throw out 50 things :: items 21 - 25

Last week, 7 was looking for a notebook. A very specific notebook. I told him that I would keep an eye out for it, but if we cleaned his room, we would probably find it.

In fact, I continued, if we started to *pack up* his room, we might really find it. Lo and behold, 7 was all over that. He immediately wanted to start boxing up his belongings (the things he doesn't use or need currently) and get them ready for the move.

I jumped at the chance, and 7's room is now full of boxes. Can you tell how badly our little family just wants to be in our new home already?!

Anyhow, I managed to 'throw out' a few things from 7's room; my gosh, that kid is a hoarder...

Item #21
Cleaned out extras from the costume box (never get worn)
-- goodwill

Item #22
Empty boxes (from 7's room)
-- recycled

Item #23
Miscellaneous stuff (not loved, used, or needed anymore)
-- goodwill

Item #24
Clothing from my closet (the tip of the iceberg)
--goodwill

Item #25
Random trash from 7's room
-- trash







I'm eager to really go through my own things. However, I need a day with uninterrupted time: no drop offs & pick ups, no baseball, no gymnastics, no meal-preparing or laundry, no refereeing arguments between 4 and 7...

I'm sure I'd get rid of a whole lotta stuff. Until then, it will continue to be a little at a time...

kitchen appliances :: oven/range

We have started shopping around for kitchen appliances. Truth be told, I started my search a few weeks ago... I went to a local appliance store and came away with a lot of preliminary information.

When we remodeled our kitchen in our previous house, John chose all the appliances. (My mind was on the growing baby in my belly, and I wasn't any help whatsoever. Poor John.)

I learned several things from this kitchen, and one of them was that I do not need double ovens. I am not that girl. Another thing I learned is that I really liked my Viking range.


This is what I'm sure of:

• I want an oven/range combination.
• It must be stainless steel.
• Gas burners, for sure.

This is what I think I want (but not sure):

• I like Viking, but am open to other brands.
• We think we want a 36" with 6-burners.
• We're pretty sure it won't be "dual fuel" because that add $2000 - $3000 to the cost (yikes!)

I need your help and your recommendations in reference to oven ranges. (Forget refrigerators and dishwashers for right now...)

What do you know about Blue Star appliances? Any good?
What do you know about Fisher & Paykel? Know anybody who has one?

If you could choose any oven range combination, what would you choose?

open letter to ReStore

Dear ReStore,

I'm breaking up with you. Well, to be honest, we were never really going steady.

I respect what you stand for, and that's why I found you so attractive in the first place. I admire your desire to reuse building materials so that less ends up in the landfills. Even more so, I admire that all of your proceeds go towards funding the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes for low-income families. For those reasons, I will always speak highly of you.

Unfortunately, we can no longer continue to entertain the notion that you and I will ever be a couple.

From our first date, I realized that you are much too picky. Have you ever heard of the saying "Beggars can't be choosers"? It's a good one.

Listen. I understand why you can't come and pick up my donations. Fine. I'm happy to do it. But then you have to get all uppity about which items you'll accept. What? You think you're too good for me my items? Is that it? But the last straw is your unavailability. You will only accept donations on certain days during certain times. You're simply too high maintenance for me.

So listen. I may as well be honest and tell you that I'm seeing someone else. His name is Craig Slist. He treats me well, and he's way less opinionated. He will take just about anything, and he even comes to my house to pick up my stuff. So far, he's helped me get rid of a bunch of bricks, a slew of appliances, a door, a hot water heater, and more.

I wish you well, ReStore. But it's just not gonna happen for us.

Warmly,
Karen

lake lopez, easter weekend

The entire weekend.

 So. Much. Fun.

exploring

scootering

cup o noodles (when we arrived too late the first night!)



campfires



anti-smoke goggles



 


proof that I was there

easter egg hunts



success!



We can't wait to do it again.

This post has been shared with Good Life Wednesdays. Head on over and check it out!

gone camping

image from here

Gone camping for the weekend. The kids are hoping the Easter bunny can find us. Happy Easter!

cable lighting in detail

Yesterday I explained the cable lighting that we want to string in our great room.

This is it in detail.



image via Light Waves Concept



I can't wait to see it strung up.

***Excuse the short post, as I am trying to prep for our first camping trip!***

cable lighting in the great room

John and I originally fell in love with cable lighting eleven years ago. We were staying at Walkerson's, a gorgeous Hotel & Spa in South Africa. It was the first time we had seen cable lighting, and we were immediately enamored.

However, the unique look of the cable lighting didn't really 'go' in our Bay Area home, so we didn't pursue it.

But here we are, eleven years later, and we have the perfect spot to string a couple of cable lights.



yellow lines show approximate placement of cables

 We plan to string 2 sets of cable lights from the (front) exterior wall to the second exposed ceiling beam. That beam happens to be where the great room "ends" and the kitchen "begins", so it is a good place to stop the cable lighting.

I was again reminded of how I love the look of cable lighting when I saw this image in House & Home.




image via House & Home

John has been researching online cable lighting options and kits all week, and I went to a local lighting source today. Thankfully, we are at the end of this search, and I'm pretty sure we will be placing an order soon. Tomorrow perhaps?

Once we have placed our order, I'll post a better-detailed picture of the cable lighting system. I realize that it is extremely difficult to see in the scanned photo above. My apologies.

What do you think of cable lighting? Yay or nay?... or are you waiting to see a more detailed photo?

our house in the bay area

I have mentioned before our previous house in the Bay Area.

It was our first house, and we lived there for 13 years. We got married, we brought home two babies, and we completely renovated it from top to bottom. Unfortunately, I don't have any 'Before' photos because it was before the digital age. (That statement officially makes me feel old.)

The entire time we lived there, we knew that we would eventually sell it. We never, ever intended for it to be our 'forever' home.

Here it is. The home we left behind.



No words can explain how much I miss this tub!



(Kid's rooms and office not pictured.)

To be honest, it was *interesting* going back through these photos. No part of me regrets selling this house and moving to the central coast. I believe that we are meant to be here and that our kids are meant to grow up here. (In no means does that convey how badly I miss my family and my girlfriends.)

Tell me: Are you currently living in your 'forever' home or do *know* that you're going to sell it eventually?

the DIY balance :: imagination is better than toys

image via flickr

The weather this weekend was insanely beautiful and perfect. Too perfect to not spend some time at the beach... But I was a bad blogger mother and forgot to bring a camera.

We had just enough family time and beach time before we headed to 'the blue house', as the slo house is commonly referred to by the kids. John had to do some prep work to get ready for the new gas fireplace. I had to apply another coat of polyurethane to the french doors.

Now, I have to tell you that I often feel guilty when we *force* the kids to spend time at 'the blue house.' I know that it can be boring there, since there are no toys, no TV, no Wii, no nothing. The kids always bring scooters, and I encourage them to bring a few toys, but really...it's not an ideal situation.

What surprises me --and impresses me-- is the amount of creativity that 7 and 4 have when we're over there.

This is them playing 'Native Americans.' (Their words, not mine.) They were pretending to build a fire, and then they were cooking things on the fire.

I guess I need to remember that it's *okay* to put kids in a situation where they have nothing but their imaginations. They will rise to the challenge.

We were at 'the blue house' for about 3 hours, and do you know that the kids never, ever complained or commented that they wanted to leave? They kept themselves completely entertained with nothing but a couple of scooters and loads of imagination.

Maintaining the DIY balance is tough. It's tough, but it's doable.

This post has been shared with the Wednesday Good Life Linky Party at A Beach Cottage. It's full of inspiration, so head on over!

throw out 50 things :: items 17 - 20

Item #17
Garden urns from previous house (used to stage the house)
-- going on Craigslist

Item #18
Shower holder thing
-- in the trash

Item #19
Pile of blankets and quilts
-- going in the Airstream

Item #20
A jacket and a collection of hats (rarely worn)
-- all going to the Airstream





You will notice that the last two 'things' aren't really being thrown out or given away or sold. They are going to the Airstream.

I have been gathering information and compiling a list of things that we will *need* to outfit the Airstream for future camping trips. (Blankets and hats are among the things that are needed.)

Don't worry -- I am not going to start 'dumping' things in the Airstream. I want that Airstream to be as 'streamlined' as our future home. However, I'm all for using items that we already have, since it seems that we already have buy several items.



Have you gotten rid of any things this week?

***You can read more about the Throw Out 50 Things Challenge here.***

tour of the airstream

I finally got a chance to take some *good* photos of the Airstream. It's a confined space, so these photos are as good as it gets.

upon entering




fold out couch on your right



fold out table in front of you



That couch fabric is sweeeet!



the view to your left



kitchen includes a stove, oven, sink, microwave & fridge (fridge pictured above)



bathroom includes shower, sink, toilet



the master bedroom

 



The Airstream model is a 25 foot Safari. 

John searched and searched Craigslist and Ebay for all sorts of Airstreams. In his search, he looked at brand new models, gently-used models, and in-need-of-serious-rehab models. In the end, we decided two things:

1. It could not be brand new and too beautiful. We plan on using our Airstream for camping, for gosh sakes. And we have two children that enjoy playing in dirt, mud, and water. For my own sanity, I can't have an Airstream that looks perfect.
2. It needs to be in good condition and not need rehab. We are in the middle of a house renovation, and we simply don't have the time or energy (or money!!) to rehab an Airstream. It is supposed to be a way for us to get away from all the renovation madness...

In the long term, John and I think it would be so cool to renovate and trick-out the Airstream.
Like this.

If you are either a fan of Airstreams or if you are skeptical of Airstreams, you must check out this Airstream project (seen above.) You will be in awe of this Airstream.


Tell me: Are you fan of Airstreams or do you not understand the hype?