Sunday, May 17, 2009

Painting 101

I've learned to paint since we've moved to Mississippi (which has been one year ago tomorrow) and not just "the middle" either (which was my only painting job I was given), but real "I'm gonna paint this living room if it KILLS me" painting.

Well, today I've tackled the upstairs bathroom. And I'm learning some interesting things about painting. I'm documenting them so that I'll remember not to repeat the mistakes AGAIN.

1. Wear old scarf in hair. I have paint at the end of my ponytail from where I've turned my head in a small, confined place.

2. Wear shoes. Because it is the bathroom, we had to move the toilet to paint the wall behind it. I don't know if you've ever moved the toilet in your house before, but when you move a toilet it smells very bad (plus it's my boys' bathroom- if you catch my drift) and there's "liquid" that seeps from the inside of the toilet onto the floor. I was wearing shoes, but I spilled paint onto them (number three coming up) and took them off to rinse them and then promptly stepped in "liquid seepage" and closed my eyes in disgust. Niiiice.

3. Do not place tray of paint precariously on the edge of the tub. This may seem obvious, but apparently it did not occur to me at the time. And then it fell over. Butter side down, of course.

4. Do not use the edge of tub as a step ladder. This may also seem obvious, especially because I'm a wee bit accident prone, but I'm content standing on my tippy-toes to reach the wall above the tub. I did come downstairs to get my phone though, in the hopes that, if I did fall, I would be conscious enough to call 911. Isn't that a good idea?

There. Documented. Now I'm going up for coat number two. And some bleach to clean up the seepage.

Friday, May 08, 2009

While I'm Avoiding Pilates...

Yes. It's true. I got up at 4:45am to do pilates and have sat my booty at the computer instead. I am sipping coffee (with Creme Brulee creamer... mmmm), and mulling the fact that I am, in fact, avoiding the Windsor Pilates lady and she's sobbing in her DVD box.

We are in the process of repainting (hello and thank you to Heather and Crissy who SURPRISED me with their presence for my birthday and helped me paint the living room! We had great fun!), fixing, and (perhaps) laying the Pergo flooring before my family comes up to visit in two weeks. While you may raise your eyebrows in apparent disbelief over my monumental chore list that I put off to the last minute, I scoff at your disbelief in loftiness and snobbery. I work better under pressure. Ish. Of course, I am not laying the floors (ha), but I have learned to paint (also ish) and have just a wee bit of guilt of asking my husband if we can do this and that while he's preparing for finals. More scoffing by you? Well, I ask of you, which is more important: The house being done to perfection before my family gets here in two weeks or Quinn finishing well in his classes? er... Don't answer that.

I've also been mulling over smells. Now, if you know me at all, you know my fascination with different smells. This smells bad (ew, smell it! Um, ok!), this smells good (sniff... ah!), what can this smell be (hmmmm...). I've been reading Rebeccah's stuff on living a simpler life (check it out), which also equals living a cheaper life ("cheaper" almost outweighing my weird "smelling" thing), so I have been enamered with making my own shampoo, deodorant, yogurt, and toothpaste. I have not actually done these things yet. I think about it and think it would be good. And really, the only thing that is stopping me is smells. I like the smell of brown sugar shampoo and Dove soap. I love standing in the deodorant aisle at the store, agonizing over which deodorant I should pick. And don't get me started with shampoo and hair products. I prefer to go to the store by myself when I'm picking out these things so that I can stand there as long as I wish to pick out the most perfect smelling item. So, I have my dilemma. Cheap versus smelling really good. I shall mull still.

I have two weeks left of school.

I'm going to start food journaling again. (I need more obsessions)

The clock is chiming 6:00am and I must get started with my smells....