Our House! {before & after pix}

Disclaimer: most of these pictures were taken with a cell phone camera, so please excuse the poor quality!

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It all started when I was watching one of my favorite shows on HGTV....


They took a little cottage house that was run-down, spent $2000 and gave it a 'lipstick makeover,' and it looked adorable! The little house on this particular episode reminded me a lot of the house that was next door to my mom's. I stayed up all night thinking of everything I could do. The initial budget was $2000. LOL yeah right!

Then the idea really got going in my head when I saw this picture in a magazine....

I could NOT stop thinking about the house and how I could transform it and make it my own! So I went and asked my parents if they would give me the house. Have you ever asked someone to give you a house? It is not an easy thing to do! Keep in mind, they had offered it to me before, so it wasn't as terrible as it sounds! lol....

So we got to work. Here it was on the morning we got started.....


Then the asbestos siding was removed....



It got worse (A LOT WORSE) before it got better....


And now - it's HOME!....


We still have the yard to do and I want to paint the door red (Red, Red Wine to be exact), but I still think it looks absolutely ADORABLE!....



The inside is lookin' pretty cute too!

The front room before:

The front room after:


The kitchen before:




Ninety years of wallpaper:



The kitchen after:


The bathroom before:


Unfortunately, the bathroom actually looks worse now. We thought we were going to do the bathroom right away, and started tearing it down. Then we lost energy and decided to finish it next spring. LOL. So here's the only picture you get to see of the bathroom as it is now, the shower curtain:



The master bedroom before:


The master bedroom after:

The family room before:


The laundry room before:



You don't get to see pictures of the family room or laundry room as they are right now either. We have the floors done, but you can't see them because that is where I have put all the boxes and miscellaneous things while I still try to get organized. Also, we still have to sheetrock (and therefore paint) the family room. I wish I could show you the floors, though, because they are STUNNING! We did stained concrete. This was something Oby had to talk me into. I was really unsure about the idea at first, but after seeing a few examples, and considering the cost benefits, I was SOLD and I truly think it was one of my favorite parts about our house!

Hmmm.... actually, I think my favorite part of our renovation is the central air:


Here's an example of how fantastic stained concrete can look....


*sigh* I LOVE IT!

Oh, I'll show you our pantry in the laundry room. I also love that!....


I hope you're not too bored yet because I saved the best for last!!!

Chloe's room before:




Chloe's room after:



Chloe LOVES her room!....


I still want to make the pom-pom bedspread for her bed, but I'll get to that later....


Oh, and we have the swing, but still need to hang it....



Well, that's it for now! I need to go baby the carpel tunnel I got from this long post!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

So the main reason I haven't posted pix of our house (the finished project, that is) yet is because one day I had my handy-dandy digi camera, the next day I didn't. That'll teach me to leave things on the golf cart at Thanksgiving Point. Whoever came across the camera decided they could use it for themselves. Lame!

Every day since we moved in, we've done little projects (hanging drapes, putting up decorations, unpacking boxes, etc, etc) and every day it starts to feel more and more like home! Today was the best change - the cable and internet were installed. [insert roof-raisin here]

For all you impatient folks out there, don't worry. When I feel like we're settled and I remember to borrow my mom's camera, I'll post pix. =)

Speaking of pix - Sunday night, the fam got together for Tonio's Birthday. Oh, except me because I'm lame and my body was in shut-down mode after packing, moving, unpacking, and being up all night while Chloe got used to her new surroundings, etc, etc. I know, I know, excuses are for the birds! Anyway, that day Chloe's Nana took this picture of Chloe giving Izzy a hug and posted it on her blog. I thought it was sooooooooooo cute!....


The next day, Nana called to tell me Izzy had lice. Oye! Suddenly this pic of Chloe burying her face in Izzy's hair makes me want to vomit! (no offense to cute Izzy, only to those darn bugs!)

No worries - we've scrubbed, combed, washed, vacuumed & fumigated. So far, no signs of lice, but better safe than sorry. Good thing that Izzy is so darn cute. =)

Pop Culture

A couple things about pop culture I had to share.....

First up, let me just say - Oby and I watch pretty much all the trashy vh1 reality shows. I don't really like them, but Oby watches them when he gets home from work, just to decompress. The one I hate the most: The Rev - bugs. The one I like the best: Brooke Knows Best.


It just makes me laugh and reminds me of when I was single. And even though Brookie seems a bit desperate for stardom, I think overall she's a pretty cool girl, I'd probably be friends with her if we were to meet. LOL why am I even saying this? Oh yes, to my point....

TWICE in the past week, I have been told by complete strangers that I look like Brooke Hogan! What?!?!? I don't see it. Okay, maybe my hot bod, but other than that (lol!!!)....



Okay, I actually do see it in this photo. This is so me (just the 'tude, not much else)....


The second thing has a back story: When Chloe is in her wheelchair, sometimes (okay, a lot) her little head gets tired and falls forward. We always say, "Where's your head?" or "Get your head up!" And she always brings her head right back up. Well, when we were in Bear Lake, Oby's dad spent a lot of time with Chloe pushing her around in her wheelchair, and when her head would fall forward he would always say in a big papa bear voice, "Get your head up!"

Okay, so onto the pop culture story. Have you heard this song by LMFAO? It is dirty and terrible, but my sweet little innocent daughter must believe that her papa is singing this song directly to her. When she hears it, she goes WILD. I feel bad letting my pure daughter listen to a song about taking off polka-dot bikinis, but she's so innocent, it's okay right? Seriously, listen to it, when they say "Get your head (or sometimes hands) up!" it sounds EXACTLY like how Oby's dad says it! Chloe can't get enough of it....

A Reason to Party

I'd like to introduce you to Jessica....


Jessica is Chloe's friend from horse therapy. When Jessica was born, her parents were told she wouldn't live to be 5-years-old. Today was her 5th birthday. Needless to say, her parents wanted to celebrate this amazing milestone!....


So they invited Chloe over for a party....



Chloe (and a few other friends)....



It wasn't surprising to see so many people there to celebrate Jessica's life. There is something about her that fills you up with warmth and joy! She puts things in perspective and reminds you that all you need is love. It is amazing.

Here is another one of Chloe's horse therapy pals, Brianna. (shhh, don't tell, but she's one of my favorite little girls ever! What an amazing young girl)....


And another one of our horse therapy friends, Deacon. Deacon and Chloe have very similar diagnoses, so needless to say, his mommy and I like to chat....


This birthday party was so much fun! They had bowling....


And lots of other carnival-type games. Chloe loved it, especially winning the prizes! One of her favorite prizes was this princess tiara....



But playing underneath the rainbow prachute was undoubtedly her favorite part of the whole gig....




Chloe wishes Jessica a very happy 5th Birthday!....