Guest room makeover

I realize that the "rules" of a makeover involve both a before and after picture, but I was so excited to get the new duvet cover on the bed that I completely forgot to take a before picture. And if you've ever wrestled a down comforter into a duvet cover, you know it's not something you want to do twice. So, just imagine a very beautiful, but very old & stained off-white duvet cover with some eyelet detail. It blended into the wall too much. The room was boring. I had no idea what to do for curtains. The whole scene needed some help. 

After about 45 minutes of Internet research and some jaw-dropping prices later, I found this little puppy for (you're never going to believe this): $39.00. While it's not the most luxurious material, it doesn't look cheap either and, hey--it's a duvet cover. It sits on top of a bed. How sturdy does it really have to be? And, more importantly, I was on a budget for redoing the guest room. So...yeah. This was the one. Isn't it just a little bit of happy? Perks the room right up. Curtains to come sometime this summer...

Fashion 1.0

I am not a trendy person. Classy, definitely at work. Plain, yep, especially on weekends. But not trendy. I'm too practical for that. If something's been around for a few years (right around the time it's probably going out but I don't realize it), then I'm willing to buy it. Really, I try to only buy clothes that seem classic and timeless so that I don't have to keep on buying new clothes all the time because I'm one of those rare female breeds who doesn't enjoy shopping.

It's not that I don't know what's in. Working with teenagers all day ensures that I know the latest styles. The problem is that I don't think I can rock the looks (and, more importantly, I don't want to look like my students). Oh, and I like to be comfortable. Like jeans and fleeces comfortable.

So, recently, I've taken the plunge. I've invested in some skinny cords and a long short-sleeved sweater. Honestly, the sweater doesn't make any sense to me. Why would you want to have a short sleeved sweater? And why should it be so long? Is it a dress or a shirt?  If the sweater didn't have the $12.99 price tag (which reflects the lack of faith I have in this look sticking around for a while), I wouldn't have even tried it. It's still too trendy for me. But the skinny cords have been around long enough that they've earned "classic" status in my mind, although when they first came out, I thought we were bringing back all the worst parts of the 80's.  I'm now the owner (I'm not quite ready to say "proud" owner) of some skinny cords, which I actually love, and a long short-sleeved sweater, which I also actually love.  Next up: leggings and/or boots to wear outside my pants. Not there yet. Might not ever be there. But I'm thinking about it.

My jeans and fleeces aren't sure what to think of this fashion takeover just yet, but they're my Velveteen Rabbit; they aren't going anywhere.

Regardless of my (lack of care for) style, I'm pretty sure that we'll all look back at our 2010 selves and wonder why we ever thought wearing ________ (fill in the blank) was cool. If nothing else, I'm giving my kids one more reason to make fun of me in the future. Your welcome.

facelift

First of all, I'm not sure if "facelift" is supposed to be one word or two. A quick Google search reveals that both seem to be acceptable. (Nerd alert that I even took the time to look it up!) I'm going with one word, though, because it's more efficient and, well, it just looks right. I promise I'll explain grammar and vocab better to my 9th graders in a few weeks.

Anywho, procrastination often breeds creativity, which lead me to give my blog a little facelift over the weekend. It used to have a more of a subtle brown motif--very simple and kind of antique looking. Nothing wrong with it, but it left something to be desired. So, out with the old and in with color, background, and interest.

I'm no graphic designer or layout extraordinaire, but I like it.

And I hope you do too.

I hope you like it so much that your face is pulled taut in a permasmile like Joan Rivers' (sorry Joan).

It's been a while...

since I got my hair cut. 

Like four months.

And it was a bad cut with a stray middle layer
that I was too lazy to go back and have corrected.

My new hairdresser pointed out how bad it was.

Oops. 

But today--today--I got a GREAT cut from this place that my sister-in-law recommended.

Short hair cuts start at $30 and long at $40
including wash, dry, style, and tip. 

Whadaya think?

Pardon the photo booth lighting.

It's also been a while...

since I last dusted my blinds.

To tell the truth, I'm pretty sure I've never dusted any blinds 

in any house I've ever lived in.

Quite a confession.

To my credit, I've only been in this house for a month

but

I'm pretty sure the people who lived here for 3 years before we got here 

didn't dust either. 

Shame on them.

So I went to trusty Bed, Bath, and Beyond today and bought an Oxo duster.

The best part? It goes in the wash.

Good thing, too, because halfway through dusting my blinds, 

it needed to go in the wash.

1.5 hours and lots of coughing later (I'm not exaggerating): 

my blinds pass the finger-swiping test.

I'm hoping it'll never be that bad again.

I've seen the error of my ways and will, from now on, be a duster of blinds!

Mine's not quite so crispy-white now.

And it's been a while...

since I've been hit on by a creepy guy.

I guess it's only been about a month. Remember this?

But today it was a face-to-face person.

In Bed, Bath, and Beyond. 

I was standing there looking through a 21-page wedding registry 

trying to decide what to purchase.

He was the third person to ask if I needed help. 

He stared a little too long.

And was a little TOO helpful.

And smiled a little too much.

Despite my clear please-go-away signals, he lurked. 

So I said thank you and walked away.

Then he walked up to my friend and I a few minutes later.

His words:

 "I just want to let you ladies know that you are very beautiful women." 

Insert fake smile and polite thank you as he walked away

followed by eye rolling and the word "creeper" coming out of my mouth.

Mean, I know. Really mean.

But seriously.

If he was that desperate, he should know to look for a rock on my left hand.

Maybe I should have been flattered, but I was just kind of creeped out.

Happy Wednesday to me!

Independence Day

They may be pale, they may be unpainted, heck--they may even be hairy, but today my feet are declaring their independence. Sure, I'm wearing cords and a fleece, but my feet are enjoying the liberation of flip flops...for the first time since August. And because this 70-something degree sunniness gives me that kid-out-of-school-for-the-summer feeling, I'm going to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. There should be fireworks for days like this.

Let's Get Organized!

I've always thought that if I wanted to pursue a career other than teaching, I'd go into professional organizing. Seriously. I find a ridiculous amount of satisfaction in creating order out of chaos, making functional space, and finding ways to help people stay organized even after I've finished the initial "clean sweep." My mom loves this quality in me because I compulsively clean some part of her house every time I go home. I thrive on the immediate results and the joy it brings her to have space she can use more effectively. I really should take before and after pictures. I've organized closets, pantries, offices, storage spaces, and even barns for family, friends, myself, and work.

Not to over-spiritualize this trait, but in many ways, this desire to bring order out of chaos reflects our Father's desire to do the same. Our world is overrun with the weeds and vines of sin, selfishness, and waywardness, and in His redemptive way, he "strikes a straight blow with a crooked stick (thanks to my favorite pastor, Joe Novenson, for that one). God is in the business of re-ordering the universe, of clearing the clutter of our lives, and giving us ways to live that lead to freedom. The satisfaction I find in organizing (other than the fact that I'm just a bit of a neat freak) is one way that I bear God's image, reflecting His character. As Bob Flayhart says, "Joy is found when your God-given talents meet a need."

So, if you need some organizational tips, encouragement, or outright help, I'm at your service. And I'm always looking for new and inventive ways to organize, so send me your ideas and what has worked for you; if you're not one of those organized people, not to worry: you're probably more normal than the rest of us.

rearranging. furniture.

I'll keep it brief, but I decided to rename my blog and blog address; "Cara's Blogtropolis" was apparently just a fad that was on its way out. So, I thought long and hard on the new title and hope you like the change as much as I do. It's like rearranging the furniture in your home; everything is the same, but it's fresh and you like looking at it again.