Small projects...BIG GRINS!!!

Since I have moved into my condo I have been busy with my giant 100 pound puppy and completely overwhelmed by all the millions of projects I need to do in my house...not to mention the fact that within each of these project there are two huge issues...A:  MONEY, B: the fact that I don't know how to do anything or even know where to start.  I felt so overwhelmed with just those two things...then know where to start....because as I look at each project that is the project that is most important, of course till I move on. Then there was the whole issue of not being exactly sure what colors and the fine tuning of what I wanted was not complete.  

But, one day, I decided I knew what I wanted to do in my guess bathroom, so I decide to get started.  I painted it this pretty soft aqua color called Watery by Sherwin Williams...BTW....hands down, best paint, great store, awesome staff!!!  Then I found this really cool way to do faux paneling from a Pin on Pinterest (best website ever!!!) and I already had this awesome antique chandelier that my dad bought me, it was spray painted white and had tons of crystals...it was perfect!  The plan in there is to tear out the tub/shower combo and put in a big fabulous bath tub only!  I love taking baths so I am so excited!

So one Saturday I spend taping painting, I am happy with that... then my friend Jason came over and took out the original light fixture and showed me how to hook up my new one!  Then we went to Home Depot and got all the stuff I needed... Like a hook to hang the chandelier on, and some other random type stuff.  My first project was to get out my drill, which I haven't used yet and drill a hole!  I used the guide on the back of the hook to tell me the drill bit size I needed...I was so excited when I just found the drill bit and didn't need help (small victories, am I right??)  then I actually put the drill bit on..anther big grin!

So then I held the light up to see exactly where I wanted to to hang and drilled my first drill hole....

BEFORE:

 AFTER  (sorry its so dark...but its really not exciting)

 Then screwed in the hook!!!  YAY!  This was so exciting for me, so empowering me!

 Next step....hang up the light and hope it doesn't all come crashing down....but it didn't....BIG GRIN!!

 Did all the wiring....this wire nut was a very interesting thing to me...so easy, each wire just went with the matching wire...Jason told me to make sure the light fixture wire went in the nut first, then the wire from the wall or it would all get messed up.  I was so proud of this...but even more proud........

 OF THIS!!! IT WORKED!!!! and it was so pretty all lit up!  I can't wait to hang another light fixture!

Next came the paneling, I had already measured and done a crude, totally uneducated sketch of what I wanted, then I went to Home Depot and bought the wood, to my surprise, I was very difficult to get assistance, I was shocked and very disappointed that I was struggling with all this lumber and no one offered any help to me at all....Home Depot lost big points from me on this day :(   Oh well, who needs those big stinky men anyway, I can do this ALL BY MY SELF!  So I took the wood to the wood cutter dude, and told him the exact cuts I wanted...of course I was adding all the feet of the wood in total and forgot about the waste that was too big, so I needed some help figuring that out...but the kid that was cutting was a butthead and no help at all, I asked him which size I should get and he thought for about  two seconds and then said, well, you can get whichever one you want.... THANKS DIP!  So I sat down and figured it all out again and got the cuts.  I went home and started putting it up....glue and nailed it all by myself!  I felt very proud!  Made an error in some of the measurements by one inch...so two of the boards are two inches too long and two are two inches too short :(   Oh well...easy fix!  


Something else I saw on Pinterest was the Get Naked in the bathroom and loved it, so I bought letters at Michaels and am still working on getting that all figured out...I just taped them up for now.  So here is the picture of the pretty wall color, paneling (that needs to be painted and my chandelier... small projects that brought big grins and a proud feeling to my soul!

adding a puppy to the crazy mix...

So I haven't blogged in a while....there is a reason for that...

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This is Toby...my "puppy" he is an 8 month old bullmastiff.   For the first time, I am living alone, in my new single story condo.  This makes me nervous...so I decided I wanted a dog to make me feel safe an keep me company.   Toby is a good dog...however, one thing I have learn is that I am very selfish, I have lived alone for a long time and never had to take care of anything.  Toby is a very laid back dog, but he wants to be near me at ALL TIMES!!!!

This is the face I see when I am trying to do anything!  I was trying to do my homework, I look down and here is Toby!

So needless to say...trying to get work down around my new condo and all my projects have taken a backseat until Mr Toby can be just a little more independent!

just need to do a little laundry...oh guess not

Excitedly I bound up to my new stacked washer/dryer to do my first load of laundry in my new pad!  So I put clothes and soap in and press all the buttons...then start AND....nothing happens!  WHAT!!!  So first thing I think is that I have to buy a new washer/dryer!  But first I decide to investigate... so I pull the unit out of the closet....Lesson 1.. Unless you are looking for a rollerskating challenge...never were socks, on linoleum and try to move heavy items...it was like being on wheels!

Anyway, so I get a look behind the unit and low and behold...nothing is hooked up!  My initial reaction was to call someone to come and help me...but it looked simple enough, so I decided I SHOULD be able to do this all by myself! 

So I get it all hooked up....

 

Or so I thought...I turn the washer/dryer back around and proceed to get it all set back up, press the "go" button...again...NOTHING.  Which brings us to LESSON 2....DON'T get it all set up and ready to go, till you KNOW its fixed!

So I pull the unit back out and realize I forgot to turn the water on...DUH!  So I turn both the hot and cold on and they spray everywhere  :(   I work on tightening them, nothing worked.  One thing I do know is that water and electricity make a wonderful combination IF you are looking for a new hair do...something more vertical, not wanting to change my hair, I UNPLUG the unit.   Work on the water a little more and realize, I have to make my first trip to Homedepot!

Off I go to Homedepot, having a pretty good idea that I will just need to buy new hoses, I say NO to everyone that offers me help and decide I want to do it BY MYSELF!  Finally after searching and searching...staring and starting, a nice man offers me some help, so with defeat I accept, as I go on explaining about the thing and thingy that I need to fix, all the while irritated at my own ignorance, he goes on to tell me I probably just need a washer and some teflon tape...$4.00 total!  SWEET! 

I get my stuff and decide that I need some tools and a tool box.  Excitedly I go to the tool box isle thinking, surely I will find something cute for girls there...WRONG!!!! I was terribly disappointed by the total lack of femininity in the tool isle!  Apparently I am the ONLY female that has ever bought a tool box and tools!  I ended up with a red and black tool box with HUSKY written on it :(   So NOT feminine...must we also look like men when we are working on our house?  This disappoints me, however I suck it up and go on about my way.

I get home with my new box of manliness and put the washers in and put the tape on the water hook ups...

I plug it all back in, turn the water on and squeeze out from behind the unit, press the buttons and PRESTO...it works...no squirting water, and everything appears to be working!!!!  I get it all set back up, and start my first load of laundry!

SUCCESS!!!

I am VERY proud!!!  

So here we go...

 So I am 33 (34 this month....but I still have a few weeks at 33...so I am 33)...anyway I digress.  I just bought my first home...its a little 938 square foot, single level town home.  From the minute I walked into it I loved it!!!  It has a cool breezy, beachy look.  In my search for my perfect home I learned that words like "cute" and "quaint" are clever euphemisms for "small"...however, for one single girl like me, small was just right!   

 So I put an offer in and get it and the rest is history....NOT!  Then comes the moving and then comes living in your own home...no landlord, no maintenance team and no one to call to check or fix things...there is you or the alternative...is paying someone or constantly relying on your wonderful male friends.   I decided, its time to be a big girl and do it on my own.  I am sick and tired of having to ask for help and rely on the generosity of my friends.  Besides...this is the year 2011...there is no reason I can't learn how to do everything "they" know how to do!  

My journey is just beginning.  Right now, I am not the DIY darling AT ALL!  I am a student at ASU, I work full time, I teach yoga and self defense/fitness.   I love pink, bows, and sun shiney days and my favorite quote is “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” said by the one and only, Coco Chanel. I love to read, cook and take long walks on the beach....OOPS wrong website  ;)   So you see...I am just an ordinary girl with NO, NONE, ZIP, NADDA, ZERO knowledge on how to do ANYTHING related to home repair or improvements.   

My goal is to become that powerhouse DIY darling in my title, and hopefully do it without blowing up my new house, or killing myself in some electrical fire I have caused because I decided I could re-wire my house by myself. 


I will write about each project I take on...and decide if I should DIY it OR call a professional.  My blog will also include info about tools that I learn about, where I bought them, good deals and all my blunders and success along the way...IF however this blog randomly stops, then you will know I have blown something up, hopefully not myself and have decided to leave it to the pros or my friends.


I have many projects I will be working on... no too much in the way or repairs right now...mostly just improvements and some renovations, and decorating.  However, as I am sure every homeowners knows, shit breaks....and I will fix it and blog it!


I hope other women out there will take up their hammer and tool belt and bear a new burden of becoming POWERHOUSE DIY DARLINGS!!!