Dining Room and Basement Update
I’m not going to lie I still wanted to make my break longer. There are so many things I still want to get done that don’t really have anything to do with my home and blogging.
I’m also so so thankful for all your comments to keep me encouraged to continue to blog. It really helped me and I love knowing that there are still people listening and care. I’m pretty sure that every blogger struggles with not knowing whether anyone even gives a crap about what they have to offer. Sorry for my language but it’s the truth. I really love to hear from all of you.
I did manage to teach my daughter how to sew on her new sewing machine that she got from Santa last week. She has this one HERE in Mint and it’s so so cute and matches her room. How did Santa know 😉 ? So far she made stretchy headbands for herself and her dolls and some pillows. She also got this doll cloth sewing book (HERE) that comes with patterns and we are hopefully going to tackle something more difficult soon but it is certainly hard to find the time to sit down and try. Have I mentioned how much I hate sewing? Haha, it really isn’t my strong suit or favorite thing to do. It brings out the worst in me and while I’m usually a pretty patient person, I have no patience for the needle and thread or a noncompliant sewing machine.
I also accomplished finishing my photo books for 2014 and 2015 which was a huge project and I feel quite relieved to have this checked off my list.
All the Christmas stuff is tucked away again and my plants have been rearranged to fill the empty spots where the Christmas trees where.
I was out of it for a day feeling sick and spent it on the sofa watching “Nurse Jackie”. While I was doing that I had to constantly stare at my unfinished stairs which are exactly what you see when you are flat on the couch. I really need to make those a priority on my list of things to do in 2016 because it really bugs me. Let me tell you though it’s so nice to not have to clean the carpet anymore. Huge relief in itself.
My hubby and I have managed to bring the new American Signature Furniture Athens sectional (click HERE to see more of it in our living room if you missed it) into the basement which was a pretty big project and I will dedicate some posts to it soon. There is so much to do in the basement yet but it is a great start. {UPDATE: click HERE to read how we disassembled the sofa, cut it and put it back together}
Everyone loves sitting on this comfy sofa. It’s so snuggly and was well worth all the effort to get it down the stairs.
I know you can’t see it in the above photo but the walls have holes and dents and really need to be painted. I’m thinking a warm white since it has been dark down there for a while now. Before all the grey tones the basement was a bright yellow. Boy am I glad that is gone though.
I also have to rearrange the shelving that is on the opposite wall but I’m not sure yet what I will do since I don’t want to involve our ugly huge dinosaur TV and right now a big new flat screen isn’t in the budget. We actually need a stupid new garage door first, our fridge is croaking on it’s last leg and my car hasn’t been making me all that happy either. So there are several non-blog related expenses that I want to get out of the way.
Another project I’d love to finally finish this year is our master bathroom. I’m not talking a total overhaul but just a vanity update. Do you remember when I started this last year? Well the Ikea vanity I wanted never ended up in my budget either and I just stopped worrying about it since the one we have isn’t bad but just doesn’t work well for organizing and storing things. HERE is my post from last February about my plans. So lets see if I will actually get to it.
I was recently asked to do an eDesign again and will probably be sharing that this or next week. That also got me thinking about offering it on my site here again. Sometimes it’s fun and sometimes I could pull my hair out over it. You can see my previous eDesign boards by clicking HERE.
Another thing on my list is finding the most efficient and affordable way to finally offer my artwork for sale in my Etsy shop. Shipping really always ends up being a big pain in the rear.
I was actually also contemplating posting only two times a week for a while so I can get some other things accomplished which also includes my most hated task of all times which is taxes. I could cry just thinking about it.
That’s it for today my friends. Oh and can we please just get one snowstorm on the east coast? We have season passes for skiing and the weather has been awful and warm. I hate it and it’s been a huge waste of money so far.
Tschüß
(Youleeya)
there are so many unfinished projects around here so i just try not to look at the moment… 😉 glad you are back and i totally know how you felt!
I had no choice but to look haha. I’m still feeling a little off but I’m hopefully getting to my old self soon 😉
Julia so glad to see you back! Hope you are feeling rejuvenated even with the thought of doing your taxes looming out there 🙂 I love reading your blog and seeing your creative projects!!! Now could you come over and teach me how to sew too? It’s the only thing I am committing myself to this year! A mint sewing machine might make me love it more.
Thanks Lisa. I don’t really know how to sew at all 😉 straight lines for pillow covers are ok though. I’d love to take a class one day, maybe I could learn to love it instead of getting stressed out by it.
Well hi! Welcome back 🙂 Glad you were able to rest up when you weren’t feeling well. I love that L got a sewing machine. Ada has been loving hand sewing things and I was thinking she might like a machine sometime soon. Nothing frustrates me more than a noncompliant sewing machine either, though it’s been good since I upgraded my machine last year!
I probably should update my machine which is probably why I hate sewing so much because it’s not a good one. Lilly has no patience for hand sewing 😉
Glad you are back! Looks like you have lots of projects ahead!
xo
Patty
Thanks Patty and yes I do
It is beyond comfy! Hope you figure out what to do 😉
right? about the snow! we have season passes to liberty and we went on saturday, but it was so heavily foggy, that we called it quits by 12 pm and didn’t even bother going on sunday cuz it poured saturday night and was unseasonably warm. Maybe this coming weekend will be good!!
Same here, awful! Let’s pray for a nice snowstorm with no school 😉
Please don’t stop blogging.! Yours is the only blog I read! I love seeing your projects and hearing about your life and trips to Germany. I hope your daughter is better. I too love cats. We have two Maine Coon cats.
Well I’m so honored that I’m the only blog you read. That’s so awesome and I thank you very much. I’m not planning on stopping just slowing down a little. I love Maine Coons and used to have one myself. He was such a great sweet cat and passed away two and a half years ago. Miss him
Love the gallery of your magazine cover collection! There’s is nothing wrong with slowing down or posting less, but hope you don’t stop all together! <3
I’m slowing down a little but am not planning on stopping. And thank you my hubby loves his magazine collection
Glad to see you back. I love the couch. I wish I could fit that in my living room…..but sooo small:(
It’s definitely a giant and thanks
Welcome back! I could have used a longer break, too (from blogging, from school for the kids and Dave, from everything)….I’ve been doing 2x (or so) a week for awhile now, and I find it’s a good balance for posting regularly enough that people don’t wonder where you went but not getting overwhelmed.
2x sounds good to me. At least for now
Every thing is more than gorgeous. I was blown sway seeing your basement with the new sectional.
Thank you Sheryll
Welcome back sweetie! Can’t wait to see how you finish the stairs and the basement and the master!! Your gorgeous face and pictures sure would be missed if you ever stopped blogging. xoxo
Oh thanks Kathy. Painting the basement will be a pretty big project because so much has to get fixed including the molding
Julia, I enjoy your blog so much but do not make comments like I should. You have given me so much inspiration, thank you. Francinne
Oh thank you so much Francinne
You may think the stairs look bad, but it’s sooo much better than the carpet. Plus, I’ve seen some great stair treatments on Pinterest. It sucks when you have to buy something practical vs pretty for your house. ($375 duct repair for $150 new microwave. ????)
Oh I saw some great ones too. My problem has been trying to figure out the best way to do this so my three cats and two kids won’t ruin it. Drying paint or stain on steps can be a disaster.
I agree that buying most practical things stinks. Sorry about your duct repair
Glad to see you back – missed ya! Love love love the sectional in the basement.
Thanks Ashley! You have no idea how comfy it is
Don’t stress! Blog as often as you need to stay sane. We’ll all be here whenever you post!
Thanks 🙂 that’s sounds wonderful
I sense an epic in the offing about how you got the sectional into the basement. I’m also intrigued to learn more about the art you have hanging above it. You are welcome to all the snow we’re getting in Chicago. (I might feel differently if I’d bought passes to ski in Michigan.) If it makes you feel better about your looming projects, I decided to reorganize my Christmas decorations. Right now the condo looks like Santa’s sleigh had a head-on collision with Michael’s.
It was kind scary and epic! Unfortunately I isn’t take that many pictures of the process as I should have because I just wanted it done.
I should organize mine too but always just opt for showing my stuff back into the attic.
So glad your back!!! If you need to slow down or take care of other thing that is totally understandable. For me (and other readers, i’m sure) it’s better to get interesting and inspiring posts than the quicky filler ones or the forced sponsored posts. Your blog is amazing!