On the Farm // New Additions

Just one more reason I've enjoyed being home on leave is actually being home when things are being done around the house!

In no particular order... 

Joe Dirt Hauling.. aka my Dad and step-mom .. so lovingly brought us some gravel to make a parking spot for the trucks and a walkway to our new porch steps! Shane also put some under the new addition to the barn and we even had enough to go all the way down the driveway.

He did such a great job!

Speaking of our new porch steps the puppies have really enjoyed the new addition to the house. They actually stay in the backyard now and just enjoy the sunshine. Sox was so funny at first with the porch.. she would NOT walk on it. Mara and Kyli have loved it from day 1. Kyli will go to the corner facing the driveway and just stand there like "I'm the queen of the porch!!"

 And Coach had to take a break and do exercises with Finley.. ha.

And, Mama actually had time at some point to make Paleo Banana Pancakes. So yummy!!

I even made my face wash recipe again.. check out the original post here.

Shane pressure washed the back porch and the front porch.. and then Sandie decided she needed to post up in the doorway. I know they enjoyed being out of the coop for a couple days.

In other news, we are working on the Baby Wise schedule! Man it's been really tough because all I want to do is still hold her as long as I can, kiss on those squishy cheeks, and just watch her grin while she dreams.. and oh man the crying! Self soothe sweet girl.. we gotta learn to self soothe.

Let's get Organized! AKA the Nesting Phase

Over the past several months, I have cleaned out, cleaned out, cleaned out and feel like we have gotten somewhat organized.

In no particular oder, here are a few things I've done in the house...

We had a basket full of hair samples I've gotten from the beauty supply store and hotel shampoos, conditioners, and lotions. I found some extra mason jars and separated all of them accordingly. For the past couple of trips to Target, TJ Maxx, and Michaels I have looked for some kind of small chalkboard stickers/labels that I could put on them but I haven't had any luck. So until then, they sit like this in the guest bathroom.

All my jewelry was in the guest bedroom, which is now the nursery, in a dresser.. a lot went in the yard sales and what didn't go I found these super cute wooden trays at TJ Maxx. These were the only two I could find out of several locations so after I went back a little later to hopefully find more....

... these were all I could find. I was so ready to just have everything in one place I went ahead and settled for these.

After our closet got finished, I found these baskets at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. 

FYI guys don't ever throw those coupons away because they will take them even if they are expired!! They'll also let you use as many as you have on one purchase!

The dog food was separated into two plastic bins but I found this bin at TJ Maxx and now the whole 40lb bag goes into one place. Whoo hoo! 

 This past weekend, I spent two days in the kitchen throwing out appliances that we didn't need, deep cleaning, and organizing drawers.. including this one. It was a disaster. I had previously used this tray for makeup organization but now has a new home in the kitchen.

I found these beauties at TJ Maxx! I already have a few copper pieces in the kitchen and thought these would be perfect to add! I LOVE them!

Not really any organization going here but I couldn't pass them up thinking how great they would look in the house.

I found these in a magazine laying by the pool with Amber.. I'd love to add these to the kitchen someday as well!

Man does it feel great to have all this done!

Our Kitchen is Finished!

We are getting things done little by little. Whoo hoo!!

Coach hired Ben for this project too. He built us a beautiful mantle, sheetrocked the wall, added trim that needed to be added, and started the tile for the backsplash.

Coach actually finished tiling he was so excited to learn and he and Ben finished grouting it.. there are even lots of pieces that I got to choose exactly where I wanted them to go upon Coach asking what I liked best.. he also painted the sheetrock and my brother was over one afternoon and he put him to work helping him sand it.. He even painted it one afternoon on his own! Coach may or may not have gotten into my paintbrushes and asked for my expertise for those intricate places. He stained the wood and several months ago they added under counter lights.. 

You can see the beginning in this post.

Coach also put in our over head light above the cook top way before the big project got started.

Welcome to our finished kitchen!

Finished trim.. on the sheetrocked wall there was a dead outlet.. as you can see its gone now. 

Tile and under counter lights..

Love, love, love the tile!

Coach and Ben did such a wonderful job!! I absolutely love it!

Our "California" Master Closet

With the arrival of Baby Hopper, Coach has made things happen in the Hopper house with getting projects finished. A few weeks ago, he and Ben tackled our master closet and got it D-O-N-E. A long time ago, I started my Pinterest search for some closet ideas, shared them with the hubby, we came up with some plans, he got with Ben and BOOM!

**Update: This is birch wood that was bought and Ben and Shane stained all the pieces themselves. Ben built the tall shelf before it was put into the closet and they did the rest of the installation together.

It is more than what I pictured in my head and I am SO THANKFUL it is finished! I'm not quite finished getting it organized just the way I want but I'm almost there for sure. It is SO nice having everything in once place and just where it should be... definitely worth the wait! 

Here are a few in-progress shots and finished product!

Mara had to take a break from supervising to strike a pose.

ALL FINISHED!!

I love the wood and how the stain turned out! Just beautiful and it matches one of our other small closets.

I have since purchased baskets from Bed, Bath, and Beyond and they fit perfectly on the shelves. Also matching laundry baskets that fit just so at the bottom so we can eliminate baskets from the bedroom and the laundry room.

Shane and Ben make a great team! Thank you Awesome Amber for letting your husband hang out with us for couple days getting it done! ;)

North Georgia's "Blizzard"

So last Wednesday, most of Mid to North Georgia was put under another Winter Advisory.. I think most everyone was expecting more snow than we got, ice when we woke up, and more power outages. I'm sure that was the case in the mountains but not in our area. The snow fell hard and thick for just a little while, stopped, started again for such a short time, stopped, then all this mess turned to rain! By the time I got up the next morning, it was all gone except for a patch here and there.

I left work early Wednesday, and when I got home, me and the Amigas went out for some fun! Judging from the pictures, I would say Sox and Mara were having a blast!

Coach had been spoiling us with some warm fires and when Kyli came I think she was expecting it! Ha!

These flakes were HUGE! 

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!