Lessons Learned in DIY painting

I've lived with my room color for five years.  And I've never been a fan.  It was supposed to be a nice soft beige but ended up having a bit too much red in it (so I learned).  Seeing as how my bedroom is also my office and I work from home, I felt justified in changing the colors.  How hard could it be?

Well, let's just say that I will never again take on any do it yourself painting projects.  All the matching colors, draping, taping AND painting left a lot to be desired.  I'll leave the next project to the professionals. It's worth the money!

Thankfully, my friends Carolyn and Juliette came to my rescue and helped me knock it out.  It is far from perfect, doesn't have the perfect corners, the edging is very amateur and there's a bit of paint on the ceiling here and there.  But. it. is. done.  And that's what counts. 

I did an accent wall of celery (Juliette's idea) and a butter yellow for the rest of the room and bathroom.

Moving the furniture and crap-o-la around was loads of fun.  How much stuff do I really need?

It was bad, folks.  My bed was in the living room and I had the clothes from my dresser in the kitchen.  There are only so many places to put displaced items in a 750 square foot condo.   It got really fun when I lost all motivation and just decided to just leave everything where it was.  It looked like an episode of Hoarders. 

Carolyn deemed an intervention necessary and helped me put everything back together.  Isn't that what friends are for? Figuratively and literally.

I now sit in my lemon and celery goodness space.  I try not to look at the uneven paint or the smudges on the ceiling.  But when I do I just remember that this was a lesson learned in my limitations and am grateful that I don't ever have to paint another single room.  Ever.  Again.

Tornados and torrential downpours in the OC?

My friend Carolyn took me to my appointment at the Hospital on Tuesday. She provided moral support and was my private duty Child Life Specialist during my three hour blood draw. I had to be poked nine times... which is nine times too many!

On our way home from Laguna Beach I received a phone call that warned us to "Get home right away for God's sake. This is a warning! There is a tornado headed for your house." I thought it was an exaggeration... until we got home and turned on the news! A tornado had actually just touched down in Seal Beach... about 30 minutes from my house. The Doppler radar was steadily moving toward South Orange County... my neck of the woods.

It was crazy stuff. Reminiscent of my times in Memphis where I would crouch in my bathtub (the only room without windows) and listen to the radio weather reports and wonder why anyone would choose to live in a place with such horrific weather. (In the summer of 2003 much of Memphis lost electricity for nearly two weeks thanks to Hurricane Elvis. No joke!)

Carolyn took matters into her own hands and ran out to her car in the eye of the storm to retrieve her phone. She came back completely drenched!

But, she had her phone, and all was well in her world!

The rain came down, the winds blew and my windows shook. And I curled up under my covers and waited for it to pass. Five or so days of rain and I pretty much have reached my precipitation limit.

Thursday morning I spied some white stuff! Call it sleet / hail / slush... but in southern California this just doesn't happen!

On my patio.

Definitely photo worthy!


Dear rain, thank you for visiting us and helping out with our water shortage. But now it's time for you to move back to the south where the folks are better equipped to deal with you.

Love, me.

HaPpY hAlLoWeEn!

I spent Halloween with Carolyn and her kids. We had a lot of fun among the masses at the Halloween Happening at their Church. Way fun!

I snapped a few photos. It's going to be a Hippy HAPPY Christmas Card this year!

This one is my favorite

MEEEOOOOOOWWWW!

Diva Black Kitty (I know that I lost points for little originality)

Elizabeth and Robbie

Elizabeth's a sweetie!

Robbie's fro was the biggest I've ever seen!

These twins were Thing 1 and Thing 2. I love the blue tutus!

Here's our junior high "professional pic."

Much better.

I went from booth to booth with Elizabeth. I only confiscated a portion of the loot.

Cindy Lou Hoo was my favorite costume of the night!

hApPy BiRyHdAy 2 me! Thirty One-derful!

I spent my birthday volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp ~ an unbelievable camp for grieving children.

The camp is in the mountains of Malibu. A bunch of volunteers met up at Duke's in Malibu to help me celebrate my birthday!

Duke's is always highly recommended but I've never had the chance to go. In fact, it's one of my friend Tommy's favorites. And that boy knows food! (Think Memphis, Chicago, etc!) So, in our matching CZC t-shirts and camp weary bodies we took over the outdoor patio!

We arrived just in time to watch the sunset over the Pacific. It was a beauty!

Carolyn and I ~ I recruited her to be a CZC volunteer. I knew that she would be a perfect Big Buddy... and she was! We'll both be going back soon. What an amazing experience!!!

Happy Birthday to me! (And Ricardo looking on :O) )

Kim and I. Kim was the Camp RN, and lives in Long Beach. I'm looking forward to hanging out at the beach with her soon.

Comfort Zone Camp is the best! Thanks for helping me celebrate #31! I feel a tradition starting...

Carolyn's a marathon rockstar!

My best good friend, Carolyn ran the Big Bear Marathon. That's 26.2 miles. In the mountains. In September.

Here she is finishing the race!

I only *look* like I ran too... but I was just a cheerleader!

A nice gentleman removing her time chip. After the race those volunteers are a God send!

Earning her finishers medal... WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Kirstyn and Carolyn

Post race libation!

CHEERS to CAROLYN!

I heart Keith Urban ~ Escape Tour 2009 Concert

I'm a huge Keith Urban Fan. Love him. Maybe even a little bit obsessed with him. I've always loved his music ~ his hopelessly romantic lyrics, dreamy voice and musical talent. So when his Escape Together 2009 Concert Tour Tickets went on sale, I snagged 2 of them ASAP and counted down the days to SEE KEITH! So how cool is it that my favorite Country Singer is a HUGE supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital? I thought he was a good guy, now I KNOW he is! :O) Together with other country music stars, Keith has helped to raise over $354 MILLION!

Isn't he dreamy???? I think he needs a female backup singer. Don't you?

Carolyn and I in front of Keith's tour bus. I'd sure like to ESCAPE and be a groupie!

#1 Fan FAN!

Keith played to a sold out crowd.

Being crazy country chicks. SO fun to sing out the lyrics!

So close to Mr. Urban!

"Sweet thing the moon is high and the night is young. Come on and meet me in the backyard under the cottonwood tree. It's a good thing and I'm wishin'. C'mon sweet thing won't you climb on out of your window while the world is sleepin'. Cause you know I need you. And there's no way I'll be leavin' 'til we're kissing on the porch swing. Oh my little sweet thing!"

"...And I'm gonna love you like nobody loves you. And I'll earn your trust making memories of us. I wanna honor your mother and I wanna learn from your pa. I wanna steal your attention like a bad outlaw. And I wanna stand out in a crowd for you. A man among men. I wanna make your world better than it's ever been..."

"...And silently I say a little prayer, yes I do. But for the grace of God I must've been born a lucky guy. Heaven only knows how I've been blessed with the gift of your love. And I look around and all I see is your happiness embracing me. Oh Lord I'd be lost but for the grace of God.."

What a great night!