Around the house
Hi! Happy Wednesday <3 Hope you’ve been having a great day so far. Livi and I have had a fun week! We hit up the zoo yesterday and had a blast (even though I got us lost quite a few times we had fun walking around, eating popcorn and saying “hi” to all of the beautiful animals). I also took a BodyPump class on Monday and am still sore. It’s been at least a year since my last class and it destroyed me in the best way possible.ย
I can confidently say that the houseย is put together and unpacked, and it’s a huge relief. It’s nice to go through one of Liv’s naps and be able to work instead of having the surrounding boxes stare me down. The unpacking was relatively quick, thanks to the fam who came to San Diego for a few days when we first moved to help us (!). I think it’s as good as it’s gonna get for now.ย
Some pics from around the house:
(more pics are in last week’s Friday Faves)
the kitchen
(The “Elsie” cookie jar belonged to the Pilot’s grandmother. I was only able to meet her a couple of times, but I smile every time I see the cookie jar. She was a lovely woman, and full of so much spunk. When I was first dating the Pilot, she told me, “Next time I see you, you better have a ring on your finger.”)
Dining room:
Living room:
It’s the first time that we haven’t had a TV in the living room, and I kind of love it. We still have one in the den, but it’s nice to make breakfast and enjoy dinner at the table without distraction from the TV.
Photo wall in our “new” home:
Guest bathroom:
(still need to hang the wall art. We’ve always had a beach theme for our guest bathroom, and for the first time ever, it actually makes sense. When I first decided to do a beach theme, I thought about how cool it would be to use it in a beach house. I never thought it would actually happen.)
Our room:
and closet: + glimpse into the master bath:
Den:
We still have to finish Liv’s room and the guest room, but I think we’ll be transitioning the little lady into a toddler bed so it’s a work in progress. The guest room has some boxes of military gear that still need to be put away, but the owners are using one side of the garage for storage for the next couple of weeks. After we get it shuffled around, I’ll share some pics of the man cave/exercise room ๐
Some fun little touches:
The greenery and garden is probably my favorite part.
We have roses:
citrus trees (lemon and orange)
our tiny army of succulents that madre was so kind to drive with her:
and an outdoor shower to wash off the sand ๐
You can probably tell from my posts, but we’re absolutely loving it here. We obviously loved being in Tucson, but the vibe of our San Diego house and neighborhood are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s been so much fun to wheel Liv around in the wagon and explore all of the nearby shops and restaurants. We still have a lot to do to get settled: the Pilot has started all of the trainings and meetings he has to attend; I’m auditing classes at a gym where I’ll likely be teaching, and have a Zumba audition tonight; we’re starting to get together with toddler friends and activities for Liv. As long as we’re together, it’s all that really matters.
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Hope you have a wonderful day <3
xoxo
Gina
Anyone have a unique theme for our of the rooms in their house? (I LOVE hearing about stuff like this!)
Any decor items that you received from friends or family?ย
You are so put together so quickly!!! I am so envious! We bought a house in November and have been renovating it – we moved in March but are still finishing the last 2 rooms so as you can imagine its a mess! Nothing on the walls, certainly not the right furniture in the right places! You are inspiring me to go home early today and work on it! Very cute!
I love your kitchen! It is so bright, airy and cheery looking! And those citrus trees are to die for! So glad you are enjoying your new home.
We’ve received a couple of “art” items from family and friends for our wedding. Unfortunately our small space doesn’t leave much room for art and for some reason my family and friends think I like the color brown!? Ah well, it’s the thought that counts.
Hi Gina!
Everything looks great. So beachy and airy and comfortable. As someone who lives in a big City, I covet your space and outdoor area. ๐
I’ve seen some cute “New England chic” themed rooms, with white, blue and a pop of gold colors. That would be a nice tie-in to the beach themes you’ve got going.
Best of luck at your audition.
And, I teach BODYPUMP, so I love to hear when people are sore from class. That’s a good thing!
Have a great day.
Ashley
Your new house is GORGEOUS Gina!!!
thank you!
Lookin’ good!! Looks very California ๐
LOVE San Diego! Are you able to walk to the beach? Any tips for toddlers and beach/ sun exposure?
yep, we walk to the beach ๐ i just make sure she has SPF on every day, she wears her sunglasses, and i’ll put a sun hat on her if we’ll be out for a while. it’s been a little chilly by the water, so she’s usually wearing a sweater or hoodie. in the summer, i’ll just make sure to keep her hydrated and we won’t be out in the sun all day. we have a large beach tent that we like to hang out in, too
Thanks! I am taking two babies to the beach by myself this summer (age 1 &2) and am a little nervous.
Would anyone else like to chime in too? What type of beach tents are good for toddlers?
Love that table next to your master closet. The design is so neat! Was it a thrift or DIY?
We just bought a house in CA, so thanks for sharing. It’s nice to see what normal people do with their house! Houzz & Pinterest are great and all, but I’m not sure that my design skills will ever reach that quality ๐
We don’t have any themed rooms, but we have lemon and orange trees in the backyard- I think that’s my favorite part.
thank you! it’s from world market ๐
Hi, Gina! Where did you get your dining room table? My husband and I have been looking for one very similar to yours; I love it! Thanks! ๐
it’s from world market: http://www.worldmarket.com/product/francine+dining+table.do?&from=fn
I am so happy to hear that you are loving it in your new home! You will have no problem finding an amazing yoga teacher training program there ๐ Sending you lots of love!
Beautiful!
I love that you are embracing California with a new, brighter, airier style. It suits you!
thank you!
Your home is so lovely! I can’t believe how fast you unpacked and got settled, quite impressive! My boyfriend is from Carlsbad and we were just down there for Easter weekend. I went to the Carlsbad Flower Fields for the first time, oh my gosh! If you can, take Liv up there in the next week or so while they’re still in full bloom. It’s $12 but they have tractor rides and vendors and you can purchase flowers too…it also happens to be right next to the outlets ๐ I’m doing a post with all the pictures I took tomorrow!
Wow the place looks so awesome!! I would love to live by the beach (I am living in Missouri so I am very jealous)! My parents lived in San Diego when my dad was in the Navy and they had such a great experience! Since Livi is getting older this will be a place with some amazing memories for her!
We have a modern meets traditional look in our house. Lots of soft bright colors and thank goosness for natural light. I think the only real theme is our guest bathroom has a cape cod/Hamptons look with lots of white, creams, tans and aqua accents.
Thanks for sharing! It looks like you guys are finally settled in!
Landlocked here in Missouri as well ๐ at least the it seems like winter is *finally* gone. Fingers crossed for a nice long and cool spring.
Your house looks gorgeous!
By the way, I saw a Groupon today for If I Was a Bird yoga studio for kiddos!
awesome! i wonder if they’ll let us get another one?
Might as well try! They might, especially since you’re new to town… I’d call the studio first though and double check. ๐
What a beautiful home Gina! It looks so bright and relaxing. Congrats!
It looks so nice Gina, I love the garden!! And the closet of course ๐
It’s good to hear you feel happy in your new place – so important to feel at home.
I absolutely love the gray color theme you have in youe home!!! So classy, light and clean looking. Have you ever done a post on where you bought the decor for the house? I’m always interested in learning how people put together a room, where they find (afordable!) pieces, etc.
Lovely!
i don’t think i have? i shop at a lot of different places. my favorites are home goods, crate and barrel, world market and target ๐
I love your new house! It is so happy and filled with light!
I’ve always wanted to love by the beach but just have to accept it isn’t going to happen at this point. Unless Omaha decides to make a manmade one or something. ;p
Looks awesome,Gina! I especially love the kitchen. I grew up Ina California Spanish house but now live in a craftsman. Enjoy San Diego!
Gina, your home is absolutely beautiful! I put your kitchen on one of my Pinterest boards for my one-day-dream-home ๐ Hope you continue to enjoy San Diego!
Loving the way the house is coming along beautifully. I’ve always love beach houses and wish I got to explore more while I lived in San Diego. Glad you’re settling in just fine, Good luck with the auditions!
The house looks GREAT! So clean and fresh feeling! You can come decorate my house anytime ๐
That is so wonderful that you are happy with your move to San Diego! I love your house–it is so unique, yet so California!
The smell of freshly picked roses is aaaahhhh-mazing! I pick one or two from our bushes a couple times a week and bring them to my office. The smell travels and always brings people to my desk talking about it. Take care of that rose bush so that you can keep the roses coming!!!
I’ve mentioned before that I was visiting Scottsdale for the first time, knowing that there might be the chance we will move there for my husband’s business. It was definitely beautiful–an entirely different kind of beautiful that I didn’t think would ever be (went in thinking, dessert and cactus….really???? But it actually was gorgeous.). BUT, I just can’t fathom giving up my California Coast. I remember driving and looking at the beautiful sunset against the desert landscape and the mountain ranges…as beautiful as it was, I still had to hold back tears thinking I might be leaving California for this.
when are you guys supposed to move?
i know what you mean. the desert is magical, but being by the ocean is entirely different
Nothing has been decided yet and we don’t have a specific time frame that we HAVE to decide. My husband is just at a crossroads in his business–he’s weighing three options right now–options that don’t really have an expiration date:
1) Stay where we are at and continue running his own biz at a very slow and steady progression (LOTS of traveling for him and stress of an unsteady income);
2) Stay where we are and be hired on full-time for a company he is an independent contractor for (not sure what the money will look like, but it will be steady income, still traveling a lot, and him living the “employee” life again–he’s always preferred being his own boss)
3) Move to Scottsdale and be hired on by a different person he does IC work for (we’d have to move–ugh–but we’d be financially SET. Like, I would actually get to stay home with our daughter and not worry about maintaining a double-income household).
Decisions, decisions……….
Oh my gosh I LOVE it–all the little decorations really add to the house. I’m glad you’re enjoying San Diego (I mean, how could you not?!)
It looks awesome! It must be so nice to be all settled in ๐ my dad’s currently building us a new house so when I get back to the UK in July (currently living in Buenos Aires for 6 months interning) I’ll be coming back to a new home! Lord knows what the decor will be like though haha ๐
Home is where the heart is!
Your new house is lovely!!!!
I can’t believe how quickly you got unpacked and settled! The house looks beautiful!!
loving it!!!! love your style : )
Your new place looks awesome! So lucky to be in S Cali by the beach for a bit. Enjoy it!
“19th century African explorer meets Mad Men at the beach” is how a friend once described my house.
But really, I’m terrible at coming up with decorating themes and shopping for decor. I just sorta accumulate stuff I find interesting in my travels and that’s what’s in my house. It’s not cohesive at all, but I like it because everything has a story.
PS I LOOOOOOVE that fireplace!!!!
i love that so much haha ๐
things are more fun that way!
Haha, it’s pretty fun if you ask me… Oh! Speaking of things I’ve accumulated, one is an airplane-shaped cookie cutter. I just ordered one for a friend from the squadron and noticed they had an A-10 ๐ they’re pretty hilarious, maybe the pilot might like it! (It’s received a good response from aviators, in my experience.)
http://www.herogearstore.com/airplane_cookie_cutters.htm
They look a little funny in the pics but mine arrived all spiffy and appropriately shaped ๐
omgggg. ordering one now! he’ll love it ๐ thank you!
You’re welcome! Please post any fun uses for it you come up with, the prowler is kind of ginormous and so far I’ve made cookies and pancakes.
Okay three things: First, we totally have the same shower curtain in our guest bathroom. Second, I LOVE your SD home, it’s absolutely beautiful. And third, I am so jealous and seeing your photos makes me want to move to SD for realz!
Thank you so much for inviting us into your home! It’s so beautiful, I love the open spaces and clean crisp look it has. I think the vibe is definitely Arizona meets San Diego!
I seriously love how white everything is, call me crazy, but I do. It feels so clean and open and airy. It looks lovely!!! Congrats on the move and making it look EASY. Walking to the beach is my dream.
Your new home looks amazing! I love every single room and I am especially a fan of the extra room you have for the TV so that you can keep the living room for what it is supposed to be: a room full of life, not couch potato-ing ๐ Living at the beach is a dream of mine, so I will enjoy hearing more about your adventures in San Francisco. Good luck with the audition tonight!
So glad that you’re loving your new home! The citrus trees are amazing! I imagine they grow year round?
We have about 10-15 rubber duckies on a ledge in our bathroom that we’ve collected over the years from various occasions or non-occasions. When my husband and I were dating in college, I told him how our first apartment would be rubber duckie themed. We never went with the all out theme (my tastes had matured a bit by then), but we did keep the ducks in there. Our most recent aquisition was from our vacation this past summer. It’s a rubber duckie with the Swiss flag on it. ๐
Beautiful!!
Valentino has an airplane/ pilot bedroom!!
i love that!!
Your house looks so cozy and I love your taste in decorations. I’m really glad you’re enjoying SD!
beautiful Gina! thank you so much for sharing! Family is all that really matters <3 that gave me chills ๐
Love it all! WHERE did you get the mirror next to the closet? I am in love!
home goods! thank you ๐
Your home is so lovely! I am happy you’ve had such a great transition and are falling in love with SD. It is one of my favorite places ever. We visit every year, I wish I could move there!
I just LOVE it! It’s just beautiful. Is it starting to feel like home or does it still feel like you’re on vacation? Also, where did you get your master bed comforter/pillows?
the grey stuff is from target, the pillows are home goods ๐
and we still definitely feel like we’re on vacation haha
I love your garden! And citrus trees?! I’m jealous! I wish I could have those too but unfortunately I don’t live in a climate where I can grow citrus trees.
we have a Mexican / Day of the dead theme in our bedroom. It’s painted dark teal, we have a gallery of skeleton art above our bed, and old wooden furniture in the room.
I know we’ll want a more “grown up” bedroom down the line, but for now, it’s AWESOME ๐
stop with that! i would LOVE to have mexican skeletons everywhere, but i think i’d freak people out. that is amazing
I love all the light in your house! It feels very San Diego. It’s so nice to have to living areas when you have kids so that you can keep all the toys out of at least one room. We had that in our last house and I miss it in this one.
I’m super impressed at how quickly you’ve put everything together!
Love the new house. We will be doing a pcs to Monterey CA and see get your place has me even more excited !
We have a beach-themed master bathroom! It’s so calming, it’s one of my favorite rooms in the house.
Wow it’s looking so put together and homey! Very “San Diego”!!
I love home tours! Thanks for sharing ๐
So fun to have citrus trees, too!
i love home tours too! ๐
Congratulations, Gina! This all looks so amazing! I’m glad you’re enjoying California so much so far ๐