8/27/09

I think I figured It Out

Wow. To actually sit down and write a blog. crazy! I think I figured out that my headaches are stress related. I find them reappearing when I get stressed. I'm normally one who can handle stress when its organized stress and I have a way to get beyond the pressure and chaos. When I'm in a place I can't control and have no solution for the stress that over comes me I lose it. Earlier this week I had to actually make goals to not think about my desk at work when I wasn't at work and to not think about anything else but work when I was at my desk.
I don't bring work home (being...we don't talk about work at home) partly because we both work at the same place. It doesn't work well so we just don't do it. We have to keep it separate. But even if I thought about what time I needed to get to work I would immediately get a headache or if I would try to plan to get some things done after work the headache would appear.
OK OK. I won't mix these two. I can't control work when I'm not there and the same way when I'm not at home.
Its only been the last few weeks that I've had these headaches and the last few weeks have been kinda crazy at home and at work.

Other than a little stress life has been good. Lots of organizing, getting ready for a garage sale (if you have any bigger pieces you want to donate you can. We are saving for a trip to Isreal), running around with a toddler and memories being made. Gotta love it. 
 
I wonder if this is why I have a headache???

8/18/09

What I've Learned

Over the past few years I've learned a few things about home repairs/ improvements. We have done a bunch of projects around our house. From just painting to flooring to building in to updating.

Here it is...

1. I can pick out something quicker for someone elses house than I can for my own

I know what looks good and what will look good. When I'm picking a wall color for someone I look at it in a different way than I do with my own house. I see it in a visitors eye and not a home owners eye...I guess. I love helping people by being the deciding factor, but then I also love to help get the ball rolling.

Now in my own house. I see tons of things that will look good and will be very nice. BUT I can't ever seem to make a decision quickly. Some of that is I don't see this house as a long term house. I see it as my home and a place that we are creating wonderful memories but not a place to stay forever. When it comes time for decisions I have to look at it as, is this a good investment in this house? Is this something a new owner would like? I don't have to think this way with everything but with major changes to the house I always have that thought in the back of my mind.

2. It seems to NEVER be as easy as it seems.

I think with almost every project we have taken on, its been more difficult than we thought. Now that can be more expensive, takes longer to complete, and so on.

We start out a project with a list, than the cost of all the items on the list, ok...we are set lets go to the store buy all the stuff and tada! we are ready to go. No more costs, the room gets completed and its beautiful. Nope. Never happens that way. We go with a list and can't find something, then the ticket rings up more than what we have planned, than we start working, a product doesn't work right, or we go back because we forgot something, and blah blah blah.

Basically have cushion in your budget and in your time.  And don't always trust what they say.

3. Classes that stores offer for free that teach you techniques are worth it.

Tim went to a class that was how to lay tile. Totally worth it. It saved us tons of money on having to pay someone to install tile. All we had to do was pay for the tools and materials and boom. Done


 
4. Paint makes a home feel like a home.

I know this is my opinion but I think its a very good opinion. Before we even moved into the house we were painting. I think the colors on the wall make it feel warm and inviting. With paint you can bring out our personality and brighten up a room. A kitchen can look bland and outdated but you paint it a nice pretty color and it changes the whole feel. Paint your living room a fun color and people feel happy when they walk in. Its a cheep way to change the look of a room and get a great feeling of acomplishment.

5. Home projects with a toddler.

Not so fun! But we had to get some projects done so we had to figure out how to make it work. First of all, working in a bathroom. TJ loves the bathroom. He gets his baths in there and he gets to brush his teeth. These are like his most favorite things to do. So while we are trying to tear things out our little boy doesn't want to play with blocks or his guitar he wants to get in the bathtub. Makes sense.

Ok so what we had to do is get a lot od the preperation stuff done while he was awake and get the work done while he was asleep. Please note...we have a very good sleeper who sleeps through anything. This may not work for everyone.

6. Try not to fight.

All fighting does is gets you in bad mood and delays the project. And if you didn't cushion your time than this will not be good. Laugh at the mistakes and accept that you are not a pro (unless you are) at home improvements and this to shall pass.

8/13/09

Granite Fun

I can NOT express enough how relieved I am at this very moment.

We have spent the last 41 days with our house in absolute chaos. It all started with a simple trip to Home Depot. We were there picking up a few items to fix the ceiling in our kitchen because of the leak in our roof. For a little history, we had a leak in our roof which led to damage in our kitchen. With getting the roof fixed we had some money left over after the roof was fixed and the kitchen supplies were paid for. During this quick trip to Home Depot we decide to go look into costs of counter tops. HA! This nice lady who works for Home Depot comes over and starts talking to us. We had always wanted granite but didn't think that it would be in our budget at all and weren't sure if its something we wanted to put into this house. Anyways. She comes over and tells us that the granite has specials going on. $39 a sq ft (with install) 10% off, $300 off, and a free sink. OK wait a second. We should figure this out. To make a super long story shorter. Here are the points:
  1. Ended up not being able to get that deal
  2. they met us half way
  3. we paid extra to cover if our measurements were off
  4. told us we would get a call in a couple of days for a guy to come measure
  5. he called a few days later and scheduled to come out a week after that
  6. We never got a call from Home Depot saying all was good and that our granite was being manufactured
  7. We went to the store
  8. We owe more $$$
  9. We shopped for a better deal. We wanted SO bad to go somewhere else
  10. Found NO ONE who could meet or beat that deal
  11. We went back to Home Depot
  12. Tim talked calmly to a manager and expressed that he was unhappy
  13. Manager took off the extra charges
  14. Waited a week and a half.
  15. Got a call that our granite was ready
  16. Was given a date (a week from then), couldn’t come that day, gave us a date a week later (2 wks from call)
  17. They came yesterday and INSTALLED the granite
    It has been a very long process and not fun! I wouldn’t recommend going to Home Depot to get your countertops. If you got a good deal then you might want to determine if your deal is worth going through bad service. We are talking a 6 week ordeal. They told us from the beginning it would be a 3- 3 1/2 week process.

    Right after we moved into the house and got our kitchen set up. It worked fine. Nothing wrong. counters were a little out dated but we had all new appliances and new floors.

    Then the roof started leaking and after a while we decided to get started on the kitchen. Here is Tim tearing out the messed up wall and cealing.
    getting the job done!
    done! wall and ceiling replaced, textured and painted. My husband rocks! we even got a new light fixture. We got it for $5 at Park Row Lighting's clearance sale. 
    Old counter tops are out and ready for the new ones to come in.
    another view
    old backsplash. since the new countertops were going to be put in we needed to do something here. putting the granite behind hte stove was not an option because of cost.
    after! I am so proud of myself. I did it mostly on my own. I measured and cut myself. The only thing Tim had to help me with is keep the back from hitting the wall before I lined it up.
    YAH! The granite is getting installed. We had actually prepared ourselves for the installers not to show up.
    DONE!!
    I'm so excited! It looks so good and I'm looking forward to hosting Thanksgiving at my house and cooking many meals here
    AHHHH! Stress of the kitchen is OVER!

    8/10/09

    Expecting

    NOT ME!

    I am proud to announce that my brother Josh and his wife Andrea are expecting!!! Dre is about 15 weeks pregnant and is due the first part of February. Since Josh is leaving for 12-15 months sometime in January we are hoping Josh either leaves late or Baby Schlueter comes a little early so Josh can be there for the birth. We are SOOO excited for Josh and Dre and we just know that they will be amazing parents. They have already gone to a few appointments. They have seen the baby and heard the heart beat. All are doing well and feeling great. He or she will be the first Schlueter baby and has so many generational blessings and family heritage already in place. 

    I just found out yeaterday that my brother was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Congrats Josh! Also Andrea is enrolled in an online school to work on her masters the remainder of her pregnancy and while Josh is deployed.



    Congratulations Josh and Andrea! I love you and can't wait to meet your little one.

    8/3/09

    1st Timothy Worshiping

    I know we always talk about TJ worshiping and how awesome it is to see him raise his hands, clap and worship. BUT TJ didn't just decided to do this one day. He watches his daddy lead us in worship every Sunday. He is learning from a true worshipper. His Daddy!

    Tim has such a great spirit and in a split second he can be right there in midst of God's almighty presence. I can be running around the house like a chicken with my head chopped off and Tim can be right there completed consummed with Christ. He seeks the face of God in intamcy and has to worship. He can enter into worhsip at the drop of a hat. He loves to worship and enters easily into the presence of God. When he strums his guitar and worships the King of Glory than all you can do is follow him in worhsip.

    I am so blessed to be married to this man, I am so honored to call him my husband, and I am proud that he is the father of my son.

    Thank you Timothy for being such a great example for our household! I love you

    Total Pageviews