There's been a little makeover happening at my place.  Did you sense my crabbiness and impatient nature?  

You'd never believe I spent a WhOLE WEEk without a sink and was inconvenienced enough to eat meals on the go nearly three additional times...more sarcasm you say?

Since we took over this 1-owner home four years ago - 1958 and I haven't always been friends.  At times we acted to spite one another and yet other times this old house was my best friend after a day of working real estate and seeing what other people pay monthly to live in their not-so-58-McMansions.

The befores:

My boyfriend really outdid himself this time...

Details - because a kitchen doesn't have to cost 60k:
Cupboards - original - $0
Paint for Cupboards - Hirshfields - $100
Hardware - original - $0
Countertops - Vicostone - $4000
​Backsplash - subway tile Menards - $100
Sink and faucet - IKEA - $400
Stovetop - IKEA - $350
Fridge - Craigslist - $350
Open Shelf - custom - metal gas line and pine framing lumber - $250
Beam - custom - knotty alder - $300
Window - custom fit (generic brand) - $300
Stools - amazon - $25/ea
Dining Light - Menards - $100

So this just happened.  We had about 2 days warning and ended up on our favorite vacation of the summer.  Our big kids spent their weight in quarters riding the Merry-Go-Round and Otto turned '1' surrounded by tie-dyed-joy.  Lucky us.

"Mom, is this my 'bretend' (pretend) birthday or my real birthday?"

Advancing in age means little to my Ollie.  It's all about the party.  He has come up with a way to define the difference:
 - Anniversary of the day he "came out of my tummy" - Birthday
 - Day all festivities happen and the piñata is slaughtered - '"Bretend Birthday"

This little mite - despite his meager 5 years - knows a thing or two about a Birthdays.  As he told an elderly man at the library last week, "I'll be 5 in two weeks - but my Mom DID NOT get to choose the day I came out of her tummy - the GALAXY did."

Nailed it.  Library dude is still googling "philosophy on galaxies" but I TOTALLY knew what he was talking about.

This year of Ollie's life is all about:
 - besties
 - selfies
 - swim, bike, run
 - laying future plans

Happy 'bretend' birthday my sweet.

Katelyn and Jake - cannot WAIT for this wedding!

Boy Crazy indeed.

Engaged?  I'm all in.  Book your session today, tomorrow, or the next day.

I saved it – the 1958 pink bathroom which featured screeching medicine cabinet mirrors and broken mini-blinds.  Because I couldn't stand the thought of busting out that metric-ton of tile – I thought I'd give it one more revival.

Light fixture a mid-century remake in brushed bronze.  Knobs made of faceted plexi on gold screws.  Window and shower curtain rods from galvanized pipe painted soft gold. Mirror - the only one that would fit over the massive medicine cabinet holes.

Not pictured – the pale-pink toilet seat in wood with snap-on screws for easy cleaning – purchased from Amazon for $14 and delivered to my door.  

We'll take her for one more spin around the block.  1950's alive and well here.  As per usual.

So lucky to be a part of this day.  Congrats you two!

I book a max of 6 weddings/year.  ONE spot left for 2017 (choose your weekend).

Looking for FOUR more couples in 2018!

Heart,
​Jen

Just a few images from a long-time-coming trip to the Minnesota Coast.

Love this lake, love when it looks like glass, love when the rocks are warm and the kids are somewhere between the shore glaciers and total submersion in the lake.

May not be sand between my toes – but there are endless rocks and arms willing to tirelessly toss them into the abyss.

​ - 

Paradise is a boy in a sunny window.
Paradise is ironing a fresh piece of fabric.
Paradise is reading a fishing guide.
Paradise is finding a place in the woods where Ninja Turtles come from.
Paradise is believing in Ninja Turtles at 9.
Paradise is watching a boy raise a brother.

Johnny Cash was once asked about his description of paradise.
"This morning, with her, having coffee."

Johnny.  You were on to something.  Paradise is just that simple.