House Tour - Part I - Introduction & Exterior

My father in law owned our house and wanted to move into an apartment. In July, 2008 we took over his mortgage and moved into our first house that was not a rental. 

It is a ranch style house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms located on 1.5 acres.   

Around the time (August, 2007) my FIL started thinking of moving into an apartment his house caught fire.  The entire inside (with the exception of the laundry room) and roof had to be rebuilt. 

These are some pictures after the fire.

Luckily they were not home when this occurred, he was insured and was able to rebuild.  This was exciting for us because he told us we could choose the colors for cabinets, carpets, etc. that were going to be used in the house.  We chose the carpet color then he changed his mind and decided to stay in the house.  He finished choosing the types of cabinets, counters, floors, etc. that would be used in the house.  A year later (July, 2008) he decided, for good, to move out and we moved in.  Although the inside was completely new the finishes were/are not my style. 

My “fear” of decision making and decorating has led to many attempts, without much success, to make our house a home we love.  IT IS A CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRSS and although we know we will eventually move I still have dreams of loving the house I am currently in.   

EXTERIOR

This is the way our house looked when we moved in 2008.

Dislikes:  Color of everything.  I don’t like the brick color, roof shingle color, shutter color, porch color.

  

Last year I made some changes to the flower beds, painted the front porch and removed the shutters.  I was amazed at how much the brick color seemed to change by making these changes.  This picture may have been taken with just primer on the porch because it is actually a gray color whereas it looks white in this photo.

This is the back of our house in 2008.  We are about to do a lot of work in the back so I will update the back exterior picture when that is complete.

 

FRONT EXTERIOR TO DO LIST: 

• Choose colors to decorate with that will pop and minimize the orange color in the bricks and shingles. 
• Install new shutters.
• Paint the front door.
• Decorate the front porch so it is inviting and actually has some style. 
• Figure out why my grass isn’t as green as it used to be.
• Fix/Redo flower beds. 

BACK EXTERIOR TO DO LIST:

• Tear down deck and fill in with concrete to make one big slab.
• Paint entire concrete slab to have one consistent color.
• Install above ground pool.
• Build deck around pool.
• Decorate entire back area for entertaining and relaxing.
• Power wash house.
• Figure out a way to disguise the AC unit and power/electrical boxes.
• Paint back door.

Summer is here so we will be focusing on our backyard paradise we hope to create.  I will update all changes! 

Do you have as many projects on your to do list as I do? 

Be looking for Part II of my house tour which will detail our living room. 

Weight Loss - Slow and Steady

Last September I mentioned I was feeling very BLAH.  I was unhappy with the weight I had gained after getting married in 2009 and wanted to get in shape.  Around March of 2010 I started whining and crying about my weight because I started outgrowing my clothes. 

I whined.  I cried.  I whined.  I cried.  Promised myself I would change. 

I whined.  I cried.  I whined.  I cried.  Promised myself I would change.

If only it were so easy to take that first step.  Fears of failing caused me to procrastinate.  Within a blink of an eye, I was outgrowing the larger sized clothes recently bought due to weight gain.  I finally woke up and realized I couldn’t wish this issue away, I had to do something about this issue. 

Last November I decided to join the January session of a boot camp program.  During the holidays, I allowed myself to eat as much hash brown casserole as I wanted and I did not hate myself for doing so. 

I enjoyed every bite!

Once January rolled around I was tired of eating and ready to get fit.  I started attending boot camp classes 4 days a week and started eating healthy.  The first 4 weeks I lost almost 11 inches all over my body.

I am proud to say I am still enrolled and attending the classes.  There are many reasons I have been successful this time around.  Being that this is a group setting, I have made friends that I look forward to seeing every day.  There is always someone there to encourage me to keep going when I think I can’t go  anymore.  Our teacher is awesome.  Class is not a competition, it doesn’t matter if we finish first or last, as long as we finish.

I am now fitting into clothes that I had not been able to wear and it feels wonderful.  I have learned so much in these last few months, that will help me live a better life.  My instructor tells us that this class should not be looked upon as a way to lose weight, rather it is to get us healthy.  Guess what one of the side effects of living a healthy lifestyle is??  YOU LOOK BETTER!!  I have also learned not to worry about the number on the scale.  I bet you won’t believe me if I tell you I have only lost about 10 pounds since I started.  I have lost more inches then pounds.

Here are some pictures taken during class (I am in purple)

I can’t tell you how many bad words I have said when we have to run zig zags up and down this hill that extends all the way to the road

I love the burn from lunges!

I’m not sure I will ever love running.

 

 

And here is the side view of my progress.

If you are trying to find motivation to get fit reach deep down inside and find it because I know it is there!  Once you do you will feel AWESOME!

I link to these awesome blogs: Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T., Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative, Made By You Monday at Skip to My Lou, Show Me What Ya Got at Not JUST a Housewife, Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog, Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday by Someday Crafts, Hookin’ Up with HOH at House of Hepworths, {LTC} Link Party at Lemon Tree Creations, Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple, Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Free For All at Young and Crafty, Frugalicious Friday by Finding Fabulous, I’m Lovin’ It at Tidy Mom, It’s a Hodgepodge Friday by It’s a Hodgepodge Life, Remodelaholic’s Anonymous at Remodelaholic, Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots & Jello, Show and Tell Saturday at Be Different Act Normal, DIY Project Parade at The DIY Showoff, Sunday Scoop at I Heart Naptime

My Junk Drawer Gives Me Free Stuff

I finally tired of opening my junk drawer and not being able to close it so I decided to clean it out a little.

 

After removing the larger items on top {which all belong somewhere else but apparently we are too lazy to put them up so we shove them in the junk drawer} the items that are supposed to live in my junk drawer were revealed. 

You may be wondering why I have so many Box Tops and Coke product tops in my drawer.  Well they are the reason my junk drawer gives me free stuff. 

Coke Product Tops = FREE MAGAZINES

Coke product tops have codes printed on them, when entered on the My Coke Rewards website, the codes turn into points.  With those points you can get all sorts of things.  A lot of the stuff is junk, sweepstakes, or require too many points; but I discovered I could order magazines with the points.  I save all caps and when I am really bored {3-4 times a year} I enter the codes on the website.  My points accumulate and once a year I get 5-6 magazines for FREE!!! 

Instead of reading them when they are delivered {I have enough blog feeds to read} I stash them away out of sight and when beach season rolls around I have plenty of reading material for those lazy days on the beach.

 

Box Tops = FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES

My sons’ school collects the Box Top and receives money when they turn them in.  With the money they receive from Box Tops the school provides all of the children’s school supplies!!!!  It is so nice to not have to shop for their school supplies each year.  I let the Box Tops accumulate and turn them in 2-3 times a year. 

 

The hardest part about saving these things was remembering to keep them when I first started.  It is now second nature for me to throw the Box Tops and Coke tops in my junk drawer.  The entire family eventually caught on and they remember also! 

Do you know of other easy ways to get freebies?  If you do, I would love to hear about them!

What’s On Michelle’s Phone

YEAAAAAAA!  It’s Tuesday and that means it is time to play over at The Lowe Family News! 

If you want to play along click the button below and you too can join the PARTY!!

Life has been a turbulent roller coaster since I last linked up {you can read about it here, if you want} so I don’t have many pictures on my phone. 

Thankfully, things are getting back to normal so next week I should have more to share. 

I live in Mobile, Alabama....did you know that Mardi Gras was originated in Mobile, AL??  Yep it sure was.

We are in the middle of Mardi Gras season so Sunday night we caught two parades.

This first picture is after the parade.  {Yes I am a mean parent and make my kids throw all of that junk away, as well as lather in Germ-X as soon as we get home!}

We got there a little too early, but didn’t mind since we had first dibs on where to stand.

Why do kids do this in pictures???

Dominick had a blast catching everybody in his net that cost me a whopping $5, I should’ve stopped by the dollar store before heading out to the parade.

They all had sugar highs from cotton candy.

Yes I go in public with no makeup and my hair pulled back.

That’s all folks...see you next week!

Trying To Get On Track...

2011 was supposed to be a year of change.  I did not make any “resolutions” but I did have a few things in mind I wanted to accomplish.  

I wanted to get in shape.

I wanted to start working on my project to do list. 

I wanted to practice photography. 

I wanted to become a more active blogger. 

The year started out pretty good.  I started to get healthy and was on track to accomplish my goals. 

Then life decided to throw a curve ball. 

Last month my father in law suddenly got sick.  A doctor told him he had contracted Hepatitis A and would feel better in 2-3 weeks.  On February 3, 2011 he had to go to the ER because the pain was so intense.  That night we learned he did not have Hepatitis A, he had something much worse......PANCREATIC CANCER.  The ER doctor told us it was bad, gave him 3 months to live.  Unfortunately he only lived 17 more days.  He died Sunday, February 20, 2011. 

 

My husband was very close to his father.  He was a huge part of our lives and we are pretty lost without him.  Now that he has passed, we are caring for his 17 year old daughter.  Adjusting to another person in the house hasn’t been too bad especially since she loves to clean! 

Now that things are getting back to normal I plan to pick up where I left off and I look forward to sharing all the nitty gritty details with you all!

P.S.  We love you Val, you will be truly missed!