SAS interiors - http://www.sasinteriors.net/2012/06/staircase-makeover-reveal/
The DIY Mommy - http://thediymommy.com/finishing-our-stair-railings-more-peeks-at-our-diy-house/
Centsational Girl - http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2009/07/the-staircase-reveal-part-one/
I didn't take a before picture. So here is a picture after I ripped one section of carpet off the top part of the stairs. 
That little section took me almost two hours because the person that installed the carpet was very unsure the carpet would stay or they were very happy to have a staple gun. In each riser there were about 60-70 staples and treads had 40-50 staples and this is not including nails. So that times 11 steps and two risers and you have approximately 1200-1400 staples. Yes, my hands hurt and were swollen from pulling them. It was worth it though.
I am still finding staples in crevices though. I have started the staining process and the poly but thanksgiving and a snow storm kind of interrupted it. I will be starting back tomorrow and hopefully be done and be able to walk on them by Sunday or Monday. I will update once finished. :)
