Before and after.

So on Saturday I dyed my hair. I was ready for a change and it's ok if you think I'm crazy=) But I went all brown. Some people have been asking for pictures so here you go....


Before (taken October 18th)












and after (taken Sunday November 25th)

LOTS more house!

OK here a a whole heap of house picture because a) I haven't got on forever b) I have been busy and c) I wasn't sure anyone was actually enjoying them. But I started and now I must finish. So here is one picture of almost all of the rooms left to show you. (The Laundry room, the Master and formal living room are missing because I haven't taken a picture of them since we finished them. But I will take the pictures tomorrow when the sun is out and show you)

This one is of the stairs and the little wall and walk way between the front door (on the left) the formal living room (where I was standing when I took it) and the living room.


Powder Room downstairs.


Dining room


The funny thing out of all the pictures I have taken this is the only one of the kitchen and you can't even see the Kitchen. I'll take a picture soon so you can see the whole thing.


This is the Guest room. I love the red but a word of advice for anyone thinking about painting red... spend the extra time and paint the one coat of dark color primer because even if you think you can skip that step and buy the paint with the primer already in it you well have to paint 5 coats! FIVE!!!! So spare your self the pain do one coat of dark primer and then you should only have to do 2 of the red.



Hope you all enjoyed there will be a couple more to come and then some of the outside so check back!!

More House!!

Today I thought I'd show you Kyan's room and the guest bath upstairs.

This is Kyan's room. Besides the entry way it's the only other room we didn't paint. There isn't a whole lot to tell you about these pictures other then.. Yes, his bed is on the floor. We haven't found a bedroom set that we like for him yet. The art should be put on the wall today and I will be getting a new window treatment some day.



This is the guest bathroom /Kyan's bathroom upstairs.
On this wall; as soon as I can find the right color green and a shade lighter blue (or darker I haven't decided) I'm going to put circle on the wall to look kind of like the shower curtain but not quite as busy.

The scraproom/office.

Today I thought I'd show you my scrap booking/our office.=)

The first picture is from right after we painted the room. And while we were getting ready for the the delivery of our new bed. But this bed is actually in the Guest room now it just wasn't painted at the time and we didn't want to move the bed in there and then move it out again and the in again. Just silly to do so.

the 2ND is other before and the brown blog on the right is the book case.

the 3rd is of one of many spray painting projects=). There are two of these and the use to be brown and hang in the half bath downstairs and the Master bath. We had planned to buy some for the two bathrooms before we moved and were surprise the family left them but since they didn't fit what we wanted and we planned to buy some with door anyway instead of just getting rid of them I decided to spray paint them and use them in my scrap room.=)

Here you can see my scrap desk and our computer desk and one of my little cupboards.


Here under the cupboard on the right is my scrapbook bookcase. It has all my scrap booking books and quote books and all the binders I put together as well as my scrap paper bin and my scrapbook.


Here you can both the cupboards. P.S. Please excuse the mess I was in the middle of like 3 projects at the time. Also the blue valance thing is going to soon too. Chad put it back up after he finished painting even though it doesn't match and I can't reach to take it down myself so until I find/buy some roman blinds the blue things is going to stay.

Here is my bookcase! Yes the last 3 and a half shelves are ALL cookbooks/cooking mags. of some sort. (Don't judge me. You know you're a little jealous. I have recipes for EVERY occasion. he he)

Into the closet. Where most of my scrap booking stuff is. Sorry I didn't take a picture of the inside of the closet but I don't have enough storage in here (seriously I need one more small bookcase) so there is stuff ALL over the floor in there and I was to embarrassed to show you.

Here is the wall left hand wall with my quote my sister gave me. All that is left for this room is hang up some pictures and put out some my projects for display (some I just can't give way)




Hope you enjoyed it!!

My work is progress.

Of course I am talking about our house!! Since I have been promising forever that I would Add pictures of the house I thought today I really would. So here are some pictures of our house and the progress we are making to make it a home=). I'll do just the family room today and then I'll do my best to show you a room a day. That way I don't over whelm you with to many pictures.






















































I love this mirror! It was a wedding present from my Grandma and Grandpa Gray. I just was never a big fan of gold so I spray painted it!!

























I like the white but I haven't decided if I love it I might take it brown but I haven't decided yet. I have also been thinking about buying a large picture easel for it because that corner is so deep it sits to far back and I want to bring it out a little more so when I get close up I can actually see in it =). Also the mantel has actually been updated since I took this picture but I haven't taken a new one yet. But I will =). There are still a few things this room needs but like I said it is a work in progress and someday (soon, I hope) I'll get nice curtains and get rid of those vertical blinds which I loath and we will finally hang the pictures. Hope you enjoyed the little preview.

Today I decided that I alone am keeping the magazine industry afloat.

There are many things I have inherited from my mother, my lips, my ears, my hands and her need to collect things. LOL. For those of you that don't already know I have a very nice collection of cookbooks and cooking magazines (not as big as my moms though)I'm sure mine is close to if not more then a hundred and the doesn't include the 3 books I have put together myself. But today I was going through my magazine basket; Yes, I have a magazine basket. It is where I put all the magazines I subscribe to after I have read them and when it starts to over flow about every 4-6 months, I go through the magazines and rip out all the ideas, recipes I like and then recycle the rest. Well Anyway I was going thought the basket today and putting the cooking magazines on the book shelf and I realized that I subscribe to a lot of magazines. So I thought I would share my realization with you and my little secret of just how many I subscribe to.

-Better Homes and Garden (which it my fav. and I love the website I visit at least once a day)
-Good Housekeeping
-Family Fun
-Parents
-Paper Crafts
-Creating Keepsakes
-Scrapbooks etc.
-Simple Scrapbooks (well I did before they stopped making it. That as a sad day at the Haggerty house)
-Taste of Home
-Taste of Home Holiday
-Kraft Food and Family

and I recently either cancelled or didn't renew the following
-Seattle Metropolitan (which I loved but not living in Seattle anymore just made it more of silly spend)
-Cooks Country
-Cook's illustrated (but not before getting the BEST cookie recipe ever)

There you go a little more insight into the crazy makings of me=) I hope you enjoyed it just a little.

Forks!!

OK here are the ALL the picture from our trip! There are allot but it's ok because it's totally worth it!! =) Some of the pictures aren't mine they are Christian's and I 'borrowed' them (it's ok she knows I stole them) because both my camera batteries died while we were on the tour I did get to sneak one picture in every once in while before my camera would shut off but after a while it started getting really old. Anyway I hope you enjoy=)!! Sorry if they are out of order. Also, for those of you how have seen the movie I'm sure you are going to tell me "that isn't in the movie." I know! The movie was filmed in Portland because the film tax in Washington is apparently very high. They were going to film in Fork the crew was even there waiting but our lovely government would help out a low budget film and so they had 2 days to find somewhere else to shoot. Also Stephine Meyer actually went to Port Angeles, Forks and La Push before she finished Twilight. So when I tell you "it's from the book." it is fact the place that Stephine Meyer picked out. =) I know I learned it on my guided tour=).

A little taste of what is to come!!!

So my BF Christain and I went went to Forks, Wa this weekend. And let me tell you it is an experience I hope I never forget. It was a very long drive equipped with floating bridges, ferry rides, road construction and lots and lots of amazing views. Our first must stop place on the way to Forks was North Bend=)! And then Port Angeles were we eat dinner at Bella Italia and for those of you how have read Twilight and are wondering... Yes, they have mushroom ravioli on the menu, and yes I ordered it and it sooo amazing. But if you ever go and don't care for mushrooms Christain ordered tortellini with a pesto cream sauce that was to die for!
I think my favorite part of the whole trip was going to La Push (on our tour I'll tell you all about another time)and as you are driving around the corner and first beach comes into view for the first time ( dramatic pause as you picture the most beautiful in the world).....I want to buried right there because that was what I imagine heaven would look like. I am also happy and a little sad to report that for the wettest place in the continental US it never rained.
Well I'll post pictures as soon as I find the box that has the camera stuff in it. (Yes, we are still in boxes. Not very many put there are still a handful that need to be unpacked.)

We have been busy busy!!

OK so it has been a while since I posted anything on here and I'm sorry. We have been very busy moving and painting and soon I will post pictures!
So we have painted the family room, dinning room, kitchen, master, guest room, office/scrapbooking room, laundry room, powder room and Kyan's bathroom. We are finally all done painting and hopefully sometime this week at least one room will be completly put together.
Also this weekend I am going to Forks, Wa with my best friend Christian and I can't wait!! I'm sooo excited. It is going to be a blast to have girls weekend in the place where our favorite book takes place. I promise there will be lots of pictures to come!! Hope everyone has a GREAT week and I'll do my best to post again soon.

100 Days of holiday cookies

A little insight into the makings of me!

As you may or may not know I have a lot of secret passions; things I'm good at and things I REALLY wish I was good at. One of the things I wish I was good at is cake decorating. If I had more money, time and lived in a city that had a pastry school it would be my dream to go, but since I don't and when we lived in Bothell I did have the resources to go to Seattle for school, I just get to dream and admire other peoples amazing work! And today I thought I'd share some of my newest findings.

Ok these people entered a contest and from what I understand they got to pick the designs from a t-shirt company or pictures that the company uses (but don't quote me) and then they go to use there creative licence and interpret it into a cake. I'll show you the inspiration picture and then cake and you can see what I mean when I say these people are amazing and have an amazing gift. Also I will be the first to admit some are strange and very random but also very cool! I hope you enjoy them as much I do!

P.S. I finally figured out how to do a slide show so if it's going to fast just push pause and go through at your own pace.

My Decorating style!

SO I found this website http://www.sproost.com/ and you can go a take a test and find out your decorating style and let me tell you it's good=). I even had Chad take it and although we do share one style the others sounded just like him! How would have thought my husbands main decor sytle would be Hollywood elegance or Glam I don't remeber but still!! LOL anyway Check it out it was fun to take=).

Your specific style combines two more general styles:

50% Rustic Revival
50% Modern Elegance

50% Rustic Revival

You can take kid out of the country but you can't take the country out of the kid... or is your theme "you can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid?" Either way you play it, you are one of the unique individuals who loves a mix of modern and country. The clean lines of the modern softened by rustic /vintage elements is the perfect mix in your mind. And can we blame you? You've taken the best aspects of two popular designs and mixed them in a manner that appeals young and old alike. A subtle background of white or light colors provides a nice canvas for all the wonderful flea market, eBay or garage sale finds as well as the classic modern pieces that you love.

Materials
The material palette for urban country runs the gamut because of the two extremes being mixed. On the countryside you see a lot of wood, woven rope, canvas and linen, rustic metals and wrought iron, cowhide and vintage leather. On the more modern side, you see acrylic, satin and polished nickel and chrome, glass, faux fur, refined leather, fiberglass and sleek woods. It's the mixing of these elements that makes the style work so well. Seagrass and other natural woven materials are often used for floor coverings. Concrete and natural wood floors are very popular, and work really well together.

Colors
When it comes to color, think light, casual and airy. White, pale gray or beige, khaki and sage; all of these colors make nice, subtle backdrops for Urban Country style. Think of the colors of natural linen, concrete, and if you'd like to go dark, use the dark brownish-black of iron or the deep burnt orange of rust. The key is to keep the spaces feeling open (go modern!) and yet warm (yay for rustic!), and by going light on the walls and major pieces and more color on the accents and accessories you can achieve this mix really well.



50% Modern Elegance
Variety is the spice of life! And nowhere is this truer than in the design of your home... You either love contemporary but wish it wasn't quite so cold and austere; or perhaps you've always been drawn to more traditional rooms but are now at a point in your life where you'd like to pair down a bit or want to create a less cluttered and busy space. Transitional Style is here to marry those apparent contradicting designs. And guess what — it's the contradictions that make the mix of contemporary and traditional so successful. The result is an elegant room that appeals to young and old alike. A sofa with modern lines blends seamlessly with a pair of traditional chairs. New fabrics work so well on antique pieces. It turns out that modern art looks even more exciting above a collection of traditional pieces. The room feels simple and sophisticated, elegant and hip.

Materials
The material palette for Transitional Style is a wonderful mix as well. Wood tones add warmth to the more modern finishes such as metal and glass. Fabrics are usually neutral and focus more on texture rather than pattern or color. Because you are mixing two very different styles, simplicity is key. Carpets are often Berber in natural tones, though area rugs can bring in color much like a modern piece of art would. Window treatments, when used, are simple in style as well as color and many times you will see natural roman shades or wood blinds used. Satin nickel, chrome and stainless are very popular and can modernize an otherwise traditional space. On the flip side, when the room feels more contemporary vintage golds and wrought iron will tame and add warmth to the space.

Colors
For color think simple. Remember that you have set out to create an eclectic mix of two styles and the best way to avoid making the room overbearing is to stay subtle on the walls and ceiling. Whites and creams are popular and grays, taupe's and tans are darker versions of neutrals that work very well. The simplicity in the color helps keep the space feeling light, airy and fresh. If you'd like to add deeper color choosing one accent wall is a nice way to do so. Or add depth by bringing color in at the accessory level. The best part about colorful accessories is that you can easily reinvent the space by simply changing the throw pillows to highlight your new favorite color.

I updated the background!

If you didn't already notice I updated the background here from the cuties website that I got from a friend and her SUPER cute blog! Thanks Jen!!
I have no idea what I am doing really and am still leaning as I go so forgive me while I try to figure this out and I promise I will figure out how to get a picture on the header=). Also I'm feeling VERY craft and home decor inspired (probably has something to do with buying a house). So I'm sure for a little while you might see some of my projects or my inspirations or even my questions so keep looking I might need your help.
Also I REALLY need to look for a dinning room table so if you find one that isn't to expensive and preferably one that expands let me know, especially if it has chairs. The one we have was my parents when I was growing up and between 11 kids and 2 parents it isn't in the best shape and only 2 chairs made it so we have a table but only 2 chairs which was fine when it was just the two of us or when Kyan was in a high chair but not anymore. Now we have to pull up the computer chair so we can all eat together but pretty soon the computer is going to be upstairs so I'm sure you can see that problem. Well keep your eyes open. and I think I'll be garage selling and thrifting this weekend in hopes of finding one so cross your fingers.=)P.S. Let me know if you want to come!!!

What else we have been up to.

I have taken far longer on the computer today then I really wanted so this will be my last one and I proimse to add pictures from the July 4th weekned but right now I don't have that kind of time =). But here are some cards I made the two that look like little kid cards I helped Alana make I didn't make them myself but she told me I could take a pictue to keep the idea. And I thought I'd show you all a picture of Chad's tattoo it's not finished he has to go back in 2 weeks to get the color added, but I'm not sure he's very excited about it. The other day he told me his arm hurt so bad he wanted to cut it off. Oh well=)! Happy looking!

4 years!!

Our Crazy little angel turned 4 on the 2nd and he had a GREAT day! So I thought I'd post a couple pictures of his birthday this year and his birthday 4 years ago. It was wonderful, happy and still a little bittersweet.

Happy Birthday Kyan! He loved his cake.


This is one of his many Bumblebee from Transformers gifts and he loves it he wore this to bed that night. LOL


I asked him to stop moving so I get a better picture instead he got on the floor and so I took the picture and it took me just a second to figure out what he was doing and laugh. He was transforming.=)


His very first non naked picture.


One very proud Daddy.


My parents!! And very happy Grandparents.=)


Chad parents.


Tiffany and Kyan. She stayed in hospital almost the whole time we were there! Thanks again!


Emily and Kyan. She came to visit several times.


Close up! He was such a cutie and has grown into the handsomest little man.


This one is of me in the ICU (or I guess they call it the CCU now) probably the 3rd or 4th time I held him. I know it's not pretty but luckily the tube down my throat was finally out for this picture.