Home Sweet Home

I think this is the longest stretch I didn't blog.  I didn't like it.  Won't do that again. 

I admit, the move back in thing had lots to do with it.  More than a few things to manage...no wifi, then big rainfall, then wifi issues, then back online today.  It helps to have a general contractor who's a master electrician.  Contact me for his info :)

So let's recap the last 10 days.

If you follow me on instagram (lovingalbany) you would have seen this shot of my mom with us after a long weekend of packing up the apartment.  I'm dead serious when I say our move out never would have happened without her.  I don't know what I was thinking when I thought Steve and I could do it ourselves.  Um, no. 

Really.  No.

Then we left town.

For this.

My 10 week old nephew.  Hello, Ben.  Nice to meet you.  Please do not take notes from my boys. 

Also for this.

My brother's pool.  He lives 8 hours away in IL.  Like Jake said, he wanted to go swimming the whole time we were away for the 4th of July.  He almost did.

We also went to the zoo with my nephews.  One pictured below.

It was more fun than Henry made it look.

Back to the trip.  After the first few days, we continued to WI for the 4th of July. 
My home.

Is there anything better than illegal fireworks on the street?

Maybe a parade.

Unless the sun is shining like crazy and there's no shade for the 5 kids you're with.  Then it's sweatville.

Thank goodness Bubba (my dad) was marching in the beginning of the parade.

Somehow, Henry got a story stuck in his head that Bubba shot a bird out of the sky during the parade.  Hard to do with blanks.  But good story, Henry.

After the parade, it's carnival time at the park.

Then back to the house to eat dinner.  Only to return and watch fireworks.

Still with me?  Good. 

So after the 4th of July celebration in WI, we headed back to IL. 

More antics.

More pool.

Then I received a picture from my contractor. 

Progress!!!  Let's head for home.

Notice the haircut?  They all got one.  Buzzed for summer.

Then we got home.

Kitchen

Main Floor

Pantry

So good to be home.  So good! 

To sum it all up: Beautiful. Boxes. Boys everywhere. 
Oh-my-god-can-someone-take-my-kids-for-a-week-so-I-can-unpack?

Then I took a deep breath and ordered pizza.  Our first meal in our new old house.

Fast forward to today.  Henry is happy to be home.  I am happy for the growing pile of empty boxes behind him.

And the detail being attended to...like the barn door handle installed today!

Ignore the wine glass fruit fly graveyards traps.

Opposite view:

But don't be fooled.  This is the other side of the main floor.  Chaos!!!!

Boxes, sheets for drapes, random fans and tools.  Oh my.

But the powder room is coming along.  And getting lots of use.

So is the 2nd floor main bathroom.

Speaking of the 2nd floor, touchups are ongoing.  Can you see it?  I love it.

I leave you with my regret.  I told my contractor I wanted our 2nd floor closet to be a door that you don't see.  Something "disappearing".  He told me he already ordered the shaker door.  I said it needs to disappear.  So he built it.  It didn't work out.  It didn't match.

So today he built what should have been.  The shaker door.

So. Much. Better.  Keep me out of the way, please???!!!

I promise to post more.  With less pictures.  Promise.

What's a Holiday Without an Update?

We spent Christmas at my brother & sister-in-law's house in Naperville, IL.  It's great because the cousins get together.  It's also great because his house was a foreclosure.  So while they had to renovate major things before they could move in, there are still little projects here and there to tackle. 

My kinda projects.

First, a shot of the cousins.  Because what post is complete without a picture of kids.

Last year was (my) George's and (their) Charlie's first Christmas.

This year, we tried to recreate the magic.

Toddlers move more.



Oh well, on to the projects...

In the fall, my SIL Craigslisted the bought-from-the-neighbors-for-a-song-when-they-moved dining room set, because it really didn't fit the style of their home. 

Beautiful set.  Just not for them.  Totally get it.

Then my brother painted out the oak molding in the dining room.  To get ready for the new dining set my SIL ordered.  Which partially arrived before Christmas...phew. 

Which put the next item up for doing as: hanging the mirror.  Sign me up.

Shame on this blogger for not taking more before or during pictures.  Blame my brother for rushing through the measurements, making me so uncomfortable when we put holes in the wall.  Especially the one from this guy.

My Canadian friend Toggler has a brother.  His name is Ook.  Hang something really heavy without a stud?  I Love You. 

Turns out we only needed one Ook, as the mirror's left hook bullseye fell on a stud. 

Our bullseyes were almost dead on, but we needed to lift the Ook side.  So I did this.

A little folded paper towel cushion for the mirror's hook to rest on.  With that, we had ourselves a level mirror on the wall.

Gorgeous, right?

Now close your eyes and imagine a buffet below that mirror.  Open your eyes in mid-January and it will be there.

But, wait.  Before that buffet comes, do you see a few other things needing attention?

First we took a sippy cup break.

Then we came back to tackle those black outlets. 

And the off white/cream switches. 

I got all inspired by Young House Love's outlet updating, so I happily took on all five outlets and three switches.  If only I had that many in my dining room.

Here you see 7 plates, 5 outlets and 3 switches.  All for the low, low price of $22.  I say this is right up there with paint and caulk as the most inexpensive biggest-bang-for-your-buck upgrades you can do yourself.

The switches were pretty straightforward.  But the outlets got a little tricky. 

Three of them had easy looped wires around the connections.

But two outlets had individual wires that wouldn't come off without a fight and connections straight into the back...which made transferring them a little tricky.

But a success, nevertheless.  I had before and after pics on the iphone within two hours.  Yes!

Before

After

That was my first swap.  I got all picture happy on it. 

Before

After

Now my brother just has to paint and reattach the vent on the molding.  No pressure, bro.

Before

After

After switching these, the first comment I heard was, "it's like they just disappear."  Exactly.

Before

That outlet to the right of the window was my worst enemy.  But when we plugged in the lamp, it worked.  Nice try, buddy - better luck with the next DIY'er.



Let's see it one more time, just for fun.

Before

After

The switch & outlet update makes the painted molding in the dining room look complete.  Quite a bang for that disappearing act buck. 

Now, open that door and look at the cream colored switches in the next room and beyond.  I think I know what I'll be doing when we visit again this summer...