packing

Drawing to a Close, Closing That Is

Reno in process
Wood floor everywhere

This has been the biggest reno week I have ever experienced in one of our homes. I’m sore from head to toe but also equally excited for what’s to come. Making this house our forever home and a home we are proud of is my driving force. Last weekend we ripped up the rug on the stairs and hardwood flooring in the foyer and dining room. The worst part was getting it all, nail, dust and splinter filled, from the house to the dumpster. Hands, arms, shoulders, everything hurt!

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Snippet of the flooring

Wednesday the floor dudes started installing my beloved flooring, Cali Bamboo Antique Java from Lowes (no payment taken for the endorsement). Here’s a snippet of what’s been started. Shaun has been a godsend going from eLend to the new house and back to our house for days. We also picked paint colors for all of the bedrooms, family room, and dining room (the current color is visible in the pictures above, just ugh!). The kitchen will be renovated at a later date so the floors in the kitchen and family room will stay for now since those rooms flow together. Forward thinking genius moment, we purchased enough of the same flooring we are putting down now to cover those rooms too so they will mesh perfectly.

On top of that, we also bought mass quantities of white paint to cover the dark moldings and the built-ins. This is going to unequivocally change the downstairs rooms because every single one of the moldings are super dark. Then the light fixtures will be replaced, or in the bedrooms case be added since there aren’t any. If you could see the dining room fixture, you’d know why this is third on the priority list.

The girls are enjoying their extended time in and around town. We had our trunk or treat, Halloween festivities at school, Halloween on our street (which is a BIG deal!), girl scouts, and more. They were excited to have more time at school (they’re still young LOL).

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2017 Trick or Treating in BT

I think we’ve hit the point in the changeover where we are no longer more sad to leave then we are to move. We’ve reached a juncture where we love where we live and do not want to leave but are more apt to go and start our new chapter. I think part of this transition is that we are ready to not be living out of the literal box, ready to be settled into our new home, and excited to be in the place we’re working so hard to make home.

The movers come next week and we will finally move into our new home and start our next chapter. I will post a lot of before and after pictures in the weeks forthcoming. My hope is that by the end of November we’ll be unpacked, painted, finished with some of my projects, and decorated a smidge. It’s essentially like starting anew with regards to decorating since I’ve rid of so much and am not rushing buying shtuff (not a typo but two words joined together) to just fill the spaces but want to really find things we love when we do and do without until then. It’s going to be ongoing and a huge work in progress. It’s going to be a fun trip we are on! So happy we took the leap!

Here’s a picture of one of the things I’ll really miss, my favorite tree in our yard in Fall.

Fall on The Lane

Fall on The Lane

Caffeinated and Calm in the Calamity! Buttt….and it’s a big BUT

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2 Alden Court

One week ago we closed on this gem (not the best pic but the photographer is 7 years old). Saturday we got right to work! Although we love our new house, we bought it for its good bones. As the new flooring was delivered (yay!) Shaun and I got to work ripping out the rugs. This was a bigger undertaking than I ever imagined and a lot of physical labor. I’m coining the term wife labor instead of child labor because I really didn’t sign up for this!

Thankfully the girls were just happy to be in the new house with their essentials, American Girl dolls, gymnastics mats, balance beam, Magnaforms, bikes and their new love, which was so very graciously left for them by the previous owners, a piano.

Packed in with the “essentials”
Pianists in the making

Then around midday, my mom aka “Mushy”, came to take the girls for a sleepover. This was such a blessing because Shaun and I powered through the cutting, ripping, rolling, and throwing the rugs and pads out our bedroom window. There was sooo much dust I could not believe it! We had to wear face masks almost the whole time. By the time we were done I could not feel my fingertips and the bottom of my feet were completely swollen.

The pic below is about 2/3 of what we ripped out. After, we went back to our boxed up house, scoured for food and passed out exhausted. The next morning we returned to our now carpet free home and started pulling out staples. Oh, I know this is an invigorating life I lead (insert sarcasm overload)! After that, the girls returned, we ate, they played some more, and got ready for a typical Monday.

2/3 of the rugs OUT

This particularly vitalizing Monday for me involved a 7:45am meeting, caffeinating, packing, inspector #1, packing, inspector #2, picking up the girls, homework and snack, caffeinating, inspector #3, dinner and crashing in bed.

The original plan was that Friday the movers would come and start Day 1 of the big move. Friday night we have our town’s Trunk or Treat. Saturday is Day 2, the last day, of the move. Sunday was emptying and organizing some kitchen boxes. Monday was the BIG DAY! The closing on our house in BT. The girls last day, and what a fun way to have a last day at their school, will be Tuesday/Halloween. For trick or treating we will enjoy our last Halloween on The Lane with all of our people.

BUTTTTTT plans change and we roll with it. The closing was pushed back a bit. The girls will go to school until NJ Teacher’s Convention week and the movers will also come then too. The silver lining, lemonade from lemons, break in the clouds is that the flooring should be done before we move in and potentially some painting, electrical work, more too.

So for now, we are cracking the tape on some boxes to get some essentials out, but not unpacking anything and the girls will remain in school. We continue to work on the new house and live a little in both places. I vow to continue to remain caffeinated and calm in all of the calamity!

I did get to enjoy coffee by myself Sunday morn on my deck aka my new fav place!

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Morning on the deck

Here’s a beautiful picture of driving to Home Depot for the 3rd time in one day

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Beautiful drives

Guess what’s happening Yesterday?! UPDATED

At 4:30pm today/Thursday, we are CLOSED on our new house at eLend!!!!!!! So exciting and made it a Hamman family event!!!!

Sealing the deal!
The Hammans are all smiles at eLend!

 

The hardwood flooring is being delivered on Saturday and I can NOT wait until the rug upstairs is out and the new floors are in. I really can not wait until it’s in the whole house but the top floor is getting done and needs it first. Have I mentioned how much I freaking love these floors…LOOOOOVE! Once there are a few boards down I will post more pics of the lovliness as whole.

Deep Condition
Final Results

Today I finallllly found time to get my hair done. It really needed it! So fresh feeling and new and revived a bit. Pics above. Another big moment this week was buying some furniture for the new house. We had a lot of cheap, hand me down, and generic furniture still because it was easy and just didn’t want to replace it until we knew what we wanted. The move has really opened our eyes to the modge podge and, thanks to my friends (I wish!) Joanna and Chip Gaines, we are going for the farmhouse style. It’s easier when a husband and wife agree on whatever it may be and for the most part in life Shaun and I do, including the style for our new home thank goodness.

A few days ago we ordered our new bed for the master (and a few other things, wink wink) and it was the first time I had something delivered to our new address which was special. Along with that purchase, we also acquired some antique furniture from a buyer for a famous designer. We brought home an apothecary chest, a cobblers storage hutch, two metal stools, a beautiful sofa table I’m going to fixer upper, and my favorite, an old school metal card catalog we will repurpose as a coffee table. If they weren’t stuffed in the garage under some lighting I’ve also purchased, I’d show some pics but it’ll be prettier in the new house so you’re gonna have to wait patiently for the big reveal. Facebook Marketplace has been an amazing place for me to find these really expensive items I think we’ll make the new house our home for a lot less. Also, setting up a Wayfair business account saves 15% on each order too.

I know I’ve said it before but it still befuddles me that I am still throwing bags and bags of stuff away and still donating bags and bags of stuff to Big Brothers Big Sisters. It’s so mentally cleansing to do this much cleansing of our crap. How did we acquire this much crap? Reading the above paragraphs may make it seem like I’m a big shopper/buyer but it’s not the norm for me at all. In all honesty we really did get great deals on each and every thing we’ve bought and they’re all pivotal items we need. What I’m throwing out isn’t furniture either it’s just shtuff. I’ve sold or posted any furniture we didn’t want to bring with us so that someone else can use it. At least we are moving with only what we need. The movers first day is next Friday so I still have time to purge more thank goodness lol. I’m moving so fast that I took this picture of me running img_6420rampant by accident with my phone

During all of this cleansing of excess and junk, I have donated about two-thirds of my clothing. One of the best parts of getting rid of the unessential, unworn, or cruddy clothing is that it opens the door to wearing more “adult” clothes and less lounge wear or so I thought anyway. I still find myself wearing sweats and yoga pants, especially during the packing/purging days that have been one after another the past few weeks. I’m still holding hope that once we settle I’ll adapt a new sense of adulting when I get ready in the morning.

Monday I called Shaun at work with tears in my eyes because I had to share with him my feelings. After spending the morning scheduling town inspections, dropping stuff at the school, and packing, I realized that I’m internally confused. Yes I am 100% not in denial that we are packing to move but I don’t feel like I’m going to leave this house at the same time. Ok, ok, ok I know that sounds a little cray cray and like I’m in a state of denial but to clarify, I half feel excited to move to our new house, have a fresh start, etc… but the other half doesn’t feel like we are really going to leave this house, the girls won’t stop attending their school, we’ll still food shop at the same stores, I’ll get mail from the same mailbox, Gilmore will still go out the sliding glass door to the backyard, and it’ll all remain the same. I’m torn.

Ok now that I’ve made the big announcement, it’s time to get back to work aka packing. I’ll have more pictures for you soon so you can see the new abode. Hoping things hit home and my emotions start to level out. Prayers welcome and as always, any advice or helpful hints please leave in the comments.

I ordered business cards and can not wait to show you when they come in! Exciting!

Become a FOLLOWER so you don’t miss any of the fun or at least the emotional rollercoaster I’m riding…

 

Guess what’s happening TODAY?! UPDATED

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At 4:30pm today/Thursday, we are CLOSED on our new house at eLend!!!!!!! So exciting and made it a Hamman family event!!!!

Sealing the deal!
The Hammans are all smiles at eLend!

 

The hardwood flooring is being delivered on Saturday and I can NOT wait until the rug upstairs is out and the new floors are in. I really can not wait until it’s in the whole house but the top floor is getting done and needs it first. Have I mentioned how much I freaking love these floors…LOOOOOVE! Once there are a few boards down I will post more pics of the lovliness as whole.

Deep Condition
Final Results

Today I finallllly found time to get my hair done. It really needed it! So fresh feeling and new and revived a bit. Pics above. Another big moment this week was buying some furniture for the new house. We had a lot of cheap, hand me down, and generic furniture still because it was easy and just didn’t want to replace it until we knew what we wanted. The move has really opened our eyes to the modge podge and, thanks to my friends (I wish!) Joanna and Chip Gaines, we are going for the farmhouse style. It’s easier when a husband and wife agree on whatever it may be and for the most part in life Shaun and I do, including the style for our new home thank goodness.

A few days ago we ordered our new bed for the master (and a few other things, wink wink) and it was the first time I had something delivered to our new address which was special. Along with that purchase, we also acquired some antique furniture from a buyer for a famous designer. We brought home an apothecary chest, a cobblers storage hutch, two metal stools, a beautiful sofa table I’m going to fixer upper, and my favorite, an old school metal card catalog we will repurpose as a coffee table. If they weren’t stuffed in the garage under some lighting I’ve also purchased, I’d show some pics but it’ll be prettier in the new house so you’re gonna have to wait patiently for the big reveal. Facebook Marketplace has been an amazing place for me to find these really expensive items I think we’ll make the new house our home for a lot less. Also, setting up a Wayfair business account saves 15% on each order too.

I know I’ve said it before but it still befuddles me that I am still throwing bags and bags of stuff away and still donating bags and bags of stuff to Big Brothers Big Sisters. It’s so mentally cleansing to do this much cleansing of our crap. How did we acquire this much crap? Reading the above paragraphs may make it seem like I’m a big shopper/buyer but it’s not the norm for me at all. In all honesty we really did get great deals on each and every thing we’ve bought and they’re all pivotal items we need. What I’m throwing out isn’t furniture either it’s just shtuff. I’ve sold or posted any furniture we didn’t want to bring with us so that someone else can use it. At least we are moving with only what we need. The movers first day is next Friday so I still have time to purge more thank goodness lol. I’m moving so fast that I took this picture of me running img_6420rampant by accident with my phone

During all of this cleansing of excess and junk, I have donated about two-thirds of my clothing. One of the best parts of getting rid of the unessential, unworn, or cruddy clothing is that it opens the door to wearing more “adult” clothes and less lounge wear or so I thought anyway. I still find myself wearing sweats and yoga pants, especially during the packing/purging days that have been one after another the past few weeks. I’m still holding hope that once we settle I’ll adapt a new sense of adulting when I get ready in the morning.

Monday I called Shaun at work with tears in my eyes because I had to share with him my feelings. After spending the morning scheduling town inspections, dropping stuff at the school, and packing, I realized that I’m internally confused. Yes I am 100% not in denial that we are packing to move but I don’t feel like I’m going to leave this house at the same time. Ok, ok, ok I know that sounds a little cray cray and like I’m in a state of denial but to clarify, I half feel excited to move to our new house, have a fresh start, etc… but the other half doesn’t feel like we are really going to leave this house, the girls won’t stop attending their school, we’ll still food shop at the same stores, I’ll get mail from the same mailbox, Gilmore will still go out the sliding glass door to the backyard, and it’ll all remain the same. I’m torn.

Ok now that I’ve made the big announcement, it’s time to get back to work aka packing. I’ll have more pictures for you soon so you can see the new abode. Hoping things hit home and my emotions start to level out. Prayers welcome and as always, any advice or helpful hints please leave in the comments.

I ordered business cards and can not wait to show you when they come in! Exciting!

Become a FOLLOWER so you don’t miss any of the fun or at least the emotional rollercoaster I’m riding…

 

Only Two Freaking Weeks and One Day

I know that this post will sound a lot like the last but my life is a repetitive reel right now. Wake up, caffeinate, get kids off to school, caffeinate, pack, eat, pick kids up, homework, pack, eat, try and chill out, sleep and do it all over again. The new news this week is that Natalie, my oldest, is turning TEN YEARS OLD!!! How the heck did that happen?!?!

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Baby Natalie

This baby pictured above had her 10th birthday party today, she will have her first sleepover tomorrow (because I required her to be ten years old before she could have one), and Monday, her actual birthday, we are playing hookie and going to have a day of fun. A true Hamman girl birthday celebration lasts for days, revolves completely about her, and is awesome! Her birthday party was at this great little creative place called the Culture Cabin in Boonton, NJ. Erika Domanico is the owner and hosted the party where the girls made super cool dream catchers. After crafting up a storm, they had pizza and cake, then went outside to the fun outdoor space. Their is ring toss with fun colored antlers, corn hole, a little play house, hoola hoops, and so much more! I can not say enough great things about this place and highly recommend it for birthday parties, girl scout troops, ladies nights (you can bring snacks and libations), there’s a store downstairs you can go and shop for great gifts, and more! (No I am not getting paid for this plug. It’s just a cool place with a great owner!)

Me and my birthday girl <3
Her and her awesome friends

Also, this week I substituted for a day with my favorite class at our school, the Preschool. They hold a soft spot in my heart because Natalie was in the class for two years, the teachers are ridiculously amazing, and I worked in the classroom full-time for an extended time. The school knows I can’t say no to helping out in that classroom…I’m a sucker lol. However, the one day I subbed this year there was a bomb scare. The first ever since we’ve lived here. I was really happy I was there to help with the class that knows me and I can be a help to comfort, especially since the ages are from 3 to 5 years old. It was a bit scary as a parent of two kids in the school but reassuring because both of my girls were within 10 feet of where I was standing. My husband was my knight in shining armor because I text him to pick up our girls so I knew for a matter of a fact that they were safe and he immediately left work. All in all the school, police, and RVS staff did a stellar job during the whole evacuation and some of the staff without knowing what was happening. It actually makes it harder leaving because I now know without a matter of doubt that my children, at their school, are as safe as they can be in other people’s hands.

Onto home life, I can not stress enough how much packing is happening and still needs to be done. This even after I purged all summer long and continue to sell and throw things away. I wish I had a fairy wand to just make stuff disappear. Our garbage men must be completely sick of us by now and think that what we pay for our service is not near enough. It’s also amazing to me how you’re supposed to pack/prepare for moving your entire life and still maintain cleaning, laundry, cooking, school, activities, etc… The purging has been super therapeutic though and like a security blanket for my emotions.

Shaun may not agree with the emotional part. He gets the Heather who cries, hysterically at times, over stupid commercials, taking pictures off of the walls, finding mementos, remembering certain milestones in parts of the house and realizing I won’t be able to relive it there again and the list goes on and on and on. Last Monday was the last Spirit Day the girls will ever attend at their school, this Tuesday is the last birthday celebration they’ll ever have there, soon the Halloween celebrations will be over, we’ll be moving on and it won’t be our home, hometown, neighborhood, etc… anymore.

I’m positive that there will be things, moments, celebrations that I won’t be able to imagine living without in a year from now in our new home, hometown, neighborhood, etc… However, for now, I can not imagine replacing all of these things I am so fond of with new. In short, I’m a highly caffeinated hot mess and not afraid to admit it!