Okay Mother Nature, We Are Ready for Spring... Really.

We got 7 more inches of snow last night in Kansas City. Let me tell you, a snow storm is much more enjoyable when your husband is in town. We went to Ben and Renee Laster's wedding out in Edgerton at the beginning of the storm, and it didn't stop snowing all night.

Ben and Renee's wedding was beautiful, and it was fun to get together with good friends and celebrate. It was in a rustic barn, and all the decor was perfect and the food was amazing. Renee looked gorgeous, and we are so excited for her and Ben! This was Tom and I's 2nd wedding of 2013 - we have 8 more. I think I might need to get a job at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Tom took another trip to New Jersey for a work project. He went 125 feet in the air in a boom truck. I feel really great about this as it sounds so safe. (Photos below)

Tom and I are ready to escape this cold Kansas weather and head to Costa Rica in just a few short weeks. I just bought this great floppy hat from Target. I will be channeling my inner Audrey Hepburn while soaking up the rays on the beach. We can't wait to see Rob, Jenny and Sophia. It will also be fun to meet their family and friends. We fly into San Jose on April 6, then head down south to their house for a couple days, then Tom and I will drive up to Manuel Antonio for 4 days to celebrate our anniversary.

Our actual anniversary isn't until April 28th, but you can't ever celebrate too long, can you? I think year one of the wedding anniversary tradition gift thing is paper. I know Tom will be happy with a nice doily. ;) I think our plane tickets made of paper will be the perfect gift for both of us!  I can't believe Tom and I have almost been married for a year now. Where did the year go?! We have done so much to our house, traveled to lots of fun places, and had the best time being married!

I also can't believe I have been blogging for over a year now. I have been slacking the last month or two. I am going to blame it on the cold weather, and Tom being out of town for work. He is my blogging inspiration, by golly! It's been fun - I would love to get our first year in marriage blog posts printed into a book. Is this a real thing? Does a company do this?

In home remodel news we put some new decor up in our kitchen, and we are 74% down with our living room! We ordered the most wonderful area rug, after weeks of deliberation. We ordered it from Home Decorators on sale along with a matching runner.

I am still in search of these items to complete the room: 

1. Two rustic/vintage windows (think, our wedding guest book)
2. A console table like this. I would love to keep a few bottles of wine, and my turn table on this. I don't really want to pay $300 for a fake industrial table though. Surely there is one in the basement of an antique store waiting for me to find it.
3. A unique coffee table like this, again not a $500 cheaply made wood one.
4. Throw pillows. Why is it that stores sell throw cover pillows and pillows separately? I think Target is my best option here... I just need to find a Target that is not picked over. 
5. Any amazing chandelier or lighting for the room. This one might be the hardest to find... where do you find a huge iron light fixture that doesn't cost 1,000 bones. Ouch.
6. A big, bold beautiful statement for our mantel. There may or may not be a buffalo shoulder mount in the works which is super cool, and creepy to me at the same time. Depends if ol' pappa Tim decides to hang it on his mantel. He might read this and feel sorry for me since ours is bare. Worth a shot?

Any suggestions you have to finding these objects in the KC area is greatly appreciated  Or maybe there is a great website that I am missing out on. (I have tried Ebay and Craigslist)

This is also VERY exciting news on the DIY home remodel front... Tom is MAKING these edison bulb lamps for our living room. We found them on Etsy for $100 a piece plus shipping. Tom found the materials for making them at $40 a piece. These are the materials you would need to make your own.

Want to make your own? This is all you need: 

A glass cloche sold at Hobby Lobby.
A wood base also sold at Hobby Lobby. We plan to rough this piece up a bit to make it look more rustic.
Light socket. Finish color of your choice.
Antique replica plug.
Cord switch.
Black cloth covered cord.
Nostalgic Edison bulb sold at your local Lowe's or Hobby Lobby.

There will be another blog post on how we are going to do this and finished product photos. Keep your fingers crossed.

Our pretty new chair and perfect reading spot. 

Our barn wood house frame that we made. We printed Instagram photos to hang from twine.
They are hanging in our ktichen. 

Tom's dad inspired us, and we started working on a puzzle. Tom is much more patient and skilled than I am. 

Tom took this photo 125 feet in the air in the boom truck. Yowza! 

A view from our upstairs of our new living room furniture and rug. 

Ben and Renee's first dance at their wedding. 

New rugs and furniture! Can't believe this room isn't empty anymore. 

Tom and I at Ben and Renee's wedding.

Tom shoveling our drive. Isn't he cute? I think so too.