The Gallery Wall

Finally! The day has come. May I present to you my Gallery wall. 

Pin It

I can't tell you how in love I am. It turned out to be everything I had imagined and more. And here's the best part, it didn't cost a penny.

I hate it when people say that in blogland. Whenever I see something I really like and want to recreate I expect explicit details on how to make it happen, including where I can buy just the thing I love.

Like my cool blue frame? It was a $3 gold mirror I bought at a garage sale years ago (I super hate it when someone posts a really neat dress I can't wait to get my hands on only to have them say it's "vintage"). My mom painstakingly painted that beast with her signature foam paintbrush.



The cute blue wallet-size picture frames? They came from Michael's dollar section and were made into these, which I resurrected into what you see now.

I had all the frames that were either in boxes or used throughout our house. Some were the wrong color, but nothing a little spray paint couldn't fix. The S was a gift years ago that was on a different wall where I took my monthly pregnancy shots.

And this one of Jake and baby G? Happened by complete accident. Neither of us could decide which of these two shots we liked better, so I printed out both. Then when the wacky doodle frame ended up not being the size we though it was we were in need of a second photo to put in it. As my Mom cycled through all the photos, she happened to put these two in together and it melted my heart. It's my favorite piece on the wall (even over the photos of myself!).

The best part is that our photo wall includes our entire family. Brothers, sisters, nephews, parents, grandparents. It's a little Gwen-centered, I'll admit, and we might want to add a couple wedding photos here and there. But by golly it came out amazing.

{A special thanks to my parents, who stayed well past they intended to before driving 8 hours home to Las Vegas to make this lovely wall happen. It was really just my secret way of squeezing in more time to visit.  Love you guys!}

The Gallery Wall

Finally! The day has come. May I present to you my Gallery wall. 

Pin It

I can't tell you how in love I am. It turned out to be everything I had imagined and more. And here's the best part, it didn't cost a penny.

I hate it when people say that in blogland. Whenever I see something I really like and want to recreate I expect explicit details on how to make it happen, including where I can buy just the thing I love.

Like my cool blue frame? It was a $3 gold mirror I bought at a garage sale years ago (I super hate it when someone posts a really neat dress I can't wait to get my hands on only to have them say it's "vintage"). My mom painstakingly painted that beast with her signature foam paintbrush.



The cute blue wallet-size picture frames? They came from Michael's dollar section and were made into these, which I resurrected into what you see now.

I had all the frames that were either in boxes or used throughout our house. Some were the wrong color, but nothing a little spray paint couldn't fix. The S was a gift years ago that was on a different wall where I took my monthly pregnancy shots.

And this one of Jake and baby G? Happened by complete accident. Neither of us could decide which of these two shots we liked better, so I printed out both. Then when the wacky doodle frame ended up not being the size we though it was we were in need of a second photo to put in it. As my Mom cycled through all the photos, she happened to put these two in together and it melted my heart. It's my favorite piece on the wall (even over the photos of myself!).

The best part is that our photo wall includes our entire family. Brothers, sisters, nephews, parents, grandparents. It's a little Gwen-centered, I'll admit, and we might want to add a couple wedding photos here and there. But by golly it came out amazing.

{A special thanks to my parents, who stayed well past they intended to before driving 8 hours home to Las Vegas to make this lovely wall happen. It was really just my secret way of squeezing in more time to visit.  Love you guys!}

The Best Foyer Ever

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, my foyer. If you'd like to see the inspiration I drew from, check out this post.

Pin It

It was a cinch to do, I'm not sure why I drug my feet so much to get it done.

The paint was leftover from baby G's nursery. This took months for me to commit to. Would the blue actually look nice or like something I painted my wall with because I had the paint?

And then, one day I walked into baby G's nursery with my fabric for the hoops in hand. As I held it up to the wall I made up my mind. It would not only look nice, it would look awesome.

The embroidery hoop art was ridiculously simple. I looked at a tutorial one day (which I can't locate because it was before the days of the glorious Pinterest) and thought, duh, that was a silly tutorial. Simply put your fabric (uncut) into the hoop > trace around the inner circle with a pen > cut > put it in your hoop et voila > embroidery hoop art.

We hung them with thumb tacks after much deliberation of where the perfect spot would be. Word of advice, don't over think it. They're not permanent and can always be moved.

Here is what I love most about this "art." The possibilities are endless for customizing it for the holidays. You know all that holiday fabric you see and wonder what on earth people do with it? There are only so many quilts people can make! Well here you go. And you only need 1/4 yard at most, so it's on the cheap.

I can also add to it. There is always a bucket of embroidery hoops at any and every thrift store I've ever been to. I can take my time and find the right size for the right spot. Meanwhile, it still looks pretty good as is.

Now, I will admit that just the blue wall, looked like it was just a.blue.wall. It needed something more. Something like a staircase behind it lined with blue accents to bring it all together? Perhaps!

You can find my awesome foyer reveal floating around these linky parties this week. Go check 'em out, you never know what tutorial or recipe you might find.

The Best Foyer Ever

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, my foyer. If you'd like to see the inspiration I drew from, check out this post.

Pin It

It was a cinch to do, I'm not sure why I drug my feet so much to get it done.

The paint was leftover from baby G's nursery. This took months for me to commit to. Would the blue actually look nice or like something I painted my wall with because I had the paint?

And then, one day I walked into baby G's nursery with my fabric for the hoops in hand. As I held it up to the wall I made up my mind. It would not only look nice, it would look awesome.

The embroidery hoop art was ridiculously simple. I looked at a tutorial one day (which I can't locate because it was before the days of the glorious Pinterest) and thought, duh, that was a silly tutorial. Simply put your fabric (uncut) into the hoop > trace around the inner circle with a pen > cut > put it in your hoop et voila > embroidery hoop art.

We hung them with thumb tacks after much deliberation of where the perfect spot would be. Word of advice, don't over think it. They're not permanent and can always be moved.

Here is what I love most about this "art." The possibilities are endless for customizing it for the holidays. You know all that holiday fabric you see and wonder what on earth people do with it? There are only so many quilts people can make! Well here you go. And you only need 1/4 yard at most, so it's on the cheap.

I can also add to it. There is always a bucket of embroidery hoops at any and every thrift store I've ever been to. I can take my time and find the right size for the right spot. Meanwhile, it still looks pretty good as is.

Now, I will admit that just the blue wall, looked like it was just a.blue.wall. It needed something more. Something like a staircase behind it lined with blue accents to bring it all together? Perhaps!

You can find my awesome foyer reveal floating around these linky parties this week. Go check 'em out, you never know what tutorial or recipe you might find.

Cool

The awesome part about buying an older house is the pleasant surprises you find come spring time.

Dear Wells Fargo and all other Deterrents,

We would greatly appreciate if you would pull your corporate head out of your ass.

Today we were ready to celebrate on the closing of our new home.

Instead we are left wondering when and if this home will ever become ours.

It should never be this difficult to purchase a house. While it was scary at first with the big words and extensive contracts, it seems all you truly need to do is shuffle paperwork and know the right people to call.

You have failed miserably at this.

 Through the course of eight months we have jumped through hoop after hoop, experiencing any problem that this crooked bank system can throw our way.

With our idiotic team of realtors and mortgage lenders, we have had paperwork lost, email (at this day and age) not working and at the very end one goddamn piece of paper not approved. Each problem seems to breed more problems and thanks to the incredible team of idiots we have managed to put together there seems to be no solution.

So really, thank you for this enlightening experience. During a time when our government and economy are begging and pleading first time homebuyers to buy, you have managed to make the process a living hell.

Pathetically Hopeful First Time Homebuyers,
The Sunderlands

Dear Wells Fargo and all other Deterrents,

We would greatly appreciate if you would pull your corporate head out of your ass.

Today we were ready to celebrate on the closing of our new home.

Instead we are left wondering when and if this home will ever become ours.

It should never be this difficult to purchase a house. While it was scary at first with the big words and extensive contracts, it seems all you truly need to do is shuffle paperwork and know the right people to call.

You have failed miserably at this.

 Through the course of eight months we have jumped through hoop after hoop, experiencing any problem that this crooked bank system can throw our way.

With our idiotic team of realtors and mortgage lenders, we have had paperwork lost, email (at this day and age) not working and at the very end one goddamn piece of paper not approved. Each problem seems to breed more problems and thanks to the incredible team of idiots we have managed to put together there seems to be no solution.

So really, thank you for this enlightening experience. During a time when our government and economy are begging and pleading first time homebuyers to buy, you have managed to make the process a living hell.

Pathetically Hopeful First Time Homebuyers,
The Sunderlands

Happiness

This was my view this morning from our sweet little desk that is built in to the kitchen. Since August I had fantasized about the day I could sit at this desk, catching up on my blog reading, paying some bills and looking out the french doors to our backyard.

Happiness

This was my view this morning from our sweet little desk that is built in to the kitchen. Since August I had fantasized about the day I could sit at this desk, catching up on my blog reading, paying some bills and looking out the french doors to our backyard.

These Boots Are Made For Walking

Right down to the leasing office and filling this out. Ok, umm, didn't notice Sophie licking herself there in the background but find it too hilarious to not post.
We're ditching this joint! Yippee! Our inspection's gone through, next up the appraisal and peace out all you apartment dwellers! (oh crap, that's us.......) Nevermind the fact that there was also a package waiting for me down at the office, which was holding a very large pot. So yes, I had to walk back to our apartment, carrying a huge box in heel boots.
Oh, and a picture of Sophie as she was disturbed I would interrupt her napping (and licking) for pictures.

These Boots Are Made For Walking

Right down to the leasing office and filling this out. Ok, umm, didn't notice Sophie licking herself there in the background but find it too hilarious to not post.
We're ditching this joint! Yippee! Our inspection's gone through, next up the appraisal and peace out all you apartment dwellers! (oh crap, that's us.......) Nevermind the fact that there was also a package waiting for me down at the office, which was holding a very large pot. So yes, I had to walk back to our apartment, carrying a huge box in heel boots.
Oh, and a picture of Sophie as she was disturbed I would interrupt her napping (and licking) for pictures.

Realtors = Not Cool

We've been had. Our realtor lied to us, claiming she emailed us things that she never did. To add insult to injury, she told Sir Sunderland (a web developer) to check his spam! After two different instances and no approval letter or update in his email box, Sir Sunderland called. He waited a day for a return phone call, then called again TWICE. Nothing! No email, no returned phone call! Fed up, he asks me to call her. Within 10 minutes I get a phone call back, and in 20 an email is in his inbox. And who does she call to confirm he got this email she was incapable of sending five days ago? Me.

Now, we fully realize we are antsy first time home buyers. Yet we also realize this is this woman's job, we are clients, and as of now I could be doing a better job than she. She has already made me drive to her house to get paperwork, failed to receive paperwork we sent to her 2 weeks ago, and tell us that we need to contact our mortgage broker. Doesn't she have our broker's information? Isn't it her job to keep things together? Needless to say we are beyond frustrated with this Realtor (our second one, mind you) and pray that she can manage to keep it together to get us our house.

Another interesting side note is that we are aware she is going through a divorce. How do we know this? Did she tell us? No, no, she accidentally added Sir Sunderland as a friend on her Facebook. We originally thought this was a way to contact clients, etc. Then he got her very personal and not-professional updates. He immediately un-friended her as things got weird really quick. Ahhh, the things we have to go through to get a freaking amazing house!

Realtors = Not Cool

We've been had. Our realtor lied to us, claiming she emailed us things that she never did. To add insult to injury, she told Sir Sunderland (a web developer) to check his spam! After two different instances and no approval letter or update in his email box, Sir Sunderland called. He waited a day for a return phone call, then called again TWICE. Nothing! No email, no returned phone call! Fed up, he asks me to call her. Within 10 minutes I get a phone call back, and in 20 an email is in his inbox. And who does she call to confirm he got this email she was incapable of sending five days ago? Me.

Now, we fully realize we are antsy first time home buyers. Yet we also realize this is this woman's job, we are clients, and as of now I could be doing a better job than she. She has already made me drive to her house to get paperwork, failed to receive paperwork we sent to her 2 weeks ago, and tell us that we need to contact our mortgage broker. Doesn't she have our broker's information? Isn't it her job to keep things together? Needless to say we are beyond frustrated with this Realtor (our second one, mind you) and pray that she can manage to keep it together to get us our house.

Another interesting side note is that we are aware she is going through a divorce. How do we know this? Did she tell us? No, no, she accidentally added Sir Sunderland as a friend on her Facebook. We originally thought this was a way to contact clients, etc. Then he got her very personal and not-professional updates. He immediately un-friended her as things got weird really quick. Ahhh, the things we have to go through to get a freaking amazing house!

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Looks like I finally get to send my lovely moving announcements!
They're addressed and ready to go. Ready to let everyone know we've finally made it to our house.
Ok, so we might have to wait 30 days, but we got approval from the bank, next week's the inspection and the ball is finally rolling. In the meantime, I will get some stamps to toss on there, so the minute we get the keys and walk through that door I will get to put the cute little flag up on my mailbox.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Looks like I finally get to send my lovely moving announcements!
They're addressed and ready to go. Ready to let everyone know we've finally made it to our house.
Ok, so we might have to wait 30 days, but we got approval from the bank, next week's the inspection and the ball is finally rolling. In the meantime, I will get some stamps to toss on there, so the minute we get the keys and walk through that door I will get to put the cute little flag up on my mailbox.

What House?

So, is anyone else wondering what ever happened with this?

You know, our dream home that we put a winning offer in on in August? Yea, we are too!

You see, we're still waiting for the approval from the seller's bank. On a bi-weekly basis we get annoying emails from the seller's realtor saying, "They got the paperwork! We're in business now!" Only to be followed by, "Oh, they need MORE paperwork." Yadayadayada. The bottom line is, we want to get into our gorgeous house now!! The house is empty for pete's sake! Nobody's lived in it for about a year now. This apartment is getting smaller by the minute, and the conditions worsening by the second.

We are frustrated with the process and getting antsy. Thank goodness Sir Sunderland didn't let me pack up the apartment in August when we thought we'd be in by October! We've finally stopped bringing boxes from work, as we have a closet and trunk of one car full of them. My moving announcements are made, however. Just sitting there, waiting to be mailed. Come on Wells Fargo! Hurry it up, these are cute moving announcements that deserve to be sent!

What House?

So, is anyone else wondering what ever happened with this?

You know, our dream home that we put a winning offer in on in August? Yea, we are too!

You see, we're still waiting for the approval from the seller's bank. On a bi-weekly basis we get annoying emails from the seller's realtor saying, "They got the paperwork! We're in business now!" Only to be followed by, "Oh, they need MORE paperwork." Yadayadayada. The bottom line is, we want to get into our gorgeous house now!! The house is empty for pete's sake! Nobody's lived in it for about a year now. This apartment is getting smaller by the minute, and the conditions worsening by the second.

We are frustrated with the process and getting antsy. Thank goodness Sir Sunderland didn't let me pack up the apartment in August when we thought we'd be in by October! We've finally stopped bringing boxes from work, as we have a closet and trunk of one car full of them. My moving announcements are made, however. Just sitting there, waiting to be mailed. Come on Wells Fargo! Hurry it up, these are cute moving announcements that deserve to be sent!

IT'S OURS!

They accepted our offer! Woot! Woot! Thanks for all the toe and finger crossing!

IT'S OURS!

They accepted our offer! Woot! Woot! Thanks for all the toe and finger crossing!

More Adventures in House Hunting

We kicked our realtor to the curb and got us a brand spanking new one. When we left town on Thursday we weighed our pros and cons about this particular Realtor who our mortgage lender recommended. Sure, she took us to 6 houses that didn't fit our desire. Yes, she was always 15 minutes late to every meeting or forgot to bring papers with her. These were all things that made us a little skeptical, but we decided to give her one last chance. We called on Sunday to setup an appointment that week to jump on a few houses we saw over the weekend. Monday? She was busy? Tuesday? Sure! Oh wait, no she overbooked herself and let us know a day later.
That was it.
Sir Sunderland hung up the phone and called our backup Realtor his Mom found for us. She met us that night and we found what we believe to be our dream home.



















It has a large front yard and backyard with not one, but TWO spots for a garden.
Hardwood floors throughout the first story (bunny proof).
A darling front porch perfect for a swing.
Triple the size of any house we've seen yet.
The previous owners had fabulous taste which you can see through their added touches throughout the house.

Our new and improved Realtor sent us the offer for the home at 11:30 pm. AMAZING! Our fingers are beyond crossed that ours will be the offer they accept.