Accepting the Challenge

Ok so today we met again about our floor plans. Fixed the kitchen counter space, added a window in the office and made a space for table inside our garage entry. Through this meeting we also brought up wheel chair excessable doors. We feel this is VERY IMPORTANT one because my grandma needs to be able to easily use the bathroom and get in our home so we can enjoy having them over. And two because we are trying to build this home to sell to an older couple. "2" bed 2 bath and an office is not a "family" home it's a couple home. So either a starter home or a older couple. This didn't seem to big of a problem but there is definitly changess that had to be made to make this happen.

These changes will happen and are not hard to make just some how stressed me out today. It's this kind of thing that i'm truthfully fearing getting into the building process and finding out ... "oh by the way your grandma can't come over if she is in a wheel chair" and "you can't sell this to any older couple who might be looking for that." Those are j ust important things and I want to make sure I am crossing the T's and dotting the I's before we get into the building process. BUT i know that's probably not somthing you can be completely prepared for.

Then we talked about our lot a little and i knew our backyard/porch area would be level so we won't have a tall deck but I was secretly hoping to be able to have a least one step down so we could have a wood porch and pretty railings ect. Through this meeting we descussed having a concrete slab.  Oh I cringe just typing that. But I know it's the most practical thing and cost efficiant thing. BUT i still want to have a relaxing party friendly enviorment in our backyard. VERY IMPORTANT again. Really this is why I am typing this post because I'm trying to de breef from that meeting.

Now on to fixing the problem!

This is what I think of when I think of a concrete slab. (sad dog and everything)

Then the guys were like shell it will be ok we can stain it and make it look nice just like tile or something... and this is what I think of. A stained slab of concrete.

Sure it's better... but I wouldn't even call this a comprimise to my ideal deck.

So my goal today is to figure out how to make a flat slab of concrete feel more cozy for parties and relaxing. So we will actually go outside and enjoy the place not just have a outside but it be nice.  I accept this challenge!

Idea #1 (ignore cool modern home and big windows) cut lines in concrete to appear like big tiles.

Ideas # 2&3 build a sitting area around boarder to create the feeling of depth. Add a Long skinny fire pit like in the picture. Toss in a spot for a hot tub and plan out for table and chairs so you have a unique shape not just a simple triangle slab. Use the space wisely!

A Process

SO we have been planning in our heads for quite some time now to build a home. We have been house hunting for almost two years now. And have gone back and forth on if we want to build. We decided YES but then came the process.

About a year ago we visited our first banks asking for a Idea on a Home Loan we can get. Many Tears and many frustrations came with this process finding out so many rules hold us back since we are Self Employed. Getting told no over and over again and one lady even said "You might never get a loan" We found out later through that process that SHE WAS WRONG... We just needed three full years under our belts of taxes for our company!  Happy Anniversary to us this February!

One of the other first parts of building a home is Finding or Finalizing a floor Plan.  Oh goodness has this but fun yet so discuraging. Mom helped me the very first day cutting out rooms by measuing what we already had and taping them together to make a home. Then we have met with two contractors and an drafting company to try and make it better. Then this Sunday we met with our Friend and Contractor to look at some of his pre excisting floor plans. He had one that was 1539 sq ft. That was pretty close.... so I spent a couple hours scribbling on it and e-mailed that to him this morning. At 11am I got to go pick up the changes!  And We like it!  WE LIKE IT!

We are verry happy about this accomplishment and very thankful that as of this morning building a home feels withen reach!

The Lord has His perfect timing for everything and we pray for His timing in this whole process. Although there might be discouraging parts or tears that fall through this we want to touch the lives of others through the process. And in having a home for our family and friends that God will create in the years to come.

A LOT to love?

Today we will get look at another piece of land with our contractor. I was reminded how much I'm ready for a home last night as we slept in our trailer while thunderstorms and 45MPH wind gust blew up against us. Yesterday it was 62 out around 11pm and this morning when we got up it was snowing! Which is fun weather but not fun when there are possibilities of tornadoes and you live in a doublewide. We woke up to one of our shutters on the ground, which i'm thankful it was that instead of our fence again!  Either way we are ready to have a home that is ours, and we can feel safer in. Today we will look at a lot that is pretty flat and a little larger than other lots we have looked at in the past. It is also listed at 6 grand less than our last lot.  It is very close to mom and dads neighborhood which is nice. So far we aren't crazy in love with the feel of the neighborhood, but we do love the location. The view would be very nice too. We are looking forward to seeing what our contractor says.

Hunnington

As I sit and write this I am so excited about where we are!  Hunington Beach California! We are staying right on a place called the strand... or strip.... anyway there are lots of shops right across from the shoreline. We went to dinner at a mex restrant and then walked through a couple surf shops I am super excited about a t-shirt garrett and I both got. It's awesome! I'm excited about wearing it tomorrow! However, my favorate part of today was shopping at the Grove... this place is awesome we went in some three story stores! We are talking Victoria Secret, Barns and Noble places like that that are huge! It was so fun we didn't buy anything but I keep saying how much I want to go back : ) FUN DAY!

Grilling in January

Because of a super sweet Aunt we now have a grill! Today was our first day to grill out and it was a gorgeous day to do it!  Garrett made us Bratts (cheese bratts) and I made some mac and cheese it was really fun! We are totally thankful for the grill and are looking forward to trying to cook dads chicken and some more stuff!  

DIY Jewelry Space

Well I found some inspiration on Pinterest on a much better way to hold my Jewelry than I had been previously. So this weekend I decided it just had to change.  Here are the steps I took to make a much prettier and efficient place to pick out my jewelry for the day.

So what we started with... a bunch of necklaces, an empty closet wall, a board, paint, and some cute shower hooks.

I got my hubby to help me measure and drill holes in the top of the board the right size to fit the top of the shower curtain hangers would fit snug. 

I painted the board with a paint tester from The Home Depot. (on sale for 50 cents!) After the paint dried I attached the shower curtain hangers with glue inside the holes in the top of the board. 

Next I taped off the place in the closet in order to paint the space with another 50 cent paint color.

We hung a shelf (when I say we, I mean my hubby mostly did it i just watched) Put it at the bottom of the paint line.

Again the hubby secured my new necklace holder to the wall.

Tada!  Here is the finished product. A very easy way to pick and choose what to wear for the day and just makes me smile when i step in the closet!  Using the cheese grater to hold earrings was also an idea from pinterest check it out here.

The Secret things Of God

That is the title of the book cathy and I are reading together right now. GREAT book here is a link Well, this year has had many ups and downs. God has been present through them but we have had what I would call now growing pains. I could list all the subjects that we have had to grow through but it might take all day... but you name it I bet we have dealt with it the past 1 year and 8 months that we have been married. But oh my goodness does He know whats best! Growth is worth hard times! And we are thankful He has taken us through them now so that we can have a better life in the future.

Through this time God has answered prayers and provided some amazing encouragers in my life personally! One of those people being Cathy Krueger. (Who would have thought that Stephens mom would one day be one of my best friends!) Cathy stepped into my life at the perfect time and has been nothing short of a blessing to me. Goodness, I don't even know how to say it but just how she relates, understands and encourages me out of harder times is a wonderful support! She has been here for me in some times when I needed a friend the most and I couldn't be more thankful! They have been great friends and really fun to just be with. They have taught me a lot, from relationship advice to cooking advice (how to cut meat the right direction) I just want to take note of what a wonderful friend she has been over these past months! And say that I am so so thankful!