2 Weeks

Mom and Dad were here for the past 2 weeks.  My dad has told me in the past that he doesn't like to sit around and would rather be working on a project.  I'm not sad about that one bit, you want to work, I'll let you!  My mom has been wanting to get her hands on my family room since I bought this house.  Well, she got her way with it.  It looks amazing and feels so homey.  We painted the back wall a beautiful soft blueish, sea foam color.  I love it, even though we went to Home Depot a bazillion times trying to get the right color.  We loved it so much that we also painted the mudroom/breakfast nook the same color.  Before long, the entire house will have some kind of this color combination; next rooms the master and guest room.  I paid a friend to paint the shutters in this room and the mud room, since they were a cream color.  They look so much better.  Dad also put up a trim around the windows which adds to it. 

 I love my new pictures and frames on this wall!  It's perfect.  I love the one in the black frame that says, "Embrace the Adventure!"  Um Yes!  And the little one say's, "Do one thing everyday that makes you happy."  I actually had that in my bedroom, but painted the frame and put it out here. Do you like the new chair too?  It's a recliner, swivel rocker that I found at Homegoods, along with the rug which adds so much.  We basically found the chair and then went with the decorations around that color. 

I'm now the proud owner of a water softener, a sectional and a Traeger grill.  Yep I know so exciting.  Mom and dad hate hard water and complain all the time when they have to use it.  My couch was rather uncomfortable and the family room needed a sectional which I found at Costco.  Also at Costco the day before mom and dad left I got a Traeger grill.  I've been wanting one for a long time and got a great deal.  You are looking at the future Master Griller my friends.

While mom and dad were here we found out that Tuesdays are $5 at the movie.  We have an awesome theater in town that has electric recliners.  So while they were in town we saw The Greatest Showman and Wonder.  They were both fantastic.

We also went to the symphony and the Tenors where we had tickets on the 4th row and middle seats.  I felt like a teenager.  They did an incredible job and the concert was amazing!

Dad turned 65 while he was here too!  He's pretty incredible and I'm so happy that he is healthy, active and talented.  Mom has always had the vision and dad makes the vision happen! 

What else did we do in two weeks?  Well I had a killer UTI, so I sat around a lot with the heating pad.  I had a visit with Dr. Dalton and came away feeling like I'm not dying tomorrow and that we have more options and more time, at least I hope! We had lunch and dinner with my cousin Jen.  We also watched the entire 4th season of When Calls The Heart, which we love.  And while we were working and driving from Homegoods to Homegoods, we listened to the 3rd Rae Carson book which we loved, Into the Bright Unknown.  I think we had a fantastic time.  It was nice to not have to work during their visit either.  Typically mom and dad stay for 6 weeks, but mom is helping with a desert table next week for their Stake RS conference and dad has a huge job that he is going to start before he retires in 350ish days. 

Lauren's Visit

My friend Lauren came out for a visit for 10 days.  Oh, what fun we had.  It was nice to have mom and dad here for most of her visit.  We did a lot of work on the craft room.  Lauren is super talented, it helps that she is tall and knows how to work a drill!  I'm pretty sure there aren't many women who will leave their 4 young boys and husband to fly across the country to help their friend organize a very messy craft room.  Lauren spent 10 days away from her family responsibilities to spend time with me.  This is a true friend indeed.  I'm so grateful for mom, dad and Lauren for all that they have done in my home.  I really love the new additions.  They make me want to be home more. 

One day we spent watching a Spring Training game, Giants vs. Dodgers.

It was a perfect day at the ball field and super fun. 

We did plenty of shopping, watched some sunsets, ate lots of good food at restaurants I've never visited, had us a spa day and drank lots of homemade lemonade.  All in all it was a fantastic time, even though the days always ended quicker than when I'm home alone. 

It's So Good To Be Home

Mom and Dad were here for nearly 6 weeks.  It is always so wonderful to have them here.  Dad has told me that he likes to be busy when he is here.  He has never been one to sit around and I'm glad that I can keep him busy.  I love the additions that he puts in my home.  It feels like my home is finally mine and almost perfect, except for the backyard, that's another story for another post.  And another project that isn't on my radar for a while.

When dad was here in September he put up the cabinets (which were free because the cabinet people never came to pick them up even though I called them at least 5 times) for my entertainment center.  It looked pretty blah.  But now it is complete with shelves, a bead board back and a new, much larger TV.

I found a design with instructions for my mud room.  It just seemed like an empty room, but now it welcomes me home each day.  Dad put up the wall paneling, which I love and mom found this awesome European, very heavy bench at Homegoods.  It saved dad from having to build me a bench. 

When I was home a few months ago I made this sign and just put it up on Sunday.  I love it.  I have full intentions to stain the frame, but it hasn't been done and I don't see it happening anytime either.
 
Dad put some bead board under my bar in September.  The bar has needed some bar stools for the past year.  I've had a hard time finding some that I liked.  Well I just happened to drive by a second hand store and lo and behold they had a set of 3 for 89 dollars.  Total Steal!  I was so happy that I backed into a yellow pole.  And now those bar stools will cost me 589 when I get my little dent and new yellow paint color fixed.  Grrr.

Dad put bead board up in the rest of the family room.  I love it.  This room is so big and needed something.  Mom also switched the furniture from the front room.  I actually like it better.  I also love that I have some white in this room instead of the walls all being the same color.  I had full intentions of getting a wall painted, but that didn't happen.  I got this darling secretary desk from some friends of mine who inherited it from a friends uncle who passed away.  I've been wanting one for a good while and love the size of this.  I had originally put it in my craft room, but it ended up here, which is perfect.

Lauren came from NC for 10 days.  Aside from seeing me, her goal was to come create and organize my craft room.  I don't know many friends who will leave their 4 boys at home and come clear across the country, especially when she is afraid to fly and spend a few days organizing, painting and perfecting my craft room.  It's exactly what I wanted it to look like.  In addition I found some fabulous very gently used Land of Nod furniture from a lady down the street.  I had no intentions of turning this into a bedroom, but I absolutely love it.  We stopped at an antique store in Chandler one evening and I found the exact quilt that I wanted on this bed.  Lucky me it was 40 percent off.  And how often do you see such cute pillows that say, "Hello There Handsome" and on sale!

 This mirror was my grandma Young's.  I love it in this room and so happy I finally got it up.  The desk top I found in my garage, left over from the cabinets.  We got the legs at IKEA.  Can you see the little suitcase?  It was my grandma Jeanne's.  I love the addition that it brings and it is also great for storage.  I also love the shadow box that I found which houses some of my special hankies.

I would never have thought to put a lamp above the bed.  Lauren's idea=brilliant.

I love the few additions to my other guest bedroom.  It's amazing what a new lamp shade will do to a room. The beach picture in the corner was painted by a friend of mine and I found the perfect frame for it.

Vintage Finds

I'm totally into vintage, especially since I've found a whole catalog of antique stores in Phoenix.  I've only been to 3.  But I tell you I can't wait to have another day off so that I can spend it at the antique stores.  I came across these bar stools which remind me of the swivel blue barstools we had in our kitchen when I was a young kid.  They were gone come 5th grade.  Not sure why or where they went, but I remember them.  Or maybe this memory is from my grandparents house.  Oh dear, chemo brain.  Anyway, I saw these last week and can't stop thinking about them.  One might say they are ugly, but I remember when I lived-in Charlotte it took me forever to find some barstools (that weren't really comfortable and which I sold at my one and only garage sale).  I originally said I wasn't going to do the bar stool thing, but I think 2 would be just fine for me.  I'm going to keep looking, but I expect to buy these unless someone picks them up, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only one around here who would think these are a gem.

 Here is a little glimpse into my living room.  See that cute little rocking chair?  I picked it up for $25 at a yard sale in my neighborhood a few weeks ago.  It was this lady's grandmothers.  It is darling and such a steal.  Really, why would you sell such a gem.  It's solid wood.  I have this weird  love for rocking chairs.  I've yet to put much on the piano, those are just random things.  The mirror is going above the piano, but the wire broke while we were putting it up and I have yet to fix it.  I love my flower chair that I bought just before I left Charlotte.

 Can you see my awesome drop leaf table in my dining room?  I'm so in love with it.  I totally forgot about the crocheted Families Are Forever framed art I made that is leaning against the wall and yet to be placed because it is too heavy. (I literally forgot about it until I opened the box it was in which it has been taped up in since I moved from Charlotte in October 2011.)  Maybe my awesome friend Lauren can help me put it up on that wall when she comes in 8 days.  I can't wait for her to visit.  We always have a ball when we are together and this friend of mine is one talented woman when it comes to painting and fixing things.  You can't really see this cute rug in my entrance way, but it has some cute blue ribbon like stuff that matches so lovely with my living room.  The shutters come next week which will be fantastic because it is just too hot to open those doors and it's not even May.

 This old sewing box fits perfectly between my two new 1900 era chairs.  I love that it's something I've never seen before.  When I saw it I may have jumped up and down and screamed like a teenager!  I might just have to get back into my crocheting and cross stitching if my carpal tunnel will allow me.

I've come across several vintage secretary desks and have decided this is what I want to use in my craft room.  So this week or next I'll be on the search for the perfect one.  I'm excited for Lauren to come help me organize my craft room, it's quite a mess with absolutely no organization.  

I'm getting super anxious for my granite to arrive next Monday.  It will be so nice to finally have a sink and counters.  Oh, the things we take for granted.

My Home Is Coming Along FF

1.  My mom flew to town last Tuesday.  It is always great having her here.  I worked 3 days while she was here, but I really feel that we got a lot accomplished while she was here.
2.  Here's a look at the kitchen and the master bathroom.  Still no sinks.  Brushing my teeth, washing the dishes and my hands in the tub is getting old and I still have another week or so without sinks.  I didn't like the gray bathroom cabinets, so I'll be switching them to the same as in the kitchen.  And mom and I decided to go with this quartz in the kitchen.  The other was too light.

3.  I finally was able to clean things up and put things in the cupboards, which eliminated most of the boxes that were in my breakfast nook.  It is so nice to have so much cabinet space.  Mom is trying to talk me into knocking out the pantry and expanding it.  Maybe in a few months when I've built back my savings account.
4.  Last Wednesday, I took Pediatric Advance Life-support and then mom and I did some shopping.  That evening I was also able to have a nice long visit with my friend Aubrey as she was visiting her parents.  I love that dear friend of mine.
5.  Sunday I gave a talk in church.  It has been a long time since I've done that, but I was grateful for the opportunity.  I feel it gave my ward members an opportunity to get to know me a little better.
6.  I had no idea until 2 days ago that Phoenix has so many amazing vintage antique stores.  I love vintage and have found some great buys including a drop leaf table like my grandma Young use to have.  (I'll have to take a picture of it).  I love this his and hers needle point rocker and chair that I got.  It adds so much character to my room.  And I'd never seen an old sewing box before yesterday, but it sure adds to the the chairs.  Oh and I love the rug that ties this room all together.  I'll take full pictures of the competed project soon.

7.  Isn't this little one just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

 8.  My friend and nurse Angela from MVY ran in the Boston Marathon this week.  She did it in just under 4 hours.  I'm so proud of her and loved that I was able to support her from clear across the county.  She ran in honor of childhood cancer.

 9.  My mom is the master picture hanger upper!  Thanks mom for your talents.  She had to leave me on Wednesday to go to Spokane and watch Tristens girls.  I'll save up for more projects when she comes again in the Fall, since I can't seem to convince her to come during the summer.