Entry Way Project - Our English Home

It is so hard to believe we have been in our new home for 3 months now.  It feels like we are finally settling in.  I truly love it and can't wait to get cracking on all of the DIY projects I've had my heart set on for the last couple of months.  First on the list (especially during these winter months) was to create an entry way / organized space for our coats, rain boots, bookbags, etc.

I have been busy pinning away on Pinterest to come up with different ideas I wanted for the space.  A big thanks to Steve and his DIY skills for turning it into exactly what I wanted! 

He literally built and painted everything by hand.  I couldn't be more proud of him and feel very lucky to have a man in my life who knows how to put those hands to good use! My dad would be proud!

Steve also painted our half bath downstairs that is right next to the new entryway space. 

While it isn't completely finished (still need to get a new pendant light to hang and new bathroom fixtures), it is nearly there and I love it! 

Here is a look at the before pictures.

 

Our downstairs half bath

 

In the before pictures, the wall color was this sea foam / greenish color.  Although Steve already removed the hooks from the wall, the only thing to hang our coats on was a strip of 4 hooks.  Not nearly enough for our needs.  We also didn't have any storage place for our shoes.  We live next to a lake and when we take the kids for a walk, our wellies get really muddy, so it was important to have a place to store them without tracking mud through the house. 

 

AFTER:

 

I finally found a home for this print Steve and I bought while on a trip to Paris in 2005.  We visited a market along the Seine and picked up several prints that we never got around to framing and hanging up.  I love reflecting upon that time.  It was truly a memorable trip and I can't wait to visit again.

 

I chose Dulux Chic Shadow for the paint color

This is one of my favorite prints now hanging in our house.  Funnily enough, I purchased this watercolor Charlotte skyline print from Coventry, England.  It is now the first thing I see when I walk in the door.

 

Steve's DIY masterpiece!

 

I'd also still like to get a neutral basket to put gloves, scarves, hats, etc. in.

This little space has made our entire downstairs so much more tidier.  More to come soon!  :)

Lottie's First School Disco (Dance)

If I haven't mentioned it before, Lottie LOVES school.  She has really adapted so well in her new surroundings and at just 4 years old is reading, writing and learning so many words.  I just love hearing her sounding out her words and the look she gives me when she's "nailed" it.  Proud mama over here. 

She has especially loved making new friends and was so excited to be attending her first school "disco".  I love that they call it a disco over here vs. a dance.  Too cute!

In preparation of her big school disco, we painted her nails and applied lipstick!  :)  Can't believe my first born is getting so big!!!

She had a ball.  Steve dropped her off at school at 6:15 p.m. and picked her up at 7:30 p.m. 

Here she is just before her first Christmas disco at school...................................

Lottie's School Lunch Menu!

Since moving to England, I am certain Lottie has grown at least a foot (well maybe not that much), but all of her clothes she brought over are too small now!!!  I seriously think it is from all the good food she's been eating.  The reason for this post is just to show you how well these kids eat at school over here.  I've never seen anything like it!  It puts our old cafeteria menu to shame!  All I ever remember eating in elementary school was pizza, tater tots, mac & cheese, etc. 

The best part about this menu is that it is FREE!!!!  Children over here get free school lunches until they are seven.  Isn't that amazing?  It is especially amazing for all of those children out there who may not get a good quality meal at night due to whatever circumstance prevents them from doing so. 

Here's a look at Lottie's school lunch menu...............................  I want to go to her school and have lunch every day!!  When is parent's day?

The menu rotates every 4th week.  So, the menu above will be served on Week 1 and on Week 4.  The kids are given a meat option and a vegetarian option.  Lottie's picks are usually:

 

Monday - Margherita Pizza

Tuesday - Roast Pork

Wednesday - Crispy Jacket Potato

Thursday - Roasted Chicken

Friday - Pork Sausages



 Lottie's Picks:

Monday: Vegetarian Bolognaise
Tuesday: Roast Gammon (Ham)
Wednesday: Pork & Apple Burger
Thursday: Brunch Lunch
Friday: Fish Fingers

 

Lottie's Picks:

 

Monday: Pork Meatballs

Tuesday: Roast Beef

Wednesday: Not sure what she gets on those days.....

Thursday: Pizza

Friday: Fish & Chips

The Shipping Container Made It!!!!

Just over a month after we landed we were notified the container made it to port.  Thank goodness!!!!  The original place we were going to store it at notified us and told us they basically gave our storage unit to someone else!  WTH????  So, Steve got on the phone and found us another facility to store it at.  It is about 30 minutes away from Steve's parent's house. 

After rounding up a couple of Steve's mates, the four of us headed to Melton to unload our 40 foot container.  Thankfully, the new storage facility had a fork lift they let us borrow to help get the contents out.  4 hours later, we managed to pack a 20 foot and 10 foot storage unit.  Steve's mates got a good laugh looking at the crap we brought over.  I think they more or less got a laugh at all the sports crap, jerseys, ping pong table, etc. that Steve brought over..........  I swear he brought more clothing over than I did.

After unloading the container, the four of us went around to the pub for a pint!  Those guys definitely deserved it! 

Seeing that our container was not inspected by customs, Steve and I totally regret not smuggling the container with our favorite foods and wine!  :)

 

Your guess is as good as mine as to WHY the guitar made it across the pond!!

 

Lucky 717!!!

I don't think we could have shoved more stuff in there.

 

Take a look at the upper right hand corner of the storage unit........ Our wooden thinking chair made it!  You have NO idea how much I've missed that chair!  I can't wait to get into our new house to start using it again!

 

In other big news, we bought a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKK

 

More on that soon!!!!  

Lottie's First Day Of School!

I can't even fathom this day is here, much less this day is in England!  Eeeeekkkk!!!!  It's hard to believe at just four years old these kids start school out here.  Having said that, I also have full confidence that she is ready.  She has spent the better half of the last four and a half years in day care (school atmosphere).  She has been out of the school type atmosphere since July and has been itching to get back to playing with kids her own age versus her crazy, annoying, little sister. 

Here is my big girl on her first day at Whitwick St. John the Baptist School in England......................

I can't even handle all the adorableness in these photos.  The school uniform, the school bag, etc. just tugs at my heart strings.  

Granddad and Lottie

Grandma and Lottie

 

 

Standing outside Grandma and Granddad's house ready to walk to school.  Yep, you read that right.  I walk Lottie to school every morning.  Grandma and Granddad live right around the corner from school.  There is something so sweet and awesome about being able to just step out the door and walk your child to school.  I guess we aren't in Waxhaw anymore!

 

A double rainbow on the first day of school. 

 

Standing outside the door of her class ready to take on her first day.

 

 

Lottie after a great first week of school.

 

Unfortunately, the first weekend following her first week of school, Lottie became ill.  We went to a friend's house for a BBQ and to do our fantasy football draft when Lottie began complaining of tummy aches, fever, etc.  She was pitiful.  I thought at one point she was going to get physically ill.  She literally laid on their couch the entire time we were there.  The next day (Monday), I sent Lottie to school.  She begged and pleaded not to go, but since she didn't have a fever, I sent her anyways.  Over the next 4 days, it was pure misery trying to get Lottie up and out the door every morning to school.  She cried, didn't want to get out of bed, etc.  I couldn't tell if it was because she was really sick or if something was going on at school that made her not want to go.  It is so tough getting a straight answer out of kids this age.  In any event, I got a phone call from Lottie's teacher around noon on Thursday stating she had been sick over her dinner.  That was the final straw.  We finally got her into the doctor on Saturday.  Turns out, she had a urine infection and had one for over a week.  She was given an antibiotic and told that she should start feeling better over the next 48 hours.  She received a certificate of bravery above.  Unfortunately, the first antibiotic they prescribed didn't work.  After another rough day at school the following Monday, I took her back to the doctor to be checked out.  She received a different kind of antibiotic and thankfully it worked.  After all that, she started to get back to her old self.  Thank goodness.  I was really kicking myself for having not gotten her to the doctor sooner and also for making her go to school when clearly she wasn't feeling good.  I am also thankful that there wasn't anything going on at school.

 

Overall, since Lottie has gotten back to her old self again, she is practically kicking me out of the door each day to get to school.  She couldn't love it anymore if she tried which makes my heart smile.  Just watching her go into school on her own, chatting with new mates, eating new foods and experiencing a different culture with such grace makes this mama very proud!