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master bedroom refresh

Does anyone else feel like we're in the twilight zone right now? It's that weird…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalDecember 29, 2020
Build HappyOrganization

Shoe Solutions

Back when we used to get ready for school in the morning (remember that?) I…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalApril 20, 2020
Build HappyKidsLifestyleOrganization

Photobooks: Give Your Images a Purpose

Creating photobooks makes me happy.  For me, it gives the thousands of pictures that I…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalMarch 21, 2020
Build HappyLifestyleOrganization

Keeping Your Digital Photos Safe

Have you ever been lying in bed at night when all of a sudden, an…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalJanuary 31, 2020
Build HappyLifestyleOrganization

Holiday Card Books

Getting the mail during those weeks leading up to Christmas became one of my kids'…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalJanuary 3, 2020
Build HappyLifestyleOrganization

Why Decluttering Your Kids’ Toys Might be the Key to Post-Holiday Happiness

How many parents out there are already feeling anxious about the fact that your kids…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalDecember 18, 2019
Build HappyLifestyleOrganization

Creating Kid-Friendly Spaces

Designing your new home can be fun for everyone in your family – even the…
Erin Weberpal
Erin WeberpalDecember 10, 2018
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@erinweberpal

          

I took this picture with the kids right before thi I took this picture with the kids right before this school year started.  It was the very end of August and we were on a little getaway before diving into virtual learning at home the following week.  So much has happened since this picture.  My brain and my heart changed their mind a thousand times since then on whether or not learning virtually or in-person was better for them in the midst of a pandemic. 

One of their teachers sent a virtual message to parents this week just saying that she understood how hard all of these decisions have been and that any decision with our kids' best interests in mind was the right one - and the tears in my eyes while I listened to that made me realize that I didn't even know how much I needed to hear it.  While most days I still don't know which answer is right - this morning they walked through the doors of their school to go back to in-person learning after being at home for nearly a year. 

For every time since last March that I thought about how it was hard juggling the extra responsibilities of having them home 24/7 while I worked- today, missing them feels even harder.  The world is a little different since our carefree days almost a year ago, and while they were all smiles walking back into those doors, I couldn't help but feel a little emotional as they went back to what always used to be a "normal" school day. 

So, here's to making hard decisions... amazing teachers... and kids who keep reminding us that no matter what we put in front of them - they got this. 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #backtonormal #inpersonschool
We made it to Fri-yay, and it's been one busy week We made it to Fri-yay, and it's been one busy week over here! 

Yesterday we spent some time working with clients on remodeling their kitchen.  I love coming up with ideas and then letting the homeowners decide how different designs work best for the way they will actually "live" in the space.  We do everything we can to help them imagine being in the room when it's complete so that they can visualize what it will feel like to stand at the counter, cook at the stove, or even reach for things in the fridge.  We do this through renderings, bringing them in actual homes with similar layouts, and even taping out the new design on the floor of their existing space. 

This is just one of so many new projects coming up that I can't wait to share.  I love how January feels so fresh and the new year always sparks lots of new home design and remodel projects.  If the past two weeks are any indication of how the year will go, it's going to be one heck of a 2021. 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #socknessbuilders #bringon2021 #remodeling #kitchenremodel #kitchenlayout
These days, stair railings can take on some person These days, stair railings can take on some personality of their own.  Gone are the days of all wood balusters and mushroom-top posts!  Recently, we've had a lot of clients opt for solid steel pipes mixed with painted rails that complement the style of their home - and we love the results! 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #newconstruction #socknessbuilders #remodeling #stairrailing #stairparts #homeinspo #farmhousestyle #modernindustrial #stairgoals
Let's talk master bathrooms! Ceramic tile showers Let's talk master bathrooms!  Ceramic tile showers are definitely one of the most popular requests we get in bathroom remodels and in new home construction too. 

One idea is to make your ceramic shower "zero-entry" like this one.  Notice that there is no curb on the floor to get in or out.  This makes the shower ideal for homeowners who are aging in place because the shower is so easily accessible. 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #socknessbuilders #masterbathroom #masterbathroomgoals #ceramicshower #customceramicshower #aginginplace #aginginplacedesign
This past year we spent a lot of time talking abou This past year we spent a lot of time talking about change.  But on this law enforcement appreciation day, I wanted to instead celebrate what remains unchanged, because the more I thought about it, the more I realized how important it has also been in the midst of the year we’ve had. 

His respect for the profession and that calling on his heart to help people led him to this job.  Over the years his profession has been revered and it’s been despised, and everything in between.  I’ve been proud to tell people what he does for work, and then I’ve also been terrified of people knowing what he does for work.  News stories sometimes applaud what his profession does, and then sometimes the media vilifies it.  There hasn’t been a lot of constant on the roller coaster that is being a police officer (or his wife), but there is one thing that’s always been the same.  His heart.  He’s the same police officer right now that he was that one summer day years ago when he was sworn to serve and protect.  The type of person he is remains the same and he does his job the same whether the world respects him or hates him.  There are countless others like him – and I think that is something worth appreciating today. 

And to those who can see that, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  In so many instances, you have been the glimmer of hope that I (and probably so many other law enforcement families) needed to get through this hard year.  Thank you for seeing him and his fellow officers as humans just like you are, and for understanding that we are all so much more than politics.  Thank you for understanding that the mark of a good person has so little to do with sweeping judgements by others who have never walked in their shoes, and instead has everything to do with a person’s character and actions.  Today is a day to appreciate law enforcement officers, but from the wife of one, I also just want to say thank you to those who have supported them in an unchanged way. 

#lawenforcementappreciationday #humanizethebadge #police #policewife #leow #leowife #backtheblue #thinblueline #defendthepolice #backthebadge
It's a new year, so here's a new intro! Thanks fo It's a new year, so here's a new intro!  Thanks for swinging by this post - my name is Erin, and I started this Build Happy space on the internet to share some practical and fun home construction and home "living" ideas. 

Working in the custom home building industry, I know first-hand that building new from scratch or remodeling your home can sometimes seem like a full-time job.  I want to offer advice for building, share helpful ideas about home life in general, and help you discover ways that you can make your home work for your lifestyle.  After all, I feel that our homes should always be our happy place. 

If you want to get to know me more, here are a few fun facts:

◾️ I started working part-time at Sockness Builders, Inc. back in 2011.  When I first started I worked on some marketing and updating our business forms on the computer, but come to find out what I truly love about the industry is meeting with new clients to brainstorm their home ideas! 

◾️ I still own and operate Don't Blink Photography too and love the extra creative outlet that it gives me.  If you needed proof that sometimes people have more than one passion in their work life - I'm it! 

◾️ We have two nigerian dwarf goats that live in our backyard and they are kind of like dogs - they hang out around the bonfire with us and even play on the swing set with the kids in the summertime!

◾️ I love planning vacations and look forward to always having something new to look forward to on our calendar (yes... this pandemic has me going crazy!). Hawaii with the kids is one of the next ones on our bucket list because I think they are both finally old enough for the long flight. 

◾️ Laundry will forever be my least favorite household chore.  Why is there never an end in sight? 

◾️ I struggle a lot with my complexion and just a week ago decided to cut dairy out of my diet to see if it will help.  I feel like I'm dying.  Why does cheese and everything else good have to have dairy in it? 

Do I have anything in common with you guys?! 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #homeshouldbeyourhappyplace #homedesign #newhomeconstruction #remodeling #customhomebuilder 

📷 by: @melissawintersphotography
In this crazy world, they are my calm 💙 #build In this crazy world, they are my calm 💙

#buildhappy #buidhappyblog #momlife #motherhood
Who already knows what this is a picture of? If Who already knows what this is a picture of? 

If you guessed that it's the faucet for the R/O system in my house, you are right.  A reverse osmosis system (sometimes called R/O) offers you the purest possible water for drinking.  It does this by forcing water through a membrane which filters out impurities like high nitrates or other chemicals. 

This is the key to getting those crystal clear ice cubes out of your refrigerator!  When we install these systems in our clients' homes, it can also be hooked up to purify the water line to the fridge too!  It's a great option for your home whether you live in the city and you want to make sure the city water is extra purified, or especially if you live in the country and you want great tasting drinking water. 

#buildhappy #buildhappyblog #buildhappytip #buildingtip #remodelingtip #themoreyouknow

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