getting pretty…

The work continues at my house. I took yesterday off of work to work at home. The visual pretty part is really happening. The brick is finished with the trim in place. So pretty. And all the plants are planted! Next up…putting the stone border around the edges and mulching. These last two things are going to make it even prettier! Can’t wait. I hope to be done by Saturday. I also decorated the house a little for the 4th of July…

Everyone meet Estes…he is my new black hills spruce. I love him. And yes…I did actually name him!

hello long lost blog…

Wow! I have really been bad at this blogging thing.

Lets see…where did I leave off. I have been working a lot which is probably why I am so bad at blogging. This week has slowed down just a little bit…which is a really really good thing.

The foundation/landscaping project is almost to the last step of completion…except for we still have 2 more sides to go. The first is always the hardest though right? Next up putting on a trim piece, getting dirt and landscaping. This is really going to be the fun visual part!

I am going to Lincoln to celebrate Father’s Day. I have not been there since Easter. Yikes! Its totally time for a Runza fix. Aunt Lisa and I are going to Walnut, Iowa on Saturday to do a little antique shopping. The whole town is basically antique stores and on Father’s Day weekend they have extra antique vendors. I should really make a wish list before I go. That way I can be a lot more focused. Hopefully I will find something really cool!

golden anniversary…

Today is my 13th anniversary at Paulsen…it also happens to be the 13th (special). In honor of the day I brought cookies for all my co-works who have endured me over the years. It is really hard to believe that I have been here that long. In some ways it feels like only yesterday when I graduated from college, moved here with Rani and started working here.

I feel fortunate to have a job that I love (most of the time) and more importantly work at a place with really great people. Ultimately the people are the reason we all stay here and work in this crazy industry. I really am lucky.

out with the ugly…

Ever since I moved into my house I have hated the bushes the line the south side of the house. They are so ugly! It has been my dream to rip them out and make the foundation pretty. And now its finally happening!!!

Step 1: Rip out the bushes…
This might sound easier than it was. Those things were in there good! Dad came up a couple of weekends ago and we worked on yanking them out. I was very very tired the next day.

Step 2: Chip off the old cement…
At some point in my houses history someone thought they would make the foundation look better by spraying on cement. I don’t know if it ever looked good…but now it is horrible. So the next step was to chip it all off.

Step 3: Cover the foundation…
(this is the most exciting part!) I have ordered the foundation covering from Menards and hopefully it will be here by the weekend. I am so excited to see how it will look when it is completed and pretty. This might be my most favorite improvement ever!

Step 4: Landscaping…
This step is probably a couple of weeks away but I am very excited about it also! Photos to come…

learning…

I am learning so much and finding out so many cool things by working on our family history. Today’s discovery…
my great great grandma Georgia Guthrie Palmer was a sharp shooter! WOW!!

dear columbia…

I signed up for your email coupons so I could save an extra 20% on my purchase and then you spelled my name very wrong. Don’t worry I still like you…   

girls and shopping…

Why is it that when I am having fun I never remember to take a photo? Since I spent the day with 3 amazing girls and no photo…imagine the photo above of us girls with lots of packages, talking a lot and having fun.

Bobbi, Carey, Rani and I left early in the morning on Saturday and went to Albertville, MN. We arrived at the huge outlet mall and started our shopping spree which ended at 6:30 pm! I did buy some cute things. I think my favorite thing is my new fossil watch (I had been wanting one for awhile).

I don’t think Rani and I have spent an entire day together since we first moved to Sioux Falls right after college. It was great!

We made it back to Sioux Falls by midnight…I was a little tired yesterday. So much talking, laughing and shopping can wear a girl out.

Thanks for an amazing day girls!

bedroom…

Finally…here it is…the bedroom! I do need a few more fun vintage things/art.
But I am loving the color.

Thanks to my grandma Sandy for the beautiful quilt.
(The hand sewing on this quilt is insane!)

one more…

Is anyone tired of the before and after pictures yet? If you can stand it I have one more.

I purchased this lamp last summer for $12.00! I was sure I was going to put it in the dining room but since then the dining room idea has changed. This cute little lamp has a home in my newly painted bedroom. It makes me very happy. A little spray paint and re-wiring done by dad. And its perfect!

I have two more small things to finish up and then I will post photos of the re-designed bedroom.

so cool…

In an effort to add in a few posts not about my ancestors…here is a post about my house.

My neighbors stopped to chat on Sunday and told me that my house is in the historic walking tour of my neighborhood. I was so excited! A lot of hard work has been put into my little house and I love it so much. There is a lot of work left to do…but that is part of the fun.

A little over a year ago my neighborhood was designated as a historic area. That was exciting enough for me…but now. My little house is famous! So now the spring/summer projects begin…with the added pressure of people stopping to look at my house. Yikes!