Oliver napping

Someone else really loves our new duvet cover.

Taking a small break from home repairs

We started the bathroom remodeling process in October and Friday was the last day that our contractor was there fixing something. It was a long road but well worth it. Every time I'm in my bathroom I feel a sense of accomplishment. I think our relationship also grew stronger through the process. Sounds strange, but true. Working on something as huge as that and having to cram the three of us into one bathroom for 3.5 months really takes a lot of patience and understanding. Our next project for the house will be the outside. We need to have the trim repaired and then painted, we need a new front door, and we need to fix some of the shingles on the roof. I think we will take one month off from working on something like that before we call up the contractor to come out and give us a bid. Then we can know how much to save and begin again.

Our home is older but it isn't a cookie cutter house which is what I love about it. Our home is unique because we take the time (and money) doing things that suit our style and works for us. Plus, after we complete all the renovations it will practically be a new home! Ha ha!

In personal news my son had his first soccer practice last night. I am now a soccer mom. It was freezing out there but it was so wonderful to see him run around and be a part of a team. He loved it and said he can't wait for his first game. Go Scropions!

Going from a baby room to a big boy room

My son is now eight which is hard to believe but now is the time to get rid of the baby border and baby lamp. I bought this ocean critters bedding and bought the valance to match but purchased the wrong size. Darnit! That's what I get for guessing instead of measuring. Of course they now longer sell that set so I have to decide if I want the matching one (on Ebay)or just stick with a solid color. Things I want to do with the room:

1. paint the room a really light shade of blue

2. remove the border

3. buy a bed skirt

4. get the full size frame out of the attic

5. buy new lamp

6. get rid of ugly mini blinds and replace with a shade

Here are a few pictures that will be my before shots







He loves to read

Corner of my bedroom

Corner of my bedroom, originally uploaded by House on the Corner.

I really wish I could be back at home under my covers. I feel out of sorts this morning. My son forgot his lunchbox this morning when he walked out to the bus stop so I hurried up and ran out the door to take it to him before I had to be at work. I start my job at 7:30 am and school also starts at 7:30 so I really had to hustle to make it on time. I got there as soon as he was walking off the bus and he seemed so surprised that I was there. He said, "I didn't think you'd bring it to me this early!" Whew! So now I'm sitting here without my coffee and without makeup but it was worth it.

My pink eye in my blue home

I woke up with pink eye today. Well, since I've never had it before I wasn't sure what it was but after showing up to work I was sent home and made an appointment and she confirmed that it was, in fact, pink eye. So I spent 35 bucks today (25 for appt. and 10 for eyedrops) and have been watching the Oprah episodes that I recently starting recording on DVR. I'm not necessarily a fan of Oprah's but I am a fan of the topics she has so I started recording them this week. The one I watched today really got me thinking. The title was The Debt Diet and bascially showed you ways that you could help yourself get out of debt and also help save money for retirement. Of course our bills have really piled up recently with all the charges on the credit cards due to unexpected expensives such as new knobs for the doors, or nicer medicine cabinets but I figure after the bathrooms are completed we will not be charging for quit some time. I tend to be a worry wart anyway and having tons owed on the credit cards doesn't help any. I need to make a plan and need to put away for when I retire. Thankfully the house will be paid off in 13 yrs and I will still be young enough to enjoy it. (45 yrs old)


After the house is paid off I will really be able to save money and know that we will be okay. Anyway, I think I want to buy a book on this topic so maybe I will head over to Oprah's website to see which ones she suggests. I think the title was something like No more excuses or something with the word excuses in it. I know I have tons of excuses for needing a new jacket (it's on sale) or new shoes (but I don't have any brown ones like this). Hope everyone is having a great day!

I love lists

I really love writing lists but rarely complete them. Maybe if I blog my list someone will send me a little online nudge to see how well I'm moving along.

1. Dust the house. Having a fire in the evenings can be quit nice but it sure does leave a lot of dust!

2. Buy a good mop. What I really want is one of those industrial buckets that most fast food places use. I remember using one at my first job at the Great American Cookie Company and it did a great job. All the ones I see at the store just fall apart too easily. I've seen the industrial ones at Home Depot and they are a bit pricey but probably worth it.

3. Get rid of old Cd's that we will never listen to again. Why hang on to old Bjork Cd's if they are all scratched up anyway and skip on almost all of the songs.

4. Take more stuff to Children's resale shop

Probably enough for one week. Let's see how much actually gets done.

Medicine cabinet contents

Kids cabinet, originally uploaded by House on the Corner.

Because I'm sure you all want to know what's in our medicine cabinets.

(Top one is my son's)

Mine

Spending time with fam

Seven Layer Dip, originally uploaded by House on the Corner.

We went over to my sisters house last night for dinner and drinks. I brought the seven layer dip. Yum. I wish we could have stayed longer but I am still getting over this cough so I was pretty wore out. I feel asleep in the car on the way home. Zzzzzzzzz

3 things I suggest - watch, listen, read

1. Watch Weeds on Showtime or Netflix. It's a great show.

2. Listen to Gary Jules - Falling Awake

3. Read Stiff. It's really interesting to find out what they do with your body when you donate it to science.

Master bathroom again

It's almost complete! You can see the cabinet that we will use for our toiletries and you can also see the toothbrush holder that is a cup. I found a shower curtain that I want and hopefully I can buy it this weekend.

We almost have the master bathroom back!

He installed the cabinets today and also the toilet. Here are a few more pictures and the some ugly before shots so you can see just how far we have come!

And eeek...before

They just have to put the sinks in and do some touch up work on some tiles and then it's all ours! Whew!

Pictures of house from outside

Our home (You can see Johnnie Cat in the guest room window)




You can kinda see the snowflakes coming down in this one.

Texas Snow

Texas Snow on my doormat! It snowed more but I haven't uploaded those pictures yet. We have been outside playing and maybe tonight I will share more.

Wide Eyes

Wide Eyes, originally uploaded by House on the Corner.

I think I must have been a cat in a former life. I can nap and nap and still need a nap.

It's rainy and foggy in Texas today. The weatherman said today would be near 74 but he is often wrong. They also say that there could be ice on the road on Monday morning because Sunday night there is a cold front moving in. I wish it would last. I haven't worn my new scarf enough.

On the house front the bathroom is not finished yet. Maybe by Tuesday because he is almost done with the flooring and putting in the sinks and toilets is easy.

Some bathroom progress

Here are some pictures that I took today of our bathroom.

Shower and tub area







Bathroom window



Where the toliet will go



Side by side recessed medicine cabinets



I am so happy that he is almost done with the shower and has started the floor. The floor is what took the longest in the guest bath.

I still need to find a nice shower curtain that will add a little color to the bathroom and make it saucy!

The oven just won't heat

Just when you start working on one thing in your house something else breaks. It seems as though our oven just won't heat up as fast as it used it. The preheat light takes forever to go off and things take longer to cook. *sigh* It is a cheap brand from what I heard (Rover) but we really can't afford to buy a new one right now. It's also the kind that is built into the wall so I don't know if we would keep that style or get an oven that has a range also.

Looks like we may need to make yet another trip to Lowe's or Home Depot soon.

I want to sew!

I decided over the weekend that I would like to start sewing. It's something I've always been interested in and have always felt that it was something I would enjoy yet I never got started. I went looking at sewing machines this past weekend and the choices are overwhelming to say the least. I really just need something to get me started that is easy to use yet something that will last and do what I need it to do. So, any suggestions? I want to make small stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, and maybe some clothes.

New Scratching post

Maybe this new post will keep Johnnie Cat and Oliver away from the couches. Has anyone ever tried Soft Paws? I'd love to get a new house in the future but want to make sure they won't ruin it a week after we purchase one.

Johnnie Cat and his new scratching post

Central Market

Went browsing at the grocery store yesterday. I really need to remember to stock up on my fruits and veggies. Logan loves fruit but isn't too keen on the veggies. At least he likes artichoke dip, yum! I wanted to take more pictures this weekend but I lost my battery charger so I had to order another one online yesterday. Fourty bucks, ouch! I'll have to make sure to keep the charger at home from now on.

Old family photos

One thing that really makes me happy is having old family photos around the house. We didn't have many from when we were young but this is one of my favorites. I am the one on the far right. (picture of a picture)

Breakfast of champions

Cheerios, originally uploaded by House on the Corner.

We had a busy day today. We got up early because Logan had a doctors appointment. He has had this terrible cough for ages and I knew it must be something other then an allergy cough. The doctor believes he has asthma so she gave us a trial size of Advair. Hopefully his cough gets better and he starts feeling better. The rest of the day we were running around returning and exchanging some Christmas presents and then we went to see Night at the Museum. I really enjoyed it and thought it was a great movie for kids. Now I am off to relax. Happy Friday!

Antique radio

This is the radio that is now in our dining room. I love it and think it goes with the style of our home.










And since this is in our dining area and we haven't had our cookbooks and cooking magazine in one place I thought this would be perfect. The top shelf has our cookbooks on it and the bottom one has a basket with only cooking magazines. I think it's perfect!

They started putting tiles in the shower

I came home today and Tom had started putting the tiles around the shower. We chose the black and white subway tiles to go with the floor we chose.

This is the cubby where the shampoo will go.

This is a before picture of the tub area. I wish I had taken more pictures of it but as you can see the tub is old and fiberglass and the tiles were square.