TBC- To Be Completed

I have a problem. I like to start projects and then not finish them. It has gotten so bad that I currently have 14+ projects that are half done. So, in an effort to make myself accountable here they are. I'm laying it all out there. Don't judge people.

Or the trim in the kitchen Complete! 7/19/2013

This sliding door project for the bedroom? Nope, not done. Complete! 7/18/13

Apparently I don't like painting around trim. COMPLETED! 3/27/13 

Ceilings aren't much fun to paint either. 

That hole in the ceiling has been there 2 years.  Complete! 7/10/13

We moved the chandelier. Never patched that hole either.  Complete! 7/10/13

That's supposed to be a light switch (in my defense, this is a Daniel Project) COMPLETE! 6/2/13

I started the built-ins. Got hung up on sanding. 

My new porch gate still needs paint. COMPLETED! 3/21/13 

We never finished fixing the crack in the kitchen ceiling. 

The hood still isn't vented (**cough, cough 8 months later cough**)

I never installed the trim around the cabinets in the kitchen. 

I never actually finished painting the kitchen cabinets. 

Our bedroom door doesn't actually close. We should get on that. Complete! 7/19/13

I have a new light for this room that is gathering dust. 

I need to add more rocks to my newly expanded patio. Complete! 7/17/13 

I never got around to installing that rain barrel I bought last year. COMPLETE! 5/29/13 

Daniel and I have made a pact to not start anything new until everything else is finished. Things are going to get pretty boring around here for a while. On the plus side This is all slated for after the bathroom is finished (since that is number one priority) so you still have a few pretties to see coming up! 

Someone tell me I'm not the only one with a house full of unfinished projects. I swear, there has to be a support group out there for this. One that comes with people willing to paint.

Cheers! 

Year Two- Recap

Today is our two-year house anniversary! It seems like we've been here so much longer than that (in a good way) and I think we've made some real progress.

Here's what we accomplished in our second year of home ownership:

We went on our 3rd honeymoon to Jamaica, which spawned this cover up and this craft. 

We spent most of the year getting our kitchen done. 

Added bookshelves to the livingroom

Went to Paris

Added house numbers (you know, so people can find the place.)

 Discovered just how cute our house is with the removal of some trees. 

Finally got a headboard

Finished the master closet

Started remodeling the downstairs bathroom

As well as a slew of little projects along the way. It has been a quieter year (that kitchen knocked me out!) but we are moving right along!

Tonight we will be celebrating with delivered pizza, wine, and camping out in the living room in honor of our first night in the house. Always a fun time!

Do you mark important dates with food? How long did you manage to celebrate minor (but major to you) moments in your life? I love remembering the little fun things each year.

Cheers!

What's Left?

When I showed you the big kitchen reveal I mentioned a few things still had to be finished. I'm hoping by putting them out there they might get done sooner rather than later.  To be specific, I still need to:

1. Install the molding on the cabinets.

2. Paint the base boards and shoe molding

3. Hang the hood.

4. Pain the trim.

5. Stain the butcher block and shelves.

6. Put up the rest of the crown molding (and paint it)

7. Grout.

8. Organize. I'm still working out how the flow of the kitchen will work.

So there you have it. Just a few little things that need to be done. I think I need unfinished projects anonymous. Hi, my name is Emily and I still haven't finished my kitchen.

Am I planning on working on any of this this weekend? Nope. I'm off to participate in the most time honored of summer traditions- the road trip.   My cousin Ari is getting married and we are headed to Minnesota to participate. So on that note, I bid you adieu. I'll be back in a few weeks with more updates and what's next on the agenda for house projects.
Cheers!

House of Cards

Well, house cards anyway. I was trolling my blog roll the other day and came across this post from The Design Pages about organized shopping. It's true, with everyone organizing every other aspect of their houses it is a good idea to organize how you buy for them. I certainly am in the same boat as Carol having frequently purchased furniture for the house only to get it home and realize it doesn't fit where I thought it would. Most often thrift store finds, which are sadly non returnable. I was really struck by one idea she had in particular. A pocket sized floor plan from Apartment Therapy.

Apartment Therapy 

And of course I thought "I can totally make that!" Little did I realize it would take all afternoon just to do the measurements. When I was finally done I got something that looked like this.

I did the same thing for each room noting measurements where I needed the short walls sizes for new furniture or paintings. I created them in publisher on 3X5 sized paper and printed them on card stock before laminating them.

This is the final result

I also clipped in paint swatches and fabric that I am using in some of the rooms to help with future color choices. I only laminated the front side so I can add measurements and info on the back. Now I only have to remember to bring it with me. It should come in handy with the kitchen remodel we are working on (if the snow ever goes away so that I can get more supplies!)

Are you always this organized? Or are you like me and leave your lists at home? Maybe you just have a good eye for proportion? Tell me your secrets.
Cheers!

Linking up to

Frugal Friday

New Year's Resolutions: Personal

I am not really a resolution person but maybe if I write it down I will be more likely to do the things I keep telling myself to do.

1. Be better with our budget. We are not in debt, nor do we live outside of our means but I would like to get ahead of our paychecks instead of always getting paid just to see it all go away to bills. It shouldn't take too long but it will require more effort than I like.
2. Be a better house keeper. When we first moved in I made a pact with myself to keep the house clean. That lasted about two minutes. I used to have a system in which small tasks got completed on different days and that worked well for me, but I just need to get back to it.
3. See more of Seattle and greater WA. We will have lived here three years this June and I still don't really know where a lot of things are. I want to see more of where I live and get acquainted with my new city.
4. Exercise outside more. I'd love to do the Seattle Marathon this year but really this is just about getting more sun. I stay indoors too much (winter kills me up here) and I am aching for some fresh air and daylight.
5. Take it one thing at a time. I get so stressed and caught up in a million different projects I forget to enjoy making our house better. Sure starting our kitchen remodel sounds really fun now, but I should really make myself finish painting the stairs first. This also is part of what makes budgeting so hard for me since I buy everything I need for 10 projects and then decide to start something I didn't even plan to start now instead. Which coincidentally leads in to my next resolution
6. Quit stressing. We bought a fixer. Pretty much everything in this house needs a new coat of paint and some elbow grease. But I've got 30 years to make it all happen. **Breathe** Sometimes it is so easy to get wrapped up in everything you think you are supposed to have and do that I almost forget that life is pretty good just how it is. And no, a new sofa is not really going to make me any happier.

It will be fun to look back on this later in the year and see how I am doing. We already have plans to head to Bainbridge Island this weekend for the Mochi making festival and some wine tasting. Now we just have to actually follow through. The contractor comes next Friday to help move our wall and get our Kitchen Reno started! Since I'm going to be living in dust for the next few months I thought I'd end with something pretty to help me remember #6. This one almost makes me a believer in this year's Pantone color of the year. Almost.

Cheers!

via

Head 'em Up, Move 'em Out

Anyone else find themselves wandering around singing the rawhide song? Just me? Oh well... Anyhoo like so many lists before getting what I wanted to get done written down really helped push me forward this weekend. We scratched four  projects (well two full projects and two half projects) off my pledge list. Plus I scratched an entire project off. Here she is (read all about the pledge in this post)

Finish:

• repaint the dresser in our bedroom
• finish the art for the guest bath
• build my seating for the back porch Scratched. At least until I think about the logistics a bit more.
• paint and re-screen the screen door
• move the library and office
• remove AstroTurf on back porch
• remove security door on back door and paint
• build shed
• finish tray 
• fix bathroom drawer
• clean up cuttings in the yard - Filled up two barrels of trimmings but still more to do
• Get cutting on some cans (for an art project)
• Paint the front door
• reupholster new chair
  

Pictures and updates to come! I swear it doesn't matter that I think I have what I need for a project there always seems to be something I'm missing so I'm off to pick up a few things to cross more off my list.