FANTASTIC NEWS!

Buh-bam! We have our building permit at Wrightwood! Not only did we get out building permit, we got historic landmark status too - which means half-off building permits and will help protect this grand old lady in the future. We've been meeting with all the usual suspects as far as contractors go; it's funny how small the world gets when you make the time to talk to your friends. I dragged one of my fellow rodeo volunteers to a class at my yoga studio (I believe his exact words after parking his oversized pickup in our tiny parking lot was "I am WAY out of my comfort zone.") and we start talking about the project. One sweaty hour and some casual conversation about gypsum board later, he was on his way to check out the house. Next Monday we really start making moves, maybe we'll even have AC before this heat gets oppressive!

Truth is I've been wanting to write, really I have, but without permits we couldn't DO much of anything. BIG Memorial has been full steam ahead, in fact we're opening NEXT WEEK,  but I had to keep everything under wraps. And I still do. You should, however, check back tomorrow for a sneak peek of the studio and why I love the color blocking trend almost as much as my secret stash of easter candy.

MONDAY MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Remember that time I so brazenly said I wanted to start posting more often and on a regular schedule...and then didn't post for over a week? That happened. Life happens - however I'm back and ready for action! I am a YES for posting regularly starting with something I would like to call "Monday Morning Announcements"! A little weekend update if you will. This past week and a half has been filled with so many wonderful real-life things that I haven't really had time to internet! And so, these are my really good reasons why I haven't posted:

1.  To start things off, I graduated from my 200 hour yoga teacher training course! I am now a certified 200RYT - aka "Registered Yoga Teacher". Since October I have been taking part in an intensive, empowering, incredible training that has taught me so much beyond yoga! Every other weekend and every Wednesday night I took the time to be with 27 other incredible world-changers to learn how to accomplish amazing things in this world!

2.  And some extremely exciting news: the same weekend I graduated I was asked to help my amazing yoga studio with their expansion into a new space - opening March 1! (EDIT: Looks like opening is pushed back to April 1). I'm sure you all realize March 1st is only about a month away so the deadlines have been coming fast and furious. This is super exciting and commercial design is not exactly in my comfort zone but the two women who own the studio are incredible clients and amazing friends and this is going to be the most badass place to practice yoga in Texas. Absolute fact. I'm not really sure how much I can share right now, but hopefully after the grand opening I can get into a bit of the process!

3.  Equally distracting is this little guy (search #rookaroux on instagram for more of this sweet face). Houston's newest dog park just opened down the street and he may be a dog, but he is capable of manipulating the full range of human emotion; guilt being his strong suit. I've been doing my best to fulfill his dog park needs while meeting all the deadlines or else he sits by me when I work plotting  the most effective way to get my attention - usually in the form of nipping my legs, howling wildly, or actively trying to knock my coffee cup out of my hand and onto my laptop. I want to be annoyed but look at that face.

4. Things at the Wrightwood house are a little slow. We're waiting on the Houston Historic Preservation Committee to meet and hopefully approve us as a landmark (I honestly can't remember the official designation but it's the slightly-less-special one that still gets us discounts on permitting).

5.  The tile in the kitchen is all down (grouting today!). The floors are covered with butcher paper to protect them from our ogre-like steps but I just cannot WAIT to show you all the finished product!

6.  Finally, the bathrooms at Wrightwood are getting ready for floors too. Be expecting an actual post on that this week. (Seriously, I'm promising you this, would I lie? Don't answer that.) This specific picture is the half-bath we're adding under the stairs! If any of you know of a good source for 2" hexagonal tiles in a nice soft grey I will bless you with the warmest batch of just-baked break and bake cookies.

I'm recommitting to this whole blogging thing because I love it and it's something I want in my life so I'm going to make the time to keep y'all informed!

DELIVERIES

This weekend was treacherously cold and wet, not a lot of progress was made at the house and I decided sleeping fully dressed is the only way I'm going to survive the winter. One exciting thing did happen though: we found out that our suburban can handle 1,100 pounds of tile. Eleven...hundred. (BTW, ignore the obvious calculation error in the text. Clearly her brain was fried by the sheer prospect of unloading all that tile. Each box weighs somewhere around SIXTY pounds.) Thats the kitchen tile folks and what I'll be spending my day installing (#DIYtotheMAX) because the stove gets delivered this weekend and we want the delivery men to put it right in place.

 Moving the tile inside was enough work, thank you very much!

Just a little insight into what sort of look we're going for with the tile. It's not actual slate, but it's really pretty, durable, and (somehow) less heavy. The color changes beautifully depending on the light - greens, blues, grays, earthy browns - and plays off the existing wood floors in the best way. We'll be looking for a good gray grout instead of a stark white, and laying it in a running bond pattern perpendicular to the island. I really can't wait to share with you guys. The light bounces off the tile much like in the lower picture and despite the dark color really brings life and light into the kitchen - exactly as it should be!

In other news it's now 2015 and I'm busy making resolutions (I think a kind way to do that is to use the entire month of January to ease into new and better habits). One of those resolutions is to get on a 5-day-a-week posting schedule by March (and the sooner the better)! I hope ya'll keep tuning in, because I love sharing this process with all of you!