Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Big changes in my world in the last two months.

We closed on the house May 15th and have spent literally weeks painting, cleaning, arranging, un-packing, etc. and we're no where close to complete.


TABHF and I's room - pre-paint. (Click on my flickr set to see the hideous wallpaper border that had been in there...)


Our room, almost done. I need to take some pictures once I'm completely finished, which I hope to be by the end of the month.

Our room was simple, a little Behr paint (Mississippi Mud), some wallpaper border removal and we were ready to move the furniture in.


Bubba's Room


More of Bubba's Room

Bubba's room was fairly easy as well. There is a very low portion of about half his ceiling in order to accomodate heating ductwork, so we took that "weirdness" and made it into a plus. We painted racing stripes down either side in a really rich brick red. Then I painted his wood furniture in the same red. We added his race car memoribilia, purchased some Disney Car's wall stickies (to add to his nightlight and stuffed Lightning McQueen) and on the opposite wall hung license plates that we either had or purchased on ebay.


I'm almost sure that his room was less than $200 to complete and in my humble opinion, looks like a million bucks :)

We have yet to finish my stepdaughter's or stepson's bedrooms. We need to buy furniture for the basement family room since our furniture we had planned to put down here didn't fit through the doorway. Our living room is a mess. Our master bath still needs paint and new hardware. The study is half finished.

His kids arrive on July 9th and we're supposed to be done with everything by then.
On top of that we have back-to-school to get ready for. A mini-vacation to plan with the kids. A wedding to figure out. AND - I'm making a career change beginning July 2.

So, whew. I don't know how we're going to finish it all, but we're going to somehow get through the next few months.

Moving On Up....To The Eastside

I have been busy.

Very busy.

To the point of breaking me busy.

The house we originally had under contract, turned out to be full of toxic mold. So, TABHF went TDY to California and we made the decision, while he was gone, to terminate the contract. Which left me to begin house hunting, all by my lonesome until he returned in three weeks.

I had to put a house under contract without him ever seeing it.

Freaking scary.

But I did it.

(Check out flickr to see the whole set)

This is acutally, in many, many ways a better fit for us. Miss's bedroom will still be located on a separate level than everyone else. The boy's will contain all their stink to downstairs and TABHF and I will occupy the only bedroom on the main level.

We close in two days (Wednesday). Then we'll be spending just about every waking moment painting, cleaning, packing, unpacking, arranging, re-arranging, cleaning and organizing. For at least the next three weeks.

Pray for us? Seriously, I think we're going to need it.

SPF - TWO

I also could have picked lots of different things for two. First thing to pop into my head was "the girls".



Take it how you want. Everyone knows how I meant it, but if it makes you feel less dirty, then by all means - imagine that I meant me and my BFF.

Instead, I bring you this. On July 10th this year, I will have two more children living with me than I have right now. Therefore, my WAY cute apartment that I love is going to be too small. So, TABHF and I put an offer in on this:



They accepted our offer yesterday and we are now under contract. I think I might throw up a little.

Kick my brains 'Round the floor

So, we are on day three of the new meds (a new anti-depressant and a much needed refill on the Xanax) and truthfully life is much better. I slept! Last night! For more than an hour at a time and didn't once dream about the world collapsing on me. In fact, I saved the world from nuclear annihilation, by locking the door to NORAD and figuring out the secret "unbreaklable" code by finding the key to it at an antique store - where I also happened to find the most amazing brooch for my hair at the wedding. Super me, n'est-ce pas?

We'll see if work can settle out now that I'm not ready to freak the fuck out over nothing and I can also get back to the wedding planning. Ahhh, the wedding planning. Just a note for those who are not interested in weddings or wedding planning: You may want to avoid me for a while. I'm immersed, waist deep in color schemes, catering menus, fondant vs. buttercream, is letter press worth the extra money, etc. If you stick around, you can't bitch later, because, well, you know - you've been warned.

So, here's where I'm in a bit of trouble.

TABHF will be wearing his mess dress uniform:


I want to somwhow incorporated grandmas dress into the ceremony, but can't wear it as is, because it stopped fitting me at age 9. But the beautiful 60 year old Duchesse Satin has aged into such a lovely color and has aged so evenly and nicely, that I want to use it somehow in the "new" dress.

But there is not enough satin to make a whole dress for me. I either need it for the top or bottom and that's where I'm at a loss. We're having a December wedding, so I also need to use colors that will work for my time frame.

So far, all I've come up with is this:


With a navy, a persimmon and a tiffany blue in addition to the gown color...but I'm not sold and I feel like I can't move forward on anything else until I have the dress put to bed.

So - internet- any suggestions?

SPF- Christmas Edition

Thank you Shaun for this week's assignment.

"Twas a few days ‘fore Christmas (or…insert Decemberish holiday that doesn’t offend you), and computers are humming.

You need an assignment, without one you’re bumming.

Your hostess is curled in the closet, near dead

While visions of laptops dance in her head (fucking H.P).

When all of a sudden, on Random and Odd,

A substitute teacher, an obvious fraud (or hero who saves old asian ladies, whichever you choose to call me).

I’ll be nice for Kristine, and all of you whiners

Who aren’t professional photographers or graphic designers.

OK, this poem sucks. It ends here."
Your assignment, should you choose to accept:

1. One decoration. Pick an ornament, or light, or beer can (for you, Pissy). Whatever one thing in or around your home that you’d like to share with us.

I have kind of a lame Charlie Brown tree since all of "my" Christmas decorations are still hung up in divorce court. But I really love these glittery, sparkly ornaments. They really do put a smile on my face when I see them.

2. One gift. Wrapped, unwrapped. Show off your favorite present without looking snobby! Show off some incredible gift-wrapping skills. Show off that Shaun autographed glossy 8×10 (for those off you smart enough to order before the holiday rush). Whatever. Pick a gift. If you’re not religious, buy Kristine something and take a picture of it. I’ll make sure it reaches the closet unless it’s Stripper Cookies.

I'm really happy that I was able to provide Christmas for my son this year, I was concerned that it was going to be a sucky one. But I did it! Christmas will not suck at my house!

This is my favorite gift that I've received so far. It's a calendar and for every month, there's a new Bubba Masterpiece. I love it!

3. Something stuffed in a stocking. Be creative with this one!! Do I really need to explain?

It's not technically a stocking, but my fetty jammies are close enough. God, I love these jammies. But only when I'm not feeling well. Otherwise, I can't stand to have my feet covered when I'm in the house.

Happy Holidays to all!

Broken Stuff Portrait Friday

Thanks Shaun and Kristine :)
1. Your Roof


2. Your ‘hood (you can do sweatshirt, your neighborhood, your car…)

I love my neighborhood. Sometimes I can live without the wildlife, but otherwise, I'm very content here.

3. Something you would not want to run into that is in your house.

This is the edge of my dining room table, it hurts like a mofo when you run into it. As clumsy as I am, I'm fortunate and have only run into it a couple of times.

SPF: Friday DECEMBER 1st

Thanks Kristine. I actually liked this week's assignment. :)

1. Something that makes you go “hmmmm.”


I don't understand how he can stand to have his room look like this. But if memory serves me correctly, my room looked like that when I was his age.


2. Something Sweet

"Bubba" and I made these the other night. It was so sweet how he helped. By sitting on the couch and playing Playstation. It was the best help he's ever given me in the kitchen, ;)

3. Something Retro

I love this cookie jar. I found it at a little Antique Mart/Indoor Garage Sale. It screams Brady Bunch and I love it. But those who know me well know that I love mid century. Eames, The Rat Pack, Old School Christian Dior, and mid-century architecture. I love it all.