Wednesday, April 13, 2011

My Loves

So, this week, my family is on vacation in Cuba. By family, I mean my parents, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. Basically, everyone except my other brother, my grandmother, and myself. My husband is also away in PEI, making this week potentially the most depressing one EVER. After dropping my family off at the airport yesterday, and seeing everyone gathered in the terminal, bursting with anticipation, I have to admit, I was feeling pretty down. I struggled with not being able to go on this trip for a couple reasons: 1. My cousin, Sara, is getting married, and I so wanted to be there for her. She made my wedding everything it was, and I would have been lost without her. I felt terrible that I couldn't repay the favour on her big day.  2. I really love spending time with my family, and as everyone grows older (kids and parents), I get sad thinking that big trips like these may be few and far between.

I drove back to my parents' house, feeling sorry for myself, thinking about how much fun everyone was going to have while I was stuck here. Boo hoo, right? Yeah, whatever. I resolved that as soon as I got out of the car, that was it. I was not allowed to throw myself a pity party over something so miniscule. But, as I stepped onto the driveway, and slumped up the porch stairs, I still felt pretty depressed. Staying behind to maybe get some work felt crappy. Spoiled brat, eh? However, as soon as I opened the door, and entered the house, my spirits lifted. This is what was waiting for me:


The best pick-me-up! Honestly, I have not felt bad about missing the trip for one second since I got back from the airport- these two nuts have kept me amused, and have certainly kept me busy. Sometimes, a furry little friend is the best thing one can have. Love your pets- they're like free therapy!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A Love Letter to Sunny Saturdays

Dear Saturday,

I wish we could see each other more, as I enjoy our time together like no other. You can always warm me with your lazy awakenings, and the way you don't put any pressure on me to do anything. You are so accepting of my tortoise ways- Monday would never tolerate sipping my coffee in the morning, or eating breakfast at my own pace. Monday (and most of the other days, for that matter) would make me shovel it down, almost choking myself, while trying to get dressed, feed the zoo, and put on makeup. Monday is a control freak and never lets me have my way. Monday is my enemy.

But this morning, this lovely Saturday morning, my meal was perfect, eaten with the sun shining in on me- ahhhh!


Saturday, you didn't care that it took me 15 minutes to empty the bowl while browsing the Internet (sidenote: TSN- why are you NOT showing the Monte Carlo tennis tournament??? God, I hate basic cable). You also didn't push me to get up and get dressed while I did some crossword puzzles (again, still sipping that coffee):


If only I wasn't committed to the rest of the week, we could be together all the time! Someday, Saturday, when I am a work-week widow and can finally break free of that dreadful relationship, we can run away together and spend every morning sleeping in (until 9:00 when Molly will have to go out for a pee and the cats will need to be fed...because they are all going to live FOREVER), sipping java, doing crosswords, and listening to music in our pajamas. We can take trips whenever we want, because you'll be with me every day.

I love you Saturday- please wait for me!

Love,

Colleen

PS- my husband will be joining us when we run away together. Hope that's cool. xo

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday Pick-me-up

I don't normally blog, email, etc. in the mornings (especially on a Monday) because I am too tired and don't have the time. However, I had to share this IMMEDIATELY for a couple reasons: 1) So I wouldn't forget to post about it as the day wore on, and 2) So I wouldn't forget to try this myself in the future. Blogging about something is like keeping it in a journal, in which you can always look back.

Someone had posted this to Facebook this morning, and I think it is one of the best things I have seen in a long time. I will definitely be attempting this when the gardening season starts:

http://greenupgrader.com/8460/diy-vertical-herb-garden-with-a-shoe-organizer/ 
It's an herb garden planted in shoe organizers! So creative, and perfect for people who have pets that may be hanging around in their yards (i.e. Molly, who would eat every one that she could reach, even if she didn't like the taste, simply because she is a rebel).

Now, I must decide what kind of herbs I want...

Sunday, April 3, 2011

One person's trash...

I think it's cool that people have different tastes, styles, likes, and dislikes. It's what makes us all unique, to some extent. But, just as I am sure some people don't understand my taste and why I like the things I like, I sometimes am baffled by people's preferences, choices, and purchases. My hubby and I tend to have similar tastes, most of the time, but there are things we don't always agree on. For example, he dreams of having a kitchen with a rooster theme. Not my style- at all. I can see where he's coming from, but I just don't get the appeal. I enjoy holidays, and adding little touches to my home to showcase them. Yesterday, I made these little Easter decorations, which I thought were simple and cute:

Robin's eggs!

Clinton's response: "Well, I don't hate them." So, we accept that we don't always see eye to eye, and move on (except, my little decoration is still in the house, but there is not one rooster in our kitchen...oops).

Over our three year quest for the perfect home, we saw some amazing places which were decorated beautifully. We also saw some gross places, made even grosser with the decorations/use of space, some beautiful places decorated terribly, and some gross places that tricked you into thinking they were nice because the owners worked it with the decor. Yes...this is called being judgmental. In my defence, when you're looking to purchase something that's going to put you thousands and thousands of dollars in debt, you're going to pick it apart. And its owners. It's just the way it works. You wouldn't believe some of the things we saw- "finished" basements that were basically a step up from a cave (and not a cool man cave...an actual cave. Like where wild animals live); murals upon murals upon murals; carpet on the walls (still scarred from this); stucco that hung six inches from the ceiling, like dripping paint; "bedrooms" the size of closets; I could go on forever. We saw a lot of scary stuff.

When we viewed the home we ended up buying, it had been vacant for six months. All the walls were painted white, and the flooring was new. Perfect! This really allowed us to picture our things in the house, and plan what we would like to do in every room. We didn't have to overlook any swamp-green carpet, or the 100x100 picture of someone's grandparents over the bed. However, walking through an empty house, you get used to the idea that it's empty and you tend to overlook a few things. There was one thing I didn't notice until we moved in, and it has been staring me in the face ever since. It mocks me when I enter the room, and constantly reminds me of its presence whenever I show someone who has never been here the house. It is this:


Ugh! Do you know what that is? Guess...I'll give you a minute.





It's supposedly a towel rack. Look at all those hooks! The worst thing about it is that it's in our 1/2 bath, where the only towel needed is a hand towel. How many hand towels is one expected to have available in the bathroom? According to this monstrosity, seven. Yeah right- I don't know if we even own that many. So, for the last six weeks, we have had one solitary towel hanging awkwardly on that...thing. And it just looked SO SLOPPY.


I often entered the bathroom to find that towel laying lifelessly on the floor. I can only assume these were failed suicide attempts. It looks like a rag, hanging in someone's garage. Plus, the rack is GOLD, which is not my taste at all.

Yesterday, I got so tired of looking at this that I finally decided it was time to get rid of it. Goodbye nemesis! So, I went to the Dollarama (yes, this is where I shop for household essentials as I judge other people's tacky tastes) and picked up a towel holder. Any fixture that you can make better by replacing with something you purchased at the dollar store definitely has to go. Last night, I played handyman, and installed the new towel rack all by myself. Simple project? Yes. Did I mess it up? Yes- sort of. I thought I had installed the mounting bracket backwards, so I unscrewed it, and reinstalled the other way...only to discover it was right the first time. Dang, that's why women should cook and clean and men should do all that manly stuff, right? Shucks, I should have known better.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 15 gruesome minutes of blood, sweat, tears, and curse words, I give you our new towel holder:


It's glorious! So simple, so fresh- I could look at it all day! It's amazing how one tiny thing can make the biggest difference. It is also amazing that I just blogged for half an hour on a towel rack. Do you think I need some more excitement in my life or what? However, regardless of how lame I am and how the things that get me excited are even lamer, I remain proud of this new fixture in our little bathroom. I keep opening the door and looking at it...ahhh I love you, towel ring. I was so inspired when finished, that I actually hung a picture in that same bathroom that has been leaning against the wall since we moved in:


Clinton found that picture at an old second-hand store a few years back. I never would have thought to purchase it, but he loved it- and I am so glad he did. It has become one of my faves. The train sticks out- it's 3D! So cool. So there you have it- my Saturday night, and I could not have asked for better. Until next time...

Oh, and PS- suggestions on what I should do with the old rack? I was thinking of maybe spray painting it white and installing it in my closet to hang my purses off. Yes? No? Feedback please!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Cat or Dog?

Our beloved Molly is ten months old, and we have had her for almost eight of those months. She has caused me to cry, scream, and freak out in fits of frustration. She has also made me smile and laugh over and over again with her quirky antics and goofy behaviour. It's when I find her doing things like this that make my heart melt, and make me forget that just yesterday, she pooped on the carpet:

"Perhaps if I act more like them, the cats will start hanging out with me"
Happy Friday!