For. Ever.

That's how long our house projects are taking.  And as a result, that's how long it's been since I've done any consistent blogging.  And let's be honest, my last blog entry was kind of a phone-in (random picture disguised as a precious moment).  It was a nice afternoon...snacks and coloring alfresco...but that was the one picture I took where LG wasn't shoving the cashews in his mouth and then gagging them out because there were too many to chew.  And the reality of the "moment" was that I was being subjected to surround-sound gagging because Dogshoe was out in the yard yacking up the grass that she was eating.  Really.  It was lovely!

Anywhoo...as I was saying earlier, our house projects are consuming all of our spare time.  Literally!  When LG is napping, I am sanding or painting.  When LG is in his highchair eating, I am sanding or painting.  When LG goes to bed at night, Gumshoe and I are sanding or painting or caulking or taping or puttying or jerry-rigging or whatever!  But the finished product will be worth it.  I just have to keep telling myself that.  Over and over and over and over...

We should be complete with our laundry-room/entryway update by the end of the week and I'll post some before and after pics when we're done.  Here's a sneaker-peeker for now:

Just a little corner of our new laundry room.  This room is directly off our entry and we don't have a coat closet, so our laundry room has to serve as our coat closet, shoe storage, mud room, doggy dining room and laundry room (of course).  That said...I have to utilize every square inch.  It's amazing how happy a few little hooks have made me!  No more keys thrown on the table or bags thrown on the ground :)

The doggy has gotten a new food/water setup.  More ergonomically correct for her.  Just kidding.  My main concern was figuring out a scenario where I didn't kick her water around everywhere.

Breathing new life in our entryway table.  It's an old cherry-stained table I got from Target for my first apartment 7 or 8 years ago.  It's completely wobbly and totally scratched up.  Gumshoe shored it up with a few screws here and a few screws there and we're painting it a glossy black.

New hardware for entryway table.  Gumshoe isn't a fan, but I think they're kitschy and love 'em!

New mirror to go above table.  Love me some HomeGoods!  Unless Gumshoe decides to get his policing on!

New centerpiece for table.  I made this the other day with some items I purchased at Wal-Mart.  I was in a hurry, LG was about to spontaneously combust, and I had to pick these items out very quickly.  The more I look at it, all I can think is "bad clown wig...bad clown wig...bad clown wig..."  I think I need my mom's help with this one!

 
A cool gray on the walls and white woodwork.  Love it!  But I will NEVER be painting wood trim again.  :)

There you have it...Just a little peek at what we've been up to and more to come!