Honey-Do List

As I am sure many married couples can relate to, especially ones that have either been together for a long time or else are low key like us, dates come in all forms.  Recently, we decided to go out on a date.  To Lowe's.  At 1:00 PM on a Sunday afternoon.  No, it's not the most romantic day, time, place, or concept, but it worked for us.  What was our mission?  Nothing really.  We just strolled around the store and talked about projects that we want to do around the house.  And since I had my camera in my purse like I usually do, we decided to document it.  And now, for you're reading pleasure, I present to you my "Honey-Do List."
***NOTE***  I just want to say that I consider BOTH Byron and myself to equally represent "Honey".
1.  Tiled Backsplash
I would LOVE a tile backsplash in our kitchen.  I hate our current mini-backsplash.  To me, it is just a joke and had I realized that our builders were going to do that I would have specifically asked them not to.  I learned my lesson too late.  I would much rather have a full backsplash in something like this.

I believe the upper left is some form of marble, the upper right and lower left are some type of stone, and the lower right is again some type of marble, but I can't confirm that.  I have been watching a LOT of Sarah's House on HGTV.  Sarah loves marble.  I love Sarah.  Therefore, I must love marble, too, although if I did go with marble, I think I'm leaning toward the more traditional (on the upper left) than the version with the black (lower right).  Our cabinets are white and the granite is lighter, but still multi-colored.  Would adding a marble backsplash leave the kitchen too white?  Well, the one thing I learned from this trip is that I definitely favor the brick pattern.

2.  Organized Bathroom Cupboards
I think I've already admitted how messy I am, especially in the bathroom.  I have basically overtaken what little counter space we have, and unfortunately I am too embarrassed about it to show any pictures at this time.  But wouldn't it be amazing if I could have one of these?  Or even two?

At $84.97, this is no cheap storage solution.  And I'm a cheapskate spread out the expenses type of girl, so I'm thinking this will get put on my after Christmas to do list.  My side of the bathroom will be the first recipient, but I would like to get one for Byron's side eventually too.  That way, I can have the two shelves on my side, the entire middle cabinet, and one shelf on his side, and he can have one shelf, too.  Haha.  It's not that bad, really, I just don't wake up looking as naturally beautiful as he does.
3.  Fancy Door Hardware

I have no reasoning for this.  I'm just drawn to it.  I would also like to paint the front door a bright, poppy color (I'm leaning toward a muted pumpkin, which would make the brick pop).  Right now the front door is a taupey-brown color.

4.  Double Decker Closet Storage
We have a big closet.  It is big enough to hold all of our clothes, especially because we are pretty simple people and don't go clothes crazy, plus we I have a dresser in the bedroom.  But what the house lacks is good storage throughout.  If we built our closet shelving up, we would have additional space to store the type of items that we don't have to access frequently, yet we don't want to store all the way in the basement.  Extra linens from our overflowing linen closet or some of our off season coats and jackets are just the type of things I have in mind.

You may have noticed that I just showed you a picture of garage shelving.  Yes, we need that too, and yes, it is just a little different that what I would choose for the closet, but you get the idea, right?
5.  Bedroom Sitting Area
We have a nearly empty wall in our bedroom.

It would be the perfect place to recreate something like this.

Image found here.

We already have a chair that we like.  Look what they have at Lowe's.  I don't know if you can see it from the picture, but it is a really great price for a mirror that big.

6.  Layered Window Treatments
I really love the look of bamboo blinds + curtains.  I have seen them many places scattered throughout the web.  I almost have all the windows curtained (enough already, I know), so the next step would just be to add the bamboo.  If we did that, would we then be bamboozled?  Groan.

That's it, for now.  We had a great time, even if it wasn't our most romantic date.  And we didn't leave empty handed, either.  Byron decided we could get a treat!

In case you didn't remember, it was white (and bent) before.  With every change, even the little ones, I love my house more and more.

I Hate the Animal Planet

Let me give you a quick status update.  I finished 16 of the 24 flag that needed to be done by last night, so I still have 8 to go by next Friday.  I owe a huge thank you to my friend Lindsey who came over and saved me.  I woke up really early this morning (6:00 am on a SATURDAY!  Okay, so that's only 30 minutes early for me...I'm being dramatic) to take the guard to their first competition, only to find out 15 minutes later that it was cancelled due to the rain.  I'm a little disappointed, a little relieved.
So since I was up anyway, I just started in on my regular Saturday morning routine - pick up the kitchen, watch some of the HGTV episodes on the DVR, and just generally move slowly.  I had just finished watching an episode of Income Property, and instead of picking a new episode to watch I just let the TV resume on the channel that it was on.  Big mistake.
It was an animal show called Rebel Monkeys.  Little baby monkey TJ was climbing up on a power line looking for his mother when he accidentally climbed on the live wire and got electrocuted and fell to the ground.  He was just laying there in a pile of trash limp and in pain and I even think he was crying.  He laid there all night.  So of course, I immediately start crying.  Sobbing.  Bawling.  It was a bit much but my heart was and still is broken.  Fortunately a man wrapped him up in a blanket and took him to the animal hospital, but the streets of India were so crowded that the narrator of the show wasn't sure if they could make it in time.  Then they switched to a new scene where some monkeys were about to gang up on each other in a street fight when I couldn't take it anymore and changed the channel.
So there I sat on the couch, hating all animal shows.  They are the only things that give me nightmares, by the way.  Byron walked into the room.  I was still sobbing.  He asked what was wrong, and as I agonizingly cried through the recap to him, I a) felt like an idiot for getting so upset at ANIMAL SHOWS and b) could not stop crying.
There is still a good portion of the day ahead of me.  I am going to try to move past this.  And I am going to add the Animal Planet (and Net Geo Wild, etc.) to the "blocked channels" on my TV.

Still Going Strong

I'm back from my business trip, my guard survived their first performance, and I have 5 flags cut out (with 19 to go...not that I'm counting).  But amidst the crazy week that I've had, look at the little ray of sunshine I have smiling back at me.

Unfortunately, the roses and the lilies were mostly worse for wear, but I was able to save a couple of them.  I just snipped down the stems and put them in a new vase.  I used my favorite vase, which meant that not quite all of the remaining flowers fit.  Oh well.  That just means two bouquets, right?

Okay guys.  Back to cutting.  Then sewing.  And there goes the rest of my weekend.  I am just DYING to do some house projects, no matter how small they may be.  Something.  Anything.  But I am up against a deadline.  It will be one more week and then hopefully I'm back to my usual self.

Seeing Red

I am in a sea of red.  Literally.  Or at least I was yesterday.

Have you ever seen this much fabric?  It was everywhere.  This is only one side of the room.  So here is the back story.  For one of my other part time obligations, I coach a high school colorguard squad.  Their first performances are coming up, and we are in need of a new set of flags.  There just so happened to be this huge red fabric monster in their equipment closet, and since I can sew, it is now becoming our closing set of flags.  In order to manage this hug beast, I cut it down the seams into 8 strips.  Each strip was about 42 inches wide, and I don't know how long each was but I'm pretty sure it is longer than the width of my house.  So needless to say, that's a lot of fabric - cutting it apart took around 3-4 hours alone!  Fortunately my sewing room didn't look like this for long.
At first I was only going to have to make 8 flags, but now, we took our show in a new direction, so that means I have to make 24 flags.  By the 18th.  And did I mention that I am going to be out of town for work a couple of days in there?  I have recruited Byron to help me as much as possible, and so far that has meant ironing.  Regardless, it looks like my sewing machine (and my free time, for that matter) is going to be all work and no play for the next week or so.  I hope to be able to work on other things around the house too, but they might just be put off until I make my deadline!

A Saturday Morning Surprise

This morning I woke up and did what I love to do on Saturday mornings - sit on the couch with my coffee watching all my favorite design shows that I missed during the week.  Imagine my surprise when I (still sitting in the same place, um, 5 hours later) heard the door open and my husband walk in - with an absolutely beautiful and totally unexpected bouquet of flowers for me.  For no reason!  He really earned those bonus points today.  See what I mean?

Look at the blooms!  They are so beautiful I couldn't pick just one.  In case you can't tell, the bouquet is make up of coral roses, orange daisies, yellow gladiolas, and some green things, perhaps a type of mum.  Oh!  And some peach lilies.  I think that's it, but I'm no flower expert so if those aren't actually right, they are close enough!  haha.  Regardless of what the flowers actually are, nobody can deny their beauty.
And props to Byron on the tip for photographing them outside.  What a difference that makes.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Who is the fairest of them all?  If you didn't answer "Why, you, Katie", then you can keep your mouth shut.  Kidding.  But seriously now folks.  As fast as we move around here in the morning (you may either call it efficient or hitting the snooze too long) there is probably a big chance that I could run out of the house without giving myself that one last check.  Until now.  We installed this lovely thing in our laundry room, so now we can check our teeth and noses before we leave the comfort of our home to go face the world.

Forgive my reflection - on the top half I am wearing what I wore to work today and on the bottom I am wearing, um, pajamas.
Hey, speaking of doing the final check before you leave the house, I have a funny story.  Once this past spring/summer I actually went to work in a see through shirt.  Yep - no cami or anything to keep me modest like I usually am.  Fortunately I realized it pretty quickly and was able to just button up my cardi for the day.  Phew!  Crisis averted.  But I still felt like a moron (huge moron) who had never dressed herself before.  Needless to say, I have been really careful since then. 

Say Hello to my Little Friend

We have a new member of our household, and forgive me for not having introduced her sooner.  She doesn't have a name, though. So I don't exactly know how to introduce her.  I will just show you.

This is my house plant.  Or my little friend, if you will.  I bought this plant at Lowe's a few weeks ago.  It was only like $6 which is why I was willing to try it out.  Of course, I threw away the tag, but I think this plant is called a croton.  I'm not just going off total memory here.  This supports my suspicion.  But regardless of what kind of plant this is, the important part of the story here is that it is not dead!  And, it's growing.  In case you missed it the first time, let me show you again.

Here is an extreme close-up.  If you look way down deep toward the roots, you will even see a brand new stalk.  (Are they called stalks?  Oh well, I think you get the picture.)

I feel like I am gushing like a proud parent.  It's just that in my last place, I didn't exactly have a plethora of windows, and the few plants I tried to have, both indoor and outdoor, didn't exactly thrive.  Not at all.  This one however, is enjoying her little perch on my kitchen windowsill.  
Here is the lesson I have learned so far - don't over water!  I may not remember the name of the plant, but I do remember that it said it needed a lot of water.  To me, that means a LOT of water.  Guess what.  Not necessarily so.  (If this is not news to you and you already knew that, why didn't you tell me sooner?!?!)  I water it just a bit every few days.  So far it seems to be working.  I don't want to get too attached here, but judging by the amount of growth in the past few weeks, I may even need to replant this into a larger pot in a few months.