Minor Bathroom Update

So, we finally got around to getting some things done in the bathroom. I started stripping the wallpaper a few weeks ago, but things got a little crazy with everything Beth is going through and I just didn't have it in me to go back and finish.

But, things have to keep moving forward and I would REALLY like to get my kids out of the little master bath. Plus, we'll be having a few small events for Beth here at the house, so I need to get it finished.

SO! I finally finished stripping the wallpaper today.





Brian removed the toilet.

And I cleaned up the bazillion little pieces of wallpaper that were all over the floor, in the tub, in the sink and everywhere else you can imagine!

The walls need to be sanded, a few holes need to be patched, and then I'll start priming.

I LOVE TO PAINT!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

{ahem - sorry!}

So, we've already run into a few snags:

The tub is 58", not 60", which is the standard size.

{sigh}

It does appear that the interior of the exterior wall (did ya get that?) was bumped out, (or "in" rather), about two inches or so, maybe to accomodate the shorter tub?

The bump out (or "in") sounds hollow, but the only way to know for sure is to take a hammer to it

I called dibs on that job.

If it's not hollow and there's something in there, then I guess we'll have to install a large shower instead of a tub. We've also thought about just refacing the tub, but I have read so many negative things about refacing an fiberglass tub, so we've put that decision on hold.

Then we have the floor which we plan to start tearing up this week.

(YAY!)

I think we're going to try our hand at ceramic tile installation. We found some really nice, neutral tile today for $.99 a square foot, the floor is 25 square feet, but we'll get extra - it'll cost us about $30.00 in tile. We can borrow a wet saw from a friend, so we really just need the concrete board and materials to lay it.




As I said, a new counter top is not a necessity right now. BUT! I have several ideas how to make the counter top fit in better with the room and I'll let you know if it works out - ha!

We thought about getting a new light fixture, but I like this one.

I bought some new globes for it and decided I'd just paint it. So we picked up a can of Rustoleum darkened bronze spray paint.



But I didn't want to get any paint in the light receptacle thingy, so I wrapped them in saran wrap and put a rubber band around it. Sooooooo classy.





Unfortunately, the basement is dark and my flash really made this look gray.



I assure you, it's not.

I didn't want to buy two new mirrors, so these will get a bit of paint too.

I started painting them tonight, so hopefully those will be done soon. The cabinet doors and drawers are just about done, so now I just need to paint the cabinet itself (Which won't be hard - there's not much to paint there).

Finally......progress.

Beth starts treatment tomorrow, so send her some good wishes......

All for Beth

For my best friend, my "sister", someone I can't live without.

I love you.

We have so much to talk about over the next 40 years.

I fully expect you to sit on the front porch with me when we're 80 and crack jokes, and laugh and bitch about things and cry and laugh some more.

So, hang in there.

We're all here to help you.

Feel the love.....

http://allforbeth.blogspot.com/

MORE snow????

They are calling for snow on Friday into Saturday - WOOT!!!

In case you haven't met me,

I

LOVE


SNOW!!!!

And I've had a hankerin' for a storm since we started this bathroom project. Brian and I decided we're going to get in there and do some demo. Should be fun!!! I loves me some demolition......


Beth starts chemo Friday. She's starting her journey to being cancer free!

I told her to fight like a girl.

She will.

The bathroom looks the same....

Well, it's been a very crazy two weeks.

We found out that my best friend Beth has breast cancer and the last 14 days have been filled with tests and doctor appointments (her), lots of tears and sleepless nights (all of us), many phone calls with family members (me) and lots of preparations for the next few months (all of us).

Unfortunately, one of her older sisters was diagnosed with a more advanced form of breast cancer within days of Beth. Her family has been dealt a one-two punch and they are all simply reeling from the news. Beth's mother died from breast cancer 33 years ago, when she was 7 years old, and her older sister is a breast cancer survivor, having been diagnosed in her late 20's or early 30's.

The bathroom has sat - neglected - for more than a week. I did manage to get most of the wall paper off the walls (with the help of Beth's sister in law, who came over on MLK day and together the two of us took out our anger and frustration and feeling of helplessness on the walls. It was very satisfying to hear the "RIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPP" as we yanked on it.)

I have pictures and will post an update soon! Brian and plan to get in there this weekend and really start working on it, but Beth has her first treatment this week and my house may be filled with children if she's very ill.

We'll just have to play it by ear the next few weeks.

PHILLY bound!!!!!

We're off to Philly!!

(OK, close to Philly......not exactly Philapdelphia, but really, it's like RIGHT THERE)

We are going to see these two fabulous people...

Judi and Ted - otherwise known as "Gamma Judi and Mister"

(Sydney is probably going to play some cars with Mister - they discussed it the other night. It's what they do)



Monday? I'm off (had to take a vacation day - we aren't closed for MLK Day) and I plan to tackle the WALLPAPER!!)



Is it sad that a little project like a bathroom will take me a year?

On another note, I found some awesome wall decor at Marshall's today.

And it was cheap.

Like seriously cheap.

Go me!

Stop being selfish

I must admit that I can be a big whiner, especially when it comes to financial issues, things I want, things I need.....

As much as I feel like my whining and complaining is justified, several things have happened over the past few days which have smacked me upside the head and made me appreciate the fact that I truly am blessed.

Some of those things are private matters and others, like the earthquake in Haiti, are being felt on a global level.

I have everything I need.

My children are safe, well fed, clothed and healthy.

For me, it's all about the kids - whether they are mine or not.

I think about what I would do if I was a mother in Haiti with two young children to take care of in the midst of the devastation they are experiencing.

So, when I received an e-mail this morning from one of my closest friends, who is selling Girl Scout cookies with her children, I politely declined.

Then I went to the Red Cross website and donated the measly amount of money that would have otherwise gone to cookies - and eventually my hips.

Maybe I just allowed a mother the opportunity to feed her children.

I would encourage everyone to do the same.

Bathroom Redo

This is the first of what is sure to be about 20 posts about the remodel of the girls bathroom, since it'll probably take me about 20 weekends to finish at this point!

But first - this is what greeted me as I came downstairs this morning......

I love the morning light as it spills into the Dining room. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

It also helped to get me motivated to start on this.....


Looking in on the girls bathroom

View of the window and one sink

Mirrors above the sinks

The counter top

The tub

Old Blue Bowl. The toilet.

So here's the plan.

- Strip wallpaper and paint walls
- Tear up and replace tile floor (which has some broken tiles -I forgot to take pictures, but I will)
- Replace tub and most of the pipes because they are leaking and the faucet drips constantly
- Replace toilet to match the new tub
- Countertop has to stay because a replacement isn't a necessity and I can work with it
- Repaint cabinets

And this is where the fun starts. I took off all of the doors, drawers, hinges and hardware.





I sanded the cabinets down.....

And found some blue

(Really??? More blue?????)

Judi and Ted (well, okay, Judi - ha!) must have had the same idea I had and repainted the blue cabinets off-white

(Because that had to be a LOT of blue in that bathroom with the toilet and tub!).

Then I started sanding the drawers and found this.



Ruh - roh. That puts a snag in my plans for today.......

Luckily, this is the smallest drawer located at the top of the cabinet and I can be pretty handy (if I do say so myself) so the drawer is now sitting downstairs in the basement with lots of wood glue and several clamps until tomorrow when it should be good as new.

Well, until the kids yank it open and it starts to break again......



I got everything sanded, the holes filled with wood putty and then I primed.

It's amazing how much I got done with both of the girls and Brian out of the house (Brian took them to a birthday party).

I even got one, and in some cases TWO coats of paint on the fronts.

But that's a post for another day.......

January 7, 2008 - January 7, 2010

Just realized it's been TWO YEARS since I started this blog.

WOW!

I have to process that a bit......

Slacker.

2010

The year of the non-slacker.

No, seriously.

(OK, OK. So 2010 to 2020 will be the decade of the non-slacker, since there is no way this will all be accomplished in 12 months. But I am going to put a serious dent in this list people. Watch me.)

I never make Resolutions, because then I break them and get all pissed off at myself.

Not this year.

These are life changing resolutions not little wimpy "I'm going to try this" resolutions.

So, without further ado - here are my Resolutions:

(In list form. I have an obsession with lists. They help me. I know. I have issues)

1. STOP being a slacker. Which is paramount to the success of the all of the other resolutions I have made.

2. Get myself in shape. I signed up for a 5K in May. I typically don't run unless chased, so Brian will have to run as well. Behind me and preferably in a scary mask. It's all about motivation people.

3. Get my house in shape. This leads to resolutions a through q - for now....

a. Lay new wood floors in the dining room, entry hall and sitting room.

b. Renovate the upstairs bathroom. I have the toilet. I picked out the tub. Now I just need to get motivated to actually do it. (plans to follow) Go me. I rock.

c. Paint the downstairs study/bedroom. I have the paint picked out. Again, motivation needed.

d. Add some decorative moldings to the bottom half of the dining room walls.

e. Design and actually make wooden valances for the family room windows. I have a plan. Let's put it in motion.

f. Add crown molding to the big family room to match what's there and give it a more finished look now that it's painted.

g. Talk my husband into moving our bedroom downstairs into the girls old playroom (which they have lost all privileges to after a very rough weekend right before Christmas when there was lots of smack talk coming from the mouths of my 6 and 9 (almost 10) year olds who refused to clean the room whereupon I subsequently did and closed the pocket doors, which have not been opened since. Howdya like THEM apples?) This move will require the addition of a toilet, sink, and shower being installed in the laundry room, which requires the jackhammering of the concrete floor of the laundry room which happened to be the old garage floor. This will all require money, of which we have none, but I am not to be deterred.

h. Blow out the wall between the two guest rooms at the end of the hall upstairs to give Sydney a rather large room which should see her through her teenage years.

i. Move Olivia into our Master Bedroom upstairs where again, she should be able to make it through her teenage years. The moving of the children upstairs ensures that they will each have sizable rooms in which to keep all the paraphernalia that comes with having two daughters.

(The timing of all this is going to be hoot - like playing a game of dominoes)

j. Expand Olivia's old room to create a larger spare bedroom between the two new upstairs girls rooms, which can then be used as a den of sorts for them and their friends as well as another spare bedroom for guests.

k. Reconfigure the kitchen. (plans to come)

l. Talk my hubby into converting the wood burning fireplace in the morning room/breakfast area into a gas fireplace so we can actually use it on a regular basis and keep our electric bills down below the million dollar mark, which should help fund my other projects. (I'm kidding, of course)

m. Remodel the sitting room into the room I want it to be, which includes the refinishing and reupholstering of a couch which belonged to my grams. This should be quite entertaining since I plan to do this myself and I'm certain itll be a disater and you'll get quite a chuckle out of it.

n. Talk my hubby into installing several rain barrels so that we can capture the rain water to keep all of the gorgeous foliage and vegetables well hydrated during the summer months.

o. Talk hubby into FINALLY allowing me to have a real vegetable garden rather than just growing peppers and tomatoes in pots on the deck for the chipmunks enjoyment.

p. Paint the trim. All of it. In every room of the house.

q. When I get my crap together I will post a full picture breakdown of the house as it exists, and what the plan is.

4. Finish that pesky little thing called "Grad School"

5. Spend more time with my kids since I feel like Olivia is already leaving me for bigger and better things - like her friends. Sydney's not far behind her, I'm sure.

6. Spend more time with my hubby, since I'm pretty sure he's been neglected these past several years by a wife who works full time, goes to school part time and is trying to help parent two very challenging young girls (more on that later). This can only help me achieve Resolutions 3a through 3q, since it tends to be easier to convince a happy hubby to jackhammer through concrete then it does a cranky one.

7. Start reading. I love to read, but I find that I don't anymore. I miss it.

8. Plant a money tree in the backyard to fund Resolutions 1 through 7.

9. FINALLY quit smoking for good.

Ahhhhh.......I feel so much better. I LOVE my list.

This weekend I will begin the process of marking one of those items off the list.

Stay tuned.......