just about done . . . well almost . . . and giveaways!

Well we moved in two weeks ago on Friday and it’s just starting to feel like a home!  This first time home ownership, do-it-yourself stuff is not for the faint of heart.  It’s a lot of work!  I truly admire those that do this kind of work for a living.  We’ve been busy and yet it still seems like there is so much more to do.  I am a list writer and I have lists and lists of things to buy, things to do, things to plan . . . Definitely won’t be bored anytime soon.

We haven’t made much more progress on the painting, but are having the professionals come back out this Saturday to finish our master bath, guest bath and powder room.  After that we just have the guest room, laundry room and molding to paint and touch-up.  We ended up having to buy a new fridge because the stink just wouldn’t come out of the other one, it was icky!  The new one is amazing; I’ve never had a fridge like this before.  A dining room table and a bedroom set for us is still on the list.  We are going to go look at a couple furniture outlets this weekend and I also saw a nice table at Big Lots that we really liked.  The budget is surely dwindling! 

Warning:  Installing your own laminate “easy floating lock-in” floor is NOT easy, I repeat is NOT easy!  Making all the cuts was the hardest part.  The hammering in the boards wasn’t too bad, but my knees and joints didn’t like all the floor action.  Ouch!  I felt like an old lady afterwards even with knee pads.  But, it’s pretty much done, and after 500 sq ft. and 20 hours of hard work it looks really nice.  Woo-hoo, we did it!  We still have to put all the base boards back on and get all the thresholds to make the transitions from tile to laminate much smoother.  Sometimes I wish I could afford to be a not do-it-yourself-er!  But, Chris was on his high horse feeling like a manly man.  I just wanted to get it over with.  I may be smiling, but I’m really thinking . . this sucks!  What did I get myself into?  When is this going to be over?  Get me out of here!

Here are some pictures!

Where did all the carpet go?

There it is!  I see a couple loads to the dump in our future. 

Swimming pool floor . . . this is the moisture barrier. 

Chris made all the cuts, and re-cuts . . . 

Lots and lots of measurements . . . carpenter squares are amazing and a must-have.

 Lots of saw dust and dirt . . .

 

Finished product so far . . .  Lots of decorating to do.  Gotta love the 19” TV that my friend let us borrow.  I have to wear my glasses to see it haha.  A new TV will be way down the road.

Why hasn’t the dining table and drapery fairy visited yet? 

Also need a couple large area rugs . . . those are so darn expensive! 

I have made it to the grocery store finally.  We’ve been eating out way too much.  There is also this self-serve frozen yogurt shop somewhat near our house where you can put on all your toppings and then they weigh it . . . this is sooo dangerous and sooo good!  I seriously have to hit myself to keep me from going there every day!  It’s that good.

I made a really easy pasta salad the other day, and it was just the thing in this heat and with working our butts off. 

Here’s what in it . . . sorry no specific measurements.  These kind of things I just throw whatever sounds good, or whatever is in the fridge, into it and it’s different every time!

Dressing:

• Orange and Lemon Juice + zest of both
• olive oil
• salt, pepper and all-purpose seasoning like Mrs. Dash
• Dijon mustard
• rice wine vinegar (sweet tang)

Salad:

• 1/2 box favorite pasta shape
• shredded chicken breast
• bell pepper
• cucumber
• grapes
• artichoke hearts
• green onions
• toasty walnuts
• goat cheese (it gets melty from the pasta and makes a creamy sauce by itself!)

So refreshing!  I also like to put it atop a nice bed of romaine lettuce or spinach. 

Here are the winning numbers randomly generated for the EatingRD survey giveaway (finally!) . . .

• 13 - Sweta
• 11 – skibum40
• 10 – sorensenjamie
• 12 - mdwyer1970
• 6 – willsmj                  

Please e-mail me at Kristen@eatingRD.com and let me know your contact information and whether you would like a 1GB flash drive or 5 iTunes downloads.  Congrats!  

I hope you all haven’t forgotten me and I really appreciate all your kind words and compliments with the house.  Hopefully I’ll be getting back to regularly scheduled blogging pretty soon.  I sure hope you are having a wonderful summer (if it’s summer where you’re at yet) and the sunshine is making you happy happy!

What’s your favorite part about summer?