Friday, August 27, 2010

Time to get ORGANIZED

Because I don't have a single spot left for an icon on my computer desktop...
Because every time I reach into my purse for something, something else falls out...
Because I have so many stacks of paper around my office, it looks as though I'm about to have a bonfire...
Because my new family school year calendar, doesn't have a single thing written on it...
Because last week I forgot about my son's orthodontist appointment, opps...
Because I'm so much happier when things and people are where they are supposed to be...

I have decided to spend some time getting organized this weekend. Whatever you are doing this weekend please know it is WAY more exciting than what I am doing!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Basement Carpet Installed!

 The basement carpet was installed this past Friday and we couldn't be happier with how things are looking.



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The stairs which the hubby built look better than we imagined.










The red poles are the next to go, hubby already started boxing them in this evening.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Below is my new 2nd pantry.. Tonight we installed the shelves but I don't have after pics yet, I was too busy filling them!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here you can see the status of the kitchen cabinets, they are stained but not hung yet. Ignore the hanging wires, those are for speakers that have also yet to be installed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If you think the basement is almost complete, think again. As you can see by a glimpse into the bathroom, we haven't even started tiling it yet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope everyone is doing well!

A much needed weekend at the Lake!


After many weeks working on the basement we took a weekend to head to the cabin and relax lake side. We all had a great time and now I feel so recharged!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Junior High and High School- they are growing up way too fast!

It's a big year at our house! Our sons are now in junior high and in high school.  And watch out.. another teen driver on the road. Just kidding, our teen is an EXCELLENT driver! I am so proud of both of my sons, they are just amazing! Welcome to a new school year for all of you that have kids, and the return of all those flashing school zone lights for all of you that don't. :)

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

More Basement Progress- Stairs and Appliances

I know it may be hard to see, or at least it is for me since we have so much to still do, but we are making progress on the basement.
Hubby has taken on the stairs all by himself and is doing a great job (remember we are not carpenters, just attempting to be DYIers).



Don't worry when then are completely done I will be posting more pics (the carpet hasn't come in yet, which is a good thing because the stairs have to be ready for the carpet to be installed!)

Today the fridge and dishwasher were delivered.. **Please note the finished tile on the floor!**
















Only I'm not quite ready for them...


I spent the day sanding and conditioning the cabinets. Have I ever mentioned how I dislike sanding?? Thankfully an awesome friend came over to assist and promised she would be back later tonight to help stain them (the hubby will be busy finishing the stairs!)

I hope to return with another update real soon!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

My first attempt at Tiling- basement kitchen

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much, the basement is really taking up my time these days. I started tiling the kitchen area down there. It's coming along really well. 
 












I will say it's the first thing I've done down there that is really taxing on my body. Do you know how just scrubbing the floor on your hands and knees is tiring?? This is very similar but takes a lot longer. Just this first half of the kitchen area took me 6 hours! It's a very slow process, especially if you are particular like me and want it done perfect.  In case you are wondering.. I do have help, my hubby is in charge of cutting the tiles with the wet saw outside and bringing them to me. But fortunately for him we planned it out in a way that we have to cut very few tiles (he has only had to cut 8 so far!)













And this is just the step that you mortar it to the ground.. Next I have to go back and grout it all!













Soon I will take a basement break and visit some of your blogs, I promise! Our new fridge and dishwasher are being delivered next week as well as carpet installed (we are not installing the carpet, we do draw a line somewhere), so we're sort of in a time crunch to finish the tiling.

Monday, August 2, 2010

20 Gallons of paint + 2 days = Painted Basement

We spent the weekend painting the basement! It took 20 gallons of primer/ paint to get it all covered. We carried the neutral color from our first floor down there. We are trying to flow straight into the basement for the consistency.

























We are delighted with out well the knock down ceiling turned out.
Next up, the engineering and building of our stairs (since we took out the wall and made a new landing we now need to decide whether we are going to have a step in both directions from the landing and what kind of spindles/ handrail we want. The steps that are currently there are just plywood for temp steps, not carpet ready by any means.

















We are also going to start the tiling on the kitchen and bathroom floors this week, hang 4 new doors and wrap the metal poles from the support beams. The cabinets are in our garage calling my name but the staining will have to wait until next week (sure would like to get them up though so I don't have to look at all of these cutouts on the wall).











Linking to Metamorphosis Monday