Whattayaknow

Well, I'm pretty disappointed in you all. Last post was my 50th post, and no one even noticed. That's why I didn't write in here for a couple of weeks. I was punishing you for your lack of noticing. I didn't even notice, which is just sad.

Anyway, that's not really true about why I didn't post. It's the holidays! Which means everything is crazy busy. Thanksgiving was such a fun time. Kennedy's mom, Jennifer, came and stayed with us for the week. It was great to have her around and made us excited to spend more time with her as well as the rest of Kennedy's family over Christmas in NJ!

Another thing that made me excited for Christmas in NJ: It snowed here yesterday. It's unthinkable in Texas for snow to fall in DECEMBER. It's usually an event reserved for every 4th year in February (to paint a picture of how often it snows.)

Now that we're not in South Dakota anymore, I can enjoy snow with the knowledge that it is going to melt as soon as it hits the ground. No getting stuck at the end of my driveway in a giant snowbank for me! (Anymore.)

Another thing I've been busy with is decorating for Christmas! Although we won't be at home this Christmas, I thought it a great security measure to put up a Christmas tree with lights. That way, burglars will think we're home and avoid our house (See: Home Alone.) Gee, I hope no burglars are reading my blog right now....

So I got a little carried away. I had so much fun putting up the first tree, that I just went for it, and now we have some full-on decorations. I'm going to wrap this up pretty quickly because 1) Dinner's ready, and 2) Kennedy just walked by and gave me a really dirty look because he thinks I'm always on the computer.

Here are some pictures!!!!

Here's what started it all....The "security" tree.

Then I moved to the front door and added a lighted garland and a hand-made ornament wreath! Notice my decaying pumpkins are still out.

 Here's a close-up of the wreath. It cost $11 to make. I bought the ornaments at the Dollar Tree (11 tubes of 5), used a pesky wire hanger we had lying around, and a glue gun that I had to dig out of some unpacked box in a spare bedroom. Here is a tutorial if you want to make one yourself!

I bet it would be really pretty with some peacock feather colors.

I have lovingly dubbed this the Santa Clause room, because the mantle is full of Santa figurines. Do you like how the bottom half of the tree is unlit? Good for me.

Oh hey, what's that? Another new iPhone cover!!!

Sadly, this one broke and I had to return it.

I've gotta go eat now.

Oh......My.......Word.

We're finished.

Well, kind of. Our bedroom is a disaster, but the guest quarters are complete! And might I say, beautiful. Hope that doesn't count as bragging.

I'm so excited about all the changes that were made this weekend! Our house is really transforming and coming together to feel like our home, and not you know who's ramshackle circus home. (In case you don't know who: you know who = previous owner.)

I can't concentrate on typing words as Kennedy sits behind me giggling at his iPhone and singing excerpts from one of his playlists in a really high pitched voice. Let's get down to the befores and afters.

Do you remember this?

Maybe you don't remember this. I don't think I ever posted pictures of this on the blog. Just on facebook.

OK, ready to have your mind blown????

Come stay with us!!!

Featured in this room is an antique bed frame that I bought off of craigslist (my best friend,) some side tables that Kennedy helped me make, and see that wreath? I made that! I like crafts.

Thanks Dad, for painting this room for me!

NEXT!

I'll miss you, truck-stop-bathroom...

In progress. Thanks Mom, for taking down the wall paper and texturing the walls!

These pictures are very dark because they're taken with my nice camera (the one I don't really know how  to use...) Not pictured: You could seriously eat off of any surface in this bathroom. It is like, the most disinfected something can possibly be.

Here's a framed piece of scrapbook paper!

Are you having fun? I know I am! Or maybe I'm delirious from working non-stop on this house. There's more...

This is our main living area. Also, a picture of the window that you can barely see on the left in the first picture.

In here, we painted. Everything. The walls. The window frame. Then we decided to leave the blinds off (not pictured above.) Then we hung some curtains and we looooove the curtains. How is it possible to love curtains? I still haven't figured out exactly how I like them to be styled, but oh well. We have yet to hang anything on the walls, but oh well. 

"Fireplace" room before.

"Fireplace" room after. What is Elvis doing????

What's next, you ask? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the master bedroom!!!!!

You make me feel like bloggin'

Fact: I woke up at 6:50 am this Saturday morning so I could be at work at 7:30 am.

Fact: When I came home, I worked for another 7 1/2 hours on our house to get it ready in time for Kennedy's mom's visit/Thanksgiving.

Myth: Shoe in-soles help to cushion your feet and absorb shock for a more comfortable step.

Fact: We are not finished.

Enough of that.

My parents came over bright and early this morning to help us get our house ready (at the last minute....why do we always do this???) They were here from, I'm guessing, 10 am until 8 pm, painting, texturing walls, etc etc.

You will NOT BELIEVE some of the transformations that were made in our home today. I am anticipating that we will have most everything in order tomorrow so I can share some fotografias con ellos.

Fact: A lot of my clothes smell like coffee these days, even after they have been through the laundry.

Official Webmaster!

Hey guys! I'm an official webmaster! My mother-in-law's website is finally complete and running! Go check it out:

http://www.prayinglife.org

CHEEEEEESE!

My one and only weakness!

Little Green Jug

Here is my dresser reveal! The make-over is complete, and I'm quite pleased with it!

Before:

Let's get it all out there. This is in our bedroom. I'm embarrassed by the dust, and clothes on the floor, but let's all just get over it and focus on the dresser.

Notice how the bottom left drawer pull is hanging askew. When I bought it off Craigslist, it was missing a screw. So anytime I pulled the drawer out, this pull would swing out to the side.

During:

I started off thinking I was really smart and efficient, and just bought a few cans of spray paint. That's how they always do it on HGTV. Well, unfortunately, spray paint should not be used on smooth surfaces. So, I wisened up after about 3 cans, and found some plain white interior paint on a shelf in our garage. I don't know how old this paint is....we inherited it with the house. But I think it's safe, because when I mixed it, it looked fine. I do believe there are some cans in there, though, that are "original" to the house. Meaning, 33 years old. So, we should probably discard of those soon to avoid any potential lead poisoning.

Friday night, Kennedy took me to Hobby Lobby to look at drawer pulls. DID YOU KNOW????? They have drawer pulls now! And lots of them. And really cute ones. Plus, they were all half-off.

I love Hobby Lobby.

Here is my selection:

Total cost for these knobs was $8. What a steal!!! I'll say it again.

I love Hobby Lobby.

The big reveal:

Wait for it.....

Wait for it.....

Wait for it.....

I'm hooked. I'm off to look on Craigslist for some more potential projects!

Friday the 13th!

Why are some people just so naturally abrasive and irritating? What is their purpose to this earth?

You know how spiders are all gross and creepy, but at least they eat flies and mosquitoes and things of that nature, so they're somewhat useful?

What is the use of a person with a pompous, completely frustrating personality?

Also, have you ever not actually met a person, but just by your knowledge of people you can tell that they will drive you insane?

Why, why, why??? And don't say "so you can learn patience." That's not WHY.

So, I've recently been inspired by this blog:

http://www.inthefunlane.com

The domain name is deceiving. It is the blog of a lady in Canada who refinishes furniture. Most of the time it is a very shabby chic look (which I happen to like.) I like to learn about ordinary people doing do-it-yourself projects. It makes me feel like I, too, can do these things.

So tonight, I will.

I will repaint a green dresser (I happen to love the green color, but Kennedy doesn't, and it it kind of beaten up, so I need to repaint it.) I will paint it ivory, and I will change the drawer pulls. I will display this small dresser in my entry way, so I can see it every day as I prepare to leave, or on my way up the stairs, and think to myself "I did that."

Also, who cares about run-on sentences? (Probably the people I was talking about at the top of my blog entry.)

I do not have pictures to share this time around, but I will soon. Very.....very......soon.........

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE!!!!