It has been HOT in North Carolina. I've heard lots of jokes on facebook lately about faces melting instead of sweating, how their sweat is actually sweating and just in general about how hot it is out there.
Friday we reached a tied all time record high of 105. This has only happened at our airport 3 or 4 times since the record keeping began. Then yesterday, we broke another daily high and tied the all time record high temperature again of 105. When we walk out of the house, the heat hits your face. It's overwhelming. You know it's hot when at 8pm at night the temperature is still in triple digits.
I try to keep the perspective that my army friend is in his army gear over seas where the temps are reaching 135 degrees, but honestly it doesn't help much. Hot is hot is hot. We feel blessed to have kept our power although it did flicker a few times on Friday. For me, hot weather causes problems. It causes me to feel downright lousy. The best way I can explain it is that I struggle to breath and I feel icky inside. I get out of breath from the front of the house to the mailbox.
My husband and I have been in and out of the house since we moved. When he's home, we're on the go. We just really enjoy going out. Today, we've pretty much stayed home with exception of about an hour when we left to pick up a curtain rod for the window in our ,non breakfast nook, breakfast nook area.
** House Update **
Slowly, but surely we are getting there. The dining room looks awesome. The living room is now functional. My goal for the week is to get the bedroom looking awesome, which entails emptying boxes that are just in the middle of the floor. The secondary goal is to get my office looking better, which also entails emptying boxes or at least putting them in a location that isn't so obvious when you walk in the door that we've recently moved in. Then I will feel like the first floor is company ready. Our only big purchase for the first floor left is the heavy duty blinds that will help keep out light (when we want it) and heat. We know exactly what we want, but have to wait a few weeks to order them. There are a few curtain and rods that need to be bought too, but we'll wait for those as well. As soon as I get the first floor organized, I will post some pictures of "before" and "after."
Showing posts with label new stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new stuff. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Getting there
Yesterday, we focused on two rooms. The laundry room and the dining room.
The first time we walked into our new house, I knew of one huge change we had to make. The laundry room had only one shelf. My old tiny little closet of a laundry room had three shelves so I knew one of the first "additions" we would make would be to add shelving into the room. So my husband worked on it for three hours yesterday. He's almost finished with the main portion. We haven't decided how we want the washers and dryers yet (close side by side or spaced apart with the space in the middle). If we move it all the way over to the left of the room, then there is enough room on the right hand side for the vacuum which was my preference. However, it doesn't look symmetrical which annoys us. So we'll play around with it for a while until we decide which way we want it. He also has to putty up the holes for the old shelf and repaint. We may have to lower the shelves a bit. It will take some time to decide.
Also while we were at Target yesterday, we saw a rust colored curtain. So we picked up one (knowing if we picked up four that we'd hate them and have to return them, but if we picked up only one we'd love them and need to go pick up 3 more) and brought it back home. Brought them home and saw that they really did match well. In addition, it really matches our plates!
We went to Lowe's to return some blinds that didn't match. We had picked them up on clearance and while they had the same color written on the outside --- the color had variance which did not work at all. So we returned them. While we were there, we picked up curtain rods to hang up our new curtains. Then we glanced down the lighting aisle. We really weren't going to pick up any new lights for the dining room quite yet and were quite conflicted with the selection. We were about to leave when we saw it ---- the light fixture we saw a few weeks ago, but the price was outrageous and we couldn't see spending that much money on a light fixture.
We happened to look and realized that it was now on clearance and was in our we can afford price range. My husband put it together last night and will attempt to hang it tonight. Then, I can't wait to get art work on the wall. We're trying to decide whether to take our corner piece somewhere to get someone to refinish it. I love love love the piece, but it still smells after weeks of cleaning it. So I think we need to take it somewhere to get them to strip and refinish it. We have to research it.
Also, our refrigerator finally arrived. We have to go to the grocery store because we lost all of our refrigerated food in the move. I'm very happy with our new home. We'll get everything in it's place eventually.
The first time we walked into our new house, I knew of one huge change we had to make. The laundry room had only one shelf. My old tiny little closet of a laundry room had three shelves so I knew one of the first "additions" we would make would be to add shelving into the room. So my husband worked on it for three hours yesterday. He's almost finished with the main portion. We haven't decided how we want the washers and dryers yet (close side by side or spaced apart with the space in the middle). If we move it all the way over to the left of the room, then there is enough room on the right hand side for the vacuum which was my preference. However, it doesn't look symmetrical which annoys us. So we'll play around with it for a while until we decide which way we want it. He also has to putty up the holes for the old shelf and repaint. We may have to lower the shelves a bit. It will take some time to decide.
Also while we were at Target yesterday, we saw a rust colored curtain. So we picked up one (knowing if we picked up four that we'd hate them and have to return them, but if we picked up only one we'd love them and need to go pick up 3 more) and brought it back home. Brought them home and saw that they really did match well. In addition, it really matches our plates!
We went to Lowe's to return some blinds that didn't match. We had picked them up on clearance and while they had the same color written on the outside --- the color had variance which did not work at all. So we returned them. While we were there, we picked up curtain rods to hang up our new curtains. Then we glanced down the lighting aisle. We really weren't going to pick up any new lights for the dining room quite yet and were quite conflicted with the selection. We were about to leave when we saw it ---- the light fixture we saw a few weeks ago, but the price was outrageous and we couldn't see spending that much money on a light fixture.
We happened to look and realized that it was now on clearance and was in our we can afford price range. My husband put it together last night and will attempt to hang it tonight. Then, I can't wait to get art work on the wall. We're trying to decide whether to take our corner piece somewhere to get someone to refinish it. I love love love the piece, but it still smells after weeks of cleaning it. So I think we need to take it somewhere to get them to strip and refinish it. We have to research it.
Also, our refrigerator finally arrived. We have to go to the grocery store because we lost all of our refrigerated food in the move. I'm very happy with our new home. We'll get everything in it's place eventually.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
The one about the Massager
My husband and I went shopping a few years ago. I sat in this chair that had a back massage mat. I was in heaven. It massaged the back and the shoulders and had heat. I sat in the chair every time we went to the store. It was much too expensive so we never picked one up. He surprised me with this beauty on Christmas that year. Our old house was not set up appropriately for me to use the back massage seat. I used it once and sadly it was too cumbersome for me to use it again.
Fast forward 2 and 1/2 years. We move to the new house and yesterday we went on the hunt for a computer chair. In our old home, my computer was set up in front of the futon (that we used as our couch). Our need for a computer chair for me was non existent. We went into an office store and I tried out a few chairs, but all of them were way out of our price range. Then I sat in one that screamed my name. It was dark brown for one and had a tall back and was comfortable. There was no price tag. In general if we have to ask, it's too much.
Sales associate pops over after a bit (after hearing us chuckle about the UGLY white computer chair with bright chrome accents) and we ask him how much it was. It was just the right price! So we brought that bad boy home. Afterwards, we went to our old house and picked up the massage mat. *sigh* Oh the joy. I have been using that bad boy off and on all day.
It can massage the back. You can choose the lower back, upper back or both. You can choose a rolling or a shiatsu motion.You can vary the width in which it rolls. Then there is a shoulder option. You can adjust the height of the shoulder massage so it hits in just the right spot. Then, there is the heat option. You can choose to use the heat or not. There is also a "Demo" button so it will do a variety of things.
Perfect for the after move soreness.
Fast forward 2 and 1/2 years. We move to the new house and yesterday we went on the hunt for a computer chair. In our old home, my computer was set up in front of the futon (that we used as our couch). Our need for a computer chair for me was non existent. We went into an office store and I tried out a few chairs, but all of them were way out of our price range. Then I sat in one that screamed my name. It was dark brown for one and had a tall back and was comfortable. There was no price tag. In general if we have to ask, it's too much.
Sales associate pops over after a bit (after hearing us chuckle about the UGLY white computer chair with bright chrome accents) and we ask him how much it was. It was just the right price! So we brought that bad boy home. Afterwards, we went to our old house and picked up the massage mat. *sigh* Oh the joy. I have been using that bad boy off and on all day.
It can massage the back. You can choose the lower back, upper back or both. You can choose a rolling or a shiatsu motion.You can vary the width in which it rolls. Then there is a shoulder option. You can adjust the height of the shoulder massage so it hits in just the right spot. Then, there is the heat option. You can choose to use the heat or not. There is also a "Demo" button so it will do a variety of things.
Perfect for the after move soreness.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Out with the old and in with the new
This morning I sit here waiting, waiting for my husband and his best friend and son to return with our old stuff from our old house. I sit here waiting for them together to finally clear out our old house and old shed to bring here to our new house. The next time I go to the old house, it will be empty. The home we created there will be gone. Dings of our presence will remain until the new owner paints and re-carpets.
Our new house is becoming home. In fact, it was home the first day we walked in before we even knew what the inside looked like. As soon as we parked, I said to myself, "This is our home." As we walked through the door to hear the realtor say, "Come on in," I very quietly uttered, "This is our home." As the realtor left to let someone else in another house down the street, we perused the first floor. I said quite audibly ---- This is it. This is our home.
We were able to check out each room and I could almost envision how wanted each room to look. We have now been here a full week. We are taking it one room at a time leaving the majority of our stuff in the garage. Our big "project" is in the Master Bathroom. We replaced the light fixtures in their already. Next on our list is something we have in hands already are the outlet covers, outlets and switches. We want them to be dark to match the cabinets. If they are going to stand out, they might as well stand out in a really awesome way instead of a, "Oh those are really ugly standard white outlets."
The thing on want list is a new towel bar, hand towel bar, robe hook and a toilet paper holder. The total price on all four things is about $90 so we will wait for another pay check to come in before we bite the bullet and order them on Amazon. Then, we need a light fixture to match. We haven't decided on that light fixture yet. We didn't realize it, but the builder put brushed nickel for almost everything, but in this one bathroom ... they used a bronze light. Now we love the look of bronze, but we've decided to keep the look of brushed nickel in the master bathroom. We may just switch out the light for one of the lights upstairs for now, but we may just leave it until we can purchase the right light. Why do the work twice?
***
Out with the old washer and in with the new.
So for about five years, I have been itching to get a new washer and dryer. However ours were working "Just fine" so I couldn't really justify getting what I wanted. Well when we decided to buy the new home and sell our old one, we justified the new purchase. Why bring our old ratty 14 year old set with us when we could buy exactly what I wanted.
LET ME TELL YOU ---- I LOVE THEM! They arrived Thursday morning. The washer is REALLY neato. It has a clear lid on top so you can see your clothes being washed! I watched laundry Thursday morning in lieu of television (OH yeah that's right we didn't have television or internet yet at that point!).
Now this set of machines --- are $1200 a piece! You think I paid that? Well, we *knew* based on many many sales associates telling us that they would be on a great sale on Memorial Day Weekend. We also knew that we could wait a week to do laundry after moving in so we waited. We were told that the sale would start Thursday. I knew that the old sale was set to expire on Tuesday. So on a whim, I got online and found out on Wednesday that they were already on sale for $890! Then, we had a coupon! My friends. We bought each for only 800 each (which is about 200 dollars lower than we typically can find them on sale)! Now yes, we could have gotten less expensive set --- however, these are a set that I have been itching for since they came out on the shelf and that pretty gray color is to die for! And in case you are wondering, unfortunately you can't watch the clothes tumble. The glass is two dark to see through. Bummer, but the clothes dry MUCH faster than my old machine. One load would have taken me 90 minutes to dry at least in the old machine. The new machine ---- 37 minutes!
I LOVE THEM!
Out with the old and in with the new!
Our new house is becoming home. In fact, it was home the first day we walked in before we even knew what the inside looked like. As soon as we parked, I said to myself, "This is our home." As we walked through the door to hear the realtor say, "Come on in," I very quietly uttered, "This is our home." As the realtor left to let someone else in another house down the street, we perused the first floor. I said quite audibly ---- This is it. This is our home.
We were able to check out each room and I could almost envision how wanted each room to look. We have now been here a full week. We are taking it one room at a time leaving the majority of our stuff in the garage. Our big "project" is in the Master Bathroom. We replaced the light fixtures in their already. Next on our list is something we have in hands already are the outlet covers, outlets and switches. We want them to be dark to match the cabinets. If they are going to stand out, they might as well stand out in a really awesome way instead of a, "Oh those are really ugly standard white outlets."
The thing on want list is a new towel bar, hand towel bar, robe hook and a toilet paper holder. The total price on all four things is about $90 so we will wait for another pay check to come in before we bite the bullet and order them on Amazon. Then, we need a light fixture to match. We haven't decided on that light fixture yet. We didn't realize it, but the builder put brushed nickel for almost everything, but in this one bathroom ... they used a bronze light. Now we love the look of bronze, but we've decided to keep the look of brushed nickel in the master bathroom. We may just switch out the light for one of the lights upstairs for now, but we may just leave it until we can purchase the right light. Why do the work twice?
***
Out with the old washer and in with the new.
So for about five years, I have been itching to get a new washer and dryer. However ours were working "Just fine" so I couldn't really justify getting what I wanted. Well when we decided to buy the new home and sell our old one, we justified the new purchase. Why bring our old ratty 14 year old set with us when we could buy exactly what I wanted.
LET ME TELL YOU ---- I LOVE THEM! They arrived Thursday morning. The washer is REALLY neato. It has a clear lid on top so you can see your clothes being washed! I watched laundry Thursday morning in lieu of television (OH yeah that's right we didn't have television or internet yet at that point!).
Now this set of machines --- are $1200 a piece! You think I paid that? Well, we *knew* based on many many sales associates telling us that they would be on a great sale on Memorial Day Weekend. We also knew that we could wait a week to do laundry after moving in so we waited. We were told that the sale would start Thursday. I knew that the old sale was set to expire on Tuesday. So on a whim, I got online and found out on Wednesday that they were already on sale for $890! Then, we had a coupon! My friends. We bought each for only 800 each (which is about 200 dollars lower than we typically can find them on sale)! Now yes, we could have gotten less expensive set --- however, these are a set that I have been itching for since they came out on the shelf and that pretty gray color is to die for! And in case you are wondering, unfortunately you can't watch the clothes tumble. The glass is two dark to see through. Bummer, but the clothes dry MUCH faster than my old machine. One load would have taken me 90 minutes to dry at least in the old machine. The new machine ---- 37 minutes!
I LOVE THEM!
Out with the old and in with the new!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Feeling Unwell
On top of the side effects of Lyme Disease and Co-infections, I am sick. I'm not sure what ailment plagues me this week. I keep getting different things. If I had to put a name to it, I'd either say I have a case of Influenza, Sinus Infection or the dreaded Mono (I was exposed a week ago).
Yesterday was awful. Two days ago, I would have sworn it was mono. Yesterday morning, I was sore it was a sinus infection. By last night, I'm sure I have some strain of influenza. Who knows what I have, all I know is that my fever is finally gone.
I've pretty much been on Tylenol since Monday due to pain so until I stopped taking it due to the pain going away, I didn't have a fever. Well yesterday afternoon the fever hit and it hit hard. Every hour it went up a full degree. By the end of my favorite show (SYTYCD -- which is back yeah!), my temp had reached 101.6 and by midnight it was almost 103. This was even with Tylenol. I finally fell asleep at some point and when I woke up this morning, I felt cool. My temp was back down to 98.6 (which is still high for me, but compared to 102.5, I'll take it!).
House progress:
We removed the two undesirable light fixtures in the master bathroom and replaced them with pretty ones courtesy of Lowe's. Now instead of two -two light fixtures, we have two three light fixtures. And, it matches our beach theme. We had one of these at our old house, except we only used one 4 light fixture.
We tried to buy a new ceiling fan for our bedroom and our general theory is to go big or go home so when we saw a 70 inch ceiling fan --- in our general style we bought it. Welllllllllllllllllllllllllll It would have worked, but there were several things we didn't like about it so we decided to take it back to the store. Oh well. What we have works for now.
We found four great blinds in the clearance section that we loved so we brought them home. We pulled them out and two didn't have brackets and the other two didn't match in color. Fantastic. So we took the two without brackets back and found two more of the blinds we wanted at the other location. We brought those home and finally had a matching set. So we now have beautiful blinds in my office. I jokingly call it my Lyme Advocacy Office.
The blinds kind of look like this (courtesy of lowe's website):
Next thing on our list is to replace the covers in the bathroom with some bronze colored covers and brown decorative switches & outlets.
Our goal is to make this house a home and not just a place we rest our heads at night.
Yesterday was awful. Two days ago, I would have sworn it was mono. Yesterday morning, I was sore it was a sinus infection. By last night, I'm sure I have some strain of influenza. Who knows what I have, all I know is that my fever is finally gone.
I've pretty much been on Tylenol since Monday due to pain so until I stopped taking it due to the pain going away, I didn't have a fever. Well yesterday afternoon the fever hit and it hit hard. Every hour it went up a full degree. By the end of my favorite show (SYTYCD -- which is back yeah!), my temp had reached 101.6 and by midnight it was almost 103. This was even with Tylenol. I finally fell asleep at some point and when I woke up this morning, I felt cool. My temp was back down to 98.6 (which is still high for me, but compared to 102.5, I'll take it!).
House progress:
We removed the two undesirable light fixtures in the master bathroom and replaced them with pretty ones courtesy of Lowe's. Now instead of two -two light fixtures, we have two three light fixtures. And, it matches our beach theme. We had one of these at our old house, except we only used one 4 light fixture.
We tried to buy a new ceiling fan for our bedroom and our general theory is to go big or go home so when we saw a 70 inch ceiling fan --- in our general style we bought it. Welllllllllllllllllllllllllll It would have worked, but there were several things we didn't like about it so we decided to take it back to the store. Oh well. What we have works for now.
We found four great blinds in the clearance section that we loved so we brought them home. We pulled them out and two didn't have brackets and the other two didn't match in color. Fantastic. So we took the two without brackets back and found two more of the blinds we wanted at the other location. We brought those home and finally had a matching set. So we now have beautiful blinds in my office. I jokingly call it my Lyme Advocacy Office.
The blinds kind of look like this (courtesy of lowe's website):
Next thing on our list is to replace the covers in the bathroom with some bronze colored covers and brown decorative switches & outlets.
Our goal is to make this house a home and not just a place we rest our heads at night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
