Pardon my absence...

I know I have been gone for a little longer than usual.  Things have been kinda crazy for this unemployed girl.  My number one priority is... ok, I guess I can't pick just one "top" priority.  I have been driving back and forth to Delaware quit a bit in the past two weeks to see my family and help out where I am needed.

When I am not driving, I have been couponing and working on the house.  I have done a few small projects since my last blog, emphasis on the small.  One project was that I finally hung the towel rack in the bathroom.  I know, wahoo, a towel rack.  But, our bathroom walls are tiled, so the thought of drilling into into the wall terrified me. However, I sucked it up and fortunately did not crack the tile.

Major successes I have had this week was with couponing.  I am not yet good enough to classify myself an extreme couponer, but I am excited by the possibilities.  I have been sharing my savings with the hubby and I told him that I was not going to be an "extreme" couponer to avoid stock piling.  Then he said the words "you can stock pile, as long as it can be kept in the basement".  Oh my, it was like getting a free ticket to an amusement park.  Wonder what he will do if I start finding out I can get things like diapers for pennies.  Do I stock pile them for sometime in the future?  Those freaking things are expensive!  Note to anyone who reading this:  if you ever find coupons that you are not using, please send them my way.  Many deals require multiple coupons and vendors put print limits on the computer versions.  I think this has been holding me back.

The hubby is working a double today and tomorrow, so I am going to try and get a lot of work done around the house, possibly attempt a free shopping trip (which would make me an extreme couponer!) and apply to as many jobs as I can find.  This whole job thing is so discouraging.  I have been applying to absolutely everything I can find that doesn't require a degree I don't have.  I am crossing my fingers something pans out before I lose my mind. 

Oh, new topic since my last post: running.  I hate it.  However, I am going to be running a 5k on Thanksgiving Day (I am a poet).  Now I have to run so I don't embarrase myself.  Only problem I can't seem to tackle is that, no matter what, I lose my breath halfway through the second mile.  I'm gonna have to figure that out pretty soon. 

Ok, well I have run out of topics for day.  I will try to post more later in the week.  Hopefully something more interesting, too.

Bedroom Reveal.. Finally!

So today's blog is more of a picture blog.  When we saw this house for the first time, the "master bedroom" looked like this:

Notice the room color, the 3x3 closet to the left of the bed, and if you look closely, you may see the wood paneling. 

When we moved in the empty room looked like this (different angle):

More wood paneling, old windows, beige carpet.

Now that the bedroom is done, this is what it looks like:

We got new windows installed about a year ago, but the rest just happened in the last month.  Wall color is dramatically different, which I think makes the room look larger.  It also is a good contrast to our darker furniture.  I used a storage bench that I bought in college for underneath our window. 

Mirror was purchased at Marshall's for twenty bucks, the vase in the corner was clearance at TJ Maxx for ten bucks, then got the branches 50% off at AC Moore.  The lamps were twenty-five dollars each at JC Pennys and the nightstands were part of a coffee table/ end table stand that my mom bought at a yard sale for ten bucks and I painted black.

Now, as my husband is trying to show you, my dad and I removed the old closet (it was where hubby is standing).  We then took the closet all the way back to the peak of the roof.  Instead of spending an arm and a leg on custom doors for the closet, I bought a sliding panel curtain system at Ikea for less than one hundred bucks:

I bought a freestanding Elfa closet system at the Container Store and put it on furniture sliders so it can be easily moved around... why do I want to move my closet you may be wondering... 

Behind the closet is our new storage area... it is much, much larger than the picture shows because it is actually L-shaped, so....

It is storage behind this wall too!

When we moved the walls, we had to replace the carpeting, so my new Berber carpet matches very well, not only the bedroom, but the carpet in the hallway:

After all the turmoil involved in the carpet resulting in dramatic money saving, the new carpet for the whole room was $422  (I saved nearly 50%!) and it was money that was left over from the wedding, so it technically didn't cost us anything... even better!

Total cost for the room renovation:  Dramatically cheaper than I expected! (The baseboard was the most expensive thing, I think.) 

Any questions, suggestions?

One of them days... ok, weeks.

I was so excited at the start of this week.  It was mission productivity, and I was Tom Cruise.  Monday was great.  I finished painting the bedroom, refinished the fireplace doors I bought on Craigslist, got laundry done, went to the bank, got the car inspection done, I was on a roll.  Then, I met Tuesday. 

Tuesday was not my friend.  I got absolutely nothing done.  Ok, well not nothing.  I was able to get some of my wedding scrapbook done (it is my plan for the millions of cards we got) while watching tv and being a cranky, uncomfortable girl all day.  So, I watched a shameful array of movies and television (Yogi Bear, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Fraggle Rock, Muppets Take Manhatten, and a Property Virgins marathon) and didn't even make it to the grocery store for dinner.  I did try to install the freshly refinished fireplace door, but of course couldn't figure out how to do the install.  Forget you Tuesday, I like Wednesday better anyway.

Today made me wish for Tuesday again.  I woke up early, like a little girl on Christmas morning.  I was so excited to see the new carpet installed in the bedroom.  I told myself last night that tomorrow the room would look completely different.  Boy was I right.  My bedroom floor now consists of tack strips and carpet padding, how lovely.  The installers came, pulled out the old carpet, put in the new padding, and called me outside to where they had rolled out the new carpet to measure and cut.  Oh my Lord, they put the wrong measurement tag on my beautiful remnant.  Of course, they did; Wednesday hates me.  My carpet was about four feet smaller than what I paid for and I was told via Rob the salesman on the phone that I had to drive down to the carpet mart in Delaware and pick out a new carpet and reschedule an installation.  I was so mad my drive down was a blur.  I picked out a nicer carpet (by nicer I mean more expensive), but I'm not a fan of the color as much.  In the end, I have a carpet being installed tomorrow morning that would have cost me more than I was willing to spend, but because of the extreme inconvience, I don't have to pay any additional fees. 

Tomorrow can't be as mean to me as Tuesday and Wednesday have been (I say as I type this with one eye swollen shut from allergies).  Ok, it can be, I am just hoping that it isn't.  I actually work tomorrow for a few hours, and then I am going to attempt to put some of the finishing touches on the bedroom.  Hopefully when this room is done I will like it so much that I decide to enjoy it for a while before starting another big project.  I'm sure my husband is thinking the same thing. 

Hope Wednesday likes you more than it likes me!

Good Morning New Jersey!

Today is going to be a long day.  I probably should have tried to sleep in a little more, but alas. 

He put himself in time out

Rewind a minute, to Tuesday.  The day of my last post, I believe (or maybe it was Monday).  I spent the day down in Delaware, helping out around my parents house.  On my way home I decided to stop at the grocery store to grab something for dinner.  I know myself enough to know that once I am home, I don't really like going back out to run errands. Anyway, I have a plan to come home and get started on this weeks project of painting the bedroom.  Instead, I walk in the door to disaster.  The dog had gotten into the kitchen trash can and decided to paint the house in trash.  You know when you decide to have something unhealthy for dinner, like Chinese food, and you say to yourself "I'm going to regret this".  Seeing the sweet and sour sauce all over our new area rug made me regret the Chinese.  So, instead of painting the bedroom, I was attempting to clean the carpet.  Sweet and sour sauce is a rough stain. 

With Tuesday's evening shot, I decided to start fresh Wednesday.  And, that's what I did yesterday.  It is starting to look pretty good, but I definitely have more work ahead of me today.  Which I better get started on.  I only have a few hours before I have to hit the road, and I haven't packed yet.  My dads plan is to leave around 5 o'clock, and stop somewhere around the Virginia/ North Carolina border tonight.  Can someone explain to me a six day trip to Disney World that consists four days in the car and two days in the park?  I tried to get Chris to consider flying down for the weekend, but it looks like I will just have to plan a trip for us sometime soon. 

Another Baseball Birthday

It was a pretty fun weekend with the husband, as we celebrated his birthday pretty much the whole time.  Saturday we went to the Phillies game, which has come to be something we look forward to every summer.  We have been on a streak this year, seeing a win every time we go.  To keep the baseball birthday going, we had friends over on Sunday to celebrate.  I always love playing hostess, so I made meatballs, pasta salad, and a baseball birthday cake.  It worked out well, even though it was originally planned to be a birthday cookout.  Man, it sure has been raining like crazy the past few days.

When we weren't partying, my dad was up helping get the bedroom closet done.  I am so excited because it is finally time to sand, paint, and call to get the carpet installed!  I will be sure to show you all the before and after transformation of the bedroom.  I am so excited, mainly because I picture in my head how something is going to look, but usually do a terrible job explaining it, so when it is finished, I just hope that it looks like it does in my mind.  It was pretty much the same thing with my wedding reception, and that turned out just like I pictured. :-)

Along the same lines, I have decided that I am going to attempt a "project of the week".  This weeks project is going to be painting the bedroom, and next weeks project is going to be a new fireplace screen for under $30 (Thank you Craigs List). Also on the project list is a job... I need one, and preferably before my next car payment is due.  I had a third interview with a company today, and now I am just crossing my fingers. 

Hopefully I will get one more post up before the impromtu trip to Disney World.  We leave Thursday.  I am pretty excited, mixed with wish my mom and my hubby were going too.  Regardless, Disney is always a good time!

A nun, a job, and a bulletin board...

Today's post is going to be a short one.  I just wanted to give you a quick update, since I know you have all been waiting patiently to find out what's been going on in my life.  I did end up going back to the thrift store yesterday to get that picture frame I had my eye on.  It was a rustic goldish color, until I got my hands on it.  I went right from the thrift store to the AC Moore, because I have decided I will do the projects as quick as I can, or I won't do them at all.  After some spray paint, and some cork, the frame is now a beautiful cork board.  I think it looks great, if I do say so myself.

The next project is going to be a new fireplace screen.  We have a wire curtain thing now, which just lets hot and cold air flow freely in and out of the house; not ideal.  I found a cheap fireplace screen with glass doors on craigslist for $25.  So, instead of paying the $350 for a new one, I am going to find some fire resistant black paint and give the old brass screen a new life. Before and after pictures will be posted! :-)

You are probably wondering where the nun and the job come onto the scene since I jumped right into the bulletin board.  I met up with my great friend Katie and the infamous Sister Karen for lunch in Pennsylvania, and it was a great time.  Sister Karen is the sweetest woman I've ever met, and it was great catching up.  Ah, to be in a convent again (yes, I lived in a convent for two years; no, I've not for one second ever considered becoming a nun).  I think my body did not enjoy the cafeteria food... Katie, how did your body take it?

After lunch I got a phone call from the hubs wondering where my job interview was, which was scheduled at 5:00.  I said "somewhere around Mt. Laurel, thinking I'd have plenty of time".  I then check my phone to realize it is in Exton, Pennsylvania.  So, I fly back to Jersey, change clothes, and fly back to Pennsylvania.  I really hope the interview went well, but I can never tell about these things. 

Now it is time for me to go... spending the evening snuggled on the couch with the birthday boy.  Wondering what will happen if I take two five hour energy's... I may need it tonight.

Working so hard, yet not working at all

Today I woke up full speed, with a long list of to-do's, and didn't stop until dinner was done.  Now, I don't feel like moving.  I had a "group interview" at the local substituting company.  It was the worst hour I've had in a very long time, and I'm pretty sure there was another girl in the room who was thinking exactly what I was thinking (with the exception of the occassional "I hope Hamilton's doctor appointment is going well".)  I am a good teacher, and the frustration of not even receiving a phone call for an interview boiled over in the hour I sat there listening to the drill.  Even though I have a masters degree in education and many years experience in a classroom you are forcing me to pay you to spend a day in a room full of people with no educational training?  I think I'd rather practice reciting the daily specials for my next job as a waitress.  I'd make more anyway.  Why did I spend all that money on college?

So, anyway, after trying not to storm out of the room, I began checking things off of my list.  I did manage to make a few stops that weren't on the list.  Found a cute little thrift shop near my mother-in-laws house.  Didn't get the two things I had my eye on because it was cash only.  They would definitely be quick, easy, and awesome projects.  Maybe I will go back tomorrow.  Also stopped at the Goodwill and got a brand new, in the box, office chair (much needed, since I don't have anything now) for thirty dollars (whoo hoo).

After getting the hubbys car fixed, taking it to get registered, and stopping at Lowe's to grab lamp parts for a project (stay tuned), I went to pick up the pooch and fell in love with Charlotte, the three month old kitten up for adoption at the vet.  I may go back tomorrow ;-)  If we didn't have a 120 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, we would be currently showing Charlotte her new home.  The vet tech even took her out to see how her and Hamilton got along.  It was adorable until Charlotte realized that Hamilton was a giant and clawed her way up the techs arms.  Ugh, she was so cute!

Since Hamilton and I got home, he's been sleeping off the anxiety of being at the vet all day, while I have been applying for every job under the sun that I can find, even the ones I am not qualified for.  Here is a question that I am sure many people in my situation ask:  how do I get the experience that this job is requiring without getting hired?  Maybe my blog will take off, I will become famous, people will start buying my pictures, and I can get by with odd jobs for the next few month.  Or, maybe even better, collecting all those Acme game pieces will result in me winning the grand prize.  I don't think I should hold my breath for that one.

Until tomorrow, my friends.