Tools and Transformations

Tools and Transformations First-Time Homeowner Renovating, Rebuilding and Designing my home one room at a time.

It’s been a while friends…here’s a Photo Dump1. Cleaning feels better when music is moving you. Guess the song if you da...
05/01/2026

It’s been a while friends…here’s a Photo Dump

1. Cleaning feels better when music is moving you. Guess the song if you dare! Somebody knows it.
2. Purple and mini?! Yes!
3. Stress relief
4. First time trying butter fish. and I’m always going to order the tuna app
5. Fun nails and a puff
6. The one and only. And I get to call him friend
7. Besties!
8. Failed boomerang attempt #4
9. New nails on the way out!
10. I’m always gonna notice the light fixtures.
11. A salon won’t see my hands again as long as press ons look this good
12. Heavy!
13. Letting light in, making room for more
14. Forearm workout
15. Doing what my (recent) ancestors fought for
16. Spa day!
17. The bridge was moving!
18. Mood

03/19/2026

Stepping aside from the project updates and physical work to show you all the space if you haven’t seen it. Ask me questions below!

03/18/2026

Calling this an appreciation post to the Black girls that made me feel powerful and seen. These women showed me strength, competition, resilience, intellect, comedy and so much more as a little Black girl growing up in the 90s.

Plus I may have had or asked for each of these hairstyles back then 😂

03/17/2026

ReGina J Zuni….I've got time today. It's been 6 years and I've never dealt with something like this. What you won't get from me is the privilege of my silence and letting it be. You're part of what's wrong with 2026. Your opinion was never needed and I still said thank you. And your lack of self control brought you to revealing your racism. Have the day and life you deserve you sad, unintelligent, inadequate being.

03/17/2026

These pillars had me in a BIND Nate. It was fine until I removed the pillars and saw the janky drywall cuts. I couldn’t even add corner bead to the existing panels. So I had to get to work the only way I knew.

What you don’t see here is all the prep work of covering the gym equipment before sanding. Also, my sanding equipment completely failed, but I was on a time crunch and needed to get this done. Sanding will always be my least favorite part of any project by far.

This dry fall black paint from Behr was the real winner though. The flattest black paint there is to buy, and it matches the ceiling. Another project down. 50 more to go.

03/10/2026

Being really honest…if you’ve seen my stories, you’ve gotten a sneak peek of the gym already.

But if you haven’t, here’s a little bit of the road so far with my biggest project to date.

Ask me all the things below! 👇🏾

03/07/2026

It’s been 50 11 days since posting like I used to.

I started this page in 2020, the year that changed everything for so many of us. It was a quiet time, where many of us were isolated and apart from our normal day to day activities. It was loud for many others because simultaneously there was a political and cultural conversation around the state of the US. Same story, different populations.

In the midst of that, I was in my first home, doing demolition, learning carpentry, electricity, and all the things in between. I picked up my camera and shared it all with you. Everything between then and now has been a blur!

It’s 2026, and we are here again, having cultural and political conversations at a level I’ve never seen in my lifetime. Hatred and greed are real. And we are seeing hateful, greedy people in power, cause harm to us ALL.

I’ve limited my sharing for a while due to the heaviness of the times and personal life STUFF. But I also realize that sharing this renovation journey, even through all the noise, is something that’s valuable too.

Cheers to the new season. Let’s have all the conversations y’all. ❤️

We celebrate every day but this year it’s extra special.
02/01/2026

We celebrate every day but this year it’s extra special.

12/31/2025

Full transparency. I ran out of time, got frustrated with another hiccup, or just didn’t feel like it. I’ll get back to these soon, but more preparation is needed to fully execute everything.

As for the gym…I just need to catch y’all up!

What project are you taking into 2026? DIY or otherwise…

2025 you took me through it! This look back was therapeutic in a way I didn’t expect. So much was GREAT about this year....
12/30/2025

2025 you took me through it!

This look back was therapeutic in a way I didn’t expect. So much was GREAT about this year.

I took my first train ride. Visited 2 new cities. Finally made it back home for the state fair. Made new friends. Lifted more. Partnered with a day-one brand. Started my first veggie garden. Tried new foods. Baked and cooked new recipes. And that’s all outside of new projects!

I worked on 5 spaces in one house, a 7,000sq ft gym, and really tested my skills with new challenges.

While this year was rough, in retrospect, I have so much to be thankful for.

Even still, I can’t leave out the stress that isn’t pictured. From January 1 until today, the work I do ending homelessness has been threatened. Not just my job, but the jobs of others in addition to the individuals and families served are left with doubt and uncertainty. Housing funds are being slashed and resources are not being provided for people that have the “rug pulled” from under them.

The thing about homelessness and housing insecurity is that it affects every facet of one’s life. And its effects are heavy.

The fight continues. I’ll be doing my part here to speak about the urgency of this matter when I have the capacity. And the projects and spaces…that’s still happening too!

Keep living y’all. Happy New Year!

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Norfolk, VA

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