I'm so handy

I make people!  And also printer carts....which is probably, well definitely, less interesting.  But anyway, I needed a printer cart for the office.  I needed it to hold the printer, and also hide the water pipes that literally stuck straight outta the wall about a foot off the ground, behind our front desk.
The pipes were not so handy.

Ya'll know that I have a "can do" attitude.  I also figure, why buy it when I can make it.  So I dropped $20 on casters and went to town with some 2x4's in Dad's machine shed.

I started by building the sides.
Nothin special.



Then my front and back.

And, of course, no project is truly successful unless you twist the head clean off at least one screw by being too close to a knot.

Then I stuck them together.

And added the casters.

Next I added a second 2x4 to even out the frame and make a spot for my doors to sit.

And had to toenail in the center board so my doors had something to close agains.
I didn't know where the drill set was, so this was a big pain in the butt...and the reason why I had to build the cart the way I built it.

This is what cart was looking like at this point.
Very cart-y right?

Next I added two doors, which I thefted off of the cabinets we tore out at the office.

That was as far as I could get on my own.  The rest required cutting plywood and when I built this, I was already a week overdue...so I couldn't lift the plywood sheets by myself.

It was ok though, that's part of why I have a husband :)

After Zac helped me out, we had a fully sheeted cart.

Then it was time to fancy him up a bit with some paint.

I started with spray paint, which Zac promptly insisted I stop because of the fumes, remember, still super pregnant at that point.

It wasn't covering worth a darn anyway. 

So I brush painted, and then painted, and painted it some more.
It looked good.
All that was left was moving it to the office and using it to hide the darn pipes sticking out of the wall.

This is the cart in place.

BOOM! Printer cart.

Told ya I was handy. 

Coming right along

The office is really starting to get there.  On Sunday I had Zac and Dad rearrange the tables into their bays.  This is one of the adjusting bays.  The bays are pretty simple.  Just a table and a little hook for my patients to hang up their purses/coats.  I just gotta hang the hooks...after I buy them.

And vacuum the bays, after I get a vacuum...

This is a table that was given to me by a friend.  It was incredibly generous of her.  It's not new, it's not beautiful, but it is perfect for what I need and I know my patients don't care if the foot piece is a different color.  Besides, a neutral and red is quite chic.  Shut up.  It is.  

 I have ordered a new table that will go in the other bay.  It won't be here for a cool month.  That's how table companies roll. 

I also have the start of the therapy bay.  It is completely covered in tools and things that need to make their way out of the office.  I still need a fridge, and a hot pack warmer, but I am dragging my feet placing the order for all of it.  I am VERY aware of where my start up costs are at...and even though I haven't even hit 50% of what I estimated yet, that table I ordered is expensive.   And an x-ray unit...holy big bill.  But, I will use them.  It's just, really, I hate the thought of the extra debt, so I've been putting off the expensive stuff.  It makes no real sense...but it is the case.  

My front desk is really becoming a front desk.  

I had Zac put up a lower shelf so there is a more comfortable height for writing and setting down purses.  I had to have my Aunt Jackie be the judge of where it would go.  I need the opinion of a short person.   Zac and I don't fit that bill.

Oh my goodness...I just realized how grey the office still looks.
It won't always.
I promise.
For now it's just, "Hello! Welcome to my office.  I have a great personality, isn't it obvious."

I also moved in my waiting room chairs.  Aren't they fab?  I love that they are so bright and fun.  I have some more furniture to move in, display and decorate.  Plus I need to replace the blinds and hang curtains but I haven't found the right fabric yet.  I saw the right fabric...in a strangers studio.  I love it, but have no idea where to find it.  

I dig it.  It could be perfect.  

Do you have it?  If you have the right fabric, you better hand it over!

Behind my front desk is really where things start to look official.  Zac came and hooked up the computer.  Well, he started it.  There is still lots to be done and we are waiting on my laptop to be shipped.  But, I got to do a little bit of the fun stuff and put out office supplies.  I will have one station that runs the computer.  

And the other side of the "L" will have plenty of space for paperwork.  

Tucked behind the desk is the printer.  See the water shut-off's, they will be hidden by the printer cart I built.  I took pictures of the cart building process, so you will all be pumped for that cart to be in place I'm sure!

I also did just a little bit of work on my "private" office.

Somehow I got super lucky and found these 2 blue chairs, that are very similar to my waiting room chairs, at a thrift store about 20 minutes from Shelbyville.  The best part, they were 50% off...making them $4 a piece.  You can't beat that!

I gave them a good scrub, but they could use another.  I figured I would wait until my Cliffbelly is out of the way before I attempt it again. 

The desk is now in place too.  

I have a big cabinet from my uncle that will go behind my desk to store all of the reference books I have.  It needs a little TLC first.  I also have plans for that little white chair you barely see in the corner of the picture.  It is from my house....and was living at the office because I needed it out of the way, but I've thought about it, and decided it will be tucked into the corner, sort of behind the door, so that way I have a place to feed Cliff, or pump in peace.  Crazy that I have to consider those things now...

All in all, I'm feeling really good about where the office is at.  I can picture in my mind how it can and will look finished.  It's a little intimidating because I know I have a ways to go, but I also know how to get there, and that's what is important.  

Here's to the office!  Cliff is gonna learn to love it there!  He will make a great Chiropractor :)

Presents for Katie

One thing that I've found that I love about being pregnant (that I didn't expect) is how joyful I feel for other people's pregnancy announcements.  Shortly after I found out about my bean, my friend Katie found out she was pregnant too.  She told me when she was about 10 weeks, or 2 weeks from her first ultrasound. 

After her ultrasound I got a message from her about the experience.  I told her how amazing the 12 week ultrasound was for me.  How I could count baby's fingers and toes.  She responded, "we have 20!"  That's right, twins!  I was SO excited for her!

I could not wait for her to have her 20 week ultrasound and find out what she was having. 

I guessed 1 boy and 1 girl.

I was right!

Next step for me was to figure out what to make Mr. Man and Little Lady.  

One of my favorite things I received at my shower were oversized flannel blankets.  I knew for sure that I wanted to do that.  

Mr. Man got a manly blue stripe and a dark green and blue flannel.  Oh so masculine. 

Little Miss got some pretty flannels too (which I of course can't find online).  They were so cute.  Pink and girly with little elephants and birds.  Makes me wish I was having a girl!

(At some point, I will have my mind back and will remember to take pictures of the stuff I make.)  

I decided that both babes needed pretty burp rags.  I had been meaning to make some for Cliff and when Zac took an evening to watch a terrible movie I had no interest in, it seemed like the perfect time.  

I looked through my fabric stash and picked out some that I loved for the kiddos.  

These are the rags I made for Katie.  Again....will remember to take pictures.  These are terrible cell phone pictures with terrible color....

Since I was sewing, I whipped up these for Cliff. 

I love the 4 on the right because I made them from men's button up t-shirts that were handed down to me from Kylie (and Jade I think).  Now Cliff has a little something from his uncles.  

Of course I can't make stuff for the little men in my life without considering Little Miss.  Again, the girly fabrics really made me happy and look forward to day I have a sweet, sassy little lady.  I gave her a little more variety, as I figure she will have all kinds of fancy outfits.  

How precious is that rose fabric.  It melts my heart!

After I got their burp rags done there was one other thing I wanted to make for Mr. Man.  

I had told my best friend that I desperately wanted to make tie onesies for Cliff.  She surprised me at my shower by making him 3 little tie outfits.  

I can't wait for him to wear them.  One is packed already for his hospital pictures!

I wanted that same kind of adorable for Katie's babe, so I headed to the thrift store and picked out some ties and fabric belts to make suspender onesies too!  

This is what I came up with. 

Super cute right?  I love them.  And, just so ya know, super hard to sew.  As you make your way down the body of the onesie, it starts to bunch up and it is really hard not to sew multiple fabric layers into a jumble.  I know this, because I did it and had to stop and seam rip it out with EVERY shirt I sewed.  

But, the ends justified the means and I love the way they turned out!

For her Little Miss, I really couldn't think of anything.  Really.  I tried.  I thought about necklace onesies and ruffle butts, but ya never know what size a twin will be, so I cheated.  I headed over to my friend Darby's shop (Underground Vintage Studio) and bought 2 ah-mazing headbands for her.  

Again, I forgot pictures.  

Katie is due some time in November.  She has told me when....I have no memory for the actual date.  You should be aware, however, that I couldn't wait on the shower.  I have already taken all of it to her.  

She loved the blankets, and burp rags, and onesies and headbands.  

I was thrilled.  

Ya never know when you give handmade if you are meeting expectations, or if someone thinks that you've given them something random that they simply can't return to a store.  

Of course, the things I made were FREAKING ADORABLE so how could she not love them :)

Now I just have to wait for 2 little thanksgiving twinnies to hug and kiss on!

Man up

As you all know I have been working for months to have my house ready for baby Clifford.  One of the last things I needed to do was evict his dad from his bathroom.  Not hard right?  Wrong.  

Zac is so stubborn (not that I am...or Cliff is)!  

Since our master bedroom is open to the bathroom, Zac always got ready in the guest bathroom.

I assured him he didn't have to, I was up anyway.  

He insisted.  Which drove me crazy, because that also meant he always left his toothbrush and his man products on the counter.  I always had to clean them up when anyone came over.  Plus, somehow the man has like 3 sets of trimmers/clippers and they all found their way under the vanity...or on the vanity. 

I warned Zac he would have to quit that.  The bathroom is small, and the little vanity has just 2 drawers and a little space behind 2 doors.  Due to my mega aversion to toilet paper holders...we were down to 1 drawer, which needed to belong to Cliff.  

I seriously moved Zac out, and back into our bathroom 4 times at a minimum.  

I think it may have actually been 5.  

After the last time I told him if he tried to move back in, I was going to get mean....I would start deleting movies from his hard drive.  For those of you that know Zac, this is a very serious offense.  He, so far, has stayed "moved out." 

Threats work people.  

Turns out, sometimes marriage is about frivolous threats.

I don't regret ransom-ing his movies.  Not one bit. 

Anyway, back to the reason for this post. 

Previously the guest bathroom had been a little girly.  Well, a lot girly.  

I had a shower curtain I found at the thrift store that was a floral pattern from the seventies, all hot pink and orange and green.  It was fab.  

Plus it went great with some super pink towels.  (Funny that it was "Zac's" bathroom, but he can't care about color schemes...)

I knew pink wouldn't do for Cliff.  We needed this bathroom to "man up."

I looked online through curtains and didnt' find any that really blew my skirt up, so I figured I would just make one.  I had fabric in mind.  

I don't know about you guys, but I am loving chevron fabric!

I used grey and white on the back of Cliff's crib quilt and knew it could make a great graphic curtain for him and work with lots of colors so I wouldn't get too sick of it.  

Now it was just time to chevron up!

This is his new bathroom.

For those of you that aren't big sewers, curtains are super simple.   Literally, fold and sew a straight line.  Before you know it, BAM curtain time.  

I decided to get a little crazy and sew button holes into my curtain for the rings.  Talk about a pain!  It is not that the process was hard...since my machine's button thing is fully automated.  It was my own incompetence.  I couldn't find my manual that said how to use the button hole maker.

Then I spent an entire hour misreading the directions from the manual I downloaded.

Then I couldn't measure because my pregnant brain can't do math at this point.  I literally had to ask Zac for help....and draw a diagram, to make sure I did it correctly.  It was lame...a lame word problem...

"if your curtain is 90 inches wide and there are 12 curtain rings, with the first and last rings starting 1 inch from the edge how far apart do your button holes need to be to make the rings evenly spaced?"

See...you would have drawn it out too.

(In math class, they now call word problems "critical thinking."  I don't think any school math problem qualifies as "critical" but the irony of being unable to perform critical thinking was not lost on me.)

The point is, I button-holed the heck out of that shower curtain and now it looks awesome. 

I got the rug right the first time, but not the towels.  

I had bought fab ones that I loved from Kohls...and then the lighting in the bathroom made them look a funny color.  I returned them, and bought 6 more towels.  I returned 4 of those...and bought 2 more.

I am a girl with opinions people!  I need options!

(Thank you Kohl's for your easy returns process.  It allows me to be completely fickle with zero consequence.  Turns out, I appreciate that. ) 

After 4 tries, orange and grey it is!

I am very happy with it. 

The bathroom is super manly.  And now, super ready for Cliff Stu! 

Floored!

It would seem that the end of my pregnancy has been all about finishing up projects.  Namely the office (and in utero fattening up of Clifford.)  The last big thing on the list (aside from future x-ray unit install...sorry family) was completing the floors.  After all the drywalling and painting, they were a mess. 

I decided to do carpet tiles in my adjusting bays so my tables wouldn't slide around and so that it might be a little easier on me than concrete floors.  The rest of the office we were going to repaint with garage floor epoxy.  For both, the floors needed to be super clean.  

On Monday, I knew I had a little time to head to the office.  I knew that that prep work meant a lot of scrubbing floors on my hands and knees.  Unfortunately, as I was heading to my OB appointment that morning I wiped out off of the second step of my porch.....thought I was on the first step.  I landed on all fours and scraped up my knees like a little kid.  Seriously, who skins their knees?

The most ironic part is that I was literally on my way to see my Uncle Doug and borrow a pair of knee pads from him in preparation for the aforementioned Cinderella-style scrubbing.  

It was a bummer.  It is still a bummer.  

Anyway....Zac and I headed to Effingham Thursday to get crackin on the majority of the space.  Jade said he would help with the epoxy, since he had done it before.  That gave us about 8 hours to get all the prep work done.  There was lots...I was overwhelmed.  

First things first, Zac had to finish putting up the rubber trim in the new bays, so all of the carpet tiles would be slightly over the trim instead of some above and some below.  While he did that, I rolled around a mop bucket of hot water and used a scrub sponge to get all of the paint and drywall off of the floors.

After the paint and drywall were up, I mopped the floors.  Then mopped them again, and sometimes a 3rd time with a regular mop.  I basically haven't stopped cleaning those damn floors.  It was an exercise in futility, but ya know....I am anal retentive and couldn't deal with NOT trying...
Anyway, I mopped, then I steam cleaned them.  And then I steamed them again.  

It was the most frustrating process EVER!  

Every pass created a new slightly dusty line after it dried.  

I wanted to bawl.  

I almost did.  

After I finally got the 3 adjusting bays "clean" I marked the center of the bay for Zac and he set to work cutting and laying floor tile.  

I was worried about peel-n-stick tile.  I prayed that it wasn't as super cheap and awful as it could be.  Turns out, that adhesive is no joke.  I was super impressed.  Not bad for a little more than $1/square foot.  

Zac finished my big bay first, and then I cleaned drywall dust off of all of my equipment and slowly started the process of moving everything into the bay so we could do the main space.

(The wall color is much more accurate in this picture...I told ya the walls were not dark as night. )

Anyway, don't you love my blue chairs?  I just happened to get luck in finding them at a thrift store.  

Their arms/legs are close to my 3 waiting room chairs (which are bright green, orange and blue), plus I got them for $4 a piece, so you can't beat that.  

Next he went to work on the little bays. 

Mind you, this ENTIRE time I was still kneepadded up, scrubbing floors.  This picture was about 5 hours into our day.  The process was not fast.  

After Jade got there, he helped Zac move the tables out of the way of the main space.  If you were to come to my office, this is where you would be worked on.  Get excited!

As the boys got started on the epoxy, I had to finish the process of floor prep in the rest of the office.  

They painted, I mopped, steamed, scooted and taped trim.  

Every stinking piece of trim was taped.  

Let me tell ya, this is hard to do with a 39+week belly and a dinged up knee.  

The boys started in the back of the office, and worked their way forward.  Zac trimmed, Jade rolled, then sprinkled the floors.  The floors were looking fab!

As they worked closer to me, we all decided I should take a break and get away from the fumes.  

I ran and got the boys tea from McDonalds.  

As seems to be a running theme for me lately, I promptly let my late pregnancy clumsiness overtake me and I knocked a tea off of the ledge and onto my brand new carpet tiles.  Damn.

The boys continued working hard. 

Jade had the sprinkle technique pretty much nailed.  Sadly, almost immediately after this picture Jade broke his roller frame.  There was no way to get to the other frames.  I had to go to Menards at 8:30.  It was lame.  I waddled as fast as I could.  

The boys finished the rest of the office in all of ten minutes.

Then we closed up shop, and headed off. 

Zac and I were hungry after a forever long day.  We hit up Steak-N-Shake and I felt like there was a distinct possibility that I may fall asleep at the table.

I was exhausted.  I had mega heartburn.  I had Fred Flinstone's feet.  I still had no contractions.  

Darn this hearty body of mine.  

Have no fear ladies.  I know you all worry about me working too hard.  Friday, I took it easy.  I headed to see my chiropractor (a wise decision after the fall) and stopped by for a massage from the therapist I used to work with.  I also made a sweet dinner and watched t.v. with Zac in the evening.  

Mom and I had big plans to do some office shopping the next day.  I am so pumped to do the decorating and arranging of the office you just don't even know!

Stick around, there will be more pictures soon... of the office and this stubborn baby Clifford!