My asphalt kick your asphalts....

Selecting roofing material for your home can be quite a bore. Let’s put it up there with 8th grade algebra. You know you need to pay attention (after all you could be stuck with your selection for the next 30 years!) but all this technical talk and terms is dull. The outcome (like a correct answer) is emotional. This is how I feel about my new Timberline 30(yr) Architectural shingle. I literally would like to crawl up on my roof and hug it all over! Timberline is now manufactured by GAF/ELK. This is very exciting to those in the industry because ELK produces a shingle that you would swear is not actually asphalt! An asphalt shingle is what 90% of us use to cap our home. Other choices include cedar, metal or slate but those are left for another entry. Let’s just focus (FOCUS) on the versatility that today’s asphalt shingle will provide to you! I’m having a hard time containing my enthusiasm for shingles! Ahhh!

Here is a picture of the GAF Grand Sequoia. Isn't it just piece of asphalty heaven! Look at that texture and color! Here are some benefits of this shingle:

* Has a Super Heavyweight "PLUS" design. This means this roof will last longer than your marriage and for sure your décor so you better love it! FYI- “Heavyweight” means that you will be charged more for install because it is thicker than most.
* Lifetime limited transferable Warranty. If you move the warranty goes with to the new homeowner. Not very many products will say/ do this.
* 110 mph Limited Wind Warranty. Oh! It’s comforting to know that if a tornado comes and blows away your house your shingles will stay in tack!
* Is a fiberglass asphalt shingle. You will have to ask Bob Vila to explain this to you cause it is confusing and dull. When do we look at the colors???
* Algae-Eater™ Protection. OK- you better watch out you algae bugs my asphalt is gonna kick your ….

Here is a before and after of my house. We went with the Timberline 30 year Weathered Wood. The 30 year shingle has a standard weight which is much easier to install (so I've been told) and you don't need any out of the ordinary tools. We choose Weathered Wood after we picked the general color for our exterior. See future posts about how to make you exterior work for you and your neighbors!

Not the best picture but you can see right off the bat this color had to go. YUCK! The three-tab drove me crazy and even if for some reason we wanted to keep it I'm pretty sure this color has been discontinued so our addition would not have made sense. Unless we went with a nice contrasting metal roof like I really dream and drool for.

AHH and the after. Much better. We have dimension and a nice taupy warm gray that will look great with the exterior color selection.

4" Silhouettes are here!!!!

Here are some photos of a Hunter Douglas project I just finished up. This client has a lovely Cudd home with a 2-story wall of window that face straight west! The glass does have some protection but it wasn't enough. They had only been there for two days when the Silhouettes were installed but they had mentioned it was an uncomfortable two days! Good timing on my part huh!


Here is the before....

I absolutely love the new 4 inch Silhouette! The upper windows have the platinum technology motorization which is like BUTTER! I will never use anything else. My installer did a fabulous job programing the remote and showing the client how they operate.

And the Toujours fabric is just yummy!












The linen texture really helps create some depth and character with the huge run of Silhouettes. I typically use the Originale fabric (good colors, no texture) in the Silhouettes but this job needed a little more and I think it turned out perfect!

Thanks Cudd! Keep building more of these that face West...on hills!

Cohoe's Under Construction- Fireplace

Here is the awesome after shot of our fireplace! Hubby did the cabinets and mantle himself. The design goal is mod rustic. The contrast between the Lake Tahoe River Rock and the straight lines on the mantel achieve the exact look we are going for. I can't tell you how rewarding the little piano windows are! They are situated on the south wall and the main part of the room faces east....with a hill. The room would feel cave like with out them. Small investment people....big return!

And let me tell you I love the detail on the trim. Who doesn't dig maple with a walnut accent? The is more of that to come...just you wait!!!!

Oh also big KUDOS to Uncle Mike for the stellar stone job!

Cohoe's Under Construction

I will be posting about my own fixer-upper on this blog forever. I am not exaggerating. My husband and I (boyfriend at the time) purchased an "older" home in 2003. It is not so much the house but the location. We are nested in the suburbs but in a very rural setting. Close to a huge nature preserve and one block north of a great lake and near Emma's elementry school. We are in the woods with not may accessible neighbors. There is one neighbor that we share our long driveway with but that is a story for a different day. See Bill.

One of our first projects was tearing out the wood burning brick fireplace and taking out the large chimney on the exterior. I was pregnant at the time and a wood burning fireplace was a definite 'NO'! So poor hubby was sucked right into the nesting phase with me. Good for me not for him. Here are some pictures of that nasty fireplace coming down. The two small "piano" windows were installed durning this project also.

Here is a picture from the interior:

Change of Plans

Hello! Since I have last posted I have decided to leave the "going nowhere fast" position I was in a the cabinet shop. They have kept me on as an outside sales-rep, commission only. I don't get much sales and marketing support from them but the price and product rocks and the lead times kill the competition. I am on a serious grass-roots marketing/ networking campaign for them and so far so good. I speak with contractors about their cabinets needs and most of them will hire me for the design selections or pass my name along. My days of working for myself aren't as relaxing as I had anticipated. Emma is in daycare everyday while I am working 10+ hours with clients and networking. My goal is to become more established over the next 12 months so I can keep her home with me at least one day a week. Stay tuned as I post about current project (including my own) and topics such and: "How to keep your marriage in tact while remodeling"!

Future Top Chef!!!

Close to 40, Somewhat sunny, windy

Ahhh the energy of a two year old! Emma is certainly full of it. She is talking non-stop. Her favorite things to say is “what’s dat?” or “hear dat” (head cocked, hand on her head) when you ask her something that she knows the answers to she will say “dunno!” for a reaction. She also tries to justify herself…how funny, like a little lawyer! Emma why did you make a mess? “Because!” She says “cause” a lot, she must be needing to get her point across at daycare. Yesterday after daycare we all sat down for a snack together (so rare) and discussed our days. Chris headed out to the garage and I wanted to get a jump on dinner. Emma decided she would like to take her snack in the living room and make a huge mess of her crackers. I stopped her in her tracks, explained why she can’t eat crackers in the living room and like a mini-miracle she came back to sit at the table. I think I belong to some angle child club out there. Seriously this kid is too easy! After snack (and some crafty paint time) Emma helped me make a batch of banana bread. Her eyes were as big as pennies she was so excited! I think I will keep her on this cooking kick and she will be able to make us cookies and other yummy treats by the time she is 6!!!

Yesterday was my grandpa and grandma Hewitt’s 68th wedding anniversary. Chris and I are going on 1.5 and he makes me crazy sometimes. I can hardly imagine 20 let alone 60+ ! Words from Dad

68 years ago, this year, my folks wanted to get married, but the Catholic church would not marry during lent (may still doesn't how would I know), so they picked the first day after Easter to get married, which was March 25.

In that 68 years, this is the only time that march 25 falls after Easter, since the first time. That is quite interesting.

They are quite the couple that’s for sure and an inspiration to us all.

SNOWY

30ish Snowing like Mother Nature is out for a vengeance. She’s pissed!In the last two days I have burnt my hand twice. I don’t know what the deal is but I am on serious edge. I think I may be having serious anxiety issues. All I do at this lame ass job is obsess about everything that needs to get done, how little time I spend with Emma and how I am a completely wasting my talent day after day withering away in this chair staring at this screen. I’m sure between this job and the stress I have aged 5 years in 2 months or maybe it’s because I’m 30 now.

Yesterday was mom’s birthday. The calm family get together of the past is so long gone I dread going over there anymore. First Dad insists on cooking jambalaya were, of course, Mike will help with the effort. I love how the Hewitt men cook. Let’s find the recipe that needs the most ingredients and dirty every pot and pan in the house and then the girls better clean up. I am still frazzled with chasing Emma and Maura around and keeping Emma from having a complete emotional breakdown from being so overwhelmed with the people, music, Maura and all the noise. Which she did and I really wanted to start crying with her. Especially when Chris is sprawled out on a recliner looking all lovely and relaxed. The jambalaya was crazy spicy and took forever to cook, Uncle Bernie was late and before we knew it 8:30 rolled around. I nicely asked Chris to take Emma home and put her to bed so I could stay and do the Cinderella duties. He snapped and told me to take her home after I was done cleaning. A dagger must have shot out because he put his tail between his legs, packed Emma up and went home. I started to clean and quickly realized that this mess was going to take about 2 hours to tackle. I put some stuff away and got the hell outta there. I know it was wrong put I was so damn tired it felt like I was going to fall over standing up. It’s nice to know that Easter is on Sunday. Can’t I just hide out all weekend at home under the comforter? No!! We have to paint!!! God I am crabby today. I need some chocolate to get over this.

It was cute to see Emma mimic (or try to keep up with ) Maura and how affectionate she is with Owain. She is so gentle with that child! I do believe she was just born with a sweet gentle soul. She is such a good eater too! I see other mom’s complaining that their kids don’t eat or will only eat certain things. Last night for her dinner she ate 5 shrimp, handful of chicken and three huge helpings of rice with some cheese on top. Mauna hadn’t touched anything on her plate so Emma finished off her rice too. SO funny! Ms. Michelle has commented that she must have a really high metabolism because she is so small but out eats all the other kids there. Good fortune has reigned on my Child. She will be tall and skinny and will be able to eat whatever she wants! I worked with a woman like that once. She would eat brats for breakfast and steak whenever she pleased. She was about size 2 and over 50! Can we all be so lucky?! So anywho amsit all of the chaos (and headache today) Emma seemed to dazzle and make it all worth it! Maybe Easter won’t bee to bad after all. This weekend I hope to clean the house from top to bottom, paint the entire basement and color eggs and “craft” (hell yes) with Emma. I want to make and egg carton catapiller. I think I will bring the stuff over to my parent and we can do it there on Sunday. It will be a calm day with a perfect child, yummy food and no chaos. Yeah right!

Let's get crafty!!

Sunny, close to 40?!

Apparently my child is “crafty” so says Ms. Michelle. I love the new daycare we have found. Emma is learning so much everyday but I feel like I am really missing out sitting here rotting away at this stupid job for little more than pennies. There isn’t even a bottle of Elmer’s in our house. Let alone an extra hour or two just laying around ready to “craft”? God I’m so far from crafty it is unbelievable. SO I have spent the morning at said BS JOB going to different websites looking up toddler crafts. Because, damnit, I will be the one crafting with my daughter, thank you very much. These here internets have provided me with much inspiration and ideas and have me thinking, hey I can do this too! (however, I can’t add more hours to the day…may just have to quit BS JOB!!!!)
I think I will be making a trip to Michael’s over my ½ hour lunch. BTW most days that ½ hour gets stretched to at least a whole deserving hour since I work soooo hard here.

*My List: (with all this extra time I have been making some really good lists)
1- Glue (what kind of mother am I anyway)
2- construction paper
3- felt
4- yarn
5- tissue paper
6- pipe cleaners
7- egg coloring stuff

I hope to stick to the list since we are so short on money right now. They better have pipe cleaners there because if I have to step into Target it may be the death of me.

Finishing up on the playroom has me picturing my perfect little girl with her smock on (oh add that to the list) glue and painting away at her tiny IKEA craft table. It will be so lovely if Chris would just get up off his ASS and finish this shit. I tell you I am trying to advert eye contact with him right now because daggers may fly out and kill him.

Yesterday:
Getting home from and interview (ahh.. yeah fools) about 6:20. “hello” no one to be seen or heard. The house is still and dark. “hello” I go upstairs to find Emma with a diaper in her hand and a guilty look on her face. “Where’s Daddy?” “I dunno” Scoop her up and head back downstairs to find Chris cuddled up on the couch in a deep slumber. F-er. What the hell! Is this dude her dad or some punk teen-age babysitter. Lately I can’t tell. I guess if I’m not around to feed her she is just going to stave. So much for going to the gym anymore after work. I swear the ugliest thing about this man is the laziness.

Let it SNOW!

30ish Cloudy, Snowy

This time of year is such a transition time. Winter is leaving spring is coming but winter isn’t giving up with out a fight. Like 6” of snow fight. Emma is getting cabin fever along with the rest of us. Yesterday she spotted one of her summer toys under the deck and decided that it would be fun to go outside and play on that. Oh yes it would be so fun Emma….but we are going to have to wait until all the muck dries up...like in three months! I am trying to keep up with her more “active by-the-day” imagination. Yesterday I even sat her down on the computer and brought up playhouseDisney.com. Yes, I have bestowed a new computer addict on the world. Probably against my better judgement but oh well. What the hell do I know! That’s Emma…my future little myspacer!

At least we have Hockey to keep us entertained. Both the Wild and Gophers have eeekkked themselves into playoff position. Something to do/ watch this weekend while we paint the playroom…oh it is soooooo close! Hopefully by this time next week I will be ordering carpet. I seriously can’t wait to have new carpet smell in the house. The carpet fumes will keep me happy (or high) until all of the snow melts and reveals the disaster in our front yard. Thinking about the big project is giving Chris and I ulcers. I am frantically collecting money and desperately trying to keep the costs down. I worry about the money a lot but not nearly as much as the time. This project could easily see us into next year. The entire burden falls on Chris’s shoulders. I want to help but there isn’t much I can do while keeping the house together, chasing a toddler oh and work this shit job. Enough crying for now.
Emma did her first official Easter egg hunt on Saturday and it was adorable. Cold but tolerable. She officially believes Easter is about 1) Chocolate 2) Bunnies 3) A fun game of hide-and-seek with eggs. Jesus is not even a blip on her 2-year-old radar. This parenting shit is confusing.

Bye- Bye Hockey

Cloudyish – 40deg

God this job is D.U.L.L. I should have known better, but these are tuff times especially in the construction industry. The problem is I see potential to make some good money here so I’m not sure if I should stick it out or pack my bags. I am having a really hard time justifying the crap pay and all the time away from home/ family. I have said it over and over 4 days a week. Please! Thank you! Plus a rookie is running this company and there are too many soap operas for such a small place. The weather is going to turn soon and I will be itching to do anything else besides stare at the screen all day…oh and sometimes out the window. The nice thing about it is I get to type on my blog and look like I am doing something productive!

Both Emma and I have cold’s. Being sick is the worst. It doesn’t seem to slow her down much. Yesterday we practiced our Easter egg hunting technique in anticipation for tomorrow’s big event. We have to be ready to compete with the other kids! We also watched Daddy and Uncle Mike take down the hockey rink because the pond is getting pretty slushy during the day. The Hockey rink was a ton of work this year and the disassemble wasn’t any easier. Hopefully next year we will have some of the same conditions because the weather this year made for perfect ice and Emma will be ready for skates. Not really looking forward to the snow to melt and the big mess it is going to leave in the yard. God, this remodel already has my anxiety on high.

Pretty and Plumpy!

50 deg, Sunny

I have to be perfectly honest. I am not to optimistic about this blog. I am very critical about my writing skills (lack there of) and the time commitment to this flat out sucks. I am not a power blogger and never will be. Maybe it’s the working mom thing. The moment I walk through the door every second of the 3 evening hours I actually get to spend with Emma is devoted to her. If I make it to the gym then scale that back to 1.5 hours. Cry me a river … I know. But it is exhausting trying to make up for lost time with your child. Around 8:30 my mind literally turns off. I have work to do every evening but any and all competence is out the door. That’s why this is the water downed version. Oh and pictures! I would love to add them…somehow…someday. Did I mention I was not granted the technology gene? I keep thinking the one-day I will wake up and be capable of actually doing some nice formatting or actually be able to run a virus scan by myself. A laptop in my hands would be like a bomb.

I did get some great shots of sassy-pants diva Emma last night. I was in a full on domestic battle with my kitchen (the kitchen lost, thank god). After 20 minutes of some seriously intense scrubbing I noticed the lack of pitter patters or in Emma’s case boom boom up and boom boom down the hall. “Great!” I lose track of time for a nano second and I already know she has taken advantage and has herself in a facefull of make-up or hair product. True to her cute as a button self she’s in the makeup. Only a picture can express this one. I will rarely go into screaming fits about wanting to play with make-up. After all it’s my dumbass fault that I leave it within arms reach (which is a surprisingly a long reach for miss spider arms)! Plus a girl will be a girl and she just wants to experiment and look pretty! I must say, for 28 months she’s got skill when it comes to cosmetology. She actually has mascassa ON the lash! After some show and tell with daddy and snaps shots for the “maybe someday” photo album it was time for some serious scrubbing. And scrubbing we did until I realized the make-up was leaving her precious baby skin all red and puffy. “Great! She is having an allergic reaction!” There would be no going down to bed until the puffiness resided. After about 15 minutes, 2 stories and snuggles it was, for the most part, gone. All that was going through my mind was “allergic to make-up…that sucks!” You will all be happy to hear that Emma is not allergic to makeup but that lip plumper all over ones face will have some of the same effects as an all out allergic reaction.

It looks like the end is in sight for the playroom. When I say in sight I mean less than three months away. Woohhooooo!

2 vs 13

The early reviews at Michelle's is that Emma is a keeper. Every morning what I drop off she just raves. "Oh she is sooo well behaved! Is the like this all the time?" I know my baby is a sweet sweet angle but come on lady she two. Are we talking about the same kid? This makes me think that Emma is on her very best behavior all day, you know trying to impress. Or is it daycare politics? Ummm ... Whatever it is it is a front. The minute we walk into the door all I hear is whining and crying. SNAAAAACK,DOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRAAAAAA, CHARLIE BROOOOOOOOWN!!! AHHHHHHH I have never been so proud and frusterated at the same time. I am swated at continuously, mocked with the naughty spot and everything I make for dinner is just gross. Gross...she's two. I really do think a 2 year old and 13 year old have a whole lot in common.

Oh Yeah..I ate it!

March 10, 2008

This last weekend was so wonderful and so short. Saturday we enjoyed a nice family breakfast and off to the races. I HAD to get to Turbo kick…I missed Jennie and my butt is getting big. You were off to Grandma and Grandpa’s while momma is off to “jump around”. I love it when you ask me if I had fun jumping around. Upon my return to pick you up I found you in the funniest hula skirt standing on a bucket compulsively washing your hands in the new bathroom. You love the control of turning the water on and off at your command and were positively pissed when that was all done and it was time for lunch. Where you ate almost an entire avocado with a side strawberries and turkey with yogurt, almonds and blueberries. Oh, and two cookies. I love how you eat when you eat! Now it’s getting close to the witching hour and time to go…oh no not you! It is time to play HARD to stay awake!!! Down the hall in your hula skirt you run…oh stop! Wash your hand again. While I’m in the bathroom I might as well give it a go. Success! Another pee in the potty! It’s time to party! Hula style! See pics. I love the hula skirt, sunny orange glasses and the cowgirl hat. Hee Haaa girl! HEE HAAAAA!!!

At 28 short months your imagination is off the charts. I love pretend play! Grandma encourages it a lot and has lots of nice fun props. Dress up cloths, fishing boats and brain stimulating toys. We have to be a little more creative at home. Sunday we went camping in a $5.00 garage sale camping set. But when we enter the tent it is time to sleep!! The tent is about 2 x 2 and you are able to squeeze in blanket, baby, other baby Emma, snoopy, you and me! Now we must sleep, you command! It’s windy and scary out there!! AHHH! Lay down mommmaa! (really?) sleep, sleep…funny snore, funny snore. “Oh it’s time to go fishing…lets go out on the boat!”. The boat is the larger back cushions from the couch. “Don’t forget your lifejacket oookaaaayy!” um “OK!” By now you already have around the back of your neck in true life jacket form. I grab the throw from the back of the couch and I am now safe for boating through the treacherous waters of the living room. Whoosh Whooshhh yeahh! “Oh I have to get a fish! I got one! I got one” “Looks how big it is momma!” “Oh my goodness it is a big fish!” “I’m going to throw it back.” I love the conservator in you. What a responsible fake fishergirl. “Oh did you hear that?” (hand pearched to the side of your head) It’s Jon! Jon! You needs a boat Jon!!! Jon is too tired to play, his mind is far away..already in Two Harbors to be exact. That’s OK we love him anyway! This boating thing is getting boring anayway. It’s time for tea on the boat. “You want tea mom?!” “Why, yes Thank You.” “danada” (could you die!). “Oh you get coffee mom…here you go!” You make the best tea/ coffee!

On a sad/ happy note, Jon moved up north on Sunday to pursue big dreams and happiness. I was really fun to have him around all winter for all of us. A garage buddy for Chris, all-star maintenance man (seriously he cleans AND keeps the exterior neat and tiddy) and playmate to Emma and most of all a good friends to Ike and Shadow. I have a feeling they will miss him most L! Emma and Jon had a strange relationship. We she realized he wasn’t just visiting she started to get possessive about her toys and things. It seemed to be like Jon was her big brother and any time he touched anything of hers (or mine) she let him have it. One night he had a blanket on his lap and she laid into him “That’s my mommy’s! Give is BAACCCKKK!!!” “Woooh” is all he could squeak out. With all the bossing Jon around business she would also reward him with big hugs, songs and her trust. I know she will miss having him around. Poor Emma! First Georgie now Jon! He will visit and it will be fun. Plus now he will know how to deal with a two year old Jayden!

Seems that you have also found your new spiritual side. Which is good because we are not doing to well in the religion department. You found a little tiny paper angle in your treasure box (little silver box that you are supposed to stay out of) and declared it yours and obsessively drug this little tiny paper angle around the house with you all day. Not once letting it to far out of your sight. You are a great collector of things. It is really quite amusing. You had to sleep with the paper angle last night and you more the less slept on it and squished the little angle. I think it will be OK. BTW: The little angle was a gift to you from your Great-Grandma Mick Hewitt. She work with the nuns at the St. Ben’s girt shop and this looks like it came from there.

On the note of spiritually at dinner you are now praying for us, and ritefully so! Amen daddy, amen mommy, amen emma (x 100 and really fast)!!! We are all prayed for real good! I think you are looking for a laugh.

Last week you did a bit of growing up at your new, more mature daycare. This week you are more interested in the toilet and being rebellious, defiant, independent Emma! (I have also caught you sucking your thumb…please please stop that).

“Emma your little puppets are on the kitchen floor please pick them up.”

“Can you hear me?”

Run, Run in the kitchen look at the puppets and walk away. “Emma”

BIG LOUD VOICE!! “NOO”

I’m obviously a taken back a bit by this. I know you are a little testy today but Damn girl!
“OK, you can sit in the naughty spot until you deicide you want to pick up.”

(evil little grin) “OK!”

AHHHHHH! And you sit there for over a minute, get up calmly, pick up the puppets and put them away. All I can do is shake my head….

Then you had me convince you ate a can of playdo when you just hid it very very well. You are a sneaky little girl.

My Wings will make it all better

March 7, 2008 Sunny –3

2:00 am screaming “Momma! Momma!” Bleary eyed and praying I can get back to sleep again reluctantly crawl out of bed to save. Re-fill bottle, crawl into nice warm bed, snuggle and fall back asleep.

7:00 am. You are spread eagle in the middle of the bed, head back, mouth open in happy sleep land. Time to wake up Emma! Aggghhh you role over and open and shut your eyes slowly. Look honey, The suns is coming up it’s time for you to get up too! OK, Time for a little brain melting TV anyway. You sit up and reposition your self. The look of you hair is sends me into a nervous laughing fit. It’s everywhere. Full of body and snarls. How the hell and I going to comb all of this out! I start to ask about the events of the night and how you made it to our bed. “Weeelll… I was scaaared, my room is scarey!” What’s so scary about it? All of you animals and toys are in there to keep you safe. Should we go check it out? The TV is on now and you have more important things on your mind. More specifically Tiger and Pooh. Let’s get your diaper changed OK? HELLO! Is that OK? No response. Well today looks promising.. no fighting to keep jammies on. I take you diaper off. And slather your bottom with cream….get distracted and walk away. About 10 minutes later it’s time that you check out the scarieness in your room for yourself. With nothing on but onsie and a hot mess of hair! You declare the all clear and come back with the butterfly wings. Now we have; hot mess of hair, onsie and wings…perfect!!! Since we are missing the diaper I figure what the hell and ask if you would like to try to go pee on the potty. Not really expecting results (the diaper weighed about 5 lbs) you plop down and to both of our delight a little trickle of pee comes out! Oh happy day!!! This is why I need a new camera!
The first week at Michelle’s house has been very promising. By today (Friday) you actually got up and dressed and ready to go with out crying about wanting to stay home as if your very little life depended on it. I think in five short days you have turned a big corner and have made new friends and really feel comfortable in your surroundings. Last night, however, you did declare that you do miss Georgie. How pitiful. A sweet little child should “miss” anything!