More parts of the house...

So, I'm re-designing my house in my head from now until closing. I've bought a dining table and chairs, a side chair for the living room, two chairs for the nook area, and a couple decorative items. I'm only buying things I love at this point and I can't wait to see them in the house. I thought I'd show you a couple more views inside the front door...join on a mini tour of 'my first place'...

This is the small, but adorable kitchen. The blue countertops will be gone of course and I've just emailed Layla over at the Lettered Cottage to give me some inspiration on what to do in this space. I'm always so impressed with people who paint their cabinets, but I'm so afraid I'll mess something up and be stuck with ugly painted cabinets! So I can't wait to see her ideas.

I lucked out at Walmart this week when I came across their new Better Homes and Garden's line of curtains and Home Decor. The majority of my house will be creams and whites but I'm incorporating color through the window treatments...for a mere $10 each these valances are going up in my nook area. I love the colors and the scalloped edges.

This is the dining room...I'm trying to win a beautiful white chandelier on ebay right now. I should know in 15 minutes if I win!!

This is my favorite part of the house...the great architectural design and charm of the front of the home. The front door is so pretty too. And I love the high ceilings. It makes a small space feel bigger!

These were the other BH&G drapes I found at Walmart. These are $15 each and they are lined! Amazing deal! I was trying to decide stripes or plaid...I'm going with the plaid. These will be across the living room and dining room. The scraps of fabric are samples I've had for a month (in hopes of having a home this summer!) you can see they perfectly match the drapes I found. I'm going to make pillows, seat cushions for the nook, and cover my dining chairs with a mixture of these fabrics.

Thanks Danielle, You Rock!

A very special THANK YOU goes to The Design Girl tonight for completely redesigning my blog in honor of this special time in my life...I'm buying my first home! I'm very excited and at 34 years old (still living with my mom) it's been a long time coming. If you need a blog redesign for any reason you should hop on over to Danielle's site and let her create a masterpiece for you. She is so patient to work with as she probably redesigned my header at least 20 times with my instructions to 'tweak' this or move that. I am in love with the final product here and will keep it up more importantly updated with news and information about my house.

27 months paper pregnant

Today I'm 27 months paper pregnant. The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) has placed babies with families who were logged in through March 14, 2006...my LID (Log in Date) is February 25, 2007. As you can see there are about 11 months of log in dates to get through until they get to me. This could take a while people...get comfy and relax because that is all we can do. I'm trusting God to work out the details...

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you all have a great Memorial Day! It's been very busy around my house over the last few days. I finally signed the final contract on my cute, cottage house Friday! Yay!!!! Now I'm waiting to hear the bank received the final contract (I agreed to all the terms and so there is no counter offer:)) The closing date is set for July 8...it cannot come soon enough! I'm beginning to gather all of my "stuff" for packing and planning purposes. We are having a yard sale in a couple weeks so I'm dividing into piles of "sell" or "pack". Even though I've lived in a 10x12 bedroom for 30+ years...I have a lot of stuff! I'm also starting to compile more inspiration pictures for the house. These are some pictures of what I hope to do with the garage...

I just love these checkerboard peg board pieces on the wall in the garage! They sell this in 2x2 foot squares (or you can have the cut). So I'm definitely going to get some and paint them for my garage!

I also love these clear organizational jars!

School's out for summer!!!

2009 Summer To-Do List
· Touch up paint in the hall and foyer
· Pain Laundry Room and finish kitchen sink area
· Replace flooring in Kitchen
· Replace Countertops in Kitchen
· Buy a new Refrigerator for Kitchen
· Buy a new Washer and Dryer for Laundry Room
· Open Savings Account for Baby Eddie
· Renovate Mom’s Bedroom and Bathroom
· Buy a house
· Move
· Read
· Exercise
· Cruise
· Learn about different digital scrapbook programs
· Begin to digital scrapbook
· Learn about my camera (Nikon D40) and how to use it best
· Take baby Eddie to Kindermusik on Wednesday mornings
· Take Maddie on field trips on Tuesday mornings
· Get paperwork finished for me to become G’ma’s power of attorney for health care, check her will, and put all her bills online to make payments easier
· Take Eddie and Maddie to get their pictures made

What's up...

1. The house - apparently estimates have been 'ordered' from the listing agent and sent to the bank (sellers/owners) and hopefully this week they will come back to me with another counter offer and we can get this settled. Keep your fingers crossed!

2. Female Problems - I started taking b/c pills (Kavira) two months ago because my gyno thinks I may have endometriosis (she says basically that means my girl parts are rusting from the inside out...very good news, right?) I think the pills are causing me to feel worse than the monthly cramps and aches and pains did. Now I feel irritable, have frequent headaches, and just generally feel like I don't want to do anything...I guess that would be a mild depression. I can't wait to go back to the dr. and see what other solution she may have.

3. Happy News...I won a blog giveaway!! I won Layla's great "Good Jar" from Denise's giveaway! If you haven't stopped at either of these great blogs you should sit down with a cup of coffee and do so right now! You will be inspired by Layla's great decorating ideas and Denise just finished a wonderful kitchen redesign herself. So check it out!!

4. School. is. almost. out. PRAISE THE LORD FOR 10 WEEKS OFF! Don't hate me people...it's one of a few perks from my job!

5. Finally, I have to say how upset and disappointed I am with the rumors and news about Jon and Kate. I've been a fan for a while, but recently I've begun to wonder if the fame and fortune has gotten to them. The rumors are bad enough, but what Kate told People (is People a reliable news source?) really concerns me. It sounded like she's already given up and is moving on without Jon. I hope they can find a way to get back to where they started, but will be hard for her I'm sure.

still nothing...

I'm trying not to fret, but i still do not have confirmation that the house will be mine. i will be disappointed...a great deal actually, but I'm trying to trust God with all of this. it is so hard. why does it seems everything i want takes forever and ever? 4 years waiting for a baby...34 years waiting on a husband...now waiting for a house! it's a good thing I'm a naturally calm person because this could really make me a bit insane i think!

the latest detail is my loan officer said i could not get a mortgage if the hvac unit is not working in the home at the time of appraisal. (it wasn't working at the time of inspection, so i assume it's dead) so we've gone back and countered with an offer for the bank to replace the duct work and the a/c unit. i knew the unit was old and in bad shape and was prepared to replace it when i moved in. however i wasn't aware that you couldn't even get a loan if it wasn't working. so it looks like the bank is going to have to replace it for anyone who wants to buy the home...unless they get an all cash offer. so here i am playing the waiting game...again!

Home Update...

No, I don't have confirmation yet on my house. I have submitted an offer and the bank (it's a foreclosure) countered my offer. I then had the home inspected and it went well with two major problems...the duct work in the attic need replaced ($1,500) and the a/c unit does not work (~$4,000) so I then countered again and asked them to pay for the duct work and I'm still waiting for their response...I knew the a/c unit was 20+ years old so it would need replaced. So I was prepared to do that. However the duct work wasn't expected and I thought they could/should do that part. It's been two days...hopefully I'll hear something positive tomorrow! Meanwhile, I've been collecting pictures and decorating ideas and thought I'd post some of my faves for your viewing pleasure:

My front porch isn't this big, but isn't this cozy!
I have a small patio that I'd like to get some furniture for.

I won't have a separate office, but could find a place to stick a small desk like this...

This is adorable too... love the different cabinets and charm of this room.

I just love the character this living rooms shows

I want a solid cream or white couch similar to this so I can swap out patterned pillows for color.

This is adorable too, love the chairs and wood floor.

Simple and charming

I love the simple window treatments here

I love the variety of seating options here

Very cute laundry room

Very nice organization...my fave!

My kitchen cabinets don't go to the ceiling as these do, however they are flush to a lower part of the ceiling in the kitchen (I'm not sure what you call it) so I think I could add some trim and eventually paint the cabinets and that box ceiling insert thingy the same color and it would look like one large cabinet similar to these beauties.

Love the island and different counter tops. I don't have an island and probably don't have room for one. However I did see one at Big Lots that is small and on wheels so I could move it out of the way...I'm thinking about buying it to give my kitchen this look on a miniature scale!

Love this simple and fresh look!

This is a redesign from One Woman's Cottage Life that I've always admired!

More storage ideas, I don't have a mudroom but could make this storage area work in the garage.

I just love this entry table

and this one too...

Beautiful nook!

LOVE precious dining room!

I eventually want built ins like this in my dining room and I love the class/crystal knobs!
Simple and cozy bedroom
This is so inviting!
I'm going to mimic my guest bedroom after this one.
My bath will be nothing like this, but just for inspiration!

Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother's Day

What I got for my mom this year:

Yes, I actually planned way ahead for this Mother's Day and booked and purchased a cruise for mom and me to enjoy this summer. I've wanted to take mom on a cruise for a long time and thought this summer might be the perfect opportunity to do it before Molly gets here...although it looks as if it may be 2 more years before that happens. More on that later. Anyway I'm super excited that we will be able to do this together. We were concerned that we may not be able to go because getting her passport was a bit difficult due to the spelling of her name. (She spells it differently than her birth certificate shows). But I received a confirmation email this week that her passport is in the mail, so in one month we will be sailing through the Caribbean!

This poem was on one of my favorite blogs recently. I copied it and edited it a bit to fit my story and thought I'd post it today, on Mother's Day.

There are women who become mothers without effort,
without thought,
without patience or loss,
and though they are good mothers and love their children,
I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books,
but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.
I have cried and prayed.
I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.
I will take time to watch my child sleep,
explore,
and discover.
I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed her.
My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by fairy tale dreams, fantasies, and promises I believed would happen in my life.

I have prevailed.
I have succeeded.
I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.
I listen.
And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes. I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...Giveaways

Layla over at The Lettered Cottage is having a giveaway in honor of The 3rd Annual Cottage Cottage Charm Giveaway! Both of these ladies have inspired me so much with home renovations and decorating in general! I can't wait to have a house of my own so I can put some of their ideas to good use! So hop on over to their blogs if you need a little inspiration today!

Danielle, over at Well, That's just Fabulous is hosting Fabulous Friday and this Fridays edition is Not So Smart things you have done when baking. When I read her mistake I had one of my kitchen bloopers immediately come to mind, so I thought I would share to hopefully prevent future kitchen mishaps in your home!

I love to make Chili in the fall and to try out different Chili recipes. Once I wanted to try this really yummy sounding recipe that called for 3 canned chilis in adobo sauce and I mistakenly read 3 cans of chilis in adobo sauce. Well, you can imagine the reaction my mom gave me when she took the first bite! It was sooo incredibly hot, it was terrible!

Lesson learned...read the recipe and ingredient list very carefully!!

and the winner is...

Thanks for all of the great advice and tips you left from my last post. It is very helpful and confirms what I was really feeling. Today I'm putting in a conservative but strong offer for this home. If I get it (keep your fingers crossed) I will post pictures of all the rooms inside so you can get a better glimpse of why I love this home. Since it will take most all of my money to use for a down payment on this home I'll be gladly accepting and looking for any freebies! I have the bedrooms covered, but basically have nothing else. All of that "stuff" in my mom's attic and garage that she has collected over the years will now have a home! She knew she kept it for a good reason! Since it's a foreclosure and bank owned I will not hear of an answer to my offer until next week sometime...hopefully Monday. I will keep you informed!

Decisions...can you help me?

I've been casually looking at some houses over the last two months. I put an offer on a foreclosure but didn't get it and was about to put an offer on another house, but someone else beat me to it also. Now I have narrowed my search currently to two homes. I have a select number of neighborhoods that I am willing to move to in my city. It has to be relatively close to my mom, in the same county as I teach, and affordable. So these two homes are in my price range and in the right neighborhoods. Mom and I are going to see them for a final time on Wednesday night and hopefully I will make a decision. But I need your help so read on...

House #1

House #1 has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, it is one level with a two car garage. It has a small, leveled yard. The house is 1432 square feet. It was built in 2003 and has all the basics...no renovations or upgrades. It's lacking a bit in curb appeal and charm, but it's newer and has nice appliances which is something I wouldn't have to worry about. The community is a small, 140 homes total, community about 4 miles from my moms. It's a quiet area surrounded by a pond and walking trail. These are two of my big cons...(tell me if I'm exaggerating)...

1. When I went to see it today as we went outside on the deck the neighbors directly in the back of this home have 2 large-ish dogs that barked LOUDLY when they saw us outside. They (the neighbors) have a fenced yard, but the dogs jumped up and you could clearly see them. They were probably labs I'm guessing, maybe they aren't mean, but that seemed like it could be an issue. The owner promptly came out and made them stop barking when he saw us outside. I am not an animal person...don't stone me, people...I can only deal with children or dogs and I'm with children all day so that settles it. Also and most importantly, I'm highly allergic to dogs and cats. They had a "cage" in the yard, but if they are barkers I'm sure that could keep you up at night. Also with two dogs, they usually agg each other on and provoke more barking...at least that is my experience.

2. I know of a very strange family that lives in this neighborhood. The daughter has some mental and emotional issues (she's an adult and has bipolar, schizophrenia, and more issues), but if she found out I lived near her she could potentially be at my house all the time seeking attention. She is that pushy kind of person who does not get the message if you know what I mean.

House #2

(My true love...) not to jinx your decision or anything...

House number two is also a 3 bedroom and 2 bath home. It is on a small, leveled lot also. In my opinion this house has CURB APPEAL and great CHARACTER AND CHARM! This house is a foreclosure. It was built in 1988 so it's quite a bit older than the previous home. It has old appliances and no refrigerator. The central heat and air is original...that is 21 years old so it's going to need replaced asap. It also has the chimney covered with some tarps and we're not sure what that could involve as far as repairs. It is 1558 square feet. It's also about 4 miles from mom. (this is only a factor b/c when Molly finally gets here I'll be driving her to mom's daycare each day so I want my home to be convenient)

This photo is one of the charm factors...it has a little eat in nook area outside of the kitchen with window seating. How cute could this be?

I've envisioned it more like this once I get my hands on it:
Another great factor is the walk out patio with a pergola over it and a gas grill (without the tank!)
Other great things about this house are:
1. It's a corner lot
2. It's on a culdesac
3. It's an older and established neighborhood
4. I know the neighbors across the street from this house and they are so precious! I used to babysit for them...they've lived there for 18 years. They would be the best neighbors in the world!
5. They just repainted all of the ceilings, walls, and put in new carpet throughout. It's not the greatest job, but it is freshly done.

The cons are:
1. The age of the house...21 years old. I'm thinking maintenance, upgrades, how costly would it be?

So what opinions do any of you have? They are two great houses in their own rights, but what have you all learned as you have bought and sold houses? I don't have to buy either one, I'm in no rush really. I do want to buy a house by December b/c of the tax credit:) It would be NICE to buy before summer so I could have 10 weeks to put my magic touches on it. Each house is the lowest price in the respective neighborhoods...by $20-30,000 actually. They are small houses in big home communities.