to dos

Our house is move in ready. It's just awesome that way. God really threw us for a loop this past week and we are riding along with our arms waving wildly in the air. Tomorrow is one week til move in. As new homeowners, since we can, we have thought of some things we might like to do to our new "pad". This is our list of to dos. Some we would like to accomplish before everything is moved in for convenience sake. All is obviously dependent on time, quotes, budget and priority.

Let's start with the kitchen shall we?
1. the floor. It's linoleum and not so hot. The house was built in 1995 but this floor looks like it was in place before the Mayflower sighted land. OK, maybe not that bad- but close!

2. counter tops. What is in place now is fine but if we could, we'd like to UPgrade. It drives me nuts when I watch HGTV and the people do all these amazing repairs right before they move to increase the value of their home. I would like to do them as soon as possible so we can enjoy them while we live there.

3. a stove & microwave. The microwave is broken. Before we do the counter tops, we should do the stove so that our old one isn't wedged in. It will also help in the resale of the house so might as well enjoy it ourselves first.

4. cupboards. There are only 2 cupboards that are warped (guessing from steam). The rest look fine. We don't know if we can replace the damaged ones or if it is better to just update all of them. Or leave it all as is. We'll see.

5. Ceiling lights. It has plastic sheets/cover things over the lights. The Styffe men are going to take those off, make the inside of the ceiling box pretty, throw up some crown molding and make pot lights (is that what they're called?).

On to the living room....
1. The fireplace. Oh man. It's kind of a tragedy. Peter and I are ALL about fireplaces. It's where our relationship started. They are a big deal to us. The thought is to take a sledge hammer and anything else that will cause damage to it. Smack. Smack. Smack. And then put on a pretty tile or stone.

2. Next to the fireplace is a white cabinet. I would like to add some shelves above it that look built in and make it look like one whole piece. Seems easy enough to me?!?!

3. Replace the chandelier. Aye! This thing looks ready for a halloween haunted house- it's got the cob webs and all. If I can find something on the cheap, that sucker will be gone before it can say, "Boo!".

4. Screens & blinds on all the windows. It's a privacy issue. but to make it a decorative issue- curtains, too!

And behind door number 1: the bedroom!
1. Peter and Glenn were already visualizing the height and weight bearing load of the shelves they could put up. Have at it, gentlemen!

2. Paint. I am thinking green with a hint of blue. We shall see.

3. One screen & one blind please! We don't want to scare the neighbors! Oh, and curtains would just be so cute. I think we will use the ones we already have.

En el Bano
1. Paint. Again, not sure on the color.

2. Remove & hang mirror. It has one of those flat to the wall mirrors that is attached with those little plastic clear clip looking things. It looks a little too corporate for me. Tonight at Home Goods I saw huge mirrors for small prices. When Peter called I told him just so we would remember when this to do moved up on the priority list. He said, "Get it now!" I said, "What? Who is this and what did you do to my husband?" He said something along the lines of haha, very funny. I was shocked but purchased nonetheless. I had to babysit it until a worker came by and I could ask for help carrying it to the front.

And to the right we have the laundry room
1. If there is extra flooring from the kitchen, we will put it in here.

2. Add washer & dryer eventually.

3. Put shelves up on the walls for added storage

Porch & patio
1. Plants! Plants! Plants! Calling all grandparents: What should I plant? Can I plant a blueberry bush? Come over and assess my light and lot size and tell me what to do!

2. Peter's dreaming of a BBQ for his balcony.

As you can see, the list goes on and on and on. Half the fun is dreaming up the possibilities. We love the house just the way it is now so if none of the above mentioned happens or three of the ideas become a reality we'd be thrilled either way. We are so grateful to have a roof over our heads that we can call our own.

we will keep you posted on the decisions and progress.

Oh, by the way, did everyone here Peter is starting his RN position next week? How's that for timing? God gives us a house and a dream job in the same week! I'm tellin ya, we are on the roller coaster screamin our heads off, waving our arms like crazy people, and praising God the whole way through.

xo, p&l