So, I'm not ready to tell you everything that is happening....but here's a hint of things to come.
This picture was taken while standing in my dining room...yet, the picture window at the far end, is in the living room. ;)
Curious yet?
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Buckle Your Seat Belts...
I know I haven't posted since March...and I'm not really posting today. I just need to tell you to hang on and don't give up on me. You are about to get a stream of posts. Lots of exciting things are getting ready to happen here. Can't wait to tell you/show you all about it!!
(Ummm...no. I'm not pregnant and I'm not adopting...I just liked the excited face this baby was making!)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sometimes, It's the BIG things!
So today was already going to be a pretty good day. It was my first FULL day with the SmartBoard in my classroom and I am just nerdy enough to be very excited about that. It was supposed to be sunny and NOT rainy and I am a HUGE fan of those weather conditions! And, finally, the book I have been waiting for since last August is finally out!!
And today was my LAST dentist appointment. For those of you who do not know, I decided about 12 years ago to stop going to the dentist. (Mostly because they cost money...oh, and because I hate going to the dentist!) About two years ago, I decided to make the big girl decision and go back to the dentist because I KNEW there were big problems already. So I went. Of course, I had to find a new dentist. The new dentist sent me for three root canals and two crowns, with a plan for two more. After my second crown, (and over $5,000 in payments) I became aware that the crowns were not done correctly.
I got mad. I pouted.
Then I found a new dentist. I have been seeing this new dentist since November of 2009. In that time I have had one (surprise) root canal and quite a few fillings, mostly removing old fillings and replacing them with non-hazardous material, but some new ones as well. THEN we got to the hard part....the removing of the old crowns (old by less than 14 months) and replacing them with new crowns that actually fit. While I am glad to have this work done, and done correctly, it has been crazy amounts of time and pain and even crazier amounts of money!
I just want to give the praise that is due to my new dentist. I first knew that he was a good guy the day he told me that I had a tooth that needed a crown, but that he could fill it and then wait and put on the crown in July, when my insurance rolls over. That's a $900 blessing. (Our dental insurance pays UP TO $1,000. Let's just say that my insurance ran out about $6,000 dollars ago....SINCE NOVEMBER.)
Today, he did an amazing thing for me! At the beginning of my appointment he told me that he realized that I had had to pay, out of pocket, an enormous amount of money in a short amount of time, and because of that, he was only charging me for materials used today. I said THANK YOUI! and then spent the next hour and a half unable to say anything else. When it was all said and done, I went to the desk to pay. When the office called to confirm today's appointment, they "warned" me that today's appointment would run about $987 dollars. Today, I paid $507. I know that I will have to pay a little more simply because my insurance will refuse payment and it will come back to me, but really?? What a gift. (God TOTALLY sent me to the right dentist...not that I ever thought He had made a mistake!)
All of that to say this: If you are ever in the area and need a dentist, I know the perfect one!!!
And today was my LAST dentist appointment. For those of you who do not know, I decided about 12 years ago to stop going to the dentist. (Mostly because they cost money...oh, and because I hate going to the dentist!) About two years ago, I decided to make the big girl decision and go back to the dentist because I KNEW there were big problems already. So I went. Of course, I had to find a new dentist. The new dentist sent me for three root canals and two crowns, with a plan for two more. After my second crown, (and over $5,000 in payments) I became aware that the crowns were not done correctly.
I got mad. I pouted.
Then I found a new dentist. I have been seeing this new dentist since November of 2009. In that time I have had one (surprise) root canal and quite a few fillings, mostly removing old fillings and replacing them with non-hazardous material, but some new ones as well. THEN we got to the hard part....the removing of the old crowns (old by less than 14 months) and replacing them with new crowns that actually fit. While I am glad to have this work done, and done correctly, it has been crazy amounts of time and pain and even crazier amounts of money!
I just want to give the praise that is due to my new dentist. I first knew that he was a good guy the day he told me that I had a tooth that needed a crown, but that he could fill it and then wait and put on the crown in July, when my insurance rolls over. That's a $900 blessing. (Our dental insurance pays UP TO $1,000. Let's just say that my insurance ran out about $6,000 dollars ago....SINCE NOVEMBER.)
Today, he did an amazing thing for me! At the beginning of my appointment he told me that he realized that I had had to pay, out of pocket, an enormous amount of money in a short amount of time, and because of that, he was only charging me for materials used today. I said THANK YOUI! and then spent the next hour and a half unable to say anything else. When it was all said and done, I went to the desk to pay. When the office called to confirm today's appointment, they "warned" me that today's appointment would run about $987 dollars. Today, I paid $507. I know that I will have to pay a little more simply because my insurance will refuse payment and it will come back to me, but really?? What a gift. (God TOTALLY sent me to the right dentist...not that I ever thought He had made a mistake!)
All of that to say this: If you are ever in the area and need a dentist, I know the perfect one!!!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
It's the Little Things!
Last year I "discovered" a local author that I LOVED! Sarah Addison Allen is from Asheville. Unfortunately, at that time she only had two books.
Well, in two weeks, four days and twelve hours, her newest novel will be out and I cannot wait! (Can you tell that I'm excited?)
These aren't books to learn from, inspire you, or to make you think about something life changing. They are just books to entertain and I LOVE reading for that purpose only. I don't do nearly enough of it! Check out Sarah now and then be sure to pick out her new book next month! (And tell me what you think!!)
&
These aren't books to learn from, inspire you, or to make you think about something life changing. They are just books to entertain and I LOVE reading for that purpose only. I don't do nearly enough of it! Check out Sarah now and then be sure to pick out her new book next month! (And tell me what you think!!)
Friday, February 5, 2010
Goal #5
It seems that every time I have the TIME to post, it's because I'm sitting at home watching it snow while the power is out. Power outages are not conducive to blogging. So today I have sneakily used the staff override code to post my blog from school. (Because we are having yet another teacher work day. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to celebrate the 4th of July with these kids.)
So now, to get on with it.
I have never been great with money. I'm not terrible. All my bills are paid and usually on time. (That has less to do with money than time scheduling.) I have ZERO credit card debt. I've finally paid off my school loans. I actually have zero debt other than my house and car...and I don't really mind paying on those big ticket items. Unfortunately ZERO is about the size of my savings too. I want to create a budget I can live with. One that allows me to LIVE but to also live responsibly and prepare for the future.
A few years ago I purchased this book:
So now, to get on with it.
My fifth and FINAL Goal for the year 2010 is...
Create and stay within a budget.
I have never been great with money. I'm not terrible. All my bills are paid and usually on time. (That has less to do with money than time scheduling.) I have ZERO credit card debt. I've finally paid off my school loans. I actually have zero debt other than my house and car...and I don't really mind paying on those big ticket items. Unfortunately ZERO is about the size of my savings too. I want to create a budget I can live with. One that allows me to LIVE but to also live responsibly and prepare for the future.
A few years ago I purchased this book:
I worked through part of this book and learned a lot...now I should probably apply more of it. I'm in a good place with a relatively solid job even if the pay isn't fabulous. I should be better with my money. I feel very blessed to be where I am financially in this economy. It certainly isn't time to take that for granted. So this year, I want to learn to be a better steward and to handle my money more appropriately.
See you soon for some goal updates and other good times!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Goal #4
I was going to post this earlier, but I had to do some thinking first. Today, I think I'm ready.
The fifth and final goal to come SOON!
Goal #4:
I will get better at thinking before I speak.
And that's probably all I should say about that.
The fifth and final goal to come SOON!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Goal #3
Close to ten years ago, I purchased a house. Not just any house, but the house I grew up in. It's not a horrible house. It's an old house. It has old house problems. Unfortunately, in the last year some of those problems have made my house a place I don't want to be. That's not what a house should be. So, this brings me to my next goal.
Before I start listing all the things I want to do, let me go ahead and let you know that I am not delusional. I am completely aware that all of this will not happen this year. Actually, this all will probably not happen in 5 years, but I need a plan and this is where it is starting. Ultimately, I just want to create a place that I want to be, a place that I'm excited about having friends see, and a place that feels like ME. So, here's the enormous (ever-changing) list of all the things I would love to do:
Kitchen (I think this is where I will start!)
New flooring - laminate
Counters - either new counters, or paint the old ones
Paint the appliances
Cabinets - repainted, new hardware
Lighting - NEW
Walls - Paint
Kitchen Table and Chairs - Paint
Wood stove- REMOVE
Bust through the wall between living room and kitchen and put in gas logs that will heat from both sides
Curtains for Glass doors as well as window above sink
New kitchen sink and faucets
Create recycling station
Living Room
Bust through the wall between living room and kitchen and put in gas logs that will heat from both sides
Floor - New carpet
Walls - Paint? Remove paneling...SOMETHING!
Replace picture window
New Curtains
New Light Fixtures
Redo Mantel
Bedroom
New Carpet
Walls - Paint
Curtains for openings in closets
Figure out the lighting in this room
Find an old piece of furniture to turn into an armoire for the TV
Craft/Gift Wrapping Area
New Carpet
Paint/Remove Paneling
Reorganize area
Guest room
Fix floor (broken board!)
Repaint
Add heat source!
Repurpose furniture
Lighting
Bathrooms
New Floor: laminate
Paint Walls
Put up new wall boards in bathtub room
Remove shower door and add curtain
Guest Room/Office
Declutter
(new-old desk?)
Paint Bookcases
Back entry/Laundry area
New Floor: Laminate
Paint
Reorganize
Add cabinet above Washer/Dryer
Repaint outside of house - YIKES!
So here's the deal. I'm poor. I'm single. And while I feel creative in my brain, it hardly ever manifests itself in actual products! I MUST do as much of this on my own as possible. I cannot afford to pay someone to do these things - except for maybe the busting out of the wall...that scares me A LOT. Anyway, I'm relying on the ideas and talents of my super creative friends....and the manual labor of those same friends, to help me make this house a place I want to be. Again, I KNOW that this list will not be checked off by the end of the year, but at least I have some ideas and a plan. And really, I just want to get started. I just want to love where I live and enjoy spending time there.
Hopefully I'll have lots of before and after pictures to show you as the year goes on! (The before pics are not the problem! I just hope that I have something fun to show you for the AFTER!)
Up next? Goal #4
Goal #3: Turn My House Into My Home
Before I start listing all the things I want to do, let me go ahead and let you know that I am not delusional. I am completely aware that all of this will not happen this year. Actually, this all will probably not happen in 5 years, but I need a plan and this is where it is starting. Ultimately, I just want to create a place that I want to be, a place that I'm excited about having friends see, and a place that feels like ME. So, here's the enormous (ever-changing) list of all the things I would love to do:
Kitchen (I think this is where I will start!)
New flooring - laminate
Counters - either new counters, or paint the old ones
Paint the appliances
Cabinets - repainted, new hardware
Lighting - NEW
Walls - Paint
Kitchen Table and Chairs - Paint
Wood stove- REMOVE
Bust through the wall between living room and kitchen and put in gas logs that will heat from both sides
Curtains for Glass doors as well as window above sink
New kitchen sink and faucets
Create recycling station
Living Room
Bust through the wall between living room and kitchen and put in gas logs that will heat from both sides
Floor - New carpet
Walls - Paint? Remove paneling...SOMETHING!
Replace picture window
New Curtains
New Light Fixtures
Redo Mantel
Bedroom
New Carpet
Walls - Paint
Curtains for openings in closets
Figure out the lighting in this room
Find an old piece of furniture to turn into an armoire for the TV
Craft/Gift Wrapping Area
New Carpet
Paint/Remove Paneling
Reorganize area
Guest room
Fix floor (broken board!)
Repaint
Add heat source!
Repurpose furniture
Lighting
Bathrooms
New Floor: laminate
Paint Walls
Put up new wall boards in bathtub room
Remove shower door and add curtain
Guest Room/Office
Declutter
(new-old desk?)
Paint Bookcases
Back entry/Laundry area
New Floor: Laminate
Paint
Reorganize
Add cabinet above Washer/Dryer
Repaint outside of house - YIKES!
So here's the deal. I'm poor. I'm single. And while I feel creative in my brain, it hardly ever manifests itself in actual products! I MUST do as much of this on my own as possible. I cannot afford to pay someone to do these things - except for maybe the busting out of the wall...that scares me A LOT. Anyway, I'm relying on the ideas and talents of my super creative friends....and the manual labor of those same friends, to help me make this house a place I want to be. Again, I KNOW that this list will not be checked off by the end of the year, but at least I have some ideas and a plan. And really, I just want to get started. I just want to love where I live and enjoy spending time there.
Hopefully I'll have lots of before and after pictures to show you as the year goes on! (The before pics are not the problem! I just hope that I have something fun to show you for the AFTER!)
Up next? Goal #4
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