A Makeover is Happening

This picture was taken almost a year ago. It was before we moved into our house, and there was a lot of renovation work going on.

When we first moved in, I made this room the schoolroom and since I was burned out from painting, and our very large bookshelf was taking up most of the wall space, I didn't bother painting the paneling. 

Then we pulled the ol' switch-a-roo and Jason and I found ourselves in a very brown bedroom. Brown is okay, but it's never inspired me in a decorative sense. 

And paneling for sure hasn't.

look. i didn't even bother removing the white board. i was in decorating denial.

I really, really wanted to paint the walls, but I didn't want to do it alone because painting paneling is such time consuming and very tedious work. I kept putting it off and putting it off until I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

So yesterday, I rounded up my paint and supplies and decided that since it always takes me one full day to completely paint a room, I should just suck it up and get it over with.  By this time the next night I would be sleeping peacefully in a "brand-new" room.

HA!

I worked from nine last night until one-thirty this morning and almost finished one wall. 

One. Wall.

 I have now changed my goal of completing this project from one day to one weekend. I am determined to get the task finished by tomorrow evening. This paneling just soaks in the paint and the edging takes FOREVER. I have to give the walls three coats and even edge the sides three times. I worked all day today and and I am just now half-way through the job.

Also, I decided that if I was going to do this, then I was really going to do this and I'm making myself paint all the furniture that needs repainting and I'm finally painting the girls' rocking horses. 

With my cousin's help, I was able to get the shelves and brackets above my desk put up and then I just threw some random decorations on them. I still have to paint that desk black and then organize and truly decorate the shelves, but it's nice to see a small part of the room finally looking like it's coming together. 

I have had a suggestion to paint the desk a yellow similar to the one below. I'm not totally sold on the idea, although I think the dresser in the photo is adorable. 

I'm just afraid it will take away from the picture I have in my head. There will be a black shelf above our bed that will be across the wall from the desk. Also, we have one black dresser. The nightstands and the other dresser are the gray color that you can see in the photos at the top of the post. 

What do you think? I would really like to hear your opinions.  

By the time you're 30

One of my sisters and I were talking yesterday about how there are certain things a woman should have by the time she is thirty. I continued thinking about it after our conversation had ended and came up with a few more things. Of course,this list is a bit silly and not at all meant to make anyone over 30 who hasn't achieved these things feel bad. It's just a few fun thoughts.

- A signature scent. I actually have two, and one of them I just discovered within the past two weeks so really it's a soon-to-be signature scent. For normal "I'm headed to Target" type days, I like to wear Eau So Sexy from Victoria's Secret. 

It is the perfect blend of sweet and musky and has a very light and fresh feeling. 

For more special occasions like a wedding or date night, I like to wear Very Sexy for Her by Victoria's Secret. I know, I know, there is a definite trend in the names and I promise- it has no bearing on my original decision to try out the scent. :)

This smell is a bit more spicy and bold. It's not one that you want to spray more than once since a little goes a long way. But I've gotten compliments on it many times and it makes me feel like I'm headed out the door for something really special. 

- A set style for her home

Now, I'm not saying that your home should actually resemble this style, but in your head, you should know what you like. My home is far, far from what I want, but I'm to the point that I like waiting to get what I really want instead of getting some filler item that will just end up being replaced. 

To find your style, I recommend starting a Pinterest board and for about two months, pin everything you like. 

Then, after you have a pretty good collection of pictures pinned, go back and edit your board. Delete what doesn't resound with you the second time around. Then repeat the process all over again. As you are deleting the second or third time, you should start to notice a similarity between what pictures you have kept. The pictures that make the cut two or three times should really tell you what look you are drawn towards. I had always thought I was a color-on-the-walls type of girl. I had painted our homes very bold colors time and time again. But guess what? Almost every pin I deleted was of colored walls and almost every pin I kept was of clean, white walls. In our current home, I am/have painted almost all of the walls white and I have never been happier with the outcome. I realize that trends come and go, but I really think by the age of thirty, a woman should know her base design for her home, and work the trends in (and then out) as they happen. 

- Knowing Her Flaws

So this one -for me- is easier said than done, but I have picked up on some ways and habits that I need to kick to the curb. 

I need to be better about waking up before the girls. I like my sleep, people. I also need to be better about letting the girls make messes. My girls know how to clean and they do it well, so there ought to be times that I just let them play and don't panic about the amount of work that will follow. I won't be cleaning it alone- or as is often the case, at all. 

I have more but I don't want to air them here. 

- Being able to hold her tongue

Look, you are a grownup now. Start acting like one. Back when I worked in a business, I was constantly amazed and appalled by how childish and petty some of the other woman in the office would act. It was really disturbing at times. 

So, that's what I've thought of so far. I'm sure there are a lot more. Tell me readers, do you agree with what I wrote? What achievements can you think of, silly or serious? Any tips on reaching those accomplishments? 

Run, Run, pant, pant, Run Some More

We are now home "for good." Whatever that means. The bulk of out traveling has been completed (excluding Jason) and now we will be trying to establish a summer routine. Kind of late, I know, but you just work with what the situation is, you know? Let me catch you up a little bit since my last post.  

We were home for a day and a half before we got the call that Jason's grandfather had passed away. We waited until the next morning before leaving to go back to Tennessee and made the trip in a quick 10 hours or so. We got there late Sunday night and spent the next few days visiting with the family and attending the visitation and the funeral. 

We returned home (extremely spent and exhausted) on Thursday afternoon. Jason dropped us off at the house and I quickly unpacked and then repacked the girls. I ran Elaina and Eily to the doctor; Eily for an infected toe that was causing red streaks up her foot and Elaina for swimmer's ear. (Or in her case, bathtub ear.) Then I dropped the girls off at Mom's house and Jason and I headed for Farmington. We stayed that night with my sister and then woke up bright and early and went to the hospital in Bentonville so that Jason could get permanent tubes put in his ears. 

Then we skedaddled home so that Jason could get some rest and I could get busy cleaning the house because we had company coming in late that night and I hadn't really been home to clean in over a month. I was very doubtful that I could pull off a hefty grocery trip, deep house cleaning, and catching up the laundry- but I did it before any of the company showed up at the house. It helped that it was pretty late by the time anyone arrived.  

The next morning, friends and relatives from my dad's side of the family came together and celebrated my grandfather's 90th birthday. I didn't think to take many photos but I did catch this sweet moment between Elaina and Grandpa. She had just come over to give him a hug and a kiss and wish him a happy birthday. 

Sunday was very low-key, in such a wonderful way, and we rested up and recuperated from all the business. 

This week has been mainly spent at the city pool and the Geek Squad desk at Best Buy. The girls have started swimming lessons and Nora comes home every day a little upset that they won't just let her swim alone because, "Look how big I am now! I'm grown all up!" I keep assuring her that when the time comes, the teacher will let her know and until then she needs to just keep practicing her arm movements and kicks. 

If you have noticed that Claire hasn't been in any of the photos so far, that's because she stayed in Tennessee and then went home to Mississippi with her cousin, Lily. Aunt Abby has been texting me photos all week of all the fun things they have been doing. Lily has a cousin, Charlie, on her mama's side of the family that is Claire's good friend and I know they've been able to play together quite a bit, too.

Claire and Lily making a craft at the Farmer's Market

Claire- sporting her new haircut and enjoying a smore's at Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kara's house

Lily, Claire, Nora Strevel, Charlie Strevel
I love this photo so much

More splash pad fun in Mississippi

This last photo was taken in Tennessee. Abby, Kara, and I brought the kids home early from the visitation. We were going to take them to the backyard and let them burn off some energy but it was raining, so...

Nadia, Elaina, Nora, David, Claire, Eily, Lily

Traveling

We've been doing a lot of traveling this month. We spent the last few days with Jason's family in Tennessee. 

The girls and I went to the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro one afternoon. It's always a big hit.  

We are a little road weary but happy to be home. 

(Nora has gum in her mouth, not black teeth.)

We have a very full week ahead of us so I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row as soon as possible. Jason is doing the same at his studio. I'll try to keep you all updated as we zoom along. :)

Harmony Hill 2014 and other Things

We have been home from camp for a few days now.
I"m not sure why, but I have had a really hard time bouncing back this year. I have been sleepy. Super, duper sleepy. There have been years where I have had much less sleep, and years where the temperatures were so hot that it took all my energy just to walk, but never have I come back feeling so exhausted. I'm just going to chalk it up to getting older because I don't know what else it could be.

Imani

If I stay on schedule with my chore list for today, I should have all the Harmony Hill equipment put away and all the laundry washed and folded. I will count this as a major accomplishment. Because it is.

Teague

I'm attending my first Classical Conversations Practicum this weekend. I'm very excited about it because I feel like I signed up to be the director but haven't really done anything to learn how to be the director.

Ryan

Since we've been home, I've been trying to go as long as possible without buying groceries. At first, it seemed as if we had nothing to eat, but I'm figuring out how to be creative and we have had some really yummy, filling meals.

Claire, Elaina, and Lillie

 These pictures were taken on our "nice" camera and obviously, I only thought to bring it with me on one day. But that's ok. Maybe next year I'll do better. Enjoy what few photos I did take.

A wind-blown Nora

Claire

Nora and Elaina

Eily and Catherine Palmer

Lukey

Claire and Eily

Teague

Weird shadow photo of Ryan and Nora

Josie Claire

Aunt Pretty and Eily

Harmony Hill Day 4

Tired

More tired

Even more tired

Harmony Hill Day 3- part B

Kids did some crafts

I took a marvelous nap

Bernardo told one of his famous 99 Chicks stories

Stayed up way too late learning new music and laughing with friends 

Nora actually went to sleep at her normal bedtime

Harmony Hill- day 3 part A

Beautiful weather today with NO RAIN

This morning it was actually pretty cold

Nora made her first solo run from the class area to the tent

Eily made a friend

The preschool class sang Happy Birthday to Rachel

Nora and Imani held hands as they walked to Imani's camper and the cuteness just about did me in

Drew a super fancy Miss Look at Mi