June Potpourri

Not to brag about my genius kids or anything, BUT Jake and Emma achieved Triple Honor Roll status last year in school. They had a special awards night back in early June. I think I remember Emma spending lots of time getting ready for it.

Emma got a lot of recognition during her 6th grade awards assembly. I was a proud mama!



Jacob was also promoted from the 8th grade to high school.

Rick and I updated the landscaping in our front yard. Here are a couple BEFORE pictures:



 

 

And AFTER:

 

 

For Mother's Day, Rick gave me some raised planter boxes from Costco, so I decided to try my hand at gardening over the summer. I got a handful of anemic tomatoes, tons of cilantro, different varieties of lettuce, and zucchinni. The stawberries and a blackberry bush will hopefully yield something next summer. I totally failed at carrots, sugar snap peas, green peppers, and green onion.

Sadly, I'm the only one who really ate the stuff from the garden. A lot of veggies and WATER went to waste I'm afraid. I'm not sure it was worth it...

One plant that's easy to grow at my house:

 

Emma said goodby to her cute friend Maryn by having one last sleepover before the big move to Utah.

 

They consoled themselves by taking hundreds of pictures of the Chloe and eating half a pan of brownies.

 

 to be continued...



Thanksgiving House

These days it seems that the Christmas season starts right after Halloween. I'm saddened by this. Isn't there a perfectly lovely holiday in between called Thanksgiving?

I've resisted the urge to launch into full fledged festivus until November 25th. I've kept out my pumpkins, acorns, and autumn leaves so that our family won't forget my favorite holiday. What other day do we celebrate food and family without the added pressure of presents or special clothes? It's great!

Here are some of the fall touches around Saunders House:

The Music Room

The fall centerpiece is new from Kirkland's Home this year. Everything else I already had.

 The Entryway

I spray painted the frame of the mirror with oil rubbed bronze. The metal pumpkin I scored for 80% off at Kirkland's. The apothecary jars are from Goodwill. The cornucopia and gourds are from Dollar Tree. The "Give Thanks" printable is from some blog I can't find now.

The Staircase

The garland is from good 'ol Hobby Lobby, 60% off Baby!

The Great Room

I love the way wreaths look hung in front of a mirror, so why not this pumpkin iron art that came from Big Lots? The grapevine lights were on clearance at Kirkland's. The ceramic bowl I won at an office party. The goodies inside the bowl came from Dollar Tree and Michael's. The cheesy scarecrow I've had forever. I blew up one my favorite family pics from fall a few years back.

The Mantel

I'm actually displaying one of my craft fails: my giant grapevine wreath. I spent about $15 in materials and 2+ hours of my time putting it together one night. I had to put it up. The turkey basket is from Goodwill, along with the candlesticks and cloche. The cornucopia and acorns I got for 80% off at Kirkland's. The pumpkin centerpiece I already had.

New Sofa Table

Pier One had the sofa table that goes with my side tables for 20% off. I had to get it so I'd have more horizontal surface for our nativities come December. I bought the fall table runner with my Kohl's cash. All the candles you've seen came from Costco. They are battery operated and they work by remote. Cool, huh?

Kitchen Window

Pupmkins and flowers are from Dollar Tree. The turkey candle holder is from Goodwill. The free vintage Thanksgiving printable is from somewhere on the world wide web. :)

My Martha Moments

I love trying out what I see on the home decor blogs. I get a kick out of online craft tutorials. The latest dinner I prepared came from a recipe on youtube. After almost 16 years of marriage, the Internet is helping me find my inner Martha Stewart.

Someone asked me recently if I have a job. I think this person was surprised/disappointed/annoyed that I don't currently work outside the home. I'm just a housewife. I suppose it's expected for gals in my season of life to establish a career. My kids are in school, my husband works, what's keeping home anyway? Am I not bored?

Believe it or not, my life is quite full. I finally have time to tackle those things I wouldn't try when a teenager, or couldn't try when I was a young mommy. Now I'm learning how to be a homemaker and I actually enjoy it!

Here are a few of the projects I've tackled lately:

Dehydrating Apples

Curling hair with a sock

Making a fall yarn wreath

Roasting veggies without oil or salt

Making over my daughter's room

This week I'll post photos from Emma's room re-do, my bargain shopping, and my fall decorating. I also want to describe some major Martha Moment FAILS to keep it real!

In closing, here is my Martha Stewart Bucket List for November:

Sew holiday themed pillows for the great room

Make a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal

Temporarily turn Em's old bedroom into a craft/sewing/gift wrapping room

Learn how to work a few more things on the camera

Beautify my blog

Make a Christmas wreath

Create a family gallery wall in the upstairs hallway

Recover my dining chairs

Finally!

After about 6 months and countless bandaids, the basement is finally operational. While it was educational and actually fun to do, I am glad that it is finished and now we can use it.

I hope you enjoy the tour.



This is the view coming down the stairs. We set up the recording equipment for the kids to use. Their friends seem to especially enjoy the drums. We would like to eventually replace the folding table with a nicer one, but not yet.

















We got some family pictures taken and made this collage. It turned out well.














Looking from the stairs towards the storage closet and "office area". We are planning on getting a formal dest at some point, but again....not yet.



This is looking into the storage closet. I guess it is a little larger than a closet. It has our chest freezer and 5 drawer lateral filing cabinet. We have our year's supply in there and it also has the ac and water heater.



Looking from the storage closet into the room you can see the "theater" area. Notice the door on the right. It is next to the stair case. Keep it in mind for later.



The first door on the right is a closet with our sump pumps. I installed a battery operated second pump in the event of a power failure. It will also kick in to help if there is more water than the primary pump can handle.

The second door on the right is a half bathroom.



Looking in the bathroom.



We are on a bit on an environmental kick and bought a dual flush toilet. I have been pleasently surprised at how well it works.





















This is looking into the closet to the left of the stairs. It is known as "Tne Fort" It has a sogt foam floor and cardboard walls. The walls are used as art canvases that can be easily replaced. Therea is a working doorbell and overhead lighting. It has been known to swallow 3-4 little girls up for hours.















Emma made a couch















There is also a small refrigerator.



We found a La Z Boy section that fit the area exactly. We also had them put a sleeper in it. I used it the other night (morning) to sleep after my night shift. They are framing a new house next door and it is difficult to sleep while they are hammering right next to our bedroom. You can also make out the projector above the couch.



I installed a 150" motorized screen in the ceiling that rolls down with a remote. It lets us have a really big screen when we want it and the ability to hide it when we don't.



Here it is in action. My projector gets very good color and great clarity. Especially with Blu Ray discs. The sound isn't bad either. We really don't need to go to the movies anymore.

So far we are really enjoying the additional space. It is probably our most used room in the house. Jacob had the young men over Friday night for a movie night. Hopefully, this will be a place that the kids and their friends want to hang out.

You should come visit and see it first hand. We can now sleep an additional 7 comfortably. Call to book now.

The Basement

I have finished all of the redo work and had my rough inspection today. They looked at my framing, plumbing and electrical work. It passed. Next up is the drywall work. We have changed a few of the furniture ideas. Of course, the changes have upped the price, so I am going to do the drywall afterall. I was contemplating hiring it out, but I think I'll save the $1,500 and do it myself.

Ouch!

Audrey is always trying to get me to blog something so here goes.

I decided to do our basement the official way including permits and inspections. However, I found out that the sole plate (board that secures the wall to the floor) had to be a specific kind of wood. Since I had already completed the framing, that meant that I had to go back and replace all of the sole plates. I was not thrilled, but I did it anyway.

1 week later, I am almost done. I have been pulling out the fasteners attaching the sole plate to the floor and tipping the framed wall out. Then I knock the sole plate from the vertical wall frame and put a new one on (of the correct wood). Not too hard, but very time consuming. The old sole plate has the nails in it that used to secure it to the vertical boards.

Well....I wasn't paying attention and walked right onto one of the boards. 2 lovely, 2 inch long, big ol' fat framing nails went right through the bottom of my shoe and deep into my foot. I tried to shake the board off of my foot, but they were in too deep. It just stuck on. I had to push it off with my hands. Audrey and the kids were sitting about 10 feet away and saw the whole thing. I wish there was video, It must have looked ridiculous. Thankfully, my tetanus is up to date. I guess that it'll be worth it in the end.



My shoe. You can see blood on the entrance holes.



My foot.

What's Rick up to?

So many of our posts talk about the kids, but what about Rick? He's been keeping VERY busy...
...finishing our basement,




saving lives,

camping with the Scouts,



teaching boys to swing an ax,

and cooking for the hungry masses. Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it!

I can't hide it. I love my guy. He can do anything.