The Wonders of Paint

Thought I should update you with our latest house adventures!  We are most certainly still in the "slow and steady.... feels like things are moving slower than molasses stage"... however, there are little things happening all the time!

This weekend my Dad painting a few of the ceilings.  It was so exciting to see the final paint coat; it really makes a huge difference.  He made us a custom color that is similar to linen white.  We are choosing a warm, light coffee color for the walls.  I think the linen white ceilings will be a nice compliment.  

Our cabinets are finished!  It was a very long process since we chose an oil based paint (lasts longer and has a more brilliant look).  We have not put the doors on yet because we just ordered the cabinet hinges and pulls.  However, the drawers went in which was so exciting!  They look amazing!

               Don't mind the nasty floor!!  It will be beautiful in no time at all ;) 

 

                              Our pantry!  The shelves are deep which I love!  

I love how CLEAN it feels under the sink now that is cleaned out and painted.  It felt so icky before!  I also love the slats for cutting boards, cookie sheets, etc.  

There were a few other things that happened this weekend.  I'll update you later this week!  

For those of you who have been through this process before and can relate... what's your best piece of advice for us?! 

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

I just read the classic Aesop fable called the "Tortoise and the Hare" to my first grade class.  After we finished reading the story, we had a discussion about what the moral or lesson of the story was.  We decided that there were two lessons: Don't be conceited (like the Rabbit) and to never give up (like the Tortoise).   

At the end of the story, the Tortoise states, "Slow and steady wins the race".  Nick and I currently feel that we are at the "slow and steady" portion of the house project.  It feels as though nothing is happening and that we will never be ready to move in.  However, when we look at it, there actually is a lot going on; it's just not the fun, exciting stuff that you can SEE.  Behind the scene stuff can be boring (even if it is critical and needed).  

Here are some of the things we have been working on: 

                                   Doing the last dump run!  Don't I look thrilled?

Recessed lighting is installed in the hallway.  Recessed lighting is a TON of work and there is a lot of "behind the scenes" work involved. 

Recessed lighting is installed in the living room.  My Dad also patched up the wall above the fireplace.  It makes such a difference!

The family room recessed lighting is installed, too. (Can you tell what my husband has been working on?!)

This is Nick's "Oh yah, this is awesome" face.  We chose LED lights for the recessed lighting.  This is what the final product looks like.  Even though LED is much more expensive, we decided it was worth the investment for several reasons.  First of all, LED is much more energy efficient which will save us in the long run.  Secondly, LED is the direction that lighting is going.  Standard light bulbs won't be popular much longer because of the energy efficiency movement. 

 We have been shopping and price matching.  Please ignore the price tag; I took this photo so that we could compare with online shops!  This is the cabinet hardware we will be using throughout the kitchen.  We love the sleek, clean look!

We bought a toilet for our master bathroom remodel!  I never knew that I would care so much about a toilet!  However, once you start researching and learning about them... you can become quite picky!  We chose this particular toilet because of the high ratings/reviews, the 1.28 gallon per flush feature (yay for saving on the water bill), and the base design.  I DESPISE cleaning around the base of the toilet.  There are all those ridiculous nooks and crannies and it just isn't a fun task for me.  All the new toilets have a solid base.  BRILLIANT!  I was sold.  Doesn't my hubby look excited?  

And, most importantly, we are trying to remember to take time for US in between the craziness of it all.  The picture above was taken last weekend at the Huey Lewis and the News concert at Rodney Strong Winery.  We had an absolute ball!  

So, we have been busy; it just hasn't been exciting stuff like floor installation and painted walls.  But, SLOW AND STEADY wins and race.  We are well on our way!

Moving Home

Did you hear the news??  We moved!  Nope, not into our new house.  There is still a lot of work to be done.  We probably won't be in there until sometime later this year.  Hopefully by Christmas??!!  

However, once again, my lovely parents came to the rescue!  When we purchased our house in July, my parents told us that we were welcome to move in with them while we work on the house.  So, when our lease on our condo was up on September 1, we packed up, and moved in!  

We put all of our stuff in my parent's garage and in our new garage.  We moved into my sister's old room.  

We have decided that living with Mom and Dad is awesome.  In fact, we might just rent out our new house and keep on living here!  Life is great!  Here are a few perks: Delicious gourmet meals every night.  An excellent house-keeper on Thursdays.  Really fun parents to hang out with every night.  Our very own "wing" of the house. 

I think my parents might like having us live here, too.  Since both of my younger sisters now live in San Francisco, they are complete empty-nesters.  I know for a fact that my Dad loves having his Giant's-loving-daughter back in the house!  We have been watching the game together every evening.  It has also been a really special time for my parents to bond with my husband, Nick.  I am SO thankful that he is happy to be living with my parents as well. (That could be awkward and uncomfortable if he wasn't okay with it!)

When we packed up our condo, Nick couldn't bear the thought of putting our (well, his) 55" flat screen TV in the garage.  So, "his baby" came with us.  Since no one else lives here, there are a few extra, empty bedrooms.  Nick took the liberty of making a "Man Cave".  Television and all.  This is his new favorite hangout spot!

                  
                  We are absolutely, most definitely, living the GOOD LIFE!

My Other "Home"

Well, I am sure you are wondering what has happened to the Klaus' new home project.  It might seem like we have fallen off the face of Earth.  The good news is that we are still around.  Our house is still around.  The big issue is that we have been SWAMPED!!  

However, those of you who know me well are probably not surprised.  It's September!!!  Hello brand new school year!!  I knew that our home project would drastically slow down once the school year began.  Life went from 0mph (sleeping in until 8:30, walking Spring Lake, shopping, trying new recipes, hanging with friends) to 90mph (full-day trainings, planning for a new first grade class, moving out of our condo, moving into our temporary home... more on that later).  Needless to say, it's been busy!  But, busy is a good thing.  We are thankful for fabulous jobs and a full, fun life.  

Since I have been sharing our NEW home with you, I thought I would share my OTHER home with you too!  My classroom.  Have a mentioned that I LOVE my job??  I can't imagine a different career.  Even though teaching demands a lot of me physically and emotionally, it is the most rewarding, special job in the world.  

I love the beginning of the school year.  I get to meet new children and families.  I get to setup my classroom and pick a new theme!  It's the best.  

So, without further ado, here is what I have been up to!!

Welcome to my First Grade Western Classroom!  Yee-haw!

                                           The entrance to the classroom! Howdy!

                                                                 Our writing wall

                                           Another view of the writing wall.

 

                Our "Cowboy Calendar" area.  Calendar is a big deal in first grade!

              Our special person of the week is called the "Sheriff of the Week".

                                             Our behavior management board.

Our Treasures reading board.  I post all of our phonics and grammar patterns for the week on this board.

                                                      

                                                              Our "job" board!

 One of our projects from the first week of the school.  We spend a lot of time bonding and learning how to become a "Classroom Family".

 Gotta love cuddles and hugs from former students!  (Don't worry, Mom gave me permission to post a pic of this lovely student!)

                                                  Our awesome western door!

 It's going to be a fabulous school year.  The kids are amazing.  The parents are fabulous.  Each year I pinch myself because of how wonderful my job is.... I am SO blessed!!!

Heart of the Home

kitch·en/ˈkiCHən/

Noun:

A room or area where food is prepared and cooked. A set of fixtures, cabinets, and appliances that are sold together and installed in such a room or area.

Ever since moving out of home for college, I found a love for cooking and creating delicious meals.  My love of cooking is something that definitely runs in the family.  I come from a long line of women (and men) who are fabulous cooks!

That being said, I am thrilled to have my very own kitchen.  I can decorate, paint, and set it up however I want!  Our new house had a very 70's style kitchen.  Yellow tile counters with thick brown grout, dark wood cabinets, and outdated linoleum.  

Since we had so many updating projects, we had to pick and choose what our priorities were.  The rock fireplace, master bath, and flooring were the must-do's.  Although the kitchen is extrememly dated, there are things that we can do in order to update it without having to start from scratch.   

Our long-term plan is to do a complete kitchen remodel in the next 5-10 years.  (Broad range, I know... but I figure it's better to think loonnnng term and then have it happen sooner and be pleasantly surprised!)  When I say "complete remodel", I mean, custom cabinets, granite counters, all new appliances, lighting, and a large island.

Here is the kitchen.  Everything is in good, working condition; it's just not our style.  We decided to make some cosmetic changes until we do the full remodel.  

We took the cabinet doors and shelves out.  The inside and outside of all cupboards and shelves will be painted white.  It is going to really freshen and brighten up the whole kitchen.

  The man painting is Mike (one of my Dad's awesome employees).   We were thankful that he was willing to work on a Saturday and lend us his professional painting skills.  He used an oil based paint rather than water-based, which gives an overall nicer look. 

Day one of painting complete.  This is just the primer level.  They will go back over everything with paint later this week.  Doesn't it already feel different and BETTER?!

I had my Dad paint the rim of the light box for us too.  We are waiting to do recessed lighting the kitchen because of the future remodel.  No point in putting new lighting in now when the entire kitchen is going to change.  Even though I don't light that light box, painting it makes it's so much better for the time being!

This is what it looked like before!  The white paint helps it to blend in much better.

Obviously, we have a lot of work left in the kitchen!  Hope you are enjoying see the PROCESS along the way to the final product!

Open is Better!

This is part two of the bathroom demolition!! 

Nick and I like homes that feel open and spacious.  Neither of us like extra walls that close off spaces.  It was a given to both of us to take out the wall between the vanity/closet and the toilet/shower.   

We knew that taking the wall out would help to make the bathroom feel much larger.  It also would allow us to expand the shower.

My husband is a rockstar.  I love watching him "show-off" all his hidden talents.  Not only is he a fabulous, amazing man and husband.... he also knows how to knock down walls, build walls, install anything and everything... and he looks good doing it all!!  Okay, I'll stop before you start blushing for me.  

In this photo, Nick was starting to take out the wall.  We ended up having to leave for the day and we figured we'd come back and finish it in the next couple days........

However, my incredible Dad beat us to it!!  The next day I went to the house to check the mail... and look who I found!!  My Dad.  My other rockstar.  He finished working on a job site and thought he'd come over and find more work at our house.  Mind you, he doesn't get paid at our house.  Best Dad in the world award!!   Talk about actions speaking loudly... he LOVES us a ton!!!!

               I love him so much!!  He does it all with a smile :)  

Now it's time for me to brag on my amazing Mom!  She also came over on a whim and decided to help clean-up after my Dad's demolition project.  I feel so blessed to have parents who are selfless and so generous with their time and energy.  I will never be able to repay them! Ever!

Since everyone else was working on my house, I felt the need to jump in and at least try to contribute. 

Yes, I'm in my work clothes.  Remember, I stopped by to check the mail.  I didn't anticipate working! 

The final product.  Look at how open the bathroom feels!!  Success!

There is a lot more work to be done, but at least the major demolition part is complete!

No More Camp Shower

We have been super busy on the home front!  It feels as though every "extra" minute we have (when not working at our day jobs or sleeping) is spent at the house.  It's a good thing!

Things are progressing nicely and it's starting to get exciting.  We have officially finished getting rid of all the old (carpet, laminate, popcorn ceilings, tile, fans, fixtures, fireplaces, etc).  Everything that is in process right now is going to be in our house when we are living there.  I am glad that we are at that stage!! 

We have a lot of projects going on at once.  Today I'll fill you in on our master bathroom.  I am very excited about this project because it's MY bathroom (well... ours!)  What girl doesn't want a glamorous bathroom that is all new and beautiful?  Well, this girl does.  So much so, that the master bath took priority over the guest bathroom!  Sorry guests!  It's only for the time being.

Here are some pictures of the bathroom before:

            This is what the bathroom looked like when we purchased it. To the right is the walk in closet.  Through the doorway is the shower and toilet. 

This is the bathroom after we removed flooring, wallpaper, and light fixtures.

             As you can see, the shower opening is ridiculously small!  

The inside of the shower is teeny-tiny too.  How in the world would one shave their legs in this size shower?  Maybe I am a little spoiled and just like spacious showers.  This feels like a camp shower to me!  No thanks!  Now you see why this bathroom got my attention!!

 Here is where the adventure begins.  Our friend Seth came over and helped knock out the tile in the shower.  Behind the tile, there was drywall which we removed as well.  I say "we".... as if I had anything to do with the demolition process.  I am very good at using my camera and cheering for the hard-working men.  I'm also good at removing all the debris after it's complete :)

This picture was taken from inside the closet.  Nick was taking down the wall that the shower shared with the closet.  We will be expanding the shower into the closet.

 The finished demolition project (besides the shower pan).  Next step is having our carpenter come in and frame out the new shower.  We also need to start picking out glass and tile!

Fun stuff, right?!  This bathroom is going to be amazing once we are through with it!

What type of shower do you like?  Glass doors, curtains, big tiles, small tiles, rain shower head, or standard shower head.  If you could design your dream shower, what would you make sure to have?  Advice or thoughts?!