Wine & Dine Wednesday

The fine wine featured today was a gift from my in-laws. They brought it back to me us from a trip they went on to Savannah, GA. Great place I hear, hope to go there one day!

Anyway, if the name of the wine includes the word "Chocolate" I'm in!

This is the best chocolate wine I have EVER tasted! It does say on the label that it is "THE CHOCOLATE LOVER'S WINE"

It is a red wine with a chocolate flavor.  The wine is sweet and it is only recommended that you drink a small amount at a time, per the guy at the wine store and my father-in-law. And they are correct. By small amount, I mean a couple ounces. One evening, I got carried away and had my usual size drink and it was a little much, my legs were all tingly and it was getting hot in here! Now I have that song in my head...."It's getting hot in here so take off all your....".....sorry I forgot the artist. I do that alot, forget names of songs and artist. You should be here when I try to describe to the Mr. what song I want him to download for me... Wow, where was I?

The back of the bottle states that:

 "it is a deep, ruby red wine blended with rich, velvety chocolate. Inviting aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate combine in the glass and continue on the palate surrounded by hints of cocoa powder"

This is one wine you are going want to try!

**As with all my Wine & Dine Wednesday posts, it is my opinion, I was not asked nor was I compensated to write this post.

Instagram Love

It's no secret that Instagram is so fun and just like most....I love it! This is where I post most frequently, it is my favorite social media site.

I haven't been on Instagram very long, but I have been on long enough to know that it is what I enjoy--after all I love taking photos so it is no surprise to me that this is my favorite.

Here are a few photos that I have shared on Instagram:

Check me out on Instagram! Click the button on the right side bar.

Furniture Placement is Key

Do you have one area of your home where you just can't figure out exactly where the furniture should go? You move the furniture around and around and around and it still doesn't look right? No?

Maybe it's just me?

Anyway, our family room is a large room, however it is longer that it is wide and it has been one room that just didn't look right to us.

Furniture has been moved around, the tv cabinet has been moved from one side of the room to the other, we changed the layout and still it just didn't look "just right".

The layout of the family room previously:

**First off, let me start by saying I am not an Interior Designer, nor do I think I am one...this is simply what I have found that worked for us and thought I would share.

There are five ways to enter this large room from other areas of our home...from the breakfast area, dining room, front door, office and the hallway. That is alot of entries in to a room! The photo above is the view from the breakfast area.

We moved the tv (1) to the current wall about a year or so ago. The main reason...our children could see what Mommy & Daddy were watching late night after their bedtime. We thought they were asleep but instead could be peeking in on our tv time. Let's just say there are many programs that little eyes should not see ;) Know what I mean? So I knew that the tv had to remain in this spot.

The fireplace (2) is huge and is a gorgeous focal point in the room.

 

As you can see from this photo we also have lots of light, when we built our home that was a must, we wanted lots of windows!. That is so awesome, I don't ever need light during daylight hours and I love that! The chair to the left (8) was the Mr.'s Grandmothers' and I love the vintage look, I just wish there were two of them.  To balance the fireplace I would love to have another chair to the right but because that is the entry from the breakfast area, there isn't room for a chair.

The painting (3) was the inspiration for the colors of our home when we built. The painting is from Ballard Designs. I love Ballard and could really go crazy if the Mr. would let me! Anyway, the console table under it (which you can't see in the photo) was also the Mr.'s Grandmothers' and we painted it black and I must say it is my favorite table in the whole house!

The loveseat (4) and couch (6) are just that and we have had them for a while now, the set which includes a chair, side table (9) and the coffee table (7) are a pre-children purchase, which explains the glass coffee table. I have been a nervous wreck when it comes to that glass top coffee table since the boys were born!

The red recliner (5) was a purchase after we moved into this home, it was comfy and it went with our color scheme so it came home with us.

As you can see from the photo, the furniture is really spread out. Not a very cozy and intimate area. From where the love seat was you could barely see the tv when the cabinet was open, so the only places to sit and watch tv were either the couch or the red recliner.  Also, there was no direct pass through from the hall, instead you met the side of the loveseat.

In order to remedy all this, I got our our furniture sliders that we purchased at Lowes  a long while back. Holy Cow! If you don't have these, go get some! They are awesome, I can move anything, anytime I want with these babies! (if I can lift it to put the slider underneath it). Let me be real here, sometime you can't always wait till the Mr. gets home, you want to do it now and with these sliders you can do just that!

Ok, then I just started moving furniture around piece by piece till I found the perfect arrangement. I loved it! In order to get that more intimate feeling, I wanted to be closer to the fireplace and I had to move the recliner to another spot in the room.  So now there is a conversation/tv area that is closer to the fireplace and tv.  This left the room with enough space to have a chair off to the side for reading and a more pleasant view from the front door.

The layout of the family room now:

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but the loveseat is brought in closer to the couch and coffee table which helps to add a more intimate, intentional space. 

 

The black table is now behind the loveseat and the yellow chair where the black table used to be. For now, this is a little reading area. Adding the black console table behind the loveseat adds a nice look into the room from the front door. Sammy likes to hang out under the table.

 

 

Another view, see more cozy!



I  have a few wall decor items picked out and now I just need to order them and get them on the wall!

Landscaping Dilemma-Part 2-Final Solution

Finally!

This issue is resolved...I think?! Sure, this is the end to this madness!

If you would like to read Landscaping Dilemma-Part 1, please go here.

Since the last post, we decided to stop calling our original landscaper, I mean, I called and called and there was always an excuse. And to be honest, while I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and
do my best to be patient...it ran out! My patience that is. So I called and got 2 more estimates to complete the work, picked one and after all this rain and the holidays they finally made it over!

OK, so we all love a good before and after photo, so here goes!

Before: (from the front of the driveway)

 

 

Before: (from the rear of the driveway)

After: (from the front of the driveway)

After: (from the side of the driveway)

Sorry, I didn't get a rear view...I took these photos just after it rained and I didn't want to get my tootsies wet :)

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but the dirt underneath extends out from the curb then declines. This is great because now if you step over the curb you won't be worried you will break something!  Another plus, it is a more pleasant view from the road and from the home beside ours.

I think this is for sure an improvement!

Blog Update

In case you are new to my blog, I just wanted to update you on a few items.

I have updated my Projects/DIY tab to include the last few items I completed at the end of 2013.

I have also updated my Recipes tab to include all the recipes ever posted here on the blog.

The tabs above are the best way to access my projects and recipes. Also, the sidebar on the left shows my most popular posts, just click and read more about them.

Also, be sure to follow me on Pinterest & Instagram (on the left sidebar) for all the latest happenings here and in everyday life.

Looking forward to a great week!

Hello 2014!

Hello!

Welcome 2014!

Wonder what is going to happen this year? Who knows, but I will have it all in one album!

Once again, I will be documenting our lives by using Project Life, for the 4th year in a row.

Here is my coverpage to our 2014 album.

 These photos did not print correctly on my photo printer here at home so I will have to order the prints and put the better quality ones in when they arrive.  Plus, I will probably add a letter to kids photos (their initial) I was going to do it here but did not want to waste my letters since I will be replacing the photos with new ones. But, I just wanted to  show you the cover page today so you get the idea, simple and easy.

 

This year, I am using the Midnight Edition.  I love all the black in this kit! At this point I am not sure what album I will be using, I am still on the search for one that I love and I just have not found it yet, so I will keep you posted on that. Not having an album is no big deal at this point, I will just add everything in the page protectors and set them aside till I find the album.

I complete Project Life albums in addition to each child having their own personal scrapbook. Plus I also have another album for us as a couple.. adult only trips, extended family special occasions, accomplishments, etc. All the albums are 12x12 and to be honest, I am running out of room to put all these albums. Looks like I will be looking for a new way to store them or will need to add more shelving this year! I think that is a good thing! I mean, one day, these photos will mean alot to our boys.