There's been a lot of changes this week - DH

Yep, that's right.  There have been a lot of changes this week.  First, we found someone to install our floors and that was done last Tuesday.  Saturday morning, we decided to go shopping for a new dining room set.  I had three or four places picked out to visit with a set picked out as a backup plan. 

Saturday morning we stopped at the first store about 11 am.  The very first set we saw fit almost every need and it was marked down 50%.  (Compare at $2499; regular price $1799 and closeout price of $899.)  I'm not convinced that it really would have sold for $2499 and even $1799 seems a little high but I think the closeout price is just right for us.  It came with six chairs and the table.  I still plan to find a second hand china cabinet and paint a dark, dark brown color to complement the table set.  I need more storage and display space than the dresser I currently have offers.  Amazingly, they offer same day delivery and set up for less than other stores charge for delivery.  As a result, the set was in place by 4:30 the same day.  It needs a bright set of placemats and/or a runner.  Unfortunately, I've not been able to find any yet.  Accessories will also have to wait until we find that china cabinet.

We made quick trips to Home Depot and Lowes this weekend to check out chandeliers.  We found one at Home Depot that we agreed on.  Hope to get that and get it installed next weekend.  DH was also able to get some weed and feed down on the front yard Sunday morning.  We blew all the trash out of the garage and I did a really good job of cleaning out my car including vacuuming it.

It's going to be a busy week.  There's still a lot of items to be sorted through and get back into place.  We need to get the old dining set listed on Craigs List and  work will likely be busy too.


Tenative Menu:

Sunday- Steak and Potatoes, Salad
Monday-Pizza
Tuesday - Pancakes
Wednesday- Potato Soup and BLTs
Thursday - Grilled Chicken and Side
Friday - out
   

Friday's Update

Since the new floor was installed Tuesday, we've been slowly moving our stuff back into the Living Room.  The dining room remains completely empty. 

It was amazing to me how dirty and dusty things were.  Two of the four windows have been washed.  The blinds were dusted.  (I'd like to wash those things but I simply don't have a way for them to dry right now.  Maybe after the pollen is through I can get them outside to dry.)  The curtains were taken down and washed.  They're clean now but unfortunately, they shrunk.  Instead of touching the floor, they come just to the top of the baseboard.  I'm still deciding if I should let out the hem, move the rod down or add a contrasting stripe to the bottom.  If you have a suggestion, please add a comment.

I have cleaned and re-arranged one full bookshelf and half of the second one.  That's a project for this weekend.  I have about 90 thousand puzzles that need to be organized and some need to find a new home.  I've got DS thinking about ways to build doors on these shelves. Maybe that's a summer project.  It shouldn't be too expensive.

I hope to get the plants back inside the weekend as well.  It's so warm and they're a little wilty even on the front porch.  I'm sure they're covered in pollen.

Tomorrow we're going out in search of a new dining table.  Furniture can vary so wildly in price and selection.  We may go out tomorrow and find a full set that just fills the bill.    If not, I have a set picked out from a major dealer that is reasonably priced and will work with the decor.  If that's what we settle on, I plan to find an inexpensive china cabinet that I can paint matte or semi-gloss black to coordinate.  (A large china cabinet is a must.)

I'm also thinking that instead of buying a new chandelier for the dinning room, I may try to spray paint the one we have and add some shades instead of the glass globes.  It would change the look significantly.  Right now, the one we have is a bronze color in a traditional styling with glass hurricane style globes.

So many things to do and so little time.  I better get some rest so I'm ready to hit the road tomorrow. 

New Floor, Going In

As I write this, the installers are here putting in the new floor.  They arrived about 9:20 and it's 11am now.  Most of the carpet is out and they have started laying out the floor.  The door molding has been trimmed and the "tar paper"  (reminds me of Tar Baby, for some reason) is down.  They start by laying out the flooring from several boxes, staggering seams.  The nailing has just begun on the first boards.   I will be updating at they proceed.

It's a little after noon and approximately 2/3 of the living room is down.   I snapped a quick pic through the door.  I'm not sure if the installers will break for lunch or work through.  I'm trying to make as much of this "free" time as possible so I've filed all my coupons, washed and dried a load of clothes, run the dishwasher and patched some little holes in DH's work jeans.  If I could find my broom, I'd work on the kitchen floor but I suspect it's on the front porch.

I'd love to bake some apple bars or banana bread but it's over 75 degrees already and with the door open, turning the oven on would just heat up the house too much.  I also discovered that having the kitchen window open was letting way too much pollen in.  All of a sudden, I found the kitchen table just a little gritty.

It's just after two now and the living room is essentially done.  I think they're working on that last row that has to be cut.  Now, they're moving on to the dining room.  It's probably about half the size of the living room and several rows are already down.




It's 4:15 and we're on the home stretch.  Both rooms are complete except for trim in the dining room and the thresholds.  They have already begun to clear away the debris and have removed the two full boxes of flooring into the garage.


The literal last minute touches are happening now (4:30).





And here is the final product.....

And here's a couple of shots after some of the furniture went back in. 

There is still a lot of work to be done.  This has turned into a spring cleaning adventure.  Everything needs to be cleaned or wiped down.  The curtains have been washed and they need to be ironed.  I still need to clean each of the windows and the blinds - if they stay.  Normally, I would wash the blinds in the tub and then hang outside to dry but with all the pollen right now, that would be a total waste of time.  I may price out some replacements to see if that is feasible.  (Replacement windows aren't happening until next year - at the earliest - so I'll need to clean these thoroughly both on the inside and the outside.  The outside also needs paint.)

Most everything on the shelves is in need of a good cleaning or dusting.  I would surmise that it has been at least five or six years since most have been touched.  I would still love some doors on the lower third (up to the chair rail) but I'm just not sure how to make them work.  Two doors on each side would make them too large to open into the room.  I think the only other solution would be to make a bi-fold on each side with four panels.  That becomes a lot of work.  I think I know a guy if I really decide I want it ;)

I'll start looking for a new dining table later this month.  It needs to seat at least 8 and preferably 10

Changes and Making Plans

DH and I decided last weekend that it was time to spend some money on our house.  We've been here 8 years (well, almost 8.5) and some things still needed attention.  Since we've been here, we've completely remodeled one bath down to the drywall and sub floor and did a minor reno on the other (new tile, vanity and toilet).  Last year we re-built/re-furbished the railing on the front porch with considerable time and effort.

One item that we've always wanted to do was the floors in the living room and dining room.  We had mostly wall-to-wall carpet in a beige color that showed every spot of dirt and every spill.  Last time I cleaned it, I used oxyclean because it was so bad.  Even that only cleaned it enough to last a few weeks.  The old spots just keep coming back.

We found a really good buy on some solid oak (pre-finished) flooring last weekend so we went ahead and bought enough to do both rooms.  We signed a contact with an installer Friday (it was a little more than I wanted to spend but they will be able to install Tuesday).  I've spent a good deal of time this weekend packing up items and moving them into the bedroom downstairs as a holding room. (It's amazing how much stuff is in every nook and cranny.)

I suspect that it will take me the rest of the week to finishing cleaning off shelves (you just can't put stuff back on dirty shelves) and  re-organize things. 

After the floor is installed, our other big project for 2012 is to find a painter who can re-paint the exterior of the house.  I've already painted the porch trim and intend to paint the porch ceiling once the pollen drops.  We have the equivalent of three stories in the back so it's impossible for us to do ourselves.  Beyond these two things, other projects will be small in scope (I really want to repaint the master bath).

We hope to do a remodel of the kitchen (new cabinets, appliances, counter tops and floors) next year if funds are available.  We'll see if that works out.

Menu Monday

Sunday - Roast Turkey, stuffing and green beans
Monday - Leftover chili over baked potatoes (super spicy chili)
Tuesday - Leftover Turkey with sides
Wednesday - TBD/vegetable fried rice with egg rolls
Thursday - Spaghetti with Italian Sausages, Salad
Friday - Pizza

I've spent about $40 on groceries this week.  I didn't need much except for some lunch items, produce and milk.  Most items came directly from the pantry/freezer. 

Free Stuff

I contacted Vigo early last week after I had an issue with one of their products.  I simply asked if their roasted red peppers were supposed to "pop" when they were opened.  I had opened a jar of these peppers and it didn't "pop" so I was hesitant to use it.  I could not contact them by phone (after hours) so I tossed the peppers for safety.

I decided to send them a quick email asking my question and explaining that I had to discard the product.  In closing the email, I also asked if they had a coupon since I wanted to try their product. 

I received a very nice email back from the customer service area apologizing and offering not only a replacement but some free samples of their other products. 

The package arrived Saturday by priority mail.  As you can see not only did I get a replacement jar of peppers but a large package of their fried rice mix, salt and pepper grinders and a small bottle of olive oil.

That's what I call customer service.  I'm impressed by their responsiveness and their generosity.  I've tried the Vigo yellow rice and really like it.  I'm excited to try the fried rice mix.

If you ever experience a problem with a product, be sure to contact the company.  They need to know how their product is being received and how they might improve it.  Sometimes we're the recipient of goodies in the process.

Unmentionables - worth a mention

If you're easily embarrassed or prefer to ignore the necessities of life, come back tomorrow.  Otherwise, look at this fabulous deal I found.

 Look away now......

I was picking up a couple of prescriptions at Walgreens Thursday and had to "shop" for about 15-20 minutes while I waited.  I started scanning each aisle looking for little red tags.   I found two items that were just too good to pass up.  These little goodies usually run at least $6 per package.

At $1.59 and $1.79 per package, it was a real bargain.  I picked up two of each and headed back today (Friday) after work to see if there were still any left.  I was able to get one more of each. 

If you find yourself in a Walgreens, CVS or Rite Aid, take a minute or two to look for these deals.  If I had had my coupons with me, they would have almost been free!  I'm going to start making a trip once a week to at least of of these stores.  Stocking up on necessities is more than just pasta. 

:)

I'm back.....

After spending the last few weeks deeply immersed in work responsibilities and fighting some kind of respiratory illness, I think I'm back.   My work deadline has passed and I'm still trying to rid myself of the cough that lingers.

As a quick update, I took full advantage of week one of the Viva Italia sale.  Week two really didn't hole much for us to stock up on that was worth the time (under the circumstances).  This weekend, I picked up a few staple items at Walmart - canned chili and breakfast bars - and then we stopped by BJs wholesale Saturday afternoon.  I got a big rump roast, a package of Jack Daniels BBQ pork, a gallon of milk and a bag of waffle fries.  DD brought me a loaf of bread for sandwiches this week and that will probably be the extent of my grocery shopping. 

I've developed a menu plan that takes advantage of my pantry and these few items. 
Sunday - Pot roast with potatoes and carrots, served with rice and gravy.
Monday - Italian Chicken (Zaycon) from the freezer
Tuesday - Left over roast
Wednesday - Pancakes or BBQ sandwiches
Thursday - Spaghetti with Italian Sausages
Friday - Pizza

I have three main projects for the week:  Getting my house in order, Gathering items to start working on taxes and cutting out the first dress for Annabel.