House Pic - Before Edition

Alright the internets, please allow me to introduce you to my house ... Internets house, house internets. There now you have been introduced. I moved in Saturday, not a stitch of my ... anything ... is unpacked, but I have moved in. I slept there for the first time Saturday ... or rather I should say I was there over night Saturday. Sleep did not really happen. I do not know if it was because my entire body ACHED or because I was nervous or because I was excited. True to her word, Mom had a sleep over with me Saturday night. She did sleep. The next morning she helped me put a few things away before she went home to get ready for church and by that I mean took a nap, then went to church. 

So allow me to start off with the before pics. Then I have during pics and after pics. Notice in each room the overabundance of wall paper. These pics are just of upstairs because that is where I live. The downstairs will be done soon, hopefully, so I can get a roommate. 

Before: The bathroom. Yes it is THAT small. 

The kitchen top layer of wallpaper. We found 6 more under

This is my bedroom. That orange is painted OVER wallpaper. 

This is my closet ... or second bedroom. The actual closets are rather small and I gots lots of clothes. This also will be my office and my treadmill lives here now.  

This is the dining room with the minimal record of only one layer of wallpaper.  Notice the white entry way to the kitchen because that was a ridiculously awesome project that took us 2 days. I LOVE it!!

This is one wall of my living room. 

The dining to kitchen view.

Sadly I did not get good before pics of the living room because when I took these there was still stuff that did not belong to me in that room. So obviously there was some work to do.Today the kitchen, hall and bathroom are not finished. The rest of the upstairs is ready to live in. The scene last night went a little something like this: Steph walks in the house, closes the glass door, locks both locks on that door, closes the wood door, locks both locks on that door, does the same for the front doors, sets the alarm perimeter, leaves the motion sensor off, goes into bedroom and locks that door too. Sleeps well. Is woken up around 3 with a loud crash outside, pictures being killed in her bed, then falls asleep again and sleeps really well. 

During pics to come. I moved, whatever. I live in my house. 

A Conversation with Mom

Originally the plan was for me to move the big stuff into my house this last Tuesday. That fell through so the big stuff is going over Saturday morning (starting at 8:30 if you are not busy and want to drop by ... whatever.) So the following conversation, as best as I can remember it, happened earlier this week:

Mom: So are you going to start sleeping at your new house this week?
Steph: Are you crazy?! It is scary over there!
Mom: (pause) What?
Steph: There are a lot of weird noises and stuff. It is straight up scary over there!
Mom looks with a sympathetic look at the crazy that is Steph.
Steph: I do not think I can sleep there the first night without you. Wanna have a sleep over?
Mom: (thinking I am sure that she just wants to get rid of me says in a kind voice) Sure Steph. I can have a sleep over with you.

What would we do without Mom's? Mine is so great. Not only is she going to have a sleep over so I am not scared in my new house, but she has been baby sitting every weekend and many nights so I can have my siblings help me build a house AND one night we were working so hard and what did Mom make for us to drink with dinner? Butter Beer. I ask you ... how great is my Mom? I answer ... SO GREAT! Best. Mom. Ever. (no takebacks!)

By the way, the odd noise I was hearing? My washing machine changing cycles. Straight up scary, boo!

Cruel cruel man

I went out for the night Monday with some girlfriends to see the most silly ridiculous disturbing fun show I have seen in a long time (holla Witchapalooza crazies). My brother volunteered to help me with some last minute finishing touches in my house so I can move in this week and was gracious enough to do it alone. So I left him a list of what I would love done: Paint my trim white and assemble my bed. 

Shall we pause for a moment to tell you about this bed? It looks like this sans the bedding:

I have never owned a bed like this. With the exception of when I was a nanny and they had a beautiful bed in my room, I have had a metal frame and mattress though there was a spurt with a waterbed. I don't want to talk about it ...

So it is a pretty bed, it is an expensive bed, and it is my bed! The first bed I have owned on my own bought with my own money ...

Last night I get the following text from Brother: "I think it's going to take 3 coats to get this headboard white and I only have time tonight for 2. Sorry."

I gasped. Audibly gasped when I got it. In fact one of the girls I was with asked who had died and I said that I did a little. I had a very short ride home where I had a little bout with hyperventilation, squeezed L's hand for strength, and decided that it all was alright. It is just a bed, worse things could happen. There are starving children in Africa who do not have a bed. I took a deep breath and walked into my house. 

That punk. He thought that was a funny funny joke! My bed is not painted, it is assembled and beautiful. He said that if he did not hear from me soon, he was going to send a follow up text that said: "Just kidding, it only took 2 coats of paint." Bless his heart. 

So tonight we are going to hang the trim he painted yesterday and move some of my bigger pieces of furniture and then I will just have the small things to load into my house this week and I will be moved in! Before and after pics to come. 

The Irony ... a Confession

I have been thinking of doing a post about hateful language lately in light of the simpleminded comments of a pastor claiming that Mormon's are not Christian. Which, frankly burns my ... what did they call it the other day in the studio meeting ... sitter bones? I think it was sitter bones. For someone to make a blanket statement against my religion like that made me angry. (Dude, you do not know me. You do not know what or who I believe in.) For the record I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am LDS. I am a Mormon. I am a Christian. If I were doing one of the "I am Mormon" commercials my ending would say something like: I am an actor, director, producer. I am a friend. I am a daughter; a sister; an aunt. Don't tell my Dad but I am a Democrat. My name is Stephanie Johnson and I am a Christian; I am a Mormon. 


The ironic part, and reason for this post, is that last night I could not have used more hateful language toward people I have never met. My baby brother was laid off of his job yesterday. He worked for a company that used to employ 3 of my brothers, my sister, and my sister-in-law. In the last 2 years this company has laid off my SIL, and all three of my brothers (one brother they hired back, then laid off again for good measure.) The only person from my family who still works there, very part time, is Sister. (My spidey sense says she will not be working there long, but on her terms.) Well since they laid off my SIL, Brother was the only one working full time in their family. With him being laid off they have no steady income. I have never been so indignantly mad for someone else. Ever. If I could quote Ralphie "I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed." A slew of obscenities and name calling toward the owners of this company issued from my mouth. For about an hour. I actually owe their mothers an apology because they might be really nice women, but I might have inadvertently called them a name in talking about their sons. And I may have questioned the marital status of the mother when the son was birthed. Sufficient to say, it was not pretty. I was mad. Still am. But I digress. If any of the boss's mothers are reading this and can figure out that I am talking about your sons, I am sorry for the names I called you last night. If the bosses are reading this, well I should not have called you names, but I still am not fond of you, your business practices which have caused you to lose money, and I am not fond of you laying off my family and the other hundreds of employees you have had to lay off. 


So here is the real confession. When I get mad I swear, obviously. I use language unbecoming of a lady and a Mormon. Although I would fit in with longshoremen. No I did not drop the big one. But really I was no better in my rash, hurtful language than the pastor (really pastor, that is how you want to be remembered?) who called members of my religion un-Christian and a cult. So last night after I apologized to my Mom and Brother for using horrible language and being truly un-Christian, turned on Christmas music because it always makes me happy, and painted in my house until my body ached ... I realized that my language was no better than the hurtful language of others that directed their bile in my direction. Maybe even worse. I expected my mom to put a bar of soap in my mouth like Ralphie's Mom did. I want to make a blanket statement about society, but know it is not be fair to everyone. I do think that our society in general today has a problem with anger. I know I do, as was evidenced by last night's tirade. I think that the political assaults between politicians has really enraged society. I would love to see a political ad where one politician says "My opponent is a good person, would be/is a great leader, and is doing the best that he/she can do. I just think I would be a better leader because ..." My response yesterday should have been "Pat I am sorry that your bosses do not value all of the employees that they have laid off. You will find better employment, how can I help?" In fact he did find better employment yesterday. It was such a blessing. After I left to go work on my house, he walked to one of my neighbors who is a general contractor and asked if he needed help on his crew. In fact he did, and Pat just happens to be going to school for Construction Management. So he got a job in the field he wants to work in, he is getting paid more than he was at the other job, he did not really like the job he was laid off from, so overall it was a blessing. But I was rash and did not see the positive. I only saw that someone had hurt my family and I lashed out. I fell into the trap of the current society norm spouting ungraceful words at people I do not know, instead of acting like the good person my folks raised me to be and who I normally am. Not helpful. Not right. Not me. I shake my head at me! 


So there is your Thursday confession from me. I think I need to put the rubber band back on my wrist. I flick my wrist every time I swear. It helped me stop once before, because it really hurts!!! (Granted it did give me a cyst that needed to be removed surgically.) So now I need to live up to the titles I listed earlier. I am a friend. I am a daughter; a sister; an aunt. My name is Stephanie Johnson and I am a Christian; I am a Mormon. Now act like it.

A Purse Sale ... I think

The Busy Bean is being featured on BelleChic tomorrow with a sale on her camera straps, wristlets and wallets. I have all but one of those things and honestly cannot live now without my wristlet. Not only is the fabric the BEST (what child of the 80's does not remember the View-Master?), but it holds little things that used to roll around in the bottom of my purse and get lost. Did I mention she names her purses? The wristlet is Monica, and the wallet ... wait for it ... Stephanie. There is a version of the wallet called Stephanie Anne, the middle name I never had.

Check out the info on The Busy Bean website ... if you dare. Fair warning, she makes super cute things!! Not a fan of View-Finders and green/white stripes? She makes these out of so many types of fabrics. They already are super inexpensive (Monica is usually $15), so I cannot wait to see what this sale looks like. 3 words for you: Early. Christmas. Shopping. 'Nuff said!

New Phone

I got a new phone last week. I held onto my old phone for 4 years, so it was a really old and outdated phone ... as cell phones go. This new phone has a feature where I can push a button, ask a question, and the phone answers me. I am so nervous to use that feature because what if I say something like "I need directions to Vegas" and I stumble upon the nuclear launch codes or something. Mr. Weasley taught me well "Never trust anything that can think for itself if you cannot see where it keeps it brain." Sister thinks it would make a good movie. Challenge accepted, I will write the script from my jail cell.

BTW Squitch, I just laughed out loud writing the word 'script!' I think you know why ... 

Free Concert

These guys played a funeral I went to (yes they put the fun back in funeral!) and I really liked the music. My pal Paige is in it, and by golly, this should be a fun night. I wish I could make it, but alas ...

Ta-Tow

Sister spent the night at our house last night with her girls as her hub is on a business trip. This morning she left for a quilt thing, because she enjoys that sort of thing. So Mom and I were getting the girls ready for the day. Mom was putting LoMo's "so pretties" in her hair and Mac was hungry. When asked what she wanted for breakfast she replied "Ta-tow!" She pointed to a nice basket of tomatoes as Sister was leaving, so Sister helped her pick out a nice tomato to eat for breakfast. She chose a juicy tomato and was mad at me that I would not let her eat it right away ... I saw some potential mess vs jammies ratio. So I dug up a bib for her to wear. Well Mac is 2 ... and she does 2 very well!! She would not put on the one I picked ... like I said ... she is 2. We finally agreed on a bib, after much crying ... from me. She was sitting on the counter at this point and she went to town on that tomato. She would take a bite, show me her tomato, and say "ta-tow!" So I did what any good aunt would do: I grabbed Mom's phone to take photos so I could post on my blog.

Breakfast of champions! See what I meant about mess vs jammies potential? I could eat this girl's cheeks ... and frankly I do sometimes. I ended up with some seeds on my shirt; and more to my surprise than anyone else, I did not change my shirt before I came to work. Growing as a person!

So put away your cold cereal, your toast and eggs, or your bagel with lox ... the new breakfast craze sweeping ... well my house ... is ta-tows. Recipe? Oh that is easy, grab a tomato and bib, hoist your pockets up on the counter, and chow!

Questions of the Day ... That Need No Answers

Why does going to the dentist suck even if you have no cavities?

Why does a cackle laugh annoy me when anyone but Bert and Ernie does it?

Is it wrong, as a person who hates surprises, to be planning a surprise for someone else?

Is it wrong to celebrate loosing 8 pounds last week if I did it because I had a stomach bug?

How cool is Ben Davis? Follow up question: Could he be more inspiring? Follow up question: I wonder why he weighs in with one sock on his right foot?

Could stripping wallpaper suck any more?

Could my Mom be more annoyed that I just used the word 'suck' twice this post?

How annoying is to ALWAYS loose at Words with Friends to the same people?

Could Grey's Anatomy be any cooler and slightly more inappropriate for this young LDS woman?

How much does paying a mortgage and not living in the house suck? (rhetorical, it sucks SO much)

Could I love ambien any more right now?

How sad am I that I had to give up teaching Musical Dance Theater classes?

Could I be more sick of eating chicken soup? Follow up question: How great is Jello?

How timely is the release of the new iPhone? (My old phone is dying a not so slow death. Upgrade)

How much did I snort when I logged on to FB today and saw a wall post from a teenager that said "Who is Steve Jobs?"

How old do I feel that the boys I nannied for are now a senior and freshman in college?

Who has two thumbs and is excited to paint this weekend?!?! (This girl)

Who is asking too many questions today?