Mom to the Rescue X 2

So about once a week I give my mom the "I am in over my head with 2 kids, a man cat, and a house full of chaos" call.  It usually involves tears.  No lie.

So Barbara, as I like to call her sometimes, just to get under her skin, is coming to save my ass yet again this weekend (she finally took the hint after the 3rd hysterical call that day).

We have a project that we are going to tackle - and as much as I would love it to be our bathroom - we are still not quite ready for that one - and I think that might have to be left to my man and my dad.

This weekend we are tackling the office/storage room/now sick kitty haven room.

We will be purging all of Bryan's stupid school books ( they are only stupid since I have asked a dozen times for him to sort them out so I could have some type of  storage space).  We will be going through all the junk we keep throwing in there and deciding what stays and goes. 

I love this part.  I love cleaning out clutter- it makes me feel so much more in control of my life when everything else is spiraling. 

I would love to try and tackle the dictionary wallpaper - but that might be slightly aggressive with Emily and Eli needing to be entertained - but that room has got to get going...ideally this is the direction I want it to head...

So hopefully my mother can wrangle up another miracle and help me finish my office/sick kitty haven room and we can knock off the storage room title.  Okay, small goals I would honestly just like to be able to walk into the room without almost killing myself - and not be ashamed enough to have the doors open to the room...

It is the small things in life.

Did I mention that I am going back to work next week as well?!? So yes, I have called in reinforcements to help me prep for more chaos and insanity (thank god no one expects me to cook - I have already squashed all expectations/hope for that - burning a few batches of spaghetti- os will do that).

Wish me luck.

Well Shit.

Todd and I visited the vet today.

Not good news.  He has kitty leukemia. And roundworms.

Emily loves Todd with a double D.  I love Todd with a double D.  But this does not look good.

I brought Todd home with his dewormer, and now have a tough decision on my hands.  If he was going to be an only cat it would be easy.  But we have Thomas the man cat, and kitty leukemia is contagious and killer in cats.

Todd is now locked in my bedroom to separate the two cats (not really necessary since Thomas really wants nothing to do with Todd) but it breaks my heart.

We can see if Todd can beat the virus (retest in 3-6 wks) but the odds are not in our favor and the vet doesn't want to give us false hope.

I don't know what to do.  My animal saving skills are seriously lacking this month.

Bummed to say the least.  Shit.  I don't want to make the smart decision.

Update:

Family Decision - We are making the office/storage room a kitty room!  Bryan and I feel like if Todd with a double D was lucky enough to find a family that didn't mind too much that he had worms and diarrhea up the wazoo (okay he was lucky that Bryan and I didn't kill him) that he could be lucky enough to beat this virus.

(I am about 100% shocked that Bryan was in agreement and there really was no need for a discussion, as much as B grumbles about animals and my need to save anything and everything I can I think he actually finds this an endearing trait of mine - that is what I am going with)

We are going to give him that chance, and if it does go the opposite way we will be ready for it and do the humane thing, but until Todd with a double D gives us that sign we are going to fight this thing.

 My mom has a cat name Dusty - who was on the brink of death from god knows what -  the vet had totally written him off ... but the miracle of deli cut roast beef brought that pisser of a cat back and he is now a behemoth of a cat.  We are going this route with Todd.

So Todd will be getting the royal treatment:

1. Roast Beef Diet (once we get his stomach in order)

2. His own room (to protect Thomas the man cat)

3. Stress free unconditional love

Wish us luck, we know we will need it, but if we are just another statistic at least Todd will have had a family and some love in his short life.

Master Gardner Update

So my front garden/foundation gardens remain mulched but not planted...

I went to Gerten's on Sunday to pick up some shrubs since they were having a sale and I had an idea of what I wanted. Bryan had to work so I went with my can do attitude, a one month old, and a two and a half year old.

If you are currently wondering what I was thinking - I have no idea.  I honestly have no clue what made me think I could load up 4 shrubs on a cart plus a car seat and heard Emily around.  I guess I just really wanted shrubs.

We roamed in between the boxwoods, the dwarf blue spruces, the blue chip juniper, and a few others.  I couldn't make up my mind.  Bryan had set a budget, and I had to decide if I wanted to go with the blue spruces (the ones I really wanted) but the high end of things - I would only be able to get 2 max, or something like the blue chip juniper (which I really am not a fan of - have no clue why- but I could come home with 4).  then I started to look around and more options came into play and I had no one to bounce my ideas off of.

Then a call went out to Grandma Mimi.   She is not a good person to call when trying to stay on budget, but a great person to call when you need someone to say go with what you love...

So, long story short, I chickened out.

I really didn't want to come home and have Bryan hate what I chose, or be angry that I went over budget.  But I did pick up these cuties:

Yeah buy one get one free deal!  So I got 4 and when I got home I of course wanted more - gah.  But there was no way in hell I was going back with my entourage.... no no no learned my lesson there, even though Emily was half way decent :)

And so these little guys made their way into my little garden in the back:

 Now, i know what you are thinking - I stole these images off the internet - but No!!!  The master gardener strikes again!!! That hydrangea tree was a steal last year at the end of season sale... my husband wasn't quite sure if it has survived the winter at the beginning of spring... but it lives and lives well!  Same goes for the hydrangea bush - my $1 bush from the same sale!!! Whoot Whoot!  I am on fire.  That hosta was part of the hosta haul my husband scored in June.  I am just excited to see what it looks like next year once they all have another year to expand and grow - the hostas need a little love since they were attacked by killer slugs (boo).

But I do have to admit,  my Liatris which was suppose to look like this:

 

Actually looks like this:

Bryan is pretty sure that my bulbs are growing to China - since I wasn't sure which way was up or down on the bulbs. Whoops.  Maybe they will self correct next season?! Maybe?

But to make myself feel better here is another growing success:

This is my accidental pumpkin/squash? patch.  Yup.  We threw last years pumpkins in the back - and this is the repercussions... My mom, being the Debbie Downer on the whole situation said the pumpkins might not be ready for this season. Well Mom, that is not looking at the bright side of life is it?  Maybe I will have a great center piece for my non existent kitchen table for Thanksgiving!

Anyways, thought I would catch everyone up on my gardening adventures.

Oh. P.S. We named the cat.  Todd with a double D.
He has a little fox face, and one of our (Bryan and I) favorite movies is Fox and the Hound.  Todd is the name of the fox.  We are just to clever for our own good.
   

I am Soooo Excited (said in Oprah Voice)

Finally a fabulous show to look forward too instead of Bath Crashers, House Crashers, Yard Crashers etc... And this one is on the OWN Network!!! Yay.

Something with fun design and color, cheeky sass, and a pair of dogs = winning combination!



I think it is the dogs that crack me up the most. Okay maybe it is the smart car... Or the glasses.  Okay it is the fact that I secretly want to move to Europe so I can have friends like this... my closest friend like this moved his ass to Chicago and I still am devastated to this day.  He had such a great collection of sweater vests and could pull off a bow tie like no other.  Jeff I miss your jaded bitterness and fashion sense to death.

Do you now see why I love this guy?  How could you not? 

Meow?

My night was spent like this:

Me "Meow?"

Ratty Ass Kitty Found in My Clean Garage "Meow"

Me "Meow?"

RAKFMCG "Meow Meow"

Me "Meow?"

RAKFMCG "Meow"

Repeat times five.

But after a trail of turkey lunch meat leading into our house... The Vargas family has a new member.

Might name him Guillermo.

UPDATE: He has made himself at home....

 

The Gossip

Bah I tell you bah.  So I am about 100% sure I didn't get the position.  How do I know without really knowing?  I am friends with the girl who actually got it.  And as much as I want to hate her,  I just can't cause she is just awesome. 

And deserving of the position. But I am not suppose to know yet.  All I had to do was look at her.  I have these super human powers where I force people to tell me their secrets without even speaking.  I know I am amazing.  It is almost like reading minds.  I should get a cape or maybe a fancy mask and think of a creative super hero name... we shall see what I come up with... Maybe "The Gossip" said with a dramatic voice that probably is only making me laugh.

  So bah.  Where do I get to let out my frustrations?!?! 

Tonight's victim is a bag of Ramen noodles and a bottle of wine.  No judgment please. Oh who am I kidding - go ahead and judge - I would.

Back to the drawing board... but don't worry... I still have a job and won't let this get me down.  I am sure there will be more opportunities around the corner (this is all the positive fluff I am telling myself as I take a big gulp of wine...).

Anywho.... back to the basement.  We totally got the stinky old damp carpet out of the basement (again this is where "we" means Bryan lugged it up the narrow stairs all by himself).  But I did throw away a lot of the knotty pine panels and many many two by fours.  Tight pre- prego ass here I come...

And then I made piles of the insanity down there... I have a dry wall aka. damp dry wall pile, a wood scrap pile and Styrofoam insulation pile and a dust/crap pile.... so at least I have organized insanity.

And yes I do realize I need some more images - coming soon!

Okay Oldies

Aka. Mom & Uncle Robert... I think I may have a font that your old eyes can read - let me know what you think- since you are my main stalkers ;)

Totally not sure about the layout

not sure about the font changes aka. all the changes I am making to the blog... thanks for being patient!!!

Meg

Not feeling it - almost feeling it but not - still unsure about the font - can't get my header centered and have no idea what I am doing with the HTML... sigh.

What Driveway? I Had a Driveway?

So remember when we were on that landscaping kick?  When my can do husband fix all the flowerbeds I destroyed... and then he decided to tear up my driveway and pile up all the asphalt?

Yeah those piles stayed around a little too long and didn't add to the beautification process of the neighborhood.

But that all changed this weekend... CAUSE IT WAS PARENTS TO THE RESCUE WEEKEND!!!!

Dad & Mom rolled in around 11:30 on Saturday with a wheelbarrow, chainsaw, shop broom, and Round-Up in the back of the truck... when mom mentioned that dad was bringing the chainsaw I got all giddy inside, like Christmas morning giddy.

So I had to do the tour of shame...also known as the tour of half finished projects.  Talk about embarrassing... mom at least has seen what I have done... this was dad's first introduction to my messes.  Gah.  It is one thing to have my mother lecture me about projects, but a whole other level when it is my dad.

"You need to focus"... "You need to start and finish one project at a time"  and my favorite "Why exactly did you do this" where all bits and pieces to the conversations I had with my dad....but the best was when my dad walked into our garage and exclaimed "Oh my god, Bryan does have a tool box".

So then after the tour we got down to business, and our "focus" was the outside aka. demoed driveway.  Dad and I tossed so many loads of broken asphalt I swear I almost lost all of the baby weight on Saturday (I did go and weigh myself after - no such luck).  Then after the closest pile to the large dumpster was done, my dad pulled out his man genius and found discarded wood on the side of our back garage and made a ramp to run the wheelbarrow up into the dumpster - yeah he impressed me with that one.  Two more piles of black top/asphalt down.

Then after a small beer break, dad whipped out the chainsaw... doesn't seem like the logical order but hey it worked for us :)  Then down went the two trees/over grown bushes that Bryan tried to cut down and kill 6 weeks ago...  chainsaw always wins.  Remember that.

Boom another finished project.

Then we turned our sights on the garage.  Yikes to say the least.  It was a mess made up of the previous owners stuff, all of our half finished project stuff and just crap to say the least.

I can now park another car in there, or have a huge area to work on projects such as my kitchen table.  YAY.

And then we quit for the day.  I don't think I could feel my feet that night.  Or my arms.

My lovely mother was super kind enough to deal with the two little ones. Eli gave her a run for her money and cried for the first 3 hours she was there - a milk coma had to be put into action - and then he slept for the rest of the afternoon :).

Mom thought a magic green chalk line would keep Emily from getting in the way of flying chunks of asphalt - yeah... she told her not to go past the line...my daughter seriously drew her own line.  Take that Grandma Mimi.  I just had to laugh.

My parents are wonderful.  They saved my sanity this weekend.  Sometimes (all the time) Bryan and I bite off more than we can chew and get ourselves into these type of projects that seem too large to conquer so we just kind of stall out.  Luckily my dad saved our asses this weekend and I am no longer the neighborhood eyesore.

Did we get to the basement - nope - but I am starting to haul some drywall out and some paneling slowly but surely since we have the dumpster a few more days... but seriously to at least have that done in one day was just amazing.

Sunday, Emily got to swim in her first big girl pool at the hotel with Grandma Mimi.  For a daredevil of a child that she is, she was very cautious at first, sitting on the stairs and not wanting to go far out with grandma... but once she saw a little toddler boy looking at her (okay, he was seriously googly eyeing her down) she knew she was on show and that is when she got brave enough to jump into Grandma's arms and swim with her in the deeper area.

All it took was an audience - go figure.

So it was a great weekend, even better when my dad asked me what our next project to tackle was cause he wanted to be prepared with the right tools to get the job done when he comes down next... which means we didn't scare him off!!!!

I love my dad, even though talking to him on the phone is the most awkward thing in the world, and we both are super stubborn and have tempers like no other... he is my dad and saves me in a pickle or two like when your car is acting up, and your husband doesn't have a clue what it could be.  He is also great to make fun of with your sister (we mock him any time we are around him- it is just so easy sometimes), so basically he is a great dad with a chainsaw.

Love you Mom & Dad.

And in case you are wondering - our next project is the bathroom.  We will get this room done.  I swear!

Karma Hates Me

After Emily played in Mom's car... and forgot to turn off all the gadgets...Mom's car was dead.

After thinking my battery was charged Eli and I went to Target.  Car was dead when we walked out with ice cream sandwiches.  Yay for roadside assistance... an hour later :(

New battery needed.  No man around to install it at the moment.  Karma hates me today.

However, I did get new nail polish to make my nails pretty for tomorrow's interview... and my toes match my nails now.  Small things in life.  This has to get me the job, I am sure of it (please know that I am being sarcastic as hell).

Hope Karma is liking you a little bit more than me today :)

Working on my Karma

So our grass has gotten out of control and we finally got our mower guy out to start mowing ....

Except my garage (the way back one that is the squirrel love nest) was still open and is an eye sore and huge embarrassment. 

So as I was running outside to shut the portal to hell with my shoe laces still untied I saw this thin flutter beside the garage in the grass.  I of course go to check it out cause I am as curious as a cat...

It was a little injured sparrow who could slightly get into the air but looks to either have a floppy neck or a broken/sprained wing.  And to build up the drama in this story - our guy was just turning the corner on his riding lawn mower right where the bird tired to fly.... but I being the animal lover dove in front of this machine of doom and scooped up the little bird (okay it took me 3 or 4 attempts to "scoop" up the bird since I didn't want to hurt it more or send it into shock... but that is a minor detail).

So after the dramatic rescue, I found last year's Easter basket and put the tiny thing in it with a towel over the top to help it "relax".  I called my husband to tell him all about it - since this is the highlight of the day (TV between 11- 2 is less than thrilling).

He was less than impressed.  And wasn't thrilled that I put the basket in Eli's room since the bird could carry infectious diseases etc.  Someone has watched that damn monkey movie Outbreak a little too much...  He told me to go put the bird back in the way back of our yard that still resembles a jungle and let the "survival of the fittest" take its course...

Don't worry Grandma Barb, I did move the bird to the office/storage room... you and B can now rest at ease...

He does not understand Karma... and I need all the Karma I can get right about now - second round of interviews is scheduled for Friday at 2.  I want this job - and need all the help I can get - and if saving a little bird from a terrible and ugly mower death tips me just over the top of good vibes - I am so going to take it.

However, I did try this once when I was a younger person in high school.... which Bryan kindly reminded me of.  The bird's name was Bubba and he was found at the high school track fallen out of his nest... of course I took him home too and he did quite well - until I left his cage right next to an open window on a cold day.  Yeah, pretty sure he died of phenomena... Karma did not like me so much then.

Update: My mother, kindly informed me that my bird did not die of phenomena but pneumonia ...laughing at myself right now and embarrassed as hell ... hope this all makes you aware that spell check can fail you - majorly.

But I have had success with Hawks - didn't name that one but he flew off into the sunset and that is not a metaphor for death - he actually survived my "rescue".

So I am hoping a little rest will help this guy and my rescue track record can improve....

Bryan also said to let Thomas the man cat in and to see who won... but I told him that Thomas had already brought home a mouse and that he does not need to be spoon fed.  I love my cat, I really do... he brings me gifts of love.

Update 2:  The bird f'in died on me.  Where am I going to get my karma now?!  However, the bird did die fashionably well in a pink gingham Easter basket... if you have to go not a bad way...okay I am just trying to make myself feel better :(

Sanding off Insanity

Okay, I have an issue with confidence...

One moment I can think I am the total shit - the bomb - no one can compete. 

The next moment I am calling in all reinforcements, needing pep talks from the hubby, from my mom, from anyone who will give me positive reinforcement.

Obviously this is something I need to work on.  I need to know that I do good work, people appreciate it, and that I can do anything I want to do and put my mind to.  I am not sure where this self doubt comes from but I am always waiting for the next shoe to drop.

So today, as I wait for a call for either the next round of interviews or the "we went with another candidate" call I am freaking.  I really am. My husband is going to be thrilled when this whole process is over.  And the thing is - I am at home taking care of Eli with nothing else to distract myself.  So of course I am over analyzing every aspect of my interview... was that smile a good indication or not... did I stumble over my words too much? Ugh.  Time to turn off the brain and turn on the creative outlet for my insanity.

So I have decided to start sanding my kitchen walls.  I will distract myself by destroying my house one wall at a time!!!  I think this is a genius plan.  Good call.

P.S. Mom is coming this weekend so don't worry too much - okay worry a little bit :)

Lusting aka. Dreaming

I want, but my wallet/bank account/husband wants to say ouch:

$400 on Etsy...

Now you may be thinking... come on Meg, they are just glass... why yes they are... but they are Murano glass from the 60's and I have a feeling they would be amazing in my soon to be blue living room...

Now, how to raise the funds?  I am currently taking donations to the Let's Avoid Megan Going Bankrupt Redecorating Her House Foundation... also known as Keep Megan Out of Trouble with Her Husband Foundation...

Totally joking but wishing this is how life worked...

Kitchen Kick (Again)

So now that my hubby has a part time gig at Ikea ... my project man is back .... not that he has time but he definitely has gotten the bug

He also is loving the "how much can we save" game.... did I mention our latest score?

 $300 Sink for a cool $17.  I love that he works in the as is section... It had a small chip on the corner that needs a little cosmetic love and if we can't give it that love we are only out $17.  I call that a score.

So now he is keeping an eye out for cabinets, I am feeling confident in my man.  And in all honesty if we can get the kitchen up and running, I think I might be the happiest woman alive.  Not that I cook at all - however I can boil a mean pot of raviolis and that is about it.

But my main challenge right now is what I want to do with the walls.  I know I want to do a stencil (not into the challenge of wallpaper or the price of wallpaper) but what stencil do I want to use?

At first wanted something similar to this:

But I am seeing it everywhere!!! And if Target has it on their pillows you know it is about to see it's end days on the trend curve (Yes!!! I just used a retail term I learned in my trend analysis class - college degree well spent - glad my college loan payments are still worth something!).

Then I stumbled on this great idea!

Stolen from Sabbe Interior Design

And since she couldn't paint the walls in her apartment she used contact paper!!! Genius - however she does warn that her walls are plaster vs. dry wall - and dry wall doesn't love contact paper as much (if and when you want to remove the pattern).  Still gotta love the ingenuity (did I just surprise you with my word selection? Cause I totally just impressed myself).

My only concern is the husband veto.  Chevron might be too "loud" for my man... but if I do a tone on tone or a flat with a high gloss I might just get away with it.  And all I would need is a large ruler - and angle thingy and scissors to make my own stencil... a little cheaper than ordering one online and I can adjust the size and width to work in my space.  I am so convincing.

I wonder if this a project that my "Mom is Coming to Save my Ass" weekend could manage?  I could prime during the week since I will have daycare back (oh Nae Nae you do not know how much I value daycare now!!! don't ever go away again!!!).

And another fabulous thing I just ran across:

 

Normally I f'in hate glitter... my hatred being derived from teaching Sunday School with my mom (yes, this heathen actually taught Sunday School - okay I just loved to do the crafts and make the rooms super cute- I didn't really teach all that much).  But my mom once made the mistake of letting kindergartners have free reign with the glitter.  Clean up from hell to say the least.  But I might just break out some glitter for this project - and I bet it would be super easy and add some whimsy to my empty vases ;)

My need for projects is obviously back... I need a bit of a change from sweeping up crush goldfish, mopping up spilled juice since my daughter now opens up the fridge and helps herself to anything she wants... and Kraft Cheese Singles are awful to try and scrape off your hardwood floors... oil and yuckiness - so over it and need something to make me happy again.

Week of Chaos and so Why Don't We Throw an Interview in the Mix?!

My week started off a little rough...

Packed up Emily and Eli to head to daycare, looking for a small break from constant kids (Bryan worked all weekend so I was the single parent- I am so not good at it) so Monday was going to be like a half vacation... just me an Eli till 4:30...

That is until I pulled up and found out that there was no daycare that week...crap.  I had thought it was just Thursday and Friday.  Nope.

So after I called Bryan to tell him my goof and have a mini meltdown that I had to take care of the two little ones all by myself all week (and I am talking about 6 am to 11 pm) he called back to tell me he reworked his schedule so I would have a partner in crime a few of those days....

Thank god my husband read my mind other wise I might just be a little more nutty than I already am.  And because Tuesday I got the call that they wanted to schedule me for a phone interview for the internal position that I had applied to.  Fabulous - and Bryan was going to be home at that time - wonderful!!!

And then the call came that they wanted to schedule me for my panel interview for Thursday at 2 pm.... well that wasn't as fabulous since Bryan will be at work all day... but thank god I have a fabulous cousin who is going to be a teacher and loves kids and had made a comment about baby sitting and how she wasn't going to see Em & Eli since she was moving to the other side of town.... Well being the problem solver I am ....(okay okay she saved my ass completely)

Then it was off to my closet to see if any of my professional clothes still fit (big fat no).  My suit cut me in half right where I did not need any attention - not even Spanx could save that outfit... then all the skirts came out... no go there.  Then the call to Bryan went out... told him the sad state of affairs and he said what every wife wants to hear...

"Well then, we will just have to go to the mall and get you something then.  I want you to feel as confident as you can."

Love him sometimes.

So... yesterday we packed up the troops and headed to the mall - and was really successful!!! YAY.

So now I am doing everything you should not do to prepare for an interview - blogging, burping a baby, watching VH1 music videos trying to calm my nerves...

Maybe I will start writing down all my wow stories and a summary of why I am fabulous just to remind myself so I am not going ....ummm...ummm...ummm in my interview....

I hate this process minus the dress up part FYI.