Too Tired to Carry On...but I Have a White Fireplace...

So Friday I worked from home, luckily Emily decided to be wonderful and napped a bit so I actually was productive!  Bryan, knowing that I needed out of the house decided that we needed a trip to Menard's for more mulch.

Fabulous.  As we were loading up the mulch - we had a brilliant idea.

So off to Gerten's we went in search of our very own Royal Star Magnolia bush!  We had success.

And it is now anchoring my front garden!!! YAY us... Now we just need a few evergreens and some color and we might actually have a garden!!!

So that was just Friday... Did I mention that my Husband had a case of insanity on Thursday - where he removed the ugly brass fireplace - glass thing?  Yeah it is gone!  And what was on his mind?  To paint the inside of the fireplace black so that it looked nice....

A few befores to wet your taste-buds

Yeah, I don't know if you know this, but I can smell weakness from a mile a way, and I knew if I let Bryan paint the inside - he was much more likely to cave on painting the fireplace white....

He did.  And this is where he would say "his project turned into mine".  He wants credit for helping me...

So here is the process in images:

 This is where we don't tell my mom, or Donya at work who is pretty sure I can't and shouldn't do anything thing since I am pregnant...  Yes, I am sweeping my fireplace. Goodbye dust, soot, and god knows what else.  Much easier than a rag I tell you.

 Oh yup, a nice belly shot.  Notice we were not smart enough to move the shelves, electronics books or toys.  A smarter DIYer might have done that....but us on the other hand, just go when we want to go and think later... yea...might need to improve on that strategy...

 The last shot of the tan brick that I could not stand any longer...I honestly had no other ideas on how to improve this brick.  It is tan, not a pretty red, not a white but a "aged" tan...

 And here we go, we got ourselves the nappiest roller advice taken from Young House Love  who I would say are professional DIYers, unlike B and I who are more in the class of amateurs... And then we have our bucket of oil based primer since our lovely fireplace was soot stained to the nth degree.

 Oh the grout, the death of me.  I started to try and paint it with a paint brush and started to wonder why Bryan always gets the easy job when Mr. Vargas himself came up with the most genius idea.  SPRAY PAINT PRIMER!!!!  yeah, much easier....may not have been the cheapest route - but who can put a price on sanity?!?

 Almost done.

  This is where I started to thank B for entering "Project Land".

And he said "Don't get use to it, this is like a full moon."

  I said "no a full moon comes once a month, this is more like a blue moon, a very rare happening".

 And when I was about to give in, I found a recruit.  Yes, she is quite handy.  Good thing I am going with a pair - many more hands in project land....

 So detailed oriented...meticulous to a fault...but she does good work I tell ya.

And here it is.  Minus a mantel - which I am currently scouring Craigslist for.  Cheap fixer-upper is good...Free is better.  But overall I am in love.  Mr. Vargas is in love. And we are very happy with the updated feel it gives the living room.  A few updates, such as a new TV and a Soundbar minus a few wires are all it needs - so close but I feel the TV will come a little (a lot) later in the year.. till then I am still a happy camper! 

And that was just Saturday!!! Since Sunday decided to actually be a Spring day, instead of the cold Winter days it has been - we finished up the other side of the house.

 My Hostas, and the Allium - minus weeds.  We laid the weed barrier, tacked it down, cut out holes for the already planted plants...oh and then added the edging and laid mulch.  I must have been a sight - trying to get up and down and up and down, but we did it. And now the front of our house is somewhat decent!!! No longer an eye sore!

 Did I mention that our neighbors who have lived across the street never noticed that the house had brick before we painted it.  They have lived across from our house for over 20 years... They are also the ones that came over and told us they like looking at our house so much now!  Score.

 Now I have to be patient, let my Hostas grown in and see where we can add some color.  But obviously I am slightly worn out.  Just a tad tired to say the least. 

But I am so happy with what we got accomplished this weekend.  B deserves a gold star for sticking with everything, and actually helping me finish these projects...I am slightly famous for half finished projects if you haven't noticed by now....

Also, major shout out to my cousin Melissa who just graduated from college with a teaching degree!  She is one of those lovelys that was born to be a teacher and just passionate about it.  Sending much luck her way, and hoping her perfect school finds her!

Oh, and I have already done two loads of wash today - I am a machine...

A tired worn out machine....I am going to go an enjoy the rest of my day - hope you do too!