What the heck is happening?!

So apparently I haven't updated you guys since April...oops. Well to be fair, nothing too exciting was happening. The electrical was installed, and that seemed to take foorreevverrr. And no one wants to see a bunch of pictures of wires. That's not very pretty. And there was all these little loose ends with framing...that just never seems to be done. But now I have some progress pictures to show you, that I feel are blog worthy. 
*Note: these are all iPhone pics...so just to clarify no professional lighting AT ALL :-)

 Insulation smells funny. And it makes everything look super pink...and takes horrible pictures. This is looking towards the fireplace wall, with the patio doors to the backyard. 

 The fabulous garage. I'm so excited to park my car in a garage! Its the little things. That back room is the mechanical room, and kyle's laundry room 

 More insulation...but more exciting is the faux beams my dad built. This is in our living room looking toward the kitchen, and the entry off to the right there. 

 This is the fireplace/TV wall. This is the little box Kyle had to build for the fireplace insert. That beam/wood was just for an idea, which was vetoed. 

 I feel like Kyle and I discussed wood stoves/fireplaces, etc for months. In this end we decided on this...and now we are committed. 

 Pretty sure this is one of many favorite rooms. It was hard to get a good picture, but this is the laundry room. Thats a little closet on the left, and that nook is where the washer/dryer/sink goes. On the Right wall will be a bench/locker for kids, and cabinets. The door on the right goes to the garage. Those windows are in the master bedroom. 

 The master bath is taking shape. The wall on the left is where MY vanity and makeup counter go. And thats a closet. The window is where the tub will sit under towards the wall. 

Still the bathroom...this is the shower entrance on the left, and the toilet room on the right. Wwhere that sweatshirt is hanging (nice) is where Kyle's vanity will go. 

So now...we were originally just planning on putting the TV above the fireplace. BUT now we are thinking about doing a corner media unit thing. I've searched pintrest and HOUZZ, but i'm not finding anything I love. So I have a few ideas that I think we can make work, doing the unit like a diagnol and not a L shape thing. Here's my idea for the fireplace look, and then the units I'm thinking of...which are totally different of course. 

All thoughts and ideas are greatly needed. Thanks!!

Turquoise: To do or NOT to do

So in my perusing of pintrest I have come across the idea of using the color turquoise. Specifically in my laundry/Mud room. And I like the idea, but it also scares me.

I like looking and seeing bold color and pattern choices, and of course I PIN it, but when it comes down to actually doing it in MY house....I'm terrified. So I play it safe, and go with a white or a grey, or some other neutral. But I'm really tempted to do something fun, and I think the laundry room might be a safe place to do that in. 

What do you think? Is this just a trend and I'll hate it in 5 yrs? Or is turquoise a classic that will keep me happy for a long time?

Check out my inspiration post on my Laundry/Mud Room here

Big bad bullies

*WARNING* Long post on parenting and soliciting advice. 

We have had a new experience this past month in the Camus house. Bullies. Miss Ellie is in the 3rd grade at the local public school. We love our school and the community. Most of the same kids have been in Ellie's classes since kindergarten, with a few new ones along the way. Ellie started off the year great, and became good friends with a girl in her class. This girl has gone to Ellie's school since kindergarten, they just hadn't been in the same classroom.

Seems like since September, this girls name was always brought up. Ellie had lunch with her that day, they played together at recess, etc. Always positive. They even ended up being in the same dance class at the dance studio.  But the friendship began to change after winter break. One day Ellie told me that this young girl said she "needed a break" from another classmate. I asked Ellie if they were being mean to this other girl or anything, and she said no. I didn't like this whole "need a break" talk, seemed not okay, but I let it go.

Then about a week later as we were heading to dance Ellie brought up her friend and said that the friend said she needed a break from Ellie. I was like "why does she need a break from you now?" The friend told her she was just tired of spending time with Ellie and needed a break. She told Ellie not to talk to her at dance as she has other friends she wants to talk to that she doesn't see at school. Then Ellie tells me this girl has been really mean to her. When I pressed further she said "well sometimes if I don't want to do what she tells me, she squeezes my arm and tells me shes gonna make me bleed". This was alarming to me. I told Ellie that is no okay, and asked her if she had told her teacher. Of course she replied she had not. I said well I think its okay you two are on a break, you need to play with friends that don't talk to you like that and don't threaten you.

Then next morning, I'm still upset by what Ellie has told me. Ellie brings this girls name up again, and says that this girl tells Ellie she needs to shave her legs because they are hairy, and you shouldn't have hair on your legs. I tell Ellie that's not true. Ellie is upset and says well this girl doesn't have hair on her legs, I say everyone is different and just because you have hair and she doesn't does not mean your legs are gross. And because I'm really getting upset that this girl is saying things like this to Ellie, I tell Ellie I just think she needs to stay away from this girl at school since she can't talk or play nice.

So I think this is all settled. Until it wasn't. About 2 weeks ago, Ellie tells me this girl keeps getting upset with Ellie, and has squeezed her arm again. I said Ellie, remember what we talked about, this is not okay. So I email her teacher telling her I'm concerned about what Ellie is telling me. The teacher tells me she too has had some concerns and is looking in to the situation. She has advised the two girls to just stay separated for now. So for a few days I ask Ellie who she's eating and playing with and that her and this other girl have stayed separated. Ellie says they have, except the young girl has come up to talk to her, and well just said mean things like: "i know you are the one that's gotten me in trouble" "if you tell anyone I'm a bully I will squeeze you're arm" "I'm only mean because I am copying you". I said Ellie, please tell me you've told your teacher, and she said that she did.

Last week I had a early parent teacher conference. I asked what Ellie's role in this all has been. I don't want to be that parent that'd blind and thinks their child is innocent. If my child is contributing to the problem, I want to know and fix it. But that's when her teacher told me something even more concerning. The teacher told me she had been talking to the girls and other kids, this young girl had denied everything that she had been accused of, and so the teacher was questioning what to believe. Until she saw the following: Ellie was holding the classroom door open, and the young girl walked through the door and punched Ellie right in the stomach. 

People, I was shocked. I thought with so much talk and education now about bulling that maybe it didn't happen as much. Apparently I was completely naive to it all. And I certainly did not think this would be happening in the 3rd grade, isn't this behavior for older kids? Again, I know nothing. And lastly, girls are becoming physical? I thought this was just a boy behavior. I know girls can be mean, I lived through middle school and high school, I just didn't remember it starting so young. 

So a bullying report sheet came home, and I have to help Ellie fill it out. She had to identify in a picture what role she fell into in the incident (victim) and where the incidents were happening (playground, library) and in her own words what has happened. After we turned the sheet in, a few days later the vice principal called the girls to his office. There the young girl blamed Ellie and said Ellie was elbowing her, which Ellie denied. The VP told Ellie he was what inclined to believe she did not do this as she has not been in his office before, and this young girl has for this exact behavior in years past. (Ellie's version on what he said)

I hope the school and her parents address this issue with the young girl. I don't know what makes a child be a bully, I guess I haven't read enough about it. Obviously this is a pattern. And if she has demonstrated this behavior in years past, why isn't is being addressed more aggressively? Why is it repeating, just on a new victim?

What's your experience with this? Any and all advice appreciated. 

Ellie's bday party 2 years ago. 

Decision: Wood stove and fireplace

For the past two weeks Kyle and I have been trying to choose which wood stove and type we want for the new house. Being residents of the PNW we like our wood stoves and the way they can heat our homes. Especially when we loose power during a wind or snow storm. We had a wood stove in our last home and loved it.

This time around, thanks to good 'ol pintrest I have some ideas how I want this whole area to look. I like the look of a traditional fireplace, but with a wood stove inside. We at first thought to just do a wood insert stove. But the problem is, if something broke (pipe) or the stove just needed replacing (they tend to need that every 15+ years so Kyle says), any stone or tile work around it would have to be ripped out too to remove the stove or access pipe. Kyle gets a scrunchy face with that thought. So a freestanding stove seems easier all around.

The problem though is clearance, obviously you don't want the walls and such catching on fire. So you use "non-combustible" materials like brick and tile, etc. Also the opening has to be so high and so wide. All stoves have difference 'requirements'. For example, one stove said the height opening had to be 84" tall, that's like 7 feet tall, then a mantle and then the TV above that. Um, no that is ridiculous looking tall. We would all be at the chiropractor for neck issues. 

So we found a few stoves that allow us to have a lower height clearance and still achieve this look that we like. 

Ok, the fun part, here is the "look" I'm wanting with the opening 

So cute right?! Our ceilings are vaulted here and the fireplace area would be centered on the peak. And I love a good thick rustic mantle beam like this

I think I'd like to do the surround with some steel, and brick or tile on the inside like this

And these are my stove choices. Which do you like? Look wise of course, because that's what matters.

Decisions, Decisions, and more decisions. I do love it most of the time. 

We have windows!

And they are so pretty! I love them, they are exactly what I was picturing in my head for months. And the whole time I was hoping they would turn out how I was thinking they would, but you just never know. But they did! I seriously clapped my hands a dozen times that day.

Kyle had lots of help and was able to get all the windows installed in just a day. Though the slider did not...because he was told the slider would not have a "flange" piece (sp) and well it did. And he had already poured the concrete patio....so now the door can't be install. Options: 1) cut the piece off; 2) get a concrete cutter and cut the piece out. Kyle is going to option 2.

So everything is looking more and more real. I keep joking that its nearly move in ready. But secretly I am not joking too much...I'm ready!

Next up: Electrical. Kyle has begun installing our 80 can lights! The electrician will be out this week to start hooking up the outlets and light switches

This is the side of the house, the kids wing. That little window is the in the kids toilet room. With one window on this side, it makes it look a little bare. I hope to dress it up with plants.

 This is the back of the house. From L to R the windows are the 1) window above tub in master bath; 2) Master bdrm windows; 3) Dining room windows; 4) Peytons room.  We opted for no grids on the back windows, more $$$ and I'd rather that expense be saved for the front of the house. 

This is the other side of the house. That window is the side of the bonus room. The hole in the wall is the "man" door to the garage/mechanical room. It'll be filled in later. 

Obviously this is the front of the house and my most favorite view! 

And this is the garage and the bonus room windows above. 

Next up is the installation of all the can lights!

Sinks, Toilets and Tubs, OH MY!

*Originally posted to WORDPRESS on February 24

Plumbing is not exactly a glamorous topic. But its pretty dang important. Last night I came home, and Kyle texts for me to come up to the house. The plumber had installed the kids bathtub that day. Kyle had been having all the dealings with the plumber, and his instructions were we just wanted a white tub in the kids bath. Pretty simple. Ok, now I walk into the bath and there is a tub, and its white, and it has some design thing on the front. Ok, I am not a design person. I just wanted a plain front. So I.....have a freak-out. This is the FIRST piece of what I consider the inside design of the house...and I hate it. And to make it worse, I can't believe how upset I am over a tub. You bathe in it...that's all. A shower curtain will cover the front of the tub, who cares that some design is on it. I said all of this to myself...and to Kyle. But it didn't help. I hated the tub and flabbergasted about how Kyle and the plumber just assumed any white tub was fine.

ok I cannot rant about that tub anymore, that's the jest of it and its all solved. Because my sweet husband told the plumber "that tub isn't gonna work" and the plumber said no big deal, have her go pick one out. So I did, and it will be here in 10 days. Okay. Solved.
So while I was at the supply house...my eyes began wondering over things, like toilets and sinks. Trouble
Okay, I have some regular toilets from home depot picked out that are Kohler I think for like $174 each. Preferably I'd like them to be cheaper. The toilets at this other place were over $200 and up! I don't understand why a $200+ toilet is way better, is it a flushing thing? the amount of water. Its white, porcelain and you visit it a few times a day. And yet I'm needing to decide if I want regular height, or tall...what shape tank do I want...a handle to flush or a fancy button thing. When did toilets get complicated?!

  
One of these toilets is $1200, one is $88, and one is the highest customer rated at $189. Can you tell which is which? P.S. for fairness all 3 are 1.28 GPF
And then there is my kitchen sink. I thought I knew what I wanted, but then I didn't. And now I'm just confused. I am trying my hardest to figure out what pieces to splurge or invest in and what others its okay to go cheaper on. This is how budgets get out of control.
So, I have selected a stainless steel apron front sink by KRAUS, its $629 and includes a grate for the bottom, faucet, and a soap dispenser. Great deal. But now I worry about scratches. I get SS scratches, but I hear with an apron front that maybe the buttons of pants, zippers, etc will scratch the front. So then there are porcelain apron fronts, more $$ of course.

I emailed two bloggers I follow to get their advice and they said:

I love our sink, and I hate our stainless appliances. That pretty much sums up why we went with porcelain! When we remodeled our last 2 homes, we went with stainless sinks despite my resistance the 2nd time around. I think Nick finally caved for this house since if we are being real he isn’t the one cleaning anyway! I always felt like keeping a stainless sink clean i.e. no water spots was impossible. The thought of having a stainless surface for the farmhouse look was something I was completely not on board with. I would be battling water spots inside and on the front. 

Our white porcelain sink is super easy to clean. I just use Bar Keepers friend for a quick scrub and multi surface cleaner on the front when I need to which isn’t very often. I hope that helps. I feel like this is a very passionate email about all things stainless. Ha! Have fun building!

- Amy Wills, www.willscasa.com

We got a screaming deal with Kohler so really I just pointed and picked.  Having had lived with our ss sink now for 3+ years it's just fine.  For sure SS scratches easily but it only bothers you in the beginning where you see it.  3 years later there are so many scratches it all blends together.  Porcelain also scratches but I guess you just have to deal with it.  The other things I don't love...I picked a huge single tub sink.  While I love that's it's a single tub it's almost too deep (8.5 inches to be exact).  I really have to bend over the sink to wash dishes, etc.  I wish I would have picked something more shallow.  The other "meh" is I chose a very angular, modern sink.  It has true 90 degree angles where the bottom meet the sides.  As a result I have to either use my sprayer or my hand to sweep all the food to the disposal.  Food and muck stick in those hard 90 degree angles and I have to take a tooth brush to scrub the corners.  Next time I'll get a sink with curved/rounded edges.  SS steal or porcelain are sixes to me.  I don't prefer one over the other but I do LOVE the look of a porcelain apron front farm house sink.

 

Boy, I never knew I had such an opinion on my sink.  Hope that helps.  Let me know what you choose and how you like it!

- Michele Hinkley, www.4men1lady.com 

So now I'm asking the reader world, what are your thoughts on all that is plumbing?

OH yeah, we are building a house

*Originally posted to WORDPRESS on February 20

OK, it you aren't techy, this may not make sense to you. My blog was (and still is) hosted by a site called blogger. Well I haven't blogged in over a month because blogger is not being very user-friendly, and I've had all these issues with uploading pictures. And when I do, it is not pretty. Anyone that knows me knows I like everything to be pretty and organized and nice looking. So....long story short, I'm trying to switch over to a new blog host, WordPress. Hoping to have a better experience and get back to actually blogging.

So the house, OMG, so much has happened since the last post, Wood and Walls. People, I have walls, I have a rooms, I have a freaking roof!! Oh, and now I have pipes for sinks, showers and toilets. Its like nearly move in ready :-) So yes that's all the good news, with pictures below for you to view.

The not so fun part, bleeding money. We knew this was part of the process, but it is painful. First, we had to write a check for $20k for the trusses when they were delivered. I had to laugh, because for one thing Kyle had to write the check. How he did not hyper ventilate I do not know. Then I had to laugh, and ask him if he even knew how to spell that! Frankly, I would have really had to think that out because I have NEVER had to write a check that large. Well these checks have been common, there was the lumber package bill (gulp), I just paid for our windows, and our counter tops.

Now you might be scratching your head, why are you buying countertops with lumber and windows. Very good question. So about a month ago Kyle and I came to the decision we really wanted soapstone counters. We liked the look and how it was rated to stand up to the use of a kitchen. We also knew it would cost a bit more than say granite. So we (me) started shopping. I searched all the way up to seattle and down to Portland. I talked to about six different fabricators and warehouses. In the end, I choose a local fabricator and told him what I wanted. A week or so later he called and said "funny thing, just got an email from my slab warehouse I use (meta marble in seattle) and their soapstone is on sale. SOLD. So he's storing it for us until we need it. I'm so excited.

The roofing bill should be here next week as they are roofing as I am typing this! Thank you A-1 roofing! Again, painful. But hey it lasts 50 years right, not something I'll need to buy again for a long time.

As far as life on the compound, well its been joyful as usual. I heard a phrase at a work training yesterday, and although it was applied to a different situation, I really felt it was perfect for our living situation right now. YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE.  Look, I don't know where some of our stuff is a lot of the time, frustrating. I can't find what I want in the fridge most of the time, frustrating. I can't do laundry or take a shower when I want to at the exact moment, frustrating. But I am seeing a ton of positive from this too. I think...maybe its not true, but I am pretty sure I'm becoming a WAY better communicator with my spouse, and with his family. I think my problem solving skills are pretty dang polished. But I also know, with 100% certainty, that when our house is done I will not be sad to leave, and the in-laws will swiftly lock the door behind me.

Okay that's the update for now. I'll try to squeeze in a post next week on my trip to NYC last weekend.