The SUN will come out.

Don’t lie, most of you sang that in your head. There is definitely promise of the sun coming out tomorrow in my world. On Thursday, we got the most exciting news our permit has been accepted and we have clearance for our plumbing inspection. You’re probably thinking “why in the world are you so happy about a permit?” Well a permit means that we are clear to replace the dirt and pour concrete which means we will possibly be able to go home by the end of next week.

Minnie looking out the window dreaming about going home to her house

For those of you who are new here, Hi! I am a new resident of Boulder City, NV and my lovely welcoming gift was corroded cast iron plumbing. The journey to get where we are has definitely been rough. Today marks day 34 of being stuck in a motel (FULL VLOG coming soon of this adventure). After only being in Boulder City for 3 weeks before we had to move out of our home to allow the asbestos team work so the plumbers can do their thing. We are super anxious to get back in and the list of DIY projects that I have is growing every day. Stay tuned to watch the renovations of our home built in 1962 come to life.

Serenity Salon BC

After hours of browsing on instagram I kept coming back to pictures from the Serenity Salon in Boulder City. Now living with blonde hair for so long has taught me one thing, DO YOUR RESEARCH! Especially when finding a new salon, bleach can destroy your hair if your stylist is not careful.

I was so excited to find Sarah and be able to score an appointment with her. She is a hard stylist to book with and new client spots can be rare to find. I went in with an open mind and let her make recommendations for what she thought was best for me, my only request was to stay on the cooler side. She decided to do some highlights and some extra pieces to add more dimension. Once they processed they added a third color to my roots to really build the color, she said it would allow me to have more time in between sessions extending the life of my color.

Once fully processed, the rinsed and toned. Blow drying my hair and leaving me with a beautiful all over blonde color which I absolutely love. Now i’m the kind of girl who normally on the first try doesn’t love my stylist color job, but this time was different. I think I knew even as she was placing color, that I was going to be over the moon with excitement. I am honestly so blessed I found her and will definitely continue going back to the salon.

If you ever find yourself in Boulder City and are looking for a hair cut or color be sure to check out the Serenity Salon. They also offer a variety of other services like nails, waxing, facials and more.

April showers, brings May flowers

My showers started in March and are currently carrying over to April. Life has been super chaotic for my household as we undergo major plumbing renovations. We decided to purchase a house built in 1962 and are now experiencing all the wonders that come with a home from that time period.

Cast iron plumbing, now back in the day it seemed like the best plan ever, however now it is just a mess for those living in houses built during that time period. Right now, I feel as if this weather saying is describing my life. As I hope all of my house issues will get resolved and buttoned up this month and bring May flowers. Now, if your new here “Hi, my name is Krista and well I am renovating a house in Boulder City,NV.” Stay tuned to see the journey as it unfolds right here on my blog and soon to be YouTube channel.

We are now on our third week in a motel because our house is currently a disaster area. If there is an issue, I am pretty sure we have hit them all. However, once all the storms passed flowers will bloom and we should have a beautiful home with new bones. During this renovation we have hit everything from electrical wires, not being put in the ground properly and having the concrete smoking and popping underneath and issues with third party contractors. If you are looking at purchasing an older home the best advice i have for you is to get an inspection of the pipes under the house. Yes, it might cost you $450 but replacing the pipes can cost you $20k or even more. If there is an issue see if you can negotiate your price to help deflect the cost of this plainly plumbing bill.

Ugly before the Charm

Buying an older home, sounds like a great idea. Your homeowners insurance is less, property taxes are lower but here is some of the realities you may face.

Now look, and please understand I do not regret my decision of purchasing my house. I am only talking about this so you can be aware of some of the issues you may face. During our inspection, everything looked and sounded like it was going to be ok. We were aware that the electrical panel had some issues that needed to be addressed. My husband and I were also aware of what issues could be lying under our house. Plumbing can be a major and costly issue as we are finding out.

Our house had a lovely smell of sewage along with a clogged sink. When I was washing the dishes it started raining out of the vent on the roof from a clogged line in the plumbing. The plumber came out fixed the clog and hydro-jetted the line to be called back out a week later. They decided to run a camera under the house to show are completely cracked cast iron piping. 🤦‍♀️

Fast forward 2 weeks later and we are in a motel, while our house is being abated for asbestos before the plumbing can begin. The lesson here is if you’re going to buy an older home, have a plumber run a camera under the house before you purchase. Perhaps you’re like us and ok with the situation, not thrilled but dealing with it. However, had i ran a camera under the house I could have negotiated a better deal.

I wouldn’t change the location or lay out of my house, and I love the backyard. So this is just an unfortunate event.

Explore the World Around You 🌎

Here is an easy DIY

Grab a map, mine is a gift i received a few years back with a scratch off each location as you visit. A regular map would work as well, simply just grab some push pins and you can mark off locations you have visited. I decided to frame my map, however you don’t have to. Hang it up, and add some mixtiles with places you have visited. And head off to amazon for some simple decor to spruce it up. Linked below is the frame, and decor i used plus a map that would for this project.

Products used:

scratch off map- this isn’t the exact one but it’s close. $14.99

frame- i liked that this one had a mat. $35.99

decor- gold plants next to picture $15.99

mixtiles

Be sure to tag us in your version of this DIY.

*affiliate links are used in this post

But first, coffee

If you are ever headed out to the Boulder Dam and looking for a great place to stop for coffee or breakfast swing by the Dam Roast House located in Boulder City,NV. Conveniently found on Nevada Way, this quaint coffee shop offers pastries, select food items, smoothies and more. They also have a small book shop.

The Dam Roast House is a local favorite featuring delicious speciality drinks like a Cinnamon Toast or a s’mores latte. Be sure to try the blueberry muffin or the zucchini bread. The staff is super friendly. Enjoy a stroll through the historic town of Boulder City while you sip on a latte.

There’s no place like HOME..

Okay, so some of you might be wondering where I have been hiding for the past week. Well let me fill you in, my life has become well one big mess. It all started two weeks ago when I was washing dishes, my garbage disposal backed up and I flipped the switch and it started spitting water back at me and then was raining outside of my kitchen window. Well if you didn’t already guess, the line was clogged. After having a plumbing company come out and hydro jet the line and search for the sewage smell we kept smelling. Everything seemed great.

Just to find out that a week later the sewage smell we had been experiencing was back. Two plumbers later, a new garbage disposal, and new lines under the sink to find out that we need to run a camera under the house. Just to find out that our cast iron pipes were destroyed and the smell we are smelling is Mr. Hanky stuck on a cracked pipe. Needless to say our house looks like a containment center, and we found out to top everything off we have asbestos in the walls. Now we are waiting on a restoration company to come and remove the asbestos. Michael, and I are currently staying at the El Rancho Boulder Motel with our dogs as we wait to find out what is going to happen next.

After two days of waiting, we finally got clearance to start the abatement. We are waiting to get the appointment set up so we can get the ball rolling.

Freshen Up Your Entry Way

Looking for a simple and easy way to freshen up your entry way. Give the back of your front door a fresh coat of paint. It’s as simple as that. A dirty and dingy door can leave your entry way feeling grimy, but with a wipe down and quick coat of paint it can have your entry way looking like new.

Use an angled brush to get into all of the detail work and nooks and crannies. Grab your mini foam roller and go ahead and roll the rest. The whole process took me around 90 minutes. Leaving me with a quick and easy makeover. Now, please keep in mind my before and afters are from when I first moved in. I painted the walls and the board and batten as well. After having it done for a day I decided the fresh paint around the room made the door look dirty. Have you painted your front door back, let me know in the comments.

Buying an Older Home

Real Estate photo from the house before we purchased

Ok, so moving to Boulder City,NV means buying an older home, Our house was built in 1962 with that comes house issues you may run into. We are currently on our third week here and have already gotten a surprise. The other night, I was doing the dishes when I turned on the garbage disposal and it was raining outside my window. Going into a panic, I immediately called a plumber. They couldn’t come until the next day, so I grabbed a solo cup and washing pan and scooped out the water in the sink. Only to find out that my entire vent was clogged with grease!

Now this might not sound like a huge issue but my plumber had to use hydro jet to clean out the pipes and vent that attached to my AC. I am very grateful I had the money to take care of this issue because it is not cheap. Anyways, I guess the purpose of this post is, expect the unexpected and try to keep laughing because you never know what life might throw at you.

Shoe Storage

I’m not sure if your household is like mine but i always feel like shoes never have a home. This time I decided to find a functional way to store our shoes.

Now, as most of you know I am an avid Amazon shopper. After hours of searching I found the perfect fit for my house. A white free standing shoe cabinet that goes in my living room. Offering covered storage while allowing me to add decor to the top, and it still looks stylish.

This cabinet is fairly easy to build, I did it by myself but certain parts would be easier with an extra set of hands. I love the gold details with a clean and sleek white design. Tell me how do you store your shoes?

This cabinet costs $159.99 and is available on amazon

This post contains affiliate links.

Colorful Lawn Decor

Being new to Boulder City, I have noticed a trend while out walking my pups in the morning. People here, love lawn decor and statues.

I decided to check out Amazon to find my own decor. Now since, my house is building a color palette. I found a peacock statue that is metal and gorgeous. While searching I also found a set of solar metal agave butterfly flower garden sculptures.

This post contains Affiliate Links

Budget Closet Makeover

Like a sidetracked blonde, I forgot to take pictures before I started wall papering.

With our new house being built in 1962 we have ran into some issues. Closet storage was definitely one of the first problems. Luckily, with the help of Amazon. I was able to find a fun peel and stick wall paper, along with 2 closet racks that fit like a glove. Before I get ahead of myself let’s talk about the process.

I set a budget of $500 for the closet, knowing that I needed to find a way to create storage using long and short hang. I found 2 racks on Amazon from Vipek. I took measurements to figure out the exact amount of space I would have once I removed the shelf on the top part of the closet. The Vipek V4 garment rack gives 3 hanging rods and hooks for purses coming in at a total of $109.99. It is 56.7 inches in length and 76.4 inches in height. The Vipek V5i has 8 adjustable shelves, and 4 hanging rods. The rack is 56.7 inches long and 76.4 inches in height. Fitting the master closet with ease.

Next, I selected a peel and stick wall paper to add some contrast and a focal point to the room, since it is an open closet. Since I was painting the room a light blue color, I decided to go with a geometric print that features different shade of blue. Applying the wallpaper is the first step.It really brings a nice pop of color into the room. I decided to go with white racks and a natural brown hanger. 30 hangers cost $36.99 each box. These hangers are nice and sturdy.

This post contains affiliate links.

Living Life in Color

Sometimes all you need is a little splash of color. I recently started my painting journey of our house built in 1962. My color palette came from a rug that I found and purchased on RUGS.com. Pulling the teal color and using it as the base for the house, while pulling other blues and accent colors from the rug to create what I think is the perfect way to live life in color.

Image from RUGS.com

Stay tuned to see how the transformation goes. I will be painting all of the board and batten in the front room as well, but one step at a time. Above is before and after pictures of the front room. I used the Home Depot Paint Studio to visualize the colors before painting.

Please keep in mind, we just moved in and I am currently building furniture and such so that’s why the house looks a mess. Always keep dreaming and remember anything DIY is possible with the power of paint.

Home Depot Paint Studio

As many of you know, once you start with the purchase of a home. You begin to envision yourself in the house, I have found myself day dreaming and recently discovered the Home Depot Paint Studio. It allows you to change colors of walls without painting.

I will take you through my color journey. I have only decided on 2 rooms colors so far, but you can really see what the room will look like. We are purchasing a home built in 1962. Some updates have been done but stay tuned to see what I come up with.

Below is a picture of the dining area. The gray is before and you can the beautiful teal shade i will be using.

I will also include a few more photos of open living concept along with the master bedroom.

Now I can’t go giving all of my secrets away but i will say this. Stay tuned because we will be having major transformations of the house.

Stay positive and be kind- Krista

Cute Pet Organizer

If your like my household you have alot of pet toys. I have tried multiple baskets and storage systems. This cute and stylish basket has been perfect to match home decor. Holding toys with style. Affordable, and easy to assemble.This basket could be perfect for your home too.

Basket is currently $34.99 on amazon, with a 10% clickable coupon.

Cute and Functional Pet Storage

*this post contains amazon associates links. Purchasing from the link will give a small commission.

Helpful Tips for Moving

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to doing anything I prefer to be organized. Moving is probably one of the most stressful things we do, however it doesn’t have to be. Technology is right in the palm of our hand. You guessed it, your cell phone. Utilizing the Lists app on an Iphone has been a life saver for me. Open up that list app, and let your worries melt away. Below is an example of the lists I have created for my move.

Affordable Valentine Accessories

Searching for those perfect Valentine’s Day Accessories. The Boulder City Babes got you covered. Here’s a list of the Items above with prices.

Shein Hug Me Earrings $1.81

Shein Flower and Bow Decor Drop Earrings $1.90

Shein Valentines Day Heart & Strawberry Earrings $1.90

Shein Hot Pink Shaped Rhinestone Stud Earrings $2.20

Shein Qutie Heart Pattern drop Shoulder Sweater current on sale for $8.75

Amazon Valentines Day Headband $16.99

This post contains an affiliate link.

Crazy Market

Let me be the first to tell you the real estate market is crazy. Selling our house has taken over a year. In October of 2022 we began to pack the house and were listed as coming soon in January of 2023. Fast forward to August when we got our first offer. We excitedly accepted to be let down when the buyer could not secure the proper financing. In October we received our second offer to be let down again due to a family emergency. Thinking that third times the charm turned into yet another let down in November by the same family. They decided they would rather have a new build.

The holiday season passed, and January of 2024 arrived. We finally were getting showings again. A little over into a week, our final offer rolled in. We are finally selling our house and are Boulder City bound.

My biggest advice to anyone selling a house right now is don’t loose hope. The right buyer is out there.

Helpful tips that got us the right buyer:

• 3D layout of your home on Zillow

• Clean, get in the nooks and crannies.

• Pack all non-essential items.

• Declutter your home.

Elevated Dog Bowls

Help prevent strain on your fur babies neck and joints. Sturdy, non slip bowls are convenient way to feed your pet. I found these easy stackable bowls on amazon. They have been a game changer for feeding my pups. Easy to clean, rust resistant and BPA free these bowls are great for small and medium sized dogs. Loki, my australian shepherd also has one. This elevated pet bowl is perfect to satisfy your fur babies needs.

Elevated Dog Bowls $21.99

*This post contains Amazon Associates Links

Affordable Color Correcting

Have you ever felt like your using too much foundation? Color correction is the answer. A simple and easy step that can save you time and money. By correcting discoloration on your face like redness with a green color corrector, it can allow you use less foundation. My favorite affordable color correcting palette is by NYX. It allows you to carry multiple colors on the go. Personally, I enjoy wearing a tinted moisturizer and it allows me to wear it with confidence. Above is a simple guide on color correcting.

NYX Color Correction Palette Price $9.99

*This post contains Amazon associate links.