Someone Had To Say It

Okay, I'm diving really deep today with the topic.  So hang on, and try not to get lost in the intellect of this post.

Minions.  For crying out loud, please stop!!  I can barely handle how much minion memes make me crazy.  Sure, they're cute in the movie Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2, and The Minions.  Sure, they're cute as a costume for Halloween, or a theme for your kiddos birthday party.  I get all of that, and the aforementioned things.  I actually have a child going as a minion this Halloween, so I'm not a total hater.  But, I do not get the Minions as inspirational quotes thing.  I just don't.  It's no secret that I use social media.  However, when every other post involves a meme with a minion I want to shut it all down and pray for our nation.  So, in thinking I'm not the only one to feel this way, I decided to submit a few of the not-so-awesome minion memes as evidence.  Articles A, B, C & D, your honor.     

A.  This minion says it best....actually, minions say things like Bedo, Bedo.

B.  Why?  Why would you ever think this is a good idea?  "Kids, your dad & I need to tell you something.  Nah, never mind, let the minion do it."  Yep, that seems legit. (Praying for our nation)

C.  Inspirational quotes with minions.
I never look at a minion and feel the need to put a poem next to him.  The End.

D.  Your response to this blog post.  Sorry.

Disclaimer:  No minions were harmed in the writing of this post.  If actual feelings were hurt because you love minions and want them everywhere, then I can't help you.  This post reflects my personal feelings, and may or may not reflect the feelings of others.  Perhaps there's a minion meme to best describe your feeling.  I'll pray for you.  

Do This: You'll Feel Better

I've been brain-storming a series I can work into this blog.  What I've come up with is sort of a self-help section.  I find that there are certain things I do that make me feel better.  Usually they involve cleaning, cooking or some type of domestic chore, and so I'm going to work them into a weekly segment titled "Do This: You'll Feel Better."  Maybe, just maybe, I can inspire you to do them, too.

Here's what kind of suggestions you won't find here:
-  Take a long hot bubble bath with candles, while reading a book and listening to Michael Buble'.  
Let's be real!  I'm a mom with four kids and a husband.  Every best intention that could ever go into taking a long bubble bath is ruined by them needing just "one little thing."  Child bangs on the door, "Dad said not to bother you, but I just really need to know where my green sock is, because I want to wear it in three weeks and I can only find one, and not the other, and if I don't find it tonight we have to go to the mall and find green socks, because I'll just die if I can't have them on the day I want them.  Dad never knows where my stuff is.  Mom.  Are you in there, mom?  I heard a splash.  MOM? Dad, I think mom is drowning!  I'm going to get the key and unlock the door."
Bath Over...I'll revisit this idea in 18 years!  (side note:  My husband is not incompetent.  My children are.  End of story.)  

-  Book an appointment at a salon and have your hair & nails done, and get a massage
Oh my, I wish I could say that this is what you should do.  I would love to do this!  I, on occasion, have had a pedicure.  I get my hair done (like three times a year).  I've had three professional massages my entire life.  But, I can not imagine having them all done in the same day.  Ain't no every-day-mom got the time, or money, for that.  I would bemoan the money I'm spending on this, as it really should go to (insert child's name) new shoes/winter coat/boots/sports uniform, etc., etc.  One day, I will post this. You know, when our budget is limitless, and my friends are in the same boat.  I don't see that changing any time soon, and I don't want different friends.   

Okay, so here's the one big thing I did this week that made me feel better, and it will make you feel better, too.  I cleaned my refrigerator.  That's it.  Maybe this isn't a problem for you.  And, bless you if it isn't - but I probably don't know you, relate to you, or like you.  Keeping the fridge spotless is usually last on my weekly to-do list.  But, I was looking at the crusted milk on the top shelf, and the crumbs settling in comfortably at the bottom of the fridge, and all the other stuff in the middle, and I just couldn't take one more day of living in this type of squalor.  So, right before I needed to start dinner (I like projects, but I may not be good at the timing of these projects) I started pulling everything off the shelves, tossing things that I didn't even know we still had, and wiped, scrubbed and re-arranged everything neatly back in.  A half hour or more past when I probably should have started dinner I had a neat, clean and fresh smelling fridge.  So, pick a day, or make this a project over several days (one shelf at a time), and clean out your fridge.  Don't forget the shelves in the door.  It's amazing what ranch dressing does to that area, and you don't even realize it.  Replace the opened containers of baking soda that you put in there two years ago, because you read somewhere that you were supposed to do that.  Do it all.  I promise, you'll feel better.  I kind of like opening my fridge now and peaking in.  And, just as all well-intended people do, I promise myself that it will never get that bad again.

Clean fridges make me feel better...I promise you will feel better, too.  Who cares if dinner is a little late that night.  Make them stare into the fridge until they praise you for your efforts before you feed them.  It's character building....

Blogging Fears

Over the past several months my mind has been flooded with ideas for this blog.  Things I'd like to write about.  Topics I think would be fun to discuss - and so on, and so forth, and what have you (channeling my inner Sue Heck....never mind).  The problem:  inspiration strikes at inconvenient times.  While standing in the check-out at WalMart I write an entire post in my head about standing in the line at WalMart.  When I get home, my brain is fried after putting away 4,000 bags of groceries, and I remember nothing.  So, to help myself with this problem I've been tucking away ideas on the memo pad of my phone for quite some time.

Here goes...another attempt at blogging.  I love blogging, but in the past I let my insecurity get in the way of enjoying something I...well, enjoy.

I'm a big fan of being real, so for a moment I'm going to be real with you about my blogging insecurity:
     a) 10 people thought the post was fun, 1 person didn't...my mind let's that 1 person win
     b)  I'm married to a Pastor, I should be more Pastor's wifely(I think it's a word), and maybe                       not talk about things
     c)  People won't get my humor, take me too seriously, and judge me
     d)  My topics aren't spiritual enough...refer to "b" where I think I need to be more Pastor's wifely             like...
     e)  I don't have enough inspiration, and therefore should shut it down altogether
     f)  I've blogged about parenting, and my kids aren't perfect.  I've blogged about healthy eating,  
         and gained all the weight back (see also: weight is an insecure area for me), and I've blogged
         about loss/death, but I know my story is different than others.

So, these are a few of the thoughts I've struggled with on this blogging topic....there are a laundry list of other things I struggle with.  Hang in there reader, you're about to be my therapy.  I've got issues that need hung out to dry.  So, from now on, I want to keep it real.  Keep it funny.  Keep it honest, and sometimes, just maybe, keep it painful.

Jump on in and read, or get off the ride and keep moving.  I will work through it.  Let's have fun (singing "Girls just wanna have fun" always helps...or, "Can't Touch This." The choice is yours)!  

A Room for the Family - a.k.a. The Family Room :)

I admit it, I'm not doing well at consistent blogging.  My plan is to post my way through our house renovations.  I want to do that.  Life is just....well, life!  Keeping up with the demands of four children, a husband's schedule which never sees a "normal" week, and everything else, makes it difficult to scratch out extra time.  At least for this moment.

I have been experiencing shoulder pain since the fall.  I was referred to a physical therapist and have been undergoing treatment for an injury to my rotator cuff...due to all the painting we did over the summer/fall months.  So, that has added one more thing to my weekly plate, along with weekend sporting events for two of the children.

This blog is my "hobby," of sorts, and I'll try to navigate better what role it can play during my week.

Without bogging you down with too much detail, I want to show you the before & after shots of our family room.

I didn't take as many before shots, as I now wish I had.  The room was very dark with paneling, a dark stained built-in book case, and old turquoise carpeting.  We saw so much potential though, in this 17x18 space.

The previous owner used the built-in as a desk space.  I saw the potential to make it into an area for our TV, as well as books, video storage, etc.

This room was my project.  Dave was busy working on the kitchen, and tackling more structural projects, so I took on this room.

The paneling had to be prepped before painting.  At Sherwin Williams they recommended a product called Krud Kutter.  It's a liquid that you wipe down the walls.  It cleans the surface and removes the shine to prep it for paint.  This was much easier than sanding the surface of the paneling.  It saved me from cleaning up a dusty mess.  It took me about a day to de-gloss the paneling & 

the built-ins. Once that was done I was able to prime the whole thing.  I must mention that I had help from friends with this stage, and it saved my sanity.  With the built-in and the beams, there was so much detail to cut around.

The finished product - you'll notice that where the TV sits, the wood had a scalloped edge around it that just dated the appearance of the shelves.  Dave cut those scallops off, and rounded it to look like the other shelves.  I am so happy with the results.  The paint color is Sherwin Williams - Lazy Gray.

On the built-in I used an interior oil based white paint.  It was more time-consuming, as each coat takes 24 hours to dry.  But, the result is a more durable finish that will be less likely to scratch.  I still have handles to put on the cabinet doors.  However, as I mentioned before, there are still projects that need some finishing touches.

We (I say "we," but I mean Dave and other guys), ripped out the old carpeting, and had new carpeting installed.  You'll also notice that I left the beams in their original state, and I think the results nicely compliment the lighter colors that this room now holds.

The handles I chose for the drawers - I ordered these in a ten pack from Overstock.com.  I had priced other options for buying handles individually, but I could not compete with the price at Overstock.  I'm so happy with the quality of them, and other than some issues with the screws being a tad long, Dave said they were not difficult to install.

So, there you have it.  I hope you enjoyed the step by step.  :)