Kitchen remodel Day #12

Stella and Dot website

It's official I am a Stella and Dot stylist and here is the link to my website in case something strikes your eye and you want to buy!

click here

Kitchen remodel Day #9

Things are coming along! The newest addition to this picture is the hardwood floors. We tried to match the oak hardwoods that are in the entire house. It's not a perfect match as we learned that hardwoods darken over time and the original floor is 50+ years old. So the new floor is lighter but eventually we would like to refinish all of our hardwoods and the it would be the exact same color. All the dry wall is taped and mudded and ready for the cabinets to be out in tonight or tomorrow. Peter also got all of the can lights ruffed in the all of the rooms. Peter got a break and met us in sunny Suncadia for our friend Ali and Anna 's 30th birthdays. Peter got two nights and one day to relax but it think it was still hard for him knowing how much work was waiting for him when he got back. Stay posted...now we are getting into the exciting stuff!

Kitchen remodel Day #5

Day #5 Peter spent half the day running errands but he and Alan made up for it by working until 12:30 am. The ceiling in the kitchen is drywalled, mudded and taped. The rest of the kitchen got drywalled and they began cutting out the holes for the can lights in the living room. In the pictures you can see all of the popcorn all scraped off and mudded in both rooms. Now the ceiling just needs to be texturized and painted. We payed Peter a visit today because we drove down to Woodinville so Isaac could go to Toddler Class. He was excited to see Daddy!

Stella and Dot

Four years ago I first saw Stella and Dot jewelry in a silent auction at a Seattle Prep Auction we attended for Peter's work. It was so unique and nothing like what I had seen before. Nobody was bidding on it so I got a screaming deal and a beautiful pearl necklace and matching cuff. It came with a catalog and as I was skimming through it I thought to myself, "I am not really a jewelry person (I had only ever worn my wedding ring) but I would wear most of this stuff." It kind of made me realize maybe I was a jewelry person I just had never really liked the jewelry I had seen or didn't feel like spending the money. Years went by before I had ever thought or saw Stella and Dot again. Right after I had Isaac my friend Jenni bought me this charm necklace (pictured below) with his initial and his birthstone. I have worn it every day since and not only do I love the way it looks but it is something that has very special meaning to me. Fast forward to 1 1/2 year later and my friend Adriann invites me to a Stella and Dot jewelry party. I think to myself "finally!" I get to experience what this is all about. I've always been very skeptical about somebody trying to sell me something. I don't like the pressure and I am a people pleaser so that is a bad combination. There was no "pitch" no awkward "try this on!" I know what I like and I usually don't like what other people pick out for me. It was super laid back, comfortable, and fun. I bought this ring below and I love it! Needless to say I was intrigued. I immediately thought to myself "I could do this!" I tried talking myself out of it for several weeks with the whole idea that I would be a salesperson and my friends would feel obligated to buy. I asked Peter and several friends to get their input on what they thought and everyone said, "go for it, you would be good at it!" When I was in Hermosa Beach and most of my friends were wearing Stella and Dot I thought, people buy this stuff because they like it and want to wear it not because they have to! It's fashion, it's the same reason we buy anything we wear, we like it and want to look good. This is the perfect stay at home mom job and I have to be honest I love to throw parties and go to parties. Not to mention it would satisfy that part of your mom life where you just want to use your "brain" and have a little something that is just for you and that you feel a sense of accomplishment. So long story short this is the beginning of an adventure that I have no idea where it will take me but I feel it is meant to be and I hope I have fun doing it. Check out the jewelry on the website Stella and Dot or ask me about hosting a party where you could get tons of free jewelry and bags as well as being able to shop at 50% off.

Day #4 kitchen remodel

Peter took half of Sunday off to come up and visit us. The rest of the day he spent ripping out the last soffit. Yesterday he framed in two wing walls and cut back the wall by the entry. Our friend Phil is an electrician and life saver! He came over and re-wired the whole kitchen as the old wiring wasn't correct or safe and it's now wired for the can lights we are going to out in the kitchen, living room, and dining room. They dry-walled the ceiling back up and ripped out the floor. So far things are going ahead of schedule, when does that ever happen? There is still a lot more to do so fingers crossed!

Day #2 Kitchen remodel

Peter and his cousin Alan scraped the popcorn off the ceiling in the family room, dining room, living room and entry way in 5 hours! Next they ripped out two of the 3 soffits while the ceiling dries. Next up for day #3 is to rip out the last soffit, dry wall, tape and mud the holes. So far the project is on schedule!

Kitchen re-model Day #1

Day #1 Peter and I moved out the furniture in both the living room, dining room, and family room while Isaac napped and crammed it all into our guest, master, and isaac's room. When he was up we kissed daddy goodbye and we were off to my parents our new temporary home. The rest of the day Peter packed up the entire kitchen, taped off the rooms, disconnected all the appliances, and hauled out half the kitchen cabinets. During isaacs bath all he said was "dada? Dada?" And I thought this going to be a long week! At 7pm when we face timed Peter he said he had only eaten one hardboiled egg all day, crazy!! Needless to say we are all adjusting to our new normals and can't wait for the end result! Stay tuned for more.....

garden beds done

The boxes are done! Peter added trim to the top which I think adds a lot to the look and is kinda nice to have a seat on the corner and watch Isaac mill around the yard. I've already bought 3 dill plants and one pack of leeks, can't wait to get planting!! Stay posted for more garden updates to come.

pop of color

It's been a dream of mine to have Tulips lining the outskirts of my yard just like I saw all over the farmhouses in the Skagit Valley. So when Costco sold large bags of bulbs back in the fall I couldn't resist. Now I know why it's hard to grow Tulips. Nobody in their right mind on a freezing cold, dark, rainy day in October wants to go dig holes in your yard. My dad helped me which made this task go much faster. The good news is it's delayed gratification at it's best but it is worth it. When everything in your yard is so dead and there is nothing but green or brown for miles when you see a bright red flower pop up in your yard giving you hope for things to come, it's magical. I've enjoyed my flower arrangements in my home, I've enjoyed picking them and wrapping them up to give to family and friends. Isaac has enjoyed walking slowly along the rows and tapping each flower. I can say I am inspire d to do more next year.