tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33209075339014792942024-02-21T13:00:53.728-05:00Building our Mozart - Composed with love, luck and a little bit of crazyJoin our crazy journey of purchasing and building our first home ever, all thanks to Ryan Homes and NVR.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-74016950413540324992016-01-02T20:42:00.001-05:002016-01-02T20:42:21.639-05:00I am so ashamed that I forgot about my blog!!But I have a good excuse, I promise. A LOT has happened!<br />
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I got pregnant...<br />
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I had a baby girl.... </div>
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She turned one this year... <br />
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And didn't even cry when we met Santa!<br />
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<span id="goog_1716958525">Meet Brooklyn.</span><br />
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<span id="goog_1716958525">This is the only time I plan to post something public about her as I am not very comfortable with putting her out there. She is 15 months now and is ALL GO! I can't believe she is already a toddler. Time absolutely DOES fly! I love being a mom. I didn't get it before when people would tell me that it is the greatest job you can ever have. I guess I had to experience it to really understand.</span><br />
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<span id="goog_1716958525">She is the love of my life.</span><br />
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<span id="goog_1716958525">I hope everyone had an amazing holiday season and I hope your 2016 is as awesome as I'm planning for ours to be.</span><br />
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In order to stick with the theme of my blog, here are some photo's of my baby girl's nursery!<br />
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<span id="goog_1716958525"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-44831822091809895302014-01-04T19:57:00.001-05:002014-01-04T19:57:30.158-05:00Post Holiday PostHappy New Year!<br />
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This holiday season in particular was VERY busy for me. At the beginning of December I FINALLY finished my bachelor's degree with the University of Virginia. PHEW! I turned 31 on December 1st and have pretty much been going to school since I was 20. Eleven years for a bachelor's is a bit insane. Of course it wasn't all with UVa, I started at Northern Virginia Community College, went to West Virginia University for a year and then back to NVCC and once my associates was complete, I began the BIS program with UVa. The program is three years long as long as you take 2 classes per semester, for all three semesters a year. It then culminates in a capstone research project which has been described by the faculty as a mini dissertation. The research process lasts for two semesters, one of which was mostly independent study and writing time. I can say it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but its done! I walk in May, but I think my diploma will be sent before that. For Christmas I got a frame for it. Apparently UVa's diplomas are one of the biggest in the country.<br />
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Anyway, pair all of that with Thanksgiving, Christmas and making up time at work, it was a really hectic holiday season. I am very happy its over and life can return to normal. I didn't waste any time getting back to decorating and creating either!<br />
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I have so many things on my to-do list that I really don't know where to begin which often prevents me from doing anything at all! I found an awesome pin on pinterest that I absolutely HAD to recreate. Unfortunately it was a Christmas decoration and I just now finished it on Friday. Oh well it will be ready to go for next year!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMEK_NPKEE5Qh4zcsSATqKE5RPmTjckYuiYK-PWZ4syo1yerSjHFaLR3qWDRLsb9X2b_O6KzjnasSqcoMphvswfykymlAGCC45Qr2pSrRv4rEIc080FjZCdAkmGnW0G0GIK_rb0Lx1D6_/s1600/2014-01-02+21.23.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMEK_NPKEE5Qh4zcsSATqKE5RPmTjckYuiYK-PWZ4syo1yerSjHFaLR3qWDRLsb9X2b_O6KzjnasSqcoMphvswfykymlAGCC45Qr2pSrRv4rEIc080FjZCdAkmGnW0G0GIK_rb0Lx1D6_/s640/2014-01-02+21.23.37.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I also have renewed my interest in make-up (it is a form of art you know) and decided that I needed a vanity. Since we have limited funds right now, I decided to create one from random IKEA parts. There are several pins on Pinterest that I used as inspiration. I chose a shelf from IKEA and found some legs there intended for a line of desktops they carry. I already had two awesome lights from there that I was going to use as our nightstand lights but I felt they worked with the vanity a little better. I had the chair from IKEA because I had initially wanted to use it for my sewing table but my existing office chair worked better with it, so I had this chair just sitting around. It works perfecting with the vanity. And then I purchased the mirror while I was picking up the other parts. I like the shelf that I chose because the glass allows me to view all of my makeup without having to dig through a drawer. Keep in mind that pretty much NONE of my makeup is pictured here. I ordered some cheap trays that have yet to arrive so once I get it all organized I will post another pic.<br />
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Next, I finally decided on a comforter set for our bedroom. Its taken me over a year to pic something (thats permanent) because I have learned the hard way that I need a comforter that is at least 110" wide because our bed is very high and our mattress is thick so everything I've purchased was simply too short! I am SO HAPPY with the way this turned out! Please imagine a third euro sham in the gaping hole at the back. I totally forgot to order three during the initial order so its on its way.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YPpcyJxuhb45sA3NpQhmywDuSqV6YHSRUGXwO8dS99bzLhXDGa2o_uQJQ1EWO1RxPRg5zfHe5sF9-hN8xmRcg72fQoqBidWSqI-cOIkztMIb9zQmJgzc6Ldu7COphxh5Moai6pYVOLWE/s1600/20140104_164103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YPpcyJxuhb45sA3NpQhmywDuSqV6YHSRUGXwO8dS99bzLhXDGa2o_uQJQ1EWO1RxPRg5zfHe5sF9-hN8xmRcg72fQoqBidWSqI-cOIkztMIb9zQmJgzc6Ldu7COphxh5Moai6pYVOLWE/s640/20140104_164103.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I am going to head out to Lowes after posting this to find some swathes for paint. I want something dark and bold so that the bed and our other white furniture really pops. It will probably end up being that golden yellow color or a warm grey color.<br />
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And of course my blog post wouldn't be complete without a token Daisy picture. She is passed out in this one. Oh to be a Daisy dog. <br />
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Hope you guys had a wonderful holiday season! And I also wish you the best of new year's. :)<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-62427056537582147182013-10-22T18:58:00.002-04:002013-10-28T23:20:01.168-04:00A positive postOkay, so you've already seen a few of my projects , but I thought I would post a few pics of a few other things I have been up to. Im writing this post from my phone, and I cant quite figure out photo captions so hopefully this all makes sense.<br>
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<span id="goog_1035213845"></span><span id="goog_1035213846"></span>So this is a project I am stilI playing around with. I messed up the sizing of the decal here but you get the drift. Note that the design matches the curtain panel I made. Cool right?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupOYji7cZF-AeDotR36iSARTXCdhoZI3yzz0dCk2e4j2stT8WTnrv0SxxCbvYpXi_CeRfMxWxcVCoXnArhtRCjyYXwMu8YYAW1EII5u6r7t3mtppY00DMGkBehaU3AQtZl5MmgGtyQ68l/s1600/20131028_221403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupOYji7cZF-AeDotR36iSARTXCdhoZI3yzz0dCk2e4j2stT8WTnrv0SxxCbvYpXi_CeRfMxWxcVCoXnArhtRCjyYXwMu8YYAW1EII5u6r7t3mtppY00DMGkBehaU3AQtZl5MmgGtyQ68l/s640/20131028_221403.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next we have a decal that I created for my neighbor based on an idea she found on Pinterest. Ill post pictures of the finished project once she installs the decal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9Rq_tJqNexaOrv_mdHqjPEnUyhP-17zek893PGKHKMWfAJFDymw2APYztEFaPmTqDi8AFPNaAp_S4fqSoEq5RzTE8y1UmkfM6LH6BAlHsysTf9nm6rClUyb-Mg4pS6uq55LFsrTbErnN/s1600/20131027_172725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9Rq_tJqNexaOrv_mdHqjPEnUyhP-17zek893PGKHKMWfAJFDymw2APYztEFaPmTqDi8AFPNaAp_S4fqSoEq5RzTE8y1UmkfM6LH6BAlHsysTf9nm6rClUyb-Mg4pS6uq55LFsrTbErnN/s640/20131027_172725.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up is a cool decal I made for our front door. Someone that lives behind me has something similar amd HOA hasnt dinged her for it, so Im going to take the chance. The good news is, its just a sticker so it can easily be removed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zdzBd_Zi9ZAVbMxz22x82eKH7IPrObrkTV3kk0Q5tAmgBdXIZNz2pCzvpvKbz_KjEgMV630lLR4We_jLMD1rfrQGL_TMOW0DJsbF0U7qIUOqIatdZ2eXLans4Gk-HuN9AMhQ_YZlEqXh/s1600/2013-10-28%25252022.46.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zdzBd_Zi9ZAVbMxz22x82eKH7IPrObrkTV3kk0Q5tAmgBdXIZNz2pCzvpvKbz_KjEgMV630lLR4We_jLMD1rfrQGL_TMOW0DJsbF0U7qIUOqIatdZ2eXLans4Gk-HuN9AMhQ_YZlEqXh/s640/2013-10-28%25252022.46.43.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we have our poor guest bath. Not much progress but I did hang full length curtain panels as a shower curtain and got some coordinating towels. The plan is to paint the walls gray with a yellow pop of color on that back wall behind the curtians.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUIcfzFdVBR-riXslE9SMtOwjFhAtXkMmfPDd-J8b7jFZ6fZ-FC_Zcp_RgOUUk5GnaLNFLBicxKDFFyI9fMesGoI4i-U05YADs6utJi3vK1_BUFxnyuYHVFriWeGVxkw8Cyy4mbCQRAHa/s1600/20131022_183308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUIcfzFdVBR-riXslE9SMtOwjFhAtXkMmfPDd-J8b7jFZ6fZ-FC_Zcp_RgOUUk5GnaLNFLBicxKDFFyI9fMesGoI4i-U05YADs6utJi3vK1_BUFxnyuYHVFriWeGVxkw8Cyy4mbCQRAHa/s640/20131022_183308.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLzy1FekdMDGTE4znMugnTaQ8_oJ5axzERPyHgsQeVUpuxRKkhBQEbF5xGoPaIX2xV1M7b7Cx-eCwPBtOJOaK68WyfiMS0dLX07diYbhmmgCsNyxrTOJbWy1Hay7rLn6qbyJdEhknXJA_/s1600/20131022_183234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLzy1FekdMDGTE4znMugnTaQ8_oJ5axzERPyHgsQeVUpuxRKkhBQEbF5xGoPaIX2xV1M7b7Cx-eCwPBtOJOaK68WyfiMS0dLX07diYbhmmgCsNyxrTOJbWy1Hay7rLn6qbyJdEhknXJA_/s640/20131022_183234.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And lastly are a few photos of our trip on the Eagle Train this past weekend in Romney, WV. Such a beautiful ride. And a very rare photo of Mike and I. Ive lost about 40 lbs since June, so I thought it was high time we got some updated photos of us. Otherwise, Im usually the one taking all the photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ4ieSLJ8Awd00RmpnYC_1bBwoo-ZygtBWspkNrrMMFYsA-Yi5dkUyP25mTSlEaN22zKGGZgBwZop9dUztEbAvQJfAuozJsHR7nRT5MBUQHoes6jDLG48z68Oz4A2QMZocown8lcYqLGh/s1600/20131026_161034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ4ieSLJ8Awd00RmpnYC_1bBwoo-ZygtBWspkNrrMMFYsA-Yi5dkUyP25mTSlEaN22zKGGZgBwZop9dUztEbAvQJfAuozJsHR7nRT5MBUQHoes6jDLG48z68Oz4A2QMZocown8lcYqLGh/s640/20131026_161034.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOywixifzBOMdNtZHqRxobHqbLDSnElcRuaRxsd5FgmndUE3qalA75jC1kn3pPfuem3ZHrecrQFLbQA24VUbJRUeKjEPiKoJEjhDvmHIW8zHqOUg7bxJhlkTDM-kxcts38pAAYwaVyeKSE/s1600/20131026_161042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOywixifzBOMdNtZHqRxobHqbLDSnElcRuaRxsd5FgmndUE3qalA75jC1kn3pPfuem3ZHrecrQFLbQA24VUbJRUeKjEPiKoJEjhDvmHIW8zHqOUg7bxJhlkTDM-kxcts38pAAYwaVyeKSE/s640/20131026_161042.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSa94IjfAMljicYUEeTm1qr78twUgybJOMHAxAuzS883m9-NIADuvl3afD1UuP55OgLTsYLvfzhTLuN7FTS4hurpCsKoGJbuRi9xKHue-TtTkzKz6x5sZzd7cjlmYNR6gUY_b3ErSMk9W/s1600/20131026_145147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSa94IjfAMljicYUEeTm1qr78twUgybJOMHAxAuzS883m9-NIADuvl3afD1UuP55OgLTsYLvfzhTLuN7FTS4hurpCsKoGJbuRi9xKHue-TtTkzKz6x5sZzd7cjlmYNR6gUY_b3ErSMk9W/s640/20131026_145147.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwNu4rB4b9qqYW8bILoBek4MpI9s4z8U-tIVAVHt6O8NrrLJGMJH_CY2EsEbNZHPa2JbsfNv2MgqQHrdPFek51HiCMxFGJQbhD7z2wCmoOH3UmFj_zmkJLjMrDFAqlz2YFt9pABdlkaSM/s1600/20131026_145125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwNu4rB4b9qqYW8bILoBek4MpI9s4z8U-tIVAVHt6O8NrrLJGMJH_CY2EsEbNZHPa2JbsfNv2MgqQHrdPFek51HiCMxFGJQbhD7z2wCmoOH3UmFj_zmkJLjMrDFAqlz2YFt9pABdlkaSM/s640/20131026_145125.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Nz5PgXehmzJz9HVsvYXWJmVKoSYlSBC10UWbU1RM__oOZ1fHfTc1B2cGAxB3vkqEO_Aln4kd13FzCHUsmqZ0tDpjpjsim5h7qbdqg22Si4KFZlrBiGulc-OovUIQfKsTw4gMsiQczlVM/s1600/20131026_141619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Nz5PgXehmzJz9HVsvYXWJmVKoSYlSBC10UWbU1RM__oOZ1fHfTc1B2cGAxB3vkqEO_Aln4kd13FzCHUsmqZ0tDpjpjsim5h7qbdqg22Si4KFZlrBiGulc-OovUIQfKsTw4gMsiQczlVM/s640/20131026_141619.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, thats all I got for now. Ive got SO MANY more ideas, so once they are tangible I will definitely post updates. I can say that I see glass etching in my future!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-21658669990481116642013-10-20T13:00:00.001-04:002013-10-20T13:00:17.240-04:007 Month Check-In and a WarningThe initial purpose of this blog was to document our experience of buying a Ryan Home so other prospective home buyers would have a resource to go to before signing on the dotted line. We have been in our home for 7 months now and have completed a bunch of projects. That being said I wanted to post a warning to all of those prospective buyers. DO NOT purchase a Ryan Home. Run as fast and far away as you can. The workmanship is shoddy to say the least. You can babysit them through the entire thing and there will still be things that you have missed. They don't even come close to the "Qualtiy Workmanship" that they claim. Do keep in mind that each region is different because they use different contractors for each community, but you've got no control over that.<br />
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I have HAD IT with this place. Bowed walls, "rippling" walls, crown molding with reappearing seams, HUGE cracks that reappear no matter how many times they fix them, gouges in drywall in corners where they think you won't see them, etc. The list could go on. And after you read through my blog you will know how "on it" I was. Even after all of that, there are still so many issues with our home.<br />
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Below are various pictures from the past 7 months. Some are of my projects (not all of them) and there are a few of the craptastic workmanship of Ryan Homes. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBij8fU3sKdKRy8dEyMxqlfQpE_vrV3CHZLlZAgttI6Drl_zUVsg6mas7ucpOdKGAKSij8vN42x_-Ti3QWU9BUlRLCph8NcFCKD6m2pe3H9arOERrzfDBVm197Ffui7PlrRLyN9KbrpS/s1600/484718_10151361775182799_2021936312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBBij8fU3sKdKRy8dEyMxqlfQpE_vrV3CHZLlZAgttI6Drl_zUVsg6mas7ucpOdKGAKSij8vN42x_-Ti3QWU9BUlRLCph8NcFCKD6m2pe3H9arOERrzfDBVm197Ffui7PlrRLyN9KbrpS/s640/484718_10151361775182799_2021936312_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was after we removed the molding in the kitchen to install our tiled backsplash. They had caked on so much spackle to make the wall right but failed to do that everywhere, especially behind the wall plate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJiYb7nDhmuhiuZsbfNR_KqEJ82IUMAe84FHD7yZalpXt7csrz65cSab8_vwzKZnDPHpyAGvudZfNQExs8k0un1eM6mPMp4JXdX8sPELEaEwqmwW0N_8EkiONNEHq7XVThStXpCoE5Nfk/s1600/923408_10151681757287799_1635862837_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJiYb7nDhmuhiuZsbfNR_KqEJ82IUMAe84FHD7yZalpXt7csrz65cSab8_vwzKZnDPHpyAGvudZfNQExs8k0un1eM6mPMp4JXdX8sPELEaEwqmwW0N_8EkiONNEHq7XVThStXpCoE5Nfk/s640/923408_10151681757287799_1635862837_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my craft/sewing room with the sewing table I made so that my machine work surface was flush with the table surface. I have since installed a sheet of plexi to the top so that my fabric slides along the table better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FGp_ipKro8cO_jyt6lJG8cAmsSkeuFN77r38xVQ7J7PMjwLcCcf3yEaT3oDD8M12p7ogSoRizomxjQH-O76YjcohxMBhYyD8sOpTIqXSzlSf5PdBYneCnKoBPaL8eiudTYCQSxC5pu7H/s1600/944640_10151733192492799_2112127598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FGp_ipKro8cO_jyt6lJG8cAmsSkeuFN77r38xVQ7J7PMjwLcCcf3yEaT3oDD8M12p7ogSoRizomxjQH-O76YjcohxMBhYyD8sOpTIqXSzlSf5PdBYneCnKoBPaL8eiudTYCQSxC5pu7H/s640/944640_10151733192492799_2112127598_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most recent "fail" that finally prompted this post. This wall is SO BOWED that we can't hang this floating shelf. The shelf has to be floating because I just spent the past 3 days hand painting the silhouette of a table onto the wall.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZqfIhUoXDvCQSsaFBPhB5cCh6XXNJTvr0xUf1XOvVU4uH2Cpy4O1nd57WiaBifCgZ7m6UXNRn-0qeh8Fzfsx-dplA5i6qIoHhgkdlrGl80ovVD2N6qCzDBiwz7PpYyj7csoa7p2VDhT5/s1600/988731_10151719180697799_1118245599_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZqfIhUoXDvCQSsaFBPhB5cCh6XXNJTvr0xUf1XOvVU4uH2Cpy4O1nd57WiaBifCgZ7m6UXNRn-0qeh8Fzfsx-dplA5i6qIoHhgkdlrGl80ovVD2N6qCzDBiwz7PpYyj7csoa7p2VDhT5/s640/988731_10151719180697799_1118245599_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canisters with decals that I created, cut and applied on my own.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKExpyEHuVtIC_knvhXgSEbm3MA0FmzHZUJ9YRv46PLH-sz0VE50TBWqx38R2HIRAe82G9c4gB31BJKpXeKftKIBtTUj8g6HoW-Y12q07JWI4P5ZpfSJ4f7PHbdgJwVyzlt7FSTx3g__c/s1600/1170849_10151642384002799_1446156833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKExpyEHuVtIC_knvhXgSEbm3MA0FmzHZUJ9YRv46PLH-sz0VE50TBWqx38R2HIRAe82G9c4gB31BJKpXeKftKIBtTUj8g6HoW-Y12q07JWI4P5ZpfSJ4f7PHbdgJwVyzlt7FSTx3g__c/s640/1170849_10151642384002799_1446156833_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our striped powder room.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2fc3665Nx3lQT5FvdgVwTE1LzOP-DY0G8jTW8C4hhfAM9AA5-sqmxrgJoGUahorVqja0zb4pKLUOnbqQxNclYF8Xw_Xk3HKP08Mr9Mx3dCLAEPGdDoiPEOX58oWlzvqDtQi8u0S4ckOd/s1600/1237171_10151681302902799_2036782283_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2fc3665Nx3lQT5FvdgVwTE1LzOP-DY0G8jTW8C4hhfAM9AA5-sqmxrgJoGUahorVqja0zb4pKLUOnbqQxNclYF8Xw_Xk3HKP08Mr9Mx3dCLAEPGdDoiPEOX58oWlzvqDtQi8u0S4ckOd/s640/1237171_10151681302902799_2036782283_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy in her Halloween costume.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPOVr2HoClMQGC1Bptp0FuDt7b0aZM-C9ziyV_YSO8pbSFx3B8tbDbFy7gcWFkjVEbWTvDYAfF_beAf4DBnHNxQZDx4AxCXTFwu3CtGv8OyERhtuD9GwFiw16ZDS1oMyJtzb8ENmeSr9R/s1600/1374749_10151719174387799_733346374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPOVr2HoClMQGC1Bptp0FuDt7b0aZM-C9ziyV_YSO8pbSFx3B8tbDbFy7gcWFkjVEbWTvDYAfF_beAf4DBnHNxQZDx4AxCXTFwu3CtGv8OyERhtuD9GwFiw16ZDS1oMyJtzb8ENmeSr9R/s640/1374749_10151719174387799_733346374_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy's little area. I created the name decal and cut it using my Silhouette machine.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHDeyLu4VgTvfKnq-ZTKg7dCYpEp_g4aSW1dnwpolcRN1ajndlabrEdmZy0uv_QBLGwnLxs7q5hvveqfTqIrMaJTunx00_haXkF8xP5arVtIu0eFtlIyF0RwaWB2KOCJgTUMTVHZrZ3xI/s1600/1380518_10151723453242799_860752854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHDeyLu4VgTvfKnq-ZTKg7dCYpEp_g4aSW1dnwpolcRN1ajndlabrEdmZy0uv_QBLGwnLxs7q5hvveqfTqIrMaJTunx00_haXkF8xP5arVtIu0eFtlIyF0RwaWB2KOCJgTUMTVHZrZ3xI/s640/1380518_10151723453242799_860752854_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frosted decals on the fridge that I customized and cut with my Silhouette Machine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmxPdWgRaWRH1SQomJgcc7knDHyt249AJZJSwWKgwUN2zhrsPXtu4LlsbF2Jug3azobF54oYkgKle8uBSCTjO1GxCEbAS3vaLEOExhl5osj3unu7Fau5YWrn3fLQuYmGs76nt6HPEHLVP/s1600/1381298_10151719174317799_1144161170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmxPdWgRaWRH1SQomJgcc7knDHyt249AJZJSwWKgwUN2zhrsPXtu4LlsbF2Jug3azobF54oYkgKle8uBSCTjO1GxCEbAS3vaLEOExhl5osj3unu7Fau5YWrn3fLQuYmGs76nt6HPEHLVP/s640/1381298_10151719174317799_1144161170_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one of the decals I created.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdihqLfeF9yLbEjdJqfy-vax1AdOmUUbXuErFfFBWCDBXCw7Gdygbphoe-zCCwtD4AggM75-XQt-T2HJiDUTmC9Twael8b0XrlmTtZvYvoA1NX6GLmLcyiOGmwzR6MCJJLzjSahkJtnR7/s1600/1385874_10151708758837799_2043963620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdihqLfeF9yLbEjdJqfy-vax1AdOmUUbXuErFfFBWCDBXCw7Gdygbphoe-zCCwtD4AggM75-XQt-T2HJiDUTmC9Twael8b0XrlmTtZvYvoA1NX6GLmLcyiOGmwzR6MCJJLzjSahkJtnR7/s640/1385874_10151708758837799_2043963620_n.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of our gallery wall and also a curtain panel that I made with my sewing machine. I am still working on the other 3 panels.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />And there you have it! I'm sorry for such a bitter post. But I am just so angry. Im angry that I have put so much time and effort into making this place feel like a home, only to find random "fails" every step of the way.<br />
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Hopefully some of you have had better luck than we have.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-80338495842223573302013-04-15T08:48:00.001-04:002013-04-15T18:08:06.344-04:00Serious plumbing issue<div dir="ltr">
UPDATE: The plumber was here for about three hours. Turns out there was gravel in the drain pipe beyond our house. It required a powered snake and pipe cam to find the issue. Our powder room was a MESS when he was done. Unfortunately he damaged our toilet seat and the door jam, but Adam saved the day with a replacement toilet seat as well as a couple of guys to repair the damage. So glad Adam believed me when I called to explain what was going on. The good ol Ryan Homes customer service folks didn't believe me and thought I was merely putting in a ticket for a clogged toilet! Kudos to Adam!</div>
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Do you guys remember this picture? That is the drain pipe for our powder room. It was laid wrong initially and they had to come back and tear it up all the way beneath the slab and redo it. </div>
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Well now our powder room toilet won't flush correctly and overfills and the plumber (provided by Ryan Homes) thinks the way the drain was fixed might be why. </div>
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Either way its a bigger problem than he thought and is now <u>ripping</u> out the toilet to try to snake it that way. </div>
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Definitely not a good Monday! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ij03DepPC_z9Rvj7HGiXC3ypQ9uHa6kfZtTLpPkqVoIBIl5IyzretfMEJWb3Wzx2XqegfQLBu3UzVx6os4JKvgYgMaUCtpu9TsCr2d1Oym4fxMSkPjeEdHlCjAcsXtJZ9TSdzI95WV6c/s1600/20121111_125222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ij03DepPC_z9Rvj7HGiXC3ypQ9uHa6kfZtTLpPkqVoIBIl5IyzretfMEJWb3Wzx2XqegfQLBu3UzVx6os4JKvgYgMaUCtpu9TsCr2d1Oym4fxMSkPjeEdHlCjAcsXtJZ9TSdzI95WV6c/s640/20121111_125222.jpg" /> </a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g2va9mRPt5F_Rr2hrcOVRUKlq1l_RGrA2aPRWzPUDGVKZS78nnIXiv_-YQqMe1l1dfySi-uP47Vt4_4fIIGf4AEhdP3zX9ykM-eRCO0VEjdT_9j70OibNDs2DnrAqpa1fU-Rk4Po6zoI/s1600/20121111_125624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g2va9mRPt5F_Rr2hrcOVRUKlq1l_RGrA2aPRWzPUDGVKZS78nnIXiv_-YQqMe1l1dfySi-uP47Vt4_4fIIGf4AEhdP3zX9ykM-eRCO0VEjdT_9j70OibNDs2DnrAqpa1fU-Rk4Po6zoI/s640/20121111_125624.jpg" /> </a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-90889553508122794722013-03-27T19:30:00.000-04:002013-03-27T20:05:55.284-04:00So so much going on!Today we finished the last of our appointments for our 30 day post settlement walk through. Not much had to be fixed really, but some of those were pretty major.<br />
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We've had a lot of difficulty with our roman shower. One of the doors fell off and had never been right since. Adam brought the shower door guy by yesterday, and he said that it was because our walls were 1/8th an inch closer together at the top than at the bottom. WELL DAMN! So at this point I've given up with having an acceptable shower. Mike and I plan to save up and have it ripped out and replaced with something acceptable. I am really tired of going back and forth with Ryan Homes about it.<br />
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We also had some pretty serious drywall seams in our living room ceiling. We were scheduled to have them fixed this week, but we simply didn't want to be inconvenienced for 2+ days while they cut them out and redid the bad pieces. I can't even imagine how much dust that would produce! Mike is on spring break this week and I really didn't want to take up most of it so they could make all of those repairs. It would mean he and Daisy would be sequestered to the basement for two days.<br />
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On the plus side though, in preparation for those repairs, we did get around to clearing out the basement this weekend! We can finally see the floors!<br />
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So while our house isn't PERFECT, it is still ours right? We also mostly finished the kitchen back splash. Boy was that a fiasco!! We still have to put the extensions on the electrical outlets and switches but the tile part is done at least.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc_Pyuy9g2QaNflRYre5XbU67xclG0Mc8V0Itox7qx3UEZHW8W2LEoycB3QA-4rt_YxFah2Xc7DQfe0GOXH1i-p0Iyy2fKoU5Smho8VCfPpz_5HZDFAhkpyO-ciXwGGsim15oB6ckNYgW/s1600/2013-03-21_18-59-01_514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioc_Pyuy9g2QaNflRYre5XbU67xclG0Mc8V0Itox7qx3UEZHW8W2LEoycB3QA-4rt_YxFah2Xc7DQfe0GOXH1i-p0Iyy2fKoU5Smho8VCfPpz_5HZDFAhkpyO-ciXwGGsim15oB6ckNYgW/s640/2013-03-21_18-59-01_514.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHMhCIrzg_Ee5ttZjDkr_1PrXi6QZ6n9dGA3YAR0tWHBrHAT4hKy4VQW_XEZUtypck93J6okweRX-gy3Ee34-ed-73F-dajHesOW9lX7KHHygbPHL8Cmf7bByHxZcz-1yjl5jsaZn_WVL/s1600/2013-03-21_18-58-37_141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHMhCIrzg_Ee5ttZjDkr_1PrXi6QZ6n9dGA3YAR0tWHBrHAT4hKy4VQW_XEZUtypck93J6okweRX-gy3Ee34-ed-73F-dajHesOW9lX7KHHygbPHL8Cmf7bByHxZcz-1yjl5jsaZn_WVL/s640/2013-03-21_18-58-37_141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also, I am not sure if I posted this already, but we got our dining room mostly together too! Like I said, we've been busy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF9y3LVWPDQb0y0XCAJGJaBuM2NnMA7oHWCK6hyWLQa32RC2YDzCTDtLgg1CBbzvzNqCtWx8CdD4qQ3JDOTlyzhnhZStR4DIbWwbRGXBvf22pK6YntLAMQAzsVnE4WkLpkvRMYbR0Z9UY/s1600/Cozy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXF9y3LVWPDQb0y0XCAJGJaBuM2NnMA7oHWCK6hyWLQa32RC2YDzCTDtLgg1CBbzvzNqCtWx8CdD4qQ3JDOTlyzhnhZStR4DIbWwbRGXBvf22pK6YntLAMQAzsVnE4WkLpkvRMYbR0Z9UY/s640/Cozy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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I love love love our dining room! See that rug? It is THE MOST soft, cozy plush rug I have ever stepped foot on. We got it from www.homedecorators.com.</div>
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I am hoping to post our master bedroom and office soon!</div>
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Hope everyone is doing well! </div>
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UPDATE: Here is a picture for "C" showing what greeted us behind the trim they installed at the breakfast bar to hide the shims for the granite once the 4" back splash was removed per our request. Apparently they fixed everything visible but left everything the trim covered as is. I call that LAZY! It was very difficult to fix, which caused the tile in this area to not lay right. We did what we could. :(</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-49666227344318325052013-03-17T14:06:00.001-04:002013-03-17T14:06:36.647-04:00Tile Sneak Peek<p dir=ltr>Mid project. Our kitchen backsplash! About half way done with installing the tile. Once it cures overnight, we will grout tomorrow after work. </p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSK5v-_6qC63noAE5uHisOGGeOt2cbDh8YK8I8zhGAKJKTsJWIc1Y056b5YSNJH0BblnY3C9sqJLByKay6KUhyB8cR4HZ4ktkhioNEdNPneEc-GRTGQUQt4E6Q-d5BreS-FhxCB1ON5H9/s1600/1363543489790.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSK5v-_6qC63noAE5uHisOGGeOt2cbDh8YK8I8zhGAKJKTsJWIc1Y056b5YSNJH0BblnY3C9sqJLByKay6KUhyB8cR4HZ4ktkhioNEdNPneEc-GRTGQUQt4E6Q-d5BreS-FhxCB1ON5H9/s640/1363543489790.jpg' /> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-20322524967175585732013-03-05T19:19:00.002-05:002013-03-05T19:19:43.812-05:0010 Days InOkay, well we are not nearly as unpacked as I would like to be. I was sick for a full week, including during move day and to be honest, I simply didn't want to do anything. Now that I am on the mend, things are starting to pick up! I am hoping to be completely done but this weekend. Fingers crossed.<br />
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I am actually really surprised with how many issues we have found with this house. Don't get me wrong. I love this place, but I was expecting less urgent issues than what we've come across.<br />
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Issue #1 - Roman Shower. The shower pan is beginning to separate from the tile, creating a crack in the caulk. This in turn has allowed water to get into the crack and out onto our bathroom floor. We can't let this go for long because obviously it could cause serious water damage as well as mold. Adam is on it, we just have to find a time where either Mike and I are home to let the workers in.<br />
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Issue #2 - Kitchen Sink. Just found this one tonight by chance when I was looking for the trash bags. Apparently we have a leak in the pipe on the non disposal side of the sink. We've been here for 10 days so you can imagine what it looks like under there. It has ruined the inside of the cabinet. So pissed about this. If I had known I needed to check all the plumbing that closely before we moved in, I would have. For those of you still in the building process, please make sure you check for leaks under all of your sinks! Adam says it can be fixed too, but Im skeptical about how the cabinet will look. <br />
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Issue #3 - Drywall. This one isn't as serious because it won't cause permanent damage, but O.M.G. why can I see every single seam on the ceiling?!?! Anywhere that is bigger than a single sheet of drywall, there are seams. Seams. Seams. Seams. Everywhere. You can REALLY see them at night. (you were right M). <br />
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On a happier note, we finally decided on a tile for the kitchen back splash. It is a little unconventional, and we have been met with some skepticism but I am positive it will be GREAT. Our order comes in on Thursday and we hope to start the project the weekend after next.<br />
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What do you think?<br />
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And since I know everyone loves pictures, here is Daisy enjoying her new roost. She loves the arm of our new couch so she can look out the window.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-58375430839150747592013-02-25T11:23:00.000-05:002013-02-25T11:23:03.181-05:00Wow, we've been busy!We had Verizon and the Lowe's blinds installer in on Friday, painted just ONE room (with the help of my mom) and moved on Saturday! Our new home is a MESS, but its still OURS!!<br />
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We still have a few things at the old place, but at least the movers got most of it for us. We used My Truck Buddy. They are awesome. We also used them last year to move into the apartment. They are affordable, quick and polite. If you are in the market for a moving company, they are your guys! The only thing they don't do, is back your boxes. TOTALLY worth it though!<br />
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My mom rolled up to the house right as the movers were arriving with our stuff on Saturday and once they unloaded everything, she blew through the kitchen and unpacked all of our boxes! It was such a big help. I wonder if I can get her to come back and do the rest of the house? :P <br />
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I think once we get settled in, it will begin feeling more like a home. We still have tons of painting to do because on Friday, the paint fumes and dust in the new house made me sick. Did you know that paint fumes can give you bronchitis? YEP it CAN! Its not contagious or anything, but still very inconvenient. So it will be a slow process for us, but I am determined to get it all done!<br />
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Once the house is in better shape, I will take some photos.<br />
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In the mean time, here is one of the messy living room with one of the rugs we bought during black Friday. Don't mind the TV on the floor. We are in the process of remedying that now!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-30459327009568853392013-02-19T18:03:00.000-05:002013-02-19T18:03:13.265-05:00It's been a busy day!As you know, yesterday the branch manager called late afternoon to tell us that we wouldn't be closing at 10AM, but that she was sure we would close sometime today. About 10:30 this morning she calls to let me know they are GOOD TO GO and asked whether we wanted 12PM or 1PM. Well duh, we needed to be in there ASAP so Mike could run off to basketball practice afterwards, so we chose the 12PM appointment. Thank goodness we picked the earlier time because it took TWO HOURS to close. It took us about 45 minutes to sign all the paperwork, but towards the end, our settlement specialist noticed that our 2nd trust on the VHDA paperwork was more than it should be. So she took all our paperwork to get a second set of eyes. After 15 minutes she comes back with bad news. Turns out VHDA was insisting it had to be the larger amount (about $200 difference) which meant they had to redo about half of the paperwork so we could sign it all over again. Redoing the paperwork took about 35 minutes and it took another 10 minute to sign it AGAIN and then she made copies for us. I am so happy that part is all over with! WE ARE HOME OWNERS!!<br />
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Once we left NVR, Mike ran off to practice and I headed on over to the house. I got there and look what I found!<br />
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An awesome gift basket from Lauren and Adam! We are so grateful to have such an amazing team!! Thank you so much Lauren and Adam for being there for us, even if it was just letting us vent! You ROCK!<br />
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I unloaded a few items from my car and promptly got to work calling the utilities to get everything set up and I took a quick trip over to the post office to get our mailbox keys.<br />
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I took Friday off so the blinds guy, and FIOS guy could come in and do their thing and also so I could paint a few rooms and then move in on SATURDAY!!!! SOO EXCITED!!!<br />
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This post wouldn't be complete without thanking Chrissy, Kay, Carey and the NVR settlement team for working their butts off to make sure we closed today. They really did go above and beyond. THANKS GUYS! I'm sorry for making your lives hell the past few weeks! :P<br />
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And of course thanks to all of my blogger friends who have cheered us on to the finish line!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-79734057146567987972013-02-18T16:30:00.002-05:002013-02-18T16:30:51.557-05:00We were almost there!...and made it almost the entire day stress free, until branch manager called to tell me that the underwriter failed to get VHDA final approval. A pretty big deal when you have a VHDA loan, dontcha think? <br />
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So we are being reassured that we will still close tomorrow, but they don't know exactly WHEN. Branch manager says close to 12-1PM.<br />
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This would have been nice to know last week so I could arrange coverage for my job.<br />
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How can you overlook something as important as a final VHDA approval?!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-61147435225877191332013-02-14T17:07:00.000-05:002013-02-14T17:07:08.109-05:00FINAL APPROVAL!!WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT! WE GOT IT!<br />
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With conditions of course, but its just paystubs and W2's, and a few forms we have to sign. So I think that should be OK.<br />
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We are scheduled for the 19th, but I am still waiting for a time.<br />
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YAY!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-32560133935510278002013-02-13T19:10:00.002-05:002013-02-13T19:10:37.114-05:00Closing Update!Alright! This is the closest we've been to a real closing date! Branch Manager called to let me know that she was able to speak to our underwriter today and she said that she told her that she hopes to have our file done by early afternoon tomorrow (Thursday).<br />
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I asked her if the file is indeed done by that time, would we will still be able to close by the 19th and she said YES it shouldn't be a problem because everyone is keyed in for the 19th and they are ready to roll when that file comes in. She even went so far as to say that even if the file comes in at the end of the day, we should still be OK. I guess once that file comes in, she will be able to give us an actual TIME too.<br />
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So I am really super excited right now, but am trying to temper it in case something bad happens. YAY!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-84473318069542597302013-02-13T08:47:00.000-05:002013-02-13T08:47:46.407-05:00Will the 19th be the day?So for a couple of days now, I have consistently heard the 19th as being our closing day. Although, even with all of the talk they still can't actually CONFIRM that day until our file comes out of underwriting. The branch manager is visiting PA for meetings today where all of the underwriting occurs and she hopes to speak directly with the person working on our file in hopes of getting an idea of WHEN exactly that will happen. Once she can pinpoint when we get our final approval, she will be able to confirm for us if the 19th is even possible.<br />
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So today, Mike is cancelling his original leave request for the 15th and submitting a new one for Tuesday. It has to go through the special process again since it is the day AFTER a holiday. I hope it gets approved because I have no idea what were going to do if it doesn't!<br />
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The 19th is pretty much THE LAST possible day we can close before work and school EXPLODES for me. I will have a hard time finding free time to schedule a closing after that day.<br />
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Anyway, the branch manager plans to call me sometime today to give me another update.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-73834688320512268512013-02-12T18:19:00.002-05:002013-02-12T18:19:23.199-05:00Quick DiversionToday is an exciting day! Our wedding has been featured in a very popular local blog called United with Love. We are so excited! Mike and I got married on October 29, 2011 on the first October snowfall in Warrenton, VA since the 1800's. It was definitely a memorable day!<br />
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Go check it out <a href="http://www.unitedwithlove.com/2013/02/12/pink-and-red-romantic-wedding-in-virginia/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-92125983862211946242013-02-11T14:42:00.002-05:002013-02-11T19:11:36.296-05:00UPDATED: While we're patiently waiting......for an update from the branch manager today, I figured I would mention AGAIN how awesome our PM and SR are.<br />
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Lauren our SR was working our issue even on her days off last week which is going above and beyond if you ask me.<br />
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Adam our PM, politely agreed to fix all of the stuff we taped in our home this weekend even though I'm sure he walked into our house today and felt like screaming. We used so much blue painters tape it looked like a smurf exploded.<br />
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On top of that I know our NVR team is working diligently to try their hardest to get us to closing this week, so a big shout out to them too! <br />
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I am hopeful I will have good news about our closing date being scheduled for this Friday like it was supposed to be and like we desperately need it to be for everything to work out logistically.<br />
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I REALLY also want to be able update our countdown widget to reflect the TIME of closing too because right now its just to some random time, because its driving me nuts know its not correct. :P<br />
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<b>UPDATE: Okay, she called and she still hasn't heard anything. She says we will not be closing on Friday. She said next Tuesday seems possible but she couldn't even confirm that date either. I am so tired of this, so much so that its becoming very hard to get excited about our new home. I know I've said this before, but it just keeps getting WORSE! </b><br />
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<b>All of this BS would have only been OK if we were to close on the 15th because at least I would know that they truly HEARD me and understood how valuable our time is. Because really when it comes down to it, we are customers. Right now, we are extremely unhappy customers. </b><br />
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<b>So at this point, this means that we won't be painting our home, we won't be installing our back splash, we won't be sealing our grout or counters until after we've moved in. Realistically speaking it means half of that stuff won't ever happen. Its going to take so much extra work and effort and time to make our house a home and I'm pissed because NVR led us on for so damn long. I regret believing in them and believing they could work this out for us.</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-12392946593758222692013-02-11T08:49:00.001-05:002013-02-11T08:49:20.310-05:00Powder Room Mirror?For those of you that own a Ryan home or are in the process of building one, how are your powder room mirror's hung? The Mozart model home has it hung with 4 brackets that hugs it tight to the wall, but they installed ours with one hook towards the top of the mirror, much like you would hang a picture frame on the wall. It swings from side to side when touched which seems rather sketchy. PLUS when that happens, it scratches up the wall!<br />
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How did they install yours?<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-22187416432383662262013-02-07T17:27:00.000-05:002013-02-07T17:30:12.927-05:00APPRAISALOf course the minute I close out the last blog post I would get a call from the Branch Manager. Lets get the good news out of the way. The appraisal came in today!! Such a relief! So they are sending everything to underwriting tonight. Unfortunately she does not think we will close by the 15th. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.<br />
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She plans to call us late Monday to give us an update on the status of everything. At that time, she hopes to definitely nail down a closing date. She was leaning more towards the 19th which is much better, but still not what we were hoping for.<br />
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I told her I remained hopeful that a miracle would occur and we would still close on the 15th, but she still maintains that her gut tells her that won't happen. I refuse to give up.<br />
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So on the positive side, its nice to be dealing with ONE person with all the information vs. three people with contradicting information but I was hoping for some vindication! I want to be able to FORGET how awful this experience has been. I am still a little bruised from the drama earlier this week and it has simply left a really bad taste in my mouth. Its hard to be mad when we are now dealing with someone who has their act together, but at the same time I feel like speaking up about what happened hasn't changed anything. Some poor unsuspecting person will get stuck in the same vicious cycle we have been in over the past few weeks and they will walk away with a bad experience too. Isn't the point of their survey to help improve their processes and become a better company anyway? Do I lie on the survey because a branch manager went out of her way to try to help us out? Don't get me wrong, she has been SO helpful and I do feel better now that she is in control, but how does giving 10's on this survey help them improve?<br />
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So what do I do now? While communication has improved, we still aren't getting what we needed most which was the weekend after the 15th to prepare our new home for our arrival. Now I am going to be MIA right after closing on the 19th only to parachute in at the last minute to meet the movers. I am just not OK with that. Now we will have to be rushed and stressed all because of something that was completely out of our control. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get excited about our new home. <br />
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I am relieved that we have our appraisal now and also relieved to have just one person to communicate with, but that doesn't fix it for me. I don't mean to sound so ungrateful, but my heart was REALLY set on the 15th. I don't want to settle for anything less.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-9103203970563681872013-02-07T16:51:00.001-05:002013-02-07T16:51:56.592-05:00Declaration of War! Did you think this post was about our NVR issues? With a title like that you would think major drama is involved. Never fear, this post isn't about NVR (although I am still waiting on news about our appraisal). <br />
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Nope, this is about our future neighbors. I had to swing by our new house yesterday to allow a measuring guy from Lowe's in. He measured all of our windows for our blinds! WOOHOO!<br />
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As I walked towards the house, I saw the unthinkable! One of our neighbors had ALREADY let their dog do their business right by the stoop and didn't bother to pick it up! WHAT THE SMURF?!<br />
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I know since our house is technically a condo that we don't own the outside, BUT STILL! Who would do such a thing?! Mike and I are very diligent in making sure we pick up after Daisy. I was hoping that moving to a place where people owned their homes they would respect the area more. Clearly I was wrong. <br />
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The apartment Mike and I live in now is on the first floor and is right next to a path where people walk their dogs all the time. These people are AWFUL about cleaning up after their pooches. It was so bad over the summer, that we couldn't even open up our windows to enjoy the warm weather! I will be pretty upset if the same thing happens in our new neighborhood.<br />
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I would like to see another pet waste station installed in the open area across the street from us in hopes that these people will start using it. Not sure what I have to do to get that done though. I mean really what else can you do? I guess we could install a little video camera and catch people in the act and turn them into the police, but what the heck are they going to do about it?! I fear that if we put a polite sign up, that someone might get a little sassy and purposely let their pup do their business near the sign. Am I thinking too much into this?<br />
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So obviously this is a HUGE pet peeve of mine, otherwise I wouldn't be blogging about it. What would you do? <br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-67425605631764960402013-02-06T20:06:00.000-05:002013-02-06T20:06:16.090-05:00An Upswing..After much discussion today with our LO and LP, I wasn't able to get any additional information, and I kind of feel like they were unapologetic for what they put us through the past few weeks. I understand that there wasn't much they could do since the process was dependent on something external to NVR, but the point I was trying to make was that the confusing information and lack of communication exhibited was what ended up flipping my crazy switch, which was totally avoidable. I think what frustrated me the most this week, was that they just kept repeating the same information about not having control over the appraiser as if I didn't already know that. And they failed to call me back with the update the next day as promised.<br />
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At some point in the day today the branch manager got involved and called me later in the afternoon. While she basically told me the same thing our LO and LP had been saying, she seemed to actually CARE about how this situation came about and seemed generally interested in making us have a more positive experience with NVR. She is going to try to find out when exactly the appraiser plans to submit his report and once she has that info, she hopes to be able to nail down a closing date for us. She plans to give me a call or email me late tomorrow. I remain hopeful that they are still able to get us to closing on the 15th. Yes, this is because it is most convenient for us given our work schedule after that week (for me it gets REALLY hectic) but also because Mike went through the trouble of getting special approvals for his leave on that day. You will recall I mentioned in an earlier post that because the 15th is a working day before a holiday (President's Day), teachers in the county have to get special approvals from the assistant principal. Thankfully, he found out today that his leave was approved! I just hope it wasn't a wasted effort on his part and that we will be able to use his existing leave request vs. starting the process over again for a new day.<br />
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So that's all the info I have right now, but I do hope to have good news to report tomorrow. Maybe then we will be able to finally relax and actually enjoy the prospect of being brand new homeowners!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-17545345732364652182013-02-06T09:48:00.000-05:002013-02-06T09:51:03.954-05:00Not Closing on the 15thI'm so angry. So much so that I might cry. Of course my job throws a wrench in things by making it pretty impossible to close after that date, so I guess that's on me.<br />
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The part that makes it 10 times worse is that I have been given the run around for several weeks now. I think that if they (NVR & Ryan) were 100% realistic with me to begin with this might be a little easier to stomach. Their lack of communication between the different offices does not help much either. It could just be because I am still very upset right now, but I feel like its going to be quite a stretch to give them high marks on that survey of theirs. I feel so beaten and bruised and a little shell shocked. I know that buying a home is stressful and building one just makes it more stressful, but I don't think its supposed to be THIS BAD.<br />
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One thing is certain though. We will never do this again.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-66676688467609932822013-02-05T13:40:00.000-05:002013-02-05T14:23:14.657-05:00Choosing a paint brand - Consumer Reports Weighs inMike's parents sent us <a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_wOxA8-6meWcW1hNHIwMG45S1E/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">THIS</a> article from consumer reports about what paint is best for different applications. It looks like Valspar beat out Benjamin Moore this year as far as coverage goes in the matte category, but a new brand called Clark & Kensington won the satin and eggshell category. That is just fine with me, given the savings potential. Now lets just hope they can color match all of our selections!<br />
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The article also talks about best painters tapes as well which is an ongoing debate in our household! <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-38264671784875016852013-02-04T15:31:00.001-05:002013-02-04T15:48:23.585-05:00My brain hurts....Our loan processor called today. She just wanted to let us know what was going on with our loan and also to prepare us for the possibility that we may not close on time. Add to that the fact that she gave us yet ANOTHER closing date is giving me quite a headache. It was a bit contradictory if you think about it. Here we are thinking were closing on the 15th, but then she calls to prepare us for the worse (not closing on time), yet she still gives us a possible closing date that's one day SOONER than what we were expecting. WHA?!<br />
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They are still waiting on the appraisal, but she seemed confident it would happen this week. I asked her if the appraisal comes in this week, would we close on time and she said it would be tight but she thinks it's possible. She just wanted to make sure we were prepared for the worse.<br />
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So lets see, first our estimated closing was the 14th, then it moved to the 1st, then back to the 14th and then it moved to the 27th, and they changed it to the 15th after that and now were back to the 14th! See where one might get a headache?<br />
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Really the 14th or 15th doesn't matter for me. I can get either day off without a problem. Mike however has to get special approval for the 15th because he is a teacher and they are not allowed to take the day before or after a holiday off and since the 18th is President's day, he would have to get special approval to take the 15th off. Not to mention we kind of need to know soon, so they can arrange a substitute! So really this new date (the 14th) works better for him and its fine for me too, so I am really hopeful that they can just stick to this date for good. She is supposed to call me tomorrow with a better idea of when we are expected to close.<br />
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I guess if Mike can't get the day off we will have to get a power of attorney. Anyone have to do that before? I would REALLY prefer that he and I were both at closing, but what if the higher ups don't approve his leave?!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-15695476525986825192013-01-31T13:49:00.001-05:002013-01-31T14:02:49.188-05:00Susan Jablon Mosaics - Awesome Customer Service!I just had the nicest conversation with Susan Jablon of Susan Jablon Mosaics! I purchased our 1x3 inch Vanilla Bone White Frosted Subway tile sample from her.<br />
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To refresh your memory it was this one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZTWWXiEhe5km_PMA7JGeiSYVcbjmZPf1XXa3GUKkhupON9nEKXZkYmN1OhTp-GCgjIrez8U1owG52FH5YzU4mXKyRbb-CalvAzq7DMxfStp2JTUc7UBg1j9qzsbxah7ixtv1EiNsPy64/s1600/20130130_114518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZTWWXiEhe5km_PMA7JGeiSYVcbjmZPf1XXa3GUKkhupON9nEKXZkYmN1OhTp-GCgjIrez8U1owG52FH5YzU4mXKyRbb-CalvAzq7DMxfStp2JTUc7UBg1j9qzsbxah7ixtv1EiNsPy64/s640/20130130_114518.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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My biggest concern for our kitchen backsplash is it competing with our very busy granite counters. Susan Jablon specializes in custom mosaic blends for these types of projects, but I had never really considered using a blend because I was worried it would give the area to much "action". Susan suggested that I try a tone on tone blend, which means a mixture of the same color tile, only in different finishes. So along with my square foot of the regular Vanilla Bone Frosted tile, she is also sending me a sheet of the frosted and gloss glass finished mosaic blend too!<br />
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I was skeptical at first and so Susan took a look at the photos on my blog and she seemed very certain it would give us the look we are going for. I don't have a pic of the tone on tone blend, but it probably looks alot like <a href="http://www.susanjablon.com/tuxedo-vanilla-bone-mosaic-tile-design.html" target="_blank">THIS</a> except she is putting it in the offset configuration rather than the straight line. I will definitely take photos of it when it arrives!<br />
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Along with her custom mosaic blends, Susan also has tons of different tile shapes and sizes available for immediate shipping and probably one of the biggest color selections of glass tiles I have ever seen!<br />
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If you are interested in checking Susan Jablon Mosaics out, you can click <a href="http://www.susanjablon.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to her website. She even has a custom mosaic designer so you can create your own mosaic blend!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3320907533901479294.post-80443472208046611992013-01-31T11:35:00.000-05:002013-01-31T16:12:39.391-05:00FHA Approval AND CLOSING!!Our FHA Approval came in this morning! I am so FREAKIN excited! Our SR said that our closing is penciled in for 15 February, but she wants to double check with our LO and LP at NVR to make sure it jives with them.<br />
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Too bad neither of those people are answering their phones!!<br />
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UPDATE: Looks like our SR has been talking to NVR. I think she is working out a time on 15 February. I told her the earlier the better because I have work obligations that day and won't be able to take a full day off. Of course I have back-ups but that is a absolute last resort!<br />
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Now all they have to do is submit everything to underwriting for final approval. I suspect our LP will be contacting us soon for updated paystubs.<br />
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Did I mention that our SR is off today and tomorrow? And she is still working this out for us! I'm telling you, Lauren is AWESOME!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16450568690464996718noreply@blogger.com2