Fix It Up Friday - Gross Grout

Okay, I know I have been a slacker getting my Fix-It-Up ideas to you...sorry...but you are going to love this one!

When we first moved into our new house, it was so pristine.  Everything from the floors to the ceiling were brand new with no imperfections.  But we live in our houses and things get used and sometimes abused.  And before we know it, our unblemished home looks like it has been lived in...and not always in the best way.

One day I was cleaning my kitchen and I moved a table.  Once the table was moved, I realized that my floors were filthy...well, the grout was for sure.  There was a distinct difference between the grout under my table and the grout that had been walked on, spilled on, and completely neglected.  So I spent hours on my hands and knees cleaning the grout with a solution I found on Pinterest. And when that didn't work, a friend gave me another solution recipe. So I spent another day trying to get my grout back to its original glory.  That did not happen...although it did look better than it had.

Recently I stumbled across something that made me so happy...it is grout paint!  Grout Paint!  What a great idea!  So I purchased this magic liquid for around $10 from the home improvement store.  They had a variety of colors so I chose one that I thought would match.  When I got home I realized the color I chose was too dark so I simply took it back and got another color. This time, I picked the perfect match.

So first, I cleaned my floors well.  I made sure to wipe down the grout and remove anything that might be sticky.  Then, after the floors were dry, I simply took an old toothbrush and used that to apply the paint to the grout.  Any excess paint was wiped away with a paper towel.  It was so easy.  It did take a little bit of time and some elbow grease, but the results are amazing.  It completely transformed my floors.

Take a look at these before and afters:

AMAZING!!

So if you are thinking of putting your home on the market and notice your grout is looking a little gross, this is an easy, inexpensive way to put some "new" back into your home.

Chastity

Unto YOU a Child is Born

One of my favorite Christmas stories is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.  It is the story of some misfit siblings, the Herdmans, who bully their way into the church’s Christmas play.  They not only demand to be in the play, they manipulate their way into becoming the lead characters.  Never hearing the story of Christ’s birth before, they bring an innocence to the pageant that no one had expected. They showed the reality of what Mary and Joseph might have been feeling, as Imogene Herdman burped the baby doll Jesus.  When the Herdmans playing the Wise Men brought ham instead of frankincense, gold, and myrrh, it revealed their heart as they gave out of what they had.  It truly is a story that makes me think back to the day of Jesus’ actual birth.

The Bible tells us that an angel visited Mary and told her that she was to give birth to a son and he was to be given the name Jesus.  We also know that Mary was pledged to marry Joseph who also received a message from an angel telling him to take Mary as his wife “because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit”.  So here we have Mary and Joseph, these two ordinary people that had been given this extraordinary experience.  I can only think that there was much emotion associated with this news. 

So fast forward several months and Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken and everyone was to return to the town of their birth to register.  So this meant that Joseph was to go back to his hometown of Bethlehem.  So here are my thoughts: at this point Mary is almost nine months pregnant, preparing to give birth, and she now must travel almost a week across unfavorable terrain, riding a donkey.  Now, I have been almost nine months pregnant three times and I have to say that there were days toward the end of my pregnancy that I could barely make it out of bed.  Had my husband told me that I was to ride a donkey across town, I might have thrown something at him...but not Mary.  She simply got on that donkey led by Joseph and endured, I’m sure, much pain, but knowing that the Lord had a plan and she was completely obedient to that plan. 

Now upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph find that there isn’t any place to stay.  Many people have returned home for the census and this small town was not equipped to house everyone.  Well, that makes sense.  But what I wonder is, where was Joseph’s relatives?  If Joseph had been born in this town, wouldn’t it be logical that there was someone who would take this couple in, especially seeing that Mary was about to give birth?  But that didn’t happen.  One can speculate that perhaps rumors of Mary’s pregnancy spread to the town and perhaps she and Joseph were not welcome in the homes of his relatives.  But whatever the case, they had no one to turn to and no place to stay.  They eventually came upon an innkeeper whose rooms were also filled but they were offered refuge in the barn.  Now barns in Bethlehem at this time were not like the barns we see today.  They were not red with metal roofs.  Most likely it was similar to a cave that provided shelter to the animals.  It was probably dark, a little drafty and cool, and not especially clean.  But Mary and Joseph accepted this space knowing that soon Mary was going to give birth. 

My modern-day mommy side struggles trying to wrap my head around this picture…just Mary and Joseph, in a barn cave, with livestock and livestock smells, and no doctor, no epidural, and no toasty bed to lay an infant in (man, I am so spoiled…I know).    But that’s what it was…a simple, humble birth.  And Mary wrapped her baby in swaddling cloths (probably some sort of feed bag) and placed him in a manger (a feeding trough for the animals).  And this was the beautiful birth of the Savior, my Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

I love how God chose to bring His Son into the world.  I love that there was no pretention; there was no extravagance, nothing but simplicity…a baby that was relatable and approachable.  We know that because the shepherds appeared after an angel came to them while they were in their fields and told them to go and see this precious baby.  It is the most beautiful, most significant birth in all creation and as we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas this year, let us be mindful of what this day truly means…a celebration that the Lord has come!

I think the author of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever painted a great picture when she wrote, “She [Imogene, the Herdman who played Mary] walked in a kind of daze—as if she had just caught onto the idea of God, and the wonder of Christmas…For years I had thought about the wonder of Christmas, and the mystery of Jesus’ birth, and never really understood it...When Imogene had asked me what the pageant was about, I told her it was about Jesus, but that was just part of it.  It was about a new baby, and his mother and father who were in a lot of trouble – no money, no place to go, no doctor, nobody they knew….but for Imogene...Christmas just came over her all at once…and so she was crying.”

My prayer for you is that Christmas will come over you… because “Hey! Unto you a child is born!”

P.S. The Wise Men didn’t really show up at Jesus’ birth…it was some time later…just so you know.

Love and Merry CHRISTmas!

Fix-It-Up Friday: The Unnoticed

We LIVE in our homes.  But, when we are preparing our home to put on the market, often times there are things that we just don't think about doing.  A clean home welcomes a buyer and shows them that you really care about your home.

You can hire a professional to do a deep cleaning on your home.  Or, here are some tips to help with those things that sometimes go unnoticed to those of us living in the home, but not to the ones wanting to buy a home.

1. Clean your light switches.  I know this may sound ridiculous, but you would be amazed at how disgusting some of those switch plates are...especially the ones in the bathroom.  Buyers look at those things and seeing dirt streaked across a light switch may make them pause.

2. Walls. Ugh! You don't often think that your walls could be that dirty...well, my friend, you would be surprised.  If the light hits my living room just the right way, I see three lines of faint dirt at three different levels (I have three kiddos).  It is amazing how much we touch our walls and never even know or think about it.
Some keys walls to examine:

• Any corner in a high traffic room.
• Walls that may have chairs next to them, for example, if you have a kitchen bar with bar stools...little feet (and big ones) often kick that wall...it may even require a coat of paint.
• Kids' bedrooms...check for not only dirt, but crayon marks, pencil scribble, etc.  I found that my daughter had decided to practice her artistic abilities on the wall behind her door...so check there too.
• Staircase walls...little ones like to drag their hands on the walls as they are going down.

3. Doors. Just clean all your doors.  They get dusty and grimy.  Don't forget about the doorknobs...there's nothing worse than reaching for a doorknob and feeling built up dirt on it.

4. Baseboards.  They also go unnoticed by us homeowners but so much dust and dirt can collect on them.  You may have even forgotten their original color.

5. Light Fixtures.  They, too, are also dust collectors.

This is but a short list of things to look for when getting your home ready to sell.  I have more tips that I will share in the coming weeks, but this should be a good start.  Good luck and check back with me next week...it's a good one, for sure!

Chastity
chastity@cainepremierproperties.com

Fix-It-Up Friday - A Good First Impression

I thought that I would offer helpful tips for preparing your home to put on the market.  There are often times things that we, as homeowners, don't really think about BUT buyers do.  So to help you get your home "show-worthy" and hopefully, get the most you can for your home, I am going to begin a series called Fix-It-Up Fridays where every Friday I will post a new tip for you.

Tip #1: First Impression
Just like when you meet someone for the first time, you get an impression on whether this is someone you might like to get to know better.  Likewise, our homes offer first impressions as well.  I will admit that when my husband and I first looked at the home we eventually bought, I was not impressed with the outside.  I almost told him to drive on.  Buyers are like that, and rightfully so.  If a buyer sees repairs that are needed right off, they will most likely shy away from the home.  

It can be difficult to keep a well-manicured lawn, no doubt.  But making sure that the grass is mowed and hedges are trimmed are pretty easy.  Don't forget to edge.  It is amazing how much edging your lawn can make a difference.  Highlight the positive aspects of your home.  If you have beautiful windows, don't have them covered by an enormous bush. 

Adding color can also make a huge difference.  Planting bright flowers or having potted plants on the porch add an inviting element to the outside impression of your home.

Sometimes a good power-washing helps as well.  If you have siding, you may have noticed mildew stains.  If you notice them, buyers will as well.  I will caution you, though, power-washers are, well, powerful, so be extremely careful if you take on this task.  You can easily take the paint off your home.  Here's a great site to get tips for pressure-washing your home: 
http://www.lowes.com/projects/other-areas/pressure-wash-your-home-exterior/project

So, let's say that the buyer does appreciate your lawn care, colorful assortment of flowers, and extreme cleanliness of the exterior and they decide to take a look inside.  There is one more thing they might notice...THE FRONT DOOR.  Sometimes this is the most overlooked of all areas.  We often just unlock the door and go in and never notice the grime and dirt that has been building on the front door for years.  So, to counter any negative thoughts on your home, pay attention to that front door as well.  Clean that door and make sure the door knob isn't sticky.  If you scrub it down and notice that it still looks worn, it may be time to add a coat of paint to it.  Painting the front door is not time consuming, but you should take your time and not do a quick, sloppy job...that will be noticed too.  Here's a website to visit for tips to painting your front door:
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-repaint-a-front-door/index.html 

Also, adding a wreath or a welcome mat also adds to the appeal of your home.
  
I think that it is really important to take the time to pay special attention to the curb appeal of your home.  It is the buyer's first impression and may determine whether or not they ever enter your home. 

For more tips on getting your home ready for market, check back next Friday!
Chastity
chastity@cainepremierproperties.com

 

Oh How the YEARS Go By...

Wow!  I cannot believe how long it has been since I even looked at my blog, much less wrote on it.  SO much has happened in my life over the past 3 1/2 years.  One of my last posts was sharing the news of a devastating miscarriage I had in May of 2011.  The following week we found out that my mom's cancer had returned except this time it was discovered in her lymph nodes.  To say it was a shock is an understatement.  I will spare you the details of the next two years (though I may blog about that later).  On June 18, 2013, I stood at my mom's side, along with my entire family, and we watched her take her last breath here on earth.  It was a moment that changed my life forever.

So why, you ask, have I decided to restart my blog?  Why not.  So many wonderful, scary, joyful, dumb, meaningful things are happening in my life and to try to capture all that on Facebook, is well, a fleeting news feed.  I always loved the idea of chronicling my life so that one day, my kids' kids would read my words.  Now, they may think I was a total crazy person, or may feel extremely blessed, but if I can share any wisdom, then that would be success (a little Ralph Waldo Emerson right there).

So here's what's going on...my oldest son is 9, my daughter is 6 and my baby boy is 4...I know, they are getting too big.  And me, well, I'm on my way to growing up.  I still feel like I am in my 20's (thanks to my doctor and hormone therapy) but when I look in the mirror, those wrinkles tell me I'm much older.  However, each of those wrinkles tell a story and I claim everyone...except the deep ravine in my forehead, that one came from the kids and I would love for them to take it back.

The biggest change since my mom's passing is that I went and got my Realtor license.  I am an excellent Realtor, just not that experienced (insert obnoxious plug).  I do have a love for real estate and home design so I thought that with those passions, I might be a good salesperson.  We will see....oh, and I do have fancy business cards.  It's definitely been a lot of learning but I am so excited to see where this goes.

I hope that you will check in with me occasionally to see what's going on in my life, in my family's life, and in the life of my new career.  My goal is to update this blog more than every 3 1/2 years...missed you!!
Chastity



 

Catching Up

Since our world has been a little off-balanced, to say the least, I thought that I would share some pictures of what has been going on this past month.

Rylee attended preschool this past year and though it was a new journey for us all, he loved it and was so sad when he had to say "see ya" to his friends. They had a graduation ceremony that was so sweet, and yes, tearful.



While Rylee was in school, Haven and Cooper really got to know each other better. They have become great playmates for each other and great irritators to each other. It is not always easy to be home with kids all day long, but I have to say that I have three great kids that I adore. And I am crazy sometimes and they may need therapy when they get older but right now, in this moment, I am loving this life.



Hope you are having a great summer!

Our Baby

Things happen in our lives that we have no control over. There are often no answers at the time why we have to endure pain, often no understanding as to why it happens. On Good Friday, I found out that I was pregnant with our fourth baby. It was a shock. When I saw the words "pregnant" on the test, I fell to my knees in tears. I was in no way ready to have another baby. My husband held me and in his gentle way, he began to assure me that it was going to be alright.

I quickly began thinking of all the things we needed to do in the next nine months. Rooms would need to be rearranged. A new car would need to be purchased. A new job might be needed. So much, as I am a planner and the unexpected throws me off drastically. And in the middle of it all, I was trying to understand God's purpose.

The next day, though, I had some spotting. My mother assured me that everything was okay and I tried to trust that, although I felt in my heart that something wasn't right. Then Sunday night, Easter night, things started to change. I had more spotting. I called my doctor and she told me to come in first thing Monday morning. I prayed. I asked all my friends and family to pray. It was amazing to me how this baby, that had surprised me, had now become my everything so quickly and all I wanted was for everything to be okay.

I cried all the way to the doctor's appointment. And as my doctor was telling me that sometimes you bleed for no reason, I knew something still wasn't right. And later that day when I went to the restroom, I realized that my fears were coming true. In three days I had gone from utter shock and "this can't be happening right now" to "please God, don't let me lose my baby". And just like that, in three days, this little being, that I never saw or held, was gone.

Had I done something wrong? Was she taken because I wasn't ready? I just didn't understand. I wanted to know why. Why had I even gotten pregnant in the first place? Maybe if I had been happier to be pregnant, maybe she would still be growing inside me. The hurt was almost more than I could take. I have never felt that much pain in my entire life and as I was bleeding, I knew what I was losing. I was losing my baby.

But in an instant, I knew right where my baby was. I could visualize her in heaven, sitting on the lap of God, and I knew she was smiling, trying to make me feel better. I knew it...I know it. That was and still is my only comfort. And now I ask God, what was the purpose of that? I am still searching for the answer. But I refuse to let her short life be meaningless because it has changed me in ways I cannot even begin to explain. I want the world to know that even though they never met her that she was a part of the world, even though it was just for a tiny bit of time. She mattered. I call the baby a she because I just thought having another girl would round out our brood. And I named her.

It is devastating to go through a loss of any kind, but this loss is one that is not always discussed. It is almost viewed as 'just one of those things that happens sometimes'. Well, this, for me, was not one of those things that happens. This was my baby. And as I shared this was some of my friends, I realized that many of them have lost a baby too. It is this quiet pain that some of us must endure. It has no reason. And us mommies are left with holes in our hearts that for me right now seems too big to heal.

Our baby was due Christmas Eve. And this Christmas, I will hang a small stocking for her and it will hold all my hopes and dreams for her. One day, I won't cry. One day, I'll understand. And one day, I'll hold her.