Vintage Family

Let's be honest. When I tell you I inherited some cool stuff from my family, you weren't thinking the Kansas side. You were probably thinking I got a Katana or tea set from Japan. Or am I being overly sensitive?

I've been trying to make heads or tails of a room that I originally assigned as the TV room. I detest TV noise and I wanted the front part of the house to be sans TV. Jeff was skeptical, I was adamant. I won. (Typical.) So our little den became a TV room rather than the office it was always meant to be. I gave up the fight when I realized that it would be utterly impossible to design a "comfortable TV space" in a room that is barely 7' x 13'.

Our last house had a lot of color, which got to be really annoying when I got the wild hare to redecorate. I decided this house would be more neutral in paint color, leaving more options for the 40 different versions any room would take. But this office is different. I really had to motivate myself to be excited to change the purpose of this room.

Before I started I needed one thing most of all: storage. I've lost a lot of storage in this house :(, and I still had five or six boxes of stuff that couldn't go to the attic. (PS- Come see my attic. It is ah-mazing.)

I scoured Craigslist for a good week. Apparently all the good shit is out in the West Valley, but I wasn't going to push my limit with Jeff (AKA the guy with muscle and a truck)--the man has a to-do list, a full-time job, and a bitchy wife. Finally, I came across something that might do and for only $50!

It fit the conditions: storage, older looking, and cheap! Yeah!

Long story short, that ^ became this...

Take a minute to admire the glory of spray paint while ignoring my shitty phone pic, crooked boxes on the top, and the obvious need for shims to balance the cab on the right (it's on Jeff's list).

I was able to unload four boxes into the bottom shelves and find room for some new treasures that my mom brought home from Kansas. My grandmother, Dorothy (heh, from Kansas but sadly lacking a dog named Toto) recently moved into assisted living. My parents and family have undertaken sorting through decades of stuff.

L.L. McClure is Lucy Lillian McClure, my great-great grandmother. Dig the vintage yellow ashtray in the back? Thanks, Dorothy.

My great-great grandmother. I need pictures of her!

My great-great uncle, Dick's. We also inherited his cedar chest. I love the industrial look of this.

Inside is this wallet. Love.

Dyying. Minnie Benson is his sister, Dorothy's aunt.

All of these things make my heart happy. And look how it pulls everything together!

Plz ignore the work I need to do on the desk. I am thinking contact paper or modge podge?

Same with the inside of the door. I will match the doors with the desk.

The Yellow House

New hood. New house. New neighbors. New projects.

But there is something not very new about our house and that is her age. She is 63 to be exact. Also not very new is how we've been attempting to decorate. I think a house this old should have good stories, so we've been slowly acquiring things with a story--either ones we made or attached to other people.

We got a great story the first day we officially owned the house. Five minutes after we got the keys and stepped inside, we noticed a guy standing outside taking pictures with his camera phone. Since the for sale sign was still up we assumed he was shopping. The stranger came up to the front door and apologized for being creepy, "You see, this was the house my mom grew up in and where I visited my grandparents. It's changed so much since I was a little, but I had to take pictures so Mom could see how beautiful it is."

Of course we invited him right in and I pleaded with him to tell us what he could remember of the original house. As we walked the house he showed us where walls used to be, where rooms had been added on, explained the original outdoor space, and then shared that if we dug in the backyard we might find some treasures. "My grandfather was a hoarder, like the kind on TV. It is sad now to think of, but it made it a fun place to visit as a kid."

One of my summer projects is to research the house. Maybe find the original plans? It went from being a single family residence to a duplex and back to a single family residence. It is a bit Frankenstein, but the people who redid it have my heart because it's an excellent use of space and doesn't feel freakish like some remodels. They were very thoughtful of the historical charm of the house and we couldn't be more pleased.

Duplex from hell. Thank you, Google Maps.

The Yellow House 2013

Next up... decorating project with family heirlooms.

30 things... Day 8

#8. What are 5 passions that you have?

Dad says...
1. Building things. Imagining something and then making it happen is awesome.
2. Racing things. (Duh.)
3. Family.
4. Music.
5. Good, quality sunglasses. (This might sound silly, but he is a nutjob about this.)


Mom says...
1. My family. I am particularly partial to two little boys named, Bradley and Cash.
2. Education. I don't care how far you go (as long as you get your high school diploma), I just care that you continue to be inquisitive, open minded, and thoughtful.
3. Art. It doesn't have to be a painting; it can be anything you are inspired by.
4. Repurposing...or thrift stores, flea markets, antique stores. Same shit different day.
5. Making a home. I want anyone who steps into my house to feel comfortable and know who we are by looking around.

Conclusion: Dad is a man of few words. Mom doesn't shut up.

30 things... Day 7

#7. What is your dream job and why?

Dad says...
Building anything that can be raced. (I said this was an engineer, but I was immediately poo-pooed.) Dad likes to build things and he also loves cars, trucks, bikes, or anything that goes fast. Building race cars/trucks is the perfect marriage of the two.

Mom says...
My dream job would be a travel writer/blogger. Nothing sounds more amazing than getting paid to travel and then getting to write about it. When you travel--especially out of the country--it puts so many things in perspective. I hope you travel much in your life!

Conclusion: your parents could not be more different.

30 things... Day 6

#6. If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?

Dad says...
1. I wish for more time in the day so there is more opportunity to be together and more time to sleep so I can enjoy the time we have.
2. I wish bedtime wasn't such a fiasco. If it's not one of you, it's the other.
3. I wish our dogs wouldn't die, because you will be so sad when they do.

Mom says...
1. I wish I could clone myself so there was a mom to cook, a mom to clean, a mom to work, and a mom to play.
2. I wish we could do one amazing family vacation each year that required no budget or limit on imagination.
3. I wish you would trust me when I make/serve you food. Adventurous taste buds are like books: they open up the world to you.

Spring 2013

I haven't forgotten my 30 things... posts. I am just swamped with moving and work.

We had pictures taken with a talented young lady who was doing photo sessions to raise money for Girl's Camp. She did a great job!

Predictions on B's 6th birthday

Dear B,

On this day we celebrate your 6th birthday. You are a kind, sweet soul who always wants to play, please, and cuddle. Everyday you astound me with the capacity of love in that giant heart of yours. Someday, my boy, I imagine you will change the world with that beautiful heart.

You are a mini Dr. Doolittle with animals, always gentle and patient with them. I love how you always want to carry Frisco just right or pet Tony, the sitter's kitty, in the spot behind his ear that he likes. You are the kindest doctor if one of us is sick; just the other day you gently herded Cashy into a different room to play a game so Daddy and I could recoup. You dazzled our new neighbors, the Naumann's, when you invited them over for an ice cream picnic to celebrate your birthday.

You would make an excellent teacher or social worker, guiding little minds and souls. You would make a fabulous veterinarian, healing and improving the lives of the animals you love so much. You would be a skilled doctor, particularly with a calm bedside manner. But I think, though, you would be the best fireman in the world--just as you hope--because you could put all of those skills into use.

Keep on being the best son a momma could hope for. We love you sweet man!

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, and Cashy

House on Hobson

We signed our paper, we got our keys, and we started painting!

This time last year I had no inkling or intentions of moving. I mean, we wanted to move, we had outgrown our house on Portobello, but we were realistic enough to know that patience was key.

When we finally got to the point that we thought moving was a possibility it was surreal to say the least. And when we met with our agent and she said, "I think it's time," the enormity of selling and buying houses made me want to nap.

Our agent, Brenda Kohles, is one of the most amazing people I've met. She is honest, tough, thoughtful, smart, and knows exactly what to say and when to say it. I feel everyone needs a Brenda in their life.

We looked at some houses--most were okay, one was creepy as hell, a couple great, but one was home.  When we finally started the incredibly intimidating process of actually purchasing the house we were comforted that Brenda held our hand the entire time. Every wacky email, panicked text, petty question was answered with enough brevity and honesty that I didn't feel more overwhelmed and with enough warmth to comfort me that I wasn't being a complete pain in the ass.

If you know anything about Mesa, we purchased a house from 1950 in the Temple Historic District. Adorable is a perfect adjective. We love it--even with the Easter Pageant traffic!

From the front... 

Kitchen

The boys bathroom

Our bathroom 

Our favorite part... a big backyard!

We've already started painting and spending too much money at Ikea and Home Depot. We have appointments for landscaping and other projects, so more pictures will be posted soon...

30 things, day 5

What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?

Dad says...
1. Sleep.
2. Watching the boys play.
3. A day on the couch with sports on TV and mom not making me do projects.
4. My new Xbox.
5. Beer.


Mom says...
1. My family.
2. Catching up on bad TV (right now, The Vampire Diaries).
3. Hugs after a long day.
4. The promise of vacations.
5. Coffee.

30 things, day 4

List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

1. Have more fun. Just be safe and smart. Everyone needs a day like Ferris Bueller. 
2. Watch the movies I suggest, like Ferris Bueller's Day Off. I promise they are worth it.
3. Don't be afraid to try different things. You have the chance now to try all sorts of clubs, programs, paths, and so forth. It might be comfortable in a bubble, but it isn't fun.
4. Be nice to people. Life as a 16 year-old is shitty for everyone, no matter how charmed their life seems. Your life will be infinitely easier if you recognize the humanity in others.
5. Stop being cynical. It's boring.
6. Be nicer to your brother. You only have one.
7. Stop sneaking cigarettes. It will lead to a gross, expensive habit that is a bitch to break.
8. Save your money.
9. Travel when you get the chance. Do study abroads or exchange program. Seeing the world can change your entire perspective on life.
10. Hug your parents more. They deserve it.