Saturday, January 30, 2010

Visions of Fireplaces





I've had visions of fireplaces dancing in my head for a long time. I have a deep love for all things fireplace related. When we bought this house there was an awkward corner fireplace in an awkward back family room. That family room was immediately transformed into a kitchen and the fireplace was turned from the corner to the wall. We've been talking and planning out this fireplace from day one. The problems are proving bigger than we want to deal with though. The fireplace manufacturer is out of business and we can't buy replacement parts to fix the chimney. It would cost way more money than we want to put into it right now. Fireplaces really aren't energy saving at all unless you have a wood stove so it just seems silly to dump money we don't have into something just because it will look pretty. We've been debating for 6 months now weather or not to keep the fireplace or rip it out. The other factor is that we would like to add an addition onto the house sometime in the future and the location of the fireplace would be the only good place to put the doorway to the addition. So I think after great debate and a lot of changing our minds we've decided to rip the thing out. It's sad and I want to change my mind every day but I think next week it'll be time. I'm sad that my visions will be put on hold once again. The one redeeming thing in all of this is that if we do put in an addition we will put in a fireplace, so at least there is still hope!


Friday, January 29, 2010

Adventures in Couponing

So let's just lay it out straight...I really HATE couponing. I have tried to get into it but I just have no time and no interest. It seems to be the the new and cool thing to do around here but I'm just going to have to be a part of the un-cool crowd on this one. This doesn't mean I don't LOVE a good deal. A good deal is like a high for me, I get all crazy eyed and giddy when I find a really good deal. I am a complete and total bargain hunter but coupons just make me crazy. I follow a blog called The Bargain Jargon and I love it. I usually glaze over the coupon deals but there was one I couldn't pass up this week. Albertsons is having a smoking good deal on a few things and I would have stocked up just on the sale price but the Bargain Jargon suggested buying some coupons on ebay for the sale items. Who knew you could buy coupons on ebay??? So that's just what I did (I spent $1.75 on 35 coupons). I got them in the mail today and off I went to Albertons. Basically I spend about $45 on 15 boxes of cereal, 30 boxes of granola bars, 5 boxes of instant oatmeal and 10 bottles of syrup. The awesome part is that I saved $185!!! Woooo Hoooo, that's what I call a smoking good deal! I had to get a rain check for the 30 boxes of pancake mix I plan to buy with 15 coupons for at total of $15. Ya me!


Saturday, January 16, 2010

Did I mention...



I got a new calling in church. I'm the 1st counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. Which is the women's organization for anyone who doesn't follow Mormon lingo!
Why not add it on to the madness that is my life! I really am looking forward to serving the sisters of my ward. It gives me purpose and reminds me to slow down and take time for the spiritual side of my life. My bishop was concerned about adding this responsibility on to my already busy schedule but I feel so blessed to be able to serve the church. How could I not be willing to give back only a tiny portion of what my Savior gives me every single day? I know I'm being watched over and guided, I'm so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I couldn't function without it, now if the Spirit could just get the laundry done!!!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Current Projects

We are almost done with the office, it just needs a few finishing touches. The frames are currently being built for the gallery wall. They will all be black with black and white pictures. The frames are proving to be a long process so we'll see when they get done. I still need some accessories like 3 baskets for inside my red shelf and I have a sweet plan for my coffee table. Speaking of the coffee table. I purchased it as a dining table off of craigslist for $25. Alan cut the pedestal legs down to make it coffee table height then it received a nice fresh coat of white paint to wash away the dull boring brown that it was! Sweetness!!!





We are currently working hard on the office bathroom. It is a MESS! It's now gutted, except for that hideous black toilet. Until I have the money for a fresh new white one it will have to stay. The corner thing you see has been torn down and now there is a ton more room. I bought and antique dresser off of craiglist for cheap yesterday and it received a coat of black paint last night. It is now all distressed and ready to become the new bathroom vanity. We are having a friend in Georgia ship us 3 bowl sinks, faucets and light fixtures from our old house (2 for upstairs and 1 for the office). Once those arrive we can get the vanity in. We'll be putting in black slate floors and a coat of white paint on the walls.






Wednesday, January 6, 2010

New Pictures


I finally took new pictures of my kids. I really have empathy for my clients when I have to try and get my kids all together to get pictures done, it's like pulling teeth. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and did it because I love them! Now I just have to get them printed out and on the wall.
We are going to have them printed 16X24 (yes, that's huge) with a linen finish. Alan is custom building the frames. They will be a 5" frame made from Hemlock with a black glaze finish, then distressed. I can't wait to get it all done! I'll post pictures once they're up on the wall.

On a house note...I've been dilegently working away on my office. It's getting pretty close to being done. So I'll have pictures for you soon.





Saturday, January 2, 2010

New Years Eve

Crazy good times! We took the kids with us over to the Nerland's house and partied like we were still teenagers. We enjoyed some Rock Band, a little game of Dirty Minds (perfect group to play it with), Pictionary, a lot of laughing, tons of food, the necessary banging of pots and pans at midnight along with a few fireworks, followed by more laughing and a few rounds of Wii bowling.
Tallula tried her hardest to stay awake and ring in the New Year but alas she gave up and fell asleep around 11. Tate was in and out until 1am when he finally conked out. Alan took a nap between the hours of 2-3am. Taylor and Tanner on the other hand stayed awake until we got home at 4am. That's some serious New Years eve dedication if you ask me. Our kids are well trained in parting like rock stars!
I couldn't have asked for a better way to bring in a new year than spending it with great friends who have supported us through a tough year. Thanks for your love and freindship guys! I'm looking forward to a new year with less stress and more joy.













Christmas Day

I'm just gonna say that I'm glad it's over! I love everything about Christmas except Christmas day. It stresses me out!!! Let's have a recap.

-3:58 am I was awakened by children and 1 giant child named Alan.
-The best part of the day was spent opening gifts with my husband and kids.
-7:00 am I went back to bed until 10:00 am.
-2 hours of driving in a car with no heat, 1 hour of that Lula spent screaming.
-3 hours with my family. I was so tired that I don't remember much.
-2 hours of driving in the car with no heat again, Lula slept.
-4 hours with Alan's family. I was more awake by then so I remember we had fun.
-1 hour driving home in the car with no heat. Lula SCREAMED the ENTIRE time.
-Spent the rest of the night cleaning up the bomb that went off Christmas morning.
-Happily went to sleep knowing the day was over and wouldn't be back for 12 months.

I swear every year that I'm not going to go to both families in one day. Then every year we do and I regret it. It makes for a very long day and a LOT of driving. The problem is that we REALLY do want to be with all of our family on Christmas. It just wouldn't be the same if we didn't see all their happy faces. The problem is, it doesn't leave me with a very happy face. I still haven't figured out a solution but I'm going to by next year because I'M NOT DOING IT AGAIN!




The COOLEST train EVER!
This is an ormanment of Alan on his Mom's tree. So cute!