But our lives have been...
We have been really busy...
and...
We have been trying to balance both... 
But we finally have...
And this is happening at 5 pm today...
So hopefully our...
Will get more attention next week!Friday, February 27, 2009
Under Construction
The truth is...
But our lives have been...
We have been really busy...
and...
We have been trying to balance both... But we finally have...And this is happening at 5 pm today...
So hopefully our...
Will get more attention next week!
But our lives have been...We have been really busy...and...We have been trying to balance both... But we finally have...And this is happening at 5 pm today...So hopefully our...Will get more attention next week!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Something Fun!
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It will be done this year.
4- You will have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be photography or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who follow the directions. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My Rant
I have written my congressmen and my senator today and I am so angry that I am using my blog as a venting outlet. If you aren't interested in this kind of rant then check back another day for more moving pictures.
I find it offensive that Oliver and I do not qualify for the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit because we have chosen to be married. Before we were married I bought our townhouse and now, in my husband’s name only (and he has never owned a home), we are buying our first single family home. We have been married a year and because we chose to be married and not just co-habitate, we are being punished. Similarly, this is unfair in that lesbian and gay couples qualify for the credit and we don't. Why are we being punished for choosing marriage? Why are we being punished for choosing to love and marry as spouses? What is wrong with our society and what it values?
I also think that the tax-credit should have to be repaid! How does it benefit the majority of people that I know who bought homes when they could afford them and love where they live and don't need to move or don't want to and wouldn't qualify even if they did. Oliver and I would love the tax credit to be able to buy the appliances, finish the yard, put in the carpet and paint but we also feel that we should repay the money borrowed from the government because why should my unborn children pay for people to buy a home? And why are our children paying for years and years and years to come to make bad choices?
I also find it maddening that some people we know bought their home and then a few years later re-financed, took out more than $150,000 cash to buy a boat, car, furniture, finish the basement, etc and spent it all. Then, the government came in to save them from their poor choices and living in a home they couldn't afford and forgave more than $100,000 of their principle balance. They didn't have to give back any of their toys, and my tax dollars are paying for their fun toys and for all the cash they spent and their bad choice. Is that what the law is designed to do? Ridiculous!
Here is the quote of the description of the bill answering the question what is a first-time home buyer: For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.
And here is the website for more information: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/home2.html
I find it offensive that Oliver and I do not qualify for the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit because we have chosen to be married. Before we were married I bought our townhouse and now, in my husband’s name only (and he has never owned a home), we are buying our first single family home. We have been married a year and because we chose to be married and not just co-habitate, we are being punished. Similarly, this is unfair in that lesbian and gay couples qualify for the credit and we don't. Why are we being punished for choosing marriage? Why are we being punished for choosing to love and marry as spouses? What is wrong with our society and what it values?
I also think that the tax-credit should have to be repaid! How does it benefit the majority of people that I know who bought homes when they could afford them and love where they live and don't need to move or don't want to and wouldn't qualify even if they did. Oliver and I would love the tax credit to be able to buy the appliances, finish the yard, put in the carpet and paint but we also feel that we should repay the money borrowed from the government because why should my unborn children pay for people to buy a home? And why are our children paying for years and years and years to come to make bad choices?
I also find it maddening that some people we know bought their home and then a few years later re-financed, took out more than $150,000 cash to buy a boat, car, furniture, finish the basement, etc and spent it all. Then, the government came in to save them from their poor choices and living in a home they couldn't afford and forgave more than $100,000 of their principle balance. They didn't have to give back any of their toys, and my tax dollars are paying for their fun toys and for all the cash they spent and their bad choice. Is that what the law is designed to do? Ridiculous!
Here is the quote of the description of the bill answering the question what is a first-time home buyer: For example, if you have not owned a home in the past three years but your spouse has owned a principal residence, neither you nor your spouse qualifies for the first-time home buyer tax credit. However, unmarried joint purchasers may allocate the credit amount to any buyer who qualifies as a first-time buyer, such as may occur if a parent jointly purchases a home with a son or daughter. Ownership of a vacation home or rental property not used as a principal residence does not disqualify a buyer as a first-time home buyer.
And here is the website for more information: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/home2.html
Monday, February 9, 2009
Packing the Townhouse
Oliver and I spent much of our Saturday boxing and labelling stuff! We decided if we pack one room a week it will make the last week go a little more smoothly. This weekend we packed most of the office and the garage. We own more books then the Herriman Library! (Those of you that have been know this isn't an amazing accomplishment - and they definitely have more videos and CDs then us.)
Here's a picture of the garage which is being loaded with all our boxes and furniture in preparation for the moving truck.
And this is our labelling station. Every box and piece of furniture has a colored piece of paper taped to it which corresponds to a room assignment at the new house. This way, the people that help us move don't have to try to guess which room is the office or the guest bedroom or the whatever - they just look at the colored paper and make sure it matches the color that will be taped in the rooms at the new house. Pretty slick - this makes you all want to help and haul boxes huh?
And this is the main man behind the madness. I helped pack the boxes but he was good enough to carry them all downstairs (and the empty ones upstairs for that matter). I only hauled one box of books downstairs - what a great guy! He sure was raised right...
Here's a picture of the garage which is being loaded with all our boxes and furniture in preparation for the moving truck.
And this is our labelling station. Every box and piece of furniture has a colored piece of paper taped to it which corresponds to a room assignment at the new house. This way, the people that help us move don't have to try to guess which room is the office or the guest bedroom or the whatever - they just look at the colored paper and make sure it matches the color that will be taped in the rooms at the new house. Pretty slick - this makes you all want to help and haul boxes huh?
And this is the main man behind the madness. I helped pack the boxes but he was good enough to carry them all downstairs (and the empty ones upstairs for that matter). I only hauled one box of books downstairs - what a great guy! He sure was raised right...Duvet Cover - opinions PLEASE!
We are replacing our old duvet cover and desperately need your opinions! The last one got lost and it was white with patch quilt blocks in bright bright colors on the front. This will be the cover in our guest bedroom and I want something loud because we already own a sea foam green one that has stripes on one side and flowers on the other - I want something with a little more personality for my cheerier moods! I am keeping the one that we have right now but I want something a little more happy and fun - I have the one that goes on for traditional guests! Please post a comment and vote on which one you like - THINK LOUD!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Reminiscent
I have been feeling reminiscent today. It has something to do with the fact that Oliver and I finally picked out our wedding pictures that we want published in our book. We don't have any of our wedding pictures from the photographer because we had to finalize our book selection first. It has been really fun to look through all the pictures but it also makes me wonder, how does a girl go from this...
To this...
I feel like the time has just flown - it's no wonder my mom thinks so too!
To this... 
I feel like the time has just flown - it's no wonder my mom thinks so too!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
House Pics for Taylor
We know that a lot of you want to see pictures of the house that we are buying. But this post is all for Taylor! This is more pictures than most of you want to see, but our favorite Taylor is not living close anymore and so we are posting for him. Tay - we wish you were closer (especially so you could help with our fix-ups) - we miss you!
This is from the front - we sit in the south east corner of the cul-de-sac...
Here is the roof which is in good shape. They did a good patching job (according to the inspector) when some of the shingles blew off.
These are the gutters that have about 1/2 inch of grime in them. This is one reason we wish you were closer! :)
Here is the garage - the side you can't see already has three places installed to hang bikes. I guess we'll have to buy another bike... You also can't see the central-vac which is piled by the door. There is an exit to the back yard from the garage and a sink which you can see the very edge of.
Here is the crawl space above the garage looking from the garage towards the kitchen. The garage ceiling is insulated which is going above and beyond code. Similarly, there is twice as much insulation as required.
This is looking from the island in the kitchen through the dining area with bay window and into the family room which the inspector claims has a wood fireplace and both Oliver and our agent think is a gas log fireplace. Can you come back and tell us what it really is?
This is the master bedroom with a window seat the lift for extra storage. That is also the new carpet which the bank put in - it hasn't been vacuumed yet.
This is the living room upstairs, right off the main entry.
This is the bathroom on the first floor by the bedrooms. There is also a half bath off the kitchen. The toilet is dripping and we need to get a plumber to come and fix a handful of things.
This is the bonus room downstairs that grandpa said can be turned into a walk-out basement. We would put in a kitchenette and extra bathroom so that we could rent out the basement. Grandpa suggested putting the door where the window is and either putting in french doors or one door with windows on both sides.
This is another view of the kitchen. We already bought the appliances and they are all black. The one appliance you can't see is the trash compactor which is on the backside of the island. It is a Kenmore.
This is the laundry room which is right next to the master bedroom. This is the old cabinetry that matches what used to be in all the bathrooms and the kitchen. We are very glad for the upgrade!
This is the downstairs family room and the bonus room that we told you about earlier is through that doorway. To the left is an under the stairs little crawl space for kids. It has a light that you can turn on and off. The storage room and cold storage are also located to the left of this room.
This is the manabloc. It is probably my second favorite part of the house (next to the kitchen).
This is a picture showing some of the missing light bulbs. We probably have to go and buy 25 - 30 light bulbs. Exciting! We also have to go and buy 28 knobs for the kitchen hardware which is missing.
This is from the front - we sit in the south east corner of the cul-de-sac...
Here is the roof which is in good shape. They did a good patching job (according to the inspector) when some of the shingles blew off.
These are the gutters that have about 1/2 inch of grime in them. This is one reason we wish you were closer! :)
Here is the garage - the side you can't see already has three places installed to hang bikes. I guess we'll have to buy another bike... You also can't see the central-vac which is piled by the door. There is an exit to the back yard from the garage and a sink which you can see the very edge of.
Here is the crawl space above the garage looking from the garage towards the kitchen. The garage ceiling is insulated which is going above and beyond code. Similarly, there is twice as much insulation as required.
This is looking from the island in the kitchen through the dining area with bay window and into the family room which the inspector claims has a wood fireplace and both Oliver and our agent think is a gas log fireplace. Can you come back and tell us what it really is?
This is the master bedroom with a window seat the lift for extra storage. That is also the new carpet which the bank put in - it hasn't been vacuumed yet.
This is the living room upstairs, right off the main entry.
This is the bathroom on the first floor by the bedrooms. There is also a half bath off the kitchen. The toilet is dripping and we need to get a plumber to come and fix a handful of things.
This is the bonus room downstairs that grandpa said can be turned into a walk-out basement. We would put in a kitchenette and extra bathroom so that we could rent out the basement. Grandpa suggested putting the door where the window is and either putting in french doors or one door with windows on both sides.
This is another view of the kitchen. We already bought the appliances and they are all black. The one appliance you can't see is the trash compactor which is on the backside of the island. It is a Kenmore.
This is the laundry room which is right next to the master bedroom. This is the old cabinetry that matches what used to be in all the bathrooms and the kitchen. We are very glad for the upgrade!
This is the downstairs family room and the bonus room that we told you about earlier is through that doorway. To the left is an under the stairs little crawl space for kids. It has a light that you can turn on and off. The storage room and cold storage are also located to the left of this room. 
This is the manabloc. It is probably my second favorite part of the house (next to the kitchen).
This is a picture showing some of the missing light bulbs. We probably have to go and buy 25 - 30 light bulbs. Exciting! We also have to go and buy 28 knobs for the kitchen hardware which is missing. Let us know if you want to see any other pictures - we can send you the home inspection if you want. Love you - teach well today!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Finances...
We had our home inspection today and it passes with a 9.5 out of 10! It just needs some elbow grease, a plumber and a lot of TLC. If you know a good plumber don't hesitate to send me the info.
Then the mechanic called to say he would like $540 to fix my car - that must be the blessing of paying off your car - it is my philosophy that you either pay the bank monthly or the mechanic quarterly...YUCK! The truth is we have the best mechanic and we know that he would not over-charge us nor recommend work that isn't really needed. I would say, when you are driving down the freeway and all your gauges flat line and you can't even get your gas to go and you just decelerate even though you used to be going 75 in the fast lane that you might have to pay for something. Then, less than 5 seconds later everything comes back on, and I'm sailing away...So he can have a slice of our bank account this month too... :(