note to self

Do NOT start a seemingly small project after Lowes has closed...

... because this happens... Looks like I get to run to the store for the 5,217th time this week...

After painting the ceiling in the guest room with some [I need to do another coat, but I was too discouraged to do it last night] success, a sore neck, hand, and arm, I decided to install the new door knobs [at night, I might add]. This completely eliminates the option of running to the store in order to complete a task, if needed.

lesson learned [for now]

xoxo

a

late nights + fresh paint

Family + friends! It's been awhile!

I'm pleased to report that I am finally in my new [old] home! I gained possession last Friday [March 18th] and immediately started moving in! Phase I consisted of the essentials + a few luxuries that I had stored in MI. I spent most of the evening and day on Saturday unpacking and discovering forgotten possessions- so much fun! Phase II of moving will happen this weekend [April 1 - 3] when my lovely parents + brother are going to pack up my storage unit [10' x 10' + filled to the brim!] and remaining belongings at my parents house and drive up to MI. I can't wait!

It didn't take me long to make multiple trips to Lowe's to purchase paint, new electrical switches, outlets, and face plates- the low budget/high impact items considering my budget is practically nothing. Much of this past week was spent painting the dining room [previously deep crimson red - now a rich medium grey] and the guest room [previously terra cotta/maroon/yuck - now a much brighter light grey that really shows off the high ceilings and molding]!

this is what the previous owners had

in progress

after one coat, but i think i'm going to do another... take note of my limited edition walnut eames hang-it-alls! my new favorite!

lousy view of the room before possession

after paint - before furniture + accessories + new window treatments

to do for this week...

_ 2nd coat of paint in dining room
_ begin painting icky green molding in kitchen
_ price new cabinet hardware
_ figure out what I'm going to do with the existing paneling in the kitchen that has brown + cream tile behind it
_ recycle/store boxes from phase I of moving so that I don't have a real disaster when phase II happens
_ find a paint match for ceiling in guest room in the basement - :( turns out the 2 of the 3 gallons in the basement were dried up and the remaining was way too bright of a white... looks like i get to purchase yet another gallon and paint the ENTIRE ceiling, as opposed to a few spots...
_ find + purchase new brushed nickel door hardware for all exterior doors + install
_ buy electrical outlets/switches/faceplates for kitchen + install
_ hang more artwork [plaster ≠ my friend]
_ get ready for mom + dad's visit
_ organize pantry
_ buy myself fresh flowers
_ accept the fact that my old bathmat is no where to be found
_ price window covering options [think about purchasing in the near future]
_ find fabric to make a bed skirt for bed in master
_ post herman miller desk on craigslist


xoxo

a

update!

The roller coaster of emotions continues! It turned out that I wasn't able to close on my new [old] home until just this past week because the underwriters needed more information or wanted modifications to the existing. Needless to say, I have closed on my home [March 10th to be exact]! The waiting game continues as I patiently wait for the call from my realtor informing me that I have possession [March 18th- Friday- at the absolute latest]!

One thing that I haven't quite figured out is the time from closing to personal possession... I've heard individuals that have received the keys at closing and then the other extreme, which is gaining possession 30 days after closing. Oh well...

I have been attempting to keep myself distracted- if I don't, all I will be doing is space planning, remembering things that I have in storage, creating decor/home/garden wish lists and, oh yeah, a home budget for all the modifications/upgrades I'm planning- maybe I'll just continue to put that one off for a little while...

I have allowed myself to get a little distracted... I took a good part of the day yesterday and brought some of my belongings up from the depths of the basement of the home I have been occupying for the past three months. A friend I met when I first started at Herman Miller welcomed me into her home while I pursued home hunting. A huge, huge thank you to her and her family!  I feel like I should be on a stage at the Oscars or something when I say that I also want to thank my closest friends and family for all of their emotional and monetary support- I couldn't have done this without you!!

_ A very small portion of what I'm looking forward to moving _

Anyway, I digress... back to the dungeon... I brought a lot of what I could up from the basement in anticipation of a call I hope to get any day that I can move into my new [old] home. The original plan of flying home and driving the moving truck back failed, due to the sole fact that I wasn't able to close on time :( but I think it will work out smoother this way. I'll move what I have here in Michigan over to the house [soon to be a home!] and get all of that unpacked and then my family is going to load up the moving truck for me [thank you, thank you!] and drive the truck from Missouri to Michigan in April. Thankfully, I was able to grab the essentials out of storage when I was home over the summer, so it isn't imperative that I have everything right now. This makes me start contemplating the American culture and our dependence on materialistic things, but I won't bore you with that right now.

Until next time- when I'll be in my home and then the real fun begins!