(A NuTsHeLL): 2010/06

Lighting!

Let me tell you we've learned a lot about lighting...

from windows that don't open, to fixtures that "won't pass code"-

sometimes i wonder who makes these codes?? are the negotiable?

If I promise I won't let any 7' tall people enter through the front door can we hang the hall lantern that I want? and **psst** Mr. city inspector I don't even have friends that tall!

In the future I will be very cautious about befriending anyone of that stature due to the fact that if they come over they might bump their head on our light that hangs at 7'!!I promise- I am willing to risk potential future friendships for this fixture- honest!

Anyway.... still working on entry fixtures.... so for now let's go back to windows.

Since we picked a model blueprint everything is in place, we're welcome to make changes, but most of the nuts and bolts are laid out.

My dad suggested we send the plans to my aunt who is an architect- just to see if we're missing anything.. well... let me tell you those came backed all marked up! Which was surprising because when we visited the model i didn't see any of these problems!

First off all the windows in the back of the house were fixed- none of them opened??

It literally costs $30 per window to replace the fixed with an opening and for air flow purposes, we were all over that change. 2nd there were no windows on either side of the house.

We added 9 opening awning windows all together

(top- awning window. bottom- awning window in action!! 3 in our bedroom & 2 in the master bath)

Now back to those light fixtures... I saw this picture early on in the process....

obsessed with the island lights- they're called onion lights- very new england.

(learned this through countless google image searches, also learned they are traditionally outdoor lights which is why they were so hard to track down)

Anyway, we found them at a lighting store in wichita, added them to our order,

then I saw these...

Guess I'm a lot flakier than i thought.

After weeks of obsession with the onion lights it took me aprox 5 minutes of staring at this light before I decided we were going to make the change!

just for your viewing pleasure i'll show you the matching dining room fixture-

Friday Pic

Windows & Front Door are installed!!!!

Interior view out from Kitchen...

The Details!

Hey Everyone!

I finally have time to blog about our new house!!!

You've seen the pictures, now here are some of the details...

(most recent picture)

We decided early on that we wanted to buy a house,

own instead of rent,

build equity... blah blah blah.

First we started looking at houses in Denver and the prices were shocking!!!

Full disclosure we were looking at neighborhoods in the Denver zip code- obviously more popular areas. What we found was 350-400k on average and that's for an older home with not much remodeling work.

Then- we jumped over to wichita-

We couldn't believe we could get a 5 year old home for somewhere in the mid 100's to low 200's. That's when we decided we'd rather "get ahead" and buy an afforable house in wichita then buy into a Denver mortgage that was way over our heads!

After that Casey started sending me numerous emails from realtor websites with pictures of houses for sale, Exciting!!!!! But overwhelming.

Then he sent me a picture of home just built- in our price range- open layout- perfect!

We called on it but it had just been sold!!!

The lady, we now know her as Victoria the development lady, said she had similar houses that were in progress if we wanted to look....

It's pretty much been full on craziness since then!

First we picked a house that was midway through construction & Victoria said we still had time to pick out our colors for paint and tile. Perfect. It's like building house but not...
everyone was thrilled, Casey & I met in Garden City at his parents house to discuss the plans, that's when I said the phrase that cursed us... "This is perfect! I just DO NOT want to build a house!"

Then another couple put in an offer... panic!

Do we counteroffer?

In steps my dad and 80-year-old Grandma, they were out to dinner the night all this went down.

"we think you should scratch the whole plan & buy the lot on the pond."-Dad & Grandma

"put your money in the lot, better resale"-Dad

"i've always wanted to live on water"-Grandma

really people!?

But... who can turn down advice from two

knowledgeable,

well meaning,

elders??

So we let the house go, along with the $8,000 homebuyers credit since we wouldn't be in a house before the June 30th deadline & Casey drove over to the developer's office and put a deposit on our lot!!!!

Guess we ended up building a house after all!

Here it is...

Well folks- here it is!

I truly cannot believe how quickly this process is moving along!

I have a lot to blog about the house, and now that i'm "unemployed" for the next 2 weeks I will have plenty of time to update everyone- but for tonight- here it is...

Last Day!

This week I quit my job.

Why you ask? Because the rumors are so true... I'm moving to wichita!

This was a really rough decision for Casey & I- mainly myself, but in the end I want to be closer to home, Casey has an amazing job he did not want to leave, and the cost of living is not even comparable!

Over the last few weeks I've realized making the decision to move was the easy part-

leaving my job and Denver is the hard part.

But the show must go on, so on wednesday I put in my two weeks... they were surprised, but supportive! Since I took a job with a competitor... my last day was today. Sad that I'm walking away from such a great company- but also exciting to have the opportunity to start a new position with another great company, in tax (which i prefer over audit) and finally live in the same city as Casey!!!

I'd like to end this post with a farewell to my coworkers: a quote from amanda in the if i can dream house (if you don't watch this show on hulu... shame on you! I am addicted!) anyway... on with the quote

"I'll see you at the top, I'm just going a different way"

Whole30

Ok... I am NOT a "dieter" i like food way too much, all varieties, all shapes and sizes!

The only thing i will NOT eat are hard boiled eggs (just can't get past the smell) that doesn't mean I love everything else out there- but i'll eat it.

I like looking forward to the next meal, I love planning the day around what we'll be having for dinner, & you get the point...

Well recently I have been feeling out of sorts, under a lot of stress, drinking way too much wine at night while watching some seriously dramatic real housewives reunions- overall Just feeling "unhealthy." Especially after coming out of "busy season" working very long weeks, a lot of eating out, and Zero exercising and any of you who know me know that I hardly ever missed a workout- until i started working full time:(

So the point of all this is that I have been reading a lot about eating Paleo (like the cavemen) and I have been getting back into regular workouts, so yesterday I decided to try this diet called the whole30.

Today is day 2.

So far, so good.

It's all about "letting your body heal" taking out all sugar, all dairy, all grains, and focusing on how you feed your body.Back to basics and not cheating, not even one little bit. No excuses, just doing it.

I am hoping to learn alot along the way, different ways to cook "clean" meals.

But above everything else I am hoping to feel better. My eyes have been really bloodshot lately, I get dizzy when i stand up alot, and I'm just tired. I know most of it is stress, but alot of it is probably the way I've been eating. Not super unhealthy, but not super conscious either.

So that's it. You should check it out. Think about it. It's an experiment.

I hope that by putting it out here on my blog I'll be more accountable & stick with it.

I am motivated, It's only 30 days, and it's summertime so it's alot easier to do with all this access to fresh produce. The hardest part is giving up the alcohol... but I'm doing it!

Wish me luck!

Framing...

Progress

We are making progress on our project.

i'll give all the details next week!

I called Casey Monday night....

"what are you doing?"

"mark & I are eating goodcents in our closet!"

"Huh??"

"Yeah, In the master closet at the new house!"

AKA they were sitting on the foundation wall of the closet....

i think someone is way too excited... but good to know the closet it now broken in!

Classy

Drove by a construction site today.

The lady worker had on white jean capri's and wedges along with her bright orange contrustion vest and dirt all over her attire. At what point, when you're a construction worker, do you think wearing white is ok? And ever more interesting to me... at what point do your summer wedges win out over your construction boots?

I found myself just staring at her in awe.

This lady has a stereotypical "mans job" and she's just giving it the figurative finger.

As if to say, not only can i do this job, i can do it in heels, wearing white, so f*off.

I didn't know if i wanted to be her friend, or scared.

Needless to say- it was amazing.

On A side note- we registered this weekend!!!

Casey got to hold the gun!!!!

A Change of Pace.

Hello!

HOLD on tight! This blog of mine is about to switch gears...

Casey and I are embarking a a totally awesome and exciting new adventure.

We are both learning a lot- and of course we want to share!

Even if you don't benefit from it right now you will at least have some insight & gain little bit of knowledge. It's my goal to document as much as I can. That way when we get to the end of this project i can make a coffee table book with the blog contents.

(note to bloggers: if you haven't checked out blog2print.com, lulu.com, or blurb.com- you should! They will take your blog from whatever period of time you want and turn it into a hardcover book. It's a great way to save what you've posted and documented and i think it will be amazing and hilarious to pull out in 20 years and show your kids.)

Obviously there will be more details to come in the next few weeks.

To start, here are a few recent photos to get the ball rolling!