Monday Listing

Image courtesy of nataliedee.com

Reasons to Never, Ever Do a Home Improvement Project Ever Again

1. It hurts.
2. It hurts in the wallet.
3. Hearing “oh oh.” If I hear this one more time I will drink myself stupid.
4. The cleanup! Oh dear god the cleanup.
5. I really don’t enjoy the fact that everyone at the Home Depot knows us by name. This isn’t the Cheers I had in mind.
6. I really don’t enjoy that we go to the Home Depot, on average, three times a day.
7. It hurts.

Reasons to Do Another Home Improvement Project

1. Oh it really looks lovely!
2. So much fun seeing how excited the kidlets are about having a new bathroom.
3. Watching my daughter get all fired up about decorating. This made me cry a little. Just a few tears came squirting out.
4. Watching the Big B and Pupcake form a closer relationship. That working together really does bond you mens doesn’t it? Brilliant that I just figured this out. Ha!
5. There really is something loving about painting back to back with the guy you love.
6. It’s done!

Personal Renovation

Look at this shot. I imagine the woman that inhabits this space to be serene, dress in lots of beige, have a well-modulated voice, and never get caught with last nights mascara under her eyes. I think I love this woman.

Style really is everywhere and definitely starts within us, you, me, as a person. Begins with everything you do.

I am starting a six-week style reno. Not too certain why I chose six weeks. Maybe because it seems doable? Let's see how this progresses.

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Did everyone have a thankful Thanksgiving? Ours was chaotic and lovely. My new family is used to being huge and chaotic and helped me get that dinner on the table and then clean up afterward.

I had my camera out and poised for shots, but I swear my body never left that damn kitchen. That's sad! The day passed in a blur of laughing, talking, wine, stuffing being stuffed into mouths, and lots of sugar, tons of leftovers. I was a soppy mess yesterday getting my house back in order and not doing much else.

Today I'm heading out to Ikea (Ha! Ikea!) with my SIL. She's never been.

Happy Saturday everyone. I hope the sun is shining where you are.

Holy Crapinoli

I actually kinda hate it when people say, "I'm so busy! I'm just frantic! I haven't had a minute"! I am guilty of this millions of times - busybusybusy! Blech, ugh, and grr yes?

We are entering the craziest time of the year. If I could organize my mind in a more linear fashion, perhaps I'd be not so busy! Maybe I'd be leisurely and relaxed and enjoy the holidays. Yes! I vow to relax. I promise to cease obsessing. Ha! Have we met? I have to laugh at myself! It could happen! Stop looking at me like that.

What has been happening is a remodel at our other house. My DD1 and her Big B rent it along with one of their buds. He's in the MIL apartment in the basement/lower level. We decided to redo the bathroom in the main part of the house and tile the lower level. The project has mushroomed (does that make you nostalgic or hungry hmm?) into more, as remodeling projects always do. We are now replacing the kitchen in the MILA as well. Crazy! And we've been taking web design classes. For someone who doesn't have a job at the moment I don't have very many moments to squander.

The good news is the project is progressing along wonderfully. The kidlets have had many of their friends help which warms my heart and watching them work so hard and observing them get so much satisfaction out of working so hard is also heart warming. I have great kids. I really do!

So, to add to the crazy, we are hosting Thanksgiving for about 20 people as well. Aaaah! I have my linear list of things to make and bake today. I have my list of shopping for today (how many times have I been to Aldi's and Cub; hmm?). I have my chore list as well. George being one of the things on the list - he needs to be destinkafied - poor little guy. He hates going to the groomers, but everyone who comes in contact with him tomorrow will be glad I did.

How cute is this dog? Seriously cute and adorable.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Eat lots of stuffing, pie, gravy. Sleep in front of the games. Play wii with your fam. Have spirited debates around the table. Count your blessings. Love you all.

Real - Really?

Confession. Sick and embarrassing confession. Will you still be my friend kind of confession. No one will watch these with me on Thursday night kind of confession.

I watch the entire Housewife franchise. All of them. Sit down and watch kind of thing. Oooh the shame. The time-suckage of it all. WTH is wrong with me? Was I dropped on my head as a child? As an adult?

Orange County, Atlanta, New York, New Jersey. I marvel at their huge hair, their blond hair, their SIB hair (some I bought hair - thanks Diahann Carroll), their stiff faces, their boobs (oh the boobage!), their mortified children, their sheepish hubs, their over-the-top homes, their fingernails!

And I watch. I can't stop watching. I laugh out loud. I embrace the crazy. Again - WTH??

What would an anthropologist make of this? Will we all be judged by these shows? Will this be our time capsule? Is this why I (and many others - I know it!) watch week after week, year after year?

I've done a casting call in my head for "The Housewives of Hennepin County". We'd need two versions though. The Maple Grove/Champlin chapter and the South Minneapolis Chapter. For obvious reasons. Sorry for the local reference. Those that live in these parts will understand.

Am I envious? Am I smug? Am I a drama-whore? Maybe a little of each.

I Love My House

I do. Especially right after I make it tidy. It's tiny and tidy.

I was having a very fun afternoon listening to an iTunes playlist and cooking while having a glass of wine. Dancing around like a spazz. We had Momma B over for red sauce. I must admit I was a tad sauced by the time dinner was served. Is that bad? Ha!

Monday Listing

It could be me that's listing btw. Again - a sugar hangover. SIGH!

Things I’ve Often Wondered About

1. Chargers – are they really necessary? Do we even like them?
2. Leggings – why am I wearing them? You know what they say about wearing comfy pants too often.
3. Cats – why are they so damn bossy?
4. Wii – do I need a class?
5. Mii – will I love her?
6. Coffee – why do haters keep trying to find bad things attached to my love?

Halloween Devils

This isn't the Devil.

This is!