Comfort in the Chaos

This makes me happy



because a lot of my house still looks like this

...and what is even better -- I now live where I can stop on my way HOME to pick up Mrs. Meyers and Bath and Body works.  It is not a 45 minute drive to civilization anymore!  Oh, I still want my Pinterest Farmhouse; it's just that I have discovered something about myself - my farmhouse needs to be just barely outside of the city....

Shannon

Moving Again

Well, we come to the next stop in this transition from being a military family to settling in to a permanent home.  No, not the final stop.  Just the next stop.

So far since my hubby retired, he lived in an apartment for several months in DC working a contract job.  We sold our house in KS and four of us moved into a tiny 2-bedroom apartment, where hubby then joined us.  Then we all five moved into another tiny 2-bedroom apartment in TX - this was a happy step in the process - it got us back to TX.  Now we have finally narrowed down a vast area of possibilities to the fact that we want to build north of the Dallas area. 

It would be nice to leave all our stuff in permanent storage till we build, but, alas, the military won't house our household goods for that long.  So we have now rented a house...a real house...in the north Dallas area.  This will be a year-long stop (or so) while we look for a piece of land and build our final stop.  So only one more week to go in this apartment-hopping we have been doing.  My son will possibly be the happiest.  He has been sleeping in the dining room... I think he just might be looking forward to having a room of his own again...  And we will all be happy to get our stuff back.  Although, I will say this -- it's amazing what you realize you don't need when you only have the absolute BARE necessities for 7 months.

To keep myself occupied, I have spent much time on Pinterest.  Who hasn't??  Many pictures in my Pinterest of the farmhouse I want to build.  If you're on Pinterest, let me know so I can find you if I haven't already.

Gotta go throw a few things into a box now...

Shannon

House Hunting

Well, we've made our move back home to Texas. (*insert loud cheers here*) So now begins the process of finding our new home. Our plan is to find a little bit of land and build our dream house. A white farmhouse with black shutters. I can see it in my head. But while we were driving around today, we spotted this Victorian. It was interesting enough that we scheduled a time to see inside.

The entry definitely can be wonderful. The tile on the floor and the burgundy carpet runner were all wrong. But they could go away... This house really needs to have all wood floors.

This gallery around the top of the stairs is kinda neat. Most rooms had a mixture of dark stained trim and white painted trim. One door would be dark, the next painted white. I liked it.

And I liked the front door.

This little girl, with her lighted tulips, is guarding the bottom of the stairs. Or maybe welcoming you? I couldn't figure out if I really liked her, or really didn't...

Several of the interior doorways had transom windows above them. All of the outside doors and windows had transom. I love transom windows. But, umm, not with bright, red, shiny grapes. And bluejays. But...I recently took a stained glass class, so I could make some stained glass windows that, uh, went a little better with the rest of the house.

And see the pocket door below the red grapes? There were several sets of pocket doors in the house. Like.

There is some Victorian trim in a few of the doorways. See the fireplace through that door? It is one of two mantels that are nailed to the wall, have a plastic sheet of faux brick..yes, a plastic sheet of brick...and, oddly, a pipe for running gas to these two fireplaces. Maybe they had plans to create real fireplaces with gas logs someday?? Only one of the maaaany very odd things that this house offered.

More bright, red, shiny grapes...

But see the double french doors? Several pairs of these around the house...yes. Like.

A back stairway. Like. New carpet, and maybe paint the wood white to lighten this area.

This is one of the two (yes...two) places that a chandelier is hanging from a mirrored tray ceiling. But...you could just sheetrock over the mirrors, right? The second one is in the master bedroom. Ahem.

I really liked some of the chandeliers. There were several. Just about every room had one.

The kitchen had great cabinets. Most of the uppers had glass doors. The, uh, shiny, faux green marble countertops. Well, those could come out. Fast. Very fast. Oh, and the country wallpaper border that was stapled to the wall halfway between the countertop and the upper cabinets - it could come off fast. And the lights in the kitchen could come down. Fast. And the table part of the island could come out. And the appliances. And the floor. Ok, so the kitchen needs a lot of work. But I liked the white cabinets.

The porch wrapped completely around three sides, and part of the fourth side of the house. The railings and columns need to be replaced. But it could look pretty. And most of the downstairs rooms had a door leading out onto the porch.

Both bathrooms upstairs had a clawfoot tub. Yes, this one is pink. But it could be painted black!

This one sits in a space with a lot of windows.

There are multiple problems with lights, definite siding issues, seeeeveraaal really odd things that I didn't show in this post because it is already a really long post and blogger was taking for.e.ver to upload pictures. But all of the really weird things could eventually be ripped out or covered up. Eventually.

These guys were lounging next door right by the fence. They'd be fun to have as neighbors.

So, we realized today that we might do a little bit of peeking around at some homes that need some TLC. Because what if there is some magnificent beauty around here? I'm just gonna keep this house rolling around in my mind for awhile. It has some definite possibilites. And some definite conversation starters.

Shannon

Adapting to a Very Small Space

Ok, so I have lived through the past month. My hubby has been working in DC for the past few months on a short-term contract job. (He's back now - yea!) While he was gone our house sold, so I had to deal with all the house repairs, contractors, packers for most of our stuff, and move us into a small apartment without him. Not the kind of things I am good at! But, we got it all done and moved into an apartment till mid-May. The week after we moved in, hubby came home - and, comically, he is home to start a new job which will have him working from his home "office" a lot of the time. We're here till mid-May, when we will move HOME to DALLAS! Yea!!!!!!

In the meantime, we have all five claimed our own little spots in this small space we're living in, and it's working for us. We're all just consciously trying to be considerate of each other's needs for quiet and space.

This is my view from the chair I have claimed. I pretend I'm already living in a wonderful farmhouse in Texas, and this is my own brick wall, with woods beyond. It's a great place to sit and look outside and think about my assignments - I'm taking the WONDERFUL online class - Indie Business 3.0. Lisa Leonard is one of the teachers. We started this week - it's soooo inspiring and enlightening! Love it!

This is my "studio" - I work on my Indie Biz notebook here, and I work on my jewelry here. Hopefully in our next house I will have my own studio again, but until then, this works.

By day this is hubby's home office, by night this is his game arcade....

This is Lexi's piano studio.... She is a piano performance major in college, graduating in May (which is why we're hanging around here till mid-May). Much time will be spent in this corner....

Rachel hides out in the girls' bedroom when she is home...as long as she has her computer and books, she's happy.....

This wall of electronics is in the bedroom that my hubby and I sleep in, but it seemed like the place to put Peter so that we could close the door if he has games going and we want some quiet. He's usually on his headset talking to someone online on xbox or pc games....

And, just in case the stress of tight quarters gets to anyone, we have this......

Now that we're settled, I can enjoy my Indie Biz class. And start looking for a house in the Dallas area!!!!

Shannon

One of My Lists

I run through most of these emotions on any given day lately....

Maybe I should draw my emotions on my sticky notes. Would that help my stress level??? We close on our house in 2 1/2 weeks. I have 2 weeks to finish the repairs. :/

We are moving into some short-term housing. All of our stuff is going into non-temporary storage until we know where we're going.

So, one of my lists is what to take with us that we might need in the next few/several months. We only have room to take the ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS. So far here is what I've got....

4 extension cords (Because then each one of us will have one. I don't want to have to share my extension cord with anyone.)

some of my jewelry making stuff (because I need that!)

only the necessary clothes and shoes
ALL computers (NEED)
2 small tv's and their CABLES
DVD player and its CABLES
remotes

oh, and the xbox and its STUFF and its CABLES (because my son might die without it)

a few books (we neeeeed books)
school books

wireless router (NEED)

vacuum
Mrs. Meyers cleaners (need the pretty labels in my kitchen)

oh, make-up and shampoo, obviously
food from the fridge and pantry (because my kids will think that they need to eat every day)

my daughter's caged creatures (because I don't think they can go into permanent storage)

sticky notes (because I can't get through a single hour without using at least one)

I want so badly to write MAGAZINES on my list. Serious addiction to home decor and craft magazines. I might break out in hives if I don't have a tall stack of magazines to look at! I think that falls in the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY category, doesn't it???

Am I forgetting anything essential???

Shannon

Making Lists

So, these are my constant companions lately. I'm trying soooo hard to be organized...

I used to think I was a very organized person, but certain times over the past few years I have begun to realize that.....well, I'm not. I write things down on sticky notes. Lists. Many lists. I usually have a PILE of lists on sticky notes on the table by my chair. Then when I have to straighten things up for company, or a house showing, etc., I put all those sticky notes in the drawer, or in a stack of paper, or in a drawer in my studio, or in the closet in my studio, or...you get the idea. I may or may not see them again in time for them to be useful to me...

We fiiiinally have a contract on our house and will be closing the end of February. And a lot of the things that my hubby would normally be taking care of I am having to do because of what his job has going on.

So I have lists. Many lists. I'm trying so hard to keep my lists contained. And findable. I'm trying to keep my lists in this little notebook. And papers in this blue file. But, for some reason, as I sit here typing, I see that there are about a dozen sticky notes on the table beside me.

Is there any hope???? I don't suppose anyone has some magnificently perfect solution for me???

Shannon

What happens when you DON'T keep your house clean while it is on the market???

Well, that is when your realtor will call you with a one-hour notice of a showing! Below are some of the messes I had going when my realtor called today. My entire studio looked like this... And because my studio was a mess, I had also started a project at the kitchen table. Piles of shredded rope that I am turning into "bottle brush" Christmas trees...

And since the kitchen table was a mess, I had also started a project in the den. This looks like piles of mummy-wrap, but it is for another type of Christmas tree I am making...

Sooo...when the realtor called today, I had to go tearing home. The shredded rope and piles of mummy-wrap got thrown into the back of my car. I straightened up my studio lightening fast. Between the kids and I, in less than one hour we cleaned all the bathrooms, vacuumed the hard floors, dusted most of the house, scooped the leaves out of the pool, wiped down all the kitchen counters, turned on all the lights, and ran out the door to go eat dinner.

It helped that under the messes everything was actually already clean. But, I think I will try to keep my mess limited to my studio! I am doing my FIRST-EVER craft show in 3 weeks in Dallas!!! I'm excited! Which explains the hairy rope piles and mummy-wrap piles.

My kids seem to think that I need to review Rule #1 and #2 of my new house rules...

Shannon

Keeping Your House Clean While it is on the Market

Well, I thought I would keep up better with some posts about getting my house ready to put on the market. But it was all so CONSUMING that I was doing good to keep my head above water. There is now a sign in the front yard. And our realtor has had one open house. The day before they stuck the sign in the yard I thought I was DONE. But then when they scheduled the open house for one week later, I went from room to room looking for anything else that needed to be done. And you know what? It took me all week to do all the things I found! How??? I thought it was perfect the day the sign went into the yard!

But, now, finally, I do think it is done. Now it is a matter of maintaining. I have instituted some new rules around my house in order to maintain a near-perfect state. Such as:

1. If you put it down, you better pick it right back up and go put it in its assigned home right now.

2. EVERYTHING in this house has an assigned home. And that is the ONLY place it is ever allowed to be!

3. Do not EVER leave a fork or cup or plate on the counter or in the sink. Rinse it and put it in the dishwasher the instant you are done with it. If you leave it on the counter, I will wait till you are asleep and then I will come wake you up and make you put that fork in the dishwasher.

4. If you have a fork to put in the dishwasher and you discover that the dishwasher is clean, that means that you drew the lucky straw - you get to empty the dishwasher, and then put your dirty fork into it.

5. When you are leaving the house to go to school or work or to run an errand, you have to make sure your bed is made and your room is perfect!

6. Every day you can expect me to give you an assignment in the house. It might be vacuuming, or cleaning a bathroom, or dusting the den. But there will be something, so expect it.

7. Every single morning you must wipe down your bathroom sink and counter with a paper towel and spray cleaner. Every single morning.

8. Yes, I know you just cleaned that 4 days ago. Yes, I do mean that I want you to clean it again today. No, you do not need to wait until it LOOKS like it needs to be cleaned. The point here is that nothing should ever LOOK like it needs to be cleaned.

9. You are NOT allowed to EVER wait until every garment you own is in the dirty clothes and the dirty clothes are piled to the ceiling. If the color coded baskets in the laundry room are 2/3 full, then you must put that load in to wash.

10. And when you wash a load, it cannot be "hung up" on your bedroom floor. That is not hanging. That is throwing. Hanging means on a hanger, on the closet rod. See #5 - your room must be perfect before you leave the house to go anywhere.

11. If you come home and there are cars in front that you don't recognize, keep driving. That means a realtor is showing our house and you cannot come home.

12. Do NOT bang pots and pans around in the new kitchen sink and leave those silver/black marks in the sink for me to have to clean. Wash pans carefully and leave the sink spotless.

13. You make a mess, you die.

So far this is working very well! But if you can think of any other rules you think I should add, I'm open to suggestions...

Shannon

Get Your Kitchen Ready (to sell your house)

We have lived in this house for four years with blue countertops. NOTHING else in the entire house is blue. I have no idea why someone put blue countertops in this house...the other colors were browns with deep reds in some of the wallpaper. And blue countertops in the kitchen...

But now, they are not blue laminate any more! They are a very pretty soft-black solid surface. I love them! I wish we had changed them four years ago so we could have been enjoying them all this time. But...I would definitely suggest that you consider doing a little updating in your kitchen before putting it on the market...especially if you have blue countertops...

We also put new pulls that are an oil-rubbed bronze color. Our old pulls were shiny brass with plastic cream middles. I know.

Since I was essentially choosing these for the next homeowners, I was torn between a neutral cream and black. So I used the very scientific method shown below...I laid out a cream colored tablecloth and a black skirt...and I stood and stared at it. I'm very glad I went with the black. It makes much more of a statement than the cream would have.

Below are the old blue countertops the day we were about to tear them out. And you can see the old, lovely pulls...

We took the countertops off very carefully and were able to save the tile backsplash. Not that I love the backsplash...I most decidedly do NOT. But we were really trying to do our updates for as little money as possible.

By only doing the countertops and pulls, we did not spend that much, but the kitchen really does look a WHOLE lot better! An update I would highly recommend...

Shannon

Clear Out Closets and Clutter Before You Put Your House on the Market!

This is Part 3 of "Get Ready to Sell Your House."

Two weekends ago we had our garage sale. We started on Thursday - definitely the day to start a garage sale. About 3/4 of our stuff was gone by noon on Thursday! Friday morning I sold a little bit, and then I just started telling everyone to take whatever they wanted. And did the same thing on Saturday. It's all gone now! I was more interested in it going away than in making some money on it.

People told me they liked my signs because they were easy to see and to follow. I just bought those cheap $3 small garage sale signs at Home Depot, and I covered them in hot pink posterboard, and drew big arrows on them. Make your signs easy to see and easy to follow!

So now I am in the "cleaning out closets" stage. When people look at your house, you want them to see how big your closets are. Also, not a good idea if your closets need a sign hanging on the door knob warning of possible avalanche if opened. So if your closets are packed to the brim, pack some of your stuff and go rent a small self-storage unit.

And think about things like this - I had been storing some of my odd kitchen stuff in the linen closet down the hall from the kitchen. Things that I don't use much, so I didn't want them taking up prime space in my kitchen. But...if people open my linen closet and see that it is full of kitchen stuff, they are going to instantly assume my kitchen doesn't have enough storage. NOT what you want them to be thinking! So I am packing the kitchen stuff that is in the linen closet, and it is going to go to the storage unit, too. After I get all the kitchen stuff out of this closet, I will round up the towels and sheets that are stored here and there, and put them all in their proper home in the linen closet - they have not been in there in four years!

As you are clearing out the clutter, throwing away or giving away as much as possible, make sure you clean as you go. Dust shelves, clean the baseboards, etc.

And while you are decluttering your closets, clear the surfaces in the room. You need to just have one or two items on top of your dressers and coffee tables. You want buyers to be able to picture their own stuff in your house, not be overwhelmed with all of your stuff.

We have about a week to go before our house goes on the market. And still have so much to do! I need for there to be about three more of me...

Shannon

Get Ready to Sell Your House - Part 2

First up is purging, right? Get rid of everything you possibly can. Be ruthless! So right now my house has paths, no open floor space. Every room is covered in piles of stuff for the garage sale.

I did have to take some time this past weekend, though, to make some kitchen counter decisions. If you inherited blue kitchen counter tops, and nothing else in your whole house is blue, you might want to consider changing them!

Below is my very scientific way of deciding on color. I knew I wanted black, but I was wondering if I should go with a light neutral. So I laid a tablecloth and a skirt out to look at the colors.
I decided on the black. They come measure tomorrow, and install next week. It has just occurred to me that when they come in my house tomorrow, they might be scared. You will see why if you scroll down... By the way, while you are trying so hard to get rid of as much as possible, you should just watch and enjoy moments like these...

My daughters saw some boxes of kids books that I had pulled. They went through every book, talked about the ones they loved, the memories of bedtime stories, etc. Above they are reading one of the Carl books.

They both pulled out a stack of books to take to their rooms and keep. And I didn't mind at all. It was a sweet moment to watch.

Below is what some of my house looks like right now. This is why the counter top measuring man might be scared when he gets here tomorrow...

By the way, while you are pulling for the garage sale - TAKE THE TIME if at all possible to do some cleaning. Wipe down all closet shelves. Vacuum closet floors really well. Use the tools to vacuum/dust all the baseboards in the closet and room. Move the bed after you pull all the toys and socks and pencils and hershey kisses out from under it, and vacuum up the dust bunnies. We had some dust bunnies under beds that were scary big. Big enough to fight back. If you clean as you pull for the garage sale, you will be well on your way to being ready to stage it for showing!

My poor studio....somehow I have to get that blue chair out of that room tomorrow to put it in the garage sale...

While I was pulling for the garage sale in my studio, I did pull and condense enough to clear one side of the closet. Since my studio is in one of the bedrooms of this house, hopefully now lookers can visualize this as a bedroom closet.

Once the garage sale is over this weekend, it will be time to pack some things up and take them to a storage unit close by. Potential home buyers need to be able to open your closets and walk in and see how much room you have! The closet below is about 10 feet deep. But right now it only has room to open the door. Um, this is our Christmas storage room. Yes. It's all Christmas. My hubby might think I have a little too much Christmas stuff.

Tomorrow I am going to start taking all this stuff out to the garage. I think I have it all priced now. And I must remember to get our garage sale listed on Craigslist! Free advertising! Take advantage of it. List the items that you know garage sale shoppers will be interested in. And list the hours you will be selling.

Also - have to make my signs
and get some money to be able to make change

And, just to add interest to the week, one of my daughters is having several girls over on Saturday for a pool party. So I guess I need to make a list of things for her to do to get the house ready for company (is that a joke, or what??). And a list of food to buy.

What else am I forgetting?

Shannon