As I find myself more interested in news, politics, and finances more than I ever have, I love seeing how social media plays into each situation. One of my fave ways to see social reactions throughout the globe is through a new-ish app called Frontback. Creative and passionate community members make me feel a little more connected in a really confusing world.

In other news, I made this delicious sandwhich today while studying for my scuba diving class this weekend. Trying to get back in bikini shape before my Panama trip!!

M

I'm the kind of person who reads and listens to music at the same time. I wonder if this book will explain why I like doing that. So far it's fascinating.

Basically, I'm not experiencing a case of the Mondays. Coming home from a week long stint in New Orleans could not feel better. I might have a slight head cold and my favorite wool coat to clean ketchup off of, but that's alright. I have pickles in my fridge and photos to post.

I found some incredible inspiration for decor - but it was all attached to the buildings - and unfortunately not for sale.

The search continues on for a vanity mirror, pronto!

A very flat brass double hook underneath the bar. Never put your purse on the floor. Eww.

That same bar on Bourbon Street has almost exactly what I'm planning in my kitchen. Check out the authentic patina on the wooden panel...

L O V E

Shutters are not just cheap panels installed for decoration in New Orleans. If I do shutters, I'm making them swing, baby.

^  -- E V E R Y T H I N G--  ^

Love the repetition of jars (except the colorful ones), hated the NEWness of them.

Also, everybody get on Frontback already.

-Melissa Jo-

Let's get real. It's hard for me to post here. I love my life, I love doing what I get to do each day.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a dream.

But I'm so busy enjoying the process that I don't get around to post here as much as I'd like to. So I'm going to give up on perfection and go for progress. Practice what I preach. Post about whatever I feel like.... and right now it's showing drunken photos from JG's Prohibition Christmas Party. You can see the brunette beauty behind Melai Rags to my left. 

I wish Mdreezy was still wearing his hat - but it was LATE in the evening...

-Melissa Jo-

It's kind of been a whirlwind ride so far. I'm really looking forward to coasting through next week and fixing all of these flaws with my new contractor. Before I hired him, I went to see a home he remodeled in Sugarhouse and was blown away with the craftsmanship and attention to detail. 

It's one of my favorite houses in the neighborhood, and it was a real surpirse to be able to tour through it. Then I came home to my house.

Take a look at the mess on my hands.

-Melissa Jo-

And so it goes... piece by piece. With masking tape guiding my way and going with my gut.

I finally fired my contractor last week. And I haven't slowed down since.

After cleansing myself of the bad craftsman I hired, I forged forward and ordered quality hardware from Whitechapel LTD to replace my awesome DIY painters tape placeholders I've had for 2 months.. its about time, they keep on ripping lately which is not so fun while doing the wannabe Ina Garten thing.

I looked for hardware online and IRL for at least 3 months on and off. And what I've learned is sometimes it takes hard work to find the one you love. It's a complicated situation to have 4 distinct areas to coordinate but not be too matchy with several different finishes, paint colors, tile, and flooring. It's all about the details, baby.

On the south side of the kitchen wall I have dark grey cabinets and on the opposite wall in the kitchen I have stark white modern appliances from Ikea and custom white cabinets.

I have a long way to go in the Kitchen but I've decided to take my time and really think about how I want to use the space. Living in it and letting it settle before I finish some final touches has also allowed the ceiling to settle and the crack to widen before I patch it. (Tutorial on that to come). I've also discovered several happy accidents like electrical outlets behind my cabinets which I can turn into awesome pullout accessory storge. 

Breakfast nook / Mel's Office:

Main floor bathroom:

But the major change will come when I can actually open my dishwasher without chipping my gel manicure ... handles, man. SO ESSENTIAL.

So here's a preview of my shopping cart plus or minus quite a few exchanges and surprises towards the bottom of the list it took me days to decide and hit ORDER but I finally did and it's going to be SO BADASS.

5-10 days and counting.

-Melissa Jo-

What doesn't bend breaks, unless its just hard as a rock. I'm learning that lesson in life and in the kitchen.

But in this case mine is 3cm honed carrarra with what I call an apron front and the boys call it a mitored edge. It's actually a pretty delicate little piece of high maintenace marble, but what can I say? I'm superficial and appreciate natural beauty. Basic. Unpolished. Unashamedly plain and GORGEOUS.

But let's stop talking about me and get back to the point at hand. 

COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL.

If we want to be specific one could fabricate a mitored edge and then fabricate the facade into any profile designed. So then what would you call that? Definitely not an apron or a waterfall. But it would still have a mitored edge. That's why this whole process has been so difficult so far. I hired a few of the right people, and a few of the wrong people. 

So, lets just settle on apron front for our purposes here. Which is building a badass fucking custom kitchen in a cool funky neighborhood in my hometome, and showing it to you piece by piece over the next while.

The sink: DOMSJO from Ikea

The faucet: EAST LINEAR by Newport Brass

-Mel-

Please enquire about other details I've used via twitter @melissajoglover 

Maybe the #1 thing I'm excited about for the new house is going to be making up a bed that is not against a wall.

It's pretty much the worst. I hate it so badly I couldn't even find a photo of my bedroom for this post. Maybe I'll celebrate with some new linens after construction is finished.

I can't wait to see the new place come together. Paint last week, floors on Wednesday. I already feel like I'm at home when I'm there. 

And I'm trying to love my bills.

-M

Working from home again and loving it. Posting random pics from my last vacation. Finding my way in a new position within a young company has been so exciting. I feel challenged yet up for the task, and although the daily hum drum of an office job can wear on you, somehow JayBird keeps me on my toes. Today I randomly met Ziggy Ansah - who will probably turn out to be a major NFL player. Can't wait to see what's ahead. And it's only been 5 months. 

-Melissa Jo-

And on a side note, BlueBuds X rock! I can go all over my yard and garden without carrying my ipod with me. Crazy alien technology that I LOVE.

I moved back into my house this week. And I'm so happy to be home. But even happier that JayBird lets me work from home so I can get my fridge repaired. Loving this new gig.

-Melissa Jo-

While I was out shoveling my driveway the annoying cord connecting my ipod to my eardrums kept getting snagged and hooked by the shovel's handle. Seriously annoying. Seriously wishing I had my little hands on a pair of Jaybird's new wireless Blue Buds X.

-Melissa Jo-

I finally added the Tour of Utah pictures from when I was the podium girl. And that's a technical term, don't forget it people. This is Lawson Craddick accepting his jersey at Stage One. To see more click here.