HOUSEography

7.28.2011

Road Trip: Shenandoah National Park

We just got back from three nights in the Shenandoah National Park, home of the famous Skyline Drive, and the second oldest national park on the east coast (Acadia is the oldest). We went out there years ago for a hike or two but never to stay. In fact, I always thought camping was the only option and I am not a camper. But my sister-in-law did some research and found the Skyland Resort - real rooms with showers and even air conditioning! I was sold. You can see the resort in this picture nestled into the side of the mountain.

It did cross my mind that there might not be enough to do for a 5 year old and a 2 year old since there is no swimming at the resort (you have to go to Luray) but I figured we could always bring games and toys and the kids would be fine. I was also determined to be as electronics-free as possible. I left my blackberry in the car the entire time!! Of course having my brother-in-law and his family (including his 3 awesome kids) along was probably enough entertainment! Fortunately it all worked out just fine.

We did 3 great hikes using the book Shenandoah Scavenger Hike Adventures. Can't say enough good things about this book if you are hiking with kids - or even without. We learned so much about the history of the park, the views, and wildlife. I love that we'll be able to grow with the book and do some of the longer hikes when my kids get older. I loved that each of the hikes we did had a destination. We did the 2 highest peaks - Hawksbill and Stony Man.

We hiked to Rapidan Camp which was built by President Hoover in 1929. President Hoover was an avid fisherman and outdoor enthusiast. The Park still maintains several of the original buildings. Here we are in front of the Brown House that the Hoovers built for their own use.

Perhaps the best part is that it is 15-20 degrees cooler there than in Washington DC. So it was 104 here in DC last weekend and it was only in the mid to upper 80s in the Park!

Shenandoah is only 2 hours from Washington, D.C. so it's an easy weekend trip. There are a few side trips you can make including Luray Caverns, Arrowhead Lake (swimming and fishing), and the Shenandoah River (tubing, kayaking, etc.). We visited Luray Caverns on Saturday before heading into the Park. Definitely worth a couple of hours!

And of course, it's hard to get over the awesome sunsets!

We'll definitely be going back and we've already told a bunch of friends to go - it's hard to beat the convenience!

I recently caught the travel bug again. Perhaps spurred by Alex turning 2 and being generally a really easy kid, and Elizabeth being 5 and absolutely awesome to be around (not biased at all though!). I have a whole bunch of trips in the works so stayed tuned!!

7.25.2011

House Tour Room-by-Room Link-up Party: Mud Rooms

I'm working on a whole bunch of projects which I hope to share later this week. I've been a lazy blogger this month so bear with me!

One thing we didn't get in our renovation was a true mudroom. We have what I like to call a mud area near our side door which connects to the driveway. But, this does work for us.

I have some ideas on how to improve this area but the space is limited. The kids use the steps to put their boots on and off. Fortunately they really only play in the snow less than 10 days per year (2009-2010 excepted) thanks to the mild Virginia winters.

We also have another area outside of our half bath which is a secondary area for dropping things. We have a small coat closet there which keeps my coat collection in check - no hangers, no new coats!

So, make me jealous and show me your awesome mudrooms, but I also want to see where you got creative and made a mud area where there wasn't one before. Can't wait to get some inspiration for my areas! Don't forget to link up or grab a button below!

7.19.2011

DC Casting Call for HGTV'd!!

Hey D.C.-area readers! HGTV is doing a Washington, DC area casting call for its hit show - HGTV'd!!! All of the info is below so check it out if you're interested.

Are you a passionate fan of HGTV?!? Do you longingly watch each HGTV show secretly fantasizing that one day HGTV will come to your home and create a truly amazing space?

Have you always said “I wish they could come do that to MY house!”

HGTV Fans - Your wait is over……..HGTV’d is coming to the Washington, DC-area to create a one-of-a-kind room just for you!!!

WANT YOUR ROOM HGTV’d? Are you up for it?!?HGTV’d is the hot new prime-time series which airs on HGTV on Mondays at 9pm/8c. HGTV’d will provide lucky homeowners with the opportunity to experience the fantasy room that they have always dreamt about, tailored specifically to your needs, by a top HGTV star!

We are looking to renovate rooms where “WHERE FUN HAPPENS” .....Home Theaters, Family Rooms, Great Rooms, Large Master Bedrooms, Multi-purpose spaces, Rec rooms, Garage/multi-purpose space, etc.. If you’re a fun, upbeat and outgoing family/person, we’d love to hear from you NOW! Please send an email to tkscasting@yahoo.com and tell us why you deserve to be HGTV’d. Please include your email address so we can send you a questionnaire.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS ASAP!

*Homeowners only. Sorry, but walls cannot be broken, rooms cannot be enlarged or moved

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Let me know if you submit your project!

7.18.2011

House Tour Room-by-Room Link-up Party: Play Rooms, Rec Rooms, Lofts & Bonus Rooms

I've lost count on what week we're in and I too need to check the schedule when writing these posts. Hopefully everyone hasn't disappeared for vacation! This week we're talking rec rooms, play rooms, lofts, and bonus rooms. Here are a few new shots of our basement rec room. This are is affectionately referred to as "downstairs" by my 2 year old since most of his big (and favorite) toys reside here. As a result, our space often looks like this as you enter.

I'm not sure I've ever shown either view of this room. Probably for good reason. This is our furniture graveyard where furniture goes to finish its life. Fortunately, it doesn't take long to clean up this space thanks to the awesome built-ins that Handy Hubby finished up earlier this year (more about those here)

Here's how the space looked after 10 minutes of much-needed toy put-away time. Honestly, I don't mind seeing the toys because this is the rec room.

I hope to change the hodge podge feeling over the next year or so by moving the red chairs out and some blue chairs in. I want this room to have a beach feeling although without being kitschy beach. Of course all of that will take a lot of furniture moving up and down the stairs which may require lots of begging for Handy Hubby to find a friend to help out. At this point, I'm planning to make these moves next winter. Hopefully. The couch will likely stay and the coffee table is actually my grandmother's cedar trunk. It needs some work but it will work in the space I hope.

p.s. In case you are curious about the toy train set, it's Fisher Price GeoTrax and any 2-6 year old boy or girl would LOVE it.

Your turn! Please don't forget to link back here or add my button below.

7.13.2011

Now go clean something...

I wasn't going to post today. Really, I wasn't. But, here I am.

Something was irking me. If you've been around here a while you know that I love trays. I have them everywhere (and plans for more). Unfortunately, the kitchen tray has become a dumping ground for all sorts of stuff. Everything from lollipops to bottles of bubbles from various birthday parties.

Yikes. On the plus side, at least it was contained in one place. Sort of. Sadly, it has looked like this since May. I know that because several of these items were from Alex's birthday.

So, I cleaned everything and it PUT IT BACK WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. (emphasis absolutely necessary)

Now here's the challenge. Go and clean something up, put something away, or reorganize something that has been bugging you for a while, and do it in 5 minutes or less. Let me know what you did in the comments. You'll feel AWESOME, and you won't even have to go to Starbucks to achieve that high!

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