take two

So guessed who called yesterday afternoon--the producer for HGTV's My First Sale. Apparently her boss had axed our story based solely on the information that we were just another family outgrowing our current space. He hadn't actually reviewed our application but once he did, he thought our story was compelling. He liked the fact that we moved here from Manhattan and 847 square-feet was palatial at first, but five years and two kids later it's shrinking by the minute (that was my pitch, by the way, I should have been in the production meeting last week). We chatted for another 30 minutes or so, and then she called my husband to get his side of the story. I texted him beforehand and told him to "be funny." He said he made her laugh a couple of times...

And now we wait. She had a production meeting this afternoon to further discuss us as candidates for the show, but I think we've got a pretty good shot this time (I knew they'd reconsider us!). I'm supposed to hear back within a couple of days, and the next step would be a casting test here in Charlotte. Good thing most of the baby weight is gone since the camera adds ten pounds.

final project

I bought this chair on eBay when I was nine months pregnant and dying for a project to keep me busy (can you say nesting?). My original intention was to use it at my desk--the chair's curvature contrasts beautifully with the hard lines of my Parsons' desk--but I didn't pay attention to the measurements and realized when I saw it in person that it wouldn't work. So I sat on the project (no pun intended) for weeks, which turned into a couple months, until this past Sunday when I simply couldn't take it anymore. It was time to finish the chair as my final project before heading back to work next week.

One last look at the chair before. Remember the palm beach grandma inspired plastic-covered cushion?

After weeks of deliberating, I finally decided on Osborne & Little's berber print fabric to cover the cushion. I was pleasantly surprised to see the fabric in person (after winning it on eBay). It coordinates amazingly with the colors I've already used throughout my house, and the medallion print couldn't work better with the seat's shape.

Ta-da! Here's a look at my "new" chair. Now if I only had a place to put it...

seven

Scout was born on 7.20 at 7:23am and weighed 7lbs 11oz. Today is September 7th, and I'll be back at work in seven days. Presenting seven days of Scout:

famous in a small town

So maybe we won't be famous on the small screen, but can always be famous in a small town. My hometown newspaper, The Winchester Star, recently interviewed us because a writer was working on a story about the 50th anniversary of To Kill a Mockingbird, and we had just named our daughter Scout. My mom called me Saturday morning to let me know we'd made it to print. She's sending me a copy of the article so one day when Scout thinks we're the biggest dorks alive we can show her we were once cool enough to be quoted in The Winchester Star, and we didn't even have to eat at the Snow White Grill (if you're from Winchester, you get it).

size matters

In my more lucid moments, I realize I'm not the only person out there living in a small space. If we still lived in New York, our 847 square-feet would be considered palatial. So today I'm not complaining; I'm giving a nod to small spaces with big style.

apartment therapy

love. living. small.

Small Place Style

apartment therapy

Better Homes & Gardens

Domino

almost famous

Apparently the traditional methods of selling a home--listing with an agent, hosting open houses, etc.--are not working for us, so the other night I decided to employ a guerilla tactic of my own. I applied to be on the show My First Sale on HGTV. I'm not sure how serious I was when I began the process but by 3:00pm yesterday afternoon, we were almost famous.

On Tuesday night I was playing around on the internet and clicked on hgtv.com to see about trying out for one of their shows (I was thinking Designed to Sell would be appropriate). As I was scrolling through the tab "be on HGTV" I saw that My First Sale was looking for homeowners in Charlotte. It was a sign. 

Wednesday morning the fun began. I returned to hgtv.com and clicked on "apply to be on this show" and dutifully filled out the 25 questions--why are you selling your home, is this your first home sale, who does the sale involve, etc.--and attached pictures of both my family and the house. An hour later the phone rang. It was a producer for My First Sale who wanted to talk to me more in-depth about the show and our situation (side note: she thought the family and house were totally adorable). We chatted for about 30 minutes, and she was on her way into a meeting to pitch our story to her boss. However, there was one little caveat. Our main reason for moving is that we're outgrowing our tiny little 847 square-foot house, which is to say we're not under financial duress or under contract for our next place or some other  serious situation that makes for "good TV," so there was a chance we wouldn't be moving forward. She asked me to email her a couple additional photos in the meantime, and we'd be talking soon.

Thirty minutes later I got an email from her saying we were denied by her boss. They had too many stories about expanding families and needed something a little more compelling. I guess it's a good thing that we're not in a desperate situation, but it was fun imaging our family on TV. I had already begun planning my outfits and imagining what it would be like to have a camera crew invade our home for a few days (where would all the equipment go?). Alas, I guess we'll return to the traditional methods of home selling...at least until we hear back from HGTV saying they made a mistake and want to put us on the little screen.

meeting of the mommies

This morning I did something I've never done before. Not only is it something I've never done but something in a million years I never would have guessed I would ever do--I attended a "moms' group" at my local Starbucks. Here's how it happened:

Scout and I went on our walk as usual this morning. Instead of making a boring--and somewhat tasteless--cup of coffee at home I decided to treat myself to a latte and routed us by the Starbucks. As we strolled through the glass door, we were met by a group of moms--there must have been twelve strollers blocking the entrance--smiling and introducing themselves. I averted my eyes and went about my business ordering a double-tall-vanilla-soy-latte, but I was not safe. The ringleader, Nicole, had locked eyes on my bugaboo and approached me: "Are you here for the Elizabeth moms group?" "No," I sheepishly replied. "Do you live in the neighborhood," she persisted, and the next thing I knew I was sitting down drinking coffee with a group of strangers (moms) and talking about sterilized bags for holding breast milk. It was sorority rush all over again.

The moment was surreal. I had to stop and pinch myself. I couldn't believe I was sitting there, drinking my coffee, listening to the discussion swirl around topics like Bye Bye Baby (I'd never been there), burpy bibs (I'd never heard of them) and snoring husbands (ok...I could relate). Just as I was flipping through the rolodex of excuses in my head as to why I had to dismiss myself, the conversation turned normal. I learned that the girl to my right had moved to Charlotte from New York (so she must be alright; not like the rush chair over there from Mississippi) and we started talking about the Real Housewives of New Jersey and our other favorite shows on Bravo! I also learned that they were all first-time moms with daughters--all girls in the group--ranging in age from four to eight months, so I was kind of the expert. Their doe-eyes looked to me for advice, and we shared our motherhood anecdotes.

The hour I was there passed quickly, and I told myself upon leaving that I shouldn't be so judgmental and harsh on these "mommy" groups. Nicole texted me the website info for the group and told me there's another get-together tomorrow morning. I probably won't go back, but it was nice to step out of my element for the morning. And I think they liked me.