Primed and Ready

So the priming of the office/craft room is done.  Next up?  Painting the ceiling!  (Don't be jealous.)

I bought some Glidden Easy Track ceiling paint... it goes on pink so you can see where you've painted and then magically turns to white!  I can't wait to try it out.  Alas, I was a little too pooped from the weekend to do any painting yesterday and between work and my daughter's open house today, progress has stopped for the time being.

Do-It-Yourself apparently does not equal Do-It-Quickly. 

*sigh*

Perhaps tomorrow? ;)

{Tutorial} Burlap~Linen Pumpkin

It's September... and that means it's time to decorate for fall! 

I thought I'd repost my burlap/linen pumpkin tutorial for you - enjoy!

Tutorial here.

The Point of No (Painting) Return

I've gone and done it.

I've begun the process of repainting my office, which means there is no turning back anymore.  Last night I layed out the dropcloths, moved furniture (and boxes - for shame!), removed switchplates, and got to work.

I got most of the room primed last night - I would've finished it all but the smell was starting to get to me.  I have only about 1 wall's worth left to prime and the ever-popular cutting-in step (yes, I'm doing it after I paint the walls rather than first).  I don't think I'm going to enjoy cutting in around the plantation shutter...

This room will be a complete paint makeover, as I'm not only changing the wall color, but will be changing the trim color as well and repainting the ceiling.

Sounds like fun, right?

This is the first time I've painted in a long time.  My hubby and I repainted nearly every room in our first home - and that was nine years ago!  I admit it - it was much easier accomplishing the painting before the two littles came along.  That's okay though - it's much more rewarding to enjoy a room remodel with these two cuties.

So next up?  Finish priming (maybe tonight)? and then paint that ceiling to prevent any drips onto my new gray walls...

If you're not doing anything, care to join me?!

The Chaturunga Run

If the title of this blog post has you wondering, lucky you.

If, instead, it has you cringing... then you have felt the pain that is P90X.

I have only done two days so far of this workout and I have muscles speaking to me that haven't spoken in a long time.  Really long time.  Ouch.  Let me just say the Chaturunga Run is pure torture - and I could only do it physically for a second or two!

I will admit - I succumbed to the 5:30 am infomercial and ordered this workout system a while back.  It's been sitting in my poop brown office waiting to be used all this time and I finally got off my arse and decided to get to work.  I haven't really invested alot in taking care of my body since my children came along... and with my age getting higher and certain parts getting lower, I thought now was the perfect time.

The diet part I haven't quite committed to yet cause, let's face it: when you have kids, you have "junk" food around.  I don't think my first grader would appreciate me packing her a protein bar instead of chips in her lunch box, if you know what I mean.  The hard part is not eating it when those hunger pangs hit - the instant satisfaction offered by a carb-loaded snack is something I've grown used to over the years and it's a hard habit to break.  (As is my chocolate habit...)  I do find that I am a little more conscious of what's going into my body seeing as I know how hard I'll be working that body later - if any of you have any great protein smoothie recipes, send them my way (palatable, please!).

I missed today's workout due to having a day filled with dropoffs and work and pickups and quick dinner and gymnastics and home and baths and brushing teeth and reading.  Not a lot of time there to break a sweat (other than in the 110 degree car).  Believe it or not, after feeling the initial burn, I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow morning's Cardio X routine.

I'll let you know how I feel about it after I'm finished.

If it involves a Chatarunga Run... you can already guess how I'll be feeling.

What about you?  Any new workout routines motivating you to get up and get moving?

Thirsty

Good morning, and happy Saturday!

I'm sitting here at my kitchen table drinking coffee and listening to the news coverage of Hurricane Irene in the background.  As I look out the windows into my backyard, I'm greeted by wilting plants and brown leaves, scorched grass, and a sinking rock patio. 

The ground is thirsty.

It hasn't rained here (I mean really rained) in a very long time.  We're on water restrictions, so our watering is limited (plus we don't want a ginormous water bill). And while my yard and plants are suffering from the lack of rainfall, the drought's effects are much more far-reached in this area.

Crops have died and fields have been plowed over.  The farm-to-market drive I take to work is usually lined with glorious cornfields - but not this year.

Livestock are starving.  There is no grass in the fields for them to eat, no hay because the hay crops died... so the ranchers are selling off their cattle in droves.

Fires are consuming the dry, parched land.

It is a sad, sad situation.  We in Texas are literally praying for a hurricane to head our way just so we could get some rain!

Would you do me a favor?  Would you pray for all of those affected by this year's drought to finally have some relief in the form of glorious rain, like manna from heaven?  We need to be quenched.

Paint Swatch is on the Wall!

After living in my home for nine months and living with the poop chocolate brown dungeon office, I finally slapped a swatch of color on the walls to motivate me to just go ahead and paint the room already.  What color, you ask?  Sharkey Gray by Martha Stewart. 

Already, I am loving it and imagining how much lighter and brighter this room will be when this color graces all four walls and the trim is painted a bright shiny white.

Ahhhhhh.

Just as a side note, I have to say that I love that paint companies finally wised up and started offering sample sizes for us DIYers to try.  I can't tell you how many quarts of paint I went through in my first home trying to find the right shade of a color to put on the wall.  These little testers are fantastic - the Sharkey Gray came in a ready-made tester (complete with brush) and I had another sample whipped up real quick by the paint counter gal for a color to try in my entry.  (I'm saving that one for later - one room at a time, right?)

I also love this little paint touch up kit, which I bought as a paint sampler kit:

Genius, I tell ya.  Genius.

And to not let it go to waste... I plan on rinsing out the container and brush and letting the girls "help" mama a little when it does come time for painting day.

First Grade

And just like that... my baby girl is a first grader!

I know many parents are sending their children back to school this week with an array of emotions: excitement, sadness, worry, happiness, anticipation... formal education is such a big part of what will shape our little people (outside of the safety net of our homes), so it's natural that we're hesitant to loosen our grip from their hand as they walk into another chapter of their lives.  These are our babies, after all. 

Then again, it's our job as parents to let them learn and grow and experience, right?  I love how this song by Mark Harris sums it up:

"It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

You're walking in the truth

And If I never told you

I want you to know

As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings"

Here's hoping your little ones are having a great time finding their wings...