Phase 1

Here it is, coming along nicely. They're all through laying the tile and have left for the day, only to return tomorrow to smear on the grout. I'm very impressed with their work. They even put the sharpie back they borrowed, closed all the windows that were opened, and hand washed and dried my counter tops and floors before they left.

I'll post a picture of the finished product tomorrow... if I don't get too caught up in the fact that my parents are coming into town. Yes, this is all kind-of last minute with the tiling... and I still have house cleaning to do!

Backsplash!

We are getting a beautiful glass tile backsplash today! I'm pretty nervous about it because I've been second guessing my color choices ever since we paid the down payment. I'm no interior designer, but I tend to have a pretty good eye for color. This is just so... permanent. I chose three colors that I think will compliment the speckled granite counter tops. The installers are supposed to use an off-set horizontal pattern, like bricks...
Oh my gosh. They just showed up.
OK, now that I'm dressed and my hair looks decent and I have the dog locked in the back bedroom and I have all the dishes in the dish washer instead of in the sink and I have all the appliances on the dining room table instead of on the counter... they can start and I can finish this.
OK, NOW I can finish this... had to get some music set up for them.
I was going to say I'm pretty nervous about all this. It's the first home improvement type thing we've had someone come in and do for us. I really have to keep a close eye on them and make sure they do everything how I want it and that we get what we paid for. I've seen lots and lots of shows on HGTV where the contractor messes up the job. So far, these guys seem pretty concerned with getting things right. They checked all their tile boxes before they got started to make sure they had all the right amounts in the right colors. Good sign.
I think I just heard an "oops"... bad sign. I'd better go.

POW

Pick of the Week Wednesday: Arbonne Herbal Foot Creme

Well, I just went to get a picture of it to place on the blog and, lo and behold, they have discontinued it! This is not a very good choice anymore for my pick, but I'll certainly treasure my last tube of it.
Yes, Arbonne is expensive, but there are a few products that I try not to be without in my house. I use their anti-aging face wash and moisturizer with spf 15 every day, haven't found any other diaper cream that will soothe Eden's tush like Arbonne Baby Care Herbal Diaper Rash Creme, won't trust my lips to any other chapstick but theirs, and wouldn't think of using any other lotion to truly repair and renew my feet except their Herbal Foot Creme. So sad that they've decided to cut it from the line of products... and as of this moment, I don't see that they've created a replacement. They are always updating, using new technology, new formulas, better ingredients etc. but sometimes that means losing a product you love. :(
Anyway, I was just going to say that, a couple of weeks ago, when my feet were particularly sore from dancing, I decided to give myself a quick foot massage with this stuff. Now, Chuck prefers soft feet to calloused (don't we all) and I had tried scrubbing them in the shower with a pumice stone and sugar scrub for a few weeks before this without much noticeable change. After one use of the foot creme, he sat by me on the couch and I put my feet in his lap. He placed his hands on my feet and after just a minute of feeling them asked, "Did you scrub your feet today?" He never asked that on the days I had, just the one day I put this creme on. Pretty impressive results, I'd say.

Just Laughs

This is not going to be an inspiring blog, but sometimes you just need a good laugh... at other people's expense. I found a blog called FAIL blog and it's right up my critically-minded, muffin-police alley. (You'll have to go back and read my Muffin Police blog if that makes no sense.) Chuck and I say some silly things to one another and one thing we say on occasion is "fail!" I can't explain the circumstances, but some could be similar to these. You'd have to be there, but it makes us laugh. Here are some of the most giggle inducing pics I found on the blog...

Favorite Friday

Sillyness that includes major talent is a favorite of mine. The VocaPeople are a group I just discovered. They are phenomenally talented and I kept having to remind myself towards the end of the clip that there are NO instruments here. They can't dance, but they can sing. It's a fun clip, so enjoy!

The Pouch of Cuteness

Pick of the Week Wednesday

Who could resist this adorable zippered pouch created in a plethora of too-too-cute Japanese fabrics by Kaylah7 of The Dainty Squid on Etsy? She even has a pouch of the month club, if you're so inclined. She makes all sizes, from this palm-sized sweetie, to a pencil pouch, to a cosmetic bag and she'll take custom requests.

I got one for my cell phone, custom made in a smaller size with an adorable candy fabric. It's a great way to keep my phone safe in the diaper bag and I just happened to discover that my little point and shoot camera fits in it perfectly too! I love the idea of these. The whimsical fabrics allow you to indulge in something cutesy in a small, tasteful way. Even though I probably need to think about getting rid of my junior t-shirts with cute little cartoon animals and sayings on them, this is one thing that will still be OK to own when I'm 30 (and beyond). Us girls gotta have some cute in our lives!

Social Dance for Kids

The fliers will be going out this week for a kids ballroom camp that I've been asked to teach for the month of June. I'll also be doing a VBS that month, so I bet it'll fly by. It's not a sure thing that the dance classes will happen. There's a minimum of four couples and we're getting the fliers out pretty late in the game. We've made the sign-up deadline May 22nd. Hopefully enough people will have seen the fliers and brochures by then (and respond).
I have no idea how this is going to go. The owners of the dance studio and I think we might have found a niche in the market that's completely untouched. No other studio in town is doing a ballroom summer intensive for children. I've tried to put an etiquette spin on it as well, so as to appeal more to the sensibilities of Southern aristocratic parents. Not that I want a bunch of kids there that were forced by mom, but... the mom will be the one seeing the brochure. With the minimum of four couples, I am ensured that I won't be totally wasting two days a week for the month of June. I'm not going to be extremely dissapointed if not enough people sign up, but it will certainly be nice to have the cash that would go with a bunch of people signing up. Time will tell!