Why this blog? I am a pinterestaholic and a frugal creative do-it-yourselfer.  I used to be a graphic designer and am now working toward my nursing degree.  We are working toward self-sustainability and trying to do things "the way my grandparents" used to do things, so we try all sorts of fun stuff. Here is my quick house story.

In June 2011 my husband and I bought a falling down foreclosure on an acre in the country.  It was an ideal 10 minutes from all three towns that we go to, but like I said it was falling down.  What drove us to buy something so ramshackle?  We were living in 850 square feet with our two daughters.  If the neighbor sneezed we could say "God Bless You." The lack of privacy was driving us crazy, we were all bickering and the house was so small if you sat on the toilet your knees hit the tub.  We wanted space.

I wanted a space for a garden and backyard chickens, the girls wanted a place to ride bikes, and my husband wanted a garage. Nothing outlandish.  The dream kept us going through the bad times.  Finally after watching the budget for two years the market was just right to buy.  The acre with the house clinched the deal.

We began our beer budget restoration. It took us 6 months, countless gallons of paint and new carpet just to get it where we could move in. I lost my job in January 2012 and the beer budget became a juice budget. However, we said even if it is one thing a month we would continue towards our goals.  It was time to get creative.

The back of the house.  The piles of stuff off to the right side was just from the basement.