Book 46 - the goldfinch

The 46th book was The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.  This book seemed really long.  I didn't dislike it but it was the like the beginning 3/4 was three months time span and then the end was like oh here's 20 years boom.  But it was well written I was interested throughout the book and the story was unusual and detailed.  I would recommend it.

Project Life 2014 - August/September

I am not sure what the last project life pages were I shared.  Possibly July?  Maybe it was actually before that.  But rather than worry about it I am going to start sharing with August and September.  This were big months here I transitioned back to work, we took our first trips as a family of three, and we just generally cut our teeth at parenting.  Nothing super fancy about these August pages lots of baby photos and I used various size pages to mix it up.

I do also love these shots with Gerry Gobbler aka Dustin.  I left a spot for our ticket but I don't recall where I put it.

First wedding and road trip we took jones to Milwalkee remember that?  I did blog it right?

Moving into September I missed a photo of the front of September (oh well you better just come see my book in person).

We flew to DC so jones can see his people.  He had a great time and was such a good traveler.  The only fancy thing I did with these you can't really tell but I cut slits in the protector and added ribbon in the middle rather than at the sides.

I like these project life cards too that have a cut out to see the page behind too (Let's make Wine and our travels)

Uncle Jones and aunt Lo met jones too.  And we had family brunch and a picnic.

I took about a billion photos in September and August so it was hard to pick a few. I do love this family snap.  And also included here is a snap from the friendaversary cards I sent out.

Sorry for the crappy snaps sometimes the only time available is after your teething son is asleep.

Tuesday 10 - Why it's valentines this week??

Last week flew by this week is dragging, ever so slowly Tuesday feels like Thrusday!  I am going away for the weekend with my quilt guild super pumped about that so let's make that number 1!

1) quilt guild retreats.  (Maybe their will be some amazing inspiration like this quilt by  Darcie pattern by Amy seriously these girls are AWESOME)

2) Finishing up our family photos shoot with Miranda (this snap was by me however)

3) house hunting - I love seeing the potential/lack of in all the different places.

4) sunny winter days.  It makes your furnace going out better.

5) making it to Day 10 no soda (that real impressive).

6) Babies ready for swim class

7) finishing project life 2014!  (Photos soon)

8) babies in sweaters (this could be on my list weekly)

9) google seriously I google something new everyday Google is my homeboy

10) last but not least - fixing my disposal myself!  That's winning.

46/1000 miles

So maybe 1000 miles was ambitious.  But let's go big!  

In January my Fitbit miles totaled 46.38, mind you this was with two weeks where my old fit bit would only record steps from like 6am to 9am.  Fitbit however sent me a brand new one which works much better.  Winter is also slowing it down as its -15 one day then 30 the next.    Anyhow that's 46/1000 down now.

Tuesday 10 - Hello February

1 - My new quilt project.

2 - Looking for a slummy house in a nice neighborhood. (You have to see the potential).

3 - baby swim class seriously Dustin already wants to sign up for the next session too.

4 - Daddy's and Babies.  Oh love love

5 -Finding a new shirt at the goodwill for $0.99

6 - updating the photo wall

7 - Aunt Lita Visits 

8 - Anne Geddes style Babyburf be still my heart I love this so.

9 - new beard thanks Bobbie

10 - finished quilts.  I do love this one.

Book 45 - A Piece of Cake

I have a tendency to like memoirs so I thought A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown would be a quick read.  And it was.  It was a good book a good story. Almost to short to cover the life span of someone who had been an abused foster child then a prosititute, junkie, gangsta, then cleans up and becomes a lawyer.   It was interesting and it was amazing to hear of someone who turned their life around so drastically.  It's not a book to read however if you are into light and fluffy books as this women has a full crazy life.

10 - Sushi Quilt Finished

I started this sushi quilt almost two years ago.  Although I never seriously got into it until a year or so ago when I finished the top.  Well Friday it finally went to its receipent who could not have been more thrilled.  Amy was so excited and kind of shocked like "for me?"  

The quilt itself I ending up liking way more than I thought I would.  The quilting is not perfect but it fits the quilt.  The quilting is all free handed and done with my regular foot because my walking foot just gets in the way and I have long since lost the free motion foot.  There was exactly enough puckering and crinkle with this to hide flaws after it washed too.  I love that.  

And the backing is all pieced from various fabric I had left over.  That Denise Schmidt plaid is finally gone now too.  I think I used it in 6 quilts.  I do like how the back ended up and I am glad it's not all solids.  

Enjoy it Amy it was a fun one.

Oh and crossing off #10 from my list too! Winning! 

Bathroom Remodel During

When I first started working with our contractor on this project I am sure I drove him crazy pants.  I might have sent him and Dustin this picture and asked them to pick a white.  And then I came home taped these paint chips to the wall and asked them both several times again which of these lovelies?   Meaning of course the whites at the top.  

And then when Ryan (our GC) was like did you pick a white yet Katie we're painting tomorrow?  I in a panic went to lowes without any paint chips and just bought a color called Hertitage White.  Does it ultimately make a difference?  Not really but it did brighten up the room like a 1000x.

I also must have exchanged 100 texts with them about the tile.  I really really wanted penny tile.  It's so pretty and trendy.  And the room is tiny so it wouldn't be terrible to install.  Dustin was like yes yes.  Sadly even with only needing 40sq feet the penny tile was going to cost me about $300 without grout tile board etc and I was going to have to order it which would take about 4 weeks.  With my bathroom already out of commission waiting 4 weeks wasn't in the cards.  But look at the amazing potential...

I think the contractor secretly rejoiced when I went another route too.  But once I finally made a decision then I needed to pick a grout color.  I think he had the tile about 3/4 laid before I decided on grout.

And then there was the new vanity which proved to be the most annoying of my purchases.  I really wanted a vanity that was taller.  That had a bigger sink and that was not just boring orange oak (this is what all the cabinetry in te bungalow was).  We'll once I made the decision Ryan picked it up and tried to install it only to discover that the drawer was bumping into the plumbing.  This was going to cost more than the vanity to move the pipe.  So back that one went.  Then we got another one which was defective back it went only to discover no more in stock and finally I ended up with like my 6th choice because it fit in the space and it's virtually the old vanity with a new top, different stain and like 1 extra inch.  Whomp whomp!  People when building  bathrooms think about where those stupid pipes are especially in relation to the bath tub and toliet.  Seriously though I never want to look at vanities again unless it doesn't matter where those pipes are.

In order to save a little money I repurposed the mirror for the bathroom which wasn't horrible just needed some updating.  I again was on the struggle bus with paint colors. I finally found a winner.  But painting in fridgid temps don't help the paint dry.  

Oh and just to record it originally my floors looked like this. Ack. I almost wanted to preserve them.  

Bathroom Remodel Before

So last year we had several major construction projects new roof, new drywall, new guest room ceiling, finished hardwoods.  And while we were at it we had the contractor redo our main bathroom.  

This poor room was in despite need of some love.  The floors were straight from the 1990 lowes vinyl that I think every house had at one point.  the drywall had never been primed and when the wallpaper was removed it also removed the drywall - hello bumpy walls. The sink and vanity were ugly wood that was warped at the bottom.  And while I couldn't spend $5k and get a new tub we did basically everything else and for roughly about $1k too.

Anyhow I wanted to share a few snaps from before because well next week I am going to share afters (I just need to hang the frames and get the cleaning lady to polish it up nice).

Oh yes I forgot to mention the towel bars were gradually "falling down". And the toliet paper holder bit the big one like 5 years ago.  Oh and look there that toliet is two tone.

Isn't that vanity sexy?

I sanded and taped off that door in 2004 (obviously I got it painted).

And here is my husband who just yanked out the vanity about to rip out toliet and all the drywall but first a selfie.

Just an FYI one of things we did to save money while having a contractor complete the work was we did all the demo work. So we stripped the walls down to the studs and removed the vinyl and the sexy asbestos tile under it.  It probably saved us about $400.  I also saved money using lowes coupons, Menards rebates and buying tile that was the end of the lot. 

Tuesday 10 - oh January

I am bringing back this old standby, since I have not been blogging regularly even though I still write posts in my head. My Tuesday 10 a list of 10 things I am loving on right now Tuesday January 27.

1.  Guerrilla Art Projects with friends follow us @leftforyou on Twitter and Instagram.  

2.  New baby tricks like pulling up into standing 

3.  Baby play dates (Date 1 of 2015)

4. Grown up date night.  I am guessing Dustin is glad it wasn't also "chore" date night 

5. This Quote screen shotted from @alliepal

6. This selfie fur trimmed coat for win.

7.  Remembering times like this when looking for photos of Schreve and I (note most photos also include Jono +\- a bottle glass or pitcher.

8. Babies in stripes oh heck just this baby.

9.  This verse a powerful reminder.

10. Lifesavers are the new gum