Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Decorations


Why is my new Olympus taking such cruddy pictures?  ARGGHH!!  Well, here's the blurry edition of our decorations this year.  Merry Christmas!
My Potterybarn 'knockoff' wreath Lauren made me a few years back--still lookin' good!!
REAL Garland
Sadly, these were the best pictures I got of the downstairs decorations, pretty pitiful
 
Real cedar garland on the mantle with my new PB stockings

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Old Diggs

For those of you who never got to visit the old house, here's a VERY quick tour....as much as we love the new house, we miss this old place sometimes!



The kitchen (the day we moved the last of everything out)

The one and only bathroom (the day we moved)

Living Room


The one and only bedroom

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Thanksgiving


We had and absolutely fabulous Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving day with family, put up our Christmas tree, took a road trip to the Biltmore (I was a Biltomore virgin, believe it or not) and then celebrated a huge victory for the Gamecocks on Saturday!! Go COCKS!!

I really enjoyed the Biltmore Estate, we were able to see all of the beautiful holiday decorations and tour the home. I only wish we had a little more time to take a backstage tour or visit the winery but that's just an excuse to go back soon. I'm very gracious to my mom and stepdad for taking my brother, Chad and I to Asheville for the day, it was truly spectacular!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Happy Birthday to me....

Thankfully Lauren snapped a few pics at the party on Saturday night. Only a random few were taken and unfortunately they were all taken way too late into the night! Haven't we all learned by now to take the pictures at the beginning of the night when we are still wearing a little bit of makeup, before our teeth are discolored from wine and we remember how to keep our eyes open when someone pulls out a camera? We had a great time with friends, ate too much, drank too much and felt like crap the next day but isn't that how your'e suppossed to say good riddance to your 20's?
This is the armadillo cake that my aunt and mom made. They truly are geniuses when it comes to crafting anything (and that includes food). Some didn't get the jist of the joke-cake but if you've ever seen "Steel Magnolias" then you know it's the bleedin' armadillo grooms cake.
View salon scene HERE and the cutting of the cake HERE

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Halloween!!

Turning 30 two days before Halloween is scary enough!!! I've tried to spook-ify (Chad's lingo for what I've done) the house a little bit to scare a few guests on Halloween night. Since we just moved in and I didn't want to spend a bundle on Halloween decorations, I spent a little time on the internet and came up with some super cheap decor for one of my favorite holidays! These flying bats were my project this past Sunday night while Chad went hunting. I had an original plan to make a spooky centerpiece but didn't feel like breaking out the spray paint....the bats are cut-outs from a peice of foam paper I bought at Hobby Lobby last week, tied with thread and tied to the tops of the pendant lights. Fishing line probably would have worked better than thread but it's all I could find at the time.

The bat lamps are the same cut-outs as the ones in the kitchen; construction paper cut-outs taped with clear tape to the insides of the lamp shades.....easy and cheap!!
Wheat on the mantle is from our wedding centerpieces.
Cobwebs and spiders adorn the chandelier in the dining room

I had been looking for fake crows for weeks and finally came across some at Tuesday Morning. Large crows from Tuesday Morning: $6.99; Small crows from Tuesday Morning: $2.99; scaring the bejeebus out of my husband when he walks into the dining room: priceless!!
On Halloween night this wreath will be replaced with a black feather wreath I just got at Target but don't want to put out with all the rain we have had lately....pictures to come soon....
My new rocking chairs my in-laws gave mefor my birthday and our anniversary!! I love them!!
More Bats!!

Even the Foo Dogs wanted to dress up for Halloween.....


Monday, September 21, 2009

Update 9.21.09

As most of you know, we have finally moved into Casa de McClary!! Boy how the past few weeks have flown by! Since we have moved we have had friends and family over twice to watch the USC games, took a trip to Savannah, and have pretty much moved and organized most everything in the house. Needless to say, the past few weeks have been very busy but exciting! One of my dearest friends had her first baby this past week and I've had the pleasure of visiting her and her bundle of joy twice!
There is still plenty to do and buy and organize and tinker with but as I have time at work, I'll update everyone with some pics as soon as I can!
Have a great week!!
K

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Update (Sort of)

Take cover because I'm about to start ranting....
*My builder is on a cruise
*We can't close on the house the last 4 days of the month and it's now the 26th.
*Our acid stained patio turned out a lovely shade of Clemson orange (I'm hoping my brother won't take a baseball bat to my knee caps for this) -- although this will be FIXED!
*Our appliances have yet to be delivered and were just ordered on Monday after much confusion and communication issues with the Display Center.
*Carpet has yet to be stretched properly--flooring guy and his team seem to be on the same cruise boat as my builder because he's been M.I.A. --his carpet stretcher broke and I'm about to go buy one myself and google d.i.y. on how to stretch carpet and just do it myself.
*My house (the little one) is being prepped for the next tenant.
*My house (the little one) is stacked full of boxes and is a complete war zone right now.

Ok, so the upside is that we are healthy and we are blessed to be able to even build our dream home. I try to keep a positive attitude and put things in perspective every day but I can't help but think I need to either have the house saged or exorcized or maybe I should go ahead and move the foo dogs in because I've evidently got some bad juju when it comes to finishing this house.

Happy week to all! With any LUCK we will be able to move this weekend. But I'm doubtful....

Friday, August 14, 2009

Update 8.14.09

*Granite countertops were installed in the kitchen and all of the bathrooms
*Kitchen sink and all bathroom sinks were installed
*All faucets were installed
*Toe moulding has been installed
*Screening has been installed on the back porch (minus the door for now)
*Security system has been installed
*Patio has been scored
*Treads on the stairs have been stained to match the hardwood floors

A great deal of work had been done yesterday! The end is near! YAY!

This is what happens when I go to mama's house....

.....I walk in the door to a plate of beignets, FRESH sweetened peaches and cinnamon coffee waiting on me at the table! She thought that since we hadn't had beignets in a few years, she would make some for brunch! She then helped me reupholster 2 seat cushions and mend the frame on a print I bought.
But back to the important part......the beignets! If you've never had them you are completely missing out. They are like a crispy airy doughnut covered with powdered sugar! They are famous in New Orleans at the Cafe du Monde and I've actually had the real thing in New Orleans but mama's are way better!!
I think it goes without saying that I have the best mom in the world!
....and NO I'm not sucking up to mom with this post....although I might need her help moving soon =)

Happy 30th to Lauren!!


One of my oldest, dearest and bestest friends in the whole wide world is turning 29 again today!! Lauren is leaving on a birthday cruise on Monday and I'm trying to convince her that if I shed a few more pounds before Sunday night, she could stuff me in her suitcase..

Party Hearty in the tropics girl!! Love you!

Friday, August 7, 2009

Update 8.7.09

*Hardwood Floors are finished!!
*Garage doors were installed last night
*Concrete patios underneath the porches have been poured along with all sidewalks and parking pad outside of the garage
*Finally all light fixtures have been installed and are working properly-- the living room fan no longer sounds as if it might start smoking and fly across the room (speakers HAVE YET to be installed)
*Master shower tile is almost done, grouted all except one area but there are some impovements to be made before Chad and I are satisfied
*Two bays of Chad's shed now have concrete
That's about it--my camera needs charging and I'll try to get some updated pics soon!
Happy weekend to all!
K & C

Monday, August 3, 2009

Slow

For those of you who have asked 'when have they told you they will be done' -- the answer from Chad and I (and our builder) is "I DON'T KNOW! We have come to a stand-still with the subs for the moment. Hardwoods were being installed over the weekend and were (hopefully) being finished by Sunday, but of course, weren't. I'm throwing in the towel with worrying when I'll be able to get into the new digs--I'm going to chillax, focus on getting back on the elliptical and enjoy the rest of my summer!
Here's a picture Beau took on Saturday (don't you love the tractor sitting right in front ;)

Thursday, July 30, 2009