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You are here: Home / We Blew Our Savings

April 12, 2012 by: Kara Noel Lawson

We Blew Our Savings

IMG_1407

Does this house make my wallet look small?

Because my wallet sure feels a lot smaller!!

We bought our first house. It is fantastic – perfect in every way.

OK, it is kinda a dump.

It was a drug house and (according to the cute 4th grade girl next door) the SWAT team even raided the place.

I’ve be donning knee pads and old jeans every evening to demo every remnant of gross house into the dumpster. Who knew knee pads could be so hot! The carpet had to be taken out because 4 families were living in the house and all that foot traffic made black foot paths where there wasn’t furniture.

It was gross. gross. Gross. Gross.

  photo 2    photo 1

We go to the hardware store. A lot. The kids and I get bored. A lot.
I found the reflection knob pic on my phone after one trip. I know I’m his mom, but I was pretty impressed. I’m thinking Eli is a budding photographer!

  photo 3    photo 4

Picking paint colors is so stressful. I may have even switched the main color after a few walls had been painted. Eeeep.

  photo 2   photo 2 

Many many, before and after pictures coming soon. As soon as we get some cute afters going on!

We won’t be moving till mid-June so we have plenty of time to work on things. Thankfully that’s a long way off because of all the work that has to be done. And it’s not soon enough as space is tight around here.

photo 1

Since we are house poor saving money, I have learn how to cook. I actually like it, as long as I plan ahead. I’ll share some of my favorite dishes. I’m nothing close to a chef and my recipes aren’t crazy amazing. But I promise they are yummy, very very VERY EASY and cheap. This one is from my mom!

Pizza Dough from Scratch (this one is made for the food processor)

In a measuring cup:
Add 1 tablespoon of sugar & 1 tablespoon of yeast to 1 cup of hot water. Place in a non ventilated place for 15 minutes. (We use the microwave)
If it foams up then you know the yeast is good to go.

While you are waiting for the yeast to foam…
Add
, 2 2/3 cup of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 heaping tablespoon of basil, 1 heaping tablespoon of oregano in to the food processor and mix a bit.

Pull your yeast mixture out of the micro and add 1 tablespoon of oil.

Slowly pour the wet mixture into the mixing food processor.

It will roll into a ball.

Take the dough ball out and cover lightly with oil.

Place it in a container with a lid (or use saran wrap to cover the top)

Put the container into a non ventilated place (We use the micro… again)

After about an hour the dough is ready.

Rub the remaining oil from the container onto the bigger dough ball.

Mash the ball out flat on a pan to your desired thickness.

Put in the oven for about 7 minutes at 400 degrees. Keep an eye out the first time if you like soft dough (like we do), it can overcook quickly.

For the pizza…

Add pizza sauce (we always use Prego Spaghetti sauce because I can get it in bulk at Sam’s Club for a multitude of dishes), cheese and all the fixings then put in the oven till the cheese is yummy melty goodness and you are DONE!

Even though there are a lot of steps above it’s actually REALLY easy. I just broke it down so much because that’s the way I like it!

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Kara Noel Lawson

@karanoellawson

Kara Noel Lawson

Kara Noel Lawson

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Kara Noel Lawson

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth Sunnen says

    April 19, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    Congrats on the new house, KN! That’s fantastic for your family! 🙂 🙂 Can’t wait to see the before and after pics. xoxo

    Reply
    • Eli's Lids says

      April 20, 2012 at 11:46 am

      Thanks!! I just popped by your shop and it looks great!! Love the new products! And already in stores!! YAY! That is something I need to figure out… like yesterday.

      Reply
  2. Kristin A. says

    April 12, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Yeah for the house!! Boo for the druggies who used to live there. You guys will turn it back into a happy home. I’ve got to take you with me to Restaurant Depot some time. You think Sams Club has good deals! I’ve got a great recipe for a pasta bake that I love to make cause it’s so easy and it makes a lot. I’ll email it to you. I have some cookbooks laying around too that I don’t use anymore that I can give ya.

    Reply
    • Eli's Lids says

      April 15, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      Yes!!!! I need all the help I can get. But they have to be EASY.
      I think I’ve see restaurant depot. Is it open in the evening? Maybe we can go then and brad can keep the kids.

      Reply
  3. Meghan says

    April 12, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    Congrats on the house.
    Wooooo!

    Reply
    • Eli's Lids says

      April 15, 2012 at 12:44 pm

      Thanks Meghan! We are stoked!!

      Reply
  4. the Blah Blah Blahger says

    April 12, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    KARA, THAT IS SOOOOOO EXCITING! Congrats on the new purchase! I can’t wait to see what kind of crazy cuteness you turn it into! : )

    Reply
    • Eli's Lids says

      April 15, 2012 at 12:46 pm

      Thank you!! I have so many projects in my head, I’m nervous I’ll be so overwhelmed and nothing will get done… eeeeep!

      Reply
  5. Jen says

    April 12, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    So excited for you! It’s a gorgeous house (at least on the outside for now!) Can’t wait to see more before and afters!

    Reply
    • Eli's Lids says

      April 15, 2012 at 12:48 pm

      I’m sure that will be all I’m talking about soon!! So excited I’m bursting.

      Reply

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Here at Small Things I share how we can all do Small Things to positively impact our families, our neighborhoods, our communities and the world. I also freelance for local and national publications.

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