PAINT Paint Paint!!!

Well now that we have finally closed on our house we have been working non stop to get things done!! We are so busy we are exhausted. I'm beginning to thankful we don't know anyone or have friends because where would we have the time? Ok.. so thats clearly a joke. I know. It's real sad and no one knows that more than me. But back to my house... So last weekend my sister, husband and three kids came down. Brian works for USG .. he works with architects and contractors and he tells them what they need to build things and what not. I guess I'm not the best at explaining it... but he has REALLY REALLY REALLY good job. That and he has built 3(4?) of his and my sisters homes.. they build them sell them ...live in them for a year or (3?) and then sell them. He does that on the side of his full time job. On their last house ( they are getting ready to build another one) he wanted a barrel ceiling in their tv room and when we was working with (constructer?) or whoever it was told him flat out there was no way he would be able to have one.... well let me tell you... he did it!!! So why do I go on? Well they came down to help me and Drew out. Jane-claire and I went out with the kids and shopped and did our thing while Brian and Drew went at it with the house. They worked likes dogssssss. Brian brought down his paint machine and they sprayed the bedroom ceilings and and crown molding and what not. They did the doors and painted and you would have thought you were walking into a new house. IT LOOKS AMAZING!!!!! All the work Brian did would have cost us a BUTT LOAD!!! There was no way in hell we would be able to afford it.. NOT AT ALL. He even brought down and paid for all the supplies. Well.. we could afford to pay for the products but the the labour anywho but they wouldn't let us. I always feel real uncomfortable accepting things like that. We were brought up not to take. Just something we don't do and its hard to accept. Although I'm THRILLED... when they start construction on their new house no doubt Drew and I will be down there on the weekends helping out or even just to babysit. Brian is a genius. He is a master. And I don't think that quite covers how much he has done for us. WE OWE HUGE!! But feel VERY BLESSED to have his help. It's still hard accepting though. Can't help but feel stupid or inadequate. I really don't like accepting things. I don't like asking for things either. Just something we were brought up not to do and I will bring my kids up like to. Drew thinks it's weird but I have always thought it was tacky and un-etiquette. As a child if i was out with friends and their parents and we would stop to get something to eat I would never accept them to buy me something.. even if it was my parents close friends. I'm sure other people agree with that. Maybe it's just our family I guess but once in a while I hear Drew say something to his family and he gets the " YOU DID NOT JUST ASK THAT " look. Any who... it is what it is and the place is slowly but surely coming together. Brian and Jc and the kids are coming down next long weekend and helping us tackle some other projects. IT PAYS to have someone in the family who has to knowledge that Brian does.

Drew's family have been really great too. His parents (as always) have helped us and continue to do so we are very appreciative of that! REBECCA... haha has worked her butt off as well. Clearly anyone who knows Rebecca knows she is a hard worker and will help you above and beyond what you consider great help. The amount of work he have put in so far has added a nice pretty penny of value to the house. And thats the plan. The colours we (I) have chose are BEAUTIFUL! I don't think Drew fully appreciated my style and sense of direction when I came to choosing a flow with the house. When I walked in he was THRILLED to show me how the paint looked in our master bedroom. I COULD CRY.... yes it looks that good. I like colour.... but most of it in the neutrals. Very calming, classy colours!! Our house has four bedrooms and they are all pretty good sizes. We definitely lucked out with that. Everyone who has come by to see the house has make comments on how nice of shape the house is in.. and it is!!! Just it's not to my expectations. haha I guess I sound like a snot but you know me!!! I AM!! ohhh how we wish school was done with!!! But it's not and we have to do it a little at a time ... so that the plan... be smart with the bling bling!! I don't think I need to get into another money rants so... one day we will have some serious BLANG!!! Right now we are finishing the last coats on the walls and we are eager for that so we can replace the carpet in the bedrooms. NEW CARPET YAY!!!!! The rest of the house is hardwood and tile. I think the biggest exciting projects are the cabinets and the flooring for me. When the time comes we are refinish/repair the hardwood floors. I think my sister Jc is more excited then me... ALMOST!!! We share the same style and we can't wait for the day the house is all done.. well the parts we can't stand the most anyways!!! SO here are some pictures.... I know... doesn't really give you a GREAT idea or anything but they were taken at night and really don't do the place justice!!! OH HEY? hahah New light fixtures!!! YES!!!!... so hopefully the next time I can update you with whats going on with the roof and central ac unit. Till then... we will be pinching pennies as we always do...ever more so now!!

Our bedrooms!! THESE PICTURES DO NOT DO JUSTICE to how freaking good the rooms look. Newly painted ceilings, trim, crown molding, walls and NEW carpet (just in). Oh.. and new fixtures and light fixtures..........and we put in NEW central air and a NEW furnace!!!! ARENT WE JUST RICH!? Not.... hahah ANYWAYS the pictures aren't the best and and the colours are WAY MORE NICE.... ill have to get better ones.

It's Officially OFFICIAL!!!!!!!

IT'S OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL!!!!!!!!

AFTER ALMOST 4 months we are FINALLY closing on our house!!!!! To be honest, the ONLY reason why I haven't been keeping up with my blog was because I have been pretty stressed!!! And by stressed... I mean PISSED OFF!! Most of you know, or not... that before we were able to close our a/c unit was stolen. YA!!! THE WHOLE FRIGGIN THING!!! ... and they took their time. But before you think (or what I would be thinking if I were you) that we must live in a rough area.. we don't. Our house is in a very nice area in Memphis. Now when I mean nice... I mean there are stay away areas, bad areas, ok areas, nice areas, very nice areas and WE HOPE SOME DAY areas. So because our house was a foreclosure ( the people took a second loan on their house and couldn't pay it back) the trashy/po/druggie/thieves took their time and stripped out our a/c. I was a wee bit alarmed when I was told that because Memphis is no Golden city. And there was NO WAY I was going to be able to live somewhere I thought I could end up on an episode of Police Woman Of Memphis, or Crime 360 or anything else. But our relator assured us not to worry... apparently because of the economy the trashy/po/druggie/thieves have been getting gutsy and going anywhere and everywhere to steal what they can. One of her our houses had the same thing happen and she knows of others. SO.... thats when the issue started. We had to file a police report and wait for that to come back and then we had to contact HUD and see what was going to happen. Now it was been a COMPLETE NIGHTMARE closing on this house. For my health's sake I will not go into details because when I bring it up.... I only want to start making my list of people to light on fire for not being able to do their job correctly if at all. I can't tell you how many people I called. I lost count after 14. One of the biggest issues was they were ONLY going to give us $500 worth of credit. Clearly it was me who was going to deal with that issue because if anyone knows Jean Hall... it would be her to give someone hell before she would let my dad get the chance so after Drew told me I went to work. I was a shark towards people. Fast forward through all the ignored calls, mentally challenged people and the people who went to school/training for their only to successfully FAIL at it... I got what I wanted. After repeated no's and sorry not going to happen I (not to toot my own horn..TOOT TOOOOT) got us a $3500 difference... YES!!!!! We got $4000 credit to our mortgage. I must say when Drew got that call and called me and told me I KNEW this house was meant to be. Throughout this ordeal we seriously meditated over whether or not it was the right choice for us to buy this house. We felt pretty good most of the time, but obviously with any big purchase, we were nervous . SOOOO IF ALL GOES WELL we will close THIS FRIDAY!!!! SO FAR... there has been no hiccups though we wait for them to pop up. So we are OVER EXCITED to get into our own house. Drew and I have only lived on our own for three and a half months of our total marriage. We celebrated a year April 17th. We have been staying with Drew's parents who have been VERY kind and VERY generous with letting us stay here and helping us out. It was allowed us to save our money and reap the benefits of not having our own house. And it'll definitely lighten their stress load and house hold room with us moving out. But really they have been very generous and we are very thankful for allowing us to overtake their home and rooms with all our stuff. TRIX is especially grateful that she has had a home for her condo to stay in!!!! SOOOO we start the count down and can only pray that all closing goes well and we can move into our first home!!!