First, if you are wondering why I am still referring to us as a "newlywed couple" even though we've been married for a year and half, its for 2 reasons. #1. It's the name of the blog, get over it. #2. Someone very wise (Jim and Adelle) told me long before I was married to my soul mate, "it makes no difference how long you are married, you can always refer to yourselves as a 'newlywed couple' as long as you always act like you just got married and are that much in love."
Second, if you are planning on doing ANYTHING to your house DIY style here is a list Preston and I have complied to save you time, energy and possibly your marriage.
1. Buy a miter saw. Even if you aren't doing trim work, like 90 degree cut, fancy bologna and whatnot you will make a perfect cut EVERYTIME! Get one, either at a garage sale, acution, pawn shop or Home Depot-of course brand new you will be paying 2X as much. For Preston and I we didn't care where it was from or what it looked like as long as it worked. We paid $40 for one that was originally around $300 at an auction and it had some paint and looked like it had been really used; but GUESS WHAT?? It works just wonderfully and we wouldn't trade it for anything!
2. GET A GOOD DRILL. I'm not kidding you at all on this one. It will save you headache, time, tension, annoying comments from your husband/wife, and a plethora of other things. Maybe this should have been #1.....oh well.
3. Gloves. I know it sounds nuts, but seriously. When you are working on a house you need some good disposable gloves. Home Depot sells a bundle of like 10 for $9.99 and its worth it. Get some.
4. Reciprocating Saw AKA "Sawzaw" or something like that. It will SAVE YOU! Trust me. Get it used at a pawn shop and buy new blades. While you are buying blades, just go ahead and get several different kinds of blades, because you'll eventually need them and the difference between making a Saturday mad dash to the liquor store and not JUST MIGHT be having those extra blades on hand. Just saying.
5. Ratcheting Screwdrivers. Lowes Kobalt brand is the #1 one pick for us on that. Seriously. Here is the link. Just buy about 4, don't question me, just do it. BUY THIS NOW. This model is a little different but you get the idea.
6. a taste for hard liquor. Sometimes when you are just almost at the end of your rope and you think the job is completely hopeless, have a shot of hard liquor. My favorites are : Wild Turkey 101 proof (for the real crazy jobs), Ezra Brooks Whiskey, Tobaritch! Vodka. Trust me. Don't go crazy or anything, but 1 shot can motivate a renovation like you wouldn't believe.
7. If you plan on doing any sanding, either TAPE EVERYTHING OFF, or RENT A SANDER THAT COLLECTS THE DUST like they have on TV. Trust me, unless you have a sick desire to clean your entire house of dust, do this.
8. Bandanas. We made them a staple before Duck Dynasty made it popular. They will protect your air intake during renovation, but it will also make you feel like "Hell yes we are about to get buck wild tearing apart this room and putting it back together in a better way". It takes a renovation from yeah, that's what we did, to "HELL FREAKING YES DID YOU SEE THAT??? I MEAN, DID-YOU-SEE-THAT-WITH-YOUR-EYES????" It also makes you memorable to the folks at Chipotle and Home Depot which it always fun.
9. Re-Store. Find your nearest Habitat for Humanity Resale Store. Trust me. They have supplies for painting for cheap, but they also have light fixtures, furniture, paint, tile, appliances, doors, trim, wood, nails, screws, rugs, weird crazy molester looking safety glasses, and everything is less than the big box stores but like 1/2 off.
10. Check your local Auction houses and Garage Sales. Just do it.
You are welcome.
Oh one more tip of advise......
If someone tells you "it cant be done, or you cant do that" do it anyways. (unless it's with electrical work, get a professional for that if you aren't sure) "They" said we couldn't sand hardwood floors with a belt sander......you know what? We did. We're rebels, but you know what? We did our own thing, like always, and it looks incredible! just because they say you cant, should hire a pro, or you shouldn't doesn't mean YOU should listen....look at Lucille Ball. She was told "you'll never be an actress". Take that jerk-wad. If the number of people who were told "you can't" just had given up, some of our countries most brilliant minds would have never been discovered. There is a YOUTUBE video about it, and when I find it I'll post it.
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