Domesticated Diva

 
So... Last year at this time I was wretchedly sick.  I got this little cutie out of it, but things were pretty bleak and dismal for over 4 months.  And the weirdest repeat is happening.  All of the seasonal smells and foods and even decorations of October THIS year are making me nauseous yet again just because they remind me of being pregnant last year.  Double ugness.

In a big push to pull of at least a few incidents of domestication between being super sick after the arrival of Baby Eye-let and heading back to work work work, I made these fabulous cookies.  It's the best recipe ever.  Walnut-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk chocolate and coconut.  We ate them in lou of real food for days.

 I also stole a project idea from my best friend at Yellow Pear Photography and crafted these back to school kits for all of my nieces and nephews. 
We sent them off in the mail just in time for the first day.

 I cannot get enough of this snuggly delight.  I often think she is the baby I was expecting to get when I got Annie.  Annie is my insatiable obstinate spitfire. Ollie {as Annie has now coined} is quite the reverse.  She is mellow and timid.  I still am elated beyond measure that I get to have 2 girls in a row!  Annie and I run around the house saying, "two girls, two girls," over and over again as I repeat every action twice from one girl to the next.  Don't you think a third would be even better?!

 And finally-my last attempt at domesticity until I don't work next summer:  I wound up the banners I made on card board rolls so they wouldn't tangle.  Whoop de do.

 Work is sucking the life out of me.  I think I am in need of some sort of role in my life in which I am NOT the one in charge.  Not the mom, not the teacher, not the instructor.  I need something where I just show up- someone tells me what to do- I do it- and them go home.  But alas- something tells me I wouldn't be satisfied with that for long.  In one last push to finish our yard and basement, I remember daily that these girls and this awesome house are worth it.  It's a good life and it is certainly good to be busy. 
I shall continue to contribute to society yet.

It's 1:35 am!  My house is a disaster, I have 100 essays to grade, and I'm so exhausted my hair is literally falling out.  What on earth am I still doing up?!?!

Dig and Dig and Dig

A great miracle has occurred and we have finished laying the last of cement and planted grass in the front yard!  It only took FOREVER, but 6 days ago the grass was planted and we have about 2 days to see it start to grow.  It is agony waiting, especially since we have thrown a few swear words out watching some of the seed run down some over-watered slopes.  Still, planting was the right option because now we have just enough cash left to finish the planters.  Here's the breakdown of every night for the last several months:

Q had to kill waist-high weeds and level the front after we got the irrigation system working.  He must have leveled it a hundred passes before we got it close enough to plant.  Never mind the fact that he may have driven over a few precious sprinklers before all was said and done.  Annie would have been content to ride shot gun with him all day.  This is one of 3 tractors we used. [3/10/2012]

We bought tons of gravel to get our front planters started and Q planted the beginnings of what will be a hedge to cover the foundation in a few years.  We also brought in some big rocks and this one is perfect for sitting and watching people drive by. [3/11/2012]

Annie asks to go outside relentlessly.  We sit on the front steps or bring out lawn chairs and watch Q work tell well after dark while we eat popsicles or blow bubbles. It's the same every night:  I get home from work and Annie and I head outside to watch Q dig and dig and dig all evening.  When it gets chilly after the sun goes down, we bring out a blanket and cuddle until Q is too tired to dig anymore. [4/3/2012]

It's a good thing we've had outside weather since February.  For some reason, now that it is warm, Annie is obsessed with wearing her cowboy boots.  Silly girl. [4/4/2012]

All of us get so excited every time a new section of cement is finished.  This is before even the curb for the planters was down.  The day each new section is dry, Annie and I dress up and go out and dance on the new sidewalk. Notice, once again, Annie's choice of footwear. [4/6/2012]

 

 Finally, after much wailing a gnashing of teeth, the last of the sidewalk in the front was finished!  Q and I came to terms with moving the bike trail a bit and it turned out better than our original plans.  Now we won't have to prune the male pistachio tree back from the grass.  Sometimes we go outside and walk on our new sidewalk just for kicks.  It is the perfect belated birthday present. Hopefully the city doesn't find out we didn't follow their regulations.  [4/24/2012]

And the best day all spring- only a few weeks behind schedule -last Thursday we panted the grass.  [5/2/2012]

"Let's hear it for the boy!"  He has already moved on to the back (this morning he woke up early to plant my fruit trees before work) but Annie and I are content to sit and watch the grass grow... literally.

Please work.  Please work.  Please work.

I hEaRt My HoUsE: More Renovation Photos {The laundry, mud room, & library}

On Monday Annie took a 4 hour nap and I used the time to sit and stare at my house. I'm in love, and still shocked & awed that I get to live in a house I am in love with. As I reveled in the aftermath of 6 months of dust and drained bank accounts, I got to thinking that I never posted the pics of my 3 favorite rooms! I wouldn't have thought it possible, but once again Spring is right around the corner and I am in a major mood for renovation and design! You'd think after two years of renovations, I would be satisfied. I don't even have HGTV anymore since we don't have cable. There's always the basement, which will now be the only place you haven't seen. 1700 sq/ft of blank canvas down there. Brown & Graham do I have plans for you! My basement fund jar is already started and I'm dreaming up schemes and plans. In the meantime, it's a good thing we have people living down there or else I might be tempted to use my basement money jar for an indoor playhouse instead of the huge leak we have going in the roof over our back door. Rain rain rain. So for now, I will sit by the fire Q started, recover from a 12 hour work day after Annie kept us awake ALL night, and forget about the leak. Perhaps a bowl of ice cream?

BEFORE

Q & I have been marveling over these before pics! It's easy to forget how much work it was when we are basking in the arms of luxury (aka, no more dust). We still have some projects but nothing like this...at least not inside.
AFTER

In a few weeks we will have owned our home 1 complete year! It took 6 full months to renovate it though so we've only been living here for half that time. I told Q, I'm never leaving.

The Laundry Room

BEFORE

We had to add plumbing for sink and it took me forever to convince Q to build me some temporary shelving. With help from my favorite store on the planet (IKEA), I now have an awesome gift wrapping station and craft area. .
AFTER

BEFORE

The sink took forever to work into the right spot before could give me some good storage shelves. In the end, we had to craigslist in for a washer and dryer but they will be perfect for the basement some day and we'll get some shiny new ones. I love the IKEA racks because they fit hangers perfectly for drying close and worked for my wrapping paper and storage.
AFTER

The Mud Room

BEFORE

I'm lucky to have a hubby who can work a power tool or tool. All through the house I would draw lines on the walls and Q would make them into shelves. The lockers in the mud room are a perfect example. All our junk gets stored here and I finally get to use my vintage hooks I've been saving for 5 years!
AFTER

BEFORE

Ydnic helped me with some upholstery and I made my own chalkboard paint for the wall in the mud room. This is the only area that didn't get new flooring and we've made a few changes since by adding a hutch and such. The laundry used to be here but it works so much better to have this space for a drop off area with doors coming from the back porch and garage.
AFTER




Downstairs

BEFORE

This is all you get to see of the basement until our tenants move out so for now, here's the stairs. My favorite part is that at the bottom, I had Q hang a magnetic chalkboard from my school a few inches off the ground so the kids could play with it no matter how small they are. It's a fun use of the space and Annie loves hanging out down there and playing with the word magnets we have up now.
AFTER

The Entry Way

BEFORE

The entryway did not exist until, last minute, we decided to add a few walls. Thank heavens we did. It created a good buffer zone and helped define some bar space in the kitchen and give us a place to store toys. The paint color took a few tries. Q didn't want the blue but after some big mistakes, I went with my original choice and LOVE it!
AFTER

The Library

BEFORE

And this, the grand finale, is my very favorite room ever. I have been fantasizing about having a library my entire life and now it is too good to be true. Q hung another magnetic chalkboard for seasonal cards, photos, and messages. We love it! It took a few tries to figure a perfect layout. Having the love seat face the window and computer is perfect. Q can show me YouTube videos while I comfortably lay on the couch enjoying the view.
AFTER

BEFORE

The library used to be a carpeted dining room but works so much better now. Having the office just off the kitchen is so convenient. Annie will read books off her shelf while I fix dinner. Leave it to overstock for the perfect rug and some new light fixtures at Home Depot and even the once-awkward built-in nook looks like it belongs.
AFTER

BEFORE


Q was talked into my inherited mariachi band joining our family and let us build a permanent home for them.
AFTER

BEFORE

We measured the chelving to fit our files on the bottom. It is the perfect solution for storing documents and papers without having an ugly bulky filing cabinet. I also love the sofa I found a totally splurged on when I should have been using the money for insulation. I couldn't help it, the fabric is hand written words and sentences and paragraphs. What could be more perfect for a library/office?
AFTER



...And that my friends, is the last of the renovation. At least for now. If you want to see the rest of the house and our Annex renovation, go HERE.

P.S. Don't miss Q's big adventure in the next post!