Another Look - Living Room Progress

Slowly this house is coming together. A lot slower than we had hoped, but as my post on Monday indicated, we are also taking in some time to soak in our beautiful new surroundings. No use keeping ourselves locked in the house all of the time when we are living in such a gorgeous part of the country. Thankfully, Halle has finally decided that she will nap in her crib on her own (usually for 1 hour plus!), so it gives me the time that I need to accomplish things. Recently, I've been trying to focus my energy on unpacking the boxes in the living room and getting things into the shelves of our new HEMNES media centre. Here's where we are now...

Since I last posted, I've managed to more or less keep that stupid black chair from migrating closer to the couch, unpacked most of the books and accessories from the boxes in the corner and pull out our throw cushions and blankets. They've all added a bit more colour and helped to make the room feel more like home... but we're a long way from finished. 

I need to go through our boxes and boxes of art and decide if there is anything we like that will work in this room to the right of our entertainment area. I also have something like this picture below in the back of my mind (I'm always looking for ways to incorporate a map or maps into our home).

{hudson interiors via desire to inspire}

We also need to decide what to do with the receiver that B has so kindly placed in one of the shelves over the television. Suggestions?

The shelves will also need some tweaking. For the time being I was just too focused on clearing out boxes, so I've done what I can with them for now. A few more books and a ton of magazines still to come out. I'll figure it all out in time. I'm just glad that we purchased one side of the unit with glass doors - it will keep small fingers from getting at things that they shouldn't be touching!

Things we still need to purchase? Definitely a never cover for the black chair. We could go beige, but I've seen someone around here selling a brand new blue and white striped cover (thin stripes) for the chair on craigslist. They are asking a decent price but something is keeping me from pulling the trigger. We also need an area rug, which is the next big purchase on our list. We've been to both the HomeSense stores near by, as well as Home Depot, the Urban Barn outlet... and any other place we pass that may sell rugs. We just haven't found anything we love yet. Where do you usually shop for area rugs (and have success)?. 

In an ideal world I would love to get a nice sofa table behind our couch as well... but that's kind of a low priority at the moment. 

That last photo also gives you a small glimpse of some of the baby proofing we've been having to do. Outlets are covered, and those black strips in front of the fire place our foam strips. Halle has taken to climbing on everything, so hopefully these will protect her little melon from those sharp edges. 

So there you have it - a small glimpse at what the new place is shaping up to be so far! Halle's room should be the next space you get a look at. It's the other room I've been focusing my energy on - we just need to get some stuff up on the walls next. Our room... well, it's basically a king bed (without a headboard... or bedskirt on yet), and an area rug that we found at HomeSense. Still on the hunt for the right dresser... so it's still loaded with boxes and suitcases. We'll see what we can accomplish over the weekend though! 

The momentum is here though - so more updates next week! 

Nursery Week - That's What Daddy's Are For!

This is the project that I have been dying to share with you all week long... so of course I had to save the best for last! 


One thing we have received a lot of are books for our little girl. As a book lover myself I couldn't be any happier about this. What better to share with your little one than the joy of reading? Not only did we receive a TON of fabulous books from B's parents back at Christmas when we announced we were expecting, but my Mom also had attendees at my shower bring their favourite children's book... needless to say we have a ton of books and no place to store them. Enter my beyond talented Father. 


After my Mom told me he'd like to make something for our little girl, I produced this photo and asked if he could make something similar for the nursery...

Good ol' Martha Stewart! That woman knows exactly what's going on - doesn't she? Anyway, my Dad saw the picture and we talked it out, took some measurements and he got to work on the shelving. He even dropped by one night to borrow my scroll saw...

He decided that rather than building one piece like in the photo, it would be best to build four separate shelves that we could space and hang as we wished. He also added two dowels to each shelf to allow us to place both larger and smaller books on the shelves. When I arrived at their home this past Saturday I saw our beautifully finished shelves and couldn't wait to get them home. On Sunday, we did just that and B and my Dad were busy priming (Yes, that's right... they spent Father's Day priming Peanut's book shelves... aren't they just wonderful?). 

Last night, while I cleaned up the kitchen from dinner, B was outside spraying the shelves with white melamine paint. We decided to use melamine paint, since we knew that it would hold up best on shelves that would get a ton of use...

After letting them dry, B got them up on the peanut's wall late last night. We knew the perfect spot for them would be in the little nook behind her bedroom door. Yes, we went with white once again. We had briefly flirted with the thought of painting them the same turquoise as the dresser, until B pointed out white would be best so that the books would pop more, rather than the shelves. What a smart man my B is, huh?

Here they are looking all pretty on Peanut's wall early this morning...

There are only a few books on the one shelf, because we want to let them cure completely before we start loading them up. I just wanted to add a few to demonstrate how they will look. Once we tested out the books, B also brought up that we may want to drop them a little more to make it easier to get books in and out - especially the larger books in the back.  We'll have to think about that one.

Also - did you notice that B's painting found a home over her bookshelves? I am so glad it finally found the perfect home in her nursery. 

Overall, I think these bookshelves are fantastic and even better than what I had originally imagined! It really just reminds me how great Dad's are. Our Peanut is pretty lucky to not only have B has her Dad, but to have some really great grandpa's waiting for her arrival as well. 

If you're looking for some custom pieces my Dad is for hire (for real). You can email him directly for custom cabinetry and other projects. You can also email me if you have any questions about his work.

100 Reads in 1001 Days - 11 - 20

So I've finally finished 20 books. If you missed what I read for 1 - 10 (way back when!), you can find them here. I figured now was as good a time as any to share them with you as B and I enjoy this holiday Monday!  

I realized that one mistake I made in my first entry, was that aside from making my little collage of book covers, I didn't include an actual list of the books! I shouldn't assume that just because the book covers are there, that the titles (and authors) are easy to read. DUH! So, I present to you, numbers 11 through 20!

11: Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
12: The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton
13: Half Broke Horses - Jeanette Walls
14: Prisoner of Tehran - Marina Nemat
15: Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger
16: The Postmistress - Sarah Blake
17: The Book of Awesome - Neil Pasricha
18: Left Neglected - Lisa Genova
19: The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
20: Room - Emma Donoghue

These 10 took me a little longer than necessary. After I read "The Forgotten Garden", I just kind of stopped reading for a little while. I picked up a few books that didn't really strick my interest and it all just slowed down for a while. Then, after reading "The Book of Awesome", I hit the same kind of brick wall. Picked up a few that just didn't do it for me (plus was pretty busy with other things), and finally picked up Lisa Genova's newest book. Totally got me back on track!

As for my top 3 this time around...

#1: Without a doubt had to be Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat. Marina is a survior of Evin prison, located in Tehran, Iran. She was held there as a political prisoner at 16, and endured an incredible amount. Her account of her young life absolutely blew me away, and at times it was easy to forget that I was reading a true story. The book has an undertone of hope and bravery, and is seriously inspiring on so many levels. It's eye opening and I believe a must read for everyone! There's a follow up book called After Tehran (she now lives in Canada!), and I am dying to read it!

#2: Left Neglected probably would've been #1 if not for the true life story of Marina Nemat that had me turning pages constantly. Lisa Genova is quickly climbing to the top of my favorite authors list. This book is based on a wife and mother, who works in a high power job, and suffers a traumatic brain injury. Just like Still Alice, I found myself unable to put this book down. Genova has a way of pulling you into the story and the character's struggles, that when you put the book down those emotions you felt when reading stick with you, as if you yourself were facing the same struggles. An incredible, incredible book that I highly recommend (especially if you loved Still Alice). Her next book (according to her website) is not to hit stores until 2013... what will I do with myself until then?

#3: The Book of Awesome was... well AWESOME! I recommend this read to everyone, because it will make you feel completely Awesome. Neil Pasricha is hilarious, and I love the simple conversational style of writing... I feel like I'm listening to my brother or B speak when I read. I actually found myself trying to hold in a gut-busting laugh on the subway when reading about how awesome it is to nail the parallel park on the first try, and his description of how it feels to attempt the parallel park. We all know what it's like, and when someone is able to describe it in such a way that makes it real, it just becomes funny.

Honourable Mention: Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger was... well, interesting. It was one of those books that I loved, but remained relatively detached from the characters. I never felt that connection, or realness about them, that I often get when I truly love a book. Near the end I found the book turned rather dark (then again, it is set around Highgate Cemetary in London), but I suppose The Time Travellers Wife was a little dark in it's own way as well. It was definitely different, and I think worth the read!

With this batch I also discovered a love of Kate Morton's books! Don't be surprised to find more of her work in my next ten books! I absolutely adore her characters and she is such a brilliant writer! If you haven't picked up one of her book before, I urge you to go and do so now. You won't regret it!

What have you been reading and loving recently!? With 80 more books to read to hit my goal, I'm open to any and all recommendations!

100 Reads in 1001 Days: 1 - 10

I am a huge reader. Once I pick up a good book and start reading I just can't put it down. Often, the speed at which I read absolutely shocks B... and then scares him as I have a habit of going out and buying new books A LOT!

I find reading to be relaxing, and a way to escape to times and places I can otherwise not visit. It's also a way to learn and open your eyes to things that you may have otherwise been blind to in the past. So what am I getting to?

Back in March, I was inspired by Brittany to start my own 101 in 1001 list. Though I have not shared the list publicly with you, I will say that one thing on my list that I am working towards is reading 100 books I have never read before in those 1001 days. I thought that as I progress towards that 100, I would share with you in one way or another the books that am I reading... so, as I am currently in the process of reading book #15, I thought I would share a brief montage of the first 10 books I read.

I figured rather than writing a review on each individual book (which could make for a rather lengthy entry), I thought I would share what my top 3 were out of these 10 and why, along with any significant points on any of the books.

#1: My favorite read had to be "Still Alice". This book kept me turning pages, and even though it broke my heart, and scared me in a way only a book like this can, I absolutely loved it. The writing was incredibly and the story was touching. I would recommend this to anyone who has not yet picked up this book.

#2: The Kite Runner is an incredible book about love, family and friendship. I don't even think I could do this book justice with words. If you haven't read it (which I gather most have) I recommend picking it up!

#3: Secret Daughter had a great story line and I love how the story is told from two different perspectives. The juxtaposition of the lives of the two characters is what brings the whole thing to life. It really was a bittersweet story.

I loved each and every one of these books in their own way, and I'm so glad these were the first 10 that I picked up. Though I enjoyed the book "One Day", I had thought that I would love it more. It was frustrating (for the choices the characters make) but a great read! I also read recently (while compiling my little montage up there), that a movie will be made of this book... starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess (who I've loved since "Across the Universe"). I'm actually looking forward to see how they do bringing this book to the big screen!

What have you been reading recently? Any recommendations? Have you read any of the books above? Would love to know what my fellow book worms think of them!

Keep an eye out for my next ten... with the way that I read, I'll be sharing them with you in no time!