*Knock* *Knock* *Knock* Laura!

Notice how I referenced Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory in my post title? Being married to a wannabe physicist/engineer, I often feel like I can relate to Penny. Not that Brian acts like Sheldon or anything...he's actually a lot like Leonard, except way cuter. ;)

Anyway...

Remember when I painted our front door? Well, I really want to get new hardware for it, because brass and dark pink/red just do not compute.

See what I mean? Yuck.

Here are some I'm thinking about - I'm really debating between the type where it has a handle and you push the lever above it to get in, or just getting a good old fashioned knob. Readers: any preference one way or another based on your experience? There's only so much experimenting at home improvement stores will do for me. I like the look of the handle, but please let me know pros/cons!!

Kwikset Montara Single Cylinder Venetian Bronze Handleset with Juno Entry Knob (featuring a SmartKey, which may or may not be smarter than me). Home Depot, $134.

Kwikset Hawthorne Single Cylinder Venetian Bronze Handle Set with Juno Knob (featuring a SmartKey yet again). Home Depot, $129.

Avendale Handleset with Carnaby Knob. Baldwin Hardware, price unknown (probably one of those where if you have to ask, it's too expensive).

Arched Entry Door Set. Rocky Mountain Hardware, I found the price, but it's crazy expensive. Hey, a gal can dream, right?!

Any other suggestions/thoughts? Any other sources that might have some more unique looks that are affordable?

Bye Bye Stalkers! | Installing a Window Cling

Remember when I complained about the window next to the front door that essentially was an All You Can Stalk Buffet for creepy people?

I finally fixed it! It took me a little while to finally get this one done, mostly because some other life and work projects took precedence. Although it seems simple on the surface, it requires measuring and finesse, two things I'm not very good at. Plus, I was debating whether or not to make it myself (which involves using contact paper), but ultimately decided against it due to time constraints and wanting to devote my precious time to other projects instead.

I ended up purchasing a large roll of one with a cute leaf pattern from Amazon. Instructions came with it, and I more or less followed them. I won't wax poetic on it, because it's fairly basic stuff (ya know, clean the window, measure and cut the film, spray soapy water on it, slap it up there, squeegee it, and BAM you're done).

However, some tips I'd suggest if you're thinking about attempting something like this in your own home:

• Order twice the amount you think you'll need. We're human and make mistakes (or maybe I'm just more mistake-prone than the average DIYer), so having some extra wiggle room in case you cut too much off will be a lifesaver.
• If you don't have one already, buy a small spray bottle. You'll need one to apply the soapy water that makes the clings stick to the window. I had one laying around that I used to use for my hair, so it was easy to re-purpose for this. They're about a dollar at Walgreens or Target.
• Get a second opinion halfway through the process. It can be as simple as "Honey, how's this looking so far?" That simple question led Brian to admit that the window cling on the bottom window was against the grain (the first two were vertical, and I cut the last one I cut horizontally for some odd reason), so that bit of feedback helped keep things consistent. Would I have noticed it on my own? Yeah, probably, but likely not until after I cleaned up and put everything away.

Here's the view from the inside, which really isn't all that great because it was too backlit. But hopefully  you at least get the general gist of it.

Here's another photo, a bit more up close and personal. See what I mean about the vertical grain? Husbands do come in handy every now and then. ;)

And here's the view from outside:

And here's the whole kit 'n kiboodle - although you can't really make out the window clings, I swear they're there!

Let me tell ya, it's sooooooo nice to not have to worry about people peeking in through that window any longer. Huge load off my shoulders, that's for damn sure!

Anyone else attach a window cling lately? Any other tips/tricks to share?

*If you make a purchase through a link on this site, I will receive a small commission.*

Saving bland front doors, one paint stroke at a time.

Compared to last weekend, this weekend felt comparatively lazy. We basically hung out and made pretzels.

Oh, and I painted the front door. So I guess it was semi-productive, in a fun sort of way. :)

Ain't she pretty?! I'm thinking I may do a third coat of paint, since you can still see the paint brush strokes...we'll see. It works for the time being. And really, you can't tell unless you're right in front of the door. Or have a camera lens like mine that focuses a little too well sometimes. 

As a reminder of how it looked before, here's a quick look. Quite a difference, eh?! Definitely pops out a bit more now.

I ended up using Valspar Exterior Reserve in Whipped Strawberry. I got so used to using interior paints that it felt strange to use this stuff. The consistency was very different - this paint was a lot thicker than the stuff I'm used to. I didn't even use a drop cloth because there wasn't much risk of drips because it was so thick.

Although it's now painted (yay!!), that doesn't necessarily mean we're done with this door yet. Here are some upcoming to-do's, done visually because that's how I roll:

It's still definitely a work in progress. Then again, isn't everything?

Think I should do a third coat? Any ideas on new door hardware (which we can't install until after the sale is complete)? 

Cha-Cha-Changes

You've probably been asking yourself: Laura, where are all of the projects you've been talking about doing? Why are you so busy? Girl, what is going on?

Or maybe you haven't. And that's cool too.

Here are my explanations. And before you get too excited, no, I'm not pregnant.

1. I got offered a new job!!!!
Yes, the extra exclamation points are necessary. I have been job hunting for awhile (which, with a toddler and a full time job, was hard work!!), and was finally offered a position that is more or less in line with what I want to do. The real selling point? When I mentioned the fact that I am a mom and have a life outside of work that I need to keep chugging along, they didn't back away - in fact, they embraced it, which is quite telling of what kind of company they are. Though work is important to me, family ranks #1 on my list of priorities, and as such was an important factor in whether or not I accepted any job offer. Unfortunately the commute is about the same (actually, about 5-10 minutes longer, booooooooooooo) but I'm looking at it as a built-in opportunity to exercise. Training for a 5K, here we come!!

2. We are buying a house!!
Yep, we finally decided to take the plunge! Only here's the twist: we're buying the house we're in right now. I must admit it's not our dream house, but it's the best of the options we've looked at and it's available at a fair price. And really, does anyone really ever get their dream home as their first house? My guess is a big fat no. Unless you're Richie Rich or someone ridiculous like that. Plus, this way we don't have to move, which is a HUGE plus because moving is a PITA. Also, the house we're in now provides a ton of blogging possibilities, which certainly doesn't hurt.

3. We got permission to paint the front door!
Finally! Yay! And I didn't even have to offer baked goods.

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However, since we are buying a house (see #2) we have an appraisal scheduled for Monday morning, which means the front door may have to wait in favor of some other projects (like finishing the office, cleaning the basement and garage, etc.). Brian originally scheduled it for yesterday morning, but with less than 24 hours notice and a lot of tweaking to do to make sure our house was in tip-top shape, I convinced him to reschedule it so we wouldn't be up all night killing ourselves.

Soooo yeah. That's what I've been up to. Lots of exciting things happening in the K Household lately! I'm hoping to share the final office redo next week, so stay tuned!

Ever get the feeling you're being watched?

You guys already know about my front door escapades (here and here), but since I still don't have permission to paint it (hey, I've been busy - don't judge!), I figure I may as well do something about the window right next to it.

I really hate this window. I always feel like there's someone watching us - and not in the "angels are looking out for you from heaven" sort of way. Oh no...it's more like the "I'm a creepy stalker and I'd like to secretly stare at your family as you play with your son's Fisher Price toys" kind of way. Eeep.

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I've thought long and hard about what to do about this dilemma. My first idea was to make a curtain to fit the window, but I really couldn't find anything that worked for the space - the size is just too funky, and I don't think a curtain would fit in anyway.

That all changed when, while at JoAnn Fabrics recently, I discovered a magical option that I hadn't thought of:

Window. Freaking. Clings.

How did I not think of this earlier?! Dude. This would totally solve my problem, while at the same time letting some much-needed light into our foyer. Plus, it would help give the house some added character. Which is what precisely what we're after, folks.

Here are some options I'm thinking about:

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Any other ideas for window clings that would work? I'm really liking the third option but if there's another one I should be looking at I'm all ears!