Top Chef Is BACK!

This is my all time favorite show! Holla if you hear me?! After we finish house things, I'm totally going to focus on my next hobby, watching Top Chef! Jk... well, not really. But I'm determined to learn my way around the kitchen.

Adam did say "now that you have all of these great appliances in the kitchen, will you use them?" YES. I. WILL. :) Do I know what ceviche means? No. Do I eat meat? Not really. Did I have to call my mom to ask how to boil eggs? You betcha. I can still learn how to cook, right?

Backyard...again

I found this one a little too late.... but this is a good before shot from the patio/courtyard.... see last post. We had ladies happy hour last night outside on the newish patio. It was such a blast, we all brought a bottle of vino and an app and caught up on life. I think the highlight from a food perspective was Klare's basil parmesean dip with homemade pita chips and Abbey's granny sandwiches. (I'll get the recipes and post them!).

Mark your calendars! Victorian Village Tour of Homes - September 20th! I think it hit me this week when Adam brought home the Columbus Monthly and there we were, in print. AND then I was stopped in the bathroom at work by our VP of Communications who said she saw our bio in Columbus Monthly as well. AND then, I checked out the website.

It's right around the corner and we have some work to do! Kaye and I are headed to Ikea this weekend fo sho!

When I say summer, you say patio!

Summer!

Patio!

Summer!

Patio!

What we've been looking forward to more than ever is having people over and utilizing our courtyard/patio area out back to entertain. When we bought the joint, it had a lovely paver patio (weeds included), a pond (or potential hot tub) and a beautiful flowering tree. Once again, inspired by Andy and April, we decided we should rip out the pavers (which were uneven anywho) and lay a nice smooth block of concrete. In the spirit of entertaining, the concrete would be easier to maintain and more level for furniture.

Here are some before pics.... isn't it kind of an "I Spy" type experience? I spy the boarded up window. I also spy the decrepit old AC unit (with a sweet new one installed).

We decided to save on some labor costs and pull up the pavers ourselves (thank you Nick and Abbey starting that party!). Little did we know that there were 2 patios underneath! Top Layer - Layer 1 - pavers. Layer 2 - more pavers. Layer 3 (we assume the original layer) - concrete slab & bricks. What a workout! And a pain.

After digging 14 inches down, we poured gravel. And by pouring, I mean Adam wheeled the gravel from the driveway into the back yard.

Then Adam built a wall with some of the existing stone to make sure we do include some greenery in the back.

Impressed with him yet? I am.

Then some concrete was poured.... and yes, it has a red tint. It may look different, strange, what have you... but we love it. I spy a wooden road runner (see YouTube post, it's an Earl Frederick original). I also spy a fire pit. Give a man some fire and his Friday night is complete. (Thank you Mark and Kaye).

Word to the wise - wait until the end of the season to buy patio furniture. Half off at Lowes!!!

Check the grill, it's beautiful and a wonderful house warming present from Debbie and Randy! With a grill set from Grandma and Grandpa. Thank you, thank you!

Adam, the lighting guru, also put lights into the ground. Who does that? It's pretty genius and looks sweet in the evening.

Old light fixture. It's not so bad... but it's kind of old and moldy.

Had to do something new!

Come party on our patio anytime! We're ready for ya!