Tag Archives: money

Construction, Family

Be Doing A Less Than $5000 Kitchen Reno

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Kitchen Renovation anyone? Just say No!

I had no idea why kitchens cost so much to renovate.

My family (including my mom and dad last July) has put so much sweat equity into this kitchen it should be worth $100,000. We spent less than $5000, new-to-us appliances included.

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Here is our work at this humbling progress. From brown wood and lino floors to white walls, avocado cupboards and engineered hardwood.

We found a guy who makes laminate countertops in his garage. Perfect!

Our amazing contractor installed the wood floors, a new door and my parents put their skill into painting the cupboards.

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We bought a secondhand Bosch dishwasher for $200 and splurged on a new faucet, fridge, stove and hardware.

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Here is what we started with:
1960’s kitchen with ‘newer’ appliances.

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First week: Paint June 23, 2013

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Week Two: Laminate Countertop July, 2013

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Week Three: Engineered Hardwood floors and copious amounts of coats of paint. I think it was FIVE coats of paint to be exact. July, 2013

Week Four and throughout the NEXT YEAR!: Final paint and new hardware. Viola c’est fini! June 15, 2014!

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This kitchen is inspired by this photo from houzz.com and our designer friends Robyn and Angela.

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Many, many hours of painting by Steve, my mom and dad made this $5000 transformation possible. It was a labour of love.

Let’s review–
BEFORE:

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TODAY:20140707-201311-72791169.jpg

With God all things are possible.

With Sexy Neck’s ideas and vision a smokey house became a home.

With my parents labour of love, our roots have grown deep.

With our boys love of fort building, creating and playing every corner of our home has been explored and filled.

With old and new friends stopping by laughter and memories have brought us home.

Boys, Goals

Be Selling Banana Chips

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Like Sexy Neck, our boys are idea guys.

They often get an idea in their heads and they are going for it.

On Saturday, this involved a banana chip stand at 8:30am in the morning.

The most beautiful thing was that they had two customers buy their banana chips!

They created this stand all on their own. It even had a cool slot to put change into that made a tinkling noise when you dropped your coin in.

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How many ideas have you had today? Have you decided to run with them or sit on them? After watching my boys, I think I am going to run with a few of my ideas.

Stay tuned…

Christianity, Family, Grief, Jesus Christ, writing

Be Asking Why You Blog

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Why do I blog?

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I don’t blog to earn money or to succeed at a job.

I don’t blog to get on Oprah’s network or to become ‘known’.

I don’t blog because I want people to like me or have people get to know me.

I don’t blog so that I can achieve any type of recognition or medal.

Ah ha, this is why I blog.

I blog to be completely present with my family, to be with my boys, physically and mentally, as they are growing.

I blog to watch in awe as my Sexy Neck father’s our boys.

I blog because I have a teacher’s heart. I love teaching by showing others what I am learning.

I blog because I love to write. I love playing with words, thinking about synonyms and metaphors and oh I love editing. Getting rid of words, making new ideas, rewriting whole paragraphs.

I blog because sometimes the topics I think of can’t be said. And I think about a vast array of subjects. Blogging gives me the privilege of sharing what’s in my head.

I blog because I am head over heels in love with God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. His presence in my life in unexpected ways is something that I want to share. I want to see His light shine in this often dark world.

Recently, I blogged to support my mom’s cancer journey and reach out to those around the world who love us. (How much love did we receive? My views went from twenty– which I was very happy with– to over 800 views per day!)

Now, I blog to stay afloat in grief.
To stay real.
To do my painful work.
To see God at work and to stay connected to my people

I blog to just be where I am and to Be Enough to my family and friends.

Why do you blog or why would you like to blog? I am curious.

Construction, Family

Be At Home

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There are a few things that chip off a little piece of my heart.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a neighbour which took a piece away.

Here is the scenario:

Right now, there are many men and some women who travel up to Northern Canada to work in the tar sands.  These workers are being paid alot of money, and I mean alot of money.  Here is a summary of my conversation with my twenty year old neighbour.

Jason was home for his five days off.  He works twenty-days up north in a camp.  He gets all his meals cooked for him, buffet style.  There is a maid that cleans up his room every day.  He works twelve hour shifts and I believe that he probably works hard.  He told me that he makes more money in three months working up north that he could make in one year in our town.  He also told me on his five days off, he spent more than he would normally spend in a month. (Note: he does not pay rent here, he stays with his parents.  He has a truck payment, but that is all for expenses.)

His parents were away when he was home for his five days off.  He said that it was hard being home because he was often hungry and looking for food, but then realized he had to cook for himself.  He was wearing two new gold ear rings as well as a gold necklace.  And take a look at his truck:

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I am worried.  Deeply, profoundly worried.

What type of environment are we creating for these men who leave their families and come home for only five days out of twenty-six?

How about the families that are left behind?  What about the amount of money they are being paid? (They make more than my husband does who has three degrees!)

Lastly, what skills are they learning to contribute to regular society? And what happens when the work ends?  I am very, very worried.

Boys, I want to tell you that money isn’t everything.  As your Papa Jenkins always told me, “You can’t take it with you when you go!”  Yes, go and make some money up north if you need to, but be sensible with your money.  Save it, donate it, but mostly be at home with the people you love and love you.  Life is short!