More house pictures

So I thought I'd post some pictures of our kitchen. We totally gutted the kitchen about a year ago and it took a few months to finish it, since we did almost all the work ourselves.

Here's what it looked like when we bought the house 1 1/2 years ago.

It was under construction for most of the summer last year. It was rather nightmarish because Avery was born in May and until September I had to cook in a little temporary kitchen we made in another room. But I survived and it was totally worth it!!

Under construction...

Finally finished!!

Hubs tore down the old kitchen tiles and installed drywall. He also installed the ceramic tile on the floor. My uncle made the maple cabinets for us and Hubs made the countertops, which are Meganite solid surface (similar to Corian). The sink is an undermount stainless steel from FrankUSA. The lights are from Lowes, and the window coverings are from Pottery Barn and Linens-N-Things. I love the window seat with full-extension drawers, which I use for my pots and pans. I painted the walls Boston Brick and the trim Informal Ivory, both colors from Behr. Hubs also installed new windows and rewired all the electric. Hopefully we'll get new appliances in the next few years. One room down, 10 more to go! :)

Hallway/Foyer

I thought it'd be fun to share pics of some rooms in my house. I love looking inside other people homes and getting ideas for my own. Here are some pics of the hallway/foyer. When we bought the house 1 1/2 years ago, there was a wall closing off the side of the staircase and the front of the hallway. The previous owners used it as a pantry, but we think it looks so much better this way!

The table used to be stained brown and I recently painted it white and distressed it a bit.

My baby turns one!

Wow - It's been a year since hubs and I came home from the hospital with a brand new 6 1/2 lb. baby! We were so clueless!! How do we strap her into the carseat? How do we give her a bath? How often should we feed her? What kind of diaper should we use? What if she doesn't stop crying! So many questions and lots of anxious moments, but we survived so far!

The first few months were really hard to deal with - lots of adjustments, especially after being married for 7 years with no children and feeling very independent. But every day got easier, and Avery has been truly a blessing and the best gift God could give us. She is a very cuddly and sweet girl and I love feeling needed by her. I'm still awestruck that I have the privilege of being her mommy!

We had a birthday party today for her with both sets of Grandparents and my brother & sister. She had such a fun time opening her gifts and smashing cake in her face!

Busy, Busy, Busy

So I have had a long day digging, planting, watering and all that good stuff. Last week we tore out all of our old, tired, 50 year old shrubs and now it's time to put in new stuff! I'm actually very excited about it, although it is a ton of work!

So far I've planted...
-Delphinium (my favorite f lower)
-Peony (my 2nd fav)
-Butterfly Bush
-Holly Hocks
-Shasta Daisy
-Speedwell
-Clamatis Vine
-Iris
-Petunias
-Impatiens
-Geraniums
-Alysum
...and a few more that I can't remember! Now we need to do the mulching and we'll be almost done. I still want to get some hydrangea bushes and a flowering cherry tree. Gardening is so rewarding for me - I just love seeing everything bloom and grow!

Target carries wedding dresses

Who knew? Target unveiled their new line of wedding dresses, designed by Isaac Mizrahi. Check them out: Target Wedding Dress Line

There's also a video you can watch of Isaac showing off his collection. They are actually really pretty, simple dresses. I think they'd be great for an informal wedding, second wedding, or for someone who is just trying to save money and doesn't mind not have the "bridal shop" experience. Although it's difficult to tell what the quality is like by looking at pictures online and you would most likely need to get the gown altered by a tailor.

I have a total weakness for Target - I go in with a list and come out with twice as much stuff as I meant to get! Especially love the home decor accessories. I'm trying to stay away from that store as much as possible but sometimes a girl's gotta get her fix!

Mariposa Azul Spa

I recently met with the ladies at Mariposa Azul Spa and saw their new facility on Main Street in Manheim. It is a very peaceful, relaxing spot! They specialize in pampering bridal parties by offering a variety of spa services, as well as a catered lunch/dinner from a nearby restaurant. If you are looking for a relaxing place to hang out with your bridal party and be pampered while getting ready for the big day, this is it!

Favors

I received info from My Wedding Labels.com and thought they had some great personalized favor ideas. Check out the website for more details!

Bridesmaid Dresses

J. Crew has some really cute bridesmaid dresses right now. Check them out at www.jcrew.com

Pink table

I bought this cute little table at a yard sale last week for $3 and just finished painting it pink and distressed it a bit. Cute, huh? Into the guest room it goes!

Inspired!

I was fortunate to be able to attend a meeting with other wedding planners through the Association of Bridal Consultants. It was held on Sunday at The Eden Resort in Lancaster. I came away inspired! Wow!

Mark from The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia had some great ideas on how to expand and better market our businesses. We also had lessons on how to fit a tuxedo from Athena Berkheiser who owns Tuxes-N-Tunes in Mifflinberg, Pa. And we learned about wedding cakes from Sheila Miller of Sheila's Cakery.

There is always more to learn!

~Aimee

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! I've decided to create the blog as an outlet for my ideas, inspirations, and just plain everyday life!

Hopefully you'll enjoy the blog and let's cross our fingers that you won't be bored to tears! :)

~Aimee