NSFJ: The Whole Nine Yards (or it felt like it at least)

Okay, so like most kids when I was a child and my parents slaved away in our front and back yards I thought they were nuts.  I figured that there was no way that manicuring a yard could possibly require every waking weekend hour.  Clearly my parents were just bored.  Seriously - how many sticks can there possibly be to pick up?  How many plants do you need to put out there? 

After this past weekend, I would like to apologize for my youthful misguidance.  Mom and Dad- you guys are superstars.  I think anyone who expends any effort in their yards deserves yard of the month.  Let me know and I will bring you a sign.  It is hard work!  (This is coming from yours truly who spent approximately half of the total yard effort's time looking at veils and picking out my Mom's wedding day attire.)

Last weekend since we were getting the house painted we decided- sure, why not go for a full homeowner badge and take care of some yard tasks?  The weather was nice.  My Dad agreed under the premise that he would get to use some tools.  All systems were go.  The plan for the day was for Ryan & my padre to remove 6 oleanders.  3 from the driveway which Ryan found offensive when he tried to get in and out of the passenger side of my vehicle.  3 from the backyard which I had vivid dreams of our future dog being poisoned by.   We removed slightly more than that, as you can see.

Jungle in a bag(s)



All in all I would consider it a highly successful weekend.  Our yard was de-jungled and only 1 sprinkler system and 1 cut cable (sorry neighbors!) fell victim to our methods.  This is all still CLEARLY a work in process but I figured that after their hard work, the boys deserved for me to post some pictures of their toils.  Thank you Mamacita, Daddio & Ryan for helping us all to rest easier knowing that my future dog will not choke on oleanders and not one more branch will harm Ryan's pretty head.  What greater success in life is there than knowing these things?

If you snooze you lose when it comes to before pictures.  This is where 3 of the oleanders used to live.  In a more vertical form.  Did I forget to mention the freeze killed them?

How many dudes does it take to dice up a branch?  Please note the chainsaw in the background.  No stitches were necessary.  This time.

After: Oleander free is the way to be. 

Backyard Before #1

Backyard Before #2

Hurricane Jiyan aftermath

Triumph

Lots o' trees.

After #1.  Some day this will be more finished looking.  For today I just like how much bigger it looks.

After #2.  Again - one day this will be more finished.  Like with grass.  I'm a big dreamer, what can I say?

NSFJ: Taste the Rainbow

When Ryan initially told me that we could hire someone to paint I told him I felt like it was Christmas.  He informed me we have different concepts of Christmas.  I realize now I was wrong- because this is like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one!  So perhaps I'm exaggerating slightly but I have been incredibly excited bout painting since we first officially bought the house.  Don't get me wrong, the lady before us had (IMHO) stellar decorating sense but I was definitely eager to put our stamp on the abode.  After all that is what makes it a home, right?  Oh, you think furniture does?  Pish posh.  ;c)

Without further ado, here are some before/afters of our empty little house. 

UPSTAIRS BATH
This is the room that Ryan and his Dad generously spent a weekend working on.  I unfortunately have no before pics except what I have from HAR.  So no, those belongings are not ours (nor is that precious child).  As you can see... it was very orange and very textured.  It is also the room that inspired Ryan to hire someone. 

Before

Former Color: Hook 'em Salmon

After

Martha Stewart Sandpiper

Kinda impossible to get good lighting in here but it's a beige-y cream.  How official does that sound?

ENTRY WAY
Previously this area was the same color as the living room.  We* decided to paint it a different color in hopes it would make it seem larger.  I'm not sure how successful that was, but I like it regardless.  A bonus to this area (and the kitchen) that evidences how amazing our painter was is that he hated our black doors as much as we did and decided to throw in there that he'd fix them for us!  (cue "Hallelujah" refrain)

Before

Gooooooooold!

Why did I have the door open?

After

Sherwin Williams Cottage Cream (the door is just primed, not painted)

During the day (bc I'm sure your curiosity was killing you)

LIVING ROOM
Not much explaining to do here.  This is the living room.  Ryan's future most prized posession will one day reside here. 

Before

Former Color:  Mmmm... mustard(ish)

Yay yellow

After

Sherwin Williams Harmonic Tan.  (Note Ryan's "coffee table" in the bottom of the screen)

I'm pretty in love with this color.  That bannister though... (earmuffs Ryan)

KITCHEN
Okay, we* had the worst time deciding what color to do the kitchen.  I wasn't really opposed to the chocolate color it was before but thought while we were at it- why not?  This became a huge fiasco.  If you ask yourself why not, perhaps the real question is why.  The original color we chose got painted and it was not awesome, my friends.  Thankfully our painter was kind enough to come back and fix it Friday.  Thank heavens because I had an anxiety attack every time I walked into it.

Before

Chocolate-y delight

Blank slate

Sonic-y delight

Interim

Sherwin Williams Cottage Cream.  Nice color.  Not for our kitchen. 

This is all I have the heart to post.

After

Sherwin Williams Foothills

Chocolate brown out, dusty brown in

MASTER BEDROOM
Okay, so yes green is my favorite color.  However, I was not so much feeling it in this kind of volume.  It did grow on me, but I can't say I miss it too much. 

Before

Yeah... So I took some terrible pics of the master.  Trust me, it's very green.

Seriously, why did I take such terrible pics?

After

Sherwin Williams Mannered Gold.  I would describe this as Caramel.  Sherwin Williams, let me know if you need a paint namer.  I may have missed my calling.

BIG BEDROOM
Ryan's compromise with me to paint this room was that it had to stay whatever color I chose if we eventually use it for a bambino.  So, you will likely be seeing this color again in the future.  Unless I somehow win that battle.

Before

Neon.  Best left to the lights.

Lime-y

After

Sherwin Williams Baize Green

STUDY
This bad boy is the smallest of our bedrooms and I convinced Ryan it would make a good study.  He then convinced me that the formal living room would make a good game watching/video game room.  I think that he was the ultimate winner there. 

Before

Baby blue (with a side of chandelier & a random box)

After

Sherwin Williams Morning Fog.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  It's easily 1 of my 3 favorite colors we* picked.

DINING ROOM
I have saved my favorite for last.  This was the room I decided on the color for and mentally planned out in my head first.  Unfortunately it's probably lowest on the totem pole in terms of priority for getting furniture.  Boooo.  Some day hopefully my little vision will come to life.  In the meantime, I like how it came out.

Before

More gold.  :c)

After

Top: Sherwin Williams Bracing Blue, Bottom: Sherwin Williams Cottage Cream

Oh hey chair rail.  There you are!

Clearly these rooms are all works in progress and I'm sure this was of zero interest to most of you.  However, I think it will be fun to look back on in a few years when I can't remember what any of this looked like before.  Let me know if you need a painter!  Or if you want me to name paint colors for you... :c)

* I use this term loosely

Open for Business

Life Math 101:

1 amazing grill as a Christmas gift
+ ~ 15,000 (fuzzy math) gifts off of our registry
+ 1 miraculous weekend of freedom during busy season
= Family get-together.

So this weekend Ryan and I decided that it was time to put our party pants on and make our first attempt at repaying the Boarmans, Martins and Eastmans for the countless times they've had us over and fed us.  We also figured they were a good trial run as they have no choice but to love us.  :c)  In order to distract from the missing furniture in 6 of our rooms (and the fact that the lawn men aren't coming until Monday) we made sure that the gathering included ample adult beverages.

Chef Ryan grilled some mean burgers, hotdogs and brats.  I made enough guacamole to feed Brendan (FYI: when it comes to guacamole Brendan trumps a small army). We all hung out, watched the tourney line up, made Julie an audio tag line using the vocal stylings of T-Pain, witnessed Ryan's flashlight dreams come true and enjoyed each others company (awwwww). Thank you all for coming out and hopefully we did not poison you.  We love each of you. 

Pretty new grill..

Julie & Jen's relationship continues to unfold.  From the chocolate bar to sharing cocktails.  I think this one really has potential!

Mr. Martin, Tiff & Ryan.  Ryan wears the spikey palm well.

Matt manning the iPad.

Chris Johnson.  A Gentleman AND a scholor.  Ladies, don't delay.

Kylie in her swing...

...and Jimmy James in his.

Teaser for coming posts:  after his foray into painting (...our textured bathroom...) Ryan talked himself into hiring someone to paint for us.  That means that a NSFJ post is just around the corner.  I bet you won't be able to sleep, will you?!