Swiffer/Bissel Steam Mop

UPDATE 8/25/15: Loved the Swiffer Bissel while it lasted. Unfortunately that was only about 3 1/2 months. It just didn't work one day. So bummed. We now have a Shark Steam Mop. It doesn't seem to put out as much steam as my Bissell did, which is surprising but it does clean well and I do love a steam mop. They will rock your world. Six months and going strong with the @SharkSteamMop. 

#SharkSteamMop #OutLastBissel #BisselSteamMopDidnotLast

Original Post: 12/7/13

I am loving this little Swiffer/Bissel Steam mop! I've been wanting a steam mop and looking at various options and on impulse a few weeks back bought this. Loved that I could get it at the grocery store.

It is very easy to use. Leaves the floor feeling very clean and makes quick work of sticky spills and stubborn dirt. I really like the little light on the front that lights up the shadow areas in the corners.  It will make neat nick's heart go pitter patter and for those who procrastinate and dread cleaning enjoy the task. It's easy and fun to use.

What I would love to see changed in a new model is the water reservoir.  It needs to be bigger! I don't live in a tiny apartment. I'm in a good sized home with tile and wood floors. I use my mops. I also have a family of 6 and several fur babies so sweeping and mopping are a daily task.  I would like to not have to refill for each room and sometimes in the middle of the room.  What do you think Swiffer? Can you and Bissel knock out a design with a bigger water reservoir?  Also would love to have a little more steam. The out put is decent and definitely cleans but having a wider mop surface would allow for more steam and make the job a bit faster.  Just a thought.  However, if nothing changed I would still be happy with this product. It is easy to use, affordable and has a nice length on the cord to ensure ease of use.

Good idea Swiffer/Bissel!

Kitchen Reveal!!

This kitchen has been a labor of love and I am so excited that it's done. It is now a happy, functional space that my whole gang of 8 can gather in for food, game night and family fun! It's perfect for entertaining and I am so happy with the kitchen. I hope you can enjoy another "White Kitchen" story. Click on the slide show below to enjoy the kitchen as she is now and to see the before pictures. Friends have said it's like walking into a totally different space. Here is what we removed the old island and repurposed that cabinet where the small unused desk space was. Patched the tile floor and counter sunk the plug. The cabinets were good wood and sturdy so we added moldings, sanded, primed and painted them out in a beautiful snowy white. Subway tile back splash with an accent tile above the cooktop. We fitted the kitchen out with Stainless Steel appliances and took my farm table apart and made her over with new counter height legs that we distressed and painted out. The popcorn ceilings were removed and new halogen can lights and two new lanterns brighten up the space. A pop of paprika red paint was added and the space is now bright, open and happy. I am so happy with how it turned out. What do you think of our "White Kitchen" story?

Exciting changes!

The popcorn is gone. The island was removed, tile patched, floor plug counter sunk and a new floor plug is in place. The walls are painted, the granite is in, cabinets are primed and backsplash is chosen....It's getting closer to reveal day!!

I'm also excited because this house has more painting to do and I'm talking to Home Right about their Finish Max paint sprayer! Wouldn't that be an awesome tool to add to the tool box. I all ready own 3 of their paint sticks that I used to do the guest room and I have their heat gun which is a DIY'er must have when you are working with pieces that are covered in old paint.

So, let's take a sneak peak at the still rough around the edges but quickly improving kitchen!

Texas ReVamped! ©

New Granite going in, checking for level. LOVE the color, white ice. Going to the granite yard is always a fun day time.

Texas ReVamped! ©

Popcorn & fluorescent lights gone! Love the red, it makes my heart sing. Cabinets are primed & you can see sneak peek of my new light fixtures!  Things are looking so different and I'm loving it. Hope it helps inspire you to embrace your space and make it your own.

Remembering Holly!

Life takes little detours. We have taken the past few months off from remodeling our home to spend time with Holly. We feel it's important to let those you love know how much you love them while they are here and it's important to give of yourself and your time. This Saturday we will host an official Memorial to honor and celebrate Holly's life...Today I share a recent memory and journal post.

Memories...by Teresa Stephens Harvey
I wrote this one short month before Holly would leave this world.. I did not have a clue at that time that we would be saying good-bye so soon.

We miss her dearly. We still seek to honor her by finding our happy and thankfully for a life of great memories and stories we share we all laugh often with her as the common thread in those moments of laughter. We will have tears. We will feel moments of loneliness and loss. But, we will never ever forget the amazing gift and spirit of Holly. Our lives have a light and an extra layer to them because we were blessed to experience the gift of having Holly in our lives.

Our journey was not perfect. The walk with Cancer is never easy. We pray none of you ever face this journey but it Cancer enters your world we hope you remember to look for the moments of happy. The gifts to be found along the way.


This is the journal entry I wrote on April 8...today I look for my happy and my hope is that all of you look for yours too. ~Teresa

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Lessons learned along the way...

There are days that are hard. You learn that in life rather quickly. Days you don't feel all that well. Days that you feel kicked before you get up.  That is just part of life. Sometimes you are left with the darkness after a thunderstorm without any signs of a rainbow.

If you're a caregiver you put those days behind you as quickly as possible because you see first hand that your worst day is a piece of cake to the one you are caring for.

Our family talks about choices a lot. I believe that life is made up of a thousand choices and depending on the ones you make with a whole lot of help from God behind them that regardless of your circumstance, your health or your position in life you can have a good life. You can have a life that makes a difference.

My sweet Holly has terminally ill cancer.  The statement itself is like a stone in my heart.  However, until a few months ago that seemed to be such an abstract statement.  We have an amazing faith, prayer team and support group. Doctors that have kept up with every trick in the tool box to keep this cancer at bay! No one wasn't willing to do whatever was physically possible to fight this fight!

However, sometimes, the physical fight isn't enough.

Holly's cancer has advanced. The tumors in her brain have refused to respond to treatment.

Now we have another choice...

Cancer takes away many dreams in life. Holly will never get married, have children, watch her family grow.  God gives back in other ways. Holly has spent her time being an awesome Aunt to her nieces and nephews. Holly has spent her extra time volunteering at Children's Hospital rocking babies who are ill and need love. It's amazing to see one dream be answered with NO and have another dream provided.

Holly has had the opportunity to travel, to build amazing and lasting friendships, and to work in a job she enjoys and that challenged her. Those are blessings that both enriched her life and led to enriching others.

 I have watched a feisty, funny, beautiful spirit become more so.  Holly has never wallowed or let Cancer define her. She has instead chosen to walk with Grace, to look for joy, to seek ways to fill her time and mind with positive things in life. And I am so thankful that I get to share this journey with her.

So, when we sat down for our family meeting recently the heartbreaking reality that sometimes Cancer wins hung heavy in the air. Our kids listened with mixed tears glistening in their eyes as they bravely held them back. My son sat in stoic silence. Several questions from our curious lot finally surfaced...but what did not ever surface is that this was defeat. We may not have our happily ever after this time but we will have our happy. We will find our joy and share our time with Holly in love. We will continue to enjoy our great family and AMAZING friends. Our choice is to lean on faith, to find joy, to look for the best in every day. We prepare now to explore that we may have to let Holly go. To let God take her home and to lean on our faith that we will share time with her again in a different place, setting and time and it will be filled with a new HAPPY. We will pull together as a family and look at the lessons we've been gifted and look for the new ones we will learn.



Psalm 41:3
The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. (NIV)

Updates...

I recently had the privilege of being hired by a client who had a meticulously maintained home that was ready for some updates!

This home was full of history and memories and a life time of love and family...so the challenge was to honor the memories and family that lived there and give them an updated look to their home that still reflected "their" memories and make room for future ones.

Here's where we started.

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

Texas Revamped © 

The home was a monotone sea of pecan finished wood. The copper tile back splash was all the rage in the 70's and the Tapan oven was top of the line in it's day. The gingerbread moldings were everywhere and lovely with an old fashioned charm. Time marches on and what was oh so fashionable then just left the space looking a little dark and showing her age for today. A face lift was needed!

So, with a lot of discussions of what the home owners loved about their home. The beautiful beams in the ceiling, the swirled texture in the plaster, the lovely wood floors, the flow of the room and the terrific built in's, it was time to address the things that no longer worked for them. The dark enclosed feeling in the space, the appliances that were no longer working at their best, the heavy feeling of the rooms compared to other areas of the home and the reality that no matter how well you maintain sometimes things begin to wear out. This also opened the door to address a few modern ideas.  New built-in pantry shelving to their mud room, a water line run to the refrigerator for an ice maker and sliding shelves added to the cabinet spaces to add to the form and function of the space. 

We still have some things to do...but, I can't wait to share how beautifully she has transformed. Soon there will be new bar stools, window treatments, and a bit of Christmas cheer but I think we're far enough along to show you our progress!

First we had to mess up a little...

Then we needed to do a few field trips. Our favorite was to the granite yard!

So many beautiful choices and we found the perfect choice for this home.

The painting was finally done, the hardwood floors were refinished a richer color to compliment the existing wood tones while still making a statement of their own, the kitchen flooring was ripped out and a new choice was chosen, the granite and new stainless appliances were installed. Now she was ready to be loaded!

Can you say CHA, CHA, CHA, CHANGES?! ;) I can!

With a new furniture layout, lighter walls and cabinetry you can now appreciate all the beautiful furniture and collections in this home. Furniture was moved in a bit to make the seating area inviting. The bookshelves were re-loaded with a mix of books, photos, and collectibles. An update from the dishes and glassware that was there before. The office nook is now showing off without furniture blocking it from view and a few personal accessories added to warm it up and keep it inviting when you need to sit down and pay a bill or two. The China hutch turned out lovely with it's new trim work and crisp white color pallet, the home owners collectibles sparkle and show off to their finest! I love it and loved working on this project. I hope you love it too.  We are doing a restoration to the master bathroom and a face lift to both secondary bathrooms that I will share soon.

While working with this home the goals were keeping the best of the character and charm, while brightening up the space. Adding some beautiful updates expected in today's homes and improving the function for the home owners needs. All combined to make a warm and inviting space.