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| From 2009 |
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| From 2009 |
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| From 2009 |
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| From 2009 |
Thursday, August 27, 2009
For Audrey
Rachel, I hope you and Audrey like this! I tried to put a bit of Cinderella into it! Can you tell the paper is Silver? I was going to do silver and gold, but the gold looked brown next to the pretty blue. Now onto Janie's! I am excited for hers too because I LOVE pink and green together
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Fulfilling the measure of its creation
I have finally found the dining table I want! I have struggled with what I want in a dining table forever! Searched and searched! I liked, literally, nothing! I don't like the grand formal dining tables with all the swirls and curlies. I like a straight strong looking table. I wanted something that would expand for when we have company, but it couldn't start out too large because we do still have a small dining area.
So finally I have found it! This is it!
I think that our $100 Walmart, teeny, tiny table has served its purpose and definitely fulfilled the measure of its creation! Now to save up for the new table!
So finally I have found it! This is it!
I think that our $100 Walmart, teeny, tiny table has served its purpose and definitely fulfilled the measure of its creation! Now to save up for the new table!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Children are Hilarious!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bloggin about it all!
If you don't care to hear me ramble you don't have to read this one! I won't be offended! I just need to ramble, and if anyone does read it and responds with advice it will be appreciated!
Now where to begin my ramble....
Brian and I are looking into purchasing a house! We are still on the fence about the whole thing. We can't make ourselves commit to doing it. We have yet to talk to a realtor or loan person just because we don't want to feel rushed into the decision. Instead we have been driving around looking at MLS listings and Model homes for new construction. THe thing that really tempts us is that we could get into owning a home for about the same we are paying in rent now and sometimes depending on the home and area it would be less! Plus, very tempting, is the government tax credit if you purchase a home before Nov 30 2009 - that is $8000! Plus some of the new construction homes we have looked at are dropping their prices $20,000. Quite the incentive!
We do like our current apartment! Its gorgeous and just about the right size for now! However, we have decided to try for baby #3!! So we could squeeze a little one into the bedroom with the girls for a little while, but soon we would need a bigger place anyway. So if we would be moving soon anyway - we might as well move on up in the world and actually purchase.
Our price range is limited, mostly by us wanting to keep our payment lower than what we currently pay. So that also limits our location options. We seem to have to look towards the very west of West Jordan, but if we wanted to go even lower the best option we have found right now is Tooele. We have even considered moving up to Davis county, Bountiful or Woods Cross area.
So here are some of the options we have looked at:
West Jordan townhome with Ivory Homes. Its on the same road we are on now, just further west but still about the same distance for us to our current shopping area of choice. 1500 sq ft or more finished, but also has an unfinished basement that we could finish up and add 2-3 more bedrooms into for future or even guests. Great layout and they are gorgeous models. This is our most expensive option. They however, match the governments $8000 with another $8000. They offer a 4.9% loan but that has 3 points on the front. The question remains what could we actually get because the models apparently have TONS of upgrades so if we upgrade it may put us out of our price range. Lets face it I am picky about my kitchen! Ooo and I have read some really bad reviews about Ivory Homes -some where people have to change out their roof in less than 5 years!
Even further out in West Jordan townhome with Bach Homes. Still on the same road, but all the way to the end of roads in west Jordan. About the same sq ft wise still with a basement, and a lot cheaper but they show without any upgrades so once again if I upgrade will it be out of my price range. Not my favorite of layouts, but do-able. No $8000 match incentive, but the price is $8000 cheaper for sure! There are only a few left to build in this area so it'd have to be our quickest decision!
There are some Ivory homes up in Davis county that are the same as the West Jordan - we haven't looked at them since the look would be the same, but I think the price would probably be different.
Then there are the FIeldstone homes that we looked at previously. They are in Tooele or Magna. Tooele is a little out there. We would still be on the close side of Tooele though. Its about 25 minutes from Brian's work to the housesites. The girl was great and answered all of our questions. The benefit of Tooele is that they just came down $20-$30 thousand in price and its an actual home! Not a townhome! Of course, that could be a negative too. I'll discuss that later. They are huge! We could get it with or without a basement at a price. We could get a home with 3-4 or even 5 bedrooms then add in a basement if we finish it up it could add 6 and 7 bedrooms. The space is huge, but the layout of the construction really isn't the most creative of layouts. Fieldstone is about the square footage not really the aesthetic. But as I said a real live house that we could grow into for quite awhile. Once again they start very basic in their model homes so we get to see the base which is nice. But I wonder how much it would cost for the upgrades. I want tile or pergo, not linoleum, and I want better looking cabinets than the base models show. But these homes are our cheapest option, plus they have what is called a rural loan in that area so we'd get an even cheaper interest rate. And they have a $5000 incentive that we could use for our closing costs or to put back into the home for upgrades.
Comparing a townhome to a single family home:
I see a lot of benefits to a townhome. We would not have to take care of the exterior yet. I don't know if Brian is ready for it - mowing and all that is not his thing. Plus the exterior of the house would be taken care of by someone else - also a big benefit. Yes we pay an HOA fee, but I almost see that as worth it when you look at the stuff they do that I wouldn't have to worry about.
But with a single family home we would get a front and back yard and we would actually own the land and the house. With Fieldstone they include finishing the front yard, but not the back. So that would be our responsibility to get grass and planting what we'd want. Also I'd want a fence in place so the girls would be "safe" in my anxiety ridden mind! And then after the home is ours we are responsible for all of it! Making it presentable, if something breaks at all we HAVE to fix it! I am aware of all of those possible expenses and they worry me. Last night I was even sitting there thinking about how we would have to pay someone to come spray for bugs because there will be bugs!
In our current apartment we pay electricty, gas and water, sewer, and trash. So I feel like I'm prepared for the bills in that aspect. I'm also aware that if Brian doesn't want to do the lawn we'd have to pay someone (or if Brian does we'd have to buy a mower). Then as I mentioned I also know about paying for bug spraying. And getting the fence and backyard work in place. Then I also know about having to maintain all of the appliances and air conditioner and furnace. I know about those things. I also know about the property tax in that area including the insurance on the home we'd have to have.
Am I missing anything?? I feel like even with knowing all of this stuff I am still going to wind up being surprised by something I am now responsible for that I didn't know was coming!
Ooo something negative about Tooele that I just found out is there is not a hospital out there that our insurance covers. There is a hospital if there was an emergency about 2 minutes down the road but its not ours so it would be a higher copay etc. But if I have a baby I have to drive all the way to Murray for that. There are plenty of doctors under our plan just no hospital!
Is there anything else I'm missing??
I just don't know!
I do know that I want a house with upgrades so that is where my biggest pause comes in because I'm picky and probably snobby and maybe its immaturity, but I want a house that I want because its a giant purchase!
Now where to begin my ramble....
Brian and I are looking into purchasing a house! We are still on the fence about the whole thing. We can't make ourselves commit to doing it. We have yet to talk to a realtor or loan person just because we don't want to feel rushed into the decision. Instead we have been driving around looking at MLS listings and Model homes for new construction. THe thing that really tempts us is that we could get into owning a home for about the same we are paying in rent now and sometimes depending on the home and area it would be less! Plus, very tempting, is the government tax credit if you purchase a home before Nov 30 2009 - that is $8000! Plus some of the new construction homes we have looked at are dropping their prices $20,000. Quite the incentive!
We do like our current apartment! Its gorgeous and just about the right size for now! However, we have decided to try for baby #3!! So we could squeeze a little one into the bedroom with the girls for a little while, but soon we would need a bigger place anyway. So if we would be moving soon anyway - we might as well move on up in the world and actually purchase.
Our price range is limited, mostly by us wanting to keep our payment lower than what we currently pay. So that also limits our location options. We seem to have to look towards the very west of West Jordan, but if we wanted to go even lower the best option we have found right now is Tooele. We have even considered moving up to Davis county, Bountiful or Woods Cross area.
So here are some of the options we have looked at:
West Jordan townhome with Ivory Homes. Its on the same road we are on now, just further west but still about the same distance for us to our current shopping area of choice. 1500 sq ft or more finished, but also has an unfinished basement that we could finish up and add 2-3 more bedrooms into for future or even guests. Great layout and they are gorgeous models. This is our most expensive option. They however, match the governments $8000 with another $8000. They offer a 4.9% loan but that has 3 points on the front. The question remains what could we actually get because the models apparently have TONS of upgrades so if we upgrade it may put us out of our price range. Lets face it I am picky about my kitchen! Ooo and I have read some really bad reviews about Ivory Homes -some where people have to change out their roof in less than 5 years!
Even further out in West Jordan townhome with Bach Homes. Still on the same road, but all the way to the end of roads in west Jordan. About the same sq ft wise still with a basement, and a lot cheaper but they show without any upgrades so once again if I upgrade will it be out of my price range. Not my favorite of layouts, but do-able. No $8000 match incentive, but the price is $8000 cheaper for sure! There are only a few left to build in this area so it'd have to be our quickest decision!
There are some Ivory homes up in Davis county that are the same as the West Jordan - we haven't looked at them since the look would be the same, but I think the price would probably be different.
Then there are the FIeldstone homes that we looked at previously. They are in Tooele or Magna. Tooele is a little out there. We would still be on the close side of Tooele though. Its about 25 minutes from Brian's work to the housesites. The girl was great and answered all of our questions. The benefit of Tooele is that they just came down $20-$30 thousand in price and its an actual home! Not a townhome! Of course, that could be a negative too. I'll discuss that later. They are huge! We could get it with or without a basement at a price. We could get a home with 3-4 or even 5 bedrooms then add in a basement if we finish it up it could add 6 and 7 bedrooms. The space is huge, but the layout of the construction really isn't the most creative of layouts. Fieldstone is about the square footage not really the aesthetic. But as I said a real live house that we could grow into for quite awhile. Once again they start very basic in their model homes so we get to see the base which is nice. But I wonder how much it would cost for the upgrades. I want tile or pergo, not linoleum, and I want better looking cabinets than the base models show. But these homes are our cheapest option, plus they have what is called a rural loan in that area so we'd get an even cheaper interest rate. And they have a $5000 incentive that we could use for our closing costs or to put back into the home for upgrades.
Comparing a townhome to a single family home:
I see a lot of benefits to a townhome. We would not have to take care of the exterior yet. I don't know if Brian is ready for it - mowing and all that is not his thing. Plus the exterior of the house would be taken care of by someone else - also a big benefit. Yes we pay an HOA fee, but I almost see that as worth it when you look at the stuff they do that I wouldn't have to worry about.
But with a single family home we would get a front and back yard and we would actually own the land and the house. With Fieldstone they include finishing the front yard, but not the back. So that would be our responsibility to get grass and planting what we'd want. Also I'd want a fence in place so the girls would be "safe" in my anxiety ridden mind! And then after the home is ours we are responsible for all of it! Making it presentable, if something breaks at all we HAVE to fix it! I am aware of all of those possible expenses and they worry me. Last night I was even sitting there thinking about how we would have to pay someone to come spray for bugs because there will be bugs!
In our current apartment we pay electricty, gas and water, sewer, and trash. So I feel like I'm prepared for the bills in that aspect. I'm also aware that if Brian doesn't want to do the lawn we'd have to pay someone (or if Brian does we'd have to buy a mower). Then as I mentioned I also know about paying for bug spraying. And getting the fence and backyard work in place. Then I also know about having to maintain all of the appliances and air conditioner and furnace. I know about those things. I also know about the property tax in that area including the insurance on the home we'd have to have.
Am I missing anything?? I feel like even with knowing all of this stuff I am still going to wind up being surprised by something I am now responsible for that I didn't know was coming!
Ooo something negative about Tooele that I just found out is there is not a hospital out there that our insurance covers. There is a hospital if there was an emergency about 2 minutes down the road but its not ours so it would be a higher copay etc. But if I have a baby I have to drive all the way to Murray for that. There are plenty of doctors under our plan just no hospital!
Is there anything else I'm missing??
I just don't know!
I do know that I want a house with upgrades so that is where my biggest pause comes in because I'm picky and probably snobby and maybe its immaturity, but I want a house that I want because its a giant purchase!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Credit for the Birthday Banner
I completely forgot to give credit where credit was due on the birthday banner I made for Gwen's party. I found it on Nannygoat. The instructions are great, plus you can look at another one she did awhile ago to get two different ideas.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
These made me laugh!
On our way home from Oklahoma Naomi was in the back watching "The Little Mermaid". It was pretty late, and she should have been asleep but was just not. She decided to announce to Brian and I that I have boobs just like the Little Mermaid! Yes that is what she said "Boobs just like the Little Mermaid"! Cracked us up!
Two days ago we had a friend over with a month old baby. The baby started to cry and Gwen ran right over to the car seat and grabbed her binky and then shoved it into her mouth. This is funny to me because Gwen never had a binky so I don't even know how she knows what it is for! Or how to locate it in the baby's car seat for that matter!
Yesterday I was in Provo with my friend Beth. We went out to eat. I asked Naomi what she would like: a hamburger, chicken nuggets, or a grilled cheese. I explained that they all came with french fries and a drink. Her response was, "Umm, I think I want a burger, but I'll eat the fries, but I won't eat the burger." So we got her the grilled cheese! Cracked us up!
Two days ago we had a friend over with a month old baby. The baby started to cry and Gwen ran right over to the car seat and grabbed her binky and then shoved it into her mouth. This is funny to me because Gwen never had a binky so I don't even know how she knows what it is for! Or how to locate it in the baby's car seat for that matter!
Yesterday I was in Provo with my friend Beth. We went out to eat. I asked Naomi what she would like: a hamburger, chicken nuggets, or a grilled cheese. I explained that they all came with french fries and a drink. Her response was, "Umm, I think I want a burger, but I'll eat the fries, but I won't eat the burger." So we got her the grilled cheese! Cracked us up!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Gwen is 2!!!
Today was Gwen's 2nd birthday party! I had a ton of fun planning it, and I think it turned out quite well! We had some great friends come to join us in celebrating, but I did not get any pictures of those friends. So thank you to the Claysons, Beth, Hickmans, and Ubertis! Gwen had a great time!
First I have to thank Joan at Bitsy Creations for the wonderful invitations that she did for me! She is super fast and does wonderful work! I love everything she does! She's also a great friend of mine! Those blemishes are not her doing, I smudged out my address so its not on this public website.
I made the sign myself!
And I made this one - and the giant 2.
Can't forget to post the hanging chinese lanterns that Brian complained about every time he hit his head.
Tiny details -
Candy galore
I made the cake, triple layer, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla with an orange buttercream frosting.
The whole spread.
Homemade lemonade, grilled cheese and grilled cheese and tomato, cucumber sandwiches, and PB&J for the kids
Homemade guacamole and store bought wraps (these were my least favorite thing)
Birthday Girl!
Excited big Sis!
Singing, don't blow yet!
Keep waiting - sorry Brian for the bad picture!
Yay! Good job! She actually did it all by herself after a few tries.
Its always a good sign when people eat it!
We asked for no gifts for the party so we opened the presents after the party!
How do I play with this dumb thing? She liked it a lot once the plastic was off!
Now for the big one!
I love the suspense of little kids opening presents! Its hilarious!
Is it a good one?
And its in another stupid box!
Finally!
First I have to thank Joan at Bitsy Creations for the wonderful invitations that she did for me! She is super fast and does wonderful work! I love everything she does! She's also a great friend of mine! Those blemishes are not her doing, I smudged out my address so its not on this public website.
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| From 2009 |
I made the sign myself!
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| From 2009 |
And I made this one - and the giant 2.
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| From 2009 |
Can't forget to post the hanging chinese lanterns that Brian complained about every time he hit his head.
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| From 2009 |
Tiny details -
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| From 2009 |
Candy galore
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| From 2009 |
I made the cake, triple layer, vanilla, chocolate, vanilla with an orange buttercream frosting.
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| From 2009 |
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| From 2009 |
The whole spread.
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| From 2009 |
Homemade lemonade, grilled cheese and grilled cheese and tomato, cucumber sandwiches, and PB&J for the kids
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| From 2009 |
Homemade guacamole and store bought wraps (these were my least favorite thing)
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| From 2009 |
Birthday Girl!
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| From 2009 |
Excited big Sis!
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| From 2009 |
Singing, don't blow yet!
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| From 2009 |
Keep waiting - sorry Brian for the bad picture!
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| From 2009 |
Yay! Good job! She actually did it all by herself after a few tries.
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| From 2009 |
Its always a good sign when people eat it!
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| From 2009 |
We asked for no gifts for the party so we opened the presents after the party!
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| From 2009 |
How do I play with this dumb thing? She liked it a lot once the plastic was off!
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| From 2009 |
Now for the big one!
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| From 2009 |
I love the suspense of little kids opening presents! Its hilarious!
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| From 2009 |
Is it a good one?
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| From 2009 |
And its in another stupid box!
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| From 2009 |
Finally!
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| From 2009 |
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| From 2009 |
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Apartment Pictures!!!
Finally we got that last shelf up! I kept telling myself to just post some of the pictures and do it in segments, but I really just wanted to do it all at once. I seriously took pictures of everything so hopefully it will be like a little walking tour. Warning: there will be a lot of pictures to follow!
Exterior, that is our garage!
Welcome!
Inside of Front door, to the right is the hallway closet!
Hallway to girls' bathroom, the door on the left is the hallway closet next to the front door
Girls' Bathroom, Naomi and I argued over this bathroom forever. She wanted pink, I did not, but we compromised on the shower curtain. The majority of the decor is a Naomi original!
Note the princess stuff. I should have retaken this one because there is a pretty clock on the wall now that just fits perfectly!
Close up detail of decorative towels.
Dining area, front door is to the left, the wall with the giant clock will eventually be a WALL of clocks
Dining area from kitchen
Laundry room, I love this laundry room!!
The BEST part! The Kitchen!!! Door leads to the garage
Garage and naked baby
Living room which is all open to the kitchen and dining, just the way I like it!
This is the long awaited shelf, I love it, but still feel like something is missing in this area, any suggestions? I was thinking of maybe a tall plant or giant vase with bamboo or reeds in it?
Patio, no furniture yet, but I would love some nice asian inspired chairs and a table with a large bamboo plant and red hanging lanterns!
View, that used to be train tracks, but is now a road that leads into the complex, soon there will be all new landscaping and a sidewalk back here
Girls room: its a surprise since its not completely finished yet. You see the couch to the left, so if it all connects properly, the girls room is right next to the front door.
Sneak Peak of girls' room. I painted that! This is going to be the pattern throughout the room.
Master
More Master
Office within Master Bedroom. It seems unfinished to me here too. I am contemplating buying a second table just like this one so that the desk runs the full length of the wall from the bookshelf to the door. Then we will have more working space. This is also before I tied all of the cords below the desk together - I hate stray cords! They are just so ugly!
Giant walk in closet or Giant mess, Closet is to the left when you walk into the master, there is a hallway there that has the closet and then goes into the master bathroom.
Oh yeah, I took a picture of the hallway!
Master Bathroom, this is Brian's choice of colors, he wanted it as dark as it could be.
Brooklyn Bridge inspired
Close up detail on towels
Master Bathtub, the girls and I played in here after we went swimming. We all fit quite nicely!
And Naomi's new shoes! I love them; they are airwalks! So cute on her!
And that concludes our tour for today!
Any critiques and/or suggestions are welcome! =o)
Exterior, that is our garage!
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| From 2009 |
Welcome!
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| From 2009 |
Inside of Front door, to the right is the hallway closet!
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| From 2009 |
Hallway to girls' bathroom, the door on the left is the hallway closet next to the front door
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| From 2009 |
Girls' Bathroom, Naomi and I argued over this bathroom forever. She wanted pink, I did not, but we compromised on the shower curtain. The majority of the decor is a Naomi original!
 |
| From 2009 |
Note the princess stuff. I should have retaken this one because there is a pretty clock on the wall now that just fits perfectly!
 |
| From 2009 |
Close up detail of decorative towels.
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| From 2009 |
Dining area, front door is to the left, the wall with the giant clock will eventually be a WALL of clocks
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| From 2009 |
Dining area from kitchen
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| From 2009 |
Laundry room, I love this laundry room!!
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| From 2009 |
The BEST part! The Kitchen!!! Door leads to the garage
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| From 2009 |
Garage and naked baby
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| From 2009 |
Living room which is all open to the kitchen and dining, just the way I like it!
 |
| From 2009 |
This is the long awaited shelf, I love it, but still feel like something is missing in this area, any suggestions? I was thinking of maybe a tall plant or giant vase with bamboo or reeds in it?
 |
| From 2009 |
Patio, no furniture yet, but I would love some nice asian inspired chairs and a table with a large bamboo plant and red hanging lanterns!
 |
| From 2009 |
View, that used to be train tracks, but is now a road that leads into the complex, soon there will be all new landscaping and a sidewalk back here
 |
| From 2009 |
Girls room: its a surprise since its not completely finished yet. You see the couch to the left, so if it all connects properly, the girls room is right next to the front door.
 |
| From 2009 |
Sneak Peak of girls' room. I painted that! This is going to be the pattern throughout the room.
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| From 2009 |
Master
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| From 2009 |
More Master
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| From 2009 |
Office within Master Bedroom. It seems unfinished to me here too. I am contemplating buying a second table just like this one so that the desk runs the full length of the wall from the bookshelf to the door. Then we will have more working space. This is also before I tied all of the cords below the desk together - I hate stray cords! They are just so ugly!
 |
| From 2009 |
Giant walk in closet or Giant mess, Closet is to the left when you walk into the master, there is a hallway there that has the closet and then goes into the master bathroom.
 |
| From 2009 |
Oh yeah, I took a picture of the hallway!
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| From 2009 |
Master Bathroom, this is Brian's choice of colors, he wanted it as dark as it could be.
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| From 2009 |
Brooklyn Bridge inspired
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| From 2009 |
Close up detail on towels
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| From 2009 |
Master Bathtub, the girls and I played in here after we went swimming. We all fit quite nicely!
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| From 2009 |
And Naomi's new shoes! I love them; they are airwalks! So cute on her!
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| From 2009 |
And that concludes our tour for today!
Any critiques and/or suggestions are welcome! =o)
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