Christmas Tour of My Home

Now that all my decorations are up, welcome to the 2013 Christmas tour of my house!

Last year my dad hung hooks under the eaves of my house so I could easily put up lights on my own. It only took me about twenty minutes. He did help with the additional blue icicle lights, though! I love them.

When I first set out my deer (in the top photo), only the torso was lighting up. My dad said he'd come back later to work on it. The next night, I was backing out to go somewhere and noticed that the whole deer was aglow. I called my dad to thank him, only to find out that he hadn't done anything. The deer healed on its own. Christmas miracle!!

Here's this year's Christmas wreath! Inspired by this pin (and then this one), I saved paper towel rolls for months, then cut them, hot-glued them together, and spray-painted the whole thing gold. Once the wreath was dry and set, I glued on the small ornaments (from Hobby Lobby) and hung it with ribbon. It's not exactly what I envisioned, but I'm still happy with it. I just wanted a change from evergreen this year.

My interior decorations are simpler this year. I wanted to add some garland or lights to the mantel, but worried that the cats would somehow yank it down and break everything. So this is as good as it gets. Even though it's not perfectly arranged, it makes me happy to look at it!

This Photoshop job of me and my siblings with Baby Jesus is already legendary in our family. Someone (either my mom or sister) decoupaged it onto plaques and gave one to each of us. It's one of my favorite Christmas things. The ceramic lamps are Lenox, both gifts from different people several years apart. And I just tied a holiday bow around this bird to make him festive.

I scored this holiday dish at my clothing swap, and it's the perfect accent to my Yankee candle. I put it all on a Christmas cloth from India. (Don't mind the weather station, it stays out year round.)

I like to mark my travels with ornaments (and refrigerator magnets), so I bought this gold-plated aspen leaf in Steamboat Springs to remember my time there. I thought of my Gathering friends as I hung it on the tree.

Meanwhile, the cats are extra adorable at the holidays.

I'll be back next week to start the end-of-year wrap-up posts!

Home Life Lately 8/6

Here are some recent domestic goings-on:

 

Last weekend I finally cut scalloped shorts from some bootcut jeans I got at Goodwill! I measured the cutoff length against my favorite shorts, then used a scrapbooking border template to outline the scallop pattern in chalk. (I find chalk much easier to work with than a fabric pencil.) After cutting the shorts, I applied fray check to the edges as a finishing touch. I also wanted to stitch a hem for extra security, but my attempts to follow the scallop pattern with the sewing machine were disastrous. Thankfully it only took me one side to realize that it wasn't going to work, and I just ripped it out. Fun fact: I've probably ripped out and re-done 75% of the hems I've sewed up to this point.

I'm happy with the shorts, but if I had it to do over, I'd cut them a little longer. My favorite short shorts work because they're not fitted tightly to the leg. But jeans are, so now I have an unfortunate muffin-leg situation. I'll just have to remain standing when I wear these! :P

   

After months of waffling, I gave up on my shrilly wheezing Hoover vacuum and bought a Dyson Animal cordless stick vacuum. My friend Stacy loaned me hers for a test drive, and I fell in love. But the painful price tag still made me hesitate. Then Emily alerted me that Costco had them for $70 off, so she ordered one on my behalf and we're all living happily ever after. I love vacuuming any old way I want, instead of following a strict pattern dictated by how far the cord will stretch (and tripping over/re-extending the cord multiple times). I can take it anywhere, including out to the car, so I don't have to wrestle with those vacuums at car washes anymore. I can get under cabinets and tables and into tight spaces with no problem. And it's so quiet - I literally had to wear earplugs when using my Hoover, even though it was barely over a year old. This Dyson better have a longer track record! #firstworldproblems

   

I harvested my first eggplant last week! (At least two more will be ready soon.) The resulting Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes and Feta was fantastic. All ingredients were homegrown except the cheese, and I felt like a pioneer. I also made Watermelon and Feta Salad for the first time (where has it been all my life??), so basically I'm going through feta cheese like Greece is about to fall off the map.

New Flooring Reveal!

In my six-plus years of residence in my house, I've made a LOT of improvements. But one big project has remained. After stressing about the beat-up, cat-destroyed carpet for several years, I decided to use my tax refund to get new flooring. (My philosophy is, if it's something I would have to do before listing my house, better to do it ASAP and enjoy it myself.) I also wanted to replace the kitchen/dining linoleum with tile, but figured I'd get to that later. However, when the flooring guy came to take measurements, my dad suggested I have him measure the kitchen too. The quote he gave me was reasonable and my parents generously offered to help with the expense. So I was able to have ALL the flooring done in one swoop!

The work was done last week, and the house isn't fully back to normal yet, but I couldn't wait any longer to post Before and Afters. So here they are in all their imperfect glory!


FOYER:

HALLWAY:

KITCHEN:

DINING ROOM:

LIVING ROOM:

Laminate: Bella Cera Hacienda Collection in Hickory
Ceramic Tile: Mohawk Mirador Tile in Cameo Beige
Flooring Provider and Installer: Flooring Solutions (VERY pleased with their work)
Quarter Round Baseboard Installer: My dad
Photobombing Cat: Gandalf

There's still work to do. I need to get a living room rug and some other things, plus this remodel has kickstarted a huge spring-cleaning and refreshing expedition. Also, one plank in the living room has done a weird popping-up thing. The workers came to look at it this morning, and apparently it's a product quality issue, so caveat emptor. In order to replace it, they'll have to re-do a big section of the room. *facepalm* Hopefully it won't be a huge deal.

In any case, I'm SO happy and feel like I have a whole new house! :)

In My Backyard: Still Fall

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. - Habakkuk 3:17-19
 

(View from my hammock, December 1)

 

(neighborhood cat)

Life Lately 8/28

(source)

The past week or so has been rough for my family. My paternal grandmother is in ICU in Texas having a lot of complications from a bypass surgery. She's stable for the moment, but every time they patch one hole in the boat, another springs up somewhere. So we're all living in a constant state of tension. While my parents were in Texas with her last week, my brother in Indiana had a freak accident with some machinery and severely injured his thumb. It's broken and needed serious stitches, but he got a very good report from the doctor yesterday and won't even need surgery! Thanks be to God for that and also for the fact that he still has a thumb at all. Because when you get a text that says "Destroyed my thumb," you're thinking things are pretty dire. (And also wondering how he's texting to tell you this.)

On top of this, my dryer broke last week - it needs a new belt. The good thing about dryers (at least old models) is that there are only a few things that can go wrong. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to find parts for mine because it's so old, but my dad just located some and will finish the repair job tonight. I told him not to worry about it so soon after getting back from Texas, but that's my dad. I'm thankful for his help and also for not having to buy a new washer and dryer right now. It'll be nice to do the laundry, which has stacked up alarmingly.

I (mostly) ran a 5K last Saturday! I was never able to run at all until a couple of years ago, when I started running intervals on my walks. I've built up my running time very, very slowly, and may never be able to run continuously, but I can do enough to please myself. :) Besides, intervals are healthier for you and burn more calories than nonstop running. My time wasn't as "good" as I'd hoped, but it was still an improvement over last year.

I've realized that in everything, not only physical things, my progress is usually very slow - but it sticks. It's frustrating to see other people "getting there" in a fraction of the time, but for me, slow and steady eventually wins the race.

A Cat Lady Moment

(all photos by my brother)

I took my cats to the vet yesterday for a checkup. Wrangling both of them by myself is usually I-need-a-drink exhausting, but it turned out to be the easiest vet visit ever. No one needed shots this year... and Gandalf was howling and hissing like a banshee, so the vet and I agreed he didn't really need to be examined after all. LOL! (Gandalf is high-strung, so he can get murderous when anyone or anything disturbs his space uninvited. It's too bad that no one really gets what a wonderful cat he is alone with me.)

 

Peach did need an exam, though. She's lost a lot of weight, and for a month or so I've sensed that she doesn't feel good. For reasons that already seem silly to me, I was convinced that she had feline diabetes. I got myself all worked up figuring out how to cope with the situation. Thankfully, it's not that serious. Her mouth is rejecting her two front teeth for some mysterious reason, so the vet recommended removing them. Apparently this is somewhat common in cats. I feel sad to think of her losing her teeth, but the vet assured me that her quality of life won't suffer and will probably even improve. So we'll get that done in a couple of weeks.

I know you're all waiting with bated breath for a follow-up about my air conditioner. Well, it was dead, and I had to replace the entire outside unit (the tower thing with the fan) to the tune of A LOT. But I have now replaced every major appliance and electrical-type thing in my house, so I should be entering a period of peace.

Favorite Things: Home (Cleaning) Edition

After years of trial and error, I've settled on a few key products that help me keep my house clean with less effort, and go longer between deep cleanings. I frequently recommend these things to people I know, so I figured I'd post about them too. I have not been compensated in any way for these recommendations. :)






My most indispensable cleaning product is Multisurface Antibacterial Windex. Like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, I use it daily and EVERYWHERE. My dining table is wood with granite insets, and this takes care of the whole shebang. (I know that's not the best for the table, so I do apply wood cleaner and granite cleaner once in a while.) Right now I'm using the lemon-scented Target version, and it works just as well.












I have two cats. This Arm and Hammer baking soda carpet stuff REALLY helps lift out fur and leaves a fresh scent - I use it almost every time I vacuum. However, my carpet is looking a lot worse for wear lately, so I might need to switch to something more intense. Has anyone tried the Resolve stuff that supposedly lifts out stains when you vacuum it up?











Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is TRULY MAGIC. I haven't used it for anything hardcore, but it's satisfying to walk around the house with one and scrub smudges off of walls, doors, and cabinets. If you have kids, I bet they'd have fun using it too. (That is, if they're little Monica Gellers like I was.)








I recently started dusting furniture with these Pledge wipes instead of Windex. They're better for the wood, and eliminate the spray-and-paper-towel step entirely. :)









Clorox drop-ins are my favorite cleaning product. Put one in your toilet tank every couple of months, and enjoy picking up the scrub brush less often. The only downside is trying to open the plastic package without getting bleach dust all over yourself.







These Clorox wipes are all-purpose, but I only use them for touch-up bathroom cleaning. Again, it's so much easier than taking out the Scrubbing Bubbles constantly, and you know the germs are taken care of between times.

Thoughts?

New Oven

My new-old oven was installed last weekend! :D What a difference, right? Since my house was built in the mid-70's and they don't make ovens exactly the size of my old one anymore, getting the new oven in was more difficult than anticipated. I expected problems, but not problems requiring major cabinet surgery. So I hired a handyman, and thanks to him and my wonderful dad, the oven is in AND my cabinets and drawers are still intact. I'm relieved that it's all over!

Since I was out of town last weekend visiting friends, I didn't have a chance to use the new oven until last night. It is SUCH a pleasure to work with. The digital readouts are so handy, the light comes on automatically when you open the door, and if you set the timer, the oven turns itself off when the time is up. I'm pretty sure it has more features that I haven't discovered yet. I'm looking forward to lots of baking in the months and years to come. :)

The whole unit was really filthy when I bought it, but Easy-Off cooktop cleaner and oven cleaner took care of most of the yuckiness. One of the burners is a little scarred, but I'm told there's a really heavy-duty product or procedure that can fix that too. I'll share if it works!

Here's what I made to inaugurate the oven!

(Yes, my muffin tin is icky. It gets so much use that I have a hard time getting all the gunk off. I welcome cleaning tips.)

Blueberry Flax Muffins
Slightly adapted from Chef Meg of Sparkrecipes. Makes 12 muffins, about 140 calories each.

Ingredients:
1 cup quick oats
1 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
¾ cup brown sugar (can substitute Splenda if desired)
1 cup blueberries
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 F and prepare your muffin tin(s).

2. In a small bowl, combine oats and buttermilk. Let stand at room temperature for five minutes. If you prefer a lighter, crunchier muffin, you can skip this step.

3. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt (and oats if skipping step 2). Mix with a fork or whisk and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, combine egg, applesauce, and brown sugar (and buttermilk if skipping step 2). Beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for three minutes. Blend in oat-buttermilk mixture, if applicable.

5. Add dry ingredients and stir to combine. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups ¾ full, and sprinkle flaxseed on top of each muffin.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Weekend

I try not to bore people with weekend recaps on this blog, but this weekend was eventful in a pleasant, low-key way.

I bought a new-to-me oven! My kitchen has an open countertop/bar layout that requires a "drop-in" oven. They start around $1000 new, so I've lived with my original 1970s harvest gold range for almost five years. Also, it still works fine, and I generally believe in keeping stuff for its lifespan instead of upgrading every few years Just Because. But lately the buzzing oven timer has gone rogue, and I'm over it. I started looking on Craigslist again, and found this white smooth-top GE range for a tiny fraction of the new price! My dad is going to install it for me next weekend. In the meantime, I need oven cleaner recommendations, because I don't think this one has EVER been cleaned. :| I want it to be all sparkly when it comes into the house.

I got a haircut! I didn't intend for it to be this short (my own fault - I'm terrible at judging how much I want cut off), but I REALLY like it. My hair hasn't been this short in several years, probably since my last Ouidad haircut. This cut is almost as good, too! If you need a curly hair stylist in Memphis, I can direct you. :)

I got a letter from my Compassion kid. It made me smile a lot. Note his question, "Are you married already?" I love the way kids go straight to the heart of things. :)

Kathy and I saw Deathly Hallows Part 2 - in 3-D! It was fantastic and I cried a lot. My thoughts on the movie are basically the same as Still Wandering's. It was my first 3-D movie, and after years of disparaging 3-D as an unnecessary gimmick... I kind of liked it. Anyway, Kathy and I have gone to almost every midnight Potter book release and movie together, so this was the end of an era. I'm seeing it again with Caroline and some other friends on Saturday!

I baked Peach Carrot Bread. I used Splenda instead of sugar, and substituted barley flour for some of the all-purpose flour. It added a nice flavor, but I think it caused the bread to be a little dry. Still, it's delicious!

Master Bathroom Reveal

My master bathroom remodel is FINISHED! My long-suffering dad finished up the final details last night.

First, to ensure full appreciation, here's a photo of the bathroom circa 2006, when the previous owner was still in the house. A stranger once messaged me about this picture on Flickr and suggested I enter it in an "America's ugliest bathrooms" contest. I did. Surprisingly, it didn't win.

The hideous wallpaper came down almost as soon as we moved in. It took several more months to make further updates to the room. But finally, the walls were smoothed out, and I was able to paint them and the dark sink vanity. I loved, and still love, this color - "Surfer" by Behr. I figured a small bathroom was the best place to make a daring choice.

Unfortunately, this impossible-to-clean shell-shaped sink remained. :P

Later we discussed having the bathroom completely remodeled and a walk-in shower installed, but my marriage ended before anything was settled. At that point, I wanted a "new" bathroom even more. After a lot of waffling, I decided to leave the tub in place, and my brother offered to demolish and replace everything else. He and my dad did this entire job and saved me thousands of dollars in labor costs.

"Boardwalk" vanity and sink top from Lowe's. Perfectly-matching medicine cabinet from Bed, Bath & Beyond ($30 less than the Lowe's version!). Mirror, $25 on Craigslist.

So smooth and clean!! :D I bought the sink fixtures at Surplus Warehouse over a year ago, knowing that I would eventually get a new sink if nothing else.

These towels are from TJ Maxx/Homegoods. I went to several locations to assemble a set. Could they be more perfect with the mosaic tile?

I repainted the walls "Aqua Spray" by Behr. It's halfway between the old blue and the "Ionic Sky" that's in my bedroom. Same effect, just a little less in-your-face.

The main tile is from a wholesaler. The floor tiles are 17" square and the wall tiles are 13" square. I wanted them to match for better flow, since the bathroom is only 5' X 7'. I bought the mosaic tile in 12" squares at Home Depot, and Kevin cut them into strips. I really wanted some sort of accent at eye level. The shower fixtures are also from Home Depot.

I'm thrilled and thankful to have such a luxurious master suite! :)