Dining Room Update

I should say the long awaited update since Matt and I chose the piece of furniture just over two years ago when we realized we needed more storage in the dining room and that none of our current pieces would do the job.
So since it took so long (mostly to save up the $$ and find a killer coupon!) I thought it might be fun to look through all the variations since we've moved in :-)
Apparently it was so boring empty and all white that I don't have a photo of the dining space before we moved in!

when we first moved in after painting the white walls.

the carpet debate. I think it stayed for all of 1 day.

added new curtains

TV moved, so Providence Harbor Art moved to above the fireplace and 2 metal grates
 (hung too high on the wall) moved to the dining room wall. 

Then I spray painted them black. Much more natural to what they would have been in
their former life (when they were actual working grates)

dining room light update. Woohoo!

this one was just for fun! :-)

new paint job - slightly paler yellow that matches the hallway

Matt and I found this customizable piece at Pottery Barn 2 yrs ago and luckily they still have it!

here's one of the options for configuration.
We don't drink that much wine, so  we ordered just 1 wine rack

UPS delivered a day early and blocked both our garage bays with the 8 boxes.
This pic was taken after I moved everything - whew!

Current dining room view

I took this from the other side of the couch so you can see how the first floor is
totally open and flows together.

Matt is away for work at a 2-day conference and I couldn't wait!
So here is the first level....

And here is the second level! This took a lot longer than just stacking them
as all the pieces have to be arranged and then connected together to make
1 large piece that then I slide back to the wall. 

I started pulling up our glassware from the basement and filling things in
when I realized it was past midnight! Reluctantly, I turned off the lights and went to bed :-)

Here it is the morning sunlight

And here's a wide shot for you.
The boxes on top (martini glasses, champagne glasses and beer steins)
will be unpacked and put into the hutch along with other serving dishes and trays.
The cabinet under the wine rack holds all other liquor bottles.

I will be sure to update with pictures after everything is unpacked, organized and has a home! I'm so excited to have our glasses out of the basement and up where we can use them! It's also really nice to not be looking at liquor bottles standing on top of a wine rack too! It was super crowded!!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Upgrading My Technology Knowledge

Instagram anyone?
I've recently downloaded it and decided that it's fun and almost simple to use!
I'm still figuring out how to use some of the features. Especially since the tutorial I found online is a few versions back when there were still words/ titles on the buttons instead of just pictures - but I'll get there - promise!
So for those of you that use Instagram, and want to see my crazy pictures, my username is rlr1222

Oh! and since Pinterest is another recent addition (cough! addiction!) on my phone, you can find me there as rloverand

Any new technology/program in your life that you're loving?

Grandparents ~

I had a dream a few weeks ago about Mimi….more specifically about her passing. And I woke up panicked, wanting to call Catherine in the middle of the night to make sure she was ok. But I didn’t. Then life got in the way and I let it slip my mind – not consciously – but it slipped. 

I got a call from Catherine on Sunday, while standing in Joann fabrics with my mother and I knew. Mimi had passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. 

 Mimi wasn’t my grandmother – she’s Catherine’s – but I came to feel as though she was family, just like Catherine and her parents still feel to me. I was lucky enough to spend a few summer vacations with them and their family down on ‘The Beach!’ – to others, Emerald Isle, Outer Banks, NC. Those were special weeks and while I may have fought it at first, the Hodges taught me the beginnings of learning to relax and how truly important it can be to just stop life for a week. To let the days go by with walks on the beach, books to read, great food, family, laughter and hopefully a steady ocean breeze to keep the bugs away! 

Mimi was the last grandparent to pass on for me. She led a wonderfully full life and was simply an incredible person. She had these great one-liners that would just fly out of her mouth in her sweet Farmville drawl and her eyes would be dancing with mischief! She cooked, baked, canned, you name it and it was all unbelievably scrumptious. 

Her funeral is today in South Carolina and while I am not physically there, my heart is there. She welcomed me into her home and her family with open arms and I will never forget it. Thank you for all the wonderful memories, Mimi!