More pictures than you could ever want...

We are done!!! Like I mentioned previously, we have finished our house for the most part and we had a party to celebrate our work!

Our yummy smorgasbord of treats last night... before we ate our way through it and it wasn't as pretty.

So I will now be taking you on our little journey as home owners.

We bought our condo while we were engaged, 2 1/2 years ago, and when we really had no clue what we were doing. When we first walked through it, I wasn't that impressed, but as we looked at more and more that day, we decided that this was our best bet. So we made an offer, and it was rejected. Waah. Luckily for us though, the offer that was accepted fell through, so they called us back and told us it was ours if we still wanted it!

The pictures that I have of it all old school style are from our final walk through, so the girl was almost moved out, only essentials were left...like her tv and iguana.

(Oh, and pretend that we don't look like we are like 12, and that we are still that skinny!)

Living Room Before:

After!

Things we've done:

painted,

carpeted,

Base boards, casing around doors and windows, and crown molding,

new blinds,

Scraped popcorn ceilings and had them retextured and painted,

changed all outlets and switches to look pretty and make sense,

new ceiling fan, &

digital thermostat.

View into the Kitchen from Living Room Before:

After!

Things we've done:

Clorox Wiped down every square millimeter that this small monster could have walked on, breathed on, shed on, or even looked at.

Kitchen Before:

After!

View from Kitchen into Dining area and hallway before: After!

Things we've done:

painted (twice),

tiled,

painted cabinets,

new appliances,

new ceiling fan,

outlets and switches, &

molding

Things we still want to do:

New kitchen sink...sigh.

Front Bathroom Before:

TaDa!

Things we've done:

ripped out mirror, medicine cabinet, counter top, and vanity,

had those walls retextured,

painted,

installed new vanity,

new light fixture,

vent fan,

outlets (that's a given at this point right?)

hung mirror, towel rack and cabinet, &

new shower curtain rod that doesn't slide down the wall and destroy our drywall.

Extra Bedroom Before:

(but unfortunately after she had taken down all of the Betty Boop paraphernalia...not kidding)

AND...my favorite AFTER!!!

And just so you know, I've been told that pictures don't do this room justice, so just know that it's even cuter in real life.

This is probably my favorite part of our entire house:

Things we've done:

painted,

carpeted,

scraped popcorn ceiling and whatnot,

molding (of course),

new blinds,

ceiling fan,

got rid of a light switch that didn't make sense having,

closet door knobs (ha ha),

new AC vent, &

made it my own.

And finally...Our Bedroom Before:

This room, as well as the living room, had this HORRIBLE attempt at a faux finish, and the carpet had changed color where furniture wasn't. Also, take a look at the bathroom...can you say crappy motel bathroom? That's what it looked like. I hope that you can tell in the pictures.

Hooray for After!

And perhaps I'm in love with this bathroom. Things we've done:

. painted (twice),

. molding,

. carpet,

. blinds,

. ceiling fan,

. AC vent,

. switched electrical stuff,

. bathroom stuff got same treatment as front bathroom, everything ripped out and retextured and replaced with pretty stuff,

. new towel ring, towel rack, and toilet paper holder that all match.

. Things we'd still like to do:

. new shower door.

. We also changed out all of the door handles and hinges because they were really ugly. And even though most people wouldn't notice, we think it totally classed it up.

And I know this isn't pretty, but guess what aren't cheap? AC units. Here's our new one.

Thanks for coming on our tour! As you can see we've done lots to our house and made it feel like a home, not just a place that you bought that an iguana used to live! And, if anyone has any questions about handyman work, we are practically pros now!

. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!

House stuff...and being Thankful

Hey Friends!

First and foremost, THANKS TO EVERYONE for all of the birthday well wishes! Yesterday and Sunday and Saturday (clearly there was a lot of celebrating) were so fantastic!

And perhaps now I'm not having a identity crisis about turning 23. Thanks for the help.

So, I will talk lots about that soon, but first I have a very important announcement to make.

Remember when my house looked like this?

Well we are happy to announce that our house is ALMOST done! And by almost I mean RIDICULOUSLY close! It only took 5 months, amazing huh? Not quite.

So, in celebration of making our condo into something we love, we are having a party!

And guess who is invited?

EVERYONE!!!

Especially our out-of-town friends, family friends, married friends that we haven't hung out with in ages, ward friends, e-friends and blogging friends!

So here are the details:

IT IS TOMORROW NIGHT,

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st,

STARTING AT 6-ISH,

TO WHATEVER TIME WE WANT-ISH,

THERE WILL BE DELICIOUS FOOD.

Seriously anyone that wants to come totally can, and if you would like to,

please e-mail me at princessmel_87@hotmail.com

so I can give you directions and whatnot.

And now for the disclaimer, I created my e-mail account when I was in 8th grade and have never changed it. I don't currently think that I am a princess, but the 8th grade Mel was sure that she was. And if you think mine is lame, ask my sister-in-law Natalie what hers is. :)

Also, we don't want to seem as if we are thinking our house is better than anything else in the world (it's a 900 sq. ft. condo for crying out loud!), we are just excited to finally be done, and would like people to see it when things look fresh, and when our house is totally clean!

COME TO OUR PARTY!!!

My Mom

So you guys have all met my mom right?

Have I told you that she is the nicest person in the entire world?

Because she is.

So get this, yesterday I was feeling a little under the weather so she brought me some amazing cheesy potato soup, and a little loaf of amazing banana bread. Then, because she is amazing, she told me that my house was cute, and offered to pat me.

(Growing up in the Jones home, being pat by my mom was a cure for anything. If we were feeling sad or sick or tired or scared or ANYTHING, she would sit on the side of our beds and pat us until we fell asleep.)

Then this morning I read an e-mail that she sent me yesterday that told me she was happy that I was born. I might have teared up a bit.

My mom's the best. I can't wait to try to be a mom like her someday.

School's Out!

Philip has finished his first

semester of Pharmacy school!

That means:

a) we are 1/11 done with school for him

b) he is off until after Thanksgiving, so our house just might get done and we get to hang out lots

and c)

I don't have to have this texting conversation with him for at least another two weeks:

M: How much longer do you think you'll be?

P: Probaby an hour

M: Do you want dinner or should I eat by myself?

P: Go ahead and eat

M: Waah.

I suppose things will be better when I start school so I'll have to study my life away too, but right now, it makes for some very boring nights.

Hooray for somewhat small landmarks! Have a good weekend kids!

Family Week Intermission Again...

I promise I will continue with Family Week, and this time the intermission will be shorter.

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I got tagged by my adorable friend Melissa Lundquist, and even though I've boycotted tags before, Melissa is the nicest person in the world, and I would give her one of my legs if she asked for it, so the least I can do is continue this little game of tag...

So here goes, six random things about yours truly:

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1. When I ride in the passenger seat, I only buckle up if the driver does. Well truthfully, I for reals don't ride with anyone but Philip and my sister Sara, but if I got into an accident with either of them, I would like the same fate as them. None of this one person survives business, that makes for people feeling guilty and whatnot.

(And just so you know, both of them almost always buckle up. See?)

2. I'm a sucker for charities, and tear up every time a see a comercial or ad for the Smile Train, where for only $250, you can give a child a smile, and a second chance at life. Snifffff, not joking, google it and you will be convinced.

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3. I'm always somewhat nervous that fish tanks are going to crack and spill out on me, and that fish might touch me in the process.

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4. I think that limos are hilariously tacky. Which adds to the hilarity that this very one has been parked in our complex parking lot for the past week or so.

And this morning it was getting cleaned when I left for work, which I also thought was hilarious.

Sorry for the bad pictures...

5. I'm secretly, or not so secretly now, REALLY stressed out about living off of student loans come February. I know that people do it all the time, but I'm somewhat of a control freak when it comes to financial situations, and this whole thing just might give me an ulcer.

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6. I kind of want to own a ribbon store someday. Either that or just have enough money to buy extra large bolts of every color and width of grosgrain, rick rack, satin, and sheer ribbons, along with extra cute polka dots and stripes.

Yeah, it might be easier to own a ribbon store.

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So that is ME! If you want to learn more random facts, feel free to click here.

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And I think I'll keep this tag thing going. In honor of Family week, I tag Mom, Chris, Aly, Jake, Sara and Kevin. Have fun bloggers!

Don't hate...

So I'm totally not the biggest fan of Halloween.

Here's why:

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1. It's orange and black. Bleh.

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2. There is always all sorts of stress about finding a costume that is better than anyone else's, which usually results in people being sad that their costumes kind of suck.

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3. The candy is expensive and is way way cheaper on November 1st.

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4. I live in a complex, not in a neighborhood, so I hate passing out candy. And by that I mean that I close our screen door and try to look as uninviting as possible.

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5. Kids aren't resourceful with costumes anymore. When we were little we never had store-bought costumes, we would come home from school, dig through the costume boxes, then throw something on and call it a two-headed monster. (A picture of me and Kev as the two-headed monster will make it's debut soon!)

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6. Oh yeah, and I wish kids were as white trash as we were. We never had buckets to put our candy in, we would use pillow cases. Probably the ones that were on our pillows earlier that day, and they might have been put back when we were done.

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7. I hate it when anyone over the age of 12 trick-or-treats. Buy your own candy and stop being greedy.

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8. For some reason, people that are generally sensible when it comes to fashion feel that Halloween is a perfect opportunity to bust out the uggos in forms of vests, over-sized orange t-shirts with sleeves rolled up, decorative pins, and animal ears. Basically, Halloween equals an excuse to be unattractive.

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On the other hand, here are two reasons I like Halloween:

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1. We are watching this tonight. Totally the scariest movie ever.

2. The Annual PCC. Erica described it best here.

Anyhoo, Happy Halloween everyone. But better yet, happy November starting tomorrow!

I LOVE NOVEMBER!!!

Sneak Peek...

Since I am almost convinced that our house will never be REALLY finished, I have decided to give a sneak peek of its debut.

Meet the newest member of our household:

Mr. Comfortable Recliner of the Universe.

Recliner you ask? It looks like a normal little chair...does it really recline?

Yes, it sure does. Allow Philip to demonstrate:

It reclines and it is incredible. Probably our favorite purchase ever. And now you've met the corner that we lovingly refer to as our reading nook.

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In other news (or pictures), I have very adorable nieces and nephews. Here are my two favorite pictures that I took at the park last week when we hung out during Priesthood Session. Anyone that is a professional photographer cannot judge these based on quality, just look at the cute factor.

I want to marry these kids' blue blue eyes.

And last but not least, a big fat THANK YOU to everyone with your congrats and warm wishes! I am really excited to start school, and if anyone wants a really slow and really cheap cleaning during the next year and a half...let me know.

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I will start school at Rio Salado in February. The hygiene campus is in Downtown Phoenix right next to a homeless shelter, awesome right? It is year round, which I'm actually really excited about, because that means that I will graduate in 15 short months! Hooray for May of 2009!

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And since it is super full time, I won't be working at all, which makes two of two in our family that are not working and just going to school. Soooo, if anyone would like to give us thousands of dollars to live on for the next couple years, that would be awesome!

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So life is basically great, and so is this weather.

Wouldn't you agree?

AAAAHHHHHHHH!

Guess who got accepted to

Hygiene school?!!

I DID!!! We celebrated with large amounts of meat.

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And my internet finally decided to work, so I finally uploaded the accompanying pictures of this momentous occasion.

Happy Birthday Rissa!

Today was my oldest niece, Marissa's 9th birthday, so we had a little celebration tonight. Aly made chocolate mousse for birthday cake, which was absolutely lovely.

I gave her a little journal that I made, and she seemed to really like it which made me happy, and greasy apparently. Then Noelle told me that she wants one for her birthday too, but instead of "Journal" being written on it, she wants "Secret Diary" written on hers. I love those girls. And Rissa modeled her new outfit, which I love. I am especially in love with her leggings, which bless her lucky little chicken legs, will always be baggy. Then we decided to take lots and lots of pictures of us being Uggos.

Sara had to leave a little earlier than I did, so Noelle jumped in her spot.

It was a fun sexy time for us.

And since I haven't posted in ages, here are pictures of last weekend with Lizzie loving on the crow at Michael's. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Oakley eats bean burritos. A boy after my own heart. So other than that...I have had NOTHING exciting in the least bit going on. My house still isn't finished, I not expecting to hear back from school for another couple weeks, I haven't made any exciting purchases, and I watch a lot of TV. So if anyone wants to talk to me about my TV friends, feel free. Oh, but I am really really excited for conference this weekend. This will be our first conference with the dvr, which means we can start it a few minutes late and just fast forward through the choir numbers. Awesome, huh?

Just kidding, I don't REALLY want to do that...