Baby Bathroom Blowout

For me, one of the least desirable areas in our home has always been the upstairs spare bathroom. It's a bathroom we never really used, as it's number 2 of 3, so we've always just left it alone. Rob made me a promise that if and when we got pregnant, the bathroom would be the first thing to tackle on our list as this would be the baby's bathroom. So, we found out we were pregnant at the end of October, and Rob walks directly upstairs and starts to tear the room apart. Not kidding, baby is the size of a poppyseed and Rob kept to his promise.

Original bath when we purchased the home

Now, I know you're thinking this bathroom is dated but kinda cute. Trust me, this was the photo they used when selling the place. The cute bead board on the wall actually was in disarray, the linoleum floor was peeling up along the outer edges, the contractor-grade vanity was short and dated, and the toilet had leaked so bad there was a grey ring on the floor around it. The room actually gave me the heebbie-jeebies with all the black mold growing on the floor. So, enter demo-Rob.

The only thing we had changed when we moved in was the paint color, upgraded the leaky faucet, and added a new standard height toilet

Gorgeous high-end linoleum (HAHA!) with new toilet

Super scary mood-lighting

Bye-bye vanity, mirror and bead board

First, Rob demoed the entire area. Second, he tackled the flooring by adding in a modern rectangular porcelain tile. Then, we decided on a tranquil spa-like grey color for the walls (Behr: Burnish Clay) to complement the tile floor and began to paint. We also decided we wanted to upgrade from a single to a dual-sink vanity, which turned out to be a headache and a half. Long story short, Rob pulled off the drywall and plumbed for two sinks. Next, he painted and installed crown molding for that subtle enhancement. When the gorgeous vanity and wood-framed mirror finally arrived, it just barely fit in the 60" space provided. The only thing left on our to-do list is to install the back and side splashes when they arrive. We upgraded the lighting, bought all new brushed nickel hardware, towels, shower curtain and rugs to finalize the project. Lastly, Rob gave the trim and new baseboards a final paint job. And, I give you Baby Westerling's future bathroom...

We're extremely happy with the final results (note: crown molding and lighting)

Dual sink vanity and mirror in espresso color with carrera marble top and soft-close drawers

Gorgeous grey tiled floor

Water closet area with new rugs and tantalizing shower curtain

All new matching towel sets (courtesy of Christine & Nathan Clariday). We kept the original tub, but changed out the hardware.

We planned on adding heated tile floors, but the breaker box wouldn't allow for an add-on :( Hope you like the results, as we're beyond ecstatic with it. It's not exactly baby-oriented, but we figured we didn't want to keep changing the decor over the years. Baby Westerling is sure to be more cozy in this bathroom renovation than the original disaster.

What a Difference a Year Can Make...

Today marks the one year anniversary of when I decided to take exercising to the next level, to get serious, to make a lifestyle change. I'd joined Knoxville Beauty Hunters seven months prior at the time, and I wanted faster results, I wanted to be stronger, I wanted to have something to show for all my hard work besides the body weight resistance. I wanted weights. Bring on the muscle, bring on the dumb bells and barbells, the medicine and bosu balls, bring on the cardio and the never ending sweat. So on August 1 of last year, I took the leap and decided to "try out" a personal training session with Sarah (Beauty Hunter queen, soccer extraordinaire, leader of a local and free boot camp trying to redefine what's beautiful, and oh, also happens to be a personal trainer). I say "try out," because I knew at the time it was opening the door to an addiction. It's funny how before every class I still have 100 pulse rate because of how anxious I am about the coming workout. I cannot express how big of a difference I've seen over the last year when it comes to my strength and endurance. When I started KBH in January 2013, I remember my goal was to do an unassisted sit-up. Just one. Sarah recorded the first time I was able to it, about 2 months later (and I did four in a row - see video below!). My next goal was to do push-ups from my feet (not knees). That didn't happen for a few months after that. Now, I can do more push-ups and sit-ups than I can comprehend. I still hate plank and always will, but my point is hard work pays off. It shows. You can actually measure it. If you decide to stick to something, get rid of all the excuses, and actually refuse to take NO for an answer then it will happen. Yes, it takes time, but most things take time if they're worth it. It's been twenty months since the start of this journey and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Oh, and I gained a great friend who's changed my life in more ways than just physically. And, you know I just had to include photos :) ***Video might only work from a computer :(

Pre-KBH workouts showing arms and back

Early KBH days, upstairs in FUSE

Sept/Oct 2013 (Ooooo look at those arms and legs!)

October 2013 (Sarah posted my progress)

July 2014

Today :)

Had to include my Sarah!!

If you've ever considered making a lifestyle change, it all starts with one step. If you're in Knoxville, join KBH and Sarah's personal training classes. More info can be found HERE!!

Building a Raised Planter Box: 101

Since Rob and I can't just relax and enjoy our home, we decided to finally get around to building a raised planter bed in our backyard. We want to grow as many fruits, vegetables and herbs as possible to reduce our spending at the grocery store, so we packed them into an 8 X 4 foot area. First, we had to decide on the location. Most fruits and vegetables require at least 6+ hours of sunlight to thrive, so we chose the sunniest and most level area of the yard.

Potential area for planter box

Perfect spot!

Second, we bought all the plants, soil and lumbar needed to build it from scratch. We bought four 4X12' cedar deck planks, one 4"X4" for the posts, four 2"X2" stakes for the caging support, a package of 25' chicken wire to keep the rabbits away, a 50' soaker hose, ground liner, five bags of Miracle-Gro vegetable soil and twenty-five bags of topsoil. We started by cutting the 4X12' plank into 8' and 4' sections, and the 4"X4" into four equal sections for the corner supports. We dug 6-9 inches into the ground to bury our posts and drilled the boards into the 4"X4" corners. We laid the ground liner to keep out weeds, and staple-gunned it to the interior walls of the bed to keep it in place. Third, we drilled a hole into the planter wall and fed the soaker hose into the lined box. Now, the soaker hose can easily be hooked up to our expandable garden hose for easy watering. Next, we filled the planter bed with a mixture of topsoil and Miracle-Gro. Finally, we attached the stakes and chicken wire to deter rodents and pests from taking our bounty.

Lastly, we organized the fruits, vegetables and herbs into sections based on growing similarities. We also added a shepherds hook to hold tomato and strawberry topsy-turvies for added garden space. The result is a beautiful garden with a huge variety of produce, including cabbage, onions, broccoli, green beans, peppers (red, orange and green), cucumbers, zucchini, squash, an assortment of various tomatoes (Big Boy and cherry), strawberries, cantaloupe, chives, basil, parsley and cilantro. 

Before and after pic of the same area

Organized rows of produce

Variety of herbs

If you're looking to build your own raised vegetable garden, ours turned out fantastic! Can't wait to start harvesting!!

The Great Flood of 2014: Part Three

It took 50 days for our home to return to normal after our house flooded from a burst pipe in the ceiling. New floors and cabinets had to be installed, and the walls, ceilings, baseboards and trim had to be repainted. Finally all of our belongings had to be unpacked back into the kitchen, garage, dining and living rooms. I have to say, this experience had a silver lining to it, although living in a construction zone was very stressful. The overall atmosphere downstairs has transformed from a basic and dated approach into a modern, sleek and stylish area. The first photo below is of the original kitchen when we bought the house. After we moved in, we painted the cabinets and bought new handles. The final photographs are the current state of the entire downstairs.

Original kitchen when we moved in 

After we painted the cabinets (note linoleum "tile" floor, dated appliances, bulkhead in the ceiling, fluorescent overhead lighting)

Updated kitchen
(Bulkhead removed, new custom cabinets installed to the ceiling, hardwood floors throughout downstairs, can lights, new stainless steel appliances, pendant light)

Sleek and stylish kitchen! (stove was upgraded to gas, cabinet height and storage is considerably upgraded, original quartz counters were reused)

Butlers pantry

New hand-scraped engineered hardwood floors installed throughout

Powder room upgrades

New modern vanity installed

Dinet area

Living room (Yes, Rob is playing on his new Xbox1)

Dining Room

Wine bar in Dining room

A flood sensor has also been installed in the kitchen area to help keep an eye on the place while we are away from the home. Hopefully no more water damage from here on out! :) Thank goodness for insurance :) Hope you've enjoyed reading all about the Great Flood of 2014 as this completes the three part installment. Check back soon to see what landscaping we attempt this season.

The Great Flood of 2014: Part Two

On Friday, January 10 we awoke at 4:15am to catch our early-bird flight out of Knoxville. We barricaded our cats up in the master bedroom, and said adieu to war-zone downstairs. We arrived in Fort Lauderdale to board the Celebrity Equinox (same ship as our honeymoon) and learned our room had been complimentary upgraded from a window to a balcony room. We couldn’t have been more ecstatic! The next ten days were filled with sleeping-in, room service, beachfront naps, massages and tropical drinks. We still kept in touch with events and decisions being made back at home, but really enjoyed ourselves while we were away. The contractor and workers had started piecing our house back together from the day we left, so great progress was made in those ten days.

 

St. Thomas, USVI

Barbados

Champagne Coral Reef

Champagne Coral Reef snorkeling in Dominica

Hot Springs at Trafalgar Falls, Dominica

Dinner date with my love

When we arrived home on Monday, January 20^th, nothing could prepare us for what we saw as we walked in the door. The walls had been torn down to the studs, insulation was removed, and plastic was hanging everywhere. We were literally living in a construction zone, and still are! In the meantime, they’ve insulated and hung new drywall, replaced all baseboards, and painted all walls, baseboards, crown molding and trim. The new flooring has been acclimating inside for a week and they begin that project on Monday. We went shopping for all new appliances, and purchased items to be delivered next weekend. Lastly, new custom cabinets won’t be in for a few weeks, so this project will ‘be continued’ until I can unveil official ‘Before and After’ pictures. It’s been stressful planning a complete redo of your entire downstairs, but all-in-all it has a silver lining to the entire fiasco. Our insurance company, American National Property & Collision (ANPAC), has been awesome throughout this entire experience, and I can’t say enough positive things about the way everything has been handled. Afterall, we’ve only been homeowners for six months and now we will have a completely renovated downstairs. The first three photos are before the disaster, and can be read about here. Here’s some photos taken while we were gone and also the progress made this past week:

Note location of kitchen window as reference guide. To the very right of the photo is the back patio french door.

Butlers Pantry across from dishwasher

Long view of kitchen. To the left of the fridge is the garage door. Note fridge location (this is where the leak occurred in the ceiling/wall)

Studs and concrete slab floor exposed  (note window and french door location)

Kitchen window and looking where the stove should be

When we arrived home, drywall had been put up and the entire bulkhead removed (YAY!). You're looking at the garage door, and to the left the hallway containing the laundry closet and half bath.

Butler's pantry location (left door is the pantry and right door is the half bath)

Current living room view (old fridge and stove under plastic). Note new baseboards, newly painted walls and molding.

Kitchen window and french door

Kitchen view with garage door

Butler's pantry

Hallway into dining room

Half bath

View from dining room back into kitchen (Jack is very unhappy with the renovations)

Dining Room (new flooring in the boxes)

In living room looking toward front door and dining room

Reesie is also very unhappy with the current accommodations 

Stay tuned for the final installment, The Great Flood of 2014: Part Three!!