Howdy strangers..

at 07/01/09 1:50PM
I think I'll actually write something on here today! Maybe it's the new, fun layout that is motivating me, but here's a little update. I'm busy busy busy fixing up the house. I'm doing a master bedroom makeover, which has spilled over into the master bath. Still chasing Grace around everywhere. She's 2 1/2 now and has more energy than ever. We're thinking about having another one soon. Which means I'll have to do another bedroom makeover!

It's a hot summer, but I've been making the best of it with frequent trips to Schlitterbahn waterpark and other watering holes. And staying indoors to paint helps too.

Grace has been picking up so many words and phrases from me lately, it's hilarious. She says everything is "cool" or "awesome". Yesterday I apologized to her for something, and she flipped her hand up in the air and said, "That's ok, don't worry about it, Mom." I wanted to roll on the floor laughing. I say "don't worry about it" all the time, but it was the first time I heard her say it.

Now I'm off to go finish making my roman shades.

I hope everyone is having a great summer!
  • AlanL
    I remember being amazed when mine picked up the expressions we use... just couldn't believe they would understand the context so well!
    by AlanL at 07/01/09 2:01PM
  • sarahmarcelle
    It's good to hear from you! Grace sounds awesome.

    Your makeover sounds like fun! You'll have to post some pictures of the final results!
    by sarahmarcelle at 07/01/09 8:36PM
  • mjintexas
    Oh, you actually posted! Wow! Haha. "Don't worry about it." LOVE it.
    by mjintexas at 07/01/09 9:19PM
  • spike427
    i look forward to seeing some "after" photos!!
    by spike427 at 07/08/09 7:43PM
  • mjintexas
    Yeah, I bet they about ate you alive on the chem burn! Funny. Carl C. retired, btw. Head of safety guy? Don't know if you remember him.
    Do you know the retention pond I'm talking about? It is WAY nastier up close. Sooooo gross. I had no idea.
    by mjintexas at 07/28/09 8:24PM

I've had about all I can take of politics.

at 11/04/08 5:59PM
I'm just tired. And I can't believe Obama is going to be president. The counting is still very much going on at the time of this writing, but I've already been praying for the Obama administration. It occurred to me yesterday that the Israelites survived through the faults of leaders much worse than Obama could possibly be. I still worry about the Supreme Court justice appointments though! I'm tired.

  • curlie
    Good thoughts. I take comfort in the fact that Paul wrote while Nero was emperor... and Nero was way worse than anyone we have ever had or probably will ever have, since pedophilia is still illegal.
    by curlie at 11/04/08 6:51PM
  • DessertDiva
    I keep thinking to myself "It's only 4 years, it's only 4 years".
    by DessertDiva at 11/04/08 7:02PM
  • mjintexas
    Me too.
    by mjintexas at 11/04/08 7:46PM
  • tommygirl
    I wanted to say I really, really appreciate your comments on Josh's post (music). I love to listen to it in the car. We spend a lot of time in cars and it's one way that helps me focus on my relationship with God. It really moves me in ways I can't describe.
    by tommygirl at 11/05/08 7:55AM
  • AlanL
    One thing about our government is that we can pretty much turn it around every two years.
    by AlanL at 11/05/08 8:06AM
  • spike427
    oooh lush! their bar soap is really yummy and it lasts a long time and makes your bathroom smell great! if you take baths, the bath bombs are also good.
    by spike427 at 11/05/08 8:57AM
  • spike427
    it depends on what you like - sweet, fruity, floral, etc. i liked the rockstar soap and the sultana soap. :)
    by spike427 at 11/05/08 9:49AM
  • slave_of_jesus_jdb
    Yep, I've started praying too.
    by slave_of_jesus_jdb at 11/05/08 10:57AM
  • slave_of_jesus_jdb
    Yeah, I know it ;)
    by slave_of_jesus_jdb at 11/05/08 2:55PM
  • arsenal
    Brace up lass. We'll get through this. Just don't give up your guns.
    by arsenal at 11/06/08 8:10AM
  • DessertDiva
    I LOOOOVE apples - I've been eating them quite a bit. I'm glad they're so good for the baby! Thank you!! :)
    by DessertDiva at 11/10/08 10:55AM
  • mrs_doc
    I love those flowers! They are my favorite :D
    by mrs_doc at 11/12/08 10:54PM
  • slave_of_jesus_jdb
    Thanks, sis ;)
    by slave_of_jesus_jdb at 12/31/08 1:13PM
  • DessertDiva
    You haven't posted in a while!
    by DessertDiva at 01/12/09 3:31PM
  • mjintexas
    Dang, you're fast.
    by mjintexas at 01/20/09 2:33PM
  • mjintexas
    Answer your phone, nerdball!
    by mjintexas at 01/20/09 2:36PM
  • AlanL
    She doesn't have time to answer the phone... she's reading Pleonast! :-)
    by AlanL at 01/20/09 2:47PM
  • mjintexas
    Oh, good point!!
    by mjintexas at 02/17/09 8:32AM
  • mjintexas
    Well then I need to come see it!! :)
    by mjintexas at 04/20/09 8:48AM

me? interesting? nooo...

at 09/23/08 3:40PM
I’ve apparently been tagged and must list 8 “interesting” things about myself. The problem is, everything I think of doesn’t seem interesting to me. As much as I would like to think I’m interesting.

1) The one food that makes me lose all self control is brownies. I can eat half a pan of them in one sitting. That’s my record. Brownies also happen to be the only dessert my husband will actually eat a whole serving of. He doesn’t like sweets.

2) I can’t seem to live in a house with white walls. Every room has to be a different color. And I wonder sometimes if I will always be like this. Even when I lived in my parent’s white-walled house, I painted my room the blue-green color that my dining room is now.

3) I have strange questions, like, “If we eat in heaven, do we have to go to the bathroom? And if there is no marriage, and therefore no marital relations, will we be, shall we say, anatomically correct?” Yes, I know, I’m warped. (Bubba says if we have perfect bodies, then we will metabolize our food with 100% efficiency, and therefore won’t need toilets.)

4) I have this unexplainable hesitancy to take someone else’s ideas and use them myself. I have to tell myself things like, “it’s ok, not everyone has seen this episode of Martha Stewart, I can use her recipe and people will still think I’m so creative, even if it just came from Martha Stewart.” I don’t know why I think I have to be so original, but I’m learning I can take something and put my personal spin on it if I need to.

5) Ok, something not so psychotic. My first car was a full size Bronco, two tone red. It was incredibly bouncy and I loved driving it all over the Texas Hillcountry with my friends. I can remember driving ranch road 12 from San Marcos to Wimberley, listening with my friend Candace to the boxing match on the radio when Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear off. Hysterical laughter ensued. Fun times.

6) I traveled to Costa Rica while pregnant, and was upset when I could not go on the zipline.

7) I secretly want to be a photographer. I am very phlegmatic.

8) I secretly want to ride horses. Ok, I secretly want to be Pioneer Woman.

Note to Angela and Amber: Go to www.thepioneerwoman.com to see where I spend a lot of virtual time these days.
  • mjintexas
    Baaaaahahahahaa... I have you addicted to Ree as well! hehehe.
    I like your warped questions.
    by mjintexas at 09/23/08 8:16PM
  • AlanL
    I love number 3!
    by AlanL at 09/23/08 8:21PM
  • spike427
    you know what? questions are great!
    i think on #3 our bodies aren't going to be like the bodies we're in now, so we will not have those "earthly" requirements.
    i have an all-edges brownie pan. are you an edge girl or a center girl?
    by spike427 at 09/24/08 2:52PM
  • DessertDiva
    Sure - come on! :)
    by DessertDiva at 09/25/08 5:06PM
  • mjintexas
    I loved the onesies. They were so cute.
    by mjintexas at 09/29/08 2:33PM

So close!

at 09/18/08 8:59AM
thanks for your comments, I just wanted to show you that it's almost done! Bubba installed the second sink and the bath faucet. Now we just need to seal grout and clean up the caulk some. And get window coverings and install the towel bars. I'm so relieved!




New bath pictures!

at 09/15/08 8:40PM
We have worked mighty hard this weekend on the bathroom. It seems like the little things, like caulking, take the longest. We still have a lot of little things to do, and we have not bought the second sink yet, but we are really close to having a finished bathroom! Right now it is a functional half bath. We still need to put in the tub and shower faucet. And I still need to buy all the cute accessories! But I'm itching to show off what we have done.

The bathroom feels very beachy! I love the paint color I picked. Next to the tile, the colors look like turquoise water and sandy beaches. The wainscoting on the walls is vinyl, though it looks and feels like painted wood wainscoting, and is totally water proof. The trim above and below it is also vinyl. The toilet is a Kohler class five flushing system toilet, and we put in an ultra-silent vent fan where there was only a heater before. We also put in recessed lighting above the tub.

For anyone who doesn't know, this was a complete bathroom remodel, which involved ripping out everything, including the drywall. All new plumbing for a second sink and raised shower head was done, all by my husband. He never did anything like this before, but he has done a great job! "Before" pics are in the "pink bathroom" gallery (ew) and there are "during" pics in the bathroom demo gallery.

Here are thumbnails of the highlights, but to see all the pictures start with the first and go through the whole gallery (only 8 pics).




Cutie pie Gracie poo is not in any pictures because we have to work while she is asleep! She likes to put little hands on wet paint.



  • spike427
    yay!! that looks so good!! :) i love the colors and the fixtures you chose. it is an amazing update!
    by spike427 at 09/15/08 10:07PM
  • DessertDiva
    Looks really awesome!
    by DessertDiva at 09/16/08 12:10PM
  • spike427
    i have a nice body pillow - i am usually a tummy sleeper so it's an adjustment! but i am feeling better these days. :)
    by spike427 at 09/16/08 12:42PM
  • norriej
    Whoa!! It turned out beautifully!! VERY nice!! I know that you must be thrilled that it's finished finally!! Thanks for sharing!! It does look beachy!! Can't get any more relaxing than that!!
    by norriej at 09/16/08 12:47PM
  • mjintexas
    I seriously can't believe that's your pink bathroom. Bubba has gotten a LOT done this weekend!!
    by mjintexas at 09/16/08 1:37PM
  • mjintexas
    It does look beachy too. Good job. Beachy has my 100% approval. Teehee!
    by mjintexas at 09/16/08 1:38PM
  • sarahmarcelle
    I love it! I remember the pictures of the pink bathroom and I'm very impressed!
    by sarahmarcelle at 09/17/08 6:26AM
  • arsenal
    Your husband is a better man than me. Don't know about "beachy". Sand, seaweed and dead fish don't go well in a bathroom. j/k
    by arsenal at 09/18/08 2:18AM
  • mjintexas
    He's such a killjoy. You're wasting perfectly good FL real estate, you know!!
    by mjintexas at 09/18/08 7:22AM
  • mjintexas
    Oh I love that picture of Gracie! Must hug.
    by mjintexas at 09/18/08 9:08AM
  • AlanL
    Hey, it's just a bit pink! Gotta pay homage to the original color scheme. :-) It looks really nice. I know you're going to enjoy it.
    by AlanL at 09/18/08 12:26PM
  • mjintexas
    Yup.
    by mjintexas at 09/23/08 2:13PM