Our Slice of the Suburbs

My husband & I bought our house in the northern suburb of McCandless outside of Pittsburgh in 2014. We were ready to leave our South Side city life and start a new chapter. After a few months of looking and the grandiose statement from me that ‘I would be ready to buy a house on April 1, 2014’ — we put in an offer that was accepted on, you guessed it, April 1st.

A three bedroom ranch with a fenced in yard, hardwood floors and a fireplace was ours. A little slice of suburbia for two twenty-somethings. We were thrilled yet apprehensive about leaving the city and pretty much had no idea about how much hard work  goes into making someone else’s house, your home.

We dove head first into our new role as homeowners and I am lucky enough to be married to a guy who could quit his job tomorrow and be a carpenter. Jeff became the house project manager and contractor – I became the head designer and interior decorator. Together – we have completed some projects that we are really proud of.

Since we moved in,  Jeff & I have also been working on our green thumb. Our first year we put in a raised garden bed and built earth boxes so we could really jump into backyard gardening. Our Guenevere Garden was born.

After a pretty successful first year and over halfway through our second year – I have learned a few things but really we still have no idea what we’re doing. We pick our plants based on whatever catches our eye from a Mt. Troy nursery (Brenckle’s is the best!) and then pretty much cross our fingers. Gardening 101: It’s all trial & error.

Between house projects, starting a garden, getting married and becoming dog parents – we have come to love our suBURGHia life. Hence – this blog is now officially off the ground and I’m so excited to document recipes from the #GuenevereGarden, house projects, Pittsburgh to-do’s in the city and 15 minutes outside and share them here. Welcome!