Crafty/decorations

My dad was once again busy working at their house so I took a little time to work on one of my crafts. I had this ugly old hanging lamp that I wanted to use in my laundry for more light but the colors did not work. So I bought some fabric and got to work.

I took off the old lamp border and beads. Then used spray adhesive. I think it looks great! I was very impressed with myself

Before

 After

Also got some Easter decorations up!

Not where I would normally put them but if I didn't get them out they were not going to make it this season!

Family Traditions

So this weekend we did our annual Butchering. How many of you just went "HUH!?" Yes that's right once a year my family/extended family gets together and makes our own summer sausage, called "Metvous" its an old German recipe where you mix pork and beef, seasonings, and liquid cure. Then you stuff it in natural casings, in this case we used cow intestines, then you smoke them in the smoke house for several days, then you let them hang until in a damp area. Let me make it clear YOU DO NOT eat the casing! You peel that off when you cut it. This summer sausage is beyond amazing! You can not find anything like this in a store. Besides the great food result you get to spend time with family. And you teach the younger kids, how things used to be done.
It was a blast!
Check them out at :
http://hermsmeat.com/ also on Facebook

Super dad!!

So my parents have been working like crazy on their place and WOW, I know I say that over and over but they have really done some amazing work and its all coming together so nice. Their kitchen just looks amazing! They did some great tile work and it really warmed the whole place, and its starting to feel very much like "home".
Because they have been working so hard my house was left untouched for the weekend. However my dad had jury duty on Monday and once he was dismissed I left work early to meet him at my place and get to work!!
Started with the laundry room... remember when it was just a laundry closet?

YUCK right! So I painted it awhile ago

Then we added a wall and made it a room not a closet

So yesterday we got a lot of finishing touches done! And its almost a complete room!

I know this is like a catch all of other stuff... like the old kitchen cabinets are now storage for the laundry, I think coupon deals will go in there...and other stuff you want to keep around but don't really have a place for.
But the counter top is really nice, will be a great folding/sorting area for clothes.
Really its a laundry room so it doesn't need to be spectacular but I need to do something with those cabinets!
I will do some sort of art thing on the wall, have to do that when I am feeling creative.
NEED YOUR HELP, what do you think I should do with the cabinets to make them fit in better?? HELP
Wondering about all brown paint job with new hardware...

So we also put in the door which I can't believe I forgot to take a photo because that door took a long time to put in. I never knew so much work went into a door!
I will have to remember to take a photo of it. But the whole room looks great and I love the turn out.

Also last night we started to add the trim in the kitchen and I have to say WOW, I think it really changes the look and just looks so nice... can't wait to get more done!
Here is a preview:

(the trim just above the light is what I am referring to)

More work to do, of course, but I can't believe we got so much done in one night!

Fast and Fantastic!

Hey followers long time, very sorry about the delay but my dad has been crazy busy working on their house and WOW! Have they made some major progress, the work they are doing in the kitchen is amazing!!

But I was able to steal him for about 2 hours this weekend and I am still amazing at how much we were able to get done in such a short time!

We took advantage of the amazing weather and moved all my stuff out of the storage unit, only took 2 loads! But that was my coach, washer, dryer, 2 arm chairs and a bunch of boxes.
Moving some furniture really make the house start to feel like a home, nothing is in its place but at least we have somewhere to sit now. Also one of the boxes had glasses so I was able to enjoy a nice glass of water!

There is a look at part of the mess

After moving so stuff my dad hooked up my washer and dryer, like I said they are not in place but at least there is an idea...

The shelf is starting to show just a few of my coupon spoils, that was only a few I have added more since, won't need to purchase laundry detergent for a while. Remember all of those were under $2, some were FREE!!

Last my dad was able to add the wall cabinets to the kitchen walls!

He will be making some knick knack shelf's to go on the side (that will butt up to the window)

But I think it looks GREAT!! Just need to do some paint touch up.

Still a lot of finishing work to be done but we are really making progress and I am so pumped about it!!

Sorry

Hello again, sorry there has been no exciting postings but I have not worked on my house since the last post. I was feeling bad hogging all my dad's time at my house while their house was being neglected. So I gave them a few weeks to get some projects going and WOW have they made some awesome changes.
But I am feeling antsy and want to get some stuff moving on my place again. I think with a couple finishing projects we can get the kitchen to a place where I can start cleaning the cabinets and putting my stuff in them.
So excited about personalizing and making the house really mine.
I feel like there is so much just waiting for me but there is nothing i can really do until other stuff is finished. Also most of the stuff for me to move into the house is in storage and I don't have access to that, and still would need my big strong dad to help lift, oh and of course his truck haha.
So basically again my dad is the glue that holds the whole thing together!
But I really hope that this coming weekend I am able to get some work done on the house and will have updates and photos to share.
 

Lights... Trim... Range...OH MY (and some paint!)

Another less intense weekend. I think we are all just so drained, we have been working on one house or another since November and when you only have weekends to work on it you really work has hard as you can to get maximum impact. So we went full speed, sun up to sun down for 3 months and now we are all just out of steam.
That being said we still got a lot done. Saturday Dad spent most of his time at their house and got some amazing work done. Pinterest inspired banquets in the kitchen look amazing, and mom found some great fabric for the curtains! Good thing we have friends that sew!
I was at my place putting the last coat of stain on the cabinet back board and painting the kitchen. I still need to do another coat but I am liking the color, its very hard to describe and I don't feel the photo does it justice but I like it non the less.
this is a sample of it

its a very olive green

We also got the trim put up and the lights over the kitchen sink installed.
of course I got the wrong light bulbs and have to stop and get the right ones on my way home tonight but at least we know they work and WOW is it awesome! Provides great light to the dining room and you can see what your washing!

And finally after much waiting and excitement we moved the new stove/range/over whatever you prefer to call it. Remember its been sitting in the garage for weeks in its box so I was dying to open it and get it set up.
So we moved it in and I still love it!
So excited to get cooking and baking on it

The kitchen is really coming together, and for only a few hours of work we got a lot done!
Then we went home to sit and watch the Superbowl... mom made some amazing pulled pork in the crock pot, paired with a cold beer it was the perfect end to the day!

It's the little things...

Well I got a couple of the little add on things for the house like awesome curtains for the dining room. I was not planning on getting these for a while but when Target had them for $5 I had to snatch them up!
They are not solid so it will still let some light in but will also hide the blinds

Also at Target they had a cute valentines wreath and I have been wanting to put something on my front door for a while so I grabbed this. Sadly where it falls on the door you can't really see it because of the screen, and its on the small side, but at least its something, only room for improvement on the wreath front right? ha!

Also while out shopping I took advantage of the Menards mail in rebate program. Back on Black Friday I got some solar powered lights for the walkway and a sweet stockpile with steamer drain inside. So I mailed in my rebates and the mailman brought me a "in store credit" for $25 so I took that and got all my cabinet pulls for the kitchen. They are not installed yet but here is a sneak peak...

I LOVE swirls so these are perfect for me!! Can't wait to get them put on!