Breaking the Radio Silence

Hey! Here I am!

It's shameful how long it's been since I've posted here. Since early April — yikes!

Well, here's a quick snapshot of what's happened in the last 3.5 months:

• I got a new job. In mid-June, I was recruited away from AutoTrader.com to work for a big public relations agency. (Yes, my degree is in PR, but I actually have a passion for corporate communications and employee engagement, which I will continue to do at this new gig.) I'll miss my peeps at ATC and my responsibilities there, but I'm welcome to this new, exciting opportunity.
  
• Just a month into my new job, I bonded with coworkers over a terribly tragic event. On Friday, July 15, a gunman shot and killed a woman from my building in the parking deck adjacent to my building — then opened fire on a group of girls walking across the street for lunch. Two of my colleagues were shot, one of whom still has a long recovery ahead. It turns out the gunman was a security guard from our building and the shooting occurred on his lunchbreak. We don't yet know if the deceased victim was at the wrong place at the wrong time, or if she was targeted. No matter what, that Friday was a terrible, sad, senseless, disturbing day. I am proud of everyone at my new office. The victims have been strong, positive and encouraging. Everyone else has come together in this tough time to be honest about their fears and expectations: better security, our right to trust security, etc. We're all reminded that life is short and your plotted course can change within the blink of an eye. Give all your friends and family a hug and tell them how much you love them. (News story here: http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/midtown-shooting-victim-was-1018502.html)
• I've been blogging semi-regularly to my other blog, Savvy in the City. Most posts focus on being able to dress well without spending a fortune (Goodwill FTW!), eating, online shopping and things to do around Atlanta.
• Dan and I got a new, sod lawn! I shouldn't put the exclamation point here because as of right now, it's been more of a frustration then a triumph; we found out right as the sod was being laid that we don't have enough water pressure to power the sprinkler system we had installed... so while we wait to have a second water meter installed, my sweet (and did I mention handsome?!?) husband has been manually watering the grass in the wee hours of the morning.
• I've been playing tennis. Tennis is fun — it's one of the few things that gets me off my tail and sweating. AND, in the league I joined, you pick your own schedule. It's called T2 Tennis. T2 is a "flex" league, which means you and your opponent e-mail and discuss a time that works for each of your schedules. No matter what your skill level, there's a T2 league that fits with your play experience/ability. I didn't play so well this season, but I'm enjoying it, and I'm enjoying Dan playing, too. (Ultimate Tennis is a similar deal-io).
• (Nothing I've accomplished lately is earth shattering or exciting, but I can't say that I mind.)
  

Things I'm grateful for today:

Family:




Upcoming weddings (my friend Julia's, and my brother Ben's):


Fresh fruit ripening on the window sill (from the Your Dekalb Farmer's Market, which always puts me in a good mood):


I won't be so long 'til next time... promise! But remember to check Savvy in the City for more regular updates.

Maybe Not Sexy... but Popular

What the heck am I talking about?

I'm talking about Ranch-style homes... popular in the late 1940s - early 1960s. We live in one now. We lived in one before we bought our current house.

So the hubs and I were good candidates for a local online article about ranches.

Here's one of the things I said that made the article:

“I think what’s fun about ranches is that you can do about whatever you want,” Katy said. “Some people go really modern inside and make it like a mid-century modern. But you also see people go very classic.”

Read the full Virginia Highland-Druid Hills area Patch article here.

Giveaway on Savvy in the City

Pssst....

To celebrate my birthday, I'm giving away a beautiful 40-inch onyx necklace and some fun/flirty pearl and crystal earrings (courtesy of dolma jewelry).

Go check it out! www.savvyinthecity.com

(Giveaway drawing will be Wed., March 9)

The Grand Reveal

Before.

After.

And from the back. Our mixed materials (brick on top, wood on the porch and cement on the whole basement floor) now blend a little better.

We are again very happy with the work of Miguel of Angel Painting. He and his team pressure washed, reglazed our windows and painted the whole exterior (brick, trim, metal poles under the carport, door, flashing around the chimney, etc.). Long gone are those green shutters with light yellow/beige trim accents.

Paint is Sherwin Williams (shade is called "Argos"). We used semi-gloss white "super paint" for the trim.

Miguel: (404) 438-3623. Really reasonable pricing and they're always done on budget and ahead of schedule. If you call him, tell him Katy Mallory referred you.

A Teaser...

(Exciting Things Going on at Mallory Manor)

A Life Fulfilled: Atlanta Becomes Savvy In The City - with a $100 Giveaway!

Most of you know by now that I have two blogs: this one and another that focuses on thrift store shopping, restaurants, fun places to shop online and a little wardrobe remixing thrown in there.

I'm excited to announce that "A Life Fulfilled: Atlanta" is now Savvy in the City. You can access the new blog by visiting www.katymallory.com or www.SavvyintheCity.com.

Even more exciting is the fact that CSNstores.com is giving away a $100 gift certificate to one of my readers! Check out all the details here, and if you were a reader of my other blog before, remember to update your bookmarks!

Katy

Home Makeover: Exterior Edition

Back in September I posted about an affordable renovation we did on our hallway/guest bathroom.

Now I have my sights set on an exterior makeover.

While we know it will be a while (as we have some other, less-glamorous projects to work on — such as improving drainage in the yard), it's fun to think about how to change and improve the outside look of our home. Currently we have red brick, cream/yellow trim and hunter/kelly green shutters. This look has got to go!

Now. Also note how we have a mix of materials: some brick, some siding, etc. Around back (the exterior of the walk-out basement) is a stucco/cement type mixture. Of course the current landscaping (or lack thereof) also leaves something to be desired...

Better Homes and Gardens' Web Site has a neat tool called "Color-a-Home." While you can't upload a photo of your house, you can choose a house like yours and switch out the trim, door, brick/trim, roof and shutter colors.

In my dreams. ahhhh....

Wow. Isn't that better?

Peer Pressure: Snow Pics

Everyone else is posting pictures of our Georgia winter storm, so I might as well, too... :)

Cute neighbor