{ Our Bungalow Project is Expanding }

Since my business trip in June,  I've neglected to share some big news.

We are going to need some more room in our bungalow... for a NURSERY!!



Here I am with my little butterball after Thanksgiving dinner, 20 weeks pregnant!



We had a fun baby "Gender Reveal" party with our families...



It's a BOY!

{ dallas }

This week I had an opportunity to take my first, "real" business trip.  I was very honored to attend a National Conference in Dallas, TX, with my boss and represent our agency. 

Dallas, Texas (June 2011)

I didn't have time to check out any houses.  But, we did get to take two nights out on the town. 

Me and my boss at the 2011 Gala

RJ's Mexican Cuisine

Heart Attack Grill
(If you know me, this place totally contradicts my typical health-freak stance.
But hey, rules are meant to be broken... right?)

As you can see, I did what I do best a this conference...

a lot of eating, learning, meeting people, exploring and talking!

{ pillow talk }

I recently scored an under-$20-deal on ebay...

Check out my new, white Ballard Designs pillow next to my faithful, brown Pottery Barn pillow.

Well hello, Gorgeous! 

Does my brown pillow remind anyone else of the famous Million Dollar Listing "pillow chop" by Chad Rogers?  Yes, I had to try the pillow chop after seeing him do that in an episode. It's so funny!

{ i heart bungalows }

Bungalows...

I had no idea that I loved them until I visited my friend Hollie's home a few years ago. 

It was love at first sight...

Be sure to check out Hollie's site and house tour at I'm Busy Procrastinating!

A few months later, while house hunting with my husband, we found our first home... a bungalow on a boulevard of many others.  I couldn't wait to show Hollie photos at work and hope to steal bits and pieces of her ideas when I could. 

I just can't get enough of bungalows by living in one or by stepping outside and looking at the neighbors', so I continue to find inspiration and ideas for our home get my bungalow fix here:

Daily Bungalow

Bungalow Insanity

1912 Bungalow

Bungalow 23

Oh Bungalow

Bungalowcious

Happy weekend, all!

Natalie

{ checking back }

Hi, all! We are alive over here at A Bungalow Project! Since I began my new job, I've had many new experiences and a very busy schedule! Our bungalow has become a home I truly live in and use every day.  Can you believe it's been 6 months since I blogged?  It has flown by for me.  Here's what you've missed. 

• Throughout January and April, I learned how to do taxes and coordinated a free tax program for families in our community who could not afford to pay someone to do their taxes... a difficult and rewarding project for sure.
• Riley-dog (our mini dacshound) learned how to knock over our trash can as a puppy, and he still knocks it over every day.  I love my dog and our SimpleHuman lid-locking trash can. Here he is sitting so sadly on top of the suitcase before a trip.

• Donated ten inches of my long hair to Locks of Love on April 1st.  I posted a prank pic of me in an extremely short style wig (think MiMi from Real Housewives of Atlanta) on my Facebook page, and my friends freaked.  It was fun dontating to a great cause and teasing my friends.  My hair is actually still shoulder length.
• My husband's best friend planned a destination wedding in the Riviera Maya, and we took the trip of a lifetime.  I can't tell you the last time I felt that peaceful and happy!
• I met a few "celebs"...
• Ran my 3rd mini marathon with my dearest friends...
• Bet on horses in Louisville on Derby Day (attending the actual Derby is still on the bucket list.)
• Although I have lived in Indiana my entire life, I finally went to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time.  I'm not really into racing, but a local radio station chose our charity as their charity of choice for the Media Pit Crew Challenge where the winner receives a $5,000 donation for their charity.  We were about 6 seconds and a bad lugnut away from winning!
• Found some warm weather to start working outside on our home again... my boulevard petunias are beautiful!
• And, just celebrated my 25th birthday!

Can't wait to catch up and see what I've missed from you and get some great ideas for ABP this summer!!

Always,

Natalie

{ celebrating abp's first christmas and first birthday }

Happy New Year!  I am excited to share our holiday photos with you today and celebrate that we've lived in our bungalow for an entire year now!  We have accomplished so many projects here.  Although many of them weren't the pretty, cosmetic things I wished for, I'm proud of the improvements we have made thus far and am looking forward to what this home has in store for our future.

Before I get ahead of myself, let me share the photos from our holiday decor! We did minimal things that could work for both Christmas and New Years.  We hosted our First Annual New Year's Day Open House & Hangover Brunch.  We are still a young couple, so we don't have a gazillion steralite boxes filled with decorations plus we found it hard to justify spending so much time setting decoration up right now since we must travel out of town to visit each side of our families!

Enjoy!

{ my fall hiatus }

I hope this finds you well and warm!  It's a sunny day here in Indiana, but there is about five inches of snow on the ground outside my window here! I love the snow, but my fellow Hoosiers have been whining and griping.  I love snowmen, snow dusted on the trees and holiday lights, and especially a white Christmas!

I have been on a running hiatus for a while, had some technical difficulties, and fall was very busy.  Not much has happened with the house besides holiday decorating, but here's a quick recap of the last two months for you:

Ran the Bourban Chase with a team sponsored by ZirMed with 11 strangers...

We started in Louisville, Kentucky, and ran to several Bourbon Distilleries.  We finished the race in Lexington before our expected time!

 Ran a 2nd race for charity, the Cysitc Fibrosis Foundation.  Here I am with my friends from left to right: me the Dead Runner, Max the Brazillian Runner, Erin Devilish Runner, Jeff Wells from Fleet Feet as Pooh, and Chris the Buddha!

We celebrated halloween for the first time in our new house.  We had 200+ trick-or-treators, and tons of stories to tell that surround that night...

This has been a solemn time for my family and I, we lost a dear family member, my Uncle Brian.  Here he is singing "...and I just can't stop falling in love with you..." (Elvis) at my wedding.

My entire family spent a day at a Colt's game in Indianpolis together.

And, now I'm getting our home ready for Christmas...

Natalie

{ a running project }

One of my many projects is literally running.  I’ve always been a decent endurance athlete, especially when it comes to swimming, I’m a fish.  But running… oh it’s a project to say the least! 

I started running in 2003, and ever since, it’s always been a challenge for me.  I had a lot of friends and support.  However, at my very first high school cross country meet, I never made it to the finish line.  I woke up in an ambulance.  After running in 100+ degree weather, I had suffered a heat stroke.  Just like everything my mom’s ever taught me, I “got back on the horse.”  I finished the season running 10-12 minute miles (ie: not that good.) But, I was awarded the Most Improved Runner!  I was thrilled!

Since then,  I’ve competed in a few sprint distance triathlons, several 5ks, and 2 mini marathons.  Here’s a photo of my talking running buddy, Krissy, and me at the 2010 Derby Festival Mini Marathon in Louisville, KY. 

This weekend, I’ll be running with ZirMed’s Team in a 200-mile relay on the Bourbon Trail in scenic Kentucky, the 2010 Bourbon Chase.  

Next weekend, I’ll be running for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Run Like Hell!  My mom was able to score some toe tags from the morgue, so I’m working on a sweet costume!  Will post photos later!

So needless to say… it’s me or the house.  Out Running… I’ll be on a house-hiatus for while.  Wish me luck! 

Always,

Natalie

{ a fall mantel and birthday }

Happy Fall!

“It’s the Little Things that Make a House a Home” had the cutest, wallet friendly fall decorating idea… You can read more about Karla’s Candy Corn decorating and other ideas here!

Our lonely ghost needed some company on the mantel.  So, I followed Karla’s instructions, and here’s how it turned out!

It happened to be my wonderful husband’s birthday this week, so we had a birthday party/fall themed mantel all week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalie

{ kitchen & dining room }

This one is for my Grandmother by special request… :)  You may remember photos of our empty kitchen and dining room from when we moved in here and here. 

Here’s what’s happened so far:

The dining room had these hanging blinds that I hated.  They looked old and did not add any light to the room at all.  I decided to hang curtains.  I cannot find a photo of the DR before… Oops!

Working hard:

Dining Room Now:

 

Kitchen Before:

 

 Kitchen After:

  We added appliance and furniture so far.  We’d like to update the hardware, faux brick, cabinets, countertop, and colors.  I will always dream of a new kitchen though.  :)

There’s a full bath between the kitchen and breakfast nook: 

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalie