Project: Life

Sometimes there just isn't a lot to post about on the home remodeling front.  Sometimes life is paramount and by life I mean birthday parties, sick babies, crappy weather, and laundry.  There have been behind the scenes negotiations between husband and wife about combining the 2 blogs for simplicity sake.  Some seasons of my life require all my energy and time and little is left to worry about paint colors and which way the toilet should face.  Here is a few pictures of my life in the past month.

My Noah turned 8 last month.  He constantly impresses and surprises the pants off his parents.  We love him and wish we had 4 more just like him.

At our house, when you turn 8, it means we plan another big day for the baptism.  Lots of family, lots of food.  All Noah wanted for his birthday this year was a black "sweater" for church.  "You know the kind with the secret pockets..."  He wears his new suit coat proudly every week to church.

And here we have Mikael.  Doing what she does best - playing "office".  And since my office is right off my front door, I have lots of explaining to do when guests come knocking.  She can have my desk cleared off and on to the floor in about 2.5 seconds.  Don't even get me started on what she can do with a basket of folded laundry.  This baby was sick this month.  Throwing up and diarrea for 7 straight days.  I felt horrible for her but thought I was going to lose my mind.  Thankfully, an antibiotic took care of whatever was causing it.  But it has literally taken weeks to get my house and life clean and back in order.  Sort of.

Jace did manage to get a few house projects done without me this past month.  Fixing steps, repairing sheet rock, moving toilets, and installing our new/permanent appliances.  And have I explained the turquoise table in the middle of the kitchen?  It is obviously a temporary island.  It covers and semi hides the water and electric pipes coming up out of the concrete floor.  One day a custom island will replace our turquoise table.  Soon I hope.  We literally eat 75% of our meals here.  It is quite comical trying to fit all 6 of us around it.

And while I love the look of my new stove, I'm sorry to say my other stove worked better.  Dang it.  I have almost burned the house down 3 times and melted the babies high chair tray.  The front control touch screen is sensitive.  And I don't think I have ever mentioned my finished concrete countertops on the blog.  For $180, we are pleased with the result.  We learned a lot and we are enjoying them.  Now, I just need to make up my mind on back splash tile and find a better hiding spot for the microwave.

My new counter depth fridge.  Can't say it enough.  If you are contemplating spending the extra cash for one - do it.  I can't believe how much nicer this fridge looks, than my older fridge that was regular depth and stuck out like a sore thumb.

And wait I lied.  I did do one decorating project.  It took me 3 weeks to get Jace to cut and then trim it to the right size but I'm loving the cork board in my black ikea frame.

Spring break is around the corner.  I have told Jace we are headed to the valley with or without him.  Hopefully with.  4 kids are much easier to manage with him.  I am ready for a break from this wind (and snow storms!) and my dirty house.  I need a trip to Ikea and Target.  Thats all I ask for and a little sunshine.

A little Arizona Inspiration

When Jace and I were just babies having our first baby ;) we lived in a tiny apartment in Gilbert, AZ.  I worked in an office in Mesa, AZ.  On my lunch break I would walk the sidewalks on old downtown.  One of my favorite places to stop in and dream (notice I did not say shop) was a store called Domestic Bliss.   I used to dream of a house full of upholstered furniture and frilly linens and wish that I had thought of that store name 1st.  Our first baby, Macy's nursery was patterned after a corner of that adorable store I would visit on my lunch break.  Well, today I found some pictures of that store owner's recent home remodel floating around the internet.  Take a look:

I asked Jace tonight how hard it would be to make saw horse legs for a table or two.  Surely, this could be pulled off without paying over $1,000 retail. Ya?

Did you see the drapes?  Hello.

Ah those signs.

Doesn't this picture make you want to slap some wall paper on your kitchen walls? And a couple chalk boards?

And my favorite - the bathroom.  I love the gray wall in the background and that chandelier.

all above images found here

And judging by the picture above, the store is still a dream come true - for the wealthy.  ;)  I am slightly obsessed with the light fixtures.  Expensive?  Yes.  Inspiring?  Absolutely.  The best part is, I don't even have to work in Mesa anymore to drool over the store's inventory - it is all here.

I am ready to go to work.  I love when a single image gets me going again. I found this image stored on my computer yesterday, in a folder labeled "Good Ideas" yesterday.  I haven't been able to stop thinking and scheming on it.

image found here

Sometimes I could just kiss myself.

It is apparent from that last statement that I'm having a better week this week.

;)

The writing on the wall

We celebrated 11 years of wedded bliss yesterday.  We are so old and wore out that we yawned our way thru dinner, ditched out on the movie, and then fell asleep next to each other mid conversation.  I am not even sure Jace noticed I had chopped me some bangs yesterday morning.  He is so sweet.

I have had one of those weeks.  I have had this inner dull ache begging for some change.  I was talking dramatic all week.  Making threats that I would cut my hair off and/or buy expensive dining room chairs.  And I kept finding gray hairs. 

And to explain how I was feeling this week a little better, I share the following story:
The only shopping in my small town is done at thrift stores.  I am a frequent customer.  I don't have much luck but it feeds my need to buy something.  Even if it a .50 Harry Potter book.  Well, after all that loyal patronage, the thrift store manager reminded me this week that I should no longer be trying to buy clothes off the size 6 mannequin, "because the mannequin has really thin arms."  

I cried the whole way home.  

My children could not make heads nor tails of what just happened.

I still haven't told Jace this story.  The wound is still too raw.

I'm boycotting the thrift store.

Probably until this coming February.

My new dining room is large.  And empty.  I gave Jace a couple options, explaining that the dining room was going to put me under this week.  We had to do something.  Anything.  And fast.

He hated the velvet Ikea drapes and said no to the blue shutters. And that is where the black chalkboard stripe entered my life.  Have you ever painted with chalkboard paint?  It doesn't erase.  It is causing me some anxiety.  So I'm not sure what direction the stripe is going to go but it does change things up, now doesn't it?

4 people snubbed me at the swap meet this morning.   I must be unrecognizable.  It must be the new bangs.  And my fat arms all this new change in my life.

p.s.  Tell me my thirties are going to be a little more sexy.  And exciting!  We have kind of got off to a rocky start - me and my thirties. 

Holiday Tour

Holiday Fun 2011

How was my holidays,  you ask?

Eh.  I've had better.

And let's just leave it at that.

Kitchen - Before

Over the holiday break, the original owners and builders of my current residence came for a tour.  Whoa!  I was so excited.  Finally, someone who could appreciate all the work we have done.  I pictured us reminiscing about funny stories that happened at my house, hugging, then promising to have FHE together once a month.  I just knew they would be thrilled to see my sweet, little family here living and working together under the same roof they raised 9 children under.

Kitchen - before

Kitchen - After (not completely done)

Their cabinets had been ripped out, rearranged, and painted.  The linoleum floor had been scrapped up and the concrete stained.  Which can be a confusing concept for some.  I think they were wondering when the flooring was going to be installed.

Kitchen - after

Master bathroom - before

Lights that used to hang in their master bathroom, have been spray painted and given a new life in the office.

office - after with the old vanity lights

The master bathroom was almost unrecognizable to them after the renovation.

Master bath - after (and not complete yet) 

No more carpet in the bathroom.  New vanities, tub, and walk-in shower.

Macy's bedroom vanity - before

And that fancy bedroom vanity upstairs?  Gone.  They were disappointed.  I kind of was too.  It was a battle I lost to Jace....he won a walk-in shower....which I kind of love too.

Macy's vanity - after

Painted furniture and mirror was a poor substitute.

loft - after (furniture less)

They wondered how and why the beams were white.  I think this was the biggest blow.  White beams.

They never got past the beams to tell me how they loved the new light fixture in the loft.

My dining room - a work in progress.  It's really killing me, this room.

Their last comment was, "Well, maybe when you get your artwork on the walls."  Their comments made me chuckle and made me realize just how much more work we have to do.  Seeing my house through eyes that once knew this house in all its glory humbled me a bit.  We probably bit off more than we can chew with this one but this wouldn't be the 1st time the Baums swam in that pool.

I told Jace about the tour later that night in bed.  He asked if I thought they would have been more impressed, had they known our remodeling budget would have fit in Ezra's piggy bank?

I said, "Naw, I don't think so."

Jim....Dixie.....we love you and your old, beloved house.  You are invited back for another tour. 

In 10 years.

;)

 p.s.  Know that it is killing me to post after pictures that aren't quite done or perfect.  One day.

I'm not mailing you a Christmas card.

Can't do it this year.  If you live nearby you might get a package of cookie dough with a poem included about how the Baums hope the neighbors and Santa don't mind milk and cookies - the unbaked kind.  Don't be jealous that you have a kitchen stove and you don't get to write catchy holiday poems about the cold, blank hole in your kitchen wall.

Some of our highlights this December (and reasons you aren't getting a card in your mailbox this year) are as follows:

My Ezra - bottom left.

We have been attending preschool Christmas programs.

We have been rearranging furniture to make room for our new dining room table and not mopping the floor but lets focus on the table here.  My Dad made it for me for Christmas.  Jace found the carved post legs buried out by our barn when we bought the casa last summer.  Pretty sweet, eh?  It was exactly what I had envisioned.  Love it when that happens.

Mikael has her daily lunch date with the kittens, dogs, and peacocks at the back door.  And that white stuff on the ground is not going away.  Looks like a white Christmas here in Snowflake, AZ.

A cold, snowy December and 3 wood burning stoves has given our kids lots to do.  They make about 15 trips a day, down the hill, with the little red wagon full of firewood.  I love it.

Count those fingers.  This lovely young lady turned 10 yesterday.

What a stinkin' doll.

She is my shadow, my babysitter, my fashion consultant, and my reminder of how I want to live my life. Jace and I hit the lottery 10 years ago with one Macy Baum.

And because I'm in a holiday spirit tonight, I'll show you what else we have been doing but not before I remind you what it used to look like:

And my new office:

There is more to do and more to see in this new room but so far it is my favorite (warm) hangout.

The wood paneled entry before:

And now:

Ignore my attempt at being crafty.  Those glitter words spell "Cheers."  But the new wood floors, stair railing, paint and light fixture didn't turn out half bad, right?

Merry Christmas!

Peace out girl scout

I had a goal this morning when I woke, that I would be done decorating for Christmas today.  I was so tired of looking at all my Christmas boxes stacked in my entry way.  The season is half way over - I'm well aware.  I've had other boxes that had to be dealt with first - like toilet paper and baby clothes from 2001.

This girl scout is happy to report that my entry way is Christmas box free tonight and my lights are plugged in and shining.  I love Christmas.  A part of me is real tempted to  photoshop these pictures.  I could refinish the front door, fix the broken doorbell and broken lights.  Paint.  Ah, if only it was as easy as clicking a button.  With all this remodeling talk, have I told you we haven't even started on the exterior yet?!

Santa,

Will you bring me new windows?  Lots of them.  A new roof?  A stucco crew?

And one of those fancy Shark steam vacuums?

And maybe stuff a new pair of new boots in my stocking?

Along with a legal sleeping pill for my 14 month old?

Am I asking for too much?

I promise to cut down on the swear words this coming year.

Yours truly,

Lindsay

Slump Flump

Jace told me today, "We are in a slump.  Just a little slump."  We have had a bit of bad luck lately.  Someone has it out for me.  I just can't get a break.  I say it every time but this move has definitely taken the cake.  Remember Thanksgiving at our new house?  The Thanksgiving without a kitchen stove?  Well, in this season of being thankful I have to record the blessings and highlights of the day.  Jace hung swings in our trees.

It was adorable.

And the weather was completely cooperative.

It was mandatory everyone take a ride on the big swing.

I'm pretty sure that is Jace in the back ground checking to see if the swing had exceeded it's weight limit.

The kids and I had the stomach flu the day before and even I knew that all of us having it on the same day and not on Thanksgiving day was a blessing.  And Jace is a blessing for making everyday fun and making me laugh when I want to cry.

We don't pay for T.V.  Haven't for years.  It is a blessing.  Except when no one around you gives you the weather forecast.  We were a little thrown off this week when all this snow showed up.  We were out of electricity for 17 hours.  I cooked lunch on our wood stove, while Jace bounced around town in his backhoe clearing the driveways of some of Snowflake's finest citizens.  I told you he is a blessing.  He's going to heaven and I will still be whining somewhere else about my poor life.

And the slump continues:

Found 2 roof leaks in the snow storm.

Dishwasher broke today.  

(My kids thought doing dishes in the sink was the funnest thing tonight, so maybe blessing?  For a day or two?)

Still no kitchen stove.  I'm officially calling this "camping in the new house."

Mikael and Jace took a turn with the stomach bug this week.

When the power goes on and off in the middle of the night, the ipod downstairs blasts music at full volume.  Can you say pee the bed?  Very freaky.

School was cancelled Friday.  The school called and texted our cell phones 12 times starting at 5 am.  Someone owes me another snow day....the kind where you are free to sleep in.

I'm contemplating posting some house progress pictures.  Maybe some before and afters.  Right after I unpack and right after I decorate.

Right after this slump ends.