So I realized that I skipped #7 on my tip list. Here you go:
I use my Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (or the generic equivalent, which works just as well) to help clean the bathtub. Now, I wouldn’t need to if I cleaned the tub on a regular basis, but I don’t. So I get a ring around the tub and dirt in the texture on the bottom that is nearly impossible to scrub off. But I get it wet, sprinkle Ajax on it, then use the damp Mr. Clean and scrub and it comes off so quickly! I love it!
In order to keep our children on the straight and narrow, we don’t allow cell phones, ipods, or cameras in their bedrooms. It is too easy for kids to mess around with texting/sexting when they are alone. They have to check their devices in every night. We keep them in our room. But when there are 3 cell phones, 4 ipods, and a DSi, there were tons of cords. Everyone was trying to find their cord, which many times had fallen behind the dresser. It has driven me nuts for months, and I just couldn’t figure out a better way.
Until I saw this blog post. Bingo! The box doesn’t look the same, and I may redo it sometime in the future, but I am pleased with how it turned out. The shelf is from Wal-Mart, in the kitchen section. I am so thrilled that my dresser isn’t a mess anymore. Here are the after pictures (no before…I didn’t think about it!).
…is Christmas. Are you getting ready? I’m not! The bedrooms really put me behind this year. But The Teenager actually gave me an idea of something he wants for the first time in 3 years, so I better go and get it!
What other people think of you is none of your business.
The Princess’ bedroom is done. She was moved to the basement into the blue room. It took 3 coats of primer to cover the blue, then 2 coats of paint. Ugh. Here is before:
And after:
Her room was the biggest let down. I think because it was pink before (when she was upstairs), so it really wasn’t that big of a change. We added the sage green for the accent. The room is smaller, so it feels more crowded. And the thing over her bed? I don’t like it, but she loves it, so I put it up. So between all of that and being burnt out from doing them all, I just wanted it over and done with. I really had to force myself to finish it. But now everything is out of my front room and I can go clean it good.
These have been 4 separate bedrooms, but because I did them one right after another, it has felt like one long, drawn-out project. I am so tired of clutter and mess. And that is all I have been doing since August 1st. I am so ready to do something else! I still need to do our master bedroom and bathroom and the kitchen and front room and family room…after Christmas! I can’t even think about it right now!
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
How much does it cost to get a “free” education?
The Teenager The Artist The Chocoholic
Required fees $75 $77 $92
“Optional” fees (if you want your child to do anything interesting)
$85 $80 $25
Yearbooks $40 $16 $16
Cross country camp $130
Cross country shoes $90
Clothes for gym $30
Insurance for school iPod $25
Graduation announcements $108
Cap and gown $40
Totals $593 $173 $163
Grand total = $929
This is just what I have paid so far. There will be more fees for the second semester, more if they want to be in the play or if they do any other sports. They are also in 2 dance classes each. Fortunately, their dance teacher is amazing and we are cleaning her studios in exchange for tuition which would be $250/month. There will be concert fees and recital fees. And the worst part is that I can't write any of it off!
I miss summer.
I miss sleeping in until 7:30, waking to the sun, not a blaring alarm clock.
I miss staying in my pajamas until 10 and not caring because no one had anywhere to go.
I miss lazy afternoons, relaxing and not worrying about homework.
I miss staying up late with my boys, playing board games until midnight and laughing at stupid jokes.
I miss summer.
I have no energy to blog. I have been crazy painting, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So in the meantime, enjoy this batch of blah, blah, blah.
1. It's early morning, about 2:00AM, and you're driving home. You come to a red light and sit there. There is no one in sight for miles around. Do you wait it out or run the light?
I wait it out. I know that if I ran it, I would get caught. Murphy’s law.
2. If you had the chance to re-do the last 24 hours, would you change anything?
I would pour out the last of the trim paint and paint all the trim and see if it lasts before I went to Home Depot and bought another can and then ran to 3 more stores looking for something and wasting 1 1/2 hours of my morning when I could have been painting.
3. When you reply to someone's comment on your blog, do you reply in your comments or go to her blog and comment? (Or email her)
I try to email, but a lot of people have a “no-reply” email address, so I reply in my comments.
4. Your favorite Disney movie is:
The Little Mermaid. I love, love, love that show!
5. Do you recycle?
Yes. I do my best.
6. Games of strategy or games of chance?
Chance. I absolutely hate games like Risk or Settlers. I detest them! I love Uno!
7. Do you have any recurring dreams?
When I was little, I had a nightmare. I was at the end of my street on my bike and there was a big group of people coming towards me. When they got close enough, I saw that they didn’t have any faces. It was just blank. I raced home and my dad was in the driveway working on our car. I told him what had happened and he turned around and his face was blank too. Then I woke up. I have had that dream several times throughout my life. Then a few years ago, a movie came out where the people didn’t have any faces. I was freaked out!
8. What did you learn from your first real job?
My first real job was helping my parents clean doctors offices when I was 8. We went every night and cleaned and my parents paid us. I learned to save money and budget and to work for what I got. By the time I was 12, I was buying all my own clothes and toiletries and school fees.
9. Do you buy or borrow most books?
I buy, because I like to read them over and over. I will never regret buying books. My mom instilled in me a love of books, and I have instilled that in my own kids.
10. What fashion trend of the past did you say you'd never wear again but did?
Nothing. I see kids wearing leg warmers and pegging their pants and I laugh at them!
11. When do you start Christmas shopping?
December 26th.
12. Have you ever been so happy that you literally jumped up and down for a few seconds? If so, what was the occasion?
When I got engaged and when I found out I was pregnant for the first time.
Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
This is the Chocoholic’s bedroom. He was very patient with me. He pulled everything out on Tuesday and I started on Wednesday. I got it all taped and prepped and had painted 1/15th of the edge of the ceiling when I got a phone call from the elementary school, informing me that The Princess had been hurt. Long story short, she broke her finger and I spent the day in the ER of the children’s hospital. Fun times. So by the time I got home, I was wiped out, so I didn’t do anything that day. The next day I was at work. Friday I just didn’t want to do it.
Finally on Saturday, I forced myself to go down and start painting. I listened to the BYU football game while I was painting (Go BYU!) which was a nice change from just music. Monday morning I put a second coat on and then The Chocoholic was able to put his bed together and sleep down there again. Last night I worked on the bookshelf and wall shelf. Today I was able to get it all put together.
I was so excited because I was going to get his room done super fast, and I still ended up taking 9 days.
Here are the before pictures:
After:
I absolutely hated the green on the walls until I started putting the chocolate brown on, which really calmed the green down.
Well, onto the final bedroom!
Make peace with your past so you won't spoil the present.
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong.
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one (the pink one!) is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!