Our House, Our Home: The Color Scheme

WE CLOSE ON OUR FIRST HOUSE IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS!!!!

I have been planning away, and we even made some house-related purchases this weekend. My cleaning buckets are packed and ready to go. I cannot wait (but I have to) to walk into the house and just start cleaning away.

Our MAJOR undertaking will be to paint nearly every wall on the inside of house. The previous owners had cats, and the smell is overpowering. If you have any great ideas for odor removal, please share.

We are hoping that special primer and paint will lock the odor into the walls. Required painting is the perfect opportunity for me to dream about paint colors. Sherwin-Williams is not paying me, but I do want to share about their color palettes. I have been working with the Rustic Refined palette from the HGTV by Sherwin Williams collection. Here are the ones we have picked:

The colors look different in person, but this version is close. I love them!

I can't wait to get started!


This post is linked up on:

Paneling Meets Paint (Soon)

The basement in our new house needs some work. Thanks to Pinterest, I am prepared. The less-than-lovely wood paneling will be painted. The trim will be painted. Even the fireplace will be painted.

As much as I like choosing paint colors, I'm not great at matching tones. Have you noticed how many "white" paint colors there are? How in the world am I supposed to know which one goes with the color I like? On my mom's recommendation, I sought help at Sherwin-Williams [this is not an advertisement for Sherwin-Williams, just the truth]. Their color palettes are the largest I have seen, with twenty coordinating colors.

After hours evaluating paint swatches, my husband and I selected the palette for our new house: Rustic Refined. We plan to paint the trim "Creamy" throughout the house. In the basement, the wood paneling will be "Muslin," and the small non-paneling section of the wall will be "Copen Blue." I cannot wait to get started!

Our chosen color palette for the basement. The colors
seem to look darker on screen. "Creamy" is basically
white in real life.

Someday soon, I will show you an "after" picture. Until then, a Pinterest board will have to satisfy both of us.

Follow Davy's board Basement on Pinterest.

This post is linked up with (WFMW) Works For Me Wednesday, Little Friday Linkup, and Winsome Wednesday. 

TBT: All Too Familiar

Last year at this time, we were preparing to move. This year at this time, we are preparing to move again. This move will be our seventh major move in six years of marriage. Yes, you read that right. So, this Throwback Thursday scene is all too familiar.

Thankfully, this move is into our first house. We close this month and will have three weeks to clean, paint, and move. The packing and moving dread is far outweighed by the excitement of buying a house. Stay tuned for paint samples and plans. In the meantime, check out our new house!

This post was linked up on Lovely Thursdays.

Books: My Own (Part 2)

As previously shared, I have had the opportunity to write several non-fiction children's books. The first two books were about states. The other four were about snakes. If you know me, you know that I am  not fond of creepy crawlies (ah-hem, mice). Therefore, you should be surprised that I would write about snakes, of all things. Let me assure you, I simply accepted the titles that were offered to me. What were they?

....drumroll, please....

Ball Pythons (not so bad)
Bush Vipers (vipers are scary)
King Cobras (yikes!)
Death Adders (umm...death?)

When I told my family the titles, they laughed loud and long (my fear of creepy crawlies is no secret). In spite of my fear of meeting live versions of the snakes, I actually enjoyed the project. Snakes are seriously fascinating. Especially if you are reading about them from the safety of your own snakeless home. My husband was even sucked into the research, especially video footage of python vs. tiger. Okay, so the video wasn't exactly research, but was a small rabbit trail [or snake trail?] of my research.

I am thankful that the three venomous/deadly snakes (bush vipers, king cobras, and death adders) are not slithering around on my continent. Trust me, you should be thankful, too. They are no joke.

*I enjoy writing about things I like and am not being paid to endorse products. I am, however, an Amazon Affiliate. If you click a link that takes you to Amazon and then purchase something, I receive a small percentage. To my knowledge, you will not have to pay more. These books were written on a contract basis, so I do not receive royalties from the publisher.

Upbeat and Appropriate Music: Hard to Find

At my new job, I have the privilege of playing music at my desk. Since my desk is in the reception area, the music needs to be carefully selected. I have been trying hard to find songs that fit the following requirements:

1. Not annoying (to me or other people). You know how some songs sound terrible from a distance? I want to spare my bosses from audio torture. In my opinion, a lot of contemporary Christian music falls into that category. Plus, I don't love the sound anyway.
2. Upbeat. Music really affects my mood. I want to be chipper and efficient, not depressed and lethargic.
3. Wholesome. Devoid of swearing, sex, and other inappropriateness.

By the end of the list, you may be saying, "Good luck!" Well, I need it. I am actually having quite a difficult time. Worship music can be good, but many songs are really slow or sound depressing. The words are good, but I won't be listening to the words at work anyway. 

Can you help me out? I'll show you a few of the songs that have made the list, then would love some suggestions. 

• "Best Day Of My Life" - by American Authors
• "Fireflies" - by Owl City
• "Rock of Ages" - by Jimmy Needham
• "Charlie Brown Medley" - by The Piano Guys
• "The Sound Of Sunshine" - Michael Franti & Spearhead

In my search so far, Jimmy Needham has been my favorite discovery. He reminds me of Michael Bublé a little.

Alright, music people. Let me have it! What songs should be on the list?

Suctionless Suzie Meets Her Match

Picture this: Recent college graduates and newlyweds set off across the country to start a new life. All of their earthly possessions are crammed into their one little car and a suburban. Other than law school and an empty apartment, they had no idea what the future would hold. Not a lot of money, that was fairly certain. The bride had been too busy planning a wedding to find a job [good one]. At least they had wedding gifts and gift cards.

Upon arriving at the empty apartment, the couple quickly realized how few possessions they actually had. No bed, no table, no couch. Their only piece of furniture was a desk. Frantic Craigslist and thrift store shopping commenced. Then, they headed to the store. Three carts later, the groom's eyes start to bulge. He said, "This trip is going to cost a fortune!" The bride and her mother assured him that they were only buying necessities. It's difficult to run a household without a broom, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and so on.

And then they reached the vacuum cleaners. How would they choose? Oh, right. They would pick the cheapest one. For thirty dollars, the deal was done. They never guessed the frustration that decision would cause.

At the checkout, the groom started to sweat as he watched the total rise. He gulped at the final tally, then produced their stack of gift cards. The total disappeared. And he even got gift cards back! "Praise the Lord! We aren't totally broke yet!"

As I'm sure you have realized, I'm the bride in this story. As you may not have guessed, this post is actually supposed to be about vacuum cleaners. Six years later, we have said farewell to our thirty-dollar vacuum cleaner. And good riddance.

Have you ever seen a string on the floor, then proceeded to vacuum over it repeatedly to no avail? Have you ever opened the canister to have dust fly everywhere? Have you ever had your vacuum cleaner overheat before you finish vacuuming your small apartment? I have. I don't recommend it.

I will admit, we never replaced the filter. Who wants to spend more money on a cheap vacuum that never really sucked? At least not in the way it was supposed to.

Anyway, we are no longer the penniless, unemployed newlyweds of six years ago. So, we bought a vacuum. Introducing, Valter the Vacuum:

Suctionless Suzie has found her way to the dumpster. You can see her in the picture, looking forlorn in the corner. Don't feel too bad for her; she only half-heartedly attempted to do her job, so deserved to be sent packing.

If you are curious, Valter is actually a Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional. We keep going to the closet just to admire him. He's done a great job on the carpet so far, too.

*I enjoy writing about things I like and am not being paid to endorse products. I am, however, an Amazon Affiliate. If you click a link that takes you to Amazon and then purchase something, I receive a small percentage. To my knowledge, you will not have to pay more.

Surprise Gifts: Kitchen Tools

Last month, I shared a post called "4 Kitchen Tools I Didn't Know I Needed." Well, my in-laws came last weekend and obliterated my list. Thanks to my mother-in-law, I am now the proud owner of the following gadgets:

• A scoop colander
• A silicone-coated whisk
• A bench scraper

Bringing a metal-edged bench scraper in her carry-on was risky enough, so she decided not to attempt bringing the fourth item: a large knife. Good choice, eh?

[Side note: For those of you who are not Canadian like my in-laws, I would like to share a tidbit. Canadians are known for saying "aye"(like "hay" without the first letter) a lot. Guess what. It's not spelled like that. It's spelled "E-H." Confusing, right? That one took this Canadianese newbie a while to figure out.]

Back to kitchen gadgets. They are great. Also, I would like to point out that the whisk colors are arugula and wasabi. That company should get bonus points for creativity.

What's your favorite kitchen tool?


*I enjoy writing about things I like and am not being paid to endorse products. I am, however, an Amazon Affiliate. If you click a link that takes you to Amazon and then purchase something, I receive a small percentage. 

A Little Sourdough Q&A

Last fall, I started baking with sourdough. You may be thinking, "Baking with sourdough? Don't you mean baking sourdough?" Kind of. I assumed that sourdough always meant bread, but it doesn't. In fact, you can use sourdough to create many delicious concoctions. Several friends have asked about it, so I did a little Q & A with myself just for you. :)

What is sourdough?
Sourdough is a dough that is naturally leavened. In other words, sourdough will rise without requiring added yeast. I used flour and water to grow my starter originally.

Why do I use it?
My understanding is that sourdough breaks down gluten into a form more tolerable to our bodies. As gluten is blamed for many issues these days, I think sourdough provides a good alternative to a gluten-free diet.

Is the sourdough process new?
No way. Sourdough was most likely the first type of leavening. The history is actually pretty interesting, if you like that kind of thing.

What are your favorite sourdough recipes?
When it comes to cooking and baking, I am all about simple. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

• Sourdough Bread - There are only four ingredients to my favorite bread recipe: sourdough starter (which is made of flour and water), flour, water, and salt. Four ingredients! 
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sourdough - Delicious!
• Sourdough Pizza Crust - This recipe also has four ingredients: sourdough starter, olive oil, flour, and salt.
• Sourdough Chocolate Chip Muffins - No, they aren't sour. You would never guess that they are made with sourdough starter. Yum!

How can you try it?
I found the King Arthur Flour website extremely helpful in starting my, ahem, starter. The website offers detailed instructions and many recipes. If you have any questions, please let me know.

3 Down, 17 To Go

Reading used to be a huge part of my life, but I have been slacking in recent years. For some reason, picking up a book makes me feel lazy, like there is something else I should be doing. Funny how I can waste time on the internet without feeling so guilty. It's time to change that.

Last year, I only read eight books. My goal is to read twenty books in 2014. By filling downtime with reading, I should easily be able to meet the goal.

My new blog has distracted me lately, but I managed to read three books in January:

1. Resurrection Year- This book by Sheridan Voysey is the story of one couple's journey through infertility. My mother-in-law gave the book to me as a birthday gift, and I couldn't put it down. The story was fascinating, but also reminded me that we don't want to stretch infertility tests and treatments over ten years like the author did. If you are interested in a husband's perspective on infertility, I would recommend reading the book.
2. Death by Living- In his unique way, N.D. Wilson encourages readers to live intentionally. Although I would enjoy reading the full stories he briefly mentions, I like the way he weaves snippets of life as a narrative throughout the book.
3. Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert- Seriously, everyone should read this book. I disagree with where she lands on a few theological issues, but Christians can learn a lot from Rosaria Champagne Butterfield's story. I did.

What books have you enjoyed so far this year?

My Blogspirations

You might have noticed that I enjoy blogging. Maybe my two blogs (Davy's Delights and this one) gave it away.

While I enjoy blogging, reading the blogs of others gives me almost as much pleasure. Several blogs and posts rise to the top of my list:

• "Diary of a Pale Girl" by Kate Conner - I thoroughly enjoy Kate's blog, but this post about tanning literally makes me laugh so hard I cry every time. You should read it for yourself, but here's a snippet: "The experience was a fair girl’s worst nightmare (besides, of course, staying pale forever). The salon was manned by a petite lady with skin the color of burnt sienna, and the whole place smelled like a coconut stuffed inside a sweaty sock." Seriously, read it!
• "Buster Was No Facebook Dog" by my dad - I love my dad, and I loved my dog; therefore, this post was a winning combination.
• Pinch of Yum by my college roommate, Lindsay - Lindsay's food blog is one of the reasons I decided to start blogging again. She and her husband, Bjork, have done a great job with the blog. Their blogger resources helped me get my blog up and running.
• "going out on a limerick" by my sister, Jess - She offered to write a limerick for anyone who provided their name. The limericks were hilarious.
• Twenty-Two Words - because posts like this and this are interesting and entertaining.

What are your favorite blogs and blog posts?



NOTE: None of these bloggers have asked me to recommend them. I am simply sharing my favorites with you.

4 Kitchen Tools I Didn't Know I Needed

I have been helping a local caterer for the last few months. Before working in her kitchen, I did not realize there were so many gaps in my kitchen tool collection. Now that I have used them, there is no going back. My collection will feel incomplete until these items are purchased:

1. A bench scraper - What a handy tool! Rather than moving small pieces from the cutting board, just use the bench scraper. It also cuts dough. 


2. A scoop colander - Affectionately referred to as "that shovel/strainer thingy." I think you are supposed to strain pasta with it, but you will find a plethora of occasions to pull it out. I use it like a small shovel to scoop things out of a pan and into a smaller container.


3. A silicone-coated whisk - Quiet and smooth. The silicone coating helps you scrape the edges of a bowl as you stir. I am a fan.



3

4. A knife like this - You can chop and slice away without your knuckles hitting the cutting board. Amazing!



4

Do you already own any of these items? I don't, but they will be on my Christmas list next year.

Two Recommended Children's Books

This blog used to focus on book/movie/game recommendations, and I have done very few of those lately. This post will fix that.

I have been collecting children's books for years. When we finally have kids, I want to have great literature available for them. In the meantime, I also want to have books available for visitors. Here are two of my favorite children's books:

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb
by Dr. Seuss

I loved this book as a kid and now love reading it to kids. Kids love it when you read the words rhythmically, and they are thrilled at the end when the "Dum ditty, dum ditty, dum dum dum" gets progressively quieter. If you have little ones in your life, don't let them miss out on this one.



Make Way for Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey

This book has always been a favorite in my family. The illustrations are fabulous and the story is great, but the best part is saying the ducklings' names: Jack, Kack, Lack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack.





What are your favorite kid's books?

It's the Little Things

My day has been made. After spotting a UPS truck in the parking lot, I was reminded to check the status of a recent Amazon order. It was supposed to be delivered tomorrow. Amazon told me the package was in town, but I tried not to hope this mid-morning truck would be the bearer. A knock on the door and a signature later, the package was in my hands. Woohoo!

You may be asking, "What was in the package?" Well, I'll tell you. Pens.

It's the little things, right? Special pens, assorted sticky notes, and colorful cards just make life more fun. Also, something about having anticipated items show up at your door is extra exciting.

Why did I order special pens? Well, my husband and I have been reading the same books lately. He is an avid reader and a ferocious underliner. If I read the book second, I am hard-pressed to find non-underlined text to underline (except the fluffy stuff between points, and who wants to underline that?). With a colorful pen, I can at least identify which one of us thought which text was important.

Not one to make a decision before confusing myself with too many options, I did my research. I wanted colorful pens that don't bleed through pages, even Bible pages. Nib size? I didn't even know what a nib was. It's the tip, by the way. After much research (like this), I decided on the Pigma Micron by Sakura. Now I want to read all day just so I can underline.

My new pens

In case you were wondering, I chose the 005 nib size. 

Movie: 42

Sometimes, I see a movie preview so many times that I no longer want to watch the movie. Other times, I completely miss hearing about a movie until it has been out for a while. This movie is in the second category: 42. Maybe you missed it, too.

If you like sports, Remember the Titans, baseball, or sports movies, you will likely enjoy 42. We did.


Have you seen it? What did you think?