Blog Action Day - How will climate change affect you?

In honor of Blog Action Day, this post is dedicated to increasing awareness of the effects of climate change. Check out this link for the Top 100 Effects of Global Warming. What got my attention was goodbye to Christmas trees, pinot noir, and lobster dinners! Yikes.  Top 100 Effects of Global Warming

The Evolution of Our First Place

Just thought we'd revisit where we started to appreciate where we are now...

A Fresh Start

We are so excited that the painting on the exterior of our house is complete. We love the new color and couldn't be happier to have given our "first place" a makeover on the outside to match the makeover on the inside. We have been getting great feedback from our neighbors, who also appreciate facelift. Now all we need is some landscaping!

  Side view. Notice the seafoam green paint is gone?!!

  Yes, we still have the building permit sign up on the front window (from the bathroom remodel). That's been on our to-do list for about a month now. We need to call the inspector asap so we can take down that sign.

View from the backyard.

 

We have a little bit of lumber left in the backyard from the ramp. But the yard is lookin better!

 

Let the (outside) Painting Begin!

I know it's been a while since we posted any pictures, so I thought I'd share with you the painting that's going on on the exterior of the house. With the help of the Theta Phi girls from Trenton State College (Mom, Katie, Kathy, Terry & honorary member Gran'ma) we picked out a color: Steely Gray. Thanks t the Man in the Panama Hat doing yardwork in his mother's yard for letting us run up to his house in our pajamas to match paint swatches. 

 Today Ben and Steve are going to plant the Japanese Pear tree and demo the handicap ramp. I think Meg and I are going to head down to the Farmer's Market in Lippitt Park...enjoy the new pics! For those of you who are facebook friends, these will be duplicates. ;-)

It's clear from this first picture that we need matching white curtains in the office on the 2nd floor because the house looks like it's winking.

 

 

"Before and After" Makeover Magic

Thought it was about time for some Before and After shots! Let's take a trip down memory lane...

Before

After!

Before

After!

Before

After!

That was fun! Thanks for looking!

Settling In

We've been in the house for about 3 weeks now. I have to admit it feels like we've been here longer and we felt at home right away. Here are some new pictures we want to share with you...

We love eating out here on the porch - breakfast, lunch, dinner. Unless it's one of those 90 degree high humidity days, it's so nice to be out on the porch.

This cabinet is my favorite "find" so far. It was on clearance at Home Goods - originally $220, and I got it for $74. What a steal. And the best part is that it holds all of my cook books and it hides all of the wires for our modem, telephone, and Air Port wireless router. Love it!

New stove in place and working! We converted from electric to gas. I'm excited to have a fully working kitchen. We are hoping to replace the refrigerator soon, but I think we'll have to wait a bit.

Cabinet doors are back on. They just need a little touching up and then they'll be all set. New dishwasher is up and running too!

Artwork finally on the walls. I know my mom will be happy the pictures of Manasquan beach are finally up. :) As are Ben and I!

Artwork from Home Goods in the downstairs bathroom.

It's beginning to look like an office...

New mirror and sconces from Restoration Hardware. Asbury Collection.

This mirror was $19.99 at Home Goods. We're going to hang it in the foyer. The finish on the mirror matches the light fixture really well. I ran out of hanging supplies and this mirror requires four hooks!

Living Room.

We're not entirely happy with how these couches fit in the living room....and the coffee table is way too big.

Lovely green pillows. (Thanks Mom!)

1st Anniversary Cake

Ok, so I know it's tradition, but honestly - would you eat this cake??? We opened the box, looked at it, and then had to put it in the trash because it smelled so bad. I heard of some wedding venues giving you a gift certificate for a new cake on your 1st anniversary and I think that is a much better tradition. I love cake, but found out I don't like year-old cake!