Time Out

I'll be honest.

I had a little moment in Lowe's yesterday. I just about needed a time out. Nothing was going my way in regard to the stupid bathroom remodel. Nothing.

We were in the tub aisle.

I almost broke down. I could feel tears pushing at my eyes.

All because of the width of our tub.

Apparently, 30 inches is no longer a standard width. Now, 32 inches is all the rage. Yes, we could get a simple 30" tub, which is what I wanted to do. But the mister, who is increasingly getting his way with this bathroom, wanted a 32" because then we could get a deeper tub, "And wouldn't that be nice for the bubble baths you love to take?" But no amount of psychology was going to work on me. Who did he think he was coercing?

I realize the whole tub thing sounds simple. But it isn't. In order to accommodate a 32" tub, we'd have to extend the wall on both side of the tub. Which messes with the built-in closet on one side of it. The mister was insistent. And it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was near tears. Over two inches. Come on.

We left Lowe's without a tub.

But we didn't go home empty handed. We picked up our vanity..........


We purchased the floor tile.............18 x 18 in the color Roman Noce..........


And bought a sample of the tile for the shower walls. It actually looks great with the floor tile............


This is still a maybe. It's flippin' expensive. It'll cost more than the floor and vanity combined. That's why it's a maybe. And it's a busy pattern. But trendy. Glass mosaics are a hot item right now. Not that I care about that. But the jury is still out on this element of the room. Besides the cost, I'm just not sure about wall color to match it........or finding a shower curtain that is fun, but won't fight the pattern or color in the tile. I'm open to opinions.

And I promise not to have a tantrum if I don't agree with you. I'm getting very good at compromising.

Oh, and one last thing...............Do not go shopping for anything important immediately upon returning from a two day camping trip. Ever. Just so you know.

Demolition Time

Well, the time has FINALLY come to gut the bathroom.

I. AM. FREAKING. OUT.

The remodel has been scheduled. The mister and I must begin demolition within the next week or two.

To say I'm excited would be an understatement.

Not only is Bob the Builder gonna fix up the bathroom (his name really is Bob), he's also gonna finish the kitchen.

My refrigerator might just make it back in the kitchen before the 2010-2011 school year.

I. AM. FREAKING. OUT.

But as thrilled as I am, I've discovered that the bathroom is NOT going to turn out anything like I'd dreamed. Evidently, wainscoting doesn't hold up the best in moist, damp environments.......so no wainscoting. Another sacrifice? My floors. Most likely, no vintage-esque black and white hexagonal tiles. And lastly, no tub of my dreams.

I'm positive that the mister is cheering internally.

So it's back to the drawing board. And even though I'm not getting what I initially envisioned, I'm still thrilled that I get to design another version of this bathroom. I had such tunnel vision with my first plan, that I don't even know where to go from here. But the possibilities are endless.

The problem though?

The mister actually has an opinion.

This is most definitely getting in the way of MY way.

I'm pretty sure that Bob and the mister are ganging up against me. Since all of a sudden wainscoting isn't a great feature for well used baths.

Hmmmm.......

Anyway, one thing we DID agree on was the vanity. And when we went back to buy it, lo and behold, it had been marked down a hundred bucks! I did a little dance in the aisle. Then we got the mister's military discount ON TOP of THAT!

Here's a picture of the picture on the box.

One big purchase down, and who knows how many left. But let the remodeling begin!

The end of the skanky bathroom is near.

In Between Fun

Last week, list making flew out the window, and I was focused on fun. Lunches out, a baseball game, pool time, shopping, and even two different garage sale trips. But in the middle of all the fun, a few things were accomplished.

Mom taught me the ways of the cobbler. I did have all those berries to use up!


I'd like to claim that the cobbler making was 50/50. But really it was more 70/30 (mom/me). Mom has it down to a fine art.

You do not mess with perfection.

You observe it.

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Next, my new kitchen fixture arrived! Out with the old copper circa 1967 fixture and in with the brand new stainless steel beauty. Sort of vintage schoolhouse-esque. Just what I wanted.

The mister sent me for light bulbs (conveniently right in the middle of the install). And when I got back, the light was up and glowing!

I did forgive him for sending me away. I am a hoverer. If I can't do something, I hover to learn how.

Or to manage.

And it's possible that it could also be perceived as controlling.

He was justified in his errand request.

Probably.

Once again, you do not mess with perfection.

You leave when it's occurring, so as to not irritate the perfectionist.

Love & Hate

Hate: Sir Chester's cone collar.........


Sir Chester underwent a little snip snip last week. And because he is a "chewer," he is required to wear that contraption for at least a week.

He hates it.

I hate it.

Why, you wonder???

Sir Chester's vision and depth perception are quite impaired with the wearing of the cone. Thus, my poor shins have become incredibly scratched and scraped from the sharpish plastic device.

Poor shins.

That is why I hate the cone.

Sir Chester hates the cone for entirely different reasons. He can't scratch his head, although he repeatedly tries (and the sound of dog paw on plastic is not music to the ears). He can't reach his nether regions (which is the purpose of the cone). And it really does impede his eating and drinking practices.

Poor Chester.

That is why Chester hates the cone.

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Love: Vintage gardening paraphernalia.......


Watering my flowers is way more fun when I use old stuff for this job. The watering can belonged to Kenny's grandmother. Dad gave me the old brass nozzle for my hose. And I picked up that cute vintage sprinkler at an antique sale. It totally works........


Who wouldn't wanna run through that on a hot summer day? Or at least water the hostas.....

Domestic Escapades

Making that list was the best thing I could have done this week. Putting my to-do list out there really created some sort of positive pressure that motivated me.

But I promise not to bore you with weekly lists. I'll just keep them to myself, since they seem to be working.

Instead, I'll bore you with some domestic escapades from this week.

First.....I went berry picking with Ash.


I have not done anything with the berries, other than eating a few and freezing the rest. It's cobbler time though, I think. But that's a whole 'nother uncharted territory in domestic bliss, sooo....

Second.......I made homemade laundry detergent (upon the suggestion of Ash). It started out sorta fun and exciting. I bought all the stuff........


The Fels Naptha package was sorta vintage looking, so that made me happy. It would be so much cheaper to make laundry detergent, and cheaper would make me happy too.

I could DO THIS.

So I did.

And after an hour of this:


Frustration replaced optimism and excitement.

My directions were to grate the laundry soap. Grating the stupid laundry soap took an hour. Yes, my grater was a mini-sized one. No, I didn't want to put it in my brand new food processor which would have been way faster. That seemed wrong. It is called a FOOD processor.

But you know what they say about hindsight.

I should have used my food processor.

Anyway, after the Hour of My Life That I'll Never Get Back was over, it did make a nice little batch of soap.


Which I haven't tried yet.

So to cheer myself up, I bought a new bottle of nail polish.


And ate the rest of the homemade ice cream I made on Sunday.


All this domesticness while still accomplishing almost everything on my list. On to next week!

Lists

I'm a fair weather list maker.

I make lists randomly. Only on rare occasions, really. Usually, in times when I feel like I have lots on my plate at work. Or at Christmas, when I'm preparing to shop for gifts.

Sometimes, I'll revisit the list and mark something off. But more often than not, after I make the list, I rarely look at it again.

I think that's because after I've taken the time write it out, I remember what I've got to accomplish, and I don't need to refer to it again.

Gosh, I don't know.

Anyway..........

Now that summer is one week shorter, and last week was lovely, lazy, and unproductive, I have to do something to motivate myself.

And I think that something is a list. A weekly goal list. Infused with fun and productivity. This week will be my trial run.......

• Monday: Work on organizing something in the house that is in disarray, such as: my closet. And swim with the sister and her bebes.
• Tuesday: Lunch with Julie. Keep on that organizing. Finish closet or start my spare bedroom (a.k.a. the "special" room).
• Wednesday: Swim with Ash and Whit. Ummmm, and work on special room some more.
• Thursday: Cleaning out gutters with dad's help (he's my ladder go to guy). Maybe I can convince him to help hang my new hummingbird feeder too.
• Friday: Possibly take my car in for inspection. It's that time of year again.....tag renewal time. The Red Baron turns 12 this month. Oh, and while being inspected.....get the right blinker fixed. And the air conditioner.

Okay, this is a good start. I already feel better about the week ahead. Maybe this will keep me on track, and I'll accomplish even MORE.

But today is Sunday. And I left it off my list for a reason. One last day of whatever. I think we're heading to grampy's house. And I think I want to make homemade ice cream when we get there.

Uh oh, I feel another list coming on..............what ingredients do I need?

Let there be light!

I need something to kick myself into gear this summer. So far, my first week off has been nothing but laziness and fun.

Which I think is appropriate.

But really, there is so much I want to accomplish during the next few months off, that I can't let this laziness creep into the following weeks.

Not to worry though. I believe I found a cure.

Purchase new kitchen light fixtures.

And after a city-wide search of all possible establishments selling fixtures, I discovered that no one offered what I'd conjured up in my head (which is often a problem).

I had to resort to shopping online. And B.I.N.G.O.


Exactly what I wanted. Vintage schoolhouse-esque lighting!

Thank you Lamps Plus! For your excellent lighting selection annnnnd free shipping!

And while I'm at it, I might as well purchase something for over my sink.


Once these arrive, I'm sure to have that fire lit under me. I'll be inspired, and motivation will wash over me.

Then maybe I'll clean out my "special" room.

And the winner is.......

As I stare at my bathroom floor in misery, someone else is celebrating a big win. Lucky girl.