Small Home Adjustments

We've lived in our home for three years now, and just this year, I've finally made some small improvements... but what a large difference it seems to make! 

In the dining room, we finally changed out our nasty brown blinds and got plantation shutters installed. 

Before

After

And addded a bar cart...

In the den area, it looked so brown and had all of Michael's bachelor furniture still in there.  So, in order to lighten it up, I ordered some chairs through Sevier & White Interiors (highly recommend them!).  I think they look wonderful - I just have to keep Winston off of them so they stay that way. 



Also, we constantly struggle with having enough seats in the room - especially when people come over to watch football games.  So, I ordered two custom ottoman stools from Ballard Designs.  Even though they took 8 weeks to get here, I loved being able to pick out my own fabric and send it to Ballard.  Here's the end result:

And they're actually storage cubes too!  What a great place to throw blankets, Winston's toys, magazines, etc. when I want to get them out of the way!

Lastly, my new couch arrived about two weeks ago - I haven't taken pictures yet, so those will be on my next post.  This room finally feels like it's coming together.

Birthday Month - one month belated

I'm not as quick on the uptake as I like to think I am.  Oops...  Finally, here are some pictures from the month of August, aka Birthday Month.

Michael's 33rd Birthday
 

 Presents

Carrot Cake from Sweet N Sassy - even I thought it was delish and I don't really like carrot cake

Michael opening his gifts - I got him the Bose Docking Station for his iPod (or iPhone, whatever) and he loves it!  it is pretty awesome if I do say so myself.  We've really enjoyed sitting on our back deck, listening to music, sipping some vino.

Winston trying to get to the birthday cake - I couldn't resist taking his picture even though he's not supposed to be up on the chairs (perhaps I shouldn't give him attention when he's doing something he's not supposed to do?)

My 30th Birthday - yuck

I still do not like the fact that I'm 30.  I'm fighting it tooth and nail.  I know everyone says your 30's are supposed to be great - I'm just not on that bandwagon yet.  Hence, the reason I've waited so long to post the pictures. 

 

 My team decorated my office at work

My team also gave me a birthday tiara - appropriate, yes?

Birthday Party 

Michael had the party catered by Pranza, the little italian cafe in his building

 

E cookies for party favors

 

Lindsey, me, Megan, Caroline, Kim and Lindsey

Erin and me - not the best pic but I wanted to give her a shout out

Michael, me, Sarah and Price

Michael and me

Chillin' at the end of the evening with a glass of bubbly (we finally popped the bottle of Veuve Cliquot Michael received when he made partner)

Like the new chairs?  I have more pics of my new furniture - separate post since this one is already getting long.

Michael's present to me.  It's HUGE - this does not do it justice.  Michael's friend Herb Williams is a curator for one of the local galleries.  He painted this.  I fell in love with the guitars last summer - it's just so Nashville.

Last subject... Towbin was in town at the beginning of August, so we postponed our regularly schedule first Tuesday of the month dinner to the following Saturday.  We headed out to Crow's Nest.  Not nearly as exciting as the girls get-togethers we once had, but fun none the less.



Michael, me, Lindsey, Annie, Megan, Kate, Towbin and Jonathon

(poor Michael - not one of his best photos)

We took this picture right before Caroline got there.  Tobwin complained because she said no one was hugging her, so we took this picture...

Then we took one more when Caroline and Kyle arrived

That's all for now.  :)