Porch Sittin'

With the end of summer, comes outside furnitures sales! And I've been taking as much advantage of them as I can! We are really mostly in hoard mode as some major repairs need to be done before the porch will really be nice and ready.

photo taken back in winter

Structural reapirs include:
-Having proper footings put in to support the porch and raise up the sunken corner
-Re-screening 
-Painting all wood trim
-Sealing the deck floor 

MLW and I plan on tackling all but the footings. However it is hot as hades out there so all that will wait until things cool off a bit. But, all that repair work isn't stoping me from getting the accessories ready for the final vision!

In the meantime, here is how the porch currently looks. Why yes, that is a box for a blow up pool in the left corner.

Looking the other way, things aren't quite as cluttered. 

 The deck portion. I just want to have an al fresco dinner party!

This Ikea chair and it's buddy will be in the long term plan. I'm working on a coffee table to place out there that I will share with ya'll later. 

This outdoor rug from Anthro went on super sale and I said yes!

 Also are you noticing a color pallet that seems a little off for me? Thats right, black. A house down the street with similar brick painted their front door black and I love it! The key to making this brick work might just be black. I'm even throwing around the idea of painting the deck boards themselves black. MLW isn't so sure yet, but I've planted the seed so hopefully he will come around. See this pin for pinspiration! {Gotta love Pinterest} 

Alright, so that is our sad little deck update, but stay with me ya'll and hopefully I'll be throwing an end of summer soiree in no time! 

xoxo, 

Gossip Girl 

PS. I've been on a netflix Gossip Girl binge. #BlaireandChuckforever

Ernie and Maybe

A while ago someone asked for a post about the Corgs. So here it is!
Let's start with Ernie.

Age: 6 and 3/4 years. Ernie will be 7 in October! {sniff sniff} 

Nicknames: Ern, Boo Boo Bear, Poog, Poogie, Ernie the Poog, Hey Boo, House Bear, Colonel Ernel, Colonel  

Favorite Toys: Hedgehogs and horse lunge whips. A lunge whip is like a giant cat toy for corgis. 

Best Personality Traits: He is a very wise if not slightly grouchy man trapped in a corgi body. Ernie is a super chill house dog and has no problem lying around and entertaining himself. He is not a cuddler, but likes to be near people. Also he will sleep in until 11 am if given the chance. That is my kind of dog. 

Worst Personality Traits: Ernie does not play well with other dogs. He can become the attack corgi when he is on a leash and definitely has a little man syndrome. He also barks a lot when outside.

Fur/ Smell Factor: The fur flies everywhere. 365 days a year he is shedding, and all that fur smells pretty bad.

Likes Betsy or MLW better:  While I used to be his main squeeze, MLW has a slight advantage since we got married. I think it is because MLW is home all day while I am at work so they have done some sort of secret man bonding. 

Theme song: Low Rider by War

Maybe

Age: 2 and 7/8. Maybe will be 3 in August.

Nicknames: Mabs, Maybe Baby, The Baby Corgi, Crocodile

Favorite Toys: Anything Ernie wants to enjoy, anything that squeaks, and the horse lunge whip.

Best Personality Traits: Maybe loves everyone. She is a major cuddlier and lap dog. She is always up to play and go on walks. Maybe will also wakes up with me no matter what time and sleeps with me on the couch until we are both ready for the day. Its nice to not wake up alone.

Worst Personality Traits: Maybe loves everyone, sometimes a little too much. She is a bit of a wild one, although that is getting better with age.

Fur/Smell Factor: Maybe is half Ernie's size in every way possible including the amount she sheds. Its almost like the amount of hair from a normal dog, almost. She is a little prissy and thus less stinky than Ern as well.

Likes Betsy or MLW better: Ernie. She likes Ernie better than both of us. If I had to choose a person though I would say me, but only slightly.

Theme song: Call Me Maybe {To be clear, we named her before the song!}

They are nearly impossible to photography together. Ernie would lead you to believe he hates Maybe, but I know better. I've caught them secretively snuggling and if one ever goes to the vet without the other, they check each other out first thing before greeting MLW or myself.

This is a more accurate photo of them. They are so bad, but make our lives so wonderful. 

Have more corgi questions? Post them in the comments and I'll answer them!

xoxo
Betsy

Light Bulb Moment

I've been struggling with the dining room. I refinished the table, threw up some art and threw up my hands. Done? Not done.
Something just never felt right, but then I had a light bulb. I had a bridal shower for a sweet friend and as part of such the dining room got cleared out to allow access to the table. *bing bing bing* Less is more in this room! I kept trying and trying to add more and more furniture, but I think in this space keeping it as open as possible is the ticket.

So now, I will present my inspiration board for the dining room. It worked pretty well for the kitchen and gave me and maybe you guys a clear vision of where we are headed.

1. Light- It normally starts with a light fixture for me. This Urchin light can be found on Etsy and I'm pretty darn well smitten. I am exploring other options, but this one {shockingly} seems to be the most wallet friendly at the moment.

2. Chairs- If ya'll remember I had 4 mixed matched chairs that became 6 with the Christmas addition of the bamboo chairs. I recently had my living room "Donnerized" {My Dad's wife, Donna,  is a wizard of home design and comes through and totally adjusts your room, usually for the better}. Donna moved the bamboo chairs into the living room to flank the TV and it totally worked. But that meant 2 chairs down in the dining room.
Although I love mixed matched chairs and have been a fan for years now, something about these ghost chairs is really really speaking to me. {I'm having a lucite moment. Oh, and a flamingo moment}. They are incredibly inexpensive and nearly indestructible! I also love that they essentially disappear helping to keep the space open.

3. Table- I'm still loving my craigslist table and I love that it is forcing me to mix styles. I've had a style switch recently to more clean and modern lines {Blame my love of Mid Century Modern}. I think mixing and matching styles is the key to a home you will love for years!

4. Rug- I knew I wanted navy to bring out some of the navy  in my dragon pillows and to help define the two spaces a little more. This rug is a new one from West Elm and is crazy inexpensive for a 6x9! Its also cotton so easy to clean for the corgs and I love that it brings a touch of rustic and soft into a more glamorous space.

5. Color - Whythe Blue by Benjamin Moore. I loved it when I put it up and I still love it now.

Ok so this is what the dining room currently looks like. The light fixture still needs to be centered in the room and not the window. The white cabinet has a destiny for the back porch {which is also in the early stages of a wonderful makeover}. And I might end up moving some art around...


With that I will leave you with my last plea: Dear West Elm gods, Please give me a coupon code so your affordable rug is even more affordable. Love, Betsy

Kitchen Two and Three Fourths

True to form, the I'm giving you an update where the kitchen is almost done. I just get too excited and want to share!

Side one and two -DONE! Side three? Lowers, done minus two doors {sounds familiar right?} Uppers- painted but missing doors.

Lets take a look around, shall we?

So I moved the rug back in while MLW was still asleep. I love it, jury is out on how he will feel. But doesn't it look so pretty!!!

Side 2 in all her tuxedo, and white and marble and butcher block majesty. My Dad came over and helped make the cut on the butcher block and we got it on the first try. Thank goodness the men in my life are good at math. 

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? The added butcher block is a great work space. It is nice to have a countertop that we don't have to "baby" as much as the marble.

Ya'll have seen this side before, but look all the doors are on and closed. I had to go back and make some adjustments and add magnets to keep everything closed tight.

 We haven't seen the chalkboard wall in a wall so I wanted to give ya'll an image looking back that way too.

And finally the "egg" or side three. Lowers complete minus two doors. Uppers painted and patiently awaiting their glass fronts.

I can't wait to give ya'll one more post with all the doors done before we press on for tile {which might take us a while}.


Love,
Betsy