So apparently my subscriptions still aren’t working, so I’ve decided to “burn my feed” on FeedBurner. Now you can get updates sent straight to your email! YAY!
All you have to do is click on the “Subscribe to 702 Park Project by Email” link under Let’s Be Friends on the right. Then enter your email address in the FeedBurner window. You should receive an email shortly verifying that you are now subscribed.
Thanks again for following! :)
Y’all continue to amaze me. I’m so humbled by everyone’s kind words and loyalty to this blog and our project. It really just started as a way to share our home restoration with family and close friends, but it has really evolved into something I truly love.
Yesterday was the first time I had over 1,000 views in one day, and I was blown away. I know to a lot of you pro bloggers that just a drop in the bucket, but it was a major milestone in my book. So thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing in this experience with us!
Now hop on over to Lindsey’s blog, Better After, to see our black and white “sexy” tub makeover (her words, not mine!). She even made up a little jingle, which will surely have you laughing. Be sure to look around her blog…she shares some pretty incredible before and afters!!
Don’t forget to keep up with the project on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google Plus! :)
You know you’re growing up when a vacuum is at the top of your wish list. But with a 3800 square foot house, a good vacuum is definitely necessary! So I’m trying to decide whether a big investment vacuum would be a wise choice, or if I should stick with the better bargains.
My must-have list for a vacuum is pretty short…it has to be powerful enough to pick up dog hair, it has to be lightweight enough for me to lug it up and down the stairs, it has to be good on wood floors, and it has to be bagless. There are few things I hate more than vacuum bags. Don’t ask me why.
Here are a few vacuums I’ve been considering.
1. Dyson DC44 Animal Cordless Vacuum ($399) – I love the cordless option! Since our house is old, we don’t have as many outlets as you would think, so unplugging and replugging constantly sounds like such a pain. Plus I’ve never met anyone who has a Dyson and doesn’t love it. But is it worth the price?
2. Bissell PowerEdge Pet Hard Floor Corded Vacuum ($50) – My dog sheds like crazy, so a vacuum made to attract pet hair is a very nice feature. Plus, the price is so right! But I read that the life span isn’t terribly long, so I’m not sure it’s really a great value.
3. iRobot Roomba 650 ($400) – Another pricey option. Charles really wants a Roomba (he has a thing for robots), but I’m not so sure. The scheduled self-cleaning sounds amazing in theory, but does it really work that well? And what about corners and under furniture? Anyone have any experience with one of these?
4. Bissell Hard Floor Expert Bagless Canister Vacuum ($129) – I’ve never even operated a canister vacuum before, so that would be new. I’ve heard from several people that this is a great option, and that it’s very quiet but powerful.
5. Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Rewind Upright Vacuum ($99) – This vacuum seems to make the top sellers list with each new model, but the reviews aren’t as good as some of the others listed. Is this just a very nice version of your basic vacuum?
Lately I’ve been studying the Vacuum Judge’s 2014 comparison chart. It’s super helpful, but I’d love to know if you have any inside tips or thoughts! Do you have a favorite vacuum?
Update: We decided to go with the Roomba 650 and absolutely love it! We are still shopping around for a deep cleaning vacuum or mop since the Roomba is more for everyday maintenance.
Last night I was browsing a few articles and posts about curb appeal, so I thought I’d share them with you. In my opinion, curb appeal is so important because it’s the first impression people have of your house. It sets the tone for what to expect inside, and it says a lot about you as a homeowner.
Even though there was still loads of exterior work to be done, we had the exterior painted back in June, just a month after starting work on the house. You can read more about the evolution of our painted house here. And here’s our most recent shot from the street:
Anyway, here are a few favorites I’ve been catching up on lately…
1. This Old House did an article on the biggest curb appeal transformations in 2012. Here are a few of my favorites.
2. Piggybacking on 2012, I also enjoyed the 2013 round up. A few more favorites…
3. If you still need a few more before and afters, check out this selection from HGTV.
And just for fun, here’s a little progression of our house!
Now we need to get the foundation painted, put the shutters back on, put our mailbox and “historic home” plaque back up, and landscape! Seems simple enough, right?
Do you have any good before and after curb appeal shots? I’d love to see them!
Linked here.
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It’s interesting the things you learn when you buy a historical home. For example, our house was originally built by a contractor, which is why we have TWO original bathrooms instead of just one. This was pretty much unheard of in 1902. We also know that the house has only had 4 owners in its 112 years: the original builders; my husband’s grandparents, who bought the house in 1939; the previous owners, who bought the house in 2003; and us.
One of the more interesting things I’ve learned is that the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) was actually begun in our living room by Mrs. Charles Taylor, the original builders’ wife. This meeting was held on October 29, 1914. Which means that the 100th anniversary of our local chapter is this October!
Although I am not yet a member of the DAR, I was asked a couple of weeks ago to host the 100th anniversary celebration meeting in October. I’m so excited to host such a monumental occasion, and also very nervous about the state of our house! I know that we will be all moved in, but having the house “show worthy” is questionable.
I now have 7 months to get things in order. And by things, I mean hang wallpaper, get blinds, hang window treatments, finish painting, and get the rest of the furniture we need, at least for the downstairs. So really, this is just my excuse to not wait to go ahead and get the things I want, right?! ;)
