So I very reluctantly took on a part-time position outside of the home. I say reluctantly because this past summer I worked full-time and it was more than difficult for me to balance all my responsibilities with that commitment. Luckily this one seems to be working out much better. I work most mornings and I’m off by 12pm. This gives me enough time to come home, unwind, make a healthy lunch, play with my toddler, get dinner started, and pick up the older kids from school. 

Only problem is I don’t have much time for daytime food pictures which is a total bummer. Hopefully the Lowel light will allow me to get that natural light look without the real natural light. Now I’ll be able to work into the wee hours of the night trying to get that perfect shot.

As for work,  I’m thrilled to have meaningful work. I work with homeless veterans in my community who most likely have mental health  issues. I work for the veterans finding community resources and coordinating mental health services that would have positive impacts in their civilian lives. I find it a privilege to serve our nations vets. 

On the home front I’m still completing some DIY projects.This one I did a few weeks back, it’s a floating mantel. 

I put this bad boy all by myself. Well mostly by myself. Noah had to work but I HAD to have my mantle  up this day, so I went on ahead and started without him.

Well it was a little more difficult than I expected. I had to drill a hole into our brick fireplace. I don’t know if you ever tried drilling a hole into a brick fireplace but it’s not a simple task.

Even with mason screws and bits and a  whole lot of  muscle it took forever drilling into the brick. 

I put down some paper bags we’ve had stored for a while. 

I choose maple stain for the mantel. I wanted a chocolate mantel but our floors are maple, so it just made good sense. 

I ended up really enjoying the way the maple turned out. 

As much as I want to go through the entire my process I got too carried away and forgot to take pictures during the drilling phase, my bad. 

I will tell you once you get the mason crews in the brick it was pretty easy from then on. 

Not that the easy part is finished. Decorating the mantel seems a task too high for me to complete. 

Currently I have all the Christmas decor on the mantel. 

When the season is over I have some plans for tall glasses with stones, and an abstract painting. 

Before 

During 

After

(I tried taking this with my camera phone…I tried)

Buying an old house as a young and near penniless couple is not such a good idea. How do I know you ask?

We were that young and penniless couple when we first purchased our circa 1958 brick ranch in Richmond Virginia. We knew nothing about taking care of a massive yard, or changing out ac vents monthly, or that an old house can suck everything including the soul out of you! 

When we first bought the house, we stayed in our apartment until the major things like our kitchen, painting, and deep cleaning were complete. Other than that there were little things here and there that I wanted to complete but I was so excited when it was time to move in.

But with a husband who can easily work 60 hours a week, twins, more pregnancies, work,  and life, we got comfortable and let that long wish list fall to the wayside. 

Now are little house is just a little too small for our growing family, and I need  to add some functionality and overall freshness to our space. We don’t plan on being here forever, but I would like to feel happy and comfortable while we’re here and I’m not there right now.

You know that show on HGTV with the brothers who kind of hate each other and help people sell their old homes so that they can buy a new home. We do plan on being here for at least a few more years so ours will be a little different. I want to make the space attractive to buyers but I also want to have it more functional and comfortable for our family at the moment. Now that’s killing two birds with one stone. 

I’m documenting the transformation and wanted to share a little of what we are currently working on. Which is our over grown and UGLY yard.

Curb appeal anyone? It’s kind of important when selling a house, plus I want somewhere me and the family can cool it comfortably outside. Since it’s cooler outside and my hubby hates bugs (yeah I just blamed it on him) we figured it was the perfect time to take on this task. 

First things first was tearing down and pulling out all the old. 

I thought we could have a little fun, tie a chain around these trees and pull it out with our SUV.

Hubby and the manager at Lowes didn’t think that was such a good idea. So he bought this little Chainsaw for just 50 bucks.

Just for a second, Que in on that not so pretty storage house. When we first moved here I had some grand idea to turn it into an office, lmbo! Obviously that never came to pass.

Another picture of all we have to cut down.

I want pretty green grass only.  

With a bunch of trees and shrubs like this I’m not sure how long it will take us to clear out everything but I can’t wait til it is! 

Biscuit break for my sweet husband. 

We did get a good amount of small trees and old shrubs down the first day.

Our yard was so full of the debris we decided to chop up and remove what we had cut down before we started cutting down more. 

Looking at these pictures I feel embarrassed so let’s even the score a bit!

Tell me something that you would be embarrassed to share a picture of at this moment?

Please don’t leave me hanging, I really need to feel better about myself.

Raccoons in the attic?!

The tortured life of a young homeowner never ends, and by young I mean broke! Hubby in his usual way of making me laugh proclaimed just yesterday “there are two things that don’t go together….owning a home and being broke”! Putting things into perspective without being overly dramatic I would thank the Lord that we do come up with the funds to fix most issues that come are way… whether it’s an unexpected bonus check, tax refund, or my favorite the surprise gift of moolah from oh-so-generous family, it seems whenever a problem arises we are blessed with the extra to cover it. However I guess you could also make the observation that whenever we are blessed with some extra cash something (i.e. electrical, plumbing, RACCOON’S) comes to collect it. I’m sure the hubs would go with that one, but I for one am a glass is half-full kind of lady and I choose to look at it positively (especially since I’m medicated).

As for that Raccoon….did I mention she had babies. Yes she did right up in my attic, I was pissed at first but I have to admit I feel sort of bad. She was so certain she had found a home for her and her young (not sure what gave her that idea, maybe it was all the comforting smells of delish food coming from my kitchen) either way she’s got-to-go.

I’m sure she’ll find a new and safe home among all of the abandoned houses and buildings available in our old city, speaking of city. Who would have thought it, raccoon in your attic in the middle of a city?!

I guess they do need somewhere to live with all the new construction of homes in the surrounding counties, but instead of torturing us older homes which have been here for decades they should pick on the ones responsible for their displacement!  On second thought maybe not……as much as I love an old home for its character and mature tree-lined neighborhoods, it’s not as functional when you have little ones, or as economically smart.

Not to mention anything built post 1975 can have lead hazards…forget all that! When we first got ready to buy a home, I was hell-bent on an old home, with good bones, to work with! As for now….been there done that, this time I want to find something that I can enjoy at closing, of course some custom paint but that’s it, no fixing, no remodeling, no work.

Plus my husband kind of sucks at fixing things. I take that back he doesn’t suck at it he just doesn’t enjoy doing it!