Andrew and I purchased our home here in April, 2001. We gambled with no true idea that it would become what it is today. We lucked out with things like a brand new freeway 1 mile north, 2 miles of Westcor shopping development, huge supermalls nearby and a grocery store right on our corner. All of this has been announced since we moved here.
We spent the first three years with nothing nearby, being told we live in “BFE” and driving 8 miles to the nearest grocery store. Now our brand new home has doubled in value and we get offers to buy it randomly every single week!
Thanks to Andrew for a lot of the work, I finally have a fresh look in my home office. I’ve been wanting to paint it for a long time, and to rearrange the furniture. It took about a day to do the whole project. Cost: $60 for paint and supplies, $120 for new ceiling fan and light.
Here are the “before” pictures:
Here are the “after” pictures:
So far, I like it a lot!
Thanks to you for reading, and giving me motivation to keep on bloggin’. I wouldn’t do it without you!
I decided after getting home that I hated the original bow design that was on top of it. There was a giant bow made out of fondant that draped over the edges. I ripped it off and threw it out, replacing it instead with some chocolate buttercream roses. Yum!
Looks good enough to eat! I’ll be taking it into work tomorrow as promised. Hopefully the guys like it, even though it has flowers on top.
Any ideas for a name?
Something that makes me wonder, “What was I thinking?”
Something I feel obligated to use or display
My best friend Jennifer bought this mug for me in junior high school. I’ve used it as a pencil cup for the past…. 15 years. No offense to Jennifer, but I’ve always hated this mug. I had braces twice and was so jealous of Jennifer for never having to get them. This was like pouring salt in the wound and now I just can’t get rid of it. Notice the messages, “The tin grin is in!” on the mug lid… oh the irony.
Something I have that nobody else has:
My Aunt Colleen made this ring holder for me in 1983. Yup, it’s 22 years old, and I still adore it. My sister has one similar that is painted red… but this creation is basically one of a kind. I love every ceramic piece of it. Don’t you wish you had a handmade monster ring holder?
My DaD sent me this photo. What a great action shot!
Let me preface this opinion by providing another: I don’t believe that if I capture an image of you, that I should sell a print of that image back to you. Specifically for portraiture and events involving people, I always provide a duplication release with my business card stapled to it so that people can get prints done as much as they wish. As a professional photographer, I do not encourage using my services for printing needs, because frankly it takes a lot of time and I have to double-charge on taxes (income and sales).
I haven’t had any feedback regarding this duplication release from my clients thus far. I would presume if they had a problem getting prints, they would have contacted me. I have taken the release in to a few photo labs and they said yes, it is acceptable identification for the client to request prints on their own.
If I were not a professional photographer, and if I were simply out there capturing images on my own because I like it, and some fool at Wal-Mart decided they were too good to print… I would be absolutely furious! I wouldn’t look at it like, “Wow, they think my stuff is that good?” I’m much more of a “What do you mean you don’t think *I* shot this? Of course I did! Just because *you* can’t point and click doesn’t mean *I’m* an idiot too!” Maybe that’s my defensiveness shining it’s ugly head, but boy, that employee would really not like me I’m sure.
I should also mention that I would never get prints done at Wal-Mart, or any other cheap generic photo lab. Yup, after developing, processing and printing my own negatives, I have to say that I have become a photo print snob. I know what it takes to develop properly; I have a good understanding on what you should and should not do with prints. I always take my important prints to a professional lab with a great reputation….and pay out the nose for it too. It’s worth it in the long run.
If you don’t believe me, just open up your closet and pull out some of those K-Mart studio prints from the mid-to-late 1970′s and tell me what color your shirt was. Red? Red with pink? Red and pink with burgandy? We’ll never really know for sure…
