Friday, December 14, 2012

Amazon Gift Card Winner

0 Comments
Amber P said...
thanks to our 12 month old and 24 month old the tree is only decorated on the top half :) i love your decorations though.

Congratulations Amber! You are a big old winning winner!

Amber, since you did not leave contact information you are going to have to get in touch with me to claim your prize. (I hope you are one of the regulars)


Because I hate it when bloggers only give you a certain number of hours (usually 24-48) to respond to their win announcement I will not do that to you.

It's always a good idea to leave your email, twitter handle - something when you enter a giveaway. Either that, or subscribe to the blog by email so the information hits your inbox.


Sunday, December 9, 2012

You Fellow Ravenna Owners

4 Comments
     To the fellow Ravenna owners,  I would love to see what you did with the entry area by the front door. (And the back door, too, but especially the front) I mean, we have no closet, and a really long wall on one side, but it's not really a hall since it is open to a room on the other side. I'm very curious to see what you guys did with that entry area. Warning: I am looking for swell ideas to steal.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

A New Kind Of Nightmare

1 Comments
     Last night I was not in peaceful slumber. What made it remarkable is that this time my nightmare was the kind only a homeowner could have. It involved: our old landlord, who was also our neighbor, our old next door neighbor, and other people I do not think I know. Also? People from our normal Chinese takout place. You know dreams are always weird. 

     The worst part of the dream though, the thing that pushed it from a very weird dream to a nightmare was that I had an issue with my floors. If you have been following along for the whole ride you know how much we are in love with our 'perfect floors'. We really chose well. But you would also know these are not the floors either of us really wanted. I wanted the drank brown hand-scraped hardwoods. He wanted the yellowish ones. 

     When he looked at the ones I loved a college professor came to mind - one he didn't adore. When I looked at the ones he wanted I pictured my whole house looking like an elementary school gym. So we compromised.  By compromise I mean we chose the only floor one of us didn't hate. I had my concerns about it being to orange once it was in the house, and he wasn't in love with it either, but at least we were able to look at it without one of us feeling repelled. 

     It was such a strange way to make a choice about the house. All of our other choices had been led by one or the other of us having a strong desire. I really wanted slate around the fireplace, oil rubbed bronze everything, gray siding, the really nice cabinets,and a jetted bathtub. He insisted on the type of stone we got, the granite, the really nice tile in the bathroom, 

     So our floors, our one big compromise, they turned out to be one of our favorite selections. And when people see the house, the always comment on how much they love our floors. When I become sainted the whole world will consider them the 'holy floors'. Too much? Okay. Anyway, the floors are a great source of happiness and we really can not imagine them any other way. 

     In my dream, though, there was a problem with the floors. (This may stem from the issues we had with the baseboards being put down before the wood floors and so instead of the floors going wall to wall with the baseboard on top the floors were, at least in some places, crammed under/between the baseboards, causing them to buckle) But in my dream we were not just fixing the issue in the upstairs hall. They were replacing the whole downstairs, too. 

      I woke up in the morning, and saw, much to my horror, the floors I had originally wanted. And they were very imperfect, had lots of places where the dark brown was missing so the floor was a sad, depressing gray. I freaked out and ran downstairs to my husband's office, which was not really the same office he has downstairs. It was cold and uglier than an old unfinished basement. The whole downstairs was covered in the really crappy looking dark brown plastic (?) flooring and I was upset. There was an area where they covered great big junky tiles - with old white carpet. But not all of it. So there was my house with dirty carpet, junky tile and tacky plastic floors. Nothing was cut properly and there were places missing flooring. It was so upsetting and so ugly. The whole house was very dark. I cried. 

     Then I was with other people - can't remember who now, in a vehicle. Whoever was driving was using their phone so we were stopped at the crest of a hill.Because dreams are weird. 

     *Proving once again that life is also weird: last night my cousin ripped out my mailbox with her mom's beautiful leased car. One minute later my mother tripped over the other side of the end of my drive and fell. She was carrying a glass casserole dish and a glass pie plate. Result: One messed up car, one messed up mailbox, and one mommy with cut hands and a very bruised knee. The only thing worse than seeing your kids hurt is seeing your mom hurt. With your kids some weird mom hormone kicks in. With your mom - you just want your mommy. Except it's her you need to help. 


    

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Go - Go - Gelato. Paciugo in SouthPark Center, Strongsville, Ohio

2 Comments

   
You want gelato in northeast Ohio? Strongsville? Medina County? Well guess what!? Now there is a place called Paciugo to get great gelato right at Southpark Mall! Can you believe it? I couldn't! It's right under the escalator, so don't miss it. You don't even have to go upstairs into the food court for it. Bonus!

It costs about the same as whatever you would get upstairs at Dairy Queen, except it's amazing! And has real flavor. Remember real flavor?

Also, check out > their facebook page,< where they sometimes put out coupons you can't get anywhere else. 

The staff is always friendly and you can taste any flavors you like before deciding. According to my husband they have excellent espresso. 

Want to take some home? No problem. They have styrofoam to-go packs from 5 serving sizes up to 15 serving sizes. 

No more searching for a great dessert in northeast Ohio/Cleveland/Medina County - go gelato! (Yes, I know Strongsville is not in Medina  County, but it's just a toe over the line for us) 

Want to call them? (440)238-5106

*This is not a sponsored post. I am thrilled to find them, excited they are nearby, and would love to share the greatness of their gelato with you. 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Show Me Your Tree

13 Comments
Duuuuude! I want to see your house all decorated up for Christmas! So what are you waiting for? Show. it. to. me!

First, I should show you my house all decorated up, right? Well I would, if it was done. We do not have the bottom piece to our tree. Maybe it got gone with the 3 truck and trailer loads of stuff we donated from our old house? Seriously, I do not know how we got so much stuff.

Anyway, yesterday morning at the crack of 8:00 I took the puppy outside for a squat and saw my neighbor donating a huge tree to Salvation Army. If I knew they were getting rid of a tree I would have asked to use it. Alas, I was too late and just a tiny bit too proud and bad breathy to go chase down the Salvation army truck guys. So I did the next best thing, and stopped by the store. Oh boy do they have trees! I got a lovely tree for... $14.99. If you are feeling sad and treeless go to a Salvation Army store. You can turn your frown upside down. I also got wreaths for 1.99 each! I never would have thought to go there had the truck not been out front yesterday morning. So there's my Christmas miracle. (Now, I would still take an any-other-day miracle and be so super glad to see my wedding rings again.)

Since my house is in a state of upheaval, and items are being moved every few hours/minutes/seconds, depending on the time, what better time to share, right? 


Here, in whatever order blogger decides, are some photos of my grand decorating skills. Or whatever.  

This morning things looked like this


Now it looks like this
Does it make me a bad person if I offered my neighbor's dog a cookie if he would stop barking?

Even if he didn't stop, so got no cookie? Just curious.

Now it's your turn. Share your photos with us! Let your friends come and vote for your photos (all in fun, everyone likes to vote for their friends, right? The prize is bragging rights. Also up for grabs is a $25 Amazon gift card, drawn from everyone who leaves a comment on this post. *Unless we win powerball. If we do, the prize is ridiculous awesome. Like iPad minis for you and your spouse and all your kids!  And A laptop computers, too! Why not? It's five hundred million dollars, people! 

*Giveaway will end Dec 12th  - linky will still be open. 

Click the blue linky button - or else!



  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.  

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Reality - What Is Wrong With This Picture?

4 Comments
      Reality is rarely exactly as I had planned things would be. Part of the reason for me is I plan all of these projects, I dream them up in my mind, and they are so pretty. Then I do them, look at them, and think 'Aw shucks, this isn't what I thought it would be like. Everyone else's stuff seems so polished and perfect.' I feel like the kid in art class who never quite got it. This could be because I was always the kid in art class who never quite gets it. You might be thinking I am just too hard on myself, but if you get a super close look, you will see what I mean: 



Exhibit 1: Bookshelf trim not caulked or painted. See how nicely it lines up?  

Exhibit 2: Although the shelves were made deeper in the appliance garage, I still haven't painted and prettied it up at all.
I am afraid I will never get my embossed "Grown Up" card.
You guys have those, right?

Exhibit 3: What the heck happened to my stoop? I dunno!? It was like this yesterday.

Exhibit 4: All those rocks were what we dug up in lieu of dirt when the azaleas were planted too close together and never moved.
Ignore the non-existent upgraded lawn. Thanks for nothing on that one, Ryan Homes. 

The drop cloth I bought for curtains, still in the washer.
This would be no big deal if I had not failed to remove it for four days straight.
That's right folks, it's on it's FIFTH wash cycle right now.
I'm sure my Grown Up card is just lost in the mail, right?

blurry photo of the marks made on the wall just hours after I did touch up painting all over the house. 

The dog toy, leaves (other dog toys) and a different, already washed and dry drop cloth.
I am using it to make a screen the dogs can not penetrate so we can put the tree in the front room.
What? Don't judge me. 


Dining room. Someone needs to come and make my stuff look magically delicious.
 Marian? Miss Mustard Seed? Sarah? Thrifty Decor Chick?
Ann? Can I get a "No Doy"? Anyone? Ferris?

  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.  

   

DIY Mammogram

1 Comments
     While out shopping with my dearest, most elderly  old friend the other day we came across this:

A DIY Mammogram:



Health care reform, anyone?

Foyer Party!

2 Comments

     Before you say anything... I know I have already posted these photos on this blog in other places. But! Sarah over at Thrifty Decor Chick is having a "Show us your house" party and I always post too soon or too late to join in the fun. Doggone it I want to do it this time, so I'm posting the photos again. Please find it adorable rather than annoying. Embrace my neediness, Lord knows I seem to embrace it. So, here goes.

     This one is about Foyers and Mudrooms. Since I have no mudroom, and I attend the gnashing of teeth event about this fact each and every day I will be sharing my front door entry. It's warm and embracing with plenty of room to come in and take off your shoes. 

Come on in!

Welcome Home.  

Have a seat on the pew and take off your shoes. 

Gratuitous picture of the same thing for no other reason than I like it. 
     As you can see I haven't done anything fancy yet. My big floppy hat is there to save me from ruin when I walk the dogs. I snagged the old windows from my grandparent's house when they replaced them last winter, so they will go on the wall above the pew. One day. When I get to it. There is so much to do in a brand new house to make it really ours. 

     I hope you like it! I hope you leave me gushing comments telling me how charming it is! I hope you go over and see some more at Sarah's par-tay!


Thrifty Decor Chick

       *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.    

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Progress Report

3 Comments
     A couple of weeks ago I told you about some projects I am working on around the house. Lest any of you realize what a total slacker I am, here is a report of some progress:

Built in Bookshelves in Office. We need more bookshelves!
They are not completed, but they are coming along, right?

Now for the closet by the garage door. The previously useless closet:
Coat closet turned appliance closet. 
 Also unfinished, but coming along. We are going to extend the shelves so they are deeper. Yes, we do need three ice cream makers. We are a big family!

  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.    


The Wings Of An Angel

2 Comments

     I simply do not know how long I have wanted these angel wings. I had seen them around but my gosh, they were expen$ive! I started following Decor Steals when it was newish (I think it was, anyway) and it was called WUSLU. They would bring them out and the timing wouldn't be right for me, or they would all be gone before I got to them. But last time was my lucky day and I was able to get them!

     They arrived yesterday and they are everything I had hoped they would be and more. I absolutely adore them. All you new house gang - I know we are all looking for things to decorate our new, bigger homes. Decor Steals has a new fabulous deal every day - and a sister site, Antique Farm House, where there are more deals going on all the time. Don't let the name fool you - I'm sure someone with any decor style can find things they love. 

Welcome Home!
 Same picture, but different edits. I took this with my phone pressed up on the window from outside. I guess because of the double paned windows(?) I got some inside and some outside. I thought it was a neat surprise!

  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.  

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

A Week's Worth Of Thanks

2 Comments
     This week I am thankful for:

  • A husband who is understanding, kind and loving. I'm so proud of him.
  • Children who fill my heart with love and inspire me in new ways all the time. I'm so proud of them.
  • My kids have grown up knowing my grandparents- two amazing role models.
  • All the women who took me to Sunday School when I was little. 
  • Our new lovely home filled with the people we love. (and dogs we love)
  • All of our friends, who are such a great gift to us. Good friends keep me sane.
  • Being blessed enough to be born into the United States where our freedom rings!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Big Fat Bummer

5 Comments
     Today while I was out running errands my wedding set fell off my hand. I have no idea when or where. I've called each place and they've looked and taken my number in case it shows up later.  My husband has gone to look for it himself.  am positive  I wore it today because I was looking at it while I was at the car dealer waiting on my oil change. Of course, that was my first stop today. 

    This wasn't just any old ring to me. It had so much special significance.  The diamond was mined in South Africa, cut in Belgium, and then purchased by a South American jeweler, who sold it to my husband and set it. The most beautifully cut diamond, really. Jewelers who looked at it would admire the skill with which it was cut. 

     A few years ago my husband had trilliants placed on either side of the solitaire. I would go back and forth about getting them removed because while they diffused even more light into the stone, they were not as great as the solitaire and somehow detracted from the overall perfection of the ring. 

     There's just no replacing it. I feel so guilty. I feel so stupid. I feel so frustrated. It's just not possible to replace all the history and sentiment. I pray it shows up and I'm afraid someone will just keep it. I love that little ring. 

  

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Please Remember To Vote on Tuesday

1 Comments
Please take the time to go vote. Your one vote matters. It is your chance to stand up and be counted, even if it doesn't go your way. Vote your conscience, vote your heart. Decide what you think is best and do not worry about who might not agree with you. 

Thursday, October 25, 2012

For The Love Of Dogs

1 Comments
     When we first got our little furry love, he was just a puppy. Puppy - baby, same thing. He would spit up all the time. He rejected kibble most of the time. He would eat a food for a little while, then he would refuse it, too. It was worrisome. I read a lot about it and ended up cooking for him. Eggs in the morning, boiled chicken and brown rice, ground beef and rice, etc. Still, his stomach problems persisted. He grew tired of eggs so I began making him oatmeal in the mornings. 

     We were in one of those pet botiques which popped up in the malls in recent years, and my husband found him a bag of treats. He was always buying him more stuff he wouldn't eat. But our picky little shih tzu loved these treats. I returned to the store to buy some more. I went to ask for the Stella & Chewy's Carnivore Crunch. They didn't know what I was talking about. They didn't care stuff permanently. I did what any person does out of love. I scoured the internet for the treats. 

     

     I don't know how long it took me to try the Stella & Chewy's dinners, because they are not inexpensive. If you believe a dog should eat the least expensive stuff you can throw in the dish, this is not for you. But if you are like me, and you can't believe it, but you love the little critter with your whole heart and would do anything for your doggie, this may be for you. Especially if your dog has paws smelling of Fritos, is always licking them (Frito paws are itchy!) or vomits much. There are no grains or fillers in this food. 

     I gave up trying to find it in stores and always order from Amazon. There may be a better price out there somewhere, because I've been ordering it for years and haven't checked in a while. I get free 2 day shipping with Amazon Prime, so I stuck with Amazon. 

     This year we added another pup to the family. She's been eating Stella & Chewy's since we brought her home. No upset stomach problems for her. 

     If you have a picky little shih tzu who wont eat anything, try it! Or, if you have a picky puppy of any breed. 

     Oh, and it's made in the U.S.A. - in Wisconson. 

*Stella and Chewy's did not compensate me in any way to write this post, nor do they have any knowledge in advance of my posting it. This has been an answer to prayers for us and I wanted to share it with people who may be searching with the same problem we were having. 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Mysteries Of The Universe, Unravelled

2 Comments
     If you've ever doubted for even a minute, the charmed, charmed life I lead you need to find out why even Click on this link, or you have cooties --->Chicken Poop is lucky for me. <--- Click on that link! I mean it!

      Try not to be jealous. We can't all be this lucky. But I bet if you think very, very hard you can remember a time poop was lucky for you, too. I can't wait to hear about it!


     Craptastic!

Even Chicken Poop Is Lucky

1 Comments
     Yes, you read that right. In my experience, chicken poop is a lovely, lucky thing. Here's what happened:

     This lady, we'll call her 'Darla'- (because her name is really Marla, you see, so I'm protecting her identity because I am thoughtful) decided to have a giveaway on her blog. And I think 'Darla' was sitting around asking herself  "Self, how do those big judging agencies who give away big prizes, and the people who pull names for jury selection and God, in his infinite wisdom, decide who gets what?" And I think it dawned on her right at that moment - they let God's creatures decide!

     So she gets her bright idea and she runs with it, runs like the wind! Right out to the barn, I reckon. She engineered the most righteous, ridiculous, amazing, fair giveaway in the history of ever.

     She wrote all the names on paper and took the giant thing out for the chickens to poop on it. First poop to land on a name = winner! Well guess who some chicken pooped on first??? Me! I won a $45 gift certificate to CSN stores, which is now Wayfair. (I have used them a lot - fast shipping and great problem resolution, in the rare instances I've had a problem)

     My records show the next day I ordered a: Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 6 Quart Covered Stockpot. My records don't lie. I bet this was not a coincidence.

     If you don't believe me, go read 'Darla's' post yourself, where she chronicles the whole dang thing. Really, she is hilarious. You just can't make this stuff up.

     I also thinks this makes us even, winged population, for the time a bird pooped right on my head as I was standing in my front yard. At the time my friend was laughing her fool head off and I was just plain embarrassed, but now I see what the universe had planned.

    And it was Kismet, people, because She posted about the win on October 25th, which is my husband's birthday. I should always win something on my husband's birthday.





*Wayfair stores in no way sponsored, endorsed, or had previous knowledge of me writing this post.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

What Does Your House Say About You?

4 Comments
This question really came from somewhere else. Go check it out, I'll wait. 

     What does my home say about me? To my face it’s fairly quiet, but behind my back I suspect it tells everyone who will listen that I am  hopelessly sentimental.
     You see, our house is brand new. As it was being built it probably thought about all the newfangled, fancy, modern items it was going to house. A series of Nest thermostats, a kitchen island with the little kick at the end, an intercom, built in speakers throughout, etc. Oh, it thought it was going to be fan-SAY.
     But no. I moved in with my great grandmother’s treadle sewing machine and put my great-great grandfather’s church pew right in the entryway. A buffet which went through four generations of a family landed in the dining room, and their old piano in the front parlour. I've lugged in vintage and antique typewriters, tables, mail sorters, projectors, dressing tables, beds, armoires, dressers and chests. I think I heard my house sigh when I went out to the garage and began to… build my own bed.
     My house will tell you – I am hopelessly sentimental. What does your house say about you?


  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.    

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Here's Your Chance!

5 Comments
     I have a bunch of things going on, and I seem to be starting new projects before finishing the ones I already have underway. I am dumping them out here on my blog to share with everyone, hoping to basically shame myself into sticking to it and getting them all finished. When I do I'll come here and show the finished projects, and you can all tell me how great I did, and how proud you are that I did it! Sounds like a plan, right?

     Feel free to heckle me if I am not getting them done. Be relentless. Send tools, chocolate, and ponytail holders to keep me going. 

     Here are some of the projects I have in an incomplete state right now: 


Yes, the crazy lady is building a bed. Not just any bed, a farmhouse bed.  The headboard and footboard are put together, and I've been sanding until I can't feel my hands. Seriously.  







Dinah is still laying on a huge (also unfinished) desk in the garage. I really need the whole neighborhood to come and help me get her upright in the garage, and secured to the wall.   Then I will be able to tackle her insides.




Built in bookshelves in the office. Honestly, they are further along than this right now. They have trim and are extended up to the ceiling and have the crowne moulding and baseboard in place. They need caulked and painted. 












You don't need to see more. But know this: I have a list as long as my arm (and that's just the beginning) of projects for the house. I am hoping to get an appliance garage started and finished this week. It's going in the coat closet. In our Ravenna the coat closet is the most underutilized space in the whole house. It is going to be the home for my fondue pot, food processor, toaster, toaster oven, giant roaster oven, George Foreman Grill, vertical storage for baking pans, etc. I will put hooks in the mudroom and I have a very strange idea I'm not willing to share just yet for the front  door area. 

Yes, I'm starting the closet-to-appliance-garage conversion before I finish the other unfinished projects. 

Let the heckling commence!

  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.    

Question for Ravenna Owners

7 Comments
     You know that bedroom in the back by the hall bath? Do you have heating/cooling issues with that room? If you did, and they fixed it, what did they do?

  *To read more about our Ryan Homes Ravenna click the "Our House" button at the top of the page.  

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

World Market Find

3 Comments
I had to stop at World Market yesterday for Chili Seasoning. We really like one of their blends. They had changed up the store, much to my chagrin, but I decided to browse just a little anyway. Look what I found!

 I found this fabulous measuring carafe.  Isn't she a beauty?
She's a big girl, too. Tall and slender.


 She measures Sugar in three languages! She also measures sugar, flour and rice in grams and ounces. Then there are sides  for ML, Cups, and Fluid ounces. FAN-CY!

And she comes with this handy pouring spout as our gift to you!

Pretty cool, huh?

If you want one you better run to your World Market or  call and ask them to hold it, because there was only one left at my World Market after I bought this one.

She was a steal at $12.99