Antiquing

So as a kid I remember going to MANY antique stores with my mom. She LOVED to go look at and buy antiques! I HATED IT! I didn't want to go and I didn't like wandering around looking at "Old Stuff." Yeah I thought it was neat to see some of that "old stuff," but I NEVER grasped the concept of wanting to buy it and put it in your house. But my mom LOVED it! And I got to the point that all that stuff was the same...someone else's Old Used Crap! I never understood why the stuff was more expensive. I'd tell my mom all the time you can buy something new like that for CHEAPER!

Now I have a house and let's say...I've matured a little. I do have to say for the most part my style is modern/contemporary, but you can do some neat things with the older pieces. And I've found I "like" SOME of it. A good portion of the stuff still just isn't me, but I'm more accepting! :)

Big shock here...recently I went to an antique mall to actually look around...all by myself, no one saying to go, just me purely interested in finding some neat piece to add to my house. Well I did find 2 things I like...


I LOVE this entry bench! I think it would be so nice in my entry...well I don't have much of an entry, but I could make it work! :) I love the detailed carving and the little hinged storage under the seat. So why didn't I snatch it up? It was $895. I still don't think I get the pricing for antiques. But it is quite nice to look at...I'll keep searching.



The second thing I found was this SUPER Neat French Wire Wine Holder. They placed shells in it, but I thought it would look GREAT in my kitchen near the stove. I wanted it to hold my olive oil bottle and cooking utensils. Cost...$160...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!! Uh, does that include the shells, because I don't really need those?! :) Again I did not purchase this. Oh well. I did come home and look online, but all I found were single wire wine holders. I love that this one has three all hooked together with the handle coming up.

Am I being ridiculous on the pricing? I am very conservative with money, but I was willing to splurge, but not like that!!!!

I do have to share an antique piece I do now have in my house...It is this BEAUTIFUL early 1900's Singer Sewing Table. It was a piece of furniture my dad had from my great grandparents. I got it after my dad passed away.



I think it is a Beautiful piece. It is not something I would have purchased and I'm still uncertain how I'm going to decorate with it. But I do like it. My dad had it beautifully restored. I'm honored to have it!!




Look at it opened up. So incredibly NEAT! Yes it is foot pedal powered. And yes I have played with it and watched the needle go up and down! :)

Thanks for Antiquing with me!!

The Year of Firsts

Well yesterday was quite the CRAZY day! We got hit with Thunderstorms ALL DAY and into the night. I've had a few other Thunderstorms while living here, but it just seems like yesterday everything was hitting just right. Thunderstorms are always SUPER loud in this house. I think it is because of the skylight in the kitchen. I've never noticed my little dog, Zoie, being scared of Thunderstorms, but she sure didn't like yesterdays! I think she could hear things I couldn't like trees falling, and uh I don't know the Cowboys Training Facility a few blocks away collapsing?! :)

It was a little weird because we were having some HEAVY rain and then all of a sudden the electricity goes out...the rain stops and I began hearing LOTS of emergency vehicle sirens. A little while later I've got several helicopters circling over head. I have NO IDEA what is going on. The helicopters and sirens continue for at least 30-45 min. We finally get electricity back on and low and behold I find out...The Cowboys Practice Facility has collapsed in the winds we were having! Their offices and practice dome is literally just a few blocks from me. A lot of us that live over here joke about the Cowboys living in our backyard.

The Big white training dome with the Blue Star on the top can be seen from just about anywhere here in the valley. Of course I can't find pictures of what it looked like before. But it was an Icon to Valley Ranch. It's kinda weird to drive around and NOT see it standing high above everything.

I took a walk up the street to take pictures. I hate that I did that because the WHOLE metroplex is all of a sudden in our neighborhood. It's a little annoying! LOTS of Traffic and Lookey Loos! You can basically get the gist of everything from the CRAZY amount of news reports we have. I'm not sure why people are wanting to drive to see it in person. I guess it's the die hard Cowboys fans. For me it's just like WOW that big dome is gone? I see it every day!! It's weird because we were just talking about if the Cowboys were going to move their offices with the new stadium being built. And we wondered what would happen to that big dome they fought to build here in Valley Ranch. Well I guess no worries on that...mother nature took care of that one. It will be interesting in the coming months to see what winds up going through HOA for any rebuilds. It was quite a fight for the Cowboys to be able to build that in the first place.

Here are the pics of the collapsed dome...

You can go here and see footage that was taped inside while the dome went down...
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090502_lj_cowboys.11e43627.html

Around the neighborhood there are quite a few trees and fences down. It looks like I've just got a little shingle pulled up around one of the vents. I'm Thankful that this is the only damage I've found! I need a good escape from repairs. I'll call insurance out to double check for me, but hopefully this is the only bad spot on the roof.




Yes it has been quite a weekend! In a few days I'll post some pics of a recent trip to an Antique Mall. Why oh why must the things I find and like cost so much?

Sneak Peek

So slowly, but surely I'm trying to get a few of these projects FINISHED! I thought I'd share a few of the pics of work in progress...

Laundry Room:
This is the only before pic I have and it's the one I used to sell the Washer and Dryer on Craigslist.


I decided to go with a green apple color on the walls. I thought what the heck I'll experiment with color in a room I only pass through on the way to the garage or to do laundry. I kinda like it. Yes it is Bright! :) I'm definitely using the galvanized tubs for storage...Thanks IKEA! :) I'm not sure about the apples...my mom's idea for decoration.


The shelf has been painted a BRIGHT CLEAN White. I like the big contrast. That open area I'm planning on putting on cabinet doors to keep all the laundry stuff tucked away. I experimented with some Toille shelf liner...it may stay, it may go.


On to the kitchen....
This has been a big overhaul that is still in progress. It's just taking me much longer than I anticipated. I've run into a few problems here and there. Look at the couple of surprises I found when my counters were torn out! :)

HOLY SMOKES...Look at that below my sink I had some pullout shelves. WHO KNEW?! I NEVER thought anything could be put there I just thought it was always decoration. EXCITEMENT! Go check out the cabinets below your sink, you may be in for a FUN surprise!! :) I wonder how many places I lived in had these and I NEVER KNEW?! :)


Not a great picture, but this is some wasted space in the corner where my counters/cabinets turn. I always knew it was wasted space under there, but with the counters off I got a good visual and now an idea of what to do with it. It will be way down the line but that back wall opens up on the other side of a bar, so I'm planning on opening that wall from the other side to do some shelving. I think it will be a creative touch! :) BUT WAY down the line!!

Now for what is most exciting my COUNTERS with the new cabinet hardware installed! Yes you only get a peak at the counter color with the cabinets and hardware, but it's looking SUPER GOOD! I've just got to get the walls and a few things finished. :)

Lessons along the way

This past week has left me a little disappointed. I fully anticipated being able to get so much done. It just didn't work out that way. I look at those home design shows on TV differently. They are some kinda crazy, factory, robot producing crew. I have NO IDEA how they work and finish off makeovers so quickly! SERIOUSLY?! I'm constantly running into new problems or dilemmas and then on top of that sitting and waiting for the workers to finish what I've hired them for so I can get in and do what I NEED to do.

What I have learned...Kitchen counter replacement is a lengthy job. Two full days for the tear out and installation. And just as everyone said it is a MESSY JOB! I have an inch of dust all over EVERYTHING in the garage!

When you have other workers coming into your house to work, you won't be able to do what you planned on because they need in the space you also need in. :)

Peeling wallpaper is a tedious task and takes much longer than anticipated. I've probably got a good 3-4 hours left to finish off the kitchen. Then only 2 more rooms...YIPPEE! Lesson Learned...Wallpaper is EVIL. Today I vow to NEVER put wallpaper up in a house in my life! I hope the wallpaper trend from the 80s and 90s NEVER comes back! I don't care if you think that design is so cute...it's NOT! Get some fabric of it and make a pillow, but DO NOT put wallpaper up in your house!!! If you need to learn this lesson, I'm more than happy to let you come over and peel some wallpaper so you can learn that lesson REAL GOOD! :)

CraigsList is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I posted my washer and dryer on there and within 30 min. began receiving phone calls and less than 24 hours later had them sold and picked up. And actually sold them for more than I anticipated. I set my price a little higher fully anticipating having to negotiate down the price, but thinking by doing this I'd end up right where I wanted it sold for. But the guy came right in and bought it up at my listed price. YIPPEE! So another tip set your price right and people are more likely to buy! Some of the postings were a little ridiculous. It's a USED washer and Dryer...yeah I want to make a little money off them, but more importantly I want them outta here. Set a good price, you get the phone calls, and it's GONE. Some of those postings are still up a week later...uh you may wanna rethink your price!

Sorry no pictures of progress yet. I've got more to do. I can't wait to get all of these FABULOUS designs outta my head and posted on here for yall to see! :)

Hold me to it!!!

Alright so I had quite the ordeal with the plumbing situation. I was able to get my warranty company to approve for me to get my own plumber out. I didn't have one, but wound up with a GREAT one. He was very professional came out on the weekend and got the leak fixed. Of course as I thought...once the leak was fixed it was very easy to get the water dried up. I bought a box fan and have kept it running for a week...moving it to different locations. Everything is all dried up. Cost...$30 for the fan plus electricity...compared to the $1400 the company wanted to charge me...are you CRAZY?!

So this week I'm not working and have vowed to spend time on things around the house. A week ago I finalized all the payments on my kitchen counters so hopefully in the next week or so I can have those installed! :) So what I'd like to get done this week is ALL the wallpaper finally off the kitchen walls. And if I can over achieve a little maybe the pantry sanded and painted.

I called a handyman recommended by my counter guys. He's coming out tomorrow to give me the estimate to replace my drywall and baseboards from the leak. So I'd like to have that finished this week if he will be able to get to that. If he gets it done early in the week, I want to have my laundry room painted this week!! :)

I have a lawn service and talked with one of the guys this past week about my front flower beds. They are in quite a mess. Now's the time to change that out. I'm not sure what I really want to do landscaping wise, but I need to at least get something started so the HOA doesn't hound me! So he's coming out this week and going to pull out all my shrubs and mulch the beds for preparation for whatever I want to do. So another task for me this week is buying some plants and getting my front beds spruced up.

So I've got myself quite the list of tasks to do this week. Be looking for pictures. I've got to get some of this stuff DONE! :) I'll be checking these sites... The Lettered Cottage and Nesting Place. These girls keep me motivated and inspired!! Hold me to it...Pictures this week of projects DONE! :)

**EXCITING UPDATE**
My counters for my kitchen are READY! They are coming to do the tear out on Wednesday and the install on Thursday! Oh this will be an exciting week FOR SURE!!!!

The Ugliness of Homeownership!

Let me start by saying...It's FRIDAY THE 13th!!! :( I believe I wrote about a leak a few posts before this. Well I got the plumber to come out again to detect where the leak was coming from and the source was found. This has been a slow leak for who knows how long. As a result I have water damage to baseboards, sheet rock, carpeting in the hall, and my bathroom vanity.

YIKES What lies behind this?!

What a MESS!!!There she Blows! Coming out the top of the copper pipe just a little gusher, but she sure makes a MESS!!!

If that isn't bad enough...check out this story....

So the plumber tells me that he can't fix the leak until the water is cleaned out. Sounds a little odd don't ya think? The plumber sends out a Water Damage Restoration Company. They quote me outrageous pricing and I'm not confident in their services. I call my plumber back to ask him a few questions about water still leaking, leaving water running in the house 24 hours a day, and why the hot water shut off valve was not turned off. I didn't get very good answers, and while on the phone I'm able to determine that...oh my hot water valve doesn't work! Who's the licensed plumber now?! The guy just kinda skirted around with answers and I finally hung up.

Today I have spent the day calling the plumber leaving multiple messages without a response. I contact my home warranty company and they inform me that the plumber turned in a claim that the work and job had been completed, no further repairs needed! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! SERIOUSLY?! I have a feeling this plumber is in for a HUGE Problem with my warranty company! I'm in utter SHOCK over that!!!

Besides that drama I had a HUGE drama/Blowout with the Water Damage Restoration Company. Shotty service, changing of pricing and contract terms, and VERY POOR Customer Service and People Skills! I finally had to say PULL ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT OUT AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! And yes I yelled it! I am concerned about any further action from this company. I have zero trust in them. And the way things went I can only fear that something may arise from all of this!

As it stands right now...I still have a leak, I have NO Hot Water, I have debris everywhere from the pulling out of drywall, baseboards, and pulling back carpet. The warranty company is working with me to help get another plumber out this weekend. Only 2 1/2 hours until Friday the 13th is OVER!

I have a headache and I think a bottle of wine and maybe some girl scout cookies are calling my name! :) Too bad I don't have hot water for a bubble bath!

Kitchen Plans

I decided I would do a post on my kitchen plans. Then hopefully it can all be FINISHED in the next month or two.

Here is the Color for my countertops. I have picked out Silestone (a quartz product) in the color of Mountain Mist.


I'm going with a Stainless Steel Banjo Undermount sink. Something similar to this...


I still need to pick out a faucet for the sink. I found one I like, but it doesn't work with the banjo style sinks. So I'll have to look again for something like the style above. I'm not much of a fan of the arching sink faucets, but I like the banjo style sink so the faucet is something I'll learn to like.

I was trying to find my paint color online and I can't seem to find a paint sample of it. But it is FreshAire Choice with the color being Natural Wilderness. It is kinda a browny grey color.

These are my Drawer Pulls

And these are my Cabinet door Pulls


All of this against my white cabinets. I decided against refacing or painting them. I think the white will keep it all nice and open and fresh looking.

I'm still trying to find and decide what butcher block to buy. I have a fairly small island in the middle of the kitchen. I thought it would be FUN to do a butcher block counter top on it. So I'm just needing to figure out how I want to do that. I'll probably go with a bamboo or birch butcher block.

The appliances I still need to purchase are the dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator. I'm not in a rush to get those changed out. I'm okay with having the miscolored appliances for awhile. I'm READY for the kitchen to be done. I think once that's done the rest of the house will begin to fall into place. :)

Quote off My Starbuck's Cup

Here's a quote off my Starbucks' cup today...


"Failure's hard, but success is far more dangerous. If you're successful at the wrong thing, the mix of praise and money and opportunity can lock you in forever.
" ~ Po Bronson

Why did that one speak to me? Well I'm seriously contemplating my job. I've kinda gotten sucked in and haven't been able to leave. Why? Because of all of the above...money, praise and opportunity.
The problem? I'm not always doing what I LOVE!

I started out doing contract/PRN work as a temporary thing. I'm now coming upon 3 years of it. I NEVER imagined staying that long and that quote sums up why and how I've gotten stuck.


I'm ready for a change and need to make it a PRIORITY to actively begin looking for something new...Outpatient Ortho PT.
I need to get back to what I love and refocus myself!

Anyway, I just wanted to share my Starbucks Quote! I LOVE when I'm thinking or doing something in life and then there are little moments that deepen the moment.
It's like God reaching down and talking to me and confirming it! :)

A slight diversion from the kitchen remodel

So I've learned that owning a home is quite a bit of work!! Geez how did I ever figure I could manage. I had to call a plumber out today. I have had a leak between the wall of the bathroom and the laundry room. I noticed the wood on the bathroom vanity rotting and then began noticing some water out in the garage. GREAT! So the plumber came out today to check it out. It looks as if there is a leak in the pipes of the wall between those two rooms. LOVELY! And I'm actually praying and hoping for a leak in this wall. MUCH better than say, oh I don't know, a leak in the pipe that's in my slab foundation there! AGH!!!! That would be HORRIBLE!!!!!

The good news while the plumber was out I had him tighten up my gas line connection and TA DA...I've got a working stove without gas leak!!! WAHOO!!!!

Calling in Professionals

Wow this has been quite the task for me! It all sounds simple enough...disconnect old appliances, cut counters allow new slide in range to be installed. It has been FAR from that easy. And doing it all by myself without extra hands has been quite the job! So I finally got all the appliances disconnected and hauled them out to the garage. So that I could begin cutting the counters. It all at first seemed to go pretty well. Then I started having a few difficulties with the saw and the saw would kick back on me. I'm crammed in a small space and to say the least DID NOT like the saw kicking back at me at all. I'm a Physical Therapist...GHASTLY incidents run through my mind about what may happen to my precious hands or legs! :)

The electrical outlet also became quite the ordeal. I'll keep it short, but I have learned LOTS about electricity in the past few weeks. Yes I went to Barnes and Noble and browsed through electrical wiring books...nope this doesn't help you pick up guys. I just got more people looking at me...definitely NOT Hot! :) But I have learned about electricity! I was able to make all the changes I needed to make...change the appliance from a 4-prong plug to a 3-prong, wire up a 3-prong receptacle. Now I've kept this short and made it sound simple, but there WERE CHALLENGES with all of this.

So the job was basically done, or done enough for me! :) The counters were not completely cut, but since they will be torn out when they install the new counters I was just going to leave it as is and let them finish that for me! :) Basically my range slides in, but not far enough back to the wall...who cares?! Again...I'll let them finish that! :) So I just want to get the thing hooked up and see if my work was a success, and I want MY OVEN so I can COOK!!!! So I hook it all up, time to turn the gas and electricity back on....DUM...DA...DUM...DUM...Blinking lights on the oven ALRIGHT!!!! :) Now let's test those gas burners...WAHOO All 5 burners work. Yeah I'm that GOOD! Or so I thought! :( I left the kitchen and came back in about 5 minutes later...sniff, sniff, sniff...what's that smell?! GAS?!!!!!! You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?! Yup I've got a gas leak somewhere. ARGH!!!! Okay turn it all back off. :( GRR!!! I'm DONE! This has been too much for me....yes I know how to check to see where the leak is coming from to try retightning or using the gas pipe tape or putty, but I'm so done.

I'm tired of moving that range and it's not fully in anyway because of the counters. So I'm learning to cook with the George Forman, Crock Pot and Microwave. I did TONS of work and I know I'm pretty much finished, but I'm tired and some of this is SUPER hard to do with only one set of hands. So I'm walking away...what about the rest of the new appliances? I'm calling in the professionals...the money is SO WORTH my time and aggravation!!!

What to Do?!

Well I may have begun a project that is above and beyond me! My stove is sitting on my counters and the oven is halfway out...and I decide to blog instead! I know what needs to be done, but I don't know how to do it. GEEZ!!!! And oh all of this is supposed to be finished so when the new stove is delivered...TOMORROW... they can nicely install it! FAT CHANCE! All I can say is OH SHIT!

It started today with me having trouble changing the saw blade. Then I couldn't get a good grip on the gas line to disconnect the stove. Hmmm...okay let's go to HOME DEPOT! They struggle a little as well, but finally get the saw blade changed, and I find a nice new set of pliers for the gas line...back to work I go! Well, crap, I cannot get the gas line to disconnect properly. And now I'm not trying anymore because I can just imagine some crazy explosion.

Okay moving on...I can at least get the oven pulled out. Wow this is coming out NICELY. Wait, what's that in the back. Ah, CRAP! It's not a NORMAL electric oven with a plug...NOPE it's got electric wires. Well damn, it's dark there's NO WAY I can shut off electricity to disconnect that! And besides my new oven is going to need a PLUG not WIRES! Oh GREAT!

I can't wait to see the installers' reactions tomorrow. I'm going to glam myself up and PLEAD with them to at least just do the gas disconnect. Then I can get the oven out and the counters cut. Then I guess I'll just have to hire an electrician to fix the wiring for my new stove. OH MY MY MY!!!