Single-Handedly Saving the Economy

Step aside, Mr. President!  And Mr. Romney!  The answer to this country's economic woes is very simple: Everyone needs to act like they're furnishing a house (in the mindset of a 27 year-old, middle-class female).  It's not a credit limit... it's a goal line!

BUY ALL THE THINGS!  AHAHAHAHAHA!  

Maniacal laugh aside, I firmly believe that I am single-handedly saving stores like Crate&Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, VivaTerra, CB2, and many others, simply by building a house.

It's horrible (and awesome).  I can't stop myself.  I've had to shred four credit cards in the last three months to keep myself from using them.  Like a jonesin' Alzheimer's patient, I keep going back to the same websites, and the same stores, and Houzz - just to see what more I can buy.  Like I've never been there before - scouring each page, wandering aimlessly through the online quarry, just waiting to find something that I want.

And it's not like they have new things every day.  They change out their newest items about quarterly, maybe monthly, with a steady flow of their standards.  Crate&Barrel hasn't had a new item since July.  But I keep checking their site - ready to pounce on the next item I can vaguely picture somewhere in our new house.

The leasing office employees at our apartment complex have started taking bets on how many packages will come for me on any given week.  They make fun of Jonathan when he goes in to pick them up, because they're never for him, and he's always very confused as to what he's having to haul back to the apartment.  Pillows?  Lamps?  Plates?  It's surprise every day!

If everyone in this country - or even just half of us - acted as though we were furnishing a brand new home, the economic crisis would do a 180.  Of course, then we wouldn't be able to retire... or we'd dig ourselves into deep credit debt... so maybe this isn't the best plan for everyone, but I'm darn sure that West Elm knows me by name.

Cheers -
Caroline

A Roof Over Our Heads!

The house has taken shape! A very distinctive, house-like shape.

Much of the house is framed in - interior walls are framed, the exterior is covered in Tyvek and SolarBoard.  The roof is covered, but not well.  Jonathan and I visited on Saturday (the 13th) as rain drenched the area.  The roof is not complete so there were large puddles on the concrete in our living room, entry, and dining room.  Of course, Sunday shown bright and sunny and dried the whole thing out by 3:30 in the afternoon so at least there's no standing water.  Jonathan is very worried about rotting 2x4s.

We believe the shingles will go on this week.

Curtis has told us that Jonathan should be prepared to wire in two weeks (around Oct. 27th).  Jonathan and I are saving some money by letting the "homeowner" install the low-voltage wiring, i.e. speaker wire, tv cables, ethernet and CAT6E cables.  So Jonathan has called on his buddies, all tech-nerds and one actual electrician, to help wire the house.  They all seem very excited to help - I hope they remain that way at 9 AM on a Saturday morning.

Here's to saving money, and having great friends!
Cheers -
Caroline

House Update #7

So once they get going, they really get going!

Even after a few short weeks, we have a lot of movement on the house.  The entire outside frame is up. They are beginning to frame in the inner walls.   The roof will go on this week.  The fireplace is framed in.  Plumbing is verified and ready for finishing.  Tyvek is wrapped around the house and it's ready for bricking and stonework.

It's all very exciting.  I'm finding it very hard to control my credit card - it just keeps wanting to buy stuff for the house!

Cheers -
Caroline