Window Shopping

We have been window shopping (literally) because we are getting NEW WINDOWS! I am not sure if I have mentioned before that our windows are original to our 1973 house, which means they have been around longer than my parents have been in this country!

Here are photos of our current windows from the exterior:

And a close up on the interior:

And here's how I've dealt with them for the past 2 years:

Unfortunately the new retrofits won't cover this stuff up so we'll have to finally address it:

We measured all 9 of our windows last week. We are planning to get 3 casements, 7 side sliding, and 1 picture window. So we are replacing all 9 windows in our home. And if you're crunching the numbers you'll see that it looks like I do funny math but we are upgrading our old windows while we're at it - adding 3 casements. And that doesn't add up either because 2 of the casements are going in 1 window. Y'all are keeping me accountable!

Why are we replacing our windows? Why don't we want to stay in the 70's with our old aluminum frames that rock back and forth instead of slide? Well here is the number one reason, but also because there's a Federal Tax Credit for Consumer Energy Efficiency that expires at the end of this year. That's in a little over a month. We love to wait until the last minute (and Rylie breaking her leg last year didn't help the matter either)...

Anyway, with the tax credit, you get 30% of the cost (not including labor and installation) back up to $1500. Reaching that $1500 max is no problem when you're doing an entire house. And if you plan on getting new windows, just go ahead and do the whole house - everything will match and labor will be quicker/easier/cheaper. And you have to get qualifying windows (but why wouldn't you? The ones that don't qualify must suck). Just be sure to file tax form 5695 with your 2010 return, and keep a copy of your manufacturer's certification statement for your records (a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that their product qualifies for this credit which can be found on their website).

So much research to do - what brand? Vinyl? Grids? Casements? Egress? Tempered? Hinges on which sides? And THE biggest question is - DIY or get 'er done by professionals or a combination of the two? Suggestions?

Accidental Gardening

Apparently it's not just grass that requires water to grow, it's other plants as well. Here's a surprise I discovered recently:

They are tiny but I didn't even plant these. They probably came from seeds in the compost. I love accidental gardening!

Jump Around

Look at me!

Wheeee!

Snake Along

Look what Rylie found on our walk through the area behind our property:

A snake of some kind (not rattlesnake). Any idea what? Something ate off its head, I'm guessing coyote, but why would they leave the rest of the body behind? Maybe it was venomous and died after eating the head and before it could finish? I'm really curious...

On Borrowed Grass

Since it's been raining a bit, we actually have a lawn now! Who knew that grass required water? Even after nearly depriving it of the wet stuff for 2 years!

Here's a picture of what our lawn looked like before we moved in (and ripped out the evil Creeping Fig):

Here is what our lawn has looked like the last 2 years:

Now add this:

(photo credit: Scott's)

And here is what our lawn looks like now:

The only drawback is that the dogs cannot be near the fertilizer for 24 hours. And I covered every inch of grass on our property.

Whoops.

Looks like we'll be using the neighbor's lawn for the dogs to potty on...

Jerk Around

Suckers!

Pick Up Our Marbles

Although we may have lost our minds in any given home project, we've definitely picked up some literal marble for the master bath renovation:

You're looking at 7 packs of yummy chocolate marble tile in the back of Mitsi:

Just look at those tasty veins. I think this is going to be my favorite aspect of the new master bath.

See how those stacks of marble tile are now magically stacked in the garage? Yep, that was from yours truly. You just missed the gun show.

Scared of My Own...

home? No, I didn't turn my house into a haunted one but if this isn't scary, I don't know what is!

This is the old vanity from the master bath.

This is/was the beau's studio.

Here is his new studio after swapping rooms.

Here is the hallway, still with a toilet tank but now filled with old air vents!

And this ladies and gents, is the master bedroom. Because we might need an old light fixture or $90 worth of wigs nearby right?

Or a vacuum, subwoofer and computer keyboard, no?

This is one of the night stands. And something Rylie hacked up on it. With a bag full of junk mail next to it.

There are no sweet dreams happening here. Only nightmares...

Hit the Fan

While I was away from home on extended travel, the bf surprised me with installing a new bathroom vent that I had ordered a while back:

We don't have a before shot of what was there, but it was a regular vent with no light. An old vent that sounded like it was on its last legs (and it was metal, which I had never seen before, I had only seen plastic ones, have you?).

Anyway, we love the new fan, it's quiet, it's modern, and it even works as a light fixture. In fact, it makes the rest of the bathroom look outdated in comparison. But there was one big problem I encountered once I got home in person:

That big obnoxious logo right in the center of the glass dome. I wrote to the manufacturer to no avail and then read on some forum where most people shared the same problem, that the logo is not actually etched into the glass.

So I took to some high tech tools:

Put in the tiniest sliver of elbow grease:

And, voila!

If you own the Hunter 90053 Saturn fan, here's your solution!

Tub Thumping

For a while now, I've been researching tubs, trying to decide which was right for us and our master bath. I wanted a whirlpool tub, 36" wide, with a tile flange, in white, for an alcove installation. And I wanted it around 1k shipped.

Our first foray into tubs a few months ago brought us into Warehouse Discount Center. If you remember from my experiences with them last year, I am not a fan of that store. But I wanted to see if they could ship something for free since we live so close or had some floor model for a steal. Anyway, after being told about a local company that makes every tub to order, and customizing a tub with the standard amount of jets, and some lights thrown in for funsies, the quote came in at 2k. WDC how quickly you remind me of how much I hate you. I will never get those 20 minutes of my life back.

6 weeks ago, I was feeling pretty good that I had our choices narrowed down to 2 tubs:

KOHLER 6036 Whirlpool, White - $960 with free shipping (photo credit: Home Depot)

KOHLER Windward 5 Ft. Whirlpool in White - $1237 with free shipping (photo credit: Home Depot)

Then I went across the country for 3 weeks and forgot all about this. The bf called one day to tell me about his day at WDC (ugh, no!) and how he actually scored a deal of the century on a whirlpool bath tub. This is what he got for less than half of what they originally wanted:

It fits almost all of our requirements* and best of all, I don't have to worry about bath tub research anymore!

*our tub will have whirlpool jets. The only requirement the tub order didn't fulfill was shipping, but we live conveniently close so at least we don't have to pay for shipping (aside from a truck rental).

Sometimes slacking umm I mean patience really pays off!