The Utah remodel continues.....

What you are looking at are photos of the progress of our Utah remodel. We're alittle behind schedule at this time but seem to be moving along. Robert has been up there for the entire week. The first photo is of the kitchen the photo directly under it is after the drywall repairs have been made and the floor completely redone. Robert tells me that when they went to lift off the old flooring the floor boards below were completed rotten so they had to reinforce the floor before they could put the new tile down.

Read an article this morning on the advertising woes of the newspaper world and how the Real Estate slump is causing a down ward spiral with regards to the losses they are feeling as most of the Real Estate world moves to online marketing. I found the article to be interesting in that there are still so many agents that have not caught on to fact that they need to be found on line. Their online marketing is just as important as their print marketing and yet I still have reps who visit various offices and find that there are some agents that still don't respond to email. One of my reps just sold an office of agents and had to go in and set up email address's for them because there were a few agents that still didn't have an email address. I'm not sure but what do you think they've been doing for the past few years? How does anyone survive without at least an email address and if you are in business how do you survive without a website? I just don't get it.

Lots going on

Its been a long week. I'm exhausted can't even think straight. Maybe another day.

Always watching the market.....

I read an article today on the declining real estate market and which cities are most likely going to be hit the hardest with declining prices. Interesting enough our little city was not listed. Long Beach and Irvine were listed due to their inflated prices over the past 5 years. I think it's just absolutely crazy that homes that were $400K in Newport Beach just 8 to 10 years ago are now $1.2 million or somewhere near there. It just dosn't make sense, that nearly the exact same house one zip code over is $500K less. One zip code meaning one street over.

Back to the Shower

Ok so I've pretty much nailed down what I want to do with the whole shower thing. I've put the table settings out to get a visual of what I might be missing or need to work on. What do you think? I have these really cute little flip flop candles (there in pick) and the white little picket fence will have little rose buckets that I found at Trader Joes. The table clothe you see is not the one's I'll be using. That is actually the one that will be on the cake table. Where I will have pick orchids and shells all spread around the cake. The green little mugs will have brown and green Jelly Bellys (color of the wedding) with little scoopers in them so people can take some home with them in the green little flower bag (far left in the photo). For food I am ordering from a place a friend of mine recommended here in Newport. Sole BBQ. I've purchased one of those Quick tents to place a tables under for shade and will decorate that up a bit. I plan on buying a chandelier to add but not sure if that will be a bit over the top since it is more of a beach/summer time theme. I just really loved the chandeliers.

Working on the Utah house day 2

Robert spent the week in Utah working on the house. Here is a picture of the new french doors not quite done but nearly and the new deck. Hopefully it should be completed within the next week. I'm having a hard time with the remodel of the house only because I catch myself wanting to put in things I know I would like to have in my home and have to remind myself that this is a rental and there is a budget for the remodel that does not include personal likes and dislikes. So then I have to back off and think about cost and enduring the use and abuse of renters and college kids. The property is actually a great rental house. The people that lived in it when we bought the home were 4 guys that worked at the Hospital and U of U. They had lived there for over 4 years and wanted to stay. Robert's met all the neighbors which is nice. We need to remember to give them our home and cell numbers for emergencies.

The kitchen cabinets were ordered and the all the electrical supplies have been purchased to be worked on and completed within the next few days. I'm hoping that when I get there next Saturday I will see huge changes.

I'm looking for a front door that will compliment the french door and the rest of the house. I've always been told that the front door set the tone of the house and should be a place that good money is spent. Robert is concerned for safety issues thinking that if we put something with glass anyone can break in and rob the girls blind. I really don't understand that since the first thing he did was put in french door at the front of the house??? Not seeing the difference there but oh well I will give it some thought as I look around.

Utah house day 1

Robert is in Utah this week working on our house. We purchased a small house close to the University for Dayna to live in while attending the U. We followed the first rule of Real Estate investing and bought the smallest house in the biggest neighborhood. We feel really good about it. It's definitely a fixer upper but with help of family we should get this project completed in no time. The house is a 2 bedroom 1 bath on a good size lot. Very centrally located in Salt Lake City. Because of my work schedule I'm having to work on the project via email and calls. Not a very easy process since between Robert and I, I am the one with more rehab/remodel experience.

Here is a picture of the bathroom which is my choice of where to start as far as remodeling. The project will call for toilet replacement, tile floors, refinish cabinets (white) or replacement not sure if the cost warrants replacement. New fixtures and re glaze the tub. Again not sure if replacement would be better and will have to rely on the experts to tell me so. Updated lighting and replacement of the mirror.

It's a good size bathroom with closet space on the wall that is not shown. With new flooring and new fixtures it should look great with very little cost.

We had french doors put in to add more curb appeal. The house is very small and eventually we want to add a second floor but the priority for this summer is to get it in to shape in time for Dayna's first semester.

The second picture is my drawings of what I would like to see done. French doors leading out to a wrap around deck. Two carriage lights placed on each side of the doors and a light window placed above the doors. From what I understand from my phone call with Robert last night. Jr was able to put the doors in last night. I'm excited to see the next set of pictures.

Wedding stuff

Today I'm working on wedding things for Riannes wedding. As I was organizing my thoughts and to do list this morning I realized that this is my one and only niece getting married. This is the one time I will get to host a bridal shower, help plan without being a part, share in the excitement and be a part of her big day and not be so stressed out I can't think past the next 15 minutes. WOW the thought of this made me so excited. I hadn't thought of it that way and suddenly it hit me. Nothing can be to big, to difficult, to much or too small. This is it and so I will give Rianne the best, the best of my time, the best of my idea's, the best of everything I can.

I'm trying not to inject my opinions unless asked which is really really hard for me. Jen has done a great job of being organized and staying true to Rianne and who she is with the theme of the wedding and to be considerate of all involved. Ok on to the good stuff.....

Here is my morning project, what do you think?


I've taken a picture stem and placed the table cards on it. Jen is going to have all the table identified by Beach's at the reception. I also took brown and green (the wedding colors) raffia and tied it along with a sea shell to each card. I am then going to place 2 beach pictures of Joe and Rianne on the holder and place one stem on each table. This card happens to read Dana Point. I think its ads to the theme and just gives it something extra. Too much?

The picture stem I found at TJMaxx one of my favorite stores. The cards are just regular card stock and the shells are from various vacations we've collected shells from. We have bowls of the around the house. I think I'll print the cards and have the bridesmaids glue the shells and tie the Raffia. It's an easy enough project that they can all do it together. Or maybe I'll just do it and get it out of the way. We'll see I'm on to my nest project.

Favors for the bridal shower. Tell me what you think. I found these great gift boxes at a Hawaiian fabric shop. Then I went to Michaels and picked up a couple of flowers that were in sale bin and picked off just the flower part. I then bought a bag of jewels and gems and place one in the middle of each flower.

Alergies....

I haven't been feeling well lately and have the strangest reaction to something. I've gone to the doctors several times and out of total frustration have even switched primary doctors because I can't believe there isn't some cure for what is going on. I'm desperate.

A couple of month ago I started waking up with a swollen eye. My first reaction was "oh a bug bit me". Well then it happened again shortly there after. I then thought ok I'm allergic to something so I quickly changed all my sheets, pillows and cleaned my room since I thought this had to be the source since I was waking up with swollen eyes. I then cleaned all my makeup brushes, then started to note any changes I had made over the past 3 months like shampoo, soap, laundry soap just anything.

Then the swelling started to move from the lower eye lid to the upper eyelid then from one eye to another. Needless to say 3 months later here I am with the same darn thing and it seems to be getting worse. Now both eyes will swell the last bout happened after I woke up and arrived to work. Suddenly while sitting at my desk and talking with Tricia I could feel my eye starting to swell in a matter of minutes.

My new doctor has given me 2 prescriptions, a nasal spray and a website to visit and follow their instructions. http://www.nationalallergy.com/ My instructions were to make changes as discussed. Can you believe this. What the heck after 3 months this is the cure they give me. OHHHH i just want to scream. So to start with I throw out all of our pillows and buy all new ones. Ok so I only bought 2 new ones Helllllllooooo they were not cheap. I had no idea we had 9 pillows on our bed alone.

Robert is happy to know that most likely I am not allergic to him as I had originally thought. I actually had a girlfriend that was allergic to her boyfriend. True Story. It was actually their body fluids that didn't match so they had to break up. Ever since then I've always teased Robert when I'm not feeling well that I'm allergic to him. He's a good sport and just laughs at me and then lets me have the bed all to myself.

Next on my list is a new bed. Apparently well at least the excuse I'm using. We're on a queen now and I've wanted to California King but our mattress is only 3 years old and I couldn't see buying a new mattress when all the mattress's in the house are less than 4 years old. Now with this and having to furnish the Utah house I have my perfect excuse. Off I go to Mattress World.

4th of July

4th of July was spent on my sisters boat in Newport Beach. What a great view of the fireworks. I actually took my first trip to sea on their boat. I usually request that we stay within the Marina but it was a holiday and I felt like being a little adventurous so off we went. I did fairly well as long as I could see the shoreline. I have to admit at one point I got a little tired and closed my eyes and leaned on Robert and quickly sat up. I started to get a little queasy. Not very good sea mate I've decided. Oh well it was fun and I made it through it.

Robert bbq'd and I made potato salad and of all things Jen made jello salad I was quite proud of her she never makes that sort of thing, she did however make her Kahlua pork. Dayna made little heart red white and blue cakes that were very good. Sina and her kids were there so it was a full boat. We ended the night with our annual 4th of July trivia game and then the Newport Dunes fireworks show.

Monday Mornings

Monday Mornings are always the same lately. I make a list of tasks to be completed this week and then realize I didn't do half of what I wanted to do over the weekend. I have to get to the doctors for testing and I keep putting it off. I'm not sure why and you would think all I have to do is look at my mother and get my rear to the doctors but I don't. Robert and I agreed that we would start exercising. I even went as far to get 2 new bicycles (one stationary and one riding bike) but haven't really used either. Oh and did I mention that I'm paying for a gym membership for over 2 years that I haven't seen in exactly 2 years.

Ok today I will promise to use one of those bikes and I will cancel my gym membership since I know I will never really go. I mean honestly, lets face it the only thing I liked about the gym was the treadmill and bikes and I have both at home. Ok I've talked myself into it. That's $432 I will be saving a year. WOW I like the sound of that. :) Ok off to work.

Saturday a busy day

The day started with a 5AM trip to the airport to drop our most recent house guest off. Robert had family visiting us while their son was attending a summer football clinic at USC. They arrived the same day Robert's cousin Harry and Susan (from England) left us on their way to visit Harry's mom in Samoa. This officially opens the summer season at Casa de Purcell. From this point on it will be a whirlwind of family and friends for the summer. I've already had to put together a calendar of who will be coming when. I first have to always check with the girls and see what their schedule will be, with both living away from home its hard to tell but the worst feeling I imagine would be to come home for a visit only to find out your room has been given to someone else so I try and plan accordingly.

Sina had a garage sale today at Jens house. I went over early to help. After we all met up at the little Mexican place around the corner from my house (Dave's favorite spot) I arrived a little late, Curtis also joined the group for lunch as well. Haven't seen him in a while. I think he looks older and older every time I see him. He loves to point out that I am older (only by a few weeks) but none the less it still makes me officially older which he takes great delight in.

Later in the afternoon Dayna and I went bridesmaid dress shopping. She is always a good sport about this kind of stuff she tends to be a no nonsense kinda shopper- one stop shopping for her. Went to Macy's at South Coast Plaza (Fashion Island at this time of the day seemed too far) (ok its an extra 5 minutes but it was late in the day and I was actually too tired but it was task that had to get done today.

Here is what we found what do you think? Rianne's wedding colors are Green and Brown. The sash on Rianne's white wedding dress will be brown. I think the brown dress will compliment that, what do you think? They were both about $160 at Macys.