House Update

I know it's been quite a while but there really hasn't been much to show you. The electrical has been finished and passed inspection. Also the HVAC has been finished and passed inspection. They've also inspected for codes: framing, plumbing, roofing, etc. Last week the masons came and bricked up the basement portion of the house. We really LOVE the brick. Today they started installing the Hardie Board/Certainteed siding. This is a wood looking, fiber cement board with a baked on paint finish. It looks fantastic and gives us the look we were going for without the expense of Cedar or another wood.







One they finish all the Hardie Board and vinyl they will start insulating. While they are insulating the backfilling will begin. I really hope we can get the front porch down to only 4 steps but we'll just have to wait and see. When the insulation is finished then it's time for drywall, then Derek will install the hardwood floors and the tile will go into all the bathrooms, then paint and so on. Hopefully while these things are being done on the inside the front porch will get all of it's decking, cedar posts and stone.

We've been having a very tough time picking out the granite for the kitchen and bath counter tops. It's been difficult and brain racking but I finally finished it all today and I was able to get a price I was happy with.

Here's the final choices.

This is Giallo Ornamental Light, it is for Lily's bathroom.


This is St. Cecilia Light, it is for the boys/hall bathroom.

This is Steel Grey, it is for the perimeter countertops in the kitchen and the master bath vanities. The cabinets in all the bathrooms and the perimeter of the kitchen are all (almost) white.


This is Luna Pearl, it is going on the Island. The Island will be painted an almost black color with light distressing.

The Master Bath Sinks and faucets came today. We have two of these in the Master Bath. Vessel sinks! Love em'!!!


The Master Bath Sinks and faucets came today. We have two of these in the Master Bath. Vessel sinks! Love em'!!!
(Love my little cheeser in the background) He keeps me smiling.

On other fronts the kids are all healthy and the oldest two are doing great in school. It is really hard to believe I have a 3rd and first grader! Caleb is playing soccer this fall and that along with house building is definitely keeping us busy. Derek and I are both teaching Bible class this quarter as well. October will be a nice break.

I'm working out daily. I started with The 30 day Shred by Jillian Michaels. Hardest workout video I've ever done. My friend, Erin, comes over every Tuesday and Thursday to workout with me while Levi naps. This week she was a workout superstar. She worked out every single day and 3 times on Thursday! I workout by myself on the days she isn't here. It definitely keeps me accountable when I know she will be her depending on me. We started the Shred it with Weights DVD by Jillian Michaels on Tuesday. I did it last Saturday and Sunday and thought I was going to kill over and die. My hamstrings were killing me for days! However on day 3 of it with her yesterday, day 5 for me, we made it through the whole DVD without stopping! We were so excited we woke up Levi. Trust me if you do this DVD you'll be happy to do the same.

I haven't really lost any weight yet but my muscle tone is definitely improving dramatically. I'm happy with staying the same weight if I'm really lean and tone.

I'm headed to Alabama this weekend with my little guy. One of my first cousins is getting married tomorrow and we are going to the wedding. Derek will have a busy weekend here with the other two.

I hope you are all doing wonderfully! Leave me a note and tell me what you've been up too!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Love,
The Boss Lady

Current GRITS Embroidery Promotions!

Back to School Special: Take $5 off of every $50 you spend. Ends Sept. 30th

Birthday Special: In honor of my upcoming 32nd birthday the "Jessica Bag" is only $15! That's a 50% savings! Comes in Color Choice 1: Cherry Linen


Morning Glory Linen exterior

with Full Moon Dot Cherry interior.

And last but not least go support my friend Jessica over at Vanilla Stitchin'.
"LIKE" her on Facebook and mention that GRITS Embroidery sent you. When you do this you will receive either $5 off your next order or FREE shipping off your next order.

Happy Friday!
Stacie
www.gritsembroidery.com
G.R.I.T.S. Embroidery on Facebook

Fabric Voting Results!

Results!!! I know it's taken forever! Although we didn't have all that many participate on the fabric voting we will still have a winning fabric. Drum Roll please.......... Lotus Morning Glory Linen!

The Prize! The next two people to place an order will receive the Jessica bag in this fabric for only $20!!!! That's a 33% savings! ...To place an order just e-mail me at gritsembroidery (at) yahoo (dot) com or send me a message on FB. Thanks for your participation!!!

Happy Shopping! Love, Stacie

Master Bath electrical. For my vanity.


Can and Pendant lighting in the kitchen.



Front of the house with windows!



Front of the house with windows! Front Door isn't here yet.



Back of the house. We have windows!!! and exterior doors~! Yeah

y
The electrical crew: Top row: Derek, My brother Jared and My cousin-in-law Rob
Levi, Me, Lily, Caleb and my nephew Jaden.

The electrical is almost done. Derek and I and anyone we can recruit to help will be running the cable and phone. HVAC goes in the end of the week and Brick is scheduled for the end of next week.




Me, Jonna and baby Macy. She's precious!

I'll try to write tomorrow. We are very busy. At least I got pictures up :)

A very busy week!

Well it's been one very busy week. My parents came up on the 3rd with 3 of my nephews. They all belong to my brother Jared and his wife Ellen. Strangely enough I didn't get a picture while they were here. Thankfully they will be back in a couple of weeks when Jared comes to wire the house for us! They celebrated 15 years on Wednesday and today was Jared's 36th birthday!

We had a great week! My dad was able to stay until Monday morning then he went back home to work at my Mee-Mees and his own backyard. Mom stayed and she and I managed the 6 kids everyday with Derek helping out in the evenings. They were all very well behaved and played beautifully together. Tuesday night they all, minus Levi, helped Derek build a track for his RC truck up in the back of our neighborhood, coined the Junkyard by Derek, Caleb and Lily. We enjoyed going to the local Splash Pad type place and having a picnic lunch on Wednesday. Of course Bible class that evening. Thursday we met a friend and neighbor with her three kids at Check E. Cheese and let the kids play games then we went on to a great local Italian restaurant for lunch. That afternoon we all went to see Toy Story 3 at an old nostalgic theater and had free kids meals at Captain D's. I love free kids meals and I now have a list on my phone of which restaurants have them each day of the week.

Friday I spent 4.5 hours at the new house, the majority of it with my builder and my cabinet maker. The rest with both of our builders. They are a husband and wife team. I am very thankful the kids were very well behaved for mom while I was gone.

During the week they finished framing the house and roofed it. There are a couple of small things that have to be fixed but nothing earth shattering. We are very happy with how everything is coming along and I LOVE the house!

Here are some updated pictures!

This is a side view of the front porch.



View from Great room into kitchen.

View of Great room through to Master bedroom (straight ahead) and master bath ( back left) and foyer and dining room front left.

Framing..... and Vacation

Well we've been in Peoria since last Saturday. Thanks to the Randlemans we had a great place to stay and fantastic company. Of course Jonna and I did plenty of shopping. There was plenty of food involved and great friends to catch up with. It was a very busy week but well worth it to catch up with everyone from our old stomping grounds. If only we could have the best of both worlds. Our friends from Peoria here in TN!

While we were gone the framers got very busy working on the house. This is what we came home to:




From Left to right this is what is says: Master Bath, Front Door, Dining Room, Laundry Room, Boys Room

Here's the back of the house:




From left to right, top row: Lily's Room, Bathroom, Kitchen, Great Room, Master Bedroom
From left to right, bottom row: Garage, Workshop, Bedroom, Unfinished basement.

There is a bathroom between the workshop and the bedroom. There are also two offices and a storm room in the basement on the front side of the house.

They are out there today framing again! Yeah! Have a happy Fourth!!!

~Stacie~

Heading to Peoria this weekend! Can't wait to visit everyone!

In the meantime here is a look at our most recent decisions for the house. We've been working on the front door for at least 6 weeks.

Front Door:
It will have matching sidelights and a shoulder transom. It will also have two dividers in the glass to create three panes of glass.

Here's the tub:


The tub faucet:


The Master bath sinks and faucets:


Kids bathroom sinks and faucets:


They are pouring the concrete floor in the basement today and installing the septic system tomorrow and Monday. They also start framing on Monday. Hooray for progress!

So what's up in your world??

Love to all!
~Stacie~