right by our boat! Close enough to kiss (which I was told I was not allowed too....hmppp!)

Enjoy some pictures...yet another cookout tonight....

Our captain getting his bearings

Shipwrecked boat

I am officially starting my own business...gulp!

Fresh from the Fed Ex Delivery guy (and may I add Jake and Ellie stayed in place while he came to the door ...they did so well I forgot about them in my excitement! )

In 6 months we'll have a location...in a year to 18 months we will be open....

Don't know how my mom was such a savy business woman. It was A LOT of work for a single mom, but she always managed to come out strong. I am not going to attempt to compare myself to her. The allure of being my own boss is what drove me to follow my heart and switch career paths. Thank goodness I am getting my feet wet with the help of a franchise to guide me through all this maddness!

So excited/nervous! So happy I have a husband that is supporting my dreams instead of doing the "safe" choice and work in corporate America and be miserable (to each their own...it's just not my cup of tea)

I heart my new camera!!

I love photography. I know I will never be Ansel Adams (or even close to that comparison) but it's one of those hobbies I just want to immerse myself in no matter what.

Before our trip to Europe at Christmas time, I did buy a new digital camera that was "nice". Better than a normal point and shoot, but not really what I wanted :( The camera I did want was 300 bucks more expensive. Well to my surprise Best Buy had a members appreciation night where they opened the store past closing hours only for their rewards club members and my dream "Intro to Real Photography/Nikon D40" camera was there with all the bags, lenses, flashes etc at $290 off the regular price (Geoff's stipulation was selling the other camera on ebay ASAP)!!

Below is my oh so humble attempt at taking pictures without reading the manual (don't worry, that's next on my list, and taking a photography class this summer).

I am just in a darn good good!! Even though my kitchen is still in shambles and we have no downstairs air conditioning:)

Oh and I completely forgot. We won our kickball game yesterday:) I even managed to make it on base a couple times. Afterwards most of the team rewarded our win with pizza from Mellow Mushroom. Mmmm.

My first rose from my new rose garden...it looks a little sad...still in shock from being planted.

My English Garden (sans the black shutters, new windows, fountain...hey it's a work in progress)

Ellie not looking very thrilled at me trying to take her picture.

Jake "Mom this is boring" Goins

(hmmm note to self...must find better subjects)

Woe is me....

It's been 1 month of eating out everyday, every meal. I month of feeling like a prisoner in my own home while strange men ask to use the bathroom (thank you Clorox wipes).

Yesterday they finally put down the tile...and all appliances will be in by next week. Thank GOD! I never want to do a renovation again....ever...ever...ever. Yet the dr. says I need to take baths in a soaking tub. Our master bath has no tub...hmmm.

On a side note, I have talked Geoff of not only not finishing the 3rd floor attic until the air conditioning unit busts up there...which could be 3 years or so (dunno how I managed that. I think it was Jedi mind tricks. Or just the fact that we hate living in a construction zone. Or that sanity prevailed and he realized 2 people do not need 3,700 square feet to live in 3,300 is just fine) We will use that foam insulation up in the attic for now, and we might sheet rock it to make it more energy efficient.

Here are some pictures of what some would call progress...I just call it plain teasing the owner.

This is Before with no island

After with island (the drawers are scattered everywhere since there are wires no one knows how to connect!)

The new tile!! Anything is better than red stick on tile!!!