Wednesday, September 16, 2009

color my world

I am not normal. Let's just put that out there right now so there is no question. I can not turn off my brain from creative thoughts. For some people this may be a good thing. For me it's an expensive thing. I can not leave things well enough alone. I am always thinking of ways to change the look of a space, and more importantly for me, the "feel". Yeah, how's that for kinesthetic? Oh, and I don't just stop there. It has to smell a certain way. Did I mention I'm not normal? I did? Oh, good.

My husband just got home after traveling for three weeks. While he was gone I was without the distraction of my left brain, I mean husband. In that time I have decided to paint the entire interior of our house. Since we've moved in we have only painted one room; Ava's bedroom. Of course we have now lived here more than 6 months and have started scrutinizing the previous owners painting techniques. Let's just say that I don't think they were fans of painters tape. Every room needs to be repainted, some are worse than others. The entire downstairs has been touched up with an almost but not quite matching color of paint. You'd never notice just walking through but if you stare at the walls long enough it is so obvious that it makes you crazy.

The original plan was to paint the downstairs in the closest color we could find to match. It's sort of a beigy/yellow/off white, not very dark, but definitely darker than the lightest color on the paint swatch. But then Jer left and all hell broke loose. I've been staring at paint samples for a week now and have been watching them on all walls at every time of day, deciding. Then the paint led to curtains. The curtains led to artwork. And then from somewhere I've decided to bust down a wall and open our very tiny staircase. Now, if anyone knows how to do the staircase construction that would be great, cause I sure as hell don't and I'm guessing we can't afford to have the contractor do it. Besides, If I had the money to have my contractor actually finish all of my plans his family would have to move in full time for three years in order to finish my list.

So, in order of which room you come into first as you walk in my front door my colors...

Entry: three choices are in the running. Pony tail- one step darker than what we have already, Gooseberry- very dark reddish purple, Sweet Annie- kind of a golden sage green

Dining room: Pumkiny red. I also have plans to build upholstered cornice boards for the windows with sheers underneath heavy drapes to tie back.

Living Room: Bread Basket kind of a leathery orangeish brown. I also need an area rug and completely new window treatments but haven't decided.

Side room: Belgian Chocolate. Very dark chocolate. This room needs new curtains too.

Mudroom/Laundry: I want to tear this room up. I want a heated tile floor and new bead board on the walls. The quote to do that isn't too bad but it's on the someday list. I plan on ignoring this room to the best of my ability for the next year.

Guest bedroom and bath: No decisions made yet.

Family room, stairway, hallway, and kitchen: Pony Tail

Half bath: Gooseberry or Pumpkiny red

The best thing about my problem? My husband has no opinion. He liked everything I chose and said go for it, we'll tackle it one room at a time. How great is that? I sure do like my left brain er, husband.


Sunday, September 6, 2009

I might have a problem

I may be addicted to a fabric softener.

Let's list the signs...
-I am washing everything in sight
-Stripping beds (even the mattress pad and the comforter inside the duvet)
-When getting dressed I only wear the things that have been freshly washed
-I only dress my kids in stuff that's freshly washed
-I've been steering my husband to clothes that are freshly washed
-My to-do list includes taking down all of my curtains and washing them
-I've taken the clean towels that get to the bottom of the cabinet and rewashed them
-Also on the to-do list - wash all the coats, sweatshirts and jackets that hang by the back door
-I went out and bought another bottle even though the original one is only half empty
-I've been trying to use the half full bottle of other fabric softener I have to use but I can't make myself do it

Warning: DO NOT BUY Downy Simple Pleasures in the Almond Cream Bliss scent to go with your All Free and Clear Small and Mighty. It is not advised, unless you really need to do laundry, then it may be a very wise idea.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

looking forward

I've been pushing summer out and ushering fall in. Autumn is my favorite season followed by winter, spring, and then trailing so far behind summer. I have a lot that I'm looking forward to at this point and I'm in a list making mood.

- Girls start school next Tuesday, they are thrilled
- I have no idea what I will do with myself
- This will be the second time in history that I will be alone in my house. Once Jer took them both to get a gallon of milk, it was kind of a big deal.
- Jer's b-day is 10-1
- Girls b-day 10-4
- Fall cooking, I have a big list of new recipes I want to try and of course there's the old standbys that I make every fall
- I just picked up Suzanne Collins new book "Catching Fire" book 2 of the Hunger Games series
- Jer will be done with his PITA thesis and his Master's in October. I can't wait to have him back again. He's been in school for forever and I'm over it.
- My cousins wedding in Door County, WI in October, should be beautiful up there
- All of the November babies, and baby gifts, I love buying baby gifts
- Thanksgiving, we are staying home. Maybe we'll have family in, maybe not.
- Pumpkin patch, carving pumpkins, all things pumpkin