the basement project

The Hubby and I have been talking about finishing the basement.
We've been talking about it since we moved in
a year and a half ago.

Hubby has finished the basements of all our previous houses.
He's a do-it-his-self kinda guy.

Paying someone to do something he can do himself would drive him crazy.
Or at least that's what he says.
I've never witnessed it.
He has ALWAYS done everything himself.

But with the amount of time he is working here in Chicago, he hasn't had the time.

And I was getting sick and tired of getting sent to my room.

That's what usually happened when the kids had friends over.
Trying to not be the hovering mom can feel like punishment sometimes.

So we decided to do a "temporary fix".

He painted the floor with that garage floor paint (with sprinkles- just like a party).
He hung painters drop cloths to separate the storage and workshop areas.
Then we unpacked all our old basement furniture and junk.


Notice on the left that Tony has taped a goal on one of the drop cloths.


We bought a used pool table off Craig's List.
and set out the old foosball table.

The only other thing we bought was a used mini fridge from the Hubbies work.

And now we've decided that this might not be so temporary.

It's sure is nice not having to worry about kids wrecking the basement you just spent thousands of dollars finishing.

We've had some experience with that too.

Like when one of them spilt a giant glass of chocolate milk all over the new carpet down stairs and "forget" to tell anyone (but somehow realized it was a good idea to move a chair over the spot to cover it). Then they do nothing about it until we all start to notice this horrible smell coming from the basement.

Anyhoo, everyone has been spending a lot of time down there.

Everyone, except Ace.

Ace still finds the kitty litter box to be full of treats that are too tempting to resist.

To him, this is just an unexplained torture.

Life is so unfair.

A beautiful fall Saturday

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in the Chicago burbs.

It was sunny, with a few of those fluffy clouds.

You know, the kind that you can spend hours looking at if you've got nothing better to do and see clouds that look like people or things.

Which is a good idea for me because some of my friends are concerned that I'm spending too much time looking a puppy poo.

Anywho, back to yesterday, it was chilly but a nice kind of fall chilly. You know, the kind where you throw on a sweatshirt and you're glad cuz you get to cover up those extra few pounds you've gained since you switched from "summer grilling foods" to "fall comfort foods".

Because of the sunshine, the trees looked glorious! All the colors were bright and stunning. We've got to be close to peaking as far as the fall colors go.

The Hubs seemed to be back on his "I'm not letting Tori touch anything that has to do with decorating" kick again.

I "watched" him paint the kitchen. I offer a million times to help. But he always had an excuse. "Nah, I've got to cut in over here yet...." or "why don't you run to Lowe's and get another roller....".

I'm starting to wonder if I messed up when I helped paint the living room. It was my one and only time I've ever painted. Maybe he's upset because when he showed me how to roll the paint and first make a "W" and mine looked a little more like a "V".

I don't know.

I'm not gonna complain. Painting wasn't that much fun anyways.

So I did some laundry, cleaned a little, gave the pup a bath, and told my Hubby how hot he looks when he paints multiple times.

But I still needed something else to do. So I took Tony and his buddy over to the doughnut farm.

Yeah, you heard me right. The doughnut farm. I'm sure there's one near you. They have them everywhere.

They grow these amazing cinnamon sugar coated apple cider doughnuts.

If you go at the right time, they are all warm from just being picked off the doughnut trees in the warm fall sun.

Being that it was a beautiful sunny day yesterday, Tony and I were pretty sure we'd be able to snag some of these warm ones.

So we drove out past the burbs to this gigantic doughnut farm.

It was packed like I have never seen in Michigan. I don't think there are as many doughnut farms near the burbs so when you find one, it's a busy place.

There were 2 fields full of parked cars (and I was thinking to myself what a waste of some perfectly good land that could be used for more doughnut trees) plus 2 more parking lots near the store where you pay for your doughnuts.

I was quite annoyed by the people milling around. I just wanted to pull up front and get my doughnuts and leave. Of course there were people there for the corn maze. And silly people there buying apples and pumpkins.

"Pumpkins schumpkins" and apples?....you can buy those anywhere! I wanted to roll down my window and scream at these people "Get out of my way!!! We are here for the warm doughnuts!!! Yes, I will run you and your stroller over if you don't move!!"

To save time I dropped Tony and his friend at the door and circled the over crowded parking lot. The whole time I was drooling in anticipation.

And Oh! was it worth it!

Are these not THE most beautiful things you have ever seen?!!

I brewed up a pot of coffee and made my own little pumpkins latte thanks to a wonderful place called Trader Joes





I know your probably laughing at my sugar free creamer (it reminds me of working at an ice cream shop when I was a teen and people would come in and order a huge sundae and then say "No whip cream, I'm on a diet!") but what can I say? With my creamer to coffee ratio, if I use the regular stuff, I not only get a caffeine buzz but a sugar buzz. And those are not fun to come down off of! (btw- 55cal; 1gm fat; 9gm sugar; 11 carbs-not bad compaired to the other ways of getting your pumpkin spiced coffees!)

What a lovely fall day. My only regret?
We only bought one dozen.

But today looks like it's gonna be sunny again!

kitchen project

Today we are going to start working on the kitchen.

We are trying to get rid of the off-white theme that the previous owners carried through the entire house.

Everywhere that they could have chose a color when they built this house, they chose off-white. Every inch of paint, the tile in the bathrooms, the carpet, and the counter tops. Everywhere.

The kitchen counter tops are a nice material, it's Corian. But it's off-white, of course.

I don't think I would dislike them so much if I wasn't looking at so much off-white constantly.

So Hubby and I picked out a glass tile back splash. I would have loved to do something really colorful and bold, but then what if I hate it a year from now? So I toned down my color aspirations a little.

We found one that we both like (which is a miracle in itself). It has the same sage green as our living room couches (which connects to the kitchen). A touch of brown that is the same color as our cabinets. A touch of silver that looks nice with the stainless steal appliances. And a butter cream yellow.

The yellow is the only color I'm concerned about. The Hubby will be painting the kitchen that color first and then putting up the tile.

I don't mind yellow, I'm just afraid it's too close to all the off-white that is every where.

But here is where I trust the Dear Hubs and his decorating abilities again.

I guess he did okay with the living room....

We also have a new kitchen table and chairs on order. The old one will go into storage for Nae. It won't be much longer and she will be graduated from college and setting up her own place (sigh).

We will paint this weekend and the Hubs will do the tile while I'm in Florida (I know kinda spoiled ehhh?).

So I'll post some pics when it's all done. Have a great weekend!

doing as I'm told

Yesterday, my hubby said something I never, ever thought I would hear him say.

As he was leaving for work, he yelled over his shoulder "make sure you blog today!" and then closed the door.

After I recovered my senses and picked myself off the floor, I felt a little lost.

See, dear Hubby has been "disliking" my new blogging "habit" since it began. I have many witnesses to this fact. He is pretty vocal about it. His coworkers know all about it, family, friends. They have all heard my hubby rant about my blog. One of my girlfriends didn't believe me, but after she spent a little time around my hubby she said "Wow, you weren't exaggerating about you Hubby!". But I've kept going, hoping that one day he'll warm up to my new hobby. There are so many good reasons for me to keep blogging.

Reasons why Tori should keep blogging:

1. It's cheap. When I compare his hobby of golfing to my blogging, well, that's a "no brainer"

2. It updates the family and friends back home on our move to Illinois (my original reason for starting this thing).

3. It gives him complete control over the TV remote in the evenings. I can sit and do "bloggie things" and he can watch whatever he wants (it is football season-hello?!).

4. It makes me happy and "if momma ain't happy", well you know the rest.

5. I could be doing worse like drinking, doing drugs, and having sex....wait that was one of
Mac's latest arguments, never mind.

So you're probably saying "He is giving you permission! Why are you giving us lists of why you should continue?".

See, I think dear Hubby is just being a little sneaky. After 19 years of marriage, I think he has finally figured out one of my, what I like to call, "little personality quirks" (I really do think it's taken him this long!).

I feel silly admitting this to everyone, because I'm sure I'm the only one out there that feels like this, but I have a problem with people telling me what to do. And it's gotten really bad. I originally thought it was something left over from my teenage rebellious years but then I began to notice it getting worse as I got older.

If you ask me to do something for you nicely, I don't seem to have a problem. But if I feel like you are telling me what to do, it's like a switch going off inside of me. It can be as simple as noticing a tone of the person asking or the way they word their request.

And it's not just dear Hubby that I have this problem with, it can be my kids, or friends, or anyone. It's definitely something that I'm trying to make better.

Now that I have completely made myself look like a nut case (what is it with me blogging about my previous well hidden quirks?), I think that is what dear Hubby is doing--pulling the whole "reverse psychology" thing.

Or he could just want me to post pictures of the living room paint job.

To show that the colors he picked were okay. (we still haven't got the curtain hung or the surround sound up but we are getting there)

And that I would like them. And he could say "I told you so" (which btw, is one of his "quirky little personality traits" that drives me crazy!)

We all have them. Right?

decorating hubby 2

We started painting the living room yesterday.

or I should say, dear Hubby started painting the living room yesterday. I painted my nails. That counts. Right?

Not sure if I like his color choice. When he reads this (which he doing now, btw--reading my blog, yes I'm amazed!!--it doesn't mean he likes it, but he's reading it) he will say that I chose it too.

But not really.

You know the story. And by now, I trust his decorating talents. Or maybe after this choice, I won't anymore. We'll see. I pointed out that the color matches my blog. Hubby rolled his eyes at me.

And Nae left this morning.

but not before I snapped a "first day of school" pic of her in front of the fireplace. Even though it won't be her first day for another week or so. I really did it cuz she was laughing at the other kids about having to get their pics taken on the first day of school. I told her she should stop or I'd do the same to her. She didn't so I'm just "making good on a threat" again. It's important to do that when parenting teens. Just so ya know.

*yes I know Nae isn't a teen anymore, but you have to be consistant for all of them*

....okay really I just wanted another picture of her....now ya know!

Don't mess with mama when she has a camera in her hand! That's what I always say....or at least that's what I say now.





sniff, sniff. Goodbye Nae, have a good senior year at U of M!




Goodbye little dependable packed car, you've been good to us....

Oh and one more thing. I heard my first coyote last night howling! I went outside to listen better and then heard some kids laughing so I thought it was a mistake but then I saw one right across the street from our house. Pretty cool!

decorating hubby

I'm gonna try and kill two birds with one stone with this post.

First, we finally had our living room furniture delivered...it has been on back order for like 1000 weeks....and my dad and step mom asked me to post pictures of it.

Second, a couple people asked me to explain something I said the other day in a post about my husband not allowing me to decorate...so you asked for it!

Here it is...not too exciting except it's nice to finally have a place to sit. We were using the kitchen table chairs and that wasn't too comfortable.

Hubby is in the process of installing a flat screen TV above the fireplace. Then we will need to paint and hang pictures. Everything feels kinda "thrown" in this room right now. Tony keeps begging us to move the this big TV into his room....I guess he really doesn't need a bed in there....

The kitties are already covering it with hair, so they seem to approve. We still haven't got our kitchen table....it will be another 10,000 weeks, I'm sure. I'm hoping this isn't the final layout of the room but after 19 years of marriage I've discovered I have very little say in the matter.

I think most women are a little jealous when I tell them that my husband deals in furniture. "Ohhh that must be nice!" "I think that would be better than a husband selling jewelry!" one woman said to me. I don't know...

See, my husband does ALL the decorating in our house. I don't do any of it. No, I'm not exaggerating! He picks all the furniture, all the paint, all the art, all the "nicknack's", everything. I picked a color of paint...once...my family lovingly renamed it "cat barf".

I used to try to argue with him, but I never won. For the first few years of our marriage it drove me crazy! My friends were all out shopping for their houses or putting on "painting clothes" and painting a room.....did you ever go to one of those house decorating parties?---I avoided them like the plague! And I didn't trust his judgement on decorating either. He would suggest something and I would think "that will look hideous!" but it never did. Eventually, I grew to trust him....and to let it go.

The only couch I had "say in" was the first couch we bought together in 1992. Since then I usually don't have any idea what he has ordered until it arrives (or he may get so excited that he can't wait and shows me a picture of it. I usually try to fake some excitement....""Wow honey that's such sweet lookin couch!"....I'm not a very good actress ). He ordered all new living room, office and kitchen furniture when we moved to South Carolina that I didn't see until we moved in. I guess it's all fine because honestly, I don't really get all that excited about decorating.

I did try to put my foot down this past week about one little decorating detail. See, Hubby doesn't like things to necessarily match. Like having a bunch of different end tables is ok with him. It's one thing that drives me crazy! He wants to keep two of our old tables and then he picked out two new tables (another end table and one table for the TV components). They didn't match and I hated them. I guess I was feeling a little feisty because I tried to argue about it. He even let me go into the warehouse and look around at the miles and miles of stacks of tables (I think he was just humoring me). I ended up giving up...as always.

The furniture arrived the morning that Lori was here so it was set up the way I thought looked good before we left for the city. Lori's comment was "It won't last" and it didn't.

Whenever I have company for the first time in my home I always get compliments on the decorating, so I guess he's doing a pretty good job....or maybe that's just something women say. Most of the time I will confess to them that my husband does all the decorating and they don't believe me....sometimes I just smile and say thank you.

I asked Hubby before I posted this if he was ok with me telling everyone about how he is a "decorating control freak"...ok I didn't really use those words. He says "I let you have some say" and I started laughing....and couldn't stop....and had to apologize for not being able to stop....and Hubby said "umm yeah, but I did let you pick paint for Bud's room". Which is a joke because Bud and I "picked" it while we still lived in Michigan, and then Hubby painted it. When we saw it and said it looked nice, Hubby admitted that he choose different "shades" so we really didn't pick it after all. Just shows how much attention I give to those kinds of things.

Ah well....

4th of july relaxation

We had our first visitors to our new home this weekend, and I was a little worried (but I worry about everything...another one of my "quirky" personality traits....yeah, we'll call it that...)

My reason for worrying? I'm almost embarrassed to tell you....

You probably all think I'm a weirdo as it is....with my obsessive orderliness, cleanliness, ADD, procrastination...ect. ect.

Ahhhh, but what the heck, I'm sure you have your issue too....right? come on fess up....

So anyways, I was worried that my new home wasn't "homie" enough.

Stop laughing (or shaking your head or whatever you're doing to judge me) It's true! There are all these boxes still, and we are waiting for our new furniture to arrive so we don't have a lot of seating, and the white walls....they are everywhere! Oh, I could go on and on.

But for Bret and Kaitlyn it didn't seem to bother them....

Or Bret and Nick.....

A couple more photos to share of our weekend.

My man and a nail gun....nothing is better than this.

except maybe "shelves in the garage! oh happy days!" (a little Jane Austen reference for you this morning in case you didn't know (except its closet not garage but who cares!))