Some before, a little after

Ok, so I know good and well that nobody is going to care about this post like I do. We are now living in our house, but are really far from "moved in." I wanted my house completely done, decorated and cleaned before I took "after" pictures of it, but at this rate, I wouldn't post until August. So here are the "after" pictures. The "before" pictures are down below. I'm really happy in my little house and I think it is coming together. Let's see what you think...

This first picture is me sitting at my kitchen table. Shiny, isn't it?

Like I mentioned above, we are really far from being done. This is our "gas station bathroom." There is no toilet in it, the sink doesn't work, and it is a disaster. As you can see, we have a lot of work left to do....considering we are functioning on one bathroom, we're pretty motivated to finish this project up.

My back yard! Can you tell this project was extensive? I did manage to pick about 86% of the cigarette butts out of the back. Let me tell you- you learn a lot about a family by picking through their rocks. I know they had a little boy, a little girl, they loved Halls cough drops and snickers minis. I know they had dogs. And I know they smoked a lot of Marlboros.

This is my kitchen looking in. I like it a lot more than I thought I could like a kitchen. I know it's dark, but it is so sunny in there. I have big plans for the chairs I'm going to get for the table (you know, sometime between here and next year when my finances recover...I can't tell you how many times our credit card company called to make sure there wasn't credit card fraud and I had to hang my head in shame and say "yes, I did just authorize a completely unwise amount at Lowes".)

The wall is gone! The big shelf on the wall is gone. The ceiling is flush. The giant dry wall fire place is gone. Again, there is a load of stuff to do, but I am happy with it. I didn't think I'd have that column, but it's growing on me. I call it the Arc de Triumph.

I got rid of the coat closet door that I was sure they locked their children in and drywalled that wall flush. makes a big ol' difference.

Looking into the family room. French doors weren't there before.

I know there was no "before" picture of my landing, but I love my light fixture so much I had to put it on.

The third bedroom. Just waiting on friends and family to fill it up! I can promise you an air mattress!

Half of Abby's bedroom.

The other half of Abby's room: Thanks for the stripe help Grandma Susan!

Our new fourth bedroom. This will someday be a nursery, but right now, Abby has moved in and she loves having friends over to play.

Upstairs hallway.

Upstairs hall before.

Dining/Family combo

Kitchen before


Front door before

Fireplace/family room before

Living Room before

Gas station potty before

Abby's bedroom before

Down but not out...

We have been busy, oh so busy...which, when you think about it, is exactly the time you want to keep the anthology of your life going. I want to remember all of this craziness at somepoint when I miss craziness in my life...So I am blogging. With just pictures. I have no desire to talk about everything that has kept us so busy. even though I should...but I promise by May 15th, I'll be a brand new woman!

We've still made time for the important, razz-ma-tazz sparkles that make our daily life fun.

And this about sums it up.

Abby and her cat Abby...

We have been feeding the nicest cat for the last two days. We have no idea who it belongs to, but it follows Abby around like a puppy. I asked Abby what she wanted to name it and she said "abby." And thankfully my husband almost never reads this blog or else he would discover that we have let it come inside on a few occasions...

For the grandparents...

My dad sent me flowers! That is just about the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. They are beautiful, dad. Thank you very much. Not only do I feel special, but so does Abigail. She is sure they were completely meant for her. She gets up each morning and checks on the status of which ones have opened and which are still buds. Thank you for making this such a special Valentine's Day.

This is my little Valentine's haircut. She loves her bangs. I could have picked a more brushed and combed picture instead of her fresh from a night's sleep in her pajamas...but then I thought, this is really what she is going to look like 85% of the time anyways so this was the better picture. (Picture requested by Grandma Patsy.)

Really missing Washington State today...missing my family.

In a nutshell...

Carrie...I hope I'm doing this right?

Your cell phone? Is fairly brand new since I switched to T-Mobile. I picked the one that I thought was most attractive (that, and how well I can sandwich it between my shoulder and ear are my top-cell-phone-picking-criteria, oh, and how well I can hear it ring at the very bottom of my purse). The sale's guy who I spoke to on the phone asked if I was chic enough for this phone and I've been self-conscious using it ever since.

Your hair? Is a disaster. I've had short hair for a while but since we bought a house, I can't afford the maintenance...so I'm in the awkward growing-out phase.

Your mother? Is a georgia peach.

Your father? Has been married to my mother for 49 years last month. Congrats!

Your favorite food? Stinky cheeses, olives and artisan breads. I belong in the south of France. I just need to get more snobbish and fashionable...

Your dream last night? I was walking a goat in it. And not just any goat, but a world-class racing goat.

Your favorite drink? Water. But sometimes I get a craving for grape juice or chocolate soy milk.

Your dream/goal? To be out of debt. Travel a lot. Be jillian michaels healthy. To further my education.

What room are you in? Dining room.

Your hobby? Yoga

Your fear? Dying early, poverty and germs.

Where do you see yourself in 6 years? Being done having kids.

Where were you last night? Yoga and reading The Other Bolyen girl until my eyes hurt.

Something that you aren't? Relaxed. Ever.

Muffins? PLEASE!!!! I LOVE muffins!!! Easily my favorite breakfast food of all times. Favorite is probably Bran (for medicinal purposes) or pumpkin chocolate chip.

Wish list item? A generous benefactor

Where did you grow up? Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and Pasco, Washington...but the Northwest has my heart.

Last thing you did? Throw a Valentine's Party at my daughter's pre school, drove her home from said party, and vainly tried to get her to eat something for lunch besides heart shaped sugar bombs.

What are you wearing? Black flower head-band, a black long sleeved shirt, my cream sweater that Brandon says makes me look like a library spinster, my banana republic jeans (don't freak, they were $17) and my black pointy ballet flats with ruffles.

Your TV? is playing PBS kids so I can blog. (hangs head in shame)

Your pets? None. And since I've just shopped prices on my own flooring and astro turf for the back yard, there probably wont be any...since every sales person asked "Do you have pets?" and I say "No." And they say "good, that will save you some serious money."

Friends? Love them!!! I have always had the best of friends and I'm a better person for them.

Your life? Stressful but enviable.

Your mood? Stressed. Anyone catching a pattern?

Missing some? My husband. The bar exam ate him several weeks ago and won't be spitting him out until the end of February.

Vehicle? 2003 Toyota Highlander...and so far, the brakes have worked (fingers crossed)

Something you aren't wearing? A wedding ring. It seems like I have so many reasons to take it off (lotion, dishes, exercising, showering, cleaning) and I forget to put it on.

Your favorite store? Banana Republic (outlet, for at least this stage of my life and probably beyond). Whole Foods. DSW.

Your favorite color? oddly enough right now...modern gray.

When was the last time you laughed? Last night when Brandon was telling me a story of how his father, Ron, was encouraging Brandon to get contact lenses. Brandon replied he could not wear the lenses because he has astigmatism. Ron then asked, "Is that the reason why your eyes are shaped like a Chinese man's?" Hilarious on so many levels.

The last time you cried? It was a couple days ago in sheer frustration, but I'm typically not a crier.

Your best friend? Could be considered to be several people.

Once place I could go over and over? Yellowstone national park.

Facebook? Yes though I wish no. It was fun to catch up and have a way to get messages to people I don't talk to regularly...but the down side to me is the minute by minute updates on what everyone has ate, what bodily functions they just had or what is on their television. Also, it is another way for people to get me a message that I most likely will be too long responding to and therefore will stress me out...

Favorite place to eat? Pin Kow Thai baby!

Extreme Makeover...Small Budget Edition

Well, it's been a month since I've blogged and I am including pictures why. No, these aren't pictures of Brandon studying in his underwear until 1 am (though the bar exam has been a reason why I haven't blogged...mother always said 'If you don't have something nice to say...'). And no, these aren't pictures of Abby's runny nose (though that, too, has been a reason why I haven't blogged). But the main reason...the one taking all my time and leaving me so stressed I can do nothing but eat chips and watch whatever is on TLC at the time (BBQ pitmasters being my new favorite)...is my house. It's hard to even say 'my house.' We haven't closed on it yet, but we're dang close. Setting up the details of our remodel has been crazy. Truly crazy. Since we're only a few weeks away from completely gutting the joint, I thought I would post some 'before' pictures and some details about what we're going to do. Here they are in no particular order..

The upstairs hallway. You're looking into my master bedroom right now with my sweet submarine window and standing next to my awesome off-track linen closet to the left. The master has a very large sitting room attached to it which we are dry walling off and turning into a nursery/4th bedroom/office...we're not really sure, but we're planning on more little ones so we thought it was a good choice. We're doing new carpet and new paint.

My least favorite room in the house. My master bedroom. It's my least favorite because I can't afford to do anything about it. It has a nice sized walk-in closet attached and good bones...so until I can figure out what I can do about it...I'll be dealing with that red racing stripe of tile.

This picture is taken standing in my living room looking into my dining. This is one area we're making a lot of changes. We're laying a wood floor...taking out that wall between the family room/dining room...changing the carpet on the stairs, dropping the dining room ceiling down, putting in a new ceiling fan, 5-inch baseboards, putting some greenery on that sweet cinder-block wall view and...that's about it. It will be completely unfurnished ;)

Oh my kitchen. There will be woodfloors put in here as well, new baseboards, new window coverings, new lighting, new cabinets, new counter tops, ripping out the island and getting a new one...new appliances (though still white...it'll do)...new sink and fixtures...and recessed lighting (pulling the box out of the ceiling and putting up can lights) and moldings with light above the cabinets.

This is my front door and coat closet. Other than wood floors, baseboards, paint and window treatments...I can't do much here. You better believe I'm getting a new door for my coat closet. I have no idea why there is a mail slot in there.

The family room. SERIOUSLY tight. That is why...it is also getting new paint, wood floors, base boards, window treatments, ceiling fans, the wall on the left will be knocked down to open it up, the fire place will lose that awesome stucco-art above it and the mantle. I know you can't tell from this picture but that mantel is HUGE. It needs to be taken off and the fireplace needs to be flush to the wall for the space it will give us alone. On the right is a sliding glass door that will be replaced with a french door. Above the fireplace is getting wired for a flat screen TV (not that we have one) but the room is where one would naturally put a tv...and frankly, it is too small for a tv stand or cabinet.

The exterior. On a gray day. Such a vegas house. We're only doing some stucco repair and fixing the garage door. Other upgrades will have to wait.

The living room. Paint, baseboards and window treatments. It has 20 foot ceilings...so that is a lot of paint. Another room that will be completely unfurnished.


Downstairs bath. Doesn't look bad, right? I've had no less than 4 people tell me how much it reminds them of a gas station bathroom. So instead of attaching a key to a brick for my guests to use the potty, it's getting wood floors, paint and some new fixtures. The wall tile is staying.

My back yard full of cigarette butts and rocks. This is the area that frustrates me the most because it is SO vegas and so not kid friendly. I'm currently pricing patio covers, astro turf, rock removal, concrete removal, shrubs, planter boxes, drip lines...I have no idea what is going to happen back here but you better believe it is WAY high on the priority list though not currently budgeted for.

1/2 of abby's bedroom. It's getting paint, base boards, maybe solar screens, ceiling fan and carpets. She has huge ceilings in her bedroom. The carpets don't look too bad, but they are and the people before us we're smokers. My house reeks. Her bedroom is huge...here is the other half...

That's a walk-in closet. I'm planning on putting all her toys in her room and not having a toy room in this house...but abby is extremely insistent that there will be. I haven't decided...

Abby's bathroom. I just realized the other day that it has a sky light. Who knew? New countertops, (you better believe I'm getting rid of that bar over the toilet), staining the cabinets a new color, new fixtures, paint, new decorative mirror...and does it need a toilet paper holder? Why is there a random roll there?


The third bedroom that we don't know what to do with, but Abby does (toy room!) Sweet, smoked-in window treatments. This room will get the same treatment- carpet, paint, baseboards, fan, window treatments, solar shades...oh, and it has a walk-in closet too, awesome, right? This completes your tour of my home. Wish me luck!

Bring it on, 2010!

2010 is my year. It is the year that I unleash the inner beast (hopefully my inner beast is something fearsome, I have no idea...I'll let you know when I meet her). It is the year I get my act together, turn 30, and fully immerse myself into my ambitions. We're off to a good start...
Abby is especially up and running....Here are pictures of my new, sweet sunbeam fresh from primary, about to sing her sunbeam song and do her sunbeam hand motions.

On her first big girl bike...Yes, I cried.

Growling. Terror of the pavement.

As for Brandon and I, we're anticipating an exciting year. We have an accepted offer on our home and we will be remodeling (HGTV are you reading my blog? give me a show. I know you already have Design on a Dime, but follow me around and I'll give you Design with Not Even Two Thin Dimes to Rub Together). We will be taking the bar exam...again...but for the LAST time. I'm running the SLC marathon (in case anyone wants to come with me, April 17th) and yes, I will be trying for a second child...Got to fill up my awesome new house with the kiddies! (Well, soon to be awesome house and not chalk full of kiddies...you all know me better....but comfortably full of kiddies...not TLC asking me if I want my own show full). Here is wishing everyone a 2010 as awesome as mine! Good luck!