Before and After: Bathroom Revamp

I decided to tackle one more project before year’s end: a revamp of the bathroom. I mentioned back in August that I woke up one day and decided I hated everything in there. Not sure where that came from, but I definitely think I’ve made some improvements.

Here’s what it looked like before:

Now, this is not a dramatic reveal – there’s still a lot I’d change, but you can only take a rental bathroom so far. (For instance, I am DYING to replace that mirror/light fixture, and I’d get rid of the checkered floor too.)

Here’s where I’ve landed for now:

While I still need a few things (top of the list: a basket of some kind to put on top of the toliet), it already feels more spa-like, and I love that. The white shower curtain allows for more light to come through, and I bought these awesome new towels – Hotel Collection from Macy’s, if anyone is curious – that have made a huge difference.

But my absolute favorite part of the “new” bathroom is my gallery wall. I took a series of photographs in college in different barbershops around Bloomington, Ind., and I’ve always wanted to display them. I finally made it happen, and I couldn’t be happier! Plus, it meant I didn’t have to buy expensive artwork and could splurge on those towels I mentioned.

Maybe I’ll paint someday; there’s no doubt it could use it. I also attempted to recaulk part of the bathtub – turns out caulking is not my foray. I still have a lot to learn… I’ll save that for 2015!

I Want That Wednesday: Maddie the Coonhound

If you haven’t been able to tell from my Instagram or Weekend Rewinds, I’m a huuuge sucker for my family’s dog, a vizsla named Coco. I would definitely have a dog of my own if my landlord allowed it, and it’d almost certainly be one from the sporting or hound groups—pointers, weimaraners, plotts, etc.

So that’s why I’m especially smitten with Maddie the Coonhound.

It’s not actually Maddie that I want (well, sure, if she was up for adoption, I’d be all about it), but what’s more feasible is a few of these great photographs from Maddie’s owner, Theron Humphrey.

Is she not irresistable? I can tell just by looking at her that she’s a “Velcro dog” like Coco. I’m not sure how he gets her to hold still for so long though! Coco is a wild woman so I rarely get a good pic of her.

Humphrey is also doing this awesome photo essay called Why We Rescue, about 50 people across 50 states who have adopted pets. Check it out. (And make sure your sound is on!)

Maddie the Coonhound prints, $20 each, Maddie on Things

(Images: Maddie on Things)

Disclaimer: “I Want That Wednesdays” are a series of posts that, well frankly, are just of things (decor, fashion, food, etc.) I like. The products featured are never sponsored; they’re simply items I’ve come across that I’m crushing on and that I thought you might enjoy as well. Let me know if you love it/ hate it/ can’t get enough of it.

Weekend Rewind: I Keep Runnin’, Runnin’

Breakfast of champions.

I’ve hit the half way point of marathon training! Or at least that’s what I assume because this past weekend I was scheduled to run 13 miles, half of a marathon. I’m too scary/lazy to actually count the weeks—I’d be so disappointed if there’s still more than half the plan left to complete!

The lakefront is pretty picturesque at 6 am.

So anyway, in lieu of another long run by myself, I snagged a Groupon for the ZOOMA Women’s Half on Chicago’s South Side on Saturday. I appreciated the change of scenery, but I wasn’t crazy about the route. It was a half marathon and also a 10K, so the half people had to go by the start/finish line again at about the 6-mile mark, and that was a real mental beat down. Not to mention, they only had two water stations between miles 6 and 13. WTF?! Or maybe I was just dillusional by that point.

Ready… Set…

The good news is that I made it down there (quite a hike from my apartment, and it was Lollapalooza weekend), the weather was beautiful, and I finished. OK, I’m going to toot my own horn here for a minute: Not only did I finish, but I cut about 8 minutes off my half marathon time from last year! Woot! I was right on pace for what I’m hoping to run the full marathon at (9:30 per mile), though I can definitely tell I’m not ready for that yet.

20th in my age group? I’ll take it!

Now things get real serious: This weekend, I drop back to 10 miles, but then I up it to 15 the following Saturday. Anything above a half marathon just seems  insane…

Oh hey, Chicago.

But there’s no turning back now. Wish me luck—I’m a gonna need it!

Best thing about running? Breakfast No. 2!

Weekend Rewind: Celebrating America

Pardon my photo dump here… there’s just too many fun pics from this weekend not to share! (Click any image to see it bigger.)

New 5K PR: 24:50!

Nautical nails!

Camping out with fleece blankets in July?!

The country

Dog park/ petting zoo

Oh, hello!

Got any snaaacks?

Man’s best friend

Baby cone

Ladies only…

Cuties

Big Fish Grille, omg good

Fish tacos

I&M Canal path at 6 am

About 5 miles into a 9 miler

Storm damage!

Reba’s new puppy, Riggins

Why does it have to be Monday already? Long live the (long) weekend!

Design for You

I don’t often dole out advice on here—an expert, I surely am not—but I (accidentally) learned a valuable lesson recently, and I think it’s important to pass it along.

I’d been going back and forth for a few weeks about where to hang two photographs—beautiful images I bought while traveling in Cambodia. They were originally part of the gallery wall but, as you know, I dismantled that after painting the dining room.

So my idea was to move them to my little foyer. Option 1 was to hang them on the wall you see as you as you open the front door, a great first impression for guests. Or Option 2 was to hang them on the wall to the right, next to the bathroom door and perpendicular to the front door.

Option 1 on the left, Option 2 on the right

While Option 1 seems like the obviously choice, there didn’t seem to be enough visual space for both images on that wall. It’s a little narrower than Option 2, and they’d have to contend with a light switch.

Finally, I stopped humming and hawing and just went for it—Option 2. I wasn’t crazy about the fact that guests would be getting a side view of the frames when they walked in instead of the images themselves, but I could always change it later, right?

Then the next morning when I woke up and opened my bedroom door to hit the shower, there they were. I realized that every day I get to start my morning with these serene images and memories of a great trip long past. It’s been about two weeks, and still every single morning, I take a second to look at them.

So here’s my advice: Don’t forget to design for you. Think about how many days a year you live in your home without guests, and then think about the number of days you entertain. Unless you’re a socialite or run a business out of your home or something, the time you’re there alone probably greatly outweighs those days when you’re playing host.

So don’t just think about what would make others happy. What would make you happy?

Weekend Rewind: Land of Beer and Sausage

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I don’t think we could have asked for better weather. I took Friday off, and me and the boy took a little road trip (OK, I’m not sure an hour and a half drive constitutes a road trip, but whatever…) up to Milwaukee. Here’s the highlights:

It ain’t a road trip without snacks…

Our first stop was Lakefront Brewery, which I’d highly recommend. You get four beers, a brewery tour, a pint glass and a coupon for a free beer at a local establishment—all for $7! Our tour guide was great, and we had fun trying the different beer styles. That says a lot since I’m not big on beer.

Then we walked down Brady Street and grabbed a pie at Zaffiro’s. The hostess was a middle-aged Italian women, the tables were covered with red and white checkered table cloths, and the pizza was super thin—so super charming (just a little too saucy). The place not to miss in that area is Wolski’s, an old school neighborhood bar with a patio. I’d be a regular if I lived up there!

The Cubs were playing the Brewers, but that was really just the excuse we used to get up to Milwaukee and explore. We concealed our fandome (Well, I did—the boy is a Yankees fan…) and rode one of the free bar shuttles from downtown to Miller Park. The Cubs were sucking so bad that we ended up leaving the game early. Typical.

The next morning we grabbed brunch at Zak’s Cafe in Old Third Ward. Sweet potato hash = delish. (I want to try to make it at home, so stay tuned!)

And finally we went on a crazy long walk and ended the trip with custard, naturally!

Weekend Rewind: Memorial Day Adventures

Chase Corporate Challenge 3.5 mi – 26,000 participants!

Chicago at sunset

Clare’s Birthday Celebration at Shoe’s Pub

Story of my life…

Frostys with Mimi

Can we puhlease go to the park now?

Omgomgomgomgomgomgomgomg…

Goose Lake State Prairie

Bridge to nowhere

Back to Chi city, my city!

Morning run to Montrose Harbor

Treat yo self!

There’s only one way to kickoff summer: ice cream. Lots of it.

Thank you to those who have served and those who continue to protect our nation! Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!

Weekend Rewind: Gallery Wall Reversal

Monday’s are the worst, and since I’m taking a grad class that meets on Monday nights, they’re even more agonizing. So I apologize for my lack of Monday posts lately—there’s just not enough time in the day!

That’s what it felt like this weekend too. Run, bridal shower, bachelorette party, training, open houses, cleaning, reading… I packed A LOT in.

Why the bride-to-be wanted to celebrate with Miller Lite, I have no idea…

Are you supposed to wear white when you’re not the bachelorette? Whoops…

I’d never been to a bachelorette party before. Luckily, there were no strippers, penis straws or tiaras, and it was generally a low-key affair. I wish I had taken pics of our food at Quartino’s, where we started the night. Pizzas, bacon-wrapped dates, caprese salad, fondue… YUM. We ordered pasta, but we cancelled that part of the order because it was coming out last, and we were all already so full. The place is packed and loud (not somewhere to take Grandma), but I’d definitely go back. The prices were reasonable too, especially for River North.

Outside of all that other stuff, I also managed to fit in a few household projects. I still haven’t completely “recovered” from painting the living and dining rooms, but I did get a handful of things back up on the walls.

Before painting, I knew the gallery wall just wasn’t working for me. As much as I love all those beautiful mixed-and-matched gallery walls on Pinterest, mine just had too many colors, mediums, frame styles, etc. And this is after I’d already taken a few things down…

So I decided to get back to the basics. Five photographs. Five matching frames. Done.

I think it’s a huge improvement. It’s just so much cleaner. Do I wish the images were a little bigger? Sure. But I think it works… for now : )

Speaking of, I used those 3M Command Picture Hanging Strips, and while I love that I don’t have to put nails into my freshly painted wall, I’m not sure I’m crazy about them. Hopefully they hold! Have you used these products? Love ’em, loathe ’em?

Spring Has (Finally) Sprung!

But yet there’s still a chance for snow this evening… C’mon, Mother Nature, give us a break already!

Explore: New Orleans

I just realized that I never shared my adventures in Nola with you guys!

Best way to start a trip: with new kicks for me and the bro.

The family trip to New Orleans came about very last minute. At Thanksgiving I said something to my mom about how we should go on a short trip somewhere over the holidays since she and I both work for schools now, my brother would be home from college, and my dad is semi-retired/consulting so his schedule is somewhat flexible. Might as well take advantage of the time, amirite?

So she set about her used-to-be-a-travel-agent ways, and somehow scored us FREE Southwest flights the weekend before Christmas using miles. She’s a miracle worker, I tell ya.

Preservation Hall

Jackson Square

Excuse me, can I touch your meat?

Financial District

Ben, is that you?

Look at those ankles!

We got in late Friday night, grabbed some beignets, took a quick walk through the French Quarter and crashed for the night. The next day was filled with more French Quarter touring (the French Market: meh), food and drinks, a very long walk through the Financial District, the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (we did find a Peters mausoleum!), and finally more food and drinks. And drinks. Did I say that already? (More on that tomorrow.)

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

Are you my family?

The Garden District

Newcomb House

Smallest house, but maybe my fav

Thankfully we did so much Saturday because it poured on Sunday. And we got stuck in it. Not fun.

But we made the most of it, attempting to take the (free, mind you) ferry over to Algiers—well, we did ferry over, but once we got to the port, we got off, took a few pictures and got right back on. The real bright spot (quite literally, see the gold log cabin!) of the day was the New Orleans Museum of Art. I’d read that they had a Gordon Parks exhibit, which I was keen to see since the other option was sitting in the hotel bar. But the most impressive part turned out to be the Photography at NOMA exhibit. If you’re a photo nerd like me and find yourself in Nola, I’d highly recommend it. As well as Coop’s Place, which is where we had dinner. Good drinks, good food, good music, good vibe.

And then we were homeward bound. It certainly wasn’t long enough to do all the exploring that I wanted to. I’d go back in a heart beat, though I could skip the whole Bourbon Street shenanigans. I have Wrigleyville for that.