the renovation : pretty pink door

Somewhere along the line, someone who formerly owned our house

  loved pink.

For one thing, the exterior was formerly a pink.

A faded salmon hue, really.

Then, we recently discovered the former state of at least one of our interior doors.

It was white...and pale pink.

We found this out when Hubby removed the door, which was currently non-functioning.  What I mean is that behind it was simply dead space, and drywall, as somewhere along the line someone decided this didn't need to be a doorway anymore.  

So it was just a random door that didn't lead anywhere, right in our kitchen.

This space is actually a blessing in disguise, as it is what our new fridge is going to slide into, so that it can be counter-depth.  It is kind of perfect.

Whenever there are tools involved, particularly sharp ones, this little guy is there to help:

So when the door came off we got to truly appreciate what the previous owner did to restore these extra-tall, solid-wood doors.  He took them from this....

 ...to this:

Refinishing these doors was a fantastic investment, at least in my eyes, as they are part of what made me fall in love with the house!

Another look at where the pink door was formerly housed. Oh, and do you spy the small child wielding a screwdriver?  (I'm a really good mom.)

 "Wow, that is sharp, mama!"

 Anyway, here is the doorway with the trim removed as well.  Still have to remove the framing to fit the refrigerator in.  Another weekend, perhaps?

So that is the current {only} project going on in the 'dream home' right now - removing trim (and eventually the fireplace) that is currently in our kitchen, so that the new cabinets can be installed.  Install projection: late November!

Finally, some of our reno dreams will become reality - I hope! 

g

3 films

Movies.  Like most, I love watching movies, particularly those of the girlie, chick-flick persuasion.   So here are three that I, as a girlie chick,  really enjoy.  This is not a 'top three' movies of all time, but rather just three I really enjoy...

1. Something's Gotta Give.  I love Diane Keaton and even moreso in this film where she exudes such style AND is a writer...swoon!  I totally buy the chemistry between her and Jack Nicholson in this romance between two older, successful, and very funny people.

{source}

2.  The Memory Keeper's Daughter.  Even though the book is leagues better than this TV movie {big shocker} I really love this little story.  I watched it for the second time recently and completely balled my eyes out several times.  I mean, sobbed.

{source}

3. Footloose.  Okay, you knew I had to give props to an eighties classic.  Yes, NOT the new version.  The only version there is: the Kevin Bacon version.  I could watch this movie a million times, and each time I am transported back to my girlhood in the eighties with every single amazing song on the soundtrack...which I owned, on cassette, of course.  Even though the gymnastics scene in the grain mill still is beyond cheesy {I mean, check out that pose below that actually made the movie poster!!!} the rest of the movie rocks my little preacher's daughter world.

{source}

Linking below with Lauren and Tiffany - only two more weeks of these fun prompts!!!

g

carb-lover like mama?

From these pictures you would assume that my son relishes devouring a plateful of spaghetti, just like his mama does.  

{side note: I used to order spaghetti on dates all the time when I was really young. dumb! I also ordered grilled cheese a lot.  lame!}  

Anyway, it may appear that he loves this spaghetti feast, but, in fact, breads and pasta rate very low on this kiddos list of favorite foods.  Sigh.

In fact, he mostly just made a mess with this pile of pasta.

He actually prefers the food groups in this order:
1) fruits and veggies
2) dairy
3) junk food
4) breads/pastas
5) meat

I'm sure this will all change as he gets older, so for now I will just be satisfied that he eats his veggies.

g

6 places + 5 foods + 4 books = playing catch-up!

Been a little distracted by unpacking and organizing process going on full-swing in the 'dream home.'  So, extremely late, here are:

6 places...
1. boundary waters canoe area
2. my kitchen {even in its current state}
3. my parent's farm
4. napa valley
5. seattle
6. new york city {any season, for any reason}

5 foods...
1. pizza
2. warm, crusty bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar
3. goat cheese {plain, on things, doesn't matter}
4. hummus + 'naked' pita chips
5. 'my' chipotle burrito - steak, rice, corn salsa, cheese + sour cream
(Yes, clearly I like cheese and carbs.)

Source: someecards.com via Greta on Pinterest

4 books...
1. pride and prejudice and zombies - reading right now, think is hilarious and fantastic!
2. the great gatsby - how can you not be in love with this novel?
3. the poisonwood bible - such a good read about sisterhood and motherhood.
4. the awakening - will forever remind me of my college women's lit days.  so much to analyze, such a classic.

Linking up again here with these lovely ladies...

We close on the sale of our 'other' house tomorrow -
so happy and hopeful that all goes well!

Hope all is going beautifully in your world!
g

one year ago : a european traveler

One year ago...

we were rushing through an airport,

while the baby slept,

ignoring all the hustle and bustle.

We were on our way to visit my parents,

who were living in Prague for a year,

my dad preaching in a church there.

Baby's first international flight.

At two months old.

Yes, we are those parents.

Was he really ever this tiny and immobile...

and bald?

g

the renovation: we are in!

Saturday marked the end of our official "first week" in the new house.  Let's clarify: we are in half of the new house...we will have a renter in the back unit until February.   Which is cool because it pays our mortgage.

Moving is kind of stressful for most people, and we were no exception.   Even though we had been slowly moving our belongings over for the several weeks before, we still had a bunch of furniture and odds and ends to bring over the first weekend, so we hired movers.  The movers were called "Labor Fo' Do' " {!!!} and not sure if they were really professional movers. Their truck was a U-Haul they had rented and they had no equipment besides their muscles and hands, on which they did not deign to wear work gloves.   But...these two guys moved all our crap for really cheap.   So thanks guys.  You rock.

Now, for a two bedroom "apartment" our living circumstances are quite spacious.  The rooms are large with really high ceilings, we have 1 1/2 baths and 2 large bedrooms.  Sure, there are no closets in either bedroom but a pretty large laundry room closet right across from them so there is some hanging space.


In truth, we are shoving clothes and shoes wherever we can until a real 'master closet' can be constructed.  Someday.

The hardest adjustment for me personally has been the kitchen.  Going from a fairly new kitchen that we designed specifically for our needs, to a kitchen that is extremely outdated with no pantry and not an abundance of cupboard space is, well, not easy.   Most of my kitchen stuff is packed away.  I have a lot of kitchen stuff.  But the space will work just fine until the complete re-do happens in a couple months...

at least we have one new appliance. 

Also, I am kind of a gas-stove snob, so getting used to this beauty has been a treat:

Sorry for all the somewhat burnt/overcooked suppers, boys!  Who knew electric stoves had SO much juice?

But seriously, as long as there is an outlet to plug in my coffee maker and a clean wine glass to pour a glass of wine into every night, I am a happy woman.  If that makes me 'easy to please,' I am totally okay with that.  :)

Speaking of 'easy to please'...everyone keeps asking how the baby is adjusting to the move.   Well, this kid is nothing if not adaptable.  After only a few days Cormac was sleeping really well on his normal schedule.  He loves all the new places to explore and all the half unpacked boxes he can tear apart.   Overall he seems to like his new abode.  

Hubby and I are smitten with the house.   It immediately felt like 'home.'  Despite all the things that have broken or gone wrong...like the basement door completely falling out, frame and all, the water heater breaking, the funky sewage smell in the basement, the shower drain clog, and accidentally locking ourselves out due to the 'complicated' door hardware...

Thank you to this locksmith who was at our door in about twenty minutes!

...we still say to each other every night: "I love this house.  Don't you love this house?"

The answer is always: "Yes. So much." 

Warts and all.

g

sweet corn, tomato & basil pizza

I am always happy to add a good pizza to my recipe collection.

This one comes from Martha Stewart and it is completely delish.

I know what you are thinking: sweet corn on a pizza?  Just trust me - it's good.

I didn't do it completely a la Martha, as her recipe calls for grilling the pizza as well as letting your dough sit for four hours, and I wasn't up for the extra mess and time commitment these two elements would entail.  I am messy and impatient, clearly.

So I made a quick and simple pizza dough {the 'just add water' kind}, followed the package directions to make it 'thin and crispy,' and baked my pizza in the oven like the lazy mama that I am.  ;)

For you ambitious cooks, here is the full recipe in all it's Martha Stewart wonderfulness.  {Let me know how it comes out, as grilled pizza dough sounds SO good!}

For the rest of us, here is how I did it...

You will need:
-pizza crust of your choice {thin crust is great for this sweet/savory pizza.}
-1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
-2 ears of sweet corn
-2 whole peeled garlic cloves
-1/2 tsp. coarse salt
-2 tsp of olive oil, and more for drizzling
-2 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
-4-6 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded or sliced
-fresh basil leaves

To make:
1. Prepare the dough/crust of your choice.  Spread onto lightly oiled pizza pan or seasoned stone.
2. Puree in a food processor the corn, parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, olive oil, and salt until mixture is smooth with some small chunks.
3. Thinly slice 2 Roma tomatoes.
3. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on your pizza crust, then top with a thin layer of the corn mixture, the tomato slices, and sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
5. Bake 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees {or 350 if you are using flatbread} or until cheese is melty and crust is golden brown.
6. Top with fresh basil leaves and enjoy!

g