Saturday, November 6, 2010

Chair Reupholster

So... I recently took on a too-large-to handle project. I read on some other blog about reupholstering a chair, so I thought... "Oh that seems simple enough." Bad mistake. I advise anyone who is thinking of doing this: DON'T! or at least prepare yourself for lots of mistakes, moments of despair, but a pretty good reward (if you finish.) I found a chair at Goodwill in Tucson for like $20 and midway through my "project" realized I needed a sewing machine. We have a wonderful ward down here and a super nice girl in the ward let me use hers. Thanks Maurine! Why would I take this project on?... Well, I was in Tucson for 10 days, for our Anniversary and my fall break!! One year baby! Anyway... so I needed something to do. Well, these are the results.









Kitchen remodel

We finally have a functioning kitchen!!!! (except that only one person can be in there.) So I won't waste your time. Here are the pics.







A little better right?... I hope so. I'm pleased with it.

Oh and here are a few random pics of our bedroom. I have neglected this room as far as decor goes ;)




Monday, September 13, 2010

Tucson adventures! (Finally)

O.K. So lots and lots of changes. I am not the best person with this whole blog thing and I vow to become a little better. But seriously, who has the time to do this when life is at its busiest? But that is when you should document the most right? Ugh.

Anywho... So quick synopsis: Eric and I have moved to Tucson and left our dear little 200 W 400 N apt. in Salt Lake City. It was a little tender to leave our first home that has been so good to us. Nevertheless, we were strong and brave and pressed forward. : ( We traveled with my mom and Eric's parents dared to drive the 13 hours in the Budget truck. (Bless their hearts.) Two days of driving, many stops, a stay in an interesting "hotel" in Flagstaff, a lacking salad bar at Sizzler, and many squished limbs later we rolled into our new home town in style.

As we made our way around the area to our new home, (with our navigating phones rerouting quite often) we pulled into 2806 N. Tucson Blvd. What a shock! More shock came when we stepped inside. AHHH!!! A kitchen that I'm pretty sure was suppose to be a closet. Kitchen linoleum rotting and coming apart, wallpaper that was tearing and in a lovely print, a stove that must have been an antique, a homemade shelving unit that was secured to the wall with one screw, and finally a Wedgewood blue kitchen counter. This was just the kitchen mind you. Just a slightly malfunctioning swamp cooler in 112 degree weather and a few bugs where the only other complaints. I keep saying that this was a "cross your fingers, hope Craigslist will come through for you" kind of thing.

Due to all of the "surprises" that we discovered upon arriving and the 2 inch cockroach I found in the kitchen sink when Eric was at school. I had no choice but to beg my neighbor I had never met before to come kill the dang thing (he reluctantly obliged.) Anyway... I mentioned to our landlord that this might be a wonderful time to do a little updating. New tenants... fresh start! Right?... So I proposed that he redo the kitchen floor, let me paint an accent wall over the wallpaper and perhaps a new stove? Oh and maybe we could get a functioning swamp cooler that produces cold or even cool air without black particles shooting out with it? To my astonishment, our landlord agreed to it all! And rather quickly might I add. Along with a list of his favorite restaurants in town, a few tips on how to stay cool with a swamp cooler, and some fertilizer for our very own grapefruit tree in the back! We love him! I was able to pick out the tile and paint for the kitchen, and he hired quite a character to come and work on the floors. I don't have all of the after pictures but they are coming. Here are a few of the before and during photos.

Enjoy!



On campus



Mesa Temple


O.K. we are pretty cute


Living room before


Some living room after..


Not very good shots but you get the idea.


Where Eric's magic happens


Bedroom before


Some wall before...


Some wall after!....


Nightmare kitchen


More kitchen before...


Ancient stove and homemade shelves...


Yucky wallpaper


Nasty floor that is 22 years old!


Yikes!!


ahh... much better! Making progress.


Let the painting begin...


Yep.


That's right. We be gettin' our paint on.


What a good boy!


Oh, and we had our fridge sitting outside on the back porch for a week.


White trash is very "in" these days.


Well... Thanks for enduring with us on our little project. I will put up the real after shots when I see my boy next on Thursday!!!! It has been 10 days since I have seen him and am quite excited!

Also, despite my little complaints about our new "home," Tucson really is a wonderful place with wonderful people and a wonderful ward who has adopted us (Eric) into the family. I am so grateful that there are six law students in our ward! And they have adopted Eric and invited him into their homes. Thank you so much to all the generous people who have made this period in our lives bearable.

Eric is loving his studies and hammers it out 12 hours a day! (What else is he going to do?) I am surprised at how challenging my last semester is not, and will be so happy to be a graduate in December! Living with the parentals is an adjustment for all of us and we have laid down some ground rules... : ) I love them so much for their help. And Eric's family who has not forgotten that I am still around. Skype is wonderful invention that helps the distance somewhat livable.

I will keep you posted on any changes that arise. Hopefully a little more frequently.


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Lots of things happening in the near future for us. First off, Eric is going to the University of Arizona in Tucson in August. He starts August 12! Which I think is quite early. Any who... I have had about eight classes left before I have my marketing degree from the U. The plan was that I would transfer everything to Arizona and gain residence to finish there. This plan has been a necessary but bummer plan, because we would have to live there a year before I can go back to school. I would lose a few semesters in school and the application process to Arizona is pretty grueling, including an interview. (For a undergraduate degree?! Come on people.) Given the above, it has been quite the haggle with both Arizona and the U. Hence the new plan...

I am officially an Economics major and will graduate from the University of Utah in December 2010! That is the good news. Of course there is always a catch. I will be taking a few 6 weeks courses this summer and then the rest of the courses during the fall. I will stay in Utah and live with the parentals, while Eric jets off to experience the big bad "L" school on his own. : ( That part is a total downer and we will somehow survive. (Not yet sure how.) Lots of long weekend visits (I only have classes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursdays), fall break, Skype every night, and a more than generous offer from Eric's dad of using his sky miles as much as possible. Bless his heart.

Even though it will be a rough couple of months, we feel this is the best decision for us. I will be able to go down to Arizona with a degree in hand without the burden of school taunting my dreams. I will hopefully be able to get a better job than cashing checks all day. Also, by the time I am finished and see my man in December, I will be completely ready to make the move. Eric won't have any distractions while he establishes good study habits in the start, and will get those A's. It will be difficult but will pay off in the end we believe.

So there is the update. Looks like I will be needing a lot of these...

http://www.hulu.com/watch/141546/saturday-night-live-brownie-husband

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Happy Birthday?!...

Well... my birthday isn't until next Wednesday, May 26. However, an early surprise came yesterday. I have expressed my desire for a beach cruiser bike multiple times but have never really thought anything of it. When Eric and I went on our honeymoon and rented bikes in Key West, I fell in love with them even more. I have always had this fantasy of riding my bike to the farmer's market on Saturday morning. Little did I know my dream was to come true rather quickly. Here she is, Betty the Beach Cruisin' Bike!








Unfortunately as dear sweet Eric drove up to Clearfield to retrieve "Betty" I get a call informing me of an unfortunate occurrence. Apparently he was stopped at a stop light and some young punk rear-ended him, which made Eric bump into the COP in front of him! Luckily Eric is o.k., a little sore neck and the Camry is a only a little dented, which is surprising considering how the other car looks. The other dude took full responsibility and all will be fine.


Poor Eric, getting in a car accident while getting my birthday present. I can't help but feel slightly responsible for this. It is a good thing that I really love "Betty" I guess.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Road trip anyone?

Let it be known I am not a spontaneous person. I don't like to take chances, I don't to make rash decisions. I am a planner, an organizer and sometimes over prepare. However, Eric and I have been trying to figure out a time to go down and visit our future home (Tucson). We were thinking over Memorial Day weekend because I have a day off of work but, how many apartment complexes are going to be open on Memorial Day?

The other day we were talking about how we are going to have to make a trip in June to St. George for my best friend Staci's wedding! Since I suppose we about half way to Tucson... why not?! So that same night we got online, saw that Vegas was having a killer deal on hotels for that night only and yada yada yada... we are staying in the Stratosphere for $30! Without getting the o.k. from my work and without consulting with anyone else, we have all our arrangements booked. Going to Vegas Wednesday, Tucson Thursday and Friday, and St. George for the wedding Saturday. We are very excited to find our new home that we will live in for the next three years! So wish us luck!!!

P.S. My work gave me the go ahead today : )

Monday, May 10, 2010

Sinus Infection

I would have to say there is nothing worse than a sinus infection. Sure they are pretty common and I am sure people are tired of hearing those inflicted with one complaining about it but, it truly feels as though your head is literally about to explode! I have had them before however, I guess I forgot how bad they really are. It all started with a nice little allergy flare up and sneezing attack that lasted 10 minutes at 3 a.m. (Eric woke up slightly alarmed.) The doc says to treat the allergies for a few days before I start on the antibiotics for the sinus infection... I don't think so... Is it bad to ignore Dr.'s orders? Yeah... I don't care. I'm in pain!

Eric has been quite remarkable I must say. I know everyone brags about their cute husband and I am not going to make an exception. Saturday the apartment was an absolute mess. Anyone who knows me knows I am a slight neat freak. Eric made sure I did nothing but relax while he cleaned. Sunday came and he suited up to brave out the army of rambunctious sunbeams without his loyal co-commander. If you only knew how honorable that was. Finally, today he coached me through my conversation to call in sick, making sure I didn't sound too pathetic. He stayed home with me and worked here, let me sleep all day, made a trip to the store and got three different types of apples (I am very particular about my apples), made me breakfast, cleaned the apartment a little more, got me a diet coke, and has done various other favors. What a guy huh? I give him an A+++

I Caved

So... I have always been resistant to the whole blog idea. I have never been a very eloquent writer or a creative one at that. I have never really liked the idea of talking constantly about myself either. However, I have come to realize that since my husband Eric and I will be packing up and relocating to Tuscon in August for law school, (sorry if this is the first you have heard of this.) I thought it might be a good idea to keep in touch with family and friends. So there. I feel I have justified myself now. Convincing Eric this is a good idea, well, that's another story. : )

Anyway, the subject of Tuscon as been a hot topic in our family. Eric is aspiring to be a lawyer to hopefully "light some people up." I am so proud of him for first, being obsessed with studying the LSAT and conquering the beast a few weeks before our wedding. Second, he was accepted to the University of Arizona with a 50% tuition scholarship. He is actively arranging his schedule in order to get in his 60 hours of studying a week!!! and enough time to see me. (Bless his heart.) I have been 60% terrified and 40% excited. Leaving my family and being 24 credits shy of graduation has been definite bumps in the road. However, I have always wanted to experience life outside of Utah and as far as school goes, things seem to work its way out right? We will probably be taking my little dog AJ with us, you know, to keep me company. : ) So all in all, I think it will be a good adventure.

We are getting a two bedroom apartment so come visit us!!