Well I finally committed to some color

After more than 2 years of considering what to do with this living room I have finally committed to paint and just paint. I want all the halls as well as the kitchen and family room to stay light and neutral but I thought it would be fun to add a little more color to the living room and dining rooms. I was considering dark grey for a long time.I even thought maybe the same shade of the dining room would be the perfect choice for the living room that also sits at the front of the house but then I headed back to Home Depot for more paint chips...

I went with Gaberdine by Martha Stewart, it is one shade darker than my dining room a deep navy blue with a hint of peacock. I wanted a dark shade to make it more cozy as it  used mostly at night. 

I still need to add crown moulding and of course wood floors eventually. 

The dining room, as you can see it still needs some work. This color is school house slate by Martha Stewart.

 These photos were all taken at the same time but this photo shows and much different shade. This room gets a lot of light so it doesn't feel dark if it didn't get so much light I might have gone with a lighter shade. The other photos show more of the true color.

 I am just glad to have some color in another room. I think I am inspired to paint the bedroom next. I was hoping that the dark color would help the tv cabinet blend in better and in these pictures it nearly disappears.

                                               Its ready just in time for some company.

Before

There you go so what do you think of my color choice? Give it to me...

back porches

With spring here and snow finally melted it's time to start thinking about outdoor life again. Trust me we will be spending every possible moment outdoors this spring and summer. It has been a long hard winter.
Now last spring we were seriously considering a pool and in ground hot tub but when the price of our dream came in ridiculously higher than we could have ever imagined we took a step back.
But what to do? Well we need a fence badly and that is top priority this spring and as for the rest like a deck patio and outdoor kitchen it will come in good time.
I had been thinking a deck would be what we need but I don't want the weather to decide if we can enjoy days and nights outdoors so I started thinking a covered porch might be just what we need. Then that evolved into to a screened in porch with a wood burning fireplace it all came from a dream actually. I dreamt we had a covered screened in porch and then I thought of how beautifully it would function.
It would be a spring summer and early fall living space, and indoor outdoor space. A southern style back porch.
We would eat out there during the warmer months and entertain out there and nap and relax. A fireplace would allow it to be used earlier and later into the season then without. The perfect backyard retreat.

Warm days and nights perfect for outdoor dining.

I love the look of this screened in porch it's the perfect style for our house.

How could I not be inspired by these pictures.

This is also a great option , I love the idea of the metal roof, nothing like rain on a metal roof.

I'm sure this will be a big project so it may take a couple of years to see it through, so it's time to dream, design and plan.

First we need to build a privacy fence and enclose our backyard so we can enjoy the yard we do have.

Goals for good health

Things have been really quiet on the blog front lately as I have not been up to much as far as decor is related.

The one thing I have been trying to sort out if a wall color for my bedroom and a color for the living room. 

After a lot well 2 years of thinking, I have decided on the color for the bedroom, Edgecomb gray is it...the perfect neutral. Now I need to get to it....I have lost my mojo....well I am busy actually.

 I was going between Revere Pewter at full strength and 1/2 strength and Edgecomb gray but Edgecomb is perfect for this room. I wanted a little color but not a color color just a soft shade.

 One coat of Edgecomb sealed the deal for me.
I will paint this room , soon...but I have taken on what I call Project Health right now.

I am on a mission to get myself in really good shape. Since New Years I have been working really hard on my diet and fitness, like a job. 1-2 hours a day of working out 6 days a week and eating really clean and it was slow going there for a while but I have as of today lost 18 lbs, as well I know I have gained muscle since I have been using weights quite significantly.
I have 13-15lbs to go to my goal. I just want to be a healthy weight not too skinny.I need to make my health a priority and I have after all what's more important than health and family, nothing.
My whole family is working on eating well and we are all working out regularly in our crude home gym. It has really helped me weather this rough winter in Ontario.
It's almost been a year since we headed off to Aruba for our first family beach vacation. I love that we are finally taking trips with our kids and making memories like these.

 I have logged so many hours and miles on this trusted elliptical, this was a good day , 700 cals burned.... not too many runs like that, I had to document that.

As well as my health being a motivator we are going on a trip south in a few short days.....and we couldn't be more excited. 

 No recipes I just wanted to share some pics of my healthy eating...you know I look forward to healthy eating so much now.

 cilantro dressing

 lots of healthy raw chopped salads.

 Trips south require new shoes right? these are amazing from Target but they are going back because my poor ankles can't handle them, they are so high, I have never had ankle pain from trying on shoes so I know they won't work for a real wear. Cute but they have got to go.....kinda sad.

Back to my healthy choices....smokes salmon on rye crackers

there is so much to do in preparation for a trip getting the whole family organized making sure everything is thought of , not to mention , spray tans and waxing and grey hair touch ups and mani pedi's of course. 

Thanks for stopping by and seeing what I have been up to.....