HFIM HOUSE history...Preparing for Thanksgiving!

When I first started the HFIM house,(Home for Impoverished Millenials) in 2017,

(Here's a little history) there were 14-16 single people sharing two large homes connected together. School debt and high living costs in Chicago caused them to form a co-op of sorts with everyone investing in two adjoining old houses and making the repairs and remodeling. In 2022 it was eventually sold. The two homes were separated and totally remodeled, the Millenial gang moved on here and there, and most made a bunch of money based on what they put in funds and time working on the repairs.

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Here's the original setup---minus three rooms in the basement that were the guys quarters along with the penthouse floor left upper.

The two houses are a Mattel Townhouse 2004  and a Victorian mansion (1992)

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Portrait of most of the girls.

The 8 girls Back LtoR: Monnie, Zoe, Raquel(changed to Richelle),Rory,Barbie, 

Vickie-close friend, Sindy, 

Bottom LtoR; Mulan, Lara-friend, and Belle

Missing: Elsa, Anna and Chelsea.

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The guys Back LtoR; Dr Ken, Patrick, Ken's twin brotherKevin-visiting,Danny, Aiden, 

Lower Ryan and Stewart. Missing is Nemo.

Residents were fluid as some left and new people came, always room for someone needing a place to stay.

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Main computer workstation where Sindy plans  menus and food costs. Dinners and Breakfasts, while everyone was responsible for their own lunch.

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Early Original Layout of townhouse and conjoined Victorian mansion before the new second  floor with the original cast in 2017. Three rooms on another lower level were the boys bedrooms and bath and storage.

 

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Many changes happened, here Monnie and Chelsea help Nemo install the new main room flooring.

November 11, 2025

 Story for the Year--2017. 15 Millennials ages 20-27 share a huge house and yard. Elsa is an exchange teacher from Sweden with her little sister, Anna. 

Dr. Ken, Barbie,(with little sister, Chelsea)  Raquel(now Richelle), and Ryan are the primary investors, the rest each put in their share of rent which covers living expenses and the repairs and everyone does clean up and assists in construction.

It is a few days before Thanksgiving and Sindy(a baker and in Culinary School) directs the kitchen.

The HFIM house was a-bustle. With lousy weather forecasted for the holiday weekend, these Chicago millennials were either working or sticking close to what was now their home in the HFIM house. 

Anyway...they are ALL family ----sort of. 

Only a few days away and the girl's are getting a 

heads-up on the prep for Thanksgiving.

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Barbie: I'm  using  the new mixer for cornbread muffins, (Sindy gave her tips and  encouragement.)

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Chelsea: We have plenty of butter and fresh corn for the muffins.

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Chelsea: I'll cut the apples for pies.

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Rory asked, "What else do you need from the fridge besides cream and eggs?"

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Sindy: "Just more butter for the extra stuffing. This is the last Turkey dish; a rolled Turkey breast with stuffing inside.We just need the veggies for the guys to roast."

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Doctor Ken: I'm getting ready to 'operate' on the grill. I'm in charge of roasting vegetables. What's that, Monnie? 

Monnie: Just the vegetables and some stock for gravy. I'm suppose to chill it outside before we make the stuffing.

Doctor Ken: It's really a bit balmy, you can use the ice in cooler over there. Hard to believe it is supposed to snow this weekend.

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Inside-Sindy: Thanks Monnie, I really needed the stock cool. Is Ken working on the veggies?

Monnie: He's got them on the grill right now.

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Later--Sindy: "There! The last turkey is  in the oven. We will be in great shape for Thursday, since everyone has to work the day before. You can never make big dinners too far ahead."

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Raquel and Belle folded napkins for the table. 

Raquel: If everyone extra comes Thursday, we will be over 22? Maybe we will have to eat in shifts.

Belle: I think the boys are working on that...a long table and adding an extension of some sort? Maybe we could use the picnic table? 

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Elsa: The centerpiece is lovely, Mulan. Lovely using wild things from the park and yard. In Sweden we use wheat, cranberries and apples for seasonal decorations, with many candles. At home, by today this three o'clock it is almost dark. They say, we have two seasons-Light and mostly Dark.

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Mulan: We have same, in Northern China, dark long time at night. This table needs some order, I mean organizing. Maybe we should wait for the party on Thursday to know how many?  Meanwhile, where will we eat?

(NOISE from the living room---another fumble or bad call?)

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Nemo:NOT FAIR! Bad call ref, bad call! 

Danny: HORRIBLE CALL, it was in! 

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What a crappy game....I smell food.

Ryan: The girls are cooking for Thanksgiving...all we have tonight is cold Pizza.

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Anyone up for Pizza?

A blown field goal, and the BOYS all groan! 

(to be continued )

The dolls shown were from my own collection or the Grand's collection as are the clothes, which are vintage, or made by myself. Occasionally, I falter and buy something new. (2017 remember). 

Thanks for visiting, and I'll be happy to answer any questions or comments. 

All the opinions and photographs on this blog are my own, unless otherwise stated. 

 I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions

 or products shown, or from where I shop. 

I'll be sharing at these fine parties:

Love your creativity

Tuesday Turn About

Vintage Charm

PLEASE do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation,

 Sandi Magle

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Townhouse Remodel Lighting and Appliances

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Hi, Dear readers. The point of these remodels was to add permanent lighting, add space and eradicate the Mattel color schemes. In other words, make it 

as REAL LIFE as possible.

I gave the kitchen appliances two more coats of gray multi-surface acrylic paint, and I added some contact paper counters. I also painted the window frames on the first floor gray over the sprayed beige from the first painting. It took three coats of multi-surface gray acrylic. UGH! Mostly because of all the crevices and my shaky hands.

You can see the temporary walls set in...to give some idea of the new space.  I am still pondering adding some floor area to the second floor. The cut for that would be intricate, I will have to see if it warms up enough for Hubby to rough cut that for me outside. Our temps are going very cold again.

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While the house was on the center worktable,  I started with the lights. Because of the gridded ceilings, there is no long length to sink lights into.  The lighting I chose are LEDBERG bar lighting from IKEA. I had to think about it for a long time, then dug in my my wood scraps. 

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I buy assorted bags of small wood pieces when I see them on sale and found a few that were the exact width/depth of the grid holes. I cut  6 small length wood bars that would fit inside the ceiling grids. Then I screwed the mounting clips on that come with the light fixture.

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The LEDBERG lights are very flexible, you can clip 1, 2 or 3 together in a straight line. The kit includes one cord with switch and one end to plug into the lights. If you want to split the three bars up---you will need to purchase one or more cord(s). 

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I planned on two bars on the downstairs, and one upstairs with room to add another if I needed to.

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The cut wood bars with the clips were then glued (town house laid down on the table) on the ceiling side of the bar and on one side of the grid (walls). I used E6000 which is pretty good on any surface and left it sit for 24 hours. 

I had an extra cord left over from doing the Grand Hotel, so I could put the last bar on the second floor. 

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I turned all the lights off in the shop---and tested the lights.

If you are going to do this for kids---nothing is exposed in these plastic bars, and the cords can be encased and totally put behind a house to the wall. 

Our grand's house (she got when she was 3) had lights on three floors and were totally encased and cords buried in plastic casings through the back of the house. Switches can also be placed out of reach, but of course it is up to the parent to decide if they want electrical lights in a child's house.

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After installation in my totally dark work room.

It looks like this will be more than enough light for the house. YAY!*! I can always add another bar to the second floor if I decide I need it.

No more batteries and no more banging the doll's heads on the Christmas lights. Batteries are great for accent lighting, but for room lighting very expensive to keep going through batteries, and not great for the planet either. These new LED lights use so little power---only 2 watts. 

A great REDO and GREEN too!

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Next project....

So, I needed some realistic knobs on the kitchen appliances, as well as the new contact paper counters which look like 'quartz'. 

Since we have a pandemic, I'm literally not going out and only using what I have around the house. A left over roll of $Store contact/shelf paper, I did both the floors (kitchen and the extension, and the counters, a small chunk on the wall behind the stove, and literally have half a square foot left of small pieces.

 I still need to add a microwave here, too. A little extra glue helps hold down the edges of the contact paper on the countertop and around the stove parts.

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This is my idea for the easy knobs. First I drilled tiny holes through the plastic appliances in the kitchen with my Dremel drill.

With a wire cutter I clip plastic pushpins in half. If you go very low on the middle, you hit the thick pin. 

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This isn't exact, so I just sand them down to match. Usually with rough, then fine sandpaper. My shop is such a disaster I couldn't find the fine paper. Since I'm doing black paint it really didn't matter.

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I stuck the pins in some foam core and painted them with a paint pen and let them dry.  A healthy drop of glue (E6000) on the pin, and then just push them through the holes in the appliances.

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The little bar buttons on the dishwasher are actually from Barbie fashion cardboard (remember the black and white stripes) cut oh, so tiny.  I used a silver Sharpie to color the white squares and Wha-La push buttons.  The silver is metal foil tape I use on the front of my appliances. After I did these photos, I did more touch up---it helps to blow up photos to see what you missed!

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After touching up the stove top and the sink, I blackened some trim. (needs another coat, and the faucets on the sink.) I plan on adding some gray trim to the windows after I do the builtins to the left of the cabinet run! Dolls need Storage, so  shelves and more cabinets will be made for this kitchen!

I'm not sure what's next, as I have moved the house back in place, still pondering a floor extension on the second floor. Not one bed I have can go on that floor that is too short, and you can't block the elevator or the fireplace and let's face it, you need a minimum of two bedrooms in any house!!!

To Extend or not to Extend, that is the question...

NO...actually HOW is the question?

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I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or products shown, or from where I shop. 

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Vintage Charm

 Please do not use my photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi






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HFIM House: Richelle's Secret

Late after the 1980s Fashion Show, the girls are having a cup and a snack at the HFIM house. Ryan shows up and grabs cold pizza from the fridge with milk and sits down.

Ryan: Okay, Richelle refused to talk to me and zonked out, what happened tonight?

(Room goes very quiet...and they nibble on their cookies.)

Sindy:We walked home together, she didn't say too much. Mumbled under her breath a lot, though.

 

Anna: We were all in a Fashion Walk, um, you say show...we say walking like cat in Sweden.

Barbie: Oh, you must mean catwalk---is that what they call a fashion runway in Europe? We call it a fashion show, Anna.

Anna: Um, okay. Richelle was "utstjalpning"...how you say-very upset.

Ryan: Well, I need to know what happened?

Anna: The announcer spoke Richelle had a secret, and she became red-faced.

Barbie: Ryan, the announcer meant Richelle was wearing new shoes and a new purse in the vintage show. Maybe, why...don't you two just announce your engagement.

Anna: Yes, our Swedish betrothals are celebrated with rings for both. You have no ring, Ryan, so no betrothal?

Ryan: (Sigh) No rings, but we are going to her parents next weekend. I'm not supposed to say anything.

Barbie: No one can keep a secret like that in this house, Ryan. Richelle has Bride magazines and clipping all over.... You could tell her we guessed, and that will let you off the hook. Better, I will tell her. 

Anna, please don't feed the dogs, they make such a mess.

Anna: I need Foofy to stop chewing my shoes. I clean the floors after. It's time for bed anyway!

Ryan:(Getting up) It's late, I will try and smooth things over. Goodnight, and thanks everyone.

All: Nite, Ryan.

I'll be happy to answer any comments or questions!
(any corrections are welcomed also.) 

All the opinions and photographs on this blog are my own, unless otherwise stated. 

 I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions

 or products shown, or from where I shop. 

The dolls shown are from my own and the Grand's collection. 

Clothes are vintage or made by myself. Occasionally, I falter and buy something new.

PLEASE do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission, but Pin away!

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

I'll be sharing at these fine parties:

Share Your Style

Sandi

HFIM House:Back to Work in 2018

The party is over, and 2018 brings cold to Chicago and back to work for the Millennials. 

Sigh!

Theres a new House Rules list up...meanwhile...

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Foofy and Rexie are cleaning up the last of the cookie crumbs in the Dining Room.

In the kitchen....

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Sindy: Oh my, it is so darn cold. I think I will need another sweater. 

Patrick:Don't worry Kevin is warming up the van. You won't have to stand and wait for the bus today!

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Aidan: Thanks Pat, for letting me use your Grandfather's overcoat here. I look like a dirty old man, but at least it's warm! California, never gets cold.

Patrick: No problem, Grampa's in Florida, he won't miss it!

The working herd file out of the kitchen, leaving Monnie, Tory, and Belle to have coffee in peace.

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Tory: OMG, what are you doing, Nemo?

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Nemo: I'm going to make my own breakfast, in my new pajamas, and thanks for those.

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Tory: What's wrong with your new pajamas?

Nemo: I can't get my hands through the cuffs. But, I'm wearing the bottoms, they fit fine.

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Nemo: House Rules on the fridge say, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Bottoms, NO service! I'll compromise I have all of that on--sorta, and I'll make my own breakfast!

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Tory:Bottoms have never been your problem. You can't fry bacon bare-chested, Nemo. It's ----uncivilized.

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Nemo:Well, I can't eat bacon raw, though I have---in the past. Pass me the eggs, please.

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Belle: OMG, I can't watch!

Tory: I give up!

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Monnie: Breakfast and a floor show? What will we have next?

Barbie appears with a lacy apron and a grin.

Barbie: Here I have my new apron, you can use this!

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Nemo: You are too kind, Mistress of the house! But I don't think that will go around me?

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Eric: Hey, man, why don't you just go put a shirt on, before you have lace patterned burns on your pecs. I don't have time to watch this, though I want to. I'm due in court in an hour. 

Nemo: Okay, I'll go all the way upstairs and get a shirt, just for you, Tory.

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Tory: That's a deal, and I will fix your sleeves this afternoon and make your breakfast now.

Nemo:(Blushing) Well, Miss Tory, I do thank you for the pajamas, and I will take you to dinner tonight, if pizza is okay? Oh, and I will wear a shirt.

Tory:(laughs) Sure, now how do you want your eggs?

(Life in the HFIM house to be continued...)

Cast in order of appearance.

Sindy: in Barbie baker's uniform and a coat by Sandi

Patrick: in hoodie by Sandi

Ian: (striped sweat shirt by Sandi

Monnie: (purple bathrobe-I think this is an unmarked vintage Barbie terry robe)

Tory: In Barbie Mickey Mouse jacket, Barbie vintage unmarked 90's top, and Disney? silky Jasmine bottoms.

Nemo: (he is actually Hasbro Neo-Keanu Reeves...but Grand named him 'Nemo'). In-out of vintage 1960's Ken PJ's.

Belle: in cheetah print nightgown and Viking shirt by Sandi

Eric: in Mattel, Robert's suit from "Enchanted." 

Lovely apron for Barbie a ITP win by Karen/glamourdoll

I'll be happy to answer any comments or questions!

All the opinions and photographs on this blog are my own, unless otherwise stated. 

 I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions

 or products shown, or from where I shop. 

The dolls shown are from my own and the Grand's collection. 

Clothes are vintage or made by myself. Occasionally, I falter and buy something new.

PLEASE do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission, but Pin away!

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

I'll be sharing at these fine parties:

Share Your Style

Sandi