It's time for Another Confession of a Remodeling Moron!

Hello there fine Readers especially those of you joining me in areas outside the US (Malaysia, Germany, and Australia).

 

I love that there are people in other countries reading my blog and I wonder a lot about you. I wonder who you are and what drew you to read my silly ramblings. I wonder if you read thinking I'd have another horror story to tell you like the house exploded. I probably shouldn't have said that…. Do you believe in Jinxes? I really don't but I sure believe in Murphy's Law. You know the saying "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong".

 

I'm avoiding my confession but since I want to be honest with you I'll just spit it out.

 

C and I bought the legs for the vanity and being true to our fashion we bought pretty legs (without bothering to measure what height we really needed) that are wood and unfinished. I took them home stained them to match and the learned the following:

 

1.     the legs screw in but the vanity has castors- we had to change them out and it worked.

 

2.     the legs are way too tall. It puts the vanity almost to chest height and I'm 5'6!

 

So we have to either cut the legs down or get new ones. We are gonna go with cut them down but don't be surprised if I mention sometime soon how we have to buy new legs…

 

It sounds like something we'd do.

 

 

Black Out Curtains!

I need these! Why did we buy a townhouse on top of a mountain facing East?

A Good Caulk Job is Hard to Find!

The Chateau has 1 and a quarter baths. This is the upstairs bathroom (the room that we are currently remodeling). The bathroom grout looked like this when we moved in. Over the years I have re grouted, and tried every bathroom product that was a sure fire way of removing even the nastiest of grim. So far none of them have actually helped. Believe it or not I scrubbed this right before taking the picture. This is as good as it gets I think.

This is after 5 years of scrubbing!

Yes, it really looks like this

Sorry if this scares you! Then it scare me too!

9 must-have tools for the DIY newbie

1. Finishing hammer with claw Plumb. Reliable and built to last with a great grip, fiberglass handle.




2. Tape measure Stanley. Durable steel exterior, easily retractable.



3. Battery-powered cordless drill Black & Decker. Invaluable for small repairs and quick fixes; doubles as a screw gun.



4. Duct tape Holds the world together; provides a strong, flexible hold, good tensile strength; water and tear resistant.



5. Level Johnson. Determines whether a surface is horizontal or vertical.



6. Pliers Klein. Hold objects firmly, for cutting, bending; many types for specific uses.



7. Utility knife: Preferably one that retracts; for cutting carpet, scoring drywall, opening packages. Any decent brand will do.



8. Adjustable crescent wrench Klein. Removes or tightens bolts of all sizes.



9. Mini crowbar Hyde. Takes off old trim and molding; doesn't mark up walls; easy to keep in your tool belt.



Before you begin



What experience (if any) do I have? Just because you're not afraid to take on a project doesn't mean you should. Be realistic about your skills. Not having the expertise could lead to additional costs and work. Also, you might find it difficult to find a contractor who will fix your snafu.



Do I have the time? Many home-improvement projects take weeks rather than days. Measure the inconvenience against the cost of hiring a professional.



Do I have the right tools? Consider what special tools you'll need. If you have to buy a power saw but don't plan to use it again in the near future, it probably won't be a very good investment.

Finding Joy in the Journey Weekend

The last few days words from a plaque I have hanging in my home have really been running through my head. They are words from a talk I heard a few years ago from a very wise man. The plaque reads "Find Joy in the Journey". I loved the talk and felt the inspiration and love behind the message. I felt like I should share it with my readers to express what has been going on with me and my family lately.

In order to do that I need to share the whole quote with you not just one phrase.

 

 

He said "This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

I cannot tell you the great impact reading these words this morning have had on me and the great notebooks of plans I have. I ran into a old friend in the store at lunch time. He has always been a man that has found as much joy in life as possible. He told me his beloved wife had recently passed away. There was tremendous pain in his voice. I cannot fathom what he was feeling. His only regret was that he didn't have more time to spend with his wife. Anyone who had ever meet him heard of his dear wife and the love he had for her was immense. It was palpable when you spoke with him.

 

I am taking this as a sign and I am very determined today. As Chris, Logan, Ronan and I work to put our home together we will cherish every second we spend together working on Le Chateau Ghetto. We are throwing away the notebooks and plans of a better tomorrow. We are embracing the today and the project at hand. We are not building a home. We are building memories and we are building a family.

 

So, I challenge each of you reading this to Find Joy in your Journey this weekend. Do something this weekend that brings you joy!