finally….some before and after shots!

so, we have been living in this house since may.  but june through december rocked our world…with joe’s health scare.  we are all doing good, especially joe.  he is back to work {light duty} and feels somewhat normal again working amongst adults.  our house is a slow work in progress, as it is for most people.  i wanted to share some before pictures of our downstairs bathroom.  it is small

but it works for us.

 

the bathroom before demo

 

another before demo picture

during the remodel…with sink and toilet missing

now we have new tile, sink, and toilet

another {during} picture

 

after…shower curtain

as close to a full shot as i can get

 

the wall where the towel rack fell off…it will get fixed…someday:)

 

the aforementioned towel rack above the mirror vanity along with some sunday school artwork from annabelle.

we are a work in progress…and i LOVE it!

amber

a LOVE/STRONG DISLIKE relationship

let me be clear…i absolutely LOVE our new/old house.  but it comes with its fair share of annoyances.

***first…i LOVE not having carpet.  we have all wood floors and ceramic tile.  right after christmas we got this baby…

the shark vac-then-steam.  i LURVE it!

BUT…

not when i leave a wet steam pad on the dining room floor for {ahem} a couple of days and it leaves this nice white spot in the middle of the floor :(

***i love all the different colors we got to choose for the walls in our house

BUT…

i don’t care for fingerprints all over walls…look closely (or come to my house and you can see them just about anywhere!)

***i love that my kiddos finally have a playroom to house their toys {we will be purging soon}

BUT…

  

i don’t enjoy that this is what it looks like on MOST days.

what are the joys/pitfalls of owning your own home…please share!

amber

Photo Challenge 6/52

 

annabelle loves to play with these little toys…she can spend hours lining them up and sorting them.  she asked me why i was taking pictures of her toys…it is the little things i don’t want to forget.

amber

thrifty thursday {yes, i am a dork about alliteration}…and i am posting it LATE!

so, i had the day off and decided to hit some thrift stores today [between taking/picking up gavin from preschool and a dentist appointment]. i was more successful with my purchases than i was with the photography of my finds…bare with me!

at kids closet i got:

a shirt for gavin (brand new with tags)($3)

a zero eXposure coat for gavin ($5)…see below

two gymboree outfits (panda shirts with polka dot leggings for josie) ($4 each)

two other pair of gymboree leggings for josie (cats and stripes) ($2 each)

annabelle got a dress (spring/summer bold prints) ($5.50)

and one knee length brown suede skirt for annabelle ($3)

then my next stop was goodwill…i got a brand new bucket of Kinex (regularly priced at $17.49 at target) for $2.99

my final stop was target (after my dentist appointment i was in need of a new kind of toothbrush/toothpaste).

i got annabelle two pair of jeans ($4.98 each…clearance)

and josie got a cute little bird shirt for (3.50)

grand total $44.97 for 13 items of clothing and one toy.

not too shabby-anyone else care to share their thrifty tips?!

amber

wordless wednesday

amber

Photo Challenge 4/52 and 5/52

got behind on posting my weekly photo challenge pics…

4/52

{a street sign outside of COSI…she was excited}

and

5/52

{oh, how i love thee!}

Resolution Review: January

{*1.}run a 5K at my dad’s memorial walk

have not even started this…yikes! february should bring a better update:) “from couch to 5k” says i can be running a 5k in three months…i am going to put them to the test.

{*2.}read the entire Bible in 2011

i am following a “through the bible in a year” pamphlet and so far i am on track…i have read all of Genesis, Job, and have started Exodus

{*3.}have a date night once a month with joe

yay! check! we went out to the spaghetti warehouse and then to see stomp at the palace theater. we are taking turns planning the dates and arranging childcare. so in february, joe will do the planning/arranging.

{*4.}have a day out with each kid (mom and me day)

annabelle and i are planning a trip to sweet and sassy for some pamperinging. then we are going to toys r us for a reward cash in (positive reward chart at home) gavin and josie will follow in future months.

{*5.}read one new book a month

Momology was the book of the month {along with reading the Bible} in fact, the church i attend has asked if i would facilitate a small group…i look at it as a support group of moms! i would strongly recommend this to any mama out there. it was a quick read.

{*6.}continue (and improve) our family blog

what do you think? i am open to advice!

{*7.}scrap the first year of my kiddos’ lives (most likely digital scrapbook or photo book)

not one thing done:( am going to go for a scrap weekend this spring though…in hocking hills

{*8.}lose weight…had to put this one on here

ugh…see number one!

{*9.}try one new recipe a month…that is huge for me!

chicken picate (a pioneer woman recipe) four thumbs up from my crew:)

{*10.}be intentional about girl time with my friends

well, we met our delaware friends out for dinner, and the kiddos were loving catching up with each other, while the adults got to do some of own catching up…good times!

{*11.}journal my year (handwritten, thanks to my new journal from a dear friend)

i wish i was doing better with this one too…i have journaled only three times this month. that HAS to improve.