Home Update - 1 year in!

We're a year in the house and we've been making our way through each room.  I feel like every project takes so long and each project we start comes with 15 side projects that we get distracted by, but little by little it's coming together. Like the front mudroom still isn't done that we started back in the Fall, but we accomplished all the outside projects instead because the weather is nice and we're using that space more and the side mudroom while the front mudroom was put on hold. 

As frustrating as it is to see the list still here, and growing when I continue to add more projects to it, it's also great to look back and say, here's what it looked like before and now we're here instead. I'm adding photos from the original listing so I can go back and see the progress.

Outside Front:

1. Take down the shrubs
2. Increase driveway space
3. Plant new bulbs

4. New front deck and railing

5. Trash barrel coverage

6. Landscape the front

7. Fix front door

8. Paint/update the shutters

9. Drainage stones

Outside Back:

1. Take down the trees hanging on the roof

2. Patio lights 

3. Level part of the yard for a second patio off the Master (maybe make room for a hot tub!)

4. Remove tree

5. New fence

6. Plant flower beds

7. Move shed and put down a solid base

8. Get rid of scrap metal

Living Room:

1. Take down shingles decorating the wall and repaint

2. Remove old rug and replace flooring

3. Remove old wood stove and bricks

4. New sofa

5. Buffet cabinet

6. Take down brown wood and replace with trim

Kitchen:

1. Update appliances.

2. Remove and update backsplash

3. New floors

4. Add some electric outlets.

5. Remove drop ceiling

6. New cabinets

7. New counter

Bathroom:

1. Paint cabinets

2. Replace shower

Green Carpet/Library Room:

1. Replace green carpets

2. Un-texturize the walls

3. Remove chandelier

4. Remove drop ceiling

5. Remove and replace stone wall.

Front Mudroom:

1. Replace flooring

2. Replace front door

3. Replace chandelier

4. Paint

5. Build closet

Emma's Room:

1. Paint

2. Build new closet

3. Remove brown trim

4. Remove second door

Tyler's Room:

1. Paint

2. Build a more functional closet

Bonus Room:

1. Replace flooring

2. Build new laundry room

3. Storage shelving

4. Re-stain trim work

5. Paint

Side Mudroom:

1. New floors

2. Paint

3. Board and Batten on walls

4. New light fixture

5. Storage for sports equipment

Master:

1. Paint

2. Re-stain wood work

3. Install floor to ceiling library

4. Remove cubby in closet

5. Install a full closet system

6. Remove exhaust fan

Basement:

1. Organize and Clean!

2. Paint with cement paint

3. Install divider wall

4. Build a gym

5. Update/Fix tool bench area

6. Fix plumbing

Next time I post, I'll add some updated photos to see the progress we're making!

2024 Books - Part 2

 

I'm staying busy over here reading. I had set a smaller goal of books this year, thinking I'd focus less on reading while taking 5 grad courses and doing house projects, but here we are...

As always, be sure to follow along on my goodreads to see what I think of each book and whether you should read it!

Montreal and Noah Kahan

 I am in love with Noah Kahan. I'll say it. His music speaks to my "childhood affected how I see myself but it will be okay maybe" mentality and I can listen to him for days on end. When his show at Fenway announced, I was so excited but the only tickets available were $500+ and I can't spend that on a single ticket.

A couple weeks ago, I got an email saying "a band is playing near you", mentioning Noah Kahan in Montreal. That's a 5 hour drive, but I guess still "close". I watched tickets and thanks to Canada's rules for Ticketmaster, tickets need to be resold through Ticketmaster for what they were originally purchased for... that led to $175 floor seats. 

Even after booking a $100 a night hotel and renting a car for the weekend (another $125), we spent less on the entire weekend in Montreal instead of what Fenway tickets would have cost. His show was visually stunning and I get completely list in his music. I absolutely sobbed during Call Your Mom and lost my mind when he played two unreleased tracks that have only been teased online.

The absolute best part was when he walked out t o the B stage, a mere 10 feet away. We saw his back for a lot of it but being that close- magical. We explored the Notre-Dame Basilica, an absolutely gorgeous gothic church.

And went to the Olympic Park and the Bio-Dome.

And just explored on foot.

Nick hadn't been feeling well so there was a lot of resting and relaxing in our room in between seeing sites. I'm still very sad I won't see him in Fenway Park, but this whole vacation was such a cool way to see him!

2024 Books - Part 1

I haven't been as focused on reading lately. Every night is sports or practice and every weekend is a home project or an adventure and since I only read books, not listen to them, it's been hard to get more books in.

I am enjoying books that make me solve murders or figure out what happened and I find myself enjoying them even more than usual. I am so excited to spend the summer on the beach reading even more.

As always, be sure to follow along on my goodreads to see what I think of each book and whether you should read it!

 

Cruising with Royal Caribbean

 I have to be honest.

The idea of a cruise absolutely terrified me. Maybe it's because Titanic came out when I was in 7th grade and it scarred me forever. Maybe it's because not having control is hard for me, but when we got back from Puerto Rico last year and Emma asked if she could spend my birthday with me on an island and a cruise, and then we found a stupidly cheap deal, making the whole cruise less than $1500 for all four of us, we booked it without really thinking. 

Fast forward to February and I was panicking about this. Being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean... don't get me wring. I love the ocean. I want to buy a house again by the beach. I love boating and being in the water but something about a cruise just didn't sit right. I put on my best face because I was going to celebrate with my kids this year... and I'm so glad I did. Cruising was so much fun and honestly, with the kids, being transported from place to place while sleeping was amazing. Not worrying about food or additional costs was amazing. All of it, was amazing.

Having everything right on the boat is so convenient. We immediately explored and went to the pool to spend the day. We spent so much time just sitting by the pool and it was honestly the most relaxing birthday I've had lately. 

Our trip included a visit to CocoCay, Roya; Caribbean's private island and again, magical. Tyler was obsessed with the wave pool. Nick and Emma went down water slides, and I got to rest with a book. Food was still included on the island so we feasted on chicken fingers and burgers. We did add some virgin pool drinks because you have to, but at $6 each, it was still a great price for a fancy drink. 

Back on the boat, we were able to go down water slides, go ice skating, and even mini golf!

Our boat, Freedom of the Sea is a perfect mid-size ship and our 4 days cruise was just the right amount of time. Anything longer and I think we would have needed a bigger boat but I would love to cruise and explore places like Alaska or more tropical islands. This trip definitely changed my stance on cruises and I can't wait for our next one!

Meeting Jason Reynolds

I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to listen to Jason Reynolds and Raul the Third at An Unlikely Story, hosted by Jeff Kinney. 

While Jason was there to promote his newest book, I was there because his book Long Way Down fundamentally changed my class. My resistant readers, 9th graders with elementary grade reading skills, loved Long Way Down. They were reading and reading ahead. They were analyzing poetry and figurative language. They were making predictions and writing what they thought the ending should be. They asked to read more books by him. 

I missed Act 1 of Ty’s play (I saw the whole thing last night), but just being in his presence was something else. For a guy who says “I don’t write to teach lessons, I just write to entertain”, he’s helped a whole bunch of people learn to enjoy reading. 

Forever humbled to have been able to meet him.

Happy New Year - a 40 by 40 update

Happy New Year!

It's crazy to think another year has gone by. It was a big year - I traveled so much and bought my own home! Things I didn't think I'd be able to to do, I did! Next month I turn 38 and I'll have two more years to work on this list. 

I'm finding my list is changing as I thought about what I want to accomplish this coming year, but for now, I'll keep this going and see what it looks like in two more years!

6. Go on a cruise. - We have one scheduled for next month! Nick, the kids, and I are going to the Bahamas on a Royal Caribbean cruise and I am both terrified and excited. 

4. Do the AFSP Overnight walk NOT in Massachusetts or New York - I completed the walk in DC in 2023 and it was absolutely amazing. Post Covid, my cardio health is way down and I was really proud of myself for making it through the 20 miles. It was especially wonderful to see Nick in the Medical tent at the halfway point - he really pumped me up to finish!

8. Cross stitch something - I bought a kit and I am so excited to give it a try!

I've got a good dent on things, I just need to keep working through (and focus on some fitness stuff - oops!) and see what else I can accomplish!

40 by 40

TRAVEL

1. Disney World or Disney Land with the kids (again) - August 2021

2. Lego Land in New York - check! So much fun!

3. Travel internationally - Europe ideally Iceland in February 2022!

4. Harry Potter World - Another we checked off on our trip!

5. Go to a Tropical Island

6. Go on a cruise. 

7. Go on a road trip that's at least a week long a different place every night or two. - this was unreal! Check out the post all about it!

8. Fly 1st class.  - this was a surprise! On our way to Nashville, we got a free upgrade!

9. Go Glamping/ Stay in a Tree house

10. Camp at least 10 days in the five years

       - We did 3 nights to celebrate my sister's graduation - June 2021

11. Go to Ohana at Disney or real Luau in Hawaii.

12. See 5 National Parks

            1. El Yunque, Puerto Rico 2/23

13. Go to an all-inclusive resort

14. Make a bucket list of travel locations  - done and done - check out my list here.

15. Get a new passport 

16. Visit 5 new states

    - California to see my brother and North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee this summer!

FITNESS

1. Try Barre or a new type of fitness class

2. Bench a full plate on each side

3. Run an in person 5k or 10k.

4. Run a half marathon.

5. Do a pull up

6. Try a pole fit class

FOOD

1. Try a juice cleanse

2. Eat vegetarian or vegan for a week

3. Go to a fancy dinner and splurge without looking at menu prices - Nick and I went to a deliciously amazing steak house.  We ordered amazing steaks and sides and drinks and didn't pay attention to the bill.  It helped that it was even less than we expected, but it was such a fun experience since it's so out of the ordinary for us!

4. One month take out/fast food free

5. Try barbeque in the south - so many times on our road trip. It. Was. Amazing.

6. Tip 100% on a bill /$20 on a small bill

FOR WORK

1. Take a spanish or ASL class - I signed up for DuoLingo Spanish! I'm a couple weeks in and I'm relearning so much.

2. Masters + 30 or a CAGS

FOR ME

1. Be comfortable in my body

2. Get another tattoo

3. Buy a piece of art -- real art, not a print from Marshalls/Home Goods  I was beyond excited to support my former co-worker at SAPedrosa.com. I bought the most gorgeous print, but hope to buy this one day when I own my own house again and can decorate.

4. Do the AFSP Overnight walk NOT in Massachusetts or New York - I completed the walk in DC in 2023 and it was absolutely amazing. Post Covid, my cardio health is way down and I was really proud of myself for making it through the 20 miles. It was especially wonderful to see Nick in the Medical tent at the halfway point - he really pumped me up to finish!

5. Unplug completely for 24 hours

6. A spa day  I originally meant this as a massage and facial and all that, but we ended up at Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik and it was the most amazing, relaxing spa experience.

7. Try diamond painting or another new craft with Em

8. Cross stitch something

9. Take a baking class -- cookies or cake decorating.

10. Pay off the car