Menards Appeals to Both Sex's...

I went to Menards to approve of the spa bathtub my dad and brother got an amazing deal on (for our cabin). It met my approval :) Of course I couldn't leave empty handed once I spotted "Valentines plants" for only $6.88. I found cute spring/Valentiney pots (on sale for $4.88 and $2). And now have this for my kitchen:

(yes I watch the Bachelor & read US Weekly at times - guilty but harmless pleasure)
And this for my bedroom:

Maybe a touch of Spring growing indoors we will equal spring weather instead of snow outdoors. One can dream anyway!

Valentines Day Decorating

I love holidays. Always fun to have a reason to celebrate. This month I am hosting our neighborhood association monthly meeting. It seems each neighbor must out do the next. (In a good, not bad way) The last several have been great so the stakes are high. Since the meeting is right around Valentines Day I am using that as my theme. I stocked up on decorating supplies at Hobby Lobby and of course Aeisha felt the need to help me assemble.

Sometimes it feels like having a child around. I don’t know how mothers do it!! I am hoping to wrap up my decorating this weekend and tackle other more important projects. Anyone have any good ideas for a Valentines dinner/meeting? I am serving chili, cornbread, and desserts. Any easy and unique decorating tricks?

Has anyone heard of the Pepsi Refresh Project?

You submit a project idea for one of the six categories, then the public votes on the best ideas. Each month Pepsi awards thousands of dollars to the winning ideas. There are so many great options. Right now a fellow in my Spin class has an idea in the running. Here is the recap:
Preserve 15 acres of Iowa Loess Hills, they exist only in Western Ia.
McPherson Hills Neighborhood Association
Goals
To make into a preserve a 15. 5 acre tract of Loess Hills land.
Overview
We want to save from development a rare 15 acre track of Loess Hill land. Our hope is to make it into a Forest/Grassland preserve for future generations. The Loess Hills are one of the rarest on earth. Existing only in Western Iowa and China. As pressures on development raise this rare land formation is quickly being destroyed. The land is home to a large variety of wildlife and forest grasses. This reserve will allow people to walk through it and see the Loess Hills as when Lewis & Clark explored the Missouri river valley.

To vote click here. Would love your support as this is a great project and helps enhance our community and preserve the environment. I am thinking of submitting an idea next week for our neighborhood park. If you have submitted an idea send me a link and I will vote (as long as it isn't in competition with Council Bluffs)

24 Spruce, Niobrara Nebraska

IS OURS!!

Well almost – still have to close on the home. The owners accepted our offer (for those following along my dad won the cabin fight….). I am so excited I could scream –actually I may have when I found out. And I was at work. I am envisioning lazy relaxing weekends, weekends with family, and lively weekends with friends. Paddle boating, four wheeling, running, and biking. Hurry up summer!! In the meantime lots of shopping, decorating, demolition, and updating must be undertaken to transform this 1970’s ranch into a modern minimalist country cabin. I am starting with my bedroom as I bought this bed last night in cherry.


I plan to transform this room.

Into something like this.


I am torn between these two bedding choices from Pottery Barn.
Ruched Voile Duvet Cover & Sham

Cloud Quilt & Sham

I plan to distress this built in, change out the hardware, add a mirror, and seating so it becomes a vanity.



This bedside lamp (also from Pottery Barn) reminds me of the oil lanterns we had at our original cabin so may be a necessary purchase as well.

Sure this is the first of many design or cabin related posts you will see. Any thoughts or ideas for the transformation of this room?

2010 RAGBRAI is one of shortest, flattest ever

Music to my ears! Short and flat as opposed to last year's killer hills! The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa runs July 25-31 with overnight stops in Sioux City, Storm Lake, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Waterloo, Manchester and Dubuque.

I am so ready for summer and fun outdoor activities. Especially Ragbrai. Overnight towns were announced on Saturday evening. I spent hours yesterday booking hotels. I couldn't believe how many were already sold out! Luckily I scored Team Drinkstrong several rooms in all but one town!! After riding 50+ miles a day I need a hot shower and a comfy bed, not a tent. Call me soft, a wimp, high maintenance, whatever you please but I am not roughing it for Ragbrai. Anyone else riding this year?

San Diego Travel Tips Needed

Anyone care to offer up advice for San Diego? Heading there next week (mostly work, a little pleasure). I need ideas for lunch, dinner, drinks, and entertainment. Our group already plans to hit the zoo one day and we have heard the Gas Lamp District is fun. Also thinking a trip to Tijuana is a must. Any input is greatly appreciated!!

Goodwill Dresser Makeover

I was having trouble finding a dresser for the guest bedroom. I wanted wood, not painted, but I didn’t want to spend a bunch of moolah as trying to be somewhat thrifty. Me thrifty – an oxymoron I know but the house projects are endless and sucking up cash faster than I can make it. After watching others turn trash to treasure I though maybe I could do the same. Of course my family all thought I was CRAZY. But lo and behold the first Goodwill I tried (Goodwill in Council Bluffs where I have dumped endless sacks of donations since home) had just what I wanted.

It had the structure I wanted, good quality wood, and the right size. Obviously it was a bit ugly - especially the handles and scratched up top.


But it was a steal at just $39.99 (on sale from $79.99). I actually almost asked for more of a discount due to my donations as of late but figured that would look mega cheap.

I layered on a stain removing product (which of course ended up on my face and in my eye and stung like mad) and I sanded. Man is that hard work! Had I had more patience, time, and energy I would have sanded better but I am a big fan of the good enough method. Next up was the fun part of re-staining with a new dark color. I used stain/poly mix and I thought it worked great. But next time may use just stain and finish with poly. I have been told I should have used steel wool again at the end and maybe more poly? Who knows – again the good enough method works for me. I bought the hardware at Menards. Overall I am very happy with the finished product.


And it fits perfectly in the little nook of the guest bedroom (this used to be open to the dinning from what I can gather). Looking forward to a few more refinishing projects in the future.

Guest Bedroom Redo

I never posted after photos of the Guest Bedroom when I finished it this summer. Here are a few refresher before photos:


Nasty. Old shag carpet, dirty stained walls, water stains, etc…Definitely not fit for a guest.

And here it is today.

Freshly painted walls and ceiling (except for the darn water mark), furniture repurposed


(the bed was mine in high school and the dresser was from a goodwill store), wood floors refinished, new fixtures.



Major improvement in my eyes! I am quite happy with how it turned out. I realize I still need accessories to make the room more inviting. Also please ignore the baseboards as they are going to be stripped and stained to match the rest of the woodwork. But it is progress. I am not sure about the art above the bed either - but for now it is staying.

*Aeisha is normally not allowed in this room due to many guests being allergic. Of course she had to take advantage of the small opportunity while taking photos.

Home Woes

I decided to be brave and have a home energy audit done by Black Hills Energy yesterday. Over the phone the auditor suggested it would take about an hour. Turns out it took more like three hours. I now have a three page list with suggestions for a more efficient home. Some things are easy and cheap some quite difficult and pricey. A bit overwhelming for sure!! However, I would recommend it to everyone as it is free, you get a handful (or two) of free energy efficient light bulbs, a new shower head (also free), and rebates if you complete their recommendations. The auditor was great and very positive the entire time, even if in his mind he was thinking this home is a nightmare, he never let on. During our audit I discovered this:


Perfect. My freshly painted guest room ceiling now has a water stain. Thank you 40+ inches of snow in one month. Luckily the snow is melting and it should be an easy fix (it could have been WAY worse). Once it dries I can use killz and repaint. Just overly frustrating as 95% of my ceilings need painted, does water leak into those rooms? Nope leaks into one of three rooms that has a newly painted ceiling. Oh the joys of home ownership, especially old home ownership. I also have a big task ahead of me that I keep putting off.


Sanding and staining all of these boards for the main floor. Some are mop boards? Others are new baseboards. This is only about a 1/3 of them. Fun times ahead for me. I need a deadline as otherwise its never going to get done.

Kreycik Riverview Elk & Buffalo Ranch

My family is traveling back to Niobrara, Nebraska this weekend. Sadly I think I am loosing the cabin battle. I must admit this is a win win situation so no real looser. Either cabin will create many memories, family time, relax time, and much more. Plus if I loose it means my parents are buying. This equals more money for overseas vacations for I. This summer we visited the Kreycik Riverview Elk & Buffalo Ranch in Niobrara and I never posted photos. Figure now is a great time – makes me yearn for green pasture and sunny skies!

Kreycik Ranch host hunts where you are guaranteed a kill (sounds brutal when put that way) and also covered wagon excursions.

We chose the wagon. I like Bison meat, but I don’t have a need for a whole Buffalo and I am a terrible shot. The covered wagons are driven by the owner – a true farmer.

Overalls - check, farmer tan - check, 4 wheeler and dog - check.

His wife was our guide. First up were the female Elk along with the single male Elk used for breeding...



A few were actually pets, such as ol Susie here.

Next we moved into the Buffalo pasture,


These animals are ginormous! Around 2,000 pounds or more each. Oddly even with their size they seemed quite friendly.


Probably because they wanted the corn we fed them. The hair was crazy.


mixed in with the Buffalo is an old long horn steer named Boomer.

The next stop on the wagon trail were to visit the European deer, called Fallow Deer. They are mini version of our deer essentially.

And the final sighting – all the male Elks.



Great great tour, great people, fun for all ages. I highly recommend it if you are in the area. I really want a set of antlers. I have now been there twice and both times walk out empty handed (almost empty handed, I always purchase bison meat), next time I visit the farm I am going home with antlers! I think they would be a perfect accessory for our cabin.