Quick Takes

1. Quick taking without underlying inspiration today, but up at 1:11am so thought I would try to get this on the books before I go to bed.  Hold on to your hats.

source

2. At what age is it safe to redecorate the room of a destructive toddler?   Augie's room was specially prepared for him two summers ago, when he officially joined our family.  Since then every surface has been written on (beyond magic erasers abilities to erase) and there are multiple holes in the wall.  Mainly from the cute things I hang up (like curtain rods and coat rack) being ripped out of the wall.  I picked up paint chips yet and am hoping by summer (age 3.5) we may be over a bit of the hump.  Too soon?

Here is my original pintersty inspiration.  I am dying to do a take 2!

3. While we are talking Pinterest, project uno is to finish our office.  It opens up into our family room, and this is my main inspiration idea:

the source site seems to not be accessible, it is from a site called sawdust and paper scraps

Does anyone have any idea where I can find reasonably priced wood file cabinets to serve as our base??  That is my current shopping challenge.  The pottery barn bedford collection is my dream, but I don't have $600 for those two base cabinets.  

4. So I managed to secure 60 minutes of uninterrupted kid-free shopping time this evening.  It was wonderful.  I did some E-basket shopping...and then came home to discuss the bunny with my husband.  I grew up with a bunny.  He grew up with no bunny.  It is hard to give him up, but he really has nothing to do with the resurrection story.  I think we are going to be a bunny-less family and the baskets are gifts from us. And for the record...we do Santa (justified with lots of talk about the real St Nick).  

5.  Catholic school.  Rosie will be returning to Catholic school in the Fall for Kindergarden.  We are going to have to just do this year by year.  I WISH I had the energy or patience to home school, but with little people at home, I am very grateful for the gift of our parish school.  When it comes down to it, I finally confessed there is no way I want her in public school.  I was raised in public school...but it is very different today than 30 years ago.  The rejection/disrespect of Christianity is one of the biggest issues.  She will not be a girl scout for the same reason.  Still debating about extraneous activities for the Fall.  I would love to enroll her in soccer, but with new baby coming at the same time...we may have to just wait another year.  It is so difficult to say no to so much, but I want to keep our lives as simple as possible in this chaotic world. 

6. Baby Update.  It was incredible to see Timber on ultrasound last Friday.  I only saw him/her briefly as the doctor looked EVERYWHERE inside of me for the fibroid that wasn't.  I wish I had a picture but any 13 week ultrasound image will do.  I am so back and forth about the gender surprise.  I want to know.  Hubby does not.  I am hoping I come around.  :)  

7. Have you been touched by an angel?  I am humbled and grateful for one that touched my life today.  To that angel: I am grateful for you.  I am grateful for the example, leader & mentor you have been in my life. You have always and will always hold a most special place in my heart.  As your babies left your nest, my nest was starting to fill.  Having been right where I am am....all I can say is thank you for knowing.  Thank you for caring.  Thank you for being so special. 

 

project: laundry room

We are among the slowest re-modelers you will meet.  Because we DIY as money allows, our remodeling projects can take forever.  Literally years.  When we moved into our "fixer-upper" in 2008 the projects we first envisioned (kitchen, bathrooms) were quickly trumped by projects that must be dealt with - insulation, heat, windows, mold...

Mold.  On that note, let me take you to our former laundry room closet. 

2008 - before we knew what "that smell" was

Finding the source of the stink: mold, eech!

The lower level of our split level was half garage, half living area.  Obviously, the mold needed to be addressed so that area was gutted and removed, drywall and all.  Add to the list above.  Drywall.  We are removing and replacing most of the drywall in this house because our house has been well lived in by the animal species. 

During this demo we found a bird nest in the garage ceiling

Eventually our laundry machines made their way into our garage.

2009-2012

The room was not super conducive to laundry as the concrete floor was always dusty/dirty.  I brought laundry upstairs to fold and piles of laundry around your house is never good. 

A few months ago my parents asked me for birthday ideas for my husband and I.  Sitting in the laundry room at the time, struggling with our breaking down washing machine, I said what first popped into my head.  "A new washer/dryer?" It was not an actual request, but, my parents are very generous.  They helped get us started in purchasing these new appliances.  

So, fast forward to July 2012.  My "laundry room" still looked like the above as the appliances were delivered to the room.  The room did not suit the sparkly new appliances.  And, as our life goes, another project was born.

First step was flooring.  The concrete was built in a way to allow water to go down to a drain in the corner of the room.  As such, flooring options were tricky.  Nothing is a good option on uneven floor.  So that, and budget reasons, I went to Big Lots and picked up peel and stick tiles.  That gave me a base to work on.  I built pedestals with inspiration from Sausha and Ana White.  I also had to build a pedestal for the utility sink due to a plumbing issue.  

Most of the materials used were scraps from Mr B&B's past carpentry jobs.  The cabinets were from a wall we tore out in our kitchen.  The blue paint was a left over.  This weekend I finished up by building the laundry tower and adding the counter top I picked up at a building supply wholesale place for $25.  We finished off with the closet rod...another left over from old job.

When a friend saw this picture she said "nice job Mr B&B!"  But most of this job was done by me!  My husband did most of the dry wall and provided assistance on tool use and concept.  And, if you have visited pinterest, you can probably recognize a few ideas.

I am so happy with how it turned out.  I also have a utility shelf on the opposite wall for added storage.  My husband has always wanted a laundry room that you actually do the laundry in (folding and all).  We finally have it and so far so good.  No couches or beds have been utilized in the laundry process thus far. 

Next project....finish that darn family room I posted about months and months ago!

     

Quick Takes Friday

1. I am joining in the Quick Takes for my first time ever.  I have recently become a huge Jennifer Fulwiler fan (she is the one who began quick takes, for those who have not heard of them before).  Several of her articles are published in One in Christ, the new marriage prep program our diocese offers.  I have been reading them and LOVE her story:
One Woman's Journey from Pro-Choice Atheist to Pro-Life Catholic

2. If you have time for some excellent reading, here are a few other articles from this marriage prep manual that I love:
Contraception and a Woman's Self Image Jennifer Fulwiler
Why my life is better since becoming open to life Jennifer Fulwiler
IVF and the Catholic Couple - Sheila Diamond, really good perspective on embryo adoption 

3. Happy Wedding day to Nick and Sarah!  Nick & Sarah are family in Chicago and this is perhaps one of the first events we have had to decline attending as a direct result of our growing family.  I am still in the adjustment phase of sacrificing wants out of necessity.  Other adjustments - food & laundry.

4. Because we were not traveling, we were able to make some progress on our basement!  It will be wonderful when it is done and I can fully use the space.   But I am so excited about the transition.

Before (WAY before) - this was when we first moved in...not our stuff hanging

After!  Not completely finished or prettied up yet. 

I love it!  We measured the boxes to store toys in canvas boxes.  I can't wait to get them all moved into the space.  My husband won the argument about moving the tv above the fireplace.  It is an adjustment for me and I have to mourn the loss of the picture space, but I think it will be a space saver to have the tv up there.   I did mention before, but anyone interested in the fireplace makeover, we followed these instructions for that part of the remodel. 


5. A play dough Rapunzel and daddy aka Rosie

6. Preparing to become a war widow this weekend.  Not in the sense you may guess.  It's WWII weekend in our town and hubby is taking the big kids tomorrow morning.  For now we get to listen to all the old planes flying in.


7.  FINALLY, Happy 10th Ordination Anniversary to world's best brother in law and priest.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  We had not known each other too long, but I was privileged to sit in the family section and watch you give your life to the Lord in the most profound and powerful way possible.  We are truly blessed to have you in our family and pray with you through these last 10 years, through good times and bad.  As our family grows, it only means more people to pray for you in the coming years.  We love you and are so proud of you and your priesthood.

"Almighty Father, grant to this servant of yours the dignity of the priesthood.  Renew with him the Spirit of holiness.  As a co-worker with the order of bishops may he be faithful to the ministry that he receives from you, Lord God, and be to others a model of right conduct." - taken from the prayers of consecration of a priest and printed on the back of his ordination card

home improvements

With spring in the air and company arriving soon, comes the motivation for home improving.  My first project was powerwashing and restaining our deck and playsets.  I found this great product at Lowes called Restore that made our icky old deck seem like a Trex deck.  It is not cheap (1 gal covers 50 sq ft, versus 1 gal of stain covering 250 sq ft) but I am so happy with the results.  I also slip-proofed the stairs and bridge on the playset by painting them with this prduct as well.

Next.  The Basement.  Finally.  The Basement! 

Our house is forever a work in progress.  It is nice to finally be making some.  Slow by sure.  While my husband worked on studding the wall and doing the electric, I worked on trimming out our fireplace.  This is officially my second wood working project and it is completely addicting.  So many more pinterest possibilities now that I can cut my own wood! 

Taking inspiration from one of my favorite blogs, this is what I am doing with the fireplace.  I still have a bit of work to do, but it is coming along.  I will try to get some actual finished pics up soon!

My next Pinterst project is this fantastic ruler growth chart. 

dear lillie

And then possibly this mat:

from Martha Stewart

Oh...and the garden. Once we have the adoption and party out of the way...the garden needs some love.

look what we made!

I have been stalking Ana White's blog and contemplating DIY woodworking projects.  Paul always has a ton of scrap wood lying around.  I found the perfect scrap piece (oak I think) and decided a wood swing would be a simple enough place to start!  We followed this tutorial (as best as we could) with a few modifications.

I admit, this would be a pretty awesome project for an adult size swing as well.  Here was another tutorial we referenced.  Paul said this takes me back to my southern roots.  :)  I am SOOO excited.  Not only for Rosie to have a swing again, but for all the memories this fun swing will create through the years.

we get em started young

new swing coming soon

eye hooks going into our >8" branch

and a swinging experience so cool we can't describe...come visit and swing in our swing!

Decorating Blog: Ana-White

I love decorating blogs, but I have never followed them before. I was just referred to this blog and I.AM.IN.LOVE!!!!! Phenomenal! I love Pottery Barn and I am married to a carpenter. Those two loves have not yet met...until now. :) So thrilled to discover this! Just wait until Paul comes home. I can't decide what to add to my wish list first.

Editing to add that this picture actually comes from another site that I have also added to my blog roll.