A DIY Blog Empowering You to Complete Your Own Project
Creating a meaningful home isn’t an overnight process. I think many people are discouraged with their dwelling if it isn’t the home of their dreams. I look at creating a meaningful home in three stages. Each stage is important to loving the home that you have now, even with its faults or shortcomings. Read how I love my home’s imperfections along the path to creating my own meaningful home at SAS Interiors Meaningful Home series:
I’ll be looking for you over there 
.
Grateful Bracelet from Vintage Fern
You know when you have experiences in your life that make you extremely grateful to have what you do have. The moments when you realize that seconds or inches make the difference between life and death. And moments when you suddenly realize how blessed you are.
We had one of those moments Friday night.
While at SNAP I received word that a huge tree had fallen on our house.
My whole family was home except me. And despite the damage, all that really matters is that my four boys (my husband, my two boys, and Buddy) were unscathed.
Sure there are numerous holes in our roof.
Sure there was a 8 foot limb that punctured my son’s bedroom ceiling.
Sure there is consequently a hole with a view to the sky in his bedroom.
Sure our attic is literally a disaster zone filled with pine needles, sap and rain soaked contents.
But, it doesn’t matter. All that matters to me is that my loved ones are fine.
The restoration team has already moved in to start drying things out.
Yup, that would be my brand new kitchen ceiling with a big hole cut into it. But, honestly, it doesn’t matter.
Sheetrock and paint are cheap. Lives are priceless!
Sadly, I think some baby chickadees lost their lives. I’m hoping the parents survived and will consider building a new nest in their favorite home:
I’m taking a few days to give my boys extra hugs and kisses. And I’ll be busy on clean up duty. Hope to see you again soon.
Important Note: I had to cancel my talk on Monday, April 20th at the Habitat ReStore in Greater Greensboro. I will have to reschedule for a later date and will be sure to let you know when I do. If you live in the area, still head over to the ReStore this week for Earth Day specials.
I’m currently cruising at the over 10,000 feet altitude (gotta LOVE in flight wi-fi!) and headed to Salt Lake City to attend SNAP later this week. Say a prayer that I don’t catch the stomach bug that claimed another family member this morning. Currently Buddy and I are the last ones standing (where is there wood on an airplane to knock?!!!) Anyway, I’ll be giving a talk about DIY Residential Lighting and Electrical Upgrades while there. If you are at SNAP, I hope you’ll pull me aside to say hi. Please forgive me if we’ve met and I forgot your name. I’m HORRIBLE with names, but pretty good with faces.
Then on Monday, I’ll be back on the East coast for a talk at the “Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro” ReStore for Earth Day. If you are in the area, come check out the celebration on Monday, April 22nd at noon. The address is: 3826 High Point Rd. Greensboro, NC 27407 (Ignore the address on the website, it is misleading.)
I’m sure I won’t be able to resist some shopping and chatting afterwards, so stick around and I’ll tell you all the wonderful things my mind sees when I wander around the ReStore!
If you can’t make it, I hope you have a great Earth Day and do something green that day.
Don’t forget I have an awesome giveaway going on right now from Everyday Icing.
I’m in love with their jewelry and accessories! I wore one of their necklaces yesterday and received several compliments.
Finally, if you left me a comment on the Embellished HERSHEY’S KISSES carrying cases tutorial, you won some HERSHEY’S KISSES and a carry case! Congrats! Check your email and reply to me as soon as possible.
Have you heard the horror stories about filing for a permit and the subsequent inspections? Did you hear the tale about the inspector that made the electrician pull everything out and start over? Have you been warned not to file a permit because you might “open a can of worms”? What exactly is a rough-in? And why do people say “pull a permit” instead of file for a permit? Don’t let misinformation put you and your family at risk. I have the answers to these questions and why you would want to file for a permit before starting your next home improvement project.
Last week I drove downtown to file for a building and electrical permit with Wake County, NC, but found out we are in the Raleigh City Jurisdiction for building permits (but that’s another story for another day.) Before I went to the permit office, I asked Barry Mooneyham, Chief Code Official of Wake County if I could have a little of his time to ask him some questions. It was a very informative 3o minutes, which completely changed my perspective on permits. I left his office with a new found appreciation and understanding of permits and inspectors.
Before I get to Mr. Mooneyham’s answers, I want to answer a recent question that some of my readers posted on Facebook:
Laura, Alyssa & Holly, thanks for asking. I was unsure of the origin on the term “pulling a permit” myself, so I did a little research.
Why do people call it “pulling a permit” instead of filing for a permit?
Having “pulled a permit” last week I can tell you that it really wasn’t hard. I did print out the paperwork online before heading downtown. This was invaluable because I was able to answer all the questions ahead of time. Some of the information that was required for the permit is: [Read more...]
Do I need to pull a permit for this? What happens if I don’t pull a permit? What can I expect? What surprise could come up? What happens if you fail the inspection?
These are just a few of the broad questions I have for Mr. Barry Mooneyham, Director of Wake County Planning, Development and Inspections. I’m not sure Mr. Mooneyham knows what to expect, but he was genuinely glad to let me come talk to him this coming Wednesday morning. I have a list of questions for him about building permits and about why people are so hesitant to file for a permit.
Please add your own questions to my list by asking them below in the comments. I’d love to help you get your questions answered. Be on the lookout for the follow up post after my interview.
