I've been SOOO bad!

About blogging. Love it. Like to do it. Also like to make it interesting..... and really, just have been working up a storm, traveling like a crazy lady and when I'm home, I sit on my can with my dog and my bf and R-E-L-A-X.




One of these days, I'll have something interesting to write about... but until then, I'll be boring.

But this is not boring.....Our House Tour Crew.

Who is ready for HOLIDAYS?!

Goooo Jackets!

So... the house is done. Well, done enough for now. Your house is really never done, but at least ours is livable and decorated.
I know this blog is devoted to our journey with the house, but now I guess I need to take it another direction with snippets of anything house related along the way.

One reason we purchased this crack house was because of location. Blum and I rented down the street for about 2.5 years and I heart the Short North/Victorian Village area. Everything is around us from excellent restaurants to entertainment. I think I'll share some of my fav places and things to do!

The Arena District is about a mile away from our place. It's Blue Jackets time again. I wouldn't say I'm a crazy fan, but I have to admit, they're getting pretty good and the games aren't just about drinking beer, but you actually want to watch the game. Fair weather fan, sure that can be me :o)


We went to the game Saturday and had a blast. The Nationwide Arena is known for having a great "game" atmosphere and they do lots 'o fun stuff to keep the fans energized. It also helps when we beat the other team 4-1 and see some fights.

Chas has great tickets and took me, Adam and Jace. It was a good time and great seats!


Outside of the fast action and double high fives, my favorite thing is the Burrito Parachutes. Chipotle drops parachutes out of the rafters and you can win a free burrito and a shirt. They play that song "you dropped a bomb on me... baby" and it's just pure fun! I'm such a nerd.

No seriousness here!

We had a blast! It's so fun to be able to actually do something outside of working on the house!

Finter.... or Wall.

Finter is what is happening right now. It's SUPPOSED to be Fall, but it feels more like Winter... hence, Finter. Or Wall.

Perhaps because I just flew back from California and it was 90 degrees and sunny? Those warm budded Californians made me a wimpy Midwesterner!

I heart Fall. Buckeye Football. Perfect running weather. Changing leaves. Scarves. Boots. Warm Apple Cider. Bangs. Yes, bangs (b/c let's be honest, they get too greasy in the summer). The Doggy Park for Jake. And MUMS!

Jake loves him some doggy park! He tries to pull my arm off because he gets soooo excited to meet new friends and sniff new bums!

Wheeler is our park of choice. It's about a half mile away from our abode and it's ultimate fenced in fun.
Can't you see how happy he be? (I felt a little weird taking pics of other dogs... owners may think I'm a little cuckoo.)

I guess it will be true Finter when this stuff arrives.....

Roman Shades by Kaye

I read my other friends' blogs and see how creative they are and how they have an inner seamstress (see Under A Green Roof)... well, I have no inkling of that type of talent. Thus, I turn to Kaye. She made ALL of our window fixtures.

Kaye found this fantastical website called Make Roman Shades.com. You can input your style and your dimensions and wabam! Instant pattern for your roman shades. Why did we pick roman shades you may ask?

Top Three Reasons (according to me)

1) They can let as much or as little light in as you want.

2) They can add to your decor - when down, they look like a fabric panel which gives your walls a little somethin' somethin'

3) If you do them yourselves, you save boo coo amounts of money.

Our main contributors to the house below. My mom and my bf.

Frosted Glass - New Ways to Use It!

I know you're probably getting sick of Tour of Homes photos. But I neglected one other cool aspect of our house that may be a little.... different.
Remember the blue pillars by the staircase? Ugly. Didn't match up with the rest of the drywall. Shotty work. We put Adam's head through one of the pillars...

And ripped all the pillars down to some lovely two by fours.

Then painted some new and improved pillars... now insert frosted glass!

It gives the room an "open" feel and is safe for children or our inebriated friends.

Pretty cost effective and provides a great effect!

Mas Photos!

Upstairs pics.... starting with the hallway with the lovely palm and mirror.

Guest bedroom/office. Those pics are real ones from Europe! And those shades are real ones from the Kaye.

Who wants to come stay?! You actually have a functional bed now.

The master! Duvet cover made by Kaye. The best sheets in the world are from Bed, Bath and Beyond - Pure Beech. Pure AMAZINGNESS.

And then the bath. We had "before" pics sitting out in frames so people could see the nastiness it once was.

I'm not completely done here.... more to come. Have a SUPER DUPER weekend. I will NOT be working on my house :o)

Success with the Tour!

Ah.... we can breathe.

I've never planned a wedding before, but I imagine this could be potentially similar. A year and a half of your life. Working through financials, trying to find ways to be cost effective, but not skimp too much. All for 1 freaking day. Well, this was like a day and a few hours. So yeah. Similar to wadding.

We were #9 out of 11 on the tour.

Are you loving the spilling of the petunias? I didn't know what a petunia was this time last year.

It was a great experience. It wasn't weird for strangers to walk through the house and make comments. It was kind of nice (in a weird way). And we couldn't have done it without Klare, Tong and Zack on Friday as well my mom and dad, Auntie Janice, Cousin Cathy and Moira on Sunday. Also, of course, April and the kids! Thank you.

First floor picks first. Check out these flowers from The North Market Blooms. THEY were BEAUTIFUL. NMB did an amazing job!

You can also see the view of right when you walk into the house.

Glass tile back splash. We received some super nice comments about these. After agonizing over color, April came right over and said "why don't you just go with frosted glass." Genius.

Nick and Adam did the back splash on MONDAY last week.
I have to admit, a little iffy at first on the artwork below. But it grows on me. Don't you love the black buffet? I finally have a place to store all of the stuff that accumulates on the island. Also check out the CUSTOM roman shades. Kaye made them all.

View from the back door.

I'm just getting started. More pics to come this week! Thank you everyone!