Basement Bath Overhaul!

When we moved into our current home, I was very pregnant and very sick and couldn't have cared less about our basement bathroom. I told my mom to paint it the same off-white that we used in the foyer (which has also since been repainted) just to get it in working order. Since, we have made few changes and have actually had three different tenants use it over the last two years! After Linda, our latest tenant, moved out in May, I have been itching to make that bathroom more welcoming for our future renters and guests. Here is my project, done! It is SO gratifying and I now just LOVE it down there, a room that I used to avoid! And, might I add, this amazing transformation cost us a total of only $55!

BEFORE

AFTER

Wall color: Wal-Mart's Color Place paint in Pale Spruce $12. Since this isn't our main bathroom, using a cheaper all-purpose indoor paint will still last for a few years without chipping or bubbling.

Shower Curtain: Bed Bath and Beyond, though I saved $10 by buying on Ebay! Cost $30 after shipping.

Wall shelf: Target $14.99

I couldn't be happier with how it turned out, especially on such a low budget. I was motivated to finish it before our next renter moves in in August, now on to painting our upstairs bathroom and all my other projects... :)

Latest project to-do: A fixed roman shade

Even though my to-do list is still long, I've added a new project to it! I saw this on a blog I follow and am in love. I LOVE the look of Roman shades but nice ones (especially ones with a decent pattern) are so expensive and hard to find. I've been wanting some type of valance in our kitchen forever and ta da! I found this tutorial on how to make a fixed roman shade. A sewing project even I could master. In our kitchen, a fully functioning roman shade isn't necessary so this will be a great solution for me. I've never liked the dated look of any kind of valance so this is a great find--a half curtain that has the style of a whole one!

I still need to pick a fabric for ours which will be tough but I'm excited for the challenge. I am very picky when it comes to fabric but when I perused Joann's selection yesterday there looked to be some good options. The hard part will be finding something that will match now AND match whatever kitchen's we move into in the future, but I'll see what I can do.

For those interested in making your own, here is the how-to:

http://flythroughmywindow.blogspot.com/2009/06/fixed-flat-fold-roman-shade.html

Other projects I'm thinking about: I need to cover our existing couch pillows. I LOVE them and the fabric but they are falling apart, literally. They have button pulls in the middle and one-by-one they've started popping off or back into the pillow, a choking hazard waiting to happen. I'm so sad to see this fabric go though and will have a very hard time finding a replacement, I'm sure.

Did you know that amazon.com has an incredible selection of fabrics? I spent a few hours the other night looking through for these projects and a pack-n-play panel I'm making, and I was very happy with the thousands of options. The only drawbacks are you can't feel the fabric before buying and you have to pay shipping, but some projects don't require either. I'd definitely recommend amazon if you like to browse from home!

Rejuvenating Summer?

What feels like months later, I write again. With Blair home more these last few weeks I have enjoyed more activity but have had much less quiet and/or productive time to myself. Today though, he is working and I'll use Ava's afternoon nap for a little personal catch-up. The house desperately needs to be cleaned but the little voice in my heart is saying that I have some thinking to do.

Remember all those great ideas that I listed for how to rejuvenate myself this summer and beyond? I don't think I've implemented one save for the week I made delicious chicken salad for lunch. I've been too busy with the here-and-now to plan for any big changes to occur! And even with the increase in family time and possibly more time "off" from mommy duties (though it doesn't feel like it), I still find myself with an unspeakably small capacity for life in general. I have been waking up tired, frustrated a lot with whatever isn't going my way, feeling cheated out of time to myself or even the option to sleep when I want to sleep or whatever. Darn! I thought this would get better when Blair was home more and we were living the summer of my dreams. Alas, that's not the case. So this got me thinking... could it be that I'm missing something? A big piece to this puzzle of my unending exhaustion and sacrifice. Yes, I think so.

Not surprisingly, I have had almost zero time with God this last month. With no set time for him I'm really lacking in personal and spiritual growth. This has a lot to do with my immediate grudge-holding that Blair gets to sleep in when I don't, that I don't get a day off when I have a cold, that I don't have a lot of options anymore, that Ava isn't taking a good nap (like it's her fault?). And the list goes on. I know in my head that these things just come along with being a mom and I LOVE being a mom, and yet I find myself happy with it for about five minutes before Ava starts fussing or something else happens.

So... again, not surprisingly, I am finding myself in need of Jesus. It even hurts to admit it because sometimes it seems I would so much rather go through life self-sufficient and having people owe me something rather than the other way around. But this again, is not the case. How do I bridge that gap though between knowing that I need Jesus in my life everyday and not wanting to give up on all my demands? It feels like to soften and let God in to help me through these struggles will inevitably leave me having to do everything myself, having to sacrifice immeasurably and yet having to do so with a smile--a happy servant. That doesn't sound good to a tired mom. I know that isn't true though, that God's not asking me to sacrifice more than I can, but simply to stop demanding of Blair and Ava and myself what only he can provide--rest, sustenance, energy, life. Oh man. This is hard! When I am demanding there is the hope that someone might meet my demands and I'll get what I want, though the whole process is totally draining. God promises to meet my needs (therefore securing my hope) and that process of relying on him is supposedly actually energizing. Why am I fighting what seems to be an obvious choice? All those with similar struggles, feel free to chime in. In the meantime, this tired mom is going to make some kind of effort to turn to Jesus when it feels like everything is "up to me".

A Kathryn update

My eight minutes have turned into about eight seconds lately... I'm not sure how it happened but I have been busy! Blair has been home more this last week which has been wonderful, we even went out one day during one of Ava's naps (this is a shocker for me) and visited the duck pond on campus, did some shopping downtown and walked about ten miles. It feels so good to have some family time, some me-time and to just have an extra pair of hands around the house.

In keeping with the busyness, we are leaving Thursday for a trip down to my sister's for the weekend. We've had very limited time with my side of the family in the last year so we're hoping for some saturated cousin/aunt and uncle/grandparents time. Traveling is stressful for me because usually it means Ava doesn't sleep well and I have to make hard decisions about skipping or moving naps. Since Ava was born her naps have been a huge priority for me and we rarely skip one or nap outside the home. So... there's always a little anxiety about that before trips but I know in the grand scheme of things it is good for her (and me) and we'll have a great time! I love naps but in some ways am looking forward to the day when there are no naps to miss!

Yesterday we celebrated my second Mother's Day and it was a really great day. Blair made me breakfast in bed and I got up to pictures of Ava taped all over the house. It was so great to sort of celebrate Ava all day too, I spent much of the day remembering how great it's been to be her mom for the last 14 months and looking at pictures of her as a wee little baby. I love being a mom more than anything and it's fun to have a day not only to be celebrated for it but to be reminded that I have the best job in the world.

a 27th year

This weekend was my 27th birthday and Blair's 26th. We packed in lots of fun, it was exhausting but great! I got a mani-pedi for the first time since... I don't know, my wedding? We went out to dinner (twice), got some time out without Ava, and I got some bathroom accessories! I'm so excited. Sadly, that was the best part of weekend I think! I put up the shower curtain (it totally transforms the room even with the unmatched blue walls) and Blair got me my soap pump and other sink necessities. I'm thrilled! Here's a progress shot of my lovely bathroom:

Just a baby step forward but it's something! It actually has an even bigger impact in real life, my phone camera isn't doing it justice. I also found on Craigslist a beautiful new vanity that I'm hoping we can get to replace this old one! We'll see if that works out.

Today Blair is working but this marks the beginning of his easier schedule for the summer. I am SO thankful. It was so nice to have him home these last couple days and I can't wait to start some of our summer projects and take some fun family day trips. Come on summer, I am ready for you!

bathroom renovation

Well, that would be my dream, but instead I'll settle for a few new accessories. I love our little home and am so thankful for the affordable rent, but some of the fixtures really leave something to be desired. I've tried multiple things to liven up our bathroom but none have really done the trick. This is our bathroom as it stands now--sadly this is actually scores better than what it looked like when we moved in.

We replaced the light fixture and the shelf below the mirror, plus added the medicine cabinet above the toilet for added storage and painted the vanity white.

I added a strip of thin molding and painted below it white to make the illusion of grand thick molding along the bottom of the wall. We also replaced the old vinyl tile.

I picked out the boring white shower curtain when I was sick and pregnant and couldn't make a decision but it does very little for the room

In this little pictures from my phone the bathroom actually looks better than it does in real life but it's still not the best! The good news: I have plans. Blair gave me the OK to buy some new towels--I love our towels but they are getting ratty and the same kind went on clearance at BB&B. I picked up a new set in my favorite blue color which will match the new shower curtain that I'll get soon, pictured below:

Though our budget is tight, on my wish list are these new accessories from target: a soap pump and tumbler in powdered bronze, plus new shower curtain hooks in the same finish.

I have already bought paint that is a brown somewhere in between camel and a starbucks latte. This will be a great backdrop to our blue towels! Then all we need is to take down that half-sized mirror and replace it with one that goes all the way down to the sink. I've also been keeping my eye on Craigslist for a new vanity, ours is pretty hideous close up, stained and chipped and the bottom is falling out! Hopefully I'll find a good deal soon and we can nab it.

So... these are my dreams. It may take months or years but someday I will make this bathroom into the beauty I have in my mind! I'll post pictures as the transformation takes hold. Hopefully this summer (aka soon) when Blair is home more and can watch Ava I can get the painting done and replace the mirror. I'm so excited! This sort of thing DEFINITELY energizes me.

Fresh Tea

I made iced tea yesterday and am enjoying my first refreshing glass while Ava naps. A combination of English Teatime and Mint Medley steeping for most of the day... delicious.

I have been feeling rather refreshed this week since returning from my mom's; even though it was tiring I think it gave me the boost I was needing. It's amazing how much a change of scenery can give you energy when sleep won't. I'm still struggling with feeling tired all the time but it's manageable and good to know I'm sharing the company of most mom's out there.

I wanted to share the list I came up with while I was away last weekend, my ideas for ways to energize myself during the day. Here are my thoughts:

1) Wake up before Ava and do yoga, even if just for a few minutes.

2) Sit outside during her naps when it's nice out.

3) Find things to do WITH Ava that are good for me like developing an exercise routine that she can be part of in the afternoon.

4) Plan ahead for healthy and "put together" (not thrown together) lunches and snacks that I can look forward to and will give me energy for the day. Do prep at night or during naps. Ideas: Chicken salad with grapes on lettuce and veggies, Tuna with fruit & veggies, Grilled sandwiches and soup, Chili with cornbread muffins, Taco salad with chicken and veggies.

5) Use Ava's AM nap (while Blair is still home) to go out-- go to Starbucks, go for a walk, or have a quiet time.

6) Set specific days for cleaning and laundry so it's not always on the to-do list.

7) Cook/bake more. Try new mini recipes for desserts, snacks and breakfasts. Ideas: banana bread, cinnamon rolls, homemade fruit leather or granola.

8) Make a comprehensive list of meal ideas for different occasions, sides, snacks, etc for easy and quick planning. Weed out the recipes that I never use to simplify my recipe book.

9) Take the time to get more at Sam's Club so I have less to get at the grocery store when a quick trip is in order.

These are my thoughts, we'll see how it pans out. So far the lunch thing has been wonderful, I've had chicken salad and veggies everyday this week and it's been summery and delicious. Today I had leftover pizza and pepsi and I'm definitely feeling the difference in my energy and my attitude! Food really can lift your spirits when you're eating something that's well balanced, looks pretty and tastes great (especially when it involves just slicing a few veggies and scooping something out of a tupperware). I am far from a health-food fanatic but as I get older and energy isn't as abundant as it once was, I'm learning the worth of good nutrition and doing whatever it takes to feel my best.