Planning to stop and smell the roses

Man, as I titled this post, I realized that is what so many of us do today. 

We plan.

We expect.

We dream.

We hope. 

We intend.

But, seemingly most important to us, we DO. 

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If you share a like-minded opinion with me, (guessing that if you are reading this, you do) many of us are doers. We feel our best when we DO things and can check items off the imaginary or oh-so-real list(s). I love a good list. Let me count the ways...1...2...3..

Really - lists help me organize things. They help me remember things. I have all kinds of lists and thank goodness for the invention of the smart phone, my lists are never too far away. 

I have work lists - to-dos, follow-ups and objectives and personal lists...a list of books I want to read, movies I want to see, items I intend to purchase, things I intend to do. 

Now that things are mostly placed in our new home (it's hard to believe we've already been living there for 2 1/2 months!) things are winding down and we are in the process of discovering our "new normal." Our routines after work. When we get home - what we do and set out to accomplish. Being transparent, as of late, that has included (on my part) of coming home, eating dinner, cleaning up after dinner, and heading to the couch for some downtime with husband and dog-child. Part of this "routine" comes from getting home around 6:30 PM each night and leaving the house each day at 5:50 AM. It makes for long days, even though much of that time is spent commuting. 

While working is a necessity (gotta pay for that awesome house somehow), I have been coming to terms that I need to hone in on my hobbies and things that bring me joy. 

I have an entire room devoted to myself and my hobbies that is bursting with things that spark creativity. Granted - I need to invest in some replacement supplies (paint, canvas, etc) but I could be on my way. I foresee my first trip to Hobby Lobby on the horizon for the weekend.

Then there are the "new" hobbies. Contemplating joining the Orchid Society where I am assuming they will not judge me for having around 20 orchid plants in my home. 

I purchased an animal crochet kit. Two of them actually - to re-learn the craft to keep hands busy. I might need to break it down to something simpler to start, but I had good intentions when I purchased them. There is always the couple of cross-stitch kits sitting in various stages of completion in my office. Some have not seen the light of day in months, perhaps years. 

Then there is baking, sewing, Pinterest...oh don't get me (or anyone else for that matter) started on all of the neat Pinterest ideas that one "pins" and wants to create for their homes.

I guess it all comes down to decision time. Which things to tackle first and which to come later, if ever.

-LD

Home Sweet Home

I have excavated myself from the moving boxes and it is glorious!

We signed the papers and moved into our new home November 20, 2015, just a few days before Thanksgiving.

We decided to host our annual Friendsgiving again this year for those friends of ours who do not have family close, or other circumstances that want a place to eat, relax and enjoy the company of friends. Some of our usual cast of characters was absent this year, choosing to make the trek to their hometowns to visit relatives. No matter, we pressed on. Derick smoked a turkey in his smoker for the first time at our new house (buckle-up, I have a feeling I will be using that phrase a lot this coming year 'the first time.'). I was buzzing around the kitchen making all the glorious side dishes synonymous with Thanksgiving. My sister arrived earlier in the day to assist, but I had most everything down to a scheduled science that she just mastered the art of the green bean casserole for me: add, stir, add, stir.

Derick injecting the turkey with his secret recipe marinades in preparation for the smoker!

Getting a final "crisp" cycle in the oven

Our spread!

Once we had eaten our fill and had thoroughly discussed our fill, we moseyed over to the family room to sift through the mountain of Black Friday ads. After post-it-ing, dog-earing and list-making, We determined that we would embark on a journey to Target to purchase a few key items. I had two items on my list: a DVD and an inflatable air mattress (for future potential guests). My sister had a few big things on her list, so I planned to help her locate and carry her items. When we arrived, there were already a few people coming out of Target with their purchases. There were TVs in carts EVERYWHERE. At one point, my sister decided, on a whim, that she needed one as well...that is until I talked her out of it because, well, she didn't really need one, and more importantly for her wallet, she didn't need to spend the money on it for the lukewarm deal for that brand and model. Once we had our loot, we crawled through the checkout lines and made it back to my house unscathed. She had a plan to hit a few more locations after that, so we packed her some leftovers and sent her on her way. I was looking forward to more unpacking and turning our new house into our new home.

Side Note - looking back on it now, we got everything done - unpacked, cleaned and put away - in short order, though, at the time, it seemed to take an eternity to see all of the boxes broken down and leave the premises.

The Move

We started moving items from the storage units in Rogers, MN to our new place almost immediately after signing the papers to make the house ours. We sure had some awesome friends come and help us in our moving journey! One of Derick's teaching colleagues and college friend, Pete, helped us move almost all of our things to the new house on that first afternoon and evening - with the use of his truck and trailer. We borrowed a trailer from a friend as well, so we had ample means to move all our things in a few trips.

Seeing the storage lockers empty was one of the best feelings in the world. After months of beginning to forget what items I owned anymore, all of them started making their way to our new home.

The next day, my friend Kim arrived bright and early and eager to help move us in! My sister soon followed, bringing with her most of my houseplants that she had been fostering for me. The rest of my plants we had moved to Derick's classroom. Pete also returned the next morning to assist with the move. We can not thank these people enough - we love you!!

Room Signs I made for the garage so labeled boxes and specific furniture could be stacked in piles for that intended space

The first sunrise witnessed in our new home. 

A new home celebratory ice cream cake from Dairy Queen (a tradition started with our Townhouse purchase)

It has begun! Our stuff! Everywhere!

Oh so many boxes!

                                                        

Moving Crew Fuel from a local pizza shop that delivers to us way out in the boonies!

I now know a sure-fire way to feel as if I am 100 years old - spend three days moving everything you own. out of trucks, out of trailers, up three stairs, up one flight, up two flights, down two flights. whew. Every muscle seemed to ache, but we kept pushing to get as much done as we could. Both Derick and I had time off work to make it happen, and we MADE IT HAPPEN! What we did not accomplish during the week of Thanksgiving, we plotted to tackle during the Christmas holiday. 

As it turned out, we did not end up hosting Christmas for Derick's family this year, but instead, we traveled to Medford, WI to spend it with his family. We made it a very short trip this year, driving over Christmas Eve Day and driving back the next afternoon. We had prioritized finishing some move-in items for the house that we were excited to get back to. 

We bought a real Christmas tree this year - the first real tree in a few years for us. We had a couple real trees in our townhouse, but we decided that we would take the plunge and do it this year as well.

Entryway guest coat closet

Guest Bedroom - Parisian Themed

Guest Bedroom - Parisian Themed

Guest "Ducky" Bathroom

Guest "Ducky" Bathroom

Derick's Garage Workbench (built by him and his cousin, Joe)

Christmas Baking Begins!

Decorating for the Holidays

                                                      

                                                                This is what the kitchen island was MEANT for!

                                                       

This year I made 13 different types of cookies and three kinds of truffles. Needless to say, there were plenty to share with coworkers and friends!

We celebrated Christmas, first, with Derick's family, then with my sister, and still to come, with our friends that we have made a tradition of alternating houses to get together and share a meal and some small gifts. Buying for their kiddos is so fun!

Jana's plate of goodness!

How fun are these Star Wars cutouts?!

In short-order, we were forecast to get a pounding amount of snow around the holidays. So, in anticipation of this, we decided to put our adult pants on and get a snowblower. 

While we didn't ever get that big snowstorm, winter finally came in the form of cold! So, that meant more time indoors to do one of my favorite things - organize!

I tackled the areas of my closet that had been silently taunting me to pay attention and take action. Derick actually commented, 

Every time I come to look for you, to see what you are doing or where you are, you are always hiding in a closet!

But...that didn't stop him from requesting the organizational guru's assistance for his own closet. We had that thing looking ship-shape in no time! Complete with a purge and laundry-sorting mission included!

Derick's newly organized closet

Kim came over one Saturday and helped me hang a LOT of our artwork in our house. It was so great to have a like-minded person there to help me design our space. We still have some pieces to hang, but it will come. We are still figuring out where some items will fit the best, not wanting to rush into a hasty placement. 

We look forward to entertaining more and more family and friends over the coming years, landscaping in the spring and summer and really, just living life in our new spot!

-LD

It's The FINAL COUNTDOWN!

To our new house! Finally. Finally!

Derick walked through our new home yesterday with the builder, main contractor on our house, and our realtor. I met up with them later that night after I got off the train from work. On the drive out there, I was so looking forward to seeing our house all finished and clean, waiting for us to move in!

As I made my way out to the house, I took mental note of how DARK it is out in the more rural parts of the state (where we will be living). And as I weaved my way through the development, there, on the little hill, with all of the lights on, was our house. It was exciting to see it lit up since I had not yet experienced the house in darkness. 

I got a chance to walk through the house - looking for anything wrong or anything that should be changed prior to us taking possession of the house this Friday. I spied a few more items than the guys had - mostly small, cosmetic things, but some things that we would like fixed prior to us moving into the home if possible.

I. am. so. ready. 

This morning, I woke up for work and found that our pipes in our camper had partially frozen overnight (the winds were whipping around at about 30-40 mph and the temps got down to 30 degrees). That is one thing I should not have to worry about in the new house - pipes freezing or any chill in the house for that matter!

I am really excited to have all of my things in one place! Washing and cleaning all of my possessions before they come into the new house...going through everything as it comes into the house...opening our new Fiestaware that we bought eons ago that we were waiting to open until we got into our new house!

I am taking off work Friday to close on the house, and the entire following week to move in and get settled in my new house and hometown. Derick and I will also be hosting our second annual Friendsgiving for Thanksgiving this year! I am starting to wonder if I should test him for the crazy gene...since it was his idea to do it this year, days after getting into the house...ha!

We will also be hosting his entire family for Christmas at our house this year!!! Not only Christmas, but time surrounding Christmas as well - and housing everyone. I think we counted approximately 23 potential guests if ALL of his family makes the trip! AHH! Reminds me of one of my favorite Christmas movies...National Lampoons Christmas Vacation! It will be so much fun though - to open our house and really "warm" it with family and friends! I look forward to being able to decorate the house for Christmas. Derick insists we will be getting a real Christmas tree this year and I am very much looking forward to it. We had two real trees during our time in the townhouse, but it will be fun to have a real one again! I might set up the small one we have upstairs on the landing to spread the cheer throughout the house.

Glad Tidings!

-LD

It's The Final Countdown...almost

Today's post is going to be a lot of photos of the new house. I know we are supposed to "love people, not things," but I cannot help LOVING our new house as it comes together and our dreams take shape!

siding is taking shape!

my kitchen cabinets!

Standing in the kitchen (on left - door to garage, on right - stairs to 2nd floor and stairs to basement)

master bedroom (dk blue)  looking into the master bathroom (green)

Guest bedroom + closet (trim will be stained a dark walnut/cherry color)

Stone selection for around our fireplace! A last-minute addition that will be really great!

Someone left us our first housewarming gift...two patio chairs and a small patio table...in our dumpster...

The house is coming along! Following the house building schedule, the house should be complete near November 12th, and then we should hopefully be able to close that following week. It is really going to be a test of my patience to contain my excitement before we can move!!

-LD

04 Be Patient

04 Be Patient

At least that is what my Caribou cup sleeve said today. It is part of the "Find all 20 ways to care" program for the Celebrating 20 years with 20 ways to care associated with the Amy's Blend program. 

I am pretty sure that once my coffee is done this morning I will remove the sleeve and post it next to my work calendar, where I have penciled in our new house count down. I marked off the days to when our house should be finished (37). Add anywhere from 2-7 days after that for closing and we should be in our home on or around November 19th.

We have been visiting the house site every couple of days to watch the progress, take photos and just live in the moment of our exciting project. I look forward to having all of my things in one place, being able to decorate and take my things out of storage. 

I will say, that camper living has been alright overall. I am on day 102 (I believe) of living in the camper. There is something to be said for "living small." This is our last full week, and upcoming weekend of being at the Mississippi Riverwood RV park. The place is starting to resemble a ghost town - many residents have been packing up and heading south, or back to their homes in town (yes - there are people with campers in this park that live in their regular homes less than 5 minutes away. Trust me, it boggles my mind and makes me laugh at the same time).

So here is to being patient for the things worth waiting for!

-LD

Filling the Bucket

This morning, after having spent time with a colleague who has a beer app to track all the different kinds of beer he has tried (rating them, taking photos of them, etc) I thought, 

there must be a good app out there to track all of the books I have read, want to read and am reading! 

Well, it turns out there are a few websites and apps dedicated to just that. I decided to give Goodreads a try. After I was scanning through my blog posts to find books that I had read and written reviews for, I came across my bucket list posts and updates. Well, there are a few more things I can check off the list!

Travel to Paris

Go Hot Air Ballooning

Buy a decent camera

Take a cooking class

Take a cake decorating class

Be promoted in the workplace

Get another dog (coming next summer 2016!!)

Move into a single-family home (coming this fall!!)

Alaskan Cruise

Travel to see more of the West and East coasts

Travel to Hawaii

Travel to Australia

Live on or near a lake (near a lake coming this fall!)

Host Thanksgiving Dinner at our home (must obtain home with larger kitchen first...)

Ride in a Limousine

Road Trip with Derick

Take a get-away vacation

Host a Holiday Cookie Baking Weekend at my home (must obtain home with larger kitchen first...)

Start a retirement account

Rebuild my hard-copy and electronic portfolios

See my work in print I guess you can say that I have seen it in print after designing the ADA bus ad, both in the buses and the HUGE poster hanging outside the old metrodome! Also - all of my pro-bono work for the Mounds View Community Theater for the past 4 years for their program and for the Minnesota Aquarium Society's Annual Fish Show the past 4 years!

Pay for the meal or dessert of a prom couple anonymously while at the same restaurant

Eat more fruits and vegetables

Serve food/meal at a charity during a major holiday

Re-read a book series

Read or review all of the design books I own

More seriously discuss if and when to have kids (ongoing discussion)

Find an Endocrinologist whom I interact well with (Dr. O'Day was amazing, but alas, I will have to start this process over again due to the fact that she and her family moved to Colorado! so so sad!)

Snowboard again

Go Scuba Diving

Skype with my Twitter Twin someday

Work more closely with or for the ADA

Organize my digital pictures

Obtain my education degree to teach art or design

Learn how to play acoustic guitar

Living in a VAN down by the RIVER

Laura: 33

Derick and Tucker: 102

It’s been 33 days for me, and 102 days for Derick and Tucker that we have been living in a “van down by the river.” I do have to say, it hasn’t been too bad!

We closed on the townhouse on June 30^th. We met the new owner and I was slightly relieved to find out that she seemed normal. You never really want to find out that a crazy person will be living in the place you called home for so long. 

We closed on the townhouse on June 30^th. We met the new owner and I was slightly relieved to find out that she seemed normal. You never really want to find out that a crazy person will be living in the place you called home for so long.

We found some pretty creative ways to store some of the things we needed – especially me, trying to get ready and go to work every day  from the camper. But really, just throw in a garment rack, pop-up hamper, a bunch of over-the-door hooks and adhesive tabs and I think we have everything pretty much solid when it comes to camper life storage. We also have supplemented our MacGyver skills by hitting the local Camping World and Gander Mountain stores to obtain odds and ends to make our lives just a tiny bit easier. Once we use the camper for its intended purpose and not an apartment, I think we will find that we have MORE than enough storage to fit our needs!

I have really made our back "patio" space my own personal flower garden for sure. I was able to bring one of my step-planter stands and a bunch of larger pots for flowers that I have brought with us or purchased this summer on super clearances!

I am pretty happy with camper life over all. 

Things I love:

• Being able to have a campfire almost any night of the week
• S'mores (duh)
• Not needing to go grocery shopping every week
• Cleaning the camper takes about an hour to really clean it top to bottom!
• I was able to fit a garment rack into the camper to hold some work clothes so I was not needing to swap out clothing each week!
• That I am able to keep plants and flowers all summer long!
• I love watching the wildlife - birds, squirrels, and this morning, a doe!
• The 101 Market is right down the road, with a fun gift shop area
• Cold Stone Creamery is right down the road - within walking and biking distance (could be dangerous)
• Target is still only about a mile away

Things I miss or could do without:

• I miss my bathroom with enough counter space to lay out everything I needed to get ready in the mornings
• I miss our full-size shower
• I miss longer showers than 4 mins (hey, somethings cannot all be accomplished in 4 mins. Thick hair plus shaving, I'm looking at you...)
• I miss speed limits of more than 5mph.
• I miss cable TV for some shows that I would still watch now
• I miss internet when I want to watch a video, Netflix or other internet-needy things
• Mosquitoes - but this I could always do without!

The time spent in the camper though, has really somewhat forced me to not do a whole lot, because, well, there isn't a lot that needs to be done! I know that soon Derick will head back to school, so that will pick up and we will be living and working out of the camper together for about a month and a half of overlap. We will also need to find time later in the home-building process to go out and make selections on everything from paint colors, cabinet guts, lighting and finishes of accessories. 

Almost all of the permits are in for our new house. They have the house all staked out on our property and that was pretty cool to see - it made it seem all the more real that we are building our dream house there. 

The buffalo and their babies were roaming the field behind our house. One look out where our family room will be and you are not sure if you are looking out on Montana.

I am getting really antsy about the house - and they haven't even broken ground yet. I think most of it is the anxiety of just getting the actual build process started that has me the most worried. Once I know there is a hole in the ground, I will be more or less at ease, knowing that the 90-day countdown really begins at that time. It is already looking like we will need to bring the camper up to the property for at least one week before the house is complete. I am not thrilled about that - I was really hoping for a clean break from the RV park and the house. Oh well - I guess we are on their timeline now. Hopefully we should be getting a list of the remaining items left to make choices on for the house, so that should keep us busy for a little while at least. 

Then, before you know it, school will be starting for Derick again and he will be involved with that and his Master's program and Science Club! 

- From the river,
-LD