To have a good attitude. Keep busy.
Do something fun.
It helps that sweet things have been arriving on our porch.
VERY SWEET.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
After Nearly Three Years
Recently we were looking through photos of the house when we bought it. With our recent push of updates I couldn't help oohing and ahhhhing over the changes!
Our entry way- before
Our entryway before
The entryway- AFTER
Pretty insane right? Besides warming up the white walls with a tan tone, we have painted the trim white which took the oak down 50 notches, changed the light fixture, took down the mini blinds and green window treatment on the door, and changed out the brass door handles. We still desperately want to update the flooring in the entryway. but it will have to wait until Dave returns.
Powder Room-before
Powder Room- AFTER
This room redo is insane to me. It was so inexpensive to make such a big difference. We replaced the light fixture, faucet, mirror, cabinet handles, towel bar, and tp holder. But the mega difference came from painting the oak vanity white. And of course from the wall paper removal! (Thanks again Mom!!) This is our downstairs bathroom, so it gets tons of use and I'm so pleased with it. (I'll love it more when the flooring is replaced! Fall '15!)
Looking into the living room -before
Looking in the living room- AFTER
Those blue curtains weighed about twenty pounds. It was aerobic taking them down.
Our living room recently changed a lot. We bought a larger sofa last fall. Plenty of room for canines and humans. Just a few weeks ago I went and bought curtains for the living room, I had something from our last house up in there since we moved in, while I thought about what I wanted. It only took me 31 months to decide.
Kitchen- before
Kitchen- AFTER
Kitchen- before
Kitchen- AFTER
I think the kitchen has changed the least. We bought this house 1. for the kitchen (a kitchen floor for basting quilts was my #1 priority) 2. because all three bedrooms are upstairs 3. the big backyard.
Even so, I took down another twenty pounds of curtains, my mom took down the wall paper border, we changed the light fixtures, changed the faucet, changed the cabinet handles. We also replaced the stove.
We still have lengthy discussions about the kitchen. Everything comes back to - How much longer will be be here? If we were staying we would paint the cabinets white. We want to replace the fridge. We want to take down the microwave cubby and install an under the counter type. I also think a new fume hood would make a huge difference.
If we were staying forever.... I know what I would do. I won't tell you about the kitchen remodel in my head.... there is no point. It's a fantastic kitchen, the layout and work space is ideal and I love the island.
After living here for about a year we put a little table by the bay window. Dave fought me on this. I sold it to him as a place for Nate and I to eat breakfast and lunch together. We haven't used the dining room since, save for twice a year for major holidays.
Dining Room- before
Dining Room- AFTER
New light fixture and paint. I took down the pink vertical blinds and replaced them with inexpensive curtains. I still HATE the carpet that needs to be stretched. But if I'm going to pay for anything to happen to the flooring it will be for replacing it.
Family Room- before
Family Room- AFTER
Obviously, this is a multi-purpose room for us. It serves as our homeschool room, and my sewing room. They co-exist really well, but it's usually much messier than this. For real it never looks like this.
Laundry Room-before
Laundry Room- AFTER
Our laundry got a lot of TLC this winter. We repainted it, added cabinets and a shelf above the washer and dryer, put shelving in the back corner for storage, and had our twenty something water heater replaced.
The cabinets have changed my life! Storage makes me incredibly happy, Dave has learned this.
If we did our math correctly we bought enough flooring for the entryway AND the laundry room. I am looking forward to that very much!
Second Bedroom- before
Second Bedroom- AFTER
Paint, new blinds, a new ceiling fan, and new curtains are all this room took to change it up. This is Nate's room, he loves it.
I haven't taken photos of our guest bedroom since we redid it. Odd.
I'll do that sometime, but right now it is a deployment packing disaster.
Upstairs Bath- before
Upstairs Bath- AFTER
Upstairs Bath- before
Upstairs Bath- AFTER
This bathroom was the first to be painted and changed up, so I hardly remember it looking like the before photo! Also up until 13 months ago we all used this shower. I've totally blocked that period of time out of my memory.
We painted the walls green, painted the vanity and medicine cabinet white, changed the faucet, changed the light fixture, changed the cabinet handles, changed the towel bars, put up a new shower curtain and rod, and replaced the flooring.
Master Bedroom- before
Master Bedroom- AFTER
Paint, a new fan, new blinds. That's it.
Master Bedroom- before
Master Bedroom- AFTER
(Dave wants you to know that the wood doors you can see through that door to the left... those doors have been painted, so don't worry ALL of the trim and doors are white now.)
and the bathroom.... oh the master bath was my enemy for a year and a half. Then one day I snapped with a hammer in my hand, and then BAM Dave did the bathroom!
Master Bathroom- before
Master Bathroom- AFTER
Master Bathroom- before
Master Bathroom- AFTER
Master Bathroom- before
Master Bathroom- AFTER
This was a huge challenge and our biggest DIY lesson in home ownership. The problem was there was no waterproofing on the walls around the tub. Thankfully the plumbing was there for a shower-head, but wallpaper doesn't cut it to protect drywall from water. We ripped the drywall down, put up cement board, then tiled. OURSELVES! It was a big deal. and 10,000% worth it! Since the grout dried and we got the shower running I have blocked out the past.
Besides tiling the shower... We bought a neo-angle rod, painted the vanity and medicine cabinet black, painted the cabinet over the toilet white, replaced all of the cabinet handles, replaced the flooring, replaced the faucet, replaced the light fixture, replaced the towel bars, shoot we even replaced the TP holder.
What a difference we have made in the 32 months we have owned this house!
OH! Don't forget!
The day we moved in.
BOOYA!
Our entry way- before
Our entryway before
The entryway- AFTER
Pretty insane right? Besides warming up the white walls with a tan tone, we have painted the trim white which took the oak down 50 notches, changed the light fixture, took down the mini blinds and green window treatment on the door, and changed out the brass door handles. We still desperately want to update the flooring in the entryway. but it will have to wait until Dave returns.
Powder Room-before
Powder Room- AFTER
This room redo is insane to me. It was so inexpensive to make such a big difference. We replaced the light fixture, faucet, mirror, cabinet handles, towel bar, and tp holder. But the mega difference came from painting the oak vanity white. And of course from the wall paper removal! (Thanks again Mom!!) This is our downstairs bathroom, so it gets tons of use and I'm so pleased with it. (I'll love it more when the flooring is replaced! Fall '15!)
Looking into the living room -before
Looking in the living room- AFTER
Those blue curtains weighed about twenty pounds. It was aerobic taking them down.
Kitchen- before
Kitchen- AFTER
I think the kitchen has changed the least. We bought this house 1. for the kitchen (a kitchen floor for basting quilts was my #1 priority) 2. because all three bedrooms are upstairs 3. the big backyard.
Even so, I took down another twenty pounds of curtains, my mom took down the wall paper border, we changed the light fixtures, changed the faucet, changed the cabinet handles. We also replaced the stove.
We still have lengthy discussions about the kitchen. Everything comes back to - How much longer will be be here? If we were staying we would paint the cabinets white. We want to replace the fridge. We want to take down the microwave cubby and install an under the counter type. I also think a new fume hood would make a huge difference.
If we were staying forever.... I know what I would do. I won't tell you about the kitchen remodel in my head.... there is no point. It's a fantastic kitchen, the layout and work space is ideal and I love the island.
Dining Room- before
Dining Room- AFTER
New light fixture and paint. I took down the pink vertical blinds and replaced them with inexpensive curtains. I still HATE the carpet that needs to be stretched. But if I'm going to pay for anything to happen to the flooring it will be for replacing it.
Family Room- before
Family Room- AFTER
Obviously, this is a multi-purpose room for us. It serves as our homeschool room, and my sewing room. They co-exist really well, but it's usually much messier than this. For real it never looks like this.
Laundry Room-before
Laundry Room- AFTER
Our laundry got a lot of TLC this winter. We repainted it, added cabinets and a shelf above the washer and dryer, put shelving in the back corner for storage, and had our twenty something water heater replaced.
The cabinets have changed my life! Storage makes me incredibly happy, Dave has learned this.
Second Bedroom- before
Second Bedroom- AFTER
Paint, new blinds, a new ceiling fan, and new curtains are all this room took to change it up. This is Nate's room, he loves it.
I haven't taken photos of our guest bedroom since we redid it. Odd.
I'll do that sometime, but right now it is a deployment packing disaster.
Upstairs Bath- before
Upstairs Bath- AFTER
Upstairs Bath- before
Upstairs Bath- AFTER
This bathroom was the first to be painted and changed up, so I hardly remember it looking like the before photo! Also up until 13 months ago we all used this shower. I've totally blocked that period of time out of my memory.
We painted the walls green, painted the vanity and medicine cabinet white, changed the faucet, changed the light fixture, changed the cabinet handles, changed the towel bars, put up a new shower curtain and rod, and replaced the flooring.
Master Bedroom- before
Master Bedroom- AFTER
Paint, a new fan, new blinds. That's it.
Master Bedroom- before
Master Bedroom- AFTER
(Dave wants you to know that the wood doors you can see through that door to the left... those doors have been painted, so don't worry ALL of the trim and doors are white now.)
and the bathroom.... oh the master bath was my enemy for a year and a half. Then one day I snapped with a hammer in my hand, and then BAM Dave did the bathroom!
Master Bathroom- AFTER
Master Bathroom- before
Master Bathroom- AFTER
Master Bathroom- before
Master Bathroom- AFTER
This was a huge challenge and our biggest DIY lesson in home ownership. The problem was there was no waterproofing on the walls around the tub. Thankfully the plumbing was there for a shower-head, but wallpaper doesn't cut it to protect drywall from water. We ripped the drywall down, put up cement board, then tiled. OURSELVES! It was a big deal. and 10,000% worth it! Since the grout dried and we got the shower running I have blocked out the past.
Besides tiling the shower... We bought a neo-angle rod, painted the vanity and medicine cabinet black, painted the cabinet over the toilet white, replaced all of the cabinet handles, replaced the flooring, replaced the faucet, replaced the light fixture, replaced the towel bars, shoot we even replaced the TP holder.
What a difference we have made in the 32 months we have owned this house!
OH! Don't forget!
The day we moved in.
BOOYA!
Meal Planning Ruts
Recently I posted this photo of my meal planning morning.
It was a nice quiet time for me while Nate was still sleeping and I enjoyed a second cup of coffee.
A few friends commented that they were in a rut with dinners, I feel that way a lot! I refuse to eat the same seven meals, so I have a pretty large arsenal of recipes we love. I make a few dinners once a month because we don't get sick of them. To fill in the days I cruise through good recipe booklets I buy occasionally at the checkout. I prefer Taste of Home.
One comment requested our family's top ten so here they are.
Taco Skillet
PW Beef with Snow Peas
PW Steak Sandwiches
Tex-Mex Lasagna
Pulled Pork Sandwiches -I only use pork
Pork Noodle Casserole
Herbed Chops
Lime Chicken Tacos
Chicken Fried Rice
Rosemary Chicken
Chicken Lo Mein
Easy Cheesy Chili Chicken
Asparagus Leek Chowder
Italian Vegetable Soup
Shrimp Orzo Stew
Slow Cooker Beef and Tortellini Soup
Bean Burritos
Summer Ziti
Mostaccolli Bake
Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce
When I was trying to narrow it down I couldn't decide on just ten, so I ended up with twenty.
I couldn't find the recipe for Herbed Boneless Chops online so here it is.
Herbed Boneless Pork Chops
4 teas olive oil
1 teas dried thyme
1 teas dried marjoram
1/2 teas Lawry's seasoned salt
4 boneless chops
-Brush chops with olive oil.
-Sprinkle with herbs and seasoned salt.
-grill
-enjoy( we like them with a salad, couscous, and a steamed green veg)
thank me later.
It was a nice quiet time for me while Nate was still sleeping and I enjoyed a second cup of coffee.
A few friends commented that they were in a rut with dinners, I feel that way a lot! I refuse to eat the same seven meals, so I have a pretty large arsenal of recipes we love. I make a few dinners once a month because we don't get sick of them. To fill in the days I cruise through good recipe booklets I buy occasionally at the checkout. I prefer Taste of Home.
One comment requested our family's top ten so here they are.
Taco Skillet
PW Beef with Snow Peas
PW Steak Sandwiches
Tex-Mex Lasagna
Pulled Pork Sandwiches -I only use pork
Pork Noodle Casserole
Herbed Chops
Lime Chicken Tacos
Chicken Fried Rice
Rosemary Chicken
Chicken Lo Mein
Easy Cheesy Chili Chicken
Asparagus Leek Chowder
Italian Vegetable Soup
Shrimp Orzo Stew
Slow Cooker Beef and Tortellini Soup
Bean Burritos
Summer Ziti
Mostaccolli Bake
Tortellini with Tomato Cream Sauce
When I was trying to narrow it down I couldn't decide on just ten, so I ended up with twenty.
I couldn't find the recipe for Herbed Boneless Chops online so here it is.
Herbed Boneless Pork Chops
4 teas olive oil
1 teas dried thyme
1 teas dried marjoram
1/2 teas Lawry's seasoned salt
4 boneless chops
-Brush chops with olive oil.
-Sprinkle with herbs and seasoned salt.
-grill
-enjoy( we like them with a salad, couscous, and a steamed green veg)
thank me later.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Yellow Belt
Nate has been doing karate since October. Up until a month or two ago it was once a week, then they decided to step it up to twice. With stepping up the lessons most of the homeschool group decided their kids wanted the karategi, which is a uniform, and I call it a uniform, but I thought you should know, I do know its proper name. Although I'm still not sure if it's karate gi or karategi, I've seen it both ways and have no clue.
Anywho. Recently Guru Ben decided the kids were ready to test. Not all of the homeschool group did, but Nate did.
And he passed his yellow belt test. It was a big deal, especially since he was afraid to 'test' because we don't really do tests yet in school and it's something that intimidates him.
We are really proud of him. And even better he was proud of himself!
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Early Heat
It's only mid March, but it feels like summer lately. Today it was 86 degrees. That's pretty warm.
We headed to Bon's favorite place after church.
She had a fun time swimming.
And running.
And sniffing other canines.
And swimming.
Her fav.
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