Catching Up...Day 3!

D quotes Parkinson who once stated: "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." D heard a young mother bear out this truth when she said, "I can do the work in an hour if I have to which otherwise can consume the whole morning."

I put this theory to the test.

I got started on the main bathroom at about 9:20am.

Had an appointment at 10:00am so I set a little goal to finish before then.

BEFORE...

So last week I accidently flushed the metal rod that holds the toilet paper, right down the toilet (which explains why the toilet paper is on the floor).

It was the craziest thing.

I don't know how it happened.

So far it hasn't plugged up the system...

I'm just crossing my fingers raw sewage doesn't start coming up in the basement.

The 8 year old cleans this bathroom.

(The 5 year old also cleans bathrooms better than her big sister.)

During the school year I do a quick "once over" every morning.

During the summer, I gave up.

I remembered THE TOOLS!

THE PROCEDURE
I started with the bathtub...
then moved to the toilet...
then the mirror, sink and counter.
The drawers and cupboards were in order.
Vacuumed and mopped the floor.
Cleaned the baseboards.



I even cleaned this guy...

so I can more clearly see how much weight I'm gaining.

That enormous hot dog I ate at Costco today certainly won't help the cause.
With one of my babies I gained 9 pounds in one month...isn't that something to be proud of!

AFTER...

I finished at 9:50am.

By trying to meet my 10:00 goal I probably shaved 20 minutes off my work time.

I should set goals more often.

The Shower in the Basement

This is horrifying.

Let's just get it over with.

BEFORE...

Before we begin, LITTLE DISCLAIMER--those dark blotches on the bottom of the shower cannot be removed...they are stains from the glue underneath the shower...just pretend it's marble.

THE TOOLS

And a couple more TOOLS I forgot...

THE PROCEDURE

When I started my projects in January my 13 year old asked me if cleaning her shower was on the list.

Yes, yes it was, and probably should have been at the top of the list, but it's projects like these that you sometimes have to work up to.

I started by spraying the entire shower with the mildew remover.
I had to use the electric toothbrush in some areas...a great little tool!
Then I began digging out the grout with the black and red handled tool, I don't know it's name, I just know it works great and you can pick yourself up one in the painting isle at the Home Depot.
This is where the wipes came in...they picked up all the dug out grout.
I sprayed everything down with Quick Job.

And now the fun part!

I grabbed my caulk gun and claulked away!
I immediately realized my caulk was white and I should have bought cream to match the shower, but I was on a roll and we'll eventually be replacing the shower any way so I just kept going.

This took me 2.25 hours from start to finish.


AFTER...

D says after all your hard work, be certain to KEEP your home lovely and clean. A neighbor once commented, "I used to think that you cleaned house and then let it go until it became so dirty you couldn't stand it any longer, and then you cleaned again." she added, "But now I've learned the secret to KEEPING a home clean by following a systematic plan of daily picking up, frequent sweeping and dusting, and then a thorough weekly cleaning." My neighbor further commented that changing her philosophy of "cleaning house when you have to" to "keeping my home neat and clean" transformed her attitude toward housework from "a thing of drudgery" to "a very satisfying experience," and that it also changed her reputation of being a poor housekeeper to that of keeper of a lovely home.

Well, you've just witnessed one of the dirtiest of my dirty little secrets.
Please don't think less of me.



And a big thanks to the husband for rewarding all my hard work with this delicious Heath shake.

Too Many Projects to Count!

I probably did 3 weeks worth of projects today...I was like a well oiled machine going from one thing to the next...I've highlighted just a few.

BEFORE...

When we moved in all of our light switch and plug covers were covered in wallpaper...and you all know how I feel about wallpaper.

I replaced all of them except these 2...I left them as a little reminder of what once was.

Today, I chucked them!

THE TOOLS

THE PROCEDURE

The dad was over helping me with another project (stay tuned) so he took care of the one on the left.

AFTER...

Doesn't that look so much better!

Remember my new toilet post a couple of weeks ago?
Well the new toilet leaked so we got another new toilet to replace the original new toilet and it's working fabulous!
(The husband wants to thank the father-in-law for installing this one too!)

It even has one of those fancy "no-slam" seats that shut by themselves!
I showed it to my 11 year old and he said, "What's the point of that since you've banned the boys from using this bathroom?"
He's right, I did ban the boys so it's probably not necessary, but very cool anyway!
I'm thinking of also banning the girls and making it my own private 1/2 bath :)

And doesn't the toilet look especially nice with the new curtain!

While I was working the day away on my projects the husband was doing several of his own...he took care of everything I asked him to do!

BEFORE he removed his broken man fridge...


AFTER he removed his broken man fridge!

D says... A wife, if she is reasonable, doesn't expect a great deal of help from her husband but she does want GOOD help. Ten minutes a day of the right type of help--on a volunteer basis, coupled with the ability to follow through until a task is completed, and combined with a willing attitude--could make a world of difference to her.

10 minutes?

Only 10 minutes?

Don't tell the husband D.

He spent at least an hour or two cleaning the family room today...just look at him go the second, third and fourth mile!

Under the Sink in the Bathroom (my new home)

I told you all I wouldn't be able to sleep last night with all the anticipation for my next project. I was right, I wasn't able to sleep--because I came down with the stomach flu...and so did the husband and so did 3 of the 6 kids, all at once, it was crazy and horrible all at once.

If I were going to be a quitter, today would be the day!

I figured since I'm spending so much time in the bathroom it wouldn't kill me to clean and organize this cupboard.

BEFORE...

THE TOOLS

I found this strange little number under the sink.

No idea what it is.

I chucked it.

AFTER...

If I have my way this will be a 24 hr bug...crossing my fingers.

D says you shouldn't let your children eat oranges while sitting on the sofa any more than you would have them sleep on the kitchen table.

I may or may not be guilty of sleeping on the bathroom floor last night--maybe D would make an exception.

The 1/2 Bath...5th and FINAL Phase!

Oh the joy I felt as we purchased this new toilet!

When we moved in we needed 4 new toilets...after today, we're 50% there!

The husband ended up having to go into the office today...so the Dad...or as my kids call him, "Papa Tom" came to my rescue and installed our toilet!

I can't speak for him, but I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of his day!


I borrowed him my little helper!


Here's a couple of other "Before" and "After" pics...

I know, it's so horrendous...it too will be replaced with a can light one day.

D says...I find it terribly frustrating to try to work on a special project while the house is disorderly or dishes are stacked in the sink, but i find that by looking forward to working on a special project after the routine work is finished, I enjoy the work more and get it done much faster. Then the special project is like the dessert after a nourishing meal.

My special project was "accessorizing" the bathroom.

It is the icing on the cake after all the hard work...or as D would say, the dessert after a nourishing meal!

I looked forward to my special project all day...

as I cleaned the kitchen, 3 separate times...as I picked up my oldest son from school and took him to a Dr appointment (Have you ever seen a mole removed? Oh my word, he had to have stitches on the inside and the outside after the big chunk of skin was taken out)...then I picked up two of my daughters from school and took them to their violin concert (they were amazing by the way...I get all misty every time I see them perform)...then it was back home and I threw together dinner--Taco's, I love Taco's, the rest of the family just tolerates them (yes, they are weird, who doesn't love Taco's?)...then my cute sister came over so I could copy some pictures from her camera--which I've been trying to do for over a week so I had to get them tonight...then I had to make a Walmart run because I needed a rug for the bathroom (this picture was taken in the parking lot of the Walmart).

It was 10pm by the time I finished all the routine work and could do my special project...I'm worthless after 8pm so it took a lot longer than it should have but I finished and I'm so glad to FINALLY have this little bathroom DONE!


AFTER!

Well, almost done.

I still need to replace the pictures above the toilet with some of my own, the toilet needs one more part before it will actually fill with water, and I need to put the bathroom door back on.

Try as I may, I can't quite get past being an Almoster.

The 1/2 Bath...Phase 4

I finished the 2nd and final coat of paint this morning!

This baby of mine has been trying to pull the tape off all week...she was so happy when I let her have at it!

AFTER...

I LOVE the way it turned out!
It ended up being a lot more work than I'd anticipated.
I forgot that when you use a roller to apply paint to bead board it just doesn't look quite right so I had to brush it all...but worth the extra time and effort!

This kind of gives you an idea of what the bungalow gold looks like in comparison to the old gold.

D suggests using our imagination when trying to be the Ideal Homemaker...Can you visualize yourself just as your husband is coming home for dinner? You greet him with a kiss. You look pert, attractive and well-groomed. The kitchen presents a well-set table, and the aroma of a delicious dinner is tantalizing to the appetite. The children are happy and are playing or studying contentedly. The house is orderly and is sparkling clean. You feel at peace with your self because today's work has been done today.

I have to admit, when I have a project such as this, that takes a lot of time and a few days, I tend to neglect the house, the kids, and the husband. Dinner consists of cereal or pizza. And honestly, I'm anything but pert and attractive...my own personal hygiene probably suffers the most.

So I'd best go take a shower and get ready for date night. I'm surprising the husband during dinner when I tell him we're skipping the movie for some toilet and accessory shopping!

Check back tomorrow for the announcement of our contest winner!

And check back Monday when we find out if the husband will be installing his first ever toilet!

The 1/2 Bath...Phase 3

BEFORE...

THE TOOLS

I raided my 8 year old's valentine candy stash for these cute little yellow hearts to put on one of Grandma Linda's famous Sugar Cookies.


I cracked up as I realized several of them were in Spanish...she's in a Spanish immersion program in school so of course her conversation hearts would be in Spanish!
I asked her what it says and she said "kiss me".



THE PROCEDURE

I am battling a horrible head cold and if it would have been last year, I would have gone right back to bed...but, I am committed so I sucked it up and got busy painting!
I used a primer first.
Little tip...if you are using a good quality paint (my favorite is Lowe's Valspar brand) you can get away with only one coat of primer and one coat of paint if you tint your primer a color similar to your paint. My primer was actually quite a few shades lighter, but close enough.
The primer was splattering like crazy so I had to tape the tops of my baseboards...they were getting covered in tons of tiny little paint drops.
I forgot how long little rooms with lots of cutting-in can take...
I think it took me 3 hours (thank heavens the baby took an extra long morning nap).


I had to wait 4 hours before I could paint over the primer...
The color I settled on is called "Old Gold". I bought it years ago when I bought the Bungalow Gold (or as the husband calls it, baby poo yellow) you've seen in my laundry and main living areas. It goes great with the Bungalow Gold but is quite a bit darker.
As soon as I started painting with the Old Gold I remembered that this brand of paint needs 2 coats plus a primer :( It just doesn't cover well with the first coat.
So unfortunately today I am an "Almoster" because it needs to set over night before painting the second coat.

D says there is lots of hope for the Almosters...Most of them are putting forth the time and energy. All they need is some direction to their activities and they can be good managers and ideal homemakers.

Check back tomorrow when I FINISH the painting and post the AFTER picture!

The 1/2 Bath...Phase 2

BEFORE...

Painting is a process and takes a fair amount of patience...which is something I lack, so painting is good therapy for me.

I LOVE high gloss white mouldings...I never got around to painting the casing around this door.


I did take time to tape off a few areas.


THE TOOLS

I splurged and bought me a new brush :)

THE PROCEDURE

I began by putting a coat of white primer on the door casing.

A word about primers--the cheaper the primer the better!

Then I started at the top and painted the moulding and ceiling, then moved to the base boards, and finished with a coat of high gloss on the door casing.

A word about ceilings--I LOVE white high gloss ceilings...every time you look up it's like heaven on earth.

Love them!
I used a small roller so I could just dip out of the paint can...I only do this when there isn't much square footage to cover, for large areas a roller is definately faster.

AFTER...

Painting around this was about as much fun as it looks.

I didn't worry about perfection because the color on the walls will cover all the extra white.

The ceiling looks so clean and shiny!

I don't think the picture does it justice...try to ignore that ugly light...it too will be replaced with a can light one day.

I thought we'd move onto Facet #3--SOME ARE ALMOSTERS

D says If we were to divide all of the homemakers we know into general types, we would likely come to this conclusion: There are three types.

The "Don't Cares"

"Almosters"

and "Ideal Homemakers"

The "Almosters" just don't quite make it, like the car brakes that almost worked, or the man who almost caught the train. Their intentions are good, and they almost make it. They spend lots of time and energy, but they don't quite reach their goals, they don't quite get the job done. Their houses are never quite clean, their ironing is never quite caught up, they are never quite ready, or quite on time. This results in frustrations, wear and tear on the nerves, damage to self-respect, and failure to meet important goals and opportunities.

After careful deliberation, I would have to say that part of the time, I am definitely almost an Almoster.

What type of Homemaker are you?

Tune in tomorrow when we paint the bathroom walls and D gives the "Almosters" some hope.

The 1/2 Bath...Phase 1

I am a goal setter.

At the beginning of every year I set goals in several different areas of my life.

The goal to complete this bathroom has been on my list every year since 2006.

To be honest, there are 2 other bathrooms that have been on that list as well. (See what you all have to look forward too!)

BEFORE...

I'll admit right up front, the pictures are not going to be all that exciting...

This bathroom was covered with lovely green and beige wallpaper.
I HATE TO REMOVE WALLPAPER!
If there was a contest for who has removed the most miles of wallpaper, I would be the winner. Hands down.
So, in order to avoid removing more wallpaper I decided to bead board the entire bathroom :)


We put up the beadboard in 2005.
Our nail gun was having a bad day so we ended up having several nails sticking out.

Two years ago while I was nesting...getting ready for baby #6, I decided I was going to finish this project so I started to caulk...things were moving along just fine until I came across this...

There was a big bow in the bead board and it needed to be cut and re-fitted.

This little glitch overwhelmed me, so I stopped caulking and walked away...never went back, until today!

THE TOOLS

Let me introduce you to my little step ladder.

I affectionately refer to it as my "Grandma Dee Dee Ladder" because it belonged to her and I just love it! It has seen me through lots of projects.

THE PROCEDURE

The husband was great to help me fix my little "bowing" problem.

It only took him like 5 minutes...he's amazing, what can I say.

For those of you who have never seen one of these, it is a nail setter (not sure if that is the correct word for it but that's what I call it). It's a handy little tool and I put it to good use today.

And then I caulked (or claulked as my daughter kept calling it) my little heart out. I have probably clocked as many caulking hours as I have wallpaper removal hours over the years, but I find claulking much more fun.

The wallpaper just pulled right off--that has never, ever happened to me.

Normally I have to pull out the steamer and scrape away, sometimes 3 layers.

AFTER...

I warned you...not very exciting!

The entire project only took 2 hours.

Now we can move on to the fun part--PAINTING!!
And then another fun part--A NEW TOILET!!

D gives us a little advice on goal setting...

Look ahead,

Plan ahead,

Keep your head,

And you'll be ahead!