wait.. are we done??

I know I have bragged a lot but my dad is super dad, he deserves a cape. I know he is anxious to get everyone moved which results in him having to bust through some of these last few projects. And Saturday morning he was like the energizer bunny. The guy was getting stuff done fast and furious. He got the trim on the laundry door, the crown molding on the outside of the laundry room and WOW does that look good. Also he trimmed the ceiling tiles and it looks flawless now. So check those 2 rooms off the list as DONE.

Then he went to the bathroom and he put in my new sick. Oh buddy does it look great.

Ok the old sink had this ridiculous 2-3 inch over hang that people were slamming their elbows into and the toilet paper holder was behind your left elbow so you were doing strange yoga poses just to reach it....

This is a photo of the old

And this is the new 

Also put up some shelf's with some decorations 

The old sink will find a new home at my parents

and I got a new facet because I could, but its awesome and swivels so that is a nice feature for a bathroom.

Also moved the TP holder to a normal position.

Its the little things people!

Ok, the other big mission for me was to find the dining room table. It has been a work bench covered in tools for 4 months and since we are so close to being done I had to clean it off and put my new table cloth on. 

I can't believe how big the room still is, and no the plants are not staying there, its just a good spot for now.

Of course we can't leave out my hard work. I put together the Sauder's pieces I got and I am proud to say I did it all on my own, and only cursed and huffed a little.The wardrobe looks SO much bigger sitting in this room, I am not sure if I am fully happy with it just yet...

Still super proud of myself 

I also put together the small bookshelf which of course doesn't fit where I planned it to go (I did not measure it myself I trusted someone else to do it... oh well) Always need a bookcase somewhere.

Last I wanted to share just PART of my flower beds, if anyone knows a lot about plants/flowers I would love your help with what is in here, other than tulips I have no idea what stuff is...

The final push for the move is happening now

I am going to start packing stuff up and moving things I don't need daily like winter clothes etc...

Shop till you drop...

The original plan was 2 day shopping trip, however best laid plans always change...
So rising above people's jealousy and pathetic attempts to bring me down, my mother and sister were gracious enough to change their plans and make a sacrifice so we could get everything done in 1 day. No one is going to steal our joy!
We started in Archbold at Sauders

I was a little disappointed they didn't have what I desperately needed but I was able to find 2 things

Guess we know what I will be doing this weekend!
And if you want comedy you should have seen my mother, sister and I getting them into the dining room, I was smart enough to use the dolly but it was still incredibly heavy and over sized.But we are 3 strong awesome woman and we got them in. You can see what I will be doing this weekend. I just love putting these together! (please note the sarcasm)
Next we came home switched vehicles and headed to Canton, Michigan. Our first stop was Home Goods, now I had never been and honestly I had the lowest expectations because it is owned by the same people who own TJ Max and I think that store is disgusting. But we were pleasantly surprised!! I would recommend this store to everyone it was great!
I found some great table linens and kitchen towels at extremely great prices. Can't wait to dig my kitchen table out from under all the tools and put this on.

Next we went across the street to IKEA!!!
My love for Ikea is deep and true. I had been looking on the website for days so I was prepared, and we did the trip in record time.
I didn't need a lot but there were a couple things that you can only get at Ikea that I needed so it was defiantly worth it!

I even ran into a fellow blogger and author I greatly admire while at Ikea, what are the odds? It was great to see Jill Kemerer.
Last I have to report my 'babies' are starting to grow! I checked on my plants yesterday and was shocked to see little buds already popping up. Looks like I will have some lettuce and cabbage soon.

Light at the end of the tunnel

So the kitchen is moving along, and we are just to the small things, like adding knobs/pulls, making sure everything else is finished...
This weekend dad was able to put up the knick knack shelf's, they look great can't wait to put up some small decorations

 While dad was doing the manly wood cutting and measuring I was moving stuff from one room to another
The previous owners left this microwave stand in the kitchen, I did not need it there but I thought it would be great for craft storage, so it has a new home in the office/craft room, and I have moved some of my craft supplies over, no worries I have TONS more :) But here is an idea of what I am doing...

a couple people tried to make fun of me for putting my paints in "Roy G Biv" order, only other crafter's see the beauty in this, also using the small baskets mean I can just carry them to the table as needed quit and easy... Can't wait to get the rest of my crafting stuff in one spot and ready at an inspirations notice!
So its a work in progress but the office is starting to look like an office...

Since I can't get the bathroom the way I want it right now I put on hold on some ideas and I am just going to leave the crazy light there and keep thinking of ideas... however dad did put up the new vanity, nothing fancy but its clean so its better than the old one. Some day I will revisit the bathroom and fix it up.

Dad also put up the blinds in the shower, which is SO much better than the random cut of shower curtain they had hanging there, also lets more light in so that's nice.

Green Thumb??

So I have always wanted to plant a prosperous vegetable garden, so I have been looking on the website http://sproutrobot.com/ to find out when I should plant things for my zip code. I went to the local Anderson's and got a bunch of seeds and got to work. I also picked up an amazing new trowel its Black and Decker and hardcore! I realize I am nerding out over this potential garden but what can I say?? 
I think I can do it because in high school my then boyfriends mom gave me some plants which I have managed to keep alive WAY after that relationship died. Its been 15+ years so I think this garden has a chance.
Ok here are the 1st set of seeds, maybe more to come but only grabbed the ones that need planted now or in the next week:

The top 2 on the left are these new indoor disk things, While I was shopping I ran into a co-worker who said she did them and had lettuce in 2 weeks so I thought why not. I will give it a shot with Lettuce and tomatoes
so I got those planted (so easy!) and sitting in the window (since the photo they have been moved indoors)

Then I "started" some of the soon to be transplants to the "yet to be built" outdoor garden

I promised my friend Kim I wouldn't be a freak about my garden but I would be blogging about it so I am sorry if you don't feel the same way about garden's (and i don't blame you) but I will try not to be to obnoxious... But I do have all my babies planted and sitting in the sun. And yes I was talking to them a little throughout the day...

Ok enough of that I also painted the second and final coat on the office, now that its a room again and not a makeshift wood staining room. It looks so much better with a second coat. Can't wait to start moving more things in...reminder only 2 walls are this color, it is a nice balance, all 4 would be WAY to much

I got this steal of a chair at Target on their clearance $25!! I was so pumped, I only needed one for this spot and it works perfectly. And yes that is fine German engineering that put that together. I did it all by myself, and people were already brave enough to sit on it and the chair remained as it should so pat on my back!

My dad also did some other work yesterday between, the Easter Bunny and heading to Granny's house so I will have to clean up his mess and take photo's this week.
While my mom and sister are off on Spring Break I am going to take a couple days off and head to Ikea, Home Goods and maybe Sauders to get a couple items I am in need of...
Stay tuned!

Easter Bunny

the easter bunny knew exactly what my house needed

Cinderella aint got nothing on me!

No sleeping in for us this weekend! Got busy with the kitchen right away, in fact just moments after stepping in the kitchen dad was already making his first cut. He was probably sick of my not so subtle hints about getting the kitchen done. He worked on all the finish work while I put together Ikea furniture which I bought years ago but has been sitting in storage just waiting for a home. I also spent time moving some of my coupon spoils to the Laundry room, do you still call it a pantry when its not for food? Here are a couple looks at SOME of my coupon deals, keep in mind there is a lot I still have to move.

Those cleaning supplies are 3-4 deep, I am so proud of my stock pile, and I can't even imagine how much money it is saving me to have all that on hand.
Once dad declared the kitchen complete minus the microwave which I have to buy brackets for...
We went home and crashed!

The next day we went to church and had a quick lunch then I was off to my house for extreme cleaning!!
I started with getting all the tools and random nails and chips of wood and everything else that was all over my kitchen OUT! And Finally the table saw was removed and given a new more proper home in the garage!
Next was vacuum up all the saw dust, and OMG it was everywhere. So glad to have my amazing $10 vacuum Target was practically giving away a few months back.This thing was in every nook and cranny getting the dust out. Then I went to my cleaning supplies and got some all purpose cleaner and scrubbed everything down.
Next was to cut the drawer liners, I for once was smart enough to use paper as a template before cutting the actual liners, of course I ran out of liner very soon, and I want to keep using the amazing stuff from Ikea so guess there is another reason on the list to make a trip!!
Ok liners are in and kitchen is ready to be filled up with my stuff... So it begins, I lay out beach towels on the counter so I can just wash and wash and wash, I pile up boxes of pots, pans, dishes, utensils etc on the counter and get to work, 5 hours later I had everything washed. I did take breaks now and then to put stuff away mostly because I needed to open the counter for more stuff.
The picture represents the moment I realized I have a utensil buying problem... hey at least when one breaks I won't care...

Seriously who doesn't need at least 3 sets of the basic utensils plus a bunch of more fun extras??

My true pride of the kitchen is my "Tupperware" drawer, I don't know how you organize them at your home but I was determined to have them handy and in a somewhat orderly fashion. So I put them away and like a message from the heavens OR a clear sign I spend WAY to much time on Pinterest I grabbed the $1 Hobby Lobby magazine holder I had and put the lids in. WOW it was perfect!! So proud of "real woman of genius" moment.
What do you think??

Actually since that photo I moved them up a bit and added my Ziploc bags and Foil to the drawer and it works PERFECTLY!! Mom saw it and asked if she could steal the idea. OF COURSE, anyone can just remember me in your "most organized woman" award speech.
So in the end I was just beaming as I looked around my kitchen... Here is a photo of most of the drawers/cabinets full, I did about another hour or more of work so more was added but at least you can tell I was working my behind off!

Last before I left I had to get my 1st decoration on the wall I have been dying to put this up for ever!!

Can you remember where you have seen it before??
Check this out....

Yep it was in Monica's bedroom on Friends for all 10 seasons!

Snap, Clap and Floor!

Sunday morning 7am I roll out of bed after VERY little sleep thank you crazy overnight storms! Throw on my "read to work" gear and grab some breakfast. Then it was off to my house with my dad in tow. The mission was the kitchen floor.
The floor that was there looked fine but after my changes we needed to add a row of flooring, and after 2 months of trying to find something to match I gave up and bought all new. I can't complain because it was the 1st  problem we have had and it was a problem I made, so I just smiled as I handed the checkout lady my card...
So step one was tear out the old floor... BTW the whole floor day was something dad and I were both dreading... so we cut one piece to gain access to the floor. Because you know me I didn't want to tear it apart, you never know when I could find something to do with those floor pieces.
Dad pulled one one floor panel which leads to the next one, dad was pulling up panels as I was stacking them in the other room, suddenly he is moving so fast its hard for me to keep up the floor is just coming right up easy, the whole "demo" took like 2 minutes! It took me longer to carry it to the garage than to take it up. We just looked at each other shocked.
Old Floor

notice the hole under the cabinets...
This is what was under the old floor

Dad suggested I just leave this treasure... I disagreed HA!
So we rolled out the floating floor mat and got to work
I LOVE this floor, it snaps/slides together so quick and easy then  you just have to cut the last one to fit the spot which gives you the perfect size to start then next row. I mean DIY/HGTV would be so proud of us... so we are booking across this room, which happens to be a perfect square so no cut outs.

Then we get to the last row...
And all that celebrating came crashing down. The problem was we needed to tap the end of the floor to make it slide but the cabinets were in the way and not movable. So after a lot of wedging this and that and some stretching and reaching and one good kick...yes I said kick, the last one slide into place and we cheered!!
I LOVE the look of this floor it matches so much better and looks so pretty not one scratch on it! Then we added the toe kick and WOW, my kitchen looks GREAT!!!

About 1 day left of finish work, mostly trim around the room (we ran out I have to buy and stain more) and the kitchen will be complete and I get to clean the mountains of saw dust and move stuff into it!! I can't wait!!
Again all of this would not be possible without my dad he is really amazing I am so blessed to have a handy father who will take the time to teach me and do this for me. Its been really fun to try to learn this stuff and I try, good thing he is patient!