Ye Olde Red Brick House

I had this post in my drafts as Blogger would not let me upload photos or post for the past few weeks. I kept getting an error message pertaining to browser issues. After checking the help section of Google, I found that a LOT of people have had this issue lately. This morning, I decided to update my browser to Google Chrome; and now it works! My goal this weekend was to clean these four panels After lathering on the Citristrip with a paint brush and waiting for 30 minutes, I started scrubbing. Then cleaned off all the residue. It looks so much prettier now! I only have 2 side panels and 2 bottom panels to go before I'm completely done with this side of the room! I went and stocked up on Citristrip as is seems to be disappearing from my favorite stores. It is no longer at my Lowes or Orchard Supply. Walmart has the small bottle for $13, but I prefer to buy the larger bottle for $21 as it's twice the size. The only place I can get it now is at Home Depot. Hopefully they don'...

On March 30, 2014, my girls and I had our family photos taken in celebration of my 50th birthday. (March 1st) I am extremely happy with how they turned out. I love my beautiful family. <3

So, I changed my mind on the color scheme of the dining room again. At first I wanted turquoise, then let people talk me out of it... and chose red. Then, I started seeing so many amazing photos on Pinterest... and changed my mind again. I bought my paint already, so I cannot change my mind again. I seriously love this color. And it's exactly the color of my favorite Nine West purse this year. haha Imagine turquoise, instead of red and you have a pretty good idea what I'm aiming for. I am going to distress the box beams though as I love the look. I'm also planning on rubber stamping a design in each corner. It would look so amazing if the box beams were stripped of paint as well, but that would take me about 10 years. Maybe someday, when I either win the lottery, or have a handy husband, the beams can be stripped. Cause I'm not doing it. My dining room BEFORE I started all of the paint stripping. Maroon and yellow... *blech!*

A lot of progress has been made on the wood stripping this April. I promised myself that I'd have a finished dining room in 2014, and I am bound and determined to make that a reality! Most of the paint is already stripped near the windows; it just needs major cleaning. I had used the heat gun, and it's just not possible to remove paint from crevices without scorching the wood. (I know that from experience and there are several black spots to prove it - lesson learned). Just a reminder of how nasty it gets scraping/scrubbing the citristrip goo. I hate window corners the most. Even with the tiniest little scrubber brush, it is very time consuming to get the paint out of the corner.    I found a surprise! All of the top windows move up/down, just like the bottom! I would never have known this as the top windows were painted shut. I got two windows completely stripped and cleaned. The wood looks so pretty! I have googled many blogs this month and have decided I'm going to try ...

After a 'quick & easy' delivery (in Brittany's own words), we have a new baby girl in the family. My heart is filled with joy and love.    Everly was born at a few minutes before midnight, so daddy went home to be with Adalyn and I stayed the first night in the hospital with Brittany. (In one of the most uncomfiest chairs known to man, but oh so worth it). I looked like a creature out of one of those horror movies by morning though. haha Brittany and I got to eat the yummiest hospital meal ever though... it was called a congratulations meal. Since I suffered in the chair, I ate it willingly instead of saving it for daddy.     Austin came a few hours later, and I took miss Addy home with me. Poor baby didn't get to see mommy for almost 2 days. But, it was so much fun getting some one on one time with her. Austin had to sleep in the uncomfy chair that night... and he agreed, it was awful.   I love that little face, she's so perfect. <3     Adalyn, me...

I haven't stripped paint for several months as it's just too cold to open the windows for ventilation. It's a gorgeous 57 degrees today but feels like it's freezing inside this old house. brrr Today, I cleaned the last 2 sections of plate rails and also cleaned up some of the crevices. Except for the window frames, I am completely done with the stripping part of the dining room! Hoping to tackle the windows next weekend... however, Brittany is due on February 5th, I may be a little busy if miss Everly decides to come early. :)