A lot of progress

We have made a lot of progress on our house lately! We gutted the living room and installed a wood stove with a tile hearth. We are now in the process of installing hard wood floor in one half of the living room. The other half (where the furniture and tv will go) will be carpet. I set up the Christmas tree even though we're right in the middle of construction. I just couldn't stand it. Of course I did it while Phil was at work so he couldn't stop me...sneaky huh? So, now we just need finish the flooring, install carpet and built-in shelves and we'll be set!

It's surprising that we've gotten this much done during the busiest time of year. We know good and well that we won't get anything done on the house next weekend because of all the Christmas celebrations. I also have a birthday creeping up on me...28 years young on Dec 29th!

Our four-legged kid is loooooving the wood stove. He hangs out by it all the time. I on the other hand, try to stay away. It's averaging about 80-85 degrees in our house so I have been opening the windows. I'm sure the neighbors think we've lost our mind when they see them open. We also don't have blinds up in there yet so they see me in my shorts and t-shirts too.

I'll post pics of the updates next time.

See ya!

New ceiling and a BBQ

The living room is completely gutted a new ceiling is up.  Our old ceiling had some old water damage and so it was sagging. Because we started with 10 ft ceilings, it was no big deal to drop down 6 inches and build a brand new ceiling. We didn't tear out the old because sitting on top of that ceiling is about 100 years of insulation, dirt, gunk, etc. No thanks! We hope to order a woodstove this week so we can have it in before the cold weather. The only way I agreed to having a woodstove plopped in the first room you see as you walk in the house, was to help pick it out and to have a nice hearth and back drop. Sold! Phil was really excited to go by a new toy...a chainsaw! The ultimate tough-guy toy.  The story that goes along with that purchase is a little entertaining, so I'll share.  We went to the store that has been around since dirt. It's around 100 degrees outside and as we pull up and shut off our air conditioned car I see a sign that is never a good one...the door to the store was propped open. Yep, you guessed it, no AC! So here I stand with a bunch of sweaty men, looking at chainsaws. Phil was like a kid in a candy store. Later he told me he didn't even notice there was no AC. Pitiful.

So, next step is to patch up the floor a litte and lay OSB. Then we'll be ready for sheetrock and flooring!!!

We had our first BBQ with some friends. We've had a few people over here and there, but never a planned, group BBQ.  I of course, bought wayyyy too much meat and buns, but nobody went home hungry. It was fun and hopefully once the living room is done we can have friends over for game night! This may sound cheesey, but there may be beer/wine/rum involved, making it all the more entertaining :o)  Catch Phrase is sure to get a giggle, or all out hysterics. 

On to save the world...or to do laundry.
Kristy

What I like right now

Sometimes silly things stick in my mind and right now it's 90 calorie Snickers ice cream bars, new babies and my Leaves scented candle from Bath & Body Works.  I really like them all and yes I do realize it's not even close to fall.  I busted out some of the fall decorations, hoping that I could encourage it to come a little sooner. It actually feels like fall outside tonight. It's such a nice change from the 105+ temps we've been having the last month. My flowers say "thanks", our dog Jack says "thanks" and I do too! Thanks to the 70 degree weather.  70 degrees is what I consider PERFECT weather!  The kind of weather that you can still wear shorts, but you better grab a sweatshirt for the evening.  LOVE it!

As for the ice cream bars I was thrilled to find one of my all-time faves in a 90 calorie portion...I was quickly taken back to reality when I opened the box and saw they're no bigger than my thumb.  They're still amazing and I am able to stop after just 1(insert pat on back here). 

As for new babies, our good friends are expecting a new baby anytime! An even better reason to be eager is that they didn't find out the gender. Aren't they crazy!  I don't think I can do that.

House update:  We hope to start demotion of the living room this weekend!

Still learning

So I'm still trying to figure out this whole blogging thing.  I plan to do a better job at keeping it up once there are little ones around, so I want to be a pro by then because I know I won't have time to figure it out once that happens.  For example, I want to add a picture right here ->

There isn't a point to this picture but it does a great job showing our awesomeness.

Success!  My first blog picture!  I've used up all the extra brain power for the night, so I'm out!

Blogaholic. Just not my own blog...

Here lately I've been addicted to reading a few other blogs.  During this obesession I remembered, "hey, I have one of those too".  At this point I haven't shared my blog with anyone, but still want to keep up on it for my own journaling purposes(aka sucky memory).  Someday, when my life is a little more exciting (insert kids here), I'll open this blog up and tell the world about it! 

We are all married off!  Everything went great!  We had our small ceremony on my parents back deck.  Parents, grandparents, siblings and the judge.  Phil and I were in our jeans and didn't have to worry about Phil passing out from being in front of too many people. The next day was our reception.  The food was amazing BBQ, the cake was perfect and tasted perfect, my photographer was FREE and awesome (good friend of mine), the music was good and the beer was good!  What a nice, relaxing way to marry your best friend. 

Our house remodel is moving right along.  We have finished the master bedroom and it's my favorite room in the house so far!  The ceiling shelf, recessed ceiling, whatever you want to call it-adds such a nice touch.  I also loooove the gray walls.  Yep, I said gray.  We bought a closet organizer system and realized once it was all put together and screwed to the walls, that we hardly have any room for hangy-up clothes.  Dern!  We have been working outside when we can-the temps have been over 100 degrees for WEEKS now.  We gathered up limestone rock from a friends' pasture and built flower beds.  Our house is almost 100 years old and we're trying not to make it too modern looking.  We also got the kitchen tile done and it looks amazing!  We (okay, it was mostly Phil) made a tile "rug" pattern in the middle.  Our next project will be the living room.  This is our biggest room so it will take some time.  We're also putting a wood stove in this room so that's a project in itself.  We're trying to decide on a stove and what material the back-drop will be (I vote for stone). 

More exciting news:  I got a new car!!!  Yes, the 13 year old Honda finally gets a breather.  Yolanda the Honda was good to me.  She just needed a nap.  Her windows didn't always roll back up, her seats were starting to rip, her A/C didn't work at stop lights, and her exhaust was exhausted.  We bought a 2007 Honda Accord.  It's bright white and I just can't stop looking at it.  The A/C on this girl will blow you out of your seat!

Annnnd I'm done!

I know...

I suck at keeping this thing updated.  I really like to look back at the journals I kept in grade school and high school and am trying to make a point to start doing that again.  You'd think it would be easy as often as I'm on the computer. 

Update on the house remodel:  The master bedroom is soooo close to being ready for sheetrock!  We have a few things that shouldn't take too long.  We are moving the door over about 6 or 8 inches so we don't have wasted space behind it.  This might be a challenge.  Although I did help Phil hang the 2 other doors in this room and it only took us a few hours.  We didn't even growl at each other! Yeah, we don't yell, we growl...or snarl as he calls what I do.  I'm hoping to start hanging sheetrock next month and be in it by March!  Phil doesn't like to put an estimated completion date on anything so I'm keeping that guess in my own little head. 

We're taking a little trip this weekend with some friends to Middleofnowhere, KS and I'm pumped!  Sometimes you just want to be where there are no crowds, cell phone towers, buildings, etc.  Wide Open Spaces (insert Dixie Chicks here).  Next big trip will be our Honeymoon!!!  We're taking a cruise to the Bahamas!  I have never even seen the ocean, so I'm freakin excited about this.  Speaking of the wedding, we have booked the 4 most important parts:  Building, DJ, Caterer, and Beer.  Now I just need to call the flower lady and cake people.  Come on May 15!

Better get back to work.