Construction Update

I have yet to pull up a "before" picture of our living space but as far as we are concerned those yellow walls, carpet, tile and mismatched baseboards are a distant memory. We continue down the road of progress and to me that means a fresh coat of paint on the wall. Rick's jaw hit the sawdust coated masonite when I told him Thursday was the 1 month mark. Demolition began December 28th and he was certain it had been close to 2 months. I guess 20 days of work in a row would contort my perception of time as well! Here are a few photos of life at our house.

Light at the end of the hallway! This is a space where floor is in, trim is up (still needs painter putty) and paint is on the wall. I like to call this space a tease :)

New drywall with a coat of Benjamin Moore's Stardust - pink floors compliment the Walnut nicely!

Every kitchen needs a saw, right?! This picture reminds me that there is still plenty of work to do. On a postive note, I discovered a whole new menu at our local deli while the kitchen stage is under way! More photos to come as progress continues.
XO
EAT

Changes at 912

We are well into our first home improvement project as a married couple. We** tackled the bathroom remodel about a year ago but this time we have decided to go big. This includes raising a floor, knocking down walls, replacing windows, all new electrical work/lighting, replacing a sliding glass door, moving a door, adding a closet and pulling carpet to install hardwood flooring. Phew!
The project quickly became our "night job" so the evenings of lighting a fire, making dinner and watching TV are so 2009 right now! The living room/kitchen turned construction zone provides some regular challenges as daily life continues but we are certainly enjoying the transformation of our home. It is also fun to watch how many resources the Tiltges family has when it comes to projects of this nature. They are a handy bunch and have every power tool to ever grace the aisles of Home Depot. PLUS - Uncle Leo and team really do "think outside the box" always coming up with the best use of space and future proofing. We will post updates and before and after photos soon!

XO
EAT

**Allow me to clarify the "We." Rick and I knew long before the wedding bells that a marriage is give and take. In the case of a home remodel…he is doing way more than his fair share of giving. I contribute where I can (usually by making material choices or feeding him) but his hard work never ceases to amaze me. He comes home from his “day job” and jumps right into the “night job.” Around 9pm he is done working for the evening and suits up to take Stewie on a walk. Sure there are nights where I catch him falling asleep standing up but his overall "can do" attitude is 100% admirable!

Our new blog

Welcome! So many times Rick and I find ourselves asking what year was that, or when was that vacation or sheepishly, how old is Stewie. This alone is reason enough to jot down the happenings of our lives in electronic format...aka 'blog.' Never has it been easier to share thoughts, photos, events and videos! Although the increased use and reliability on advanced technology scares us both a little bit, we have embraced a life of iPods, satellite radios, HD TV, Ninetendo Wii, digital cameras and wireless anything. Sometimes I wonder how many topics or technologies the human brain can chew on at the same time. This wonderment along with the joy I have always had for writing could lead to some interesting equations. Never know until you try!

Onto the good stuff...

We were married October 11, 2009 in Lyons, Colorado. The wedding was everything we could have ever dreamed of and so much more. We wrote a journal of our wedding day because some things do escape the memory but the overall feel of that day is one we will never forget. The Colorado weather threw a curveball at us and provided a fresh snow and a temperature of 18 degrees for our 4pm OUTDOOR ceremony. As my Dad says "we wouldn't have traded it for all the tea in China." The collaboration of family and friends continues to blow our minds. 10 months of planning, celebrating, choosing and counting down came together and it was nothing short of magical. Thank you for all of the love and support! You showed us that 18 degrees truly can warm our hearts :)

It really is hard to believe the wedding was close to 3 months ago. We celebrated our first Christmas together as husband and wife and rang in the New Year and a new decade! 2010 (or 2K10 if you want to be hip) is going to be a great year! All resolutions aside, we hope we can live each day to the fullest. We wish the best to you all. Stay tuned!

XO

EAT