Tuesday, December 31, 2013

GOODBYE 2013 - RECAP OF 2013'S GOALS

And this ends my second year blogging! Each year I set goals for myself and it's always fun to look back and see if they were accomplished. Last year's goals included:


1. Finish my first project of 2013 - I did! I successfully added nail trim to our couches... and then removed them 6 months later. I wanted an edgier feel to our sectional, but I really loved that I had the ability to easily remove them too! You can't even tell they were there so I could always add them again later.

2. Keep in mind finishing the house is not a race. I want to take our time scoping and planning out bigger projects like our kitchen/family room combo and basement. These projects definitely don't need to be done this year, but I'd like to finalize a firm plan. I believe this now more than ever! Making a home does not happen over night. It's hard to believe we are 4 months short of owning our house for 2 years already! I can happily say that we did finish the basement and have a firm plan for phase 2 of the kitchen/family room combo.


3. Spend time working on the backyard landscaping. This got a major check mark! I spent a ton of time this spring and summer adding a few flower beds and purchasing flowers for the yard. I can't wait to see everything pop back up this spring!


4. Renovate our downstairs 1/2 bath and kitchen (paint cabinets, new counter tops, new hardware and back splash) The downstairs bath got a fresh paint job, but still has a long way to go. The kitchen got a face lift on the cabinets, new counters, new hardware, new appliances and we installed a sparkly white subway backsplace. I'd say the kitchen is one of my favorite rooms in the house now!

5. Throw a summer BBQ with friends and family. It is a goal to throw a family BBQ this year, but we did throw a few BBQs with friends and a big crab feast in our back yard for my birthday (which is definitely becoming a tradition it was so much fun!)


6. Focus on my relationships. I want to continue to strive to be a better friend, a better daughter/sister/wife/etc. and to continually treat others the way I wish to be treated. I want to focus on the positive and less on the negative. Life is too short to not let the people you care about know how you feel about them. I will say this is something I will continually strive to do each day.

7. Donate my hair. It took me 3 years to grow my hair from my chin to my elbows (roughly), but I'd really like to get the guts to cut it at some point in 2013 and give it to someone who needs it more than I do. I did cut my hair, but it wasn't enough to donate.


8. Cut back on eating meat. I really loved the way being a pescatarian made me feel, but making two separate meals for me and Chris became way too hard while buying a house and planning a wedding. Another goal I am striving for this year. It didn't happen in 2013...

9. Get into a gym routine that is manageable - which may mean paying twice as much for a membership that is closer to home. I did join the gym near our house and close to my office. I am still trying to find a good routine and hoping to start going at lunch. I've been a slacker in 2013...


10. Plan a getaway for Chris and I - maybe another trip to Cabo or our favorite city (Boston) for our 1 year anniversary. Chris planned a weekend getaway for our one year - he took me to New York and it was wonderful!

11. Maybe start working on a baby bucket list. I know we have a few years before we want to start a family, but we probably should start making a list of all of things we would like to accomplish/do before becoming parents (weird!) I was just talking about this last week! We've yet to create one, but it is on my list - especially since we've been talking about our future baby plans. 


12. Plan a fun date activity at least twice a month. Can this be a goal every year? I'd say we've had a fun year full of new memories!

13. Officially become Mrs. Lucas - meaning, change my name! Someone can't remember where they put our marriage license so I should probably start looking in every closet/box/drawer of the house so I can get a jump start before we have to do our taxes! I am now officially Carolyn Lucas!

Now to think of new goals for 2014! I have a feeling it's going to be a busy and fun year!

Friday, December 20, 2013

OUR BASEMENT: BEFORE + SEMI-AFTER

Our basement has been undergoing a renovation for almost 8 months now. We started off fast and furious earlier this year, but then took a long break during the warmer months. It wasn't until a month ago that we started making progress on finishing this project!

We are wrapping up the trim and painting the walls this week, but it's crazy how far we have come! In the past month we have painted all of the walls with drywall primer, painted all of the trim and installed the floors!

Chris and I are still feeling out how we are envisioning the finished spaces, but I'm really enjoying taking our time with it. It will definitely be a space that gets used a lot now and especially when we have kids and I already know lots of football games will be watched down there and lots of work happening in the office! 

Framing out the spaces...



Now our office!


 The front room with the office back and to the right and behind the fish tank is the laundry room/storage.


We made under the stairs into a closet... which is also where our plumbing would be if we wanted to put in a half bath (we opted to not do that)


Lighting and the electrical was done...


Drywall started to go up! Behind the stairs you can see our back room if you look hard enough!




 All of the mudding had been done and mostly sanded...


  
And to help you picture the before and after, here are two photos of the same size (not exactly the same angle), but you get the idea!



We're excited to have more space and I'm pretty excited to be married to this cutie who has become so unbelievably handy!!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

NIKKI + NICK | WINTER MATERNITY SESSION AT PINE VALLEY TREE FARM

There is something so magical about snow falling, but seeing it fall around two people so in love makes it so much more! Nick and Nicola are expecting their first child in February and I couldn't be more honored to take these photos for them. It's clear how in love these two are and I can't wait to meet little Nora Grace!









 




Monday, December 2, 2013

EASY ADVENT CALENDAR



This advent calendar was super easy to make and only took about 30 minutes from start to finish. It's December 2nd - so you still have time to crank this out before it get's too late!

All you need is card stock or thick scrapbook paper (3 sheets is enough), circle hole punch (mine is 2 inch), craft/washi tape and a metallic sharpie.

After cutting out 25 circles, I drew the numbers on the front and wrote a fun activity for Chris and I to do together on the back. I made sure to keep the week night activities simple for us. Once everything was written, I laid the circles on my bulletin board making sure they were in a position I liked then taped them with some cute craft tape I bought at Michaels.

If you are searching for some ideas of activities (sans kids) here are a few I wrote:
Put up our Christmas tree
Make cookies
Deliver cookies to neighbors
Make an ornament for this year
Drive around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights
Go ice skating!
See a Christmas musical (Elf or the Nutcracker are on my list!)
Put up our Christmas lights
Buy, wrap and deliver toys to a local church
Drink hot chocolate with lots of marshmellows
Light a fire and snuggle with wine
Make a spiked apple cider together
Visit 34th Street
Watch a Christmas movie


How cute are these reindeer that were selling at our local Christmas tree farm? They would be so cute on a front porch or next to your fire place!

Check out some photos I took of our friends here. I think I've found my passion of shooting people in love. There's nothing better!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

AMANDA + CHRIS: PINE VALLEY CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

Today was my first photo shoot as the eye behind the lens and boy am I in love with the results! I'm excited to explore this new adventure and know I'll only get better with time. Chris and Amanda are two of our closest friends and when I asked if I could take a few photos of them at a local Christmas tree farm, they were happy to help!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day...













The last one I am still swooning over. Next time we will make sure to capture more of that yummy lighting!