Let the craziness begin!

Ok, so it started with this...

The previous fixture cracked under the heat of the bulbs or something and I knew I wanted an island light there anyway since after all it is over the island. I found this one that went well with the chandelier I replaced the other kitchen light fixture with some time ago. . (oh and that one fixture over the sink totally has to go.)

Then it went on to this, the porch light, I needed to replace the glass yet again because last Christmas when I was hooking up the lights it fell and broke. While I was at it, I also changed the front door knob and deadbolt.

But then, I did something wild and crazy!! (wild and crazy because my budget ran out on my job and I am currently unemployed until the new budget comes in who knows when.) I started doing this:

I really wanted to do this when we moved in but I didn't think it was really possible. Hubs is the one who told me it would be oh so easy to do and that it was a do it yourself project so finally, I decided it was time that I do it myself!

I had imagined it would be pretty dusty because we live in a perpetual dirt storm area or so it seems. But I was in no way prepared for what I found. Those spots up there are actually cat urine spots and it didn't come from any of my cats! It was so gross that I had to wonder how it was legal to sell property in such shape. I couldn't believe the nastiness of the carpet especially since I have a heated deep steam cleaner that I use regularly. The dirt! I couldn't get over that either. The dirt you see above is from one section! So wrong!

I have about a third of the living room carpet yet to pull up and then it's on to the primer, adhesive and tile laying. I can't wait and I am sooooo happy I have finally done this. I can't wait to get the rest of this nasty carpet pulled up from the parts that are left but I am afraid I will have to wait until I get a new budget. lol

P.S. We have a new "family member" on it's way right now as I type. We are so excited. I will post more later after it arrives and I get it installed. Of course, if all that happens before the kid's therapy session!

So excited!!!!

At times, I can't believe it lasted that long...

Thirteen long years... I so carefully researched it back then and was so proud because it was purchased by me with scholarship money I had earned myself.

I have to admit I was shocked, I had put a cup of DH's tea in to reheat and when I came back I thought it was done. But, when I pulled out the cup it was only half warm. I assumed that I had put it in for too short of time but then I realized when the light didn't turn on when I opened the door something was wrong. I tried the plug...nada.

I have to admit this happened last week and I was in a state of denial. I mean I knew it was 13 years old but... I still have it in the kitchen. I have been putting off throwing it out. It was part of my first "major" purchase for the rest of my life. (Major because I was a teen buying appliances, Ohmygosh! )

Believe it or not this microwave helped me find my voice. I stood up to my suite mate (yep, not even my roommate but a girl who stayed across the bathroom) over it. It was the beginning of the end up people stepping all over me and I remember purchasing it at Montgomery Wards and I remember everything the day I used my voice for that first time.

Of course, I had my complaints about it too. The popcorn button was always not quite right with the time (but which ones are?) after the kids came it was waaaaay to small. I couldn't even fit a small sized mixing bowl in it.

So, I finally broke down and bought a new one. Meet the new one:

It's HUGE!, shiny, beautiful, and has all these cool settings. (That's what happens when you get something from the latest decade, I guess.) I was hesitant to make the purchase because it wasn't in my plans or budget. But... I heat up DH's tea everyday. I make TV dinners on Wednesday's for the kids because they have catechism. I wanted to make a hot ham and cheese sandwich on the last croissant and I couldn't. We started to realize just how much we counted on my dear old microwave.

I just set it up this morning and have yet to use it. I've been staring at it and I am in awe of its size. I could fit an entire turkey in there! I'm sure the novelty of it will wear off and the size won't be such a big deal, but for now...please excuse me while I go force myself to throw out the old one and reminiscence over my single days where dinners were Popcorn, Success Rice, Cup o' Noodles or Budget Gourmet .