Ch-Ch-Changes!

Well, I mentioned it earlier but the project craziness continues on at the Rasmusson household. After we had the upper half story painted, we moved on up there so we could have the two main floor bedrooms painted. When we first moved into our house, I was color-happy and insisted we paint the main floor bedrooms bright, vibrant colors...yeah, that had to change....

Main floor bedroom #1: Before

Main floor bedroom #1: After (plus new bedding!)

Main floor bedroom #2: Before (WOW, that's bright!)

Main floor bedroom #2: After (plus some new-to-us baby gear!)

Things are certainly changing around here. Walls, ceilings, doors and trim painted. New smoke detectors and outlets...things are shapin' up or shippin' out (to Goodwill)!

More pictures to come as Baby Ras' room comes together.

I start up my last semester of grad school this week (Wahoo!)...now it's a race to the finish line between graduation and baby. Which will get here first?

Take care,

K+P+Baby (25 weeks now!)

Movin' on up...

If you know me, you know I love projects! Or at least when they're done. Pregnancy has taken me from being a regular old project-lover to a crazy, extreme project-lover (with crazy emotions!) Paul doesn't love this.

Having a little old house, we've learned to cherish the oddities and characteristics that come with it. One of those oddities was our upper half story. It started out being our bedroom...until summer and winter came and the temperature up there was either too hot or way too cold. We ended up moving our bedroom down to one of the main floor bedrooms for this reason. Well, once Baby Ras showed up as a big plus sign on pregnancy test, I got all hopped up on the idea of getting that upper halfstory ready and useable...for us, or guests or whatever.

In September, we had it completely reinsulated which was a great investment. The temperature upstairs seems more regulated now AND our CenterPoint energy rating went from 43 out of 100 to 15 out of 100. Plus, our monthly energy bill went down and they'll even give us a credit for doing the work. Win-Win-Win!

So, now the room FEELS nice...but it was still an eye-sore. Well, it WAS until about a week ago when we had it completely repainted. We were a little timid about the idea of painting over the "quaint" wood paneling but after some counseling from the local Sherwin Williams salesman...we went for it. Two coats of primer and two coats of paint made a HUGE change, though we can't take any credit for it. We hired a friend to do all the painting and he did such a great job. Anyway...what follow are the before/after photos of the room. Don't judge the befores too harshly...the room has served basically as storage for the last year so there's some clutter and an overall lack of style....but, not anymore!

Fresh paint, new drawer handles....way more modern!
Different bedding, opened up window....way brighter!

Cleaned off bookshelves, removed some furniture...feels way bigger!

We are so happy with how the room turned out. We still have a couple things to finish up, but otherwise we're in good shape! We've moved back upstairs as our main level bedrooms are next on the list to be painted this week. More pictures/updates to come on that!

Stay tuned,

K+P+Baby (now 22 weeks 3 days along!)

30 Day Challenge: Day 5

Goal to complete before September 1st

Hmmmm...that's soon. Ok, there's no shortage of goals/to-do's on our list....so, I'd say our yard.

We started some yard renovation-type efforts last year and haven't really wrapped them up yet. So, I would love it if we could remove the gross wooden terraces from our back yard, re-grade the soil and seed it for grass. THEN, finish up the landscaping around the house and garage. For the sake of timing, I'm going to stick with the terrrace removal and reseeding as the goal to accomplish before September 1st. I'll post pics later...you'll agree that they are gross.

Yikes. Better get going,

K+P

This Week - Project #2

A new front fence!...only slightly more exciting than a new water heater, I know.

Sorry to disappoint, but the President of the Finance Committee (Paul) said we had to get some important (boring) projects taken care of before we could do any of the fun projects on my list...so we're getting there. There's still a couple more mandatory projects yet to do, but if they are standing in the way of me and the fun projects...we should have them taken care of lickety-split!

We still need to stain the fence, and since the deck needs to be re-stained again this summer...I figured we could take care of it all at once. It looks 100 times better than the half-broken fence we had before. Glad that's done!

I promise, we'll have more fun projects to report back yet this summer...I hope!

K+P

Did anyone else notice...

...that this is my 14th blog post this month? What? 14? That's a record, people!

Someone has been quite the blabber-mouth lately. Well, what did you expect?!?

So, in class (Social Media Marketing) we've been learning about "post trees", as in a blog post schedule that details what you'll write about/discuss in your blog....so it's like putting together a regular content schedule. A sample post tree would look something like this:

Sunday: Discuss physics
Monday: Post photos of Paul's baseball card collection
Tuesday: Try to explain mathematical equations in a foreign language
Wednesday: Post YouTube clips of cats falling out of trees
Thursday: Write a gruesomely personal story about our friends & family
Friday: Recount kitchen horror stories of recipes gone bad
Saturday: Day Off

Obviously, this is a pretty "interesting" sample post tree, but you get the idea. Should I be doing this? Are you guys looking for some consistency from us? Are we boring you with the normal details of our lives that we usually post? (probably...)

Paul & I have toyed with some real topics that we could discuss (with some level of knowledge/interest)....
- Paul could write a weekly post called "Better Off Read" where he'd review a book he's reading. (He does a lot of reading!...and I love nerds!)
- I could write a weekly post called "What's in a name?" where I'd post names...of people or businesses and then analyze them. If you don't already know this about me. I am a self-proclaimed "nameologist". I consider myself a baby/pet/business naming expert. I could also use this post to share clever word plays or punny business names (i.e. Curry in a Hurry). Believe it or not but these are the thoughts that stream through my head on a day-to-day basis....don't even ask about my idea to start a restaurant overlooking a lake that would be called "Czech on a Deck".
- Paul could also write a weekly sports related post where he'd discuss his perspective on teams, athletes, the ups and downs of fantasy sports, etc. (you wouldn't have to read on these days, if you don't want too - ha! Just Kidding, Paul!)
- I could also write a weekly post on a new recipe to try (if I ever decide to start following them) OR a vacation idea OR a home renovation/project we're working on...These are some of my most favorite topics!

Would this be fun to read? Or is the current flow just fine?

If you don't reply, we'll follow the first "sample" post tree I wrote above...get your pocket protectors ready cuz come next Sunday....it's physics, baby! (kidding...I'm no good at physics!)

K+P

BIG news from our kitchen:

Us: WE HAVE A MICROWAVE AGAIN!

You: Great. Why didn't you have a microwave? That technology came about in 1946. You're only 65 years behind on this...

Well...almost a YEAR ago (yes, 12 months) our microwave went kaput (well, actually it flashed, sparked and nearly started on fire) and since it's an above-the-range model it wasn't as simple as "toss it out and buy a new one". (Plus...did I mention? We aren't the most handy folks in town!)

Anyway, we sorta made it a challenge for ourselves to see how long we could go without a microwave. We had many offers from kind friends and family members to have their extra countertop microwaves, BUT we have a small kitchen and just coudn't give up ANY counterspace...plus we were getting along just fine without one. We learned to heat up leftovers on the stove top or in the toaster oven and we didn't make a single bag of popcorn that entire year! (gasp!)

THEN, Black Friday happened and in my mad dash for a washer & dryer, I snagged a great deal on an above-the-range microwave too. It was great! Except then we had to figure out how to remove the old microwave and hang the new one. (It was intimidating...)

I'm happy to say that I took (read: tore) down the old one on my own, while Paul was at work one day! But, putting up the new one was something we put off until we had an "expert" to help...i.e. my brother. So, a "short" 3 months later (yesterday), my super generous brother and Paul worked together to put the new microwave up. I'm glad we had Jeff to help because it ended up being a little harder than I hoped. BUT...we have a microwave again!

I can't even describe how excited we were (it's the small things, people!) After the microwave was up last night, we made chips n' cheese and this morning we nuked my mom's famous rolled breakfast sandwiches...and of course, we both stood there watching that magical glass plate revolve....Amazing.

Now, on to things that weren't a success...

I attempted to make homemade almond milk yogurt in my slow cooker this weekend. I read about it here.

It started out great...and ended up soupy and frightening. Sadly, I tossed it out BUT I plan to try it again!

We're batting 50% in our kitchen this week...which translates to a glass HALF full in my book!

K+P

Thank God It's Black Friday!

Good Morning! I write this to you at just after 5am!

Why, you ask...

Today, I partook in my very first "crack o' dawn Black Friday shopping fest"...and to be honest, it wasn't too bad.

My schedule so far today:

3:00am: Rrrrrring! Alarm goes off, as I stagger downstairs....groggy and begin to put my....

3:15am: Warm clothes on, coffee in hand and out the door into the cold only to....

3:25am: Arrive in the Sear's parking lot with wish list in hand and head over to be....

3:35am: First in line at the door with my running shoes on ready to...

4:00am: Run (yes, I said run) through the Sear's door and to the Home Appliance section just in time to....

4:01am: Hurl my body on top of most desired washer, dryer and above-the-range microwave

(....ok, I made that part up, but the idea really did cross my mind!)

4:20am: Head to the check out (hooray!) and....

4:30am: Price out a couple treadmills in the Fitness section on my way...

4:40am: Back to the car....feeling pretty great about myself as I drive back home to....

4:50am: Crawl in bed with my snoring husband...which doesn't last long until I'm...

5:00am: On the recliner blogging!

To be honest, that's my kind of shopping....early, competitive, big deals...and back in bed within 2 hours! When will this lack of sleep hit me today? (You may begin placing bets now.)

If you're venturing out to shop today...good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving All!

A little bit of landscaping.

Paul & I were interested in increasing the size of our yard...

so we rented an excavator and...


...demo'd the neighbor's house...

OR....

...maybe the city finally stepped in and knocked down the house next door that had suffered a fire over NINE MONTHS AGO!

Regardless of how it happened and/or who gets credit for it- we have a gaping hole next door...which, of course, leaves us wondering....

What's worse? A half burned down house or a gaping hole?

The only good part is that, indeed, progress is being made. We like progress. We are now, obviously, hoping that some super cool people decide to buy the lot, build a gorgeous house (but not more gorgeous that ours), put in a pool and maybe have us over every weekend in summer for pool parties, guacamole and margaritas....OR we could stop it at "super cool people" and we'd still be happy campers!

Paul & I are looking forward to handing out candy to our neighborhood trick or treaters again this year. We're hoping that last year we helped establish ourselves in the neighborhood's top 10 ranking of "The Coolest Houses to Stop At This Halloween"....if there is such a thing. I'm just assuming there is.

Following the advice of the Snicker's advertisements, we plan to have plenty on hand....



So creepy it's funny, right?

Hopefully we get to see all of our little stinkers (nieces and nephews) in their Halloween costumes this weekend too! If so, you can rest assured more pictures will be coming!

Trick or Treat,

K+P

So, did that garage ever get finished or what?!?!

Oh! Why, yes it did. (I just forgot to tell you...sorry!)

It's done! We love it...same reliable shelter for our cars but with a whole new, sleek look. All the other garages in the neighborhood are now jealous.

We're done with projects for this year. Well, that's not true....I might tackle putting new bed skirts on the beds this weekend. Does that count?!?!

Paul & I had a very sporty week! We spent Sunday afternoon at the Vikings game. I don't remember who we played....I go for the beer....I mean ambience! Either way, we lost...but it was really fun...I think. (KIDDING!) Tuesday night, we went to the Twins vs.....(why do I even try?) game. It was an awesome game because we won! AND our win sealed the deal....We are now 1st in our division....or is it conference? Ok, that's enough about sports.** Let's talk about babies...

We have new baby boys all around us....congrats to our friends & family who brought them home. A bunch of heartbreakers, I tell ya!

This weekend, I'm running the "Women Run the Twin Cities 10 Mile" which scares the $&%! out of me. You see, most people would train for a race like this. I did.....last night. I don't think it ever hit me when I registered that the race day would actually come. Oh, it finally HIT me about yesterday, so I hit the gym last night to do a "quick training session". I ran 5 miles last night....which is still 5 miles less than what I've voluntarily signed up to run in 2 short days. I'm a bonehead, but I WILL do it. Paul is coming (and bringing a medic kit!) so we'll see how that goes...

Tomorrow starts the Rasmusson Family Birthday Streak. Paul's sister Megan has a birthday tomorrow....shortly followed by Mr. Joey....then it just continues right on through November! This year, Paul & I will be celebrating our "3 From 30" birthdays. Paul turns 33 and shortly after I turn 27. Yes, we think we're clever.

What about all that rain?!?! Sheesh! Hope everyone is staying afloat!

Well...it's date night, so I better go get ready for my hot date....now, where did I put my flannel pants and oversized t-shirt?!?!

K+P

**I feel I must rationalize my lacking sports knowledge. I am a jock. I really am. I've played sports for as long as I can remember....softball, basketball, track, volleyball, you name it. I even played basketball all through college. I like to PLAY sports. I don't like watching sports on tv. I don't follow sports teams (much to my husband's chagrin) BUT I do like to go to sports games....just don't expect me to know what the final score was OR obviously, who we played. Despite all of this...I do love my husband...and if he loves sports...then gosh darnit, so do I!