Before and After

Remember these?

Here is the before/after picture.This is where they are located for now (look below... not on the grass, obviously), until I get bored with it. Originally I wanted to put a big statue in the circle of our stairs. You know, a big Caesar... Zeus? Then I thought a big plant display with reeds and cattails would be nice. But since I probably won't find a nice one for under $300 ($2000 for the statue -- I know. I looked.), I decided to go with a little sitting area.Chairs - $8 total

Material - Hollywood Teal (the closest to turquoise that I could find that I liked) at Joann Fabric. $6-ish with a 40% off coupon.

Batting - $10 (who knew that stuff was so pricey?)

Paint - free primer from our house. $1 white spray paint.

Picture frames - found them in our house and painted them.

Frame paint - $1.29

Vase - $.25 at a garage sale.

Table - $.25 picture frame on top of a $2 plant stand -- both found at a garage sale.

Total - Approx $27!... much better than a Zeus statue.

I have to say that Tom wasn't very impressed with the original purchase of the dark, ugly, smoky, 2nd hand chairs, but when he saw my completed vision, he is now aware that I can do anything. Finally!

And here is the before/after for Morgan's room.

Before

After

For her room I took out the big recliner (it will be used in the next project... the theater/game room). I bought the wall shelves for $3 at DI and painted them black. I bought the rocking chair at a garage sale for $15 or $20 and painted it white and made cushions for it (total cost was probably $10 for material and batting). I got the lamp at Goodwill for $6. And I think we had the rest already. The total cost of this makeover was around $35. Don't get me wrong, I'm not always a 2nd hand purchaser. Our other rooms are Z Gallerie, RC Willey, and Pier 1... but they're not as fun. They look like the show rooms and anyone can get that look. I like making it up and searching for great finds for cheap!

Here's a close up of this cute rocker.

Manners

Today Morgan was coloring in her coloring book when she sneezed twice. Without looking up she said, "bless you." I didn't even know she knew that goes with sneezing!

Stinky Stinky

Today Morgan took a baby wipe out of the container and wiped her doll's bum while saying, "stinky, stinky." Oh I love this girl!

Feng Shui and Turquoise

I have been taking this home staging course from the fabulous Karen Schaefer, founder of the Association of Property Scene Designers. Tom knows her from a business thing that he attends a few times a year and when he hooked us up recently, I couldn't have been more excited. Since I just got my real estate license, I'm going to be marketing myself as the home staging "expert." So I figured I better learn some things about home staging.

I rearranged my living room so it is more feng shui (at least my version of feng shui, because I still don't totally understand the entire Asian meaning -- or if it is supposed to be capitalized).
I got some inspiration from a fun new interior design blog, Kreyv (you should check it out and follow it and "like" it on FB). The next two photos are of my new fireplace decor. It's kind of an awkward thing so I did the best I could. The pictures in the frames were just the ones that were already in the frames, I will be changing them all to color when I get there on my check list. I'll also be framing a turquoise fabric (read on to learn more about that obsession). Anything suggestions on what I can do to make it better?

I have also been doing a lot of thrift/garage sell shopping so I can make my own furniture (kind of). I'm so excited about these babies I got at DI for $4 each! They are from a smoking home, which is not ideal, but that is an easy fix. I'm thinking of going turquoise with them. I'm in love with the color turquoise right now. I even want to get a piano and paint it turquoise. It would be so amazing when finished and accessorized, but I digress. Back to these chairs. I'm thinking of painting the wood either white (ideal with turquoise), cream (ideal with my living room, just in case they went in there to visit), or dark brown (also goes with the living room but I think I want lighter) and reupholstering the cushions in a cool turquoise print. What do you think?

Well, that is what I've been up to lately. It's so much fun!

I Just Wanted To Give Blood

I tried to save a life today... but my iron count was too low... and apparently they don't like to take your blood if your iron count is too low. Sorry to the person who dies from lack of my blood. I really tried.

So if any of you want to take this responsibility off of my shoulders, please donate blood at the next blood drive in your town.

Morganisms

Oh wow, we have definitely hit the "terrible two's" stage, even though she's one month shy of actually being 2. I'm writing this just after the fit she had this morning when I wanted to take a picture of her. I wanted the picture to document that today she put on her shoe all by herself without any help or pressure from me. I just did her hair and she was 100% naked except for the bows (I put the diaper on for the pic). The first thing she did when her hair was done was run to the living room saying "side," which means "outside." What better to do in 40 degree weather than go out naked and play? So she put on her shoe. It might be on the wrong foot, but I'm still really proud.

How did I get the fit to stop? I bribed her with Binky and Nemo (we have almost worn out the $1 rip-off DVD that Tom got in China). Normally she can have Binky only when she is on her bed. She knows she has to leave it there when she leaves her bed but you know, sometimes I just get to the end of my rope and nothing sounds better than Binky sucking and Finding Nemo (and the peace and quiet that comes with that) so I give in. --Ah man, it's only 10:00 in the morning. That was a short rope.

Another funny thing has to do with her mock snoring when she was watching Tom sleep (it was a post I did around Christmas time). Anyway, when she pretends she's sleeping she says "horseshoe," which means "hok shoo," which is the snoring sound.

She has finally started to like playing with babies. Until now she preferred animals, blocks, and even cars, but now she is kissing her baby and putting her to sleep (with a dog). She also puts her in her little shopping cart or stroller and they walk around. Love that she mimics me!

She has started to ask "where's ______?" But she says, "where," pause, "______?" She doesn't say the "r" very well so it's more like, "wheh baby?" or "wheh doggy?"

There's probably a bunch of other things I wanted to document but I can't think of anything right now... so check back for more Morganisms (unless they bore you, then check back for things that don't).

Las Vegas... Again

It's funny, the two places I swore I'd never live were Boise, Idaho (rural Idaho was never ever an option) and Las Vegas, Nevada (also, rural Nevada never was and never will be an option). As you know, we live in Boise... and the place we visit most (that isn't family oriented) is Las Vegas. I have been there at least every 6 months for the past few years.

This weekend we went for another business trip. We went because Tom is pretty smart, especially with marketing, and one of his business friends (who I like very much) invited him to come and speak to his top 5 sales guys. We stayed in a very nice suite in The Palazzo. On Friday a limo picked us up to take us to the Bellagio to look around and watch the water show, then to dinner at Mon Ami Gabi (it's a steak house and I decided to order the filet, which I know is a very good cut of beef, but I really wanted a hamburger over a steak. I still wish I got the burger. Next time...). We also went to the Las Vegas sign. I don't know if I'd ever seen it before. I know I have several times in movies, but in real life I'm not sure. I'm guessing not though because when we got there I was surprised at how small it is.

Here we are at the Las Vegas sign.
Saturday I hung out with my friend Kim and her family while Tom did his presentation. She helped me pick out some new shirts that I think I need but probably just want. Then I got "baptized by Jimmersion" (don't give me credit for the saying -- totally a Kim-ism) and watched the first few minutes of the BYU basketball game with them before dinner.

Today we came home. Nana and Papa watched Morgan for us. You're probably thinking, "Wow, they left her again? What horrible parents." I know! But I swear, this is the last time for a while. Everything just happened to be right around the same time.

Thanks Michael and Nancy for the trip. And thanks Jo Ann and Ron for watching M.

Sweetness

A few posts ago I wrote about a blog that I read that made me cry like a baby. Well, I have been obsessed with the blog ever since and I check it daily. Today is the first "luni"versary (one month) of when baby Maddie passed away and on the blog today Kellie wants to see pictures in honor of her baby. Well, I really had no idea that would be today's post but I am so excited because I got the inspiration of Morgan's new room decor from pictures I saw of Maddie's room -- pink and black (I am SO over pink and brown).

I'm not totally finished yet, but here is the sneak peek.

I made all of the bedding except for the dog. It was so easy and I bought all material at Joann's with their 50% off coupons. We bought the rocking chair at a garage sale for $1 and I painted it white and reupholstered the seat. Super easy fix and super cheap! Then I took a black basket we had and painted the middle white. Now it holds Morgan's books so she can pick what she wants to "read" while sitting in her chair.

This is my love today. She was driving her bike and she wrapped one of her towels around her like it was a scarf. I love this fit-throwing spice cake and I am so so so grateful I can cuddle and kiss her today.

Anyway, I don't know if Kellie will read this, but her blog has really touched me. I know things like this happen to people every day, but her story has been the one that I can't stop reading. I wish her and her family the best and I thank her for the reminder not to take my baby for granted. Again, if you want to read it, http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com/.

Real Estate Test Passer

Here's the scoop. My sister-in-law and family are 99% sure they are moving here so they came a few weeks ago to look for houses. We found a bunch of amazing ones, but the house that we are all in love with is the one they want (obviously). So here's where I come in... Besides being the super supportive sister-in-law, I am going to be their real estate agent!

I took the 90 hour, two week course from the Idaho Real Estate School (with a really fun teacher that made me feel like I was in high school again) thinking I would only be doing it for the sale of this one house (okay, two houses because their friends are moving too). Then I really loved it and found myself wanting to do more and more in real estate. Now, I've done stuff before (we used to own three duplexes and two single family houses) and I'm not really wanting to re-experience that. Being a landlord pretty much stinks (and that was edited for my sensitive readers). HOWEVER, when you can buy a 3 bedroom house for $50k, it kind of makes me rethink my hatred of landlordship. I mean, that's like a 20% rate of return if you rent it at market value! Hello people! The only problem is that if I wanted to invest, I would have to do it with cash. And that's just a lot of money to take out of my bank account but we are both self employed (not to mention Dave Ramsey adherents) and lenders don't really like it when you don't have a formal "job" so a loan is out.

So here I am wanting to invest in real estate and wanting to earn the cash to do it debt free. I need to sell some houses! And that's the story of why I want to be a real estate agent.

HIRE ME PLEASE, fellow Idahoans!

Home Sweet Morgan

Morgan made it home safely. Poor Sarah had three babies under 23 months to take care of in a packed car for five hours. She's the best!

My mom told me that when she had M at my brother's water polo game in Cedar City she was playing with this little boy that was just older than her. She would hug him then play then hug him again. Finally she said "kick" and tried to kick him in the leg. Haha! That's my girl!

We are amazed at how smart she is (I know every parent says that, but we are serious). She knows so many words. She knows the colors, shapes, how to count to 11 (but we are close to 12... like tomorrow close). Right now she likes to sing Twinkle Twinkle and the theme song for Wonder Pets (which is my new favorite kid's show). Tonight at FHE (which is like two minutes long for us) I pointed at the temple and asked her what it was. She said "temple." Yeah, also a spiritual giant. I am so proud of this girl and I love her guts.

We try not to watch a lot of TV, but when we do, this is a fun way to watch. At least it was that day.

She is about 23 pounds and wears a size 3 diaper so she's still pretty small, but doesn't look emaciated or anything.

She loves her cousins. Here she is a couple of weekends ago with Tanner... who is moving here- whoo!

Just Had A Good Cry

I just read the most heart breaking blog about a mom and dad that just lost their 4 month old daughter and I cried my bloody eyes out. I keep praying that Morgan will come home safely to us today. She is riding from Utah with my friend, Sarah. I miss her. I miss her laugh. I miss the way she pushes the hair out of her face. I miss the way she says "thank you welcome" and that I don't know what to say to her after. I love how she says "sweeping" when I close my eyes and how she has to touch her eyes when I tell her to close her eyes. I love that she knows she's caught when I walk into her room after she is supposed to be asleep and she is looking at her night light then runs to her bed laughing. I love that she is mine forever. What a phenomenal blessing from a loving Heavenly Father.

I can't wait to see her!

If you want to read the saddest blog ever, http://kandjstaats.blogspot.com. I don't even know them but I am so sad for them.

Missin' You

After being with Morgan practically 24/7 in Florida I was so ready for a break (don't get me wrong, I love my baby like crazy but sometimes I just need a break. If you don't understand and you are a parent, you must be superhuman). Then we got home and she had not only 2 toys, but a whole room full of toys, and things weren't so bad. They were good actually. But then I signed up to take a real estate class that started this week and I would be gone from 7:30 am to 6 pm so we decided to let Morgan go to grandma and grandpa's house in Utah for the entire week.

I MISS HER SO MUCH!

It has been really good for me to have this break and to realize that I can't live without my M. I'm so excited to see her on Sunday!