Thought it was about time I updated you guys on the progress of the dining room makeover.

New Rug- check, baseboards sanded and repainted- check, radiator cover- check, window treatments and accessories- a work in progress

I’m not ready for a full blown reveal, but here is a sneak peak!

The New Rug- On recommendations from my gals Jennifer and Adrienne I checked out Lowe’s for a new 8×10 Seagrass Rug.  I shopped it around and it was the best price in town.  Plus it had free shipping to the store!  A must see if you are in the market for a new area rug!

Remember the gorgeous pink and navy BEFORE Rug?

And here is the NEW one…

Baseboards- Finished! Hooray!  I was NOT looking forward to sanding and painting all the baseboards, but it had to be done.  It really is amazing what a coat of fresh white paint can do to make things look cleaner!

Once they were all dry, we pushed the China Hutch back against the wall and put all the breakables back in! Then we reclaimed the sitting room as an actual room and not the catch-all space!  Yes we still had it packed with all the items that had to be packed up when we got the floors refinished.  Pitiful I know.

Radiator Covers- While I was slaving away painting the baseboards, Mr. vB was busy designing and constructing the other radiator cover.  This radiator was much taller and skinner than the one in the living room, so we knew they weren’t going to be identical.  But I think Mr. vB did a really good job matching them as close as possible.

Before

After

Window Treatments and Accessories- I still haven’t found the right fabric to make the panels for the windows.  I am still in love with this chevron fabric, but it is like $50 bucks a yard and I need 10 or more yards!!  YIKES!! So I am still on the search.  But I did pick up this cute lamp last night at Secret Marshall’s.

Wasn’t sure what Mr. vB would think of the coral, but he liked it!  And I liked it!  SCORE!  I then informed him that I wanted to hang some white plates on the wall over the radiator.  That is where I lost him. Instead we have compromised on a mirror or artwork.  Whatever comes about first.  I am loving this mirror over at The Newlywed Diaries- I just can’t figure out where she got it!

SOURCE-The Newlywed Diaries

If anyone sees a mirror similar to this around town, please give me a shout!

Last but not least, once the fabric for the windows is selected, I also want to recover the dining room chairs with a coordinating fabric.  Then, I think we will be done.

I forgot to mention that I stopped by my Parent’s New-Old house the weekend before last while I was in Newport News checking in on my Daddio.  The house is looking really good and the contractor is telling them he will turn the keys over sometime in early May!  All that is left to do is install the kitchen cabinets and granite, repair and re-sand the hardwood floors, install carpet, install all the plumbing fixtures, and hang wall paper!  WHOO-HOO!  I know my parents are beside themselves with anticipation of being back in their own house with their own things again!

Here are some before and almost after photos for you guys.

The Foyer

My BedroomThe Upstairs Hall

The Back Stairs

The Kitchen

And The Exterior

Looking good, eh?!

As promised I am back, and I have a fun story and photos to share.

For all my readers with daughters, nieces, or god-daughters have you ever read them the book Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Conner?  It is the cutest story about a little girl that makes every thing fancy by wearing tiaras and feather boas.  I have started a collection of these books for both my niece Maddy and my god-daughter Abbie. I often hear stories about how each little girl will walk around the house exclaiming that they are fancy “Maddy” or fancy “Abbie”.  I just love it!

So when we heard that a local tea house was having a Fancy Nancy Tea Party and book reading we just couldn’t say no!

Off to Williamsburg we went yesterday to the Yankee Candle Outlet.

Within their store they have a little tea house/restaurant where we had lunch.

{please note that Maddy is carrying a real Kate Spade purse, handed down to her by her Aunt TT.  It was too tiny of a purse for me, but just the perfect size for her.  Good Taste starts early!}

After lunch, Mrs. Claus read the girls a Fancy Nancy Book.

They sat very still and listened to the the whole story.  But they kept asking why Mrs. Claus was reading to them and not Nancy. Wasn’t sure how to answer that.  I wasn’t even sure why Mrs. Claus was there! {ha-ha}

It was such a fun adventure and I think the girls really enjoyed themselves.  On the ride back to Richmond, Keri {Maddy’s mom} and I were discussing how cute a Fancy Nancy Tea Party Birthday Party would be.  Or how we could do this very same Lunch and Tea with Nancy idea in Richmond, with a few improvements.  We are thinking about getting in touch with some local tea houses to pitch the idea.  What do you guys think?

I’ve been a bad blogger lately.  And the worst part is that I don’t even have a good excuse.

I’ve definitely been preoccupied with my Daddio but I also think it’s because Mr. vB and I haven’t started any new home projects.  We’ve been trying to restock the ‘ol savings  account which means no fun projects, how-to’s, or makeovers to tell you guys about.  In other words- BORING!! {Good for the Savings Account, Bad for the you guys.}

It’s also unfortunate because it means no frivolous trips to Target or Secret Marshall’s…  I “should” only when we “need” something.  Don’t I NEED one of the cute new dresses that Liberty of London just debuted at Target?!

I promise though that I do have some good things cooking.  Shoe of the Month-March, an update on my Parent’s House, and hopefully a new radiator cover or window sill to show off on Monday.

You guys remember me mentioning that I was trying to get Mr. vB to hang some picture molding for me?  After a fun weekend with the boys, he came home to find his wifey with a nail gun in one hand and some liquid cement in the other. 

{I wasn’t really going to attempt to use either, I just thought it would get my point across.}

Well within 30 minutes Mr. vB had it hung and caulked!

He actually was working so quickly I couldn’t even snap a before photo.  In the shot below Mr. vB had already hung the molding to the left of the fireplace, but you get the jist.  The portion around the fireplace was hung about this time last year.

Our lonely little map longing to hang on the wall… {say that three times fast}

Ta-da!  Anyone notice the freshly painted radiator cover??

What a week! Sorry I have been missing in action.. My daddio got quite sick earlier in the week and it threw us all for a loop.  He is doing much better, but is still in the hospital.

Daddio is an avid bootsandtotty reader so I thought this post might brighten his day.

{LOVE YOU DADDIO- Feel Better!!}

On that note, thought we could all use something to smile about…

Here is my new front door accessory until it is time to break out my dragon fly for summer!

It was a Home Goods Steal and Deal for $1.39!!!!

Happy Friday!