Interview

Well, today was the much anticipated interview with the preschool that I am really wanting to teach at. I was nervous, which wasn't surprising seeing how I haven't had to really interview for a position before. Right now the school is in the process of signing contracts for next year, so I'll find out in the next couple of weeks if there is a position open!! Prayers would be welcome that a 5 day a week pre-K class would be available!!!

In other news, we got a lot accomplished this weekend. We started with the dining room redecorations. We've painted the room, purchased the chair rail, and cut it down to size. Now all that is left is painting and installing the chair rail and touching up the paint on the walls that got messed up by testing out the size of the chair rail pieces.

In other news, I completely unpacked all the boxes in the guest bedroom and organized and put away all of our Christmas decorations and wrap into the closet! Only two rooms to go! The "pink room," (or my teaching room) as I've dubbed it is being worked on today and Thursday and the office will be worked on next week. You see, we have 6 boxes of books - most of which are all my "pleasure reading" books that have been read at least 2-4 times each- (not including the 4 boxes of preschool books, 2 boxes of my old textbooks, and the2 bins of Alan's textbooks) and only one small bookcase. When we lived in College Station, we had two huge built in bookcases plus our other smaller bookcase that matches our office furniture.

In order to remedy this problem, my mom has so generously offered to give us the beautiful bookcase that used to be in my room. Alan and I decided to make a spur of the moment trip to Texarkana this weekend in order to do several things... 1) Return the table and chairs to them that they gave us in order to trade tables and have one that is slightly more "formal" for our dining room, 2) Pick up the rest of the bedroom set that they are giving to us (we already have the dresser and one nightstand), which includes a four poster bed frame, another smaller dresser with mirror, and the other nightstand, 3) Pick up the bookcase, and 4) Visit with my parents, sister, and grandparents.

Our weekends for the next couple of weeks are going to be pretty busy, it seems. First our trip to Texarkana this weekend, next weekend a first birthday party for my favorite (and only) nephew, and then a trip to Abilene in the beginning of March to get a mattress and Alan's grandparents old Grandfather clock. Somewhere in there we need to find time to finish painting, work on some minor updates to the house, and finish unpacking and decorating.

Well, got to get back to cleaning out the pink room in order to get it done by Thursday. That and I desperately need to start the laundry that I should've done over the weekend but was too lazy to do... Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Jen

Changes

So I think I'm going to be a person that can't stick with one background for too long. I've been wanting a new one for quite a while but had a hard time finding something that I liked. I stayed up way too late last night (and by late, I mean 10:45, which was about an hour after Alan went to bed) working on it. I think I finally got it the way I want, for now at least. The picture is one of my favorite pictures from our entire wedding. Granted that was over a year and a half ago, but we haven't taken that many good pictures since then. And since I love dancing so much (something that I constantly thank Ms. Dixie for), I thought that it was perfect fit.

I should really be unpacking or doing homework right now. The main rooms are all unpacked and look almost normal (minus the dining room that I'm still wanting to paint) and so is our bedroom and bathroom, but our other three rooms are a wreck! I think my goal for today will be to work on our guest room so we can fit a bed in it soon. Keep your fingers crossed. I think I'm gonna go get started on working, but not before I eat something. It's time for breakfast/lunch for me.

Jen

Before and After... Kitchen and Living Room

Well, we still need to put (and purchase) the artwork up in the room, but this will give you a general idea of where everything is.  I am actually surprising Alan when he gets home from work. I was letting him do the trim and detail work because he is sooo much better at it (or so I thought) and he didn't finish yesterday. I decided to try my hand at it, and while not perfect, I think it looks very good! Hopefully he thinks the same thing. If you have any tips or hints on what to do for decorating, let me know! I'm not quite sure what all to do. Without further ado... the before and after pictures. Enjoy!

 

Breakfast nook before

Kitchen area during unpacking

Kitchen area while unpacking and doing dishes

Where the new buffet will go. 

This is the beauty that Alan built (and we haven't finished yet).

Had to show off the beautiful tulips that one of my students gave me. 

I planted them in a pot that another student gave me for Christmas.

Close up of the tulips and balloon.

Breakfast area

Red kitchen!!!

Love the color!!!
   

Had to include a pic of the dogs' spot. They're spoiled!

        

Living Room before

Fire Place before

Alan, hard at work!! (I was watching TV... can you tell?)

     We both dislike the detail work!

Fire Place and Mantel after... Now... mirror or picture?

I don't like the A&M blanket over the chair (doesn't match), but you get the idea.

I love how we arranged the furniture, and I think the player piano is in the perfect spot!

Had to include a picture of our sweet Gracie.

Looking at the living room from the entertainment niche. 

Living room from the foyer

Finished foyer.

We will be decorating and painting as our budget allows, so in a couple of weeks I'll have some more before and after of the dining room and our bedroom/bathroom.

Jen

Paint and more

Well, we've painted our kitchen completely. And as we speak the hubby is painting around the crown molding and baseboards of the living room and foyer. I'll post pictures as soon as we have everything back in place. The kitchen, as previously posted, is this gorgeous red color, called Red, Red Wine. The living room and foyer are painted Sunset Beige. The Sunset Beige has turned out a little more orange than we thought, but I still love it! It definitely looks great up against the red kitchen. And it'll look even better when I get my brown leather furniture and giraffe print area rug. =)

We purchased My parents so generously purchased our first piece of furniture for us. I ordered it last night and it should be here within six weeks! I'm so excited! Right now, the unfinished but beautiful buffet that Alan built is sitting in the new buffet and baker's rack spot. When our new furniture comes in, I get to put Alan's buffet into my teaching room! I already know exactly what is going in the shelves. I can't wait to put it to good use! For now, though, I hope we finish it soon. The buffet and baker's rack is pictured below. I couldn't figure out how to copy and paste the one that showed them together, so you'll have to use your imagination.

       

Eventually (as in we've got to get our house painted, TV stand built, living room furniture, and some other odds and ends purchased first), we're going to get the table and chairs that match to put in our breakfast nook. 

Here's the table...

And here are the two types of chairs...

Wheatback         Ladderback

Woven Seat

Wheatback         Ladderback

Fabric Seat

Which chair would y'all get? The wheatback or ladderback? It's called wheat back because the little rails on the back look like wheat stalks (you can't tell in the picture and when I try to make them bigger, it just gets blurry). Which seat would y'all get? The woven one, or a fabric one? Keep in mind, if I did get the woven one, I could always get those cushions to put on it. And if I get fabric, do I just get a neutral color, like off-white? I know I have several months, if not years, before I can get the table, but I like to plan ahead. 

Ok, that's enough for now. I'll post pictures tonight tomorrow when I have more time (and when the house is more organized).

Jen

Online School

While I am thankful that I can take my courses online, sometimes I just don't want to do anything for certain classes. Take class chats for instance... I feel as if I could do a better job by having discussions where I can think about what I say and take my time to word it just the way I want. Instead, with class chats, I am put on the spot and have only a couple of minutes to respond. Oh well... Two chats down and only one or two left (we missed one already due to an emergency, so i don't know if we'll make it up or not).

Aside from that, not too much went on at the house today. Now that we have TV and internet I get distracted quite a bit more. I did, however, unpack all of my shoes and folded clothing. I have at least 35 pairs of shoes... Spoiled much? Granted, I have about 10 pairs of flip flops, my cowgirl boots, and ladybug rainboots*, but that is still a lot of shoes.

*On a side note, those boots were a Christmas gift from my previous landlord. My classroom last year were the "Letz Ladybugs," so when she saw those boots she thought they were perfect. Who cares that they were children's boots made in adult sizing!! I actually love the boots and my students love seeing me wear them.

Well, only 20 minutes of my chat left... Gotta get back to answering questions. Tomorrow's another early day for me. I've only commuted one day (Monday), and I'm already dreading the commute, but my students are definitely worth it! =)

Jen

Picture Overload

Well, the pictures I've promised are finally here. Hopefully you won't get too bored with all of the unfinished rooms. As we paint and get things organized, I'll post the final products. Painting starts this weekend, and we even have a three day weekend to do it! My hopes are to get the kitchen, living room, and our bathroom and bedroom done (and hopefully the ceilings, too, since they're kind of a gray color).

Lola and Ginny... Ignore the dirty cloths on the floor.

My new 25 cubic foot fridge. I think I'm in love.

Inside of the fridge... It's HUGE!!

Inside of the freezer. It's HUGE, too, but we still need a deep freeze.

About to start signing our life away.

Let the signing begin!

First time in OUR home. =)

SOLD!!!

        

Dining Room

Dining Room

Looking at the front door

Breakfast Nook

Kitchen

Kitchen plus the hubby

Living Room

Fireplace and entertainment nook (with all the boxes piled high)

Master. Pardon the comforter - it was drying.

Master Bath

Our closet

Closet again!

Privacy room. :)

Office

Office again

My teaching room... I've got a TON of books and supplies!!

Love the closet!!

Guest Room

Guest room II

Guest Bathroom (still need to get the shower curtain rod raised)

Guest Bathroom again.

Kudos to you if you made it all the way through this picture overload!! The posts on final touches should be much more spread apart. It will definitely take us a while to get things exactly how we like them.

Jen