My mother-in-law called this afternoon and told me that I just had to enter into the Lowe’s and The Early Shows’ “I Want a Kitchen Makeover Contest”. She feels sorry for me and my kitchen. She called and expressed her faith in me being able to write something that would convince the contest people that I need that kitchen more than anyone else!
[Sidenote: Faye(my mother-in-law) is redoing her kitchen right now and was tempted to enter for herself, but says that I need it more than she does. She just knows that I will have such a good chance of actually winning]
Well, I think these types of contests are totally rigged (like the show’s producers sat around trying to figure out how they could get their mother a new kitchen without having to pay for it)! But, because Faye was so insistent I went ahead and sent the above picture with the following poem.
Keep in mind, I was only allowed a 50 word essay to express why I deserve a kitchen.
Pyrex exploded, ruined my floor.
Two year old paint, coats, need 3 more.
Husband in law school and 3 small kids.
No dishwasher, enough said!
Light and fan broken.
Now we use floor lamp, no jokin’.
I love to cook, even entertain.
But, my kitchen is driving me insane.
Don’t you think I should win this contest? Who else can come up with something more sorry?
This is the thermostat that sparked
like a fireworks display. 
Alright, so you know how we are remodling our bathroom. Well, last night, I took a shower after getting my haircut. Then LG got in. While he was in the shower, I decided to tackle this old heating thermostat. NOT A GOOD IDEA. I figured it was all disconnected…who knows how long it has been since it has been used…..I was wrong. I got a pretty good scare, but it was quite entertaining to see LG jump out of the shower. We pulled some fuses out of our ancient fuse box and we think it isn’t getting any power for now. Cross your fingers, not your wires.
The shower and removing the wallpaper
Ever since we have moved into this house, we have affectionately called the bathroom that we are remodeling, the Barbie Bathroom. Our three daughters prefer this bathroom. Of course, it is so feminine. It also stays a whole lot warmer than the other bathroom.
Now, the only thing that remains of Barbie, is the shower tile. We have even removed the whole top layer of the pink flowered wallpaper.
We have decided to leave the pink shower tile for just a little while, as to not place too much change on the girls all at once, and because we can’t afford another project right now.
The former vanity and wallpaper
Shortly after we moved in, I tore out the doors to the old aluminum vanity. The sound that the scraping would make still gives me the heeby jeebies just thinking about it. So, for the past year and half, anyone who has visited was able to see all that we kept above our sink. They could also use the teeny locker mirror that I place behind the shelves if they ever wanted to experience what it was like to be me while putting make-up on. I can’t wait for a new vanity. Not because I am vain and need a better mirror, as revealed by the last sentence, but just because I can’t wait to hide all the beauty supplies that it takes a girl to look good.
Wow, the wall is free of the color pink!
Beadboard is to the 2000’s as paneling was to the 70’s. It’s also known as Wayne’s Coating. (I don’t know who Wayne is, but he’s gotta be rich) It’s essentially the same stuff, so I don’t know why this looks so good, while paneling looks SO BAD. I don’t really care. Beadboard was our lifesaver in this bathroom. We are so happy that we didn’t have to retile the whole bathroom. I am also very happy to have a bathroom that is so free from color….pink, just gets a little old when you have three daughters.
Half way there!!! Trust me it is better then it was B4.
Have you ever remodeled a 50 year old bathroom? ….when you are “home depot” illiterate? Well, that is what my husband and I are in the middle of doing. In fact, we have been doing it for the better part of two months!….yes, two months and we are only 1/4 of the way done.
Tonight we spent another two hours trying to hook up the piping under the new sink and vanity…it’s still leaking!!!!!! We stink! Ugh. It is a good thing that we have one working toilet. The good news is we only have pink tile in our shower now instead of throughout the bathroom. Who knows when it will all be finished…my bet is by the time we are ready to sell the house.
The other day my daughter Abigail told me, “I wish that we had two toilets again.” Her sister Sophia was sitting on the other one and she had to go. She couldn’t hold it any longer. I wish that we had a plumber and not just a husband with a plumber’s bum!
alice w. gold 