10 days in: move-in complete

it's official.

after 19 years of moving

we have a new record.

10 days after
household goods were delivered
all boxes have been put away,
rooms are complete,
stuff on walls,
junk put away.

yee haw.

whoopee.

not sure why this is so.

perhaps
three hands-on teenage girls
put us into
hyper speed.

team brookes in full effect.

we clinked our glasses last night
to a collective
job well done.
(3 milks, one wine and one beer)

feels good.

nothing gives you more confidence
than good old fashioned hard work,
and a job accomplished.

not much better than that,
except perhaps this...

...waiting for me
when i woke up

mr. man is back to his
lovely routine.

if you aren't sure what i'm referring to,
see this post.

today is going to be a good day.

all i'm saying.

tell me about the last time you
clinked your glasses in celebration.

cornier the better...
you know me.

kitchen reveal: fayetteville version

remember this post?

operation bar stool

wasn't sure about island bar stools.

so when my 'old' barstools arrived
and i threw them under the island
and i stood back (way back)
and squinted my eyes
they worked.

actually for now they do.

yes, they are bar stool height
rather than the island counter height.

only skinny thighs can actually sit there,
but they will do for now.

you with me?

still on the search for two more stools
to round out our family of five,
or perhaps find 5 on sale.
...to be continued on that front.

oh boy do i love white cabs.
always have.
always will.

feeling more at home.

so what do you think so far?

found: closet space saver

moving into a new space

sometimes you find yourself being
creative about storage and function

take for instance
closet space

we have unfortunately
been cut one master closet
leaving mr. man and i to
actually share one closet.

i know
not ideal

this has lead us to
downsizing
squishing,
stacking and
finding
new ways to store our stuff.

as you already may know,
being organized is definitely my friend.

so here is my
new fandangled solution
to jewelry storage

and
bonus...

jewelry display

hanging shoe rack
meet necklaces

stuff i wear most...
convenient grab-and-go

delicate necklaces
get hung on this guy

i am loving the fact that
this takes up no space.
i spent zero on supplies
and it is tres convenient.

what do you think?

any closet space savers
you want to share?

family room reveal: fayetteville version

okay folks.

here is the
family room reveal:
fayetteville style.

first edition

the family room is way (way) bigger
than my minuscule family room in mclean.

remember this?

furniture was tight,
but i squeezed as much as i could squeeze in there.

now.
we've got a little more leg room.

i even get to use the "big" coffee table
for proper foot propping.

wise landlords installed floor electrical outlets
for optimal lightage placement.
thank you oh wise landlords.
my room arrangement just got a lot easier.

round mirror is just leaning at this point.
remember this is just version 1.
things need to settle before i start nailing

dear friend gave me this jack kerouac quote.
prime family room real estate had to come to action.
propped stately on bookshelf for optimal viewing pleasure.

oh, jack,
well worded my friend.

so what do you think so far?

all i know is
all three girlies complimented the new fam space.

unsolicited.

yeah baby.

fourth of july, twenty eleven

as i muddle through
this

i will pause a moment
to celebrate

i can tell already
i'm going to love this place

the potential is written all over the wall

tell me about your big plans
for the day

opinion poll: operation bar stools

new house poses some

new problems
with team brookes

we are losing our kitchen table,
and gaining a kitchen island.

what's the problem,
you ask?

no stools.

what to get.

this is where you come in.

exhibit a:
the kitchen island

this is where the fam while share
most of the every day meals.

which stools would
prove team brookes proud?

here are some of my picks:

option 1:
emeco navy barstool
1940's repo
brushed aluminum

$146
(a little pricey when i will be
needing 5 of these suckers)


but i so do love this industrial lookoption 2:
pottery barn aaron barstool
also found at target
$69.99

simple
goes with most interiors

option 3:
free choice
wicker?
ideas?
anyone?



come on.
help a girl out.

arrival: fayetteville

we made it!

got here saturday night
after an adventurous drive up.

did i mention i won't be
missing that dc traffic?
well, i won't.

living out of suitcases,
in an otherwise empty home

enjoying the prospects of what
this house has to offer
team brookes while here in nc

this is what we've been doing
since our arrival

excited about the potential.

oh,
got a set of these too

household goods arrive wednesday.

if you don't hear from me,
you'll know i'm up to my eye balls
unpacking boxes.

i'll try to come up
for air and send a quick hello.