Pardon Our Progress

Owning our first home is a joy, but it's also a lot of work. Since closing in July 2008, we have:

• Painted every surface with Kilz to eliminate the smoky odor
• Cleaned the carpet to eliminate the smoky odor
• Cleaned the air ducts to eliminate the smoky odor
• Painted the ceilings and walls in the entire house
• Painted the cabinets in the kitchen
• Repaired termite damage
• Installed a new HVAC system and put stone around the outside unit
• Dealt with plumbing issues
• Killed the brown recluse spiders with monthly visits by the pest control guy
• Removed the massive, dying willow tree
• Begun landscaping
• Customized the closet in the master bedroom
• Caulked the gutters
• Rewired the flood lights

and I'm sure I'm forgetting some.

Our latest project is painting the trim. Currently, our baseboards, crown molding, chair rail, windows, and doors are beige- dull, bland, and peeling beige. Soon (hopefully) the boring beige will be transformed to "silky white" (that's the name of the color- not my cheesy description). It will be crisp, clean, and highlight the wall color. Is it sad that I'm super excited about this?

Before...

See the difference!Darcy and Oscar were a big help.Finished dining room! Whew! Only 3/4 of the house to go!

January

In January...
It snowed... twice! (see previous post for pictures)

Maloree and Ryan came to visit. We went to a Predators hockey game and celebrated Holly's birthday.
We took advantage of the "warm" 50 degree weather and went for a 5 mile hike. 4 people and 3 dogs- I'm sure we were a sight to see!
We talked about and actually started some house projects. (details coming soon)

We celebrated Mardi Gras with a New Orleans style dinner and a King Cake from Paul's Pastry Shop in Picayune, Ms.
Nick found the baby- good luck and host of the next party!AND...
Abbey and Travis got engaged! Best wishes to them!

SNOW!

It has snowed twice in January! The first time it snowed for 2 days straight, but there was little to no accumulation. This weekend, though, we've had at least 3-4 inches. Keith and I have ventured out in the cold on several occasions to enjoy it while it lasts!

First Snow:

Second Snow:

Allie

It's no secret that Aimee is a dog lover. She has taken on the responsibility of foster mom to needy dogs on several occasions. She has successfully fostered Lilly, Sky, Denver, and Dallas over the past few months. Aimee's newest foster dog is Allie. See her petfinder listing here. If you or someone you know is ready for a sweet and snuggly addition to your family, let me know!

Happy Restaurant Week!

I love food. And I love trying new restaurants. That's why I'm so excited about this week... it's Restaurant Week! Click HERE for details.

My absolute favorite Nashville area restaurant is Red Pony (for obvious reasons). Some of the others at the top of my list are: Sunset Grill, Sambuca, Germantown Cafe, Sol, and South Street.

Here's my "to try" list:
*Chappys on Church (gotta support a fellow Mississippian!)
*Watermark
*Park Cafe
*Tayst
*Tin Angel
*Saffire
*Boxwood Bistro
*The Yellow Porch
*55 South (when it opens January 20!)

I'm planning to check some off soon! Bon Appetit!

Happy Blog Anniversary!

Happy 1 year anniversary...to our blog! Since Raney has done a great job keeping our blog updated over the past year, I thought I would write the 1 year post focusing on 2010.

At the top of the agenda is using my new tent (a Christmas gift from Raney). As soon as the weather gets warmer, we will be making a trip to Fall Creek Falls. I haven't been camping in a while and am excited to get back into it. We're also planning to go whitewater rafting.
In March, we are going to Barbados! We are very excited about having a Spring Break again this year and are looking forward to a warm getaway after this cold winter.

With fewer weddings to attend this year we're hoping to spend a little more time at home and have a chance to enjoy Nashville. There are a few concerts and sporting events we want to go to, and we're also determined to finish some house projects. It is hard to believe that it has been a year and a half since we bought our house. We have come a long way, but we still have a few items on our original to-do list that we never got around to.

2010 is shaping up to be a good and busy year!

-Keith

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

2009 has been an incredible year! I can't say enough how blessed Keith and I are. We have such great families and friends, a wonderful little home, and Darcy who keeps us entertained. 2009 was full of amazing opportunities for us- both personally and professionally. I landed a job I enjoy that's close to home; we vacationed in Asheville, Greece, Charleston, and Savannah; Keith found out he doesn't have to travel anymore and he was promoted; and we celebrated 1 year of marriage. 2010 has a lot to live up to, and we're excited to see what's in store!

Here's how we closed out '09:

Our house all decorated for Christmas...

Opryland decorated for Christmas...

Christmas parties...

A trip to Georgia to see Gramps, Greg, and Kathy...

We spent a little time at the local Christmas market.
Nancy's birthday dinner...
(fruit and walnut stuffed pork)

Christmas morning...

Zac Brown Band at the Ryman...

And here's how we rang in '10:Happy New Year!