Unfinished Projects

When we first got into the house I figured we would be so excited we would work on our 'list" of improvements each night when we got home. Ha! Yeah. right!

On the trim painting we have successfully finished the master bedroom, master closet, bathroom, and sink area. The doors for thoses spaces are painting and new handles have been added. One issue we have already ran into is the doors do not close all the way. How in the world does that happen??? I am going to be calling my dad (the engineer) over, because I know this will drive him nuts. At least you know where I get this from.

We have cut down the fig tree/bush aka monster that was blocking our entire view of the back yard. We have wood to last us three years and the limb pile is larger than Jonathan's truck. I have been calling the city to get someone over to here to pick it up... all they say is "mam you are going to have to pay someone to pick it up." I have been looking at this pile for two weeks and it's driving me crazy. And yes, I wonder what our new neighbors are thinking about when we will be moving it. Yesterday was a miracle! I was coming out the front door when I saw this huge truck with a giant claw come through the neighborhood entrance. All I could think was the city doesn't know a thing! I jumped in my car and chased him down. The guy driving it finally stopped and I asked him if he would come to my house. Once I gave him the address and he said it was within his area I had to run home and move the giant pile of limbs in 15 minutes! I was running back and forth from the driveway to the street to get it all done. Needless to say by the time he showed up I was sweating, my hands hurts, I lost my slip on shoes twice, and then asked him if he wanted a soft drink. The man simply said, "Mam I wouldn't care for anything, but someone needs to get you a Gatorade!" I made Jonathan move the last 1/3rd of the giant pile when he got home for next week...

Oh, so unfinished projects. We have a huge stump in the backyard, the rest of the house still has trim to be painted, our flagpole broke in the front of the house, and I think we are going to break down and hire someone to paint the den and the hallway. I think since people will be going through those areas the most it may be better to have the professional touch. (plus I have a person that can do it on the cheap... dollar-wise). Check it out... The remains of the fig tree.































Dax's Room... This is the sunroom off the den. Currently it is being occupied by him until I can find some modular wicker furntiture.  I have seen the chocolate ones in Pottery Barn and everything I have found to paint is too ornate. I may have to bite the bullet and get the real thing.
















These lamps will have a new look the next time you see them. I am sanding the finish off with a fine sand paper and once they are cleaned I will apply a high gloss paint. You'll see!
















I took over Jonathan's side of the garage to paint our doors. The slatted bi-fold doors are really tough to do and require a lot of patience. We spray painted them but you have to do it in layers so you don't get those ugly drip marks.

The picture above is a gorgeous table I have been meaning to talk about. Just so you think I am not doom and gloom all the time I have to show you the table my in-laws had redone for us as a gift! So above before, below is after.
















Hard to tell, but I love the tiny legs and the detail along the bottm.

Much better! I had to get a rug shot too from Mobile. The San Francisco poster was framed after we went there for my marathon two years ago. Those chairs are going soon :)
















Guest room is coming along! I found a bedskirt on Amazon for $20, but didn't cost a thing since we had gift cards from my brother. I am really loving the yellow accents in this room and I am pleased with my patience in getting it all together. I plan on doing a painting for the headboard and focus un the the nature look I want to pull of in this space. Remember before? I am enjoying the after.

Have a great rest of the weekend! We are hvaing roasted duck, steamed veggies, and wild rice for dinner. Did I mention I married a great man that can cook and folds laundry?

Toodles!

Oh My Love Affair

First, I am not having an affair affair, but my husband knows I have a second love... Chocolate! I know many many women have this affair. You know, when you walk by the cookie store in the mall and they just made your favorite chocolate chip... or when you are checking out in the grocery line and you glimpse the gold wrapper of a Twix... or better yet, you visit your parents house over the weekend and you mom has made a chocolate mousse pie! Mmmm mmm

I have been having dreams about chocolate. Before you think I am crazy let me tell you why. I am Catholic (born and raised) and each year for Lent I attempt try  fail when it comes to sacrificing something. I am not going to preach or say why you should do what I am attempting, but I decided as an adult I need to learn and understand self-control... I have found I am composed with very little.

I decide to axe all sweets this year. This means no cokes, Starbucks, desserts from the test kitchen at work, and especially no chocolate! I fully understand why diets fail and people binge on something they are not suppose to have... it only makes you want it more! I have dreams about brownies (and even made some if hopes that the smell would die down the craving) instead... I am stuck with a ton of brownies that only Jonathan can eat. (And whose to blame him as he divulges right in front of me.)

 How many weeks until Easter???? Our sweet neighbors from across the street sent their 9 and 5 year old to give us a house warming gift... the 9 year old little angel came bringing Girl Scout cookies! I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time when Jonathan ate the entire BOX (yeah, the entire box) to "help" me not be tempted. He smelled of Tagalongs all night and I told him he was the devil... hahaha not really, but he got a kick out of taking the box everywhere with him! Cruel, so cruel...

I want to eat my computer with these bad boys! Mmmm mmm... good food styling. I am digging the colors! (complements of EastBayMom)

Pie pie pie... with Hersheys! I bet those Hersheys would be event better shaved all over the top of this one. I feel gross and my mouth is watering. TMI? (complements of Taste of Home)

Did you know there is a website called brownies.com? NOT FAIR! I didn't even know about this until I started this thing... I am sad. Really sad.

When I post at Easter I am sure it will be a disgusting reveal of me binge eating and then getting sick. All for my love affair with chocolates. Let's look on the bright side... this is going to be very beneficial when swim season comes and maybe, just maybe I will learn to say no to sweets. Ha! Probably not!

The Grand Weekend

I have been up since 4 am, which is why I decided to write. I have gotten a shower, made my lunch, got dressed and ready (not necessarily in that order) all because I couldn't sleep. I have a lot to catch up on in my office as we are approaching a deadline, but I can't head in just yet. So I am drinking my coffee, eating toast and catching up by posting to you!

Last weekend was Mardis Gras in Mobile, AL. My Mother-in-law belongs to an organization across the Bay and each year we attend her ball. I will not be posting pictures of the event (no incriminating photos here) but I did take some pictures of us Saturday afternoon. We are so lucky blessed that we are able to stay at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, AL. Normally we'd stay with my in-laws, but we comes down there with such a large group it's easier to crash at the hotel.

Our room faced the water and even though we left the snow in North Alabama we had a gourgeous view to meet our arrival.

I dont like to listen to the news (sorry peeps) but it's just too depressing and I can't help but think about other people's tragedies. For this reason I am not sure the last time we got snow like this...

So Friday night ball, Saturday morning brunch, lunch time massage (I rarely get these and the boys golfed), afternoon nap, and then more pictures before we went to dinner.

It was a lot of fun and a wonderful break to be here and not painting. I am really glad Jonathan made me spend more money and go all out. I am sure you can imagine I am the saver in our relationship. Not really because I appointed myself as the saver but because I think everyone takes on different roles when they are married. (That happens to be one of mine... sounds like fun doesn't it?) Regardless, we enjoyed ourselves immensely until we had to drive away. It was nice to return to a place that is ours.

A Tug on My Heart Strings

This will be a short post, but I wanted to share a story about my brother Jiffer. While Jiff was in Afghanistan my mom, friends, family, and work made an effort to make sure he received something from home each week. One of my mom's friend's has a child whose class sent letters and packages to him while he was away. When he returned they thought it would be special for the children to meet Chris and be able to ask questions. He got dressed up and fulfilled his role as one of our many American heroes.

Momma looks like the doting mother!

Chris is very humble about his achievements. He also said he felt like Santa with the children sitting around him in the rocking chair. He also mentions how scared they were to ask him questions (maybe it's the uniform little brother!)

Now this part really pulls on my heart strings. The friend of my mom made a few phone calls and had a gift for Jiffer. She knows our family are BIG Auburn peeps (since Jiff, Jonathan, and I graduated from there, middle bro Thomas is a sophomore, and little John John thinks that is the only place you can go) was able to get an autographed football for Jiff from the head coach, Gene Chizik. My mom and brother were speechless as the class presented the football to him. I think the thoughtfulness and gratitude that parents and teachers are showing the military is a priceless gift to their children. No one in this class knows Jiff or our family, but they know the sacrfices made and supporting a fellow American. I need to be more concious of this each day.

A proud sister!

Jiffer

My family knows this story, but I am sharing it with those who will learn a little more about me. I have three younger, talented, and taller (than me) brothers. Chris is a year and nine months younger than me and just got back from Afghanistan and we celebrated Christmas in February with him. I guess you could say we put the Chris back in Christmas! I was pumped to insert that joke.

The reason I titled this post Jiffer was when we were growing up I could not say Christopher. Instead I called Chris, Jiffer. It has been shortened to Jiff over the years and my aunts still call him this. Needless to say our prayers were answered and Jiff returned home to us all safely. (Funny how he missed the big move... punk!)

Chris supporting world peace!


We always take "kid photos" in front of the tree. Everyone is so tall and I am always shoved in the front. I thought John would be there with me for a while, but he's in the back now too.


And the parents! Mom's arm is getting better (since she shattered her wrist) and is now in physical therapy. My brothers are a lot of fun and they crack Jonathan and I up when we are all together.


We are so thankful to have Chris back on American soil and I am grateful to the men and women that sacrifice their lives and time to give us freedom.

Life Lesson Learned

Almost two weeks have passed since we moved into the new home and not a lot has changed. We have begun our journey painting trim. Remember when I was convinced it was going to be this great project? Midway through the first space I asked Jonathan how much people pay to have it done... boy did I hear it! I thought it would be fun, but we both work and I am exhausted by the time we get home to do this for weeks on end. I don't think he will let me hire anyone since I convinced him WE could do it to begin with... I am eating those words now!

Jonathan is putting up one of the two colors we picked to test in the kitchen. He is not a fan of the yellow so we are going for the "green look" we used in Mobile, AL before we moved. I am not sure how I feel about it. He loves the bold and dark colors and I am uber cautious when it comes to wall color (at least for our place).


I love the color on the left. It's called Carribean Sunrise from Behr, but I'll bet y'all we end up going with tan... at least we agree and no risks are taken!


I was so proud that Jonathan and I did the main bathroom and master closet in one night. It was a team effort until my sweet husband left an hour into it and went to bed. He had a headache and helped me anyways (this is where you say "awwww")


Then reality kicks in and he saw where I painted over the tape. He pulled it up and paint came of with it. I thought I heard somewhere that you should pull up the tape when the paint was a little wet, but we forgot or I didn't think about it when I went to bed! I tried to play it off and ask Jonathan what he did to it. GOSH! Sooo see below to what we found...


Have I mentioned that parents are smart? They are smart for a reason. Our parents have had to learn these things and are better people for it. Then they give us great gifts like this book to help us avoid such mistakes and we don't even consult it. The Book of Home Improvement was a gift from my Mom and Dad this past Christmas. Ask my husband about my love affair for practical gifts... I adore them! I need to apologize to you Dad that I didn't consult it before painting. As you always say and will continue to say to me, "life lesson learned Katie." (used to crack my girlfriends up in college when I messed up and quoted my Dad)


Until next time!

Home Sweet Work

It has been a little over a week since we moved into our new house. We had an army to move us in and within the course of the day we were home. My Dad, Mom, two brothers, Mother-in-law, four friends, plus "Team Nelson" were able to get the job done. I took off the Friday after we closed and moved our clothes, lamps, and artwork (anything I didn't want dropped or dented) into our new home. It was freezing out and on top of it I had cold misty rain.

We have purchased a few paint samples and picked up plenty of tape, brushes, and Tylenol to get us through the next few weeks! I may be writing about the benefits of hiring someone to paint trim, but with a strict budget and no funds to do anything during "school nights" why shouldn't we give it a go? I keep telling Jonathan, "wouldn't it be fun to stay in, listen to music, eat pizza, and paint." Mostly the response I get is, "real fun." I'll ignore his sarcasm.


The selling agent didn't leave us a sold sign, so I made one! Jonathan helped me color it in, but only if I held it in the picture. He must really love me when I asked him to do this one day after work.


Kitchen looking into the dining room


Foyer looking into dining room


Kitchen, we are working on how to save or Craig's list for stainless steel appliances. Anybody on here interested? I'll give you a discount if you mention my blog!


Kitchen, but on the other side is my new kitchen table, but I will show you on another blog. Big plans for decorating... stay tuned!


Master... we bought the furniture after we got married and this is the first time all our pieces fit in one room. It was like reuniting a family.


Other side of room, look where the bed is wrinkled because Dax likes to rub on the side of the beds. No white linens for this house


Master bath


This is to the left when you walk in the bathroom and our closet is on the right


Say hi to Jonathan! He is in the den watching HBO... oh how we have missed normal tv! We are changing this paint color. I am going lighter with some advice from a friend.


It took eight people and moving furniture three times to figure out how to arrange the den. I like it now; frames the fireplace and tv. That works with most designer styles, right?


Guest bedroom number 1... we will get artwork up once we paint


Guest bath


The room I don't even want to talk about, the second guest room. This was my stubborn attempt to convince my father-in-law that a queen mattress would fit in a double bed frame. I was wrong and measured the width and not the length... I didn't think about it. We are leaving it alone right now.


See, I left the mattress up because I don't want to deal with this. Maybe next week and next post I would have done something.

Toodles!