tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25663595779284299152024-03-14T04:51:08.191-04:00Priss Meets PunkAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-57896117870029572742016-09-11T15:45:00.002-04:002016-09-11T15:45:15.816-04:00Ri-DECK-ulous.I figured if we were going to come back to the blog, we might as well kick things off with a groan-inducing pun. Ya welcome.<br />
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You guys...doing home renovations with two young kids is crazy. Someone should commit us. This deck project was the first major renovation we've tackled since adding Cora to our crew and it was amazing what a HUGE impact such a little nugget had on our schedule and overall approach to the project. Her bedroom being the one just off the patio was a big factor. When you've got 50 deck boards to cut but the princess is sleeping, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T WAKE THE BABY.<br />
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All that to say, this project was drawn out over the course of a few months. We started demo on the old deck over Memorial Day weekend and the last touchups of stain were completed yesterday. We basically worked 90% of Saturday mornings between then and now from about 7:30am-12:30pm. Didn't have much rain this summer but sweet molasses it was hot. So anything much after lunch was off limits due to a for real risk of heat exhaustion. Thankfully, a good majority of those Saturdays, we had the tireless guidance and help of Nick's dad. Without him, we'd have completed this project sometime 2nd quarter 2017.<br />
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Ok, enough chit chat. Let's see pictures. When we bought the house, we loved the giant size of the deck. But it clearly had not been stained or sealed in many years. It was basically one giant splinter. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi473PvqxGlgvxXV9LnE95uxbHJ-Ax1egnukzyfWPQApu8mX0FoYv3vD_5LuwKnomRYH6umISDLRL7VEmhQNauu0PGRg6t4PC_LjuRVUGL49xDzujpaz77RN19EaUy0QjLW2V8YwwEX_6IQ/s1600/IMG_8066.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi473PvqxGlgvxXV9LnE95uxbHJ-Ax1egnukzyfWPQApu8mX0FoYv3vD_5LuwKnomRYH6umISDLRL7VEmhQNauu0PGRg6t4PC_LjuRVUGL49xDzujpaz77RN19EaUy0QjLW2V8YwwEX_6IQ/s640/IMG_8066.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3NuCA1AL70nIXnLhE-k_MeAYWMBTTrJr3PaBNOUL8BBZiXOvWgyKYGXsur0SVbbiWBfq-C2XiIIOM-lW9eUBIG6rYxmOsY40N9WLFQhI-XGYgGOp24w8HQ0G2K_AcwE1aGGPqNXH1QVq/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3NuCA1AL70nIXnLhE-k_MeAYWMBTTrJr3PaBNOUL8BBZiXOvWgyKYGXsur0SVbbiWBfq-C2XiIIOM-lW9eUBIG6rYxmOsY40N9WLFQhI-XGYgGOp24w8HQ0G2K_AcwE1aGGPqNXH1QVq/s640/IMG_8068.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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And like the front yard, there were about 25 random and leggy boxwood bushes that surrounded it. Hint: post these in the "free" section of Craigslist and people will come dig them up for you. We did this back when we poured the pavers in the front and 90% of the stuff we wanted gone was removed without us ever having lifted a finger.<br />
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We knew we were going to replace the deck at some point and with our kids still young, we wanted to knock it out soon so that when they were old enough to want to run around out back for hours at a time, we had a place to sit and drink margaritas. (Ok, this is my dream...not necessarily Nick's.)<br />
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Besides being dried and cracked, every carpenter bee in Raleigh took up residence in the pickets and posts. You couldn't go outside during the spring months without being kamikazed. So our hope was that if we removed all the old deck boards, pickets and posts, we might be able to retain the structure below to save on cost.<br />
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So one afternoon, when I was off having a baby play date with Cora and Carter napped, Nick just started pulling at the pickets. With his bare hands. And they popped out like toothpicks. (I'll pause here to ask forgiveness to all of you who have had cookouts or even just a late evening hang out with us on this death trap. We had no idea how insanely rickety it really was.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ryxpDoFBeI-stntf5qINM2K9X2oCPHNvkXCAnuSPCbe1xaXwM_UjY6Am0PWvbOU_cdY08BR_gEwyL_xrEpAS4LdkMKnc9H6SFRUDZ9R7jVX8rPCCMIiULmSzGUuAxhjmbHf-IYS4lcyP/s1600/IMG_3697.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ryxpDoFBeI-stntf5qINM2K9X2oCPHNvkXCAnuSPCbe1xaXwM_UjY6Am0PWvbOU_cdY08BR_gEwyL_xrEpAS4LdkMKnc9H6SFRUDZ9R7jVX8rPCCMIiULmSzGUuAxhjmbHf-IYS4lcyP/s640/IMG_3697.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeT2hplWdh3TQRzZ_Sf1G6mPXWSzWl5zdR1zXtgN5kMFE06qaCK9I7M8CUy7UvcYUu6x7TI42Lc3p3BJ69_NSlMu8QkB6_E21avflsBVIhjNt30xsPqW45F-tu0Bzk4V_6X1cf0HCNuB2G/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeT2hplWdh3TQRzZ_Sf1G6mPXWSzWl5zdR1zXtgN5kMFE06qaCK9I7M8CUy7UvcYUu6x7TI42Lc3p3BJ69_NSlMu8QkB6_E21avflsBVIhjNt30xsPqW45F-tu0Bzk4V_6X1cf0HCNuB2G/s640/IMG_3698.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I came home to. "So I guess we're gonna redo the deck this summer?"</td></tr>
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After some consultation with a couple colleagues at work and of course, Nick's dad, we determined we would rip out the stairs, but that the center support posts and joists could stay, if we beefed them up in a few areas and leveled them with sister joists in other areas. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ndwo5OdickPQxyk1xCcdBxxMsg-NwS2BGultPPqsPdYRgJOz3f1sY18brx8LDNG_O5Qy2oqHSxoHnN2UZnatd6Lq4uSTCpV6BcKy7hrbArK-7l25jaRPlslZ-_ahVQGazFEtL67hbcfg/s1600/IMG_3763.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ndwo5OdickPQxyk1xCcdBxxMsg-NwS2BGultPPqsPdYRgJOz3f1sY18brx8LDNG_O5Qy2oqHSxoHnN2UZnatd6Lq4uSTCpV6BcKy7hrbArK-7l25jaRPlslZ-_ahVQGazFEtL67hbcfg/s640/IMG_3763.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hyuNbFPEY0e1aXI0rTwWhnJT5YCJyBBeNQfFdOA3Vdca0ENtYyJpAT7v6LJIh8r4P5yaI9H7It5CgvlDc8-0C3kxyN6CwqM7Vn4ZNXSGEU8ND5KYq4dpelo2y6KEx4pY-7KgrZ4juY8X/s1600/IMG_3764.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hyuNbFPEY0e1aXI0rTwWhnJT5YCJyBBeNQfFdOA3Vdca0ENtYyJpAT7v6LJIh8r4P5yaI9H7It5CgvlDc8-0C3kxyN6CwqM7Vn4ZNXSGEU8ND5KYq4dpelo2y6KEx4pY-7KgrZ4juY8X/s640/IMG_3764.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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Upon strong recommendation from Nick's dad (Carter calls him Papa so we'll stick with that from here on out), we got our lumber from Tarheel Wood Treating Co. out in Morrisville. They were better priced than the big box stores, and the wood was slated to take much less time to "rest" before we could ultimately stain it. (Note: treated wood has to dry out before it accepts any type of stain or sealer. With fall right around the corner, we didn't want to wait the standard 3+ months and find ourselves with a leafy decoupage mess.)<br />
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Their customer service was top notch as well. One drizzly Saturday morning in July, the wood arrived. (They were closing the entire week of July 4th and made a special delivery for us that Saturday so we could work that week.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHTu2Vn4GgHlVs15UpmulgPYg9wJI3JwvMBhRNHW2_7nHw8usJzibQ1ERydEmkGmGOyYgLJao94L49tvbhapfBrMHxU1oaXAEbWDZR7jt1v6X3n_WAV2XTNux_3g7J6IdtPyTUvsNQbSV/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHTu2Vn4GgHlVs15UpmulgPYg9wJI3JwvMBhRNHW2_7nHw8usJzibQ1ERydEmkGmGOyYgLJao94L49tvbhapfBrMHxU1oaXAEbWDZR7jt1v6X3n_WAV2XTNux_3g7J6IdtPyTUvsNQbSV/s640/IMG_3894.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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And hi-ho, hi-ho, 'twas off to work we went. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoh0QlbPqIU5biQirHcuMOgOlr8HbXG7g4dOeawTbMSv7AE5sbRyD-2QLmT3x67TE1z4BhEz2ZpFU7AY09RDf_hXMCzLyhOFrbxxvT_D9u3cI-AlRGwfT0Qpu9VNzL16kTwRO9eW6Xbnj/s1600/IMG_3898.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoh0QlbPqIU5biQirHcuMOgOlr8HbXG7g4dOeawTbMSv7AE5sbRyD-2QLmT3x67TE1z4BhEz2ZpFU7AY09RDf_hXMCzLyhOFrbxxvT_D9u3cI-AlRGwfT0Qpu9VNzL16kTwRO9eW6Xbnj/s640/IMG_3898.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_zdt42nR1GJeY25wZuEDGSg9rgYZDkaAHuzjOhfCbwtMa6wI1UfqWpxpCemvb_N1wBn2rK_1Gh5DHxvuX8N535-6MlRexvYND5BT1MjsYW4v8Kw9kpD2kXRI7wr0tetLLehBXHd4hQJ5/s1600/IMG_3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_zdt42nR1GJeY25wZuEDGSg9rgYZDkaAHuzjOhfCbwtMa6wI1UfqWpxpCemvb_N1wBn2rK_1Gh5DHxvuX8N535-6MlRexvYND5BT1MjsYW4v8Kw9kpD2kXRI7wr0tetLLehBXHd4hQJ5/s640/IMG_3906.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Troutman and Sons.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3q1TKBasNtCuL9GtSzBsuTr4k_ub7Ygx5qJfZprUqnWRIdln4q17OzCZBGuRBxUZAIxKAjrO1yORu7q7rKdjtIe_9KkGS5i70HpCLX7TaKhSLAh5205Ylqmk-QmFUIS0V69t6pUoBX7v/s1600/IMG_3909.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3q1TKBasNtCuL9GtSzBsuTr4k_ub7Ygx5qJfZprUqnWRIdln4q17OzCZBGuRBxUZAIxKAjrO1yORu7q7rKdjtIe_9KkGS5i70HpCLX7TaKhSLAh5205Ylqmk-QmFUIS0V69t6pUoBX7v/s640/IMG_3909.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28-GOmm6epC04qVmC7m1k8DTOSYR1oNocfdQ4QA_lWsaPamYlbCMd6nViQ7xexiRm8tpdKudsBAMINcAtur8I51nkDfxtLo6YuTvLx5ILma7anmgK3gjo3_baPhFCqznw_uknoNPXFdnM/s1600/IMG_3913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi28-GOmm6epC04qVmC7m1k8DTOSYR1oNocfdQ4QA_lWsaPamYlbCMd6nViQ7xexiRm8tpdKudsBAMINcAtur8I51nkDfxtLo6YuTvLx5ILma7anmgK3gjo3_baPhFCqznw_uknoNPXFdnM/s640/IMG_3913.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please note how busted the brick at the edge of the patio is here. I'll address this in a minute...</td></tr>
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With the new exterior posts set in more than 6" of concrete (oh, former owner...your knowledge of code was interesting) and the deck boards laid, we had a great dance floor. But seeing as Cora and I were the only ones interested in that, we continued on with the hand rails and steps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlXxSx1wGbANArkfmB_RwVGs3zWJNUkTNvAjyqBLrCb1HqZ8FLt-tDLJqTWk4-Ly4URGeQh6z22qg32VR8xJ8h5dorUByYLM2kNBPQ1R-swSEhQaimPFvxNcZxcpRkJEBhNABmklyhyphenhyphendo/s1600/IMG_3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlXxSx1wGbANArkfmB_RwVGs3zWJNUkTNvAjyqBLrCb1HqZ8FLt-tDLJqTWk4-Ly4URGeQh6z22qg32VR8xJ8h5dorUByYLM2kNBPQ1R-swSEhQaimPFvxNcZxcpRkJEBhNABmklyhyphenhyphendo/s640/IMG_3963.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Rather than going back with the traditional picket style railing, we opted for a more modern and visually-light option of cable. We researched various ways to achieve this (DIY, pre-fab system) and ultimately decided to buy a Rail Easy system. It was more expensive than coming up with our own version, but since this hopes to be a long term investment that we'll enjoy for many many years, we wanted the clean, streamlined look of the cable and simple fluted connections at the corners. With the posts drilled in the morning, Nick and I spent a couple nights after the kids were down installing the cable. (Warning: the following pics are from Nick's phone after he got a $5 lens to play with. He got real artsy.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiN5dx_TDVRTAkQXsn6lkfKBrW6q5N7qmR7oVppTKo7jzwnmaDKlXkyZj09oNhlCnxZy5ibuZe3qFBS3mSGMi-6iEwEDC7z-ZarDcibVot2D4xNQOXGGoc196XCRT-Vn4zhNtdUuUv_EB/s1600/IMG_3974.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiN5dx_TDVRTAkQXsn6lkfKBrW6q5N7qmR7oVppTKo7jzwnmaDKlXkyZj09oNhlCnxZy5ibuZe3qFBS3mSGMi-6iEwEDC7z-ZarDcibVot2D4xNQOXGGoc196XCRT-Vn4zhNtdUuUv_EB/s640/IMG_3974.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgtLJcWdr2WMoB9wgB3rtDbS7VWrycnnzdh8Y87-B_W4jaqybuDAwpX9eaWrbmqkVgGQj8xJKi_aE7rWqgrseWNaHxQ0W0w83bNAarGWbZ_Mks0Eq1Pb7SQ26zthCq56tqtzgUJxO4R3a/s1600/IMG_3975.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgtLJcWdr2WMoB9wgB3rtDbS7VWrycnnzdh8Y87-B_W4jaqybuDAwpX9eaWrbmqkVgGQj8xJKi_aE7rWqgrseWNaHxQ0W0w83bNAarGWbZ_Mks0Eq1Pb7SQ26zthCq56tqtzgUJxO4R3a/s640/IMG_3975.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS-7AuM_yp7I04HtuzgqBOCY7vkOAJBZjZwkElkDO8RQCLufV09f6XREbr4-sFHkkx1NWjn0npTjyyMnhUBHmuGT7jvp4kHeX8sPfH8O1z8rObaubFVDVGByUoDeAijpysDW6DiLwrjId/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAS-7AuM_yp7I04HtuzgqBOCY7vkOAJBZjZwkElkDO8RQCLufV09f6XREbr4-sFHkkx1NWjn0npTjyyMnhUBHmuGT7jvp4kHeX8sPfH8O1z8rObaubFVDVGByUoDeAijpysDW6DiLwrjId/s640/IMG_3976.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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Then we had to deal with the patio. I'd like to say we had this whole thing figured out before we swung the first hammer, but we were, in many ways, designing this as we went along. As you may have noticed in the picture, the brick that faced the patio off the living room was chipped, cracked and falling apart. Masonry is not in our wheelhouse and even if it were, it's virtually impossible to get new brick to match old. We knew we had to come up with a way to hide the crazy mess and also incorporate a nice way to access both the patio and deck area. <br />
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Again, after bouncing some ideas off of colleagues at work, we landed on a planter box. After building a slatted screen wall at the front to hide our hose, we decided this would be a consistent look for the exterior and also hide the facade of the patio once we removed all the old, cracked bricks. <br />
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We painted what was exposed with roofing tar (for moisture resistance) and then Nick did some fun math to figure out the size of the boards vs how high the box should be, while considering how big the stair boxes needed to be, how to minimize waste, and how deep to make the planter. The man is sexy, funny and a construction genius. The classic trifecta. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwETCZyutxb7Qu85YWfYKOjKEkgbAez2A_Chva9qwce_BLbAKLz3mCNGDMWrQeOLy92m07Z9x1gR8UNhBtK-uwlhCf2n1bbLN_DAsZbw16eebYVyKsJ4DPSnQsHYia1QssckU8rbzPB8N/s1600/IMG_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAwETCZyutxb7Qu85YWfYKOjKEkgbAez2A_Chva9qwce_BLbAKLz3mCNGDMWrQeOLy92m07Z9x1gR8UNhBtK-uwlhCf2n1bbLN_DAsZbw16eebYVyKsJ4DPSnQsHYia1QssckU8rbzPB8N/s640/IMG_4012.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GLFJ8AuEJgjFDhJJXztm9G31JjcucjEX-ZDsg-Nh1_3uYweRnxWna3Mq6bNR6nmKFSWYbaJ-KL5M-yZu3pjy-gQQPojMKr7prmtRbX8C6qRJOdBa6TMNUv8h7MMmqguP27w3wXruaVL_/s1600/IMG_4013.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GLFJ8AuEJgjFDhJJXztm9G31JjcucjEX-ZDsg-Nh1_3uYweRnxWna3Mq6bNR6nmKFSWYbaJ-KL5M-yZu3pjy-gQQPojMKr7prmtRbX8C6qRJOdBa6TMNUv8h7MMmqguP27w3wXruaVL_/s640/IMG_4013.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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The one element I really wanted to incorporate was a shade sail. We had a screened porch growing up, and I loved it. Everyone loves screened porches. Well the slope of our house's roof wasn't having it. And the idea of building one on our own was terrifying. And after around 12:30 (quittin' time) the sun has come up over the trees and beats down hard on the side and rear of the house until about 4:30 or 5. We wanted to have an area of shade but also create a sense of scale that gave you the feel of a "room"...much like a screened porch would do. <br />
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We went with a Kookaburra sail and fashioned a mounting system that can be taken down easily in the cooler months (or a big storm like, say, Hurricane Hermine). The one note I'll say here is that we first went with electrical conduit as a pipe (EMP). Cheaper and thinner. With the height we were maintaining, we couldn't get enough rigidity to keep the sail taught. So we ultimately went back and bought galvanized plumbing pipe (which we should have just followed our instincts to begin with) and have had no problem since.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwD1qZfAy3RbIqcZS2UGDloWi1kqHNsOVP0m83PntVYGzONkjXkCysYrQkTMu9-6BpQgAH8qazHAuR0DuRncbTcdPkCPLcTO8gFKQ2e1qb4o8LDa08wl43KXNvFHxb_bz1mxWs9ZV5PeC/s1600/IMG_4027.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwD1qZfAy3RbIqcZS2UGDloWi1kqHNsOVP0m83PntVYGzONkjXkCysYrQkTMu9-6BpQgAH8qazHAuR0DuRncbTcdPkCPLcTO8gFKQ2e1qb4o8LDa08wl43KXNvFHxb_bz1mxWs9ZV5PeC/s640/IMG_4027.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gZqe6ripmdWKPTkM0k-UaqyrCctTC_b6HdImvWEwkqWkldW7eLb-YUpE7BG6u_8h59w-ObR2GcErShTdLg6Ljod3dD9J1e4ode2k57ls_usrrCM_gc0C-rnFl8NppNaFzvlz4rJsIQwk/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gZqe6ripmdWKPTkM0k-UaqyrCctTC_b6HdImvWEwkqWkldW7eLb-YUpE7BG6u_8h59w-ObR2GcErShTdLg6Ljod3dD9J1e4ode2k57ls_usrrCM_gc0C-rnFl8NppNaFzvlz4rJsIQwk/s640/IMG_4024.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was before we switched the pipes. Notice the way they bend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Dbw1_bmi_sHCwGq4c0oMFAZgcNnAUn2PTuq8fhU-rPPTsheoMjfHC9jU_B1jhz-DM0sJ0XgDaCT0MozRQ43PSU68T7NFnB6kqd2_vOgDIrYLCPiYHYMDI5FyEu6lkG__bdWapyJkNYSf/s1600/IMG_4025.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Dbw1_bmi_sHCwGq4c0oMFAZgcNnAUn2PTuq8fhU-rPPTsheoMjfHC9jU_B1jhz-DM0sJ0XgDaCT0MozRQ43PSU68T7NFnB6kqd2_vOgDIrYLCPiYHYMDI5FyEu6lkG__bdWapyJkNYSf/s640/IMG_4025.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
All of this was was done just in time for Carter's 3rd birthday party. It was nice to show off the work but it bothered me that it was still not stained. Driving down the road, you catch a glimpse of the deck and it glowed. Like when you've been tanning all summer and after sliding down an epic water park twister, you get a giant wedgie and your bare white bum blinds the kids behind you when you stand up*.<br />
<br />
*May have happened in 7th grade. To whom, I won't say.<br />
<br />
So over Labor Day weekend, the wood had cured long enough that we were able to tackle the final step. All of the wood inside our house (the doors and most of the furniture we've collected) is a mid tone brown. I like to call it acorn. And after stripping our front door of the neon green paint and staining it a similar tone, there was a precedence for the color we used here. After a pow-wow with the nice man at Lowes, we went with Olympic Elite, oil based stain and sealer (semi-transparent) in Canyon Sunset. <br />
<br />
And the angels sang.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrrgN8AQ25do0wXqEohPLKwoS8e2e47E4Bxc1C_jGwD9m30JibbYAtbRuiDUOKRIQuqRLcBzLhB9t7TWipFzkKsL-5RLpLvZNK63BizxNyUbvokPedO9vSmnirbUM5YIESd2pHuerCWu9/s1600/IMG_4103.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrrgN8AQ25do0wXqEohPLKwoS8e2e47E4Bxc1C_jGwD9m30JibbYAtbRuiDUOKRIQuqRLcBzLhB9t7TWipFzkKsL-5RLpLvZNK63BizxNyUbvokPedO9vSmnirbUM5YIESd2pHuerCWu9/s640/IMG_4103.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeRUF7I1u8joAvWZPqDi9l1-Snlth6H7iFzoLIGhwCHJI46oga2PALWy6jUncJczoozFnwRREfyK3QIWOORmk_C8hMPpgJAgWh-Db32q111N978_jmm3lxtzYsLfDlPdoM6ZXxcJOe8uJ/s1600/IMG_4104.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeRUF7I1u8joAvWZPqDi9l1-Snlth6H7iFzoLIGhwCHJI46oga2PALWy6jUncJczoozFnwRREfyK3QIWOORmk_C8hMPpgJAgWh-Db32q111N978_jmm3lxtzYsLfDlPdoM6ZXxcJOe8uJ/s640/IMG_4104.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
But before I hit you with the real final pictures, let's just remember one more time what the before looked like:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyWO_0Z8T47zESszwnq5kW1TKVIhJoXSS3YbjFeyp6kzHtcHzbm5sgvN02_kYA7qpS2MIaMapnRVv8MrYOVtPcYDarg0ASZ-sWlOY1yHBZJXXD61wJxr8jhyphenhyphenLrCuLzw_-USABfm2EGwVg/s1600/IMG_8066.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyWO_0Z8T47zESszwnq5kW1TKVIhJoXSS3YbjFeyp6kzHtcHzbm5sgvN02_kYA7qpS2MIaMapnRVv8MrYOVtPcYDarg0ASZ-sWlOY1yHBZJXXD61wJxr8jhyphenhyphenLrCuLzw_-USABfm2EGwVg/s640/IMG_8066.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And today:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sqEcV7f9xeaabOZkJIE9DBm172mdyLXzHRDLpBUqYhlWCIKQDbsWPDiIWCRmLJ6JsLnUUjJGW7Qa72TwK5XGFhw32tR5A3EbG0S2EKRdcan9iofVLzf_N8ilwSJELNFcSDt_-nPSaPt0/s1600/IMG_8112.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sqEcV7f9xeaabOZkJIE9DBm172mdyLXzHRDLpBUqYhlWCIKQDbsWPDiIWCRmLJ6JsLnUUjJGW7Qa72TwK5XGFhw32tR5A3EbG0S2EKRdcan9iofVLzf_N8ilwSJELNFcSDt_-nPSaPt0/s640/IMG_8112.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
Before:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWj3hUp4b1pMK0zlsZjKIxFy5N6XJTqU_B62r9kUkA0iNQhm35tBP1aJi5IYttIagh4M_CVXhfxgtSGnXzER6F7bhzPQg2_X4oSyJzwhymjS5Gn0ud6J4rmMjMNEW0baP7i1jtk7ypPtM/s1600/IMG_8067.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWj3hUp4b1pMK0zlsZjKIxFy5N6XJTqU_B62r9kUkA0iNQhm35tBP1aJi5IYttIagh4M_CVXhfxgtSGnXzER6F7bhzPQg2_X4oSyJzwhymjS5Gn0ud6J4rmMjMNEW0baP7i1jtk7ypPtM/s640/IMG_8067.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
After:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etVPt2YWIJ0XN2HS_AVgRZnkGmPUudfQ_Hg3SoLTayLlpBlElM7aMoHoFQYYJsaUihdQPuLiawa7RUAIIUcxReUUK_RLV33Pg5w60yayfTzWj5Ll8bZjIvLIaCU96m-60cehQEOTugk4/s1600/IMG_8096.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etVPt2YWIJ0XN2HS_AVgRZnkGmPUudfQ_Hg3SoLTayLlpBlElM7aMoHoFQYYJsaUihdQPuLiawa7RUAIIUcxReUUK_RLV33Pg5w60yayfTzWj5Ll8bZjIvLIaCU96m-60cehQEOTugk4/s640/IMG_8096.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
And then an onslaught of other angles:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE4zh8bjHDIu-xTWVaQN9uRyNbF_gG7tkYqDdjWY-KhDvpjAhyRXscHeoHnjsIacbuNy4kMOs-1GoCQepKD3RSbsMbAKFu5ZQaSRfl_2PfiGPJ7NJdwUvRLoAZ9MoxteGe8MhUOGJLdSw/s1600/IMG_8101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE4zh8bjHDIu-xTWVaQN9uRyNbF_gG7tkYqDdjWY-KhDvpjAhyRXscHeoHnjsIacbuNy4kMOs-1GoCQepKD3RSbsMbAKFu5ZQaSRfl_2PfiGPJ7NJdwUvRLoAZ9MoxteGe8MhUOGJLdSw/s640/IMG_8101.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Power washing does wonders for a patio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO4ActBUltlNQd0isHZLcB-bwdyMKx3-BHt5MTxB-LjXVIfQUSogo-AuVf_GWkYHBhH2yBsQKzjS-lHppBA1RwJrTNvwbwEmS8h6w4Rdf4SlkMoTESxOf8-jeeHF47Gb0um3RcoAwY2mI/s1600/IMG_8103.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO4ActBUltlNQd0isHZLcB-bwdyMKx3-BHt5MTxB-LjXVIfQUSogo-AuVf_GWkYHBhH2yBsQKzjS-lHppBA1RwJrTNvwbwEmS8h6w4Rdf4SlkMoTESxOf8-jeeHF47Gb0um3RcoAwY2mI/s640/IMG_8103.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYYrUj5MaM3NPvHc5FNZCkwMAgRbGhOayfX05tu_yX9cntSYk1yt2WEAnkLkN_8UX0y_0rJqplMo-z5Djv6INwA-aVoPCr8WoSzWPpVelU2cek1WFgp_IvIFyDaFrwwrjcMQvTeFyjMAa/s1600/IMG_8102.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYYrUj5MaM3NPvHc5FNZCkwMAgRbGhOayfX05tu_yX9cntSYk1yt2WEAnkLkN_8UX0y_0rJqplMo-z5Djv6INwA-aVoPCr8WoSzWPpVelU2cek1WFgp_IvIFyDaFrwwrjcMQvTeFyjMAa/s640/IMG_8102.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkEW3Ogya7uaiYmBTkro1FbAdepOQeyA1L-23l50xiGSAJy_UyLg4iEkuUdQfWJ7jVgdoNTQUAWib-MrY_4PdfI2n7EaWNqSPXY5GedvteNY4cJR62YqfD0RWaVrn9zoBWDBAHAx5vqhW/s1600/IMG_8111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkEW3Ogya7uaiYmBTkro1FbAdepOQeyA1L-23l50xiGSAJy_UyLg4iEkuUdQfWJ7jVgdoNTQUAWib-MrY_4PdfI2n7EaWNqSPXY5GedvteNY4cJR62YqfD0RWaVrn9zoBWDBAHAx5vqhW/s640/IMG_8111.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chairs by Ikea. Future margaritas by Jose Cuervo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwLRFklDrKHLi_0FS0ZapID1B9qEwpXECEAtoaBsxEzSeV80wc15VfpDjo2TAyd259L6nvItvJQtVENPq3sH9W8L436GOY9pBe3BXXoXf4yDvn1wEWcOAWxWLMXHxAaOG9U9A8ogeJqFy/s1600/IMG_8105.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwLRFklDrKHLi_0FS0ZapID1B9qEwpXECEAtoaBsxEzSeV80wc15VfpDjo2TAyd259L6nvItvJQtVENPq3sH9W8L436GOY9pBe3BXXoXf4yDvn1wEWcOAWxWLMXHxAaOG9U9A8ogeJqFy/s640/IMG_8105.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
We haven't decided what we want to do to "finish" the underside of the deck. May do some type of slats. May do a version of lattice. May come back with some type of planting. But if you turn your head down to the left you'll see what our next project (as in, next Spring) will be. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpD8qeIjLYfTmmarIlpnwi0zwew1ekfmZFxxkrtq_bBrNWf6QYjrhcHgLZjsTMgk3r9czf-bJCrtcju1jd8A43ZjrsAQNJ0NcbLeRk5klnuzt-C6798fnQiFQy71BGTW45xFAnnTQX8rA/s1600/IMG_8109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpD8qeIjLYfTmmarIlpnwi0zwew1ekfmZFxxkrtq_bBrNWf6QYjrhcHgLZjsTMgk3r9czf-bJCrtcju1jd8A43ZjrsAQNJ0NcbLeRk5klnuzt-C6798fnQiFQy71BGTW45xFAnnTQX8rA/s640/IMG_8109.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's been beat with the ugly stick.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />We'd like to build a patio with some built in features (fire pit, grill, benches) back here so we may wait to see how that comes together before tying it to the deck.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For now, we're proud of the end result and look forward to sleeping again. LOL, jk. The baby doesn't sleep.</div>
<div>
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<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQM4jtuc3ZZ0y-UPVUu2fvY6NIACdU0csy6ycClDKF8LNcCjJ9TEc9HvPK12-oHMyGAp373ldvA_9mxwd0BMvliLxpLMWHoPzqdVON6RCfD8tgTjO9oQqzaITf-7VRSQtLSqIR-q6B-FY/s1600/IMG_8096.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQM4jtuc3ZZ0y-UPVUu2fvY6NIACdU0csy6ycClDKF8LNcCjJ9TEc9HvPK12-oHMyGAp373ldvA_9mxwd0BMvliLxpLMWHoPzqdVON6RCfD8tgTjO9oQqzaITf-7VRSQtLSqIR-q6B-FY/s640/IMG_8096.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-26868987401831990602015-09-15T09:42:00.000-04:002015-09-15T09:42:00.704-04:00If you can't stand the heat, get out of our newly renovated kitchen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well this is it. The final kitchen post. It's gonna be picture heavy, but we did promise to share what we learned as well. So here goes.<br />
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Remember what we moved in to? A tiny wall oven, drawers and doors that wouldn't open unless the dishwasher was open, a washing machine in the kitchen with the dryer in another room (which we covered <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-guess-you-could-say-things-are.html" target="_blank">here</a>), and some very shiny wood paneling. You'll see the pictures below.<br />
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Yeah, everything worked. But it could use some major updating.<br />
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Renovations are hard work. Get help - friends, family, anyone you can get. We had all of the above, and couldn't not have done it without them. Call in professionals when you need to. They are professionals for a reason. Usually. Sometimes they are tile installers and <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2015/07/its-backsplashin-time.html" target="_blank">you're better off doing it yourself.</a><br />
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Go ahead and accept the fact that your floors aren't level. Your walls aren't square either, by the way. Make a schedule and stick to it. But you'll discover things along the way and that schedule will go out the window. Also try not to break any windows unless you really mean to. You're gonna mess up, and that's ok.<br />
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Now what you all came for, the picture show! (Disclaimer: there is so much natural daylight that comes in that it makes the photos crazy wonky. So we took the pictures at night. With our iPhones. (Are you officially prepared to be underwhelmed?) That being said, you're better off coming for a visit. Which we would welcome!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKOB86K8egcksoh3tJw93gyr7n7iaAwRt9obfcVjOYCOQ5Xi9xR13R2rKm0yPdcrdEOv2iJa-6R6rDNbjEePz4yF0cymnFhY7jeaOFHubAt0Q2F-h1ITPCFnZU1lbIA47HtSP2ccZ4yDt/s1600/kitchen+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKOB86K8egcksoh3tJw93gyr7n7iaAwRt9obfcVjOYCOQ5Xi9xR13R2rKm0yPdcrdEOv2iJa-6R6rDNbjEePz4yF0cymnFhY7jeaOFHubAt0Q2F-h1ITPCFnZU1lbIA47HtSP2ccZ4yDt/s400/kitchen+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD46WpKaExrmhvDqvOzMAtKS0PpvvKjHDDDTh3EFb7eA0yLu4UNiRgkYQJk9R0VJdqVHC3wN32qiB-_Vktm3VGRI0S5UiHBCJbnsunIlNLEkEP_lMx9JM2oDHClw6b1shwYmN18tF8bxo/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD46WpKaExrmhvDqvOzMAtKS0PpvvKjHDDDTh3EFb7eA0yLu4UNiRgkYQJk9R0VJdqVHC3wN32qiB-_Vktm3VGRI0S5UiHBCJbnsunIlNLEkEP_lMx9JM2oDHClw6b1shwYmN18tF8bxo/s400/IMG_2992.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We did it, TLC. We went chasing waterfalls - because rivers and lakes are gross.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-R-aAFrWIwuOabKKiCP57vdvB1VVlqma6drJFynKjNmyhRqyW3Gk3fQL1y-J3_OhNfGbm7XiOzrhlS6eXajTlBJ5gCA2fehC-FLu2towcWfhwZKMqS2O7YTVGByR669mLiS-qqBZczEA/s1600/kitchen+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-R-aAFrWIwuOabKKiCP57vdvB1VVlqma6drJFynKjNmyhRqyW3Gk3fQL1y-J3_OhNfGbm7XiOzrhlS6eXajTlBJ5gCA2fehC-FLu2towcWfhwZKMqS2O7YTVGByR669mLiS-qqBZczEA/s400/kitchen+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc79fdOIB7oixri2V4_wqn6A7oWQExd3CzG1jNzh9kQI_dIYmp6khn-l2No66Caf-Vwq-RTE3HXryjD7TtJt0GxHw8COmye5zkVPYqidoCsq2mMgRPMZdZCATR8Rj9k-fqElIrmUPmUFy/s1600/IMG_2993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOc79fdOIB7oixri2V4_wqn6A7oWQExd3CzG1jNzh9kQI_dIYmp6khn-l2No66Caf-Vwq-RTE3HXryjD7TtJt0GxHw8COmye5zkVPYqidoCsq2mMgRPMZdZCATR8Rj9k-fqElIrmUPmUFy/s400/IMG_2993.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR85P2nON54yYxSQdYK3HGG34rLu4-5jAGfAi3kglpmJ0J5BkfcfawktsKFJY_2VRt5d3HPI17DrKpFHKRjzEduAqm6ESBYTGZr5nCOjTSLtWRDqUIyDtZXgSuagfnS9LlA5ycDK78-eDW/s1600/dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR85P2nON54yYxSQdYK3HGG34rLu4-5jAGfAi3kglpmJ0J5BkfcfawktsKFJY_2VRt5d3HPI17DrKpFHKRjzEduAqm6ESBYTGZr5nCOjTSLtWRDqUIyDtZXgSuagfnS9LlA5ycDK78-eDW/s400/dining+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiVeVQBon0wvniN0iHKZwunRs9ghOnfKRLe2I5xD7L2RQiCooWsq03GKyUI7zWSyZdtMSXbJ8BVZ4ns49yLVJXKmE7rxOBdKi3Cbc_CVLb7mBds3boAxBHjujDFcxFXFHZme38y-RYQEa/s1600/2015-08-29+08.47.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiVeVQBon0wvniN0iHKZwunRs9ghOnfKRLe2I5xD7L2RQiCooWsq03GKyUI7zWSyZdtMSXbJ8BVZ4ns49yLVJXKmE7rxOBdKi3Cbc_CVLb7mBds3boAxBHjujDFcxFXFHZme38y-RYQEa/s400/2015-08-29+08.47.30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AFTER.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And now for some details...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sOVT_DBjMLS47nWBCruwOfonRZOEePfCrY3tien8kAq7MLtUmDWXqHTDCvFoSeNrZvecyEboxsJEaRyDEJAn_k694vnO40H1pvhzh20yVXuXf6RoZemvvQ-k-LG6zMoMjcW2w3oo31tT/s1600/2015-08-28+17.13.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sOVT_DBjMLS47nWBCruwOfonRZOEePfCrY3tien8kAq7MLtUmDWXqHTDCvFoSeNrZvecyEboxsJEaRyDEJAn_k694vnO40H1pvhzh20yVXuXf6RoZemvvQ-k-LG6zMoMjcW2w3oo31tT/s400/2015-08-28+17.13.47.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior side with the big drawer fronts. Stay tuned for more details!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh3G6pjABjEO8NrSHYyGlY4MW610eG3K2kZFlY1F9tjo_3NbE0fMZNgP_owFqbYyJyYtXznbMxzQK8YvdFqgEXf93MzA62Eaeecw2kObZZtWHU4FjxrbH1m0BRIdId_7SDoUqEpfs7l89/s1600/2015-08-28+17.14.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh3G6pjABjEO8NrSHYyGlY4MW610eG3K2kZFlY1F9tjo_3NbE0fMZNgP_owFqbYyJyYtXznbMxzQK8YvdFqgEXf93MzA62Eaeecw2kObZZtWHU4FjxrbH1m0BRIdId_7SDoUqEpfs7l89/s400/2015-08-28+17.14.34.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh yeah that's a drawer WITHIN a drawer. Jealous?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNqEruIFQJ8CU8ZFAzRJJr4gEMNqOfCXZVT6oYseKGCBiyEqwJOSJ0gaAtvCZ9GZvzmnlG9LtROF2jrXmmBtch2Ni4srz1UegBqc0WH1ZNOcd8dfWCe3gmpobsoWvyh5GjZR0TUwYW1CY/s1600/2015-08-28+17.13.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNqEruIFQJ8CU8ZFAzRJJr4gEMNqOfCXZVT6oYseKGCBiyEqwJOSJ0gaAtvCZ9GZvzmnlG9LtROF2jrXmmBtch2Ni4srz1UegBqc0WH1ZNOcd8dfWCe3gmpobsoWvyh5GjZR0TUwYW1CY/s400/2015-08-28+17.13.53.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Range and hood... that we had to custom cut because of our sloped ceiling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A8TgPGXkFq1SFQ5JkmFD83-AMNgIZwly9HDb3548cJSMSeYF5KPGLrsyMkapgju48SL3o57UcCu4g9lDwNrVAs4k1RQIOcyRnFyKf-e8vmdY-lyC4CLbidDyxrsjhkKHTbiHBtUZhtrw/s1600/2015-08-28+17.14.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A8TgPGXkFq1SFQ5JkmFD83-AMNgIZwly9HDb3548cJSMSeYF5KPGLrsyMkapgju48SL3o57UcCu4g9lDwNrVAs4k1RQIOcyRnFyKf-e8vmdY-lyC4CLbidDyxrsjhkKHTbiHBtUZhtrw/s400/2015-08-28+17.14.56.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh what's up integrated panel dishwasher! Have you been hiding there this whole time?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVzkZY6jHvn9-Y2uY4N7O4S4L8_fxPUtY5bwAEoBlzGKtrlN43vsEjqlyGk05vw9Cwot7e0M4lBC8290u8PbPK11cbt2mtZv2gPCXU-fZ_-VTXZY2nkCXAqeIoA4yHWcR0aRRG7deti7B/s1600/2015-08-28+17.15.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVzkZY6jHvn9-Y2uY4N7O4S4L8_fxPUtY5bwAEoBlzGKtrlN43vsEjqlyGk05vw9Cwot7e0M4lBC8290u8PbPK11cbt2mtZv2gPCXU-fZ_-VTXZY2nkCXAqeIoA4yHWcR0aRRG7deti7B/s400/2015-08-28+17.15.15.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Under sink storage - which also required a custom cut because of the sink plumbing.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqTL9HfZO_esPodTWJ8vhzaLdQUC_HpVWFutiZG6irF-pAiP3km8uTWGvjCfPGbT5mLtUrLFj3J7V1aNFhs4xW0U-addxF0kaVDh0vy_EStBOZSCX4zOuXPMhfE3NicfFuAt2qqt-AaiK/s1600/2015-08-28+17.15.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqTL9HfZO_esPodTWJ8vhzaLdQUC_HpVWFutiZG6irF-pAiP3km8uTWGvjCfPGbT5mLtUrLFj3J7V1aNFhs4xW0U-addxF0kaVDh0vy_EStBOZSCX4zOuXPMhfE3NicfFuAt2qqt-AaiK/s400/2015-08-28+17.15.40.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More hidden drawer storage above the trash and recycling.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCR1qkbBuNh2InJ7RbGRJpyBa1r_XeLOH7xXhywxorn_lthy9fFfB3eZjkncvMjf9pHhCEbvTBGmhFOplnFGOw36NP4BmZrgi81bjLMOIkSF0WlbVnd2qRZ87n7A2oKBf94AbYaof_HmB/s1600/2015-08-28+17.12.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCR1qkbBuNh2InJ7RbGRJpyBa1r_XeLOH7xXhywxorn_lthy9fFfB3eZjkncvMjf9pHhCEbvTBGmhFOplnFGOw36NP4BmZrgi81bjLMOIkSF0WlbVnd2qRZ87n7A2oKBf94AbYaof_HmB/s400/2015-08-28+17.12.54.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember when the washing machine was in this corner? Me neither.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcDD4gxlLgAO8ybbEyXx5-JYOko6q73niJgz0S018AuhTPJ5lb_Fn50X1pm_-uttOST4TfeVkOdVA08icT4SbhpMwhyphenhyphenuCXrKInn7mtbFLF9_3VsoVpkRkTNLwQXtz8q-wk0oD5xPHIjx5/s1600/2015-08-29+08.48.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcDD4gxlLgAO8ybbEyXx5-JYOko6q73niJgz0S018AuhTPJ5lb_Fn50X1pm_-uttOST4TfeVkOdVA08icT4SbhpMwhyphenhyphenuCXrKInn7mtbFLF9_3VsoVpkRkTNLwQXtz8q-wk0oD5xPHIjx5/s400/2015-08-29+08.48.31.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah's got a bit of obsession with Raleigh-themed art.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp42f8wg-FILHaRfdXEo855edXuV0ZpoVKT6QqFUmQBa3-SFZXm812fpgJuLjuO_cBvGy8oV5QSuakNe7jL8XWpHDtKgVcenEqLaxsD9jqi3hYlpqwn_54OlKdz16lZ_vZlrJt2yQhGMKO/s1600/2015-08-29+08.48.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp42f8wg-FILHaRfdXEo855edXuV0ZpoVKT6QqFUmQBa3-SFZXm812fpgJuLjuO_cBvGy8oV5QSuakNe7jL8XWpHDtKgVcenEqLaxsD9jqi3hYlpqwn_54OlKdz16lZ_vZlrJt2yQhGMKO/s400/2015-08-29+08.48.41.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where priss meets punk - old show flyers done in a style that matches the kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwETta8hY2HRKqjKCWn07Z04NYjcATwjS8K7FRjW98P4VwQKEKjJUiWsdR6zFzZ6vNTqin_88X1u9USk_yZkEbAxHGllfP8IiQsRLJbN49GRFSdCiou8ug0vyWwtn-FEqOKx9mqPQtdxd/s1600/2015-08-29+08.48.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwETta8hY2HRKqjKCWn07Z04NYjcATwjS8K7FRjW98P4VwQKEKjJUiWsdR6zFzZ6vNTqin_88X1u9USk_yZkEbAxHGllfP8IiQsRLJbN49GRFSdCiou8ug0vyWwtn-FEqOKx9mqPQtdxd/s400/2015-08-29+08.48.57.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the den, complete with patterned stairs.</td></tr>
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<br />
So there's our renovated kitchen. We still have 2 bathrooms to do, and a lot of exterior landscaping/patio/deck stuff planned once we get settled with Mini Sarah, but this is probably the biggest thing we'll have tackled in our DIY careers. And we're done. I don't hate it.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-19909717002150200212015-07-27T14:50:00.000-04:002015-07-27T19:27:24.191-04:00It's Backsplashin' TimeCaptain Ahab's white whale. Jay Gatsby's green light. Monty Python's Holy Grail. Sarah's penny hex tile backsplash.<br />
<br />
The thorn in our side keeping us from wrapping up this kitchen renovation. Several weeks ago, we had a Saturday planned to knock this thing out. There was quite a list of seemingly small tasks we wanted to tackle. Well, D had to be done before C, C had to be done before B, and B had turned into a royal pain in the A. By the time we got to the backsplash, I had to head out for band practice. Sarah and my dad went to work, and knocked out a small corner in the few hours I was gone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88uquGkzXda_-efN7mKkLyRRvTLR0niek53QoCqOQHnBC4iBni1XAXz3ITSg6AeDm0tsPR7lHs5kwY8VFYTcUXyj9pcVmO5bAWLU_HxppZPx7Vvj6NVjcjOmCa23tdu8uxCalO0oFhrtw/s1600/IMG_2877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88uquGkzXda_-efN7mKkLyRRvTLR0niek53QoCqOQHnBC4iBni1XAXz3ITSg6AeDm0tsPR7lHs5kwY8VFYTcUXyj9pcVmO5bAWLU_HxppZPx7Vvj6NVjcjOmCa23tdu8uxCalO0oFhrtw/s400/IMG_2877.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Measured, cut, ready to install.</td></tr>
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To say they were frustrated would be a bit of an understatement. Using the wet tile saw dampened the adhesive holding the tiles to the sheet, and they'd fall apart. Hand snippers took forever and made jagged cuts. But there was no turning back now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE_uvSWnsFF5HmFPJOQlniqA8Tnv-SYl0hGWRogN2rVkenhTJkbfW_Zq6bNGiaCqoVL-WNQpx5RMCz7AEoe8qkS7y9-3ITfg_RDGfPFUvF530Z9_UA4pL0CG8Ylf09p2BEeQCxzbEm2Ud/s1600/IMG_2878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXE_uvSWnsFF5HmFPJOQlniqA8Tnv-SYl0hGWRogN2rVkenhTJkbfW_Zq6bNGiaCqoVL-WNQpx5RMCz7AEoe8qkS7y9-3ITfg_RDGfPFUvF530Z9_UA4pL0CG8Ylf09p2BEeQCxzbEm2Ud/s400/IMG_2878.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh that's gonna look GOOD.</td></tr>
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<br />
The next day, Dad calls. "Consider your backsplash done." What??? If you've read the blog before, you know dad does a bit of handy work. He called the tile guy he'd worked with before, and offered to pay for him to come finish it up. Uhh, YES PLEASE THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Even with all the help dad has given us throughout this process, this was possibly the biggest help.<br />
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Monday morning, dad's tile guy arrives. An hour late. Ok, I get it. You're doing someone a favor, contractors are almost notoriously late, etc. He then spends 15 minutes complaining about the tile we've chosen - how hard it is to cut and install - and ups the quote he gave dad by several hundo. Sarah didn't get a good vibe from this dude AT ALL. I mean, he's a professional tile installer, and the first thing he does on a job is start complaining? I tried this at my job and it didn't go over so well. Anyway, besides just plain not liking the guy, Sarah definitely didn't have the go-ahead to pay a lot more money than dad had offered. She asked him to leave.<br />
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This was a whole new level of frustration. Sarah emailed her tile rep, told her the dealio, and asked for a few installer recommendations. She took some pictures, contacted the installers, and waited for quotes. After some back and forth, we settled on a guy to come knock it out.<br />
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Installer #2, let's call him Chaz, comes the next week. We were so excited to come home from work and have our backsplash done. Halfway thru the morning, Sarah gets a call from Chaz. He says he should be halfway through, and he's gone about 2 feet. This tile has him beat. I mean, Chaz really felt defeated and was very apologetic. He didn't even charge us for his time. The wet saw wasn't working for him, and neither was using a dry saw. He thought this might be a bad batch from the installer or something like that. Yet another huge bummer.<br />
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Sarah contacts her rep again, who contacts the manufacturer, who gives recommendations on how to cut the tile. Put tape across the sheet where you are going to cut, and THEN use the dry saw. Sarah reaches out to Chaz again, and he's anxious to give it another shot, but after some phone tag we make the decision that we're just gonna have to do this ourselves. When? Well that's another story.<br />
<br />
I was headed out for a weekend with the band, and Sarah had a weekend alone with the little project manager. He may be cute but he is AWFUL with a tile saw. Long story short, we had van problems and ended up coming home late Friday night. Dad came over Saturday, and they were gonna knock out that backsplash!<br />
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The manufacturer's recommendation of taping the sheets before the cut worked like a charm. Sure, it still took a while. But it was really happening.<br />
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Once C was down for his nap, I was able to help out. And that's when we realized we didn't have enough tile. I guess cutting the sheets messed up our math, because we did the square footage calculations like 5 times. Luckily, the shop is just down the street AND had some in stock. Dad had to leave later in the afternoon, but Sarah - like the determined champion - kept fighting. There were some spots where her pregnant belly wouldn't let her reach and I chipped in, but this was all her. This was her pièce de résistance. And she crushed it.<br />
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Then we grouted. And this massive kitchen renovation has light at the end of the tunnel.<br />
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Next up: the final overview. What we knew going in, what we learned, how dumb we are, what we can do better, how much you'll have to pay us to do this at your house, and some more hilarious gifs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-49240401359915079532015-07-10T21:08:00.000-04:002015-07-10T21:08:14.519-04:00Disclaimer: This is not the final kitchen post. SORRY.<br />
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<br />
Home renovations are not for the faint at heart. We knew this going in but it's sort of like
someone telling you what it's like to be a parent; you have to experience that
shiz before you can proudly call yourself a member of the club. When you choose
to DIY said renovation, there is a whole new level of cray happening because
you are the only one to blame for mistakes and delays. But it's way cheaper.
And Nick and I are frugal. Like, we love a pair of rhinestone jeans as much as
the next guy but why pay $100 for some at the store when you can bedazzle a
pair you already own?*<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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*This example comes from a real life conversation he and
I had.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Saying all that, I think we did pretty good on The Great
Kitchen Makeover with regards to both time and budget. Coming in at 6 weeks for
a total transformation seems encouraging when you consider we both work full
time, have a 22 month old who loves to "help" and one of us is
knocked up with a baby girl. We most
certainly had some hiccups along the way but we count ourself lucky that it was
nothing major. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So let's pick up where we last left you. Our beautiful
new hardwoods were in and the slate was blank.
Our mighty troops rallied that Saturday and we began to put shape to the
room. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever the project manager.</td></tr>
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All of our base cabinets (if you remember, had been
assembled over the prior weeks in preparation for this day) were set in
place. The new IKEA line (SEKTION) has
some pretty noticeable improvements from its predecessor, AKURUM, which we
installed in our den. Most noteworthy
being ease of installation. By securing
a rail to the wall (that we checked to be level) the cabinets hooked on to the
slots and were supported by adjustable legs in the front. Similarly, the upper cabinets hooked on and
were secured to the rail. This was nice
because we needed to do some adjusting of the uppers to ensure our future
counter would align with the uppers, making for a straight termination point
for the backsplash. All I can say is:
MATH. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I had grand aspirations of setting up my phone to capture
the process via time lapse but it honestly went so quickly that I missed my
chance. It was really quite simple. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best reno picture ever? You decide.</td></tr>
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Feeling accomplished, the other half of our crew painted
the walls with Sherwin Williams Quietude.
Our muddling master, Melissa, turned out also to be a professional
edger. Her, Coach, Crissy and I knocked
out the walls in a no time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at her go!</td></tr>
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Our momentum was deceiving.</div>
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The counters were due to be templated that Monday morning
and so everything needed to be level, square and secure. We spent our precious few hours of Carter's
nap Sunday to make sure that was the case and waited for our guys to
arrive. It would take a week to
fabricate the counters so we were in a bit of a holding pattern with no real
progress to be made.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GET LEVEL, YOU JERK!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Cabinet shells in, cover panels on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcGgDmCUMSl7AXiAYcZLddC0ojX7KPFLuvWJm_rQ27iOZFFfCvTS0uYmsQAwfTBy6kTT4lZg0COyQBRYcDqNqzmScWrhtHZs5Lu0vsvvdM4R9R1YoqYfG7vYUkLZKgJhfNIWUnBD1WtA9/s1600/blogger-image--1219008312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcGgDmCUMSl7AXiAYcZLddC0ojX7KPFLuvWJm_rQ27iOZFFfCvTS0uYmsQAwfTBy6kTT4lZg0COyQBRYcDqNqzmScWrhtHZs5Lu0vsvvdM4R9R1YoqYfG7vYUkLZKgJhfNIWUnBD1WtA9/s640/blogger-image--1219008312.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you ever wondered how they template countertops...</td></tr>
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Let me give you a quick glimpse into our lives that
week. With our kitchen offline, we had a
makeshift kitchen in our den (with the refrigerator, microwave, a few plates
and silverware, snacks and basic staples), our cereal bowl-sized sink in the
bathroom down the hall for washing plates, and everything else from the kitchen
in the living room. ("Honey, where's the salt and pepper?" "In
the small box by the fireplace in the living room on the other side of the
house."). As someone who prides herself in efficiency, this was about as
far from it as it gets. But it was just
a season. We grilled out one night for
dinner, used the crockpot one night, my mom made a lasagna for us one night,
and we went out a few times to eat.
Carter's obsession with waffles (or "laffles " as he calls
them) developed that week as using a compact waffle iron was a tricky way to
get a warm breakfast without any real appliances. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDHFuT6KlcF3fKqazZf8b0of_RB3NgVObUbhHfGEMBMqZELGoU5TyVgtAbBuD0AoU205uBtEILLHbFJbw3S8hlljAZTZPV72E-uaQAKOtNdlIGAWUrx9Qe510kQsyk99JhZmxgt-Iq54J/s1600/blogger-image--895519812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDHFuT6KlcF3fKqazZf8b0of_RB3NgVObUbhHfGEMBMqZELGoU5TyVgtAbBuD0AoU205uBtEILLHbFJbw3S8hlljAZTZPV72E-uaQAKOtNdlIGAWUrx9Qe510kQsyk99JhZmxgt-Iq54J/s400/blogger-image--895519812.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This got old a lot quicker than you'd think.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One thing that we were able to knock out was installing
the trim and shoe moulding in the dining room.
Nick's Dad trimmed out the newly widened opening and floor moulding
while we were at work one day. It went a
long way in making the space look more finished. I eventually (as in last weekend) got around
to puttying, sanding and painting all of that trim. I woke up the next day after crawling all
over the floor feeling like someone had used me as a punching bag. It's always cool when you realize you aren't
18 anymore. Bruises in weird
places...butt all knotty. Youth...you
elude me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Seeing the truck pull up a week later with our gorgeous
counters in the back was one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen. ''Twas the sight of progress. I had selected Hanstone's Pewter Quartz and
my sales rep recommended The Countertop Factory for fabrication and
installation. They did a lovely
job. Seaming at the waterfall edge was
my biggest concern (it's a bit of a tricky detail) and they did a fantastic
job. I only had two seams planned based
on the slab size (never over a dishwasher or sink) and they virtually
disappeared. And within a few hours, our
kitchen was really looking like a kitchen.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGc4fWWEg3g25UDz12W8mWhhu7XE76dNvBHRjcA1tExAXZlJEm1Hym0N0q4w5wUzkqBVxSygsrxfaqPbaaCrwxMBkKvXWAIaGob-SXYfKZHL7XbZ4clXcoR6OfqVUhD-exJpNWV6YLhg3/s1600/blogger-image--1106240422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGc4fWWEg3g25UDz12W8mWhhu7XE76dNvBHRjcA1tExAXZlJEm1Hym0N0q4w5wUzkqBVxSygsrxfaqPbaaCrwxMBkKvXWAIaGob-SXYfKZHL7XbZ4clXcoR6OfqVUhD-exJpNWV6YLhg3/s640/blogger-image--1106240422.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall edge and offset cabinets allow for stool space.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyddWa87mx_kK_n5LBJvMGV3OF2mJW9HqKYXNg4T8h04jEx19yHkcLzM5Wgc6A7pddJcW-5oZpezxoZZabie90SnFiN3KiFxnZAw9sFZo1x5uc_ytZAN0WgLNqvQInYr1aqoKIWy84nCU0/s1600/blogger-image-2029239237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyddWa87mx_kK_n5LBJvMGV3OF2mJW9HqKYXNg4T8h04jEx19yHkcLzM5Wgc6A7pddJcW-5oZpezxoZZabie90SnFiN3KiFxnZAw9sFZo1x5uc_ytZAN0WgLNqvQInYr1aqoKIWy84nCU0/s640/blogger-image-2029239237.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look close you can see the seams...but I've seen a lot of counters in my day and they did a great job.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxc_4yoYaPaqNxj6gsMxCQAYnvhjDfa4NEFx65sIs02RvbIXxWa-aec8Q6YAa-Dx26-7qmZ1T5LLRaYHBAFnXHzS4-crofkmAE8dgd6pehXN3IM733k8q803tO1OgmmL-Do0d_N1A8vuN/s1600/blogger-image-949358875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxc_4yoYaPaqNxj6gsMxCQAYnvhjDfa4NEFx65sIs02RvbIXxWa-aec8Q6YAa-Dx26-7qmZ1T5LLRaYHBAFnXHzS4-crofkmAE8dgd6pehXN3IM733k8q803tO1OgmmL-Do0d_N1A8vuN/s400/blogger-image-949358875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Once the counters were in, it was finishin' time. Hang doors, install drawers, drill for and
install hardware. Adjust doors to sit
level, add bumpers, install toe kicks.
Install shelves and other organizing voodoo. Move crap back in! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdeia6EmR7fXfiLPRpLQ0Rg9tIyRwDnb4FkRPjaQxLkQ6EuZrwhflRbu7Aq72Eatb4SnOcb8CBzRVxs0-y3mz7cGaD6Mn8TcMcI5NUDyhbJk7Fjc693QrXUdJaxlMlb7uduJ_5SP6zAin/s1600/blogger-image-1645150515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdeia6EmR7fXfiLPRpLQ0Rg9tIyRwDnb4FkRPjaQxLkQ6EuZrwhflRbu7Aq72Eatb4SnOcb8CBzRVxs0-y3mz7cGaD6Mn8TcMcI5NUDyhbJk7Fjc693QrXUdJaxlMlb7uduJ_5SP6zAin/s400/blogger-image-1645150515.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had two drawers that hadn't been put together yet. According to my sister, they are now the most important drawers in <br />
the kitchen. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ5dSY4HsGH8smpVQ8VEnJIElRNkD5SUOXGwX6I5joMYUqKzzPfDOxqU1nVxmezPjEDN6KDQnpnBu9_SoxYuni25zLx7_tfSrMRkK78WQ-4txtZvchbjKdIt-ks59Q8913YU6oP3Nxtba/s1600/blogger-image-1980910227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBQ5dSY4HsGH8smpVQ8VEnJIElRNkD5SUOXGwX6I5joMYUqKzzPfDOxqU1nVxmezPjEDN6KDQnpnBu9_SoxYuni25zLx7_tfSrMRkK78WQ-4txtZvchbjKdIt-ks59Q8913YU6oP3Nxtba/s400/blogger-image-1980910227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What's the situation, Dad? Do we adjust the doohickies?"</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVK8mBxHr9lvf7kF73MNpct5Yhn0YvGObn4R_PWLClCXJEQbf5rGFEtefPreUVid8G0OLy3E6CNTxYRHFPNxkQGIRHDUFhnXBzEuXKvObczU3NEUltWhqfZUa3NpX_2MyKH7bvrlMpzqV/s1600/blogger-image-445764161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVK8mBxHr9lvf7kF73MNpct5Yhn0YvGObn4R_PWLClCXJEQbf5rGFEtefPreUVid8G0OLy3E6CNTxYRHFPNxkQGIRHDUFhnXBzEuXKvObczU3NEUltWhqfZUa3NpX_2MyKH7bvrlMpzqV/s640/blogger-image-445764161.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One miiiiiinor hiccup. Don't worry. We resolved it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh347YqtY9nf_yX-mrdTclLi4qOphwD5Gi_EHe7LCZTxMS0ryEUOWYOQKNO5Fid9UvuobIAwxhcJxAoFLuPPGzZuRE1V6u2AdPv04nVfdzdOAXWhbnpAA3Pbmtn1gJkCkoqM0l7BunOtZyA/s1600/blogger-image--1032158546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh347YqtY9nf_yX-mrdTclLi4qOphwD5Gi_EHe7LCZTxMS0ryEUOWYOQKNO5Fid9UvuobIAwxhcJxAoFLuPPGzZuRE1V6u2AdPv04nVfdzdOAXWhbnpAA3Pbmtn1gJkCkoqM0l7BunOtZyA/s400/blogger-image--1032158546.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the wonky panel next to the sink? That's the dishwasher with integral panel front. It took some adjusting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauoG2KWi7UOPRHEw6MyKFs-nLBOTO_bF5Rss-R5yBHcdqQO44eXuQ0zcbcQnG4SHQYeAexfFUSK9Ds5APQVzHKqz7snAfFLakYBFMiPrS8OFRL8V5hpN5rD0FjARk7kxhsz7sn3ISRhqU/s1600/blogger-image-707120575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauoG2KWi7UOPRHEw6MyKFs-nLBOTO_bF5Rss-R5yBHcdqQO44eXuQ0zcbcQnG4SHQYeAexfFUSK9Ds5APQVzHKqz7snAfFLakYBFMiPrS8OFRL8V5hpN5rD0FjARk7kxhsz7sn3ISRhqU/s400/blogger-image-707120575.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glass upper cabinet doors in, toekicks installed, hood (with no vent pipe) up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxvaiXLW8JMn5vVJJofrEcRzektvtFElAPFHPT6lKoOkK2dnin-tAagnnudMFF4oeJ_czZmARwRtekwIHS4ZzC570qJdpKCDhyphenhyphengA8xS2-MxJaUbtuvymB1PiqAIQ_xQr1Cq_6IYjaWS4N/s1600/blogger-image--892557371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxvaiXLW8JMn5vVJJofrEcRzektvtFElAPFHPT6lKoOkK2dnin-tAagnnudMFF4oeJ_czZmARwRtekwIHS4ZzC570qJdpKCDhyphenhyphengA8xS2-MxJaUbtuvymB1PiqAIQ_xQr1Cq_6IYjaWS4N/s640/blogger-image--892557371.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post its are my preferred method of organization.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaBiAe-dvJCDAQjxdm1PT_PQGJF59NE90xNav6y4wGbtz-Q0ogsVV96MY_nMvPD4w6pZxVEEE__4-5l_2YzqDOw5FIWysJf3Ls94ejtA74K_WvFjIQMFrGJGeErClUCGyLj-v3-MH6bHq/s1600/blogger-image--1952234883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaBiAe-dvJCDAQjxdm1PT_PQGJF59NE90xNav6y4wGbtz-Q0ogsVV96MY_nMvPD4w6pZxVEEE__4-5l_2YzqDOw5FIWysJf3Ls94ejtA74K_WvFjIQMFrGJGeErClUCGyLj-v3-MH6bHq/s640/blogger-image--1952234883.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining room side.</td></tr>
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It's a short paragraph (a lot of pictures), but let me tell ya, it's the kind
of work that sucks your soul dry. The
only thing I can figure is that it's all tedious, semi-time consuming work and
yields very little visual results. So
maybe we just didn't feel like our results matched the effort we were putting
in. Or maybe it was because we were
doing that work after Carter was down, on week nights, after long days at
work. Adrenaline was waning by the 4th
week and we had to take turns being the cheerleader for the project. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But we did it! And ahhhhh, to have a functioning kitchen
again was a thing of beauty. The only
major thing left to do was the backsplash.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The *#@&! backsplash...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-22686700584847847372015-05-28T20:56:00.002-04:002015-05-29T09:57:14.011-04:00Welp, there's no turning back now.I think I may have invented a new level of tired this weekend.<br />
<br />
Between growing Deuce in my belly (sidenote: Deuce is what we are calling the second baby we found out I was having about 2 months ago, not some tasteless poop joke. Well, it's not <i>totally</i> a poop joke.) ...abiding by the very needy schedule of a toddler who requires snacks and naps and active play time, and oh right...demolishing our entire kitchen...I have entered a realm of exhaustion that rivals the best of them.<br />
<br />
And I didn't even do the heaviest of the labor. My extremely talented and hard working husband toiled like a beast for 3.5 days to help us stick to our very detailed and ambitious schedule. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVOYufXjUFvFykttIaeJ_8MH9RshBgU7HqyIfkzWz2n96MwdWAZBbnYNJOMHG9jUxJ8_OrdIE8UbceCwgej0PIfGB7FZUJvpXuf0LsFHoMSZre4Pyik6555oDXe74EAXzJpGRx2TyyQq2/s640/blogger-image--898945502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVOYufXjUFvFykttIaeJ_8MH9RshBgU7HqyIfkzWz2n96MwdWAZBbnYNJOMHG9jUxJ8_OrdIE8UbceCwgej0PIfGB7FZUJvpXuf0LsFHoMSZre4Pyik6555oDXe74EAXzJpGRx2TyyQq2/s640/blogger-image--898945502.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Troutman runs a tight ship.</td></tr>
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Let me go ahead and give you my first crucial piece of advice if you are thinking of attempting a major home renovation like a kitchen: many hands make light work. We would probably never have done this had we not had the AMAZING support network of friends and family making the process easier. From helping watch Carter, to cooking us meals, to ripping out flooring, to making dump runs...I seriously want to cry when I think of how well we are cared for. It could be the pregnancy hormones but I really think this is honest emotion I'm feeling here. So that being said, you'll see a lot of names littered below and every. last. one of them was wildly helpful. And attractive. And smelled good.<br />
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We <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2015/05/break-down-walls.html" target="_blank">last left you</a> with the wood paneling in the dining room being ripped out and a larger opening being made. Tip o' the iceberg, amigos. <br />
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Let's start off with a couple of good before shots so you can experience this space in all it's 1962 glory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/IMG_2432_zps9i29twjn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/IMG_2432_zps9i29twjn.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jello cups on the counter mean this was not too long after the stomach bug of 2015 hit our house.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carpet under in the dining room with a toddler and another baby on the way? Genius!</td></tr>
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<h3>
Friday Afternoon</h3>
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My father in law aka the eternal teenager, came over and helped Nick disconnect all the appliances. We moved the fridge into the den (a classy look I'm thinking of making permanent), ripped out the oven, the hood, the cooktop and the dishwasher.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's no question where Nick gets his work ethic.</td></tr>
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They weren't going to be reused so I put those suckers up on Craigslist for free and they were hauled off two hours later. Second tip of the day: make CL work for you. People will seriously take anything, especially if it's listed for free. We had folks come and dig up some bushes in our yard and haul them off last fall. It's amazing. Utilize it and save yourself a trip to the dump or the Salvation Army or whatever. <br />
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Our friend Coach (who Carter adorably calls "Choach") came by and he and I packed up all the cabinets and moved the boxes into the living room. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby + Box + Crayons=Distraction for a good 15 minutes.</td></tr>
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Coach's hot babe of a wife cooked us dinner that night and we felt pretty good heading into the big day...<br />
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<h3>
Saturday</h3>
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Our amazing crew showed up and after we stuffed our faces with bagels, we got to work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GAG.</td></tr>
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The ripping out of cabinets, counter and soffit actually went fairly quickly. We found some homework circa 1975, a curling iron that you heat up on the stove, a 1971 credit card bill from Sears Roebuck (hope that got paid) and plenty of nasty. The wrecking crew consisted of my big bro Tony, Kenneth "Big Mac but had a Big Respiratory Infection this weekend" Almond, Nick, Coach, Ralph and my 14 year old nephew. Somehow he got old enough to do this type of work and it makes me feel ancient.</div>
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Team 2, made up of myself, Crissy "Crusher" Carmichael, Meliss, Kathryn, Kathy and my niece Ella built all the new cabinets that hadn't been finished by Nick and I over the past couple weeks. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Why didn't anyone tell me my shorts were so ill-fitting???"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFQTHXj0KBOigAJSlR2Pg1kvt1OBEcVkLVXeyFTrttbSRDq_fxpSqDkrgxTtCVx2rffOneFkzclw6bF0hipSeXsCtt6mjErfCFHN6BIZbjSCTSSqbFACKkyi8i424ASI3xIH47lSGicBa/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFQTHXj0KBOigAJSlR2Pg1kvt1OBEcVkLVXeyFTrttbSRDq_fxpSqDkrgxTtCVx2rffOneFkzclw6bF0hipSeXsCtt6mjErfCFHN6BIZbjSCTSSqbFACKkyi8i424ASI3xIH47lSGicBa/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh by the way - the entire weekend was sunny and in the mid-70s. PERFECT WEATHER YALL.</td></tr>
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So once all the cabs and counters were gone, the visual impact got everyone's blood pumping. Until you looked down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPFxDN2e4ROQsMDPpWKK486NDxj8Xy_q2UCxDHhV4rpt-iLRcAPWrsVecLQUhlz6QFoMzptGxyZ3A5DfFJQGuI9NPesZqwvkIyT_1wuuHQ26dT7LeLz5ydtBuYuDnV4xVvZ5u_p5FpQet/s1600/IMG_5031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPFxDN2e4ROQsMDPpWKK486NDxj8Xy_q2UCxDHhV4rpt-iLRcAPWrsVecLQUhlz6QFoMzptGxyZ3A5DfFJQGuI9NPesZqwvkIyT_1wuuHQ26dT7LeLz5ydtBuYuDnV4xVvZ5u_p5FpQet/s400/IMG_5031.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excuse my French but THESE. DAMN. FLOORS.</td></tr>
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There was only one owner of the house prior to us and so it seems as though every time they got tired of a flooring, they just layered a new one on top. Mind you, there was carpet over areas of this too. So we are talking FOUR floors and a second layer of subfloor here that needed to be dealt with. And that bottom layer...see it? That's good ol' 9"x9" asbestos tile. When we found this a few weeks ago when we were making the wider opening, we had a colleague come out and consult with us on the best way to get it up, safely. </div>
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So the strategy was going to be to rip up both layers of linoleum and then take a circular saw to the floor (wetting the floor with a sprayer to eliminate dust) and pry up entire sections of subfloor without having to scrape up the tile and the mastic (which also more than likely had asbestos in it). </div>
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So we (I say we, but Preggo McPreggerson and Carter stayed outside this entire time for extra precaution) taped off the floor in a grid and gave it a shot.</div>
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FAIL. It took Nick and Coach nearly an hour to try to pry up a 3' x 3' section of subfloor and it burned out the motor on the circular saw. There were 4" nails everywhere so things were smoking and sparking more than New York's hottest club. <br />
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Truth time: we felt super defeated Saturday night. We were worried about how to get it up, if we couldn't get it up, how we would deal with the level change at the wood, and the safety of our family if we kept the asbestos in the house. Neither of us slept well that night.</div>
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<h3>
Sunday</h3>
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One of my proudest takeaways from the entire weekend was that Nick and I did not bicker or even give the hint of a "tone" to one another during the entire ordeal. I worried that if it would happen, it would be Sunday morning. The stress of the unknown from Saturday late afternoon had us wondering if we had bitten off way more than we could chew. So as we sat in the backyard early that morning, we decided to pray about it. And our prayer was simple..."God help us figure this out and keep us all safe." (I won't get into the theology of praying for seemingly trivial things like this, but rest assured, He gets all our praise for what happened next.)<br />
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Our fearless team of Coach, Melissa, Tony and Logan joined us again and we decided that if we scrape up all the tile and expose the seams of the subfloor, that would help us figure out where the weak points were and between the brute force of three dudes with crow bars, we might be able to get that thing out of there. So that's what we tried...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8gurSbGvumt8tGO1Fni_qKswNjpQKuQfSvYNyxvEMSD-Uu3UhxoZKh5YUkHDxn7i5s6Lqfut7WfMLalJ-oYxcSxKrUdNAt8tq6tsmuQI1bcHmruGsBi_8YKGGCnoIn_AkC9IouIn_Q1W/s1600/IMG_5038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8gurSbGvumt8tGO1Fni_qKswNjpQKuQfSvYNyxvEMSD-Uu3UhxoZKh5YUkHDxn7i5s6Lqfut7WfMLalJ-oYxcSxKrUdNAt8tq6tsmuQI1bcHmruGsBi_8YKGGCnoIn_AkC9IouIn_Q1W/s400/IMG_5038.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three dudes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezj_gipaO-EltlRWwqJHXbOQ5AjbH5kUKFHlIhuk3Q_OfxUnWdGCyJUaMBi0b-8hdIT-l87_IJCjUoBSuF0uTSrW3L4jPb2kUrFwYBxekOJG7-BSwRIo1eEQJ5hG7gBUpkvuHTwP32dK7/s1600/IMG_5039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezj_gipaO-EltlRWwqJHXbOQ5AjbH5kUKFHlIhuk3Q_OfxUnWdGCyJUaMBi0b-8hdIT-l87_IJCjUoBSuF0uTSrW3L4jPb2kUrFwYBxekOJG7-BSwRIo1eEQJ5hG7gBUpkvuHTwP32dK7/s400/IMG_5039.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUCCESS!</td></tr>
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Worked like a charm! It sounded like gun shots as the hundreds of nails were ripped from their homes but the entire floor ended up coming in 30 minutes.</div>
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THIRTY MINUTES! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZNG8AFQYZMboFMR_ITG79zft1I9wH2MknD_nctEIfJrcAR8BKBcKlQQoH9012aLQs7l3CghsHqm-JaD-G7oy0utg_LhtLmkA2pxcGYVi7BrJdU_e1viupEHCfXMt2RBiMqD7aY801hHq/s1600/IMG_5044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZNG8AFQYZMboFMR_ITG79zft1I9wH2MknD_nctEIfJrcAR8BKBcKlQQoH9012aLQs7l3CghsHqm-JaD-G7oy0utg_LhtLmkA2pxcGYVi7BrJdU_e1viupEHCfXMt2RBiMqD7aY801hHq/s400/IMG_5044.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original subfloor, asbestos free, in fantastic condition.</td></tr>
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You guys, we were all high fiving and cheering. It was so exciting. And so simple. I still smile when I think about how easy it was. Sheesh. Good stuff.</div>
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So with that, our biggest problem, out of the way, we moved on to more finish work. We mudded and sanded at the old soffits and cabinets. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwef5hXZD9RDjAz8nceUCVmd6ir4sxX482tM-r1KWtiFnP96my-vz_5uIJ9jHnMLyDlMnmb1ggjeXLoUhNnkxb5d8vo18s1I8i2ryh8ZP5-FDMhkyzAN85ClRv6_NJOYakQ7kHJ62EvrvT/s1600/IMG_5042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwef5hXZD9RDjAz8nceUCVmd6ir4sxX482tM-r1KWtiFnP96my-vz_5uIJ9jHnMLyDlMnmb1ggjeXLoUhNnkxb5d8vo18s1I8i2ryh8ZP5-FDMhkyzAN85ClRv6_NJOYakQ7kHJ62EvrvT/s400/IMG_5042.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She was a freaking rockstar all weekend.</td></tr>
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We patched the hole at the new water supply for our icemaker in the fridge. (<a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2015/04/i-guess-you-could-say-things-are.html" target="_blank">Lest we forget the wonky holes left from the sweatpants in the wall debacle from a few months ago.</a>)</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYFT48uS5_EghrE8N8rR10YS6NqbKWY658YnX9ZWu6ZWJHbKPjnySQdzY-Bx9ZBXxE7uyrVMkwdt3DA7QdamBo3PR8yBxrYeHF5lE6EsS4kXvTQfM8yj62nsvV5zRchN-ycAmWO83b4ki/s1600/IMG_5043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYFT48uS5_EghrE8N8rR10YS6NqbKWY658YnX9ZWu6ZWJHbKPjnySQdzY-Bx9ZBXxE7uyrVMkwdt3DA7QdamBo3PR8yBxrYeHF5lE6EsS4kXvTQfM8yj62nsvV5zRchN-ycAmWO83b4ki/s400/IMG_5043.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best Big Brother Award winner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTOgyFTBXj0S9oIW5jjByxbVQzuS51QUmMQ3NWrrafXFO9KngIqdKrnwEVtozF4rGKCBKGf3n7aPOSzyGKWPdDD_okRaj-b0c1ON0rkc120WcJV8pHHjMzH9-BsBSnULrVzEv1D0siX1J/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTOgyFTBXj0S9oIW5jjByxbVQzuS51QUmMQ3NWrrafXFO9KngIqdKrnwEVtozF4rGKCBKGf3n7aPOSzyGKWPdDD_okRaj-b0c1ON0rkc120WcJV8pHHjMzH9-BsBSnULrVzEv1D0siX1J/s400/IMG_5040.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HOW IS HE 14 ALREADY?!</td></tr>
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It was a good day of progress. And thanks to having Memorial Day off, we had one more day for prepping...</div>
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<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Monday</h3>
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It was a pool day for some...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4fC92I15i-m0DYDfIghw1xzrd-pNrB4TFlZqLxUhDE2EICLqVn6M60urBDftd3DXQeNXIRMEP-hTABifYCas2fM-Q4LSzsLzDdKWEKhUUwUvr2adKds9bqZT2nyQN1KqvLAYwRNPHBnS/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4fC92I15i-m0DYDfIghw1xzrd-pNrB4TFlZqLxUhDE2EICLqVn6M60urBDftd3DXQeNXIRMEP-hTABifYCas2fM-Q4LSzsLzDdKWEKhUUwUvr2adKds9bqZT2nyQN1KqvLAYwRNPHBnS/s400/IMG_5046.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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But a "final touches" type of day for the rest of the worker bees. A few areas of subfloor near the old dishwasher and sink needed to be repaired...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8HcOefotKUCy805LNoc5VqX3UgRfJYZwJTVCTkUUB9vr6m7GluOYUclhBXTQJB-yO_vzISSTRjGgj2b4mVY7PVGAeowDEtMXgasgVpHzlAt5GmBQNky1FNValZ8BIdTVfXeHCqeXxUXK/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8HcOefotKUCy805LNoc5VqX3UgRfJYZwJTVCTkUUB9vr6m7GluOYUclhBXTQJB-yO_vzISSTRjGgj2b4mVY7PVGAeowDEtMXgasgVpHzlAt5GmBQNky1FNValZ8BIdTVfXeHCqeXxUXK/s400/IMG_5048.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Transitions at doors and other areas near walls needed to be cleaned up for the wood installer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIgdupnWMOLZRKsigCU_Fso5-02Yn_0J5v5emjMfYf3lVMh8dfrY7PCrMVUN2NSnngo98uQb-LxkhpFLA1XzLOyVvvtYjSRH4vOJ53k3q-KCF2cSYK4hG1PGAg5gHvbTzhsb3gwFfv45J/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIgdupnWMOLZRKsigCU_Fso5-02Yn_0J5v5emjMfYf3lVMh8dfrY7PCrMVUN2NSnngo98uQb-LxkhpFLA1XzLOyVvvtYjSRH4vOJ53k3q-KCF2cSYK4hG1PGAg5gHvbTzhsb3gwFfv45J/s400/IMG_5049.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cAKxHFNUFY405SzDE5EXthcaZ2rcyDkmIrKAttElAszcT2Ts5yBx0RdRt4yMXcmDlRKLwxYPN306jMxnx8E2tK-MlLKGwhCWdSf6CntN2MjVrhS0vGbmQg6zsvyhLGIfRnlW6pxEQSwS/s1600/IMG_5059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cAKxHFNUFY405SzDE5EXthcaZ2rcyDkmIrKAttElAszcT2Ts5yBx0RdRt4yMXcmDlRKLwxYPN306jMxnx8E2tK-MlLKGwhCWdSf6CntN2MjVrhS0vGbmQg6zsvyhLGIfRnlW6pxEQSwS/s400/IMG_5059.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa and his chisel.</td></tr>
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The stairs leading into the den needed to be patched.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunVHhIXgtJ4GCtVifRr1987Y1iyb9tsap-4Tt1zwaOQfcNeaTMcCYFgsK93qv3z2cRnUaVsKpL2eGKsbbZE_3K0X81yGn_zCPAsYtTxbw7yHx7848K_asPIT8l_kq0C5TU-V-Z_yM1Ixn/s1600/IMG_5050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunVHhIXgtJ4GCtVifRr1987Y1iyb9tsap-4Tt1zwaOQfcNeaTMcCYFgsK93qv3z2cRnUaVsKpL2eGKsbbZE_3K0X81yGn_zCPAsYtTxbw7yHx7848K_asPIT8l_kq0C5TU-V-Z_yM1Ixn/s400/IMG_5050.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And more mudding and sanding needed to happen. I was officially antiqued by the early afternoon.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvguq4HZ4zjhUp7V71gzh0jBbMfDIceAunfGGGOxnJ96yK7h5B8HQoUX2jZj-faUsvojbQXZ2j-coUHwXElrOrzX0nxxriUYdE2KlcpEcGbBdhE7kWdS0Zekd0s-YSznRnk62MQvt0m52/s1600/IMG_5051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvguq4HZ4zjhUp7V71gzh0jBbMfDIceAunfGGGOxnJ96yK7h5B8HQoUX2jZj-faUsvojbQXZ2j-coUHwXElrOrzX0nxxriUYdE2KlcpEcGbBdhE7kWdS0Zekd0s-YSznRnk62MQvt0m52/s320/IMG_5051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our friends (and down the road neighbors, hey!) the Tolinos came to lend a hand on Monday. They helped me prime drywall, paint trim and paint the ceiling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegIonSZ7529PXcP1UkHeh5uKPZCzVq4D0SVIvL_pNb69ouiT2bEfDHxnPeHW70fFFyMzxpvTD-woSYAEE4wjuQaP_URJXNMmgXUOCYN6l765XjUy1lnFyBADKukWbdh32qjDgJ1Ml6qz_/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegIonSZ7529PXcP1UkHeh5uKPZCzVq4D0SVIvL_pNb69ouiT2bEfDHxnPeHW70fFFyMzxpvTD-woSYAEE4wjuQaP_URJXNMmgXUOCYN6l765XjUy1lnFyBADKukWbdh32qjDgJ1Ml6qz_/s400/IMG_5055.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBXGbijZjfGl3fp4CpFhUgfKDOX6Pci3_WkkMLueCeyH2pU1gPYzEN9IXbiJEsw9prGAkL1wLtvsnd0nFJkoRlvyoIrmxwOIUkDj17DzE4DS1dIoVady1QF9nQZ6dMt5Kv4kx0KCXXP11/s1600/IMG_5056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBXGbijZjfGl3fp4CpFhUgfKDOX6Pci3_WkkMLueCeyH2pU1gPYzEN9IXbiJEsw9prGAkL1wLtvsnd0nFJkoRlvyoIrmxwOIUkDj17DzE4DS1dIoVady1QF9nQZ6dMt5Kv4kx0KCXXP11/s400/IMG_5056.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And before I make it sound like Monday was without its drama, the hole in the stair that Nick and his dad were trying to fix?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvz3ABxCY7595YnnU_VKA7cb2ntABmgRVo7aqhhK-_wGFxX0vl5Y7cIxWbrzXyXHI33qa1VzoJ2owPXq45CQJHZ5gxZHTk1j5SWY1NvUt8Cw4xUaH_rMgqseugPmmmtL46LpKk21DavH1/s1600/IMG_5052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvz3ABxCY7595YnnU_VKA7cb2ntABmgRVo7aqhhK-_wGFxX0vl5Y7cIxWbrzXyXHI33qa1VzoJ2owPXq45CQJHZ5gxZHTk1j5SWY1NvUt8Cw4xUaH_rMgqseugPmmmtL46LpKk21DavH1/s400/IMG_5052.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Yeah, one of our cats (Ziggy Marley) jumped in there and got trapped in the crawlspace. Which led to Nick spending a good 30 minutes crawling around trying to get him out while I sweetly called for it from the vent. (In my mind, I was thinking "FINE! STAY IN THERE!" but I managed to keep my tone sugary.)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl8qIZMyb1g6Bdz-JLX7Y14pQbeI7Lo6isnYZ5NxVcd5Cq2xZiAiLri17jLCTiar3jSv6UlwQjn-h4hbS_MmgADsLaFDr8Zlw3kLYObW_3aAFc0oDen2gUCgBdPAC1lVLt1YY58xogrSa/s640/blogger-image--22713795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbiPFHJn82FZ62nr2wH988DkeOTyqdONQ0O__UjTtb8qwfzziSjdKp3DWEa0CXaU4HXkC07f9gRsbkh8L282h4HZMPIUe-VyfNpjrJqST-Cy2x09f3jm1U8H7jCedZaNnNgoGxiH0c2ks/s1600/IMG_5054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbiPFHJn82FZ62nr2wH988DkeOTyqdONQ0O__UjTtb8qwfzziSjdKp3DWEa0CXaU4HXkC07f9gRsbkh8L282h4HZMPIUe-VyfNpjrJqST-Cy2x09f3jm1U8H7jCedZaNnNgoGxiH0c2ks/s400/IMG_5054.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's one patient man.</td></tr>
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We were actually able to find the humor in it once he was safe as it eerily mirrored one of our <a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/83483178/" target="_blank">favorite scenes from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.</a> (Warning: the language is a little salty but it is worth 1:34 of your life.)<br />
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But cat hiccup aside, it was a great day and after packing our bags and taking C to Cary (where we stayed this week), Nick and I returned late Monday night to finish cleaning up. By the end of the weekend we had gone from this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSCzF-MQ_IxBUc07R336lgT_OeiDwTtq5wNLsFV039fuEuJrhx6hnr8LME1soNg80P3_r1OQvg1DqG5_zSZyJWSdf5IgvezfT8dhyphenhyphenbvtfMj_vQMS3iLUlm_qPqqCeusPcXSdG71DTYhvp/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSCzF-MQ_IxBUc07R336lgT_OeiDwTtq5wNLsFV039fuEuJrhx6hnr8LME1soNg80P3_r1OQvg1DqG5_zSZyJWSdf5IgvezfT8dhyphenhyphenbvtfMj_vQMS3iLUlm_qPqqCeusPcXSdG71DTYhvp/s400/IMG_2432.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_W4TRUySEWa6Xl4wwn4dHbepcJPZYxa8_vanebGFbZ8ViwGFKisdhfNAcmIoT_1a4zynHLL5qPRhYGrImeQQuwPjs123SImWP9agTsa7iYtuhxu1u5mwy6_V0uR6drZe4nTPYnY2iVns/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_W4TRUySEWa6Xl4wwn4dHbepcJPZYxa8_vanebGFbZ8ViwGFKisdhfNAcmIoT_1a4zynHLL5qPRhYGrImeQQuwPjs123SImWP9agTsa7iYtuhxu1u5mwy6_V0uR6drZe4nTPYnY2iVns/s400/IMG_5065.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzs5PHZgUZiDMStgDr8H__gBHCj-rnJf8TVpk78URODuiofx-tA8gRRYnIBZOxqUGRZ-yRErlLaOjBj2YMEdAdLFMoxtknqg1u2BMEwxHFe9d1s92xcjkB_IT3InNAqrD06IYRYNAa3az/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzs5PHZgUZiDMStgDr8H__gBHCj-rnJf8TVpk78URODuiofx-tA8gRRYnIBZOxqUGRZ-yRErlLaOjBj2YMEdAdLFMoxtknqg1u2BMEwxHFe9d1s92xcjkB_IT3InNAqrD06IYRYNAa3az/s400/IMG_5070.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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I'll be real with you...it felt pretty good. I couldn't see straight from the exhaustion, sure, but our sense of accomplishment got us safely to our inlaws that night.<br />
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<h3>
<b>This week</b></h3>
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So I figured I'd tack this on since I had a few pictures to share. Our wood guy (Todd Hoffmann, highly recommended) came first thing Tuesday morning to lay the hardwood floors. We got red oak, to match the existing floors that were originally covered by carpet in the rest of the house. Tuesday, he got everything laid.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtR5yD5KjXL3RAMoithVFnfngrRy5Zkhg82bfUbIpPVFRAbpKDXG_qNY0TwVcDm4BSLZqr76lKVO_IBWTdjyGtU63f6_aJZizjPR0VUe5pqsF7fbvSAvJu3qSLeiTTWuo2BuqEuYifmj5y/s1600/IMG_5074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtR5yD5KjXL3RAMoithVFnfngrRy5Zkhg82bfUbIpPVFRAbpKDXG_qNY0TwVcDm4BSLZqr76lKVO_IBWTdjyGtU63f6_aJZizjPR0VUe5pqsF7fbvSAvJu3qSLeiTTWuo2BuqEuYifmj5y/s400/IMG_5074.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And yesterday and today, he sanded, stained and sealed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF5LDKE2KZimdFkzIiNzqfAAkOwbZZsVJeyUKbnFCP4RRlqEZGvkWyEzwemQ8HNxxrNi1sn0mbKbhOQsnzvjXejimqyy-dsdHt1zBua6RrIBatX1WKcDavvUREs2na48sbnwEaC-Twy_6/s1600/IMG_5079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF5LDKE2KZimdFkzIiNzqfAAkOwbZZsVJeyUKbnFCP4RRlqEZGvkWyEzwemQ8HNxxrNi1sn0mbKbhOQsnzvjXejimqyy-dsdHt1zBua6RrIBatX1WKcDavvUREs2na48sbnwEaC-Twy_6/s400/IMG_5079.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5qvOzsly19NW6gW0UFeZ55CDu0y5legngug1XO7FGwzI-HZJ_OxvY4dNsRW3j4EKf7i_f68itabPF0rz6iV_IAXzGjcqhGF8Qja6GXZrUlVThyftv-DjeCsg1UDUg4XN3hReXdOcyfOa/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5qvOzsly19NW6gW0UFeZ55CDu0y5legngug1XO7FGwzI-HZJ_OxvY4dNsRW3j4EKf7i_f68itabPF0rz6iV_IAXzGjcqhGF8Qja6GXZrUlVThyftv-DjeCsg1UDUg4XN3hReXdOcyfOa/s400/IMG_5078.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polyurethane still needed on the right side but look how seamless the transition is!</td></tr>
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And so we move back in mañana. This weekend, we'll be tackling cabinets. Our counter guy is coming to template on Monday morning so we've got another deadline looming. Stay tuned...the fun stuff is next.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-3577502715310995312015-05-05T14:48:00.000-04:002015-05-05T14:48:25.434-04:00BREAK! DOWN! THE WALLS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>To preface, let me state that I know we already have a post entitled <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-down-walls.html" target="_blank">"Paint Down The Walls."</a> And I don't care. This time <a href="https://youtu.be/VW7X69BOk2M" target="_blank">the reference</a> makes WAY more sense. So deal with it.</i><br />
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The biggest project of our DIY careers has officially begun. Our 1962 kitchen renovation. The tiny oven. The counter tops that never get completely clean. The drawers that won't open unless the dishwasher is open. The wood paneling. The "recently polyurethaned" wood paneling. Yeah, that was a selling point in the MLS listing. And that's where we begin.<br />
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<b><i>WARNING: THIS IS GONNA BE PRETTY PICTURE HEAVY.</i></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcUv-7fk1ftr4cmtfXZr8OjOESOMoXSosGZqlU2-F_UAk-c8zXHwIHJHIfLIc1lvaNst91B7oMvUOlAL7p2HZ7jVrodWNAU_At_LdIYyKYLw7938Tx-noYwi15scNxsshvE_gFqdbxrO2/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcUv-7fk1ftr4cmtfXZr8OjOESOMoXSosGZqlU2-F_UAk-c8zXHwIHJHIfLIc1lvaNst91B7oMvUOlAL7p2HZ7jVrodWNAU_At_LdIYyKYLw7938Tx-noYwi15scNxsshvE_gFqdbxrO2/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You've seen this before. But still. For reference.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKh7OjkdibGyWXkfZjJdcVsHlDePCK8a8iJ-YTwuzbAq9X6TVF95KygFaxhjr19rufmu2tSeSV2zl3mOSVnOBZ7d0Ogjymn79yMDM9RVT_TugQ7ujLYZ3UXwPLRpyFKvldup0r9s_ADxE/s1600/IMG_4785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKh7OjkdibGyWXkfZjJdcVsHlDePCK8a8iJ-YTwuzbAq9X6TVF95KygFaxhjr19rufmu2tSeSV2zl3mOSVnOBZ7d0Ogjymn79yMDM9RVT_TugQ7ujLYZ3UXwPLRpyFKvldup0r9s_ADxE/s1600/IMG_4785.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of this is going away or moving. Except the cat... unless you want a cat. Do you though?</td></tr>
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If not for the ultra-mega-sheen of the polyurethane, we probably would've saved at least one wall of this stuff. My childhood bedroom was wood paneling, so there's a place in my heart for it. But there wasn't room for all that shine. So step one - take down enough paneling to make a bigger opening into the hallway. We had to move some wiring. Relocate the alarm system keypad. Take out the non-functioning intercom...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7DudzLTu2EkIS9gFeZtVqmzWLL6nbtOfq2SM6Yjq5MA1wbv8u4W0O8AK-GuxryX1D9HyWT9CoUN2vksRI5QPs64JAS-KcragUjwo3W3CpCnKvbNIT5jrrTUPqPDLUsdwS2w_5voU3peL/s1600/IMG_4787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7DudzLTu2EkIS9gFeZtVqmzWLL6nbtOfq2SM6Yjq5MA1wbv8u4W0O8AK-GuxryX1D9HyWT9CoUN2vksRI5QPs64JAS-KcragUjwo3W3CpCnKvbNIT5jrrTUPqPDLUsdwS2w_5voU3peL/s1600/IMG_4787.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's be honest, I would've used trucker phrases like "that's a big 10-4" way too often if this worked.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, this is the main panel for the whole-house
intercom system. There’s a smaller box in each bedroom. We both
really wanted it to work but alas, it did not. Sarah had a “lifelong
dream” of yelling “TINA! COME GET SOME HAM!” into it and hearing it
reverberate throughout the house. (I find this hard to believe
considering Napoleon Dynamite came out in 2004, but I love her, so I’m letting
it slide.) So short of paying someone a lot of money to come help us
figure out how to make it work, she conceded that it could be gutted from the
wall. Anyway, </span>it apparently still had power and was on a different circuit, because there was a big POP when I cut that wire. Thankfully no electro-shock therapy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzcngJ642Y7Zjlg_kMVWMprbw3if6D92Ar9-YJpJ5qtUZ9UoH0D1kugFL75zWi5_akKf2ESJwNOVoRnQSXyI6wXBsYiQfKvFaXx1vA_CZUUfHYjlZz7tO9Fq_B3hpB7PcUCuKv4hnfHe0/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzcngJ642Y7Zjlg_kMVWMprbw3if6D92Ar9-YJpJ5qtUZ9UoH0D1kugFL75zWi5_akKf2ESJwNOVoRnQSXyI6wXBsYiQfKvFaXx1vA_CZUUfHYjlZz7tO9Fq_B3hpB7PcUCuKv4hnfHe0/s1600/IMG_4851.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa at work.</td></tr>
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This is a load bearing wall, by the way. It was going to need some temporary support while we cut for the new header. We consulted contractors, architects, and structural engineers. We <strike>weighed</strike> priced the options out, and went with the cheapest solution - which was also what the architects at work and the structural engineer OK'ed. Dad and I put up the temporary header, cut new jack studs, made the new header, and THEN we cut the wall out.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYc8XqycOh7KCslmoViDNhsDslW-4LvpyTVmQKMpDenX-_HjiTrGEJvXpuwBqy19A-Lh9thQv6u0Awdo3b_wOx5diKqTWWnTllbnNZ_RxvDjAO9E0r2x_RQv_Sp47mo7GRF6gbbNI3Kt9/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYc8XqycOh7KCslmoViDNhsDslW-4LvpyTVmQKMpDenX-_HjiTrGEJvXpuwBqy19A-Lh9thQv6u0Awdo3b_wOx5diKqTWWnTllbnNZ_RxvDjAO9E0r2x_RQv_Sp47mo7GRF6gbbNI3Kt9/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a 2x8 on each side of the wall, screwed in to each stud with 4 #10x3" screws. Except the studs on the hallway side we missed, which was most of them.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6OOhleb324A8k3Ooy7rJbvtoSknGnU5XH7E93CzI9xNQ_QEal9ONfuhDX4RfvfFr8LGZ7Zt_ff06jYHXTTPp4tD7IdXKQEUoM22i1kAAlivw_eh94aYXw7HakwIailEyu1BrOt68A_m8/s1600/IMG_4861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6OOhleb324A8k3Ooy7rJbvtoSknGnU5XH7E93CzI9xNQ_QEal9ONfuhDX4RfvfFr8LGZ7Zt_ff06jYHXTTPp4tD7IdXKQEUoM22i1kAAlivw_eh94aYXw7HakwIailEyu1BrOt68A_m8/s1600/IMG_4861.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and dad building the new header. 2x12s with 1/2" plywood sandwiched between.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTwzg0FLWD1WjaNSVu7Av-ao53MkLrH4Hv3Q6j9SxjlIN188k6PS_3GXYp2BVj2uhBUN3KXrUP3dhKr9lUANm1Za3NCE-yJP5qa67I1PITU8_36ONjVkDtCssvauIP9UG2K-fSggQiIt5/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwTwzg0FLWD1WjaNSVu7Av-ao53MkLrH4Hv3Q6j9SxjlIN188k6PS_3GXYp2BVj2uhBUN3KXrUP3dhKr9lUANm1Za3NCE-yJP5qa67I1PITU8_36ONjVkDtCssvauIP9UG2K-fSggQiIt5/s1600/IMG_4862.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We built and cut perfectly. I cleaned and jerked the header up, then dad hammered it into place.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD7hlG8ev8e_1bc0MZAZkbLyC84ThVScVMK6oGOFc4W7OC5JmTzvK_gwFCmM_f3EiOL0t3KMKpf9VHSwuPdNZXInWYPcXs_WSFVfHLNRSj3_7NUKuVI7Nf18bTejPaP5yAbbCgLJ04h4h/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLD7hlG8ev8e_1bc0MZAZkbLyC84ThVScVMK6oGOFc4W7OC5JmTzvK_gwFCmM_f3EiOL0t3KMKpf9VHSwuPdNZXInWYPcXs_WSFVfHLNRSj3_7NUKuVI7Nf18bTejPaP5yAbbCgLJ04h4h/s1600/IMG_2713.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1 clean up. </td></tr>
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Step two - take down the rest of the paneling. This was the easy part so naturally we called in the big guns aka Kenneth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSn8_AOlC-WkFxAEkOTrYJ6VPmKe7fW08-74HDaLf6vdwHoZQh8zTkYct1SBp4y3oJF716o7TdjrkJvYeDT_bZurhw21wPVNaZe7tWBMIlTqnn-k-9QbHKGTAS2QZMvCJa8LraCZ5LFfp/s1600/IMG_4865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSn8_AOlC-WkFxAEkOTrYJ6VPmKe7fW08-74HDaLf6vdwHoZQh8zTkYct1SBp4y3oJF716o7TdjrkJvYeDT_bZurhw21wPVNaZe7tWBMIlTqnn-k-9QbHKGTAS2QZMvCJa8LraCZ5LFfp/s1600/IMG_4865.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJozaYmcp4g1fO04-YPPcQqxhrb4FzUW-W8lZhEX1NdgppED3F_kcTKIdhfqySzyeW286e0Ed9Mva6CSZzniVoqbB3ymZ0fauCk4KPhSSza9mHVVTKs5_A3viQGcKZAeDKk_9hoZG82nS/s1600/IMG_4871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJozaYmcp4g1fO04-YPPcQqxhrb4FzUW-W8lZhEX1NdgppED3F_kcTKIdhfqySzyeW286e0Ed9Mva6CSZzniVoqbB3ymZ0fauCk4KPhSSza9mHVVTKs5_A3viQGcKZAeDKk_9hoZG82nS/s1600/IMG_4871.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's still beside the house and waiting to be taken to the dump. Why do you ask?</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1983342486"></span>Some electrical was moved around, and it was nap time for Carter... and Kenneth. While they napped, Dad and I went to a home improvement warehouse (which will remain nameless but rhymes with Schlowes) to get the drywall and some miscellaneous electrical supplies. We managed to get back then measure and cut a few pieces before they woke up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd3XxVLBF9Pl1sxTUME403A-Jx_1V1DwiQveUSGDqPW3P2Bjh0KRAJYEDLOgRef6CdnT7RNAtJFoSFBP_V8BPpKd__xhgwY7g0_5cwqwszAK7Fk1LqOA-uMsJUo3FujP9LVJbR9Ddfrvs/s1600/IMG_4867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvd3XxVLBF9Pl1sxTUME403A-Jx_1V1DwiQveUSGDqPW3P2Bjh0KRAJYEDLOgRef6CdnT7RNAtJFoSFBP_V8BPpKd__xhgwY7g0_5cwqwszAK7Fk1LqOA-uMsJUo3FujP9LVJbR9Ddfrvs/s1600/IMG_4867.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Mack screws in the first piece. The angled cut pieces were actually much easier than the 10' tall ones.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw_u__5lPOjRd9_efJUytscQy-vCsutePYBIxzSLkpYP9IBPaxZbzUR4Wi1oaH9nZ01oJLQB4OOmUolg3Vf7f9KTKAzMHc_E8QeQBMWOU0liZlYpktepTWGayJ3-GaS62jVcfkQT_7U8a/s1600/IMG_4872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw_u__5lPOjRd9_efJUytscQy-vCsutePYBIxzSLkpYP9IBPaxZbzUR4Wi1oaH9nZ01oJLQB4OOmUolg3Vf7f9KTKAzMHc_E8QeQBMWOU0liZlYpktepTWGayJ3-GaS62jVcfkQT_7U8a/s1600/IMG_4872.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is as far as we got on Saturday.</td></tr>
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Day 3 we have our buddy Coach come help us finish the drywall. We're done around lunch time, so after that we send him on his way. We're a bit rushed with normal weekend activities still to be done, so we knock out the taping and call it a weekend.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKaS9mg0WrtxWITH2Z0krmH0ue1Ih7PDT2_C_tDy3K34wR5j_LaYBaiS4KhSWqVSJeSY9_3gYUHo_J62b_kxgBGIWwng6wv3JgzHM7es86zf893zjv3EuEoruRLneriiqd475wedyPPX_/s1600/IMG_4878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKaS9mg0WrtxWITH2Z0krmH0ue1Ih7PDT2_C_tDy3K34wR5j_LaYBaiS4KhSWqVSJeSY9_3gYUHo_J62b_kxgBGIWwng6wv3JgzHM7es86zf893zjv3EuEoruRLneriiqd475wedyPPX_/s1600/IMG_4878.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear my shirt wasn't tucked in on purpose. Or maybe it was.</td></tr>
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So what's the end of the weekend progress? Not too shabby if I do say so myself.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ddpqVQ75X7MWoU-6UlWWEWtELTPC4b5Stk8GhJqb3zsKeo0PI5KtVn7ab2bPdEbU3w1flJdWZBfJiACTSsLAfTy7hIAYEGFI7cs019yZnE690SECsos8-z8a1tIkdQt8zQSwYs4usi8/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8ddpqVQ75X7MWoU-6UlWWEWtELTPC4b5Stk8GhJqb3zsKeo0PI5KtVn7ab2bPdEbU3w1flJdWZBfJiACTSsLAfTy7hIAYEGFI7cs019yZnE690SECsos8-z8a1tIkdQt8zQSwYs4usi8/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEWpHZJQJoQ29Fv-HOnvpq3Btg9-qLfFcGMsh7w_MsjWdCeG5rx72IlU876aa-OaIAMRBotOSe4dB8TxwbVNyqHCuKgGx_Smc7gldkNqtZJZDF84kifIfwjXN0-qam_48NxzXGmp6bJqB/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEWpHZJQJoQ29Fv-HOnvpq3Btg9-qLfFcGMsh7w_MsjWdCeG5rx72IlU876aa-OaIAMRBotOSe4dB8TxwbVNyqHCuKgGx_Smc7gldkNqtZJZDF84kifIfwjXN0-qam_48NxzXGmp6bJqB/s1600/IMG_2717.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After!</td></tr>
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Yeah that's a pretty big difference and a good start. Pretty convenient that the drywall matches very nicely to the existing grey paint. Lots more to come. And because I know you're all wondering what our project manager was up to, he was outside with Sarah practicing his painting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgWP2evH8W-uLzOCBOi4Hs8fcgsiZW7ObRzJiEn-1S4l4XnbcgyCg9BmmHIWeORxEF8-QwFiQ_UVRe-FJh6WlMBF0pTFQNQ3l_Obzn9HZo90q3FgIjiPc-Ze4gBm5b72kE97uWGLGUSy9/s1600/IMG_4868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgWP2evH8W-uLzOCBOi4Hs8fcgsiZW7ObRzJiEn-1S4l4XnbcgyCg9BmmHIWeORxEF8-QwFiQ_UVRe-FJh6WlMBF0pTFQNQ3l_Obzn9HZo90q3FgIjiPc-Ze4gBm5b72kE97uWGLGUSy9/s1600/IMG_4868.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child labor laws don't apply to your own children, do they?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpAAYEhSC_dL3deD66AgvMMpmrW6my0rWrruqs-5jl5t0s-G1oAk8ch6953KjFZNBRqho9F0l02HwO65bXrdsPqEpR7KkVltFx6dXObdq3zaJF_G4lZ1bG706XEpmYNM6cBz1z33AJV3J/s1600/IMG_4788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpAAYEhSC_dL3deD66AgvMMpmrW6my0rWrruqs-5jl5t0s-G1oAk8ch6953KjFZNBRqho9F0l02HwO65bXrdsPqEpR7KkVltFx6dXObdq3zaJF_G4lZ1bG706XEpmYNM6cBz1z33AJV3J/s1600/IMG_4788.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He also really, really likes going up ladders. But given that he's 20 months old, he needs help and it was best to keep him "painting."</td></tr>
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<br />
Next up: breaking down... well, everything else.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-20443099694633837232015-04-07T10:21:00.000-04:002015-04-07T10:21:07.652-04:00"I guess you could say, things are getting pretty serious."Silence is golden.<br />
<br />
At least that's what we'd like you to believe since our last post was pre-Christmas. Happy New Year, by the way. <br />
<br />
In reality, we've been gearing up for our biggest DIY undertaking to date: a full kitchen renovation. It takes a lot of planning, a lot of stress eating (guacamole, you are a fine companion), a lot of research and a LOT of saving. It also takes nerve. We've been building that up, too. But we've finally got our proverbial ducks in a row and the big day (er...weeks) is comin' atcha Memorial Day 2015. <br />
<br />
But this isn't about the awesome kitchen design we've devised. The waterfall quartz countertop you'll want to lick. The sexy built-in recycle and trash cabinets. The hex penny tile you'll want to rub your face against. No...that's for another day. Today's post is about the ridiculous things that had or have to happen to make a kitchen renovation possible. <br />
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Starting with this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D8S6vnELA-5nhMlQCjTxE7kT_OsTDYV16DH1IyaXtNsOQDIy6OCOYFrtwLXEonnTqerceOppaNFwXG_CDzQJe-i09WtyVz1QVI86WDeXzIHyzA0pcs6FimZG3m94tsYTYEWAYkCX8azO/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D8S6vnELA-5nhMlQCjTxE7kT_OsTDYV16DH1IyaXtNsOQDIy6OCOYFrtwLXEonnTqerceOppaNFwXG_CDzQJe-i09WtyVz1QVI86WDeXzIHyzA0pcs6FimZG3m94tsYTYEWAYkCX8azO/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN44Pim6muH0hMCg05X7uD7w__TLljBV1vaQ4MrJ5Rdid9oZVXa1O8PvQC_RtFBDaCCbdhp_tCbyD9t_Nzs-FRiqWMR6p1QS13VXe1pfoRMgKxU-mMCLeEVNBzswL8VaSYXjOqjmO37VX/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibN44Pim6muH0hMCg05X7uD7w__TLljBV1vaQ4MrJ5Rdid9oZVXa1O8PvQC_RtFBDaCCbdhp_tCbyD9t_Nzs-FRiqWMR6p1QS13VXe1pfoRMgKxU-mMCLeEVNBzswL8VaSYXjOqjmO37VX/s1600/IMG_4517.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />
Yes, our washing machine used to be in the kitchen. No, the dryer is not cropped out or on the other side of the room. It's in a closet off the den. Genius. <br />
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The only place that we could figure to combine the units without doing any major reconfiguration was in the closet where the dryer is. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe5XuhE1hZJAimcaWUJ3EPNEhhAS4XEB8Sx7mj1QPMllhGmv0Zf-KNCpbxI-aR0lEU7u06S4LpPxsNdSMVtDVltprKJr6C9nWc-MyBFALP_WMlLSb8ugioyvhh4uk9Mjdj4LPfs29ElUT/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGe5XuhE1hZJAimcaWUJ3EPNEhhAS4XEB8Sx7mj1QPMllhGmv0Zf-KNCpbxI-aR0lEU7u06S4LpPxsNdSMVtDVltprKJr6C9nWc-MyBFALP_WMlLSb8ugioyvhh4uk9Mjdj4LPfs29ElUT/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />
Only problem is...the units that came with the house didn't stack. So after weeks of trolling Craigslist, I found a set (a mere 2 years old) being sold by a nice German man who was moving his family to China. When we arrived to pick up the set, we looked it over briefly and I handed over the cash. He looked at me incredulously and said "are you sure you don't want to look at it more? Run a test load? Check all the hinges?" I smiled. "No, that's alright, I can tell you took good care of them."<br />
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What I was really thinking was "this guy is Danny Tanner caliber OCD. Like, dust-busters his vacuum, irons his jeans, chews each piece of food exactly 23 times before swallowing." So there's my tip of the day for buying from Craigslist: if you trust the buyer, you're probably getting a good deal. Two months of having them and they're, unsurprisingly, in excellent condition still.<br />
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<a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/fathers-day-2013-television-dad-gifs-mrsgrumpygills_zps18ptpuot.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/fathers-day-2013-television-dad-gifs-mrsgrumpygills_zps18ptpuot.gif" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
So to offset some of the cost of the new purchase (albeit we got a very good deal), we sold the set we had to a cute couple who just moved in together. Since laundry machines are typically hidden behind closed doors, I wouldn't have prioritized a new set as a purchase to be made, but we needed the function of the stacking kit to get this big renovation started. <br />
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As we pulled the old washer out from the wall to disconnect it, we realized how crudely the water line had been installed in the first place. Big, jagged hole with random tubes coming out of it and instead of insulation in the wall cavity, they used...wait for it...<br />
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Sweatpants. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKtd3MBzLT6hVnw7FrlbheV3D1BrEv4xoFa_kRnhsMWxkqEotoXbkRju7CLSc2eAa1ZfYwJOulZPIEyM7kjsZ3E15AjmkQxJgIWnz9Apo9puWubk3eQtx9cJ3McYj7W9lqmAylmUegYg/s1600/sweatshirt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GKtd3MBzLT6hVnw7FrlbheV3D1BrEv4xoFa_kRnhsMWxkqEotoXbkRju7CLSc2eAa1ZfYwJOulZPIEyM7kjsZ3E15AjmkQxJgIWnz9Apo9puWubk3eQtx9cJ3McYj7W9lqmAylmUegYg/s1600/sweatshirt.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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To be fair, I'm sure they probably did the intended job but if you're looking to suck the confidence out of the new homeowners, that's a pretty sure fire way to do it. So after Nick "I'm too good to wear wall pants" Troutman disconnected all the old piping, we decided to get a professional on the job for the rest of the work.<br />
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We gathered recommendations for plumbers and decided to go with <a href="http://www.plumberken.com/" target="_blank">Plumber Ken</a> to move the water line and washing box to the laundry closet. Fun fact about Ken: he has a giant truck with flames on it. To say Carter was a fan is putting it mildly. <br />
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If you'll notice in that picture above, a lone copper pipe was feeding the icemaker in our refrigerator too. So we also had him put in a shiny new ice box behind the refrigerator so we could patch up that old hole and forget it ever existed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV9Vkr8hthcexrCn7bsg4dfsXXT6mcWNNJRvv8QSHYo9ExBa2Mn_CbO5Dh4zUefIAL5HEAEHVKZFLN8mghmCN317ZZylVWvHKOhRBU_mR8v04jtBUHNhHkOFC-aV7ZDVQMcSMnV7ybPT0/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV9Vkr8hthcexrCn7bsg4dfsXXT6mcWNNJRvv8QSHYo9ExBa2Mn_CbO5Dh4zUefIAL5HEAEHVKZFLN8mghmCN317ZZylVWvHKOhRBU_mR8v04jtBUHNhHkOFC-aV7ZDVQMcSMnV7ybPT0/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icemaker box, pre-wall patching.</td></tr>
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We reconfigured some old shelves so we could have a bit of storage to the side of the pair for our laundry accoutrements and voila:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglguXf78ArxZ3L2C1Eb0Vh1LxirSKiNnkeO5HHavt8_P4Pheb5u5yvILNuExcP3z9n_b1tlWx62PvVfUk4lttWbpfM6dKHh3c6ZInFA5IH0l1LYuW0KahXtpTZj93y-VQK_tJ7rupXO0D0/s1600/stacked.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglguXf78ArxZ3L2C1Eb0Vh1LxirSKiNnkeO5HHavt8_P4Pheb5u5yvILNuExcP3z9n_b1tlWx62PvVfUk4lttWbpfM6dKHh3c6ZInFA5IH0l1LYuW0KahXtpTZj93y-VQK_tJ7rupXO0D0/s1600/stacked.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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As Nick put it, they'd been in a serious relationship for about a year and it was finally time to live together. What can I say? He's a romantic. And a bad joke teller.<br />
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We also replaced the ceiling fan in the kitchen and bought the most beautiful bubble pendant for our dining room you've even seen. But in an effort to get all three of you to come back for more next week, we'll save that for another day. <br />
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We're off to do laundry now. With both machines in one location. Probably ought to go ahead and get #laundryballerstatus trending now that we're living the dream.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-47850670583836707142014-11-25T14:58:00.000-05:002014-11-25T15:03:06.215-05:00Home is where the hearth is.<h4>
Yeah we didn't build a hearth, but it's the only fireplace pun I could think of.</h4>
Christmas time is fast approaching, and this is our first Christmas as a family with a fireplace. But you know what we were missing? A mantel to hang our stockings on! It's one of the only things you can't buy at Target so like any red blooded DIY family, we decided to build one.<br />
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In keeping with the mid-century style of our house, we didn't want anything ornate. Just a clean, simple mantel. We took some measurements and photos, and I put them in SketchUp so we could play with heights and sizes. I decided to actually "build" it so that we could use the model to get lumber measurements.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN-4BhGunybMV1u4OavIjZvMT7fMnEe5FMUijblt-B3fAhF35jb0pSXb1QyzhsZ2Uji3zlA_4jh9hnmjaMqLB96U_eQYFvSULEDJt8WPSfXg0IDoRzNwBwAhHJGD_ryZMmVT_ZQMGmWd8/s1600/fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN-4BhGunybMV1u4OavIjZvMT7fMnEe5FMUijblt-B3fAhF35jb0pSXb1QyzhsZ2Uji3zlA_4jh9hnmjaMqLB96U_eQYFvSULEDJt8WPSfXg0IDoRzNwBwAhHJGD_ryZMmVT_ZQMGmWd8/s1600/fireplace.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're right, the actual hearth IS sloping and we need to jack it up. Stop being so judgy.</td></tr>
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So on a Saturday morning, my trusty project manager and I headed to my parents' house to use dad's table saw. I wanted to build a frame that we'd attach to the brick, and then a sleeve of nicer wood to slide over top. That meant we had to build the 2x4 frame first in order to get proper measurements for the sleeve.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frame - done.</td></tr>
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This part was super easy and then all we had to do was measure and cut for the sleeve - which due to my project manager's nap schedule, would have to be constructed back at home.<br />
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Since drilling into masonry would probably wake him up, Sarah and I used nap time to put the sleeve together. Using the slightly more expensive wood was definitely worth it. Once everyone was awake, it was time to attach the frame to the hearth. This required another set of hands, so we called on our good friend and extra muscle, Kenneth (last seen ripping out the old desk in the den). With a long masonry bit, some masonry anchors, and brute force - that thing was up in no time. And thanks to careful measuring, the sleeve slid right on. Easy. Breezy. Beautiful. Cover Girl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7S2UcVxBgI948mzmiQ790tUDT-qPt3xmrQ5w0jIDdBgBkHdkAy7ynquPxo3K8y4x6uVYOg8UCdHhR1fpHZaN0tEKroqna8bkyuNj4v7vz3APa1CGeZLeHhfjeDTPdQDnY0Swkx7EhZV8/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7S2UcVxBgI948mzmiQ790tUDT-qPt3xmrQ5w0jIDdBgBkHdkAy7ynquPxo3K8y4x6uVYOg8UCdHhR1fpHZaN0tEKroqna8bkyuNj4v7vz3APa1CGeZLeHhfjeDTPdQDnY0Swkx7EhZV8/s1600/IMG_4180.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took the face off of the frame so that I could drill into the masonry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISvQbqWyIL0ZeUAQDnEKOB-tDMBIW7proxdrjOooVk6oml51uIP5xHfL8KcQ-HgwNKNhjNOY4lkQ3XfsdfmPVDjBSLn3q8a-L_guubggzJGnohrM-8JbcmS1G0BG2depOyrPL6gn7_ZXV/s1600/IMG_4182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISvQbqWyIL0ZeUAQDnEKOB-tDMBIW7proxdrjOooVk6oml51uIP5xHfL8KcQ-HgwNKNhjNOY4lkQ3XfsdfmPVDjBSLn3q8a-L_guubggzJGnohrM-8JbcmS1G0BG2depOyrPL6gn7_ZXV/s1600/IMG_4182.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're beautiful. They're brilliant. And they work for <strike>Charlie</strike> Sarah.</td></tr>
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The next morning, Sarah painted the sleeve while that lazy project manager napped and I raked leaves. After a few coats, it was ready to be put permanently in place. Slide on, screw down. Puddy holes. Merry Christmas (and all before Thanksgiving).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ho-Ho-Hope you don't notice the puddy sitting on top!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-23304939350689036682014-11-16T10:42:00.001-05:002014-11-16T10:42:25.343-05:00A Tale of Two Doors<br />
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Today we're sharing TWO different projects we've just wrapped up. But before you get too excited, let's remember that we are the worst photographers in the world (we use our iPhones to capture the images and even then, we don't take special precaution for what the lighting is like, if we're in focus, if we've had one too many spiked apple ciders...). Now that we've got that disclaimer out of the way, let's go be underwhelmed together.<br />
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First, the front door. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_n_KOqu9iV12n6Mm3laKXAC4r3ssBJaK25T9MKkSrsotEzGAJvDS3ZB6CtoZZmmwnUR_41MuO0i4C_Mc5i-RWXGAlXc3sqJguRl-2mhd6Opu12y0Di7TlZepuor6-pPmKx4iMuAG-8xx/s1600/FRONT+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_n_KOqu9iV12n6Mm3laKXAC4r3ssBJaK25T9MKkSrsotEzGAJvDS3ZB6CtoZZmmwnUR_41MuO0i4C_Mc5i-RWXGAlXc3sqJguRl-2mhd6Opu12y0Di7TlZepuor6-pPmKx4iMuAG-8xx/s1600/FRONT+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from listing.</td></tr>
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We've shared some of the <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/04/our-date-nights-are-trips-to-lowes-part.html" target="_blank">lighting upgrades</a> we made to jazz up our curb appeal, pretty much right after we moved in. We swapped out the numbers on the house (look closely - the original numbers are to the right of the windows... and above the front door... and then a third time on a post by the curb) and changed the mailbox. But one thing we hadn't discussed was the front door. Oh sweet baby Jesus the front door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz0TZXtR56nM2wUkXfcvvQrYZ5vUOW4EXQXk8vL5yXgUgpP87nqP3jNID6h4w-rWkLk73hW_Lhk9f-FH8APX9GviM3iARcabP7P8OEByfkUPnbJz7V_GHzMyQp8hMnS_5zhdG6IUMR1Zf/s1600/20140301_142624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMz0TZXtR56nM2wUkXfcvvQrYZ5vUOW4EXQXk8vL5yXgUgpP87nqP3jNID6h4w-rWkLk73hW_Lhk9f-FH8APX9GviM3iARcabP7P8OEByfkUPnbJz7V_GHzMyQp8hMnS_5zhdG6IUMR1Zf/s1600/20140301_142624.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture from the listing and the only one I could find that showed the color, not blocked by the storm door.</td></tr>
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I think we can all agree that the front door is the window to the home. You can quote me on that. What I mean, is that it sets the tone for the rest of the house. And the tone we were setting was being communicated in a very Gilbert Gottfried type voice. This picture doesn't even do it justice. It was so loud and obnoxious. I like a bold, happy green. This was not that green.</div>
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So all along, we'd had plans to repaint it. Moreover, there was no deadbolt, which we felt was semi-important from a security standpoint since the brass handle lockset (which was installed backwards) only latched if you slammed the door. Super fun closing that guy when the baby was sleeping.</div>
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With new hardware on order, we debated what color to paint it. The siding on the house is grey and cream and so we were playing with a weird balance of warm and cool. Truth be known, we don't love the cream siding but that's a project we may never tackle. As Nick was installing the new hardware one Sunday afternoon, I started peeling the paint with my fingernail. (Quality job, you can imagine). It started to peel off in sheets as I imagine it hadn't been primed before it was painted. This revealed a cream paint behind the green. And if we're all reading carefully, I just told you the cream was not our jam. </div>
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The back side of the door was left the natural wood so I started to think...what if we just strip the paint and have a natural wood door? </div>
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Using the extremely caustic paint stripper (<a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2012/09/extreme-makeover-dresser-edition.html" target="_blank">that we also used to strip our guest room dresser a while back</a>) we started to strip it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpA81qUJVjdCAppC6uCBKgO9-2LMg8yNcCqRfutt2ayVTNwtLw4zQhGQgM9lP9t8UZBCljMTPjvwhlrVLaCgO3hh34zQdFkpBZaMXYw7KLRBv3iZTCSjfNdLQvXUk0ANqEPkwAWWS9RZv/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpA81qUJVjdCAppC6uCBKgO9-2LMg8yNcCqRfutt2ayVTNwtLw4zQhGQgM9lP9t8UZBCljMTPjvwhlrVLaCgO3hh34zQdFkpBZaMXYw7KLRBv3iZTCSjfNdLQvXUk0ANqEPkwAWWS9RZv/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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It took quite a bit of arm power as the cream paint had (in my estimation) been original to the house, built in 1962. But with a few coats, some scraping and then a strong sanding, we got her naked. </div>
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Then it was a matter of staining and sealing (same color as the rest of the wood in the house).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFx8yymUENVNoYqXnLLGrMZyKoIn-URTP6KFdXV65wwf0CrnLpAFPvyd7997bjGpgLFPHpXg-KKTIWw8BRc4AooFzDtSuSQG6lPiiJIa_v3ndV3AmkJryDnzF5jLPt5K2aZqSnES_Pks5/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFx8yymUENVNoYqXnLLGrMZyKoIn-URTP6KFdXV65wwf0CrnLpAFPvyd7997bjGpgLFPHpXg-KKTIWw8BRc4AooFzDtSuSQG6lPiiJIa_v3ndV3AmkJryDnzF5jLPt5K2aZqSnES_Pks5/s1600/IMG_3901.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First coat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3jGHJjuAOZsdM_VrSxGodpaY8olSrMN7x58OqwhO52uUW2AM6EInWK0NAfHqvhreCb3uLqp4XWYFr_VJ001wzaj0CGvcyJGLd5UaOMGI7LD9D0WttV3duAxPPF2k3rZkk4qylqEWzxIW/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3jGHJjuAOZsdM_VrSxGodpaY8olSrMN7x58OqwhO52uUW2AM6EInWK0NAfHqvhreCb3uLqp4XWYFr_VJ001wzaj0CGvcyJGLd5UaOMGI7LD9D0WttV3duAxPPF2k3rZkk4qylqEWzxIW/s1600/IMG_3902.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After first coat...showing some imperfections in the wood.</td></tr>
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Three coats later, she was done. And we also removed the storm door. With all the glass in the transom and the side light, we didn't feel the storm door added enough value to block the door. And we're much happier with the look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_6C8tAlI-TQepwBRtuUQhjVzrXmP1h3jyi0K3iEtnxxNPHdXM7P6VwEOOxLLbB8MwVrFcAV-i3r2mBODJ2iI1Ks6T5GeKFe5U4Vz0m_Ydx0R1lDRdYOKFLMZrYds2-Hbi4ARElu6jQq_/s1600/20141114_150228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_6C8tAlI-TQepwBRtuUQhjVzrXmP1h3jyi0K3iEtnxxNPHdXM7P6VwEOOxLLbB8MwVrFcAV-i3r2mBODJ2iI1Ks6T5GeKFe5U4Vz0m_Ydx0R1lDRdYOKFLMZrYds2-Hbi4ARElu6jQq_/s1600/20141114_150228.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New hardware helps, too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE77EKnnX_IncIsFG8FNN-0nvEGkDJ-W39AdYhJnvMhqQ0sTkQpHIKFvP2D7DcKAclsd93yXuSoZfr6m_InyYDOn4_Jn9KU4tgljE_GuavtzmBK0nhR19LqjTg7l3qrEhCwWRlgfmAG9D/s1600/20141114_150317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE77EKnnX_IncIsFG8FNN-0nvEGkDJ-W39AdYhJnvMhqQ0sTkQpHIKFvP2D7DcKAclsd93yXuSoZfr6m_InyYDOn4_Jn9KU4tgljE_GuavtzmBK0nhR19LqjTg7l3qrEhCwWRlgfmAG9D/s1600/20141114_150317.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like my afters before my befores. Because I'm a rebel.</td></tr>
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It obviously does not look like a professionally stained door. Or a new door, for that matter. Heck, we may even decide to paint it one day. But with the cost of the stripper and stain, it was much cheaper than getting a new door and we're happy enough with it in the interim. </div>
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Now onto my favorite of the two door projects...barn doors for our master closet. One of my favorite bloggers had written <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2014/06/how-to-build-a-lightweight-sliding-barn-door.html" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">this tutorial</a> to build a light weight, inexpensive barn door. When we bought the place, our closet had no doors, so we've been looking in on it for over 6 months. And as much as I like looking upon my shoe spoils, I was ready to hide that junk. </div>
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The tutorial had to be adapted to accommodate two skinny doors versus one large door as we didn't have the room for just one large panel to stack back. </div>
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We hadn't actually done anything in our master bedroom yet (except find a vintage bedroom set with dressers from a store in Mebane) so I was looking for inspiration. After perusing my <a href="http://www.premierprintsinc.com/" target="_blank">new favorite fabric store</a>, I found this beauty.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlB8T3ZsURTQ9hn8OOOxCJ4isurW7dYkTtN5ZCGf7yreVfHaeJt-ykq6G4vKj4RSZB6-6PgHrhASX00qBsdDX2myrUfcic5g2S-EWL9vVUfBZ1m0_85LYfD2pDFqF8HC86g_s6Xe8QPmg/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlB8T3ZsURTQ9hn8OOOxCJ4isurW7dYkTtN5ZCGf7yreVfHaeJt-ykq6G4vKj4RSZB6-6PgHrhASX00qBsdDX2myrUfcic5g2S-EWL9vVUfBZ1m0_85LYfD2pDFqF8HC86g_s6Xe8QPmg/s1600/IMG_4017.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Nick needed some convincing as he wasn't sure if it was too girly, but I assured him, everything else in the room would eventually butch it up. So I snatched up 2-1/2 yards (I was able to work it so I could cut the 54" wide fabric in half to cover each door) and off we went to get the lumber. </div>
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Since her tutorial is pretty in depth, I'll be finishing this story pictographically. Because, who didn't prefer picture books to word books when they were younger?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne0baofBcm62PmCqQmTn-tIgRR9Op8MmAKF9YkylydekmLUKxrif_H9a9EH0xAY-plgwaXWMSTr3iRmzbp0X1a5zHIlNXXFtuAhbNry0qKlt7dVe40F3pAaEklG-ffadLD6Fu1Zvv5NmB/s1600/IMG_4006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgne0baofBcm62PmCqQmTn-tIgRR9Op8MmAKF9YkylydekmLUKxrif_H9a9EH0xAY-plgwaXWMSTr3iRmzbp0X1a5zHIlNXXFtuAhbNry0qKlt7dVe40F3pAaEklG-ffadLD6Fu1Zvv5NmB/s1600/IMG_4006.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plan, plan, plan!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1WXzuhsRjwvdPOSperE41df4xsfvU4P8bxOmblO-_fe3S2RwVtKCargzu33A51IjV1xQ8p7cDQ2Z_meO1E7FjkRcCFzha3VZdUXoSYuDlXrgqS09MhFPJNKu6Osj3vWVqxrj1cgiGm5v/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1WXzuhsRjwvdPOSperE41df4xsfvU4P8bxOmblO-_fe3S2RwVtKCargzu33A51IjV1xQ8p7cDQ2Z_meO1E7FjkRcCFzha3VZdUXoSYuDlXrgqS09MhFPJNKu6Osj3vWVqxrj1cgiGm5v/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut, screw and repeat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EmkbevRpmdju4l1j_QJQh5fA56nHPmOHB1CPt3nxv_0bPxxIm4ciYq8RsKL6keCkHz6mHk865qxSp39hBejshtwwGMGOrQUYF2I46d6Y7bDt-Dq3EqAk40955z_0mLCbXDL_Op8nKdqV/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EmkbevRpmdju4l1j_QJQh5fA56nHPmOHB1CPt3nxv_0bPxxIm4ciYq8RsKL6keCkHz6mHk865qxSp39hBejshtwwGMGOrQUYF2I46d6Y7bDt-Dq3EqAk40955z_0mLCbXDL_Op8nKdqV/s1600/IMG_4008.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find yourself an adorable project manager. This one loves kitties, pesto and long walks up (and down) the hallway.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7HazB2Dwp6Q5lJ037zPd3g2vUrYabnKSHEZ8q_UW-ozhcfI1n0gV4QAbXaXrDaPCERdZXIrxDupX6z9gNF-Z_GFU4BHUpXOt6Up_9E-waQdUxg08rM6DxXwF3ZsD1JwytJA-ZMx-br7V/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7HazB2Dwp6Q5lJ037zPd3g2vUrYabnKSHEZ8q_UW-ozhcfI1n0gV4QAbXaXrDaPCERdZXIrxDupX6z9gNF-Z_GFU4BHUpXOt6Up_9E-waQdUxg08rM6DxXwF3ZsD1JwytJA-ZMx-br7V/s1600/IMG_4015.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrap it like a canvas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiWrU59ukAlBSpJ5fFvA_yOthINElx_6zMpsYNf8Ls1HcPnS_Ac3IsBJneXfO8w63ARr3j9GDgYdN4gQg75WqGQcFMoUr_XQvFWNDC1aPBDJrs4pq0xCXWD7b1oUL7tJgEe9jI8VRfqa7/s1600/IMG_4016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKiWrU59ukAlBSpJ5fFvA_yOthINElx_6zMpsYNf8Ls1HcPnS_Ac3IsBJneXfO8w63ARr3j9GDgYdN4gQg75WqGQcFMoUr_XQvFWNDC1aPBDJrs4pq0xCXWD7b1oUL7tJgEe9jI8VRfqa7/s1600/IMG_4016.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staple like a boss.</td></tr>
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(Process pictures were strangely not taken here as I guess we'd had one too many spiked ciders but we chose to paint our outer frame with the white trim paint that we've got throughout the house. This was then added to the outside of the panels to give us the below product.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Z36lXGNEsTpI1r8s-cSlnNDUxU5Idfye-Wi7kgcVPfDQZO-GR3yX3rPDzuEqBBqXPRjGiO0Cm2fe5Ou2SXThL8y5eunnTjeIKgFZtlVmA7XPhGZkkMFwWL0LBSiv3phzqFyOZCw0zlI/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Z36lXGNEsTpI1r8s-cSlnNDUxU5Idfye-Wi7kgcVPfDQZO-GR3yX3rPDzuEqBBqXPRjGiO0Cm2fe5Ou2SXThL8y5eunnTjeIKgFZtlVmA7XPhGZkkMFwWL0LBSiv3phzqFyOZCw0zlI/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatchy'all know about some crazy wood panelling in the dining room?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypEo6WNiScpXl_CHUuOn5gdGRhrZS7nhmaHPMyVk-A4ddSm25cRr1kTlTBU4kQS68GiSVQDm-PoXDLjE0DYFOBDBq3CVr0cpqaf13gm3xISPMixdJcNy_R3avzVJit8PqMm0W7YJpZudD/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjypEo6WNiScpXl_CHUuOn5gdGRhrZS7nhmaHPMyVk-A4ddSm25cRr1kTlTBU4kQS68GiSVQDm-PoXDLjE0DYFOBDBq3CVr0cpqaf13gm3xISPMixdJcNy_R3avzVJit8PqMm0W7YJpZudD/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They see me rollin'...</td></tr>
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And then we put up the pipe and flanges on the wall (this took 4 people...two to hold, one to screw and one to distract our project manager from eating said screws).</div>
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And voila.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZq5iUjHA1vAcc8TwyNfcPnKtudvLY3mGPb3Fmc0pOcr_b16DWqlBdqKmvt7TTcmCg_nFYBWbMNbfu__FJWUkpJQ1CYxFa3XJHd2XTciJyvjVhqKKOLa5KOsl1EbW7C0pJH8XnxsDqnFI/s1600/20141114_150645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZq5iUjHA1vAcc8TwyNfcPnKtudvLY3mGPb3Fmc0pOcr_b16DWqlBdqKmvt7TTcmCg_nFYBWbMNbfu__FJWUkpJQ1CYxFa3XJHd2XTciJyvjVhqKKOLa5KOsl1EbW7C0pJH8XnxsDqnFI/s1600/20141114_150645.jpg" height="640" width="382" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEuC7p4pxOtTP8TrhPlLOr_S6IQvKChGlzr13SNvZX3A1ysyhHrf3fmMEFWsgdW__5zTdjdHudeHW_wiBLvMXVS0pm8UOkJOY1JKFptGtOI9zzLkSeiIbsEPnjAPZALY_uikvtuhkIXIP/s1600/20141114_150703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEuC7p4pxOtTP8TrhPlLOr_S6IQvKChGlzr13SNvZX3A1ysyhHrf3fmMEFWsgdW__5zTdjdHudeHW_wiBLvMXVS0pm8UOkJOY1JKFptGtOI9zzLkSeiIbsEPnjAPZALY_uikvtuhkIXIP/s1600/20141114_150703.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsQhZR3wLrbojVBFohelEL6zgqvlOYbLXx5z-CssT8PhdHC1R1onUXA_tWHW8oEUp_qZNSfVxyz54JZzQa32whYHbMO-iC4Lm4BqtXyhWWr2vFu0ghQU7GvW1JZuB3qdbxNEdA3uLD9vo/s1600/20141114_150741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsQhZR3wLrbojVBFohelEL6zgqvlOYbLXx5z-CssT8PhdHC1R1onUXA_tWHW8oEUp_qZNSfVxyz54JZzQa32whYHbMO-iC4Lm4BqtXyhWWr2vFu0ghQU7GvW1JZuB3qdbxNEdA3uLD9vo/s1600/20141114_150741.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See how they have to stack back on either side versus one large panel?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzpSMjBKzE3-w9ZKVZVR4oyNNUjiqttWACL_c5ICrY_4oTuyKJ6TqTcEeafNP4C2s1RJquOy1a1CBPuzNKuvtY_z7lx3RiE2unpB8RpxjzNgdzNqLHDRzvUBBmrh8cTHQGByctHsU-GSu/s1600/20141114_150838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzpSMjBKzE3-w9ZKVZVR4oyNNUjiqttWACL_c5ICrY_4oTuyKJ6TqTcEeafNP4C2s1RJquOy1a1CBPuzNKuvtY_z7lx3RiE2unpB8RpxjzNgdzNqLHDRzvUBBmrh8cTHQGByctHsU-GSu/s1600/20141114_150838.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One door closed.</td></tr>
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So I'm really loving the doors. I like that nobody else in the world has these exact doors and I can finally start pulling the rest of the room together. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEuC7p4pxOtTP8TrhPlLOr_S6IQvKChGlzr13SNvZX3A1ysyhHrf3fmMEFWsgdW__5zTdjdHudeHW_wiBLvMXVS0pm8UOkJOY1JKFptGtOI9zzLkSeiIbsEPnjAPZALY_uikvtuhkIXIP/s1600/20141114_150703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEuC7p4pxOtTP8TrhPlLOr_S6IQvKChGlzr13SNvZX3A1ysyhHrf3fmMEFWsgdW__5zTdjdHudeHW_wiBLvMXVS0pm8UOkJOY1JKFptGtOI9zzLkSeiIbsEPnjAPZALY_uikvtuhkIXIP/s1600/20141114_150703.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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We just bought a new pendant light and will be painting soon. I'm surprised I put this off for as long as we did, but when you spend most of your time with your eyes closed in a room, it's easy for it to fall down the list. But with these a-door-able barn doors, we're heading in the right direction.<br />
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(Who doesn't love to mic drop with a good pun?)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-60718741495068233692014-11-10T21:51:00.002-05:002014-11-10T21:51:06.881-05:00An Exercise in Futility.So I got my fifth StitchFix in the mail earlier today. I knew it was on the way (aka I'd been tracking the shipment on my phone like a maniac) and debated in my mind whether or not I'd write a post about it. It's a lot of work, ya know? Trying on the clothes, taking pictures, downing a half bag of Oreos, writing captions and opinions, trying to figure out how Nick's FREAKING Mac works, researching hilarious GIFs that are relevant to my thought process, all whilst trying to be mildly entertaining...<br />
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But I love gettin' my Fix on. And I want the whole world (ahem, six of you) to know it.<br />
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A few good friends suggested I keep it short. HA. Maybe they aren't that good of friends because brevity is a skill I've yet to master. Worth a shot though, right?<br />
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Oh, and as I've alluded to in the past, the "taking pictures of yourself wearing clothes" part is very awkward for me, so my strategy this go round is to photoshop pictures of gals I've been told I resemble on to my body. (Full disclosure: Nick is amazing at graphics. He does it as part of his job. But I didn't want to ask him to do this for me so I'm totally handling this on my own. Brace yourself for some pretty horrible mutations.)<br />
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My girl Blake styled me again and in her note mentioned a few things that she sent would pair well with the Kenzie jeans I got in my last fix. (By the way y'all, I wear those jeans like...errrrrry day. I lurve them.) I scheduled this Fix a while back thinking I could use a punch of fun as fall rolled around. Little did I know that I'd be knee deep in home renovation stuff (a post coming later this week about that!) so our expendable cash, like always, was slim. So most of my decisions are monetary but that won't stop me from spilling my unfiltered thoughts all over your screen.<br />
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<b>Pomelo Avah Chevron Print Dolman Sleeve Top as modeled by Nancy Kerrigan</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnRE1cbnBSc3IeK-Pzz-zYvw_v7d2bPY1shQEjimoqRaoU-VJtkzbehsEnz6HLyK6_gMl_Sq1BYvRkWpvpBjfQpZCiDJJWbxnZlAfVyavXHffMQ0h8O_lnYGNJtpMUx4eBemRQs-PFSMD/s1600/Nancy.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnRE1cbnBSc3IeK-Pzz-zYvw_v7d2bPY1shQEjimoqRaoU-VJtkzbehsEnz6HLyK6_gMl_Sq1BYvRkWpvpBjfQpZCiDJJWbxnZlAfVyavXHffMQ0h8O_lnYGNJtpMUx4eBemRQs-PFSMD/s1600/Nancy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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While I very much like the shape and fit of this top, when I looked in the mirror, this is what I saw:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0Iyuiv_HtXQFQ44VOv2ur_YY5KwqBagjLpuZbI9K0ArfFkV9DHZoI3NN5JTPDaeXWO8wFJ3YxfauY0OQfd8UUA3TwzTYE7LxEEf-ZUWKwZkqvPt-0PNdGS2RdhrwseCfAe5pEOKmfwx1/s1600/img-thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0Iyuiv_HtXQFQ44VOv2ur_YY5KwqBagjLpuZbI9K0ArfFkV9DHZoI3NN5JTPDaeXWO8wFJ3YxfauY0OQfd8UUA3TwzTYE7LxEEf-ZUWKwZkqvPt-0PNdGS2RdhrwseCfAe5pEOKmfwx1/s1600/img-thing.jpg" /></a></div>
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Last I checked, Easter Egg Sexy wasn't a style trend. If you're interested in starting a new movement, let me know. I might reconsider.</div>
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<b>Fate: Livy Zipper Pocket Open Drape Blazer as modeled by Jessica Biel</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4FXrBsxAn2K33vRSSbHBz5Q4Z3RPYki0_nXhyphenhyphenZclUF1KU8wAiXSOJoz5cH0XMgIvWXllxpvFlYuieU5_j6grVtVteExxNl_Ihz_F1HJT_rPUoacttGGkQR5HooS9EZ8TqdOGgipkfQqk/s1600/Blazer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4FXrBsxAn2K33vRSSbHBz5Q4Z3RPYki0_nXhyphenhyphenZclUF1KU8wAiXSOJoz5cH0XMgIvWXllxpvFlYuieU5_j6grVtVteExxNl_Ihz_F1HJT_rPUoacttGGkQR5HooS9EZ8TqdOGgipkfQqk/s1600/Blazer.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I loved this blazer. I don't really love coats (I know that's a weird thing to say, but it's true) and this one was really amazing. It was versatile and different. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQtuh34xxktfCfuOeDx_Swee7IiHR9Y9Z09GV8ikL92oKysXbXUc9aZXmJ0m2YEuOEVf_XoOSPmekd0KtR2L-sTx20JJBIvoe82o4CCbAnhLx1nA5okrr6jzSTyGgAUUR1X468TinISh/s1600/blazer+open.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQtuh34xxktfCfuOeDx_Swee7IiHR9Y9Z09GV8ikL92oKysXbXUc9aZXmJ0m2YEuOEVf_XoOSPmekd0KtR2L-sTx20JJBIvoe82o4CCbAnhLx1nA5okrr6jzSTyGgAUUR1X468TinISh/s1600/blazer+open.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wGsCPpOkysSRhmCuTYpoC0J0BxcImhgFk2IYNL6IHM_mTBFspBsgRxkdifZYiHKKDWObj1TWVnVkgZaTvH_pj0QumTTMjuHgb9d6VAYcCLMAZ7icuu5TFh7k1iCZW7cBSnF5sZHzRDWp/s1600/blazer+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wGsCPpOkysSRhmCuTYpoC0J0BxcImhgFk2IYNL6IHM_mTBFspBsgRxkdifZYiHKKDWObj1TWVnVkgZaTvH_pj0QumTTMjuHgb9d6VAYcCLMAZ7icuu5TFh7k1iCZW7cBSnF5sZHzRDWp/s1600/blazer+back.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I would have bought it in a heart beat but the sleeves were too tight. This is one of the rare occasions that something has not fit me well. Usually they're pretty good about finding the right sizes for you but they can't all be winners. If I wasn't quickly losing feeling in my fingers when I bent my elbows, it would have wound up in my closet.<br />
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<a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/tumblr_lz3bzcXrmq1qdzj0yo1_500_zpsrqjl9jdj.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/tumblr_lz3bzcXrmq1qdzj0yo1_500_zpsrqjl9jdj.gif" height="210" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Market and Square Earl Lace Detail Knit Top as modeled by Megan Draper</b><br />
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Ok, things are starting to get weird here but go with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO4LqoKsiraL8K8Y1lY_ZsKLvHT1mT47rxfLfHaDYNDin2LLVBf_dbzdbaNcn1fvgpRKqtc-8j4qwahLsGz6YwPEVsDlpUrFvFOCsgwjd68Zntixm7j5b2wAp68QQvLNJ4SxxpJ1ePrtx/s1600/IMG_4140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO4LqoKsiraL8K8Y1lY_ZsKLvHT1mT47rxfLfHaDYNDin2LLVBf_dbzdbaNcn1fvgpRKqtc-8j4qwahLsGz6YwPEVsDlpUrFvFOCsgwjd68Zntixm7j5b2wAp68QQvLNJ4SxxpJ1ePrtx/s1600/IMG_4140.JPG" height="320" width="235" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIvGFKr1PJ5VToAuWHsNhzGai8uHXv4r48K5E0gMHY5b4clDCEl8vBW2ayE4nW_LGUoYB5dQSmlMYcgt3XfKFReNxFi84d1eKGUOLchZ5xG_b9y-r049DleEn3i_sYUPcoUbBpNI9PfnV/s1600/IMG_4141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIvGFKr1PJ5VToAuWHsNhzGai8uHXv4r48K5E0gMHY5b4clDCEl8vBW2ayE4nW_LGUoYB5dQSmlMYcgt3XfKFReNxFi84d1eKGUOLchZ5xG_b9y-r049DleEn3i_sYUPcoUbBpNI9PfnV/s1600/IMG_4141.JPG" height="400" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you believe I've never had any photoshop training?</td></tr>
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Imagine the softest thing you've ever touched. A baby rabbit. A cloud. Pudding skin. Now listen to me when I tell you, this shirt is softer than all of those things. And with some lace detail to boot? GIRL YOU CRAY. <br />
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Here's where the penny pincher in me ruled the day. This shirt, while something I would probably wear a lot, was $54. And something about a heather gray shirt that cost more than my gas bill last month rubbed me the wrong way. So while the style and fit were spot on, the trifecta was broken when it came to dolla bills. Womp womp.<br />
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<b>Kut from the Kloth Danny 5-Pocket Knit Pant as modeled by me as I have yet to have anyone tell me my butt resembles a celebrity. Yet.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRBntQEeddd-Ulc3o7AHK3GUR2DjmiagNvpaTtPFHilXcb4fdqtUr82hIL4VcfCRgIcdzabFwoMPqPKPD3kIGre2U_oorTvahqkZHgLj4NLrjJsvW_b1aLdElUYar6jzHiZIiFjoLgNfx/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRBntQEeddd-Ulc3o7AHK3GUR2DjmiagNvpaTtPFHilXcb4fdqtUr82hIL4VcfCRgIcdzabFwoMPqPKPD3kIGre2U_oorTvahqkZHgLj4NLrjJsvW_b1aLdElUYar6jzHiZIiFjoLgNfx/s1600/IMG_4128.JPG" height="400" width="252" /></a></div>
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Stretchy, colorful and fits well. How's that for concise? GIVE HER AN AWARD, PEOPLE!<br />
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<b>Pixley Josie Sequin Elbow Patch Cardigan as modeled by Liv Tyler</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably a more accurate color rendition.</td></tr>
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Oh, a plain ol' grey cardigan? Yawn. But wait!<br />
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SEQUINS! Y'all, I squealed when I opened the box and saw this. Everyone knows my favorite color is sparkle. I'm totally that girl who wore tutus and sequins and sparkles all over everything when I was younger and the adult version of me would lie, murder and steal to find an appropriate way to incorporate it into my current wardrobe.</div>
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. </div>
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So that's the abbreviated story of my fifth fix. If you missed my first four...well, just go back and search for them. Consider it your workout for the day. </div>
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And if you're interested in a Fix of your own, <a href="https://stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">click here</a> to get started. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, too. I may answer them in a funny accent or Pig Latin, but that's just because I'm hopped up on Oreos. Turns out doing all those weird celebrity head graphics called for a whole bag.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-28245106573415983152014-08-26T21:17:00.000-04:002014-08-29T08:04:17.616-04:00Welcome to the Wolves DenAfter <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/04/our-date-nights-are-trips-to-lowes-part.html" target="_blank">we totally teased you</a> with a partial tour of the house, we kinda fell off the map. So sue us. Nobody pays us to do this blog. (YET. Beyonce, I'm looking at you.)<br>
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But we have good reasons. Besides being chronically sleep deprived, we have been doing some pretty epic work/home juggling with my sweet mama out recovering from surgery. And in the midst of it all...we were doing a den renovation. <br>
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So here's what's going to happen. We're going to do this mostly with pictures. We'll sprinkle in some context here and there but honestly, everyone just wants to see the goods. <br>
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The room we're dishing about is on the backside of our carport. <br>
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The house was built in 1962 but this den addition was done sometime in the 1970s. The seller (who grew up in the house) told us they used it as a rec room. It had a ping pong table in it for years. <br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXUvU7mBoObDFtMbLLLy18H7ReB8ln4vsnlHCY0QVsV_Jbh53CjN90d7UA2NGQVOaRM6TLDlhbugvz_UCNvn1mhAgmycfRm0E4anmoXCopwX770lfiCoeRaueUmUFu3zvUGDSQohRrOBd/s1600/den+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXUvU7mBoObDFtMbLLLy18H7ReB8ln4vsnlHCY0QVsV_Jbh53CjN90d7UA2NGQVOaRM6TLDlhbugvz_UCNvn1mhAgmycfRm0E4anmoXCopwX770lfiCoeRaueUmUFu3zvUGDSQohRrOBd/s1600/den+1.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I imagine their friends used to sit on the built ins by the window and yell "far out!" and "groovy!" after a good play.</td></tr>
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<br>Orange. Wood paneling. Bronze blinds. Old built-in desk that was de-laminating from old gas heater. Weird light fixture that may have been pieced together from an old wooden ship from the Civil War era. A popcorn ceiling (the only one in the house) that Nick's dad got rid of for us.<br><br>And back when we mentioned an interior window we removed from Carter's room, you saw a glimpse of the den. <div>
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Carter's side of the wall got prettied up fast but we had a big white blob on our dreamsicle orange wall for nearly 6 months. No, it didn't give me panic attacks. Why do you ask? </div>
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We spent a few months saving up and then selling virtually everything that was in the den. It had become the catchall for the random furniture that we didn't have a place for in the house. So I made a list, gave it to Craig, and bank rolled that ish to help fund the reno. <br>
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We borrowed our friend's truck and made a massive Ikea trip. The ensuing 3 hour drive home was fairly stressful since we had our hazard lights on the entire ride on I-40. The next morning, we put our enormous couch together.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Baby shown for scale. </span></td></tr>
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And then we put a call out to our Community Group to help us with the heavy labor. Have we no shame?</div>
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The gas heater came out, as well as the upper corner of wood paneling. We used what was taken down and replaced the panel where the heater was. (If you're wondering why we didn't remove all of the paneling, there was no gyp board behind the panel and it would have been a severe undertaking to prep the room. Uh, no thanks.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb96uCx_6NZySkOr0U4swQSOq6emcmNHxrLgQXRDEo22UCR7lEjXhzSp-2B9UHS7YHgE2vNmDfFL3ORrJQJuItuxQ2RpgdXGH_FOdnsaCfcH0nmO6FfVJxFKVwVkXO_F146wAuTEoLF_jz/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb96uCx_6NZySkOr0U4swQSOq6emcmNHxrLgQXRDEo22UCR7lEjXhzSp-2B9UHS7YHgE2vNmDfFL3ORrJQJuItuxQ2RpgdXGH_FOdnsaCfcH0nmO6FfVJxFKVwVkXO_F146wAuTEoLF_jz/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></div>
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Existing froo-froo chair railing came down. (The profile was too ornate in our opinion, so we decided we'd put back something simpler.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG21McSJe79L4PPt8Vl7fmqOEeRTZuENcNU2hBFsL6nehVE9sliwylvVaM-u15VBMMamaqs8BB8_44zwsQixZ04oiom8MKUhdFeKAwsv1aw9ScRyaK5OI0fv8B2RhBnyCSJiV0XXhbKQDK/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG21McSJe79L4PPt8Vl7fmqOEeRTZuENcNU2hBFsL6nehVE9sliwylvVaM-u15VBMMamaqs8BB8_44zwsQixZ04oiom8MKUhdFeKAwsv1aw9ScRyaK5OI0fv8B2RhBnyCSJiV0XXhbKQDK/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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The original built in that smelled like an old man passing gas through an onion was the next to go.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcjTUg_EMNx-RObQW06zqVnQ2WneS7NF6TN6cn2PolZl7aSEqLXHzqhpUwKF_bgZZCi9MKaxwL-NfaIUGQ1nlxTXPLvlawINieTMGtfLiRkqE0WYZYg-YwruJ9o_iUlXpBxsCY26K2x9b/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcjTUg_EMNx-RObQW06zqVnQ2WneS7NF6TN6cn2PolZl7aSEqLXHzqhpUwKF_bgZZCi9MKaxwL-NfaIUGQ1nlxTXPLvlawINieTMGtfLiRkqE0WYZYg-YwruJ9o_iUlXpBxsCY26K2x9b/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkaXROPgno2C4QnNQKXtmaYLr-ZWcbkZ5xW7-mW8QFAEAg4SH03G9kEr8gPcDS5sQ6TWh8B8sBi5xCAYw9KXjUy-UfBt8Pv538voZZf1SQj0JoAev8zOYpPXphWbGdN6cAorNnw8DLgAs/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkaXROPgno2C4QnNQKXtmaYLr-ZWcbkZ5xW7-mW8QFAEAg4SH03G9kEr8gPcDS5sQ6TWh8B8sBi5xCAYw9KXjUy-UfBt8Pv538voZZf1SQj0JoAev8zOYpPXphWbGdN6cAorNnw8DLgAs/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5Qe_3ZmalHYB0UhkowgyiE9itSwakAxbve6F3e4yJgyiXi-4Z0dhMWoA2240azTIU7XyRmbVaplkkGKi84aPqJYN-6ogqeavgfiO7B6nf6qn81kW2IdW4LMS5bIh61yuAMBLOYTIKx2T/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5Qe_3ZmalHYB0UhkowgyiE9itSwakAxbve6F3e4yJgyiXi-4Z0dhMWoA2240azTIU7XyRmbVaplkkGKi84aPqJYN-6ogqeavgfiO7B6nf6qn81kW2IdW4LMS5bIh61yuAMBLOYTIKx2T/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a><br></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">As our dear friend Kenneth put it, "what they lacked in craftsmanship, they made up for in nails."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1tkz3AEatNoA-sSN_K9NNfMFoeriVH0W5i162hZPMtQocBNGhqftD22ulOpuNmNqbeOlnw8y2g4oHecMuruEwbHz8UkiF-P0WuaOprjy82EqH6m5kll5VdHJEfCG4V3bpe2zPmW3VfO0/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1tkz3AEatNoA-sSN_K9NNfMFoeriVH0W5i162hZPMtQocBNGhqftD22ulOpuNmNqbeOlnw8y2g4oHecMuruEwbHz8UkiF-P0WuaOprjy82EqH6m5kll5VdHJEfCG4V3bpe2zPmW3VfO0/s1600/IMG_2102.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BYE, SUCKA!</td></tr>
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One cool find from the demo was some of these old game cards. I'll be framing those and hanging them at some point.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23zGftYBugdUFHZsMQI7XNt56y-wdfjMsbKcGPiVbskLEYJSsxFvEW0qQH6qeR88geYTNIQ7Blxv4J-kLQFPjvALSyySFCXlabqYweCv7xZSyATWx8XD07OdbUHaJv_XWQUn6rXrY9S8W/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23zGftYBugdUFHZsMQI7XNt56y-wdfjMsbKcGPiVbskLEYJSsxFvEW0qQH6qeR88geYTNIQ7Blxv4J-kLQFPjvALSyySFCXlabqYweCv7xZSyATWx8XD07OdbUHaJv_XWQUn6rXrY9S8W/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zippy!</td></tr>
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The carpet under the built in needed to be patched, as did the area under the storage bench at the windows. Luckily, we saved the carpet we ripped up in other areas when we refinished the wood floors and we patched those areas.</div>
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To deal with the high gloss sheen on the panelling, we had to sand it with a palm sander. So everything got protected and our gal Lindsey went to town.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CCQ7yD0MiMdK90eTAyPVRMf6-7vPFDCA13Nhb8NEGQ_6Wa_4KyV2WHYvNjotkjUDyUstPOQn08a04Xq4lHja2R2Mzxloy2mca2dWopAtBP1nGoRMJbFaW5GozHYQJqdSKf3UWsIRs-vN/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CCQ7yD0MiMdK90eTAyPVRMf6-7vPFDCA13Nhb8NEGQ_6Wa_4KyV2WHYvNjotkjUDyUstPOQn08a04Xq4lHja2R2Mzxloy2mca2dWopAtBP1nGoRMJbFaW5GozHYQJqdSKf3UWsIRs-vN/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></div>
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And then we added back some "moulding" @ the transition. It was basically a 1x3 topped with a 1x2. Elementary, my dear Watson. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkAKpv234OIzkvkCtbi_9svo8yMIDKdejRwhcMkTmZ3GMnjlp0tbdgnHjGL0IlEyYmJ5ppNXHhz1Bnn7wo5YHIhnE2udPxmGrC8ViJOuHEMhh-oEXGqmcTKYpE8V6CNlWWKEyCSJDT070/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQkAKpv234OIzkvkCtbi_9svo8yMIDKdejRwhcMkTmZ3GMnjlp0tbdgnHjGL0IlEyYmJ5ppNXHhz1Bnn7wo5YHIhnE2udPxmGrC8ViJOuHEMhh-oEXGqmcTKYpE8V6CNlWWKEyCSJDT070/s1600/IMG_0013.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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We installed some of our new Ikea cabinets and counter (since we loved the IDEA of a built in desk area but not the current implementation). No pictures of that as Nick and I tackled most of that together late at night and documenting that process was low on the priority list.<br>
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Then came time to get our friends super high. <br>
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Once the panelling was sanded, it needed to be primed to give it that extra tooth to ensure the latex paint would stay put. So we bought an oil based primer and invited our CG over again for some fumey fun.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnzbAui9q7miDoouTMpC83673tKjnzOGmdaUPIGqsZOYSBiLTzWcQcR6SG5C1kpAyXNggmoQEcKwNIfv61FMPnQh3rlGXV6A5CZdE4ZcoVXqmEgv1uyZWeXtF-qmTh2QFxmZvSohLWblQ/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnzbAui9q7miDoouTMpC83673tKjnzOGmdaUPIGqsZOYSBiLTzWcQcR6SG5C1kpAyXNggmoQEcKwNIfv61FMPnQh3rlGXV6A5CZdE4ZcoVXqmEgv1uyZWeXtF-qmTh2QFxmZvSohLWblQ/s1600/IMG_0015.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJYa2CPyTIApzO4HWZqOmu-vw373J-CDZ5CAPbOCeV2JvbgftKcCrGDavF6f-LDRZZh7b2xsC4R3G4R3jYmCsBeIS8AWzAyYLjtzWAhPHKp4So6lJKhlq0iStOcNpHJ1ssjGGt9h3QGuJ/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJYa2CPyTIApzO4HWZqOmu-vw373J-CDZ5CAPbOCeV2JvbgftKcCrGDavF6f-LDRZZh7b2xsC4R3G4R3jYmCsBeIS8AWzAyYLjtzWAhPHKp4So6lJKhlq0iStOcNpHJ1ssjGGt9h3QGuJ/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also primed the windows and all the trim. That was arguably the most time consuming.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmkq6EWKmzohUHGa1aWbeuHvlzK7c9FIFUFEg7XqhTgCcIYJsbREmaAwdqzc9bKDBCuGWoskncfovc6FbPTcktciUeUg32ferwNiUNCWmYqphHji9Z0lTShyLlro2DZAB16n1Vj-OBu7H/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmkq6EWKmzohUHGa1aWbeuHvlzK7c9FIFUFEg7XqhTgCcIYJsbREmaAwdqzc9bKDBCuGWoskncfovc6FbPTcktciUeUg32ferwNiUNCWmYqphHji9Z0lTShyLlro2DZAB16n1Vj-OBu7H/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J7pB3gt2IIby9Dy0hCYOV2r_CEBaJNCwHJA5IQXCTrhbaTdezqYFKCtaDDrMqPhbskihjGkbWuDF6EdFf2XdDxriZ7xCNsDsD2qSwpCYDNjO9WCrOfuUHEKy7tOUyJHejT-wWgyRWr5i/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J7pB3gt2IIby9Dy0hCYOV2r_CEBaJNCwHJA5IQXCTrhbaTdezqYFKCtaDDrMqPhbskihjGkbWuDF6EdFf2XdDxriZ7xCNsDsD2qSwpCYDNjO9WCrOfuUHEKy7tOUyJHejT-wWgyRWr5i/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
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Once the priming was done, we were actually ready to finish the room. We installed hardware on the cabinets. We painted the new chair rail, all the primed trim and window work a fresh white. We painted the walls.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQcFbsl72Zbmh7_ECZqeLYsY61WofcYyv0nGWkvWNM6fEoFyRj1AqT70KgvS-bC4IxWQBOArvn5e-6BMkfOMUF8bMVDXwqITuvFCsPS5lgemQeDsABkX97pwqdvhZ-SQUitjHQ_etiQiN/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQcFbsl72Zbmh7_ECZqeLYsY61WofcYyv0nGWkvWNM6fEoFyRj1AqT70KgvS-bC4IxWQBOArvn5e-6BMkfOMUF8bMVDXwqITuvFCsPS5lgemQeDsABkX97pwqdvhZ-SQUitjHQ_etiQiN/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got progressively more calm as the orange bit the dust.</td></tr>
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<br>We installed new vinyl floor by the back entry. I bought pillows and new custom cut white blinds. We replaced the Ikea couch legs with some baller new ones from Etsy that instantly made the couch feel more expensive. I reupholstered the ottoman with fabric from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/premierfabricsraleigh" target="_blank">Premier Fabrics</a>. We added some steel hairpin legs to the new media unit that houses our cable, modem, DVDs, etc. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTqXkiFH1lv7foe3gHptMxdQis0lUifJVyAocnIzM__P2vBITipPTqdFDmP0UTZ7MmKrErT35SinapzkAcgbGTvbcUAiRNvW_jApjF83DbgmmhU5TB7C8Q0rn5zJ6dMTrz55478Hfzx8y/s1600/hairpin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTqXkiFH1lv7foe3gHptMxdQis0lUifJVyAocnIzM__P2vBITipPTqdFDmP0UTZ7MmKrErT35SinapzkAcgbGTvbcUAiRNvW_jApjF83DbgmmhU5TB7C8Q0rn5zJ6dMTrz55478Hfzx8y/s1600/hairpin.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat photobomb coming atcha.</td></tr>
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Nick used some of the wood from the built in to make wood caps for the couch to put martinis, bellinis and Diet Cokes. (We are fancy on a regular basis.) <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss4x2iL45QP9xjof2qndG43iPjPPgTUbSuux5DmBlTAPGiLIwwEk7wYWwNxG63y5FX0pe0OSIR1pdZknxcsILpBqNA2rnOSaXh5sZxc7AyVJrmjXKHZXxLdg9goqaz9SVq6yulfle3pWd/s1600/caps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhss4x2iL45QP9xjof2qndG43iPjPPgTUbSuux5DmBlTAPGiLIwwEk7wYWwNxG63y5FX0pe0OSIR1pdZknxcsILpBqNA2rnOSaXh5sZxc7AyVJrmjXKHZXxLdg9goqaz9SVq6yulfle3pWd/s1600/caps.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></div>
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And then hung some of my <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-love-raleigh-yall.html" target="_blank">Raleigh</a> art and family photos. And voila. We were "done."</div>
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Ready?</div>
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Wait for it...</div>
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Want to see it?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/WlWoy0t.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/WlWoy0t.gif" height="282" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We felt this was important to see before we revealed.</td></tr>
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<br>Let's remember the before.</div>
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And see the after.</div>
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Mucho mejor, amigos. And now, since I promised not to be wordy and I've typed upwards of 500 words, I'll let the pics do the rest of the yappin'.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W1OXvo_xH5qy29V5Qotufe4yporCcQd0PMUgByxG-0EuYngpqXw0XjG4gIO8fr3d9u3on4IVSnWxzD-C_6ql0egspclgTXFUc0m_TsbAC72F2chI-hji__os3rZmBFT3AqMoQgMK6yb3/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-W1OXvo_xH5qy29V5Qotufe4yporCcQd0PMUgByxG-0EuYngpqXw0XjG4gIO8fr3d9u3on4IVSnWxzD-C_6ql0egspclgTXFUc0m_TsbAC72F2chI-hji__os3rZmBFT3AqMoQgMK6yb3/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banner is not a permanent fixture...it's just leftover from C's birthday party this past weekend.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcjTUg_EMNx-RObQW06zqVnQ2WneS7NF6TN6cn2PolZl7aSEqLXHzqhpUwKF_bgZZCi9MKaxwL-NfaIUGQ1nlxTXPLvlawINieTMGtfLiRkqE0WYZYg-YwruJ9o_iUlXpBxsCY26K2x9b/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcjTUg_EMNx-RObQW06zqVnQ2WneS7NF6TN6cn2PolZl7aSEqLXHzqhpUwKF_bgZZCi9MKaxwL-NfaIUGQ1nlxTXPLvlawINieTMGtfLiRkqE0WYZYg-YwruJ9o_iUlXpBxsCY26K2x9b/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember before?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindvRIRqZDcbRd4c0Y7dsbL5zAsNg9TZ6Rt1I_D_qBMo7XfkpJwq02llgSrnb_MtjD8uukjmSMF6IiGd7dbO3OMzCdACMkR7pFrEXi1f93hIDLslaD7RSLZo_gQsga71OzODfbzBfPlBj9/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindvRIRqZDcbRd4c0Y7dsbL5zAsNg9TZ6Rt1I_D_qBMo7XfkpJwq02llgSrnb_MtjD8uukjmSMF6IiGd7dbO3OMzCdACMkR7pFrEXi1f93hIDLslaD7RSLZo_gQsga71OzODfbzBfPlBj9/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat door added to the left cabinet so they can do their...business in peace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butcherblock counter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carter's zone.</td></tr>
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<br>As per usual, this room still has some work. I'm going to hang some curtains. We're going to do some hand drawn wallpaper on the long TV wall above the chair rail. We'll put some organization in the desk cabinetry to house crafts, files, sewing machine, etc.</div>
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But if we don't stop at some point and call a room "done," we don't get to ride the high of completing a space. So for now...it's done. We're pleased with the transformation. I considered saying "pleased as punch" but I'm not familiar with the metrics of punch. It's quite possible our pleased state actually exceeds punch. I don't know, I'll do some Googling and get back to you.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-64457132662408039272014-07-22T20:34:00.001-04:002014-07-22T20:36:25.978-04:00The Epitome of Lazy: A Guest Post.<i>You know how when one of your friends starts smoking crack cocaine and you say to yourself "yeah! I'm going to try that too!" I don't know, I assume. I'm not that familiar with drug culture. In any case, friends don't let friends do drugs. But friends DO get their friends addicted to Stitch Fix. And after I <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/06/i-swear-i-do-things-other-than-stitchfix.html" target="_blank">blabbered on and on</a> about my obsession, I got another friend to drink the Kool Aid. </i><br />
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<i>AND SHE BLOGGED ABOUT IT! Or, rather, she sent me an email that said she'd be honored to guest post on OUR blog about it. And who am I to deny her the pleasure of knowing FOUR people are reading your thoughts and musings?</i><br />
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<i>Katie is an old college friend of Nick's (but she isn't OLD like Nick...she lived with Nick's sister Mandi). She and her husband, Kentucky, live in Richmond with their son, Quinn. We actually just returned from a lovely OBX trip with them two weekends ago. Things got nuts, y'all. We went to the beach, put together puzzles, and were all in bed by 9:30pm. </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Q and Carter mostly just hung around without pants and ate goldfish.</td></tr>
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<i>Tangent aside, and now that I've written a thousand word intro, here is Katie's blog:</i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After reading a couple of Sarah's stitch fix blogs, I could not resist any longer. I had to have my own special clothes box ASAP! </span><br />
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At the end of May, I spend quite a bit of time filling out my profile only to find out that my shipment wouldn't be at my door until July 21st! WHAT?! However, time flew by and before I knew it, it was Christmas in July =)<br />
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The first item I saw when I opened the box was the Cherrie Stone & Hammered Teardrop Earrings.</div>
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I immediately was disappointed because I checked a box saying I did not want accessories, so I was confused! However, the earrings were "totally me," but I felt like I already have too many earrings as it is. And at $32, I feel like they were overpriced (Francesca's or Marshall's would be wayyy cheaper and just as cute).</div>
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The first clothing item in the box was the Ventura Chevron Print Keyhole Detail Tank, modeled below with assistance from my 2 year old son, Quinn. </div>
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I absolutely love the color, style, and fit. However, the material is extremely thin and at $48, on a teacher salary, it just wasn't going to happen. </div>
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The next clothing item was the Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note from Sarah: she's a bombshell in this blouse. Good job, stylist.</td></tr>
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Let's be honest, I don't wear a lot of "blouses." I'm a Kindergarten teacher. I would have never picked up this top in a store, but I am totally in love with this BLOUSE. I want it in every color possible. It's lightweight, but quality material. I can wear it to school, out on the town, and even dressed up as a pirate! It's $58, which I would consider a lot for a top, but I just can't resist. SOLD!</div>
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The next item was the Joshua Colored Ankle Jean. </div>
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The reason you are not seeing these actual pants on my body is because it was just not pretty. At all. I could put them on, but I had a muffin top and a plumber's crack all at once. NO GO!! But I do love the color.</div>
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The last item was the Freddy Sleeveless Chiffon Dress.</div>
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I liked this dress, but I felt like it was kinda plain. I know I could dress it up with a colorful necklace, but I still felt like it just wasn't anything special. Not at $68!</div>
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So, looks like I will just be buying the BLOUSE. I will definitely be stitch fixin' again though. And hopefully, I'll be allowed another guest blog spot. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">***My husband took all the photos. He never asked where the clothes came from or how much money I spent. He kept saying "what is this for?" and kept repeating, "It's for Sarah, just take the picture!"</span><br />
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<i>Ladies-take note: your husbands will fully support your StitchFix habit if only for the sheer fact that they don't understand what it is or how it works. God bless their souls.</i><br />
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<i>And that's it. Good job, Katie. Welcome to the dark side. As her official enabler, if y'all are interested in trying it for yourself, use <a href="https://stitchfix.com/referral/3805050" target="_blank">this link</a> and she'll get the referral credit. Notice that her box looks pretty different from the stuff I've gotten so there's something for every one, every size. And if it's between pretty clothes and crack...I'm picking clothes 99% of the time.</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-2208860804258193342014-06-29T21:16:00.000-04:002014-06-29T21:16:59.965-04:00I swear I do things other than StitchFix.I realize it might seem like all I do these days is<a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/12/disclaimer-youre-about-to-see-lot-of.html" target="_blank"> order clothes via the internet</a> and have <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/01/take-two.html" target="_blank">fashion</a> shows <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/05/stitchfix-3-my-journey-in-style-growth.html" target="_blank">with my iPhone.</a><br />
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Let me assure, you...I WISH that were all I'd been up to. I'll be posting soon about the bedroom renovation we just knocked out for my sister and our new brother in law. They're currently honeymooning it up in St. Lucia and I'm sitting at a 50 year old built in desk that smells slightly geriatric and pushing the hair I haven't washed in four days out of my grill piece. Oh look, there's a cheerio in my hair.<br />
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Trust me: my life is not as glamorous as you might think.<br />
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But I'll tell you...Stitch Fix is fun and it makes me feel like I still have some semblance of class. And you guys, this box was ON POINT. As in, I'm keeping all five items. (PROBABLY. Unless there's some grand decree from the six of you that read this that I look ridiculous in one of the items. In which case, I may have already decided to keep everything and it might get really awkward when I run into you at the Harris Teeter and you have to pretend you like my threads. Look, I tried to warn you.)<br />
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Here's the important part that you should know about the success of this installment fix: I requested the same stylist as last time. If you remember my last review, I remarked that some continuity with stylists would help us build a relationship. A wardrobe romance, if you will. So I asked for Blake again and she and I got to know each other. We follow each other on Instagram (her kids are beauties!) and we've emailed a little bit. We're pretty much virtually braiding each other's hair, we're such besties. So I think that helped tremendously. It's important to mention though, everything she sent was still a surprise. There was no "do you like this shirt?" or "can you jam out with this necklace?" But in our various interactions (Pinterest being key), she was able to see into the depths of my soul. But in a less creepy way than I'm making it sound.<br />
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On to the goods.<br />
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<b>Kensie Jeans: Sophie Distressed Skinny Jean- $88</b><br />
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Let's get this out of the way since they're in every picture you're about to see. The idea of going jeans shopping to dress my post-baby bod gives me the heeby jeebies. I am TOTALLY okay with the fact that my hips BC (Before Carter) are gone and never coming back. My body is different now, and I'm fine with that. But dressing my new hips, specifically with jeans, seemed like a nightmare. And full disclosure: I still wear maternity jeans. Not the full front panel kind, but the elastic waist kind. Because seriously, if you were given the option of wearing elastic pants that looked like regular people pants...do not front and pretend you wouldn't do it, too.<br />
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Confession aside, I'm fully aware that it is in my best interest to rejoin the non-pregnant world (given that my son is ten months old) and put on my big girl pants again. These jeans are distressed, and the first thing I thought when I pulled them out of the box was "which curmudgeon relative of mine is going to ask if I paid for holes in these pants?" Truth be told, I like the "I just got caught in a wicked briar patch" look and so I'm owning it. They've got some stretch so they fit over the widest part of me, and they're really great quality. <br />
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They're a bit more expensive than I would normally pay for jeans, but this saves me the trouble of going out and trying on 15 pairs. They just arrived at my door! That's worth the premium.<br />
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(The other thing I want to get out of the way is that the very worst part of doing these reviews is the pictures. Therefore, I decided to wear my sleep mask or a hat to block the unimportant face part of the picture so you can focus on the clothes. Plus, my sleep mask is adorable.)<br />
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<b>41 Hawthorn Carson Front-Twist Sleeveless Blouse: $58</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice my new saucy jeans. Yes, Dad, I paid for the rips.</td></tr>
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My new BFF Blake and I had a conversation about our definition of coral. I defined it as the "color of my dreams." Truth be told, this shirt is a little more on the peach side, but I still like it a lot. She described it as a "pretty pop color." That's an understatement because I'm pretty sure I actually take on radioactive glowing qualities when I wear it. But I like it. It's unlike anything I own, have tried on, or even seen in stores. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPED5MUzPGsDmv2_4CVOK6K-XVeBQWnUk9wIA-kwjxWvhxQrv2GZDQM4GIMCxoren_tIQ3J1Hqn4qp61n4fZG_jAGV0BwvlwO2OhUP96KgnFPRfIOVOCXZTMLZ4Y0ZcnbsXSMt9ojP6Lqt/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPED5MUzPGsDmv2_4CVOK6K-XVeBQWnUk9wIA-kwjxWvhxQrv2GZDQM4GIMCxoren_tIQ3J1Hqn4qp61n4fZG_jAGV0BwvlwO2OhUP96KgnFPRfIOVOCXZTMLZ4Y0ZcnbsXSMt9ojP6Lqt/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flattering, I know.</td></tr>
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<b>Pixley Aislinn Honeycomb Collar Necklace: $32</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolw04mjbQnv7V4r5p2mnGtOmkiF1l81JkiPcdYlf5s3hAEJ8HetqAj_pjdGmnU_-NbgZ3ZxTZTS1fei1q55DRY9GV3-zOUD0fDcpleFTmJ1-A_GM_JL_EpO95kTHSKveMApurauZqZCVt/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolw04mjbQnv7V4r5p2mnGtOmkiF1l81JkiPcdYlf5s3hAEJ8HetqAj_pjdGmnU_-NbgZ3ZxTZTS1fei1q55DRY9GV3-zOUD0fDcpleFTmJ1-A_GM_JL_EpO95kTHSKveMApurauZqZCVt/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A better up close shot of the shirt color and THE WORLD'S PERFECT NECKLACE!</td></tr>
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I do not have words strong enough to express my love of this necklace. Surprisingly, I don't consider myself a particularly girly girl when it comes to jewelry. I like graphic, simple pieces and nothing fluffy. This necklace hits on all cylinders as far as I'm concerned and I can wear it everywhere. Even to sleep. With my cute night mask.<br />
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<b>Alternate Apparel Troy Dot Print Racerback Tank: $44</b><br />
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This is where things got tricky. I like this tank. I briefly wondered if my breasts might fall out the sides because of the way it was cut, but I got past that. But at $44 for a basic racerback tank...well that was a little pricey. But when you buy all 5 items that you're sent, you get a 25% discount. For my box, that equated to over $62. So I essentially got this for free by loving the other 4 items. And I'm ok with that because I definitely liked the general vibe of this tank.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jnXXt7HenvDUzZZhoSdtjlJeM55xht959yFc47O4IhJ8A5csdyupRIJCiR8cDjEdDm0td-zYiYjUBe3dSIQ6AG65cjYbN9FALsFhyphenhyphenFqzBweOEd18B8-Mf8__IZ0ZhyK-pqSdd2Na0Npw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jnXXt7HenvDUzZZhoSdtjlJeM55xht959yFc47O4IhJ8A5csdyupRIJCiR8cDjEdDm0td-zYiYjUBe3dSIQ6AG65cjYbN9FALsFhyphenhyphenFqzBweOEd18B8-Mf8__IZ0ZhyK-pqSdd2Na0Npw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To answer your burning question: I'm drinking an Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Cider.</td></tr>
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I debated mentioning this, but Bestie Blake said in her note to me that I came off as edgy and adventurous to her. She's so great. Anyway, her interpretation of edgy is a galaxy print...which is what this is. And I like it. But I'm not sure I'll ever look at it and not think of little boy underwear from 1985. Not that I wore little boy underwear or ever saw any of it...but that's the first thing that came to mind. Weird, right? Whatever. You were thinking it too and now we can both have a laugh next time we sip moscato together and I'm wearing this.<br />
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And finally:<br />
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<b>Le Sample Kahlo Embroidered Solid Tank: $48</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that is a sombrero and yes, that's the best way I could think of posing with it.</td></tr>
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So pretty, right?! It's a little longer than a lot of the shirts I wear, but it doesn't COMPLETELY cover my money maker. (JK you guys, I'm not a prostitute.) The detailing on the front is just...lovely. It's the only way I can describe it. And the back has that racerback cut so it's flattering on the back side, too. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't forget, Nick helps run this blog too.. </td></tr>
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And that, as they say, is a wrap. I have to check out tomorrow so if you have any major issues with any of the things I'm keeping, let me know. Via pigeon carrier. It's my preferred method of communication.<br />
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I'll definitely be fixing again in the future but think I might give my brain and my budget a rest for a while. <a href="http://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">You should try it out though</a>. If only to give yourself a legitimate excuse to wear a sombrero around your house. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-57455652029650723052014-05-27T21:49:00.002-04:002014-05-28T07:24:41.447-04:00StitchFix #3: My Journey in Style GrowthBrace yourselves as you're about to see a lot of pictures of me in the bathroom.<br>
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I should rephrase that. You're going to see me taking pictures in the bathroom. <br>
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Okay, strike that.</div>
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Nick wasn't here, so I had to take my own pics and we only have one full length mirror in the house. So in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, you can get a sneak peek of what our guest bathroom looks like. It is currently painted a weird shade of green that casts a creepy shadow on all the outfits. </div>
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The box was scheduled to arrive on Friday, and we were leaving town for the holiday weekend on Thursday evening. I, of course, had a mini panic attack knowing it would be sitting waiting for me for four days. Being the impatient person that I am, I looked online to see what I had been sent. Nick calls this cheating, I tell him to bite me. They don't actually show you pictures of what they've sent, they just list the items. Have they sent dresses? Shirts? Accessories? I had to know.</div>
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I skimmed the list and immediately my eyes were drawn to one particular item.</div>
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Under Skies Lora <i>Embroidered Denim Vest</i>.</div>
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Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? Had I somehow reverted to my sixth grade self, obsessed with bedazzlers? Was I a gay cowboy? Was I some long lost member from The Outsiders? <br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABqxt9cX1k4jI8TRhPuTou7RhRqZnlQoGSM2ASnsJnIHh6WMf0gXRKktu0SudntIeUWVqIsa2lf9mimPoaGjI2VyxIeoCjSGHVDZK1qX6nwgBN2h8qeVRlq72mJYMbNWwkFDjX2Bd4KXh/s1600/the+outsiders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABqxt9cX1k4jI8TRhPuTou7RhRqZnlQoGSM2ASnsJnIHh6WMf0gXRKktu0SudntIeUWVqIsa2lf9mimPoaGjI2VyxIeoCjSGHVDZK1qX6nwgBN2h8qeVRlq72mJYMbNWwkFDjX2Bd4KXh/s1600/the+outsiders.jpg" height="316" width="400"></a></div>
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Extremely puzzled by the choice, I instantly turned to Pinterest for help. Was this a thing? Were people wearing denim vests?<br>
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It turns out, they are.<br>
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I found some pinspiration that felt modern and fresh.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h7FbIUV7ZwvvQ7e30IHk_zriAWGrtIL0oDTd_KIaWQYzYICaXdVzgLPMRaPfUEPLqrWrNjKczQz44aA-B8SImrgFrPya1RXuW74gs4IAioaA5dR6YSdmDlpbbrVdo_1N99ZtwT3OALox/s1600/alba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h7FbIUV7ZwvvQ7e30IHk_zriAWGrtIL0oDTd_KIaWQYzYICaXdVzgLPMRaPfUEPLqrWrNjKczQz44aA-B8SImrgFrPya1RXuW74gs4IAioaA5dR6YSdmDlpbbrVdo_1N99ZtwT3OALox/s1600/alba.jpg" height="400" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the versatility!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SfgzWGQBUFPnMea1dGmI9xUvKOtdMUy-D89R774vCLTKDoOGNNpvmvPZOrxE8YmibkXcmvh1QjnFOB1u1cpwslfSyU_t0ju5Lyj4dFo-ed3v3orOzDUWfhTQh79vV9wQcLDiZKSm-bab/s1600/cute+vest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SfgzWGQBUFPnMea1dGmI9xUvKOtdMUy-D89R774vCLTKDoOGNNpvmvPZOrxE8YmibkXcmvh1QjnFOB1u1cpwslfSyU_t0ju5Lyj4dFo-ed3v3orOzDUWfhTQh79vV9wQcLDiZKSm-bab/s1600/cute+vest.jpg" height="400" width="266"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can easily carry it into the cooler seasons.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz_t95DAB629G3jHo4OionVe36JLoWZOAL20iOddgYty87BKdtFzC-qz4yfXTmqOoujFswCZsTzOuRw_CNIV4Nu91i8iM88xHUgZxQMBuRP7ethdFz8fYWPzRVMNwWBCVwSytwPE8SzKg/s1600/gwen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz_t95DAB629G3jHo4OionVe36JLoWZOAL20iOddgYty87BKdtFzC-qz4yfXTmqOoujFswCZsTzOuRw_CNIV4Nu91i8iM88xHUgZxQMBuRP7ethdFz8fYWPzRVMNwWBCVwSytwPE8SzKg/s1600/gwen.jpg" height="400" width="275"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will never be as cool as Gwen Stefani but a denim vest is a good start.</td></tr>
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So that was it. I was going to keep that vest. I was excited. I was ready. BRING IT ON. </div>
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Four excruciating days later, we returned home and the box was mine to open. One thing I hadn't done well in the past was styling the clothes in the box the way they suggested. I couldn't see the forest for the trees. So I took a bit of time to pull out shoes, pull out jewelry and really get a feel for the clothes. I was already evolving stylistically. Stacy London would be proud.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTYMmJzY8ukSL9UM9tlJiL2ll3dAKooGly8QkRqCj37yWKxqngE9vg9rnOVj0lDEM08P6cdFErFqqHULxcSzLN4GWwNgd7gYp405GaZyagR3IjjjFbvgICbUrAJWkCBK4KSyesXP1jjpz/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTYMmJzY8ukSL9UM9tlJiL2ll3dAKooGly8QkRqCj37yWKxqngE9vg9rnOVj0lDEM08P6cdFErFqqHULxcSzLN4GWwNgd7gYp405GaZyagR3IjjjFbvgICbUrAJWkCBK4KSyesXP1jjpz/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get by with a little help from my friends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXDiNs_fq_l212i-glrYirrBjN3FD1606QP4Wd8AUKimL-IzOGdJy72SWl3gGUduZPg5JQwbEbzA5w7d7wtjZFIxVyBkGpxxcDEerrWT_7kGyEjdata8K5ASsDy717SLFHUee8tam1S0X/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXDiNs_fq_l212i-glrYirrBjN3FD1606QP4Wd8AUKimL-IzOGdJy72SWl3gGUduZPg5JQwbEbzA5w7d7wtjZFIxVyBkGpxxcDEerrWT_7kGyEjdata8K5ASsDy717SLFHUee8tam1S0X/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="328" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I already liked her b/c I like chicks named Blake. Plus, she talks like me.</td></tr>
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First of course, is the denim vest.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_41vqwjUNonHugOEDxaVBxKsp-gy3qqAMyvTbOGKUtjQeP8z_qpZIWRwcWTuvgvGXjvM_q9ZzO3YKgUSI-O3UJ_BWKQNikN4LRcUncXQz70rP2C8p91Ttr8C5lNero3bLzEERnoJj2el/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_41vqwjUNonHugOEDxaVBxKsp-gy3qqAMyvTbOGKUtjQeP8z_qpZIWRwcWTuvgvGXjvM_q9ZzO3YKgUSI-O3UJ_BWKQNikN4LRcUncXQz70rP2C8p91Ttr8C5lNero3bLzEERnoJj2el/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my "not bad" face.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QF-V3Ob78cFrlFt4UkgcFnmFYSVeBI4j5-Ni8m9PpSENqvaid8D5sKAC_PpzOtOEissdzoMhjUFxMFUnN42SNjcjEqk9m_ymb4VdNO1t6mKloL4PTWEF6U_r58xOUyI-Vhfykzaw23SF/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QF-V3Ob78cFrlFt4UkgcFnmFYSVeBI4j5-Ni8m9PpSENqvaid8D5sKAC_PpzOtOEissdzoMhjUFxMFUnN42SNjcjEqk9m_ymb4VdNO1t6mKloL4PTWEF6U_r58xOUyI-Vhfykzaw23SF/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The embroidery detail. Which you may never see due to my crazy hair.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBabdyd8Mo81WxSeo7AGOJQeOBs-h5zqLo6-gx8ziHELKZMqOmaV3R9o59Ur3spnjF9vPv-pmmNt0okz5KRpo1LJNpnkL-hfcs1yRSGv2AtM6BZvq4x5PofnQOFiJiNoPjwcoDcHuesiuk/s1600/vest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBabdyd8Mo81WxSeo7AGOJQeOBs-h5zqLo6-gx8ziHELKZMqOmaV3R9o59Ur3spnjF9vPv-pmmNt0okz5KRpo1LJNpnkL-hfcs1yRSGv2AtM6BZvq4x5PofnQOFiJiNoPjwcoDcHuesiuk/s1600/vest.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, I might just be convinced.</td></tr>
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I was pleased with the way it looked and imagined the different ways I was going to wear it. And then I looked at the price. IT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM IN THE BOX! At $68 it seemed a little too much for a trend. A quick search of Target.com found me <a href="http://www.target.com/p/mossimo-supply-co-junior-s-denim-vest-assorted-colors/-/A-15127329#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=denim+vest" target="_blank">a vest </a>at less than half the cost. Will it be as good a quality? Probably not. But it turns out I wasn't as brave as I'd thought because I just couldn't commit.<br>
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Moving on.<br>
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41Hawthorn Marie Abstract Chevron Elastic Waist Dress<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwVlg2AfLma4KDDFK8wcSNzLxObrtKVZgQIHZxAkSOYjGVqwb1iZ0gRHbvXcHuRiBh15v3sPghEhVhh8ajcvftPhdEKDRrCWAxS1Xy8zN8IChyK4K3Q5c4E-4UCKmtX-WY-3wlvc14HJp/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwVlg2AfLma4KDDFK8wcSNzLxObrtKVZgQIHZxAkSOYjGVqwb1iZ0gRHbvXcHuRiBh15v3sPghEhVhh8ajcvftPhdEKDRrCWAxS1Xy8zN8IChyK4K3Q5c4E-4UCKmtX-WY-3wlvc14HJp/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please believe, it is super awkward taking pictures of myself. I don't understand how or why people take legitimate selfies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS73P0IZ3uuuuP1uMImh5VoiDtZ5sTSm5Mr8v5ZRl73rFKKTf1iVbwemsIgb43AM4uz42TUnk_dUhrXEgzsNOIta15QqVuBUttEk3CLMOd12J4sko1CwgJbGP_1b6TJZsKX4zGy7-QIFB/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQS73P0IZ3uuuuP1uMImh5VoiDtZ5sTSm5Mr8v5ZRl73rFKKTf1iVbwemsIgb43AM4uz42TUnk_dUhrXEgzsNOIta15QqVuBUttEk3CLMOd12J4sko1CwgJbGP_1b6TJZsKX4zGy7-QIFB/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of the pattern/color. I'd say this is pretty accurate.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz-vEaF5bTqtVBA7c3YWbs2WpedJeoORlAOYQVvGratnAD85C3euUeJt9r-438mwDCeNtWCuYiz1J0CD2xDNHL-0O-RNVlcd0n2b5-Q-WHiCPQhDJJLr-sQXz6TZlqW5vVyjz-FzfdB1K/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaz-vEaF5bTqtVBA7c3YWbs2WpedJeoORlAOYQVvGratnAD85C3euUeJt9r-438mwDCeNtWCuYiz1J0CD2xDNHL-0O-RNVlcd0n2b5-Q-WHiCPQhDJJLr-sQXz6TZlqW5vVyjz-FzfdB1K/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">I love the way this dress fits. And the shape. I could wear this to work in the summer (which is always hard to find something cool that's work appropriate). And I can put a denim jacket with it and dress it down well into the fall season. Here's the thing: I don't know that I love this pattern. I'm not a baby pink person so the color is kind of throwing me. And the pattern is so abstract. Which is totally counter to my preference for structure. Who knew I was so straight laced? But perhaps I should be pushing my style limits here. Looking at the pictures, I wouldn't say the colors are particularly flattering on my pasty complexion. </span><br>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Readers' input required. It's $58. What do you think? I need your honesty. And some doughnuts, if you're in a particularly giving mood.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">On to a piece I am definitely keeping, the Papermoon Sadie V-Neck Embroidery Detail Tank.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZpNdXaodTWFi7IFtehPWSQQOzRcnWk_A4IiB2RtR1EDFyWfjiI8I6Gh36WdPBAvTrCO3N0y8T0GwWYlRYpcacNkv6Lbv53J94CWIWRZt55uzKXJ8tRhwI2FFcnED4xKJBdVPd6dSm9JC/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZpNdXaodTWFi7IFtehPWSQQOzRcnWk_A4IiB2RtR1EDFyWfjiI8I6Gh36WdPBAvTrCO3N0y8T0GwWYlRYpcacNkv6Lbv53J94CWIWRZt55uzKXJ8tRhwI2FFcnED4xKJBdVPd6dSm9JC/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="208"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WINNER!</td></tr>
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It's loose fitting (and therefore forgiving around my post-Carter midsection) and it's my power color. You have one. I have one. It's the color you wear and know you are rocking. I was pleased as punch when I saw this in the box and the fit sealed the deal for me.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s0_yUSmRz8MI0mGBOCQrlXiSqLmN8irNJmPMeRtTO5hzhAaCr28HZYrWxBHLcknut64JaUOBdXSrJb1AC2j3Hx1wvh-KkoSPObuikuCsirQpbzNoYJeGFuY23oVCX5qqyBFZOSfc2u1b/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_s0_yUSmRz8MI0mGBOCQrlXiSqLmN8irNJmPMeRtTO5hzhAaCr28HZYrWxBHLcknut64JaUOBdXSrJb1AC2j3Hx1wvh-KkoSPObuikuCsirQpbzNoYJeGFuY23oVCX5qqyBFZOSfc2u1b/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail @ the V. I'm absolutely telling people I hand stitched this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGHbP1b5nkxIkNjiC3RJ4RMVnR7wCGPzx_9IIZgE_XkurTJfgOtgh61F0mJAvS52yr7tlpa-ilUfZNHsGZo4YFsKv6MiK0rnl1jjxMzRd7UqgV4V6L-Q00lsRlOLEThzzHZ9RCbapYI4N/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGHbP1b5nkxIkNjiC3RJ4RMVnR7wCGPzx_9IIZgE_XkurTJfgOtgh61F0mJAvS52yr7tlpa-ilUfZNHsGZo4YFsKv6MiK0rnl1jjxMzRd7UqgV4V6L-Q00lsRlOLEThzzHZ9RCbapYI4N/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cat digs it.</td></tr>
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I used to be heavy into cross-stitching back in elementary and middle school (which makes my denim vest wearing make more sense now, I'm sure) and so part of me has a soft spot in my heart for the detail on this shirt. At $48, it's versatile enough to work in a variety of places in my life. <br>
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Now to something that absolutely didn't work. The $54 41Hawthorn Franklin Striped Side Gathered Short Sleeve Shirt. If you'll remember from my <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/01/take-two.html" target="_blank">previous</a> <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/12/disclaimer-youre-about-to-see-lot-of.html" target="_blank">posts</a>, I specifically said I didn't want striped pieces. They were too reminiscent of my maternity clothing and this one was just that, in more ways than one. I actually thought this was a maternity shirt when I first pulled it out.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONtjCGOYwreRd9LedxwtkYbk7spolXuA9SiJtfCQUWLRBsovU_u0AICvrM49_bm7FBwvbCMnbsK5XU_WW8GF03fbWQs_QV0hdwlgrBT_y5IO8SFpJuKhOIqtMt1VVfTvMdE0txDKmKt-W/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONtjCGOYwreRd9LedxwtkYbk7spolXuA9SiJtfCQUWLRBsovU_u0AICvrM49_bm7FBwvbCMnbsK5XU_WW8GF03fbWQs_QV0hdwlgrBT_y5IO8SFpJuKhOIqtMt1VVfTvMdE0txDKmKt-W/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="300"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BOO.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNJv5QpbALec_miVXHtXVbe3-cMJDeKvpH5oG1AsA_OBCYUbI39O8nvRPjQFi2EPd7QM-ktZVVYQe3z-dAuFMViXeQu2XubdKQLW6WiO763624IbD2J2BuqiFCsCUlfRi6Nk9f75xi-Vr/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNJv5QpbALec_miVXHtXVbe3-cMJDeKvpH5oG1AsA_OBCYUbI39O8nvRPjQFi2EPd7QM-ktZVVYQe3z-dAuFMViXeQu2XubdKQLW6WiO763624IbD2J2BuqiFCsCUlfRi6Nk9f75xi-Vr/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="175"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child, please.</td></tr>
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I mean, does this, or does it not look almost exactly like the maternity shirt I wore when Nick and I took our "We Love Raleigh" pictures? Only fuglier and more striped?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkm6MKzow_3mInekYO0JIDiAVul0_hLRJtpPeqX3Z4SkOwz1SGgfDG8xuBrpdMbf5ajI2nckhceb3aJB1rlYnQ-4tHHWpWZSKgEqEcENyZkdva3-c8Z7qwveG2bhsPv43FYYkL3r0khYJ/s1600/raleigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkm6MKzow_3mInekYO0JIDiAVul0_hLRJtpPeqX3Z4SkOwz1SGgfDG8xuBrpdMbf5ajI2nckhceb3aJB1rlYnQ-4tHHWpWZSKgEqEcENyZkdva3-c8Z7qwveG2bhsPv43FYYkL3r0khYJ/s1600/raleigh.jpg" height="400" width="265"></a></div>
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I have to say I was really disappointed to get this one. But we all make mistakes and sweet Blake was just off base on this one. It's kind of a shame you don't get the same stylist each time. I realize that would be super hard to make happen since they have so many customers but the consistency of one stylist might have helped avoid this disaster of epic proportions. (No, I'm never accused of speaking in hyperbole. Why do you ask?) Needless to say, this biotch was stuffed back in the return bag immediately.</div>
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<br>And finally, the Daniel Rainn Hydie Geo Print Crochet Detail Blouse. At just $34, this one was quite promising as the modern pattern and color combo of corally red, black and aqua was right up my alley.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Wa7G7X2oBvos_QYty9V9vjeR_WcYoMYPvSYPmw3OsU_q2_KqQDfzgCYhTAJ8EhpmdrObN7sAPY4wPp56KGv99untbogefr5OtG0XwsL1tFu9PVZsMrjQ954Y0718nMfEOUsWtcf-EUc/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2Wa7G7X2oBvos_QYty9V9vjeR_WcYoMYPvSYPmw3OsU_q2_KqQDfzgCYhTAJ8EhpmdrObN7sAPY4wPp56KGv99untbogefr5OtG0XwsL1tFu9PVZsMrjQ954Y0718nMfEOUsWtcf-EUc/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="400" width="205"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got tired of seeing my own face. Crop tool activated.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG6mjhxvNfcqxdjIZcP50RLJuTpTicjT46WgsBQpUfi2kwQGWLKXDdXQ0rP1g4AUHgkh51_0GwcZrLPhLdT2S9tkCazjhzx5z02YO37Enc-D5xnxtclvNAtdCmpCGcs5ibBp3g-9J-gWE/s1600/crochet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkG6mjhxvNfcqxdjIZcP50RLJuTpTicjT46WgsBQpUfi2kwQGWLKXDdXQ0rP1g4AUHgkh51_0GwcZrLPhLdT2S9tkCazjhzx5z02YO37Enc-D5xnxtclvNAtdCmpCGcs5ibBp3g-9J-gWE/s1600/crochet.JPG" height="320" width="240"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crochet detail at the shoulders and back was borderline hooker. But I was ready to take that risk.</td></tr>
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The problem was the size. It was a small, but it definitely fit wide and loose. As in, I looked a bit like a flying squirrel when I lifted my arms. And it was even worse when I turned to the side.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb64Wy7G_kmr75J1vULaz8wKhbixoU2KYG7A6nq5XEXAcqhUtrU3JnIhiHcJBM0pfUNJxPz7hU2SN5Ov0KGcWje2UNKv-Ewrotlq1g3wxgH8_aDe5hh1tnlbIeg2dS7DQSWgNqcek4cO-u/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb64Wy7G_kmr75J1vULaz8wKhbixoU2KYG7A6nq5XEXAcqhUtrU3JnIhiHcJBM0pfUNJxPz7hU2SN5Ov0KGcWje2UNKv-Ewrotlq1g3wxgH8_aDe5hh1tnlbIeg2dS7DQSWgNqcek4cO-u/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="225"></a></div>
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Could I easily hide the fact that I'd eaten an entire Easter ham all by myself? Sure. But is that really what stylish wardrobe is about? If I had loved the other 4 pieces and this was a border piece that, with the discount, would have been free...then yes, I would have worn it. Maybe tried to belt it or something. But as it stands, I'm only keeping the turquoise tank. Unless a surprising number of people I trust actually like the dress, too.</div>
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So was it the best box? No, not really. But I legitimately think I grew a little in my style boundaries as I considered things I'd never pick up in the store. <i>And</i> I did keep something I really do love. <i>And</i> the whole process is still super fun to me. I totally intend to order another fix for next month. <a href="https://stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">You oughta do the same and tell me how it goes. </a> I love reading other people's reviews. </div>
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So that concludes this Fix review. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ham to tend to. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-11335681428245489602014-05-03T13:59:00.004-04:002014-05-03T13:59:15.443-04:00What is art? Are we art? Is art art? Name that 90's sitcom.<br />
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One of my biggest challenges when decorating the house is finding large scaled, cost effective and sentimental art. Typically, I can hit 2 of the 3 requirements with ease, but all 3? That's like finding a unicorn.<br />
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For instance, I love me some Home Goods and I might be able to find a large, beautiful piece to display, but I have no sentimental attachment to it. It's just a cool picture of a boat with a monkey as the captain that costs 200 bones. Or maybe I've got a great picture of my boys to show off but if I blow it up to fill a large void, the 16" tall heads floating above the couch end up haunting your dreams rather than warming your heart.<br />
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Well spoiler alert: I found my unicorn.<br />
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As any woman of my age does, I was perusing Pinterest for inspiration and found <a href="http://eastcoastcreativeblog.com/2013/05/wood-shim-wall-art-tutorial.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQaG1Gj2NHG0x93jXrntB1Rdkrx0Y8_kQx-b3sKI9bJnVjxPyy4M1gqyADcr_AYpQz4lF1TbhP5i2zzNP087GKoE02lmmWUDnWpFMtAcAZmZ254KPB99tkGSN1awruFbLSkxSZOc5lQyf/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQaG1Gj2NHG0x93jXrntB1Rdkrx0Y8_kQx-b3sKI9bJnVjxPyy4M1gqyADcr_AYpQz4lF1TbhP5i2zzNP087GKoE02lmmWUDnWpFMtAcAZmZ254KPB99tkGSN1awruFbLSkxSZOc5lQyf/s1600/IMG_1382.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun, right?</td></tr>
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I loved the bright colors, the size and the cost. $8 for a couple packs of shims? This had potential. But as I read the tutorial, I kept having the thought that perhaps they'd made this more complicated than it needed to be. I was very much:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ikhtuUHdcDwuqiNBN6KSmZhDInF5BznXj5bUxLyRUgRkH-cEo9gd9nyCSqFCz7qN1tTFu9fOSovM1NSU1H4rh-k7NnerTJyei2VnGDbikslRqMpR09r2VLu3llZyTnemkSb7EiZAahW/s1600/cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ikhtuUHdcDwuqiNBN6KSmZhDInF5BznXj5bUxLyRUgRkH-cEo9gd9nyCSqFCz7qN1tTFu9fOSovM1NSU1H4rh-k7NnerTJyei2VnGDbikslRqMpR09r2VLu3llZyTnemkSb7EiZAahW/s1600/cat.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Full disclosure: I don't think they are dumb at all. They're obviously creative and fun. I just think this meme is perfect in every way. If you don't get the reference, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bobp5OHVsWY" target="_blank">let me enlighten you</a>. I implore you to click that link.)</td></tr>
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I'm not going to recreate their tutorial here, but I will tell you what I did differently. First, the angles they created were cool, but our house favors a more mid-century feel and I wanted something more in line with that style. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA7nUR0mmkKgWOpOdNGyyPWoGLiQXm7LLp1_wjMAakxA-cd_6nJJR0fadOnENPC7wd6qazWbW6mO0eCY9rHGD39pkVqGZvRp9yKw4QUopIDScZJFaAHHUz8BncQzzTGOPvqg77c4IEnRc/s1600/07346be4349ec7867f4bf3d65b6f04a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbA7nUR0mmkKgWOpOdNGyyPWoGLiQXm7LLp1_wjMAakxA-cd_6nJJR0fadOnENPC7wd6qazWbW6mO0eCY9rHGD39pkVqGZvRp9yKw4QUopIDScZJFaAHHUz8BncQzzTGOPvqg77c4IEnRc/s1600/07346be4349ec7867f4bf3d65b6f04a9.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaEI1CDVfuwSijFiZOUz4Z0VSpa5xFJLXznPFI2VrUh2zhEYfPyMAw4joyuOM-XylUzqIvEL3qH0qaNvYNzAe9aIIrWKKQEXEMT5jvomzfkArbPDM-BUFmt4oF67qERgmNhYcgpq89ovp/s1600/L1000139_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGaEI1CDVfuwSijFiZOUz4Z0VSpa5xFJLXznPFI2VrUh2zhEYfPyMAw4joyuOM-XylUzqIvEL3qH0qaNvYNzAe9aIIrWKKQEXEMT5jvomzfkArbPDM-BUFmt4oF67qERgmNhYcgpq89ovp/s1600/L1000139_l.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8_Kzqgn_xHaI3thJAjWeKSQbeOz5ezrA2ixbcYqRSv2Y9LFyMZKKJ2dU7C6ZiBi_huk0Ayn5EH9Mcxr92bVf87wRBDo3PXlL3Zw-YsjdS_kwkSNrmnIxHaB268_zRnrOXqekWi2DRLTK/s1600/middle_panel_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8_Kzqgn_xHaI3thJAjWeKSQbeOz5ezrA2ixbcYqRSv2Y9LFyMZKKJ2dU7C6ZiBi_huk0Ayn5EH9Mcxr92bVf87wRBDo3PXlL3Zw-YsjdS_kwkSNrmnIxHaB268_zRnrOXqekWi2DRLTK/s1600/middle_panel_l.jpg" height="161" width="320" /></a></div>
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Plus, what's easier than cutting 45 degree angles with your miter saw? NOT cutting angles with your miter saw. Smarter not harder, folks. The shims are wedge shaped so I was going to get some cool relief pattern by leaving them as they were so I just skipped right on ahead to painting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUHpPB-DhoL-zYfb8N2VnCXUTNYIa5UDIb-cMx7XbpGN0Lk7RufdvuIZev2DHBDZ5YnM0Yud4UUAM8HWFVqWHgkKn1w2eayhMMQpocz4lf76FaTasII703wqPmqpfp0yGVxk7-mnZNcAM/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUHpPB-DhoL-zYfb8N2VnCXUTNYIa5UDIb-cMx7XbpGN0Lk7RufdvuIZev2DHBDZ5YnM0Yud4UUAM8HWFVqWHgkKn1w2eayhMMQpocz4lf76FaTasII703wqPmqpfp0yGVxk7-mnZNcAM/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Here's where the sentiment came in for me. To the closet I went, grabbing all the old spray paints I'd used for projects of yore to create my color scheme. Because I'm a weirdo, my memories are always tied to colors. True story, if you were to name an NFL, NBA or even MLB player, I would most likely name the color I associate with that person. That's because somewhere along the way, I saw the uniform they played in, and my brain cataloged that person with that hue. Then, by process of elimination, I could tell you what team they played for. It's a weird talent but not one that I've honed. It's just the way my brain works. I couldn't tell you what I ate for breakfast this morning but I could tell you the exact shade of orange that the daybed in our old beach house was from when I was 6 years old. /tangent.<br />
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So that being said, as I pulled out each can to paint the shims, I remembered the places they were used. The bubblegum pink was used to paint a colleague's office as a prank. The orange was used to redo the chandelier at the Glenwood house. The blue was used on a project for my sweet friend, Kristine. I loved the idea of tying all of these memories into one piece. And the best part? I already owned the paint so it was FREEEEEEEEE.</div>
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I laid out a couple of pattern options and decided on a more staggered look.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PYwTsnn90Q0tZP7kbKFJkeFj_TWRv9e1AYLU2jHSsoWTTVuUUexKgEWVA_b7rvZxt5uv4-GGvvnB7_FnHAm4CY1bLm4WUpcC6Zb6WbsVmAiyhQVNxKdNMPCSRjDpAJxPRSS01Lk1trE4/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PYwTsnn90Q0tZP7kbKFJkeFj_TWRv9e1AYLU2jHSsoWTTVuUUexKgEWVA_b7rvZxt5uv4-GGvvnB7_FnHAm4CY1bLm4WUpcC6Zb6WbsVmAiyhQVNxKdNMPCSRjDpAJxPRSS01Lk1trE4/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty good...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dtwtvpbz5kOrFyri-LUj2E45RP6jQ8Z4-dQSzfqI-NqLAiVn2pveHvPBW4UDUl9wtNrJiw__fYksILP1XgpTQdvZfib4q4Jo1llBDi57MZgXWPsjFZ1rUKthsOZU_zEQO-lctZ0-4a9w/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Dtwtvpbz5kOrFyri-LUj2E45RP6jQ8Z4-dQSzfqI-NqLAiVn2pveHvPBW4UDUl9wtNrJiw__fYksILP1XgpTQdvZfib4q4Jo1llBDi57MZgXWPsjFZ1rUKthsOZU_zEQO-lctZ0-4a9w/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CHICKEN DINNER.</td></tr>
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The other part of the tutorial that didn't make a lot of sense to me was gluing these babies directly to the wall. I'm not sure how that would ever be a good idea. So I bought a piece of 2' x 4' x 1/4" birch plywood that was a nice large scale and adhered the shims to the board. That way I could hang it, move it, take it on trips, etc. I think it put me back about $7. So if you're playing along at home, this project ended up costing about $15. (Update: add in the cost of the bolts to mount it and we're up to $17.)</div>
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So on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, I painted. <br />
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Once everything was dry, I laid out my pattern, balancing all the colors throughout.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8ojpjjEYB92aZywrkNj9Z42brOLc_2xSKmap7oasI87UdLy80i1frhIElzmMxFZgqpeDV8z26BPgINK-Y6uHfkRHVSZWIbpDBK_JdbQEpHjwM5zaPdjV3_oQp2aERU55WGJXL8kYCD73/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8ojpjjEYB92aZywrkNj9Z42brOLc_2xSKmap7oasI87UdLy80i1frhIElzmMxFZgqpeDV8z26BPgINK-Y6uHfkRHVSZWIbpDBK_JdbQEpHjwM5zaPdjV3_oQp2aERU55WGJXL8kYCD73/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="218" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nick trimmed off the ends with our saw but they are honestly so thin, you could do it with a box cutter or even an exacto knife. We pre-drilled some holes at the corners and put the bolts in. Husbo had the genius idea that if the shim cracked at all where we drilled the hole, a washer would cover that up. And it gave the mounting a little more substance visually.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Token bolt-tightening action shot.</td></tr>
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And the angels sang.</div>
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I realize it might not be everyone's jam, but it sure is mine. The living room is pretty neutral in color (on purpose...so I can adapt it from season to season) so this pop of fun is just what she needed. And for under $20? SHUT YOUR FACE. I walk by it every so often and try not to stare but I can't help it. She's a hot tamale. <br />
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In my heart of hearts, I believe Lisa Turtle would approve.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-64465554721752197822014-04-18T18:07:00.000-04:002014-04-18T18:11:16.657-04:00Our Date Nights Are Trips to Lowes: Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As our <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2014/02/farewell-705.html" target="_blank">last post</a> would indicate, we bought a house. A fabulous, vintage, 1962 mid century ranch that kisses Downtown Raleigh. We've actually been a little surprised by how little we miss our old house because we really did love it there. But this place feels much more like us and we're having a lot of fun dreaming up the renovation plan. <br />
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I'm laughing as I think of how ambitious we were to keep up with this blog every couple weeks to track the progress. Let's get this out of the way: there's a lot to be done in this place. We moved in just over a month ago and we've got years of work ahead of us. (Sigh. Years.) But we make a "top 5" goal list every Monday morning and so far, we've tackled everything on the list each week AND kept up with all the recent episodes of Scandal and The Americans. Priorities, y'all.<br />
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So we figured the easiest way to throw an update together would be with pictures. They're worth 100 words. Or maybe it's 1,000. I'm not sure of the conversion rate these days.<br />
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<b>Exterior (before we moved in):</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Girl, you ashy.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjPHlnOCPndr_svSWFP5XCuXbg1Lrdmq2WhMXizizvKtPxIFEtTjmzK0mg8UT9GJ7hY-Mh1nQoFqZ8sJy1_k7oYDG2t9Kx2_cfPoxjaFJFJaWvhKUrJ-2B_8X251u8xplGRkzzN9mlHZm/s1600/patio+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjPHlnOCPndr_svSWFP5XCuXbg1Lrdmq2WhMXizizvKtPxIFEtTjmzK0mg8UT9GJ7hY-Mh1nQoFqZ8sJy1_k7oYDG2t9Kx2_cfPoxjaFJFJaWvhKUrJ-2B_8X251u8xplGRkzzN9mlHZm/s1600/patio+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Exterior (now that we're here):</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Oy5llMx-sVC2Muyzy07FQJNax13ezJOTs8VIW_-QzsY88iX4ots6uXEezpFH7UkwmqR6IMLVeY8UGhJg_t1SIub0jj9bXTfLLVSpK8yl3Bw1Dtojdsi2cFdgg4FpqYPp0ClNDF0DdMdM/s1600/20140418_143652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Oy5llMx-sVC2Muyzy07FQJNax13ezJOTs8VIW_-QzsY88iX4ots6uXEezpFH7UkwmqR6IMLVeY8UGhJg_t1SIub0jj9bXTfLLVSpK8yl3Bw1Dtojdsi2cFdgg4FpqYPp0ClNDF0DdMdM/s1600/20140418_143652.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groundbreaking...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEToq8Mz1IIPg1LWwwRtVe9ptvXerpaM4pZFc5y8vwE3LHDKrdaIJmGYg_WAPv-C-sY5QQhwvoWxj25GVRtFT3oy2QJ2ovIZ6Pig3uvirM5UaykC6tU7rcO7i3maGRuLSF7_Ap9uw11kJj/s1600/20140418_143813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEToq8Mz1IIPg1LWwwRtVe9ptvXerpaM4pZFc5y8vwE3LHDKrdaIJmGYg_WAPv-C-sY5QQhwvoWxj25GVRtFT3oy2QJ2ovIZ6Pig3uvirM5UaykC6tU7rcO7i3maGRuLSF7_Ap9uw11kJj/s1600/20140418_143813.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can we take credit for stuff blooming?</td></tr>
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The only change we've made so far is replacing the house numbers and entry light. (It's worth mentioning that before we moved in and the first week we were here, the entire house had to have a new 200 amp service brought to it and all the receptacles needed to be grounded. So that pretty much took over the house for the first days so we could feel sure we weren't going to blow anything up or start a fire.) </div>
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Old brass light: out. </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Crazy Sexy Cool globe light wired for damp conditions: in.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevrZhtQc5KiF-J0HLdRcT_a81UVgYQNrcOOdv1kGs3EeQAAUILWz-YY_ZG2-OnXhReEYcNYbQMDhc4k7vBPDKq7KION8SiKCULAy8r_xTM0OE7q0-uwk3sUsBcFNPW2LKeky0B_uuYpnG/s1600/20140418_143838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevrZhtQc5KiF-J0HLdRcT_a81UVgYQNrcOOdv1kGs3EeQAAUILWz-YY_ZG2-OnXhReEYcNYbQMDhc4k7vBPDKq7KION8SiKCULAy8r_xTM0OE7q0-uwk3sUsBcFNPW2LKeky0B_uuYpnG/s1600/20140418_143838.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new digits.</td></tr>
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We've removed a bit of yard art and discovered a butt load of carpenter bees in the back. So if anyone has experience getting rid of those things, I'm all ears.</div>
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<b>Entry (before we moved in):</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1wu6qOJwaLy5-XfEBX6q7HsqEAziVmVUY7DE6bAnRgU8-UsZtp5E2nMOx3E4r_PAhJyiMXuAuOmlPTFMymABSTPpvQoYa6ACwTdsppxpjpzXg3LhjqVykTesGvBJU9RoRs5cjeiT3uPo/s1600/entry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1wu6qOJwaLy5-XfEBX6q7HsqEAziVmVUY7DE6bAnRgU8-UsZtp5E2nMOx3E4r_PAhJyiMXuAuOmlPTFMymABSTPpvQoYa6ACwTdsppxpjpzXg3LhjqVykTesGvBJU9RoRs5cjeiT3uPo/s1600/entry.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeqhvVEFyfn1Qd5Jki2PfHxOipLeVcFZgp1xQnDCuXCEo_dUg0OrusJXKcu3rHKPURTtBs9VITv8AtzuAy6OKUXxSujB43puwFTrB9lJL7gK-Jv_u5GYOoFKdtWEjFbO8SxgYFKJp8NOO/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeqhvVEFyfn1Qd5Jki2PfHxOipLeVcFZgp1xQnDCuXCEo_dUg0OrusJXKcu3rHKPURTtBs9VITv8AtzuAy6OKUXxSujB43puwFTrB9lJL7gK-Jv_u5GYOoFKdtWEjFbO8SxgYFKJp8NOO/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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<b>Entry (now that we're here):</b></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lav0EaaVN0akp1OR426-nrnPN3j3NuR6LgqWckiund_lh3oTtRQaR6ccDQLibaDUcLOcyTyFcwgpC9RgWyP7lmNiXvIvo_kDyzC2FxgGi4d8tBcGmce0jyhyMEkclHq7K9liEgvIhReU/s1600/20140418_152619_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_lav0EaaVN0akp1OR426-nrnPN3j3NuR6LgqWckiund_lh3oTtRQaR6ccDQLibaDUcLOcyTyFcwgpC9RgWyP7lmNiXvIvo_kDyzC2FxgGi4d8tBcGmce0jyhyMEkclHq7K9liEgvIhReU/s1600/20140418_152619_resized.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the lights was broken in the shipment.</td></tr>
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Another giant brass fixture bites the dust in lieu of this sputnik light. And since we get the question a lot...it's from <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_511350-43501-FD13-033_0__?productId=50096172" target="_blank">Lowes</a>. And it's cheap. Or, it WAS. It's gone up in price since we bought it. (Considering there are 18 Edison bulbs that come with the fixture that are typically $6-$8 a pop, that means the actual fixture itself only cost us about $20. See how I justify things in my head?) We have also begun the long process of changing all the almond colored paint in the house to a more modern gray. (Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, if you're curious.)</div>
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<b>The hallway (before we moved in):</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdVEXU5bJsdGD2fWRMgyefipuSj42-VcjjjtiL9-mt2eWqkB_pEd7kOGTrjA_A3rLgQVi3R00m7pHyGtqel1Eh6lmQupnxLLWAfAICy9Cqob_zMmhRaNbJBBZngdXrrf0bUS0Q9Kcopf2/s1600/20140304_173037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdVEXU5bJsdGD2fWRMgyefipuSj42-VcjjjtiL9-mt2eWqkB_pEd7kOGTrjA_A3rLgQVi3R00m7pHyGtqel1Eh6lmQupnxLLWAfAICy9Cqob_zMmhRaNbJBBZngdXrrf0bUS0Q9Kcopf2/s1600/20140304_173037.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a beige bonanza!</td></tr>
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<b>The hallway (now that we're here):</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh38OLQXn770JxGq5SbVXcNgCArtaUK4-ypz25wp6XbLIVB9vhJENUt6Kk-p1TINee2ZqCL-GVFfUqm7Tv1As9Gxd5BoSie9qDQSeHe9nJWeZWfxBxaqmelM5W78TXTmQH0xJN5fTcxAHH/s1600/hallway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh38OLQXn770JxGq5SbVXcNgCArtaUK4-ypz25wp6XbLIVB9vhJENUt6Kk-p1TINee2ZqCL-GVFfUqm7Tv1As9Gxd5BoSie9qDQSeHe9nJWeZWfxBxaqmelM5W78TXTmQH0xJN5fTcxAHH/s1600/hallway.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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As if it were plucked from my dreams, there were hardwood floors under 80% of the existing flooring in the house. New carpet had been put down with in the past couple of years, so while normally, carpet skeeves me out, this stuff was super clean. So, we kept it in the master bedroom, den and Carter's room and ripped it up in the living room, hallway and guest room. It had to be refinished but we got a great deal from a dude. Happy to share his info for those in the market. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD39UUgsjGkRZIdhnUTafXpv5k0mjhLa1HiVvDFbFjLpOSdtpJZDNR5DQzb7S64bdUFNHBKYZeCYaqeO-dAatJeHi3gydUSiXaz3dXFk4_29ZbHlV790qIhjGt5zq1TX34Cy35RKDSOdb/s1600/20140301_150457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinD39UUgsjGkRZIdhnUTafXpv5k0mjhLa1HiVvDFbFjLpOSdtpJZDNR5DQzb7S64bdUFNHBKYZeCYaqeO-dAatJeHi3gydUSiXaz3dXFk4_29ZbHlV790qIhjGt5zq1TX34Cy35RKDSOdb/s1600/20140301_150457.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this here hallway though, we still need to paint (thus the tape), install new lights and hang something epic at the end of the hall. I'm thinking an oil painting of Nicolas Cage.</div>
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<b>The living room (before we moved in):</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMfhhy9TXQTYZ8fZ6-yBNwhSH6ZLClGh6QyK4iVfl21hoXJDzImooJ5Nlp9SLDt0atnbXFvdiasySnWFK29T69UJ_FPAcIx3tx9xhY5659qNpXxQipmey3eTtg94kQvbScKXD-W3kluls/s1600/living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghMfhhy9TXQTYZ8fZ6-yBNwhSH6ZLClGh6QyK4iVfl21hoXJDzImooJ5Nlp9SLDt0atnbXFvdiasySnWFK29T69UJ_FPAcIx3tx9xhY5659qNpXxQipmey3eTtg94kQvbScKXD-W3kluls/s1600/living.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipokLesn5wcjHCfnnMxr06mcXDK0IlyDhSCMXfPTsvrHKViEW91u5y4Rxb4LC28Sv4Keg6mD2eQpjn8-3CoTrphMAYE64gHBXhvbnTvcZ2y4NQAaksDjmADh_dvR2BmFt5zyfkQn-QEnZB/s1600/20140301_142624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipokLesn5wcjHCfnnMxr06mcXDK0IlyDhSCMXfPTsvrHKViEW91u5y4Rxb4LC28Sv4Keg6mD2eQpjn8-3CoTrphMAYE64gHBXhvbnTvcZ2y4NQAaksDjmADh_dvR2BmFt5zyfkQn-QEnZB/s1600/20140301_142624.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyQ5yHNicvAZDszp49IHXvVQgk9r6NpUzrtp1OovWidoewWCWroE-8OC3o9Gnuf8iWnI9EJVEcUKZW1lkKYh1TVvDaSNFhAjT1Zgc3KEP3VEI_ypzBTO6KIlx0Pw6uMPrcaOwRIHdgfYJ/s1600/20140301_142633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyQ5yHNicvAZDszp49IHXvVQgk9r6NpUzrtp1OovWidoewWCWroE-8OC3o9Gnuf8iWnI9EJVEcUKZW1lkKYh1TVvDaSNFhAjT1Zgc3KEP3VEI_ypzBTO6KIlx0Pw6uMPrcaOwRIHdgfYJ/s1600/20140301_142633.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>The living room (now that we're here</b><b>):</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaJZvjc-HEEDokZohm-KI3sEg5NqT2I_iNqhq2l41Je6KgYHPWu9e2d7fX-QDhSqvJdq1HF-tJrjZ_3ggDJ9obysJrSuHu0hKVCAGGmkSn1R2qMJf9QP0S-Eq1LWZxHHPF7uJsHs_q9CW/s1600/20140418_180026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJaJZvjc-HEEDokZohm-KI3sEg5NqT2I_iNqhq2l41Je6KgYHPWu9e2d7fX-QDhSqvJdq1HF-tJrjZ_3ggDJ9obysJrSuHu0hKVCAGGmkSn1R2qMJf9QP0S-Eq1LWZxHHPF7uJsHs_q9CW/s1600/20140418_180026.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNAq17PCa_3VQgfHSIM_LblFb6DzfvOu8B3HvJmRc1kHk4kfimj6S4ePcyojhvd8plH-x6NL126r4dQrNMlFAiFwpBqH9tnW2Uc6FhH3ciFnxYK6ZzUJj57R5LmZlJsArUno-CQNtdIlU/s1600/living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNAq17PCa_3VQgfHSIM_LblFb6DzfvOu8B3HvJmRc1kHk4kfimj6S4ePcyojhvd8plH-x6NL126r4dQrNMlFAiFwpBqH9tnW2Uc6FhH3ciFnxYK6ZzUJj57R5LmZlJsArUno-CQNtdIlU/s1600/living.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAEeHiJ-XCpuD2AFp8QpQ1wJnxPTiGpbmDGkJjyRT8DkpryFieL3AUDMintthSKFLRGux6-TZIP7ikT4hCP2AwV5ROO4EHO29za_SYN4Kvd9x3W_aEixa9aAZjOtK41_b3rv6OMo1m2_c/s1600/living2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAEeHiJ-XCpuD2AFp8QpQ1wJnxPTiGpbmDGkJjyRT8DkpryFieL3AUDMintthSKFLRGux6-TZIP7ikT4hCP2AwV5ROO4EHO29za_SYN4Kvd9x3W_aEixa9aAZjOtK41_b3rv6OMo1m2_c/s1600/living2.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzU_QuU-oZlYWqilfQGcsTSRWkR8u8RAEr4BnKzamNnbqx_CzPEhhwPjz1Bxc52tq8UtBp-ARv3NOy9c3gu88yQd2TZ2fICjIX_wRBECmze6KWaBTxDY2-SS1IuUgAVPRilkSI6AJUpc/s1600/bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVzU_QuU-oZlYWqilfQGcsTSRWkR8u8RAEr4BnKzamNnbqx_CzPEhhwPjz1Bxc52tq8UtBp-ARv3NOy9c3gu88yQd2TZ2fICjIX_wRBECmze6KWaBTxDY2-SS1IuUgAVPRilkSI6AJUpc/s1600/bookcase.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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This room has probably had the most work since we've been here. We've ripped up the carpet and refinished the floors, replaced the light fixture and painted. We've also put things in our built in (swoon!) and are beginning to accessorize. So besides C's room, it's definitely gotten the biggest facelift so far. We still have plenty to do in here (namely some structural support stuff under the fireplace, touching up trim and installing shoe moulding) but we're happy with the direction of this room.<br />
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<b>Carter's room (before we moved in):</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rdaoa_OCjSjUGBzM2XjCi6uV1klvjws2Swpq0bJBI7Tt7K8I2_lX9q4MCzRnvpqFQNZD1FT2dTAW0l4xCz9aEIl-G4NpH91NGH3cpFez7SEzG_fseWBD5opFtTEf9QY1cNLpRHiVS_UE/s1600/carter's+bedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rdaoa_OCjSjUGBzM2XjCi6uV1klvjws2Swpq0bJBI7Tt7K8I2_lX9q4MCzRnvpqFQNZD1FT2dTAW0l4xCz9aEIl-G4NpH91NGH3cpFez7SEzG_fseWBD5opFtTEf9QY1cNLpRHiVS_UE/s1600/carter's+bedroom.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That yellow was actually way brighter in person, if you can imagine.</td></tr>
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The end of the original house ended at his room and you'll notice that awkward window in the top picture to the right. The den is on the other side and so it just let in some secondary light (and noise) into the room. I decided it was much too awkward for the layout so we removed it. And by we, I mean Nick and his dad. </div>
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I was still loving the navy from his room @ Glenwood so I used it again here. And used <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-down-walls.html" target="_blank">the same taping technique</a>, just a different pattern.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDKJxko9rDGXdnyEO6D4QD9j2B-SK0vJALc5YxzGPoV46Z-RJmvsXTII3oWco5GRW9GPivmQ2DbzLY0-KX8ebjl2sBhg03_rq7mkHXXlTuaNbCiSTgRyyT8r0uopA7-EKIOuDVr32HG9X/s1600/20140312_182103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDKJxko9rDGXdnyEO6D4QD9j2B-SK0vJALc5YxzGPoV46Z-RJmvsXTII3oWco5GRW9GPivmQ2DbzLY0-KX8ebjl2sBhg03_rq7mkHXXlTuaNbCiSTgRyyT8r0uopA7-EKIOuDVr32HG9X/s1600/20140312_182103.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nick made a pattern out of foam core and then we just tape, tape, taped.</div>
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His room still needs a few finishing touches: touch up the trim, swap out the lights on his fan for something less tulip-y, get a small colorful rug for in front of the bookcase for reading (and to break up that sea of off white carpet), clean some older paint off his closet doors and figure out what type of lamp to put in the corner. <br />
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And now I'm tired of typing, you're tired of reading and there's a cheese & salami log calling my name. We'll cover the rest of the house in another post. Probably. Or just have all of y'all over to see it for yourselves. MEGA HUGE PARTY!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmlhNwoa9BSA_wrEvUQiG7CQXgV0kI2_EOcb0ebUB3ocnO-9QMZrr-MPMdLJMhQ6srrxzauZUV1fZveY60GLXxjhIg2WVMgyGWrnZ-IG4CWQLCjlAAB3GnCA6OSbBxEZMasqsiSHefvz-/s1600/44812598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmlhNwoa9BSA_wrEvUQiG7CQXgV0kI2_EOcb0ebUB3ocnO-9QMZrr-MPMdLJMhQ6srrxzauZUV1fZveY60GLXxjhIg2WVMgyGWrnZ-IG4CWQLCjlAAB3GnCA6OSbBxEZMasqsiSHefvz-/s1600/44812598.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This was clearly Nick's suggestion.)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-69410689822324814492014-02-28T12:38:00.001-05:002014-02-28T15:45:41.845-05:00Farewell, 705.Today was a big day. Carter is officially 6 months old. HALF A YEAR, Y'ALL.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhfVrQUVbPvpxa3iLFG_Rr2RA3pRmRaUUwFXOgGz5xQe69iulcpjn2_97ok49y5Big7eGJv9uHLykUY_XqVS_4pKqAlfIhWEwNCWToDbwNJt8wQ_JkXAGAkXm6q_RquhyphenhyphenGgDnwoW-y4eG/s640/blogger-image-1077245325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhfVrQUVbPvpxa3iLFG_Rr2RA3pRmRaUUwFXOgGz5xQe69iulcpjn2_97ok49y5Big7eGJv9uHLykUY_XqVS_4pKqAlfIhWEwNCWToDbwNJt8wQ_JkXAGAkXm6q_RquhyphenhyphenGgDnwoW-y4eG/s400/blogger-image-1077245325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But that actually plays second fiddle to the bigger news of the day: closing on the house. We are excited to finally jump into the pool of home ownership but we are definitely sad to be leaving our current digs. <br />
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I moved into this house back in 2008 with my good friend, Bryna. We moved in knowing we'd only have 6 months to love this place, as the landlord was planning to raze the entire block to put up million dollar brownstones.<br />
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Economy tanks, project falls through and our home was left standing. Two roommates and a wedding later, Nick moved in when we got married in 2010. (Let's not forget the foreclosure notice on the front door weeks before the wedding that led to a new landlord, with whom we went nearly 4 years without any type of legal documentation of our living in the house.) Now it's 2014 and I'm flooded with memories.<br />
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We brought Carter home from the hospital to this place.<br />
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We've had 5 epic Halloween parties here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS9XtDpfNWbPaUQVKKFMjwR9bGxlsyYc2AEzmY_jEsX8No-RK4zbvWLU1mFxFdBjMyZVyuC2YQYuhU_cQj9v5rx7GYMCyYuovm8MPhsFkO5v3PQGho1V5OuzatKasaP8oxR4E4NbAELbb/s1600/AWARD+WINNERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBS9XtDpfNWbPaUQVKKFMjwR9bGxlsyYc2AEzmY_jEsX8No-RK4zbvWLU1mFxFdBjMyZVyuC2YQYuhU_cQj9v5rx7GYMCyYuovm8MPhsFkO5v3PQGho1V5OuzatKasaP8oxR4E4NbAELbb/s1600/AWARD+WINNERS.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Police and SWAT teams have surrounded our house (twice). We've had countless friends and family members over for meals and game nights. We've held Bible Study here and prayed for our City in this place.<br />
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I spent countless (i.e. 9) months, sick in our bedroom, as our little dude grew in my belly. <br />
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We danced almost every night in the kitchen to the Motown channel on Pandora as we cooked dinner together. <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/01/hey-remember-when-we-had-blog.html" target="_blank">We put a new concrete skim coat on the counters in the kitchen</a> among countless other cheap (or free face) lifts. If I total up the number of times I've painted in this house, we're looking north of 15 times. God bless my husband.<br />
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We love this house. We are going to miss it tremendously. But the adventure before us is grand. Oh man...it's going to be fun.<br />
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So before we officially close the chapter on this place, we took a house tour video to show Carter one day. <br />
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For you nosey folks like me, I thought I'd share. Remember, it's narrated with the intent of sharing with Carter one day, so don't judge my weird voice. (Full disclosure: my voice is just strange. I'm blaming this on talking to the baby but I sound like a nasally valley girl 90% of the time. I'll own it.) It's 6 minutes long so don't say I didn't warn you.<br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/F-nGrPE_mmY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/F-nGrPE_mmY?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/F-nGrPE_mmY?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></object></div>
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We'll miss you, 705.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-27071179222527871262014-01-31T13:41:00.002-05:002014-01-31T13:41:59.542-05:00The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire<h3>
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OR How we changed out the legs on our ottoman</i></span></h3>
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First things first - a shoot out to my favorite Ottoman Turk who will never see this anyway, Tolga! A solid dude about to become a solid doctor dude. Now that important matters are out of the way, let's talk about changing the legs on this here storage ottoman. Behold it in all of its glory! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-i3FcMRJIYFzZu2YLgtcqliHGHChOxsDjFfdXXBxsMvGsBSrpXWeTT6JUokBPOxNWa8v7YAuhW-ZMJUL2LFJcUo4liVYMkIRQCP4DEDQRwBnZT14nLKbi_ZG2SfBF9kBpCYDCgKrsGYR/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-i3FcMRJIYFzZu2YLgtcqliHGHChOxsDjFfdXXBxsMvGsBSrpXWeTT6JUokBPOxNWa8v7YAuhW-ZMJUL2LFJcUo4liVYMkIRQCP4DEDQRwBnZT14nLKbi_ZG2SfBF9kBpCYDCgKrsGYR/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sup, Cat?</td></tr>
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Now this thing has served us well. It's been recovered about 18 times. And by "recovered" I mean Sarah has put new fabric over the old fabric 18 times. We really like its size and function. The covering gets updated with whatever our living room happens to look like at the time (which, married to an interior designer, changes just as often as you'd think). The legs have never really been our style, so we'd been wanting to change them out. Sarah found these on some website that shipped them to our local lumber store.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUZ0yGAVcc4bkrJzEi0mTLWVwFeigTcZu0FuT2gDZvHYjpce4vESpGCVVqPS6J_lLqoNMVHXv6KZ68wzV0v92J967ff_1T6CJ5ILtF15Zn_LnlhIduQSsVVv8BkyPod9PCU5q9DvtnTv7/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUZ0yGAVcc4bkrJzEi0mTLWVwFeigTcZu0FuT2gDZvHYjpce4vESpGCVVqPS6J_lLqoNMVHXv6KZ68wzV0v92J967ff_1T6CJ5ILtF15Zn_LnlhIduQSsVVv8BkyPod9PCU5q9DvtnTv7/s1600/IMG_1670.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the supplies we used. Total cost: $24.</td></tr>
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You may notice there's not a lot of thread on the bolt sticking out of these new legs. That presented a bit of a problem since the existing legs were pretty deep and we had 18 layers of fabric to contend with. That's why we bought these little t-plates at our local, independently owned hardware store! (Always shop local - unless a big national chain is closer and is way cheaper. Really I don't care.) So once we stained these new legs and had <strike>a snow day</strike> some extra time, it was time to actually put them on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQvCNYvGVevbXg9ADpOJxVPi9tGLoUfNhn2KDm82cw6XsDlPi9ihigPMIBkLjX2kuK8Cq2vjwe2LjjUfvRMyWJ5geSQXDhFtXbSSIFk_QNfxEAKhmp-QNcnYRLtdgI6Y61W9dGNpIfCD/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSQvCNYvGVevbXg9ADpOJxVPi9tGLoUfNhn2KDm82cw6XsDlPi9ihigPMIBkLjX2kuK8Cq2vjwe2LjjUfvRMyWJ5geSQXDhFtXbSSIFk_QNfxEAKhmp-QNcnYRLtdgI6Y61W9dGNpIfCD/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legs stained. Ready to put on the t-plate and screw them in.</td></tr>
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We had to trim and pull back the existing fabric to get the t-plates as flush as possible.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W_A6ljNMzPjgyvZe8jRCZshV7ZDJfYx2cuqMBeAoQPGG3qJCrnVizdNIxdpSFp29pBtfQ05KJn5_twzYvOKKJHhewZi2eYGzmrjw3MGdvErbbv9wET11FD0Gld2kRB6Ros706V88v3yB/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1W_A6ljNMzPjgyvZe8jRCZshV7ZDJfYx2cuqMBeAoQPGG3qJCrnVizdNIxdpSFp29pBtfQ05KJn5_twzYvOKKJHhewZi2eYGzmrjw3MGdvErbbv9wET11FD0Gld2kRB6Ros706V88v3yB/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One t-plate down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vxiE14C0Fl6DDjVBrsvr4pq__OVDNPPXHLlzBlxQ0jsobsH8tXrPoQScbJl0NbEtZUug4_ix0GcNC3eo4ulpNsLutDiu7BJ9XbVtDvJmUszAC8ncWDhnAFeVssJNezYJvkdDdF0S-Yxs/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vxiE14C0Fl6DDjVBrsvr4pq__OVDNPPXHLlzBlxQ0jsobsH8tXrPoQScbJl0NbEtZUug4_ix0GcNC3eo4ulpNsLutDiu7BJ9XbVtDvJmUszAC8ncWDhnAFeVssJNezYJvkdDdF0S-Yxs/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One leg down.</td></tr>
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That's pretty much it. It was a really easy. Take a look at the finished project.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiziaTUzyyGYusZJ_ArdsO58jMUA7ekqFZ_fC7T9M-u5YFA0BahHiscYnAO7Y4U8DNVM6Px6y0UuuT7lkOHOc9Y3-PpVw3wEFJqON_hqdjA7ipjLP-NGvtv51YDGXsSmbdvhpLpL67aWG/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiziaTUzyyGYusZJ_ArdsO58jMUA7ekqFZ_fC7T9M-u5YFA0BahHiscYnAO7Y4U8DNVM6Px6y0UuuT7lkOHOc9Y3-PpVw3wEFJqON_hqdjA7ipjLP-NGvtv51YDGXsSmbdvhpLpL67aWG/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwh2fx-tYEgpBgTMJMy0rpwFUgSEHVKddxgtfW6VdH4fwiDUyRCcgU7xDOUmSmX22qtccBi4FibQJXOKETbj9cHN2rIlPcmwl540jd1O5ICxOHe8vLpTdXkqE1Py_kSGXlQyMvEwLGLpT/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwh2fx-tYEgpBgTMJMy0rpwFUgSEHVKddxgtfW6VdH4fwiDUyRCcgU7xDOUmSmX22qtccBi4FibQJXOKETbj9cHN2rIlPcmwl540jd1O5ICxOHe8vLpTdXkqE1Py_kSGXlQyMvEwLGLpT/s1600/IMG_1693.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone want these old legs? Free to a good home.</td></tr>
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So why did we decide to change these? When we originally started this blog, it was because we were putting an offer on a house and we wanted to blog about the renovations we had planned. Obviously that didn't happen. But guess what? It's happening now. And we've got a lot more potential to work with in this one because it's pretty much all original from 1962. Between actually doing the renovations and raising our baby, who knows how much we'll actually be able to document. Hopefully a decent bit. We've got a lot planned.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8UmEPjD5xiK_JWgnnK_aH_EAN0c5jiL8hdGeDTHUVjgiulppelavKAzmReG2AVeJsTm6UzmYwAsDOeAL2Fwj3m0NsrJIc-FLkPWCr3DX9Kdew3Tm0ZgZWgoVz5VZH_UXIaav2xV9sw8T/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8UmEPjD5xiK_JWgnnK_aH_EAN0c5jiL8hdGeDTHUVjgiulppelavKAzmReG2AVeJsTm6UzmYwAsDOeAL2Fwj3m0NsrJIc-FLkPWCr3DX9Kdew3Tm0ZgZWgoVz5VZH_UXIaav2xV9sw8T/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG" height="202" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a little drawing I did for Sarah. No, it's not in Southern California - but it looks like it could be!</td></tr>
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Currently there's ivy growing all over that big brick chimney, which I conveniently left out of the drawing. You see, I want to tear it off as I think it'll look cleaner and more in keeping of the style of the era. Sarah wants to keep it to avoid that big brick mass. You help us decide - your vote counts!*</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*it doesn't really count.</span></div>
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<h4>
We've gotten some complaints recently...</h4>
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There's been a lot of priss and not a lot of punk. You're right. And thanks for voicing your opinion to our staff. Without further ado...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4XXo7-hf8A3LwU0fR1uUzUML4n8_NB9cg6mjdh8HmdvkFfFhKUv5DxNuWYRXNKMaSb27Jz_Zlr-4x7f5whIoLO2Ie16is0LyTus3eFTVZlH7NF1u8l643haQnx0jBoj0mU1SOW7GYQw/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL4XXo7-hf8A3LwU0fR1uUzUML4n8_NB9cg6mjdh8HmdvkFfFhKUv5DxNuWYRXNKMaSb27Jz_Zlr-4x7f5whIoLO2Ie16is0LyTus3eFTVZlH7NF1u8l643haQnx0jBoj0mU1SOW7GYQw/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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The weekend after we close on the new house, I'll be heading out for a weekend with the band I play in, <a href="http://gutfeeling.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Gut Feeling</a>. We are excited to being headed out with vegan straight edge pioneers Earth Crisis! Of the ten guys in the two bands, only our drummer Dan and I aren't vegan. This should lead to some interesting meals! As I told a friend of mine, if you would have told me 15 years ago that A) I'd still be playing hardcore music, B) Earth Crisis would still be playing, and C) your band would be doing a weekend tour with them, I wouldn't have believed you. But here we are, and I'm pretty excited about it. At the tender young age of 33, I'll be the second youngest guy on the tour. Come say hello if you're in any of the above cities!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-90642226828732910572014-01-16T21:07:00.001-05:002014-01-16T21:07:32.666-05:00Take two.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Everybody deserves a second chance in this world. That's basically all I ask."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Shannen Doherty</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If there's one person I trust in this world, it's Brenda Walsh. And even though I alluded to the fact that I was going to give it another go in my <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/12/disclaimer-youre-about-to-see-lot-of.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, B-Walsh's words of wisdom really sealed the deal for me. </span></div>
<div class="bq_fq_a" style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I gots me another Fix. And let me go ahead and say...it was WAY better this time around. I'd heard from a lot of ladies that the 2nd box is always better because you're able to give really detailed feedback. When you "check out" online after you receive your box, there's an opportunity (whether you keep the item or not) to give detailed reviews of each piece and for the Fix overall. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjOepF3Gr61kUqbuhjJojsvQO2vr0pj3BepNGFLIuPJPCrYmv6jdb67kjpgZf3WwN6vJiCVyAVsBfwdqaHQTsQUw7ltVUZwb-2pspWvfD2eCMEHD_QzQ1qZ5EdZ-0CIWK1RkXWjRXPGMz/s1600/feedback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxjOepF3Gr61kUqbuhjJojsvQO2vr0pj3BepNGFLIuPJPCrYmv6jdb67kjpgZf3WwN6vJiCVyAVsBfwdqaHQTsQUw7ltVUZwb-2pspWvfD2eCMEHD_QzQ1qZ5EdZ-0CIWK1RkXWjRXPGMz/s1600/feedback.jpg" height="180" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me, being the wordy bird that I am, took full advantage and even sent a link to my last blog post. When I got this box, the note from my stylist Hayley even mentioned that she'd checked out my Pinterest board and read my blog post. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKUT-q9BdRSh09bNpA4iH0ZDQL-Tl9J7MpXZG5HdVC0-14-LhGdVDj7QYMSnf-Gy-IsZEnIi_B3cAhQH4fj0oh5zc5C6iVpNU6tyYIgjCqbahWgJdF1JjrHeAkEVIlDCl67qZDsgdyOZv/s1600/note.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKUT-q9BdRSh09bNpA4iH0ZDQL-Tl9J7MpXZG5HdVC0-14-LhGdVDj7QYMSnf-Gy-IsZEnIi_B3cAhQH4fj0oh5zc5C6iVpNU6tyYIgjCqbahWgJdF1JjrHeAkEVIlDCl67qZDsgdyOZv/s1600/note.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">What can I say? She gets me.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could tell she really had done some amount of research on me because this box was SIGNIFICANTLY better than last time and very in line with what I'd requested. I didn't end up keeping it all, but the potential was there. So let's get down to brass tacks. (P.S. Is anyone else LURVING that brass is making a major comeback in interiors?)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b><span style="color: #464547;">VIOLET ARROW CUTOUT BANGLE </span><span style="color: red;">$28</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1_RQ3xxQL1So8CSOAOQME2dyYEGCfrN3AK4P2f_sSMstHKHCebK2swr8Z6GR51lZFA9hIVPboiCiSlyG3aMQRIWSzHwFpT5m4jlu2gYDOgVMjKChLEyC6J0SPDPxty1Eyuuw_B1Tiyty/s1600/bracelet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1_RQ3xxQL1So8CSOAOQME2dyYEGCfrN3AK4P2f_sSMstHKHCebK2swr8Z6GR51lZFA9hIVPboiCiSlyG3aMQRIWSzHwFpT5m4jlu2gYDOgVMjKChLEyC6J0SPDPxty1Eyuuw_B1Tiyty/s1600/bracelet.jpg" height="331" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's cute, don't get me wrong.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I very much liked the idea of this bangle. I mentioned that I'd like to have an accessory in this Fix and I got it. I love the arrow pattern and I like the gold. It wasn't too girly and really quite cute. But I've got a couple issues with it. One, the quality is a little iffy. It seemed to be bent in a few places and knowing how un-graceful I am, I would probably jack this thing up good within a few wearings. Second, the more I looked at it, the more it reminded me of a pipe clamp. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tres chic.</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I would normally get down with something offbeat like that, the third straw for me was the price. At $28, I would have never picked that up in a store. And generally, with stores like H&M, Francesca's and the like, I'm never dropping much more than $20 for costume jewelry. So it gets sent back. But I totally get why Hayley sent it to me and so she gets 10 cool points for it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #464547;">MAYSON HOUNDSTOOTH FAUX WRAP DRESS </span><span style="color: red;">$34</span></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RXnr0heKnjK2BfC5C-lUv9hXhT8bKskrIGTSzdnwyBoUjRVZpTxSbKSCoCovIoK5bUjtMlmNkWsiGgoCnikdymtbbqhhR2sc3rdMZVB71wj1Am7fpgmPUGVBJ3AqhcnavLkeRwNGevYh/s1600/20140116_185406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RXnr0heKnjK2BfC5C-lUv9hXhT8bKskrIGTSzdnwyBoUjRVZpTxSbKSCoCovIoK5bUjtMlmNkWsiGgoCnikdymtbbqhhR2sc3rdMZVB71wj1Am7fpgmPUGVBJ3AqhcnavLkeRwNGevYh/s1600/20140116_185406.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeeesh. This one was the bust of the box. Not good. First of all, I do not understand this pattern. As Nick put it, "It's like you're trying to be a Bama fan, but you're not going full Bama. Roll Tide."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAURfyu8346VtmOfdaO93FoOKcXuzskvtPJ2wb8riH4DVzGW8OvdqhN1cj8-8n2kh1EuFgLqQFYTqswpVMN_02zFjD0HaX2Mc9UA161v0-EiCzm5D9fBKGCotfYD0nL24Gd5gOxdcVwxg/s1600/bama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAURfyu8346VtmOfdaO93FoOKcXuzskvtPJ2wb8riH4DVzGW8OvdqhN1cj8-8n2kh1EuFgLqQFYTqswpVMN_02zFjD0HaX2Mc9UA161v0-EiCzm5D9fBKGCotfYD0nL24Gd5gOxdcVwxg/s1600/bama.jpg" height="358" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those unfamiliar with the reference, just bing Alabama Football houndstooth. Or Bear Bryant. Whichevs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It also fit weird. It kind of made me look like I had a third droopy breast hiding between my actual breasts. And I may not know much about fashion, but I'm relatively certain that's not a hot look.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwa8CHV1SYcAdO5Le5p2DQLLWuDc-530wKEH2oeY8jZPb0u-Ty_V-0YisOVvRw5Q8krOm2sUmELili6Dy9uiiqOYwMTpV6gT5b1CaAIeG8ySPTME948CRr9WPiBHwJjFl7KCghaI1bQIi/s1600/20140116_193552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwa8CHV1SYcAdO5Le5p2DQLLWuDc-530wKEH2oeY8jZPb0u-Ty_V-0YisOVvRw5Q8krOm2sUmELili6Dy9uiiqOYwMTpV6gT5b1CaAIeG8ySPTME948CRr9WPiBHwJjFl7KCghaI1bQIi/s1600/20140116_193552.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one redeeming factor was the cost. At $34, I would definitely have bought a cute wrap dress. But this was not that dress. And I had a come-to-Jesus moment as I tried to consider if I kept all 5 items, what I would do with this dress since I would have essentially gotten it for free (b/c you get a 25% discount off the entire order if you keep it all.) Luckily, I chose not to keep the bangle either so it all worked out fine. But I was pretty stressed out about how to regift this fug. Crisis averted.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #464547;">YUSUF EMBELLISHED SHOULDER STRIPED TOP </span><span style="color: red;">$58</span></b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHaSUgqN9nHeSXhokXcmUzNY_YmGIK7jquwxmwqxfgbPdpQjM57-btPbYOnLm_97BOEF0d1AA8IC7auNbBxIvq7bau1Tf21Z1_QLOlNv_-dTy92qGnnZfmaSFS2cBjEzgPBYRsHT6f8r5/s1600/embellish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHaSUgqN9nHeSXhokXcmUzNY_YmGIK7jquwxmwqxfgbPdpQjM57-btPbYOnLm_97BOEF0d1AA8IC7auNbBxIvq7bau1Tf21Z1_QLOlNv_-dTy92qGnnZfmaSFS2cBjEzgPBYRsHT6f8r5/s1600/embellish.jpg" height="328" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the style cards but those little strappy shoes show up way too often and I'm not headed to any junior proms anytime soon.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a number of descriptors I could throw around for this top but I'm going to go with, "fierce." I made it pretty clear in my last post that I was a bit of a stripes hater so I was a little surprised to find this one in the box. But the embellished shoulders and shoulder pads make me forget about the stripes and any reminder of the dreaded striped maternity wear. And yes, you read that right...there are shoulder pads in this sucka.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKV6KvCV0dntGGbvQiAZ7reaeU_iBosqPjUceDvpK0WVCHTYhp309OuFWL1AOpkQohEdn0p2QAIrE0FUWaB4Mn3zc5oceXlYCk2osifh3HUakudq8JNYYlM8p6Oo9acwUHYXKg3ruO34p5/s1600/bad+ass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKV6KvCV0dntGGbvQiAZ7reaeU_iBosqPjUceDvpK0WVCHTYhp309OuFWL1AOpkQohEdn0p2QAIrE0FUWaB4Mn3zc5oceXlYCk2osifh3HUakudq8JNYYlM8p6Oo9acwUHYXKg3ruO34p5/s1600/bad+ass.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's clear: I don't play.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I put it on for Nick I said "isn't it so edgy and bad ass?" His reply was "I like it. It looks really good. It is <i>in no way</i> edgy or bad ass."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agree to disagree, Husbo. I guess I just thought the metallic accents made me feel like I could go into battle. A <i>fashion</i> battle. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNfd-SglFC5HfpMVuxoMuRxe3ilrZCfRk2pZTckSmfZhcKIQX_IKnlBDScEi52rMDlCgDfnE74pzCeIjqZ7lketfaCO7nB-tkFs8Y8KL1UxNCHRCafugfbTRMgKHHNxPviyOUQGhYu8J2/s1600/demure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNfd-SglFC5HfpMVuxoMuRxe3ilrZCfRk2pZTckSmfZhcKIQX_IKnlBDScEi52rMDlCgDfnE74pzCeIjqZ7lketfaCO7nB-tkFs8Y8KL1UxNCHRCafugfbTRMgKHHNxPviyOUQGhYu8J2/s1600/demure.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't be fooled by the face, y'all.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, this was a big ol' keep.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #464547;">ALEXANDER AZTEC KNIT DRAPE FRONT CARDIGAN </span><span style="color: red;">$68</span></span></b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPF2GYmjBlNKsCC5dOuQNwezSnrJGeYXLj7fgyTuxf6swHO0qAHJYew0Gfzi2gmqsXLMoMmwF6XYclQiUvNTC_4HJhqfnEt5ZcdnfsPABheayw27Dwv_4cFsMCVlH84bOoOY9gxWnCsAE/s1600/20140116_185352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYPF2GYmjBlNKsCC5dOuQNwezSnrJGeYXLj7fgyTuxf6swHO0qAHJYew0Gfzi2gmqsXLMoMmwF6XYclQiUvNTC_4HJhqfnEt5ZcdnfsPABheayw27Dwv_4cFsMCVlH84bOoOY9gxWnCsAE/s1600/20140116_185352.jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure I can put into words just how much I love this sweater. I'd been looking for an Aztec print to work into my wardrobe for a while and even though I never explicitly said so, I was hoping my stylist would read my mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos, Hayley. Well done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Besides the fact that it's amazingly warm and cozy soft, I love the way it looks. And I'm aware that this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I don't drink tea unless it's sweet and from Bojangles so...I think you see what I mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To me, it's the perfect blend of Hollywood chic meets Dumb & Dumber.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs5RvWiMPYjl9inl_AV7Ee1KOjcvtOU3aH42qztgiyd9MYCWKNKfMlZK67rwxG4DQuaHD1f-KSR-1vXMPcLJwWsyQp_Es2HZ6kNzP1JL04kOTE3f6Uyoe8csei21iFA5NkvTw-RrslOVL/s1600/chic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRs5RvWiMPYjl9inl_AV7Ee1KOjcvtOU3aH42qztgiyd9MYCWKNKfMlZK67rwxG4DQuaHD1f-KSR-1vXMPcLJwWsyQp_Es2HZ6kNzP1JL04kOTE3f6Uyoe8csei21iFA5NkvTw-RrslOVL/s1600/chic.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This plus...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqH__j17jHBzt7HYiYjufox3mI_G_zCKG30xm_kzK13U6CX86UgIs1q5B0CT8X5GR-CRkNzp8_SZken6zGcPTqjswc5lEXKuA-MtFdZ4QO6BTMay-h96HFeI_pOxtFYyk9sf8bW6o1zM5/s1600/DUMB+AND+DUMBER+LLOYD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqH__j17jHBzt7HYiYjufox3mI_G_zCKG30xm_kzK13U6CX86UgIs1q5B0CT8X5GR-CRkNzp8_SZken6zGcPTqjswc5lEXKuA-MtFdZ4QO6BTMay-h96HFeI_pOxtFYyk9sf8bW6o1zM5/s1600/DUMB+AND+DUMBER+LLOYD.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...this equals...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R4vy9Nbhj2HANvifUZ5L6jvin59LxmI51ATaNgajiBAawdor9rzmvdt_t0YjG65TYoRIuCpK6KWZJ2Ha35eG05WAfKVU3205HN0bV-WwV5joclkCrSThWhMCMKTnM5u-gxImQwJeg2D5/s1600/aztec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2R4vy9Nbhj2HANvifUZ5L6jvin59LxmI51ATaNgajiBAawdor9rzmvdt_t0YjG65TYoRIuCpK6KWZJ2Ha35eG05WAfKVU3205HN0bV-WwV5joclkCrSThWhMCMKTnM5u-gxImQwJeg2D5/s1600/aztec.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lloyd Couture.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nick didn't understand the math and couldn't see how it was a good thing. I tried to explain that it's the perfect balance I try to hit with all my outfits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For real though, I've gotten a lot of compliments on it already (I wore it the next day to work) and I'm pretty sure they weren't blowing smoke up my bum. So big thumbs up here. Keeper!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TkLkV1uhXTHoOSNZIXh6uXBCmat2B8JhSH5Kd0_J_xoSJIqVOAvosgtOYtQ051DDxtBXe_qvQKlju3FzIP5TLK8YC8XrNC3kr34ZC5-JWC06Qcsrqhl4egGzaiMmjokz1nCs28LF4I_s/s1600/adorbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TkLkV1uhXTHoOSNZIXh6uXBCmat2B8JhSH5Kd0_J_xoSJIqVOAvosgtOYtQ051DDxtBXe_qvQKlju3FzIP5TLK8YC8XrNC3kr34ZC5-JWC06Qcsrqhl4egGzaiMmjokz1nCs28LF4I_s/s1600/adorbs.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking photos is so awkward.</td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #464547;">ZELDA FRONT POCKET PLAID BLOUSE </span><span style="color: red;">$28</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx-7NJYR1hGlENwss_D1T40Z6TW-59s7Hi5zvYrmjOVQN7l3gTUhsv6174EpFSqBm_TxEyvPKo9ulLZHeDlxagoUZ_qwvkPB3eYgbk4BoKZZlaVSF-9C60KRC5MFQ8AwerxSZpiqpCYCj/s1600/plaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCx-7NJYR1hGlENwss_D1T40Z6TW-59s7Hi5zvYrmjOVQN7l3gTUhsv6174EpFSqBm_TxEyvPKo9ulLZHeDlxagoUZ_qwvkPB3eYgbk4BoKZZlaVSF-9C60KRC5MFQ8AwerxSZpiqpCYCj/s1600/plaid.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Alright, here's where the interactive portion of the blog comes in to play. I'm torn on this guy. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2lJ0EK7PDFd4cJsf3xmGuOBKPquJu57g6r5umzoDQXHB9rWtod427Uh-fFaEhpk97l-CVAiZQ-AFQn68B4aPyxiWTpBRVwcOa2cPJbIXESmUTJx-4Ei85V9i33xwNN8kn3vHlm1J4CEa/s1600/unsure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2lJ0EK7PDFd4cJsf3xmGuOBKPquJu57g6r5umzoDQXHB9rWtod427Uh-fFaEhpk97l-CVAiZQ-AFQn68B4aPyxiWTpBRVwcOa2cPJbIXESmUTJx-4Ei85V9i33xwNN8kn3vHlm1J4CEa/s1600/unsure.jpg" height="400" width="293" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fun game to play is to guess what noise I'm making with this face.</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fit, shape and quality of this shirt are great. The price is even better. And I like plaid. My husband likes plaid. (Which is an understatement as he give Al Borland a run for his money when it comes to flannels and the like.) But <i>this</i> plaid? I dunno you guys. It's got such an autumnal feel and I'm much more of a winter. (Don't worry, I'm judging myself for using that type of terminology.) So I'm on the fence here. I've got two clear winners in the box...but do I keep the third? Let me know what you think. I'm interested.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa1G8bAleXtsL4BMGAZCZWlF56WH4i2uDS8BgvAVSV5MT8xKqF0EUM2bqiRaqQXEua01AndnDYME0_6W2xDmAb6i2JHXD-joGnCTycsHah5WH6rBXcKzcPsL-M9lnbVEp4JGy20xb4W3o/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPa1G8bAleXtsL4BMGAZCZWlF56WH4i2uDS8BgvAVSV5MT8xKqF0EUM2bqiRaqQXEua01AndnDYME0_6W2xDmAb6i2JHXD-joGnCTycsHah5WH6rBXcKzcPsL-M9lnbVEp4JGy20xb4W3o/s1600/baby.jpg" height="400" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does my adorable baby sway your decision?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's it. In short, this box was substantially better than the last, I made a new BFF with my stylist, and I've got a rockin' new sweater to wear to the Dumb & Dumber 2 Premiere. That's success if I've ever heard it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Try it for yourself! And use <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">this link</a> so I can keep up this horrible habit. Really, won't you sleep better at night knowing you're helping the world bring back shoulder pads, one gal at a time?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-40348340900279955952013-12-15T18:24:00.001-05:002013-12-16T14:34:42.804-05:00I'll Stitch yo Fix.<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Disclaimer: you're about to see a lot of poor quality pictures of my mug. Consider yourself warned.</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you've learned by now, I've apparently taken up a new hobby. <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/12/nature-box-real-talk.html" target="_blank">I review stuff.</a> I don't claim to be an expert. I don't claim to be the voice of the majority. But I do like to share my opinion on things and what is this blog for, if not to be a venue for my many ridiculous thoughts?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Y'all, I was so excited about Stitch Fix. Just ask Nick. I wouldn't shut up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For those that didn't read the post a couple weeks back, here's the recap of how it works.</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><strike style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> Cut a hole in the box.</strike></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Take a style quiz.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pay $20 Stylist Fee.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">5 items, tailored to your tastes, body type, etc arrive at your front door. </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Each piece has an accompanying "style" card to show you what to pair it with.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You have (3) business days to decide what you like. Your $20 stylist fee gets credited towards any purchase you make. Buy all 5 items? Get 25% off all of them.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Return anything you don't like in the pre-paid envelope provided and go online to give your feedback on each item to better design your next fix.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For those that want the Cliff Notes version of what I'm about to write, my first fix was alright, and I'll be trying again with higher expectations.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For those who want details, brace yourself for a boat load of off topic observations and pop culture references.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">After taking a brief but comprehensive style quiz, I sent my fashion juju out into the world and with bated breath, awaited to see what the style gods returned to me. Perhaps that was my first mistake. I tend to set grand expectations for things (for instance, assuming at the first game of every season that my beloved Wolfpack will go undefeated) and am often disappointed. But I fancy myself an optimist and tend to handle reality better than you'd expect.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">One of the things that likely made this a challenge for my stylist (heyyyyy, Arielle) was that I don't think I have a clearly defined style and my survey reflected as much. I'm well known for wearing absurdly high heels to work with a pencil skirt and blouse, while feeling equally myself in a pair of jeans and Vans. I unashamedly go to the grocery store in sweatpants but love new trends I can wear on a date with <a href="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1456513_755431502524_492334086_n.jpg" target="_blank"><strike>Adam</strike> Nick</a>. I doubt anyone could look at me and classify me as preppy, emo, or any other clique you'd find in the local high school cafeteria. This was part of the reason Stitchfix appealed to me: I'm an enigma. Wrapped in a riddle. Dipped in mystery.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Or maybe I'm just indecisive.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But enough blabber. What was I sent?</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">1) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">MAISIE 3/4 SLEEVE FRONT GATHERED TOP</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></b>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5E1UIwRD74EbZbX2iUnr1Nv9amTB1NnwzLY18ukP1PevTmZn2BWciE_qV5ldBze_Rnwt8ExF5V8-O4KqdHeaMReijyz6wCJpjY2O0-zIhd2tZB0aUVOzR2MqBAlRl9Hglvx0yZC3ReOH/s1600/purple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5E1UIwRD74EbZbX2iUnr1Nv9amTB1NnwzLY18ukP1PevTmZn2BWciE_qV5ldBze_Rnwt8ExF5V8-O4KqdHeaMReijyz6wCJpjY2O0-zIhd2tZB0aUVOzR2MqBAlRl9Hglvx0yZC3ReOH/s400/purple.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It really wasn't this wrinkly, I just didn't bother smoothing it out.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I mentioned to the stylist that I had just had a baby a few months ago so I was not looking to go exposed midriff a la Kelly Kapowski. In fact, I specifically asked for tops that would camouflage that beautiful post-partum fluffiness. I can see how the concept of this shirt was intended to do that but it wasn't very successful. The other big issue I had was the color. It's a royal purple color, but sorry peeps, I don't wear that shade. My mother looks awesome in that color. Me? I just imagine I'll be stopped by people on the streets telling me how "purpley" I am. And that's only cute in a movie.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1zEWKpq6nxnPJ7achEZLi0StdHnUFRQAu7oiR9XaRphQ7uddoU5dLH3ggk-23SLOpEiu96P7CaF1LieFRXLPrVS504bpDB2IHcg3GtD0vgeIgjhEMghBjrqfk7AJWl10SASXXZtQuc6B/s1600/image_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1zEWKpq6nxnPJ7achEZLi0StdHnUFRQAu7oiR9XaRphQ7uddoU5dLH3ggk-23SLOpEiu96P7CaF1LieFRXLPrVS504bpDB2IHcg3GtD0vgeIgjhEMghBjrqfk7AJWl10SASXXZtQuc6B/s400/image_1.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's an arrow I added that says "no." Paint for the win!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">BRENTWOOD JERSEY STRIPE TIERED TOP</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #464547; font-family: Avenir LT W01 45 Book, helvetica, HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5fZNpsu-cBimL_dbxAD2VJwUK0Eskcl4dG57X7yUhPtwXkBKIcb-AxFCvopAHgrobqSRP5xq94hcQIgsG8C6VvV6LG0v7gP9zO4udHS0oUudeAhB6Em74Ip3FPZMbkn_FZYk0ZnSsk-O/s1600/stripe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5fZNpsu-cBimL_dbxAD2VJwUK0Eskcl4dG57X7yUhPtwXkBKIcb-AxFCvopAHgrobqSRP5xq94hcQIgsG8C6VvV6LG0v7gP9zO4udHS0oUudeAhB6Em74Ip3FPZMbkn_FZYk0ZnSsk-O/s400/stripe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This was the only item I received that had a pattern, and still...it was a stripe. Not that I'm anti-stripe, but I felt like the only non-solid maternity options for clothing were stripes. And I was pregnant for 17 months so I'm a little over stripes for now. Again, I can see that this shirt was intended to disguise my kangaroo pocket, and I actually think it's quite successful. Nick liked this best of all of them. But at $68, it felt overpriced.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJgQnzkYNn2zRXI7S6rOYqWPiEDtUrJDFm27HCJ4yuND4b1bn6nRBiPGtq5h9Y_nA5tkPOSdrSvxLrawU27zQ-U9cDwzi2jQ4ab6DcjKqGj3wg-yt-VkcfxDJH5xsHfD9tYtkQIEg1ARh/s1600/image_2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJgQnzkYNn2zRXI7S6rOYqWPiEDtUrJDFm27HCJ4yuND4b1bn6nRBiPGtq5h9Y_nA5tkPOSdrSvxLrawU27zQ-U9cDwzi2jQ4ab6DcjKqGj3wg-yt-VkcfxDJH5xsHfD9tYtkQIEg1ARh/s400/image_2.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(I feel like I should pause for a minute and mention that I'm rather frugal when it comes to...well, everything. I spend very little on clothing and always have. Yes, I have a few nicer pieces that carry me from season to season...but unless I've discovered it on the sale rack at Target or a discount store like TJ Maxx, it's probably not coming home with me.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKIablLUwcprMpXOHz-VU9k2Y2AE5BB41nGMstvxB7_Cc53qMyixLt8eYf2ebC4BJRDJLwIn8tA46tV_n8aZVwwsLXi6hu_iorWV_UoW2BOEewUrzWmdosYzTnh23eAKd31URx7fBuBvw/s1600/image_3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKIablLUwcprMpXOHz-VU9k2Y2AE5BB41nGMstvxB7_Cc53qMyixLt8eYf2ebC4BJRDJLwIn8tA46tV_n8aZVwwsLXi6hu_iorWV_UoW2BOEewUrzWmdosYzTnh23eAKd31URx7fBuBvw/s400/image_3.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really was close to getting it. It made me wanna pose.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">3) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">ABRIANNA LONGSLEEVE KNIT CARDIGAN</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoX9HekHx7MXFSQuIM8Fia7A89jG9myB7fhArzkh-uIP-O54FtgQDYLXC56X3wzTuL8dOKOebi9lFGMTBSqK6yImKJu4E8vieoacYibq_ShMf1MfOTTvB4T1-Z0OCshbg4IrZqHYGOrb4/s1600/image_4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUoX9HekHx7MXFSQuIM8Fia7A89jG9myB7fhArzkh-uIP-O54FtgQDYLXC56X3wzTuL8dOKOebi9lFGMTBSqK6yImKJu4E8vieoacYibq_ShMf1MfOTTvB4T1-Z0OCshbg4IrZqHYGOrb4/s400/image_4.jpeg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I think my face says it all here. I couldn't figure out why this was in my box. Yes, it was deliciously soft and well made. Yes, it was one of the cheaper items in the box ($48), but a solid gray cardigan that hangs past my butt? Did I mention I was a former nun somewhere in my style profile?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That being said, I almost kept it. I'd gotten a bit of Stitchfix moolah for my birthday and once my $20 styling credit was applied, this was only going to be $8. It was just so soft.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But then I asked myself, "if you saw this gray frock at a store, would you drop almost 50 bones on it?" CHILD, PLEASE. That's how they get you. You don't want to "lose" your $20 styling credit, so you make exceptions. But you have to get up pretty early in the morning to pull one over on me. And I was up at 6:15</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> this morning with my kid so...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZewlTIGvMNb0Wv_52HV8gCggqnarF8bQpZq1PyK-iCc2r4Xy8BDCiUfaX1MKT-0Qrgnhyki8DGIQ65wpOl4uOjV_qAE0nu6UkSZ9Ja5ulSN-NEDa5m3QIYeKyhJzkqB5PAqyDDYyLB5/s1600/gray+cardigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmZewlTIGvMNb0Wv_52HV8gCggqnarF8bQpZq1PyK-iCc2r4Xy8BDCiUfaX1MKT-0Qrgnhyki8DGIQ65wpOl4uOjV_qAE0nu6UkSZ9Ja5ulSN-NEDa5m3QIYeKyhJzkqB5PAqyDDYyLB5/s400/gray+cardigan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I shan't be fooled.</td></tr>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">4) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">AMRITA SKINNY JEAN</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I love these jeans. They are stretchy and a fabulous deep jewel tone color (teal). And they were interesting. At least the most interesting thing in the box. Man, I really do love these pants. Fit great, I could wear them tons of places...But here's the thing: they were too long. Nothing a simple hem job wouldn't fix (I could even do it myself), but another reason I liked SF was that I no longer have free time to go shopping. Occasionally I'll feverishly rifle through the clearance section of Target while Nick buys mouthwash, but the concept of spare time is now a bit foreign. So finding the time to take them to a tailor or do it myself </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(ha!) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">was just not going to happen. So long, lover.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2M6YjemLgNjmGiOBTgI8lQBwUGwIq1Q1k23sy0tjU8bqdtkke4lisfXmX2stl2pDVJdPR33isCjmGswdTzIXNPbbaXnDZnTo73ruzptih-16YuU6v66gHhMvylQueNWPCpkAhuUMZFtc/s1600/image_5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2M6YjemLgNjmGiOBTgI8lQBwUGwIq1Q1k23sy0tjU8bqdtkke4lisfXmX2stl2pDVJdPR33isCjmGswdTzIXNPbbaXnDZnTo73ruzptih-16YuU6v66gHhMvylQueNWPCpkAhuUMZFtc/s400/image_5.jpeg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technically not my mug. Technically, my butt. </td></tr>
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<b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> 5) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #464547; font-family: 'Avenir LT W01 45 Book', helvetica, HelveticaNeue, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px; text-transform: uppercase;">ROCCO 3/4 SLEEVE FAUX WRAP DRESS</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Coming in with the hat trick of tummy-hiding pieces was this fantastic black faux wrap dress. It was really well made, fit fantastically, and I felt great in it. At $88, it was a bit on the pricey side, but the dress was so extremely versatile that I could have justified the cost. Only problem? I have a dress almost identical to it sitting in my closet already. And THAT would have been hard to justify.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So all of it goes back. Womp womp. I'm a little disappointed because I was looking forward to some new threads to wear at Christmas. (Nothing like celebrating our Savior's birth with some fresh swaddling clothes.) </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here are the positives: everything fit pretty well (they carry sizes 0-14 currently) and everything seemed to be legit quality. Everything felt like it'd last a while. The prices were a little higher than I'd indicated I'd spend, but I think Arielle was working on dressing my post-pregnancy body more than she was keeping within my budget. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So I'm going to try again. The nice part is there's a pre-paid bag I can drop the clothes in and send back, hassle free. And when you go online to your account, you can give detailed information about what you did and didn't like about each piece. I've already adjusted my style profile to include more patterns and more adventurous pieces. I played it a bit conservative before and got almost exactly what I asked for. Turns out it wasn't actually what I wanted.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I dunno, you guys. Maybe this IS a good look for me.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">For anyone that would like to try for themselves, <a href="http://mandrillapp.com/track/click.php?u=3541274&id=a54942e7859746519f223fad5133ce7d&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstitchfix.com%2Fsign_up%3Freferrer_id%3D3285397&url_id=9d2040ba72e4fb9ca8dd6ceb9018dfda25835cd0" target="_blank">click here</a>. I'd love to see what you think of your fix. I'll be sure to report back once my next box arrives. In the meantime, I'm off to change my size preferences to accommodate the entire tin of Christmas cookies I'm about to crush. I'm kidding. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sort of.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-82174575718105331562013-12-04T17:54:00.001-05:002013-12-09T13:14:14.858-05:00Nature Box. Real Talk.I don't front. Let's just put that out there. All opinions expressed below are my own and are awesome.<br />
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I mentioned a couple weeks ago on ye ol' Facebook that <strike>Nick and</strike> I had ordered the increasingly popular snack box subscription, NatureBox. I'd seen it floating around the interweb for months and after recently starting to exercise again post-pregnancy, I decided it was time to up my culinary game. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the spirit of "not fronting," I did not take this picture. Google did.</td></tr>
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Unbeknownst to me, the tag line for this company is "discovering better choices." I actually think I make pretty good life choices, save for the time I ate an entire bag of cubed cheese in one sitting while engrossed in a 1000 piece puzzle. But generally, I've got it together. </div>
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The area I struggle in would be snacking. I'm known to grab a piece (or ten) of candy around 2pm to fight off the rumble in my tummy. Honestly, it never really bothered me before now but I decided I needed to do something about it for two reasons: 1) Exercising sucks and if I'm going to torture myself, I might as well not hurt my efforts by pounding the Butterfingers like they were TicTacs. 2) I want to teach Carter to like good food. I'm not an eco-health-nut. Red dye #5 will somehow make its way into his pure little body one day and he'll probably try a Twinkie (likely deep fried) and think it's amazeballs. And he'll be right. But I also want him to like fruits and veggies and nuts. I want him to not turn his nose up when something new is offered to him. Since children live by example, Nick and I needed to pony up.</div>
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The other part about NatureBox that intrigued me was that they send you different snacks every month. I like trying new foods so this appealed to my (mildly) adventurous spirit. We signed up for a monthly subscription where they send 5 full size snacks to your door for $19.95. It seemed a bit pricey, but since I was a first time customer with a code, I got the first month for half off (you can too, see the end of this post!). Five full size snacks for ten bones seemed like a good deal to me considering it costs $50 to breathe the air at Whole Foods. </div>
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So this past weekend, it arrived. Cue the trumpets.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dum da da DUM!</td></tr>
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So here's what we got and what I thought of each. I'm hoping you'll find this as helpful as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ3cSfzaYEk" target="_blank">Andy Bernard</a>'s astute reviews.</div>
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<b>1) Pistachio Power Clusters</b></div>
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I don't care for pistachios, so when I closed my eyes and reached for a random bag, I was kind of bummed that this was the first I picked up. My only experience with pistachios is the memory of my dad eating them at night after he got home from work and getting red fingers from opening up the shells. You'd think that would appeal to a child, but alas. But I set aside my preconceived notions and opened up the resealable bag (check mark!). </div>
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You guys. They. Were. Awesome.</div>
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Each cluster had pistachios, almonds and cashews, held together with a little cane sugar and tapioca (don't read the ingredients first.) I was really, really surprised how much I liked them. I ran around the living room with glee as Nick tried them and kept saying "OMG I'm so glad we tried this. This is the greatest invention ever. Hail to the Naturebox." In true Nick fashion, he replied with a simple "yeah, they're good."</div>
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And thus the reason I'm writing this review instead of him. Plus, his schedule has gotten so jam packed since <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/19/adam-levine-sexiest-man-alive_n_4305367.html" target="_blank">being named the sexiest man alive</a>.</div>
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<b>2) Roasted Kettle Kernels</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's clear by this point that I'm stealing these images from the internet. Don't sue me, mmmkay?</td></tr>
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It's day two and I'm pumped. After day one's successful snacking, I had high expectations.</div>
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No socks were blown off, but they were good. The taste was pretty amazing actually (if you've ever had kettle popcorn you'll know what I'm talking about). It was the texture. They were crazy crispy. I was telling my mom about it later that day and she said "well sure, corn kernels are really hard to bite into because they're so hard." She must get some type of corn newsletter that I'm not privy to because I was not aware that this was common knowledge.</div>
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Once you get past the initial "am I going to break a tooth on these?" phase, you really hit your stride and start going to town. Next thing you know, I'd eaten my half of the bag and had to go deliver the rest to Nick. He agrees with my assessment and then points out to me that the bag actually had FOUR servings in it. Not two.</div>
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Let me take a tangent for a second. Portions when it comes to snacking are whack. I could deep fry some bacon and serve it with a shot of lard and probably manage my caloric intake for snacking if I ate just a little bit of it. I could also eat 5 lbs of plain celery and have consumed negative 20 calories. Neither option sounds that great to me. I say all of this to point out that a really successful snack has to taste awesome and be a large enough portion for a snack that you feel satisfied. So far, I would say the NatureBox snacks are a little on the skimpy side for a serving...but eating a bit more doesn't make me feel that bad. They taste good and I can pronounce all of the ingredients listed. Sounds like a win to me.</div>
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<b>3) Cherry Berry Bonanza</b></div>
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Let me go ahead and say what everyone else is thinking: the name alone makes this snack cash money. If any of you know Tanner Griffith, you know that a bonanza is "what he's all about." (Tanner, if you're reading this, I will never hear that word and not think of you and the world's greatest clue.) Honestly, I think there should be more bonanzas in this world. I'm pretty sure we'd live in a happier place if that were true.</div>
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But on to the review. I give these a 9/10. After the prior day's super hard texture, the soft and chewy alternative was welcomed. The cranberries had a nice tangy flavor and the blueberries and cherries added a bit of sweetness. In your package, you get a pamphlet with suggestions on how you can incorporate your snacks into other foods (like on yogurt, or in biscotti, etc.) I think these had the most versatility for being used as something besides a plain snack. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 out of 10 is b/c I don't know that there is a perfect snack. Until they come up with a calorie free cupcake, I'm fairly certain that will allude me the rest of my days.</div>
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<b>4) Masa Crisps</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're thinking they look like little chocolate chip cookies, you could not be more right. And more disappointed.</td></tr>
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So apparently I have a pretty bad habit of judging food before I eat it. For some reason, I figured this stuff was going to be really bitter. I don't know why, but I was preparing myself to not like it. But as simply as I can put it, if you like Fritos, you're going to like these.<br />
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They taste almost identical to me. Which is actually a good thing considering these are healthier with no artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors. The wholesomeness makes me all warm inside.<br />
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Truth be told, I'm not Fritos' #1 fan so I like this little salty treat...but they're not my favorite. The bag suggests eating them with hummus and veggies to beef up the snack and I imagine that's pretty good. (Update: after having day 5's treat...these were definitely our least favorite of the bunch. But I would venture to guess plenty of you would dig them.)<br />
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<b>5) Vanilla Macaroon Granola</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUBZTB4ADeypaxydj13D_-PyMnyQe3sFdbLoJM-fjJpMRTyj26eOxl1QOsFJQznR_RK8usbGsNM1LFi1EYB5DEuFWoh-Z18uYd904YvYapN3vi4E-kGGD4g-_LV2GygArcA96CdwdHAb_/s1600/vanilla+mac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUBZTB4ADeypaxydj13D_-PyMnyQe3sFdbLoJM-fjJpMRTyj26eOxl1QOsFJQznR_RK8usbGsNM1LFi1EYB5DEuFWoh-Z18uYd904YvYapN3vi4E-kGGD4g-_LV2GygArcA96CdwdHAb_/s400/vanilla+mac.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's get this out of the way: I have a theory that the macaroon is the new cupcake. You know how a couple years ago, everyone and their mom was opening a cupcake shop around town? Well everywhere you look now...people are pushing the macaroon. I dunno what the hype is all about. THEY'RE OK. But I feel like perhaps adding this little buzz word to the granola snack was just a marketing ploy. I SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU, NATUREBOX.<br />
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But I have to tell you, this stuff is incredible. A little vanilla, a little coconut...perfect crunch. Girl, please. I did find it odd that you just snack on plain granola (they obviously suggest putting it on top of yogurt or on top of baked apples) but I also stumbled upon <a href="http://blog.naturebox.com/post/65738595201/no-bake-vanilla-macaroon-granola-bites" target="_blank">this recipe</a> as I was scouring for a picture to pirate. Thankfully, we didn't eat too much plain so I'll be making these into balls before you can say...balls.<br />
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And 15,000 words later, there you have my review. Will we keep getting boxes? I think so. I enjoyed the new food for each day and the anticipation of getting something in the mail, as lame as that sounds. I also enjoy that now that I've done a full foodie review, I can start using phrases like "flavor profile" and I can call veggies "crudite" instead of "baby carrots." If you're interested in trying NatureBox for yourself, throw us a bone and <i>(update: use this coupon code "</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica W01 Roman', Helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>U3FDQ")</i> </span>so we get the referral credit. You'll get $10 off too, so that's just a straight up win-win situation.<br />
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<a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/giphy_zps246a9d7a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/giphy_zps246a9d7a.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04066357346473935462noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-50535701624530943732013-11-08T18:31:00.000-05:002013-11-08T18:48:54.261-05:00POTABLE POTPOURRI<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well hello there. </div>
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So a whole bunch has happened since last we spoke. Namely, this little guy:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ABvlAu1lkDpEHDrgh685JTxlPae8wWPAx-HnK0kRFAvHxBFN3dp6T3M8G6I8ADrrhdMgH031EZQRY4ntvUtuN61Z30zR2y074HglyDllpjbNmUlqLzJ5otlRjcrqCQeeOdiSblYGRud7/s1600/carter+smiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ABvlAu1lkDpEHDrgh685JTxlPae8wWPAx-HnK0kRFAvHxBFN3dp6T3M8G6I8ADrrhdMgH031EZQRY4ntvUtuN61Z30zR2y074HglyDllpjbNmUlqLzJ5otlRjcrqCQeeOdiSblYGRud7/s400/carter+smiles.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carter Edison Troutman. Born 8.28.13. 100% perfection.</td></tr>
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Keeping in the spirit of how crazy life has been these past 10 weeks, we figured we'd do a brain dump on this here blog to keep you up to date on our latest musings. Buckle up, it's going to be a weird ride.</div>
<h3>
<br />Why Nick watches College Gameday, in percentages:</h3>
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5% - Desmond Howard's style</div>
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10% - Chris Fowler's overall awesomeness</div>
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85% - Lee Corso humor</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eCxriVaae98?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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(This was an actual conversation we had one morning.)<br />
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<h3>
Sarah's favorite designers:</h3>
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A lot of people ask me who I'm inspired by as a designer. It's a difficult question since I do commercial design. There is no Pinterest board that shows you amazing conference rooms or lobbies. Most of that has to come out of the ol' noggin. But since I do enjoy designing my own home, let me share with you my latest obsessions.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kVv7Q8FB89BshJnh8M1-pmsV5o1929vS_vXLqDm6lmrs7YxjeCFDSixRnvX9i7RJxnaa6P8UtbpV_5J_6XnF46PP1LpiTRqDu1rXaASG6wXcxuSKkDhenbjjwLMMvmSASJD1mor11SXX/s1600/joy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kVv7Q8FB89BshJnh8M1-pmsV5o1929vS_vXLqDm6lmrs7YxjeCFDSixRnvX9i7RJxnaa6P8UtbpV_5J_6XnF46PP1LpiTRqDu1rXaASG6wXcxuSKkDhenbjjwLMMvmSASJD1mor11SXX/s400/joy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">This room can do no wrong.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/" target="_blank">Emily Henderson</a> is, hands down, my favorite residential designer. She is an amazing mix of vintage, modern, quirky and personal. The room shown above was part of a <a href="http://stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/oh-joys-studio-the-living-room/" target="_blank">recent project</a> of hers and it's easily my favorite room of all time. Well, at least for the moment. It's fun and fresh and you'd never find it in a Pottery Barn catalog (sorry PB lovers.) </div>
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My other favorite blog to follow is <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/" target="_blank">Vintage Revivals.</a> While Emily is a classically trained designer, Mandi of VR is a self-taught, stay-at-home mom who just started going for it. She's fabulous. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ_Lvtd4bheQxRMwu5dhIFg303ANX_BU8zsh7LlGtT_DhG8ukOIifDxTmlr7xgxz-dmkUwP0IzLaN1NG8CeUKFe17vUi_mM7ouIw-42AXToa2EwXirbJuXi_j9W_NqFVkit9oJIeseuKe/s1600/dylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQ_Lvtd4bheQxRMwu5dhIFg303ANX_BU8zsh7LlGtT_DhG8ukOIifDxTmlr7xgxz-dmkUwP0IzLaN1NG8CeUKFe17vUi_mM7ouIw-42AXToa2EwXirbJuXi_j9W_NqFVkit9oJIeseuKe/s400/dylan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Her daughter's room.</td></tr>
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Do I love 100% of everything she does? Of course not. She's a different person than me. But I love her ambition, her fearlessness and let's face it, her humor. Her daughter's <a href="http://www.vintagerevivals.com/2013/04/pink-and-red-honeycomb-wall.html" target="_blank">recent bedroom makeover</a> is one of my favorites. I'm jealous of that kid!</div>
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<h3>
Let's keep it real. Not everything is rosy.</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOHFsQJnYLfD3aC0VK75Mbi2b4K_8yFXR9oPmf9SWVtSMLGCRbEoNvPJ5cgU8v_rBLsKYloAx4s3sk2t9mQcPFOarUrPQ_ow5mvlJLsbrtEEAwK1RjIiEc90chD-Y9vwr9Jf91iQ5L_52/s1600/grinds+my+gears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOHFsQJnYLfD3aC0VK75Mbi2b4K_8yFXR9oPmf9SWVtSMLGCRbEoNvPJ5cgU8v_rBLsKYloAx4s3sk2t9mQcPFOarUrPQ_ow5mvlJLsbrtEEAwK1RjIiEc90chD-Y9vwr9Jf91iQ5L_52/s320/grinds+my+gears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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- People buying all the vowels after one spin on Wheel Of Fortune<br />
- The phrase "don't go there"<br />
- Vampire and zombie everything<br />
- Alex Trebek's accents<br />
- Gluten-free everything<br />
- Celebrating Christmas anytime before Thanksgiving. 'Tis not yet the season.<br />
- BuzzFeed's incessant need to post the "top 25 ____"<br />
- Mock turtlenecks, or "mocklenecks." Just go for it, man.<br />
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<h3>
The expected parenting blurb.</h3>
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There is no way we could have ever guessed how rewarding, tiring, overwhelming and joy-inducing parenting could be. It's just not something you can really ever imagine until you experience it. To know that God our Father loves us immeasurably more than we love our little dude makes my brain want to explode. It doesn't seem possible. And the bond that we've formed with our parent friends? Unreal. To be in the trenches with other parents who labor tirelessly to do right by their children is an honor. </div>
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We are most excited to teach Carter about joy. It is such a misunderstood concept. It's not happiness. It's not based in circumstances. It's about living a life of hope and relishing in the immense blessings we've been given. A 10-week old is obviously not able to understand this concept, so in the mean time, we're just making sure to document snippets of our joy in being his parents. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZvNU8bH_hY8jct14-cui3u1H6NyipBGuzBD4QKNCy_tHEL5tlLiJOgGe_z3XKxYbxX1ApB80vA0fjPEknElzYFbfJmVKM0scREJAtdF8VDmZASdsAvzhdSsWZQsfYvZ-wY5t3-DqTJSx/s1600/halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZvNU8bH_hY8jct14-cui3u1H6NyipBGuzBD4QKNCy_tHEL5tlLiJOgGe_z3XKxYbxX1ApB80vA0fjPEknElzYFbfJmVKM0scREJAtdF8VDmZASdsAvzhdSsWZQsfYvZ-wY5t3-DqTJSx/s1600/halloween.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cYgD_Av4wkUIveH7FJnd_SClzbcQ9tUNMChNzmUFDBxlfEjkP-yK3INVvHA9tL9uvOUxN4ivjUf8CRfu_51RHQicWLK0BmS1X0BTHYaRTXtIlr-P149HZVGvWPu3BgflV8GR-NPyT0HA/s1600/mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cYgD_Av4wkUIveH7FJnd_SClzbcQ9tUNMChNzmUFDBxlfEjkP-yK3INVvHA9tL9uvOUxN4ivjUf8CRfu_51RHQicWLK0BmS1X0BTHYaRTXtIlr-P149HZVGvWPu3BgflV8GR-NPyT0HA/s1600/mama.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-rSCs3wiN_ONaCfAeDjHQZs_G9or0TwoZMRSedxIhbeK5QcwpOc_fZCFAuP8WAPYwSvYkce4hykRDrzvJCg1ZUfIRCZ4y3sk871p_m6yWUmTv2I2HV8Dkl-7jxA6iXEKpNeC-CztTGGg/s1600/sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-rSCs3wiN_ONaCfAeDjHQZs_G9or0TwoZMRSedxIhbeK5QcwpOc_fZCFAuP8WAPYwSvYkce4hykRDrzvJCg1ZUfIRCZ4y3sk871p_m6yWUmTv2I2HV8Dkl-7jxA6iXEKpNeC-CztTGGg/s1600/sleeping.jpg" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Car bling.</h3>
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Recently, we made a pretty important purchase. With the 90's being our formative years, we are big fans of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. You aren't? Go home. You're drunk.</div>
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<a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/tumblr_mi4oqboDjc1r5r4uyo1_500_zps443f9270.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/tumblr_mi4oqboDjc1r5r4uyo1_500_zps443f9270.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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I don't actually remember how we stumbled upon this on Amazon but Nick walked over one night and showed it to me on the iPad. Without saying a word, I said "yep." </div>
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Less than a week later this beauty arrived.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid4APLk7GfEXAwZz9RF8ILltMKnrZYTHigccqQTRFzbNT4EilAV_edvNYrHIfXvNs6FrBnhb1ZH8vhE8OQxxBnMLpwYs1NQRxcQDTRGyYFgl3rKKTKd7Ygz8hiFxkLMxCIjs32lrjYtQN/s1600/license.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid4APLk7GfEXAwZz9RF8ILltMKnrZYTHigccqQTRFzbNT4EilAV_edvNYrHIfXvNs6FrBnhb1ZH8vhE8OQxxBnMLpwYs1NQRxcQDTRGyYFgl3rKKTKd7Ygz8hiFxkLMxCIjs32lrjYtQN/s400/license.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So fresh.</td></tr>
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This part of the blog was solely intended to make you jealous. Mission: accomplished.<br />
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<h3>
And finally, a slippery slope.</h3>
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I stumbled upon this (hopefully) amazing site, <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a>. Essentially, you fill out a style profile (which is not boring or tedious...actually quite fun) and for $20, a personal stylist will select 5 items to send to you in the mail. The style profile is in depth enough to have your size and style preferences so that those 5 pieces are specifically tailored to you. You can give as much additional info as you'd like to help them know you better and make the best selections. You are not charged for your pieces unless you like them. If you don't dig them, you just send them back in the pre-paid envelope they provide and you're out the $20. But if you buy even one of the 5 pieces, that $20 styling cost gets credited towards your purchase. If you buy all 5 pieces, you get 25% off the whole order.</div>
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I immediately emailed this to my BF, Kelly, and tried to gauge if I was crazy. She also loved this idea and it didn't seem to be a scam from Nairobi. So I signed up for a month to try it out. My first fix arrives Dec. 14. I'll let you know how it goes. As a new mom, my ability to go out and shop for myself has been limited to...well, zilch. Not that I really did it much before. But I was really intrigued by <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/3285397" target="_blank">Stitch Fix</a> and am excited to see what pieces they send to spice up my <strike>life</strike> wardrobe. (Sorry, I was channeling the Spice Girls.)</div>
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(Note: if you love this idea too and sign up, do it through the links I provided above and I'll get a $25 referral credit. I promise I'll only use it towards adorable threads.)</div>
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And finally, it's Friday! Enjoy your weekend!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/43821-Disco-dance-gif-YQSU_zps54d88028.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/43821-Disco-dance-gif-YQSU_zps54d88028.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know this guy gets down with a REAL turtleneck on the weekends.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-24932074565469096932013-08-25T15:06:00.000-04:002013-08-25T15:06:01.141-04:00MOVE THAT BUS!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's nursery reveal day! I know...it's probably way later than you were expecting considering P-Nut is due in about 2-1/2 weeks but we've been busy. Busy with fun things, but busy for sure. Namely a couple more baby showers to celebrate our little dude. Let's take a quick moment to marvel at the adorable food display from the shower my mom's friends threw:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa6e6F7PrG-ExI3ioVwpZrF8YORplqhchjvtWbekfoADJAxMbXJUnVlXuyKXy862jtwFGJqhwrrKqBBuhtEY4AkXFaKNj0sIYlagELj4b6hVAK0xDWBetx15ngolOK-CTmwwK49-tHSXl/s1600/20130818_125412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGa6e6F7PrG-ExI3ioVwpZrF8YORplqhchjvtWbekfoADJAxMbXJUnVlXuyKXy862jtwFGJqhwrrKqBBuhtEY4AkXFaKNj0sIYlagELj4b6hVAK0xDWBetx15ngolOK-CTmwwK49-tHSXl/s400/20130818_125412.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As if fruit could be more appetizing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlF8iiRTOxu7V33Y1HuW6VudroaPWmd-k989GTalG6C4WeZO22rXDEanbLoZijelrg_o9Ac76mSacio8LujgS_DpNeiucMBUEiBA31JEEPlInv94XIpN5T2qAF_RKxqAHq3z6BmA2uRrj/s1600/20130818_125428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlF8iiRTOxu7V33Y1HuW6VudroaPWmd-k989GTalG6C4WeZO22rXDEanbLoZijelrg_o9Ac76mSacio8LujgS_DpNeiucMBUEiBA31JEEPlInv94XIpN5T2qAF_RKxqAHq3z6BmA2uRrj/s400/20130818_125428.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can I say? They know me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcuI2fi9VCfItHtd3lz_acE7B1TYoJa8zt2As4mMo9QKWh5HTaomGs1Q5iBNUTrzSprADVNVRiNzATztAKx9NA_8J-F4nWLnB3_az5Y57hDnjTwaAs_Fb_0IDqyG4FaeoSwY0WneAI_bY/s1600/20130818_125451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcuI2fi9VCfItHtd3lz_acE7B1TYoJa8zt2As4mMo9QKWh5HTaomGs1Q5iBNUTrzSprADVNVRiNzATztAKx9NA_8J-F4nWLnB3_az5Y57hDnjTwaAs_Fb_0IDqyG4FaeoSwY0WneAI_bY/s400/20130818_125451.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby butt!</td></tr>
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But on to the meat of this post. We have finally "completed" the nursery. <div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/movie4_zps014445cc.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://i983.photobucket.com/albums/ae319/nmt80/movie4_zps014445cc.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Completed."</td></tr>
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<br />*Disclaimer: there is no room in our house that I would actually consider complete. I keep a running to-do list of things around the house I want to change/add/redo. It's made my ability to nest virtually impossible. All that to say, while I'm excited to share our "final" nursery images...there's still a secret list of things I still want to do that I'll be working on over the course of our living in this house. I call it a secret list b/c not even Nick is aware of all the items. God gave me the most patient and helpful husband on earth...but even he isn't ready for all my DIY jelly.<br /><br />
Luckily for you people, this will be a heavy picture post and not a lot of my typical yammering (even though I like to keep my yammering cheeky and fun...much like my shenanigans.)<br />
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It is fun to look back on the <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/06/so-whats-plan-stan.html" target="_blank">original plan</a> to see how we compared. For those of you too cool to click the link, let's see that all important before picture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLwrB9ymnGJdY0koKV-aIxtrVR9FAv0_ge39E4KYTC5HUaOCRw23ovigA58fqR7l2xF0i3JhZkMeb0Ittz-RzUWzWb__XgEeyopIMYYpz1nYc_6jfZ2Ug7AsE4Nkkc3u76TRztWzAp6_T/s1600/BEFORE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLwrB9ymnGJdY0koKV-aIxtrVR9FAv0_ge39E4KYTC5HUaOCRw23ovigA58fqR7l2xF0i3JhZkMeb0Ittz-RzUWzWb__XgEeyopIMYYpz1nYc_6jfZ2Ug7AsE4Nkkc3u76TRztWzAp6_T/s400/BEFORE.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vom.</td></tr>
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And now that same angle...today.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhCRweUf8THmKDY7UsHymNUdepnnm83QcMXUS0m82YCT4d3RVbCO2Z1sjvn-mcm3m-ilhP3-HLB6M8NsMJjC7-C7MuUFbS3JqO9IUik_LEBh5_pLldZX51CogyLcGnLF8GVrXw8Tv0CW0/s1600/20130825_132910_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhCRweUf8THmKDY7UsHymNUdepnnm83QcMXUS0m82YCT4d3RVbCO2Z1sjvn-mcm3m-ilhP3-HLB6M8NsMJjC7-C7MuUFbS3JqO9IUik_LEBh5_pLldZX51CogyLcGnLF8GVrXw8Tv0CW0/s400/20130825_132910_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feel free to lick the screen.</td></tr>
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One of the mini-projects we tackled since we last posted: the side tables and lamps. If you'll remember what they looked like before:<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghR6k7bn5KaJT9SX9OuEmwlpDFSFWlVrf_dersmYm51ggi7t1N16lWY4LkW8Jm8Y2FB8cF3n7OO53GEdyGoF2oihjC3_n5yAd_FEt8pm5wQugfyFMYIQ4VNz-BC8CwI6v818AmAxnKRV1h/s1600/side+tables+before.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghR6k7bn5KaJT9SX9OuEmwlpDFSFWlVrf_dersmYm51ggi7t1N16lWY4LkW8Jm8Y2FB8cF3n7OO53GEdyGoF2oihjC3_n5yAd_FEt8pm5wQugfyFMYIQ4VNz-BC8CwI6v818AmAxnKRV1h/s400/side+tables+before.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We got a quart of free paint from Ace Hardware (on free paint day!) and Nick sanded and painted the side tables a softer grey color. The black was never going to work against the navy and they were much too traditional looking. When brainstorming a new drawer pull, his sexy self came up with the genius idea of using a guitar volume knob. A quick walk across the street with $5 in hand and he came home with two. Cheaper than any specialty hardware knob and much more original. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SS8bti88KyxJknwTOTnCiC3792uB0eXrG6J6NFwCPDSk-2nDvLD30EBo7ZzVMKtUh1RbFXnn_OWAbMw7gONSocUM4RYSKQheNv3rNwkK8xtdggkopMbHEraPEAsfGf8xkXhxqB0kTRQx/s1600/drawer+pull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7SS8bti88KyxJknwTOTnCiC3792uB0eXrG6J6NFwCPDSk-2nDvLD30EBo7ZzVMKtUh1RbFXnn_OWAbMw7gONSocUM4RYSKQheNv3rNwkK8xtdggkopMbHEraPEAsfGf8xkXhxqB0kTRQx/s400/drawer+pull.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Husbo's Instagram account, @minor_trout.<br /></td></tr>
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While I love the shape of the lamps, I was not on board with the shiny chrome finish. Polished chrome actually works well in the vintage-type vibe we were throwing down in this nursery but it wasn't working in this little vignette. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNULHwAwI7XLsCM92HWV3mFCE8g1anhEgUuPW7cQ-VtPkmj9fSad2fmkMoaW-hun6YjhYi-qbrDSSGFdjWeCmCn-Nf5o4cp04FlgvI-yEvDzdFYr1Y2v98mFIhsYcTH-3YDqvLYFcQmVz/s1600/20130820_171948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSNULHwAwI7XLsCM92HWV3mFCE8g1anhEgUuPW7cQ-VtPkmj9fSad2fmkMoaW-hun6YjhYi-qbrDSSGFdjWeCmCn-Nf5o4cp04FlgvI-yEvDzdFYr1Y2v98mFIhsYcTH-3YDqvLYFcQmVz/s400/20130820_171948.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See what I mean?</td></tr>
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So while most people are finding old brass lamps to spray paint a fun bright color...or even to a silver, I went the opposite direction and painted them brass. <div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIsBzi1mnnqv09XxwnqM1GBJyhVP4FcnIAsPszEk4Yl_X1Wb1I-GantOXkcO8jzI4ke9hL1qQgb0CkXSi3GyKN-2LPL0i_V0ACibQTcka8WznYKAwnh91OlYYsCuO8U0sKEZlziiwel7D/s1600/20130825_133502_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIsBzi1mnnqv09XxwnqM1GBJyhVP4FcnIAsPszEk4Yl_X1Wb1I-GantOXkcO8jzI4ke9hL1qQgb0CkXSi3GyKN-2LPL0i_V0ACibQTcka8WznYKAwnh91OlYYsCuO8U0sKEZlziiwel7D/s400/20130825_133502_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MUCH BETTER. Am I right, ladies?</td></tr>
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The brass looks so much warmer against the navy walls and highlights the color of the guitar knobs now. <div>
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The other big addition was the bed comforter. I can't tell you how many places I searched for the perfect comforter. Brick and mortar stores, every website you can imagine...none of them had what I wanted. The criteria was: fun, colorful, playful and not too baby-ish. Since this room will still double as a guest room, and I'm not into the crazy baby vibe, I wanted it to be youthful and still fit into our vintage sophisticated vibe.</div>
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Enter Ebay. I posted this teaser on my Instagram feed a few weeks back when she arrived.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXel48Jh3NHAN-pXSk6D4I477W9Yabz3Cvj0z1-lmlHOMbPyrrN4VZK2rTSrY-7l8gANjaMTQw23B2by4AeU5qPIA832sMKfzJiUXLhAkmrUQv5H27chj7FEqN46wU9xEid3zaJpk-ERjG/s1600/bedspread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXel48Jh3NHAN-pXSk6D4I477W9Yabz3Cvj0z1-lmlHOMbPyrrN4VZK2rTSrY-7l8gANjaMTQw23B2by4AeU5qPIA832sMKfzJiUXLhAkmrUQv5H27chj7FEqN46wU9xEid3zaJpk-ERjG/s400/bedspread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some of you may be familiar with Orla Kiely as she has a truncated line of some soap bottles and other crap at Target. I actually did not know this until after I bought the comforter but am not surprised she's hitting the main stream b/c she's fabulous. She hit all the requirements of my "perfect comforter" checklist.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2sy3KGBv_looBmSZT6hSErOFhNhEb4OKK1Do3040dpNUxTG4emzCaTQa5k0XyY3OkBlz0HK9mxmnQXlVDXhnTSU12rdJVij-gyLN2wcGGOyNWTNLMYk1Yd5PKBW7-gE5gcOBVWVdpY6m/s1600/20130825_133236_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2sy3KGBv_looBmSZT6hSErOFhNhEb4OKK1Do3040dpNUxTG4emzCaTQa5k0XyY3OkBlz0HK9mxmnQXlVDXhnTSU12rdJVij-gyLN2wcGGOyNWTNLMYk1Yd5PKBW7-gE5gcOBVWVdpY6m/s400/20130825_133236_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some simple white jersey sheets we had on hand finished that sucker off and we called it a day. </div>
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Another reason it took so long to call this room complete was all the organization that takes place preparing for a new human being to be in your house. Clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes, feeding tools, etc. It all needed a place to go and we have minimal storage as it is. The dresser we bought off Craigslist got a crisp coat of white paint on top to help it stand off from the dark walls and tie into the trim and quickly became an organization hub for a lot of those items.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nbbFePoD7x3zFLJQfUrOzJntbOQujRBsQS6PFIUFnXwDzFN49ou3fSZhYoLklC40Wga6NLX3eruorE8S-W-O02RYawK1rahiTL60ZHipOMM4xny8fDgkSfWBSVd7eRMVvdAU0fczdjZy/s1600/20130825_133054_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nbbFePoD7x3zFLJQfUrOzJntbOQujRBsQS6PFIUFnXwDzFN49ou3fSZhYoLklC40Wga6NLX3eruorE8S-W-O02RYawK1rahiTL60ZHipOMM4xny8fDgkSfWBSVd7eRMVvdAU0fczdjZy/s400/20130825_133054_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humidifier, noise machine and monitor to the right, secured changing pad to the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSDigBTE24ulhKaB2Ek83ZL3Jwo_1KSYfcOQBvVEJfMrhro7u6LViQ2zjLX90bi6kD5JCUELrF6yXKDmT3Q7odSTUrv_h9z9CC9NP-I5rqqqX0IdYgpSm_8eBrA4FgScVJhFBhyd-sLEG/s1600/20130825_133105_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSDigBTE24ulhKaB2Ek83ZL3Jwo_1KSYfcOQBvVEJfMrhro7u6LViQ2zjLX90bi6kD5JCUELrF6yXKDmT3Q7odSTUrv_h9z9CC9NP-I5rqqqX0IdYgpSm_8eBrA4FgScVJhFBhyd-sLEG/s400/20130825_133105_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything you'd need to keep that butt happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aAYescX1t6nKNEvPOyTpo35Z-12fzPNBMk1HC14OhaE0I0LySA55Iw4A9GXvGGdIio9OtoTCz0dfqUxnTGjj96tv-hN-2pvefugt5E5XTLuaVECuFGtTHKlNtuzMmqva2ISPTGVnx0W9/s1600/20130825_133137_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aAYescX1t6nKNEvPOyTpo35Z-12fzPNBMk1HC14OhaE0I0LySA55Iw4A9GXvGGdIio9OtoTCz0dfqUxnTGjj96tv-hN-2pvefugt5E5XTLuaVECuFGtTHKlNtuzMmqva2ISPTGVnx0W9/s400/20130825_133137_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple $6 drawer dividers from Ikea keep all his tiny clothes separated by size/type.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhCRweUf8THmKDY7UsHymNUdepnnm83QcMXUS0m82YCT4d3RVbCO2Z1sjvn-mcm3m-ilhP3-HLB6M8NsMJjC7-C7MuUFbS3JqO9IUik_LEBh5_pLldZX51CogyLcGnLF8GVrXw8Tv0CW0/s1600/20130825_132910_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhCRweUf8THmKDY7UsHymNUdepnnm83QcMXUS0m82YCT4d3RVbCO2Z1sjvn-mcm3m-ilhP3-HLB6M8NsMJjC7-C7MuUFbS3JqO9IUik_LEBh5_pLldZX51CogyLcGnLF8GVrXw8Tv0CW0/s400/20130825_132910_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And while we've mentioned <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/07/update-in-progress.html" target="_blank">the art above the changing table</a>, we added a few other pieces as well. The stencil wall was always designed to stand on its own as a focal piece. But above the bed, we framed a few vintage NC State Football programs from a calendar our friend Tolga gave us for Christmas a couple years ago. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pf5YaGKACagEQ87UQxTaEax6Ta0JLWb4gu2C1fXZtt0_bavsx6WbEzHWTGGfCE2SWrr85snJtIbFJzp0xsY-40jIlbV80L2J0KyNk0YC5yPTNPwhU_rZkaAdqDgRgDGGsmSIXEggsUKe/s1600/20130825_133246_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pf5YaGKACagEQ87UQxTaEax6Ta0JLWb4gu2C1fXZtt0_bavsx6WbEzHWTGGfCE2SWrr85snJtIbFJzp0xsY-40jIlbV80L2J0KyNk0YC5yPTNPwhU_rZkaAdqDgRgDGGsmSIXEggsUKe/s640/20130825_133246_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaYG2_dBU6Vb5oJ939cHtAmx7O9StKG1b8a8rOlvTyZWY5SXtNpIOWGJicuOnzCNXnZTX-ZaHhoH-FNjXNZpjVs83vzs0S_nRHMig6P9v7GXEUm4_4enPk_InGesDk2SlNDWVMZ8r7CxZ/s1600/20130825_133445_Richtone(HDR).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiaYG2_dBU6Vb5oJ939cHtAmx7O9StKG1b8a8rOlvTyZWY5SXtNpIOWGJicuOnzCNXnZTX-ZaHhoH-FNjXNZpjVs83vzs0S_nRHMig6P9v7GXEUm4_4enPk_InGesDk2SlNDWVMZ8r7CxZ/s400/20130825_133445_Richtone(HDR).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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On the other side of the room, with the <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/07/update-in-progress.html" target="_blank">nursery chair of the century</a>, we hung another vintage-inspired piece from my BFF, Crissy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60Hcr-VzMGsJpxN9HY-ijimapYhfzkmJHXZYKpSGy7Bxa3gn71eb9g4JBTWU6NVVFb8fLxUjvIM-P_0XHuELBWnQHwVEJUDyfWmHtmF9sEQ8EHaJuUx2DrCaC91OPcaNCsmQdWdN0XmgX/s1600/20130825_133035_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60Hcr-VzMGsJpxN9HY-ijimapYhfzkmJHXZYKpSGy7Bxa3gn71eb9g4JBTWU6NVVFb8fLxUjvIM-P_0XHuELBWnQHwVEJUDyfWmHtmF9sEQ8EHaJuUx2DrCaC91OPcaNCsmQdWdN0XmgX/s400/20130825_133035_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And for anyone that remembers my <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2012/07/i-love-raleigh-yall.html" target="_blank">love of all things Raleigh</a>, this was the perfect child-friendly version of my addiction.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkr7_VoyGPnlivLv2hw8Wp41REP5Gwn0fGvkItCCi0TBd-KKqArZ-07DSw1S8ijYeSb9A_bHtKHzup2-e0Tp5dRIC9Fp9dqRSpQcjM9IG-NMNemnseZ90byvtD_sq578WxD4CTGy4cbNw/s1600/20130825_133018_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkr7_VoyGPnlivLv2hw8Wp41REP5Gwn0fGvkItCCi0TBd-KKqArZ-07DSw1S8ijYeSb9A_bHtKHzup2-e0Tp5dRIC9Fp9dqRSpQcjM9IG-NMNemnseZ90byvtD_sq578WxD4CTGy4cbNw/s640/20130825_133018_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />And while I'm sure there are still plenty of other smaller items I'm forgetting to mention, I'll go ahead and throw my "pregnancy brain" card on the table and trump all y'all fools. I'll leave you with a few last delicious shots of the room and go fix myself some lemonade. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3nlerXl_laTS-YxwIeJW1k4pt5PEgA8Yn721jW8bUA6zqcdVDNhDGRvXgzgrHTICIM7zRb1bPwsWPKYbwhaamp47AHA8onLwi8kcjw7O2whwhWkADGFEbCKuEuBa7lEoDzxIFPUGsRIL/s1600/20130825_133430_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3nlerXl_laTS-YxwIeJW1k4pt5PEgA8Yn721jW8bUA6zqcdVDNhDGRvXgzgrHTICIM7zRb1bPwsWPKYbwhaamp47AHA8onLwi8kcjw7O2whwhWkADGFEbCKuEuBa7lEoDzxIFPUGsRIL/s400/20130825_133430_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfp-6l3r3XWH0aWpKAadk_ypNS1ijET0QH365Cr0_sUYIOoBJitymerlpEnH5P48sU4UbJkX5e1jj0Sfw6C7kiDriO2My9UbJE9BFDuzK8y0ZpOZrxQ3oXTgfv7RuuNca0qTOfXspNAzG/s1600/20130825_133356_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfp-6l3r3XWH0aWpKAadk_ypNS1ijET0QH365Cr0_sUYIOoBJitymerlpEnH5P48sU4UbJkX5e1jj0Sfw6C7kiDriO2My9UbJE9BFDuzK8y0ZpOZrxQ3oXTgfv7RuuNca0qTOfXspNAzG/s400/20130825_133356_Richtone%2528HDR%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And at the end of the day, if my worst nightmare comes true and his little baby penis has grown up inside his body since his 18 week ultrasound and he's actually a girl...well at least the room is still semi-gender neutral.</div>
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(Bet you didn't think I'd end the post like that, huh?)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-8603443469053576482013-07-29T18:12:00.002-04:002013-07-29T18:12:53.392-04:00Mobile Making MANIA.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Perhaps the title is a bit overstated. But we did make a mobile.<br />
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Sarah had seen <a href="http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/amnh2/explore/ology/einstein/atomic-mobile2/385682-5-eng-US/atomic-mobile.jpg" target="_blank">this</a> mobile that she liked, and we decided to do our own modified version of it. We really like the whole mid-century vibe, so the <a href="http://www.atomic-ranch.com/" target="_blank">atomic</a> ball thing seemed like a great idea. A continuous thanks to everyone in Raleigh who keeps tearing down the few mid-century houses in town to put up your McMansion!<br />
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So here was the actual inspiration, from her Pinterest board. Whatever that is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mFzJP0IisK3kgwUEckDtL-N73R-cgAlyVyXO8JxjQ-qSqgjXt5AkBip_3IW-KopMeFilCzvKzXf3JedMggiR4j-5QP-3dixQiNklJgraE07pxvrZMz26qHtSr85r2bh5xkZOQUhRTutm/s1600/inspiration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mFzJP0IisK3kgwUEckDtL-N73R-cgAlyVyXO8JxjQ-qSqgjXt5AkBip_3IW-KopMeFilCzvKzXf3JedMggiR4j-5QP-3dixQiNklJgraE07pxvrZMz26qHtSr85r2bh5xkZOQUhRTutm/s400/inspiration.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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This one was apparently made using a pre-bought picture mobile frame and then attaching Christmas ornaments to the ends. Well, guess what? It's July. Good luck finding those. Plus, we're creative people...we could figure out another solution. So we went to AC Moore for about 20 minutes and brainstormed. (It was a nice little Saturday.)<br />
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The supplies were surprisingly cheap:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2pjOgdfbauqSUwUzqVmb99Dko75aUpqM-AEYJ20gk2e9FsiLIOUGHOmpo7tgo4gM4C-QTpc5uVIZeIHb7gNJu4A5CbGhM__gWA-mk-TTmMx7qco6BA7me74gAvvgvmBRQ2WkIGDkHqkK/s1600/IMG_0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2pjOgdfbauqSUwUzqVmb99Dko75aUpqM-AEYJ20gk2e9FsiLIOUGHOmpo7tgo4gM4C-QTpc5uVIZeIHb7gNJu4A5CbGhM__gWA-mk-TTmMx7qco6BA7me74gAvvgvmBRQ2WkIGDkHqkK/s400/IMG_0586.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<li>a 2.5" diameter wood ball for the center</li>
<li>four 36" long x 3/16" diameter rods </li>
<li>(1) pack of (18) 1/2" diameter balls for the ends</li>
<li>wood glue</li>
<li>fishing wire</li>
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Total came to about $12.<br />
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Sarah marked spots on the center ball where I was going to drill holes for the rods to come out. I had also purchased a 1/4" bolt to attach the ball to a scrap piece of wood to hold it in place while I drilled these holes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrCgP4i-bLReXrX1za8J-9NwhZZ3Dvoqn5IVkrWtHjucvbvN-Ij-z2wi6oz8xKJgZU8nHMPBDyL9zRRJDhoZOexHUpkupiq9ix3Lw9AR_XFHV0KH10dmvfvCNsPo4ZItfXZbu9xwIIxxD/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrCgP4i-bLReXrX1za8J-9NwhZZ3Dvoqn5IVkrWtHjucvbvN-Ij-z2wi6oz8xKJgZU8nHMPBDyL9zRRJDhoZOexHUpkupiq9ix3Lw9AR_XFHV0KH10dmvfvCNsPo4ZItfXZbu9xwIIxxD/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV99xHAodQSlvIWPHzyV-OzXxeqblxVPa9i7w8bcmnstSUMJ8z3aCZyo700zCzkjOhsJv-mWhGxcgSKopegWjqKm1HoAQhM8KqKAScfi8amwavecR2YOjXNGaiPaRJmulJtkWI81F96fN8/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV99xHAodQSlvIWPHzyV-OzXxeqblxVPa9i7w8bcmnstSUMJ8z3aCZyo700zCzkjOhsJv-mWhGxcgSKopegWjqKm1HoAQhM8KqKAScfi8amwavecR2YOjXNGaiPaRJmulJtkWI81F96fN8/s400/IMG_0589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely and you can see her marks, which she assures me are not "willy nilly."</td></tr>
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And then I drilled in pilot holes about 1/4"-1/2" deep. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPhrWeCOQUKICnaCMmeftCLnEN5Xk23UD9sLrQ_i1KCydVcHvYkd8hQ3gvlvUAkl-WcZWa0tRfPITuVmQmFj8V0IZJ7vqWOPCE8i8A-xfeZdOH0Aa6-cwD1i6wQv_1wNRhdkei4ZzJlnZ/s1600/IMG_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPhrWeCOQUKICnaCMmeftCLnEN5Xk23UD9sLrQ_i1KCydVcHvYkd8hQ3gvlvUAkl-WcZWa0tRfPITuVmQmFj8V0IZJ7vqWOPCE8i8A-xfeZdOH0Aa6-cwD1i6wQv_1wNRhdkei4ZzJlnZ/s400/IMG_0591.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXAGUaZF9vJjKB1R80hJjuxMOSS4f4yNYE2NJRYdzhFWz03zAIoOvJAWYxlap76ZA3N58WYmdRORRJgn0rZnW-xedPRjZYRexY9uIDm9JvDBuhv2BospA9aRzHSczNAnsUNimEOkuNpEK/s1600/IMG_0592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXAGUaZF9vJjKB1R80hJjuxMOSS4f4yNYE2NJRYdzhFWz03zAIoOvJAWYxlap76ZA3N58WYmdRORRJgn0rZnW-xedPRjZYRexY9uIDm9JvDBuhv2BospA9aRzHSczNAnsUNimEOkuNpEK/s400/IMG_0592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One hole down.</td></tr>
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While I did this (and clearly, after she'd taken the above pictures), Sarah was marking the rods into random lengths for me to cut next.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemyty3wq5e3i0sK3uDmZlcCuPmFSLVK3Sn3XKcZFtejwl95tTvGygF9JNgKoUoCGmHusLL2_0VKvnKkiNFhGLDOofWnHX3qAGWuLjgilr4AE25ax6w_4hAa0HVaQyC5aRZgA-cJXZ_G1G/s1600/IMG_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemyty3wq5e3i0sK3uDmZlcCuPmFSLVK3Sn3XKcZFtejwl95tTvGygF9JNgKoUoCGmHusLL2_0VKvnKkiNFhGLDOofWnHX3qAGWuLjgilr4AE25ax6w_4hAa0HVaQyC5aRZgA-cJXZ_G1G/s400/IMG_0594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also, apparently, not willy nilly lengths.</td></tr>
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Then I just wood glued them into the previously mentioned holes. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE8xE6jTQnDVQGiXf4ItcI8FV_4GHuccOBbghgIWaoJpUDJ17H6A3gXtwADTPihqe8uWntKY1Pfns-dg8xXlspDccSRt0Vyknwj-rheZ-1hkPnmj5hdCZEtJ8A0upwqJlpxMvoctQr_6U/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNE8xE6jTQnDVQGiXf4ItcI8FV_4GHuccOBbghgIWaoJpUDJ17H6A3gXtwADTPihqe8uWntKY1Pfns-dg8xXlspDccSRt0Vyknwj-rheZ-1hkPnmj5hdCZEtJ8A0upwqJlpxMvoctQr_6U/s400/IMG_0595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the socks, hitched up due to the insane amount of mosquitoes outside.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHnJI1o41WHh7KkjxotNw7Y8EVILT4zesI_4hhIcdb0w-m9ev0b5_0kWany9B9jusmgZ7u3LMeuHvogPWRKPKj4sJ5cUZf_i3tWLas0eXx_Bo_XBhYpyvLED2HDMum6-uoD2HOdxqsPQ/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWHnJI1o41WHh7KkjxotNw7Y8EVILT4zesI_4hhIcdb0w-m9ev0b5_0kWany9B9jusmgZ7u3LMeuHvogPWRKPKj4sJ5cUZf_i3tWLas0eXx_Bo_XBhYpyvLED2HDMum6-uoD2HOdxqsPQ/s400/IMG_0596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Structure complete! (For reference, all of this took about 45 minutes in total. Including pee breaks. Three, to be specific.)</div>
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Then it was time to paint the structure white. And let me tell you - 3/16" diameter rods sticking out at random lengths make for a fairly delicate structure. I bet you're wondering how I managed to put it all together and apply several coats of spray paint without breaking it! Well, I never said I didn't break it. I actually only broke off one rod when I got too close with the spray paint and knocked it off the ledge it was on. I don't think the fall itself would've broken it. My trying to catch it did. After struggling a bit with how to fix this (note: tape isn't going to work), I cut off the little broken piece still glued in very close to the ball. Then I whittled, yeah - that's pretty much what it was, out the remaining bit from inside the ball. Well, enough to sharpen the broken end of the rod and jam it in there. It worked, and you can't tell which one it was.<br />
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While I was out somewhere, probably playing a <a href="http://gutfeeling.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">show</a> or <a href="http://www.newordercrossfit.com/" target="_blank">working out</a> if it was a weekend, Sarah took over. She ripped out pages from what appears to be a Victoria's Secret catalog to work inside, because it was July in NC and that means it was hot and really muggy and she is retaining water "like a friggin' camel" (her words, not mine). First she glued the smaller wooden balls to the ends of the rods.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_DGz06E4SJoqt3RHbOxLPjaMKJBPfijJsXG3Log2oPR0e_FkH0Rng9EYQ8zEJQqXHN9S2AGtGldVpZNsC5ozuZf3ebXeFHUJnQEK5m9UV50opFmnImeD89mbdAdM1IKaHXGrxQNWG2Hn/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_DGz06E4SJoqt3RHbOxLPjaMKJBPfijJsXG3Log2oPR0e_FkH0Rng9EYQ8zEJQqXHN9S2AGtGldVpZNsC5ozuZf3ebXeFHUJnQEK5m9UV50opFmnImeD89mbdAdM1IKaHXGrxQNWG2Hn/s400/IMG_1548.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe it was a Coldwater Creek catalog? That's definitely not something I should know about at all.</td></tr>
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That pack of balls we bought for the end had holes pre-drilled AND at the right diameter for the rods, but the holes went all the way through. And yes, I'm laughing every time I say balls, but I don't really have many other options here... should I have been calling them atoms? Protons and electrons? Nuclei? Balls it is! Being the master crafter she is, she filled the ends with wood <strike><a href="http://youtu.be/kxtO8LXIBvo" target="_blank">puddy</a></strike> putty.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm22Xz0mCIOEA-e_kHrk1aEPPOlIfeZkLp7MoXBOPE60RbKUt2kttLxJ-0plKGdlTe5AylKvcuFQ2S-l2aqjDxGHjPxSBJkVKfGPTLCXVZEiOlAYGCtZAaQqi_vAu3gBc2bRXUQEuN2DXB/s1600/IMG_1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm22Xz0mCIOEA-e_kHrk1aEPPOlIfeZkLp7MoXBOPE60RbKUt2kttLxJ-0plKGdlTe5AylKvcuFQ2S-l2aqjDxGHjPxSBJkVKfGPTLCXVZEiOlAYGCtZAaQqi_vAu3gBc2bRXUQEuN2DXB/s400/IMG_1554.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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Time to paint the balls. Because there is a lot of crafting/artwork done in our house, there was already a lot of little bottles of paint around, and we wanted to try to match the colors in the alphabet print.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z29tXcN1wsACoywe41GGglG82ulwa0stLTAJRAlzP0trrLvb7xMQJqspZA0vpOf2iNc02c69VuwZHbYSoeeyKYXRjbedda5cq-oKjXtUwIOr9O1hm8khePZ3Q6jo9ASYtVcq2tjo1Yo-/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z29tXcN1wsACoywe41GGglG82ulwa0stLTAJRAlzP0trrLvb7xMQJqspZA0vpOf2iNc02c69VuwZHbYSoeeyKYXRjbedda5cq-oKjXtUwIOr9O1hm8khePZ3Q6jo9ASYtVcq2tjo1Yo-/s400/IMG_1555.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rods were taped off at the end so as to make painting the colors way easier.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkRyd8MIvyfSxDO_j5AAbzPQx8BOlch61BxoLICc4D_9MX2AHvNUxhXTWzRVbEdBncMzvemRIxY5dYj_8d04x05YOD1xl1KgXmVdHIkpipJQV-TI3aN5lhvoWmTtc7neV4RiNLRzdJt1_/s1600/IMG_1558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkRyd8MIvyfSxDO_j5AAbzPQx8BOlch61BxoLICc4D_9MX2AHvNUxhXTWzRVbEdBncMzvemRIxY5dYj_8d04x05YOD1xl1KgXmVdHIkpipJQV-TI3aN5lhvoWmTtc7neV4RiNLRzdJt1_/s400/IMG_1558.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All end balls painted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Apparently each color needed two coats to get a nice saturated look. But once it was all painted and dried, Sarah gave it a layer of sealer to give it a finished look.<div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6_SX2UkTFZ2HPBaqM-9BPw4ZGleydB4BXNqZqlpLUh7gvD3fuWsSLJrhWN-5dlDqfN7b_5h9hfhLCFT5vBeYx7NZKjokT7NpgQxwg3JlxyejuD9dV1M0fStq0dxFyuJTZ-ADilKjBAB0/s1600/IMG_1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6_SX2UkTFZ2HPBaqM-9BPw4ZGleydB4BXNqZqlpLUh7gvD3fuWsSLJrhWN-5dlDqfN7b_5h9hfhLCFT5vBeYx7NZKjokT7NpgQxwg3JlxyejuD9dV1M0fStq0dxFyuJTZ-ADilKjBAB0/s400/IMG_1559.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had this on hand, too. B/c my wife is a craft hoarder.</td></tr>
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<br />
And all that was left to do was hang it! This took several weeks, because we had to do stuff like get the crib in place and continue living our fairly busy lives. I do realize the irony of calling our lives busy when our kid isn't even here yet. But as many of you know, we had not one, but two plumbing incidents (one semi-major) in the house that took priority over the mobile.<br />
<br />
We wanted it centered on the door as you walk in, and over the crib, so while I stood on a chair, Sarah told me where to screw the hook into the ceiling. I had already attached some 40lb test fishing line to this hook. After cutting the fishing line to a workable length, we got the mobile to a good height and I tied about 50 knots to hold it in place.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBRq22vLXiNxD8AbtwkV1yggASlSv0RNjOgxUFYD6a6YYD6ojR-T0R-ucZD89srZhd5mDlWRvqXjnjnOnb005pkGh790HJlThaNVXl0ylQeZEE1IUQZbq-DpxZxfANP-90tGvp9XdH-eI/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBRq22vLXiNxD8AbtwkV1yggASlSv0RNjOgxUFYD6a6YYD6ojR-T0R-ucZD89srZhd5mDlWRvqXjnjnOnb005pkGh790HJlThaNVXl0ylQeZEE1IUQZbq-DpxZxfANP-90tGvp9XdH-eI/s400/IMG_1591.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belly shot!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBO_fh69a8Uav-k5VMzvenYIKUn7TNbuFtFqdfSsoX2LpA6X3VnsEunJYOk-Y6YorEZSsyibxCcdb3XXXlrutBHjZkKUn3aLBhTz_WRVGiqeLE4Qow-beNQzgJXdw-JslaVGtEmugBM0z/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBO_fh69a8Uav-k5VMzvenYIKUn7TNbuFtFqdfSsoX2LpA6X3VnsEunJYOk-Y6YorEZSsyibxCcdb3XXXlrutBHjZkKUn3aLBhTz_WRVGiqeLE4Qow-beNQzgJXdw-JslaVGtEmugBM0z/s400/IMG_1593.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And that was it! Our awesome <strike>ballsy</strike> atomic mobile was done!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS5wKCM4PtPtBcpQELAZvAwUio3gN_K-XmOf9S3aR3GJNIvLsgPS_iD7PHClfAb0_c1brLKL1uOhG9WbhRCi_uNgujAI1-ahE3dfH4sVicAj9pmxd6RgQYFEp7vrbq69hDc1Zh8HrE2R3/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS5wKCM4PtPtBcpQELAZvAwUio3gN_K-XmOf9S3aR3GJNIvLsgPS_iD7PHClfAb0_c1brLKL1uOhG9WbhRCi_uNgujAI1-ahE3dfH4sVicAj9pmxd6RgQYFEp7vrbq69hDc1Zh8HrE2R3/s400/IMG_1594.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camera 1.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR_O9a3rgFIIiE5DeBwwQZllcSn3JS6dyOTcPliPmBrnc-uVuPVSSrnECyqrRm436_fx7T1NxRznI7jM-uXf3Ouq6HGF15k5MrbObtRxN9EBbzglP0CGWL_KK067uXWxQTa1XVCi_48TE/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihR_O9a3rgFIIiE5DeBwwQZllcSn3JS6dyOTcPliPmBrnc-uVuPVSSrnECyqrRm436_fx7T1NxRznI7jM-uXf3Ouq6HGF15k5MrbObtRxN9EBbzglP0CGWL_KK067uXWxQTa1XVCi_48TE/s400/IMG_1596.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camera 2.</td></tr>
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Looks pretty good, if you ask me. Sarah likes it most because nobody else has one like it. She must be a hipster deep down. It was nice to make something special just for our little dude. One day I'll tell him about how we did it and we'll be all:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZr3hSup3J-BY9fbsdVFAtMMc6I9tsEuMSz6caQwqyUJSpRvptvr8noHzzE5pstUkMsh1SAao7BJe2mdQTuhQz5sq5mSF9gcJRf0YZWagZeR6dGGApwZ4-GGA-8UGhWX88RcibGrMCJS-/s1600/i-build-this-with-my-bear-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZr3hSup3J-BY9fbsdVFAtMMc6I9tsEuMSz6caQwqyUJSpRvptvr8noHzzE5pstUkMsh1SAao7BJe2mdQTuhQz5sq5mSF9gcJRf0YZWagZeR6dGGApwZ4-GGA-8UGhWX88RcibGrMCJS-/s400/i-build-this-with-my-bear-hands.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He'll be so impressed.</td></tr>
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<div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05734882510574326650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2566359577928429915.post-28798724293952262042013-07-01T10:13:00.003-04:002013-07-01T10:13:42.001-04:00Update in progress...<a href="http://youtu.be/yE7hGMMIyfE" target="_blank">Top o' the mornin' y'all.</a><br />
<br />
If we waited to reveal the nursery until it was 100% complete, P-Nut would be 3-1/2 years old and begging for a big boy bed. So we thought we'd keep showing pieces bit by bit as they get complete. It helps us feel like we're actually making some progress, and hopefully keeps the 5 of you that read this blog interested in what we're doing. (We're known for going weeks, sometimes months, between posts.)<br />
<br />
When we last met, my hunka-hunka-burnin' husband had just <a href="http://prissmeetspunk.blogspot.com/2013/06/paint-down-walls.html" target="_blank">written up a quick tutorial</a> on how we added the herringbone feature wall to the mix. We purposely didn't show a great after picture because...well, we didn't have one. There was still crap everywhere blocking a good view and our OCD personalities were keeping us chained to the wall making tiny touch-ups here and there. Well...there's still a lot about the room below you'll never see again, but it's a good start.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIzSMWBegkS0SBKL_duxJSEqFvQC2Y8q06MdEnOFR77Z1tIxeVNti7ux2TL7AXm2RhUGY_rCDI-WVahJN6OwQ-iRt5BBZ72JGccT8mMrS9AS5zmcfB17-DV5QUmIl-9VvmduoWOGAH71e/s1024/wall2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIzSMWBegkS0SBKL_duxJSEqFvQC2Y8q06MdEnOFR77Z1tIxeVNti7ux2TL7AXm2RhUGY_rCDI-WVahJN6OwQ-iRt5BBZ72JGccT8mMrS9AS5zmcfB17-DV5QUmIl-9VvmduoWOGAH71e/s400/wall2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're finding yourself wanting to pet the wall, I can't blame you.</td></tr>
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The high contrast of the white and navy makes me tingle. Well, it's either that or the baby sitting on my sciatic nerve again. A little from column A, a little from column B.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBYYgzxZ-my24TwjM98TiSdrWKTmyZVwvJ0ofUH_4n4iP7TD1VrSYvdWareV-XuYdl0rncqUug3V-uKP3EgcSjSP2Ek2SS0T1es7jWI3zxWX4lkV_Y9qGjwHOQj7BbxTseRcVbh8JCt-_/s1024/wall1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBYYgzxZ-my24TwjM98TiSdrWKTmyZVwvJ0ofUH_4n4iP7TD1VrSYvdWareV-XuYdl0rncqUug3V-uKP3EgcSjSP2Ek2SS0T1es7jWI3zxWX4lkV_Y9qGjwHOQj7BbxTseRcVbh8JCt-_/s400/wall1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And what's that colorful print I see? As I mentioned before, my artsy fartsy husband was going to make a custom print for our son-to-be that we would be hanging in a salvaged frame from the beach. <br />
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I took the original art and mat out and gave it a quick coat of white spray paint to freshen it up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtVnbhmYHnbBbACkXk239Ig6-QgVOdSowPXbbDCfC2gq_RLE0pgnW7ffXQox7PW9SAB68Av9bYDoRfoe8OjgNZq5vfGycPqSn4985dEt7pq7K01x08z2U1ONB74H2WKyE_SsXMFAZugYe/s1024/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtVnbhmYHnbBbACkXk239Ig6-QgVOdSowPXbbDCfC2gq_RLE0pgnW7ffXQox7PW9SAB68Av9bYDoRfoe8OjgNZq5vfGycPqSn4985dEt7pq7K01x08z2U1ONB74H2WKyE_SsXMFAZugYe/s400/IMG_1514.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's balancing on a pile of trees and branches that came down in our yard that our landlord lovingly dumped to the side of the yard rather than removing.</td></tr>
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Then I took the secondary mat that was underneath the white to create a border and painted it the same navy as the walls with some leftover paint. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi167PYv4uJQKBsqU-dsySsIEpqKTt8sGCOUfRDhj3nVQGib4XHJdVObe7SBec4Kgwo9B_rnIBrQgiKzd35jBDdGFAVxTAPW3b4bnTMNf5eMhDT6Rid2cZ5E1VfMyKJynSMfTLWWifdGXnX/s1024/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi167PYv4uJQKBsqU-dsySsIEpqKTt8sGCOUfRDhj3nVQGib4XHJdVObe7SBec4Kgwo9B_rnIBrQgiKzd35jBDdGFAVxTAPW3b4bnTMNf5eMhDT6Rid2cZ5E1VfMyKJynSMfTLWWifdGXnX/s400/IMG_1515.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's that black & white test fit I mentioned a week or so ago. </td></tr>
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Once it had a few hours to cure, we put the color print in place with some tape and framed that puppy. (By the time all this came together and got hung on the wall, it was night time, so that's why the color is a little off.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfERbgq7aHSXl8OqJ5W2sxVF5EzKG8SSr17SOlXPa7iJhOGRr1C1J0UCJpOUccEa04KkGGri6BpKfd9gDkHo3f5eQAtWUSkqe39Z7PuDVbEN6XBeaLEUpu6NX2L1VHhj7SblZ4NRwTAsja/s1024/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfERbgq7aHSXl8OqJ5W2sxVF5EzKG8SSr17SOlXPa7iJhOGRr1C1J0UCJpOUccEa04KkGGri6BpKfd9gDkHo3f5eQAtWUSkqe39Z7PuDVbEN6XBeaLEUpu6NX2L1VHhj7SblZ4NRwTAsja/s640/IMG_1523.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next time won't you sing with me?</td></tr>
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I love that it's colorful, fun and bright but still modern. And did I mention CHEAP? I love finding old frames/mats at yard sales or Goodwill and giving them new life. The wood of this frame was actually the perfect color and shape, but spray paint can do wonders in helping you integrate a wonky old frame into your chic abode. Buying a frame and mat of this size brand new would have been dumb. Yeah, I said it. Dumb.<br />
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Speaking of making wise financial decisions...I think it's time to drop the bomb on y'all. <br />
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We have been searching for quite literally...the duration of my pregnancy (30 weeks now!) for the perfect nursery chair. The criteria included:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Comfort: <i>Do I want to sit in this for an hour if needed?</i></li>
<li>Style: <i>If People Magazine were doing a feature of Best Dressed Chairs, would ours be the Gwyneth Paltrow or Tila Tequila? Who even mentions Tila Tequila anymore?</i></li>
<li>Cost: <i>We're not doctors over here. We don't drop hundos like it ain't no thing. We've been known to eat Ramen noodles to keep our budget in line. It needed to be a steal.</i></li>
<li>Longevity: <i>Will we be able to use the chair after its life in the nursery? Our beef with the gliders and rockers that a lot of folks use is that they are now stowed away in the attic, not being used. We want to use this chair for as long as possible to get the most bang for our buck.</i></li>
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Me and Craig (of Craigslist) have become pretty tight over the past few months and we hang out on the reg. Well last Tuesday, the chair heavens opened up and we pounced.</div>
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Thursday afternoon, we scheduled a time to come look at the chair/ottoman combo taunting me from my computer screen. We had a really strong suspicion we would be walking away with this treasure so we emptied out the back of the truck in anticipation and hit up the ATM.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhTUyuWa3gf11uxSeuiuFcIAnnFRLnct3ZXcSWtNr2h9Q-1OvCH52lx_duF1EtEmQ9HWblrj_1okQABREl6l5BK9chL7xEyxFn6Zeo9FT2O0UzKJu4a1rId9ZjhBq7QvEge2KjeQPErcL/s1024/IMG_1509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhTUyuWa3gf11uxSeuiuFcIAnnFRLnct3ZXcSWtNr2h9Q-1OvCH52lx_duF1EtEmQ9HWblrj_1okQABREl6l5BK9chL7xEyxFn6Zeo9FT2O0UzKJu4a1rId9ZjhBq7QvEge2KjeQPErcL/s640/IMG_1509.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To answer your question, you need at least $1,000 to make it rain.</td></tr>
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The guy described his house as being in "West Cary." Well Nick and I both grew up in Cary and the part of town we drove to was considered Kentucky when we were growing up. Homeboy lived about 40 minutes from us. But onward we pressed.</div>
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We walked into their house and were led back to the rear office. I honestly think beams of light were emanating from underneath the door as we approached. We both took turns sitting in it, kicking our feet up on the ottoman. I got up and inspected all the leather and framing. It was made in the 60's but looked almost new with the exception of a small rip in the ottoman. </div>
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"We'll take it." Nick handed over the $200 to the nice gentleman and we were on our way. </div>
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The entire ride home we kept glancing in the rear view mirror or turning around at stop lights to look at her. </div>
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<div>
"She's beautiful."</div>
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"I can't believe that's our chair."</div>
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"I can't believe he sold that to us for $200."</div>
<div>
"You wanna stop on the side of the road and sit in it for a while?"</div>
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<div>
Into the house she came and we settled her into place in her new home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeIP74-w74VCaVybC3TMalsbD-o5IPJnQWfpZFidAIft4bJCh6Mnu6YX4Vjk973-7PFj7yLTpxx6ridIy9v4lJZeRdfSCjzr7nfTV-hswyOAcT_rJATdlN9v_fY055dzmb7_59Ky5hGZu/s1024/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeIP74-w74VCaVybC3TMalsbD-o5IPJnQWfpZFidAIft4bJCh6Mnu6YX4Vjk973-7PFj7yLTpxx6ridIy9v4lJZeRdfSCjzr7nfTV-hswyOAcT_rJATdlN9v_fY055dzmb7_59Ky5hGZu/s640/IMG_1525.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I peed myself a little just looking at the picture.</td></tr>
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So not only is she extremely comfortable to sit in...not only is she the most beautiful chair we've ever owned...not only was she 200 bones...but she will be a member of this family for many years to come. Nick has already claimed her as his "<a href="http://ericfaller.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/fraiser-eames.jpg" target="_blank">record-listening, fatherly advice, counseling, general manliness chair</a>" post-nursery use. </div>
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<i>Note: this is not an original Eames chair. It is a replica. It was made in the 1960's but an original Eames would be close to $4K. The original Eames chair was not designed as a true lounge and typically is not as comfortable as their knock-off counterparts. They were originally intended to sit in the corners of offices as art pieces...not for long term sitting. </i></h4>
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<i>We have a lot of close friends who are artists of various mediums and I know a lot of them have strong opinions about knock-off/replica designs. I have a lot of thoughts on this matter so I'd love to sit down and have coffee with you one day to debate. You'll, of course, be buying the coffee because I'm clearly the cheapskate in this situation.</i></h4>
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So that's the update for now. I'm currently on the hunt for new bedding for the guest bed, dreaming up something to do to the side tables, and we're about half way through building this custom mobile. Fingers crossed!</div>
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