CHECKERBOARD TILE UPDATE

Master Bath

So...when the tile went in last weekend, I raved about how much I loved it. It looked perfect with the paint colors! It was unique! It was fun and classy at the same time! 

.

In response, Andrew only rolled his eyes. 

Master Bath View II

If you remember, after purchasing said tile, I threw a melodramatic fit of remorse over installing it in both bathrooms AND the laundry room. What was I thinking?!!

.

And I placed the entirety of the blame on Andrew. 

Guest Bath

Of course, my first post was exaggerated slightly for comic effect. But I was worried and I did breathe a huge sigh of relief when I watched the floors go in and I LOVED THEM. 

.

(And Andrew did gloat that he was right and I had been overreacting.) 

Laundry/Mud Room

We will be building black concrete counter tops to go over the vanities in each of these rooms, which I think will help tie everything together nicely. 

Mud Room Bench

Have I mentioned that I love this tile? 

.

(Andrew, you better not be rolling your eyes again.)

Laundry/Mud Room

Just ignore the mud. I guess the construction process and clean, shiny tile don't go together. 

.

We only need to finish grouting and installing baseboards in these rooms The end seems to be in sight on this never-ending house building project!

HAPPY EASTER

Wishing you all a happy Easter Sunday.

.

And a Happy SPRING BREAK! Hopefully I can get that tanning in I was planning on three days ago when it was 60 degrees. What do you think?

P.S. Thanks Mom, for the tulips. They're lovely. 

MASTER BEDROOM WOOD CEILING {DIY}

I want to share step-by-step how we built the beautiful wood coffered ceiling in the master bedroom. It completely transforms this room.

Here is the master bedroom many moons ago. Our coffered ceiling started with simple drywall. 

1.) Andrew first took 2x4's and created a grid pattern. 

2.) Next, he took four-quarter knotty alder and nailed it over top of the 2x4's in the same grid pattern. 

3.) Then using quarter-inch alder, he filled in all of the grids.

4.) To give it a finished look, Andrew wrapped each grid in crown. 

5.) Then he used a maple-to-alder spray stain and a coat of lacquer. 

6.) Next, he used a water-based rusty old glaze that was wiped on and off. This is what caused the knots and grain patterns to pop.

7.) After letting it dry for 30 minutes, it was lacquered one more time.  

It was gorgeous, but it looked shockingly stark against the white walls. I was anxious to get everything taped and painted. If you notice, we painted the walls AND inside the coffer itself with the SW Pussywillow color. 

Here it is with the tape and plastic removed (and on the floor). It all looks more complete and gradual this way. 

Second perspective. 

And finally, here it is finished with the ceiling fan in the center and the can lights installed along the outside edges of the coffer. This room is just waiting for carpet and vent covers!

I am linking up here: and here:

HOUSE: OUTDATED UPDATE {paint and cabinets}

Front room: painted.

Front room: second perspective.

Laundry Room: cabinets.

Great Room: entertainment center built-ins and paint.

Master Bath: cabinets and paint.

Great Room: view of entry way and dining area paint colors from the kitchen.

These pictures are about a month old. Many updated details to share in the near future! I'm saving the kitchen and master bedroom for their own posts. Check back!

P.S. This post will give more of the nitty gritty on all our paint color decisions.

MARSHMALLOW FONDANT CAKE DECORATING

For mutual this week, the older girls in our youth group got together to decorate miniature cakes. I've never used fondant before, so it was fun to learn about. It was easy too! Marshmallows, powdered sugar, and Crisco. 

Megan Plaisted was awesome enough to host the event. It blew my mind she actually has a fondant cricut! Am I the only one who didn't know such a thing existed? 




The only problem was, it was too pretty to eat afterward. I admired it for 3-4 days before working up the nerve to cut into it. The edible glitter was my favorite. I finally justified ruining my masterpiece by pulling out the ol' camera to document it first. 

If it didn't involve eating an exorbitant amount of sugar (very little self control here when it comes to sugar), cake decorating is a hobby I could totally get into. 

SLOTH LOVE

Source: hautemamasfaves.tumblr.com via Holly on Pinterest

I saw this on Yahoo awhile ago and have been saving it for a special day to share. Today is that day, you lucky blogger friends, you! I hope you leave a little happier now then when you arrived. 

The first time I saw it, I laughed like CRAZY. Then I immediately watched it again and laughed just as hard. 

Apparently, Kristen Bell has a serious sloth obsession...and  some serious emotional issues too. Mix them together and you get something you just have to see for yourself to believe. 

Just click the image to watch.

MARCHING ON

Sup? 

My current free time is spent as a regular house paintin' gangsta. I was horrified recently to find my first patch of gray hairs as I was getting ready for work. Seriously? Already?!

Then I noticed those gray hairs of mine looked suspiciously similar to Sherwin William's pussywillow gray... 

.

Hence the bandanna. No gray hairs for me, thank you.

Hello handsome husband of mine. 

Andrew's boss took him snowboarding under sunny skies. I bet you can't find where the gap was between his goggles and his beanie. I made fun of the resulting sunburn all week. And it was a lot brighter in person.




Andrew returned from the mountain with a fever and chills. He was out of commission for several days afterward. 

My hard workin' man can't stand being home all day alone doing nothing. I got home on day 2 to find he had found packed away Easter accessories and lined them up in the living room. After questioning him, he responded simply: 

"I decorated."

We sat in awkward silence for a moment before he said with utter sincerity: 

"Rachel, if I have to stay home for another day, I'll die." 

He was so serious, I had to laugh.




I feel kind of bad for Winter this year. All efforts to really get going just...fell flat.  I never even had a chance to get sick and tired of snow and wind and below freezing temperatures. Instead, it felt like one really long spring. 

Global warming is the bomb.

My excitement for spring may have been dampened, but nothing can ruin the joy of longer days with  more hours of sunlight. When the alarm goes off, it doesn't feel like I'm getting up in the middle of night, no headlights are needed to get to work, and I actually have some day left when I get home in the evening. Glory Alleluia!