In The Loo

Remember that I mentioned that I had painted the kid's bathroom a while ago? I bet you want to see it finished. I do too- but you will have to settle for clean. In fact, I had to clean it in order for you to see it- and for the county not to condemn the place. (Bathrooms are not my strong suit.)

The bathroom is really dinky, and until recently it was painted yellow with rubber duckies. I figured that the 12 and 10 year old boys were probably done with duckies- but they still had to share the bathroom with 9 and 7 1/2 year old girls and a 5 year old boy. I chose something that was really fun with out being gender specific. Our house has walls that slope into the ceiling on the second floor, so there is no stopping point when you paint. Either you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls or you create a stopping point. So, create a stopping point is what I did. I had my husband hang some flat MDF molding around the room at the height of the top of the window and painted the lime green up to that point and white above it.

I still need to paint the trim in the bathroom, but I really want to strip the pre-existing trim and the door for re-painting. (Does anyone know how to strip trim in place without damaging the surrounding walls?)

I chose the paint to go with the polka dots on the shower curtain, and found a rug to match. Then when I got home I noticed that the kid's towels all look super hanging next to the shower curtain. Sebastian made the towel rack a few years ago and I moved it up to the top of the window frame when I redid the bathroom. Only Jonah needs a stool to hang his towel up.This is the other side of the room. See that little cart there in the corner? Look closer:I am convinced that God loves me. The same weekend I painted the bathroom, a friend asked me if I wanted it. I knew I had just the place for it. And I have 5 kids, and there are 10 drawers- in 5 colors. All the colors are close to the kids' assigned colors, to boot! Now, every one's tooth brushes, deodorant, hair pretties, etc. are put away!!!!

I really like the new look. What do you think?

Beware of Trojans Bearing Gifts

See that side bar? The part where it says buy a new refigerator? See that crossed out?

Well, we didn't exactly buy a new refigerator.

Our friend called and asked if we wanted one. It was fairly new. He just pulled it out of a rental unit managed by the company he works for. It was free. Free is a good price.



There was one catch.



It had been sitting in the unit for about a month with no power- and there was food in it. Uh...



Well, he brought it over, we pulled it onto the deck. Our friend pulled out his box cutter and started to cut off the plastic wrapped around it for transport. I suddenly had to go do... something, somewhere... else.



I was good enough to allow my husband to clean it out for me. Which he did- with a garbage can and a hose. (We threw the food away, and then we threw the garbage can away, too.) He let the fridge sit on the deck, open, for a week end. Then I went after it. I started with a bucket of Lysol. Afew days later I rubbed it down with a few boxes of baking soda. Next, I closed the door and let it sit over night. I hosed it again and then I sprayed it down with bleach water.



Finally, we brought it inside.

I called my friend to say thank you for the grossest, most heineous gift that any one has ever given to me.

*Sigh* I liked the price.