A slow weekend...

So, this week didn't go EXACTLY as planned. I didn't get nearly as much done as I'd hoped. Chalk that up to life with 2 kids, lots of activities, & school starting, I guess. I'm sure everyone can relate.

I did get the shelving in the storage area (what will be my stockpile area) torn out. A little work with the sawzall and some elbow grease, and it was gone. Now I just need to patch all the holes I left. I was careful to use a board behind my hammer head for leverage to avoid major holes, but still managed to make a few. That will hopefully be a project for early next week, followed by paint. Then, I will be able to install my black metal shelves, and finally get my stockpile put away. Right now it looks like a grocery store was blown to bits in my basement.

I also took delivery of our new washer and dryer. They say the new set is big enough to wash 25 towels at once. I might need to do some towel shopping to test that theory (doubtful I have 25 towels total right now!). While they are beautiful, they are just expensive paper weights until the handyman comes to re-route the water, drain, electric, and gas- all things I have done in the past, but NOT things I wish to spend weeks finishing. I figured getting someone out here to do it in an afternoon was money well-spent.

I did a bit of organization today. Emptied, sorted, and re-loaded the deep freezer. Brrrr! Glad to have it done. Now to get the rest of the garage organized so that we can actually walk through it!

I will post the basement remodel list in the next few days. Several major projects to be done down there. The laundry room alone should keep me busy for weeks. I think a trip to IKEA might be in our near future :)

Reno List #1

Well, day 1 of school is in the books. No big surprises, and not nearly as emotional as I expected. After a smooth-sailing kindergarten year last year, I think I was much more prepared for what to expect this year. And it doesn't hurt that B was totally ready for me to leave this morning when I dropped her off in her classroom!

So, on to the renovation. I have projects/dreams galore in this new house. It's only been 2 weeks since we've been here, but I feel like I should really be digging in now that my days are free. So...it's not the most interesting/exciting part, but here come the reno lists. Keep in mind, these are all phase one. I would like to eventually gut and do some MAJOR reno in parts of the house, but for the short term, these are my goals:

UPSTAIRS
Kitchen

• Remove laundry (banish to basement)
• Install pantry organization system
• Rework placement in cabinets
• Replace sink/faucet
• Paint walls
• Install easy-close on all drawers & rubber stoppers on cabinets
• Change appliances
• Change ceiling fan
• Paint/dress up garage door
• Re-vent exhaust fan in microwave
• Install spice racks

Great Room

• Paint table
• Find chairs- Paint/Recover
• New lights over fireplace
• Hang TV over mantel
• Install doors on open shelving
• Make blanket storage
• Paint walls
• Hang art
• Paint Sideboard

Entry Room

• Hang TV
• Hang art
• Entry table?
• Paint walls

Main Bath

• Paint walls
• Stain vanity
• New faucet
• Stain medicine cabinet
• New light fixture

Master Bedroom

• Paint walls
• Reorganize
• Seating?
• Window treatments
• New bedding
• Closet organization system
• Décor/Art

Master Bath

• Stain Vanity & Medicine Cabinet
• Frame Mirror
• Change lights
• Change faucets
• Change toilet
• Add more closet shelves
• Remove wallpaper
• Paint walls
• Add knobs/pulls to vanity
• Décor/Art

B's Room

• Remove wallpaper
• Paint walls
• Window treatments
• Bedding
• Desk
• Refinish dresser
• Rework closet
• Build under-bed storage
• Paint headboard
• Décor/Art

D's Room

• Paint walls
• Window treatments
• Desk
• Closet Organization

Garage

• Empty/Organize (including taking all tools to shop)
• Hang OSB on 3 remaining walls
• Hang organization system
• Install shelving
• "Mudroom" type system near kitchen door

Deck/Outside

• Repair safety issues on deck foundation
• Jack up landing
• Organize deck/patio furniture
• Powerwash deck
• Paint front door/vinyl?
• Whitewash brick
• Do SOMETHING with empty archway
• Paint drain grate
• Make garbage can storage

More to come...

A New Beginning (late post from: Mon, Aug 18th)

It's finally happened; my babies are leaving me. Tomorrow begins a new chapter in my life, and I'm feeling kind of lost. My youngest starts kindergarten (and my oldest, 1st grade), and I don't really know where to go from here. I've been a student, an employee, then a wife & mother. So...now what?

I know tomorrow will be hard - I cried for weeks when Dray started school- but this time, I'm also kind of excited. I barely remember what it's like to have quiet around here. At least, the kind where you aren't simultaneously enjoying being able to hear your thoughts AND wondering what is going on in the other room.

I've decided, at least at first, to try to hit the ground running on our new house. There are SO many projects I want to tackle. I can't decide what to do first. What's the most important? What's going to be the most fun? If I do the bedroom, we could finally have a space to relax in at night and forget about everything we still need to do for a while. But if I start in the laundry room, I can clear out all the clutter that's piled up in the main living space downstairs. And THAT would lead to being able to work on the bar and family spaces down there. Decisions, decisions...