Wishes and wants

Why is it that there is always a list of wants? Why can't we be content in the status quo? I wish that I didn't always think ahead to what I want. I wish that I had more patience and that wanting something and not getting it in my timing was okay. I wish that I had more faith in the whole, things happen for a reason and patience makes the heart grow fonder and, I'll throw one more cliche in....it's all in God's timing. I'm not exactly throwing temper tantrums or anything too extreme but, Jon and I both have the problem of patience. Once we decide we want something we're bound and determined to make it happen. I think in some situations this is a good thing but it can definitely be a fault of ours as well. We have a way of always looking towards the future and the next best thing. One more cliche...we think the grass is always greener on the other side. :-) Well, I'm basically having my inner dialogue work its way into this blog entry but I'm putting it out there as a mental challenge to myself to stop thinking about dining room tables, built-in desks, babies, iPads, new computers, babies, new camera lenses and babies. It will all happen and I need all these things to escape my mind for a bit. Cause you know, (one last one) when you stop thinking about it it will happen and (I can't help myself) a watch pot won't boil.

So, here's my self challenge: Stop thinking and seize the day!

*Although my day could be a little brighter waking up to a cuddly baby, eating breakfast at a new dining room table followed by an afternoon of editing some precious newborn photos on a speedy new computer at my built-in desk nook

Just kidding....sorta.

Nostalgia and memories

If you are friends with me on Facebook I recently posted something about my mom cleaning out my room at home. It was long overdue but I can see why it wasn't an easy job. Not only was it difficult because there were loads of just random things, but they were all sentimental items too. I guess that's not the easiest job for mom (or me either, really). I had gotten rid of a few things throughout the years like old love letters and teddy bears from middle school boyfriends along with JTT posters, beads from Spring Break in Panama City Beach and the 'everyone in the 90.s had one' lava lamp. But, also throughout the years I brought more things in to the room. I added old curtains from my college apartment, sofa slipcovers, t-shirts that didn't fit anymore among anything else that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of at the time. Well, I guess I was just buying time until mom finally decided to get rid of it. I managed to squeeze in about 5 years after college graduation to hoard things at home (yes...I just did the math, 5 years...crazy). But, last week included D-Day. My mom went through a lot of things herself but I ended up with a little more to sort through. I had a box of childhood school projects and craft projects, my hanging bundle of pointe shoe carcasses, random things like Mickey ears from my senior trip to Disney World, my cowboy hat from a High school band trip to San Antonio and a few other things. Jon and I had fun going through all my old school projects. It provided some great insight to my little kid brain. A true gem that I found in the bunch was my middle school diary. HA! That was a great read (for me and especially Jon). I referred to my friend kissing her boyfriend as gross and said that they were "frenching". Hah, yuck! I guess some things don't change...maybe I was a germiphob long before now. But, it was very entertaining. But, as fun as it was going back through things....I do NOT want to store a box of randomness in my basement. I know we "have the space" but if you don't know this about me already, I'm waayy OCD and even if it's tucked into a corner in the basement storage room it will drive me crazy. So, I went through it all and most everything was either tossed in the trash or sent to Goodwill. I did hold on to 3 sentimental pair of pointe shoes. My first pair, my ruby red Dorothy slippers and my Odette, Swan Lake performance pair (probably my most intense dance year). Other than that, all my little memories are on their way to the DeKalb county landfill. Sorta sad, but...they are memories, right? Not things you keep sitting in a box just for the heck of it..right? Say yes, I hope I don't regret this down the road but, just in case...I at least took some pictures of the pile of pointe shoes and kept the t-shirts to get mom to make a blanket out of someday. But, as Casey says, I'll be the one in the nursing home talking about the good ole days of when I could dance in pointe shoes and when I was a size 6 but thought I was fat. But, I'm sure there will be plenty of memories to come and this isn't the first time I'll be faced with my OCD, minimalist-ish brain versus keeping things that tug at the heartstrings. But, here's to hoping there are no regrets about tossing those things out and also, here's to hoping our storage closet doesn't become filled with every future child's school projects, vacation bible school crafts and ballet slippers.

Another room done!

So, this is post is long overdue. I can't believe I've gotten so horrible at posting these days. I promised myself that this wouldn't be a "fad" and that since I got enjoyment from blogging and even if Jon and I were the only ones reading it it was worth it because I enjoy writing and sharing and of course, who doesn't love talking about themselves? Holy run-on sentence. My 4th grade teacher would be very disappointed. Anyways, so a couple weeks ago, June 26th to be exact, I tackled another room makeover. Room at hand...guest bedroom! We had Jim and Daneel (and Olivia) coming in town over the 4th of July holiday and thought it was a great excuse to finally get some personality in the room. I think I've said it before but all of our bedrooms and the long hallway were a basic off-white when we moved in. And, although it made things nice and easy to move right into without crazy clashing bedding and walls and have-to do projects, after about 6 months in the house I made it my goal to truly make each bedroom a "finished" room. Most of this has basically entailed painting and adding a few decorative items on a budget but I think that every room is really earning a special place in my heart. We still have to add something to the wall over our bed, most likely our traditional Always Kiss Me Goodnight quote, but once we do that we'll truly have three finished bedrooms. With the nursery being the last, pending room. Of course, everything is a work in progress and constantly changing but if they didn't change, I'd be happy how they look right now. Well, sorta...what would my excuse be for weekly trips to HomeGoods if we didn't change anything? But, here it is! All turquoise and cozy. I like it. It took a while for it to grow on me right after finished painting and moved the furniture back. However, with a few stops to Target and HomeGoods and lots of trial and error I realized that all I needed was some different, more contrasting art on the walls and more white showing on the bed. What do you think? Would you feel cozy as a guest in this room?

Oh, and the iPhone only does it partial justice.

Paint!

Haha....that one little word just sends Jon's boxers straight into a wad! You know, like someones' panties getting in a wad. Well, Jon hates whenever I bring up the topic of painting. As you've already seen, I painted our "guest" bedroom to take it from white to blue and I just, last weekend, painted our room. I've decided that painting is my new favorite thing! I used to spend my time flipping through Pottery Barn catalogs to look at the couches and artwork and decor, but now I find myself gazing at the various paint colors used. I used to watch HGTV to fall in love with the houses and now I watch to see what paint colors they used! Crazy? Maybe. But, I think it may come from the fact that I was so deprived of being able to add any color to the walls with renting that I'm now very into it! Plus, our house was a blank slate! The previous owners pretty much primed everything before they put it on the market, so...good and bad. Good for me cause I get to customize it and make it ours (and don't even know what it looked like before...so even more freedom without muddled visions)! However, bad for Jon because he has to have conversations of how colors match and flow and how this shade of blue has more green and that one has more yellow and this had a little more black. Needless to say, he could care less. Well, he'll try to insert opinion only when it results in less work and just to keep his spot in the bed that night, but really? I guarantee you he doesn't REALLY care. All of that being said....I think he had his first "true" opinion on painting the other night. I started talking about flow and matching and different shades of colors and I really thought I lost him. Score! Now I'm just going to slide in a few extra rooms that I want to paint...so, I continued...AND....HE HAD AN OPINION! And, if you know Jon at all...if he has an opinion, whew...it's not going to be a weak one. He's sticking to it. And, if you know me at all....if I have an opinion, whew...I can kinda be a punk. So, needless to say...ugh, I hate to admit this...we argued over paint! Paint! WTF, really? What has my life come to?

Next chapter (since I'm apparently writing a short novel here): It turned into more. More of how I felt like I couldn't talk to him about these things (Really, Amanda...you think he really wants to talk paint colors?). My goodness, yes, I went there. But, all that being said...he does have an opinion and I'm letting him win this one....you win some, you lose some, apparently even on home and "chick" things. So, we will only be focusing on painting the bedrooms right now (because those were the ones that were so blah and builder's white-blech). Now, AAALLL of that being said. I need some help deciding. We have two of the four bedrooms done. Refer back a few posts for pictures. I put together a little visual image of the current color scheme that's happening. So, my biggest thing is that I do not want a rainbow house but I want color on the walls, so...that's the hard thing. I wanted to keep all the colors muted but I also like true "splashes" of color (like the bedroom). Our house pretty much carries blue, red and green throughout with paint, decor and furnishings. So, to keep continuity and still some fun colors...what color do I paint the guest bedroom in the front right corner (P.S. It is bigger than a closet...obviously this thing isn't to scale-Windows Paint isn't that fancy)? It currently has a "coastal feel" with tan and light turquois-ish bedding. Oh, and keep in mind...that light blue room across the hall...well, it's that other one that needs to be painted and will be the nursery down the road...so, probably a variation of blue (boy) or pink/green (girl). So, what should I do?! Is there a color already in the house that I could carry into that room? Should I choose a lighter color on the same blue color swatch to keep the coastal vibe going...or should I stick with a tan for that same coastal feel or possibly the grey color in the kitchen?? HELP!

Those of you who have been to the house...what do YOU think? About the paint, not me :-)

And then, they lived happily ever after. THE END.

THE curtains and My Review

Originally submitted at Cost Plus World Market

Suzani prints are known for their intriguing and intricate design, a staple in Central Asia; an eclectic decor element. This striking pattern in shades of deep rust and gold takes center stage set against a natural-toned background. Sleeve top creates a casual and nicely tailored look.
Suzani Print Curtain Panel

Love these in our bedroom!!

By ATL DINK from Atlanta, GA on 6/3/2011

5out of 5

Pros: Quality Construction, Great Color, Attractive Design, Beautiful Material, Easy To Hang

Best Uses: Bedroom

Describe Yourself: Midrange Shopper

I love these curtains! I had been thinking about adding curtains to my master bedroom for quite some time but couldn't find anything to coordinate with the rust colored bedding and espresso colored furniture. Also, I like to be somewhat consistent with the color throughout the house and have blue in some other rooms and the adjoining bathroom. So, I needed something with rust, espresso, tan (to coordinate with the wall color) and blue to tie in with the rest of the house. Well, on a random browsing trip to World Market I found these and they are absolutely perfect! They spruce up the once "all solid colored bedroom" perfectly. Much better than the other option of stripes or florals. They are lined and made of a nice thick material. The price...catch them on sale or when you have a coupon. Overall, I think you'll love them!

I will post some pictures of the new curtains and the new paint color as soon as I have time to catch the room with some natural light....we typically get morning sun in our bedroom. But, I am in love with painting and sprucing things up with simple additions! Paint makes such a difference and I'm absolutely loving transforming the house on a budget! I think I've decided that to instantly change a room all you need are curtains, paint and maybe a couple of accent pieces (be it pillows, knick-knacks, a lamp or a new picture). So, I woke up and got ready for work this morning, looked around and felt like I was in a whole new room!