December Goals

2014 is rapidly coming to a close. In all honesty, I am not sad to see this year wrap up. It has been stressful, expensive, and tiring. Living in this weird sort of limbo has been difficult, but Brian and I have learned so much, and even my younger brother pointed out (hey, Jared!) that if we can make it through this, we should be able to make it through most things. :) Here is how we did for November:

• Start electrical @ Myrtle - Done! He just needs to install the light fixtures after walls and ceilings have been painted
• Run in the OBX half with my sister and Brian (his first!) - Done! Not our best time, but pleased we finished running. Trying to figure out the next one to sign up for...
• Meet my niece! - Yes. Such a cutie. :)
• Celebrate my Grandfather's 90th birthday - Yep!
• Master a homemade Southern mac and cheese recipe (any suggestions?) - Not really, but the version I made wasn't terrible
• Complete Christmas shopping - Pretty much!

We have purposefully slowed down for December. For a stretch there between October and November, we had traveled five out of six weekends, so December has been a nice break. The house is getting so close for our contractor to hand it back to us, and we are itching to get this beast livable, but until then, here is our agenda for the rest of the year. :)

• Settle the bathroom flooring saga (stone, ceramic, vinyl???)
• Have original windows repaired by construction team (hooray!)
• Find a mason to repair the fallen chimney (proving harder than you would think...)
• Finish spec sheet for each room to determine remaining finishes costs
• Find two more lights for closets at the Restore (and paint)

I hope your December is relaxing as well during this festive month!

Surprised by how festive our little rental looks!

Rare quality time when all three sisters are in the same place!

So refreshing to see new fixtures going into Myrtle!

A quick trip to my favorite place, Atlantic Beach, NC

November Goals

It is happening. The period of time after daylight savings time that seems like someone is pushing the fast forward button on life. It is gets darker so much earlier now, which makes the day zoom by, on top of what is already a busy month. I don't foresee us getting much done in November, but regardless, here is what we accomplished in October.

• Go to the NC State Fair - Yes! So crowded, though. Never again will I go on "can" night...
• Start plumbing @ Myrtle (not even going to kid myself it will get done this month) - Surprisingly, almost done!
• Start electrical @ Myrtle - Not yet
• Pick out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch - No pumpkin this year. :( We went to the beach instead.
• Determine if renters will renew lease... - Yes, they did! Hooray!
• Refinish Restore lights - Not yet, but I do have a plan

Ok, November. You are already packed to the brim with birthday celebrations, anniversaries, trips to the ocean and mountains, as well as Thanksgiving. Let's do this.

• Start electrical @ Myrtle
• Run in the OBX half with my sister and Brian (his first!)
• Meet my niece!
• Celebrate my Grandfather's 90th birthday
• Master a homemade Southern mac and cheese recipe (any suggestions?)
• Complete Christmas shopping

Lunching in Boone, NC

The last of my roses this year

Staying at my parents' condo in Atlantic Beach

Boat hopping in the VI! Brian and I are two of the ants in this photo.

October Goals

So I just realized it is already the middle of October. Oops. However, it is never to late to have some goals for yourself! Here is how we did on our goals for the month of September:

• Finish subfloor - Done
• Finish framing (!!!) - Basically done! One or two walls left
• Finish plumbing - Not even close to starting. Those plumbers...
• Start electrical - Nope
• Go to the zoo.... - Yes!
• Set up at home office - The basics are done
• Go to an apple orchard - Yes. So much fun
• Attend a State football game - Yep

October has already been a busy month. I didn't mean to abandon the blog like I unknowingly did, but hey, sometimes life happens. We went on a very fun week-long vacation to the Caribbean to visit (and surprise) my sister. I also start working from home this week which has been interesting trying to get everything connected and set up. I also am due to become an aunt any day now. Lots of changes! With the few weeks left in the month, here are my goals.

• Go to the NC State Fair
• Start plumbing @ Myrtle (not even going to kid myself it will get done this month)
• Start electrical @ Myrtle
• Pick out a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch
• Determine if renters will renew lease...
• Refinish Restore lights

Happy October! Before we know it, it will be Christmas time!

Subfloor excitement!

Gorgeous pre-fall run at the lake

Visiting the NC zoo

Wrapping up lighting selections

September Goals

So excited fall is almost upon us! Autumn is my favorite time of year, and we have some fun things in the works. August was a stressful month and I am not too sad to see it go. We had some unexpected expenses and I am ready to get past all of the surprises and back on track financially. Here is how we did on our goals for the month:

• New joists in place - Yes! Done!
• New subfloor - So close. Happening this week!
  
• New DETAILED floor plan drawn out - Yes, finally :)
  
• Go to the Zoo with Brian - No :(
  
• Sell remaining unneeded furniture on Craigslist - Pretty much done
  
• Re-pack storage room - Kind of done...
  
• Start planning for our Chicago trip - Yes! We had a great time with dear friends
  
• Refinish/fix Craigslist dresser - Yes. I have a bit of touch-up to do, but it is photographed :)

We are now about nine months into this reno, and it looks like we have another six months to go. I never understood why people were so against "living through a renovation" especially when they wouldn't be doing most of the work, but now I get it. It is mentally exhausting to constantly be thinking about budgets and what is left to get done, all while living somewhere that is not your home. I will never underestimate how nice it is to have a home. There is something so comforting (especially for an introvert like myself) to know that you can come home to a quiet space after a long day that brings you peace.

September is already filling up! Here is what is on the list:

• Finish subfloor
  
• Finish framing (!!!)
  
• Finish plumbing
  
• Start electrical
  
• Go to the zoo....
  
• Set up at home office
  
• Go to an apple orchard
  
• Attend to a State football game
  

I can hardly believe we are tackling framing and electrical already. I remember thinking it would be forever until we go to this point, and here we are. It is really exciting. We found out the electrician will also be installing all of our light fixtures, so I am excited to go to the restore this weekend and do some shopping! Hope you all have fun plans for the start of fall!

Our fur baby turned 3!

Measuring the old doors

I haven't killed my roses yet!

Loved our friends stomping grounds in Chicago

August Goals

July was a fun month. We finally had a second to stop, enjoy a few outings, catch up on business things, and celebrate a handful of birthdays. I turned 27, my "little" brother turned 22, and we had my brother and sister-in-law's baby shower this past weekend (technically August, but all of the planning happened in July). My older sister also flew in from the Caribbean to help, so it has been a fun, family-filled few weeks. Our contractor has been hard at work at the Myrtle House while we are in Raleigh, but due to a few unexpected set backs, we didn't get everything accomplished for July as planned.

• Have foundation work complete and floors leveled - not quite
• Beadboard demo-ed - DONE
• Floors demo-ed - DONE
• Measure broken glass and FIX windows (need to do this!) - N/A
• Find old doors for master closet - N/A

So, as mentioned earlier, there was a lot more termite damage than we initially suspected. This meant that instead of just leveling the joists, we actually have to rebuild them. I think our contractor is finishing that up this week, so it didn't hold us up too much. The subfloor should be almost finished by this weekend. It will be so exciting to walk on even floors. Our contractor and his crew flew through the beadboard and floor demo (a heck of a lot faster than we could have done), but since we are still debating on whether or not to get new windows, we haven't tried to repair the current ones yet. Once the electrical and plumbing quotes come in, we will make the call on new windows. My gut is saying they will have to wait, but I have my fingers crossed. :) Also, since we are changing the layout, we no longer need new closet doors as we can use the existing ones.

I have put a freeze on allowing myself to buy things for the house. The biggest thing I have learned through this process is that your plans WILL change and you have no idea what will happen during this crazy renovation project. So that brings me to my August goals:

• New joists in place
• New subfloor
• New DETAILED floor plan drawn out
• Go to the Zoo with Brian
• Sell remaining unneeded furniture on Craigslist
• Re-pack storage room
• Start planning for our Chicago trip
• Refinish/fix Craigslist dresser

How was your July? Fun plans for August? Here are some of my favorite Instagram moments from this past month!

Fueling my obsession with Tiny Houses by watching Tiny House Nation

Discovering this brick beauty!

Finally seeing my favorite band (The Fray) in concert

Reminding myself on tough days that this renovation will be worth it :)