HOW TO RENOVATE A HOUSE IN 2 WEEKS.....

TWO WEEKS AGO WE OFFICIALLY MOVED THE LAST
OF OUR BELONGINGS OUT OF OUR OLD HOUSE....
AND WE TURNED THE KEYS OVER TO OUR VERSION OF
THE SHERK BROTHERS......
OH YOU ALL REMEMBER WHO THE SHERK BROTHERS ARE....
THE CONTRACTORS WHO DROVE THE CADILLAC IN
"THE MONEY PIT"
WHENEVER ASKED HOW LONG THE REPAIRS WERE GOING TO TAKE
THE HOMEOWNERS GOT THE SAME ANSWER "TWO WEEKS"
IT TOOK MONTHS.....
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IN OUR CASE THIS IS NOT THE CASE!!

THEY CAME THROUGH LIKE GANGBUSTERS.....
GUTTING THE INSIDE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM....
BEING VACANT FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF IT NEEDED
A LOT OF LOVING CARE....
THE OUTSIDE NEEDED A FACE LIFT SO IT WAS FRESHLY PAINTED
NOT CRAZY ABOUT HOW THOSE NEWLY PAINTED SHUTTERS CAME
I WILL SHOW YOU WHY AT THE END AND PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINION...
THE ROOF WAS FIXED....NEW GUTTERS WERE INSTALLED...
BACK DECK GOT A BRAND NEW SET OF STAIRS...

TECHNICALLY NOT FINISHED YET...THE WORK THAT
HAS BEEN DONE IN JUST TWO SHORT WEEKS IS AMAZING....
COME ON IN AND TAKE A PEEK....
FIRST THING TO GO WAS THOSE HORRID "POPCORN" CEILINGS.....
THEY WERE BIG BACK IN THE 80'S....
ALL THE WALLS WERE PATCHED....PRIMED...PAINTED A
LIGHT TAN COLOR.....WITH CREAM TRIM....
THE BIGGEST CHANGE ARE THE FLOORS...
WHO DOESN'T LOVE HARDWOODS...
WHAT A DIFFERENCE THEY MAKE..

THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE WALKING IN THE FRONT DOOR....
THE BALCONY TO THE SECOND FLOOR BEDROOMS....
IF YOU READ MY LAST POST YOU WILL REMEMBER THAT ALL THE
TRIM IN THE HOUSE WAS DARK WOOD...
THIS SURE LIGHTENED THINGS UP...
THAT DOOR LEADS TO THE BASEMENT/GARAGES
THE HALLWAY LEADS TO THE KITCHEN...

HALLWAY TO KITCHEN....

OUR GREAT ROOM.....
THAT'S A DARK BLUE PORCELAIN PARLOR STOVE
BY VERMONT CASTINGS....
IT ACTUALLY CAN HEAT THE ENTIRE HOUSE...
THE MOOSE HEAD HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A DYSON!

AS SEEN FROM THE SECOND FLOOR....

THE MASTER BEDROOM ON THE FIRST FLOOR....
THE CONTRACTOR DID A GREAT JOB OF PICKING OUT THE
CARPET...
IT HAS A GREAT TEXTURE TO IT....AND THE COLOR PERFECTLY
MATCHES THE WALLS...

OUR VERY LARGE DINING ROOM AT
17 X 17
THE CEILING FAN IS BEING REPLACED WITH A NICE
CHANDELIER WE FOUND AT HOME DEPOT...

ONE OF THREE BEDROOMS ON THE SECOND FLOOR

OKAY....NOT THE BEST PICTURE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE
THAT I HAD DARK GREEN SHUTTERS ON EITHER SIDES OF THE WINDOWS....
SAME PLACE WHERE THE NEW GREEN ONES ARE....
I ALSO HAD A RED DOOR WHICH I LOVED....
BUT CAN YOU SEE WHAT IS IN THIS PICTURE AND NOT IN THE
NEW PAINT JOB....
EVERYONE INCLUDING OUR REALTOR WAS AGAINST PAINTING
A LIGHT TRIM AROUND ALL THE WINDOWS....
I THINK THE NEW LOOK IS A TAD BLAH......
I PREFER THE CONTRAST OF THE LIGHT TRIM ON THE WINDOWS WITH THE
DARK BROWN OF THE HOUSE AND THEN THE GREEN SHUTTERS...
THAT THREE COLOR LOOK
I DIDN'T WANT TO GO AGAINST THE ADVISE OF OUR REALTOR...
BUT IF THERE'S ANY REALTORS OUT THERE PLEASE WEIGH IN WITH
YOUR THOUGHTS...

THE HOUSE REALLY IS NOT COMPLETELY DONE IN TWO WEEKS BUT
I THINK YOU CAN AGREE THE PROGRESS IS AMAZING....
THE NEW KITCHEN GETS PUT IN TOMORROW....
WITH THE GRANITE GOING IN ON FRIDAY....
TWO BATHROOMS TO BE TILED....
AND THAT SHOULD BE IT....
OH I DID FORGOT TO ADD THE ENTIRE DOWNSTAIRS.....OUR THREE CAR
GARAGE PLUS A SHOP AREA HAS BEEN
PAINTED FLOOR TO CEILING....

SO NEXT TIME YOU WILL SEE THE REAL FINISHED PROJECT....
THE HOUSE WILL BE LISTED FOR SALE...
FINGERS WILL BE CROSSED THAT THIS WAS ALL WORTH IT....
AND WE WILL LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER....
WITH LESS CRAP IN OUR BIGGER SPACE :) 

TURNING A HOUSE INTO A HOME.........renovating 26 years of our life...

OUR LITTLE COUNTRY HOME UP ON THE HILL......
26 YEARS OF MEMORIES.....THE HOME WHERE THE DAUGHTER
GREW UP AND WHERE WE GAVE A HOME TO
SEVEN WONDERFUL ANIMALS.....
WELL.....MAYBE SIX...."SPRITE" THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER WAS A BIT
OF A HANDFUL....
25 ANNIVERSARIES.....
75 BIRTHDAYS....

BUT AFTER LOCKING HER UP AND MOVING ON UP BACK IN
AUGUST OF LAST YEAR IT'S GOTTEN TO BE TIME TO PASS HER
ALONG TO ANOTHER FAMILY.....
WE WERE TOLD BY MANY THAT IN THIS ECONOMY IT'S BEST TO
JUST SELL IT "AS IS".....THAT MEANS A RED...WHITE...AND BLUE...
BATHROOM FROM THE 80'S......I LIKE FLAGS WHAT CAN I SAY...
CARPET THAT HAS AT LEAST BEEN DOWN SINCE DOG NUMBER
FIVE CAME ALONG.....
A WALL IN THE BOSS' DEN THAT ACTUALLY HAD "FAUX BRICK"
PANELING ON THE WALLS....
NO.....WE.....WITH A GOOD CONSCIOUS.....COULDN'T SELL IT
"AS IS"
NO ONE WANTS TO TURN THEIR HOUSE OVER TO THE EVER POPULAR
HOUSE FLIPPER....UNLESS OF COURSE IT'S JEFF LEWIS...
USING IT AS CHEAP STORAGE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF
NEEDED TO COME TO AN END.....
SO................

WE FOUND A CONTRACTOR.....AFTER INTERVIEWING MANY....
WE DECIDED ON THE FATHER OF OUR SOON TO BE
 REALTOR...
ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE...
INCLUDING BUYING THE CONTENTS WE NO LONGER WANTED AND
CLEANING OUT THE REST.....

IT WAS OFFICIAL....WE WERE FINALLY MOVING ON....
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS ALL THE CRAP WE THOUGHT WE COULDN'T LIVE
WITHOUT....
WE HAD BEEN BRINGING OVER THINGS TO THE NEW HOUSE
A LITTLE AT A TIME....AND WHEN WE MOVED LAST YEAR THE
BOSS WAS NICE ENOUGH TO BUY ME ALL NEW FURNITURE....
SO WE BASICALLY HAD LEFT ALL THOSE
"SENTIMENTAL" THINGS.....
YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT DAUGHTER WILL PITCH IN THE
TRASH AS SOON AS WE DIE....
SOME OF HER DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR PRIZED POSSESSIONS....
"CRAP......JUNK......HIDEOUS....NO I DON'T WANT THOSE
CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS YOU HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR 25 YEARS"

THE BOSS MOVED EVERYTHING WE WANTED TO KEEP  OVER TO
ONE OF OUR GARAGE BAYS.....
THEN REALIZED HE WOULD INDEED DIE IF HE HAD TO CARRY
IT ALL DOWN TO THE BASEMENT.....
AFTER ALL I AM THE ORIGINAL DISH COLLECTOR....
DO YOU KNOW HOW HEAVY DINER CHINA IS??
SO GETTING SMART IN HIS OLD AGE....WE CALLED
"TWO MEN AND A TRUCK" MOVERS AND FOR
 $125 AN HOUR
IN ONLY 18 MINUTES EVERYTHING WAS MOVED TO OUR
BASEMENT.....
AND THE BOSS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BREAK A SWEAT....

TWO OF MY "HAD TO KEEPS".....
THE SMURF IN HONOR OF DAUGHTERS NICKNAME AS A CHILD....
AND A SIGGY STUFFED FIGURE IN HONOR OF MY FATHER SIGGY...

THIS IS WHAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS LEFT WITH WHEN
WE DROVE OFF...
6 MORE MONTHS IN THE HOUSE AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED FOR THE SHOW "HOARDERS"

THE DAY IN AUGUST OF 2011 WHEN WE MOVED OUT
THIS IS THE GREAT ROOM...

HERE IS THE GREAT ROOM YESTERDAY.....

IT TOOK TWO MEN TO GET THE MOOSE DOWN OFF THE
WALL....HE NOW HAPPILY RESIDES AT THE NEW HOUSE WAITING TO
BE HUNG.....
AND I REALIZED HE IS OFFICIALLY AN ANTIQUE
HE TURNED 100 THIS YEAR.....

OUR MASTER BEDROOM....WAITING FOR IT'S NEW PAINT JOB... 

THE BOSS' DEN....HE TREATED HIMSELF TO A GUN SAFE...
SO THE GUN CABINET WAS LEFT...

PAINTING THE MASTER BEDROOM.....
I USED NEUTRAL COLORS IN THE WHOLE HOUSE....
IT ONLY LOOKS PINKISH IN THE PICTURES....

THE KITCHEN.....ALL GONE EXCEPT FOR THE APPLIANCES...

THE WALLS HAVE BEEN PAINTED A LIGHT TAN
ALL THE WOOD TRIM HAS BEEN PAINTED
CREAM.....IT REALLY LIGHTENED UP THE WHOLE HOUSE

LOOKING FROM THE DINING ROOM INTO THE GUTTED KITCHEN...
THERE USED TO BE A LAUNDRY AREA BETWEEN THE TWO ROOMS
BUT AFTER A HOSE BROKE ONE NIGHT LEAVING WATER
EVERYWHERE WE MOVED THE WASHER AND DRYER TO THE BASEMENT...
A NEW CABINET UNIT WITH A SINK AND GRANITE COUNTER TOP....
THINK A "WET BAR"....WILL GO IN THAT SPOT...

I USED TO HAVE NAVY STRIPED WALLPAPER IN THE KITCHEN...
LUCKILY I AM PAST MY WALLPAPER STAGE

SO THAT'S THAT......EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE IN
ABOUT THREE WEEKS...SO PLEASE STOP BACK TO
SEE A BRAND NEW HOUSE.....
WE KNOW WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION TO RENOVATE AND PASS THIS HOUSE ALONG
TO ANOTHER YOUNG FAMILY IN THE SAME CONDITION WE
PURCHASED IT A LONG TIME AGO....
THE HOUSE MAY HAVE BEEN STANDING FOR 26 YEARS...
BUT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE THRILL OF
MOVING INTO SOMETHING BRAND SPANKING NEW.....

FOOTBALL WIDOW VS. FOOTBALL WIFE.....

LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A "FOOTBALL WIDOW" AND A "FOOTBALL WIFE"....
I ENJOYED BEING A FOOTBALL WIDOW AND ALWAYS LOOKED
FORWARD TO THE FALL WHEN ON WEEKENDS I COULD
SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SPEND HOURS AWAY
HAVING LUNCH WITH A FRIEND OR BETTER YET SPEND HOURS
IN TJMAXX.....
I NEVER FELT SORRY FOR THE FACT THAT THE BOSS PLANTS HIS BUTT
IN FRONT OF THE T.V. ALL DAY ON SUNDAYS DURING FOOTBALL
SEASON...IN CASE YOU HAVE A HUSBAND WHO DOES THE SAME THING
AND THIS BOTHERS YOU.......DON'T THINK TWICE ABOUT BEING IGNORED FOR
THE NY GIANTS OR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS....
I WILL NOW TAKE YOU THROUGH THE DAY
AS A FOOTBALL WIFE.....

IT ALL STARTED WHEN THE BOSS WANTED TO BUY "ONE" TICKET TO
SEE THE GIANTS PLAY THE FALCONS....
UNABLE TO GET SUITABLE SEATS IT WENT FROM CHEAP SEATS FOR A 
SEASON......TO CLUB LEVEL SEATS AND A SIGNED THREE YEAR CONTRACT....
THE MOST EXPENSIVE TICKET TO SEE THE GIANTS....
I COULD HAVE BOUGHT A SMART CAR FOR WHAT HE PAID FOR THESE
SEATS...
AND AS AN ADDED BONUS I GET TO BE A "FOOTBALL WIFE"
FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS....
THAT'S 30 HOME GAMES....

LET ME ALSO ADD THAT THE BOSS HATES.....NO DESPISES DRIVING IN
TRAFFIC AND I HATE INDOOR CROWDS....WE ARE SUCH A PAIR....
AT ONE POINT TODAY WHILE SITTING STILL ON I-75 HE SAYS....
"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO START LEAVING FOR THE GAMES
AT 9:00 A.M."
THIS IS NOT SUE'S IDEA OF A FUN WEEKEND.....WHICH IS HOW HE SOLD ME
ON THIS WHOLE FOOTBALL THING.....
ONLY A MAN WOULD CONSIDER A FOOTBALL GAME WITH HIS WIFE
AS A "BONDING EXPERIENCE"
AFTER 42 YEARS.......BELIEVE ME....IT'S NOT!!!!

THE FOLKS RUNNING THINGS DOWN HERE IN THE ATL
HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO HANDLE MORE THEN
THREE CARS ON THE HIGHWAY AT ANY ONE TIME....
IT'S AS IF A HURRICANE IS COMING AND WE ARE ALL LEAVING ON
A ONE LANE ROAD...
THROW IN A LOT OF JERSEY CURSE WORDS AND YOU HAVE THE PICTURE.. 

THIS CONFUSED ME......HE HAD TICKETS IN HIS HAND.....
WHY DID HE NEED MORE??
IF YOUR WAITING IN A BIG LONG LINE OF CARS HEADING TO THE
STADIUM MORE THEN LIKELY YOU ALREADY
HAVE A TICKET.....
AGAIN...I THINK THIS IS A MAN THING....

THE EVER POPULAR CONCESSION STANDS

THE POOR SMUCKS WHO PARK IN THE FIRST LOT THEY COME TO
THEN REALIZE THEY ARE ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY FROM
THE STADIUM.....
LOVE THE WIGS ON #2 AND #88......

ALMOST THERE!!

THE MASSIVE CROWD TRYING TO GET INTO
THE STADIUM....
BUT THANKS TO THE BOSS WHO KNEW THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY
HE COULD GET ME TO GO ALONG WITH THIS SCHEME WAS TO
AVOID THE GENERAL "RIFF RAFF" AND GET TICKETS
AT THE CLUB LEVEL.....

NO LINES......NO WAIT.....RED CARPET......
OH WAIT........DIDN'T SOMEBODY A FEW WEEKS AGO
DIE RIGHT AT THE EXIT DOOR LEADING TO THE PARKING DECK
LEAVING SUE LOCKED OUT ON THE SKY WALK WITH
A HUNDRED PEOPLE CROWDED AROUND ME IN THE HEAT....
AND I HAVE THREE MORE YEARS OF THIS.....
GET ME A VALIUM!!!!

HERE IS MATT RYAN GETTING READY TO COME OUT ON THE FIELD...
IN TRUE "JERSEY ITALIAN" FASHION WHEN THE BOSS BOUGHT
THE SEASON TICKETS HE ASKED THAT EVER POPULAR JERSEY QUESTION....
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO THROW IN IF I TAKE THE DEAL"
HE ENDED UP WITH AN NFL FOOTBALL
SIGNED BY QUARTERBACK MATT RYAN....

MUCH HOOPLA INTRODUCING THE PLAYERS

THE CRAZY MASCOT....

I PREDICT THAT MASCOT IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE ONE OF THESE
WEEKS....

TWO ADORABLE BABIES IN THE CROWD.......
BUT WAY TO LOUD TO HAVE LITTLE EARS HEARING ALL THAT
NOISE FOR THREE HOURS....

SAMUEL L. JACKSON......
FALCONS SPOKESMAN
WAITING ONE WEEK FOR HIM TO SAY
"SNAKES IN THE STADIUM"

LOT'S OF BUTT ACTION....

AND HERE'S ANOTHER WAY THE BOSS GOT ME TO
KEEP HIM COMPANY.....
#71.....KROY BIERMAN....
BETTER KNOWN AS KIM'S HUSBAND FROM THE
REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA...

FOR ANYONE WHO WATCHES THE SHOW HERE IS
KROY AND "HIS INFAMOUS "BUTT"

OH GREAT......STILL SOMEONE WHO THINKS KILLING
DOGS IS ACCEPTABLE....

ALWAYS ONE JACKASS IN THE CROWD.....
A RAIDERS FAN....WEARING A FIREMAN'S HAT....

THE NOISE METER.....
SOMEONE IS BOUND TO SOONER OR LATER SUE THE
STADIUM FOR HEARING LOSS....

GEE.....WHAT COULD THIS MEAN????????
IT MEANS EVERY THIRTY SECONDS YOU HAVE TO STAND UP SO THAT
THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROW HAVE TO GET UP TO GET
ANOTHER BEER.....THEN 5 MINUTES LATER HAVE TO GET UP AGAIN TO LET THEM
BACK IN.....THEN ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THEY HAVE TO GO PEE.....
UP AND DOWN...UP AND DOWN....
I KNOW THE BOSS IS GOING TO HAVE A FIST FIGHT WITH SOMEONE BEFORE THE
SEASON IS OVER...

EVERY TIME THEY MAKE A TOUCHDOWN THESE GUYS
RUN LIKE NUTS UP AND DOWN THE FIELD....

CHEERLEADERS DRESSED TODAY IN PINK FOR
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS....

THESE GIRLS WORK HARDER THEN THE PLAYERS....

REACTING TO A BIG WIN.....
6 WINS.....0 LOSES....

EITHER PRAYING TO GOD FOR THEIR WIN.....
OR.....SOMEONE DROPPED A QUARTER....

OUR NEW FRIENDS AND FELLOW SEASON TICKET HOLDERS.....
THESE LADIES HAVE SO MUCH SPIRIT THEY JUST MAKE YOU SMILE....

THE ONLY TIME THE BOSS WILL EVER BE ON A RED CARPET.....

GAME OVER.....
I WISH I WAS BACK BEING A FOOTBALL WIDOW.....
WHERE I HAD "ME" TIME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.....
TJMAXX IS MORE APPEALING TO ME THEN FOOTBALL.....
BUT FOR ALL MY BLOG LADIES OUT THERE WHO GET TO SPEND THEIR SUNDAYS DOING ACTUAL FUN STUFF....
I WILL BITE THE BULLET AND SUFFER IN SILENCE KNOWING YOU CARE
ABOUT ME AND THAT I'M DOING IT FOR YOU ALL.....