Fireplace Redo ~in Progress

Well, it has been 1 week since we began framing the wall for the fireplace!   After the framing, we built a platform where the hidden cabinet for components will ultimately go.  Put a few new outlets.  One will being right at the base of the mantel shelf... Yay for easier decorating!  The other is in the cabinet area for the components to plug into.  Next we (I mean hubbby :) connected the gasline from the wall to the firebox itself... And then we cut, placed and screwed the sheetrock into place... (mostly hubby... that stuff is HEAVY!)

Here is the new wall!

Wow, I am amazed!

Here is where I takeover... Started mudding yesterday!  woo-hoo!  Now I was shooting to be done with this project by the end of January... But I am going to go ahead and say I think it will take a bit longer... we will see though.  The mudding, sanding etc may hold us up because it is a 24 hour dry time after mudding.  We hope to get some newpaint to match the existing this week and maybe start the mantel/woodwork soon. 

I still need to decide if I want to stain the wood or paint it white???  Maybe when some wood is in place that will help me decide.  I also still need to decide on some tile.  Originally I was going to do brick but it is going to be a very small 4" perimeter around the fireplace... I am thinking tile or maybe brick pavers?  Can I lay those myself... LOL

I am getting anxious to see the final result!  I ordered a new area rug that is supposed to arrive today!!!  I ordered it online (shopping with 3 kids is completely dreadful BTW!).  I am hoping the colors with brighten up the room and that the rug will "pop" from my dark floors, chocolate couch, darker curtains, etc.  My old couch was tan with ivory trim...  but we needed more seating and fell in love with this sectional... I do love it but as I get to looking around everything seemed dark! LOL  I think I will update some pillows for the spring in some lighter shades too.

Menu Plan Monday~

Here is what is on our menu this week

Monday - Grilled Chicken, rice and gravy, green beans, Homemade Yeast Rolls
Tuesday - Spaghetti, homemade French Bread
Wednesday - Church
Thursday - Tacos
Friday- Sausage, Mac n cheese, peas, homemade bread
Saturday - Shrimp Scamp,Homemade Garlic Yeast Roll
Sunday - Ribeye Steaks, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

If I am not in the mood for something I will switch up the day that I make it... point is, I have a plan and have the ingredients to make everything.  This saves me time, money, and stress! In a pinch I usually can always make grilled cheese and tomato soup or throw together a tuna fish casserole :-)

Do you meal plan?  If not I encourage you to do so... Really does take the stress of "what's for dinner?" out of my day!


For more Menu Planning Ideas:

Free Friday Giveaway!

Gorgeous Valentine Rosette Bow!

Do 1 (or all for more chances to win!)  1 entry each
1. You must be a public follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect.
2. Like SandraBees Bows on Facebook
3. Follow on SandraBees on Twitter
4. Write a comment in the comment section of this blog post with a list of all your entries.
5. Leave a comment on the Giveaway on Facebook Here
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:
1. Make a blog post about my Giveaway (5 entries)
2. Copy and paste the picture and post it in the sidebar of your blog (5 entries)
3. Share the link of my Giveaway Blog Post on your Facebook page (5 entries)
4. Tweet my Giveaway (3 entries)
So overall you have 22 entries if you do all!  Winner will be announced this coming Monday!

Building the Fireplace!

Well, I am so very excited that we have officially started this project!  We had a gas line stubbed when we originally built our house with the intentions of one day adding a fireplace in the corner.  About a year ago we got rid of our armoire that used to sit in the corner where the wannabe fireplace was going to go.  DVD junk sat on 2 trunks for awhile :)

Determined to get this project going I researched a lot and finally went and bought a firebox last fall... The goal was to have it done by Christmas so I could hang my stockings.... Well that did not happen.  My husband had to have an unexpected surgery and so the whole thing was just put on hold.  Here are some pix so you can see the space.

This is how it's been for several months

All of the wiring goes thru the wall in the corner.  The hope is to build the fireplace with a hidden compartment to house the DVD player, etc.

Another View of the living room

the sectional stays of course... would love for the recliner to go...

more views

living room opens to breakfast area/bar/kitchen

Ready to remove this plastic wrap!

Yes, very ready!

TV wall... this will stay just as is

from the back of the room

TADA!!!  We have begun!

I will blog as we go along!  We are hoping to finish it within a few weeks....  I have been looking at fireplaces that I like for months!  I rarely saw a corner fireplace that I liked!  I am still undecided on whether I want the woodwork stained or painted white...  Ya'll share your ideas with me!!!  The front door is a gorgeous stain.  I am thinking to do a neutral mosaic tile around the fireplace and I am not set on a hearth or any tile on the floor.. I think I like it flush and simple.

As we began the project we are realizing we will "need" a new surround sound system.  Right now our has a big subwoofer that used to sit concealed in the corner.  However we can't have it sit there and then we questioned where we would put the speaker that mounts to the ceiling... I think we are going to upgrade to a wireless surround system to simplify everything and keep the clean look that we like.

Another thing to consider is the paint.  We built 6 years ago and are smack out of the paint that goes thru most of my house.  (the tan color).  I really don't want any other color, so I am hoping we can get it matched pretty close... If I have to end up repainting the living room walls... well so be it.  I just hope to get the color to match close enough so I don't have to repaint the kitchen & breakfast areas too... The walls all flow together so there really is no good stopping point to switch colors.
 

New SandraBees Bows Specials

I have been working on many great bows this week!  Several Valentines, a 2 in 1 St. Patrick's Day set, and Awesome Easter Egg Double layer, + more.  All facebook specials are shipped to your for free :) Here are a few, for ordering info and to see them all visit the photo album on facebook here

Just $6 this week!

~SWEETHEART BOW(s)~

Initial Bow hot pink / zebra print

Initail Bow with matching Necklace

Side view of hot pink/zebra Initial Bow

Crochet cap with ribbon Rose Flower

Crpchet Cap available in 2 sizes

Mickey Mouse Piggie Set

Homemade Breadcrumbs

Ever since I started baking homemade breads I found myself with a chunky end piece that didn't get eaten... then I would be baking another loaf an toss that few day old section in the trash.  Well as thrifty as I like to be.... that bothered me!  Sometimes I would toss into a freezer bag to feed the fish in the lake with... but especially in the winter months they would pile up.

I thought of doing croutons... but I wasn't sure how long they would keep and if I would use those up before going stale.  I still will be trying some homemade croutons in the near future but I decided to eliminate the need to purchase breadcrumbs and make my own using the day old sections.

I still will stash the end pieces in the freezer until I have enough to make a batch.  Then:

1. I cut bread into cubes
2. Set in oven on 200 degrees
3. Bake about an hour or until the bread crumbles in your hand
4. crumble all the bread, or crush using a rolling pin... or pulse in a food processor (you get the idea)
5. Store in an airtight container at room temp just like you would store bought breadcrumbs :)

Simple as that! Now you can also add seasonings but I just keep mine plain, then depending on what I am making I will add appropriate seasonings at that time

Homemade Breadcrumbs

Simply cube your old bread

Bake on 200 degrees about an hour, then crumble

Mini Laundry Room Redo

I am trying to start thinking about ways my laundry room can function better.  I have plans to build a set of base cabinets with a counter top for folding, and area underneath for dirty clothes and baskets.  Replace the sink, come up with storage for the cat and dog food that is more functional.  I love the colors that I painted when we built the house, but would like to add the extra touches.  I hang out a lot in here...  I really would love a comfortable chair... hmmm how can I figure out a way to fit that in there???  No, really!  The kids & hubby  usually steer clear if mommy is in the laundry room!  I envision having a cup of tea and reading a book while washing clothes.  Serenity now! HA!

Ok, well I am not doing anything major at the moment.... But I did come across these great bins a couple of days ago at my local Walmart... and guess how much?!  Set of 3 for $4.50. 

I grabbed 2 sets of them for a total of 6.  Figured I could always return them if they didn't fit or find another spot to use them.  They had them in Red, Black, & Purple...  I got black...  Now if they were chocolate brown that would have been perfect, but again for the price I thought I would try them!  Here is a little photo tour of my laundry room.

I plan to update my blog as I redo the room.  Overall I like most of it, but the functionality of the space can be better so that is my goal with it....

I was not looking for these, but when I saw them I stopped in my tracks!  Took one out and judged the size and thought it might fit perfect in the space above my laundry room cabinets... which was sorta an out of reach spot that I threw a few things up on, but heck... It's a new year and I am a lady on a mission!

Here it is... In ALL her glory...  That blue baskets sits there most all of the time and I hate it!  I fold cloths right from the dryer and put them in piles and carry to their proper rooms... I don't even use the basket except for things I am too lazy to put away at that moment.  It stays in my way...  I am constantly kicking it or moving it....  Yes it must go!

Here is a before shot of the top of my laundry room cabinets

This shows one main wall.  I have had my wonderful dream machines for a few years... Yea, I probably should reposition that picture on the left wall... But I just never get around to it LOL

This area to the right I think can be better used.... Maybe some built in shelves next to the cabinets and around the kitty crap box...  Really not sure what I am going to do with this area.... Suggestions??? Please share

The corner has a basic sink.  Pretty much the cheapest thing we could find when we were building.  Built into the studs of the wall is my ironing board cabinet.  Which I adore!  It has a few shelves to store my iron and other items, plus the ironing board folds up.  I made my shade and based my paint color for this room off of that fabric

Corner of the room.  You can see my retractable clothing line here... It hides in the corner nook next to the cabinets above the washer & dryer.  I do love my clothing line!

My retractable clothing line

This is the other main wall.  Right now I have a rickety laundry sorter.  Which works ok for it's purposes.  Please excuse my tacky boxes above.  It's better than it was :)  I did have piles of the outgrown, donate, or needs repair items up there.  I was going to purchase some pretty bins or totes, but then decided to build cabinets for the base... and I am still trying to come up with what to do for the top area.  I would like a shelf or 2 up high for storage (maybe put some pretty bins there for my donate/repair items).  I definitely want a hanging rod above as well.  And this area will have a counter top and be my new folding station!

Right now the dirty clothes area has 3 baskets.  I have 5 in my family and wash each person separate. It would be nice to have a spot for each person's dirty clothes plus an extra for delicates or linens

Here is another view of the room.

This is the wall area behind the door.  I like the broom/mop holder thing... And my Roomba's home it there... Whatever I do I need to keep access to the electrical box you can see in the left on the wall.  That said it would be nice to cover it up with something decorative so I am not staring at it :)

This wall will stay as is :)

 

Here are my new bins above the cabinets.  They just so happen to fit pretty great I think!