Swimming!

Welcome Back!

Summer, somewhat, made an appearance last weekend. The pool people came early last week to “turn on” the pool, which included the heater. So with the nice weather here last weekend, and a heated pool, can you guess where the boys were all weekend?

Notice they have their shorts on? That’s because they got finished with their “outside” chores and then jumped right into the pool!

They swam all afternoon, took a break for a bit and headed out in the evening! Night swimming is the best!

On Sunday, they spent more time in the pool and by dinner time on Sunday, they were wiped out! Jack could barely keep his eyes opened while he sat in the lounger!

I can tell they will be out there any free time (and 70 degree weather) that they may get on their hands! For me, I need to wait until it is MUCH warmer!

Finished Basement!

Hello!

The basement is a huge transformation for us and has become one of my favorite rooms in the house (second to my craft room!) It’s so nice and quiet in here and off by itself! Love it…as does Jack. He has slept down here since the basement has been finished and is dressing in the laundry room! Jeez…pretty cushy!

So here are some before and after pictures of the basement.

Took the steps out!

Next is the transformation of the north end of the basement. I am taking these pictures where the shelves from above are at. Notice, there is not door on the right side when we began this project.

Embarrassing picture of all the junk in our basement!

We cut the wall out on the right so we can have access to the other side of the basement.

Still need to do a few things down here, but the boys love disappearing to this room and that’s exactly why we created the space for!

Remodeling…Done!

Welcome Back!

Well, I can say that our remodeling project for the inside is considered done. Just a few last minute items such as doorknobs in the basement and hanging pictures, but overall i’ts finished and we are absolutely loving our new areas!!

Today, I am going to share the before and after pictures of the sunroom which is now the “rec-room” :)! My goal for this room is to keep it somewhat “manly” but still fit the theme of he rest of the house. We had a lot of basic changes completed such as painting, new windows, new trim and tile in the door way. The largest change was adding the “locker”area and putting distressed wood on the ceiling to cover the popcorn ceiling. Love!!

We also hung a barn door which I am just tickled about! It cuts down the noise from this room going through the entire lower level of the house!

The ceiling!

For the lower level, we are using our leather furniture until we figure out what we really want to do with this area, which is working out just fine!

Stop by tomorrow to see the transformation of our basement, AKA Jack’s new room!

Just Finished…

Welcome Back!

Have you ever had one of those days where you do nothing “productive” or just needed some time to relax…on purpose.  I just had one of those days. It basically went like this:

Got the boys off to school.

Had coffee.

Started reading.

Napped.

Got up and ate some lunch.

Started Reading

Napped.

That was it.

The great thing was that I got two naps! (Mus have needed some rest!)

The next thing, was that I finished a really good read.
We are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman
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Stella Carey has good reason to only work nights at the hospice where she is a nurse. Married to a war veteran who has returned from Afghanistan brutally injured, Stella leaves the house each night as her husband Vincent, locks himself away, unable to sleep due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

During her nights at the hospice, Stella writes letters for her patients containing their final wishes, thoughts and feelings – from how to use a washing machine, to advice on how to be a good parent – and usually she delivers each letter to the recipient after he or she has died.

That is until Stella writes one letter that she feels compelled to deliver in time to give her patient one final chance of redemption…

I loved this book. I read it in three days. I enjoyed the stories of each of the main characters and I really liked reading the letters Stella wrote for her patients, which are between each chapter. I don’t want to say more because it would ruin the story for you. Great read!!

I would give this a 5 out of 5 stars.
(I am a sucker for a good love story!)

Nerf Boy!

Hello!

Jack is obsessed with Nerf guns. He watches Nerf videos (nothing like your kids watching others play with their toys) on how to change them up, take them apart, and build storage areas!

With the basement remodel, we ended up with the perfect wall that Jack soon claimed. He and Jason measured, planned and then built.

He then arranged his Nerf products. He is now ready to protect his family from a Zombie Apocalypse (especially Sam!)

Side note: Sam’s guns are at the very top…only one who can reach them!

Hollywood!!

Hello Again!

The number one thing that Jason wanted to do while in Hollywood was to get a great picture of the Hollywood sign. Luck would have it, during our bus tour, our guide took us to the perfect spot!

It was so cool to get up so close to the sign!!
Hollywood Sign, Hillside, Famous, Icon, Landmark, Hills

Haha…just kidding! I got that picture off the internet!  This is how close we really were!

It looks a lot bigger in person!

Our guide shared the history of the sign, which I found very fascinating!

The Hollywood Sign was put up as the Hollywoodland Sign in the fall of 1923 to advertise the 500-acre real estate development. Hollywood was full of houses, but the “hills” weren’t, so why not build on this “land!” Which is now know as Hollywood Hills!
Hollywoodland Sign

The original sign was outlined with 4,000 light bulbs, which, at night, flashed HOLLY, then WOOD, then LAND, then all thirteen letters. Sweet!

 The upkeep sign was not cheap and started to fall apart. In 1949 LA decided to repair and rebuild the sign. It was during that time the LAND was removed from the sign only leaving HOLLYWOOD displayed as a way to state Hollywood as a district and not as a real estate housing development. (Which is now know has Hollywood Hills) 🙂

So cool!!

You can actually take a hike up to the sign, but we decided that our bodies were not in hiking condition and we could do that on another visit! Plus, I wanted to see Justin Timberlake’s garbage!!

 

 

Just Finished…

Hello!

I just finished reading the book, Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan.

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I have been looking forward to reading this little number for some time and have heard great reviews!

From Amazon:
The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything―instead, they “check out” large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele’s behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan’s Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.

Like I said, I could not wait to read this boo, but…I did not like this book. I could not wait to stop reading it. I would pick it up and say, “I wish this book was done.” But I kept reading because the gal who suggested I read it said it has a great unexpected twist. It has a twist, but it didn’t do anything for me. I really did not get anything out of this book. This is the first time that I am not going to write any more about a book, because I really don’t have anything to say about this book.

The thing is, is it has gotten rave reviews…consistently. So, I would suggest to pick it up and read it, because many have loved it, so I may have just missed the whole point of the book.

I found the best part was that the cover glows in the dark. I discovered this when we were in LA. I shut off the light and saw the cover of the book glowing. I asked Jason, “Is this book glowing or am I see things?” Thank goodness, he saw that it was glowing too! Best part of the book!

I would give this book 1 star out of 5.

 

Universal Studios!

Welcome Back!

One place the boys were super excited about going to while in Hollywood was Universal Studios. We spent all day there…and when I say all day, I mean ALL day! Open to close. It was worth every minute. (LOADS of pictures!)

We first headed to Hogwarts…which is the Harry Potter area. Absolutely amazing! The castles were breath taking and the stores contained products you would actually see in the movies. What a fun area! If you are a Harry Potter fan (or not) you will love this area!

Had to get some Butterbeer. There are two kinds: frozen slushie and a regular drink. We, of course, got one of each. Oh. My. Yum.  SOOO good! My favorite was the slushie. Tasted a lot like cream soda!

A picture by the conductor at Hogwarts Express! He was so fun!

A few of the wands in the wand picking ceremony.

Second, stop…Krustyland in the Simpson Section!

We all rode the Simpson ride which 3 out of the 4 of us loved. It is basically a virtual reality ride. The “car” we were in moves, shakes, bounces, etc. while a video is all around you. I closed my eyes the ENTIRE ride, tired to find a happy place, counted to 100 and prayed to get off. As soon as I got off…Dramamine. Can you guess which one of us did not like the ride? The boys actually rode it a second time (vomit)

Off to Minion Land! I loved everything about this area!!

We saw the entire family, but not all at once. So cute!!

Planning a trip to Universal Studios Florida? Videos and tips to help!:

We rode the minion ride, which was also virtual reality. I was done after that ride.

At this point, we went for lunch and the Universal Back Lot Tour…sooo many pictures of that, I am just going to stick to rides for today’s post.

Sam and Jason went on the Jurassic Park water ride. Jack and I wold have gone but the 85 foot drop at the end stopped us.

Waiting to see the boys drop out of the dark hole!

Can you spot them in the very back row…right side?

The boys headed off to Shrek 4D, which I found out I could have done. Its a 3D movie, which become 4D with water sprayed on you and things under your seat. No…instead I decided I could go through the Walking Dead maze. Please remember as you read this story, I have never gone through a haunted house in my entire life.

See Sam contemplating how fast he could run if a zombie just may happen to walk out of the attraction? He went to Shrek.

I had watched this attraction on YouTube and thought…I can do that! I’ll tell you what…It’s a whole different story inside the maze and in the dark! And being the first “haunted” place I had gone through.

You have to turn corners and you do not know what it going to happen around the next corner! I was looking at some shelves through a door and a zombie slammed up against the door. I peed. Yep. I am owning it. I peed.

For the rest of the maze, I hung onto Jason’s shorts. My thought process was that I will put him between me and the zombies, BECAUSE the zombies come at you!! He saw one (I did not) and he slooowed down his walk on purpose…so it would come out at us! Really!! Who does that?

Once we walked out, we got the giggles so bad. Jason had to turn his shorts around. Why do you get the giggles so bad after you have been scared to death?

When the park closed, we headed to a nearby restaurant for dinner. We were so tired, that we couldn’t even think about what we were to do the next day or what time! We just wanted to eat and go home!

The boys passed time looking at all the pictures from the day.

We so wanted to leave and go home, but wouldn’t you know it, our waitress came out and said, “We know you have been here all day, so we decided to give you s’mores on the house!” Yay. Thank you. Any other day, we would be excited.

But as you can see, we took advantage and had s’mores. Sam was really enjoying his! 🙂

Finally back to our room and the boys went straight to bed. I mean, changing clothes while walking to bed and they were out!!

This is the next morning, trying to get them up. I turned on the lights and neither boy moved!!

Once I got them up and going..off to Paramount for a back lot tour!!

Wax Museum!

Welcome Back!

A fun stop on our Hollywood vacation was at the Hollywood Walk of Fame! There are BLOCKS of stars. We didn’t realize it was soooo long, so there were many that we did not see, but still took loads of pictures of stars we did see.

What is interesting about the stars is that in order to get a star, the movie star must be famous for 5 years, pay $30,000 and be willing to be at the event. Many famous stars do not have one because they are not interested in being at the event! Many stars are paid by companies to “up” the publicity for the movie the star may be in…such as John Goodman getting his last week. That was a promotional event by the movie company!

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The walk of fame begins at this statue of four women movie stars. Each actress represents a different ethnicity.

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Another fun place we stopped on the walk of fame was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. It was a bit creepy at first and disorienting because you get off an elevator walk in to the museum and you can not tell who is real ans who is wax! You can take selfies and tough the figures…just not their face or hair. So people were taking selfies and you weren’t sure who was the wax figure!!

No need to introduce these famous people…will just let you enjoy our pictures and selfies with the stars! (LOADS of pictures!)

(Look at the way Jason is looking at Betty White! I had a dream that he left me for her.)

If you ever go to Hollywood, a trip to the wax museum is a must! So much fun, once you figure out who is a visitor and who is wax!!

 

Bus Tour!

Hello!

The one thing I wanted to do while in LA, was to take a bus tour of Hollywood Hills. So today was the day we got on our little van for a 2hour tour! Here are a “few” highlights!

This is Charlie Hunnam’s House. He was in Sons of Anarchy, Pacific Rim and King Arthur.

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The house doesn’t look like much from the front…

But check out the back!

Johnny Galecki from the Big Bang, bought this house from Ben Stiller

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Katy Perry’s House. She bought the one next door for her sister.

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Bruno Mars

The back of his house.
Bruno Mars' Hollywood Hills home.:

Richard Simmons.

Check out his mailbox!

Keanu Reeves.
The guide told us those aren’t his cars because he doesn’t drive one. He ha a motorcycle and a helicopter.

His house from above. All we can see is the little walk way on the right.

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Leonard DiCaprio
This is what we see from the street. There was a house built in his view to the city, so he bought it and tore it down.

This is what his house looks like now.

Leo's Hollywood Hills compound includes two adjoining properties and a custom-built basketball court

Jennifer Aniston bought this one and is remodeling it.

View from above.
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Quinten Taritinos House.

Sometimes you will see the famous “P**** Wagon” from the movie Kill BIll in the driveway. Not today.
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Johnny Depp’s house. There was a gal walking up to his house. Wonder who it was!??!? He actually has 5 houses in this one area! I learned that stars DO NOT like their view taken away from them!

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Al Pacino’s House. 3 of the last 5 times the tour guide passed by his house, he was sitting in the chair right inside the gate. Not today, though.

Now, this was the highlight of the tour.

Justin Timberlake’s house!
We started with the security cameras and large trees. The tour guide shared that as they get more popular, the trees get higher as do the fences. He pointed out many fences and gates that had welded pieces on top of the original piece! Justin has very tall trees…must be popular!

Here’s a view of the entire house. All we can see is the little area on the far right.

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And here is his garbage! I wonder what wonderful things I cold have found if I was allowed to exit the tour van. I have been know to dumpster dive and find a few treasures!

Wow! An that was from 10-12pm!
After the tour, we headed to lunch at the In and Our Burger! Yummy!! Then it was off to the Hollywood Walk of Stars and Madam Tussauds Wax Museum. Stop by Friday to see all the “Stars” we met at the museum!!