Moving Around

I changed the living room around after Christmas, these pictures are for Nenna, but they aren't very good, the sun was too bright and cast a lot of shadows in the afternoon. I will try to take evening pics soon Nenna.  Here is a photo of how the living room looked at Christmas. If you remember the sofa was facing the tv/fireplace, but it wasn't a very good set up for when people came over and you wanted to sit and chat.

 I moved the sofa to the right side of the room, and the wicker chairs to the left, leaving an opening so the room looks more spacious. We can still see the tv, but I think it's a better layout for when people come over. Now I just need to get rid of the grooves in the carpet from where the sofa and chairs used to be... they drive me crazy!!

 And I wanted to take a picture of the lovely blue sky we had that day (which we have nearly every day, I might add). Can you see we got snow! Got more last night too and we've got about 4" outside this morning.

 

Kristen and I got our hair cut last weekend. I forgot to take a picture when we got home and we've since had it washed of course, but here is Kristen. She got layers in her hair, finally, but it's hard to see here. Her first layer is just under her chin. She really likes it. I got mine cut, colored and highlighted. Will have to try and take a pic, next time I wash it ;-)

 terrible lighting, she's not really that pale!!!!!

 

Making a start...

I KNOW!!! I haven't blogged since Christmas day!! There's really not that much been going on since then so not much to catch you up with. Kristen was feeling much better by Boxing day, managed to eat a little toast and some other things during the day but was still tired. She's 100% again now thankfully. No one else got the bug but I did start getting a sore throat on New Years Eve and a stuffy head and nose. I forced myself to go out to our neighbors for their party (I really felt like just going to bed) but I took a headache pill and my head felt better, I just sounded hoarse. I managed to stay til after midnight too with Jason and Kristen. Didn't take any photos though!

I also skyped for the first time on New Years Eve with my family in England, it was awesome. I was on there for over an hour with them, and even though we lost connection right at midnight! we got it back again and I sang Auld Langs Syne with them and watched them play their traditional Sidney the Spider game!! (don't ask!).

Anyway, here we are already nearly the middle of January. I am super excited because my sister has booked her flight to come over and see us in June :-) I think she's probably even more excited than me. I am starting to get the house organized (something I would still be doing if she wasn't coming) so I thought I'd share some before and afters as I go from room to room. That will give me something to blog about right :)

Yesterday we went to Kirklands and bought some things. Thank you MAM for the $$$ which I used in Kirklands. I forgot to take a picture of the office shelves before I cleared them (and the photos aren't very good, I was using my phone. It usually takes good pics, but I was rushing and they are a little blurry. I'll take better ones another time, when we get the desks cleared. 

As you come in the front door, the office is on your left. It has double french doors and built in book shelves. The windows face the front of the house. Here are the shelves I cleared ready to try and dress up with some Kirkland goodies. 

 The sofa is the one we had in our game room upstairs in Texas, it's from Ikea. We had it downstairs here until a few weeks ago when we bought a large leather sectional for the basement (I'll show you that another time).

 And here are the shelves all looking pretty! But you can see I have some packing boxes full of books on the top shelf and my photo albums. Jason will take them down soon then I'll have to add more decor to finish it off.

 I bought the pretty pillows from Kirklands too. The flowered ones are embroidered and have jewels on them. They looked similar to the ones I've coveted from Pottery Barn for months,but are half the price :-)

 A close up of the left side of the shelves. Photo at the top left needs a picture of us in it. I also want to get some ribbon and try to make a bow for the top of it (like I see in Kristen's Etsy shop). If it doesn't turn out well, I'll have to buy one of Kristen's cos they are really pretty.

 So, this is the view when you're sitting on the sofa. You face our ikea computer desks where Kristen and I do school work each day. This is still the messy part of the room and needs a good declutter.

 I still need to add pictures to the wall (above the sofa) and I'm debating on getting some valances for the windows. Right now they have wooden blinds which are nice but I always feel a room is unfinished if they don't have a curtain of some kind on them!!

And lastly, for Nenna, here's a picture I took of Kristen wearing her lovely wolf t-shirt you sent. She LOVES it.