Camping, City of Rock, Idaho

We had our first legitimate camping excursion. Um... A month ago.... Just getting around to posting it, because a certain Springer Spaniel confused the power cord to our computer for a chew toy. I have to say, she chewed that cord into very neat 1" pieces... Impressive, no? We're keeping a running total Polly... As soon as your destruction out numbers your worth.... You might be finding yourself turning tricks on the street.... I tease.... Maybe....N E who.... Camping.

We were planning on camping at Strawberry reservoir. The weather in Utah was supposed to be awful, so on a last minute, whim we headed up to Idaho, City of Rocks. It was awesome... We pulled up to what appears to be the smallest town in the world. Giant bulls sitting on the side of the road, men hand watering their yard while riding in an antique tractor.... Amazing. We didn't make reservations at a campsite, so we stopped at this general store to ask the locals where they camp. Their instructions were basically drive up the mountain as far as you can, and hike as far as you can.... Perfect. We drove until the road was blocked by a giant snow patch.... Parked and walked into a giant clearing, and set up camp. It was gorgeous.

We roasted the best tasting hot dogs, I have ever tasted..

And played frisbee until we couldn't see the frisbee anymore. Our only neighbors were the deer who watched us from afar. I think they were trying to figure out if Cleo was one of them. This is how Polly carries the frisbee to the park... Our own little Saturn.

My favorite camping experience so far... To... Be... Continued!

Kitchen

It's all finally coming together!

Drew rebuilt the drawers... The current ones you see are bowed. But it's almost finished! Hooray!

Spice Rack

Our sink leg, spice rack is finally installed!

Drew built the cabinet next to the spice rack, and we got it all installed yesterday!

There are still a few touch ups that need to be made. We need to build face frames and some paint chipped, and paint runs along the side of leg need to be fixed... I don't want to point fingers at anyone..... But it was me.... Oops... I'm such a huge help! Haha! When I watching Drew in the shop build and paint (and repaint all the cupboards I painted).... I stated.. "I need to learn to use all your tools.". Drew shut off the saw he was using, turned to me and said.... "That's the last thing I need." Well same to you Drew, stay away from my exacto knife and glue gun.... Haha love that guy!

Almost as much as I love my spice rack!

Laundry Nook

We are living in the basement of our house, while we have a lovely tenant pay most of the mortgage upstairs... (winky face). While it is so nice paying a fraction of the mortgage it makes space limited. The flow of the basement was horrific, we had the bathtub jutting into the kitchen, the only way to enter the bathroom was to go through the kitchen. There was no room in the kitchen for a table because the kitchen was also the laundry room, and the washer, dryer, enormous fridge and stove took up all the room. In our remodeling, we used wasted space underneath the stairs as a laundry nook. As the kitchen is (finally) wrapping up I really want to tile the laundry nook. I had envisioned subway till g with big 6X8 tiles. I found them for $1.08 a sq/ft. And I thought that was the set price... Nope that was a sell price... Eff! We did see that 3X3 square tiles are around a dollar a sq/ft. Not as lovely as my dream. I don't like the look of these square tiles in a grid pattern, that's a little 1960's for me.... We are trying to find different patterns to lay the tile. I really like the staggered subway, I think I would want it even more staggered so they appeared more like shingles... Diamond would be neat and a little different.

Vertical subway would draw the eye upwards maybe making the nook appear a little bigger. I stumbled upon the pattern below that I have never seen before. Imagine it twisted 45 degrees so that the mix of square and subway make a chevron pattern.... I think I might be in love....

So many options, I really want to use the average material in a new way... Opinions?

Pinterest Love

Some of the lovelies I have discovered via pinterest.

I love this color, It makes me want a yellow brick house... And I've NEVER wanted a yellow brick house. With this door it would make me happy everyday!

Made by Girl, Jen Ramos....

White washed, wood paneled walls. I'm not sure that it gets prettier.

6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com

Striped walls that accent the perfect brown.

Style at Home... I found it on pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com

Giant houndstooth is to die for.... I think I would literally take a bullet for this rug... Jk, lol, roflol... Smiley face...

6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com

Okay, let's just talk about how beautiful this piece of furniture is....Ah-Mazing! The color, shape, and the glass front with all of those individual drawers... I want to use this somewhere in our house. I'm trying to make it work as a built-in in the bathroom... If course I've got to check with my contractor Drew... (As you should too... 801.244.8790). And see how to make it all work.

Layla Grace.... Found on copycatchic.com

This color speaks to me, and tells me to find a spot for it in my home... I will listen! I think the nickel hardware is a perfect combo...

Houzz.com, found on materialgirls.blogspot.com

Its just fact... This chevron wastebasket would be perfect in an office.

6thstreetdesignschool.blogspot.com

And simply stated... I want to go to there!

Tuscany, found on the-bath.tumblr.com

P.S. Who is extremely excited for the Apple Keynote in 15 minutes?? ME!!! Although I can't say that they will be announcing a new iPhone that I've been hoping for. I think they might because they are introducing a new iOS and iCloud and new hardware to go with it would be a huge selling point. However there are no real rumors to back up a new device being announced. I wonder if this is because every device that has been released for the last little bit have been leaked so maybe they kept this phone on super lockdown... I also hesitate to think they will come out with it because Verizon just signed and the white iPhone was just released. Although after the iPhone 4 was released the iPhone 3Gs still sold... These are the things I think about... The End!

I Hate Goodbyes!

This little nugget and his parents are gone (frowny face).... I guess we'll just have to find lots of excuses to visit Washington and Oregon!

I Swore I Never Would....

But now I promise I'll never go back!

Drew had his little heart set on these five finger Vibram shoes. I didn't support the decision, but I didn't talk him out of it... The only time I had to shun him was when he snuck them past me to hang out with friends.... Uh uh, that's a no go, exercise, okay... Social, not acceptable. Then I found out they made Vibrams for hiking! Yes honey! I can't even begin to tell you the number of hikes I've been on where I take my shoes off to finish a hike, because my shoes rub wrong, or get wet and uncomfortable... These are a dream on my feet. It's like being six years old again and living the summers barefoot. They were perfect for camping where we were in and out of water and sand. It was the free movement of barefoot, with the protection of hiking boots.... And terribly funny looking! That is all!