World According to Shia

Pics from housetohome Americans are all about big kitchens, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops, but why? Could we embrace the European take on kitchens and still function?  Granted, I am with you 100% on the size of the refrigerator but honestly ... do we need tons of cabinets and an abundance of countertops?  I'm all about my home being mine ~ my style and my likes ~ I could totally see Paul and I taking a nontraditional take on a kitchen.  I honestly don't even like granite ... I know GASP!   As along as the kitchen is functional, chic is totally acceptable in my book ... what do you think?

French? fromhousetohome.co.uk Country Cottage? fromhousetohome.co.uk Modern with hints of Traditional style? fromhousetohome.co.uk Minimalistic? fromhousetohome.co.uk Rustic? fromhousetohome.co.uk Hotel Chic? fromhousetohome.co.uk Modern? fromhousetohome.co.uk I lean towards Country Cottage but that Hotel Chic catches my eye too.  But if I had to choose...COUNTRY COTTAGE!! Which one do you choose?

I absolutely love this white/cream/tan furniture with the yellow and black/blue accents.  This bedroom is described as "country bedroom" on this website .  Even though this style is called country...I love it!  I think I just have to free myself of what I think when I hear the word country...country doesn't necessarily mean cracker...I mean this bedroom idea is from a UK website.  Last time I checked...they don't have crackers there.  (anyways they call them biscuits...lol...good one Shia) Also, I love cabinets that look like these.... Shaker Style I really love white shaker kitchen cabinets however the white can make them look a little builder grade so when Paul and I build our house...we will have shaker but they will be a darker color.

Do you think I could convince Paul that we should decorate our future screened in patio like this? http://www.housetohome.co.uk/ I just love everything about this!  I really like the purples and greens!

So we have this horrible light fixture in our dining room (which we are replacing) but last night Paul pointed this out and I just had to share... has to be the funniest shadow EVER!!!

So last year a neighbor dug up her backyard to plant some horrible trees....well now they have bloomed .... and look beautiful...my only suggestions are... 1) lose the price tag...they have been out there  for like a year there is no returning them 2) get rid of that scraggly stuff in between the trees

So here comes the rain?  When walking back from lunch/library visit I noticed that it's starting to look like rain is finally on it's way. I get back to my desk and Zach (an attorney I work with)  emailed me and said that a bad storm is brewing and I  should go home before it hits.  So I left work around 3:30. So I get home from work and see this.... NOOOOO!!  Hold on little one...RAIN IS COMING!!! New bud on it's way =) The Mighty Ducks are back!! Saltines = Duckies come running! More Saltines = Duckies feel safe enough to get inches away. Some have a few cracker crumbs on their backs to enjoy later =)           One mama and two males...what happened to the  other mama duck and her two lil ducklings?

So we have this beautiful tree in our front yard... and on Monday when I was walking out to my car I saw this... then Tuesday morning I saw this... Beautiful!  I love this tree! this one sprang up too...I missed it's before picture.

So since time is getting shorter and shorter to when Paul and I want to move.  We have been trying to narrow down our dream home plans.  Basically, Paul has drawn out how we want the inside of the house to lay out but as for the outside we have finally narrowed it down.   Beauxville I absolutely love this house.  I love everything about it.   The color, the clapboard, the decorative windows... everything EXCEPT it is missing the "swoop".  I know what  you are saying...what the heck is the "swoop"......... Kellswater See how this one has a slight curve to the roof line.   I absolutely love that so Paul and I are going to see if the architect can  add some swoop to the Beauxville and make it the perfect  Paul & Shia house.  (I can't see why he couldn't they're both his designs). There has been some talk of not doing the clapboard and going all stone.   I am rooting for the clapboard but I do love...

(not necessarily in this order but it all will be done)  Blog related: Refresh running list of blogs to do  Organize blog topics  Before and After pics of downstairs closet  Pics of my walk-in closet to show how it's looking now  Recreational: Going to Gainesville to see Marissa, Leah & Nicole and Kaelyn & Debra  Walking at the beach  Organization: Downstairs closet - wait until you see this transformation --- you will all be wanting to hire me to organize your lives  shoes---throwing away worn out and organizing what I got (part of the downstairs closet makeover)

My closet went from embarrassing to amazing but I felt like it needed just a tad more help.... Still a mess waiting to move itself onto the floor.. I found these at Target.  2 Fabric Drawers on sale for 10.99 (reg price 12.99) There weren't many colors to choose from and no black (unless you bought them individually for 5.99) These navy were cheaper so ahem...of course I went with these. Here's the drawer And...here's the improvement!  The stuff in the middle (workout clothes) will hopefully remain nicely folded...did you just laugh because I did.  I'm hoping that these two cubes will be okay because the drawers are too small to fit all these clothes.  So here's hoping ... also maybe I don't need 8 million pairs of workout pants....I know exactly what I was thinking too...get rid of some of it!! I actually went to Target in search for these magazine holders currently on sale for $2.50.   I bought a couple, one for bridal ...

So my closet has always gone from neat and tidy to nightmare over time.  The main issues were I had too much stuff I was never going to wear or use again in there, stuff just didn't have a proper place and constantly just wound up on the floor and there was just wasted space. Before.... Sad sad SAD sight... I know hence the fix! This shoe storage was absolutely wasted space and effort.   My shoes wind up downstairs where I put them on and take  them off so this is going to the down stairs closet. The space between these two storage compartments just screamed... stuff unwanted things here.  Which is where all my "winter" clothes wound up. Purses...really?   There are some that I wouldn't carry again if my life depended on it.   So guess what...I'm getting rid of them.   More bags...a tote full of totes... Old jeans and stuff.   I took all these pants down and eliminated the ones that  I'll ne...