Many of you know that we started over a year and a half ago on several indoor remodeling projects. Our upstairs was the first room completed. (I shared before and after photos in my May 11, 2022 blog post.) Soon after we hired contractors to completely change our main level – the kitchen/dining area and living room. In fact in late April of 2022 this is what it looked like as the wall removal and gutting began.

The goal was to finish within months…end of summer at the latest. But because of shipping delays with many items AND other issues, it took until late July of 2023 (15 months!!) to call it “finished.” It has been livable since Fall of 2022 when our couch finally arrived. But we were still waiting on many other items.

So if you’ve been curious, I’m ready to share with you now our “before” and “after” photos of our main level makeover! Yay!!

I know in the photos it seems darker, but we really have so much more light on this floor throughout the day with the removal of that middle wall. And I’m so in love with the black/gray/white neutrals. Because if I ever get tired of the blue accents, I can easily give this room a whole new look by replacing the rug, the chair, pillows, vases, and a few other small decor items.

We began the downstairs bathroom remodel in mid-February of 2023. And the finishing touches were finally completed in this room on July 27, 2023. Here are photos of the process and then the “after” photos. (I forgot to take “before” photos.)

And because we will have an exchange student arriving mid-August to be with us during this coming school year (a 15-year-old boy from South Korea), we needed to clean up and update our guest room, too. So I’ll have a few more photos of that room to share with you this month.

Thanks for visiting today. It’s so nice to sit back and just enjoy our new rooms.

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TIME TO REDEEM BONUS DAYS COUPONS!
It’s time to redeem those Bonus Days coupons you earned in July. Be sure to redeem them on an order between August 1 – 31! Click here for more details. Click here to shop online.

KITS SALE!!
All kits in the Kits Collection line are now on sale up to 30% off through the month of August. Click here for more details. Click this link to shop and save!

KITS COLLECTION: FESTIVE TAGS KIT ADDED
’Tis the season to start your holiday crafting! It’s so simple with this all-inclusive kit. Adhere the die cuts and embellishments, then tie the tag to a gift with a twine bow. You’ll have handmade tags in minutes! This new kit is part of the Kits Collection and is now available. Click here and scroll down for more details.

A PEEK AT AUGUST’S PAPER PUMPKIN KIT
Discover beautiful watercolor forget-me-nots and lotuses in the August Paper Pumpkin Kit! This kit includes 8 cards, 4 each of 2 designs, and 8 coordinating envelopes. The kit is special because of the way it uses the meaning of flowers. On each card, you’ll find a small inscription of what the flowers represent. As you craft with the included vellum and watercolor paper pieces, you’ll know you’re sending a message of encouragement/hope and loyalty. And anyone who subscribes to this month’s kit will get a BONUS Distinktive stamp set! Coordinating Stampin’ Up! colors: Bubble Bath, Crushed Curry, Garden Green, Melon Mambo, Misty Moonlight, Orchid Oasis, Pretty Peacock (ink spot color), Tahitian Tide
If you are not a Paper Pumpkin subscriber, I invite you to give it a try. CLICK HERE to learn more. CLICK HERE to sign up by August 10th for this next kit.

ALL STAR VIDEO CLASSES
I’m a designer with the All Stars, a group of globally recognized Stampin’ Up! demonstrators. And we are excited to share exclusively with our customers, paper crafting friends & team members our August 2023 Bright & Beautiful Suite Video Class Bundle which is now available. CLICK HERE for more information. Click here to get to my Tutorials/Classes for Sale page to see others that have been offered. The next one featuring the Zoo Crew Suite from the 2023-24 Annual Catalog will be available September 1st.

US BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES TAX HOLIDAY
Thirteen states and Puerto Rico are offering a sales tax holiday for school supplies during the months of July, August, or September. Products that are eligible according to the statute include “items normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes.” To see the names of participating states, products exempted from tax, and sales tax holiday dates 2023 Tax Holiday spreadsheet here. If you want to get in on the tax holiday, you must place your order with Stampin’ Up! during the tax holiday period in order to receive these items tax-free (which is midnight on the first day to midnight on the last day of the tax holiday). Also, keep in mind that this is a state sales tax holiday; the state statute may not apply to county, city, and special jurisdiction taxes.